God's Guiding Light

Dear Friend,    

With all the challenging and chaotic events happening in today’s increasingly dark world, it would be very easy to get discouraged or depressed and to lose hope. That’s why, for this month’s theme Scripture verse, I chose a familiar Psalm that I think is very appropriate for us today:

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105

Here’s what I find amazing about our verse. Have you ever been on a dark trail or path with a flashlight as you head towards a cabin or house? The flashlight gives you just enough light to see your next step or two, while the light in the cabin lets you know you are heading in the right direction.

Our verse tells us how God’s Word is both like that flashlight that lets you clearly see your next step, and like the cabin light that helps you head in the right direction. This truth gives us courage to move forward, taking the next step using His Word as a light in this dark world.

I am super excited about this month’s Box of Blessings and how all the contents tie together. And wait till you see the blessing that is in store for you! But first…

The enclosed Scripture Keeper is a wonderful tool to refresh yourself or encourage someone you love with the Word of God each day.  The lighthouse holder, with our theme verse on it,  is made from cast stone and comes with a pack of 30 topical Scripture cards. On the back of each card is a short devotional for further reflection of that day’s verse.  It even has a small booklet attached called We all Need Hope.

In Holley Gerth’s book, Hope Your Heart Needs, she says this about God’s holy Word:  “The Word speaks to us where we are - in the quiet moments of the morning, in conversations with friends who love Him too, in churches and boardrooms, in recliners and recording studios.  The Word is more than lines on a page.  He is the narrator of our lives.  He is the beginning and the end and the middle of the story.  He is still creating, still coming into the ordinary moments, still speaking to every heart willing to listen.”   

This book has 52 encouraging reminders of how God cares for you…(or for the person that you decide to give this book to as a gift!) 

I really enjoyed reading She Walked Before Us - Grace, Courage, and Strength from 12 Women of the Old Testament.  Novelist Jill Eileen Smith’s extensive research and thoughtful writing will not only draw you into the actual scriptures but then goes on to show us how we can glean wisdom and strength during our own trials.  Each chapter highlights a woman from the Old Testament and gives scripture reference, so you can run to the actual text and experience the Bible for the life changing page-turner that it is.  Taking it further, at the end of each chapter there are personal questions that could even be used in a group setting for further study or even personal reflection.  She ends her introduction with this thought:  “I pray the stories of these women give you what you need to better know our God and Savior Jesus Christ, whose story is woven into the lives of those born before He came to earth.  Even in the lives of often forgotten women.” 

And to that I say Amen!

If this Box of Blessings hasn’t blessed you already, let me quote one of my favorite blessings:

The Lord bless you and keep you

The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you

The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.

What a sweet yet powerful blessing taken from Numbers 6:24-26. And guess what… 

I am beyond thrilled to include Kari Jobe’s CD titled, The Blessing.  I absolutely love the worship lyrics to the song “The Blessing” which not only begins with the above blessing quote but ends with:

May His favor be upon you and a thousand generations

And your family and your children and their children and their children

May His presence go before you and behind you and beside you

All around you and within you

He is with you - He is with you – He is with you

In the morning in the evening

In your coming and your going

In your weeping and rejoicing

He is for you – He is for you

Let those words wash over you during these most difficult days.  I asked my friends at MaMa Thoughts to make glass stickers with that blessing scripture to help remind you daily how greatly loved you are.

The beautiful pack of 12 Christian greeting cards are a perfect match for this month’s box. Let God direct you to who needs the sweet passage from God’s Word that is on each card.

May His Word be a lamp to your feet and a light to your path in these challenging times.

Following His Guiding Light,

Bette

P.S. The retail value of this month’s Box of Blessings?  $100.83!!  So go ahead and share the blessing of God’s guiding light with someone today!