So if you are the parent of a special needs child, there is no better time to join the Online Study of Autism’s Hidden Blessings starting TOMORROW.
Only a Few Days Left to Join the Study!
On Friday, I will close the study to new members so that we can delve into the book (and God’s Word) together. The online study area will be closed to the public so that we can share stories and discuss the book.
If you are still considering joining, please don’t hesitate. Time is running out!
Good question! Each week, we will be covering two chapters of the book. Also each week, I will be providing homework in a PDF format which will available for study members to download and complete. I know that many parents have a lot on their plates, so the homework will be light.
After completing the homework, login to the ONLINE STUDY AREA (Top Right on the menu bar) to view a short video from me providing some insight into the chapter as well as some opening comments. Then you will have an opportunity to comment, and share you own story and thoughts about the study. I’ll be jumping into the discussion with you.
Sound easy? It is! And for the next few days, you don’t even have to buy the book! There’s nothing to lose!
NOTE: Please understand that I cannot provide tech support for the Kindle apps. Instructions and support is provided on the Amazon page (see the above link). In order to focus on the study itself, I will not respond to tech support questions with regards to the Kindle. Please direct support questions to Amazon.com.
I’ve Already Signed Up! Where is my Login info?
I will send it out tonight to your email address using my provider, Mailchimp. Please check your spam folders if you see this message with your username and password. If for some reason you have not received your e-letter with the login information by tomorrow afternoon, just send and email to: info@kellylangston.com and let me know. I’ll send it back to you so you can get started.
Hello! 98 people have signed up for the first online study of Autism’s Hidden Blessings. I am so excited to get started on May 1st. It will be a journey to remember.
If you have signed up, in the next few days you will receive an e-newsletter with details about the study. If you haven’t signed up and are interested in participating, you can still sign up for now. Just click on the “Sign up for the 5/1 Study” link at the top of the right sidebar. There is no cost to participate in the online study.
Here’s a short video with additional information for you:
If you happen to be stopping over from Proverbs 31 Ministries’ Encouragement for Today devotional, I’m so glad you did. Proverbs 31 Ministries is a wonderful group of ladies, and I’m so blessed to know them. There’s so much that I’d like to share with you, especially if you are the loved one of a special needs child.
I’d like to tell you that being a special needs parent is easy—but if you are the mother or father of a such a child, you know that it’s not. More than anything, I’d wish I could give you a hug and tell you that God is very able to help you and your sweet child.
Not only is He able, but He desires to surround you with His strength, patience and love. He’s proven that love by giving us an inheritance of promises that we can count on to make it through the hard days.
Better still, God sent the very best advocate we could ever have for our child! This advocate is one that we don’t have to seek out. We won’t need to place a second (or third) mortgage on our house to afford His services. He knows everything about our child: their innermost thoughts, the words they say (or cannot say), and the structure of every cell in their body.
This advocate hears them when they cry and whispers comforts to them on long, restless nights. He is the voice that they do not have. The Peace that they seek. The arms that never tire, even when ours, as parents, do. He sits at the right hand of Almighty God and has His Father’s ear. He knows that we will encounter trials and hardships, but He has already overcome them, promising rest, guidance and wisdom when we need it.
Our Advocate—Jesus—longs to help you. I know, because He helped me, and He helped my son.
He was there when I’d had enough. He listened when I felt lost and alone in a crazy, messed up world with a child I didn’t know how to communicate with. When I would have given up, He promised a bettter day for my son … and for me.
I am convinced that God’s ears quicken to the sound of a troubled child’s cry. I know that He listens to every prayer that rises from the lips of a mother. I know that He is for us.
This is what I want to tell you: Our God,—and Jesus, our Advocate—are standing by. I want you to know that God will honor every promise, and I mean every promise, that Scripture gives to His children.
I want you to know that you can have joy again, overflowing, spilling out, and never running dry… if you will surrender your cares to Him. It won’t happen in a day, but trust me, it will happen.
The truth is that we are blessed to be the loved one of a special needs child. Blessed to experience the beauty of that love.
Yes, that what I wanted to tell you.
If you would like to know more about what the Bible has to say on the topic—and there is so much more—please consider joining my online study of Autism’s Hidden Blessings beginning May 1st. Simply add your name to the Online Study Signup in the sidebar. I will cover two chapters from the book each week starting May 1st.
Have you ever felt that you’ll never fit in or find your place? Have you stood at a window–palms pressed to glass–looking into the place where you want to be, seeing people there but knowing you don’t have access? Waiting for a door to open that seems forever locked?
Knocking on that door, are you answered with words that you are:
Under-qualified Not Experienced
Not Welcomed
Too Old, Too Young
We’ve all been there. You could be in a place of unemployment, or maybe you’ve been locked out of a particular social circle. You could be unable to advance in your career or in the fight of your life for a better relationship. There are times when it seems we are locked out of the place we want to be.
If you feel like you will never get there, let me share with you a story, one that I hope will encourage you to look for the promise of God’s favor in your own life despite the circumstances:
Here’s the story:
Each week about a year or so ago, I met with a sweet friend to share coffee, encouragement and prayer. We were both treading water in a sea of financial stress. She had been looking for work for more than a year, and I was struggling to keep my family encouraged as my husband’s business faltered with no new projects on the horizon.
We had been meeting for months to share scriptures and hope with each other. When one of us couldn’t go another (seemingly) hopeless day, the other would speak a gentle word and share a promise from scripture. Make no mistake, it was a dark time and to this day we are still shaking the muck and mire from our feet.
But on one particularly distressing day, my friend and I sat in the coffee shop at a table adjacent to a glass window. Our table was drizzled with coffee, tea and more than a few tears of frustration. My friend had been rejected for yet another job, and my husband was so discouraged that I felt helpless.
Then God showed up.
In the ugliness of that moment, two beautiful pure white doves flew down to our coffee shop window and perched on the window frame by our table. Startled, we watched as the doves pecked at the window for about five minutes, almost as if to get our attention. We were speechless, watching these two beautiful white birds only an inch away from us, pecking on the glass. Then, just as suddenly as they came, they flew away.
I have never again seen a white dove in nature, and in fact, I don’t recall seeing one before that day. Oh, I have seen pigeons, and I’ve seen grey doves–but never a white dove. And certainly not two doves.
Think what you may, but here’s the reason why I am sharing this story: If you feel discouraged like I did, then God has a message for you today, the same one He sent to me at the coffee shop. His message is this:
You, my child, are greatly favored.
You are greatly valued.
I know where you are, and I see your situation.
I AM El Roi, the God Who Sees!
I am with you, and I will see you through this storm.
When you are met with discouragement due to whatever situation you face, you need to know that God’s favor rests on you even when it seems like the world stands against us. Satan will come to us in times of trial, whispering, “Where is your God now? Has He forgotten you?”
Take heart. He has NOT forgotten you! Remember that you are a favored child, even in times such as these. In fact, we need to remember God’s favor especially in the dark times! Satan would have us forget… and lose the battle.
Here’s what I want to leave you with…it is not our battle. It’s God’s battle. He will be victorious.
I’ll leave you with the words of Christ in the temple as He stepped into His great mission of salvation. Jesus unrolled the scroll of Isaiah and read these words:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:16-19
Remember, if you are in Christ….then you have the Lord’s favor. Live in that favor!
What do you desire, in the deepest, most sacred place of
your heart, that you haven’t dared to ask God to grant you?
No, I’m not talking about a basic need here. I’m talking about so much more than that. Something so impossibly wonderful that you can’t bear to consider it as a reality for your life, and yet, that’s exactly what I want you to do right now.
Close your eyes with me for a moment and ask God to bring that secret dream to mind. Become a child again — without the consequences of reality to stop you — and allow that vision to float to the surface.
Do you see it? What is your dream?
Did you know that the most sacred of dreams are given to us by God Himself? Yes, God — Who places a purpose on the life of every one of His children and Who gifts each uniquely according to that purpose — also gives us a unique dream. Some call it a calling, or a life mission. Sadly, only a few actually discover that dream and achieve it.
For most of us that special dream stays hidden in the secret places of our hearts and minds. Why?
The Bible gives us a glimpse of why in a story found in 2 Kings 4:8-36. It’s a story about a a wealthy women from the town of Shunem who opened her home to Elisha, the great prophet of God. Because of her generosity, Elisha offered her an opportunity to grant her heart’s desire.
Think hard for a minute with me. What if God were to offer you the same opportunity? Would you ask Him for the thing that you want more than anything? Before you answer yes, think hard here. Would you really ask God for something so impossibly big? Would you really trust God to give you the one thing that would light up your life?
Or….would you be afraid that He would decline
such an extreme request?
Would you doubt that God could really grant such an awesome request? Wonder if the obstacles would be too great for God? Or maybe you think that God doesn’t “do miracles” these days? And worse, would you doubt that God cared enough for you personally to say yes? Would you become so vulnerable as to ask God to grant your deepest desire?
If so, what if God said no? Where would that leave you?
Hurt and rejected.
Surprisingly, the women from Shumen didn’t take up Elisha’s amazing offer either. Oh, she had a dream, alright. A dream that she had wrapped up tightly and tucked away for good. Her dream was to have a son. She knew the odds were stacked against her. Time was passing and the story tells us us that her husband was old. You see, this sweet lady had given up on her dream to become a mother. She believed it was too much to ask of God.
So when Elisha asked if there was anything he could do for her, she pasted on a fake smile and hid her deep desire:
“No,” she relied, “my family takes good care of me.” 2 Kings 4:13 NLT
But God allowed Elisha to look beyond her phony smile and see a glimpse of her secret dream. Yes, God wanted to do much more for this women than she dared to ask.
Elisha, seeing her secret desire, prophesied that she would be holding a son in her arms by next year. Her response gives us insight into the fear that plagues us all: that when we offer God our wildest dream – the one we are afraid to even disclose to others – that He will turn His back on us.
“No, my lord!” she cried. ”O man of God, don’t deceive me and get my hopes up like that.” 2 Kings 4:16 NLT
Exactly! How many times do we, like this woman, fail to ask God to grant that amazing dream that He planted in our hearts? Aren’t we all afraid that God will reject us? Indeed, Satan would have us to believe that God would never grant us our dreams, especially when that dream is God-given!
God wants to do MORE than we dare ask! His eyes continually search for the one who will become vulnerable enough to ask Him for the impossible. God has given His children special dreams, and God is ready to empower us to use it for His kingdom.
So my question to you today is: what is YOUR dream? Are you ready to ASK God for it?
I’ve been listening to my conversations with people lately, and the words I am hearing are not pleasant. Complaints. Impatience. Annoyance. Don’t I regularly speak about the power of praise? Didn’t I write an entire book about God’s blessings in the face of disability and despair? Don’t I stand and lead others in worship in all times, good and bad?
If so, then why am I not wrapping myself each day in the protective blanket of praise?
And now that I’m thinking about it — where has my joy gone?
The Bible says that “The joy of the Lord is my strength.”(Nehemiah 8:10)
Look a little more closely at that verse and we can see that the word “strength” here (Ma`owz) means
“place or means of safety, protection, refuge, stronghold place of safety, fastness, harbour, stronghold refuge (of God), human protection.”
And since the Word of God is Truth, then shouldn’t I praise God (choosing thanksgiving over complaints) all the more on my darker days? Days when the reality of my situation would lead me to despair and hopelessness, choosing instead to focus on God’s promise of a future?
Choosing joy over ingratitude bring me to a place of safety, protection and refuge.
There’s God’s infallible promise, written clearly in Nehemiah. A gift from God, the secret to overcoming.
In today’s worship moment, I am passing along a truth that I learned from singer and songwriter Laura Story, who surprised us by showing up to lead worship at Church at Charlotte this morning. Laura says in her new song “Blessings,”
What if…the aching of this life Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy And what if trials of this life The rain, the storms, the hardest nights Are your mercies in disguise?
I think she’s on to something. A truth I keep trying to burn forever into my heart but find a need for frequent reminders. So today, I’m choosing gratitude instead of self-centerness. I’m choosing to find God in the simplest joys of life.
I’m choosing life, not death, a life of abundance lived right here, right now.
Here are my Worship Weekend videos to bless you today:
Do you have a question about living a life based on God’s promises? Or, do you have a special promise that you would like to share that has impacted your life in a significant way? If so, I want to hear from you!
Post a comment to share your question or special story! Watch this quick video for more:
Here’s a question for you: Do you worry too much? Do you find yourself awake at night, stewing over a certain challenge in your life or the life of a loved one? Are the first thoughts of your day about a difficult situation you are facing? Are you often anxious, filled with anxiety over something that seems beyond your control?
Our English word for “worry” comes from a Middle English word, “worien” which literally means “to strangle.” Isn’t that exactly how it feels to be overloaded with worry? I can feel my chest tighten up, and my throat seems to close as it worsens!
If you are dealing with worry and anxiety, then this promise is for you: Luke 12:22-23
22 Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. 23 For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. 24 Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! 25 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 26 And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?
27 “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 28 And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
29 “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. 30 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. 31 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.
32 “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.
Let’s take a closer at this promise in this video:
A Red Flagfor Doubt
Worry is a red flag that our faith needs a boost. How do we get that boost? Read the scripture, and then in prayer, ask for more faith. Another great thing to do is take 15 minutes and remember all of the times that God has been faithful to you in the past.
Keep a Record of God’s Faithfulness:
Now is a good time to start a journal recording each act of God’s faithfulness in your life. So often, we forget that He has carried us over bigger storms in the past. The Israelites built stone monuments to help them remember God’s faithfulness. We, too, need to create a record of God’s work in our lives. Then when we find ourselves overwhelmed with worry, take it out and praise God for His faithfulness to you.
We all set goals for ourselves, especially at the start of the new year. But what happens when we experience failure or when we slip up? If we love the Lord, then we can depend on a promise found in Roman Chapter 8, one that gives us the grace to strive for our best without performance anxiety.
This year, I will be starting a series of short videos focusing on the promises of God. I am a strong believer in promised-based living. Each of these short video posts will feature a single promise. I will also be posting scriptures with discussion on why we can trust the Promise Maker.
Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.
I peered from my bedroom window into the ominous gloom of a storm that had blown into my hometown of Charlotte, NC.
The sky grumbled with thunder and the wind whistled through the trees in my backyard. Awed by the storm’s might, I watched as branches rose and fell sharply, the wind plucking leaves from tree limbs to send them dancing through the air. Dangerous flashes of lightning lit the sky.
So it is in my own life right now, I thought as a sharp burst of lightning cracked overhead causing the foundations of our home to tremble.
In these hard economic times, our future is as dark and ominous as this storm.
I winced at the memory of the uneasy expression my husband carried home each night for over two years now. Day after day, he chased new development projects–projects that had all but disappeared in the dwindling housing and development market–as a harsh economic storm rolled across America. Over the course of time we watched this financial tempest pluck away the simplest of comforts of life, comforts that we once took for granted.
The economic storm had taken away all but the necessities of life. Gone was our cable television subscription. We no longer scheduled weekend trips or vacations, and money for new clothing was a struggle. Our children did not attend piano lessons or sports camps. We struggled to find money for dental visits and medications for our autistic son, Alec. We paid off our car debt on our two old cars and watched as the mileage on our old van crept well above the 170,000 mile mark. We were one major car repair bill away from going under.
As our family teetered on the edge of financial ruin, we prayed, watched and waited to see if God’s promises were true. Could we really depend on Him to sustain us in the storm?
Peering out of my window, my eyes fell to an impossibly tiny shape perched solidly at the end of a branch: a hummingbird. I watched as it swayed and pitched with the violent wind, but not once did it stagger or stumble.
Incredible! How does that miniature bird remain standing on that branch in these winds? As I watched the bird, I heard His answer:
I AM the God Who even the winds obey! Just as I hold this hummingbird, I also hold fast to you! So do not fear the storm. Know that I AM with you, even in the midst of it!
Oh sweet Jesus, help us to remember how powerful You are! May we never forget that you are faithful to Your promise to care and sustain us through the biggest storms of life!
He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
Comments from Readers … or your turn to talk!