Category: Peace

Bible, Blessings, Christmas, Comfort, Encouragement Today, Holiday, Inspiration, Journey, Life, Peace

Christmas, A Time of Reflection and Many Emotions

Heidi Benson
Credit: Home. Life. Encouragement

Merry Christmas to everyone who is on Christmas vacation and Christmas break.

It is my sincere and heartfelt message that you are able to make some precious memories and spend some quality time together.

Take the time to rest and watch Christmas movies together.

Take the time to fill your home with the sweet aroma of home baked Christmas cookies together.

Take the time to build a uniquely “your own” gingerbread house together.

If you live where it snows, take some time to play in the snow together. Make a snow angel family, go sliding, or make a snowman and then enjoy some creamy hot chocolate afterwards.

Take some time to sit in front of the twinkling lights of a Christmas tree or the warmth and sparkle of a fire in a fireplace to reconnect with the relationships you have missed or have been struggling with.

The time you spend and the memories you make will be the best present you can give to each other this year or any year.

To those who are not on vacation and are struggling, whether it is with grief, loneliness, discouragement, frustration, anger, or PTSD, know you are not alone. I see you.

For many, it is hard to see the joy the holiday season brings, but if this is you, I want you to know you are not alone.

It is my prayer God will soften the pain you feel and will provide you with a peace to see the sparkle of joy this season whether it is through a song that will touch your heart or the twinkling of Christmas lights you may see in the passing of your day.

It is also my prayer this verse will touch your heart and provide you with the comfort and peace you didn’t know was possible to feel again.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3:16 NIV

God wants us to remember that He sent His Son to give us the assurance there is better to come.

We don’t need to be hopeless or discouraged because no matter how bad life may seem right now, there is better to come.

Take some time in the week to come to seek God and receive His gift of grace, peace, and comfort.

Big hugs to those who are struggling and suffering today and big hugs to those who are celebrating the season with those who have embraced them.

Merry Christmas to all my friends and followers.

#Keepingitreal, Bible, Challenge, encouragement, Encouragement Today, Faith, Grace, Humility, Inspiration, Journey, Keeping It Real, Life, Moment of Inspiration, Motivation, Peace, Pride, Real, Strength

Wisdom Prevails While Pride Destroys

Heidi Benson
Credit: Home. Life. Encouragement

This was my daily email Bible verse for today.

“Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.”

Proverbs 13:10

Is this an area you are struggling with in your life right now?

If the answer is yes, try making a conscious effort to break this cycle.

I am going to give you a word for the day to serve as a reminder to ponder through out the day and to prepare yourself for when you encounter prideful situations.

Word of The Day

Wisdom

Instead of starting a debate or a quarrel with someone over an issue, take a step back and say, “No!”

This is not worth my effort.

I am going to refuse to be prideful right now.

I don’t need to be.

I don’t need to prove my point to this degree.

I refuse to look badly in this circumstance.

No, instead I am going to make a wise choice to just walk away.

Choose wisely what choices you make.

Seek God’s direction in how to best handle your situation.

Not every situation needs an immediate open mouth insert foot response.

Instead, remember to do this;

Stop… Pray for wisdom… and Allow God to show you how to respond.

If that does not work there is always the distraction method.

Stop… drop… and roll only because that is the one we all remember best.

They may think you are a weirdo and may need professional help, but one thing is for sure… you won’t come across as prideful in your situation. 😂

I’m sorry! I couldn’t resist.

The important key to remember is this, God looks down on those being prideful.

Instead, He wants us to choose wisdom because for every wise choice we make in our life, we will be in His favor and He will bless us for the decisions and choices we make.

I hope this helps for you to start your day with some inspiration, motivation, and just a tiny bit of humor for your day.

Let’s all make wise choices today and say, “no” to anything prideful.

Challenge, encouragement, Encouragement Today, Inspiration, Joy, Life, Moment of Inspiration, Motivation, Peace, Rest

Living Intentional This Fall

Heidi Benson
Credit: Home. Life. Encouragement

Let’s make an attempt to live intentional this weekend.

I am going to present a life challenge to all of us.

Life moves fast and if we are not careful, fall will surpass us all and the holidays will be here.

My challenge this weekend is to do something this fall that makes you happy.

What this looks like will be different for everyone.

Does it mean buying mums or pumpkins for your porch or setting a fall scape for your dining room table?

Does it mean taking your kids to a pumpkin patch or picking apples at an apple orchard?

Does it mean going for a drive through the country side or enjoy making s’mores outside at your fire pit?

This challenge isn’t meant to be a competition, but is meant to give you the motivation to make the time to stop living the busy, the chores, the errands, but to live and relax for a meaningful moment this weekend.

Please feel free to take an extra moment and share your experience below. I would love to share this moment with you.

Happy Fall Y’all! Take some time to enjoy it this weekend.

Comfort, encouragement, Inspiration, Journey, Life, Parenting, Peace, Strength

Waiting In The Shadows

Heidi Benson

Waiting is the life of a mother.

We wait for our kids to come along.

We wait for them to be born.

We wait for them to go to school.

We wait for them to graduate from high school.

We wait for them to graduate from college.

We wait for them to get married.

With every passing year and every milestone they reach, we celebrate with them the victories and accomplishments they make along the way.

Today is a big day for so many parents. So many kids went back to school, some for the first time, some for the last time.

No matter what the season you are in, mom, stand by your kids, they need you during every step of their journey.

They may not believe they need you, but as moms we know it to be true.

Big hugs to those who shed tears of joy today and big hugs to those who shed tears of sadness.

It is you who stands by their side and if they don’t already know it, they will one day, you are important to them.

Christmas, Christmas Note of Encouragement, Comfort, encouragement, Encouragement Today, Exhausted, Holiday, Home, Inspiration, Journey, Joy, Life, Moment of Inspiration, Peace, Sounds of the Season, Strength, Video

“Where’s The Line To See Jesus”

Heidi Benson
“Where’s The Line To See Jesus” – Becky Kelley
https://youtu.be/OExXItDyWEY

I am sharing one of my favorite Christmas songs with you today. Click on the link in the above image to listen to this beautiful song.

This is one that touches my heart year after year. It is also one that seems to be overlooked, but I don’t know why.

Where’s the line to see Jesus?

Is He here at the store?

If Christmas time is His birthday,

Why don’t we see Him more?

Lyrics excerpt from Becky Kelley’s song, “Where’s The Line To See Jesus”

As many of us grow more tired and weary from the hustle and bustle of this very busy season, I want to encourage you to take a moment to warm your tired and weary heart with the sweet lyrics to this Christmas song.

I also want to inspire you to take a moment to sit back and breathe. Enjoy the twinkling lights, the soft sounds, and the sweet smells of the season that you brought to life for your family and friends.

Lastly, I want to remind that it is ok to take a moment to open your heart, and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Merry Christmas to each and everyone of you.

May you find a sense of peace and joy in the few days left of the Christmas season.

#Keepingitreal, Believe in Yourself, Blessings, Breathe In The Moment, Comfort, Courage, encouragement, Encouragement Today, Inspiration, Journey, Keeping It Real, Life, Moment of Inspiration, Motivation, Parenting, Peace, Strength

Knowing You Are Important

Heidi Benson

Sometimes being a mom… is having to do the tough stuff when you don’t want to. 

It is having to give your child 4 shots worth of infusions after she already experienced 40 shots in her head earlier in the day. 

Sometimes it is showing up for them when you are so tired you can’t fathom taking one more step in the day. 

It is sacrificing your career because you decide their education is more important to you than what you set out to do for yourself. 

Sometimes it is holding them when they are hurt or sick. 

Sometimes it is falling on your knees in prayer because you are desperate to help them when no one else can. 

Mom’s, when you begin to doubt yourself and your ability to be a “mom”, stop yourself and give yourself the grace to know that no matter how hard the day is or how hard the “season” you are in is, that God sees you. 

He knows your heart. He knows your pain. He drys your tears and He gives you the grace to get up in the morning to see that it is a new day. 

Remember, no matter how bad today was or how tired and frustrated you may be, know you are making a difference. Know God made you to be the “perfect mom” to your children and it wasn’t by accident. 

As a result, He will bless you with the strength, knowledge, grace, and wisdom you need to raise them. 

Big hugs mom as you start your day or you are ending your day.

#Findingyourcourage, Bible, Blessings, Breathe, Challenge, Comfort, Encouragement Today, Faith, Grace, Hope, Inspiration, Journey, Life, Moment of Inspiration, Motivation, Peace, Rest, Strength

Blessings Await During The Storms

Heidi Benson
Credit: Home. Life. Encouragement

Today’s Encouragement

As I got up exhausted this morning, I strolled to my kitchen, only to be reminded God’s blessings come in His timing and not in mine.

Are you struggling in an area where you just keep praying over something in your life and you have been waiting for an answer or a direction?

Be encouraged by His words:

He has made everything beautiful in its time.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

My friend, I encourage you to not give up. God is hearing you. He hears your desperate pleas. He knows your fears and frustrations. He is wiping your tears away while He is holding you in His arms.

#Findingyourcourage, Breathe In The Moment, Challenge, encouragement, Encouragement Today, Image, Inspiration, Journey, Life, Motivation, Motivation Monday, Peace

Blessed Is A Fresh New Week

Heidi Benson
Credit: Home. Life. Encouragement

The start of a new week is here again.

Be blessed and encouraged by a fresh new start.

Do not take the stress of last week into the fresh start of this new week.

May God richly bless you with a sweet harvest of all you have invested in.

Whether that is a big business deal, a hard week of teaching, a hard week of studying, or hours of research for a new venture in life.

God knows what you have been doing and He promises to meet us where our needs and desires meet, so long as they are within His plan for us.

Have a great week!

#Keepingitreal, Bible, Blessings, Comfort, encouragement, Encouragement Today, Faith, Guest Post, Hope, Inspiration, Journey, Keeping It Real, Life, Peace, Strength

Hope Comes From Above

Heidi Benson
Photo by Anton Atanasov on Pexels.com

Are you struggling with finding the hope you need to get through a difficult time?

Today I am sharing some encouragement through a different form. I am going to team up with my nephew, who is a youth ministry leader to share with you some hope to get through today as well as the difficult days that are ahead.

I am going to share with you a YouTube video that nephew made for the youth of his church while they are quarantining.

It is my hope that you are encouraged by his words. If you have any youth in your home who may be discouraged and need to be uplifted, share this with them as well.

Click on the link below to listen to Pastor Travis give us hope and encouragement knowing we will get through this difficult time.

Credits: Pastor Travis
Whiting Bible Church Youth Ministry

Disclaimer: I have his permission to share this video, as well as additional videos with you. It is his desire that you will be touched and encouraged by the words God gave to him to share with us.