Tag Archives: difficult situations

The Greatest Christmas Presence

Posted on by yolandaberry
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During this season, we are busy preparing for the biggest day of the year: Baking cookies, stringing lights on the tree, attending Christmas parties, going shopping, and wrapping presents.

Christmas can also be a very depressing and lonely time of the year for many. While family and friends gather together, many are left alone. Others are left without gifts, food, or shelter. Others may have lost a loved one and Christmas is just not the same anymore.  It can crush someone’s spirit when they don’t feel joy and cannot celebrate as others do.

Jesus cares. It’s through Him that we share His same spirit to help and assist one another in life. A kind word, a hug, a listening ear, a warm touch, or simply a smile can heal unspoken wounds or silent tears.

Jesus is with you in the most desperate of times. His name, “Emmanuel” means God with us. Yes, we may ignore his presence when everything is going great in our lives, but He never leaves us regardless if we acknowledge him or not. He patiently waits for us to come to Him. He is patient and kind and loves us more than we will ever know.

Through all the exciting festivities, I challenge you to take time out during the holiday season to focus on the reason for the season which is the birth of Christ. The Lord sent His Son for our salvation which is the greatest gift in the world. His presence is forever with us. We are part of His heavenly family once we acknowledge Him and accept Him into our hearts as our Lord and Savior.

I-pads, tablets, iPhones, the latest video games, or flat-screen TVs will never compare. Jesus is the greatest Christmas presence ever known.

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Emmanuel.” Isaiah 7:14

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.”  Luke 2:14

Developing a Foundation of Prayer

Posted on by yolandaberry
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forgive-and-let-go

Those who diligently seek me shall find me.

Building a relationship with Jesus requires daily communication with Him.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. “In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” “Be not wise in thine own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil.” Prov 3

We may lose sight of the importance of daily prayer due to a busy schedule, but we must put God first in all our endeavors for His protection, grace, mercy and provision.

His grace is sufficient. He provides blessings to the just and the unjust, but when you are in a relationship with Him you are open to receive the many benefits and promises that He gives freely to His children.

Prayer is more than asking God to do or give you something. It’s an act of worship and praise.

It’s in the quiet moments when we acknowledge who He is that provides us peace, inner joy and strength to go through our day with high expectations. When we pray over our lives and others, we will gain a sense of inner harmony and peace despite what we may encounter through the day.

Sometimes we may feel our prayers go unanswered, but God has our best interest at heart. It must be His will not our own. Everything happens for a higher and greater purpose that we may not understand at the time, but through faith, obedience and patience, we will inherit the promises of God.

God works in seasons. Abraham and Sarah, The Apostle Paul, Daniel, Joseph, Job and Moses are examples of people who had to endure and wait for the promises of God.

I write this piece to encourage you to endure any situation, circumstance or obstacle. I am a living example of the realities of deterred dreams, dealing with extreme difficulties and disappointments, but God never fails and His word does not return void. (Isaiah 55:11)

Growing Among the Weeds

Posted on by yolandaberry
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While going for a walk, I noticed patches of grass and weeds growing between the cement on the sidewalk. I started to think about how little soil it took to provide growth.

I related this image of a weed with handling difficult life experiences. You may be placed in hard place, but still have the opportunity for growth. I never paid attention to how grass can grow in such a hard foundation within a tight area and still flourish and have life.

When you are found in a difficult situation, you will tend to experience a series of life lessons that command your attention for growth. The life process never ends. From birth to old age, you will continue acquiring knowledge, wisdom and opportunities for growth. Sometimes the worst experiences provides the best opportunities to learn about yourself and others. In the hard places is where you find out who you really are.

The Apostle Paul stated, “To be content in no matter what circumstances you may be in.” Sometimes it’s difficult to accept your circumstances because you are constantly focused on your surroundings. You may be dealing with an uncomfortable environment or dramatic changes in your life, but when you take the time to search within for healing, forgiveness or whatever is disrupting your peace of mind, you will find that life has much more things to offer despite the challenging opposition.

If the grass and weeds can grow in such a dry place without the essential nutrients of a rich, fertile soil, how much more can you flourish in the midst of a a challenging situation?