What We Need

I just received an email from a reader asking for prayer support.  She shared a bit of her struggles and some of the “help” she has received from people in her part of this country.

This I know:

She does not need …

  -One more sermon condemning her to hell

  -One more put-down comment from a supposed “well-meaning” person

  -Yet another stress-filled encounter with her siblings

  -… and probably a dozen other tips, which I will refrain from offering

This I also know:

What she does need …

  -Some gentle nurturing of her soul

  -Someone to come alongside her and offer healing and redemptive words

  -Some positive words from the scriptures

  -A glimpse of God, waiting for her with open arms.  I can hear him say,

“I’ve left the light on for you.  Come on in.

The table is ready. Your bed covers are turned down.

There is plenty of hot water for your bath.

Come home to Papa.”

Come to think of it … you and I need that as well.

How about that?

It’s available for all of us, even if we are …

…Discouraged

   …Disgruntled

      …Disgusted

         …Defeated

And for those of us who are …

   Encouraged

      Contented

         Delighted

            Victorious

We are welcomed also.

All are welcome!

Whatever our plot in life, this offer is available right now.

Amazing!

P Michael Biggs

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

One Word at a Time

Top Five Blogs Up-Words Morning Notes

(Click on each of these links to read each post)

1.  I Saw Love Today
July 214, 2010

2.  Where Is God?
September 3, 2012

3.  What Handicap?
May 3, 2012

4.  Make Good Art
May 31, 2012

5.  Staying Power
June 7, 2012



Enjoy these at your leisure.

P Michael Biggs
Offering Hope
Encouragement
Inspiration
One Word at a Time

Do You Believe

Do You Believe

It’s the age old question – “Do you believe in yourself?”

This is one of the most critical questions we can ask. 

Do I believe in me?

If life has come along and knocked the wind out of your sails it is tough to believe in yourself. 

If you’ve lived with a negative, overbearing parent, you have a tough road ahead in restoring a sense of self-belief. 

Les Brown, top motivational speaker, says this: 

“Sometimes you have to believe

in somebody’s belief in you until

your belief kicks in.”

You borrow from someone you trust who holds a lofty idea of who you could become.  You hold onto that vision for as long as you need to.  You strengthen your own image of yourself.  And then some fine day you grow strong enough to stand tall and believe in yourself.

This message is for all of us who have struggled with low self-esteem, put-down comments, and negative self-talk.

We find a way to expose ourselves to people and resources who will offer us nourishment and the knowledge needed to rebuild a life of value. 

This has become my mission in life.  My goal is to offer hope, encouragement and inspiration one word at a time to any man, woman and child who will receive the words I speak and write.

My prayer is that regardless of your present circumstances, you will find some person, or some source that speaks to your inner qualities and reveals your true worth to you.

Allow me to close with this thought from Psalm 139:13-16 in the Bible.

^13-16Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
you formed me in my mother’s womb.
I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking!

Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
I worship in adoration—what a creation!

You know me inside and out,
you know every bone in my body;

You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
how I was sculpted from nothing into something.

Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
all the stages of my life were spread out before you,

The days of my life all prepared
before I’d even lived one day.

If you want to write to me, I will pray for you.  Promise.

Michael@up-words.net

P Michael Biggs

Offering Hope

Encouragement

Inspiration

One Word at a Time

The Arrow and Other Thoughts

If you need a touch of inspiration, watch this short video blog.

Click here to view "The Arrow and Other Thoughts"
1:46











P Michael  Biggs
Up-Words Morning Notes
Offering Hope
Encouragement
Inspiration
One Word at a Time

Maybe It's Time

Maybe It’s Time

We work out our lives by the tyranny of the clock.  Some things just can’t be put off –

Getting to work

Paying bills 

Getting to class

The opening kickoff of a football game

Planes and trains

What about relationships?  When is it time to repair, restore and strengthen those?

Time is up when the casket drops.  That’s dreary – I know that.  Sometimes we need a bit of a shock to get us to act. 

-Need a life change?  There is still time.

-Need education?  Time remains.

-Need a health change?  Small steps are your friend.

-Need a relationship tune-up?  It begins with a phone call, an email or stamped envelope. 

-Maybe you need to make a visit across town, even down the hall to the next bedroom.

Don’t let the clock run out before you make time for the significant stuff in life. 

Those hard conversations don’t usually happen on their own.  Someone has to be the big person and start the talk. 

You've got time as long as the casket isn’t bought. 

You've got time to do a lot of things …

    Do good work.

    Improve your health.

    Rebuild with an estranged one. 

    Say the “I love you” words.

It is time.

P Michael Biggs

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

One Word at a Time

Where Is God?

Ever wondered if God is involved in your life?
He shows up in amazing ways and in all kinds of places.

Please watch this video blog.  2 Min 1 Second.

Click Here to view "Where Is God"

P Michael Biggs

Up-Words

Offering Hope

Encouragement

Inspiration

One Word at a Time

What Does God Enjoy?

Have you ever wondered what delights God?

-The giggle of a child

-An eagle in flight

-The smile on your face

   -The love between you and your mate

   -A beautiful sunset

   -Majestic mountains

-Calm waters

-A hive of bees building their community

-Music offered from the soul

     -A word well spoken

     -A gift given with joy

     -A lost child returning home

-An angel in disguise doing what she does best

-A butterfly emerging from its cocoon

-The planets in their orbit

     -A cloudless day

     -The smell of fresh rain

     -The gentle roll of thunder

-The trust of a small child in his father’s embrace

-A little girl caught up in a make-believe moment

   -A grand slam homerun

   -Watching you enjoy ice cream

Know this … God cares about the little things in life as much as He cares for the bigger issues. 

God cares about every moment of our existence.

That is amazing!

P Michael Biggs

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

One Word at a Time

If I Lived in Grace Land

If I Lived in Grace Land

If I lived in Grace Land, what would my life be like?

Grace Land is not that place in Memphis where Elvis lived.  Grace Land is that place where every act, every thought and every deed begins by acknowledging that life is all about grace. 

What is grace?  Grace is …

Kindness      Charity

Kindliness    Benevolence

Favor           Clemency

Mercy          Leniency

Today, we got our Volkswagen back from the repair shop.  This time around, it had been in there for three weeks.  Before that, we had an on-going problem for over six weeks of driving it for two days and then taking it to the shop for a week.

During this last round, the dealership issued us a courtesy car. 

Today, when we picked up the VW, the cost was exactly ZERO.  I was speechless.  I told Carolyn that I felt we were being graced in a huge way.  What a blessing! 

They did all that work for the last three times at ZERO cost. 

No charge for the labor while performing the trouble-shooting. 

No charge for the loaner car for three weeks.

No charge for the extra parts they put on.  

No charge for the coolant they added to the radiator.

Amazing Grace is all I have to say.

So, you could say we lived in Grace Land today.

When you and I live in Grace Land …

-We show tolerance when our patience is near its end.

-We allow someone with three items to go in front of us at the grocery line. 

-We give to more of those in need just because.

-We forgive a debt.

-We honor a debt.  

-We forgive without being asked.

-We buy a meal for someone just because.   

-We say “I love you” more.

-We say “I forgive you” more.

In other words, we act like people living in Grace Land by living a grace-filled life.

Have you ever thought of moving to Grace Land?  There is plenty of room for you.

P Michael Biggs

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

One Word at a Time

Another Look at Hope

I love to write about hope.  It seems many people need a huge dose of it.  So, here we go, taking another look at hope.

Hope sees the invisible, 

feels the intangible, 

and achieves the impossible.

The American Red Cross uses this slogan: 

When heartbreak turns to hope

Can you imagine the hope that wells up when a person facing a tragedy sees the American Red Cross caravan rolling down the road?  That would be like cool water on parched lips. 

Hope is encouraging

   Hope is enlarging

      Hope expands one’s horizons

         Hopes turn into dreams.

Babe Ruth had hope.  When asked what he thought about after he struck out, he said.  "I think about hitting home runs."  He hoped that another home run was just around the corner.

Zig Ziglar said “It’s not where you start.  It’s where you go.”

Hope becomes the fuel to jump-start your dreams to where you want to go.

Martin Luther says, “Everything that is done in this world is done by hope.

Hope begins in the dark.  When the world whispers “Give up” hope whispers “Try one more time.” 

Zig Ziglar once said:  “Men are limited not by the color of their skin but by the size of their hope.”

How big is your hope?

Hope is more than a word -- it’s a state of being. It’s a firm belief that says “Even if I don’t know how, even if I don’t know when, I hope that God will either come through with a miracle or with mercy and grace to endure.” 

Life sends rain ... Hope dances in the puddles until the sun comes out again.

P Michael Biggs

Offering Hope

One Word at a Time