Bridget A. Thomas

Hi friends! In my last post I mentioned that I wouldn’t be able to post daily this month, as I have in some Novembers past. However, I am still trying to post a little extra, as we focus on gratitude. I will try to post on Tuesdays and Saturdays for three weeks, and Tuesday and Thursday for the final week in November.

Today I want to talk about some prep work we need to do as we work towards having more grateful hearts…

If we are trying to be more grateful and optimistic, or even if we are in the midst of a battle, it’s important that we clear the clutter of negativity in our minds.

It’s not easy to grow good seeds in our garden when there are weeds taking up territory in the soil.

It’s not easy to push towards victory when our thoughts are full of land mines.

The Bible reminds us to take control of our thoughts:

2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV) says, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

I will admit, this isn’t easy. It takes a lot of work. If we have allowed our thoughts to run rampant for years, it will take time to retrain our minds. But it’s necessary and it’s worth the effort.

Choosing life-giving thoughts over life-draining thoughts will not only have lasting impact on our daily lives, but this will also honor the Lord.

In the words of Dr. Charles Stanley, “The mind is the primary battlefield for spiritual warfare. Remember, what you focus your mind on has lasting ramifications. This is because a thought reaps an action, an action reaps a habit, a habit reaps your character and your character reaps your destiny. Therefore, we must reject anything that does not honor Christ in our thinking.”

It is much easier to choose good thoughts when things in life are going well. Praise and gratitude are an effortless choice when we have all we want and need, and when we are not facing any difficulties.

However, when trials come our way, the enemy will take that opportunity to bring us down. Therefore, in the midst of challenges, we need to press forward and choose thoughts and words that build our faith.

Susie Larson wrote, “When we find ourselves on the battlefield, we need to clear the field of the accompanying emotions and attitudes that make fighting and winning almost impossible. No one can do that for us. Fear has to leave. Worry too. Unforgiveness. Ungodly assumptions. Attitudes that usurp authority. Pride. Jealousy. Judgments. Idolatry. Hatred. Bitterness. And a host of other heart conditions that open the door to the enemy’s influence in our lives. He is a legalist. If we give him the opportunity, he’ll take it. Every time.”

And the Bible is clear on this too. We have to protect our hearts, minds, thoughts, and words from the evil one:

Proverbs 4:23-27 (NIV) says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.”

Something I have started praying each morning for myself and my family is that Jesus will break the spirits of depression, anxiety, bitterness, resentment, offense, fear, anger, and negativity.

You might be thinking that having some of these emotions isn’t necessarily a bad thing. And that’s true. There are times when anger, for example, is appropriate. However, what I am getting at is when these emotions have control of our lives in an unhealthy way. The enemy wants us to wallow in these feelings.

But Jesus wants us to find joy and peace and gratitude, by keeping our focus on Him.

I don’t believe it’s enough to just pray about this, though. I also believe we have to act on it. For example, if I pray that Jesus will break the spirit of offense, and then I am easily offended by something someone said, I am not getting very far on this path.

Moment by moment we might need to evaluate the posture of our hearts and our thoughts. As we weed out the negative, this makes it easier for us to build gratitude inside. This places us on the path to victory.

Dear Jesus, please help us on this path. Please help us to lay aside the negative thoughts and feelings that have taken root. We want to choose joy over depression, peace over anxiety, faith over fear, gratitude over grumbling, kindness over bitterness. It’s not easy, but with Your help we can do it. We turn to You and rely on Your strength. Thank You. We are so grateful for You. It is in Your holy name, we pray. Amen.

© 2018-2024 Bridget A. Thomas. All rights reserved.

Here we are for another monthly reflection of the blessings and lessons learned in our lives.

One thing I was reminded of in October is the blessing we have in technology. Some of us had texting issues this month. We couldn’t text certain people, resulting in a red “Not Delivered” error.

My friend Lorraine and I resorted to emailing each other. Under normal circumstances, Lorraine faithfully texts me every morning to say hello and wish me a good day. What a gift! When the phone issues were fixed and we were able to text again, I was overjoyed.

I am happy to say that I never lost the ability to text my family, which is especially important right now. It’s a good way to check in, make sure everyone is okay, and keep one another updated.

The Lord reminded me to be thankful for this small convenience that was unheard of twenty-five years ago. We have so much at our fingertips these days. Yet people are less content. We forget to look around for the little blessings that God sends us.

Ephesians 5:20 reminds us to always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This past month I was also reminded that we have so many blessings in our lives, even in the midst of worries and discouragement. Each day will hold good things and not-so-good things. When we have big concerns we are dealing with, our focus tends to stay on the negative. It can be difficult to see the beauty around us. We need to put extra effort into looking for the good. This doesn’t mean we are being unrealistic about the battles we are facing. It means we are choosing faith over fear. It means we are remembering that God is in control and God is still good.

“God’s goodness and faithfulness are foundational to our victory in battle. Somehow, we need to settle it in our hearts that God is a profoundly good Father and that He will never forsake us.” – Susie Larson

Numerous events that happened recently reminded me of the importance of people. We each have family and friends in our lives, but do we take them for granted? God reminded me how much the people in our lives matter. Taking the time to appreciate them will help bring joy to both their hearts and ours.

So with that being said, I want to extend a big thank you to each of you! I appreciate you being here, your friendship, and your prayers. You truly are a gift!

Now perhaps you are wondering why I’m posting on Friday instead of Saturday. Since today is November 1st, and since in November we celebrate Thanksgiving in the US, I wanted to encourage the idea of approaching the next thirty days with gratitude.

I won’t be able to post every day like I have done in some prior years. But I aim to keep my posts related to gratitude over the next few weeks.

I feel that often times we live our lives at a fast pace and we forget to cling to Him like we should. Life’s concerns take our focus, and then we get stressed and frustrated. We can walk in His peace and we can find gratitude, even in the midst of difficulties. But we have to make an effort to lean on Him. I’m so glad Jesus is always there, He wants to help us, and He never gives up on us.

If you plan to embrace gratitude (or anything in particular) this month, I’d love to hear what it is. And I would love to hear how your October went.

© 2018-2024 Bridget A. Thomas. All rights reserved.

Psalm 21 is a powerful chapter, with each verse manifesting strength. It is believed that the psalm was written after a battle. And the psalm overflows with a victory mindset.

(Note that “the title names David as the author, but then the psalm itself speaks about the king in the third person. The king as song composer could certainly write about his office in the third person, but it is also possible that the psalmist is some second party who speaks about the king” [1]… We will assume David is the author, especially since the Bible gives him credit. Keep in mind that in the verse I share below – “You” is referring to God and “him” is referring to King David.)

You can read Psalm 21 in the New International Version here. If you prefer a different Bible version, you also have the ability to choose the translation on that webpage.

Psalm 21 reminds us of many reasons why we should be filled with praise and gratitude towards God:

• God brings victory.
• God hears our prayers and answers our requests.
• We can trust in the Lord and His unfailing love.
• The Lord is our strength and the One we can turn to when facing a battle.

While we might not face the kind of battle that David did, we will still face different hardships in life. But Psalm 21 reminds us that God is there with us. He is on our side. When we call out to Him, He hears us. When life is unbelievably hard, it brings true comfort to know we have Someone we can turn to. Someone who is Almighty and can handle anything that comes our way.

This psalm also reminds us of the delight we find in the Lord’s presence. Psalm 21:6 in the NIV says, “Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.”

The NKJV says, “For You have made him most blessed forever; You have made him exceedingly glad with Your presence.”

And there are several versions that put it this way – “For You grant him blessings forever; You cheer him with joy in Your presence.”

David is bubbling over with gratitude as he writes this. David has seen firsthand how much the Lord bestows blessings on His children. And he has seen in his life how the Lord’s presence leaves an impact.

Even in the midst of a difficulty, as we are waiting to see our victory, we can still seek the Lord and find cheer in His presence. His presence truly is a gift.

In the words of Dr. Charles Stanley, “God invites us to ask him for the things we need and the desires of our heart. But only his presence brings lasting joy. The deepest delights are found in him, not in anything this world has to offer.”

When reading about David in the Bible, we can see how he always had his eyes and heart fixed on the Lord. His relationship with God was a vital part of his life. This means that when he faced a difficulty, trusting in God came easily. And when he saw victory, praising God was second-nature. I pray we all have a heart that is fixed on the Lord.

And when we are seeking a victory, I pray we remember to turn to Almighty God and His presence. He loves us and wants to help us with everything we face. He is always working on our behalf. Some days are really hard, but as we cling to Him, He will lift us up. He will be there and His presence will fill us with joy and cheer. He delights in us, as we delight in Him.

Thank you for stopping by and reading. I know time is precious, and I don’t take it lightly that you have taken the time to read my post. You all are in my prayers. And if you have any specific prayer requests, please let me know. And thank you all for the prayers you have lifted for my family. They are truly appreciated. God bless you!

[1] – Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. Psalms: An Introduction and Commentary. © 2014 by Tremper Longman III

© 2018-2024 Bridget A. Thomas. All rights reserved.

1 When Israel came out of Egypt, Jacob from a people of foreign tongue,
2 Judah became God’s sanctuary, Israel his dominion.
3 The sea looked and fled, the Jordan turned back;
4 the mountains leaped like rams, the hills like lambs.
5 Why was it, sea, that you fled? Why, Jordan, did you turn back?
6 Why, mountains, did you leap like rams, you hills, like lambs?
7 Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob,
8 who turned the rock into a pool, the hard rock into springs of water.

~ Psalm 114 NIV

I read Psalm 114 roughly two weeks ago, when the weather channel was predicting my area would be hit with a third hurricane this season.

When I read this, the word “Presence” that is seen twice in verse 7 jumped out at me – “Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob.”

This is the same Hebrew word that I mentioned last week. And I think God used it to get my attention. “Presence” is my one word for 2024, and as I mentioned last week I have been digging into Psalms that speak about God’s presence in our lives. So God knew this verse and Psalm would alert me to pay attention.

But let me back up a little and explain why God wanted to get my attention. I initially sat down with the Lord to pray (and I admit I complained as well) that life had enough worries, and that we didn’t need any new ones added. I then asked Jesus to keep us protected from the hurricane headed our way. And I ended my prayer by asking Jesus to help me trust Him with the many worries I had.

Then I opened my Bible and happened to read this Psalm. I felt like the Lord wanted me to get two messages out of this. Regarding the hurricane itself, God was reminding me that He is ruler of the earth. The earth, the seas, and the mountains – they all tremble before Him. They answer to Him.

Although we still see terrible destruction from natural disasters, it brings some comfort knowing that God is still in control. Anything that happens, He allows. We don’t always understand why He allows them. But as God said in Isaiah 55:8-9 NKJV:

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

However, I also felt that God was reminding me of a bigger meaning. In the figurative “storms” of life, He wants us to trust Him. I had just prayed and asked Jesus to help me to trust Him. And I believe He was reminding me that He is on the throne. When life’s storms come rolling in, He wants us to turn to Him.

I don’t always remember this in the moment, but the truth is that the enemy is the one who wants us to feel discouraged. Because of the enemy and when sin first entered the world, we face a lot of heartache and destruction on this earth. And the enemy wants us to believe we are all alone, and God has forgotten about us. But God promises to never leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:8).

In life we will face many storms, literal and figurative. When life brings worries our way, I pray we will remember to hold onto Jesus and hold onto hope. The Lord and His powerful presence is with us. Any storm or enemy that comes against us – it trembles in God’s presence. God is bigger than any mountain we face. And God is on our side!

My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help. This I know: God is on my side! – Psalm 56:9 NLT

One final thing before you go. Please listen to the song below. My friend, Manu, shared with me and I had to pass it along. This is so powerful. Please make sure you listen to the whole thing. You won’t regret it. 🙏🙌

Since the embedded video might not be working, I am also adding the link: https://youtu.be/NuPP2Kxyo00?si=EBzUp8pmiuofG9qu

Thank you for stopping by. You all are in my prayers. And thank you all for the prayers you have lifted for my family. They are truly appreciated. God bless you!

© 2018-2024 Bridget A. Thomas. All rights reserved.

I’ve been digging a bit into Bible verses that speak of God’s Presence. I’m especially focusing on the Psalms because that book of the Bible brings comfort and peace, no matter what season of life we are in.

A Hebrew word that has come up quite often in the Old Testament is pānîm (פָּנִים).

This word has been translated in different ways. Sometimes we will see it as “presence.” But we might also see it as “before” (as in before God or in front of God). It could also be translated as “face,” as well as a few other words. Whichever way it might be translated, I have been focusing on passages that I feel speak to how powerful God’s Presence is in our lives.

The verse I want to touch on today comes from Psalm 62:8. The NKJV says, “Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.”

And God’s Word Translation (GW) says, “Trust him at all times, you people. Pour out your hearts in his presence. God is our refuge.”

The word “before” in the NKJV and the word “presence” in the GW translation are the Hebrew word I mentioned above.

If you want to read all of Psalm 62, which was written by King David, you can click here.

David begins the chapter by reflecting on how he is waiting for God. Verse 1 in the NKJV says, “Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation.”

And a little further down we see that David is discouraged due to the enemies that have come against him, and he asks, “How long will you assault me?” (v3a NIV)

So before we get to verse 8 we know that David is feeling a lot of pressure, yet his “soul silently waits for God.” This paints a picture of peace in our minds, as we picture David waiting silently on the Lord in the midst of his troubles.

And then in verse 8 David says, “Trust him at all times, you people. Pour out your hearts in his presence. God is our refuge.” This verse isn’t too long, yet I feel there is a lot packed in here.

Even in the midst of a difficult situation, David reminds us to trust in God. And in fact he says to trust Him “at all times.” When we are facing hard things in life, it can be easy to lose our trust. We might question God, because we can’t imagine why He would allow us to walk through these hard times. But David reminds us, even then, we should trust God.

Next David tells us to pour out our hearts in the Lord’s Presence. When we are worried, we can turn to God in prayer. We can tell Him exactly how we are feeling. We can be open and honest with our worries and frustrations. And often times, when we are conversing with God in this way, He does a work in our hearts that brings us back around to a place of trust. We feel peace come over us, and we know He will be with us on the road ahead.

In the words of Matthew Henry, “Trust in him to guide us when in doubt, to protect us when in danger, to supply us when in want, to strengthen us for every good word and work. We must lay our wants and our wishes before him, and then patiently submit our wills to his: this is pouring out our hearts.”

Finally in this verse, David reminds us that God is our refuge. And if anyone should know this truth, it’s David. He faced countless difficulties in his life. Yet through them all, he sought God as his refuge. And we can too. When we are facing a storm, the Lord will be our safe haven.

In His presence we can come to a place of trust. In His presence we can pour out our hearts. In His presence we can find refuge.

Whatever you are facing today, I hope this verse brings you comfort. The Lord’s presence is an amazing gift. As Christians, He is always with us. As you go throughout your day, pause and acknowledge the Lord’s presence with you. In that moment, whatever you are in the middle of, He can bring you peace and comfort. And best of all, He loves being there with you.

Thank you for reading. You all are in my prayers. And many thanks to all of you who have been praying for my family. We are truly grateful. God bless you all!

© 2018-2024 Bridget A. Thomas. All rights reserved.

How is it October already? 😱 I’m back for another monthly blessings and reminders post! Let’s take a moment to reflect on the month of September and see how God has shown up!

Working on the Heart ♥️

There were a few days when I spent more time around more people than I normally do. It was interesting to see how each person (including myself) had stumbling blocks with communication and action. It seems that so many of us have deep insecurities that we allow to rule our speech and our steps.

This made me want to be kinder to those around me. Extending kindness is always a good thing, and my hope is that it can help others to come to a better place in their hearts.

As it’s been said, “Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.” (When I googled this, it was attributed to several different people.)

However, I also know that I can’t change anyone, and I’m not trying to. But I do want to work on my own heart. I want to remember that we have nothing to fear or feel insecure about. We are covered with grace and love, thanks to Jesus. When we walk with Him, we can walk in confidence.

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. – Colossians 3:12 ESV

Daunting Tasks

I have heard it said that perfectionists tend to procrastinate. When facing a daunting task, the fear of failure keeps them from beginning that task. They want to get things right when they tackle the task. So at times it might seem better (even if subconsciously) to not begin at all. And while we might not all be perfectionists, I think this same principle can apply to all of us. I have seen this in my own life with different tasks.

One that comes to mind is a particular assignment at work. This particular project is one that will take several months. On top of that, the content is a bit confusing.

One benefit to projects like this is the need for recurring meetings. Having a set day and time every week when you have to give an update forces you to stay on top of things.

This made me think about other tasks that are not work related. Or if you work for yourself, you might have different procedures. Holding yourself accountable or setting certain deadlines for yourself could be a big benefit. Maybe you could have a weekly or monthly check-in to evaluate what progress you made.

And of course pray! I am often seeking God’s help with challenging tasks. He has provided wisdom and guidance countless times when I called on Him. Even if what you are dealing with seems like a small thing, the Lord is still there and always ready to help! Sometimes we will think our problems are too minor to bother God with. But He cares about every thing in your life, big or small.

The God who put the stars in place takes notice of every detail of your life. – Susie Larson

Hurricane Helene

I live in Florida and we had a not so friendly visitor, Hurricane Helene, come through last Thursday night. The wind was the worst that I ever heard. We lost power for 5 days, but thankfully the Lord kept us safe.

We have a generator that ran for 3 days until it died. When we spoke to the service company, they said you are supposed to turn it off for an hour every twenty-four hours. Unfortunately, they did not tell us that when they installed it. 🤔 We heard from an acquaintance who had the same problem. I guess a lot of people had issues because it sounds like the service companies in our town are backlogged right now.

Thankfully we had a neighbor who let us borrow a smaller generator for our refrigerator. So at least we didn’t lose any food. And a friend also offered her generator. This reminded me to be thankful for those who are willing to help.

And sometimes we don’t realize how blessed we are until we lose something. Even the ability to flush a toilet is a gift! 😅 And seeing how terrible other communities were hit is really heartbreaking, but also puts things in perspective. We have so much to be grateful for each day. I pray we can remember that without a disaster coming our way.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Oh and my husband was on the news! Sort of. Before the storm there was a place in our community to get sand bags, although you have to fill them yourself. The news was out there interviewing people. My husband steered clear of that. I don’t blame him. I would have too! But we still saw him in the background filling bags. 😊

And thanks to the hurricane, I have been behind on reading others’ blog posts. So I apologize to my blogger friends!

That’s enough from me. I would love to hear how the month of September went for you. Please share in the comments. Thank you for reading. You are in my prayers. God bless you! 🙏

© 2018-2024 Bridget A. Thomas. All rights reserved.

He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. – John 3:30 NLT

The verse above has been on my heart and mind lately. The King James Version says, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” However, I really like the way the New Living Translation reiterates the words “greater” and “less.” It reminds me that this could be an ongoing process in our lives.

These words were said by John the Baptist when John’s disciples complained that Jesus was also performing baptisms.

John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” (v 27-36 NKJV)

John the Baptist knew Jesus was (and forever is) THE ONE. Jesus was and is the Messiah that they had been waiting for. Nothing and no one is greater. And everything He does should be praised and magnified. Everything we do, everything John the Baptist did, was only to serve Jesus.

Perhaps John’s disciples felt some pride because so many people came to John for baptism. Perhaps they thought they were the ones to seek. Maybe they thought their good deeds were the best deeds.

I don’t know for sure what they were thinking or feeling. But I do know that pride in general is something we all battle. We might be proud of ourselves for doing something good. We might think we are smarter or know more than someone else. At times, we think about our own selfish needs, and put them above others. I can say I have fallen into all of these traps at some point. Human beings are selfish creatures.

But when we keep this verse in mind, when we remember that Jesus must increase and we must decrease, it helps alter our perspective. It helps us to not think more of ourselves. We will not be quick to seek our own comforts. We will not be so easily offended by other people’s words and actions. We will want to have a servant’s heart. We won’t be quick to anger when it feels like someone stepped on us.

When we remember that Jesus must become greater and greater and we must become less and less, we keep our eyes on Him. Every situation we face is filtered with a new lens. We begin to see things from His perspective.

I have not been consistent, but over the past few weeks when I was tempted to feel self-seeking, I tried to remind myself of this verse. As I said, though, this could be an ongoing process in our lives. Often half the battle in our Christian walk is reminding ourselves of truth.

I pray we can learn to keep our eyes on Jesus. I pray that He becomes greater and greater in our hearts. I pray that the situations we face, big or small, can be viewed with a renewed perspective.

Thank you for stopping by and reading my post. I know you have a million other things you could do with your time, so it really means a lot to me. You all are in my prayers. If you have any specific prayer requests, please let me know. And thank you for saying a prayer for my family. God bless you!

• By the way #1 – Below is a great song, “Less Like Me” by Zach Williams that goes well with this Bible verse.
• By the way #2 – If you have any little ones in your life, Zach Williams has a children’s book out with this same theme, called A Little More Like Jesus. You can find it on Amazon here.
• By the way #3 – This one is a little off into the weeds, but another great children’s book is Little Lion Lungs by Brandon Lake. You can find it on his website here and on Amazon here. (I actually had trouble ordering on Amazon. I tried twice and both times they sent me the wrong book. I wound up ordering from Brandon’s website. However, that error might be specific to my distribution center.)
• In case you’re wondering, I do not receive any compensation if you order the books through these links.

© 2018-2024 Bridget A. Thomas. All rights reserved.

I love when we start a new year because it always feels like a brand new opportunity to make lasting changes in our lives. However, I also appreciate the end of a year, because it gives us a chance to end the year well.

It’s hard to believe, but on Monday we will have 100 days remaining in 2024. This made me wonder how we might choose to spend those days. During this time of year, as many of you know, I have often focused on gratitude. While gratitude is always a good choice, it’s not the only choice.

Therefore, I have come up with a small list of areas where we could choose to place our attention:

• Gratitude.
• Praise.
• Amp up our Faith by focusing on God’s promises and believing truth.
• Prayer.
• Read the Psalms. There are 150 Psalms, so perhaps read 2 every other day. Or if you wanted to read 3 day, you could make it through the Psalms twice.
• Read about Jesus in the Gospels. There are 89 chapters between the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
• Focus on being optimistic with our thoughts and words.
• Look around for God’s goodness.
• Abide in Jesus’ Presence.
• Find a meaningful devotional to read.
• Work on goals set in January which have not been accomplished yet.
• The Fruit of the Spirit. There are 9 fruits listed in Galatians 5:22-23. Perhaps rotate and focus on one for 11 days. Or focus on all 9 daily.
• Implement activities that bring joy into your daily life.
• Memorize a passage of Scripture.

And you don’t necessarily have to add anything to your days. You could also choose to give something up for a time. I don’t recommend giving up sweets right now, since they will be everywhere with the holidays approaching. 😋 However, you might consider giving up a bad habit or some activity that is a distraction. The possibilities are endless.

If you like the idea of focusing on something for the final 100 days of 2024, and if you do decide upon something – I would love to hear what it is.

As for me, I will be focusing on some of the items I listed. And I will also focus on my one word for the year – Presence. When we reach the tail end of a calendar year, I tend to get eager while looking ahead. Sometimes God has to remind me that we are not finished yet!

Even in the midst of difficulties, we can find goodness in our days. God’s love never runs out. So in the coming weeks ahead, I hope we can all find ways to fix our eyes on the Lord and His love for us. As Susie Larson so beautifully wrote, “Every season is the perfect season to better know His love.”

I will keep today’s post somewhat short, so you can watch the video below. I’ve shared this before, but it’s been a while. This was originally shared with me by poet Daryl Madden. This video always helps alter my perspective. Enjoy!

Thank you for reading. I know time is precious, so I don’t take it lightly that you took a moment to stop by and read this post. You are in my prayers. God bless you!

© 2018-2024 Bridget A. Thomas. All rights reserved.

There are times in life when it’s difficult to grasp peace. Even as Christians, we know Jesus offers peace, and He is the Prince of Peace. Yet when circumstances overwhelm us, holding onto that peace isn’t necessarily easy. But as we learn to lean on the Lord, in every situation, we begin to notice that peace growing in our hearts.

Often times when I have something on my mind, I will stumble across that theme in the things I read and hear. So as I have been thinking about peace, I happened to come across several meaningful quotes that I wanted to share with you.

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“Many people say they cannot sleep at night because they can’t get their minds to settle down. But Psalm 4:8 says, “In peace [and with a tranquil heart] I will both lie down and sleep.” When we use our mind to reason our way through a situation to figure out what to do, we rotate our mind around and around an issue until we become worn-out and confused. We can experience peace of mind and heart when we trust in God, not in our human insight and understanding. You and I can grow to the place where we are satisfied to know the One Who knows, even if we ourselves do not know.” – Joyce Meyer

I really appreciated those words from Joyce Meyer because I have often used my mind to reason through a situation. But sometimes God will lead us down a path that doesn’t make sense. So “reason” might be the wrong path. I have seen this in my own life. Some examples that come to mind pertain to my job. The paths I took with my career might not have made sense on the outside. But God knew what He was doing, and led me down the best road.

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“Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and ask him more directly to give you joy, peace, and a pure heart. Purity of heart means a heart where God is the center of your attention. Take a simple sentence like ‘The Lord is my shepherd there is nothing I shall want,’ and repeat that quietly during the day until the truth of it enters the center of your being. You will always continue to have feelings of depression, anger, and restlessness, but when God dwells in the center of the storm, the storm is less frightening and you can live with trust that in the midst of all of the darkness you will be led to a place of joy and peace.” – Henri Nouwen

I especially liked the line where Henri Nouwen wrote, “when God dwells in the center of the storm, the storm is less frightening.” It reminds me of the words of King David, found in Psalm 27:1:

“The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?”

Again, I will use my job as an example. Even though I enjoy my job, I have often been stressed when my plate was piled too high. I also have felt that I am not smart enough or adequate enough to handle some of the tasks I am given. But over the years I have learned that God is always with me. If a big project was given to me, He will help me through it. He gives us wisdom and guidance. When we allow the Lord to be our Shepherd, He will take responsibility for our well-being.

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“The peace of God is a gift; it is not something we can manipulate because it is the fruit of oneness with him. When our relationship with him is strong and adversity strikes, we do not have to fall apart or give in to anxiety. We can choose to live in steadfast confidence of his love, wisdom, power and provision. This is the basis of his unshakable peace—not that we are capable of controlling circumstances, but that his help is ever-present and perfect to deliver us in every challenge we face.” – Dr. Charles Stanley

You guys know I love Charles Stanley. So many times over the years, his words have hit home. And this quote is a much-needed reminder that God’s “help is ever-present and perfect to deliver us in every challenge we face.” What more could we ask for? God is always with us and always beside us. We all might have times when we doubt. But the Lord is constantly working. He never rests. He loves us beyond measure and He always wants what is best for us.

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Many times when we face difficulties, our peace seems to fly out the window. But it doesn’t have to. If we can keep our focus on Jesus, we can hold onto that peace. Just like Peter when he stepped out of the boat. He did well when he kept his eyes on Jesus. But when Peter looked at the storm, he began to sink…

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Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

~ Matthew 14:22-33 NIV

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This is one of my favorite stories because I picture each one of us stepping out of the boat. Jesus, who loves us more than anyone else, is right there. Even in the storm, He is reaching out His hands to help us.

I pray we can learn to keep our eyes on Jesus. His presence will bring peace into our lives. He loves us beyond measure and cares deeply for us. What a gift Jesus is to us!

In closing, I wish you the same sentiment that Paul wrote to the Thessalonians:

Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all. – 2 Thessalonians 3:16

I apologize for the long post. If you’re still here, thanks for sticking with me! You are in my prayers. And if you have any specific prayer requests, please let me know. Thank you for saying a prayer for my family. God bless you!

© 2018-2024 Bridget A. Thomas. All rights reserved.

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Here we are again with another blessings and reminders post. This year as each month has come to an end, I have been reflecting on things that I have learned or beauty I have seen during the month.

Honesty with God

Last month there was an incident that vexed me. With all the worries that my family has been dealing with, we didn’t need additional stress.

I felt guilty for blasting my feelings in prayer. However, I was reminded that it’s okay to be honest with God when we are feeling down or frustrated. He already knows how we are feeling, so we can’t hide it from Him. And when we talk it out with Him, He can bring us to a place of peace.

We might not have all the answers as to why certain things happen, but we can still trust that God is working all things together for good (Romans 8:28).

Speaking Up

Last month I was on the phone with someone when our conversation steered towards a touchy topic. (This is something that is often debated in politics, and has caused anger on both sides. I’m not mentioning exactly what it was, because the point of my story could apply to many different topics.)

This person and I had a difference of opinion on the matter. Initially, I did let it be known that I didn’t agree, but otherwise I didn’t say much. At the time, I felt what I said was fine. But after I hung up, I felt that I failed God for not speaking up from a faith perspective.

Well, I did happen to talk to this person again a few days later. I didn’t want to, but I felt the Lord nudge me to bring up the subject again. I explained that the last time we talked I should have said more, and I expressed how I felt that God’s point of view was what really mattered on the topic.

The person didn’t argue and said they never thought about it like that. They said that when it’s mentioned in the media, they don’t present it from that standpoint. And I replied that much of the news and politicians don’t like talking about God at all.

The point of this story is that I am not always good about speaking up, particularly when it means disagreeing with someone. I would rather keep the peace. But over the days surrounding this incident, I had been hearing various messages about standing firm in our faith. So I knew it was a nudge from God.

When it’s all said and done, the main thing that matters is our faith in Jesus. And as Christians, we have a responsibility to share it with others. We are Christ’s ambassadors and we need to let His love shine to those around us. When we face situations like this that intimidate us, the Holy Spirit can guide our words.

Holding onto Faith and Hope

Something else I was reminded this month – no matter how bumpy the road, we can’t give up. We have to keep pressing forward. Day by day, we keep abiding in Jesus. We keep praising the Lord. We keep looking around for His goodness. We keep praying with belief. We trust Him and His will.

God is on the throne. God is in control. He is bigger than anything we face. He can make a way where there is no way. His faithfulness never fails. Nothing is too difficult for Him!

Yet God, in His kindness, teaches us how to tend to our hearts in the middle of hardship and heartbreak. Though it’s tougher to stay hopeful amid suffering and expectant amid hardship, it’s what our souls need. That’s where spiritual heroes are made. – Susie Larson

Whenever you find yourself saying, “I’m worried about…” Or “I’m afraid that…” replace those negative words with “I trust God.” When we say that we trust God, it releases His power to work in our lives. When you are in a battle with worry, instead of vocalizing it, study God’s Word and remember His faithfulness in past situations. – Joyce Meyer

The LORD of armies says this: ‘If it is too difficult in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, will it also be too difficult in My sight?’ declares the LORD of armies. – Zechariah 8:6 NASB

There is more I could write, but instead I would love to hear how your month went!

Thank you for reading. You all are in my prayers. If you have any specific prayer requests, please let me know. And thank you for saying a prayer for my family. God bless you!

© 2018-2024 Bridget A. Thomas. All rights reserved.