Author: Patsy Kuipers

Overwhelmed, Christmas 2025

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Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 1:3

Despite my best intentions, there comes a point in the weeks leading up to Christmas when I nearly have a meltdown, wondering how I’ll ever get everything done. I lose sight of what we’re celebrating, and the wonder and joy of the season ebb away. When that happens, it’s time to refocus on eternal truths that will remain the same regardless of how many to-dos I cross off my list this holiday season.

Perspective

What came to your mind when you read the title of this post? Was your initial reaction positive or negative? Usually, when I say I’m overwhelmed, I’ve reached the point of waking up in the middle of the night, wondering how I’ll ever get everything done.

A quick check of Merriam-Webster online yields results that support the negative connotations of the verb:

1: to upset, overthrow

2a: to cover over completely: submerge b: to overcome by superior force or numbers c: to overpower in thought or feeling

However,  inspired by our pastor’s sermon series on Ephesians, I began pondering a more positive take on the word. In Ephesians 1:3-14, the Apostle Paul gushes over God’s blessings in Christ:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

I’ve read that passage many times, but the idea of Paul gushing over God’s goodness was new to me. Yet that’s precisely what he’s doing! I imagine him exalting God, nearly breathless, as he recounts all our blessings in Jesus. Our pastor encouraged us to do likewise and allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by God’s goodness toward us.

The Holiday Hustle

As the holiday season ramps up, so does my sense of overwhelmedness. When I contemplate adding cherished holiday traditions to my already bulging to-do list, restless nights are sure to follow. But each year, the message from Ephesians and our pastor’s frequent invitation to embrace and embody our identity in Christ have encouraged me to approach the season differently. Rather than letting my to-do list have the final say, I pray I’ll be overwhelmed instead by all the blessings that are ours because God chose to send us the best gift ever – His only begotten Son.

A Positive Practice

Several days after I originally wrote this article, my 90-year-old father had a stroke. I’d been preparing to do battle with my usual holiday stresses when a barrage of new responsibilities hit. In those early days, as I tried to ensure Dad received the proper care and managed day-to-day logistics once he returned home, I was tempted to ignore the holidays altogether. Over and over again, I thought, “I feel so overwhelmed.” And each time I did, the words I’d written came back to me, and I reminded myself of all the blessings that are mine in Christ.

After several weeks of this practice, the sequence became instinctive. I would sense the stress starting to build, sometimes multiple times a day. “How will I ever handle this?” ran through my mind, quickly followed by, “I feel so overwhelmed!” The once-negative word triggered the new, positive response, shifting my focus to the realities greater than my circumstances, realities that are valid year-round and forever: I have all I’ll ever need in Christ, plus the promise He’ll never leave or forsake me:

He has said, “I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!” (Hebrews 13:5, Amplified)

An Invitation

Will you join me? Pick one or more of Paul’s affirmations to meditate on the next time you feel weighed down by cares or responsibilities: In Christ, we are blessed, chosen, blameless, adopted into God’s family, redeemed, forgiven, sealed with the Holy Spirit, and destined to receive the inheritance held secure for us in heaven. Just reading this makes my heart sing!

Take another look at the last definition above, “to overpower in thought or feeling.” When the truth of Who God is and all He’s done for us in Christ overpowers our worries, fears, and anxieties, it is a most blessed conquest indeed.

Dear Lord, as we shift our gaze from the immediate to the eternal, I pray our thoughts and feelings will be overwhelmed in the most positive way by Your amazing grace and all You’ve blessed us with in Christ, to the praise of Your glory.

Mom’s Mottos

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Her children rise up and call her blessed.
Proverbs 31:28a

My dear little mom was born on November 24, 1931. Every few years, the anniversary of her birth falls on Thanksgiving. I think it’s so appropriate when it does, since having a godly mother is one of the blessings I’m most thankful for. I originally included what I refer to as Mom’s mottos in a tribute I wrote for her birthday in 2018. There isn’t a day that goes by that one or more of them doesn’t come to my mind, and since most of them have a basis in Scripture, I’ve decided to rerun them each year in her honor. Mom was just that special.

The following nuggets of wisdom Mom shared with me throughout my life have become ingrained in my psyche. Many of them came from her mother. I’ve passed them on to my daughters and now share them with my grandchildren. I hope you will find one or more that resonate with you, too!

People will let you down, but God never will. Mom and I endured numerous trials together in the 62 years between my birth and her passing. Lies, disappointments, job loss, broken relationships, health crises, and deaths. Through it all, Mom taught me to depend on the One who says He’ll never leave or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6), faithfully keeps His promises (Hebrews 10:23), and speaks only truth (Hebrews 6:18). We will have troubles in this world, but Jesus has overcome the world. We can find peace in Him (John 16:33).

The things we worry about the most turn out the best. At first glance, this one seems to contradict Scripture: the more you worry about something, the better it will turn out. But Mom used this adage to remind me that worrying is for naught, a waste of time, because God cares for us and is sovereign over every detail, which is very much in keeping with Scripture (Matthew 6:34; Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Peter 5:7).

When faced with a list of tasks, do whatever’s bothering you the most first and get it behind you. When I felt overwhelmed, which was more often than I like to admit, Mom encouraged me with this time-tested advice one of her grade-school teachers bestowed upon her. Though it may not have been inspired by Scripture originally, there’s undoubtedly a Biblical tie-in. Usually, when my to-do list becomes overloaded, it’s filled with chores associated with temporal concerns. Cooking, cleaning, weeding, mulching, paying bills, and the like are necessary. But Jesus makes it clear we’re to seek eternal things first, trusting Him to provide all we need (Matthew 6:25-33) and spending time at His feet to learn of Him (Luke 10:38-42).

We can’t change anyone else, much as we’d like to sometimes. We can only give an account of ourselves. My reply when Mom would tell me this? “You’re right. I have a hard enough time keeping myself in line!” Once again, there’s Biblical truth in Mom’s statement. As part of His magnificent Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warned against judging others, especially since we have sin to deal with in our own lives (Matthew 7:1-5). Praise God for giving us His Spirit, which is at work in us to bring about the transformation we’re incapable of accomplishing on our own (2 Corinthians 3:17-18). Furthermore, we’re called to pray for others because only He can soften hardened hearts (Ezekiel 36:25-27).

We can’t give up. We’ve got to hold on to our faith and keep going. Throughout her life, Mom faced challenges that may have led some to quit or become bitter, from the death of my baby sister decades ago to emergency open-heart surgery later in life.

In her final years, Mom endured daily pain due to the ravages of arthritis in her fingers and cartilage deterioration in her right knee. Yet she rarely mentioned her constant aches. Instead, she clung to God’s mercies, which are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-24), and encouraged those in her inner circle to do the same. Not surprisingly, her life verse was Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” It appears on her grave marker.

There’s an end to everything and everybody sometime sooner or later. Mom usually used this phrase when a situation called for consolation, such as when a cherished object wore out, broke, or was lost. But her most poignant use of the saying came several days after she broke her hip. She recited it to me during one of her lucid moments, followed by, “I guess this is the end of me.” As much as it hurt to hear her acknowledge what was becoming increasingly likely, I could comfort her with the assurance of complete healing that awaited. As we live under the curse where death and brokenness are certainties, we have the promise of Christ’s return when all will be made new, and death will be no more (Revelation 21:1-4).

There’s nothing so bad that it couldn’t be worse. Similar to the motto above, Mom used this one to offer comfort. It also reminds me to be thankful even in trying circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18). For believers, even death isn’t the worst possible scenario. Instead, it ushers us into the presence of Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:6-8).

Think positive! In some ways, Mom and Dad were a classic case of opposites attracting. Dad was more solemn and tended to focus on potential negatives in a given situation. Being a blend of the two, there were times when I, too, would see a half-empty glass. When Dad or I started imagining a worst-case scenario, Mom cheerfully yet firmly encouraged us to “think positive!”  Trusting God and knowing that He works all things together for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28) allowed Mom to maintain a positive attitude even in daunting circumstances. I imagine her greeting Dad when he joined her in Glory with a joyful, “See, John, I told you to ‘think positive.’ It’s all ok!”

That’s a Gulf song. This statement isn’t advice, but I include it because it alludes to my heritage of faith. Mom grew up in the tiny town of Gulf, NC, where she attended a small Presbyterian church established in the 1800s. When the strains of a familiar hymn from her childhood would begin to play at our current church, Mom’s face would brighten, and one of us would usually lean toward the other and whisper, “That’s a Gulf song.” Occasionally, I’ll whisper the same to my granddaughter Lyla, who has visited the small church, understands the connection, and smiles knowingly at my statement. I don’t know how many generations my heritage of faith encompasses, but I know there are at least two behind me and two in front. I pray that the legacy of faith will be passed continually from generation to generation until Christ returns (Deuteronomy 6:4-9).

Mom’s Enduring Love

Oh, how I miss Mom! Though petite, she had a big, beautiful smile and an even bigger heart. She was my main cheerleader and most dependable defender. We all need someone who’s unconditionally, unreservedly in our corner. I’m so thankful Mom was in mine. She was my rock because she consistently pointed me to the Rock and reminded me that His everlasting arms are securely holding all who belong to Him in an eternal embrace (Deuteronomy 33:26-27a). And since Mom’s love was grounded in God’s great love, it will be with me until we meet again.

Dear LORD, thank You for the priceless blessing of a godly mother and the assurance that I will see her again! Please help me not only to recite her mottos, but also to recount Your goodness and faithfulness to coming generations as she did.

Romans 8:28

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And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.
Romans 8:28 (Amplified)

Hello, friends!

I’m immersed in preparing items for our church’s Operation Christmas Child[1] event tomorrow evening. We’re hoping to pack 300 shoeboxes, so it takes a team effort to get ready for our packing party!

Since I don’t have time to write a lengthier post this afternoon, I thought I would share John Piper’s quote about Romans 8:28, one of my favorite passages of Scripture, instead:

“When it comes to the architecture of future grace and the buildings we call the promises of God, Romans 8:28 shares the tribute of being one of the two or three greatest. This structure is staggering in its size. The infinitely wise, infinitely powerful God pledges that in this building, future grace will make everything beneficial to his people!  Not just nice things, but horrible things too – like tribulation and distress and peril and famine and sword (Romans 8:35-37) . . .   If you live inside this massive promise, your life is more solid and stable than Mount Everest. Nothing can blow you over when you are inside the walls of Romans 8:28 . . . Once you walk through the door of love into the massive, unshakable structure of Romans 8:28, everything changes.  There come into your life stability and depth and freedom.  You simply can’t be blown over anymore.  The confidence that a sovereign God governs for your good all the pain and all the pleasure that you will ever experience is an incomparable refuge and security and hope and power in your life.  When God’s people really live by the future grace of Romans 8:28 – from measles to the mortuary – they are the freest and strongest and most generous people in the world.”[2]

“From measles to the mortuary,” our heavenly Father is sovereign over every detail of our lives. I pray that assurance will comfort and encourage you today, dear readers, whatever your circumstances.

[1] Operation Christmas Child is a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse. You can find out more at samaritanspurse.org

[2] John Piper, “Future Grace,” (Colorado Springs, Multnomah Books, 2012), pp. 118-119.

Sixty Years

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Love never ends.
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:8, 13

October 25th marked sixty years since my beloved maternal grandfather, PaPa, went to be with the Lord. Even though I was only six at the time, I clearly remember the moment Mom received the news. We were watching an after-school TV show while she ironed. The phone rang, Mom answered, listened briefly, and then wailed, “No, not Daddy!”

Across the intervening decades, I’ve often marveled at the fact that I still feel PaPa’s love so deeply. Remembering his kind, gentle demeanor and the acceptance and security I  felt in his presence moves me to tears. Such emotion, despite the fact I didn’t get to spend lots of time with him in the not-quite seven years we were on this earth together.

Since becoming a grandmother fourteen years ago, a desire to love my grandchildren equally well has joined my wonder at the loving bond between PaPa and me, which has transcended the grave.

Cherished Memories

Although I don’t have many distinct memories of time spent with PaPa, I cherish the ones I do have. I recall walking hand in hand with him to the small general store, stopping by the post office to check Box 73 for mail, and waiting for the train to come by so we could wave to the conductor and count the cars.

But my favorite activity was eating apples with him. PaPa would sit me on his lap, producing an apple in one hand and his pocketknife in the other. He’d cut a slice for me, then a slice for himself. The process would continue back and forth until we finished the tasty fruit. For as long as I can remember, I’ve eaten an apple almost every day. And when I do, I always think of my grandfather.

Shared Memories

My mom’s recollections and those of several of my cousins, who were blessed to live in the same community as my grandfather, supplement and reinforce mine.

Mom was the baby of her family, the youngest of eight siblings, and her father’s darling. He called her “Babe,” warmed her clothes by the fire before she went to school on cold mornings, and waited for the bus to drop her off in the afternoons.

Mom recounted how her mother, sterner in her demeanor, would occasionally delegate the task of disciplining a wayward child to my grandfather. He would take the offending party outside, beyond her view, and tell the child to cry out while he used the switch on some inanimate object instead of their legs.

One cousin shared how PaPa would bring her paper dolls from the general store, while another recalled how he reveled in helping PaPa in his garden. Still another has memories similar to mine of sharing apples, slice by slice, sitting in his lap.

The common denominator in all our reminiscences? The unconditional love we felt in PaPa’s presence.

Building Memories

As I reflect on our shared memories, it’s clear that none of them involve grand events, expensive vacations, or exotic destinations. Sharing life and simple rituals – like eating apples, counting train cars, and working together in the garden – feeling safe and accepted, have connected generations of our family.

I’m blessed and thankful that my grandchildren live close by and that I’ve seen them several days most weeks since they were born. Even though we have made memories during beach trips and other wonderful vacations, we treasure our own little rituals, including sharing apples and gardening. I pray that they, too, feel safe and accepted in my presence and will be able to feel my love long after I’m gone.

Shared Faith

The most significant gift PaPa shared was his faith. I’ve wondered whether he was the first in his family to trust in Jesus, or whether he was following in the footsteps of his forefathers. Regardless, PaPa was a faithful member of the small rural church within sight of his house, where he served as a deacon. Memories of attending church with him, going to Sunday school in the same room Mom did when she was a child, and visiting with relatives in the churchyard after the service are lovingly tucked in my mind beside those I shared earlier.

Carrying on our family’s legacy of faith is my highest calling as a grandmother. I endeavor to weave God into our conversations and experiences (Deuteronomy 6:6-7), pointing my grandchildren to the One Who created this great big, beautiful world and loved them enough to send His Son to die for them (John 3:16). It is a blessing and a privilege to come alongside their parents as they raise them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). And what a joy to worship side-by-side on Sunday mornings, our voices united in prayer and song!

Promised Reunion

I don’t get to visit the humble graveyard where my grandparents and many other maternal relatives are laid to rest nearly as often as I’d like. My husband, Ray, is resting there, too, near my sister, Mary Jeannette, who died in infancy. Mom took her place between them three years ago, leaving a space for me. Dad joined them most recently.

When I do visit the cemetery, I gaze at the tombstones, each representing someone I love and long to see again, pondering how glorious it will be when we all rise to new life, a life that will never end (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). For the love we share now is but a shadow of the Love that awaits when the Everlasting Arms reach out to embrace us and welcome us Home (1 Corinthians 13:4-13).

Until then, I’ll remain thankful for familiar rituals, like eating apples with my grandchildren, and rock-solid faith, lovingly shared, that can reach across the decades, blessing one generation after another.

O Lord, how great are the gifts of familial love and a heritage of faith! And what a privilege it is to tell the younger generations about Your ceaseless love and faithfulness (Psalm 78:1-4). Please help us to be steadfast in doing so, so that they, too, may know the joy and peace of belonging to Your family.

Flowers or Weeds?

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Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

What do you see?

When you walk through a garden, are you more likely to see the flowers or the weeds? I’ve come to think of that question as the gardener’s version of seeing a glass as being half-empty or half-full.

On any given day, visitors to my garden can find both lovely sections festooned with flowers and unkempt patches needing my attention. My 5-year-old neighbor, Billy[1], tends to focus on the latter, zeroing in on weeds and, this time of year, unraked leaves. Though I attempt to take my young friend’s comments in stride, they sometimes sting. Try as I might, I can never stay ahead of the weeds.

Recently, Billy’s father overheard him pointing out some things that weren’t to his liking. Seeing a teaching moment, he came over and said, “How do you think it makes Ms. Patsy feel when you say things like that? How would you feel if someone came over to our yard and said the same thing?”

Eyes downcast, Billy replied, “Sad,” then quickly changed the subject.

A Proposal

But, in an effort to help him learn to see the beauty, I made a deal with him – “For every thing you tell me you don’t like about my garden, you need to tell me something you do like. How about that?”

We haven’t been outside at the same time since, so I’m not sure if my proposal will stick. Regardless, as I was reviewing our conversation, the Spirit gently convicted me. “How often do you focus on what’s irritating you or not to your liking, instead of on the blessings and provisions God has poured out on you?”

Ouch! That nudge led me to challenge myself with the same proposal I had given Billy: each time I complain, I need to thank God for a blessing. Could it be that with practice, the complaints will decrease and the praise increase? I hope so! Because ultimately, when I’m grumping about something that’s not to my liking, I’m complaining against God.

Fellow Complainers

It’s so easy to read the account of the Israelites’ wanderings and think, “What’s wrong with these people? They’re always grumbling!”

They’d seen God part the Red Sea, ensuring their deliverance from Pharaoh (Exodus 14:21-29). Yet, it wasn’t long before they were hangry, wishing they were back in the land of their captivity, where they “sat by pots of meat and ate their fill of bread” (Exodus 16:3). God provided manna (Exodus 16), which they tired of and began clamoring for meat. He rained down quail – accompanied by a plague because of their incessant whining (Numbers 11). They demanded water, which God miraculously supplied, not once, but twice (Exodus 17:1-7; Numbers 20:1-11).

Still, they muttered.

Though I’m apt to scoff at the Israelites for their griping, I recognize that I’m equally capable of being discontent. When I focus on circumstances I wish were different or long for things I don’t have, I, too, am dishonoring the Giver of all good gifts (James 1:17), the One who didn’t withhold His only Son (Romans 8:32), and has given me everything I will ever need in Him (Philippians 4:19; 2 Peter 1:3).

Perspective

It remains to be seen whether or not Billy will remember our conversation and his father’s counsel. I, however, have been practicing seeing the flowers instead of the weeds in my daily life, trusting my heavenly Father to remind me of my commitment to do so should I start to lose focus. By the power of the Spirit, I will endeavor to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

Dear Lord, thank You for the brief encounter with my little neighbor, a reminder that I, too, can fall prey to negativity. You have not withheld any good thing from me. Please help me remember that when I’m tempted to complain.

[1] Name has been changed.

Finding Hope in My Garden

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Often, when I’m working in my garden, a spiritual tie-in will occur to me. Such was the case last week.

The perennials are winding down for this year, looking rather bedraggled after enduring weeks of hot, dry weather. Soon, many of them will drop their leaves or die back completely to the ground. I’ll help others by removing this year’s growth so they can rest over the winter. But even as the plants are completing another cycle of flourishing, they’re preparing for the next.

Seeds

Seed heads have formed on numerous plants, including ornamental grasses, butterfly weed, coneflowers, and black-eyed Susans. Some of the seeds will land in a favorable place, germinate, and produce new plants, while others provide food for hungry birds. Still others can be shared with fellow gardeners.  

As I survey the variety of seeds adorning the plants, harvest some to share and leave the rest to reproduce or feed the birds, I’m reminded of God’s promise after the flood, “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.” (Genesis 8:22)

I’m also challenged. How am I sharing the bounty of spiritual blessings and wisdom God has imparted to me? Am I planting seeds that will bear spiritual fruit even after I’m gone? Am I sharing bits of Biblical wisdom to nourish fellow believers?

Buds

And then there are buds that have already formed on spring-blooming plants, the promise of future flowers when the conditions are right. The buds remind me that we’ve been sealed with the Holy Spirit, the guarantee of our inheritance in Christ (Ephesians 1:13-14). Just as the buds are waiting to blossom, we too are awaiting our glorification, knowing that when Jesus appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is (1 John 3:2).

Bulbs

Bulbs are mysterious. It takes faith to believe the homely yet intriguing packages will one day produce something beautiful. Inspecting the daffodil bulbs I purchased a few days ago, I was reminded of the assurance that one day, most likely after a period of resting in the ground unless Jesus returns first (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), my perishable body will be raised to glory, imperishable:

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
1 Corinthians 15:51-55

Hope in Him!

In a few months, springtime will return to the little plot of ground God has entrusted to me, exuberantly pointing us toward Jesus’ return when all things will be made new and all of creation will praise Him. Until then, I will make note of the evidence of things to come, resting in the assurance that God will fulfill all His promises.

Dear Lord, thank You that Your invisible attributes, namely, Your eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made (Romans 1:20).

Hugs

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The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.        
Psalm 34:18

Bedraggled

I’ve lived in Georgia long enough to know gardening can be a challenge as summer draws to a close. This year is no different. I can barely set foot outside without becoming mosquito bait, I’ve had less than half an inch of rain in the past month, and only the most heat-loving of my plants are tolerating the hot, dry conditions. The rest look tired and bedraggled, a reflection of how I’ve been feeling. (See my last post, “What a Friend,” for more on that subject.)

I’ve spent hours moving the sprinkler around the past couple of weeks in hopes of helping my plants survive until it eventually rains. One recent morning, as I went out to turn the water on, my butterfly weed caught my eye.

“Just great. Now something’s been eating my butterfly weed.”

Merry Munchers

Then it dawned on me. “Something’s been eating the butterfly weed!” Sure enough, upon closer inspection, I spied a nearly-grown Monarch butterfly caterpillar methodically munching on one of the few leaves remaining on the plant.

Thrilled, I crossed the driveway to check the butterfly weed planted on the other side. Those plants were almost stripped bare, too, but there were three tiny caterpillars chewing through the tough remains.

My dear friend Susan Hunt refers to such encounters as “heavenly hugs,” those specific touches that remind us that God knows each of His children intimately.

Preoccupied

How could I have missed seeing the caterpillars earlier? I’m usually so observant when I’m in my garden, intentionally searching for treasures that I imagine my heavenly Father placing here and there, then watching with anticipation, waiting for me to find them.

The fact that I hadn’t seen the caterpillars when they first showed up was a clear indication of my gloomy state of mind as I focused instead on the heat, drought, and mosquitoes that were robbing me of the usual joy of being in my garden. Being deprived of that comfort made the other, non-garden concerns even weightier.

Refocus

Seeing the caterpillars reminded me that there had been other treasures in the previous weeks, including a cheerful volunteer sunflower planted by an unknown critter and daily visits from the feisty hummingbird that frequents the black-and-blue salvia near my front door.

A friend, knowing my struggles of the past few weeks, reminded me of the Apostle Paul’s directive in his letter to the Philippians, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8), which followed his mandate, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

Our focus matters. The attitude of our hearts matters.

Regardless of our circumstances, God has not left us. He invites us to bring our concerns to Him, thankful for the evidence of His love all around us, confident that He will hear us and grant us His peace, peace unlike any the world can give.

Dear Lord, please enlighten the eyes of our hearts so that we may see your good gifts, reminders of Your great love for us, and a mere foretaste of our glorious inheritance in Christ (Ephesians 1:18).

What a Friend

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Search me, O God, and know my heart!
    Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting!
Psalm 139:23-24

Muddled

Do you ever find yourself in a muddle, lost for words to even explain to yourself how you’re feeling, much less to be able to convey your disquietude to someone else? Maybe your miserable mindset is the result of one big blow, or maybe it’s the result of a series of smaller disappointments that, when added together, launched you into the abyss.

I’ll admit I’ve been struggling with the latter scenario the past week. When I find myself slogging through a sea of hopelessness, Satan, the father of lies, seizes the opportunity to pile on. Thus, I decided to set aside the topic I had lined up for today’s post and instead turn to Scripture for perspective, creating a lifeline of Truth to climb out of the pit. I pray it will be helpful for any of you who may be floundering in your own slough of despond.

Jesus Knows

We don’t need to verbalize or untangle our emotions before we turn to Jesus. A simple “Help!” is sufficient.  

Even before a word is on my tongue,
    behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
Psalm 139:4

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Romans 8:26-27

Jesus Understands

When the Son took on flesh and dwelt among us, He experienced unimaginable grief, sorrow, and affliction, enabling Him to sympathize with our weaknesses.  

He was despised and rejected by men,
    a man of sorrows and acquainted withgrief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
    he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he has borne our griefs
    and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
    smitten by God, and afflicted.
Isaiah 53:3-4

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Hebrews 4:15

Jesus Cares

Jesus has compassion on those who turn to Him for solace. He doesn’t despise our frailties or minimize our sorrows.

You have kept count of my tossings
put my tears in your bottle.
Are they not in your book?
Then my enemies will turn back
in the day when I call.
This I know, that God is for me.
In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
Psalm 56:8-11

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
    and saves the crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18

He will tend his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms;
he will carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead those that are with young.
Isaiah 40:11

Jesus Hears

We never have to worry about Jesus being inattentive or too busy to listen.

The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
    and his ears toward their cry.
Psalm 34:15

I love the Lord, because he has heard
    my voice and my pleas for mercy.
Because he inclined his ear to me,
    therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
Psalm 116:1-2

I waited patiently for the Lord;
    he inclined to me and heard my cry.
He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
    out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
    making my steps secure.
Psalm 40:1-2

Jesus Invites Us to Come to Him

Jesus offers us rest for our souls, the rest we desperately need when our thoughts are running amok and we’ve succumbed to Satan’s lies.

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:6-7

Jesus Provides

Every need supplied, not just a few or every now and then – that’s what we’re promised in Christ.

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
John 14:27

Jesus Guides

As we begin to unravel our emotions and understand what brought us to the low point, we may not know what to do about the situation. How do we have the hard conversations, or ask for forgiveness, or flee Satan? We can turn to God for wisdom:

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
James 1:5-6

Jesus Delivers

When we’re struggling, the temptation is to turn to the world for comforts of various kinds or to allow ourselves to continue to wallow in our distress. Neither approach honors God nor provides a way out of our misery, but we can trust Him to provide a way out:

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13

Jesus Preserves

At times, our thinking can get so off track that we may believe, “I really messed up this time. There’s no way out or back.” That’s a lie, friends! Nothing will ever separate those who are in Christ from God’s love.

Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? . . . No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:33-35; 37-39

So, dear reader, if you find yourself in a muddle, barely able to put words to your distressing thoughts, remember that regardless of how you got there, there is One who not only understands you better than you understand yourself, but who is also attentive to your cries and ever ready to welcome, provide, guide, deliver, and preserve to the end.

Precious Jesus, thank You for humbling Yourself by taking on flesh, dwelling among us, living a sinless life, taking the penalty we deserved, and ascending to the right hand of the Father, where You continually intercede for us, so that we might have abundant life now and eternal life in Your presence. Help us to remember that we are never alone.

My grandmother’s favorite hymn, “What A Friend We Have in Jesus,” has been playing off and on in my mind as I’ve been writing. The lyrics beautifully summarize elements of my post:

What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Ev’rything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Ev’rything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged:
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our ev’ry weakness—
Take it to the Lord in prayer!

Are we weak and heavy laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Saviour, still our Refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.

Words: Joseph Scriven (1820-1866)
Music: Charles D. Converse (1866)

Put Off and Put On

/ Patsy Kuipers / Leave a comment

For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
Romans 8:29-30 CSB

About this time each year, my crape myrtle starts falling apart. At least that’s what it looks like to those who don’t realize the exfoliating bark is one of the cherished characteristics of these beautiful trees. Watching the process reminds me of one of my favorite spiritual principles, that of putting off and putting on. So, once again, I will share it with you, dear readers.

Color Harmony

Throughout most of the years I worked for a large corporation, I held the role of colorist. As such, I developed, named, and presented new carpet color options to our customers. After all the time spent honing my skills at work, I relished the opportunity to choose the interior and exterior colors when we built our home in Georgia.

My late husband’s specialty was horticulture, an equally creative endeavor. When I chose a terra cotta color scheme for the bricks and shutters of our house, I didn’t realize how challenging it would be for him to select the must-have southern plant on our list – a crape myrtle.

Even so, being a skilled horticulturalist, Ray made an excellent choice. Unlike other cultivars whose pink or purple flowers would have clashed with our cinnamon-colored exterior and offended my color sensibilities, the creamy-white blossoms of the now-stately Natchez create a harmoniously floriferous cascade each summer. But the brilliance of Ray’s choice is most apparent in the fall, for it is then that the annual process of exfoliation occurs.

As summer wanes, cracks appear in the bark along the mighty trunk, signaling the coming changes. Soon, the cracks become fissures as the old skin lifts away from the tree before finally letting go entirely, falling to the ground in long, jagged shards. To the uninitiated observer, this series of events may be unsettling. How could such an extreme shedding of bark possibly benefit the plant? Yet that very act allows the trunk to increase its girth and grow stronger. Best of all, it reveals the most magnificent cinnamon-colored covering.

Ray saw the potential in the sapling he planted so long ago. He knew what it could become.

Putting Off, Putting On

There are several concepts that I consider to be spiritual touchstones. One such idea is that of putting off and putting on. In His analogy of an unclean spirit leaving a man only to return to its neat but empty former abode, Jesus made it clear it’s not enough to make a show of getting rid of sinful thoughts and behavior (Matthew 12:43-45). Instead, our repentance must be true, the kind that produces fruit in keeping with our profession of faith (Matthew 3:8), as we put on right thinking and conduct pleasing to God.

The Apostle Paul affirms this teaching in his letter to the Romans, where he encourages his readers not to conform to the world but to be transformed by renewing their minds (Romans 12:2). In his letter to the Ephesians, he goes even further. After admonishing them to “put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24), Paul goes on to provide specific examples of behavior to put off as well as corresponding replacements:

  • Put away falsehood and speak the truth. (vs. 25)
  • Let the thief no longer steal but perform honest labor. (vs. 28)
  • Do not use unwholesome language, but that which benefits and builds up those who listen. (vs.29)
  • Put away all bitterness, wrath, anger, and every form of malice. Be kind to one another, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you. (vs. 31-32)

Refined By the Spirit

Because of Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf, God already counts us as righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21), but the renovation process is far from complete. We are not yet holy as He is Holy, nor will our makeover be complete until Jesus returns. The Spirit is at work in us, transforming us with the same mighty power that raised Jesus from the dead (Ephesians 1:18-20).

At times, our refinement is painful as God strips away bits of our old nature. Our Savior suffered much (Isaiah 53:3-6). How better to know Him than to endure loss, sorrow, and persecution as He did (Romans 8:17)? Such challenges may cause outside observers or even believers themselves to question God’s methods, but we can trust the One who made us has a perfect plan to work all things together for our good and His glory (Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 8:28).

Just as Ray knew what the crape myrtle could become, given sufficient time and proper care, God knows who He created us to be (Ephesians 2:10). Furthermore, He’s promised to complete the work He’s begun in us (Philippians 1:6) and never to leave or forsake us at any point in the process (Deuteronomy 31:8). The Helper will be with us to remind us of His promises, empower us to do His will, and enable us to persevere to the end (John 14:16-17, 26). On that glorious day when Jesus returns, our transformation will be complete. All vestiges of our sinful selves will disappear, and we will gather around the throne, our new selves robed in white, to forever praise our Redeemer King (Revelation 7:9-17).

Dear Lord, thank You that You are in the process of making all things new, including Your children. Thank You for sending Your all-powerful Spirit who is transforming us from one degree of glory to another until the day we fully resemble our elder Brother, Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Lost and Found

/ Patsy Kuipers / 4 Comments

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.
Luke 19:10

Futile Search

I got a Fitbit several years ago and have been wearing it daily ever since to keep track of my steps, resting heart rate, and sleep quality. Recently, I spent an intense couple of hours working outside, clearing one of my overgrown garden beds and racking up plenty of zone minutes. After toiling in the afternoon sun, I was ready for a cool shower, followed by a refreshing salad.

While preparing dinner, I realized I didn’t have my Fitbit. I went upstairs, expecting to find it on the bathroom counter. When it wasn’t there, I returned to the kitchen and searched. No sign of it there either. Realizing I would have to conduct a more extensive search, I turned my attention back to garnishing my salad.

I could barely focus on my dinner companion, a novel I’d been engrossed in the previous dinnertime when my mind wasn’t concerned about the whereabouts of my Fitbit. After more futile searching inside, I headed outside. Not finding my Fitbit in the garage, I crept outside to poke around in the soil and among the plants where I’d been working. By then, it was dark, and I was in my PJs, hoping my neighbors wouldn’t see the light from my phone bobbing around and come over to check on me. Nothing.

In a last desperate attempt, I texted myself in hopes the tracker would light up or buzz. Still nothing. Dejected and wondering if I’d ever see it again, I gave up and went to bed. Despite the exhaustion produced by the afternoon’s labor, restful sleep eluded me. I’d doze off only to wake up with another idea of where my Fitbit might be and how to find it.

Success!

Morning dawned, bringing with it renewed hope and another plan, albeit one tied to a concerning possibility. What if my Fitbit had fallen into the large brown paper sack where I’d stuffed the weeds? Or, shudder, what if it was in the plastic bag full of poison ivy?

Fortunately, my Fitbit was still connected to my phone. I went to the garage, picked up the paper sack, and walked back and forth a few times. No steps registered on the app. I eyed the bag containing the poison ivy, thoughts teetering between hope and dread, yet knowing I wouldn’t let poison ivy keep me from retrieving my tracker. I donned my gloves, picked up the bag, and started walking, delighted to see the counter recording my steps.

I set the bag down, peered in, and shook my head as I saw my tracker looped around one of the disposable gloves I’d worn the day before. In my haste to discard the glove and the itch-causing oil on its surface, I didn’t notice my poor tracker went into the bag with it.

The Ultimate Seeker

As I scrubbed the band of the Fitbit before returning it to my wrist, I couldn’t help but think about God’s unwavering commitment to seek out the lost. Though I was determined to find my Fitbit, if repeated attempts to do so had failed, I would have eventually given up. Or what if I’d found it, but it was in a bag filled with scorpions or venomous snakes instead of poison ivy? My resolve would have evaporated like the morning mist.

But God never gives up on us. He has been steadfast in seeking out the lost and those hiding in shame ever since He replaced Adam and Eve’s fig leaves with garments of animal skins, foreshadowing the ultimate sacrifice of His beloved Son, the seed of the woman who would crush the head of the serpent (Genesis 3:8-9).

God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him (Ephesians 1:4). He would stop at nothing, even the death of His precious Son, to secure His treasured possession, a people for Himself (1 Peter 2:9).

The Good Shepherd

The spotless Lamb is also the Good Shepherd, the One who came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10), who will not break a bruised reed or quench a faintly burning wick (Isaiah 42:3). He knows His sheep, each one entrusted to Him by the Father, and none will be lost (John 10:27-29).

Lambs aren’t the only ones that ramble off. Even mature sheep can wander, enticed by greener tufts of grass on the far side of the pasture. It’s comforting to know our watchful Shepherd won’t allow us to roam forever. We’ll hear and recognize His voice and return to His side. When we do, there will be great rejoicing, just like in the parable wherein a man left his 99 sheep to search for the one that went astray (Matthew 18:24-14).

Don’t Despair

I expect many of you reading this have at least one unbelieving friend you’re praying for, or a loved one who once walked with the Lord, but who’s wandered away from the faith. It’s painful for those of us who experience the goodness and mercy of our faithful Father to know some of those we care most about aren’t savoring the sweet fellowship and saving grace we depend on for our very life. At times, we may even despair of their ever joining or returning to the fold. It’s then that we must remember the One who seeks them is the very One who promised, “I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak” (Ezekiel 34:15).

So, dear readers, keep praying, keep believing, knowing that the One who seeks the lost will never give up until all of His sheep are in the fold! Unlike my Fitbit and me, God doesn’t lose sight of any of us. He knows exactly where we and our loved ones are all the time and will stop at nothing to draw us back (Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24).