Category Archives: Encouragement

Bible Study Guide ~ There is Life After Tragedy, Christian Growth, Encouragement

STUDY GUIDE FOR CHAPTER 9 ~ THE WOUNDS

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A note from the author:  If you need a breakthrough in your life that can set you free, this study guide is for YOU! I can personally testify that what you read here can change your life, the path you are on, and the direction you are going! If you are suffering from tragedy and loss, these words will bring refreshment and healing to your wounded soul. What have you got to lose except your pain—why not give it a try? ~ Sarah Jane

1. How Jesus Deals with Our Wounds

The wounds that stay with us long after a significant life event are simply what I call “leftovers.” While leftovers from dinner may be desirable, the leftovers from close-up and personal tragic events are not. No way! But like all leftovers, we eventually have to deal with them.

My favorite Bible story about how Jesus treats a wounded person is found in Luke Chapter 10:30-37. Let’s go there.

30 Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. 31 “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. 32 A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.

33 “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. 34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’

36 “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. 37 The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

In my book, There Is Life after Tragedy, on pages 76 & 77, I explained this story like this: I asked the readers to see Jesus as the Good Samaritan and themselves as the wounded person. That is a powerful way to personalize this story about Jesus and His care for us. In the following exercise, we will identify all of the things Jesus did for the wounded person—YOU.

As you read each of the sentences below, write your name in every blank.

1) Jesus saw _________________.

2) Jesus had compassion for __________________.

3) Jesus went to ____________________.

4) Jesus poured oil on ________________’s wounds.

5) Jesus bandaged ________________’s wounds.

6) Jesus carried ___________________ to a place of safety to recover.

7) In that place of restoration, Jesus was ______________’s caregiver.

8) Then, Jesus made arrangements for ______________’s short-term care by paying someone to provide the care.

9) Next, Jesus paid in advance for ________________’s long term care and promised to cover all future expenses.

WOW! How much more could Jesus have done to ensure that the wounded person recovered, or that you and I recover from our wounds? Nothing more, because His promises are as good as His actions. He cares deeply about healing our wounds.

2.  Why the Wounds?

In my book, I tackled why we have to suffer in life. Unless we have an extremely healthy family, we will all have to deal with the hardships that come with death and disease. And unless we ourselves die at a very early age, we will all have to bury a loved one. As hard as it is to believe, even as a Christian, suffering and death become a normal part of life.

In Chapter 9 of my book, I included a poetic writing that I wrote during my husband’s two-year battle with cancer. It was titled “Why the Wounds?” and is found on Pages 78 and 79. If the title suggests that God has good reason for our suffering, it’s because He does. I ended the poem with these words: “For out of the anguish of the soul, revelation is birthed.”

I’m sure you are thinking, “What does that mean? I thought God was a good God.” I’ll try to explain. In order for us to grow up and mature in this Christian life we are going to encounter pain, wounds, hard circumstances, loss, and yes, more pain. But each of those have a “silver-lining” tucked inside of it. It may take years of growth before we recognize what the “School of Hard Knocks” is all about, but we will eventually come out on the other side of our trials and realize that we have indeed grown. We now see more, know more, and love more than we did before, because revelation was birthed in us!

In the Chapter 1 Study Guide, Section 4, we recorded a “memory that still hurts.” Look back at Chapter 1 to find what you wrote down. Is it possible that your memory had a silver-living you didn’t see then; but later you realized that something better happened because of it? If you didn’t write down anything in Chapter 1, recall at least one event in your life that caused pain, yet later resulted in great value to your life. It could be as simple as not getting a job that you applied for, but instead, God led you to a better one. Briefly describe your experience.

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A baby doesn’t enter the world without pain to itself and also to its mother. Yet, painful births (i.e. trials; circumstances; changes) are something very valuable to us. But we must not forget to look for those eye-opening moments that make a huge deposit into our lives. However, if we stay locked in self-pity and angry at God, we will miss the revelation He intended for us to receive.

3. Climbing Higher in God

If we can accept that God uses our pain to bring about change in our lives, then our part is to be receptive to what He is doing in us. That brings us to this thought-provoking question: “Have I ever used my pain to climb to a higher place in God?” My answer has been “Yes” many times, because I learned over time to trust God with my suffering, my losses, and my pain. I bet you have too.

A higher place in God simply means we are now in a better position to see what is happening around us. In other words, we get a better view from up there! The response of saying, “God, I’m content right where I am,” doesn’t work out well. God has a passionate heart of love for each of His children, and His eternal goal is to shape us into the image of His Son, Jesus. In fact, refusal to cooperate with the Creator of your life, will only cause Him to pursue you relentlessly until you yield to His shaping. This will become clear as we read Hebrews Chapter 12:5-6a.

5 And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. 6 For the Lord disciplines those he loves….”

Do you have a story of God’s careful shaping of your life as His beloved child that brought you to a higher place of understanding and blessing? If so, write it below.

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4.  Identify Theft ~ How Can We Prevent It?

One of Satan’s greatest tricks against us when we are wounded is to separate us from our true identity in Christ. He tries to convince us that God doesn’t love us or this wouldn’t have happened. Or he uses the age-old condemnation trick of telling us that we are hopeless, useless, and actually lost from God. If he can get a foothold into our lives, be assured that he will steal our true identity, kill us by drowning us in grief, and destroy any proof that we are a child of God. Did you get that? The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy! (John 10:10)

Satan did that to me and I spent months drowning in sorrow and self-pity. And then one day, I got mad at that thief and started fighting back. I wrote down all the positive things that I am—my true identify in Christ Jesus! And then I read it to the devil himself. As my faith began to rise up on the inside of me, I took back my identity and my life! And you can too! Below describes who I am when I am holding the Hand of God. (Pages 82–83 in There Is Life after Tragedy)

HOLDING THE HAND OF GOD

The road may be rocky, but I’ll not stumble. Fiery darts may be hurdled, but they’ll not penetrate my life. Storm clouds may darken the sky, but I’ll come out on the other side. The whole world may look hopeless, but it is not my home. For I shall run and not be weary; I shall walk and not faint, while holding the hand of God.

Therefore, my hope is sure. My light is shining. My way is bright. My heart is steady. My faith is strong. My peace is unexplainable. And my world is safe, while holding the hand of God.

My will is surrendered. My motives are pure. My vision is clear. My mind is set. My purpose is determined. My goal is reachable. And my agenda is His agenda, while holding the hand of God.

My strength is renewed. My wisdom is from above. My thoughts are just. My words are full of grace. My meditations are acceptable. My song is filled with praise. And my only desire is to please Him, while holding the hand of God.

Dear One, my heart hurts for you. I know what it feels like to have the world spinning around you, and you desperately need for it to stop. But you now know that God cares about you, and you have powerful scriptures that tell you He loves you, He cares about your wounds, and the enemy cannot have your identity. So, encourage yourself, and claim a breakthrough right now in Jesus’s powerful name, and He will hear and answer you!

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, only you know the deep wounds in my life and how desperately I need your help. I believe the scriptures that I read above, and I want to be healed from all of my brokenness. I call out to you to heal me, and today I reclaim my identity: I am a Child of God! I am yours and you are mine. Thank you for loving me and answering my prayer. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Bible Study Guide ~ There is Life After Tragedy, Christian Growth, Encouragement

STUDY GUIDE FOR CHAPTER 8 ~ THE PURPOSE

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A note from the author:  If there is one study guide that has the potential to reach into your broken heart and bring healing to your life—it is this one. Please read it closely and intently. Please watch the special video section. I am praying for you to find the answers you have long sought after. This could be your day for wholeness! ~ Sarah Jane

1.  Can There Be Purpose in Tragedy?

Finding purpose is perhaps the hardest thing to handle after a tragedy. We would likely think: What purpose could this tragedy possibly have? Obviously, there is no good thing anywhere to be found here.

Yet, we know that absolutely nothing misses the eyes of God. He is the only One who can see over the horizon and know where this event can stir the hearts of people. His greatest goal is always to get the attention of the lost among us—the eternally lost members of mankind.

Those who have been closely impacted by a tragedy will struggle to see any good from it whatsoever. However, God’s Word tells us what was meant for evil, He can use for good. In this lesson we will take a close-up look at the tragic story of young Joseph and see what we can learn about God’s ability to use tragedy for good. This concept is sure to stretch us—but that’s okay. God is always stretching us to make us more like Jesus.

2. The Tragic Story of Joseph

The story of Joseph, son of Jacob, grandson of Issac, and great grandson of Abraham, is told in Genesis Chapters 37 through 50. It is a story of jealousy, revenge and evil, but also a story of kindness, forgiveness, and love. Joseph was the favorite of the twelve sons of Jacob. His father loved him very much, and all the others knew it. To make things worse, Joseph began having spiritual dreams about who he would someday be, yet bragging to his brothers didn’t work out so well. In hatred and spite, they wanted to kill him; but one brother talked them into sparing his life and selling him to slave traders.

Young Joseph found himself in the land of Egypt as a slave, far away from his beloved-child status. Yet, everything he touched worked in his favor—until one day it didn’t. Still, Joseph never forgot His God. He landed in prison for many years because of false accusations against him. Yet, regardless of Joseph’s living conditions, God never changed His plan to use him for a big assignment—to save the known world from famine. The very dreams Joseph had been given as a young lad eventually became reality. Joseph was made the Prime Minister of Egypt, where he oversaw a seven-year plan to store up food for a seven-year famine.

The tragedy of Joseph’s life included being separated from his beloved father and only full-blood brother, Benjamin, and living the life of a slave. After he was thrown in prison, he likely thought his life was doomed. One would think that everything optimistic about Joseph’s future had been thwarted. But God always has another plan even when it seems that the great enemy of our soul has won.

After the death of Joseph’s father, his brothers feared that Joseph would take revenge on them and their families. That is where we will pick up the story in Genesis Chapter 50:15-21 in the New Living Translation.

15 But now that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers became fearful. “Now Joseph will show his anger and pay us back for all the wrong we did to him,” they said. 16 So they sent this message to Joseph: “Before your father died, he instructed us 17 to say to you: ‘Please forgive your brothers for the great wrong they did to you—for their sin in treating you so cruelly.’ So we, the servants of the God of your father, beg you to forgive our sin.” When Joseph received the message, he broke down and wept. 18 Then his brothers came and threw themselves down before Joseph. “Look, we are your slaves!” they said. 19 But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. 21 No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.” So, he reassured them by speaking kindly to them.

Did you notice how Joseph described his life that had certainly gone amuck? Did you hear any resentment or revenge in his response to his guilty brothers? Did you hear any words of bitterness in his assessment of the lemons in life that he had been handed? You’ve probably heard the statement about lemons: “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”

What did Joseph do with his lemons?

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What do you think his brothers deserved?

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3. Finding Purpose in Hard Things

I do not intend to make light of tragedy in any way, because there’s nothing light about it. The tragedies in Joseph’s life could have caused years of hatred for his brothers; an incessant desire to get revenge; and a permanent root of bitterness. Let’s also remember that because of Joseph’s high position in Egypt, he had the power to have all of his brothers executed. But that is not what Joseph did.

Joseph took the exact opposite route in dealing with his lemons: he looked to God. He recognized that God had good intentions for all of the intense training he encountered as a slave. He literally said, “He (God) brought me to this position.” Lastly, Joseph added purpose to his pain and suffering: “So I could save the lives of many people.”

Do you think that Joseph was just another superhero in the Bible, or do you think all of God’s chosen ones have the same opportunity to make the choices that Joseph made? Explain your answer.

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Finding purpose in a tragedy is difficult to say the least, but it is doable. Yet, it won’t come to us unless we have this one thing: a change in perspective. Having a change in perspective basically depends on how we process what happens to us. For instance, it isn’t uncommon for a person to accept a victim mentality about their life’s lemons. They truly see themselves as a victim.

It’s somewhat like Eeyore in the Winnie the Pooh stories. Eeyore was an old grey stuffed donkey who was down about everything—the weather, the seasons, the neighbors, and even his friends. His pessimistic, gloomy disposition showed up in every conversation he had. And if we are not careful, we can have the same perspective about life as Eeyore had.

But I have good news for every one of us—be it those who survived tragedy or those who are simply disillusioned with life. God did not do any of the things that caused your tragedy or your unfortunate circumstances. God is good all the time, and we can take that to the bank. In fact, if God is good all the time, then bad things that happen to us cannot be a result of God being not good. That’s impossible! Yet, the enemy of our souls continually thinks up bad things to do to us, just like Joseph’s brothers did.

Fortunately, in God’s Word we find out what is really happening to us, as well as what we can do about it. Let’s look at 1 Peter 5:8-9 NLT ~ “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.”

Did you get that? You are not the only one suffering at the hands of the enemy! And there is something you can do about it. We are to stand firm, be strong, and use our faith! God’s Word is energized by the power of the Holy Spirit and when we claim it for ourselves and walk in it, we can have the same overcoming perspective as Joseph had. He moved from being a victim to being a powerful witness for the goodness of God!

My paraphrased version of Joseph’s perspective goes like this: “It’s okay what you guys did to me. You meant it for evil, but hey, God had a greater purpose for my life. He used your ill-treatment to train me and prepare me for the 2nd highest job in the known world, in order to save the lives of many people!” Read that again.

4.  Special Video Section:

Dear ones, if you can grasp the power available to you through God’s Word and His great love for you, you can start to see your tragedy in a whole new light. Below is a link to a five-minute video by Joyce Meyer, that is one of the greatest testimonies of a modern-day application of God’s power that I have ever heard.

I have read about and watched Joyce’s testimony about being sexually abused by her father repeatedly as a child and a teenager. Yet this particular video takes us beyond her pain and opens to us the mighty work of restoration that God performed in her life. I include it not only as hope for those who have suffered at the hands of another person, but also for those who have thought God handed them lemons and they are stuck with them. But God didn’t do it, and we are never stuck with what the devil intended for evil. Be sure to watch it to the end. The following link can be clicked on or copied into your browser.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, you and you alone know the deepest hurts in my heart. I have suffered for many years and feared that I can never be free from this pain. But today, I see a light at the end of the tunnel that I have never seen before. For the first time, I have hope that you see me and love me, and you have a plan to restore my life. I ask you to do just that—today. Send me the person or people that can help me start toward the new pain-free future that you have planned for me. I thank you now for this powerful new truth in my life. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.

Bible Study Guide ~ There is Life After Tragedy, Encouragement

STUDY GUIDE FOR CHAPTER 7 ~ THE SURVIVORS

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A note from the author: Few people realize what is waiting for them days, weeks, months, and even years after a loss. It’s strange how others attend the funeral and then quickly move on with their lives. That is not the case for close family members. To survive they need fresh air, fresh surroundings, and certainly, fresh hope. So, let’s tackle loss and loneliness with some fresh ideas. ~ Sarah Jane

1.  Defining A Survivor: What does that look like?

“A person alive after an event in which others have died,” is how the Oxford Dictionary defines a survivor. The word alive is quite an optimistic description of a person who feels so much not alive after a tragic event. It is true when someone we love dies, our emotions can range from total numbness to having no desire to live, or perhaps even considering suicide. I think rather than using the word alive, the person could better be defined as “someone still breathing,” and even that is a bit of a stretch.

The word aloneness brings its own mixed bag of emotions as well. Survivors often crave to be alone; yet in attempting to live again, they find themselves alone much of the time. That is where God’s promise to never leave us or forsake us is a powerful antidote to the rejection one feels who has survived, even though they may wish they hadn’t. Antidote means a cure, a remedy, or a solution. Isn’t that we are searching for—a way to break the grief and sorrow off our lives? How would you describe what needs to be broken off your own life—the thing for which you most need an antidote? (This doesn’t have to be about the loss of a loved one.)

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2. We Are Not Alone In Our Grief

For our scripture reading, we are going to start with a story found in the book of Ruth, a small four-chapter book sandwiched between Judges and 1 Samuel. Let’s begin with Ruth 1:1-5.

Ruth 1:1 ~ In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a severe famine came upon the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah left his home and went to live in the country of Moab, taking his wife and two sons with him. 2 The man’s name was Elimelech, and his wife was Naomi. Their two sons were Mahlon and Kilion…. And when they reached Moab, they settled there. 3 Then Elimelech died, and Naomi was left with her two sons. 4 The two sons married Moabite women. One married a woman named Orpah, and the other a woman named Ruth. But about ten years later, 5 both Mahlon and Kilion died. This left Naomi alone, without her two sons or her husband.

For starters, do you see why Naomi might feel “not alive” and “alone?” How does one lose their entire family in just five short verses? Certainly, Naomi had a full license to grieve, feel sorry for herself, and have no desire to live. But a child of God is never without hope. God always has a plan and Noami’s story will prove that to us.

The full story is contained within the four chapters of the book of Ruth, and it is well worth reading. However, I am going to point out a few choice verses that helps us gain an understanding of the pain and grief that gripped Naomi’s heart.

Ruth 1:6-13 ~ Then Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had blessed his people in Judah by giving them good crops again. So Naomi and her daughters-in-law got ready to leave Moab to return to her homeland…. 8 But on the way, Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back to your mothers’ homes….9 May the Lord bless you with the security of another marriage”.…13 Things are far more bitter for me than for you, because the Lord himself has raised his fist against me.”

Orpah takes Naomi’s advice and returns to her family back in Moab. But Ruth commits to going on to Judah to be Naomi’s family and serve Naomi’s God.

Ruth 1:19-21~ So the two of them continued on their journey. When they came to Bethlehem, the entire town was excited by their arrival. “Is it really Naomi?” the women asked. 20 “Don’t call me Naomi,” she responded. “Instead, call me Mara, for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me. 21 I went away full, but the Lord has brought me home empty. Why call me Naomi when the Lord has caused me to suffer and the Almighty has sent such tragedy upon me?”

Is it just me, or do you hear hopelessness in Naomi’s words? What else do you hear?

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I truly feel her grief and believe that she is burdened down with it. Could we safely say that Naomi needs an antidote? __________

As you finish reading this beautiful story of Naomi and Ruth, you will discover that God absolutely had an antidote awaiting Naomi in her homeland. God’s plan included a family-redeemer or kinsman-redeemer named Boaz who buys the land owned by Naomi’s husband from her. Along with redeeming the land, he was required to marry Ruth. Naomi soon has a grandson, Obed, sitting on her lap that she cared for as her own. He grew up to become the father of Jesse, who was the father of King David. In short, Naomi’s grandson was in the royal lineage of Jesus. I think it is safe to say that Naomi was indeed a survivor!

3. What To Do When God Goes Silent

The devastation that occurred in Naomi’s life may have been told in five short verses of scripture, but her story played out in real time as years upon years of sadness, sorrow and lack of hope. Perhaps our trials in life will never be anything like what Naomi endured, but we will have our share because Jesus Himself told us clearly, “In this world you will have tribulation.”

For me personally, I struggle the most when it seems as though God goes silent and I am left to handle things by faith and trust alone (as if those two aren’t mighty weapons in our arsenal). I suppose that we all prefer for God to hold our hand, put His arm around our shoulder and say, “Come to me and I’ll fix all of this for you.” But that is not how it works in this world. Faith and trust are great companions, yet they don’t always include the warm fuzzy feelings we’d like to have.

If you are a fan of the Devotional Book “Jesus Calling,” by Sarah Young, you are well acquainted with reading words that are written as though God Himself said them. I want to use that same “first person” approach with the following paragraph. My goal is that you can hear what God would say directly to you about feelings.

“My Child, feelings come and go. They are subject to good days and bad days, sunshine and rain, life and death, wealth and poverty. Yet, My Word is not subject to anything. My Word will stand forever and you can trust it throughout all eternity. So don’t try to tie me down to responding to your feelings. I respond to those who know My name, hear My voice, and trust that I will do what I say I will do. Feelings are not a part of the walking-by-faith process. Trust must always be your response, even to My silence. We can work together with that combination: My trustworthiness and your trust in Me.” ~ God

I hope that this paragraph spoke clearly to your heart, because there are powerful truths within it. Feelings, especially good ones, have their place; yet they are never a good measuring stick for how God deals with His children.

4. Becoming A Survivor Is Always a Choice

The most helpful thing we can do for someone struggling to survive the aftermath of tragedy (including yourself) is to give them hope. We must all have hope, even in small things. Hope that the sun will come up tomorrow. Hope that this too will pass. Hope that God cares about me. God’s Word is full of hope and we can share it in tender, loving ways. We can all encourage one another with hope.

God doesn’t call all of us to be counselors, but He does call all of us to be encouragers. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “So encourage each other and build each other up….” Being an encourager is our role in the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ. We can also encourage ourselves, which will be covered in Chapter 9.

Giving hope and encouragement doesn’t have to be expensive, because in reality, what hurting and lonely people need most is love, friendship, and compassion. Understanding someone’s condition of loss and loneliness is the greatest gift you can ever give to them. And, remember to give yourself some compassion, too!

List some of the ways we can bring hope and encouragement to each other. While prayer is certainly a good answer, let’s try to think outside the box of our ordinary ideas. Remember, God has a reputation of goodness. Psalm 23:6 says, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life….” What might you pull out of God’s storehouse of good things to give to a lost and lonely soul? Who knows, your fresh idea might trigger an antidote for their life!

A few examples are listed here, but add your own thoughts and ideas to the list.

1) Take a depressed friend for a day out, or order lunch for the two of you and take it to their home to share it together.

2) Invite a lonely friend to share in your own family’s holiday celebration. They may not come, but at least they will have felt included.

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Whatever you do, do it with the love of Jesus as your source. You can’t go wrong when you listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and include Him in your plans.

If you are the person who is hurting or lonely, encouraging another hurting or lonely friend can be the best therapy you could ask for. Try it, and see what the Holy Spirit does in YOU. And when you give hope and encouragement to others, you take being a survivor to a whole new level!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I am so thankful that you care deeply about me and my needs, as well as all hurting people everywhere. I want to be a survivor, and today I choose to be a survivor. I want to be an encourager to others, and I ask your Holy Spirit to guide me as I develop a plan to reach out and help someone else. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.

Encouragement, Faith, Holidays, Reflections, Vision

Encouraging Thoughts for Your New Year ~ 2024

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I suspect that we all live with regrets since we are human. But the bigger issue is: What do we do with those regrets? I have had a dream for most of my life that I would one day become a writer. Trust me, I have paid my dues. I started out writing poetry about lovers, births of babies, birthdays, anniversaries and Christmases; and then moved on to prose for tributes, eulogies, etc. Yet each little start made me realize it wasn’t exactly fulfilling my lifetime dream. I simply treated it like a wishful thinking hobby. I thought I could entertain people by skillfully creating a trek down memory’s lane that would bring delight to my readers. Yet, my life as a writer remained unsatisfied.

I eventually came to the place where I believed my gift of writing—making things rhyme, challenging hearts, and making people smile—was more than a gift. It was a calling. So, I set out to do something about my dream—I wrote a book and published it. That book went live in August of 2022. Oh, don’t get me wrong here. It’s not that I have attained any great success, but guess what? I have reached some lives with my voice in print.

My book, There Is Life after Tragedy, is about a tragic event in my father’s family that took place before I was born. As a speaker, a new door opened for me to speak to various groups about the loss of love and life; about grieving and learning to live again; and telling the good news of a loving God who understands our pain and never lets us walk alone. I hear from people regularly that my book has touched their lives deeply.

Recently, I connected with two uncles in my mom’s family that I haven’t seen since I was a teenager—all because of my writing. Now, after many years, a delightful connection has been made that is currently bringing joy to all of us. And as an added bonus that I wasn’t expecting, my book was a named a finalist in the American Writing Awards Competition for 2023. We just never know what God has in store for our gifts.   

As I stared at a blank piece of paper this week thinking about what I would like to change about my life (you know, this thing we do as the new year rolls in), these thoughts flowed from my pen: If I could change anything about my life, I would take my dreams more seriously; I would follow those desires of my heart more intently; I would have more confidence in the gifts God has given me. If my mind were to summarize what my heart is saying, it would sound like this: If I could change one thing about my life, I would spend more time writing!

How about you? Do you have an unfulfilled dream of writing, painting, singing, woodworking, or whatever gift you may have that still hangs out in the backyard of your mind? Deal with those regrets about what you haven’t done by making a start to fulfill your dream. Regardless of your age, pay attention to your gift. Acknowledge it. Call it what it is. Use it. Exercise it. Grow it. Consider God in the equation and talk to Him about it. And by all means, use your faith. And if your gift is writing, then write, write, write—with all of your might!

Go ahead and make my statement work for you and your gift: “If I could change one thing about my life, I would spend more time ______________.”

Just fill in the blank and go for it! Our God is a God of surprises! Happy 2024 to all ~ Sarah Jane

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Encouragement, Faith, Lordship of Christ, The Last Days

King of the World

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If only we could turn off the blaring problems around the globe like we turn off the television set, we would likely give a big sigh of relief. There are certainly plenty of issues that cause us to fear—such as war, turmoil and hatred reaching explosive levels in many countries. But isn’t this what we’ve always thought the “last days before Jesus comes back” would look like?

Regardless of our political or religious differences, we can all agree that these are serious times. We generally look for someone on the main stage to stand up and say, “Don’t be afraid! I know what to do. Everything will be alright.” Yet, like me, you could believe that most politicians are untrustworthy; true leaders with character and courage are scarce; and what is terrifying is called good, and what is good is called terrifying.

I can’t help but share with you some amazing words that I came across just this morning. They are perfectly fitting for today!  I believe our faith in God will be refreshed and encouraged as we find instructions for what to do in times like these. Naturally, they come from God’s Word—the Words of Life—as found in Psalm 96. The Passion Translation is just that—passionate about the person being described for us.

 Psalm 96 ~ King of the World

“Go ahead—sing your new song to the Lord! Let everyone in every language sing him a new song.

Don’t stop! Keep on singing! Make his name famous! Tell everyone every day how wonderful he is. Give them the good news of our great Savior.

Take the message of his glory and miracles to every nation. Tell them about all the amazing things he has done.

For the Lord’s greatness is beyond description and he deserves all the praise that comes to him. He is our King-God and it’s right to be in holy awe of him.

Other gods are absolutely worthless. For the Lord God is Creator-God who spread the splendor of the skies!

Breathtaking brilliance and awe-inspiring majesty radiate from His shining presence. His stunning beauty overwhelms all who come before Him.

Surrender to the Lord Yahweh, all you nations and peoples. Surrender to Him all your pride and strength.

Confess that Jehovah alone deserves all the glory and honor. Bring an offering and come celebrate in his courts.

Come worship the Lord God wearing the splendor of holiness. Let everyone wait in wonder as they tremble in awe before him.

Tell the nations plainly that Yahweh rules over all! He is doing a great job, and nothing will disrupt him, for he treats everyone fair and square.

Let the skies sing for joy! Let the earth join in the chorus. Let oceans thunder and fields echo this ecstatic praise until every swaying tree of every forest joins in, lifting up their songs of joyous praise to him!

For here he comes, the Lord God, and he’s ready to judge the world. He will do what’s right and can be trusted to always do what’s fair. ~ Psalm 96:1-13 (TPT)

While it looks as though the whole world is in disarray, take heart. King Jesus will be coming soon to set up His kingdom on earth! Never doubt that He will put all things in order when He comes. We could say, “He will square things up!” The bizarre nonsense will disappear, and King Jesus will reign in peace, truth and righteousness. What is good will be called good, and what is evil will be called evil, as judged by the King Himself.

Victory days are just ahead for all true followers of Jesus Christ! I hope and pray that you are one of them. If so, go ahead and give that big sigh of relief, and then share the good news in this psalm with your friends and family. If you’re not a follower of Jesus Christ, tell a Christian friend or acquaintance that you’d like to meet Him. They will be happy to introduce you to the true King of the World!

~ Sarah Jane

Christian Living, Coronavirus, Encouragement

Re-centering After COVID-19

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Several years ago, while visiting my hometown in Texas, my husband and I decided to visit Magnolia’s Market in Waco. This must stop-and-shop location was well worth the effort; however, it caused us to return home a different route through the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex than the one we knew. Having a GPS in the car, I plugged in a destination and off we went. Everything worked just fine…that is, until we hit some construction work and found ourselves moving at a snail’s pace.

My husband decided to re-route us by way of a no-name road. The GPS struggled with that abrupt change in plans. It continued to flash and speak the word “Re-centering” as if we were about to drop off the earth. When my husband got us back on the right path, I turned off the GPS; but the word “re-centering” stuck with me.

Actually, that seems to fit where we are right now—in the midst of a pandemic where all of our plans have changed. Let’s face it, it is just plain hard to stop in mid-stream, mid-dream, mid-plan, or mid-year, and not be able to do what we intended. It feels wrong somehow, but sadly none of us can do anything about it.

Or can we? Could we perhaps “re-center” our plans and our lives? Maybe. None of us like hard times, but we can be thankful for the results that follow.  In 2005, Casting Crowns released a song called “I Will Praise You in the Storm.” It reminds us that we can praise God in the storm because of the serene, breath-taking quiet that surrounds us and tells us we are safe after the storm.

So here we are, COVID-19 dwellers in the midst of the perhaps the worst storm we have ever faced. Still, we can anticipate a calm after this storm passes. Standing on the other side of the pandemic, we will most likely be able to see the hand of God in it all—the pain, the heartache, the fear, the losses, and the gains.

Our prayer should be to ask God to show us what we need to see from that after-the-storm perspective. What did we learn? What was the take-away? What do we now know that we didn’t know before? How was my life enriched? How is my course changed? How will eternity be impacted? Will I be a different person than I was before the storm? The possibilities are enormous!

I’ve heard it said, “No one wants to go back to the way things were.” It’s true, most people don’t want to go back to work as normal, life as normal, or even church as normal. I pray the heart-cry of every child of God is that we no longer want a mundane state of living. Many of us were driven by our schedules that allowed little or no time for God or family. That busy, relentless treadmill-life demanded we answer its every beck and call to bow before the things of the world. We were too rushed, even in our church services, to wait upon God for barely a moment of silence.

It could be that God Himself jerked us to reality. You see, to fill our lives with the things of the world is a lower state of living than God desires for us. Yet, we did it year after year, month after month, week after week, and day after day.

In Luke 15:11-32, we find a wonderful story about a prodigal son—the one who wanted his inheritance early—his cut of the family farm. He got it and then squandered it, spending his life on wild living.

A good question may be to ask ourselves: Before the pandemic, how was my life being spent? I think some feel that we have spent ourselves, and now we’re tired, we’re worn, we’re out of luck, out of ideas, and perhaps out of hope.

When the wayward son got to that place, he took a job he never thought he’d have—working in a pig pen. All the props had been removed from his life. Props are things that hold us up, help us look normal, tell others that we’re doing great—while we are dying on the inside. There’s nothing left to hide behind, no mask to cover the reality of where we are—busted, broken, and needy!

Yet, the best part of the prodigal son story is that smack-dab in the middle of the pig pen, he came to himself—he remembered who he was. He was indeed the son of a loving father. Oh, dear ones, so are we sons and daughters of a Heavenly Father who is waiting for us to come to ourselves and remember who we are.

In this powerful story, once the young man woke up to his current surroundings, he had to do something about it—he had to arise and go to his father. And so must we go to our Father, fall at His feet, and tell Him we have sinned.

Every person’s pig pen will be different. Yours will be made of the things you chose to dwell in—and mine will be made of the things I chose. We will each have eaten our fill with the choices we made, the lusts we sought after, and the things of the world that allured us there.

The good news is that what awaits each of us is all the same! We will be met with the loving arms of our Father, who has been heart-sick since the day we left home; we’ll be clothed in a fine robe and shoes for our feet; and lastly, our Father will put a ring on our finger signifying our birthright status!

In this moment of quiet, in mid-pandemic state—with movie theaters closed, ball-fields unlit, concert halls dark, stadiums empty, and the church doors locked—can we wake up and recognize where we are? Can we see the tragedy of pig pen living and filling ourselves with the husks of the world? Can we leave that place and return to our Father?

Railroad with woman

Actually, it’s not all that far from where we got off track. It happened so slowly that we barely noticed it along the way. Can we admit where we mis-stepped and made bad choices and then turn towards home? Our Father is watching and waiting, with His gaze fixed upon the road that will take us there.

In 2020, every person on earth has received a wake-up call, along with an invitation to take a fresh look at their lives to see how it is being spent. We are offered a chance to respond to a Father who is awaiting with open arms to welcome us home.

What we do with our wake-up call is up to no one but us. I wonder, will we “re-center” our lives during this opportunity? Can’t we just leave the husks behind and go? You bet we can. Let’s do this! ~ Janie

Coronavirus, Encouragement, Faith, Holidays

Being Disciples on this Strange Good Friday

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God is the originator of all good things—so the Bible tells us in James 1:17 (NLT) ~ “Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens.”  In other words, everything in heaven and on earth that is good comes from the one true God. Even that dark Friday when His Son was tortured, beaten, slapped, cursed, insulted, jeered at, spit upon, and nailed to a wooden cross turned out for our good.

 

I’m sure that Friday didn’t feel good as Jesus’ mother, brothers, and beloved disciples looked at the cross in unbelief. I can imagine thoughts like this going through their heads: What just happened? How did we get here? This is not what we bargained for? This is not how following Jesus was supposed to turn out! Is God anywhere to be found?

 

We’re talking about real human beings here—His disciples. Oh, they were not highly-educated men of position and power, nor honored high priests in the Jewish synagogue. Truth is—each of those men was basically an unknown member of society and a nobody as far as the world was concerned.

 

And on that Good Friday when Jesus died, all their hopes and dreams for being a somebody died too. The hopes that they had found the promised Messiah just got deflated. All dreams of being in Jesus’ official cabinet when He set up His kingdom on earth vanished as well. They were actually in hiding for minutes, hours, and days not knowing where they were in the bigger scheme of things. No doubt they were bewildered. It surely must have felt as if hell had won.

 

Today, on this Good Friday in April of 2020, it somewhat feels the same way for us modern-day disciples. We are hold-up in our homes due to COVID-19 safer-at-home orders spending minutes, hours, and days not knowing where we are in the bigger scheme of things. There is hardly any normal life to be found. It has affected all of us—crossing all lines of division—wealth, race, education, religion—and marginalizing us into one big category—bewildered! And it surely feels as if hell has won.

 

Aren’t we asking those same questions: What just happened? How did we get here? This is not what we bargained for? This is not how following Jesus was supposed to turn out! Is God anywhere to be found?

 

But wait—the truth is that one dark afternoon at Calvary changed everything for Jesus’ disciples then and now. I guess we could say it was a game-changer deluxe! In that fateful moment when Jesus declared “It is finished,” the curse on mankind was broken and the redemptive plan of God was accomplished. In just a few days, that dark moment would yield to a glorious resurrection morning. Great joy would fill the hearts of the disciples when they realized that Jesus was alive forevermore!

 

You see, the time hidden here in this dark moment of a world pandemic is only for a few days. We too will have a glorious resurrection morning and Jesus will appear to us once again. Our hearts will be filled with joy when we understand that just as He had not abandoned His disciples then, He has not abandoned us now. And since we serve a game-changing God, who knows what good will come out of this dark time? Who knows what it could mean for us who believe that He always keeps His promises, and that everything He ever told us will be just as He said?

 

It is in our best interest as modern-day disciples of the Living Lord to trust our faithful Father and believe that this too is indeed a Good Friday! He has never failed us yet!

 

May we celebrate this strange Easter as disciples of great faith! Blessings to all ~ Janie

Christian Living, Devotional, Encouragement

Living the Life I Intend

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The words of Charles Krauthammer—the popular journalist and Pulitzer Prize winner—grabbed me and won’t let go. I hope they grab you too.

 

A few weeks before his death, he wrote a letter to Fox News stating that he would not be returning to the Special Report program because of his failing health. He ended with these words:

 

“I leave this life with no regrets….I am sad to leave, but I leave with the knowledge that I lived the life that I intended.” ~ Charles Krauthammer

 

Am I living the life I intend? Are you?

 

A few mornings ago I walked outside with my husband as he was leaving. He pointed out something in my flowerbed that I had not seen—a miniature rose bush with one tiny rose in full bloom. How had I missed seeing it before? Or better yet, how had I not trampled it down while watering the shrubs nearby?

 

I was actually surprised to see it growing there, since I had pulled up a rose bush from that very spot last fall. The full-grown bush had outgrown the space, and the pesky twig girdlers had all but stripped it of any branches. I decided it had to go, and there would be no more rose bushes in this bed.

 

Yet, there it was—this perfect sampling of a rose bush that had overcome the odds—including a gardener who wanted it gone, a fresh layer of pine bark piled high, and zero protection from big rubber boots. It certainly had received no special care or prime growing conditions. Actually, it wasn’t wanted at all. Except, that is, by its Creator.

 

The Creator creates rose bushes to grow, reach upward toward Him, and produce blooms that turn into beautiful roses. In fact, if this tiny specimen of a rose bush never amounts to anything else, today it is living the life that it was intended to live—and bringing a smile to the face of its Creator. And that’s all that is required of it.

 

 

Oh dear readers, can we grasp that the life God intends for us to live is really all that matters?

 

Our broken world has a warped definition for greatness. It tells us we have to strive for big dreams and lucrative careers. Perhaps that’s why we struggle to find our place—for the one we’re in now just doesn’t seem great enough. We are often insecure about our not-so-great gifts, talents, callings, and we’re left to think that surely we were meant to be more, do more, and excel more.

 

Yet, our Creator God doesn’t ask us to be great in the world’s eyes—but in His eyes—doing what He created us to do.

 

Our Heavenly Father simply asks us to be what He created us to be. Then He offers to guide our desires and talent toward the place where He needs us to go, and asks only that we trust Him to guide us correctly. When we do find our place, we can put down roots, begin to grow, reach upward toward Him, and bloom—right there.

 

Henri J. M. Nouwen wrote, “Spiritual greatness has nothing to do with being greater than others. It has everything to do with being as great as each of us can be.”

 

As a child of God, my intentions must be aligned with what God wants from me—a life that brings a smile to His face. That could mean I need to turn loose of some dreams of my own making; or some goals that are unrealistic; or perhaps some visions of grandeur that others have had for me.

 

Jesus said, “For I always do those things that please Him.” And that should be enough for us, too. It might even relieve some stress from our lives.

 

Now that I think about it, that is the life I intend to live. ~ Janie Kellogg

Anxiety & Depression, Encouragement, Faith

Can Broken Things Survive?

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A few weeks ago when I was having one of my anxious days, my son sent me a picture of a broken-down tree. The caption on it was “keep fighting.” This picture speaks volumes to my heart.

 

 

Since trees can neither think nor make decisions, let’s just pretend for the moment that they do.

 

This broken-down tree could certainly have taken the victim approach to life. After all, something catastrophic happened that altered its future—forever. As a victim, it could bemoan its circumstances, since trees are supposed to stand up—not lie down. It could compare itself to all the normal trees standing tall and straight, and determined that it will never be a beautiful tree. It could consider itself too far gone—fallen too low to fulfill its purpose on the earth. And what about its environment—trees rarely survive in the middle of a body of water. Its chances are not only slim, but near impossible.

 

Choosing to be a victim of one’s circumstances is a hard life. Victims look for someone to blame, and then much of their time and energy is spent lamenting what has been dealt to them. How many have said: I’ll never make it in this set of circumstances? If only things could be different. If only this had not happened. If only things could go back to being the way they were…before. If only….if only….if only….

 

Yet, here it is—a broken-down tree that is a shining testimony of what a tree is created to be—branched out in beautiful foliage, producing oxygen, shade and a resting place for those sparrows God watches over so carefully. And all of that—in spite of its circumstances.

 

Is it not a tree that chose to “keep fighting” and make the most of its brokenness? Is it not living proof that broken things can indeed survive?

 

A few months ago the popular syndicated columnist, political commentator and Pulitzer Prize winner, Charles Krauthammer, passed from this life. In a documentary on Charles’ life, Fox News commentator Bret Baier made a profound statement about him that I won’t soon forget. Now it only becomes profound when you know that Charles suffered a severe spinal cord injury in a diving accident when he was in college. As a result, he spent the remainder of his life in a wheel chair with only limited use of his arms and hands. Yet, Charles finished college and medical school on time, graduating with his class. He changed careers somewhere in midstream and spent many years in Washington DC as a political journalist. He had a wife, one son, and is a best-selling author of “Things That Matters.” He is highly esteemed in the media and political circles around the world.

 

Here is the statement Baier made about him: “Charles Krauthammer lived life as if the accident never happened.” Seriously, I think I gulp every time I read that statement.

 

How did Charles do it? How did he not succumb to being a victim of his circumstances? He kept fighting…against the odds. He was somewhat of a creative genius and he used the resources given him—his intelligence, his wit, and his charm to build a life that mattered.

 

And our thinking tree—what did it do? It kept fighting too…against the odds. It used the circumstances dealt to it and the resources given to also build a life that mattered.

 

I hate the anxiety that I now live with, and I really wish it wasn’t here. I hate it most when it catches me off-guard and causes me to think I’m less than I used to be, that I am a victim of some sort, or that I’ll never be normal again.

 

But like a broken-down tree or a broken-down life, I have a choice. And so do you. Here is the question for us today: Can we live life as if the thing never happened? I’m pretty sure I just gulped again.

 

I’m still not over that picture—that broken-down tree surviving…against the odds. I printed it and keep it where I can see it every day. And I have decided what I’m going to do—I’m gonna keep fighting! I hope you do too. ~ Janie Kellogg

 

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 (NLT)

Anxiety & Depression, Encouragement

Broken Things ~

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In her new book “The Way of Abundance,” Ann Voskamp looks at a chip in her tea cup and then writes about brokenness. With her amazing writing style she touches my heart deeply. I know that broken is what I was before Christ rescued me at age twenty-three—but then it could be what I am today because we live in a really broken world. After all, cups—and lives—are fragile.

 

I grabbed my pen as I thought about my own chipped-cup life. I believe that most of us have been chipped in one way or another, and most likely, more than once. Chips lead to ugly cracks, and ugly cracks eventually give way to a full-blown break. It’s true of me. But thanks to God’s grace-glue my chipped-cup life has been put back together several times.

 

I also believe that God doesn’t waste anything—including chips in His cups. Because we are all made for His divine purpose, those chips and the brokenness that follows are used by our Creator to shape us to be like Jesus and prepare us for eternity.

 

Ann Voskamp writes: “Never be afraid of being a broken thing.”1

 

Seriously? Aren’t we all afraid of brokenness? But she’s right—we should not be afraid—because it is our life’s story. We may not know how that ugly chip happened, who or what caused it, or when the crack began to show up. It could be as vivid in our minds as if it happened yesterday, or we may not remember at all when the actual breaking apart took place. It matters not—just that it did.

 

Many of us have difficulty believing that brokenness can be a good thing, since we are bombarded with beautiful things streaming non-stop into our lives—perfect bodies, gorgeous hair, ultimate success—as Hollywood portrays it. I personally believe it’s all a scam by the enemy of our souls to make us think less of ourselves and more of our brokenness.

 

Yet, we should not be afraid of being broken because Jesus was broken too…for us. God bruised Him and crushed Him for a divine purpose,2 and His brokenness became our solution! And now this Divine Healer is the Restorer of all broken things.

 

Actually, our brokenness works for our good, if we will take a closer look at it:

 

~When we are broken, we can see our need for Jesus—the only One who can make us whole.

~When we feel useless, God can reveal His divine purpose for our lives.

~When we admit that we are weak, God will be strong in us.

~When our lives are messed up, God takes what Satan intended for bad and uses it for good.

 

Even something as delicate as a broken heart can be healed by the healing-Savior. Jesus said, “He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted.”3   Get this: God planned a way to mend us before our breaking ever happened.

 

There is not one broken thing beyond His reach. There is not one broken person He cannot mend and put back together. There is no brokenness that Jesus did not die for.

 

I think I get it now: “Never be afraid of being a broken thing” because that very brokenness may be what brings you to a place of wholeness, a new beginning, and the start of the life that God intends for you to live.

 

I wonder how many of you feel that your life is chipped, cracked, or perhaps broken beyond repair. If you are one of those, His healing awaits you. Jesus welcomes you to come to Him and let Him heal your life—past, present and future. Don’t continue living life broken.

 

Instead of bemoaning our brokenness, let’s embrace it. And if we could learn to thank Him for every chip and break we’ve ever had, we might be able see them for what they truly are—a testimony to others of God’s healing power.

 

Every healed life is a beautiful thing! ~ Janie Kellogg

 

 

1 Ann Voskamp, The Way of Abundance, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 2018, Page 188

2 Isaiah 53:4-5

3 Luke 4:18