Nothing Is Impossible for God

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God uses the humble to make the impossible happen. Consider the Annunciation, which is celebrated on March 25. An unmarried girl was asked to become the Mother of God. Despite her questions and the impossibility of it all, she answered humbly, “Let it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38) – and the history of the world changed.

In ancient Israel, a little girl was captured during a raid and became a slave of the army commander’s wife. Naaman, the army commander, had leprosy. The girl knew of a powerful prophet and told Naaman’s wife, “If only my master would present himself to the prophet in Samaria, he would cure him of his leprosy.” Naaman went to see the prophet Elisha, who told Naaman simply to wash in the Jordan river. He did so, and was cured (see 2 Kings 5:1-14).

As God used young Mary to be an instrument in Jesus’ miraculous Incarnation, He also used the slave girl to be an instrument in Naaman’s miraculous healing. Though she had no social status, God inspired the girl to speak up when she realized someone could benefit from what she knew. Had she not followed her inclination to say something, Naaman wouldn’t have been cured. 

God also prompted Naaman’s servants to urge him to follow Elisha’s command. When Elisha told Naaman, through a messenger, to go wash in the river, Naaman refused. He had expected Elisha to come out to greet him and perform some kind of dramatic ritual over him; washing in the Jordan was so simple it seemed foolish. The servants pointed out that, if Elisha had ordered him to do something extraordinary, he would have done it right away. He agreed; so he went, washed, and was healed. Had these lowly servants remained silent, Naaman wouldn’t have been cured.

Lent is half over. Let’s redouble our efforts with humility to listen to the promptings of the Spirit to step out in faith or to speak up when we see someone in need. Let’s humbly listen for His guidance when others reach out to us. If we hesitate because we think we’re unqualified or we’re afraid of being criticized, then we may be thinking only of ourselves. Instead, let’s not underestimate the goodness and the loving power of God; let’s consider that He may want to accomplish something through us, impossible as that may seem. Let’s trust that, if He has put an idea in our heart, He’ll guide us to each next step to make it happen. 

Let’s believe that what He wants to accomplish through us will not be impossible if we trust Him.

“for nothing will be impossible for God.” – Luke 1:27

Open my eyes, that I may see You. Open my ears, that I may hear You. Open my heart, that I may love You in the people around me.

SIDE NOTE: The women’s a cappella quintet I sing with, Grace Notes, has been invited to join the terrific men’s vocal ensemble Sonnenberg Station in a FREE CONCERT that is open to the public on Sunday, April 6, at 7:00 p.m. at Faith Lutheran Church, 2726 West Market St. in Fairlawn, across from Marc’s. Both groups will perform our own pieces and we will also sing a few together. This will be a fantastic concert! Hope to see you there – invite your friends!

Thank you for reading my reflection.  All thanks to God for giving me the ideas and guiding my words!    © 2025 Gina Bedell   

  

Through these reflections, I invite you, the reader, to reflect on a given topic and then seek deeper answers through prayer, additional spiritual reading, and/or consultation with clergy or other qualified persons in order to grow in your faith and understanding of God’s love and will for your life. 

Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below.  Comments are always welcome! 

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list. 

You can also find my posts on my Facebook page!

P.S.

Pray for peace at home and around the world. Donate to a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. Pray for the people around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters.

Love Your Enemies

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It was 1976 when singer/songwriter James Taylor first sang to us, “Shower the people you love with love.” This uplifting song is a good reminder to not take our loved ones for granted. Christ would tell us, though, to take our love to a higher level – to ‘love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.’ 

The kind of love Christ commands us to offer to others is selfless and compassionate. This love wants what is good for the other person, while expecting nothing in return. There is no ulterior motive; we have nothing to gain from their good fortune. This kind of love involves praying not only for the well-being of those we love, but praying also for the well-being of our ‘enemies’ – those who, for example, have caused us some kind of pain or who antagonize us. This isn’t easy to do on our own, but we can do all things through Christ Who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). And so we love the nosy neighbor, the people who attack us for our political views, and the narrow-minded coworker who belittles us. 

We love and pray for our enemies, in part, because doing so cracks open the door of our heart to Christ’s grace and makes us more compassionate toward them. In other words, praying for them changes us – we move closer to Christ and become more like Him. Also, when we love our enemies, they may see the love God has for them through our actions – and that might change their heart, too.

Let me clarify that loving our enemies does not mean putting ourselves in harm’s way. In some cases, we may have to distance ourselves from certain individuals to protect ourselves physically, mentally, or emotionally. Some relationships are beyond repair, but we can still love the other person – we can still want what is good for them and pray for them instead of cursing them. 

Lent gives us the opportunity to strengthen our resolve to love not only those who love us but to love our enemies as well, and to grow closer to Christ by doing so. If you’re longing for a closer relationship with Christ and are feeling spiritually stagnant, consider participating in a Lenten church service such as the Stations of the Cross, or look online for a Lenten speaker series. These may give you a deeper understanding of Christ’s love for you and strengthen you to go out of your comfort zone – to shower love not only on those who love you, but on all you come in contact with. 

“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” 

– Matthew 5:44 

Open my eyes, that I may see You. Open my ears, that I may hear You. Open my heart, that I may love You in the people around me.

Thank you for reading my reflection.  All thanks to God for giving me the ideas and guiding my words!    © 2025 Gina Bedell   

  

Through these reflections, I invite you, the reader, to reflect on a given topic and then seek deeper answers through prayer, additional spiritual reading, and/or consultation with clergy or other qualified persons in order to grow in your faith and understanding of God’s love and will for your life. 

Comments are always welcome! Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. 

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list. 

You can also find my posts on my Facebook page!

P.S.

Pray for peace at home and around the world. Donate to a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. Pray for the people around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters.

Give Up Cruise Control

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When we travel to a destination we’ve never been to before, we drive mindfully. We follow the GPS. We pay close attention to the road signs and we stay focused. On the other hand, when we’re driving to a familiar place, we’re more nonchalant. We set the cruise control and relax. We don’t have to watch the signs too closely. Sometimes we don’t even think about where we’re going. 

In a similar way, sometimes spiritually we operate on cruise control. We get set in a familiar routine and don’t think too much about where we’re going. We forget that our ‘destination’ is to grow closer to Christ and to attain the joy and peace of that close relationship. We become lukewarm with our prayers and nonchalant with how we treat the people around us. 

Lent is a time for us to give up our ‘cruise control complacency’ and to do our part to strengthen our relationship with Christ. We remind ourselves that Lent is less about what we do and more about what we allow God to do in us through our prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. We remember that Christ wants us to experience His loving presence in more real and meaningful ways, and so we open our hearts to His Spirit so that He can strengthen us in His love.  

Over the next 40 days, take a step toward Christ. Let Him move your heart. Ask Him to open your eyes to experience His love for you. 

Here are a few suggestions as to how you may be more intentional in growing closer to Christ. Take a moment to let Him reveal to you more ideas: 

* Schedule a few more minutes each day for prayer. Acknowledge Christ’s presence with you, speak from your heart – and listen.

* Write your prayers in a journal. Look back on it later to see how your prayers were answered.

* Let His compassion and peace detach you from your abundance and inspire you to give more of your finances or your time to someone in need.

* Let Him give you the courage to reach out in love to an estranged family member.

* Let Him soften your heart to remove fear and bitterness.

* Let Him move you to share His love and peace with others. 

* Place your challenges on His cross and let Him use them for His purpose: the salvation of the world.

This Lent, give up your spiritual cruise control. Take a step toward Christ, Who is waiting for you. Offer Him a bit of your time and energy, and let Him fill your heart with His deep and powerful love. 

“This, rather, is the fasting that I wish… sharing your bread with the hungry, clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own.” –Isaiah 58:6-7

Open my eyes, that I may see You. Open my ears, that I may hear You. Open my heart, that I may love You in the people around me.

Thank you for reading my reflection.  All thanks to God for giving me the ideas and guiding my words!    © 2025 Gina Bedell   

  

Through these reflections, I invite you, the reader, to reflect on a given topic and then seek deeper answers through prayer, additional spiritual reading, and/or consultation with clergy or other qualified persons in order to grow in your faith and understanding of God’s love and will for your life. 

Comments are always welcome! Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. 

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list. 

You can also find my posts on my Facebook page!

P.S.

Pray for peace at home and around the world. Donate to a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. Pray for the people around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters.