Tagged: Nancy GIbson

DO WHAT YOU CAN WHEN YOU CAN 8

Encouragement / Teaching

WHAT YOU CAN, WHEN YOU CAN

I woke up yesterday morning ready to embrace the day. After traveling to Houston to visit relatives for New Year’s, I was eager to cook, clean, and jump into day one of my annual Daniel Fast. Mid-morning, mild nausea and an overall icky feeling arrived. I persevered, concocting the two soups already underway until excruciating back pain snatched my breath. Seized by gripping pain and unable to walk, I bent over the kitchen sink. Agonizing over the debilitating pain and frozen in place, I considered the bubbling soup simmering on the stove across the room. The ‘next step’ for the...

8

Encouragement

MINDING MY OWN BUSINESS

MINDING WHOSE BUSINESS? I was minding my business. In reality, I was helping my mother with her business—choosing floor covering. The flooring department at Home Depot looked deserted last Friday morning. We perused the aisles looking at various options until a specific carpet sample captured her attention. Familiar with my mother’s ‘that’s it’ decision-making process, we wanted to arrange the installation. There were no store associates at the desks located in the home services area. A young man with a big smile pulling a loaded pallet jack caught my eye when he appeared from behind a kitchen display. I inquired...

YOUR LIFE—A GIFT 2

Encouragement

YOUR LIFE—A GIFT TO GIVE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Last week I flew to the Pacific Northwest—a place where my soul soars unlike anywhere else. Oregon’s towering forests, winding roads, vast stretches of orchards, snowy mountain peaks, breathtaking beauty, and civil temperatures expand and enrich my spirit. Especially after enduring a long stint of stifling Texas temperatures. The primary purpose of the trip was to celebrate my mother-in-law’s 95th birthday. The big bash, scheduled for Sunday afternoon at her church, brought friends and family together. After being isolated due to the pandemic, gathering with others did her heart good. She retracted her ‘I don’t want a party’...

6

Comfort and Hope / Poetry

THE HELPER

HOLY SPIRIT Hold me close—don’t let me spin A skillful tale apart from Him Wake me up to satan’s schemes Don’t let me die within my dreams Or fancied ways of coping with The constant trials, tilts, and shifts Do keep me in Reality With Your eyes, Lord, help me see, Discern and learn, live Your truth O Lord, I long to see the proof Of what You say and who You are Fleshed out whether causing scar, Joy or peace, pain or sorrow, Every moment, every hour Clinging to the glorious Vine Your life flowing into mine Your thoughts...

10

Comfort and Hope

HOW TO ENCOURAGE YOURSELF AND BOLSTER YOUR FAITH

A dear friend invited me to help stage some new merchandise at their non-profit coffee shop. Happy to help, I had no idea God would use the experience to encourage me and bolster my faith. Zera Coffee Company supports the ministry of Denton Freedom House, where individuals enslaved by addiction find freedom through the gospel of Jesus Christ.  In between tasks, I chatted with a couple of precious ladies currently going through the women’s program. Working at the coffee shop is part of their training. God used them, and our conversations, to remind me of His eternal goodness in a...

Keep looking unto Jesus 0

Exhortation

WHERE ARE YOU LOOKING?

Caught Up In The Moment Dazzled by the glistening stars, my friend pedaled her bicycle down the quiet street. Mesmerized by their twinkling beauty, face thrust toward heaven, she reveled in the wonder of it all—until she tasted blood on her lip. Sprawled on the dewy grass she realized a ‘curb had jumped in front of her.’  Thankfully, nothing was broken. Veering off course and crashing is a real possibility if we fail to keep our eyes focused on where we are headed. If I am not careful, gawking at diversions can captivate my attention and catapult me into a...

change, growth, transformation, empowered 4

Encouragement

CHANGE, GROWTH, TRANSFORMATION?. . .”JUST KEEP SWIMMING”

Image by Veronica Enriquez from Pixabay We take what we think are the tools of spiritual transformation into our own hands and try to sculpt ourselves into robust Christlike specimens. But spiritual transformation is primarily the work of the Holy Spirit. He is the Master Sculptor.    Jerry Bridges SILENTLY, AND WITHOUT REALIZING Everyone infused with, and empowered by God’s very life, is being transformed. The Apostle Paul, when addressing the Corinthians explains it this way,  “And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image...

Giving brings blessing 0

Comfort and Hope

GIVING — A Poem and Some Pondering Points

The Giver God’s scandalous kindness and His excessive goodness gush forth unhindered. Revitalizing streams of mercy and vast oceans of grace are free for the taking. The upside-down kingdom where in giving we receive and in dying we live defies human reasoning. Yet every time we give, as led by Him, we are splashed, refreshed, and invigorated by Love Himself. Praise Him! The Divine Design—A Paradox Enriched beyond what’s given Replenished by His grace Supplying, never lacking Decadent disgrace Obnoxious overflowing Continual supplies Giving from His fullness Barrenness denied Receiving in the giving  Mysterious refrain  Deepening communion No loss, only...

Shade of grace 2

Encouragement

SHADE OF GRACE — AS A LIFESTYLE

GOD’S INVITATION TO SHADE Life is hard. We are all damaged—ravaged by the sins of others and the consequences of our own sinful choices, a broken world, and the enemy’s schemes. Things break—glasses, cars, hearts, all the things. The heat is on. Challenging circumstances, pressure, disappointments, relationship struggles, unexpected diagnoses, anything, and everything threatens to zap our strength, steal our joy, and distract us from knowing and enjoying God.  All of it—the hard, broken, difficult things in life can be redeemed if we will do one thing—come to Jesus.  Come out from the oppressive heat into the shade of God’s...

7

Encouragement

SHADE OF GRACE — PART FIVE Be Still

THE RIGHT DIRECTION I was headed over to one of my mother’s rental properties to open the recently vacated apartment. Instead of turning onto the street where the duplex is located, I decided to circle the block.  Approaching the stop sign the thought of heading straight came to mind. A street at the top of the hill has charming older homes with gorgeous landscaping that never disappoints.  When I stopped at the sign I heard, in my spirit, “Turn right”. Without hesitation, I did. The next intersection required me to stop and yield to traffic. When I looked left, sandwiched...