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Posted on April 05, 2023 by Patra Mueller
“Your wounds matter.” Recently a friend told me that those three simple words changed the trajectory of her life. No one had ever given her permission to acknowledge and address her own pain from the past. She had been so busy taking care of others while her own stories from childhood were safely tucked away deep in her soul. Thankfully she has begun the healing process by naming & remembering those painful places and is experiencing freedom like never before.
Perhaps you can relate to this. Everyone’s story is different. But, as I have listened to people over the years, there is a common theme: we all have been wounded in some shape or form. The powerful message of Holy Week is that Jesus was willing to experience a brutal death on a cross so that all people can experience forgiveness and the promise of eternal life. As we receive the gift of forgiveness, we can forgive others and the healing process begins.
Paul expressed it like this: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, you are a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come… (2 Corinthians 5:17). Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, healing and restoration is available to each of us. Healing is a process that starts by having the courage to remember and rest in the comforting presence of the Holy Spirit as you walk into the painful places of the past, claiming the promises of Scripture each step of the way.
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5 -
Posted on January 11, 2023 By Patra Mueller
For the past several years a thoughtful friend of mine has given me the gift of an amaryllis for Christmas. When I receive it, its green leaves are tightly closed. But as the days of Christmas pass, the red blooms begin to peak through eventually exploding into four magnificent blossoms welcoming the new year.
It is a beautiful reminder of the NEW LIFE we have in Jesus. Paul writes in Romans 6:10: “the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us”.
As we enter into this new year of 2023, remember that we are resurrection people! We have peace knowing that even in death we are victorious because we have the promise of the resurrection waiting for us. And in life, we claim His resurrection power over the losses we grieve and the challenges we face. We can look forward with confidence to the healing and strength that is ours in Jesus as we enter the new year. We don’t walk alone and daily we can claim the promises that “He will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away. And Jesus is making all things new.” Revelation 21:5
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Posted by Patra Mueller on November 16, 2022
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus!”1 Thessalonians.5:16-18
We don’t have to look far to come up with something to complain about. Like the Israelites in the desert, it is easy to wish that life would go back to the way it was. But, we can learn something during 2020 by studying the Apostle Paul’s example.
He was brutally beaten, shipwrecked, hungry, naked, in prison and yet he challenged the church in Thessaloniki to rejoice always, pray continually and give thanks in ALL circumstances. Paul knew that the secret to true joy and contentment was a connection with Jesus! He wrote in Philippians 4:12-13, “I have learned the secret of being content….I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
This reaction doesn’t come natural to me since I have become so accustomed to a very comfortable life. But, I believe that the challenges we are facing right now are an opportunity to gain a NEW PERSPECTIVE in our lives.
We have been given this season so we can:
REFLECT on the blessings in our lives.
RESET our priorities.
RENEW our faith in Jesus.
Will you join me in this journey empowered by the Holy Spirit?
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Posted on April 23, 2022
Do you need some power in your life? Perhaps your relationships with friends, children, parents or spouse could use some new life. I have good news for you! The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to each of us. “And if the Spirit of of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his spirit, who lives in you.” Romans 8:11
The disciples were devastated when Jesus had to leave them. But, He said, “I am going to give you something better than ME living BESIDE you. The Father will send the Spirit to live IN YOU! Did you read that correctly? As believers, we know the Holy Spirit lives in us. But, do we claim his power in our daily lives, in our relationships, in our struggles? The Holy Spirit longs to breath new life into our hard situations. As we surrender to his power, the “Fruit of the Spirit”(Galatians 5:22-24) is unleashed in our lives. I agree that letting go is hard, but receiving the empowering fruits of the spirit will be well worth it.
As I breathe in the Spirit,
I breathe out resentment and receive love.
As I breath in the Spirit,
I breathe out apathy and receive joy.
As I breathe in the Spirit,
I breathe out fear and receive peace.
As I breathe in the Spirit,
I breathe out impatience and receive patience.
As I breathe in the Spirit,
I breathe out selfishness and receive kindness.
As I breathe in the Spirit,
I breathe out frustration and receive goodness.
As I breathe in the Spirit,
I breathe out distraction and receive faithfulness.
As I breathe in the Spirit,
I breathe out harshness and receive gentleness.
As I breathe in the Spirit,
I breathe out distractions and receive self control.
Anyone need a breathe of fresh air? 🙂
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TIDINGS OF COMFORT AND JOY!
Posted on December 01, 2021
Posted by Patra Mueller on December 01, 2021
What a delight it is this time of year to walk into a store or turn on the radio to hear the words of our favorite Christmas carols. Our whole culture is longing for tidings of comfort and joy.
As Christians we know that the true source of comfort and joy is found in our long awaited Savior, Jesus.
Growing up, we had a few Advent traditions that I remember. One was singing a special song each Sunday morning in our worship services as the Advent candles on the wreath were lit. The words of the chorus are still fresh in my mind:
“Christ is in our family, Alleluia sing. Aren’t you glad, He came to be our brother and our King.”Another more common Advent tradition we experienced was sitting around our Advent wreath at home lighting one candle each week and reading family devotions together.
But, the tradition that meant the most to me was baking Jesus Birthday cakes each year. My mom and I would spend a day or two baking, frosting and decorating little cakes to share with our friends. We would usually bake 50 cakes and each cake was frosted and topped with sprinkles and a candle, then, my dad and I would deliver the cakes a few days before Christmas. After I moved away and got married and had children, we started the tradition again. It continues to bring joy to our lives and others as we remember in a very simple way the true reason for the season.
How about you? What traditions do you have? Why are they meaningful to you? Have you passed them on to your children and grandchildren?
As we wait again this Advent to celebrate the birth of our Messiah, Jesus, I encourage you to intentionally take part in an old Advent tradition or begin a new Advent tradition that draws you to the foot of the manger with peace-filled anticipation.
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Quote of the day
“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”
– St. Augustine
Jesus Joy Journey 