By Erin Elizabeth Austin

I have a weird relationship with seashells. Living less than three hours from the beach, I manage to travel to the ocean at least once a year. Even as a little girl, I remember my family loading up the car early in the morning, complete with a cooler packed with our meals for the day, and we would spend our day at the beach, arriving back home just in time for bed. Because of that, I’ve always enjoyed searching the beach for the best and most unique seashells. It’s my version of a treasure hunt. For as long as I can remember, God has used seashells to teach me lessons on topics I struggle to understand without His little object lessons.
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Imagine my surprise when I recently made my yearly trek to the ocean, and there were no seashells to be found. The only seashells around were jagged, broken things bearing little resemblance to a seashell. Ironically, my oldest nephew asked me before we reached the beach what it would mean if there were no seashells. I jokingly replied, “That wouldn’t happen. It would mean we made a wrong turn and ended up at the lake instead of the ocean.”

When we got to the beach, it was as beautiful as always. However, it was also different. Rather than seashells, there was seaweed as far as the eye could see. Lining the shore was miles of the brown, slimy plant. My family was baffled. None of us could remember a time when we’d ever seen so much seaweed. What could cause it? Thirty-six hours later, we had our answer – Tropical Storm Alberto.

To those who live nowhere near the ocean, a tropical storm sounds horrifying. However, it’s just like any big storm. The only difference is it involves the ocean. That’s when it hit me. Even though the weather was beautiful Saturday afternoon and most of Sunday, the ocean was already feeling the effects of the storm. The waves were bigger. The current was stronger. The ocean was responding to the storm, and it was bringing things to the surface that would have remained where they were without the storm.

Life can be like that. We see a storm coming, and we get frustrated. Who wants a tropical storm interrupting their perfectly planned vacation? I certainly didn’t! However, just like Tropical Storm Alberto, sometimes we need life’s storms to stir up and help get rid of the detritus in our lives. That fear we constantly struggle with, the tendency to worry, or the desire to plan and be in control of every event that happens is like pieces of brown seaweed that need to be uprooted from our lives. As it says in James 1:2-4, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
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God doesn’t allow the storms of life to come our way because He’s mean. God loves us! And just like any parent who wants the best for his child, God sometimes says no so that we may obtain life’s best.

Storms have a purpose. God has promised us that when we love Him, He can and will turn even the worst things that happen to us for our benefit and His glory. Far too often, we’re so busy fussing about the storm and lamenting the fact we have to deal with the wind and rain, that we miss the transformation God wants for our lives. We should always leave the storms of life different from the person we were going into it.

Are you in the middle of a storm? Ask God to use it to transform you into someone who is whole and complete in Him. Don’t fight the stirring of your soul when God challenges you to let something go. Remember, He wants more for you than you can begin to imagine.

The storm will eventually pass. The question is, will you leave it changed?

“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” ~ 1 Peter 1:6-7       ​

By Erin Elizabeth Austin

​There are times in a believer’s life when he or she has what I call a divine revelation, a moment that challenges them and radically changes the way they view life. Recently, I had one of those moments, and I’m still reeling from the daily lessons God is teaching me. My worldview has changed, and I’ve realized I’ve been going about life all wrong. And it all started with one prayer.

For the past two years, God has continuously brought me back to a passage in Scripture found in Ephesians 3:14-21. I have felt compelled to read these verses daily. For those who aren’t familiar with it, it says:

The phrase “rooted and grounded in love” in Ephesians 3 actually goes back to Matthew 22:37 when Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment is, and His response was, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Admittedly, when I realized to what this passage was referring, I thought I was loving God the way He says we should. If you look at my life, it’s obvious I love God. I started a nonprofit for Him; I have speaking engagements where I teach His Word; I write devotions. Of course, I love God! But then, I heard God say, “Have you prayed about it?”
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So, I started each day asking God to help me love Him with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. What I’ve realized since then is I haven’t had a clue how to love God the way I should. For me, one of the biggest areas He challenged me in is my love for reading. Books have always been a way of escape for me. I’m able to get enthralled in a good story and forget my pain and sickness for a brief time. Although reading isn’t a bad thing, when I let it become more important than my relationship with God, it’s a problem. ​

By Josie Siler

So many things happen in life because of who you know. As I delve into the world of writing and authors I’m finding this truth enforced, and reinforced. It’s all about connections. Of course, talent and skill are part of the equation too!

They call it networking. True networking is more than a connection, it’s a relationship. We don’t connect with someone only looking for what we can get out of it – what they can do for us. There’s give and take, supporting each other, and helping each other fulfill our dreams in any way we can.
 
My first published work, a book that I could hold in my hands and smell as it came out of the box all fresh and new, came because of a connection. An opportunity was presented to me and I said “yes.” My dear friend Katy (you know Katy Kauffman, she designs Broken but Priceless: The Magazine) asked me to write a guest post for her blog. It was part of a series and I was happy to do it.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think saying “yes” to writing a blog post would lead to my first published work in a compilation when Katy turned that series into a book. That blessing came to me because of a connection, a relationship, a friendship.
 
Spiritual blessings also come to us because of Who we know. Ephesians 1:3 (NLT) says, “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ (emphasis mine).”
 
We’re blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we’re united with Jesus Christ. Think about that for a minute. Every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms is ours. Fausset and Brown define blessings as:
 
blessings--Greek, “blessing.” “All,” that is, “every possible blessing for time and eternity, which the Spirit has to bestow.”[1]
 
And how do we get these blessings? Through our unity with Christ. Jesus is the source of every spiritual blessing. He’s our ultimate networking connection. It’s the most important relationship we’ll ever have.
 
Unlike connections and advancement in the field of writing (or any other field) I don’t need talent or ability, I just need Jesus. He will give me the talent to do the work that has been prepared in advance for me to do. He will give me the ability to love God and love others.
 
We’re blessed for the same reason Abram was blessed way back in Genesis 12:2. “…I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.” We’re blessed so that we can be a blessing to others. Just like networking, when we’re blessed and advance, it’s our job to bless others and bring them up with us.
 
So what are some of the spiritual blessings we receive through Christ? Ephesians 1 (NLT) goes on to list several spiritual blessings:
 
1.      God chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes (verse 4)
2.      God adopted us into His own family (verse 5)
3.      God brought us to Himself through Jesus Christ (verse 5)
4.      God poured out His glorious grace on us (verse 6)
5.      God purchased our freedom with the blood of Jesus (verse 7)
6.      God forgave our sins (verse 7)
7.      God has showered us with kindness, wisdom, and understanding (verse 8)
 
All of these blessings are found in one paragraph. There are so many more! What other spiritual blessings can you think of?
 
Today, let’s say “yes” to the spiritual blessings God offers us through His Son, Jesus Christ. Let’s celebrate our unity with Him. Remember that God blesses us so that we can bless others. Share in the comments one way that God has blessed you or one way that you have been able to be a blessing to someone else.

​[1] Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 341). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

By Erin Elizabeth Austin

I heard these words three months ago by a new specialist I was seeing. Shocked is the best word I can I think of to describe what I felt. I knew something was wrong. Every day felt like I was thrown in the middle of the ocean with nothing to help keep me afloat but my own desire to stay alive. Each day was filled with countless moments of telling myself, “Put one foot in front of the other. You can do this.” Still, I wasn’t prepared to learn I should be dead. I knew things were bad; I just didn’t realize how bad my health had gotten.

We all experience a series of life-changing moments over the course of our lives. It’s what makes us who we are. Some of these experiences are expected, like accepting a new job and moving halfway across the country, while other moments surprise us. And while we weren’t necessarily looking to be changed, we find ourselves changing all the same.

This was one of those moments for me. I’ve been told by doctors three different times during the twelve years I’ve been sick that I would die if they couldn’t stop the progression of the lupus, so one would think this would be no different, but it was. I had grown so discouraged during November and December because I was in such constant pain. I knew I couldn’t keep fighting much longer, and I was begging God to intervene and help. But God was silent, or so I thought. I prayed, and nothing happened. Each day became a little harder to get through and no one understood what I had to endure. When I tried to explain, people thought I was complaining and could push through the pain if I wanted to. I’d done it in the past, so why couldn’t I do it now? I was sick, suffering, lonely, and worst of all, I felt abandoned by God. He was silent.

I went to see the new specialist as a Hail Mary Pass. Regular doctors hadn’t been able to help me, so maybe someone who looked at autoimmune diseases in a completely different way could. The first day was filled with tests, poking and prodding, and sticking me with needles as if I were a pincushion. The rest of the week included numerous treatments and a ridiculous amount of shots to try and get my organs to begin to work once again. By the end of the week, a miracle happened. My liver went from functioning at 15% up to 35%. Although I was still deathly ill, I had made a turn in the right direction to becoming well.

As the treatments have continued over the past three months and I’ve dealt with more sickness than I care to describe, I’ve found myself thinking about the story of when Lazarus died and Jesus brought him back to life after four days (John 11). I’ve always looked at the story from the perspective of Mary, Martha, and even Jesus, but it wasn’t until recently I began to think about what Lazarus must have felt.

Think about it: You’re dead. Life is over and you’re in heaven. And then the unthinkable happens. You get a second chance at living. So what do you do? Do you do everything the same as you did before, or do you approach this life with a different attitude, with a different set of rules? I know I have. I may not have actually died, but I should have. For whatever reason, God intervened, which means He has a plan for me, just like He has a plan for you.

Personally, I’m no longer holding on to my worries and fears. I’m choosing to trust God no matter what. I’ve realized that just because it seems like God is silent doesn’t mean He isn’t working in my life. He is actively involved in each of our lives; sometimes, it simply takes awhile to see what He’s doing. He hears every prayer each of us says; He sees every tear each of us cries. He cares about each and every one of us!  

So the next time it seems like God is silent, remember this: God is for you. When your health is failing, God is for you. When friends betray you and family members hurt you, God is for you. When you wonder how you’ll survive the day, God is for you. He is always for you, even when it doesn’t feel like it. He is the only One who will never fail you, leave you, or forsake you. So rather than blame God for your problems, run to Him. Trust God. Cling to Him. He is for YOU!

“And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, ‘Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I know that You always hear Me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that You sent me.’ When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out.’ The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Unbind him, and let him go.’” ~ John 11:41-44

© March 25, 2014

By Erin Elizabeth Austin

For over a year, I have had the privilege of studying the fruits of the Spirit. I admit that when I first began, I didn't think there was too much to learn. In my mind, I knew what love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control were and how they relate to God. How complicated could it possibly be to write a book about these things? Yet the more I have studied these character traits of God, the more I have realized just how naive I have been when it comes to the things of God.

I began studying the fruits of the Spirit in conjunction with a book I am currently writing. The idea is that for those living with a chronic illness, it's much harder to be filled with the fruit of the Spirit because often, we don't feel like God loves us. We don't feel like He's been faithful or good to us, so why should we be faithful and loving to Him?

These are questions often asked by believers who are suffering. They are questions which need to be answered because if we don't believe God cares about us, then it's incredibly difficult to have a good relationship with Him.

As I began my research, I was shocked at how little I really knew about the fruits of the Spirit. The English translation is greatly lacking when it comes to describing what God said in the original text. God has a lot to say when it comes to trials and suffering, and those of us suffering with a chronic illness need to hear what He has to say.

There have been many surprises for me along this journey, and one of the first came when I discovered the original Greek word for trials. The word is peirasmois and it comes from the Greek word peirates. Look familiar? If it doesn't, cross out the first e in the word peirates. See it now? It's where we get the word pirates.

I have to admit, I found this fascinating. Anyone dealing with a chronic illness knows that it has stolen a lot from them. Illnesses steal our health, our independence, our money, and our peace of mind. I've met some who have allowed their illness to steal their dreams, their families, and their happiness.

I think we can all agree that the word pirate is a pretty accurate description for a chronic illness, and for a person who doesn't have a personal relationship with Christ, there is little hope. But I've discovered verse after verse which says if we have a relationship with God, then we don't have to allow the pirate in our lives steal our treasure. Because of God, we can actually steal from the pirate. We can get joy and peace, despite having the presence of a pirate in our lives. We can know God's love, faithfulness, and goodness in a way we didn't know was possible. We can be so close in our relationship with God that the presence of a pirate no longer scares us. But it's our choice.

We determine if we allow our sickness to rob us blind. Every day we are alive, we have the choice to decide if we will become bitter, angry people or if we will live every day rejoicing because we serve an amazing God.

I don't know about you, but I want to be the one with the treasure at the end of the day. What about you?

"Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way...Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life." ~ James 1:2-4, 12 (The Message)

© May 2, 2012

By Josie Siler

When I was in fourth grade, I did something that I’m not proud of. I got a perm. I was sick of my straight hair and wanted curls – glorious, beautiful curls! My hair was already pretty short, but I was convinced that curls would look great. My parents reluctantly took me to get my hair permed. It was what I always wanted…until it was done. I looked in the mirror at my 80’s afro and wondered why in the world my parents let me get a perm.

It was terrible. I looked like a clown. I hate clowns. They scare me. My hair scared me.

Random story, I know. The Apostle Paul was good at that too. In the middle of talking about marriage and how we are supposed to treat each other, Paul makes this comment about our bodies: “No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. And we are members of His body (Ephesians 5:29-30, NLT).”

By Erin Elizabeth Austin

Macaroni and cheese. Chicken and dumplings. Chicken Noodle Soup. Chocolate Chip cookies. Can’t you almost taste these amazing foods? There’s just something about these particular foods we find comforting when the week has been long and our day has been hard. They remind us of days gone by when we were younger and our moms and grandmothers would express their love for us by making a home-cooked meal. Unfortunately, we’re no longer ten-years old, and sometimes, comfort food doesn’t quite ease the pain of a difficult day. So what’s a person to do?

Have you ever wondered if there’s such a thing as heavenly comfort food? I know this sounds strange, but think about it for a moment. God is the God of all Comfort, is He not? He alone knows all of the hurt, heartaches, and brokenness we experience. When no one else knows the extent of how much we’ve been hurt by a particular person or situation, God does. He is also the One who created humans and had the forethought to create us so that we would find comfort, love, and joy in something as simple as a home-cooked meal. So doesn’t it stand to reason God has His own version of comfort food for His children?  

Like many people all around the world, I currently have Olympic fever. Whenever I can, my television and computer are attuned to the Olympics. I have many games I particularly enjoy, but my favorite by far is the synchronized diving. Growing up, I always imagined winning a gold medal for this Olympic game. Those who know me understand just how laughable this dream truly is. Although I can swim, I have never been a big fan of the diving board. I much prefer sedately walking down the steps into the swimming pool. Climbing ridiculous heights, only to jump head-first into deep water, is not my idea of a good time. Yet even my preference to remain in the pool and not above it couldn't stop me from pretending I was an Olympian with my friends whenever the Olympic season rolled around. Unfortunately, pretending is the only thing I did. My friends and I were no more Olympians than the majority of people in this country.

Because I'm a college graduate, I have taken many classes over the course of my life. From Hermeneutics to American Literature, I've taken part in a number of courses, but the class which ranks first in my list of all-time most interesting classes would have to be my hugging class.

As crazy as this sounds, I did have to take a hugging class; it was a job requirement for the children's home where I worked. The reason for this is because the majority of people do not know how to properly hug. There's the side hug, the pat-on-the-back hug, the squeeze-the-stuffing-out-of-a-person hug, the won't-let-you-go hug, and the if-this-is-really-necessary hug. All of these hugs send negative subliminal messages. A good hug makes a person feel safe, secure, loved, and cherished. It lets a person know someone cares about him.

Growing up, I would often stay with my grandfather after the school day ended. He and I always had fun, but he also used our time together to teach me about life, family, and music. I learned many things during our afternoon visits, but the one which has carried me throughout life has been the love of music which he instilled in me.

You see, Papa was an extremely talented man. If an instrument had a string on it, my grandfather could play it. From the mandolin to the bass guitar, my grandfather knew how to make an instrument sing. We would often listen to many genres of music, and he would teach me how to distinguish which instrument was being played. Because of this, I now love all types of music. Depending on my mood, I enjoy listening to anything from bluegrass to gospel. I guess that is why my mind is like a radio. Unless I'm asleep, there is always a song playing in my head. During a conversation, I will often have a song pop-in my head that relates to what was just said. For me, life is a musical.