When I took over this linkup in January, I had no idea how it would impact me. The desire to host had been slowly growing in my heart, but I had many questions stirring inside me.
Over the last few weeks especially, I realized how much each one who links up has come to mean to me. You all stir my own thoughts, spur me on in my faith journey, and cause growth.
Last week I shared about waiting and finding God in the middle of our days. Lauren Sparks left this comment:
“I think, unfortunately, that I miss God all the time. I’m either navel gazing or focusing on the problems and distractions.”
Upon reading her post, my thoughts began to stir. Distractions sure do have a way of shifting our gaze. They can either cause us to look away from God, or towards Him.
Perhaps in this loud and busy world we are living, God is teaching us to be steadfast.
Even as I typed those words in my response to the comment, excitement began to jump inside me, as “Prevail” is my One Word for 2021.
God is growing in His people the strength, the power, and the influence to prevail in challenges, to remain strong, stable, and on a firm foundation.
He is training me (us) to:
“Rejoice in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer …” (Romans 12:12, NASB)
My heart is overwhelmed by each one of you who show up and share here each week. Your posts and words do matter and are making a difference in my life and the lives of others. We need to keep showing up and sharing God’s Word, His truth, so that we all prevail and finish our race.
This brought to mind the early years of my childhood. We attended a small church in the Bronx, which is still there today. Firm in my memory are the words which were hand painted by our pastor many years ago.
God’s Word, reliable, able to achieve. God spoke His very words and had it written down for us today. And today it is just as much an achieving word as it was when it was written. His words will result in life changing action.
“The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.”
(Isaiah 40:8, NASB)
May this old song remind us of these ancient promises which stand true and firm today!
“And the Word was,
And the Word is,
And the Word will be!”
(from “The Word” by Sara Groves)
Be sure to visit Lauren Sparks as she shares a prayer based on Scripture each Wednesday. You can find her recent post “Praying God’s Word Wednesday#24” HERE.
Come, sit a spell. Bring your coffee, your posts, and your thoughts. If you link up, kindly visit those who have drawn up a seat around you.
Church Photos provided by Elizabeth Bavaro.
Today I am joining …
What a marvel, that God’s Word was not only living and active when He spoke it, but it still is today. It does so much in our hearts — how important it is that we make time for it.
It’s amazing how His Word comes back to mind over the years. As the years pass, I am realizing more and more how His Word is not only living but is eternal, ever living in our hearts and minds.
I do love that we gather here around eternal truth and so appreciate your role as hostess to our community!
Thank you so much, Michele. This journey has become meaningful to me in ways I never expected. Praying for each of you and for this community is my privilege. May God have His way and fulfill His purposes.
I love Sara Groves, btw! I haven’t heard that song in awhile so it’s good to sit here and listen to it.
I’m so glad you picked up this linkup, too. I appreciate you and your sweet approach to sharing about Jesus in your life. Even though I’m not a coffee drinker, I could sit at a kitchen table with you and talk about life. 🙂
And yes to prevailing! Romans 12:12 is an important verse to me too. “Hope” was my One Word in 2019 because sometimes I’m too quick to let go of it. So I even need to prevail in hope.
Lisa, I had not listened to the song in years, and was surprised when it came back to me. Often as I am writing, I find myself humming and only when I pay attention to myself, do I realize the song 🙂
I continue to be blessed as I see the way our one words intersect during the course of the year. I am so glad you began your monthly link up of One Words so we all can read about the journeys.
Friend, if you were at my table, I would serve you whatever you would like to drink 🙂
I’ve loved, too, how our words have crossed this year! I may be hooked now on doing one word in community. 🙂
I’ll take a Diet Dr. Pepper at your table and I’ll bring the chocolate chip cookies.
Oh I hope you do continue the one word linkup! And my table is always open to you!
I’ve run toward and I’ve run away – my recommendation? Go to The Father. Prevail in the pain and the waiting. It will be worth it. Thank you for your faithful hosting of this gathering. xo
Amen! That is the best and only recommendation!
Joanne, I’m so glad you took over the link up, I look forward to visiting with you each week. Your gentle way of sharing and encouraging me truly blesses my days and thoughts! I feel like we could sit and talk over coffee like true sisters! This link up provides such encouragement and fosters unity in a beautiful growing community. The pictures of your church in the Bronx are absolutely precious, as is the Word of God. Thank you for sharing them and pointing us to the Word of God that we might prevail together!
I asked a dear friend and the pastor’s wife for those photos. I have never forgotten the many years I sat as a child looking at those paintings not realizing they were being planted in my heart. May we also plant seeds and leave the watering and growth up to our God, for He is faithful!
What a blessing it is to be able to “do life” with you Ms. Joanne. I appreciate your many thoughts and encouragement ma’am. God’s blessings.
J.D., you have been a blessing to so many with your encouragement. Grateful for you.
“The word was, the word is, and the word will be.” Never heard of Sara Groves. Thanks for sharing her with me today. Great song. I love the line that says, “We are no longer slaves, we are daughters and sons, when we are weak we are very strong, and neither death nor life nor present or future…can keep us from the love of Christ.”
Yes, there were so many promises mentioned in that song. You shared a powerful post today, Yvonne.
How precious is your encouragement and the heart you share. I especially delighted in this Sarah Grove selection from her Conversations CD that I have not listened to in some time. A blessing indeed!
Pam, I had not listened to that song in years. When it came to me, I had to listen to it repeatedly. Grateful you share here each week!
I am so grateful for the shout out! And I’m glad sharing my weakness drew you closer to Him! That’s what it’s all about isn’t it?
Lauren, I truly did not view it as “weakness” but as transparency. You shared openly and that is what blessed me, provoking my thoughts. And yes, that’s what it’s all about!
Thank you for hosting, because I love this community! I do get so much from reading everyone’s thoughts. I am so glad to find people who stand on the Word. I love that your home church recognized the stability of the Word!
May we remember the things we have been taught and the ones who were faithful to impart truth to us!
“The Word of God shall stand forever.” It SHALL!. I love the scripture those words come from. Thanks for sharing them and hosting this gathering.
Natalie, I am so glad you shared your post here as it was a wonderful reminder to be faithful in the small moments of faith for they are often bigger than we realize.
Joanne, this post speaks to me in those deeper places. Thank goodness God’s word prevails, and through Him, we too can prevail. This has been a difficult year for our family. I have found myself turning to God’s word in the middle of the day, especially after an altercation with one of our sons, or after yet another stressful event. His word strengthens us and endures beyond all we can imagine or understand. For that I am grateful!
Jeanne, I am sorry for the challenging times you have faced. Praying the Lord will continue to strengthen you, bringing you through one day at a time as you lean into His Word.
Yes, the seasons change, a new life begins and another ends, but His words always prevail. I can get caught up in the world’s changes that can cause anxiety, frustration and defeatism, yet there is something that always stands and it TRUE! His word! Thank for this reminder today.
I, too, can get caught up in the changes we are all experiencing in the world. It’s why I am so grateful His Word imparts hope and courage.
Thank you for this encouraging post today Joanne!
I have been feeling somewhat pensive lately & wondered if I should take a step aside from blogging but with your encouragement today, I feel God has answered my enquiring prayer & I’ve again I’m feeling inspired! Thank youâ£ï¸
Blessings,
Jennifer
Jenifer, I am so grateful you were encouraged today. I thank God for answering your prayer and nudging you to keep sharing your beautiful words!
Dear Joanne, thank you so very much for sharing your heart and your faith with us. And giving us a place where we can share our worries, prayers, and faith. I find so much inspiration in your posts and your link up posts.
Kathleen, I think the challenges of the days we are living has made this a time when we all need a place to share and encourage one another. I pray this space will always be safe for all of us to do so. Grateful you’re here!
This is so true, Joanne, “God is growing in His people the strength, the power, and the influence to prevail in challenges, to remain strong, stable, and on a firm foundation.”
I appreciate you hosting, and I appreciate your contribution to Grace & Truth and FMF.
I love this community too, Joanne, and so appreciate the care with which you foster our togetherness. â¤ï¸ My uncle was the pastor at a church in the Bronx for many years, and that church is still there too! (I can’t remember the name off the top of my head, but it was an Assemblies of God church.) Thank you for this encouragement to remain steadfast during these troublesome times.
Lois, my early childhood was spent in a church on 188th St. which is where the photo is from. Then in my early teenage years, we attended Van Nest Assembly of God, where we stayed until I married and moved to Boston. So many of the churches in the Bronx did services on the weekends that all came together. It would be fun to know who your uncle is and the church as I wonder if my parents would be more familiar than me 🙂