Author: Judy Elmer

As a caregiver I’m often asked the question, “How are YOU doing?” I used to answer, “I’m hanging in there,” until my pastor overheard my answer. He encouraged me to respond to that question by saying, “I’m standing firm.” He added, “We can’t hang on in our own strength. We’ll end up letting go and falling, but with God we can stand firm.” He’s right. Strength comes when I choose to roll worries over onto Jesus’ shoulders. The Lord is teaching me the importance of daily taking my position of standing firm on His promises no matter how hard things get. Choosing to stand firm on the truth of God’s Word and not our feelings, can keep us upright when the walk is hard. If you feel you’re just hanging in there…cling to Jesus, Our Rock and Our Stronghold. That’s the position to take, because “with God we can stand firm.”

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. Psalm 40:2

I can remember when I was a little girl the excitement I felt hearing the surprising words, “There’s a rainbow!” To this day when there’s a rainbow I rush to see this beautiful creation God put in the sky. I love seeing the vivid colors but most of all rainbows remind me that God keeps His promises. His Word generates hope. Rainbows are awe-inspiring. It’s as if God shows us a rainbow to personally say that no matter what storm we’re going through He is our Hope. He forgives, saves, and can take intended harm and protect us. I think rainbows are God’s personal invitation to accept the hope He offers.

Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:4-5

“My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.” Jer. 2:13

PRAYER: Jesus, You are the Spring of Living Water that cleanses, refreshes and restores. You are the Only One that can save and satisfy our thirsty souls. Our idols are like broken cisterns, cracked and can never completely satisfy. Forgive us for idols such as money, self, and power. Turn our nation away from any form of idolatry and bring us back to You, the Spring of Living Water.

My dad died when I was 2 years old. Mother became a single mom with no high school diploma and with 4 children under the age of 9. Mother panicked and quickly remarried. I’ve been told that Mother sat all 4 of us down and told us that she loved our daddy, but was going to marry this man so he could help her. Soon after they married my stepfather had his first coronary heart attack and became disabled. Mother now had 4 children plus a disabled husband to take care of and provide for. I was 16 years old when my stepfather died from a heart attack. As a young girl growing up I experienced a father’s love that came and went. I felt love was conditional and temporary. I don’t know your present situation or what you’ve experienced in the past. But my encouragement is that we are not fatherless. Instead, we have an Everlasting Father whose love is unconditional and forever. Father God is not going to leave you or me. God is my Everlasting Father and He’s yours too!

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:8

My husband named this post. He said the squirrel’s expression reminded him of how he felt when the Lord called him to use a potter’s wheel and a lump of clay to tell people about God’s grace and transforming power. He had never before worked with clay. His immediate response was, “I can’t. Surely not me!” But after a lot of prayer and encouragement he answered God’s call and asked me to come along side of him and help. In 1997 this outreach ministry called the Potter’s Message began and still continues today. In 2013 my husband had a brain bleed that caused a massive stroke that affected the right side of his body. He was right handed, but now he uses his left hand for everything. God has enabled him to make a vessel on the potter’s wheel using only one hand! Is God asking you to do something way out of your comfort zone? Maybe you’re feeling you can’t and that someone else could do better. My hope is to assure you that these words are true… Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD Almighty. Zech. 4:6

I’m a twin so I’ve not experienced being alone like others have. My twin sister came first and 10 minutes later I followed. I like saying I’m the youngest in the family. When my husband was in a nursing home I witnessed an ugly kind of being alone. I saw first-hand what loneliness looks like. Sometimes even in a group of people you can feel lonely. If you’re feeling alone, my hope is that the following “5 W question words” will remind you of the full scope of God’s loving presence. No matter where you are, HE is near.

WHO?…Lord Jesus WHERE?…right where you are WHEN?…now WHAT?…joy in His presence WHY?…because He loves you and He said so

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Heb. 13:5

I’ve noticed that some TV advertisements flash lots of different scenes quickly across the screen to promote a product. All those pictures flashing one right after the other makes me halfway dizzy. My eyes go into what I’ve heard described as visual overload. The word overload reminds me of how racing thoughts can take us to what I call “thinking overload.” These unsettling times can stir up worry. Tiredness along with “what if” thoughts can quickly take us to thinking overload. If that happens and we feel exhausted and don’t know the next step to take, let’s choose to go to God’s Word for direction. His Word can be a remedy for thinking overload.

“Help!” is what I call a battle cry. A cry for help that ends with a call for Jesus to help is NEVER ignored. The following is my testimony that God hears prayers.

My husband’s battle cry the afternoon he had a brain bleed that caused a massive stroke was simply, “God, help me.” God answered. I watched God orchestrate His help through first responders, the ambulance driver, rush hour traffic, doctors, nurses, immediate family and our church family. My battle cry was, “I need you Jesus. Help me!” Without a doubt, His help was evident. I remember the ER doctor saying, “Mrs. Elmer, your husband needs a neurosurgeon NOW.” I answered, “I don’t know a neurosurgeon.” My pastor put his hand on my shoulder and began to pray. He simply prayed, “God, we need the best neurosurgeon for Carl. We ask this in Jesus’ name.” Upon arriving at another hospital prepared to meet Carl’s need for brain surgery, I was greeted by a nurse who said, “Mrs. Elmer, the best neurosurgeon is on call tonight.” When I heard those words I knew God had heard my prayer for help. Are you lonely, scared or feel like you’re in harm’s way? I encourage you to pray big prayers. God loves to do the impossible, because then people will say, “Only God could do that!”

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

Here’s a picture of a Rose-Breasted Grosbeak songbird. God’s creative power has put an amazing bright red mark on this bird’s chest . I’ve never seen this bird in person, but I sure love his bright red mark. It makes me think of how God has marked believers with His seal of ownership. I want to think about that each day. The thought of God marking believers with a seal is empowering. Fear not. We can stand firm in Christ…secure, because we belong to Him.

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 2 Cor. 1:21-22

We were married a little over 5 years before we had children. We thought maybe we couldn’t have children of our own. We decided to start the adoption process and in the meantime I got pregnant. In less than two years we had 2 boys! Motherhood was not what I expected. Our first son was six weeks premature. Both boys had allergies, tubes in their ears and tonsils removed all at a young age. It was hard working full time with many sleepless nights. I didn’t realize all the self-sacrifices involved in raising children. Even though motherhood requires self-sacrificing love, it’s definitely worth it. God used the experience of having and raising our boys to teach me about love, and to draw me closer to Jesus. I’m thankful that God blessed me with two sons. My love for each one is deep and forever.