Beyond The Front Porch

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Posted by Kim Stanley, April 24, 2024

I'm looking out my kitchen window to admire our new deck, which has just been built. It's spacious, empty, and begging for an outdoor dining table, but I love looking at the new wood beams and beautiful railing. Our previous deck was over 30 years old, the same age as the rest of our house. Aside from fresh paint and updating things, the house is still structurally sound, unlike our old deck.

My husband called it "vintage" and assured me it was safe. I loved to sit out there and use it as an office, which is possible for many months out of the year here in Georgia. We had a friend in construction come to inspect it & give us an estimate for fixing the old deck. He condemned it. 

No more sitting on the deck to write. And definitely no more morning pancakes with the grandkids.

Now, an outdoor deck is not a necessity in our lives. We have a roof over our heads, heat, air, and running water inside our home. And I'm grateful. But the deck is an extension of our living space.

Like my front porch is. My front porch is the entryway into our home. Old friends like Michele and Kelly come in through the front door after they've walked onto our front porch.

We catch up with each other in our living room, until the kitchen calls us to dinner. Probably chicken enchiladas.

Then, we move to the back deck for dessert and cards. We listen to the owls screech and the coyotes howl (and I live in the city limits.) We turn on the string lights and enjoy a great time with dear friends.

That progression reminds me of my relationship with God.

He invites me over.

I slowly walk up the porch stairs and towards the door.

Jesus is the door. 

"I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture" (John 10:9 ESV).

The door becomes my entryway into Life with God. We fellowship and break bread together. I sit in the chair in the living room every morning in His Presence. He speaks to my heart. I get to know Him better. 

Every need, every tear, every joy, every doubt is welcome in this house.

I am welcome in this house.

I am at home in Him.

And the deck is an extension of my life in Christ.

I breathe in the fresh air of His Presence out there. 

I hear the wind of the Spirit and the trees of the forest clap their hands.

Worship in the open air deepens my intimacy with Him.

From my deck, I see a little piece of the world. Without walls and windows, my vision is unobstructed, and I can see beyond our backyard into the woods and houses hidden behind them.

There are so many people out there. Some, I imagine, hide in their homes; some have no safe place to call home. And some just need a friend.

As God has welcomed me into His home, He asks that I welcome others into mine.

Biblical hospitality has little to do with my home's appearance, how "well-appointed" it is, or even if I have furniture on my deck. It is more about the condition of my heart. Will I make room in my heart and home for new friends?

"I'm so comfortable with my old friends, God. They're easy to talk to, and they know all my faults and love me anyway," I explain to God.

He reminds me that I can start small.

One person.

It can begin with an invitation for coffee on the front porch.

Then, next time, it might be enjoying a meal around the table.

Carry out pizza and paper plates for the win.

Sharing a meal is sharing life.

We sit together, talk, ask questions, laugh, and listen as we get to know each other better.

Before you know it, we'll be on the deck for a cookout, a card game, and chocolate cake.

I'm going to love this deck.

Kim Stanley is a worship leader, speaker, writer, and is the worship leader for Touching Hearts Ministries. She and her husband Joe have been in itinerant worship ministry for over 30 years. She is the founder and director of One Thing Worship, a retreat ministry for women that provides sacred time and space to be still and hear the voice of God. She also co-hosts a podcast called “A Burst Of Hope” with Martha Wilson. She and Joe have been married for 40 years; they have 4 grown children, one in heaven, and 6 grandchildren. They live in the south metro Atlanta area. You can connect with Kim on her website, www.joeandkimstanley.com, and on Facebook and Instagram @onethingworship.

The Anchor

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Posted by Pat Elsberry, April 17, 2024

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.“ (Hebrews 6:19 NIV)

Have you ever contemplated the importance of having an anchor? When we think of that word, our thoughts may lean toward a boating experience. Or you may consider an anchor someone who provides emotional or spiritual support and stability. Before walking through the grief journey, I only thought a little about anchors. But, as the journey became more challenging, I realized I desperately needed something to help stabilize me. I am grateful for my faith, as Jesus became my anchor in every sense. 

While it’s important to realize that although anchors have long been associated with the Lord, having Jesus as our anchor doesn’t mean we won’t go through any storms. It simply means we can rely on something bigger than us that will provide a firm foundation to steady us when the storms of life come. 

My husband, Fred, and I have dear friends who are avid sailors. I’ll be the first to admit I don’t know much about sailing, but my friends absolutely love being out on the water for a week or two at a time. I imagine knowing they have an anchor is essential when they’re settling in for the night. Every anchor I’ve ever seen is a massive, heavy, unbreakable piece of iron attached to a long, sturdy rope or chain. At the end of the day, when my friends throw that anchor overboard, they are confident it will do what it’s supposed to–keep them from drifting out to sea while sleeping.

While having a reliable anchor is essential, it’s equally important that the attached rope is strong, stable, and secure. Each one cannot function at its best without the other. The same is true of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. When Jesus left us, He said He would leave us with a Comforter–someone we could confidently rely on and trust. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth, our counselor, advocate, and paraclete. In other words, the Holy Spirit is the rope attached to our anchor, Jesus. If we pay close attention and listen to the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit, He will keep us steady during the storms of life. 

While I may never physically be out on the ocean waters, it’s become more apparent to me that if I cling to Jesus, who is my anchor, then I will also be tethered to the Holy Spirit–the most robust rope we could ever dream of having and one that will never fray or break.

“We put our hope in the LORD; he is our protector and our help. We are glad because of him; we trust in his holy name. May your constant love be with us, LORD, as we put our hope in you.”

Psalm 33:20-22 GNT

Pat Elsberry is an author, speaker, blogger, and a passionate advocate for parents dealing with grief after the loss of a child. Pat created multiple social media groups focused on providing hope to others who are walking the same path, including her blog, Hope During Loss. Pat facilitates an in-person grief share for women who have experienced child loss, and is also a moderator for Team Sharing, a nationwide peer-led support group for parents who have lost children to substance use disorder. Pat is the author of Beautifully Broken: Finding Hope During Loss, and will soon release her first devotional, Comforted by God. Pat and her husband, Fred live outside Atlanta and have a blended family of 7 children and 5 grandchildren. Her favorite things include traveling, cooking, gardening, dark chocolate, and worship music. You can find Pat on her blog, www.hopeduringloss.com, and on Facebook and Instagram @HopeDuringLoss.

Just As He Said

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Posted by Priscilla Carr, April 10, 2024

I was reminded of Jesus’ faithfulness this Easter season. When the angels were at Jesus’ empty tomb and the Marys arrived looking for the body of their Savior, the angel told the women, “Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here. For He has risen, just as He said” (Matt. 28:5-6). Jesus had told His disciples many times that He would be crucified, but that He would be raised again in 3 days. The week leading up to the crucifixion He even demonstrated this when He raised Lazarus from the dead just by speaking, “Lazarus come out.” (John 11:43) He proved that He is the Resurrection and the Life as Lazarus regained life at His word.

Sometimes I need reminders that the Bible verses that mean so much to me, those promises I hold tightly to, aren’t just words. They are declarations that our Lord made Himself or spoke through His prophets and apostles. The medium isn’t important nor are the words that were spoken without the backing of the One who made the promises. Anyone can make a promise. But, only God Himself, 100% of the time, will keep His promises. So, His words are credible, life-giving, and essential.

I’m going through a Bible study of the “I Am” statements of Jesus. Jesus made a lot of declarations of who He is. For example, He said, “I am the bread of life” [after He had fed thousands of people with only a few fish and small loaves of bread] (John 6). He said, I am the light of the world (John 8:12), and then He healed the eyes of one born blind so that he could physically (and spiritually) have light (John 9). He said, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25,26), and we know how He resurrected Lazarus and Himself. He said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6) and then He ascended bodily into the heavens (Acts 1:9) as witnessed by His disciples. Jesus can be trusted and believed.  

One of my favorite Bible verses is Hebrews 13:5b (AMPC), “For He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]”. 

From a child I witnessed God’s faithfulness in my mother’s life after my parents divorced. My mother was left to raise 5 children on her own. But, I actually saw that my mother was not on her own. She relied heavily on her Savior Jesus during those very trying years, and I watched Him provide for his daughter and her children. Just as He said, He provided and did not leave her without support or without Himself.

Another verse I love was given to me by a counselor. Philippians 1:6, “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” I grew up believing performance earned love. When I came to Jesus and accepted Him as Savior, I also believed I had to perform to earn and keep His love. When my eyes were opened to really see this verse (I’d read through the Bible but somehow this verse had eluded me), I marveled! You mean God will do everything in me to make me like Himself? You’re saying God has taken on the responsibility of making me more like Jesus? I don’t have to clean myself up? How long will this “good work” that He will do last? Until I really mess up? Until I react in anger and say hurtful words? Until I commit that besetting sin 70X7 times? Until I fail Him again by not loving and serving “the least of these” enough? Until I hurt His heart for the 50th time in a day? I finally understood and could finally exhale and not expect the hammer to fall when I did not live up to my expectations or the expectations of others. Because, just as He said, He will carry my sanctification on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Every day until that day when Jesus returns for even me, I can be confident that He will continue to perfect me. You have that same assurance.

I’ve written about this last point before—Jesus is preparing a place for us, all true believers, at His table! At the Last Supper, He said, “Truly I tell you; I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God” (Mark 14:25). I see a grand invitation in Jesus’ statement.

There is a day coming when the kingdom of God will be seen and known. 

The Holy Spirit assures us of this when we choose to listen, and there are so many signs and wonders taking place that also indicate His kingdom is coming “soon.” And when it comes, just as He said, each of us has an invitation to sit with Him and to drink of the “fruit of the vine” with Him in His kingdom!  

It is impossible for God to lie—impossible! (Hebrews 6:18) We trust Him and await that day when, just as He said, we’ll be with Him in the place (Matt 14:2) He’s preparing for us. He is a loving God who has always been faithful and has proven faithful in my life and the lives of countless others.

“God is not a man, that he should lie; 

neither the son of man, that he should repent: 

hath he said, and shall he not do it? 

or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”

(Numbers 23:19)

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;

There is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;

As Thou hast been Thou forever will be.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see:

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Thomas Chisholm (1866–1960) with music composed by William M. Runyan (1870–1957)

Priscilla Carr was born in NYC, but has lived in metro Atlanta since 1979. She is a Navy veteran trained in electronics which God used for a 30-year career at the FAA. She uses her training to provide audio support to Touching Hearts Ministries, and is the Editor and Producer of “A Burst of Hope” podcast. She began her adult new life in Jesus in 1990 right before leaving the Navy, and today she exudes her love for Jesus. She is the proud mama to two rambunctious fur kids, Gracie (Lab) and Faith (Pit-mix). Priscilla was encouraged by elementary teachers to write. She took creative writing courses in High School and college, but in the mid-eighties, she stopped writing. The desire to write has been recently reawakened, and she is thriving in her new writing adventure.