Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

1 Peter 2:12  (NIV)

We can be wealthy, successful and/or popular, but that doesn’t necessarily make us significant. Significance runs a little deeper. Our true significance isn’t in our likes and accomplishments but in being part of God’s divine design and purpose.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

We are not accidents; our significance is rooted in being created intentionally by God. Our worth and significance comes from God’s particular design for our lives.
In the Kingdom of God, greatness and significance come through humility and service. Significance is always found in service to others. Think of those that we consider significant. Aren’t they someone who brings value into our lives by their actions?

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.

Philippians 2:3–4 (NIV)

Maybe others can lead us to a right decision through their timely input. Maybe they are present for us when we’re hurting hurting… listening without trying to fix it.

Maybe most importantly, we can be interruptible for others in our lives.  We can take time out of our busy lives to notice someone else’s concern. We can lend a helping hand when they’re doing something difficult. We can LISTEN, even if we can’t solve their problem.

I will discuss various ways we can serve others in my next blog post.

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Galations 6:2  NIV

Significance Is Eternal, Not Earthly! True significance lasts beyond our lifetime when it’s tied to God’s eternal purposes.

In my blog, When We Lose a Loved One https://mvarga.com/life-inspiration/when-we-lose-a-loved-one/ , I wrote about losing my sister. There is not a day goes by that I don’t think about what Julie would do; or advise in whatever situation I’m facing.

That’s because Julie’s opinion was significant to me. She has as much impact on my decision making now, as when she was alive. She has inspired me to live out my faith in everyday life… to show kindness, forgiveness and always persevering.

I’ve always tried to be and act that way for Jesus. Somehow it seems to flow naturally to be that way for another human being that I loved, and whose opinion mattered so much to me.

So even after we’re gone, I believe we can be eternally significant to others. In the same way, we can be eternally significant right here in the world. Jesus offers us all the opportunity to show the lasting fruits of faith, love and obedience.

Dear Lord,

Thank you that my worth is not defined by what I accomplish, but by Your love for me.

Teach me to find significance not in being seen, but in serving others.

Help me to trust that every small act done for You, carries eternal meaning that makes us significant in Your eyes.

Love in the Hard Places

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

Genesis 50:20  NIV

Two weeks before the nation was shaken by the news of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, my own world was shaken by the loss of my sister, Julie, to cancer. Grief came close—too close. It’s been a heart-wrenching time for our family and everyone close to Julie.

Then, almost before I could take a breath, I watched as the Kirk family, and indeed our whole country, was struck by a sudden and violent loss. Though their story was not mine, I felt their grief echoing my pain. It reminded me that whether through illness or violence, death does not discriminate. Loss is a thread that connects us all.

As Christians, we are not spared these valleys. As I said in my last blog,  https://mvarga.com/life-inspiration/when-we-lose-a-loved-one/ Jesus Himself wept at the tomb of His friend, Lazarus .Yet His tears were not the end of the story. He went on to declare,

 I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die

 John 11:25   (NIV)

That promise steadies me when the waves of sorrow sneak up on me. My sister’s body failed, but her soul is alive in Christ. The same hope speaks into every public tragedy: Death is not the final word.

Public tragedies, too, can shake us awake—to see that hate cannot heal, but love can. Over 65,000 students gathered at the same college where Charlie was shot within weeks of the assassination. They were there to stand up against violence and honor his memory.

Meanwhile, we continue to live here in a broken world. God calls us to something hard: To let love rise even in the midst of loss; to choose forgiveness over bitterness; peace over anger; and unity over division.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

 Psalm 34:18   (NIV)

If He draws near to us in our brokenness, then perhaps our calling is to draw near to others in theirs. That’s what we witnessed at Charlie Kirk’s memorial service.  Over 100,000  gathered in person for his memorial…with over a million viewing by cable or internet streaming. At many times, I felt like I was witnessing a Christian revival.

Revival often begins in hard places. It begins when hearts turn back to God in desperation, when people realize how much they need His mercy. My prayer is that both in my private grief and in our shared national grief, God would use even these losses to draw us closer to Himself.

Loss changes us. It rearranges our priorities. It reminds us that every moment is precious, and every relationship is worth mending.

Losing my sister has awakened a deeper desire in me to love well, forgive quickly, and live for eternity. I’m so looking forward to seeing Julie again in heaven someday!

To be completely honest, I knew very little about Charlie Kirk prior to his assassination. I knew he was a staunch conservative who had a huge impact on our GenZ population. Now I’ve read all about him…the good, the bad, and the ugly.

In one of the last interviews he gave, the commentator asked Charlie what he wanted most to be remembered for. He replied that he wanted to be remembered for  “courage in my faith.”

My belief is that Charlie Kirk is a Christian martyr who died proclaiming and defending a life lived in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. I pray that his life AND death will lead many to Christ.

Dear Lord,
Teach us to love in the hard places. When we face loss, let us cling to Your promises. When the world is shaken, let us be an instrument of peace. Use even what was meant for harm to bring about good, and let revival begin in all of us.

Once you are on mvarga.com, please enter your email to subscribe & receive future blog posts, read through past blogs and find more about my books & fitness tips!

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

1 Thessalonians4:13-14 (NIV)

When we lose a loved one…especially unexpectedly, WE’RE DEVASTATED, WE’RE HEARTBROKEN,WE’RE IN SHOCK! How will we live without them? Whom can we turn to for comfort? What is God’s plan in this?

Immediately, we find lots of comfort…especially when we have a big family who also knew and loved our loved one. There is such comfort in sharing grief and sorrow with others! They know exactly how we’re feeling.

I lost my baby sister recently. She was no longer a baby, but a very young 56 years old. This was not supposed to happen! I was prepared to go first. What will life be without our little Julie?

Julie was a real life force in our family. We are ALL close and enjoy each others’ company; but family gatherings will not be the same without her quick, sharp wit.

I comfort myself by knowing she’s in heaven praying for me right now. She’s praying for comfort for all of us! I figure that Julie’s prayers carry more weight now, because she’s already in God’s presence on the other side.

Grief can feel overwhelming…like a heavy weight pressing down on our heart. In those moments, God’s Word reminds us that we are not alone. He does not turn away from tears, but collects them.

Record my misery;
 list my tears on your scroll
 are they not in your record?

Psalm 56:8   (NIV)

Jesus wept at the tomb of his friend, Lazarus…showing us that sorrow is NOT weakness…but love in motion.

For those who believe, death is not the end…but a doorway to eternal life with Him. That’s why we call it a celebration of life. We don’t just celebrate the life that was lost. We celebrate their new life in eternity. That’s the life we’ve been preparing for since we were born.

Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.

John 5:24   (NIV)

On days when the grief sneaks in and sucker-punches us, we need to hold tight to the belief that our loved one is in a better place now…and we WILL see them again!

We have this truth to hold onto in the midst of our sorrow:

Grief is REAL, but so is God’s comfort. Loss is deep, but so is His love. One day, He will wipe away every tear.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

Revelations 21:4   (NIV)

Dear Lord,

Thank You for being close to the broken-hearted. My heart aches with the loss of my loved one. Wrap me in Your peace that surpasses understanding.

Remind me that death is merely the gateway to eternal life with You. Help me to hold onto that hope and the realization that we will someday join our loved one in Your heavenly kingdom.

As a subscriber, you can make comments directly on my website.

 Once you are on mvarga.com, please enter your email to subscribe & receive future blog posts, read through past blogs and find more about my books & fitness tips!

Listen to me, my people; hear me, my nation: Instruction will go out from me; my justice will become a light to the nations.

Isaiah 51:4   (NIV)

Last week, I commented to a friend that the little gizmo she suggested I order on Amazon wasn’t working anymore. The contraption is supposed to shave stray hairs that appear on the face.

My friend responded…”You’re not a follow the instructions kind of girl, are you?” I told her I was more of a…”Show me real quick how it works kind of girl.” Apparently, I was supposed to be cleaning out the top of the gadget every time I used it. I would have known that if I read the instructions.

How many times do we attempt to do something without reading the instructions? Unfortunately, I know a lot about this! I SKIM the instructions to find out how something works. Only if the product doesn’t work do I breakdown and read the directions…which are usually a page or 2 longer than I wanted to read.

Listening and following instructions can be a source of tension and frustration in any of our lives as parents. When an adult child asks for advice, do we have the right to ask for a progress report? They’re not children anymore. Do we just wait for them to bring it up?

Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching. For I too was a son to my father, still tender, and cherished by my mother. …

Proverbs 4  (NIV)

When our children are younger, we can discipline them…or praise them when they do follow our instructions. In many ways, that was the easier thing to do. They may be 14 years old, or 40 years old. Do we ever lose that feeling of responsibility for our children?

Whether they’re toddlers, teenagers or adults, we want the very best for our children because we love them. As they get older, the best thing to do is turn their future over to God. He had it all the time anyway.

How well do we follow the Lord’s instructions? Like we desire as parents, He wants only the very best for us. I wonder if He gets frustrated with us, like we do with our children.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6  (NIV)

Instructions are not only for a parent/child relationship or a new electronic gizmo. Instructions encompass everything we do in life. We require rules and instructions to keep life running in an orderly manner. How we clean and stock our home…How we clean and stock our fridge…How we navigate our streets…Which events we prioritize to fit our schedule…how we operate our dishwasher…

And most importantly, how we follow the instructions God gives us!

Looking back at my last blog post, Give It to God, https://mvarga.com/life-inspiration/give-it-to-god/, we discussed the greatest of all God’s commandments.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Love your neighbor as yourself.

Matthew 22:37  NIV

If we but follow these 2 instructions from God…and keep them first and foremost in our thoughts…the other instructions we receive will follow almost automatically, when we put God first. You may still have to read the directions on any electronic or battery-operated gizmos though.

Dear Lord,

Everything we do in life seems to come with its own set of instructions. Help us to keep Your will for our life as the center point of all we do.

As we look to follow Your guidance, all the other instructions we get seem to fall in line. We may still need to read and understand the directions though.

As a subscriber, you can make comments directly on my website.

 Once you are on mvarga.com, please enter your email to subscribe & receive future blog posts, read through past blogs and find more about my books & fitness tips!

But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
    whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
    that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
    its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
    and never fails to bear fruit.

Jeremiah 17: 7-8  NIV

How many times have we had personal issues that we tried and tried to eliminate or change? Was it a health issue… a job/career issue… a family issue…?  Perhaps we just wanted a new perspective on this life we seem to have be given.

Do we sometimes feel we’ve just been ‘saddled with it’? This is NOT the way we thought our path would take us. Where did we mess up? When did our course change? Did we ever really have an assignment? WHAT EXACTLY IS OUR ASSIGNMENT?

As Christians, Jesus tells us the greatest commandment is to

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

Matthew 22:37  NIV

This is our assignment. Then God’s word goes on to tell us to Love your neighbor as yourself

Matthew 22:37  NIV

But how is that supposed to get rid of our problem? It won’t give us immediate

 relief. Putting God and our neighbor first will take our mind off of our issues, and

 put it back where it should’ve been all along.  Putting our thought energy into

God and others…and caring about their concerns makes us realize that we are

 NOT the only one with issues.

Will that make our problems less urgent? Probably not… our problem is bigger

 than their problem! Says who?

We all deal with controversies. It’s a part of being human! God gave each of us a

 measure of faith. Maybe we haven’t been using ours. We make lots of requests.

But do we take time to listen for an answer?

Prayers are answered in all kinds of ways… a friend’s advice…a new opportunity…

 a sudden remembrance of something important…a TV show…and ALWAYS God’s

 word!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not

on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will

make your paths straight.

 Proverbs 3:5-6   NIV

We need to give our problems to God…and then let go of them! We CAN’T give

them to God and then keep trying to control everything ourselves! Trust that He

will address our  concerns in any number of ways. This is His call…not ours.

Dear Lord,

You know what we need before we even ask. Were You just waiting for us to ask?

You tell us to give our concerns to You…then TRUST! Sometimes that’s easier

 said than done.

Help us to love You as much as You love us….yes, even with our problems.

I trust that You will make our broken pieces come together!

As a subscriber, you can make comments directly on my website.

Once you are on mvarga.com, please enter your email to subscribe & receive future blog posts, read through past blogs and find more about my books & fitness tips!

Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand

Isaiah 64:8  NIV

This Sunday, we will celebrate fathers all over the world. At the same time, we will continue to honor and celebrate the heavenly Father of us all.

Many of us think of our dads as the breadwinner, the advisor, the rule-maker. Fathers sacrifice for their children. We often consider them as the disciplinarian of the family. Just wait til your father gets home!

Here’s a funny cartoon I saw on Facebook this week that made me think of my own father.

Fathers may be the disciplinarian of the family, but just like our mom…they’re also overflowing with love and pride for their children.

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

Ephesians 1:27  (NIV)

Many times a father may take the lead role in training his children in the ways of God…and the church. He will be their mirror of what life lived for God looks like.

When I was a little girl, I my mind, my dad was just like how I envisioned our heavenly father….all powerful, all knowing, kind, compassionate…and willing to administer discipline when warranted.

Now that I’m an adult, I STILL think Dad is kind and compassionate. Thankfully, I’m too old to discipline anymore, but Dad’s feelings about what’s right or wrong; what’s good or evil; what’s kind and generous…have followed me my whole life.

I remember Dad teaching me my first prayer when I was 5 years old (maybe?). He came to tuck me in, and taught me how to pray the Hail Mary. That’s a Catholic prayer honoring the mother of Jesus…and asking her prayers for her Son to watch over us.

My first real prayer! I said it over and over in my mind until I had memorized it. I had really arrived on the God scene now!

Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

Deuteronomy 5:16  (NIV)

God gave each of us life through our father and mother. Perhaps we adore your father. Or maybe we’ve flourished in spite of him. Whichever the case, God commands us to honor our father to have a long and fruitful life. Don’t we expect the same of our own children?

Happy Fathers Day to all the dads out there!

May God bless you abundantly!

Dear Lord,

On this special day, may we honor and celebrate all the fathers in our life.

Thank You for putting these men in our life to guide us toward the life You want for each of us!

Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.

Luke 2:51  (NIV)

As we honor all mothers worldwide, let’s take the month of May to especially celebrate the mother of our savior, Jesus Christ.

A mother’s love for her child is like no other. Her child is ‘bone of her bone, and flesh of her flesh.’ A mother’s love is instinctive! It doesn’t look for any qualifications. She loves completely from her heart. Isn’t that how we feel about our own children?

We’ve all heard…and most likely have said at some time in our life…I want my Mommy! A mother’s love is protective. It encourages. It looks for ways to make the wrong things right.

All of us, whether our own mother is still with us…or gone to be with the Lord can remember that feeling of complete nourishing and protective love!  We can ALL feel that same tender care and assurance when we lean on God, seeking His love for us.

Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
    and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
Though she may forget,  I will not forget you!

Isaiah 49:15  (NIV)

God’s love for us will surpass even a mother’s deep, nurturing love. Even if it were possible for a mother to forget her child, God will never forget us.

Jesus’ mother, Mary had the same love for Him as we have for our own children. Jesus felt the same comfort and nurturing in His mother’s presence that we all do. Then Jesus went on to provide that same love and protection for all who believe in Him.

 As a mother comforts her child,
 so will I comfort you;
 and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.

Isaiah 66:13  (NIV)

Children will continue to say, “I want my mommy!” As Christ’ followers, we can all join them in saying…I want Jesus!

So just as a mother watches over her child; God watches out for all His children…and that includes each of us! Regardless of what’s going on in  our life right now, we need to trust that God wants only the best for us.

Hang on to that…and trust Him!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
 in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight

Proverbs 3:5 -6  (NIV)

Dear Lord,

Thank You for letting us experience our mother’s love. It gives us just a glimpse of how much You love and care for us.

Help us to trust Your love for each of us, even when things aren’t going as we planned.

Like a mother cares for and loves her child: help us rest in the knowledge that You will provide love and peace as we put our faith in You.

As a subscriber, you can make comments directly on my website.

 Once you are on mvarga.com, please enter your email to subscribe & receive future blog posts, read through past blogs and find more about my books & fitness tips!

Praise to God for a Living Hope

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

1 Peter 1:3  (NIV)

 Next week, we will celebrate Easter…the perfect time to begin a resurrection life… of renewal and hope.

Whatever we have or don’t have; Whatever we can…or can’t do; We can still have a resurrection life, a life of hope, because we have the blessed assurance that Jesus was crucified and raised to a new life; To take away our sins and invite us into His new life.

The most important step to our resurrection life is putting our hope and faith in our Savior, Jesus Christ. That means putting Him first in our lives: Above family; Above friends; Above work; Even above our personal ministries.We need to recognize that all these things are simply gifts from God. With all the priorities competing for our time, it’s often easy to confuse the Giver with the gifts.

Maybe we’re going through a hard patch; Maybe just a BLAH patch. Perhaps we’re just confused about our priorities. Sometimes, we just don’t know where to turn.

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Psalm 42:5  (NIV)

Whatever life is throwing at us right now; putting our faith and hope in God will give us a sense of peace. We can breathe easier. We’re not in control anymore. HE IS! (He always was…we just had to turn it over to Him.)

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord. “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 28:11  (NIV)

So we can wake up with a smile each day knowing that He has it all under control. We can indeed live a resurrection life Right here and now!

“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though he dies.”

A blessed Easter to everyone!!!

Dear Lord,

At Easter, we celebrate the great sacrifice You made for all mankind. Remind us that You are always alive and well to all who look for Your influence and guidance in their lives

Help us to live the resurrection life daily, as we put our hope, faith and trust in You.

As a subscriber, you can make comments directly on my website.

Once you are on mvarga.com, please enter your email to subscribe & receive future blog posts, read through past blogs and find more about my books & fitness tips!

because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment

James 2:13  NIV

We have all heard that we should forgive others for their sins against us. That’s easier said than done. We want justice! We want retribution! We want revenge!

Read this wonderful story of true forgiveness!

Immaculee Ilibagiza grew up in a country she loved, surrounded by a family she cherished. But in 1994 her idyllic world was ripped apart as Rwanda descended into a bloody genocide. Immaculee’s family was brutally murdered during a killing spree that lasted three months and claimed the lives of nearly a million Rwandans.

Incredibly, Immaculee survived the slaughter. For 91 days, she and seven other women huddled silently together in the cramped bathroom of a local pastor while hundreds of machete-wielding killers hunted for them. 

Just try to imagine 91 days without talking or being able to move around. I get muscle cramps just thinking of it! There was one single toilet in the corner of their cramped quarters. It could only be flushed when someone else in the building also flushed to disguise the noise, I could only imagine the odors they were forced to live with!

It was during those endless hours of unspeakable terror that Immaculee discovered the power of prayer, eventually shedding her fear of death and forging a profound and lasting relationship with God.

That’s not the way it started! Immaculee was confused and terrified like all the other women. She held fast to the rosary her father had given her, and passed most of her silent days in prayer with God. This is a prime example of how talking with God can become part of our daily…sometimes hourly existence!

In her bathroom hideout, Immaculee discovered the meaning of truly unconditional love—a love so strong she was able seek out and forgive her family’s killers.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Matthew 5:7  (NIV)

Her journey of FORGIVENESS through the horrific life conditions she endured will inspire anyone whose life has been touched by fear, suffering, and loss.

Immaculee’s story will remind all of us of the human capacity for compassion and forgiveness, even in the most trying circumstances. It also reminds us that we are given the choice to respond to darkness with light.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13   (NIV)

In February, we put a special emphasis on celebrating LOVE. Of course love is the most important part of our life journey all year long. It is NOT flowers, candy or a box of chocolates. However, there’s been a long tradition of honoring the whole month…especially February 14 with these items of affection.

This past Saturday, I attended our monthly Louisville Christian Writers (LCW) meeting. The theme of our February meeting was, of course LOVE. These men and women are a group of writers, authors and publishers who use their craft in a way that magnifies and brings honor to our God.

LCW was very instrumental in both the writing and publishing of both of my books… The Light Through My Tunnel and The Afflicted Healer. See the tabs on my website (mvarga.com) to get more information or purchase copies.

LCW critiqued each chapter of my books to ensure that my verb tense was correct, my descriptions were appropriate and that I was giving glory to God. Basically, they co-wrote the books with me.

So I decided to get their help on this month’s Life Happens blog. I showed each of them a list of scripture verses on love, and asked for their insights on the best to use.

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

John 13:34-35  (NIV)

This is the Bible verse they thought most closely mirrored the true meaning of love. We show love for each other because God first loved us. Because of this love we become a part of His family.

So love is NOT getting goose bumps or having a special feeling for someone. It IS putting others’ feelings above our own. It is considering their welfare above our own welfare.

Love is a commandment from our heavenly Father.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Matthew 22:36-39  (NIV)

Dear Lord,

Thank You that we get to celebrate Valentine’s Day every day of our lives. You command us to love others as You have loved us.

Show us how to live this love story every day. Help us to put our love into action.

HAPPY VALENINES DAY!