A Season of Quarantined or Cocooned?

Joanie Shawhan is skilled at finding positive lessons in the midst of seemingly negative circumstances. In this Spiritual Growth UPGRADE, she writes about how the recent quarantine was, for her, a time of transformation.

"Frightened, bewildered and shut away—the hallmarks of this quarantined season," Joanie says.

Like many, I (Dawn) struggled many days with feelings of being shut away, but then the Lord showed me fresh insights about living. In the midst of great losses, many also experienced great blessings of spiritual growth.

Joanie continues . . .

I don’t understand why we’ve been engulfed in a pandemic and why so many people suffered the loss of loved ones and livelihood.

The following verse has challenged me:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5 NKJV).

“Trust me,” God says.

Do I trust nothing bad will happen? Bad things happen to good people, even God’s people. But I don’t place my trust in my circumstances.

I trust in the God who walks with me through all my seasons, including brokenness. 

As we emerge from quarantine, I wonder, were we truly isolated?

Maybe we’ve been hidden.

Sequestered away, I felt God had wrapped me in a cocoon, hiding me, sheltering me, drawing me to Himself. But the cocoon was not a place of inactivity.

Deep within, hidden, God was at work transforming me.

Maybe He has been transforming all of us—stripping away stinky mindsets, attitudes and trappings. Replacing dead works with His truth and love.

How we emerge from our cocoons, spun by the hand of God in response to the crisis, will depend upon the nourishment we received while hidden in Him. Nourishment that comes from His Word and His presence—healing and recreating us into His image. Restoring our identity in Christ.

While we were hidden away...

What qualities did God cultivate in our hearts? 

1. Faith

Our faith increased as our hearts responded to God's love and His goodness. We became confident He is for us and not against us.

2. Trust

We grew in trust, as we experienced God’s faithfulness even when we didn’t understand the whys of our circumstances.

3. Peace

We focused on Christ and His Word, calming our hearts in the face of fear and anxiety.

4. Love.

God continually reached out to us and drew us to Himself by His love, a love that never changes despite our weaknesses and failures.

5. Hope.

We know God moved on our behalf even when we couldn’t see any evidence of change. He promised us a future filled with hope.

6. Humility.

We recognized the situation we faced was out of our control and we couldn’t fix it. Only the God who created the universe could bring order out of this chaos.

Like butterflies, we can’t remain in the chrysalis forever.

We must also emerge, changed and transformed. But our beauty reflects the image of Christ.

What aspects of God might we manifest as we emerge from a season hidden in Christ?

1. Compassion — During our confinement, we learned to listen to God’s heart, His love and compassion for a hurting world.

2. Grace — God softened our hearts, reminding us everyone has a story. He enables us to extend grace to those whose viewpoints and feelings are different than our own.

I like John Stott’s definition of grace, “Grace is love that stoops and rescues.”

3. Joy — The joy we experienced in the presence of the Lord will flow through us to others. This joy will strengthen us as we move forward to fulfill our purpose and destiny.

God is looking for vessels transformed by His love, ready to minister to a hurting world.

We go forth with the compassion, grace and joy God instilled in us while we were sequestered away with Him.

We will be able to proclaim along with David:

He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him (Psalm 40:3 NIV).

What transformation have you experienced during this season of confinement?

Joanie Shawhan is an ovarian cancer survivor, registered nurse, speaker, Selah Awards Finalist for In Her Shoes: Dancing in the Shadow of Cancer, and radio and television guest. Contact Joanie: www.joanieshawhan.com.

Upgrade Your Motherhood: Learn to Be a Mama Bear

Morgan Farr totally impressed me when I first talked to her, and then when I met her—I knew she was a special servant of God. What I noticed most was her deep desire to raise children to bring honor to the Lord. In this Parenting UPGRADE, she encourages mothers to intentionally become Mama Bears.

"There is a real enemy out there on the prowl, looking for souls to devour," Morgan says. "Learning to be a Mama Bear means being ready to protect and defend your cubs."

I (Dawn) remember when a previous candidate for Vice President of the United States called herself a "mama grizzly." During her campaign, she wanted to blend her femininity with tough strength. That's what moms are called to do today, I think—and Morgan clearly thinks so too!

Morgan continues . . . 

When I was getting ready to move from North Carolina to California, I was a bit of a wreck. Two days before I left town, a friend of mine stopped by and gave me a goodbye gift which contained chocolate, Dr. Pepper and a hat.

The hat had a bear on it with the word “Mama” scrawled across it.

Each gift had a purpose:

• The Dr. Pepper was for when I was tired and needed a boost,
• the chocolate was for when I was sad and missing my friends, and
• the hat was for the days when I needed to remember my purpose.

Thus my Mama Bear spirit began to develop. 

I am going to share with you what it means to be a Mama Bear, and how you can learn to defend your cubs well. 

The first thing we have to do in learning to become a Mama Bear is to understand what a Mama Bear is exactly.

Wikipedia defines a Mama Bear as, “a woman, especially a mother, who is extremely protective of a child or children,” and you can find similar ideas on definitions.net and UrbanDictionary.com. 

Who are we defending our kids from?

1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

That’s right. Satan is out to prevent every person he can from coming to Christ, and that includes our children.

Our job is to cultivate a home in which our children learn about Christ, grow in faith, and become mature Christians ready to go out into the world and fulfil the Great Commission. 

So, how do we do it? 

How Can You Become a Mama Bear?

1. Put on the Armor of God Every Day

Ephesians 6:10-18 describes the Armor of God, which you should wear every single day to be able to stand firm against Satan's attacks. 

• You need to be reading the Word of God every single day.
• Memorize scripture to repeat when the baby just won’t stop crying.
• Find a Titus Two Woman to mentor you when your teenager is being difficult. 
• Be active in the body of Christ so that you can lift one another up in prayer not only for yourself but also for your children. 
• Pray, pray, pray!

2. Teach them to recognize good and evil. 

It isn’t just enough for you to have firm faith, you have to instruct your children in the way of that faith as well.

You cannot hope that your children will catch your faith without any work on your part. 

Hillary Morgan Ferrer, author of Mama Bear Apologetics, writes, “Part of the biblical process of sanctification—or spiritual growth—is training our appetites to crave what is good and to be repulsed by what is not."

We, as mothers, need to show our children Jesus every day in our actions, in the Bible and in our world. 

Discuss current events (at an age appropriate level) and talk about which side it falls on—God’s side or Satan’s side.

Let them think critically. Help them, when needed, to see how God is moving in your home, neighborhood and beyond. 

3. Beware the Insidiousness of Technology

I didn’t really think of myself as a Mama Bear until after I had to explain my rules regarding technology to another mother as I was preparing to move. 

In my house, I don’t allow children of any age (0-18) to have technology away from an adult. This is due to the fact that I consider it my job to protect my children’s hearts and minds.

I can’t protect them from what other people invite in on tablets, phones and computers if I can’t see what is being shown. So, limit exposure where you can. 

Keep internet monitoring software on computers and phones—before you think that you need to. And yes, I mean that mom and dad should have that software on THEIR personal devices to show their children that integrity on the internet is not just for children! 

4. Protect the safety of your home.

Think of your home as a greenhouse. Your children are little plants, getting ready to go out into the world.

Your job is to ensure that the greenhouse is safe and secure. 

In The Mission of Motherhood, Sally Clarkson writes, “When children have a safe haven—a place to be protected from the storms of life; a place to be emotionally, mentally and spiritually encouraged; a place where they enjoy time and attention from important people in their lives—and time to mature, then they will have a good opportunity to become emotionally healthy and flourshing human beings.”

Be aware of what you invite in to your home in terms of media, books, movies and television shows.

Your home is your greenhouse. Do not allow it to become polluted by the filth of the world.  

Am I saying that being a Mama Bear is easy? Absolutely not. In fact, intentional motherhood takes a LOT of work and constant prayer. But I am saying that it is absolutely necessary. 

There will be people who say you are too protective and too strict.

Let them say it.

One day, you will stand before the King of Kings and you will be held ACCOUNTABLE for your time as a mother.

Remember that when someone from the PTA says your rules are too strict. 

How can you be a Mama Bear for your kids today? Which of these four points could you implement today?

Morgan Farr is a Texas-loving, succulent-cultivating, book nerd. Stationed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this Army wife is earning to respect her husband, develop her three (soon to be four!) small children, and tackle homeschooling while moving all over the country. Morgan writes about her transition away from feminism and into biblical womanhood at The Forgiven Former Feminist. 

Graphic, "Ladies Vintage Mama Bear Hat" from Southern Sisters Designs.

Experience the Richness of God's Promises

Shonda Whitworth offers hope to those who have been impacted by incarceration, and in this Spiritual Life UPGRADE, she remind all of us to break into the freedom of God's promises.

"With that one late night call containing tragic news, life as I knew it vanished," Shonda said. "As shock took over my body, a familiar verse popped into mind. 'And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.'

"That wasn’t the verse I would have selected for this heart-crushing news. That Scripture seemed—cliché."

Though I (Dawn) never got a call like Shonda did, I've faced a number of shocks that made me wonder what God was up to. In one case, I found myself clinging to Romans 8:28 too. For me, the key words were "His purpose."

Shonda continues . . .

How could God work something good out of such a horrific situation?

The caller on the other end of the line informed us that one person’s life had been taken and another’s was in serious condition. And my son was one of the two arrested for this unimaginable tragedy.

In my church circles of influence, I heard Romans 8:28 quoted repetitiously when someone faced a difficult trial. Following this example, I even hugged others and quoted this verse in my feeble attempts to comfort them.

Yet, I found no comfort in that moment hearing it in my thoughts. So, I know I would NOT have wanted one of my loving Christian friends to hug me and say, “Hon it will be alright because God works all things together for good for those who love Him.”

In spite of my feelings about that verse at that moment, I shifted into autopilot mode and did what I had practiced for years—wrote out the Scripture and turned it into prayer.

Clinging to the paper, I prayed,

“Lord, if You are Who You say You are, then make this passage real for me and my family and the families who are grieving tonight. Only You can work something good out of this horrific situation.”

My reality merged into a portion of an unimaginable tragedy. At that juncture, I faced a choice—believe God’s Word or reject it.

I chose to believe.

Scripture may seem trite when it is overused or used inappropriately.

The Word of God is never void of His power, but the enemy wants us to think it is.

Looking back, I found two reasons I thought the Scripture was cliché.

1. Familiarity

Overused Scripture may breed familiarity. For those who attend church regularly, certain Scriptures become familiar to us.

Part of our human nature is that when something become generally known, it loses its awe.

No true prophecy comes from human initiative but is inspired by the moving of the Holy Spirit upon those who spoke the message that came from God (2 Peter 1:21, TPT).

Scriptures are literally God’s word to us. We must treat the written word as if the Lord is speaking to us face to face as He did with Moses.

God is holy, and we’re to reverence Him as such and that includes His Word.

2. Used inappropriately

Scriptures may be deemed misused if the person quoting it does not have a testimony to support it.

At the time of my son’s arrest, since no one in my circle of influence had walked through my type of trial, if they had quoted Romans 8:28 to me, I would have dismissed them.

As long as the Lord tarries, we are to comfort one another by sharing our victories of overcoming trials.

First Thessalonians 5:11 says,

Because of this, encourage the hearts of your fellow believers and support one another, just as you have been doing (TPT).

Our lives should demonstrate the power of God.

So, an appropriate way to encourage someone with Scripture is to be open, transparent, and vulnerable with how it worked in our lives—not just merely tossing out Scriptures to sound spiritual. 

Since I choose to grab hold of God’s promise in spite of how it felt cliché, over time God demonstrated His faithfulness to bring about good things out of something tragic.

To summarize a few "good things"—

• My son fully committed his life to Christ and lives uprightly in confinement
• Many of my heart wounds have been healed.
• My husband and I started a nonprofit ministry to support families who face similar trials.

The enemy, who is the father of lies, twists the truth of the Scriptures.

If he can get us to dismiss God’s Word due to familiarity or misuse it by merely tossing it around without demonstrating its power, then we will miss the richness of God’s promises.

What is your approach to the Scriptures? Are you treating it with familiarity? Misusing it without the humble use of testimony as to its power? How can you change your approach?

Shonda Savage Whitworth is the founder and president of Fortress of Hope Ministries, Inc. (https://fortressofhopeministries.com/), offering hope to those whose lives have been impacted by incarceration. Shonda connects with others through her personal experiences and testimony of God’s faithfulness in her life. You can read more stories about Shonda’s unexpected prison family journey on her blog. (https://www.shondasavagewhitworth.com/)

Graphic adapted, courtesy of Delanie at Lightstock.

10 Sneaky Spaces to Get Organized!

Marcia Ramsland practices what she teaches. I have been in her well-ordered and welcoming home. In this Organization UPGRADE she offers suggestions each of us can tackle to make our living space more organized.

“Sneaky Spaces” are small clutter troves hiding from your everyday life... until you face the embarrassment of someone spotting them," Marcia said.

"Worse yet, they are clutter of one category that keeps you from finding exactly what you need fast."    

I (Dawn) identify with that "sneaky spaces" concept... and the embarrassment of someone seeing them. I opened a closet with guests present, and blushed as some photos—in a loose, messy stack—tumbled out onto the floor! Red-faced and uncomfortable!

Marcia continues . . .      

Do you have what I call “Sneaky Spaces” that fill up with small items?

These spaces are small clutter troves hiding from your everyday life... until now. Use them up and let them go!

Pick a couple of areas below and entertain yourself and/or your family sorting them. It’s fun, easy, and productive to do in an evening. 

You’ll wonder how so much collected and how little of each you actually use.

This remind me me of Luke 16:10 when Jesus said, “He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much.”

What is it we are to be faithful stewards of? That which we own is at the top of the list.

As you read below, check how many you might feel “guilty” of... and then simply schedule the time (30-60 minutes) to deal with one of the “sneaky clutter spaces.”

 10 Sneaky Spaces to Get Organized 

1. Use Up Bathroom Products

All those little makeup samples, shampoo products, conditioners, nail polish, lipsticks, soap samples equal clutter!

You know what you like. Minimize the rest by using it up or tossing it out.

2. Sort Linen Closet Bedding and Towels

Take the time to wash all the towels, keep the sets you like and “Demote, Donate, or Trash” old stuff you don’t use.

3. Recycle Batteries and Lightbulbs

Gather them in one place, organize what works, and create a box ready to recycle when you can.

Now is a good time to replace bulbs and fire alarm and flashlight batteries.

4. Label Cable and Cord Collections

Do you have a stash of cables and wires you don’t even know what they are for? Now is the time to get family together to divide and conquer the cord collection.

Label chords, especially those that only the techie at home knows what they’re for.

5. Shred Old Credit Cards and Papers

You probably own a shredder, so now is the time to use it.

Credit Cards are good “fodder” and can be shredded as well as old financial papers that are filling up file drawers. Now is the time!

6. Fix it or Toss It—Repair Stuff

Do you have a random pile of things to be glued or repaired? Now is the time to use it or lose it.

Make a repair list, take it to dinner and decide who’s going to fix it or if it’s time to let it go.

7. Give Up the Receipt Collection

Continue shredding with receipts that have piled up.

You can practically have a confetti party when old receipts are gone through and gone!

8. Sort Your “Bag Lady” Stash

Seriously, how many bags do you need?

• Divide the plastic bags into Small, Medium, and Large and store in plastic containers with a lid.
• Refold canvas and cloth bags with the handles inside and the smooth edge lined up like books on a shelf.
• Don’t forget to include the ones in the car!

9. Clean Up Car Clutter

What a good time to get outside and cleanup the inside of your car.

Clean out all the clutter, vacuum, and be ready for the day we are released from Home Quarantine. It is well worth having a clean car.

10. Recycle Kitchen Plastic Ware

So often we collect more plastic containers than we use when food comes packaged in them.

Count, discuss, and release what’s filling up your cabinets.

Make a Clean Sweep of your kitchenware!

Today’s Tip:

“One of the fastest ways to save time is to organize what you use and let go of the excess.

"Keep your favorites and let go of the rest.”

Take a few minutes now and get started decluttering simple, small spaces like those listed above.

Be faithful in all the small spaces of clutter in your life.

It will reward you 10 x over once you get just what you need back into organized place!

What “Sneaky Space” would save you time and energy each day if you organized and decluttered the collection – makeup, receipts, cords, or bags?

Marcia Ramsland is well known as the “Organizing Pro” and teaches ten online organizing courses and coaches individuals to be highly productive personally and professionally. She is the author of the Simplify Your Life: Get Organized and Stay that Way book series, which has sold over 100,000 copies. Marcia believes anyone can become more organized and live an organized lifestyle that’s easy, simple, and productive - even YOU! For courses, personal coaching, and free inspirational materials visit her website at www.organizingpro.com

Graphic adapted, courtesy of Shaun Finn at Pixabay.

God Is the Expert Question Asker

Kathy Collard Miller's passion is to help Christians trust God more and help others know how much He loves them. In this Relationship with God UPGRADE, she invites us to explore God's intriguing questions.

Kathy asks: "Do you sometimes wonder if you’ll ever figure out God? Just look at His questions for help."

This past week, I (Dawn) read with sadness about  a Christian leader who says he no longer believes in God. He says there are too many questions about God that are unanswered. But Kathy has an interesting perspective: What about God's questions?

Kathy continues . . .

Some time ago I began to notice how many questions God asked in the Bible—in fact, more than 300 of them! The more I noticed, the more I saw how His questions revealed who He is.

He is working in our lives—motivated by love, care, and goodness.

During this horrible time, we’d love to know the “why”s of what God is doing or allowing. Some clues might be in the questions He asked.

(1) God asked Adam and Eve, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9).

They felt ashamed, yet God pursued them, calling out to them. He didn’t shame them or even get angry at them. He calmly inquired with the purpose of helping them see their distrust of Him and their need of a Savior (Genesis 3:15).

The First Couple thought He wanted to destroy them, but He actually wanted to restore fellowship with them.

God spotlighted His forgiving and kind nature.

(2) God asked Joshua, “Have I not commanded you?” (Joshua 1:9).

My husband, Larry, talks about how, if it were up to him, he would have chosen Caleb to be the new leader of the Israelites, because Caleb had natural leadership skills.

But God chose Joshua and had to emphasize, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.” God wasn’t looking for a leader who might depend upon his own strengths.

He assigned Joshua as leader because Joshua knew he needed to look to God—who would then demonstrate His own power.

God asks His question to draw attention to Joshua and the Israelites’s need of God’s characteristic of strength to carry them through.  

(3) Jesus asked the Samaritan Woman (in a telling kind of way), “Give me a drink” (John 4:7).

 Most commentators believe this statement can be regarded as a question, because Jesus gave her a choice.

Jesus reached out to a person most despised by the Jews. Jesus broke the mold of the typical prejudiced Jew and showed compassion for a woman who is the least of the least.

Little by little, He breaks through the walls of her many defenses until she is so thrilled to know the Messiah, she leaves her water pot behind and runs to tell her fellow villagers—who hate her—she has found the Messiah.

Jesus spotlighted His compassion and mercy.

(4) Jesus asked, “What do you think, Simon?” (Matthew 17:25).

Peter (Simon) had just talked with the tax collector, and Peter lied. The disciples hadn’t paid the tax, but Peter said they had.

He was distressed. Jesus addressed his swirling, fearful heart, and helped Peter work through His tumultuous thoughts.

Jesus, a wise counselor, knew the inner workings of Peter’s heart and mind—and ours also.  

In each of these examples—which are only a few of the many in the Bible—God and Jesus reveal their unified nature which includes a multitude of amazing attributes.

• Every single one is in sync with the others in an intricate tapestry of holiness.
• Every question and every interaction with men, women, and children, points to the wonder and awe of God's love, knowledge, power, creativity, faithfulness, and so many other characteristics.
• And each one assures us He is working in our lives—motivated by love, care, and goodness.

What is your favorite quality of God and why is it important to you?

Kathy Collard Miller loves to help women trust God more through her 58 books and her speaking in more than 30 states and nine foreign countries. Her website/blog is www.KathyCollardMiller.com. Kathy’s newest book, co-written with her husband, Larry, is God’s Intriguing Questions: 40 Old Testament Devotions Revealing God’s Nature. Book two in the series is God’s Intriguing Questions: 60 New Testament Devotions Revealing Jesus’s Nature. Check out Kathy’s Amazon author page. 

Graphic adapted, courtesy of Brightside Creative at Lightstock.