Joy and Strength (Christian life and music)

If we are on our phones for any length of time these days, we cannot avoid seeing all of the sales and “great deals” being offered. ‘Tis the season! If you keep seeing the same ad over and over, even if it’s an item that you don’t need, you may weaken and give in and buy the thing!  There’s a lot to be said for the power of repetition. The same holds true when it comes to God’s Word. There is power in reading the Scriptures over and over. And the beauty of it is that, unlike a cyber ad, the Word is alive and has the power to change us.  It holds everything that we truly need, and not just at Christmas, but always. When we read and reread God's Word, we can see something new in that familiar Scripture passage by the power of the Holy Spirit revealing new meaning to us. Unlike that “must have” item for sale that will eventually become old and lose its luster, and our interest, the Word of God is eternal, never perishes or fades, and has lasting value to our souls. Won’t you treat you

  I am so excited to share my new book with you!  It is available on Amazon now.  Read it and be blessed!  Here's the link:   Holy Habits Love, Elizabeth

We're living in a different world.  Different from the way things were.  This pandemic has brought us to our knees collectively.  Hopefully, it has caused us to stop short and take stock in life itself.   The pandemic is a reminder of what we knew all along but pushed to the back of our minds - life is fragile.  Life is unpredictable.  Life is not something to be controlled. Whatever we are in the habit of seeking for security, comfort, truth, and peace, these are what we will seek during a pandemic.  We will not suddenly become something different from what we were.  We are all creatures of habit. If you were accustomed to turning to food or alcohol  or the internet or work for comfort or escape, then you most likely turned to it even more during this time.   If you like to control, be in control, then you will tighten the reins.  Only how in the heck to you control a pandemic?  You don't. If you have been a Christian for any length of time, you have probably formed some spiri

In times of trouble, we revert to what we know.  We do whatever habit we have formed before the time of trouble. During this pandemic, have your habits changed at all?  Have mine?  What is this troublesome time teaching us personally? I am in the habit of seeking the Lord every day.  I seek His Presence, His wisdom, His peace, His insight, His love - I seek Him.  This habit has served me well over the decades, to say the least.  It is like a soft, cushion-y substance that I rest on, find my strength - yet not my strength, but His.  I do better when I don't try to be so strong, but when I rely on His strength.  After all, there is no stronger source of strength than God! Yet underlying the soft cushion of His grace, mercy, love and security is the strongest, rock-like foundation you could ever have.  It never goes away.  His Foundation is forever.  It is secure - even in the most troublesome times. We must be careful because those "foundations" that may have served us in t