By Paula Williamson, guest writer Denial is the mind's way of protecting us from pain too great to bear. It's safer to hide than to face the truth. The truth is always there, waiting for us to notice. Recovery begins when we face the truth. There is a God! Helen Keller was born deaf, blind, and mute. At age 11, Bishop Phillips Brooks explained divine concepts to her, and she said, "I have always known He was there; I just didn't know His name." It Is Written ROMANS 1:19 -20 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. Nature Speaks We were formed by His breath, created in His image, and part of God Almighty lives in our DNA. If we turn off all devices, go outside in the morning or evening, and sit in silence, we can hear nature's message about the invisible God, His divine nature, and His eternal power. Yet even Helen Keller, born without the ability to see or hear, knew Him. One morning, as I was thinking and praying about His invisible attributes and divine nature, gratitude rose within me, accompanied by words and pictures that flooded my mind. I created a PowerPoint, available at www.coadword.com, titled “How Majestic is His Name.” It’s a free download about His invisible attributes displayed through nature. Prayer Lord, when we look at the nighttime sky, help us see Your invisible nature, and be still long enough for You to speak to us. When the morning sun overtakes the darkness, help us realize Your faithfulness. When we smell the fragrance of rain or the sweet scent of flowers, may it stop us in our tracks and fill us with the beauty of Your presence. When we hear the song of the birds, the chirping of crickets, cicadas, and frogs, may it be a symphony that draws us to You and Your great love for us. When the seasons change and summer becomes fall, and winter becomes spring, may we feel Your tender loving care and know that change is possible. Help us pause, listen, and give thanks. Takeaway Nature speaks God’s messages.

By Paula Williamson, guest writer Feeling alone is terrible, especially when we are afraid and facing uncertainty. For a child of God, those feelings are liars! We are never alone. God promises never to leave us, fail us, or forsake us. He never lets go of our right hand. We have His word on it. It Is Written PSALM 121:1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. By Faith Hebrews 11:1-2 says, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.” This chapter is full of heroes of faith. They believed God and His word. Lions’ mouths were shut, the dead were raised, 99-year-old women gave birth, walls came down, they walked through the sea on dry land, and so much more. What a life! What a ride! If God is for us, who can be against us? Prayer Lord, when we are tempted to feel afraid and alone, help us believe that You, the Maker and Creator of the Universe, are holding on to our right hand, and that we have Your promise that You will never let go, never fail, or forsake us. Help us kick fear, doubt, and unbelief into the pit where they belong and walk in a manner worthy of You! Takeaway My help comes from the Lord.

By Paula Williamson, guest writer Self-doubt is a big deal. It comes to us many times in our lives, even every day. As kids, we all glance over our shoulders to see how everyone else is doing things. As adults, we ask our friends, check the internet, or ask CHATGPT. There is another place that is much more reliable and is backed by a promise. It Is Written PSALM 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Light for Our Feet The more we hide the word of God in our hearts and minds, the brighter it shines when we do not know which direction to take. It is a steady, reliable lens, backed by promises we cannot find anywhere else in the world. Prayer Lord, when we do not know which direction to take or what decision to make, and feel uncertain, lead us to the truths and promises in Your word, and help us hold on to them. Takeaway Your word lights my path!

By Paula Williamson, guest writer So many things in our world can shake us, including the economy, the news, the Middle East, war, and what we see around us. Sometimes the events in our families, among our friends, and in our neighborhoods can shake us. In such times, one sure anchor we can grab is the promise that we will never be shaken because the Lord will sustain us. It Is Written PSALM 55:22 Cast your cares on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. It Is Well with My Soul In November 1873, Horatio Spafford sent his wife, Anna, and their four daughters (Annie, Maggie, Bessie, and Tanetta) on a ship to Europe, planning to join them later. Their ship, the S.S. Ville du Havre, collided with another vessel and sank in twelve minutes. All four daughters died; Anna survived and sent a telegram reading "Saved alone." Through this tragedy, he wrote the beloved hymn, “It Is Well with My Soul.” Psalm 55:22 promises that the righteous will never be shaken. Never is an absolute. This promise from God is absolute. It does not promise we will be exempt from tragedy but that He will sustain us when we cast our cares on Him. Prayer Lord, during troubled times, remind me to cast all my cares upon You. When it seems there is nothing we can do, remind us to turn our concerns into prayers. Sustain our hearts and help us trust in, cling to, and believe in You. Takeaway He will sustain us.

By Paula Williamson, guest writer I have felt the vice grip of unforgiveness upon my heart, seen it on the faces of senior citizens whose expressions reflect the bitter, unforgiving lives they lived, and watched hardness settle on the faces of grown men with arms crossed over their chests, as if shielding their hearts. Unforgiveness is a monster, a life stealer, a deceiver. The truth is that no one deserves forgiveness. It is a mercy gift of God, freely given and freely received. It is not earned but paid for in advance by the Lord Jesus Christ. Once it is experienced, it sets us free. It Is Written PSALM 51:7-9 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. The Mystery of Forgiveness I have felt the cold, hard grip on my heart release and soften, seen the faces of saints whose expressions tell the story of a forgiven life, and watched grown men buckle and fall to the floor as they have forgiven themselves for what they believed was unforgivable. Forgiveness is a gift we give ourselves. It frees us from the prison of hatred and injustice. Those bars are cold and hard. Forgiveness is a choice. It starts with words. Prayer Lord, I forgive (person’s name) for all that has happened, for all that has gone on. I forgive Myself for the parts I may have played. I ask You, Lord, to forgive me. I take __________ and any negative or tormenting feelings and unforgiveness that I carry toward them, and I put these into my hands (Cup your hands together). Any hurt, bitterness, resentment, anger, offense, feelings of abandonment, betrayal, neglect, rejection, deception, manipulation, control, or judgments. (Name any other negative emotions.) So here they are, __________ and my negative feelings and judgments; I give them to You and I let go. Takeaway Forgiveness sets you free.

By Paula Williamson, guest writer Have you ever done something you thought was irreparable? I have, more often than I care to admit. One such time came after my son started kindergarten and I went back to work. It was Christmas, and I picked him up from the babysitter. He walked into the house and burst into tears. He was the only child in his class who did not bring or receive a Christmas gift. Notes had gone home, and I suppose his was left at the babysitter’s by mistake. I never knew. My heart and his were broken, irreparably. What was done was done; there was no changing that. He was more forgiving of me than I was of myself. The image of him sitting there, the only one without a gift at five years old, holding back his tears until he was home, haunted me for a long time. It Is Written PSALM 51:1-2 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. God Repairs and Restores There are consequences for all our actions; sometimes they fall on us, and sometimes on those we love. It’s never too late to apologize and seek forgiveness from them and from God. We can be sure He wipes our slate clean and hides our faults and failures behind the righteousness of Jesus, who bore all our shame. Sometimes the harder task is to forgive ourselves. Prayer Lord, thank You that when we fail, we have a safe place to turn. You are that place of unconditional love and acceptance. We can be harsh and unforgiving with ourselves. Pour Your love into those places and forgive our failures. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for the sacrifice You made for us, bearing our sin and shame and clothing us in Your righteousness before God, our Father. Restore and heal those whose hearts we have harmed. Show us the right way to respond to our failures. Takeaway Nothing is impossible for God.

By Paula Williamson, guest writer Failures and mistakes are opportunities to learn. They are wasted only when we don't pause to examine what went wrong and how we will do things differently. Take a lesson from children. They fall, cry for a minute, get back up, and start again. Every day is a chance to forgive yourself, redo, recalculate, and begin again. It Is Written PSALM 51:10 -12 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. All Things New Nothing is a permanent state with God while we are alive. He can change things in a moment when we call out to Him. He is quick to forgive and to pour out wisdom when we ask. Freedom begins with a clean slate, not only for us but also for others. The ground is level at the foot of the cross. He turns our messes into messages. Prayer Lord, we have messed up. We own it. We take personal responsibility. We ask for forgiveness. Help us make things right. We forgive ourself and others, and ask forgiveness for the things we have blamed on You. Wash our hearts as David prayed in the scripture above and restore to us Your joy. Help us walk in forgiveness as one forgiven. Takeaway God restores.

By Paula Williamson, guest writer Have you ever been terrified, and a trusted friend or loved one came alongside you, and peace covered you like a warm blanket? In scripture, three young men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were ordered into a fiery furnace for refusing to bow to a statue. They were willing to give up their lives for the God they believed in. All who watched saw a fourth man in the flames with them. When they came out of the fire, only the ropes that bound them had burned. Do you know the fourth man? It Is Written ISAIAH 43:2 -3 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. He Will Never Let Go God does not promise we will not suffer hardships, but He promises to walk with us through them. In Isaiah 40:32, He promises strength to those who wait upon Him. In Matthew 11:28, He promises rest to the weary. Scripture is full of promises for those who believe, trust, and rely on God. Revelation 3:20 promises a personal relationship. Prayer Lord, I want to know You, trust You, believe in You, and rely on You. Your word says You stand at the door and knock, and if anyone opens the door, You will come in and dine with them. I open the door. Come into my life. I welcome You. Takeaway We do not have to walk alone.

By Paula Williamson, guest writer Have you seen the movie “The Polar Express?” It’s about a young boy who stops believing in the Christmas he knew as a child. It’s a fantasy movie, but it drives home a big truth about what happens when we lose belief. We can learn something important from this movie, and scripture backs it. MATTHEW 18:2-3 And He called a child to Himself and set him among them, 3 and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you change and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” It Is Written PSALM 94:11 -19 Unless the Lord had helped me, I would soon have settled in the silence of the grave. 18 I cried out, “I am slipping! but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me. 19 When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer. The Faith of a Child We can learn from little children. They have no trouble jumping into their mom or dad’s arms. They point at everything, believing the adults around them will tell them the name of each item. It is a sad day when we lose our hope and belief because of adverse circumstances that often have nothing to do with God but with the fallen nature of humankind. Scripture supports the idea that when we cry out to God, He comforts us with renewed hope and cheer. It takes the faith of a little child to believe those words, but what a vast world it opens up! Prayer Lord, I come to You with the faith of a little child. I take all my doubts and fears, along with the failures of those who disappointed me, and will not project them onto You. I call out to You, daring to place my childlike faith and hope in You, and say, "Okay, God, I believe." I invite You into my heart, my life, and my mind, and say, "Teach me about You and Your ways." Takeaway Belief begins with the faith of a little child.

By Paula Williamson, guest writer For a follower of Jesus Christ, there is no such thing as retirement. The Great Commission does not end at a certain age. We are called to serve Him eternally, beginning with our family, our legacy and extending to friends, co-workers, neighbors, and strangers. What a privilege that is. We live, move, and breathe with purpose. It Is Written PSALM 92:12 -15 But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. 13 For they are transplanted to the Lord’s own house. They flourish in the courts of our God. 14 Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green. 15 They will declare, “The Lord is just! He is my rock! There is no evil in him!” Centenarians Among those who live the longest are those who stay active, spend time with others, manage stress, live with purpose, stay connected to their community, and practice moderation. God promises many things to those who choose Him and live for Him. They are not exempt from hardship, but they will flourish, grow strong, bear fruit, and remain vital in old age. Leave your mark! Leave a lasting legacy! Prayer Lord, deliver us from the mindset that we have done our time and paid our dues. Help us run with endurance the race set before us, living out loud, using all You have given us, and investing in others' lives. Help us not grow weary in well-doing, but spend our days glorifying You and encouraging one another as the day draws near. Takeaway Live and follow Him to the end!

By Paula Williamson, guest writer It’s easy to think there is no one we can call or count on when we are going through trials that seem to have no way out. Sure, we may have a friend who will listen, but when the answer is beyond human intervention, there is someone we can call who will always hear us, and it’s not Ghostbusters. It Is Written PSALM 91:15 -16 When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation. The Line That’s Never Busy Scripture promises that when I call on the Lord for help, He will answer, be with me, rescue me, and honor me. The answer may come quickly or be delayed, but we can be certain He heard and will answer. Looking back on my life journey, I have been through many such times, as we all have and will. We can also look back and recount God's faithfulness in bringing us through them. Without His help and grace, none of us would still be here. In such times, it is good to remember and recount how far we have come. Prayer Lord, we are certainly not where we need to be but we are not where we were either. Thank You for helping me make it through all the trials and troubles I have endured. Remind me of the poem, Footprints in the Sand. YouTube · In Loving Memory Tributes Takeaway When I call, He answers.

Paula Williamson, guest writer Repentance does not mean “I’m sorry.” It is a complete change of heart, confirmed by a change in direction and actions. Without that confirmation, a person is merely sorry for how they behaved. True repentance is a 180-degree turn in the opposite direction, not continuing to do what we have always done and apologizing over and over. It Is Written PSALM 91:14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. We Are Not Without Help If we love the Lord, He promises to rescue and protect us. His help is available to a repentant heart. When we surrender our hearts to Him and walk in His ways, He provides the strength and support we need to live in a manner worthy of Him. Prayer Lord, we fail in many ways, but when we do, help us repent and give us the strength to change our direction, actions, and motives. Help us turn away from self and self-serving to cultivate a heart that serves You and honors You. Help us move from sorry to repentance, marked by a changed life, motives, actions, and words. Takeaway Our help comes from God.