Celebrating A Half Century

Papa and me (1965)

You whom I have upheld since your birth, and have carried since you were born. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:3b-4 NIV 

What a great promise! As I reflect back over my last fifty years, I can’t begin to count the number of times in my life God has sustained and carried me—through loss and grief, the excitement of raising two beautiful children, and the roller coaster ride of both mountaintop and valley experiences of life. I’m fortunate most of my immediate family are still alive and my parents both in good health. I enjoy good health, a roof over my head, employment, and people who love me. I’ve been fortunate to have success in what I’m most passionate about—writing.

The reasons to give thanks are infinite! At the top of the list is the gift of forgiveness and grace God extends to me daily.

On a milestone birthday, one often reminisces about times of old and reflects on missed opportunities and achievements. I’m no different. A child of the 70s and early 80s, I witnessed the disco era, Watergate, and the introduction of computers.

Now the kings of disco (my favorites as a teenager), the Bee Gees, are no more. Only one silver-haired brother remains. My hair isn’t quite that gray yet, but it definitely makes me feel old when I mark time by the passing of cultural icons of my generation. Pay phones and snail mail letters are almost completely gone, too. Although, vinyl records are coming back among the retro crowd! I guess I’ve lived long enough to be retro. J

But rather than lament the passage of time, I am so grateful for the One who sustained me through change—both good and bad. And as I celebrate my fiftieth birthday, it’s not enough to reminisce or celebrate past achievements.

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might… Ecclesiastes 9:10a 

If God chooses to bless me with continued longevity and good health, I want to be about doing His Kingdom work with all my might. In all that I do, I must continue to seek His will—to shine His light in this darkened world. I’m so blessed He gave me both the desire and talent to write. I can’t imagine a life without this gift. I want my writing to bear fruit, stay fresh, and encourage those who read it.

They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green. Psalm 92:14  

And to that end, in celebration of my fiftieth birthday, I’m giving away the Kindle version of both of my books. (Print versions are also available for purchase.) You don’t have to enter a drawing or leave a comment (though I always love hearing from my readers). Simply click on the links below through March 15, 2015, to claim your books. Share this with your friends. I’d like to give away as many books as possible to celebrate reaching the half-century mark of my life. What a glorious thing to be able to say! Praise be to God!

Click HERE to claim your free copy of my devotional

Click HERE to claim your FREE copy of my novella

If you have a prayer need, please leave a comment or email me confidential requests. I’d love to join you in prayer. J

God bless,

Laura

©Laura Hodges Poole

“Disc” image courtesy of Salvatore Vuono/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

Friends—Sharing Pain and Touching Wounds

“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.” Henri Nouwen, Dutch priest and writer.

Last Saturday, I participated in a mission project at my church for Sole Hope. According to their website, this organization is:  

A group of passionate, committed people who are putting closed toed shoes on African children, one pair at a time…Along the way, we realized we could not only help African children, but we could help African men and women by teaching them a simple trade—how to make shoes. And so we began. Then we realized we could teach others—homeless, unemployed, recovering addicts, and nonprofits—how to make shoes, so they could earn a decent living and raise funds for their causes. So Sole Hope is touching lives in the U.S. and Africa, and we’re only getting started! (solehope.com)

Sponsors cut out shoe parts from what we normally would cast away: old jeans, cloth, plastic jugs, etc. to ship to Sole Hope for the shoes to be made.

My friend Cindy was instrumental in bringing this project to our church for the ladies to participate in. In fact, I’m almost certain she will blog about the experience, so go over and check out her blog, My Little Corner, this week. When I think of missions, she’s one of the first people who comes to mind.

As I sat at a table cutting out cloth shoe patterns with pinking shears, a lady took a seat across from me, and we introduced ourselves. She said, “I know you. You’re Cindy’s friend.” As I thought about this later, it struck me that I’m often labeled according to my role in relation to someone else. When my daughter was little, I was “Lindsay’s mom.” Then Josh came along more than a decade later, and I was “Josh’s mom.” J

Being a mom is special. There’s no comparison, but being associated with someone you respect because of shared beliefs and the way they pattern their life is what true friendship is all about.

Jesus said, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:12-15 

Is there any better friendship than the one we have with Jesus? Especially because earthly friendships can be fractured—even to the point of disrepair, or so it seems. When this happens, it’s hard to trust again. The healing balm is found only in the arms of Jesus. Being considered His friend is the ultimate in relationships. He’s the one person who will truly never let you down. He’s the one who can mend broken hearts and relationships. As Christians, we are to demonstrate Jesus’ love by sharing others’ pain and touching their wounds “with a warm and tender hand.” When I think of Jesus’ friendship, I’m reminded of this old hymn:

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there. ~Joseph M. Scriven

Do you have sorrow or a broken relationship you’d like prayer for? If you don’t want to share in the comments section, please feel free to e-mail me confidential requests. I’d love to pray for you.

God bless,

Laura ✞

©Laura Hodges Poole

Image courtesy of imagerymajestic/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Hear My Cry, O God

Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. Psalm 61:1-3

Before Josh and I started hiking

A couple of summers ago, Josh and I went to Paris Mountain State Park, about an hour’s drive northeast of our home, to hike. We’d been once before and hiked an intermediate trail. This time, we decided to hike the longest, most difficult trail in the park. Ha! I’m not sure what got into me that day. J It was 3.6 miles and rated 9 out of 10 in difficulty.

Along the trail

Three-plus hours later, tired, achy, and sweaty, we trudged back to the Park Center where we’d begun. We’d climbed as much as hiked, or so it seemed. There were many rocks higher than us. And large, intertwined tree roots. And fairly wide streams we had to cross on “natural” bridges or boulders.  It was a fun day etched in our memories. I often remark to Josh that we need to return to Paris Mountain and see if we could hike it again. I’m sure he could. Me? Not so much so.

Hiking up the trail

One of the things I love most about the Psalms is the descriptive nature of David’s prose. If we knew nothing about David being a shepherd boy or hiding out in caves, we could surmise his outdoor nature from the pictures he painted with his words. You might recognize the above verse from which I’ve had a portion posted on my blog since its inception. I love the concept of being led to “the rock that is higher than I.”

mountain lake

Before Jesus came to earth to die as a sacrifice for our sins, the concept of entering into God’s presence cleansed from sin was very much like trying to climb to a rock higher than could be humanly attained. David cried out to God many, many times as recorded in the Psalms, but he still had to go through Judaic rituals to be cleansed.

mountain stream

For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:16-18

Near the mountaintop

Isn’t that wonderful news? Let us not become jaded and take for granted the assurance of forgiveness. Although God offers it freely through His grace, a huge price was paid so we may enter into His presence cleansed from sin. Can you imagine what it was like in King David’s time not to have immediate access to that cleansing? What an amazing sacrifice Christ made for us!

Are you going through a trial right now? One seemingly insurmountable? Cling to that Higher Rock. Cling to His promise of help through temptation. Cling to the righteousness only Christ can offer you through His sacrifice. Cling to His unselfish love poured out to save you. God’s comfort and grace will see you through.

Living, He loved me

Dying, He saved me

Buried, He carried my sins far away

Rising, He justified freely forever

One day He's coming

Oh glorious day, oh glorious day

by John Mark Hall;Michael Jr Bleecker

(Casting Crowns)

Prayer Request:

A Christian lady and her son in the Philippines face a financial crisis jeopardizing his place in college as a nursing student, if they can’t raise school fees before his finals. Please pray that God will provide means for this young man to continue his studies and take his finals.

If you have a prayer need, please leave a comment. You may do so anonymously, if you choose, or you may email me confidential requests. I’d love to join you in prayer.

Shalom,

Laura ✞

©Laura Hodges Poole

Forgiveness and Prayer

Has someone ever betrayed you? Or maybe you’ve had a disagreement over something that seems trivial now? I think most of us can answer in the affirmative to one or both of these questions.

“They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.” Acts 15:39-41.

Paul and Barnabas were friends and colleagues. In fact, Barnabas came to Paul’s defense among the other disciples after Paul’s conversion to Christianity, recorded in the book of Acts. But as often happens, human frailties and personalities came in to play in their relationship. Acts 15 records their disagreement over whether or not Mark was reliable enough to accompany them in their ministry work.

By the end of Paul’s life, in his final letter to Timothy, he asks Timothy to come quickly and to “get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:11b.

Either Paul had regretted his strong stance, forgiven Mark’s past indiscretion, or Mark had proven himself through his ministry with Barnabas. The relationship had mended to the point where Paul asked for him, even as his own death was imminent.

Today, my prayer is for those hurt by broken relationships or sharp disagreements in their family or friendships. If you have a prayer request or would like to share a thought, please share in the comment section or email me, if you’d like it to stay confidential. Take a moment to pray for others' requests.

Please enjoy "Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us," sung by Todd Agnew, as you spend a few minutes in prayer.

John 3:17

If I were to ask what’s the most recognizable Bible verse—your answer would probably be John 3:16. It’s written on posters held up at sporting events. Most non-Christians are aware of the reference, even if they can’t recite the verse. It’s one of the first verses children memorize in Sunday school. John 3:16 sums up the Gospel message in a short, easy to remember way.

Conversely, John 3:17 receives almost no attention. In fact, many people would be hard pressed to quote or give a summary of it.

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:17

Non-believers, and maybe even some Christians, assume God expects us to follow a set of rules in order to follow Him. When we don’t, He breathes a fiery condemnation on us.

Not so—according to this verse.

You see, we were already under condemnation when Jesus made the choice to obey God and become man. John 3:16 speaks of God’s love, but there’s also the love Jesus has for us—so much that he became our sacrifice for sin.

If you’re having a difficult time accepting you are worthy of salvation and feel too weak to follow rules—guess what? You’re right. That’s why we need a Savior. We bring nothing but ourselves, sin and all, to the feet of Jesus. He brings about the transformation we’re unable to do on our own.

God offers you salvation freely. Jesus paid our ransom with his life. Why not ask him into your heart and free you from the condemnation of sin? I’d love to hear from you, if you do.