Calmly Trusting Our Shepherd ~ Guest Post by Laura Lane

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. 

Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

John 14:27

Photo by Rod Long

Dear friends,

 They are all looking at you—looking at me. They're watching to see what we do, what we say, whether we are stressed, or whether we are peaceful. Many people are watching to see if this Jesus thing is real to us. Family, friends, strangers, co-workers are all watching. So, is this Jesus thing real to you?

 When you face a crisis of any kind, first words matter. Are your words of hope? Of fear? Of thankfulness and praise to God? Of despair? Only you can control what comes out first and what comes out most often. Others will use your reaction to judge Christianity and God. Make sure that your first words and all words are life, hope, peace, and joy.  When we are pressed, we are not crushed. We have a father God who loves us and provides what we need and heals us. Do we believe that?  I do. 

  I am an older woman. I've had years of experience with hard times both financial and health challenges. That's an advantage I have over many who are facing their first big challenges with this Covid-19 threat. 

 I've seen God provide when my husband's income was cut in half, because the company no longer wished to pay his salary. He was forced to quit. I've seen God supply when we had a long period of unemployment when my children were little. I've seen God supply when we closed a business and didn't have income for four months while my husband was looking for a position. God always supplies our needs. I've learned to pray and trust him. The trick is to do it without worrying. There's a lot of scripture about that. ~smile~

 God has brought me through pneumonia three times, two of which I was hospitalized. He's brought me through more surgeries than most families have had in total. Lately, he's brought me through breast cancer. I have evidence that Holy Spirit will never leave me nor forsake me. I just have to keep paying attention and praying and praising and worshiping. My faith has been deepened by the numerous trials in my life. I have been refined. 

 We're all dealing with the virus in one way or another. I encourage you to speak life, speak truth, speak hope, speak faith, speak the Word of God. Now is a time to draw closer to Him, and He will draw closer to you.

 Keep calm and pray on!

 Laura Lane

Bio:  Laura married her high school sweetheart thirty-three years ago. You might say they're going steady permanently.  She makes her home in Carthage, Missouri and has four adult children. Two of her daughters live at home and attend college in the next town over. She met Jesus when she was fifteen, and her life has never been the same. She enjoys writing, knitting, sewing, quilting, crocheting, baking, cooking, making jam, and making soup. Her recipes have been included in Gooseberry Patch's Hometown Christmas, Grilling and Campfire Cooking, and Secrets from Grandma's Kitchen.  

Laura is the author of Harvest Lane Cottage where she writes about encouraging others in their faith in Jesus, homemaking, books, and thrifty living. She is a breast cancer survivor since 2017.

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Laura's Blog has been a source of comfort and encouragement to so many for so long.  She is truly an inspiration to us all!  I hope you will stop by and visit her!

Leeland ~ Waymaker

May the Lord draw each one of us closer to His side.  May we turn to our Shepherd in every moment of fear, anxiety, and worry.  Truly He is our only hope.  As Laura's testimony proves, He is a Friend who sticks closer than a brother, and He never fails.

Keep your eyes on Him.