Author: ronda

Genesis 16:3-4

So Abram’s wife Sarai took Hagar, her Egyptian slave, and gave her to her husband Abram as a wife for him. This happened after Abram had lived in the land of Canaan 10 years. He slept with Hagar, and she became pregnant. When she realized that she was pregnant, she looked down on her mistress.

Ten years had passed since Abram had received the promise to be the father of a great nation, and Sarai could not bear children. Something just did not seem right with all of this, so Sarai decided to give her slave, Hagar, to Abram to try to make the promise come to pass. After all, she was increasing in years and her child bearing years were gone. What else could she do except to give Abram every possible option for his promise to come true. As was the custom of the day, she gave him her maidservant, and he complied.

Hagar became a second wife to Abram, and this did not sit well with Sarai. Although it was her idea, she really did not want Abram to have a child through another woman. When Hagar became pregnant, she looked down upon her mistress in an attempt to take the position of wife. Sarai’s idea was never to become less of a wife to Abram, and she certainly wasn’t going to allow a maidservant to run her household. To Sarai, Hagar was to be nothing more than a surrogate to Abram. To Hagar, however, he was the father of her child, and she wanted to be respected as a wife. Such a scenario is definitely a cat-fight in the making!

Nothing threatens our position as a lack of faith. When we don’t have the faith to lay hold of what God has promised, we stand to lose our footing to the very thing upon which we relied to accommodate us. Sarai thought she was disqualified from God’s blessing, so she used Hagar to try to provide the promise. Hagar was never meant to be God’s provision. As a result, Hagar – false provision – threatened Sarai’s God-given position as wife.

Don’t allow your false provisions to replace you! God is your power, your source, and every provision you will ever need. Rely completely upon Him to fulfill all promises to you, and don’t let a maidservant rule your house. Take charge of those things God has entrusted to you, and be an accountable steward. Although Hagar had Abram’s child, she had no benefits nor birthrights by him. The Devil may have stolen from you, but that doesn’t mean he has the right to keep it or to take any more! Claim the territory God has given you, and stand firm on His promises. This is your land, and the only way someone else can take it away is if you give it up. Refuse to compromise, and wait upon the Lord. He is your great reward, and He will reward you greatly!

Have a blessed day!

Psalm 118:24

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Most of us have probably sung this verse in a song at a worship gathering. When I’ve sung it, I’ve always pictured it as a verse to thank God for the current day and to rejoice and be glad in what He has prepared for us in the day we are facing. While this has some meaning to it, the verse is really held in context to a specific day the LORD has made that should keep us rejoicing every day.

This verse ends a group of verses within this psalm, which is considered a thanksgiving psalm of victory. The first verse of this section – verse 19 – states, “Open the gates of righteousness for me;” We have no righteousness of our own merit. As a believer, our righteousness comes from Christ and the sacrifice He made on the cross. His righteousness is imputed to us. Yet, we see here there are gates – plural – of righteousness that open to us.

The first gate of righteousness we should recognize is the cross. We must all come to the cross and receive His blood for the atonement of sin. The next gate is the resurrection, which proves God accepted Christ’s sacrifice for us. The fact that Jesus died and rose again are the gates through which we receive righteousness to enter God’s presence. Jesus is the stone the builders rejected and is now our cornerstone of faith, according to verse 22. This is the day – the day of resurrection – that the LORD has made for us to rejoice and be glad in knowing that our sins are forgiven through Jesus Christ. Every day we have now points back to the resurrection and the new day – new covenant – that began that day.  Because of that day, we have hope. We have promise. We have power. We have joy.

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Today means more because of that great day of resurrection. Don’t miss your opportunity to worship Him and praise Him for that day and today.

Have a blessed day!

1 Samuel 1:1-3

There was a man from Ramathaim-Zophim in the hill country of Ephraim. His name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, and Ephraimite. He had two wives, the first named Hannah and the second Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah was childless. This man would go up from his town every year to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of Hosts at Shiloh, where Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were the LORD’s priests.

While these verses begin a story, they also tell us much about this man, Eli. He was a godly man who honored the LORD. Eli lived geographically as an Ephraimite, but genealogically, he was a Levite, which explains why his sons were priests. His first wife, Hannah, had no children. Since Eli was a godly man, the social stigma for Hannah would have been very difficult. What was wrong with her? Why could she have no children?

The fact that there was a second wife brings questions. Did Eli take another wife in order to have children? Would he have ever married Peninnah if Hannah had sons? Society would have seen Peninnah as the better woman, and later verses reveal she thought so, as well. We can easily see how Hannah would have led a miserable life as a barren woman and wife of a godly, respectable man. Her confidence and self-worth could easily have been shattered with a fruitful and haughty second wife with whom she tolerated daily.

“What is wrong with me?” Hannah must have asked herself this question a multitude of times, and many of us have, too. Just why can’t we do or have the things that come so easily for others? Why does everything I touch seem to fall apart? Why can I not accomplish my dreams? If we find ourselves asking these questions, we are looking at ourselves and not to God. Somehow, we think the answer to getting what we want lies within, and achieving the difficult things will prove us a better person.  Our hope is found by turning to God in complete dependence upon His grace to accomplish what we cannot for ourselves. Instead of seeing how imperfect and ineffective we are, we need to see how great and mighty our God is. We need to look in a new direction.

Consider the places in your life where you feel you aren’t reaching your full potential, and turn them over to God. This is His work in you, and you are woman enough to do whatever He has called you to do. You will not be a better person if you can achieve more. You will become a better person by surrendering your life fully to God and submitting to His plan. When you do, He will work in you and through you. You don’t need to prove anything to Him or to anyone else. Just bring Him your void, and trust that He will fill it. 

Have a blessed day!

1 John 4:2-3

This is how you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. But every spirit who does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist; you have heard that he is coming, and he is already in the world now.

We certainly live in a day when tolerance of all religions is preached on our political front. While these verses make it very clear that Jesus is God’s Son and has already come in the flesh, there are many who teach another way. The Bible warns us that these false teachers will come. But, what does it mean to confess Jesus Christ?

If we confess Jesus Christ, we state that our faith is in Him. If we truly believe that Jesus is the Son of God and has already come in the flesh, our faith is in His righteousness and dependent upon His grace. While we are called to good works, our works do not make us righteous. If we are depending upon our works or any type of spiritual success to grant us a right standing with God, we are not confessing Jesus Christ. We are trying to follow the law, which was given before Christ came. In other words, we are acting as if Jesus Christ has not yet come in the flesh. Our own works cannot save us nor compensate for sin. Only the grace of God through confession in Jesus Christ can do that.

If you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ, you have been forgiven through grace because of His righteousness. If you have sin in your life that hinders your walk with Christ, you cannot compensate for it in any way. You must come back to the cross and surrender that to Christ. When you do, you receive grace to overcome sin, and that sin no longer has dominion over you. Christ died once for all sin in our lives, and we cannot pay for it ourselves. Neither does our spiritual success in one area grant us permission to sin in another.  If we are trying to pay for our own sins in any way, we are being influenced by a spirit that is anti-Christian. Confess your faith in Jesus Christ and walk free!

Have a blessed day!

Judges 13:15-16

“Please stay here,” Manoah told Him, “and we will prepare a young goat for You.” The Angel of the LORD said to him, “If I stay, I won’t eat your food. But if you want to prepare a burnt offering, offer it to the LORD. For Manoah did not know He was the Angel of the LORD.

Manoah wanted more details on this son and to learn more about this strange man who promised his wife her life-long dream. He offered the man a meal, not knowing he was addressing the Angel of the LORD. The Angel refused his hospitality but encouraged him to make a burnt offering to the LORD. The appropriate response to God’s grace is worship.

The Angel had told the couple all He intended to tell them. They would now have to walk in faith and obedience. When God gives a promise, we must do the same. While we may want more details, our only option at times is to simply live by faith and obedience to His command. When we do, we will see His promise fulfilled.

If God has you in a place where He’s given you a promise but you have no idea how or when it will take place, simply worship Him and walk in faith and obedience. Trust Him to work His plan in you. He has a greater purpose in mind and is allowing you to participate. You will be blessed, and He will be glorified when you simply trust Him.

Have a blessed day!

Proverbs 14:13

Even in laughter a heart may be sad, and joy may end in grief.

Grief is not always recognizable. Human nature looks for a way to cope with loss, and emotional responses will vary. We think of laughter as a sign someone is having a good time, but the hurting can laugh, as well. In fact, laughter may simply be a means to cover what is really inside so the pain of loss will be a little more bearable for just a moment. With real loss you will encounter grief, and we should never assume someone is coping well just because they laugh or seem to enjoy life.

We must understand that grief awaits us all. While we may be joyful and full of life one day, we may face grief and devastation the next. Many of you know this well from your own experiences, as do I. Knowing how to cope with grief is important, regardless of how you feel today. Where will you turn tomorrow if your world turns upside down and shakes you to the core?

Fortunately, Christians have the hope of a resurrected Savior. Jesus died but rose again, and we, too, will rise from the ashes of consumed dreams when we turn to Him. Our loved ones in Christ are merely waiting for us on the other side, and we will be reunited with them again. We must, however, find a way to continue this life without them. Grief gives us a way to let go and continue to live. John 16:20 assures us that while we may weep and wail at earthly loss, our sorrow will turn to joy in Him.

Grief is not meant to last forever, but it may be necessary for a while. Allow grief to do its work, and know that joy is coming. God did not send you through loss to tear you down; He is building your faith. What He will resurrect in you will be unrecognizable from your past, just as Mary Magdalene did not recognize the risen Jesus. Your new life is worth every tear you cry and every pain you feel, so laugh, cry, scream if you must. One day grief will end, and new life will begin.

Have a blessed day!

Ephesians 4:11-13

And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into a mature man with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.

God personally calls people to ministry. Just what, however, is this work we call “ministry?” According to this passage, ministry takes place within the body of Christ – the church – to bring each other to unity in the faith and maturity in Christ. We see a group effort and not a one man job in process. We also see everyone benefiting from the work of true ministry, and the end result looks like a full picture of Christ.

Taking a closer look at the “work of ministry,” we find it can be broken down as follows. Work, in the Greek here, means to toil (as an effort or occupation); an act, deed, or labor. Ministry comes from the Greek word diakonos, which is translated deacon. It means attendance (as a servant), aid (official); teacher or technician of the diaconate; office, relief, service. Diakonos (deacon) in the Greek actually means to run on errands; an attendant; a waiter; teacher and pastor; deacon, minister, servant. The work of ministry is literally the work of serving the church. A true minister serves and does not seek to be served.

Ministers, however, must be served by the church in order to be a part of the church. God calls people to different walks of ministry to serve those in the church and to bring those outside the church into it as believers. For this very reason, God personally calls people to serve Him in different functions so the entire body can be equipped to serve and come to unity in the faith and maturity in Christ. If pastors and teachers, for example, are not being fed or growing spiritually, they will eventually become unable to serve those they are called to serve. In these times, we see pastors, teachers, and lay leaders become tired, weary, or even cynical as they experience burn-out and need to be refreshed. Just as a runner needs hydration to continue to run, we need spiritual nourishment in order to serve.

A good teacher is one who is ever learning, researching, and reading. In reality, a good teacher is simply an excellent student who has mastered her subject and can pass the material on to others. Unless she is actively engaged in receiving teaching and ministry from others in the body, however, her own ability to teach is weakened. As iron sharpens iron, so one man (or woman) sharpens another, according to Proverbs 27:17.

God has gifted you to serve in the body of Christ. He has called you to serve others, and He has called someone to serve you. What we must avoid is the tendency to become self-serving by looking only to what we can gain and never at what we can give. Quite often, I’ve heard people who are looking for a church talk about all the things a particular church has to offer. On rare occasions, however, I have heard people mention the opportunities a church provided to serve as a place they found home. In reality, a church should provide both ministry that feeds your spirit while giving you the opportunity to serve with the gift or calling God has given you. Such a church is able to reach unity in the faith and maturity in Christ.

May you all find a church where you are fed and able to serve others with your gifts. May PHOEBE Connections be a ministry where you receive the bonds of fellowship and spiritual nourishment as a widow while giving you a place to belong and serve people from your abundance. May we not replace your local church but be an extension of the church for you. May we always keep Christ at the center of all we do and flourish in unity and maturity in Him. As far as I can see, this is the work of ministry to which we are called and by which we are blessed. You all have truly been like iron to help sharpen me, and I hope I’ve helped sharpen a few edges for you, too. May God bless you in all you do for Him today and always.

Have a blessed day!

Luke 1:5-7

In the days of King Heron of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah’s division named Zechariah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both were righteous in God’s sight, living without blame according to all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years.

The name Elizabeth originates from a Hebrew word meaning “to adhere to.” Zechariah means “Jah has remembered.” Both Elizabeth and Zechariah were rule followers. They did what was right, yet they had no children. Of all the people who should have been blessed, they were most deserving.

We’ve all seen people blessed who broke the rules and still received the reward. Why did she get the blessing I deserved when I worked harder for it? What have I done wrong that I cannot receive what I desire most? How can she be so blessed after the kind of life she’s lived? Why does she have everything I want when she does not honor God? That type of mentality is a works based, self-effort perspective that does not comprehend God’s grace nor His purpose.

Elizabeth and Zechariah were faithful people. Regardless of how they may have felt about their situation, they continued to honor God. One day, God remembered their faithfulness and took notice of them. He had them in just the right place at just the right time for His blessing to flow. He will always remember faithful people who follow Him. While our blessing may come later than we hope, it will come at just the right time.

If you are struggling with the success of the wicked and the frustrations of the righteous, know today that God remembers the faithful. Determine to honor Him, regardless of whether or not you get the blessing you desire. His appointed time may very well come when you think it is too late, but He will intervene in a way that satisfies your longing and brings glory to Him. You cannot earn God’s grace; you merely wait and believe for it. Adhere to His commands today, and He will remember you tomorrow.

Have a blessed day!

I Kings 18:3-4

Ahab called for Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. Obadiah was a man who greatly feared the LORD and took 100 prophets and hid them with food and water when Jezebel slaughtered the LORD’s prophets.

Prophets were God’s messengers to the people, and He spoke through them. When evil authority was in place that sought to shut the mouth of God among His people, He hid 100 of them for safekeeping. Jezebel slaughtered God’s prophets in order to promote the prophets of Baal and make Baal worship supreme in Israel. Baal was the god of fertility and prosperity and included all kinds of ungodly sexual practices as a part of worship. She sought to eliminate all voices that taught there was anything wrong with her god or the evil lifestyle she treasured. 

As widows, we know that isolation can be bad as we seek to gain new identity and connect with society again. The devil will often isolate us before he attacks, leaving us in states of depression, hopelessness, and loneliness. We find times in Scripture, however, that God isolates His people for their own protection. As women who may find ourselves alone much of the time, we must learn how to handle isolation and the negative emotions that may accompany it.

If you find yourself feeling isolated or disconnected, use it to your advantage. Spend time in prayer and in God’s word. Develop a strong connection with God and learn to hear His voice. Read those books you’ve put back on a shelf. Tackle the home project you’ve put on the back-burner. Make yourself productive in some way. Volunteer with a charity, church, or school. Use your isolation as a time of development, and don’t sit and think about how bad your situation is. God may be isolating you for your own protection until He deals with your enemies. If you will use times of isolation as developmental times, God will bless you and open doors for you.

A couple of years after my husband died, I found myself struggling with isolation and stumbling on the verge of depression. I knew I had to do something to occupy my mind. After some prayer, I decided to enter seminary classes online. A year and a half later, I had earned a Master of Arts degree in Theological Studies and re-connected with a love for writing and teaching. Don’t succumb to the emotions of isolation; take advantage of it to enhance your life in some way.

A change in perspective can change your life. Instead of accepting the negative thoughts and emotions of isolation, learn to see yourself as protected by God. He will bring you out of this at some point, and you can have something valuable to share if you let Him develop you during seasons of isolation. As with other seasons, this too shall pass. Make the most of it and gain from it. Your next season could just be a whirlwind of excitement that makes you long for some down time. Every day is a gift – even when you are by yourself.

Have a blessed day!

Psalms 37:3-4

Trust in the LORD and do what is good; dwell in the land and live securely. Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Most of us know this passage by heart. It gives us a wonderful promise of the benefit of trusting God. If we will simply take delight in Him, He will give us the very desires of our hearts. Just what does it mean, however, to take delight in the LORD? We need to pair this passage with Jesus’s instruction in Luke 6:47-48:

“Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things I say? I will show you what someone is like who comes to Me, hears My words, and acts on them: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the river crashed against that house and couldn’t shake it, because it was well built.”

To take delight in the Lord is to listen to Him and do the things He says. By doing this, we dig deep and lay the foundation of our lives in Him. Storms will rage against us, as we all know. When they do, they will not be able to shake us. When we are firmly established in the Word of God, He will give us the desires of our hearts because they can’t destroy us. Our desires are of Him, and the Devil can’t use them to tear us from Him.

Dig deep today and lay the foundation of your heart with God’s Word. Do what He says, and make His Word alive and active in your daily life. When you do what He says, you cannot be shaken. By taking delight in Him, you will build a firm foundation that will accommodate the very things He has placed in your heart. Such a foundation is one of integrity that displays the glory of God for which you were created.

Have a blessed day!