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!

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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.

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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.

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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!

“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done
Revelation 22:12 (NIV)

We’ve had plenty of time already in 2025 to pause & ponder. The snow and ice storm gave most of us over a week to do just that. But did we do that? Maybe we just sat around complaining of all the tasks that weren’t being completed.

We could’ve been reflecting on the beauty of the falling snow and thanking God that we had a warm roof over our head.

Living by myself, I was especially grateful that my adult son, Andrew was snowed in with me for the week. Since our streets were not drivable, able-bodied Andrew walked up to a cleared main road to Uber to the grocery store. Then he walked the half mile of unplowed road back to my home.

In a past blog post, I wrote about how Jesus always has our back. HE’S GOT YOUR BACK! – MARY VARGA    He certainly had my back by bringing my son over to keep me company during what could’ve been a very lonely, frustrating week. I like to think Andrew was equally blessed, as he would’ve been sitting alone at his place, So God had both our backs during the January 2025 snow storm.

I believe God gives us alone time to reflect on our life and where it’s headed. Sometimes He makes us be alone (like in a snow storm) so we can do just that. So consider next time you’re forced into being alone, that perhaps that’s just where God wants us.

I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

Psalm 77:12  (NIV)

Perhaps that is how the Lord is speaking to you right now. That is surely one way to ponder and think about what He’s trying to do in your life.

Who knows what reward He’s trying to give us! If we believe that God is working in our circumstances, we’ll stay open to any blessing He’s trying to send us.

 “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”

Jeremiah 17:10  (NIV)

So pause & ponder what the Lord is trying to teach us during the unexpected pauses in our life. He could be sending us a mighty blessing!

Dear Lord,

Help us not to fight and resist the quiet times You give us to reflect on our lives and all the blessings you have brought us.

Let us instead, use that time You’ve given us to ponder what You want us to do next,

Thank You for using Mother Nature sometimes to show us where we need to be.

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Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:17   (NIV)

The Christmas season is already upon us. We’ve all been busy with gift-buying and planning our perfect holiday celebration. Let’s take a moment to remember who Christmas is really all about and try to be someone’s Christmas light.

We can be someone’s Christmas light in so many ways. Our mere presence is a light for those we love. Make a point to notice and acknowledge them. Letting our own light shine gives others permission to do the same. We can all illuminate each other’s gifts and talents and by doing so, allow them to really sparkle.

So NOTICE and ACKNOWKEDGE!

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16   (NIV)

Always remember that our light comes from Jesus, whose birthday we celebrate at Christmas. It is His presence in our life that allows us to be a light to those around us. So let’s keep our hearts focused on our savior during this holy time of year. He is with us ALWAYS.

Then your light will break forth like the dawn, ….. then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

Isaiah 58:8   (NIV)

We can indeed be someone’s Christmas light! Think of those we can take time to notice that are not on our regular radar. Our acknowledgement may be just the spark they need to keep going forward.

Everyone please have a blessed and holy Christmas! See you in 2025!

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But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

2 Corinthians 8:7  (NIV)

As we look upon the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday…let’s think about how we can give generously for all the favor AND the gifts that God has so generously poured forth into our lives.

We’re thankful for our family, our friends, our talents, our opportunities,…our nation. None of those gifts are perfect. They may even be a thorn in our side….but any of those gifts could be gone in the blink of an eye!

God has a plan for us, even if we lose our gifts!  I’ve told the story of the loss of my physical balance due to a brain injury numerous times. That was 27 years ago! Let’s see a more recent example of how God can bring good things out of tragedy.

Officer Nick Wilt had just completed his training in the police academy.  The first week on the job, Nick responded to a bank robbery and ended up being shot in the head while he was trying to protect those around him. He lived. PRAISE GOD!

After two years of intensive therapy, Nick is able to walk with a cane. On Nov 15^th, he was honored at the 22^nd annual Brain Ball benefiting the Brain Injury Alliance of Kentucky (BIAK), for his courage and determination. Nick is only 27 years old. That’s a decade younger than I was when I had my car accident & traumatic brain injury. Because of his ‘youth’, I’m confident that he will recover further and faster than I did.

Like me, Nick has been overwhelmed with the good wishes and ACTIONS of friends, families and total strangers who have wanted to help him on his journey.

Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.

Deuteronomy 15:10  (NIV)

Why should we give to organizations that help the lives of those facing unforeseeable challenges? If we give generously, even when we don’t feel like it, the Lord will reward us.

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

2 Corinthians 9:7  (NIV)

I’m sure that Nick does not feel blessed by all the hardships he has endured. Yet we can both be thankful that our obstacles have brought out the compassion and generosity of others as they try to make our lives a little easier.

I can’t think of a better example of Giving Generously.

Dear Lord,

You’ve given us all so many gifts. Forgive us when we do not appreciate them or acknowledge that they came from You.

Please inspire us to give generously to those who need our assistance. Help us to always remember that You love a cheerful giver!

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How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?

Psalm 13:2  (NIV)

We’ve all heard of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob from the Old Testament. Abraham is called the father of our faith. His grandson Jacob, however, was given a name that means ‘deceiver’.

The Bible tells us that at one point, Jacob wrestled with a man that represented God…all night long. All Jacob wanted was for God to bless him. Jacob had some issues though. He WAS a deceiver. He manipulated others to get his own way. God didn’t approve of that, yet Jacob continued wrestling with Him to get His blessing.

Ultimately, God DID bless Jacob…but not before He dislocated Jacob’s hip. With His blessing, God gave Jacob a new name too. He changed his name to Israel.

Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”

Genesis 32:28  (NIV)

Somehow Jacob knew that the man was from God.

So Jacob called the place Peniel,^[g] saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”

Genesis 32:30  (NIV)

God doesn’t mind if we wrestle and complain to Him. King David cried out to God all through the book of Psalms. God would much rather have us complain to Him. What He finds unacceptable is when we complain ABOUT Him.

So complain to God! We are his children and He knows that we need to vent our feelings. He’d prefer we take our problems to Him instead of family and friends.

As humans, none  of us really like a complainer…usually because we can’t do anything to change the situation. But God can! He can work on others’ hearts. He can turn things around for us…or change OUR outlook about the problem.

And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?

Luke 18:7  (NIV)

In wrestling with God, we must be sure to also give Him praise and thanksgiving for all that He is…and has done in our life.

Dear Lord,

Thank You for being a loving Father who takes it in stride when Your children moan and complain to You. You can and will change others’ hearts (including ours) to bring peace that will remedy any situation.

Help us always to remember to bring our grievances to You first. Thank You also for all the good and prosperity You have brought to our life.

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