Tough, crazy times we are livng in. Be wise. Stay calm. How?!? Heb. 6:19 says, “We have this hope as an anchor for our soul, firm and secure.” Paul is reminding us of the anchor of God’s faithfulness. Like many of you, I have faced some pretty scary storms. I have come through to the other side intact because of the strong, stabilizing anchor of God’s faithfulness. Yes, these are crazy times but God’s promises aren’t any less valid today than they were in previous centuries. Our security is not dependent on a strong economy… it can’t be. Paul urges us in 1 Timothy 6 not to put our hope in wealth, but in God, “who richly provides us with everything.” Look at what He did for us on the cross!!

His peace always be with you!

I have learned a lot about God’s tenderness during these years of being in a wheelchair.  As you listen to my new music (For clips go to https://www.reneebondi.com/shop/mercies-in-disguise/) I hope you’ll be enveloped by His mercy.  It’s there, it just may be disguised by something you never imagined. 

P.S. Look for photos on the making of the CD in a blog to come. 

How would you feel to be a single father with 2 boys, laid-off from work, and now out of savings? This is the story of Joseph at the Thomas House Temporary Shelter in Garden Grove, California. I recently had the opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus and spend time working one-on-one with these families.

The staff and volunteers of Thomas House work with each family to assess the needs of the members (physical, emotional, spiritual and financial) and assist them in setting goals that will lead to long-term changes in their lives.

Approximately 15 families participate in a 6-9 month program. Families maintain or seek full-time employment, budget their income, pay bills and save 80% of their income after expenses. How great is that?? Families make long-term goals and meet with a staff member weekly to discuss daily goals and finances and plan the actions necessary to prepare for a stable future. They really know what they are doing at Thomas House!

Please pray for these families, that they will continue to look to God for direction and guidance. Any one of us could find ourselves in their shoes if our circumstances took a turn for the worse. As we head into November, a time of thanksgiving, let’s think of ways that we can help those less fortunate than us.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” -Matthew 25:34-26

Have you ever wondered why Jesus called His yoke “easy” and “light”? A yoke appears to be a weighty burden, but it actually makes the workload light for the animal. Looking at an old picture of my grandpa steering oxen while pulling a plow I could see that the plow would be intolerable if it rested right on the oxen’s withers. But when you work an animal by means of a yoke, the weight he has to pull doesn’t harm him. The load becomes light.

Joni Eareckson Tada explained it best when she wrote in her devotional “Pearls of Great Price” A yoke is not a contrivance to make work hard. It’s a gentle device to make hard labor light. Think about this as you read His word. A yoke is not meant to give pain but to save pain. Work is a fact of life. Burdens are inevitable. But you have a choice: either drag your workload under your own strength or put on the yoke of Christ.

How many times have I drug my work load under my own strength??? Many times. Right about the time I’m at my wits end thinking a project is way too hard or I want so badly to do my morning hygiene alone rather than with a caregiver, I remember, “Oops, I haven’t asked the Lord to help me carry this.” When I begin giving my load again to the Lord on a daily basis, sure enough, the project gets done in a timely way and my attitude is gentle when explaining directions to my caregiver.

Simply put, I find rest and much-needed strength when I put on Christ’s yoke.

Lord, I desire to be present to You in all things during the day. This way, I we will remember sooner to come to You in my labor and with my burdens. Thank You for helping me by carrying my load.

His peace,

Last October, our 15-year-old sophomore son was elected homecoming prince to represent his class on the homecoming court. It was a sweet honor. I remember when Daniel was younger, I was concerned that he would one day be embarrassed to have a quadriplegic mom. So now, here we are in high school and we are in the stands watching him walk out on the football field as his name is announced during the halftime show. I was so happy for him as I heard the crowd roar.

Being a typical teen, I’m assuming he would much prefer for mom and dad to stay far, far away from the football field where his friends are gathering in anticipation of the big halftime show. Imagine my surprise when after the show is over he comes up with his friends to find Mike and me up in the bleachers. After grabbing the keys to our van so that he can change out of his suit, he leans over and gives me a kiss on the cheek. What?!? He did this not only in front of his friends, but those in the bleachers as well. Nobody, not even Mike, knew what that meant to me at that moment.

Early on in my injury I felt so uncomfortable going out in public in this wheelchair. But God took care of that. He has shown me in so many ways that I’m still beautiful in His sight and in the eyes of others.

Thank you Lord for knowing the hidden pain that no one sees and for sending me clear reminders that you care for my broken heart and the hearts of others.

His peace,

All my longings lie open before you, O Lord;
my sighing is not hidden from you. Ps 38:9

Each year during the Advent season, I dig out one of my favorite devotional books “Advent and Christmas – Wisdom from Henry Nouwen”. And when I read Day 1 it always gives me just the reminder I need. Let me share with you…

I keep expecting loud and impressive events to convince me and others of God’s saving power… Our temptation is to be distracted by them… When I have no eyes for the small signs of God’s presence – the smile of a baby, the carefree play of children, the words of encouragement and gestures of love offered by friends – I will always remain tempted to despair.

The small child of Bethlehem, the unknown man of Nazareth, the rejected preacher, the naked man on the cross, HE asks for my full attention. The work of our salvation takes place in the midst of a world that continues to shout, scream, and overwhelm us with its claims and promises.

Especially during the Christmas season when I feel overwhelmed by my “to do” list, I can start feeling really sorry for myself. Not only are the TV commercials or shopping malls shouting at me, but my mind also starts screaming, “If I weren’t paralyzed, I could wrap these presents myself!” Or “If I could drive a car, I could quickly run out to pick up pretty holiday plates for our Christmas Eve party.” My pity party can be in full swing – way before the Christmas party!

But I love how Nouwen’s devotional starts me out on the right foot. Let’s remember the real gifts – the sun that comes up every morning without fail, the roof over our head, the warm water coming out of the faucet. But most importantly, the tremendous gift is Jesus who came on earth to point us to our Heavenly Father who loves us so much that he wants us to spend eternity with him. Wow. Wow.

So does it really matter if I don’t have pretty holiday plates?

His peace,

Do you sometimes get tired of being in the fog? You’re not sure how you’ll ever get that project done – you’re not sure where your next job will be – not sure how your children will turn out, etc. Many times we find ourselves in the dark. We want to flip to the end of the book to find out how it’s going to turn out.

Recently, I was concerned about a challenge I was facing. How would I pull it off? Would I fall on my face? Would I be screaming at my family while trying to accomplish the task? I had no idea if I could pull it off. I was in the dark.

After weeks of praying, it was clear that God had clearly led me to the door of this challenge. I knew I had to step over the threshold. Ugh. I wasn’t sure if I was up for it…but the Lord IS sovereign and mighty. I knew that one day it would be made clear. He would bring me out of the fog. How did I know that…really??? Because he has ALWAYS done so! He has done it before in my life and He has done so since the beginning of time – Noah, Moses, Joshua and on and on. Faith is living in the fog. By remembering God’s faithfulness through the ages, we can step forward knowing that He will make a way again. Thank you, Lord.

So friends, let’s approach each day with a little more confidence…a little more faith…knowing that our Lord has gone before us and is always with us. Amen!

His peace,

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deut. 31:8