Posts by joaniebruce

The Light of the World is Jesus

Posted by joaniebruce on Dec 7, 2013 in General | 1 comment

In my part of Georgia, the sky has been cloudy FOREVER it seems! The clouds have been spitting rain off and on for days, and when I got up this morning to another cloudy wet day, my spirits lagged. However, when I turned on the lights on my two Christmas trees, the lights on the garland leading upstairs, and the blue lights around my pottery nativity scene, the gloom fled. Those little twinkling lights lifted my spirits.

That made me think of the verse in the Bible that tells us God is light. 1 John 1:5 says, “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” If twinkling lights wash away the gloom, how much more should a relationship with God put a song in my heart. He loves us with an unconditional love, and leads and guides us into the blessings He has for us.

I’m enjoying the Christmas season….the twinkling lights, the Christmas tree, the nativity scenes, the hustle and bustle of the crowds, the overall spirit of love, but most of all, I want to enjoy my relationship with the Lord. He is the light of the world and the light in my heart. Even during times of stress, His light gives me joy.

I wish you a very Merry Christmas. And I hope you remember the “reason for the season” and enjoy the ultimate “light of the world.”  Jn 8:12

Just Ask

Posted by joaniebruce on Nov 8, 2013 in General | 6 comments

A few weeks ago, my brother-in-law was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He had the usual drill: a CAT scan, bone scan, and extensive blood tests. At first his diagnosis was positive: the cancer had not spread. We were all very thankful. Then after second opinions from more experienced doctors, he was given the horrible diagnosis: because of the type cancer he had, it probably had spread into his bladder, lymph nodes and possibly other areas. Even if he had surgery to remove what cancer they could find, he would still have to endure extremely strong radiation for many weeks. The doctors ordered an MRI to see if surgery was even an option. We were all devastated. They basically said there might not be hope for a cure.

All of our friends and family doubled up on our prayers. My sister’s husband is a good husband, a loving father, and for many years worked two jobs to provide for his family so my sister could stay home and raise/homeschool their four children. We prayed hard during that MRI, and the days after … waiting for the results. How elated we were when we received the news: the cancer had NOT spread. No organs around that area were infected. They would remove his prostate, and if they were able to get it all, and the lymph nodes around that area were not infected, he might NOT even have to have radiation. WHAT A POSITIVE ANSWER TO PRAYER!!!

Today, my brother-in-law is undergoing surgery. The surgery was scheduled for 6 a.m. this morning. So … I got up at that time to pray. While sitting here in my recliner, I realized how few times I get up this early in the morning to pray, and how many of God’s blessings I miss because of my laziness. God loves us so much that He begs us to pray with Him so we can receive His full blessings. Remember the parable of the Judge and the widow who stubbornly begged him to help her? The judge finally answered her because she was persistent. God gave us this parable for a reason. James 5:16 says, “Confess your faults one to another, and PRAY ONE FOR ANOTHER, THAT YE MAY BE HEALED. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

Please don’t miss out on God’s blessings because you forget to pray, or because praying might be your last option.

No … He doesn’t always answer the way we would like Him to, but He still loves us to ask and to trust His answer. I’m praying my brother-in-law will live a long life with his family and be cured of this cancer. And, I’m trusting God to answer in His will. I’m also thanking the Lord for the gift of prayer. He loves us and wants the best for me … and for you. All you have to do is ask.  Matt 21:21, 22

Give Without Sparing

Posted by joaniebruce on Sep 25, 2013 in General | 2 comments

Giving to others liberally is what the Lord expects of His children, and giving to others is what the Lord placed on my heart as another way of “showing love.”

“Recently, I heard a sermon on showing others you love them, and I realized it’s not necessarily what I tell them, but how I show them. In my devotions every morning, I’ve been researching the word love, and how to “show” my love to others—family and friends.” Here is the third lesson I’ve learned about “showing love.”

Giving of myself is sometimes hard. I can think of a million reasons why I should keep to myself and be selfish with my time, money, talents, counsel, encouragement …etc.  Why should I be selfish with the assets and blessings the Lord has given me? Without His love and bountiful grace, I would have nothing …I would be nothing. I’ve been given a wonderful chance to help others by sharing the blessings God has given me. Not only will I be blessed in this world if I share with others, but I’ll be laying up treasures in heaven. The Bible tells all who are rich in benefits to share those blessings.

“Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”  1 Timothy 6: 17-19

Sometimes the simplest word spoken, the smallest financial gift given, even the tiniest amount of time spent to listen to a crying heart can encourage and uplift a friend or family member. It’s within my power to help.

If I saw a baby deer caught in a trap, with the mama deer fretting close by, I know I would move heaven and earth to set it free. Yet how much more important to help a human being who is hurting or feels trapped by the temptations and disappointments of life  It’s easier than I think to give my resources to a friend in need, or a sister begging for advice.

If you help someone in some way, not only will it encourage your friend, but that good deed will return to you in the future … that’s a promise from the Bible:

“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” Luke 6:38

Can you see a friend in need? It will bless your heart to “give,”—time, money, a word of encouragement, a meal for someone hurting. Ask the Lord to help you find a hurting soul who needs you today.

Controlling My Tongue

Posted by joaniebruce on Aug 23, 2013 in General | 2 comments

“Recently, I heard a sermon about showing others you love them, and I realized it’s not necessarily what I tell them, but how I show them. In my devotions every morning, I’ve been researching the word love, and how to “show” my love to others—family and friends.”

Last week, I shared with you about forgiveness, and to show love to others by having a forgiving spirit. Today, I’d like to share another way I’m learning to “show” love. The second lesson is about controlling my tongue.

Proverbs 15:23 says:  A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth; and a word spoken in due season, how good is it.

My words are powerful. With them I can harm or help. I can use words to encourage, bless, comfort, compliment, or praise someone, or I can ridicule, criticize, depress or discourage those around me. And … it is completely a decision of the heart. I choose which path I take when it comes to the comments I make in talking to others. Guard your heart, for everything we say comes from there first.  (Proverbs 4:23-27)

Not only is using my conversation to uplift others a choice, but it’s irreversible. Once the words are spoken, I cannot retract the damage from the mind of the person I’ve spoken them to. It reminds me of the oak trees belonging to the University of Auburn that were poisoned by an angry Alabama fan. He poured the powerful herbicide, Spike80DF, on the ground around the trees after the Auburn/Alabama game in 2011. It saturated the ground and was sucked up by the roots into the huge trees. Auburn University used every solution they could think of to save those trees, but once the poison entered the tree, it was too late. The oaks finally died and were eventually removed.

My words are like that poison. Once spoken, they cannot be retracted, and the damage is done. My words infiltrate the mind of the person I’m talking to, and do lasting damage. Or, if they’re encouraging words, they might inspire that person to achieve a higher goal, or to become a better person.

Our words are so powerful and can do tremendous damage to others. Think of how much better the world would be if we were all encouragers instead of criticizers. The accomplishments could be limitless. Remember … you can change the world with your heart.

One Way To Show Love

Posted by joaniebruce on Aug 14, 2013 in General | 4 comments

Recently, I heard a sermon about showing others you love them, and I realized it’s not necessarily what I tell them, but how I show them. In my devotions every morning, I’ve been researching the word love, and how to “show” my love to others—family and friends. For the next few blog posts, I’d like to share with you what I’ve learned.

One way to show love is found in Colossians 3:13, and it’s about forgiveness. It says, “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”

Does that mean I should remember the offense and us it as blackmail in the future? No. Does it mean I should execute revenge whether planned or not? No. Does that mean I completely forget the offense and never think of it again? Of course not—that would be impossible. But, God does expect me, with His help, to endeavor toward forgiveness.

Exactly what is forgiveness? The dictionary says it’s “to grant pardon for, to give up all claim on account of, to cease to feel resentment against.” All of these things are hard to do when someone has offended or injured me in some way. Just because I know what forgiveness means doesn’t help me understand how to execute the definition.  Just “saying” I forgive someone doesn’t make it so.

So, how do I forgive? The Bottom line?

1) I have to ask for God’s help. You’ve heard the saying, “to err is human to forgive is divine.” It’s impossible for me as a human to completely, absolutely, without-looking-back forgive another. The Bible tells us that without God, we can do nothing. (John 15:5) It also says that revenge belongs to the Lord, not us. (Romans 12:19) So ask for His help!

2) Think of all the sins I’ve committed that need forgiveness. Then, in gratitude, I vow to show the same patience and grace to my friend or family member that God has shown to me. I cannot expect God to forgive me if I don’t forgive others. (Luke 6:37) Remember God’s forgiveness!

3) Forgive from the heart, not just the head. I want to make it a top priority in my life to have a forgiving spirit.

4) Try to forget. When I remember the offense, I will try to make a conscious effort to “remember it no more.” (Hebrews 8:12)

5) And most importantly, I will pray for that person. You’d be surprised how praying for someone helps you love them more.

So, the first way for me (and you) to really “show” love to others is to Forgive.  🙂