Radiant Jewel

Through some writing linkups this week, I discovered a fabulous place hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story . Since a week can have up and down parts, it is good to reflect at the end of the week and just post about your five favorite things from your week. It’s designed to help you intentionally focus on the hand of God bringing blessings in our lives above all else. That’s what Friday’s Fave Five is all about. 1. My niece’s 19th birthday . A birthday dinner and party for my niece was a nice break in the week on Wednesday evening with good family time and cause for celebration. I found a beautiful flower arrangement on a local florist site and had them delivered to surprise my niece on her birthday. The flowers were even more stunning than they were on the website, which is not always the case. I also gave her a gift card to her favorite cafe that serves boba tea and sushi she was excited about.  2. An afternoon at the arcade . I had a very unusual afternoon in the middle ...

This post is part of the 5-Minute Friday Linkup . This week’s writing prompt: Invest Ready, set go… “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”  1 John 2:15-17 ESV I have a choice where I invest my heart and time and attention. I can invest it all in my own desires for the things in the world.  Or I can invest it in the desires of my Father which are the will of God.  If I decide to invest my love and focus on what is of this world - what my flesh wants and what my eyes see and the pride of this natural life - those things will all pass away along with this world. I will get no lasting return on investment from those things.  But if I give my heart an...

  For some of us, heading into this Mothers Day weekend is tough. We haven’t had the opportunity to become a mother, but everyone we encounter seems to automatically wish us a happy Mother’s Day — simply because we are women.  I’ve been wished Happy Mother’s Day by delivery people, at the nail salon and grocery store checkout. I’ve been surrounded with choruses of Happy Mother’s Day as I walked out of the church building after a Sunday service on Mother’s Day.  All of the wishes are kind and well-intentioned. So why do they sting? Because I am not a mother.  Before I ever had the opportunity to have kids, I had to have an emergency surgery that removed that option. I know others are in that same situation for various reasons.  I am slowly learning that even though some days (like this one) are tougher than others, there are healthy ways to deal with the disappointment. Nieces and nephews. Volunteering. Being a parental figure to kids that may need someone. ...

God loves each of us — 💯percent   individually. He loves you, just for being who you are. There is no need to compare yourself with anyone else for any reason. 🚫 When we compare ourselves with someone else to see if we measure up, it’s because we either don’t understand (or we forgot) that He not only created, formed, and redeemed each of us — but He calls each of us by our own name — and says “You (your name) are Mine!” ❤️  Truth: “We don’t dare to classify or compare ourselves…But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are not wise (some versions say “they are without understanding”) ” (2 Corinthians 10:12)  “Now this is what the LORD says—He who created you…and He who formed you…: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine!”” (Isaiah 43:1)  Takeaway: Bask in the individual love He has for just you and wants to give you today. 🥰 #mothersday #mothersdayweekend #mothersday2...

Jesus said “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOUL. ”  Matthew 11:28-29 NASB Truth: God’s peace and rest is available to us in every moment, especially when we need it most. In the midst of confusion, when life seems out of control, and everything has turned upside down, Jesus says to us “My peace I give to you.” (John 14:27)  Takeaway: His peace is just a sincere prayer away.  “For the Lord God..has said this: “In returning to Me and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and trust is your strength.” Isaiah 30:15 # restorationroad #rest

This post is part of the weekly 5-minute Friday Link-Up !  This week’s word is “PROVE”.  And go… God has proven His love for me, His absolute faithfulness to me, in undeniable and unmistakeable ways. When I look back over my life, I am overwhelmed with how He has watched over me, sustained me and shown His love to me. He has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that I can trust Him with my life. He even gives us an open invitation to prove Him in His Word -  Malachi 3:10 ASV - “Bring the whole tithe into the store-house, that there may be food in my house, and  PROVE  me now herewith, says Jehovah of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” It is one thing to have a friend who says they are there for you. But it is another thing to have proven friends who have shown themselves to be faithful friends, present and active in your toughest times in life. Those are the friends whom ...

It should get easier every year, right? But for some reason, Mothers' Day this year feels a bit tougher for me than normal.  I'll do the usual things that help me get through it every year - skip church (so no one inadvertently makes insensitive comments or automatically wishes me Happy Mothers' Day), avoid social media and stay safe at home.  But maybe I will plan something to make the day special this year. I have seen some ideas in a chat for a group I am a member of called Childless by Circumstance, Not by Choice. Some of the members are in the UK where their Mothers' Day happened a few weeks ago.  It has been affirming to hear so many in the group expressing the same feelings I experience when this holiday rolls around every year.  Some ideas I have brewing right now are ordering in a nice brunch for myself complete with fun foods and special coffee, having a friend over who won't be celebrating Mothers Day, stay under a blanket on the couch all day having a mo...