Praise Him

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Posted by Priscilla Carr, January 24, 2024

In one of our Touching Hearts studies, we explored the lives of various women in the Bible using the book Faithful. One week Martha Wilson and I co-taught on Leah and explored how rejection and disappointment can alter our outlook, cause us to seek refuge in a person or thing that isn’t God’s best for us, or cause us to withdraw from meaningful, life-giving relationships. Can you relate? Let’s review Leah’s life and longings.

Leah was the older sister of Rachel and the daughter of Laban. Jacob, son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham, left Isaac and his mother Rebekah and traveled to find a wife from Abraham’s relatives and to escape from his brother Esau, who wanted to kill him. Jacob (and their mother Rebekah) had deceived Esau and his father Isaac into giving him the privileges of the firstborn (he was not the firstborn) even though the Lord had already promised Rebekah that “the older will serve the younger” (Gen. 25:22-23 CSB), and so Esau was more than a little upset about the deception and wanted to murder Jacob. 

When Jacob saw Rachel after an arduous journey to get to his relatives, he was told that she was of his grandfather’s family. He must have felt extreme relief and hope. “As soon as Jacob saw his uncle Laban’s daughter, Rachel, with his sheep, he went up and rolled the stone from the opening and watered the sheep. Then, Jacob kissed Rachel and wept loudly. He told Rachel that he was her father’s relative, Rebekah’s son. "She ran and told her father” (Gen. 29:10-12).

Many of us know the story. Jacob fell in love with Rachel and agreed with Laban that he’d work for him for 7 years in order to marry Rachel. After 7 years, Laban deceived Jacob and gave him Leah to wed instead of Rachel. Jacob then agreed to work for Laban for an additional 7 years, and he became husband to both Leah and Rachel. But Jacob “loved Rachel more than Leah” (Gen. 29:30).  

When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, He… (Gen. 29:31) [emphasis added]

Leah was unloved by Jacob. It wasn’t her imagination, and she wasn’t deceived into thinking she was unloved; it was real, and it was played out in their daily lives. Can you imagine what it feels like to know that the only reason you’re married is because your father tricked your husband into marrying you? Can you imagine the rejection Leah must have felt? And to know that your younger sister has captured the heart of your mutual husband? Wouldn’t you hope that giving him what the culture deemed important (sons) would win his devotion? That was Leah’s goal also…at first. But, Leah came to realize that although her husband didn’t love her, God did. 

Her focus changed from seeing her husband as the solution to her longing to be loved, to praising the God who saw her and who had made her fruitful (Gen. 29:35).  

We all have rejection and disappointment stories. Maybe you have childhood memories of rejection (i.e. bullying, molestation, always being the last one picked, not being asked to the prom) that have caused you, like me, to distrust and believe that you’re unworthy or less than. Or maybe adult memories or current situations (i.e. divorce and abandonment by a spouse, rejection by a son, daughter, father, or mother, disappointment that God allowed loved ones to die early or in horrific ways) have you questioning God’s love for you. 

Aren’t you encouraged by Leah’s story?

Isn’t it grand to know that God sees you and He desires fruitfulness and only the best for you? 

He is faithful and able to take our heartbreaks, our disappointing and difficult circumstances, and use them for His glory and for our good (Romans 8:28). If we allow it, He can take the rejection that we’ve faced, the false beliefs & conclusions that we’ve adopted, and fill us with the truth of our identity in Christ so that we can reflect His light and life to those so desperately looking for hope!  

Jesus was betrayed and rejected even by those closest to Him (John 18), so He can relate to us in our rejection. He knows what it feels like. Even though all of us deserve to be rejected by Him because of our sin, He did the opposite and gave Himself becoming Emmanuel (God with us). He did this so that we could have a relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. 

He sees us, He knows us, He wants us, and He loves us. 

He is what each of us really desires. He is the fulfillment of the longing that we so often try to get fulfilled in others or material things. In the book Faithful (p. 85), Ruth Chou Simons describes it this way:

Leah recognized in that moment what believers like you and me would only come to know centuries later:  God Himself, through Jesus, His Son, is the Good we’re really after.

And although rejection and disappointment are inevitable pages or maybe even chapters in our stories, we can refocus and say as Leah did, this time I will praise the Lord” (Gen. 29:35).

Praise Him, praise Him. 

Praise Him, praise Him.  

Jesus blessed Savior

He’s worthy to be praised.

From the rising of the sun 

Until the going down of the same,

He is worthy, Jesus is worthy,

He’s worthy to be praised.

Praise Him, praise Him. 

Praise Him, praise Him.

Jesus, blessed Savior

He’s worthy to be praised.

(from “Praise Him” by Carol Cymbala)

 *Faithful, 2021, published by David C. Cook, 4050 Lee Cook Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918

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.

Firm Foundation

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Posted by Annette Burrell, January 1, 2024

“Christ is my firm foundation; the rock on which I stand. When everything around me is shaken, I’ve never been more glad that I put my faith in Jesus. Because He’s never let me down. He’s faithful through generations. So why would He fail now? He won’t.”

This week has been a week of storms and threats of storms, literally. I saw a report of tornado damage that swept through parts of Panama City Beach, Florida. The pictures of the damage were devastating, but one photograph, in particular, stood out to me.  

The area hit was on the curve of Thomas Drive. There are houses to the left. To the right is the beginning of high-rise condominiums on the beach. 

These houses are mostly 3-stories in the New England style. The picture broadcast over news reports and social media is of several houses sitting in a row, and the one in the middle is totally off its foundation and leaning on the house next door. The foundation is still there, but the house is detached from it. None of the other houses appear to have been affected by the storm. It is the weirdest-looking thing.

Life is like that sometimes. Storms are all around us, passing us by yet hitting others straight on. I have been in a season of blessing for many years. The year 2023 was difficult. The storms began rolling in. One blow after another. 

"Do you suppose God still blesses us even as we experience storms and trials?"

Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him.  You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.  Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Yes, this will be the blessing for the man who fears the Lord. Psalm 128:1-4

As I cling to the promises God has given us throughout the Bible, I also lean on my precious sisters to remind me of who I am grounded upon.

I am blessed to be a part of an arm of Touching Hearts Ministries called Shoulder to Shoulder (S2S). My S2S sisters are a blessing to me. We have a safe place to share what we may be going through and need prayer for. Things stay in the group, unless we say it is ok for it to be public. 

My S2S group met this past week, and I shared life’s storms and opened up about some bad dreams I had been having. My sisters laid hands on me and prayed for me to allow God to take control of my dreams. These women are so seeded in the Word, and I know that God has put me in this place with them for such a time as this.

 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8

I had been having “not so good” dreams for weeks. My S2S sisters reminded me that it was fear. And they were right. I have allowed fear to creep into my heart and soul.

God doesn’t give us the spirit of fear.

The evil one wants us to be confused so that we take our focus off the One true God and miss out on God’s protection, mercy, and peace.

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 1 Corinthians 14:33 KJV

As I lay down to sleep that night, I prayed for God to control my dreams and give me peace. He answered my prayers, and I awoke to peace and a different perspective on my circumstances.

At this time of year, when considering goals or resolutions, sometimes we miss the importance of building on the foundations already there.

Even when difficulties arise and I am shaken from my foundation, my foundation is still there. When I feel like life’s pressures are too much to bear, I can turn to those whom God has placed in my life to lean on for support and reminders that I belong to God. 

“Are the storms still raging around me? Yes. Are they shaking me off my foundation? Maybe so, but that doesn’t mean my foundation isn’t still there. It is. God is.” 

“He is my firm foundation. . .”

Where does life have you right now? Are you in a season of blessing, or have life’s storms hit you and knocked you off your foundation? Cling to God’s promises. Lean on a spiritual sister. You can find one at Touching Hearts Ministries if you need a sister to lean on. We are here to do just that—touch your heart.

God, I pray today that you touch someone’s heart and give them peace in the middle of their storm. In your son’s name, I pray. Amen

Annette Burrell is an author, speaker, and singer/songwriter. Through Annette’s years of being a public servant, and her devotion to studying the Bible, God has equipped her to lead women into His presence, and share with them how they can grow in Christ. Her passion is learning, sharing about the Heavenly realms, and God’s plan of protection for us as believers.

One Square Living

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Posted by Martha Wilson, January 10, 2024

“Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34

There is something exciting about a new calendar that makes my heart race—in a good way. I love the feel of crisp new pages waiting to be written upon. I welcome the thought of leaving the past behind and stepping into the new territory waiting to be discovered. 

 As I thumbed through the twelve months spread before me, I began to dream of what 2024 would be like. As I sat with the year in hand, I handled the pages carefully as if I crumpled one; it could possibly mar something ahead. The question arose in my mind, “What would fill these twelve pages?” I barely whispered the words. “This represents the next year of my life.” But, as soon as the words slipped through my lips, I sensed the Lord correcting me.

“You have not been promised twelve, clean, crisp months, but only one square.”

One glorious square called today. Each square on these pages took on new meaning as I reached for the Holy Book of certain and permanent pages. His living Word spoke right into the moment and brought meaning to this “one square living” truth.

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow, we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make money.”  Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.  What is your life?  You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  Instead, you should say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” James 4:13-16

I don’t think Jesus lived by a calendar, but by the voice of His Father. 

There were planned days to celebrate important feasts, but Jesus wasn’t moved by people's expectations but by His Father’s voice. I remember the story where the disciples asked if He would attend the feast, and He answered “no, the time isn’t right.” But, when they arrived and looked around, He was there in their midst. (John 7:8-10) Within His square, He lived by the Father’s leading. He lived with the awareness that the cross was in front of Him, but He demonstrated living in one square at a time as He fulfilled His Father’s good purpose and plan. 

Oh, that we could live the same way in 2024. Waiting and moving on God’s timetable, led by His voice, purpose, and will.  

What a gift of one single square of life! We should treasure waking each day, having been gifted one more square to live for His glory. When I live with my focus on all that is going on and all that “might '' happen or the demands and expectations of other people, my perspective of today gets very crowded and cluttered.

Yes, we still plan, dream, and strategize, but with our hands wide open surrendered to God’s will. When we live knowing that God is sovereign and He is the one who always does good, then we can trust that He has the power to change anything at any time. 

The answer to living this way is living life with a pencil in hand. I carefully plan by penciling in the meetings, appointments, goals, and events, acknowledging that God can erase anything at any time. One square living keeps me living in the day, the moment I have, yet managing this wonderful life I have been gifted. “If the Lord wills…..this is my plan.” 

“Lord, teach us how to live wisely, looking and planning, but keeping our feet in this one square of today. Open our eyes to see those who are lost, hurting, and broken. Give us eyes that look ahead but feet that live in today.  We desire to fasten our gaze upon You and your purpose and plan, allowing you to fill these pages with purpose and meaning.”

This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

Martha Wilson is a writer, speaker, blogger and co-host of “A Burst of Hope” weekly podcast. She is the founder and director of Touching Hearts Ministries for women. She has led women to pursue an intimate relationship with Jesus for most of her adult life. She is bold, tender, and transparent as she teaches women to embrace powerful Biblical truths. Martha and her husband, Ed, live in Fayetteville, Georgia, and enjoy their blended family of five children, eight grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter. You can connect with Martha at: Facebook and Instagram @TouchingHeartsMinistries or listen to the A Burst of Hope Podcast.