Tag Archives: Faith

Spiritual

You Are Where God Wants You

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people in the middle of the world
You are where God wants you to be!
Thank you, Geralt and Pixabay.

“You Are Where God Wants You” by Joan Y. Edwards

I like sharing experiences that l have had that let me know that God is listening to me and he cares for me and my loved ones. In sharing my experiences, perhaps it will give you a little inkling of hope for you to hear that God is also with you and helping you get where he wants you if you look for signs and listen to the voices that come from within.
In  1999, my husband’s daughter, Susan called us and said our granddaughter, Amanda who was 9 years old was going to  be baptized the next Sunday.
Oh my. This made Carl and me extremely happy and very sad at the same time. We had airline tickets and motel reservations to fly out west to visit with his sister and her husband for two weeks. We really wanted to be there when Amanda got baptized.
So during the night, I happened to think: if God wanted Carl and me to be at Amanda’s baptism, then we would be there. But since it was scheduled and we weren’t going to be there, that meant that God was happy with us not being there and we would just pray that everything go well for her on her special day.
So we flew out west and had a wonderful visit. When we returned, I called Carl’s daughter and asked “How did Amanda’s baptism go?”
Her answer was, “Amanda didn’t get baptized last week. The minister forgot to put the water in the baptismal pool at the church. She’s going to be baptized this coming Sunday!”
“Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness!” I was so-o-o-o excited.
I hung up and told Carl,  “That voice was right. God did want us there for Amanda’s baptism.” Then I explained our good fortune.
We went to see Amanda get baptized the next Sunday.
What a gift from God!!!
I share this because it shows how God loves to surprise us with his goodness and mercy!  When we are open to listening to him, we will be right where he wants us.
I hope each of you will search your life experiences and find times to rejoice because you were blessed to be where you wanted to be and that’s also where God wanted you to be.
I hope you will leave a comment. Hearing from you gives me one more reason to smile. Please share a story of your faith, hope, and love with me.
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Never Give Up


Joan Y. Edwards, Author
Copyright © 2026 Joan Y. Edwards

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Health, Spiritual

Open the Door

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woman beside door and looking out window
Thank you Pixabay and SnapStock for letting me use this photo.

“Open the Door” by Joan Y. Edwards

This is a Lenten reflection that I wrote when Jim Alvarez from St. Matthew Catholic Church asked me to write one about faith.

Listen here on YouTube.
“Open the Door:” https://youtu.be/HWwuveeoS3E
Open the Door.
  • God will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
  • Don’t be afraid. I am here with you. Isaiah 41:10 
God didn’t promise a life without pain, struggles, and hardships. He said do not be afraid. He will be there with you and give you the strength to get through them.
God heard you crying out for him. God is knock, knock, knocking on your door and ring, ring, ringing your bell.
He will not go away. He comes himself! He stands there now, and waits for you. Open the door of your heart and let him in.
What is Faith? Faith is opening the door and realizing that God is going to be there for you. God personally looks after your needs…all your needs. Especially the ones you fear are not being met right now. God knows what your needs are, from the largest to the smallest item on your list. Open the door.
Swimming in a sea of negativity! God is your life preserver.
Up to your knees in bad end-of-the-world days! God changes your focus.
Unsafe in a world filled with daggers! God covers you with armor. Open the door.
Negative thoughts remind you that you are human…you make mistakes, have accidents, get angry, get sick, feel pain. You love, eat, sleep, and search for happiness! You live in a world filled with other humans.
Faith is trust, assurance and confidence that things are going to get better. Believe that God is going to help you through this stressful situation.
St. Patrick reminds us. God is in you and surrounds you. God is in your heart and the hearts of those who think of you. God is in your mouth and those who speak of you. God is in your eyes and the eyes of those who see you. God is in your ears and in the ears of those who hear you. Arise today through the mighty strength of the Lord of creation and open the door.
Take time to rest. Refocus. Open the door of your heart and take God’s hand. He will listen to you. He will stay with you and walk with you and supply you with the right thoughts, words, resources, and actions needed to help you. Believe and it shall be granted unto you. Ask and you shall receive. Peace will come to you. Open the door. Open the door. Open the door. Amen.

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Thank you for reading and/or listening. I hope you enjoyed this devotional and that it helps you realize that God loves you very much.  

Other Posts about Faith
“Can Your Faith Be Seen:” https://joanyedwards.com/can-your-faith-be-seen/
“What Makes Your Dreams Come True?” https://joanyedwards.com/what-makes-your-dreams-come-true/
“God’s Daily Delivery Service:” https://joanyedwards.com/gods-daily-delivery-service/

 

Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards, Author
Copyright © 2009-2023 Joan Y. Edwards

 Flip Flap Floodle Firebird Book Award Winner Will this little duck’s song save him from Mr. Fox?
Joan’s Elder Care Guide Practical ways to help you and your elder survive.

Subscribe to Joan’s blog for inspiration, information, and humor. Receive free gifts. Join over 235 subscribers and over 1,916,300 visitors. Thank you.

Health, Spiritual

God Fills You and Surrounds You, Your Family and Friends with His Love

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man sitting at table with his little daughter
Thank you, Daniela Dimitrova and Pixabay for allowing me to use this photo of a man and his daughter.
“God Fills You and Surrounds You, Your Family and Friends with His Love” by Joan Y. Edwards

Here is a devotional I wrote as a Lenten devotional for my parish, St. Matthew Catholic Church in Charlotte, NC. Thank you to Jim Alvarez who asked me to do a devotional on family and recorded it for me. You can listen to it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/BThDLYQgr6A

God is in you. God created you in his image. He shared a part of himself with you when he made you. He shared his loving qualities with you, your family, and close friends.
God is in your family: your birth parents; those who raised you; those who grew up in the same house with you. He shared his loving qualities with your family. If your original family members do not furnish all your needs, God grows your family. He puts people in your life to meet your needs.
two friends with lollipops
Thank you Andi Graf and Pixabay for allowing me to use this photo of two friends.
God is in your friends. Like a magnet, God sends people to be your friends. People with common interests, similar values, experiences, and beliefs. People with whom you feel comfortable. With friends, you spend quality time talking, eating, playing games, and sometimes traveling together to learn your similarities and differences. Some friends are with you for a short season; others are there for a lifetime. These you may consider your close friends.
God is your close friend. God is in each of your close friends. Close friends are like family. They stand by your side. They love and accept you as you are. They tolerate your weaknesses and quirks, like the way you eat sloppy dishes or wear mismatched clothing. They protect you. They provide emotional and spiritual support. They help you acquire wisdom, understanding, and compassion. They are there for you. They not only understand what you say, but interpret your body language accurately. They may be willing to sacrifice time, self, or personal pleasures to help you. Those are Godly attributes. Those are the loving qualities of our God.
Even though you may not talk to your close friends every day, you communicate often. You understand and respect each other. You honor each other’s boundaries. You allow each other to be different, yet consider each other equal. You do things alone and with each other. After a long absence, you pick up right where you left off. You have a strong mutual feeling of trust, loyalty and support. You can see things from each other’s perspective. You walk in each other’s shoes with kindness and understanding. When appropriate, you share guidance and advice. You tell each other the truth, even when it hurts. You may argue and disagree, but you always forgive each other and never hold a grudge. These are the loving qualities of our God.
Life is full of twists and turns. When things go wrong or change, your family members and close friends who are able to adjust to the new conditions stay by your side. They love, honor, and respect you. God is there in you, your family, and your friends. God fills you and surrounds you, your family and friends with his love. Amen.

I hope you enjoyed listening and reading these words. Remember: God Fills You and Surrounds You, Your Family and Friends with His Love!

Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards, Author
Copyright © 2009-2023 Joan Y. Edwards

 Flip Flap Floodle Firebird Book Award Winner Will this little duck’s song save him from Mr. Fox?
Joan’s Elder Care Guide Practical ways to help you and your elder survive.

Subscribe to Joan’s blog for new articles of inspiration, information, and humor. Receive free gifts. Join over 239 subscribers and over 1,915,758 visitors. Thank you.