Month: October 2021

1 Peter 5:9
Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

Do you know how a lioness hunts? She watches a group of animals and then singles out one she believes she can isolate from the rest. That animal could very likely fight back and maybe it if it only had others could take the lioness down. But isolated, it becomes afraid and succumbs to its demise.

It is no coincidence that Satan’s number one weapon against anyone is a simple quiet phrase whispered in your ear. “You are all alone.” When Satan isolates us he can take us down so much easier. We become afraid, disillusioned, and yes weak. We are so sure no one can or would help us. So what do we do? We isolate even more!

What is our greatest weapon? Standing firm together in faith. No matter what you are going through I can guarantee you are not alone. No, my path may not be the exact same, but we are fighting a common enemy. Together we can resist him. Don’t let him isolate you. Reach out to others. He may be like a prowling lion, but Jesus stole his teeth on the cross!

Lord thank You for putting people in my life so I don’t have to fight alone. ~amen

Copyright © 2021 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Hope, sometimes that is all you are left with, just hope. Wait, is there any such thing as just hope? Hope is the concrete that holds everything else in life together. Hope is the foundation. If all I have left is hope, I am left with a lot! Hope is where joy and peace spring from. Hope is what allows you to trust. It is when we lose hope that everything is lost.

Sometimes hope is just a sliver of light or the quietest of voices. Pull everything you have left to focus there. I am speaking from experience here. All of my suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts have been thwarted by someone installing hope in me again. When I recognize my path leading there, I reach out to others. I hit my knees in prayer. My words are often, “I can’t hang on, will you please hang on to me?” That is where I focus my hope.

Circumstances become very dark. If you can’t hold on, reach out and let someone hold you. Let God use that last bit of hope to fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Lord, I place my hope in You. ~amen

Copyright © 2021 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

1 Corinthians 9:24-27
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

I have some mixed thoughts about today’s verses. I mean I know historically, Paul is comparing Christianity to the “Isthmian Games, which were celebrated every two years on the Isthmus of Corinth. Held in honor of the Greek gods, the festival consisted of foot races, horse races, chariot contests, jumping, wrestling, boxing and throwing the discus and javelin” (Archeological Bible). So, I know he is trying to tell us to keep our faith “in shape” by training! But I also see another message in these verses.

He mentions not running aimlessly and not boxing the air. To me, that is saying l need to learn to live with a purpose. He also mentions running like you are going to win. I hear, let’s live life to its fullest. In my almost 50 years of living, I have learned to not taking anything for granted. Every single day is a blessing, no matter how bad it gets. With every day you get a chance to complete again.

Our race isn’t over until that last breath is taken. I don’t want to set on the sidelines and watch the race. I want to live it with a purpose and to the fullest! I don’t want to be disqualified for the prize! So grab your shoes and let’s get going!

Lord, thank You for being my trainer and coach! I won’t let You down! I will show up every day and train to win this! ~amen

Copyright © 2021 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

2 Timothy 3:10-11
10 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.

Do people know your story? Do they know where you come from or what you’ve been through or even how you survived? Are you afraid to let them know? Do people know the real you or just the Facebook you?

In today’s verses, Paul was not bragging about how wonderful and perfect he was or even how holy. No, he was trying to explain to everyone, you know the real me. You’ve seen where I’ve been, what I’ve done, and what I’ve gone through. He was giving glory to God because through it all God was there. God gave him the strength to endure all of it. God gave him the grace to get through all of it. Most importantly God is there to do the same for you.

People need to hear your story too. They need to know where you came from, what you’ve done, and what you’ve been through. They need to know God was there. God gave you the strength to endure all of it. God gave you the grace to get through all of it. Most importantly God is there for them too. Share your testimony. Let the world know!

Lord, I want to share my story so that people see You! ~amen

Copyright © 2021 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

1 Peter 4:16
However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

There are thousands of Cubs fans. I am not one of them, “Go Brewers!”, but they are out there. Day in and day out they are so very proud to wear that logo. From the first pitch to last out, no matter what the outcome of the game they are true to the Chicago Cubs. A few years ago, their fan base increased because they were on a winning streak as a matter of fact they took it all the way to the World Series 11 times, but in 2016 after a 108 year drought, they won for the third time. All of a sudden, fans came out of nowhere. Nowhere, that is the optimal word right now. This year was a “rebuilding year” which is a baseball way of saying, “We are terrible, but we are trying to find the right formula to make us better.” Where are all those 2016 fans now? Nowhere!

Our nation has faced many tragedies. One more recent one was in 2011. Terrorist had the nerve to attack us on our own soil. After the twin towers came down and the Pentagon was hit, we saw churches overflow. Everyone was singing God Bless America. God had fans coming out of nowhere. Years have passed and Christianity has been labeled the intolerant bad guys of society. We are ridiculed, made fun of, taken to court, and yes, even killed for our proud support of God. However, some of us are still ready to wear that logo. Where are all of those 2011 fans now? Nowhere! Where are you? Where does your loyalty stand?

Lord, I stand with You! Thank You for always standing with me! ~amen

Copyright © 2021 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

Philippians 4:13
I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

“Courage doesn’t always roar, sometimes it’s the quiet voice at the end of the day whispering ‘I will try again tomorrow” ~Mary Anne Radmacher

There are days when you lay it all out. You feel like you can’t even take one more step. You are reserving any strength you have left to take your next breath. Somehow you seem to pull power from nowhere to carry on and finish out the day.

Other days you are terrified. You have no idea how you will face the day. Your feet don’t want to take another step. You use your last bit of strength to make yourself breathe. Yet, somehow you seem to pull power from nowhere to carry on and walk through the day.

I know where that nowhere is! You can tap into any time you need. The power supply never runs out. Your strength is backed by the One who created the Energizer Bunny. God is the power with which you gain your strength. Through Him you can face anything!

Thank You, Lord, for being my power source! ~amen

Copyright © 2021 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

Romans 8:27
And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

Have you ever been that speechless? I mean honestly goodness you can’t think of a single thing to say. I know I have. I’ve reached a point of a group that was so deep I have nothing else inside of me. I’ve also been on the other end, so excited to add a single word could come to my lips. Being speechless is really difficult when you are trying to pray.

We don’t have to know all the fancy words in order to pray. We don’t have to pray in Latin, Greek or Hebrew. Heck, we don’t even need King James with all the thees and thous. There are days yeah I’m good just get out the word “Help!” how many days where I am stumped and when I don’t know what to say about problem for issue going on life that is when I turn it over to the Holy Spirit. He knows exactly what needs to be. said. He knows my heart and He can get my message to God.

So don’t worry about those days when you don’t know what to pray. Don’t freak out when those words won’t come to you. It is perfectly OK. God has built inside of each and every one of us our own personal Google translate. Thank you, Holy Spirit!

Lord, thank You for the wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit. ~amen

Copyright © 2021 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

Hebrews 12:3
Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

So just a few days ago I fell on a walk with my mom. My wrist isn’t broken but Doctor says I’ve messed up the ligaments. I’m spending the next four weeks in this weird contraption to make sure my wrist doesn’t bend or twist. It is my right wrist. I am ambidextrous for the most part. I just haven’t used my left hand in quite some time. To be completely honest with you, it isn’t the fact that I have to use my less dominant hand that is the problem. It is the simple fact that I now only have one hand!

I can’t tell you how frustrated I have become lately. I am home alone most of the time because my husband works as a paramedic. I can’t open things. I’m struggling to find things I can eat easily. All the things I enjoy like writing and artwork have become a struggle. To say my frustration level is high is an understatement. Depression is trying to sit in hard. I have even found myself sitting on the couch ugly crying over a stupid tennis shoe that I can’t tie.

I don’t know where you’re at today but I’m hanging on by a thread. Actually, I’m hanging on tight to verses like today’s. If you’re struggling today too, let’s just hang on together. Jesus has been there and done that; He even bought the T-shirt. This gives us hope so that we will not grow weary and lose heart.

Lord, thank you for understanding my struggles today and validating my pain. ~amen

Copyright © 2021 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

Romans 12:9
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

Have you ever read a verse that slapped you in the face? Well, today was one of those days for me. I have been struggling with some anger towards someone. Now before my family and friends start calling me, no it is not you. . . LOL! As a matter of fact, I have never even actually met this person, but he really irritates me. Anyway, it doesn’t matter who it is, the point is I struggle with loving this human.

God reminded me today, He created everything. He created every creature. He created everyone. So, if I choose to hate someone, I am hating one of God’s creations. Ouch! What God did not create was the evil choices this human being is making. Did He create Lucifer, yes. He did not however create the havoc Satan has created. Nor does He interfere with our choices of whom we choose to follow.

I am saying all of this to remind myself, I am called to love others. I don’t have to agree with them. I don’t have to like their choices. I do however have to love that person enough to pray for them and hope they find their way. That is sincere love.

Lord remind me when I get irritated with others that You love them and so must I. ~amen

Copyright © 2021 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

Colossians 1:13
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,

You know, when I write these, I’m letting you enter my mind. That may get a little weird sometimes. So buckle up for the ride, this just might be one of those days. Today I was reading Colossians 1:9-14. It begins with Paul telling the people how much he has been praying for them. He then instructs on how to live a holy life. Last, he reminds them of what Christ has done for them. That is where I read, “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness.” I went, “Stop right there!”

My mind immediately went to all of those horror slasher films (no I am not a fan). I see myself being chased by the villain down an abandoned old road, then I stop and go, “Wait just a minute!” As I turn around I hear the villain reply, “Uh-Oh!’ As you can guess my next reaction is, “Yeah you better run!”

Alright, so sometimes my mind gets a bit dramatic. My point is when you find yourself in those situations where Satan is just coming at you, you don’t have to take it. You can make him say, “Uh-Oh!” Remind him just who your Father is and what He has done for you. Remember all of the situations God has gotten you through and then hang on tight to that faith He will get you through this too! Now that is a horror movie I would watch!

Lord, thank you for reminding me of all the things You have done for me. I know You will always be there! ~amen

Copyright © 2021 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved