Honest Reflections

Two-minute read.

“Hello, my beautiful friend, how are you?”

When I call my friend Claire, she always answers the phone with a version of that statement. Her South African accent sounds warm and loving, and she never makes me feel like I’m interrupting her. Sometimes, I want to call Claire to hear her answer the phone because those seven words uplift and encourage me. A true warrior for the Savior, Claire keeps the Son in her eyes and lets His love flow from her to others with natural ease and grace.

As Christ’s followers, we need to encourage and lift each other, making it a natural part of our daily lives. Everyone we see has a hidden struggle. Welcoming them warmly, loving them in the moment, has a ripple effect we may never see, but will spur them on in ways that will transform their lives.

Years ago, during my flight attendant years, I had a friend named Kim. She had dreams and aspirations of becoming a model, but felt stuck in her job, unable to pursue her heart’s desire. One day, while spending time together, I challenged her. “If you’re not happy doing what you’re doing, quit. Life’s too short to be miserable.” Those words sparked something in Kim. A few weeks later, she called to tell me I had inspired her to pursue her dream. She quit her job and went for it. We don’t regret trying and failing, but we will regret never trying.

Although Kim and I lost touch, I pray that her dreams came true. When I said those words to her, I didn’t realize she would take them to heart as she did. But I am thankful she pursued her dreams. Words matter; what we say to people affects them, and we don’t know how they receive it. Ensuring you use language that uplifts and encourages helps to ensure they receive a positive message.

A few weeks ago, I said something to Ron that he heard completely differently from what I said. Days passed before I realized he misinterpreted my words, and we worked through the miscommunication. Words have power, and we must use them wisely. If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it. And when emotions get involved, don’t let them lead your words.

Praise God for the encouragers in your life. Take notes from their speech and apply them to your words. Become an encourager, always use uplifting words. Tell people they have value, God loves them, and they matter to you. Start your conversations with a compliment and see how it transforms your relationships and encourages everyone you meet.

Journal Questions:

Who comes to mind when you think of an encourager?

How have words impacted your life?

How can you become a constant encourager?

Application:

Express gratitude to others.

Two-minute read.

Nothing compares to forgiveness. When I first received Christ’s grace all those years ago as a 12-year-old child, I can still remember the peace that descended upon me. When I walked away from my faith, living life on my terms, the joy I felt when I returned to the Savior and re-dedicated my life to Him cleansed me, giving me new life and a second chance to do things better. Even though I struggled to forgive myself for poor decisions that led me to places I never wanted to go, I knew without a doubt that God had forgiven me.

“I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.”

Luke 7:47

Eating dinner at a Pharisee’s house, a sinful woman enters with an alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. Kneeling at the Savior’s feet, she wipes them with her tears, then kisses them, putting the perfume on them. When the religious leader sees her actions, he protests, and Jesus responds with the above verse. Those forgiven much, love much. I can relate to the sinful woman, since I am one myself. Having received Christ’s grace and mercy, I worship Him with my tears.

Once we have received God’s forgiveness, it helps us forgive others. When things happen, and we feel offended or hurt, remembering what Jesus did for us on the cross and the forgiveness we receive from His actions will help us extend grace to others. And when we receive forgiveness from someone, we will have gratitude for their grace.

During the first years of our marriage, when I needed to apologize to my husband, I struggled. Moments of silence would become lengthy as I wrestled within myself to say the words that would lead to restoration: I’m sorry. But as I grew and matured through those times, asking for forgiveness became easier as I learned to humble myself and restore the relationship more quickly. Accepting responsibility for my actions helped me not only grow closer to Jesus, but also to my husband.

Meditate on the forgiveness you’ve received in your life from Jesus and others. Accepting grace may challenge you, as it does me, but it also transforms us, giving us another chance to do things better. We all need forgiveness, and we all must extend it. Receiving mercy renews our hearts and allows us to try again. Live in the gratitude of forgiveness as you accept the divine gift of grace the Lord offers and share it willingly with others.

Journal Questions:

How does Jesus’s forgiveness of your sins transform your life?

When did someone forgive you when you didn’t deserve it?

How can you share God’s grace today?

Application:

Thankful hearts forgive freely.

Two-minute read.

Meeting regularly with other believers spurs us onward on the journey. Sunday mornings, during corporate worship, surrounded by fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, encourages my heart. We have one gentleman whose enthusiasm during worship always makes me smile. He has a “Hallelujah” readily on his lips, arms spread wide, giving his whole being to the Lord. Families lifting their praises to the Lord in song, the children gathered at the front for our opening songs uplift my soul.

During the week, we meet with our small group, dine together, discuss the pastor’s message, and pray for one another. When things happen that knock us off course, we have people to turn to for help.

“I know, if I needed anything, everyone in this room would do what they could to help me,” our group leader said at our last meeting. Building a community together, sharing our hardships and victories, creates a divine bond with the Lord, the cord that no one can break. Serving God and others fulfills our purpose on earth; we need community to do it successfully.

More than a building, people make up the church, not four walls. A place for sinners, all fall short of the mark, and realize their need for the Savior. Becoming God’s hands and feet only happens in community. When someone has a need, the church helps them meet it. Meal trains, in which different people prepare meals for individuals in need, serve others in various ways. New moms adjusting to life with an infant don’t have to worry about cooking. Families who have lost loved ones gain comfort from the meals people bring them. Or if an illness occurs, the meal train relieves some of the daily pressure on families. Prayer chains do the same thing from a spiritual perspective: people collectively pray for others’ needs, inviting God to provide for them.

Today, I had a physical need. Texting my ladies’ small group, I asked them to cover me in prayer and pray for God’s intervention. Knowing they will pray for me immediately brought me divine peace and helped lessen the anxiety that wanted to control my thoughts. Praise God for having a community of believers I can count on when I need help.

The Lord created us for community. Through meeting with others and developing relationships, God will grow us. Isolated, we shrivel; in community, we thrive. Make meeting together regularly with other believers a priority in your life and watch how the Creator uses it to fulfill your divine purpose.

Journal Questions:

How has meeting with other believers encouraged you?

In what ways can you make community a priority in your life?

How do others help you fulfill your purpose?

Application:

Thank God for encouragement through fellowship.

Two-minute read.

In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul defines love. A verb, not a noun, Christ-like love requires actions; it never loses faith, always has hope, and endures in all circumstances. Jesus’s actions on the cross demonstrate perfect love. He fulfilled all those requirements, willingly dying for us. And He gave us eternal hope when the Savior walked out of the tomb. We can love because Jesus first loved us. Tapping into His strength, we will find all we need to love others well.

Derek Redmond ran in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. During the Men’s 400-meter semi-final, he tore his hamstring. Determined to finish the race, he hobbled along the track towards the finish line. From the stands, a man came rushing out onto the track, dodging security and coming alongside the injured runner. Placing his arm around the injured runner’s shoulders, he helped cross the finish line. Derek Redmond’s father epitomized love in action, telling his son with his actions, “I got you.”

Love does that, it tells us, “I got you; I’m going to help you finish the race and reach your destination.” Jesus did that on the cross for us, and every day, we can do it for others. When we love others unconditionally, we’ll do what it takes to help them accomplish their goals. As Christ’s followers, we share the same finish line: loving God and others while sharing the gospel. Nothing spreads God’s words faster than acts of love that let people know they matter.

The price we pay for something tells us its value. When Jesus died on the cross for us, paying for us with his very life, He gave us immeasurable value, something He offered to everyone. All people matter to the Savior, no matter the color of their skin or their economic status. When they nailed Christ’s hands and feet to the cross, causing Him unspeakable pain, He did it for the love of us, to show each one of us how much we matter to Him. And we should do the same, loving others for the Savior.

Become an avid lover of people. Don’t sit on the sidelines, run down to the track, meet them in their pain, and help them cross the finish line. Living for Jesus will help you do what He did. As we follow the Savior and learn the lessons He taught, we will become lovers of people. Everyone who comes before us today, the Savior died for. He valued them, and we should, too. When we go the distance with others, loving them unconditionally, we bless the Lord, and help make heaven crowded.

Journal Questions:

Who has shown you unconditional love in your life?

How can you become a better lover of people?

Who can you help get across the finish line today?

Application:

Gratitude fuels love.

Two-minute read.

Remaining teachable and having trustworthy teachers helps you grow in wisdom and stature. People who think they know everything don’t leave room for learning, and as Christ followers, we always have more to learn. Some people today believe only in Jesus as a teacher, known for His parables, challenging people’s beliefs, and living out what He taught. As our Savior, He taught us how to live, experiencing the pain and heartache we do, so that we could relate to Him. As a result, when we follow the Lord, He takes us on a journey of growth by revealing truth to us and imparting wisdom.

When Jesus taught, He did so with authority from the Lord. As we follow His teachings, we’ll come to understand our need for forgiveness and grace. Accepting our sinful nature opens the door to spiritual growth. Confessing and repenting of our sins binds us to Christ as we accept His love and mercy. Jesus teaches us how to live out our salvation by putting God’s commands into practice. Loving the Lord and others helps us fulfill the Great Commission to share the gospel to the ends of the earth.

Paul, the writer of the majority of the New Testament, followed in Jesus’s footsteps, planted churches, and taught people about the Savior and the transformational power of faith in Christ. In essence, Paul became a mentor to the new church. Through his writings, we can learn much about following Jesus. We need people in our lives who have gone before us, who have learned the lessons we have yet to learn.

One of my mentors I met over twenty years ago. After we met, I asked her to do a Bible study with me, and that began a lifelong friendship. For years, we met every two weeks for coffee and talked about life and how I could apply God’s principles to mine as she shared her experiences with me. Everyone should have a mentor in their life.

In addition, we should mentor others by sharing the lessons we’ve learned. For example, in tennis, to become the best player, you should play against someone better than you, someone at the same level, and someone not as good. By doing so, you develop all aspects of your game. We can apply the same principle to mentoring: someone farther along than us on our walk, someone in the same place, and someone behind us. Then we will have well-balanced spiritual growth.

Thank God for the mentors in your life, the friends that walk with you, and those you help grow and mature. Engaging in life with other Christ followers, at all levels, will lead to an abundant life.

Journal Questions:

Who has mentored you in your walk with Jesus?

Who walks with you in your spiritual journey?

Who do you help grow in their walk with Jesus?

Application:

Appreciate the wisdom you gain from others.

Two-minute read.

Difficult times test friendships, but true friends will weather the storm with you. God places friends in our lives to help us through life’s challenges. My first best friend remains one of my best friends. I love saying, “Our mothers were pregnant together!” Born six months, almost to the day, before me, I had no idea when we played house in her attic of the roller coaster life would take us on, but riding it together has made it better. I thank the Lord for placing her in my life and for giving me a lifelong friend who goes the distance.

Over the years, the Creator has added to my bouquet of friends. From every stage of life, I’ve acquired another beautiful flower. Going through the trials of life forged a friendship in ways nothing else will. From persevering through college days to flying the skies and serving peanuts as a flight attendant, the Lord gave me special people in each chapter. When I gave Jesus authority over my adult heart, He brought fellow believers into my life to spur me onward.

My closest friendships have Christ at the center, the cord that binds us like nothing else. We strive to honor and serve the Savior together. Praying for each other helps us overcome the mountains we face. Holding each other accountable allows us to grow and mature in our faith. Showing up for each other in the storm, we become God’s hands and feet, offering an anchor to keep us on course. Friends celebrate each other’s victories and cry over each other’s losses. Developing Christ-centered friendships helps us live life to the fullest as we cheer each other on to victory.

To have good friends, we must become a good friend. The Savior shows us how to develop healthy relationships by leading with grace and mercy, loving unconditionally, and putting their needs before ours, paving the way for strong connections. As we apply Jesus’s teachings to our lives, we will quickly discover how to cultivate healthy relationships with God and others. As the golden rule says, treat others as you would like them to treat you. If you want meaningful relationships, develop them.

Troubles will come, and when you have a bouquet of friends around you, they will help you survive the storm. Showing up for others in their storms creates lasting connections. Loving people takes work, but it has the greatest rewards. Submitting your life to Jesus develops a friendship that will lead you along the right path, helping you grow your garden and fill it with friendships that will last long after this life ends.

Journal Questions:

Who has God placed in your life that has proven a good friend?

How do you develop healthy friendships?

In what way has Jesus helped you grow your garden of relationships?

Application:

Thank God for companionship.

Two-minute read.

Prizing our parents highly, caring and showing affection for them honors them and fulfills the fifth commandment, the only one with a promise. When we respect the people who gave us life, the Lord says He will provide us with long life. Everyone has imperfect parents. I gained many good qualities from mine, but also a few bad ones. We shouldn’t expect perfection from imperfect people. But our parents play a unique role in our lives, and we can easily place them on pedestals, only to experience disappointment when they fall.

After my dad died, I struggled with the idea that I had to live perfectly for his memory. Because I placed him on a pedestal, idolizing him, when he died, it revealed his humanity to me and devastated me. I thought I would always have him in my life, but then, in a moment, he left this world, and me. At the tender age of sixteen, I didn’t know how to process these events, so I internalized them, which stunted my growth. My immature conclusions led me down treacherous paths that harmed me.

As an adult, I have a different perspective. My father had many faults and suffered greatly in his life, but he never stopped trying to serve God. Raising his children in the faith, he set an example for us to follow. Knowing he didn’t have all the answers, my father introduced us to the one who did. Caring for him during his last days on earth, we all rallied around him and did what we could to comfort him as he battled lung cancer. After a lifetime in the coal mines and a three-pack-a-day smoker, he developed black lung that took his life.

In the same way, honoring my mom, caring for her through sickness, and holding her hand as she passed from this life to the following comforts me. Knowing I did all I could for my parents, honoring them to the best of my ability, comforts me now that they live in heaven. Knowing we will one day see each other again gives me peace and understanding that I honored my father and mother as God commands.

Thank God for the parents He gave you; if they did nothing else right, they gave you life, and that deserves honor. Our moms and dads did the best they could in whatever circumstances they found themselves—honoring them the best way you know how pleases the Lord. Forgive them for their shortcomings and thank them for giving you life. Jesus’s grace extends to all who will accept it, and as His followers, we should follow His example. Christ honored His heavenly Father and earthly mother, and we should do the same.

Journal Questions:

How do you honor your father and mother?

In what ways have you had to forgive your parents?

What can you do for your parents today that will honor them in a new way?

Application:

Gratitude begins at home.

Two-minute read.

Contentment, in today’s verse, means “a mind that is contented with its situation in life” (Expositor’s Bible Commentary). Our thoughts lead to our contentment. We can wallow in self-pity, or we can use gratitude to help us find the joy of the Lord. Where our minds go, everything else goes. If we allow our thoughts to follow a rabbit trail of despair, they will lead us into dark pits. But if we focus our minds on things above, we’ll discover hope.

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Colossians 3:2

True godliness develops when we set our minds on things above, instead of things of this world. By relying on God’s promises, we’ll focus on the hope of His word rather than on the brokenness around us. A friend comes to mind, experiencing extreme pain, stuck in a hospital bed, the doctor’s unsure of how to treat her, who put on air pods, played her worship playlist, and raised her hands to God, singing His praises. She set her mind on things above, and not the earthly things surrounding her. As a result, she found contentment and true wealth, despite her bleak circumstances.

Memorizing scripture and writing it on your heart will help you focus your mind on things above. The more time and effort you put into your relationship with the Lord, the more you will experience true contentment. God doesn’t lie; He tells us we will have struggles in this world, but Jesus overcame them on the cross. We need not fear, nor fret. Everything we need we have in the Savior.

Playing golf, we had to wait for the players ahead of us to move before we could tee off. On an unseasonably 70-degree day in January, the sun shone bright in the blue skies. Deciding to rest, I sat on the hill of the tee box, then lay back and looked up at the beautiful sky above me, white puffy clouds floating along without a care in the world. And I thought, “When you’re in the pit, you have no place to look but up.”

Set your mind on things above. If you find yourself in the pit today, look up. Thank God for His presence in your life, His love for you, and the grace that never ends. Focus your thoughts on the Lord’s promises. Search the internet for scriptures that apply to your circumstances, then cling to them. As you begin to praise the Savior, meditate on His word, and focus your eyes above, you find a heart filled with gratitude and the true wealth of godly contentment.

Journal Questions:

Where do you tend to focus your thoughts?

Which one of God’s promises can you cling to today?

How do you find contentment by looking up?

Application:

Thankfulness quiets comparison.

Two-minute read.

Sometimes, life seems like a maze. Standing at a crossroads, we must decide which path to take. As we analyze each of our choices, we must choose between better and best, not good or bad. Last week’s message at church emphasized what makes spiritual champions: they choose between better and best. But how do we know which one to follow? Instead of relying on our understanding, we seek God’s will and allow Him to choose for us. When we do, He will make our paths straight.

Putting away Christmas decorations, Ron handed me boxes through the attic window, and I arranged them. When we got to the 7-foot Christmas tree, I found it heavy and hard to handle. While I struggled to drag it to the back of the attic, Ron peppered me with questions about what I wanted next. Irritation rose within me as I continued to battle the big, heavy box. Couldn’t he wait until I got the tree put away? Can’t he see how much I’m struggling? As I processed these thoughts, I realized I had choices on how I answered.

I could use mean words that would hurt him.

I could say nothing at all.

I could ignore his questions and act like I couldn’t hear him.

Or I could respond with kindness.

Before I said a word or chose my path, I lifted a prayer to the Lord to help manage my irritation and not say something I would regret. Instantly, my thoughts changed, and I acknowledged that the irritation came not from his questions but from my exhaustion. After working all day, I felt tired and just wanted the job done. And so did Ron. Instead of snapping at my husband, I asked him to wait until I finished putting the tree away before asking me any more questions.

God showed me the best path to take, one that didn’t harm our relationship or cause us to quarrel. We finished the project and spent the rest of the afternoon in peace. By seeking the Lord’s will, I avoided the consequences of following mine, and He did give us a straight path that led to harmony.

When we seek the Savior and His will, He does direct our paths. The Holy Spirit, always active within us, will prompt us in the right direction if we allow Him to do so. But God doesn’t go where He’s not wanted, and if we don’t invite Him into our lives, He doesn’t come. Ask the Lord for His direction, follow the Spirit’s promptings, and live in divine peace with God and others.

Journal Questions:

When have you chosen the wrong path?

How can you remember to invite God into your circumstances?

In what way has God led you down the right path?

Application:

Thank God for His direction.

Two-minute read.

People followed Jesus wherever He went, in crowds numbering in the thousands. Everywhere the Savior went, people cried for His attention, and He gave it to them, willingly and with kindness. But Christ also knew that to serve God’s children well, He must center His life on the Father, spending time with Him as well as people. To love God and love others, we must spend time with both. Spending time with the Savior will lead you to quiet places where you can find rest.

Each morning, for longer than I can remember, I spend quiet time with the Lord. No matter what happened the day before, my soul finds rest as I commune with the Savior. Reading His word holds a mirror up to my life, searching my heart and revealing areas I need to repent and receive His grace. Journaling helps me focus my thoughts on God, allowing His Spirit to rejuvenate me. Praying over the day ahead invites the Lord into my life and begins a conversation that will last until bedtime. In my early morning hours, away from the world, I find rest.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30

In a world that never sleeps, we can find rest in the Savior. Getting away from the crowds and spending time with the Creator will help you center your life on the Rock, who will give you everything needed to fulfill your purpose. As a flight attendant, they taught the golden rule of caring for others during an emergency. When the oxygen masks fall, make sure to put yours on first; otherwise, you can’t help others. If you can’t breathe, you can’t help others breathe. In the same way, if we don’t find rest and renewal, we can’t serve people for the Lord. Taking care of your needs doesn’t make you selfish. Jesus spent time alone with the Father to do His ministry, and we must do the same.

Plan rest times into your schedule. Spending time with God daily will help you tap into the divine rest He offers. Let the Lord share your burdens, allowing Him to lighten your load so you can love others more fully. Thank God for the rest He gives you, following Jesus’s example of getting away from the crowds and spending time alone with the Father.

Journal Questions:

How much rest do you feel you get?

In what ways has tiredness caused you not to love well?

What can change in your schedule to make rest in the Lord a priority?

Application:

Express gratitude for renewal.