Super-Great... (Inspiration for the New Year)



My bro and I when we were teenagers

I had a lot of thoughts swirling through my head for a New Years Eve post, however nothing seem to fit. Then for some reason today as I went about my household chores the words super-great popped into my mind. They brought a big smile to my face because those words are associated with someone near and dear to me, my youngest brother Enoch, who is a few years older than I am.


Whenever you ask Enoch how he’s doing his answer is almost always the same, said with a big grin, “I’m doing super-great, how are you?” And then there are the days when he’s doing super, super great. Why do these words make me smile? Well my brother has not had an easy life.


About fifteen or sixteen years ago for no apparent reason Enoch suddenly began losing his vision. This continued gradually until he went completely blind. The doctors had no idea why it happened so therefore they could not really treat what they did not know. So my family did the only thing we could do, we prayed, we trusted God we believed that he would be alright and so did he.  My brother was a fairly new Christian at the time but never once did I hear him blame God or see him sink into depression. He had faith that everything would be alright and even in his blindness when someone asked him, “Enoch, how are you doing?” He answered, with a big grin “super-great.”


Then there was the time about ten years ago where Enoch suddenly became seriously ill and was in the hospital for several weeks. There was again uncertainty as to what was wrong with him and I remember being very afraid that I would lose my brother. Memories of us shooting marbles, him teaching me to ride a bike, trying to teach me to climb a tree (no success there) and him talking me into cutting my dolls’ hair not once but twice promising that it would grow back (I was pretty gullible) played like a video tape in my mind during those endless weeks.
However, when I would talk to him and ask him how he was doing even in his illness his answer was always, super-great.

As I think about the New Year, I want my brother’s outlook to become my own. I want to speak confidently that everything is super-great even if at that moment it isn’t. I want to choose happiness, to focus more on the good, to give thanks in all things.

I want to face whatever challenges come my way in the New Year the way my brother has face those that came his way over the years.He has faced blindness with grace and courage and his vision returned months later just as mysteriously as it left.

He has faced illnesses, being in the hospital several times, having to leave his job because of being ill but never let it control his life. I am sure there were many times he had questions, he probably wondered why, but he never let it determine his attitude. He always spoke in faith that even if it wasn’t at the moment, everything would be super-great.

My brother is my inspiration. He is an example of one who chooses positivity, happiness and faith daily.

Meet my inspiration going into 2011,
my brother Elder Enoch McIntosh

 He sees better than I do since I wear glasses and he doesn’t :).

He is healthy and well.

He has been, working full time again for several years.

He’s a husband,

A father,

An elder in his church

A child of God


And as always he is super-great.


This is a mere fraction of my brother's story but I'm sure you get the idea why I think he's such an inspiration.

Trusting Him,
~Bernadine~

A Different Kind of Christmas

How do you feel about Christmas? Do you still feel that excitement that you did when you were a child?

As a child I loved Christmas. It was always a much anticipated, magical and joyful time. I always knew exactly what to expect going into the season, a house filled with family and friends, love, laughter, and lots of food cemented with family prayer and old stories of years gone by.

For a girl who likes stability and routine, the annual holiday tradition was great. However a few years ago I lost someone dear to me and my Christmases changed forever. Consequently when the Christmas season comes around I find myself sometimes instead of focusing on Christ who is the reason for the season, longing for someone who I will never see on earth again.

A few weeks ago sensing my sadness, a friend said to me, Bernadine everything may not be the way you want it to be this Christmas but, you have to choose to be happy.

I'm over at Laced With Grace today. I'd love for you to stop by and read the rest of my post A Different Kind of Christmas.

Trusting Him,
~Bernadine~

Ending Strong...

December, December, from whence did you come?
It seems like just yesterday, I was saying hello,
To the month of January and now here I am…
Another year almost ended, a new one soon to begin,
Where does the time go…?

Are any of you like me? Thinking it seems like it was just yesterday when the New Year began and now here we are already almost half way through the final month of 2010. How was your year? Are you still moving at the same pace you began with or have you lagged a bit?

I wondered how all of your year went because of a sermon I heard recently that talked about ending strong. Although Caleb, one of my biblical heroes wasn’t the basis of the sermon I thought about him. I admire him for many things among which is his endurance, his tenacity and his enthusiasm.

Caleb was sent by Moses on a fact finding mission with eleven other men to explore the land that God had promised the children of Israel and bring back a report. Unfortunately, the majority of the men came back with a negative report. They reported that while the land flowed with milk and honey the inhabitants of the land were stronger than they were and they seemed like grasshoppers in their own eyes.

Caleb one of two men who came back with a good report, tried to silence the men’s negativity…

30 Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”

 Unfortunately he was his positive report was drowned out by the negative…

31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” Numbers 13: 30-31

And instead of listening to the positive the Israelites quickly took up with the negative.

2 All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! 3 Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” Numbers 14:2-3

They had started out with on such a high note with such excitement as they left Egypt. How did it come to this? This unbelief, this grumbling, complaining… did they really think it was better in Egypt? Probably not, but are we so different from those Israelites at times? We start out in January filled with excitement about a new year and somehow as we go through the days, weeks and months we get discouraged. We start to wonder, where is God? Why are things so much more difficult this year instead of better…? By the time December comes around we are ready for the year to end, to go into a New Year and start fresh.

However, instead of waiting to start fresh how about ending strong? Caleb started strong and he ended strong.

10 “Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! 11 I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then.
Joshua 14:10-11

Forty five years… a long time to wait for fulfillment of a promise. A long time to stay excited, to keep trusting… but somehow Caleb did it. He ended as strong as he began. What was Caleb’s secret? He started out from Egypt with the other children of Israel. He experienced everything that they did. He endured the hardship of the wilderness with them. He heard their murmuring and complaining but didn’t allow it to get inside of him. He didn’t allow their vision to change his. God had made promises to them as they left Egypt and Caleb wasn’t going to lose sight of the promise.

I confess, there have been many days during this year when I’ve been more like those forgetful Israelites than I care to admit. I’ve murmured and complained and have not trusted Him like I should. However I want to end strong. There are twenty days left in this year. I don’t want to waste a single one of them, being sad, depressed, doubtful… I want to be like Caleb. I want to end this year even stronger than I began… what about you?

Heavenly Father, I can’t believe it’s December and eleven months, one week and five days have passed already since this year began. Thank you for being by my side every step of the way even though at times I didn’t see it and questioned you as to where you were. Today I stand in awe of you and all that you have done. And now father, I lift up my dear blogging friends before you. I pray that you will give them that extra strength that they need in order to end strong this year. I pray that you will uphold them in your strong right arm and that even in the short time remaining in this year they will see you working situations out on their behalf.

Trusting Him,
~Bernadine~

Just a little reminder...

Ever so often I have to remind
myself of something..

My heart knows it but
sometimes my mind can't wrap itself
around the wonder of it all
that although I didn't
do anything to deserve it,
and although I'm not worthy of it,

Jesus loves me




Jesus Loves Me

“Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak, but He is strong.

Refrain:

“Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

Thank you Lord!
Trusting Him,
~Bernadine~

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day is not a holiday in my country but you’d think it was.

We have Thanksgiving assemblies in our schools.

Students bring in can goods to present to local charities and organizations.

There’re potluck lunches at schools and many businesses

Lunch vendors have special Thanksgiving lunches.

Restaurants have Thanksgiving dinner specials.

Churches have Thanksgiving services…

And we celebrate with our neighbors to the North.

Because it’s always a great thing to give thanks.

Happy Thanksgiving to all, especially my friends in America!

I’m thankful that you stop by.

Your presence adds joy to my day.

Trusting Him,

 ~Bernadine~

In His Presence

Recently I was away from home and wanted to spend a few minutes in God’s word. However there were too many distractions. No matter how much I tried I kept getting distracted and even a little frustrated because I wanted to get my daily bread which I can only get from reading the word of God. Finally I discovered a quiet spot and with my Bible and notebook settled down to spend some quiet time in the word of God.


As I read I found myself in one of my favorite books. (I can’t seem to close my Bible without stopping in and gleaning some wisdom form the book of Psalm.) For some reason this day just a portion of a verse stood out to me.


A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! Psalm 84:10

I'm over at Laced With Grace today. I'd love for you to stop by and read the rest of my post In His Presence

























Trusting Him,



~Bernadine~




Trusting Him, ~Bernadine~

Sometimes

Have you ever felt this way?


Sometimes I enter your house Lord
And it’s not where I want to be
I don’t feel like lifting my hands
Or singing praises to your name

I don’t want to hear the preacher
Preach a message about God’s grace
I want the service to be over
So I can be on my way

But as I sit in the sanctuary
And I begin to meditate
I think about all you’ve done
And how you saved me by your grace



Image by photobucket



And as I think about you Lord

The tears begin to slowly fall
As the iciness within my heart
Begin to melt from your son’s warmth


So I slip my hand to heaven
And begin to praise your holy name
Because Lord I do realize
This you do require of me



You want me to praise you
When I feel like and when I don’t
To deny the natural man
And tune in to only you

As I tune into your frequency
You begin to speak to me
You let me know that you are pleased
With my sacrificial praise

By the time I leave the service
My attitude is totally changed
And I wonder within myself
Why didn’t I want to praise God’s name?


Trusting Him,
~Bernadine~

The Only Real Peace

Have you ever lost something, maybe a key, an earring, your hand bag? You search high and low for it but to no avail? You begin to get frustrated and angry because you really need this item. Finally, after wrecking your house in search of the lost item, you give up.

Afterwards you sit hopelessly looking at the shambles that you made and there in the most obvious place is the item you're looking for. At this time you're unable to even appreciate finding the item because you're too busy looking at the mess that you made while looking for it. The sad fact is the item was not really lost. It was there all along. You simply didn't look in the right place to begin with.

Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water." John 4:13-15

Unfortunately, this is the way it is with life sometimes. The woman at the well was the perfect example. She wanted so much to find happiness, to find love and acceptance. She tried to find it in the arms of men, marrying and separating when they didn't live up to her expectations. Finally, she gave up on marriage after five times, but she still felt empty inside. All of her searching had gotten her nowhere. She was ostracized, hated, and looked down upon because she was searching for something to fill the empty spaces in her life.

The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming.
When he comes, he will explain everything to us." Then Jesus declared,
"I who speak to you am he." John 4:25-26 (NIV)

Sad isn't it? Often times in our search for happiness, we end up being wounded. Sometimes our wounds are so deep that what we are searching for may be right in front of us and we may not recognize it because we are searching in the wrong places. 

Read the rest of this article in the latest issue Sanctified Together.  The entire issue was based around the theme "peace" and has some beautiful, inspiring articles

Trusting Him,
 ~Bernadine~

This article was previously posted at Laced With Grace

Keep Going Until You Reach the End

“Baby, don’t give up! Keep going, until you reach the end.” My mother always encouraged me with these words when I wanted to give up on a project. She never wanted me to quit and that became a part of my makeup in every which way. I try to finish what I start. I hate loose ends which is why I try not to even start books or movies late at night because 2 or 3 am I am still awake bleary eyed because something inside me just wants to keep going...

Today I’ll be doing a guest post at Sharing Life with Lisa, a dear friend whose blog I visit often. Her genuine warmth and love for Christ makes you feel right at home. I hope you’ll stop by and read the rest of my post.

Trusting Him,
~Bernadine~

What do you fear?

Earlier this year I did something I’ve never done before. I’ve always wanted to but I always allowed fear to hold me back.

Fear of judgment.
Fear of not being good enough.
Fear of failure.
Fear of stepping out of my comfort zone and doing something uncomfortable.

So in May of this year, I decided to simply go for it. I worked for days on a piece I had written previously entitled “Finding Joy after a Devastating Loss”. Finally, when it was done to my satisfaction I entered it in Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Competition.

I waited anxiously until October hoping I’d receive an email saying I’d place in the competition.

But I didn’t.

I was disappointed. I still am. However, I’m happy that I actually did it.

I didn’t win but neither did fear.

7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT)

Have you stepped out of your comfort zone lately and done something you were afraid to do? I’d love to hear about it.

Trusting Him,
~Bernadine~

A Whole Lot of Stuff

I’m a bit of a fraidy cat… I admit it. It doesn’t take much to scare me, which is why I don’t ever watch scary or extra suspenseful movies. I stopped when I was a teenager, because I couldn’t sleep for weeks afterwards. However earlier this year I got sucked into watching something that didn’t seem all that scary, but it was. What movie was it? Well it wasn’t actually a movie. It was a reality show called Hoarders.

I'm over at Laced With Grace today.  I'd love for you to stop by and read the rest of my post A Whole Lot of Stuff

Trusting Him,
~Bernadine~

Fall Upon Your Knees

When life deals you a blow

That knocks you off your feet

And your very foundation is shake

Fall upon your knees

When all the emotions inside you

Becomes the bitter tears you drink

And mere words can’t express your heart

Just fall upon your knees.

When it seems you’re all alone

And no one cares for you

And there’s just emptiness inside

Just fall upon your knee

When your heart is crying out

For the answers that you need

And no one can bring you comfort

I beg you fall upon your knees

On your knees you’ll find the answers

To life hurts, disappointments and pain

And your tears will be dried up

By the very one you seek

Because when life deals you a blow

That knocks you off your feet

You’ll find the answer only in Jesus

So just fall upon you knees

Nov 9, 06

I wrote this poem four years ago a little ove a month after my mother died. 
I'm so thankful that when we go on our knees before Jesus he listens, he dries our tears, he comforts us... We don't always get the answers that we want but we find the peace that we need.


Trusting Him,
 ~Bernadine~

I wish I had known...

It was Sunday afternoon. The dinner table was empty although just an hour before it was filled with family laughing, discussing the Sunday sermon and enjoying Sunday dinner. Everyone had retired to rest before the evening service and I was the lone person up and about sweeping the steps outside my parents’ front door. I can’t remember what the sermon was that day but I remember that I was happy and humming as I swept.

It was at this time that two teenage young men, one of whom I had known his entire life, walked by. “Good afternoon,” they called out.

“Good afternoon,” I responded then added, “Did you take time out to go to church today and give God thanks for keeping you through out last week?”

One of the young men stopped and talked to me for a minute and the other continued walking as if he hadn’t heard. The young man that stopped was not known to me. However he seemed interested in what I had to say and in the short time he stopped I told him about the importance of developing a relationship with God and taking time to give Him thanks for the gift of life.

I never saw the young man who continued walking again. A week later he and two others went missing during a boating trip. When I heard the news I felt as if I had been punched in the gut. I stood there shell shocked and then I cried.

I cried because of a young life that was gone too soon.

I cried because of the uncertainty, the not knowing whether he’d made it right with God.

I cried because if I knew that those words were going to be the last words I would ever speak to that young man I would have called him by name as he walked away and tried harder to have a conversation about God. However, I didn’t know. None of us know which opportunity will be the last opportunity we have to tell someone about Christ.

It’s been almost ten years since this happened and I still remember it vividly as if it happened yesterday. It is a reminder to me to take every opportunity to share Christ with others. For when I take my last breath on this Earth I want to know above all that I’ve pointed others to my Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

Trusting Him,
~Bernadine~

Like the Woman with the Alabaster Box... I Came

Like the woman with the alabaster box

image courtesy of photobucket.com

I came to Jesus.

I came to him laden with emotional baggage of many kinds
But still I came

I came with the residue of pain from past hurts I couldn’t let go…
I came to him knowing that many had written me off,

Wondering if Jesus would see something worth saving in me…
Hopefully I came

But as I knelt before him something happened
The Lamb of God, savior of the world reached down
 and lifted me to my feet

He took my chin within his hand and lifted my face towards his own
As I looked into his eyes I saw such kindness, such compassion such love…
I wept

He dried my tears and called me by name
“My child weep no more I am here, “ he said

As I looked into those eyes I continued to weep and as I wept
 my burdens… They miraculously disappeared

The pain,

the hurt,

the shame…

I felt it no more



Like the woman with the alabaster box when I left His presence

image courtesy of fotosearch.com

I was rejoicing

I was forgiven

I was free

Trusting Him,

 ~Bernadine~







Uncle Authur’s Bedtime Stories = Special Memories

I love to read. I’ve been known to pick up a book and shut out the world. I can’t help it. I’m a bookworm. I got it from my mom.

image by fotosearch.com

I can remember snuggling under her arms as she read me fairy tales, bible stories and other interesting books. However, my favorite books for her to read to me were the Uncle Arthur’s Bedtime Stories. They were stories about little boys and girls my age who learned to ask God for forgiveness when they did wrong and prayed to him when they were in trouble.

Somehow I could always put myself in the place of those boys and girls in the stories, especially the mischievous ones. They were so familiar they seemed almost like family.

I had the perfect opportunity to put the lessons I learnt in the stories to work when I was about seven years old. Mommy had given into my constant nagging and let me assist her with wrapping some coins. I’m sure I was more of a hindrance than a help getting in the way and chattering away a mile a minute. For some reason, maybe a seven year old chatterbox, Mommy couldn’t seem to wrap the coins properly.

Guess who stepped in to save the day? Yes it was me. I remembered the repetitive lessons from the Uncle Arthur’s Bedtime stories I said to her, “Mommy why don’t we ask Jesus to help us?” She indulgently agreed. So we stopped a minute, said a quick prayer and then went back to work. Shortly afterwards I miraculously got one wrapped.

"See Mommy,” I told her beaming, “didn’t I say we should ask Jesus to help us?”

“Yes Baby” she said smiling. She never let on that I had still wrapped it completely wrong.



My sweet mom and me in her hat.



     Four years ago today I cried because my mother died

but today I’m pulling out memories that make me smile.

           What’s your favorite memory of your mom? It can be a childhood memory or a recent one.

Trusting Him,

 ~Bernadine~

Encourage Yourself

Have you ever had those days when you have to give yourself a motivational talk? Everything around you may look not so great but you tell yourself;

“It’s going to get better.”

“I can do this!”

“Today is going to be a great day!”

In other words, you had to be your own cheering squad of one and encourage yourself.

If you’ve done this before, congratulations you’re in good company.

And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. 1 Samuel 30:6 (KJV)

In this particular chapter David and his men returned home to find that their homes had been raided and all their families taken captive. The part that got my attention was the fact that everyone went home to find the same situation yet some got bitter. David’s two wives were taken captive but the men didn’t think about that. They wanted to stone David as if he had caused the calamity.

I’m reminded that in life sometimes situations play out the same way it did in David’s day. We all suffer loss, we all experience hurt but in the midst of it all some people become bitter and ungrateful. However there are some who find strength in the Lord their God. They find comfort in him and hold on to his promises. Like David they encourage themselves in the Lord their God.

I love the way Donald Lawrence puts it in this song.

Sometimes you have to encourage yourself.
Sometimes you have to speak victory during the test.
And no matter how you feel,
speak the word and you will be healed;
speak over yourself,
encourage yourself in the Lord.

How do you encourage yourself? What’s your favorite “self talk” for the days you’re not quite the joyful Christian you’d like to be?

Trusting Him,

 ~Bernadine~

Photo credit:  Photobucket.com

He's Written Our Life Story

“I wish I had made different choices,” she said to me head hung down.

“What do you mean?” I asked because we were just chatting, not really talking about anything serious.

She didn’t respond, just continued what she was doing so I said to her, “Do you know that none of the decisions you made in your life even the ones you considered your biggest mistakes surprised God?






She stopped and waited for me to go on. I shared the following verse with her,

You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book.  Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. Psalm 139:16 (NLT)

We’ve all probably wondered a time or two, “Did I make decisions that threw my life off the course God set for me?”

Don’t despair. Nothing that happens in our life is a surprise to God. Our life story was written in His book before we were even conceived.

He knew every decision we were going to make and he had a plan in place for when we didn’t choose his predestined path. The place you’re at in life is not your final destination. There is still more that you are capable of, still more that God has planned for you if you would just trust him.

At the end of our conversation she said to me, “I think I need to keep a copy of that verse so I can read it daily and let it sink in.” I was only too happy to make a bookmark with the verse on it to present to her. I made one for myself too as a reminder that there is nothing about me that God doesn’t already know and he loves me just the same.

Trusting Him,
~Bernadine~

Photo credit: 123rf photos

No Ship Like Friendship....

9 Two are better than one,

because they have a good return for their work:

10 If one falls down,

his friend can help him up.

But pity the man who falls

and has no one to help him up!

Someone once said when God wants to bless you he puts a person in your life. I agree, friends are truly God’s gifts to us.

Here are some of the things that come to mind when I think of friendship.

-Over 15 years ago I was a broke college student, no cell phone, no internet and what felt like far away from home. A dear friend said to me, “Whenever you need to talk you can call me collect.” I did, often.

Nine years ago, about a year after I started Girl Talk magazine I asked a friend to help me pick out a copier so that I could print the magazine myself. She not only helped me pick it out but paid for it as well. I still have it today.

About six years ago I met my sister-friend for the first time after four years of online friendship. We were about to leave a restaurant when it started to rain. She ran through the rain to get an umbrella because I refused to get my hair wet. I'm still amazed by that selfless act.

Almost four years ago after my mother died I fell apart. A friend at work stepped in and did everything except teach my class until I was able to function on my own.

“You meet people who forget you. You forget people you meet. But sometimes you meet those people you can't forget. Those are your 'friends.'”Anonymous

Four different friends, four different acts, all equally special and all forever etched in my memory.

What memories does the word friendship bring to your mind??

Trusting Him,
 ~Bernadine~

Photo credit:  Photobucket

A Repentant Heart

What is your Christian life like? Is you walk with God easy, a piece of cake? Or do you have days where despite your best effort you fall short? Do you have times when you thought you were beyond certain temptations in your walk with God and found yourself caught up in them again? In spite of our best efforts sometimes we don’t get it right, we stumble, we fall, we fail and one prime example of failure was one of my favorite biblical characters David.

I remember reading Psalm 51 and wondering what had happened to make David write such a heartfelt Psalm that completely exposed the innermost feelings of his heart and left him broken before God. It was then that I began to study the back story.

You can find the beginning of David’s story in 2 Samuel chapter 11. David had sinned and then tried to cover it up. David suffered many repercussions because of his selfish act, the most serious being the damage he did to his relationship with God because God was very displeased with his actions.

God sent the prophet Nathan to warn David. . It was only after the prophet Nathan spoke to David that David saw what damage his selfishness had done to his relationship with God. David was a king but his reaction to the rebuke of the prophet Nathan shows that he had a humble spirit. He was able to take the chastening of the Lord.

It’s hard to take rebuke at times. If a pastor, a boss or supervisor, a parent or friend rebukes us in some way we immediately become defensive or worse offended. We do not want our faults to be pointed out to us. However this was not the case with David.

 David’s heart was broken when he realized what he had done. It was out of his brokenness that David wrote Psalm 51

1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

David’s sincerity, his passion, his pain is palpable as he pours out his heart before God. He came before God broken. He made no excuses he didn’t say the devil made him do it. He didn’t tell God about the kings who were committing worse sins than he did. David accepted responsibility for his actions. He had a repentant heart.

I hope I’m just a little like David. I hope I still go before God broken when I sin and not just as a formality. True repentance comes from the heart and not just the lips. It is a genuine commitment to change the sinful behavior and refrain from doing it again. When we sin it causes separation between us and our heavenly father and only true repentance can restore the relationship back to its original state.

Trusting Him,
~Bernadine~

Photo credit: 123rf photos

Use it or Lose it... It's Either One or the Other

I love to write. I’ve been writing poems, pouring out my innermost thoughts in my journal in the form of letters to God and writing short devotions on and off since I was a teenager. However, as much as I love to write I never wanted to share my writings.

I’d write a poem and then two days later read over it and decide, “there’s no way I’m going to share this. It exposes everything I feel inside. I don’t want anyone seeing that deeply.”

For years I did it. I wrote and hid it away. The notebooks with my scribbled thoughts filled up and the amount of poems in my folder grew.

I wrote when I was happy and I wrote when I was sad.

I wrote when I heard sermons, read books or listened to songs that inspired me.

Then one day I grabbed my notebook and pen and I started to write a poem, and nothing came. ..


Stop by Laced With Grace today to read the rest of my post... Use it or Lose it


Trusting Him,
~Bernadine~

Are you living by faith?

4 "See, he is puffed up;
his desires are not upright—
but the righteous will live by his faith [d] – (emphasis mine)
Habakkuk 2:4


But the righteous will live by his faith…

As I read this verse today the old song living by faith comes to mind

Living by faith in Jesus above,
Trusting, confiding in His great love;
From all harm safe in His sheltering arm,
I’m living by faith and feel no alarm.
By James Wells

I remember belting out this song in church when I was a little girl. It still brings back memories of our old choir director who started every song with his gruff voice, little old ladies beating tambourines and an excited congregation clapping their hands and stomping their feet as they passionately offered praises unto God.

I didn’t really understand the concept of living by faith when I was a child. However as I go back and revisit some the words of the songs we use to sing I realize the old hymns of yester year really get to the heart of the matter.

If I’m a child of God I should be living by faith.
If I am living by faith I shouldn’t be alarmed by the things I see (or don’t see) happening in the natural realm.

Living by faith means living my life and making my decisions based on what God’s word says even when it doesn’t seem to make any sense to do so. His ways are completely different from ours so He expects us to follow him, believing that his plans for our lives will come to pass.

Trusting Him,
 ~Bernadine~

Photo credit : 123RF (Royalty Free Stock Photos)

Trusting Him with Today

Some days I’m afraid,
I think about the future and wonder if
My dreams are going to come true.

Other days I hurt,
I cry about the past as I examine my scars
Asking God to heal the brokenness in my heart

Today I heard my father say…
My daughter, the past is best forgotten
And the future left to me,

What I want you to do is simply…
Trust me with today!

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matt 6:34 (NIV)

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Welcome to my blog Trusting Him with Today. Thank you for stopping by. The title of this blog reflects my heart. I've found that sometimes in life there are more questions than answers and it’s easy to get bogged down in the uncertainty of it all. However, I know that if we would simply trust God with today,
The pain of yesterday will fade…
The joy of today will bubble in our hearts…
And the peace about tomorrow will flood our souls.

Are you trusting Him with today or does yesterday and tomorrow sometimes interfere?  I'd love to hear from you.  I'm not a daily blogger but I do hope you'll stop by and visit sometimes.

Trusting Him,
~Bernadine~

About

Hi there, I’m Bernadine, a child of God, wife to my husband Mark, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a friend and a teacher among other things. I'm a small-town island girl from the beautiful island of Grand Bahama now living in the big city of Dallas, Texas.

I'm an avid bookworm who also loves to write.  I published a teen girl magazine for ten years which is how I originally began blogging.

I'm shy at times but NEVER when it comes to talking about my Lord.  My desire is to become the woman that He has predestined me to be. Also, as I strive to become who He has predestined me to be I'd like to encourage and challenge young women especially but also women of all ages to trust God with their hearts and dreams.

I love my family, friends, coffee, laughter, Jesus and red lipstick, just not necessarily in that order.

Thank you for stopping by...

Trusting Him,
~Bernadine~

Contact

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