AMAZING THINGS

Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.  –1 Chronicles 16:24  (NLT)

It seems appropriate to share that Scripture today as my website, hopetoinspireyou.com, celebrates its eighth year of publishing weekly reflections! September 5, 2014, was the date the first reflection, “An Unexpected Phone Call,” was shared as a test to see if God would provide weekly inspiration for this endeavor. My heart is filled with joy to say, “God sure has!” Eight years later, you are reading reflection #396!

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”  –Matthew 7:7-8  (NIV)

I guess you can say my “test” to see if God would provide weekly inspiration was a form of asking and seeking God, seeing if the door would open. God is good and faithful, keeping His promises. I am grateful for seeing that reflected through writing weekly.

 

 

What a wonderful journey writing has become in my life. My goal has always been to inspire others in their faith journey and share how I see God in the ordinary things of life. Sometimes I think we believe God is up in heaven, is too busy for us, and isn’t working in our lives. I believe God’s presence is found on this earth and in all people. He is always at work in our lives, even when we might not see it or feel it.

I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.  –Psalm 139:7-10  (NLT)

God is always with us through the good and the bad. Wherever we are, whatever we are doing, God is with us, guiding and strengthening us. At times, we may walk away from God, but He is faithful and waits patiently for us to return. He is with us in the ordinary moments of our days. Do you see Him orchestrating events and relationships in your life?

 

 

Setting a goal of writing weekly has helped me to keep my physical eyes and the eyes of my heart open to seeing God all around us. Being aware of God more and communing with Him more regularly has led to great growth in my faith. The weekly reflections help me articulate my thoughts and experiences so I can process my faith and understand it better. When I click the publish button each week, I pray it may help at least one other person see something through a different lens or encourage their faith walk.

Writing is a ministry to me, which enables me to share my faith and God with others. How grateful I am to see how God has grown and expanded the ministry, especially with the orchestration of publishing two, soon to be three, 90-Day Devotionals. Publishing a book was never on my radar or bucket list, but as God produces growth in our lives and ministries, His will prevails. Some of my faithful readers first planted the seed of possibly publishing a book, which God brought to fruition.

For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings? What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.  — 1 Corinthians 3:4-7  (NIV)

God provided growth in my ministry, from writing weekly on a website to publishing three books to help spread the Good News to more people. He used the simple act of seeing a bulletin advertisement for a speaker at a different church to inspire me to go solo to the event. The speaker, a lady from Texas, and I talked for a few minutes after, and I remember that she prayed over me for my ministry. Little did either of us know that fifteen months later, she would feel led to publish my first book! Only God, who makes things grow, could orchestrate that.

 

 

Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.  –1 Chronicles 16:24  (NLT)

That Scripture holds special significance for me, as I discovered it while preparing the manuscript for my first book. Seeing the glorious things God does in our lives, it has become my heart’s desire to tell everyone about those amazing things! I am in awe of Him. I want to share His goodness and shout it from the rooftops! It has enabled this originally insecure and introverted gal to become more outgoing, stepping out in faith many times to share one of her books with total strangers, especially at church. God has greatly increased my “family” through this simple act. Strangers quickly become family, even spiritual brothers and sisters in the Lord, in a short amount of time. Having meaningful relationships with like-minded people has been the greatest blessing in my life. We can learn from each other, support one another, and be challenged by people’s faith too. If you are reading this reflection, it means most likely that your life has impacted mine. It is a great honor to know you and to walk this journey of faith with you.

 

 

God has put many special people in my path on this journey. Some inspired me to start and build my own website. God has provided editors who have encouraged me through the years and a Biblical scholar who ensures the accuracy of my interpretations. Others have inspired reflection by their lives and you, my faithful readers are most valuable. You breathe life into my spirit with faithfully reading as well as your encouraging words and comments.

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  –Philippians 1:3-6  (NIV)

 

Be encouraged this week to…

…ask, seek, and knock.

…use the unique gifts God has given to you to glorify Him.

…look for ways you can minister to others.

 

 

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Two 90-Devotional books are currently available by contacting me via email at christine@hopetoinspireyou.com, or at amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com.

God's Presence Illuminated
Treasured Thoughts to Inspire Hope and Light

God's Love Illuminated
Treasured Thoughts to Inspire Walking in God's Abundant Love
 

The third book should be available by November 2022. I will keep you updated on its publication.

God's Compassion Illuminated
Treasured Thoughts to Inspire Following God's Way

 

Thank you for gracing my life and being a faithful reader!

 

Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together. –Psalm 34:3 (NLT)