Author: Beth Morrison

“I always thank God for you because of the grace of God given to you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Corinthians 1:4 CSB

Today would have been Cody’s 26th birthday, of course I’m thankful for him today.  One of the things Cody taught me most was patience. Cody could test my patience like few others.  He had very strong opinions and did not mind voicing them. He also had no problem not doing something he didn’t want to do.  God gave him a strong personality and used him to help me develop patience.  

You may have heard someone say, “I need to pray for patience.”  The typical response to this question is, “Don’t pray for patience, God will give you opportunities to practice it.”  The truth is, patience is something we work on every day, whether we realize it or not. We are working on patience when we’re waiting for the kids to get in the car.  We are working on patience when we’re stuck in traffic. We are working on patience when we’re waiting for our spouse to get home from work, or friend to come over for dinner. We are working on patience when we are waiting on the miracle. We are always working on patience.

Webster’s dictionary of 1828 defines patience perfectly. The suffering of afflictions, pain, toil, calamity, provocation or other evil, with a calm, unruffled temper; endurance without murmuring or fretfulness.  In other words, patience is getting your feathers ruffled but no one knows it because you don’t show your frustration.  Patience is when the kids get in the car after waiting five minutes, instead of yelling, we make sure they haven’t forgotten anything.  Patience is when we’re stuck in traffic, instead of getting frustrated we thank God we’re exactly where He wants us to be, doing what He wants us to do.  Patience is when our spouse or friend is an hour late for dinner, instead of giving them attitude, we hug them and ask how their day was. Patience is waiting on the miracle without giving up hope.  Patience is staying focused on God and His purpose for our lives, not on our circumstances. God is always giving us the opportunity to practice patience. Whether we realize it or not is the question.  What opportunities is God giving you today to practice patience? Most likely, it’s the people you love He uses the most, I know it is with me. 

Today I’m thankful God used Cody to help me practice patience.  What are you thankful for today?

“I will thank the Lord with all my heart; I will declare all your wondrous works.” Psalm 9:1 CSB

After I finished writing yesterday’s devotional, I was thinking about what else I would be thankful for this month.  Immediately, all of the family birthdays we have this month made me thankful for people. November 1st was my cousin Karen’s birthday, she is the daughter of my Aunt Margie I wrote about a few weeks ago.  She carries her mother’s spirit in her. I love her so much, I can’t truly put it into words. She starts the month of November birthdays for my family. This thought made me think about how thankful I am for the people in my life, which then made it easy for me to fill up 28 days of thankful devotions.  I’m going to thank God for the people He has put in my life for the rest of the month.

My friend Melissa loves people better than most.  When you sit with her and have lunch, she gives you her full attention.  She isn’t checking her phone or looking at her watch. She does not commit to things she does not want to do.  She truly has an art for telling people no. She says no with such love and grace she doesn’t hurt people’s feelings.  She recently spoke at our women’s retreat on surrender. She challenged us all to share what our struggles were with each other so we could come alongside each other in prayer.  My favorite part of her talk was when she had us all write down something we needed to let go to God, then we all threw it into the fire when we were done. A truly exhilarating moment to see my biggest struggle go up in smoke as I gave it to God.  Melissa spoke to us from her chair, bathed in firelight. I can still see her beautiful face as she told us what God had laid on her heart.

Melissa and I share a secret.  Months ago, when I was struggling through a difficult time, Melissa and I had coffee.  I poured my heart out to her and she listened with ears of love. As I was leaving, we were hugging goodbye when she had an impression from God.  In fact, I was walking down the path to leave when she said, “I have no idea why, but the word “surrender” just came to me.” Whether she remembers  this conversation or not, I do not know. But I do. God has spoken to me through Melissa twice with the same message. Apparently I need to listen.  

I’m thankful for Melissa today.  Who are you thankful for today?

“Indeed, everything is for your benefit so that, as grace extends through more and more people, it may cause thanksgiving to increase to the glory of God.”  2 Corinthians 4:15 CSB

My husband educated me on who invented the World Wide Web.  Tim Berners Lee, (TimBL) is an English engineer and computer scientist.  He invented the world wide web because he wanted to save time.  When you write, you have to cite your sources. As I’m learning while working on my Masters, this is taken very seriously in the academic world.  Plagiarism is not tolerated, I use a website to check all of my papers for school before turning them in for grading. TimBL wanted to make this process easier.  He developed the web so he could imbed the references, just like I did on his name, as well as the Scripture above. If you click on either one of those links, they will take you to my source.  You can easily verify if I’m telling the truth or not. You can also research the topic more thoroughly if you want more information than what I have given. Because he wanted to make referencing easier, we now have a world of options open to us.  As my husband said, online dating exists because TimBL wanted to save time. Thanks to TimBL we can order food, watch a movie, shop for clothes and millions of other things, all from the luxury of our home. I’m thankful for the internet.

I’m thankful for the internet BECAUSE of the doors it opens to all of us.  I’m thankful for Facebook because it allows me to stay connected to people I otherwise would have lost touch with over the years.  I’m thankful for the ability to research any topic I want at a moments notice. I’m thankful for the internet because without it, this group wouldn’t exist and lives wouldn’t be changed.  But as with all things, the internet can easily be abused and not used for good. Facebook can become a comparison trap instead of a way to stay connected. Information on the web can be false.  As with all things, we have to learn to be discerning with the information we receive from the internet. We can’t believe everything we read or hear. A lot of the happy faces on Facebook are hiding pain and hurt behind them.  We have to discern the truth instead of compare ourselves to something that isn’t true. Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, reminded them, we only know in part now, one day we will know fully (1 Corinthians 13:12 NIV). Before we judge, we need to remind ourselves we don’t know the whole story, we only know in part. 

What are you thankful for today?

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever.”  1 Chronicles 16:34 CSB

One of my favorite things about the month of November is the inevitable Facebook challenge.  Each day, people post one thing for which they are thankful. I love the challenge because it causes people to focus on what they do have instead of what they don’t have. 

One thing we all have to be grateful for as we start this month of thankfulness is God. We have a God who loves us no matter how much we mess up. We have a God who created a way for us when there was none.  We have a God who made each of us unique, each of us gifted, each of us for a purpose. God is good, He is faithful, His love endures forever. The choice is ours how much we get to experience Him, the choice is ours how much time we spend with Him.  He can be front and center, or He can be in our back pocket, the choice is ours. November is a great month to move Him a little closer to front and center in all of our lives through the simple act of thankfulness. Each day, in the comments of the devotionals, thank God for something He did that day.  You can be thankful for getting to work on time or getting a clean bill of health from the doctor. Big or small, every day, each of us has something we can thank God for, it’s whether or not we acknowledge it.

I’m thankful that God loves me enough to teach me the lessons He teaches me. I’m thankful I’m better today than I was 20 years ago.  I’m not the same person I was before I started following God. I know I still have so far to go, but thank God I’m not where I was. We each can thank God for where He has brought us, what He has helped us overcome.  Each of us has faced different challenges, and obstacles but God has remained faithful. He has remained good. His love always endures. Oswald Chambers, a Scottish theologian, says we need to allow God to be as original with others as He is with us.  I love how God is original with each of us. When I hear people’s stories of how God has touched and changed their lives, I’m amazed at how intimate and personal they are. We just spent an amazing weekend at the women’s retreat for this group. Each woman had a unique story to share, each woman had experienced God in very personal ways. No two stories were the same, nor will they be in the future.  No two thank you’s are the same. So today, our first day of thankfulness, what are you thankful for? Comment below.

“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.”  Romans 1:17 CSB

Martin Luther was born in 1483 in Germany.  On October 31, 1517 he started what is known as the Protestant Reformation by hanging “The 95 Theses” on the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church.  Luther had two central ideas he was trying to convey. The first is that all Believers must repent. The second is that we are saved by faith alone and not by deeds.  These thoughts contrasted the beliefs of the Catholic church and sparked a debate that continues to this day. The anniversary of this historic event in church history seemed an appropriate way to end our month on fear. Martin Luther feared God. He had spent years studying the Scriptures to come to his conclusions. He was sharing what he learned, even if it didn’t agree with the current religious model.

God used lightning to get Martin’s attention.  In July of 1505, while attending law school, Martin was caught in a storm.  A bolt of lightning almost hit him. He begged God to save him, promising if He did, Martin would dedicate his life to Him.  Martin lived up to his word. On July 17, just days later, he joined an Augustinian Monastery. Martin spent the next twelve years studying and teaching the Scriptures. His insights into Scripture have influenced Christian thought for centuries.  He had to have known, when he hung those theses on the door the controversy he was creating, he knew the consequences were excommunication from the church. Yet he feared God more than excommunication. As a result, he helped start a whole new way of thinking.

His faith is what helped Martin overcome his fear of what people would think.  His faith prompted him to begin a discussion that is is still continued today. When we place our faith in God, giving him our all, we don’t know where He will take us or what He will ask us to do.  But in order to overcome our fears, we have to take steps of faith. We have to believe in a God who is bigger than all of our problems. We have to have faith in His love and grace He has given us so freely through Jesus.  When we come to God honestly, laying our fears at His feet, admitting we can’t overcome them without Him, He will show up. He will overcome. We won’t be disappointed. 

“Whoever lives with integrity fears the Lord, but the one who is devious in his ways despises Him.”  Proverbs 14:2 CSB

The definition for integrity in Webster’s Dictionary of 1828 includes this phrase: “integrity comprehends the whole moral character, but has a special reference to uprightness in mutual dealings, transfers of property, and agencies for others.”  In other words, someone who walks with integrity is not a snake oil salesman.  Snake Oil was brought into the country by the Chinese when they immigrated here in the mid 1800’s.  The product they brought was actually an effective treatment for arthritis and bursitis. The ointment was made from the oil of the Chinese watersnake.  But then there was Clark Stanley, also known as the “Rattlesnake King.” Because Chinese water snakes are not in America, he made snake oil out of rattlesnakes.  Snake oil made from rattlesnakes did not possess the healing powers of the original oil. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Stanley didn’t even use rattlesnake oil in his potion.  In 1917 the FDA analyzed his product and found the main ingredient to be mineral oil. He was a fraud, who had stolen money from anyone he had sold his product too. And his claim to fame is the originator of the term, “snake oil salesman.”

Clark Stanley did not fear the Lord, his devious way of doing business shows his lack of integrity.  He lied to his customers. He took something that was good and made it bad. But then there is Stanley Tam who started his business in the 1930’s on the verge of bankruptcy, he made God controlling partner of his business. He literally went to an attorney and had legal documents drawn up putting God in charge.  Now in his 90’s he gives millions away each year for the Great Commission. One man walked with integrity, one man did not. One walks with fear of the Lord, the other will forever be known as a fraud. Walking with integrity is especially challenging when money is involved. 

When we were first married and I was adjusting to life with a joint checking account, we developed our budget.  We each get a certain amount we can spend without asking the other. I was at the grocery store buying groceries, when I had this thought.  “Ron will never know if I get an extra $20 back.” I was shocked I would even think such a thing. Ron and I during or premarital counseling were warned about how divisive money can be in a marriage.  I had just had my first real taste of how that division could start so innocently. If I had chosen to take that path, where would it have led me? The lesson has remained with me of how easily any of us can stray, it takes but a moment to change direction.  Gratefully, when you walk with integrity, fearing the Lord, He’ll keep your paths straight.

“You came near whenever I called you; you said, “Do not be afraid.” Lamentations 3:57 CSB

Years ago I had the opportunity to go to the U.S. Open in Flushing Meadows, NY.  By Divine Providence, I ended up watching Roger Federer, arguably the greatest tennis player ever, practice.  Not only did I get to watch him practice, I was close, just yards from him. I watched as he moved onto the court with his team.  I saw as he sat down in the chair closest to the net, opening his newspaper to read. His hitting partner sat behind him; he knew to go to his chair and wait until Roger was ready.  After perusing the paper, Roger folded it, grabbed his racquet and walked to the baseline. As if on que, his hitting partner stood up and walked to the other baseline, not a word was exchanged.  I’ve never forgotten that moment. Everyone knew their roles, they did what the were supposed to do, all in perfect harmony. Our relationship with God can have the same harmony.

When we call on Him, He draws near.  He moves, just as Roger’s hitting partner, exactly where He needs to be.  But He doesn’t move until we call on Him. Often, our fears make us forget our Father.  When we let them rule our thoughts we forget who we have to call on in the midst of the turmoil.  The more we remember to call on Him, the more harmony we will have in our lives. Jesus tells us, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light” (Matthew 11:28-30 NLT). 

The harmony comes from trusting Jesus that His yoke is easy to bear, His burden light.  He’s waiting, just as Roger’s hitting partner, for us to move. He’ll teach us His ways, which are humble and gentle.  We will find rest when we put on His yoke. The more we find harmony with Jesus, the more our relationship will require less words and more motion.  Just as no words were spoken between Roger and his hitting partner, we’ll need less words with God as we know Him better. Each day we seek Him, we’ll move more naturally with Him.  But first we have to move closer. When we move closer to Him, He comes near. And when He is near, we need not be afraid.

“He will not fear bad news; his heart is confident, trusting in the Lord.” Psalm 112:7 CSB

I tried to find what the name of the phobia for fearing bad news is, there isn’t one.  However, in my search, I found the Wiki page with the list of phobias, I was shocked at the things people fear.  Which is why I find it shocking that there isn’t a name for fear of bad news.  All of us have that fear to some extent. This fear comes when the phone rings in the middle of the night.  This fear comes when you don’t want to go to the doctor because you’re afraid of what they might tell you. This fear arises when the school your child attends calls in the middle of the day.  We may not realize we have this fear, but we all have it to some extent. And this fear has the capability of growing if we allow it. After we have received a phone call with bad news, we can become afraid of all phone calls.  Because this bad phone call came in the middle of the day, not the middle of the night. Now you are aware bad things happen all the time. Now you have developed a fear of all phone calls. The fear has grown, but only if you allow it to grow.

Paul, in one of his final letters, wrote to a scared young pastor named Timothy.  He wrote him these words: “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:6-7).  Paul is telling him, God gave you the Holy Spirit, He has power, use it. He’s telling Timothy, focus on God, not your fears. Whatever Timothy focuses on is what will consume him. We are the same way, if we focus on our fears, they will consume us.  But if we focus on God, our fears won’t control us. They won’t stop us from answering the phone or going to the doctor. We won’t have fear, because our thoughts are focused on God. When our thoughts are focused on God, there is no room for fear.

I fight fear by meditating on a Scripture.  According to Rick Warren, if you know how to worry, you know how to meditate.  Worry is thinking about something over and over again.  Meditating is thinking about a Scripture over and over again.  When I went through a period of time after Cody died when I was afraid to answer the phone, I used today’s Scripture.  When I started to get fearful, I’d just think about this Scripture instead. I shifted my thoughts to God instead of my fear.  I still do it today. And you can too. Try it, next time you are fearful, find a Scripture and think about it instead. You’ll be amazed at the outcome.

“There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment.  So the one who fears is not complete in love.” 1 John 4:18 CSB

Today is my husband’s birthday.  He has helped me overcome more fears than any other person I have ever known, he has done it all with love.  By the time we met, my heart had been broken so many times, I was done. I was done putting my heart back out in the open for people to stomp all over.  And just when I thought I was going to be single forever, I walked onto the third tennis court at Back Creek Park to meet my prince. People didn’t expect Jesus to be born in a barn and laid in a manger.  I didn’t expect my prince to be wearing a white pocket t-shirt and black shorts, but he was. I have never met a man with as soft of a heart as my husband. The men in my family have big personalities, Ron’s is quiet.  He has a tenderness that is all his own, it continues to surprise me. But his quiet love for God, to me, is his most endearing quality. He understands God’s love in a way I don’t, he lives it in a way I aspire too. His heart breaks when anyone feels they aren’t worthy of God’s love, because all are.

The first fear I overcame was sending an email to him.  His response encouraged me to send the next. Each step of our relationship was me overcoming another fear. Each step was a step of faith because I trusted God more than Ron.  I began to give him bits and pieces of my heart, each time overcoming another fear. But also growing in my trust in the Lord. I relied on His love to enable me to love Ron. I trusted God, I knew, even if Ron rejected me, He never would.  I learned the truth of Ecclesiastes 4:12 which says a cord of three strands cannot be broken.  God’s strength, Ron’s tender love, helped me overcome deep seated fears.  Some of the fears I had carried with me since I was a child. Most of them I didn’t even know I had.

My husband is not a perfect man, but his love for me is perfect and drives out fear.  I still have fears, but they are not as many. My fears are less because of the love of God, and the love of my husband.  Whether you’re single or married, God’s love is truly all you need. God’s love guided me onto the tennis court that night.  God’s love helped me have the courage to begin a new relationship. God’s love is what binds us together on the tough days. God’s love is perfect, He will drive out fear if you let Him.  Place your trust in Him.

“I say to you, my friends, don’t fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more.”  Luke 12:4 CSB

Jesus is speaking to a crowd of thousands when we find the passage above.  He’s already warned them to beware of religious hypocrites (Luke 12:1-3 CSB).  Now He is telling them, and us, not to fear people.  People can only harm you to a certain extent. Jesus is telling us who we should really fear. “Fear Him who has authority to throw people into hell after death.  Yes, I say to you, this is the one to fear” (Luke 12:5 CSB).  The verses that follow exemplify how much God loves us. “Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight.  Indeed the hairs of your head are all counted. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Luke 12:6-7 CSB).

As we have progressed through this month of fear, God keeps leading us back to the same place, Him.  There is only one fear we are to have, and that is fear of Him. We have to have ultimate respect for the One who is truly in control of all, God.  But yet we don’t. Yesterday I was texting with friends, getting ready for the retreat. I’m planning on using a trust exercise during my talk. One of my friends responded back, “I have trust issues.”  Without thinking I replied back, “We all do because we humanize God.” I had never thought of this before, but after I sent it, I pondered on it’s truth. I thought of how I humanize God. Because I think of Him as male, and because I have trust issues with men, I sometimes have problems trusting God completely.  Even as far as I have come, I still have so far to go. What human characteristics do you put on God? What trust issues are you projecting on God that He doesn’t deserve? It’s worth time thinking about these things to help you move past them and trust God completely.

Trusting God completely will allow you to have the reverential awe for Him that He deserves.  Trust will help you put Him first over people, because He will never let you down. He will never break your trust.  He will always fight for you, not against you. Whatever your fears are, He is the key to overcoming them. Having a healthy fear of God, according to Jesus, is the only fear we should have.  But first we have to put God first in all things, over all people, trusting His way, even though it’s different from ours. Trusting His ways, not ours, is the way to overcome all other fears.