Many of us have “lost” families for various reasons. Maybe through death, geography, dysfunction, neglect, … ? But I love God’s promise that we never need to be family-less.
God places the lonely in families … Psalm 68:6a NLT
Read MoreThe Lord bless you, and keep you;
The Lord cause His face to shine on you, …
God loves families. He has placed each of us in our family at our birth. If we are adopted or marry, we gain another family. And so, we belong to each other.
God blesses families. Our human family is a picture of the family of God. In His family, we belong to each other, and we need each other.
This was especially true during the recent worldwide pandemic. During the quarantine, we were amazed how people across the miles connected with one another in many ways. We needed to “be together.”
Read MoreSunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly flow the days ...
So goes the beautiful wedding song from the movie, Fiddler on the Roof. And so go our days, don’t they? One day follows another – sunrise, sunset.
And so has followed the days of our Gulf Shores family vacation — from early morning sunrises together to all of a sudden a final sunset.
My husband John and I are currently on a long car trip. In the midst of it, we find ourselves heading to a beloved place — Tucson, Arizona. John is an Arizona “native son,” and Tucson is the home of our Alma Mater, the University of Arizona (Go! Wildcats!). Also back in the 1950’s, Tucson was my family home. So Tucson truly is special to us.
Read More2 Corinthians 13:14 is one of the most glorious benedictions in Scripture. It is a blessing celebrating the fullness of the Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Read MoreMy husband and I have been watching The Chosen. For those of you who are not familiar with this truly riveting dramatic series, here is the storyline of the first season:
Read More
We all experience it...from the day we are born until the day we die! Disappointment! Unmet needs, unfulfilled expectations, failed relationships, frustrated goals, and on and on...Disappointment!
Here is a little gem of a quote. I found it on a little card tucked way down in the bottom of a manila folder, and it says it well:
Disappointment:
God's way of dimming the glamour of the world and deepening our ability to enjoy Him.* Psalm 119:37
Think about it! Has this been your experience? It has mine. Years ago, when my health was breaking...and there were no answers...and there was no one to believe me -- not my doctors, not my loved ones -- that's when I found the Lord in the deepest part of my being.
Now I thank God for that very dark time...because I was abandoned to HIM! And I've never been the same.
Maybe you are facing deep disappointment right now. Turn your eyes away from the external things. Instead turn your attention to the Lover of your soul -- enjoy HIM as you never have before!
We pray for blessings, we pray for peace Comfort for family, protection while we sleep We pray for healing, for prosperity We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while You hear each spoken need Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things
'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops What if Your healing comes through tears? What if a thousand sleepless nights Are what it takes to know You're near?
What if trials of this life Are Your mercies in disguise?
We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
And all the while You hear each desperate plea And long that we'd have faith to believe
'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops What if Your healing comes through tears? And what if a thousand sleepless nights Are what it takes to know You're near?
And what if trials of this life Are Your mercies in disguise?
When friends betray us, when darkness seems to win We know that pain reminds this heart That this is not, this is not our home It's not our home
'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops What if Your healing comes through tears? And what if a thousand sleepless nights Are what it takes to know You're near?
What if my greatest disappointments Or the aching of this life Is the revealing of a greater thirst This world can't satisfy?
And what if trials of this life The rain, the storms, the hardest nights Are Your mercies in disguise?
*Bill Gothard
Janet Renner Loyd has been a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ most of her life. Her formal education includes a degree in education from the University of Arizona and also a degree in Bible & Theology from Moody Bible Institute. For more than thirty years, she has been involved in teaching and leading women’s Bible studies, retreats, and meetings…most notably Precept upon Precept and various studies that she has personally developed. Professionally, Jan recently retired from teaching language and writing to GED and adult ESOL students.
About her life, Jan says, “The most important thing about me is my relationship with my Father God through my Lord Jesus Christ. I am forever grateful to Him for His love, mercy, and grace to me and my family and friends...and the world.”
Jan has been happily married to John Loyd for more than forty years. They have two adult, married children and five lively young grandsons.
