The Year of “Re” Resurrect: Can These Bones Live? “And He said to me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?’” So I answered, “O Lord God, You know.” Ezekiel 37:3 By definition, the word resurrect means to bring back to life. It is a verb, which denotes action. Oftentimes, when we hear the verb, we automatically think of the noun resurrection. When explicitly stated in scripture, resurrection is the result of bringing someone back from the dead. However, as we see in Ezekiel 37, resurrection refers to more than just physical life. It can also be applied to our feelings of hopelessness and to the dry areas of our lives. After the death of Lazarus, Jesus said to Martha, “I AM the resurrection…believeth thou this?” (John 11:25-26) Are you ready to let the I AM, that I AM, breathe life back into you? Are you ready to be reignited in the promises of God? What needs to be resurrected in your life? Is it your faith and trust in God? Is it your hope for the future? Is it a dream or a desire that you have been waiting for, but it seems to be on pause? Is it that fractured relationship? Your confidence? Your self-esteem? Where is life seeping out of you? Can these bones live? In the next few weeks, we will walk through our God-given hopes and desires, what feels like their death, God’s perceived silence, and ultimately, their resurrection. We will begin to recognize the places where we have placed a period, but God has written a comma. Looking Forward: Resurrect Week One: Introduction: Can These Bones Live? Week Two: The Crowd, the Calling, and the Cost Week Three: The Weight of Friday Week Four: The Silence of Saturday Week Five: Get Up and Go Tell

"Be strong and courageous..." easier said than done when the "giant" in front of you feels massive, right? Whatever is standing in your way this week, it doesn't have the final say. But sometimes, just naming the struggle out loud takes away its power. Which of these describes your "giant" today? Let’s face it together in the comments.

Rejoice Leap for JOY! “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” Philippians 4:4 Over the past few weeks, we have been reminded that God has placed His Spirit on the inside of us. By His Spirit, we can follow the admonition of Paul to rejoice in the Lord always, and again and again to rejoice. It is the joy of the Lord that gives us the will to continue in the face of the cares and challenges of this world. JOY, the never-fleeting heavenly deposit. JOY, the gift that does not have to be pursued but resides within every believer. This joy springs forth freely when we allow our minds to break through the thoughts and ideologies that clog our spouts. This joy is never-ending, always flowing, and springs forth through the well of worship. In Jewish culture, rejoicing was often expressed outwardly, not kept hidden within the heart. People sang, clapped, lifted their hands, and danced before the Lord. Celebration was not considered undignified but appropriate in the presence of a faithful God. David himself danced before the Lord with all his might when the ark was brought into Jerusalem. His response was not restrained or calculated. It was gratitude overflowing into action. To leap for joy is to allow what God has done on the inside to show on the outside. It is the body agreeing with the spirit that God is worthy of praise. Sometimes rejoicing is quiet. Other times it moves. It lifts hands, opens mouths, and even moves feet. Not for show, but as an expression of trust and thanksgiving. In these weeks, we have returned to joy again and again. We have been reminded that joy is already given, already present, already available. Joy strengthens us. Joy sustains us. Joy remains. And sometimes, that joy overflows. So REJOICE and leap for JOY. Not because life is perfect, but because God is faithful. REJOICE! Not because the road is easy, but because you are not walking it alone. REJOICE! Not because everything has changed, but because He never does. REJOICE! Let the JOY rise. Dance. Sing. Shout.

Sometimes the night feels long, heavy, and unending. You pray, you wait, you hold on, and still the darkness can seem louder than the promise. Some seasons carry a weight that words cannot fully express. The silence lingers, the waiting stretches you, and it can feel as though the darkness has settled in and refuses to move. Yet darkness has limits. It cannot stop the sun from rising, it cannot overpower the light, and it cannot cancel what God has already spoken over your life or what He is quietly preparing beneath the surface. Morning is not merely a possibility. It is a certainty. Morning does not come because everything suddenly makes sense or falls into place. Morning comes because God is faithful. What feels still is not wasted, and what feels hidden is not forgotten. Beneath the surface, strength is taking root, perspective is being reshaped, and grace is holding you together in ways you may not even see yet. Hold on to hope and remain steady in faith, because dawn never asks permission from the night. It simply comes. Here at Nechama Coaching, compassionate, faith-based support is available for the in-between seasons of healing, transition, and rediscovery. You do not have to carry the weight by yourself or figure everything out alone. When the path forward feels unclear, having a safe place to process, reflect, and rebuild can make all the difference. Your morning is coming. Hold on.

Rejoice Joy: A Heavenly Deposit “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” Philippians 4:4 A few years back, there was a movie titled The Pursuit of Happyness (yes, that is how it is spelled). In this movie, a man stayed persistent through homelessness and poverty to become a successful businessman. The movie portrays how perseverance can push you to achieve the “American Dream.” According to our U.S. Declaration of Independence, we are endowed by the Creator with certain unalienable rights. Among these rights is the “pursuit of happiness.” However, if we are in constant pursuit, do we ever possess and overtake happiness? Are we ever really satisfied? What happens when our external circumstances change? Are we once again in pursuit of this sometimes elusive and fickle emotion? Scripture points us to something deeper than happiness. The word rejoice speaks to having a deep internal jubilation. Biblically speaking, it is something not moved by outside influences. You see, joy is a fruit of the Spirit. It is innate in the believer by the Holy Spirit. We do not have to pursue it, chase it, or even conjure it up. As mentioned in last week's devotional, we only have to receive it. It is a gift given by God to His children. We only have to choose to look inside and remember the gift given to us by our Father. This deep, abiding sense of jubilation is not because all is well on the outside; it comes from knowing that all is well on the inside. It is well with our souls. The Spirit of God within us allows us to smile through tears and laugh through pain. It allows us to continue celebrating when the party ends, and to keep dancing when the music stops. This joy is unshakeable, unmovable, and everlasting. It is our strength. So today, stop, look inside, and rejoice! Joy is here. There is no need to chase it; it lies within every believer. Therefore, we can rejoice in the Lord always, and again, and again, and again. Follow & Stay Connected: NechamaCoaching.com