Morning Mercies

Got Loneliness?  Get To The Right Connection Quick! by Jan McGrier Even before the pandemic made social distancing and isolation the “new normal”; loneliness was considered a mental health epidemic in the United States. Research indicates that almost one-half of us have feelings of being left out, left behind, or not really being known (Forbes.com June 2021). The truth of the matter is that we can feel lonely when physically apart from others or in the presence of others. God also had many servant leaders like Joshua, David, Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Paul who suffered loneliness. God’s Word is true and contains true accounts of ordinary people who battled loneliness in everyday life and ministry assignments. Take a look at Leah, she understandably felt alone and rejected as she lived with a husband (Jacob) whose heart had always been for her sister. That particular loneliness bucket never did get satisfied even after she bore him seven children. Maybe you are facing loneliness in a health

  Overwhelming Victory Takes a Village By Jan McGrier Should you go swimming by yourself?   How about climbing up that ladder to paint a 2 nd story shutter or clean leaves from the gutters?   Should you accept that first date invitation to meet in a quaint, non-public location?   The obvious and collective response for each of these should be NO!   Ever hear the expression, “Just because you can doesn’t mean you should”?   You certainly can engage in a lot of activities “solo” but when the element of risk increases or there’s potential for harm, then you probably shouldn’t.   Even the African proverb, “It takes a village”, while often applied to raising children, its primary root meaning is tethered to the benefits and power of living in community versus going at it alone. Even from the very beginning of time, the universe was not created in isolation.   God always existed in community as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. As He created the heavens and earth, the Spirit of God was hovering

  Overwhelming Victory Comes with Overwhelming Grace!                                                                               By Jan McGrier Are any of you exercise enthusiasts? Is your thing Yoga, Zumba, swimming, or perhaps walking? God bless you!   I want to be like you one day.   But for now,   exercise is one of the few things that I passionately dislike but desperately need.   God has clearly shown me that when I incorporate any type of exercise into my weekly schedule, I experience overwhelming victory in my battle against inflammatory ailments and other chronic pain symptoms that have plagued my body for years.   Praise God that He goes before me and you in ALL things (Deuteronomy 1:30; Isaiah 52:12).   God certainly has gone before me in recent weeks with this ongoing exercise battle.   He helped me resist the devil, who usually makes my excuses look pretty attractive.   I clicked that   “Confirm Now” button on the Pilates Studio App and finally, one small step of victor

Overwhelming Victory Includes Both - God And   A Battle! by Jan McGrier Last week’s blog, “Beloved, Never Give Up! Overwhelming Victory is Yours”, Sister Nadine posed a question in the opening paragraph.---“Why does it seem like the battle is never over, the war is never won?”   As always, that blog held fast to its mission and purpose by serving up God’s Word as the plumb line for truth, while simultaneously challenging my thinking and encouraging my weary heart. In my head, I know I’m not in jeopardy of losing either the battle or the war.   I trust   God’s Word.   He is not a man that He should lie (Numbers 23:19).   His declaration of an overwhelming victory for me is echoed throughout scripture and summarized clearly by the Apostle Paul,   “ No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us” (Romans 8:37 NLT).     But in all honesty, my eyes circled over and parked on the phrase, “ No, despite all these things”.     Uh Oh!   The negative thoug

Never Give Up! Overwhelming Victory Is Yours! "...despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, Who loved us." Rom. 8:37NLT Just as it seemed we were about to overcome this COVID thing, a new strain threatens the unvaccinated, who primarily are children. What is up with all this? Why doesn't it seem like the battle is never over, the war is never won? Well, beloved, the fight may seem to be fierce and never-ending, but I assure you, according to the promise of God, you are not in jeopardy of losing either the battle or the war! Here is why. The God that we serve has rigged both the war and the battles that may ensue in our favor! We Win! Just as Romans proclaims to us straight from the heart of our Father, the "overwhelming victory is ours through Christ..."  As you may recall, I mentioned last week, God does not lie! Actually, the victory has already been decided! We are on our way to experiencing it if we don't faint or lose heart!

  Fire Resistant Faith! Last week the Lord provided us with much-needed encouragement against the discouragement and depression our times might produce in us. The Lord desired to leave a strong impression upon our hearts that He loves us and that He has provided us "the oil of joy for our mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness...that He may be glorified". All that we are facing is about glorifying God! We may think it's about us - but it really is about the purpose and the plan of our God to be glorified in His children.  However, the hardest part about realizing this powerful revelation is the fact that we've got to believe it! I can't impress upon us enough the fact that God gave us faith for a very good reason! The reasons are clearly provided to us in His Word. Our Loving Father provided us with full disclosure of what we needed to know in order to be the victorious children of God He created us to be! Unfortunately, we've become s