About the Author

Renee Swope is a Word-lover, heart-encourager, and grace-needer. She's also a wife and mom of three Joshua (27), Andrew (24), and Aster (13) and the best-selling author of "A Confident Heart" and her newest book, "A Confident Mom," released in February! Renee loves making memories with her family, creating beautiful...

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
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(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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  1. Renee,

    There are some veterans at the assisted living where my dad lives. I always salute them and say thank you for your service. The local American Legion gives them small bags of gifts on Memorial Day and 4th of July. It is their way of saying thanks.

    This is perfect scripture for me today. I have been feeling a little down lately. Like my work-visiting my aging dad in assisted living, shopping, errands, laundry, etc. I quit my job last June (2014) to be more available for my aging dad. Now I question if my works matter at all. Thanks for the reminder that God sees all that we do and will remember it!

    Blessings to all and Happy 4th!

    • Beth,
      You and your work do matter!! God sees how lovingly you care for your dad. Being a caretaker is one of the hardest, least rewarding jobs there is. Our God is El Roi…the God who sees. He knows your heart, and I do too. Take heart!
      Blessings and Happy 4th,
      Bev xx

  2. So true!! We get caught up in our own lives and we forget! Although I Ana Canadian we lived in the States foe 10 years and now two of our children live there I love America! Part of my heart will always be there and now part of my family. Praise God!!

  3. I know a few men who served. They aren’t enlisted anymore and honestly, it’s easy to let who they are to me now–father, brother, friend–overshadow the fact that they served and they continue to live with the very real lasting effects of the taxing experience. But God doesn’t forget their work, and neither should I. I think coming from me, someone they see/hear from often, a thank you means something extra–that in addition to everything else they are to me, they’re also a hero for having served to protect our nation, yes, but also to protect our family. To protect me. Thank you for the reminder to put thought into this and to go out of my way to express my gratitude! This verse is also encouraging for me, as I sometimes wonder what’ll come of the work I’m doing. But God doesn’t forget the work we do in love!

    • God never forgets!

      My son has served 3 tours, and the effects can be debilitating, at times. Also, I met a Vietnam Vets wife, who tells me that her husband hides out in the basement over the fourth of July, while we celebrate. Interesting, because my son has to hide out too.

      A young friend was with my son, one the first 4th after he came home. She told her mom (who then reported to me) that while driving, some loud and unexpected fireworks went off. Instantly, even though in the drivers seat, he tried to duck and cover. PTSD, they say. Too much time spent, living hyper-vigilant, waiting for the inevitable, and seeing mass loss of life; trauma.

      Just last night, while watching a fireworks show with a friend in a nearby town, we got word that there was a live shooter. Sure, it could be anyone, but from experience having witnessed an area vet of Vietnam ara revert back to war days, I wouldnt doubt that this could be results of all of those “bombs”, bursting in air.

      Please remember our veterans, but also others who have been in war zones when celebrating. It is so frightening to some.

      • My husband has PTSD from the military. This year we decided we weren’t going to play victim to the effects of war and hosting our own fireworks party with close friends.

        • Thats great, that he is able to do that now. Everyone goes through their own healing processes, and having close family helps..sometimes.
          Ive seen msny cases where trauma, such as divorce, or loss of a close one, can send one back. One such was the man in our hometown, whose gitlfriend had broke up with him that day. Who knows whatelse, slong with that stress, caused those flashbacks, but he ran through town as if he was in the war zone, with his gun. I came face to face with him, as he peered around my garage, and Im not sure why he didnt shoot. He was apprehended and taken in for an evaluation then, and we havent seen him since. That was years ago now.

          While I participated, with a friend, on Saturday night, at a sundown show of fireworks, there was a report of a gunman on the loose. There were many officers, with guns drawn, so Im sure it was so. My first thought was that he was a veteran with flashbacks, but others just thought he was a crazy man.

          I suppose it depends on how much you have seen/been immersed in as well.

          My prayers for your veteran, and all others who suffer the effects. Mine still cant bring himself to sleep, after 7 years, so Im sure so many others must also be in his shoes.

  4. My husband served in Vietnam in 1967. I’m so thankful for him and the other Veterans of other wars. Watch over all precious Lord.

  5. Denise,
    I believe that encouraging the families of those who serve…the true backbone of our Nation, is a great way to say thanks. They sacrificially keep the home fires burning while their family members defend our great country. Sending up prayers for all those spouses, parents, siblings.
    Blessings,
    Bev

    • Thank you to all those who are offering prayers to the families of service members. We are too often forgotten about when thanks is giving for sacrifices. Just like being in the service no one knows what that is like unless you live that life. That life was chosen to serve. Most times the families have no choice of serving but yet we sacrifice our loved ones safety, lack of presence in our lives. The fear when they are deployed for a year in a war zone that we live with each day wondering if we will ever see our loved one again or not. Dealing with negative behaviors from our children who are also stressed and sadden with their parent not being there. Please don’t take the small things in life for granted. Military families don’t have their loved one with them for birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas or milestones of their children (births, first times-bike riding, walking, talking, winning baseball games or attending school functions.) From a Navy Wife… if I may speak for military families every where… thank you for thinking and praying for us too! : ) Happy 4th of July everyone.

      • Amy,
        Thank you for a “mini glimpse” into the very difficult, different way of life a military family lives… You (and all military families) will be forever in our hearts, thoughts, and prayers!! Because of the CHRIST-like sacrifices of our precious military families… The United States would NEVER have existed without ALL OF YOU!! Thanking GOD for you!!!!!!

  6. Two of my mother’s brothers and her stepbrother married three girls who were sisters. One of them was my favorite aunt in all the growing up years. Her parents’ big old farmhouse had banners in the front window with blue stars in the center of each one of the five. Before WWII was over three of the stars had become gold. I was about 11 years old; back then we scavenged for gum wrappers to save the foil; boxed up tin cans, our mothers counted pennies and ration stamps for which child needed shoes worst. People who had the land for it grew victory gardens and shared the produce with neighbors and whoever had need.

    Now I’m 82 and find it hard to believe how we have allowed our nation to drift so far from where we were then as a country that truly loved America. I don’t drive so am not in town often but the town is military so there are a lot of soldiers and I make it a point when I see them to go to them, touch their arm or shoulder and say “thank you Sir, for what you do.” Males are all “Sir” to me. I am proud of them. Three of my five are veterans, and yes, I’m proud of them.

    I’m not good at fitting names in with writings but I am very grateful to the writer who said what a difference it makes when you pray about the news headlines and the people involved. That is true; I am seeing the difference; not in them, but in me. Thank you; and thanks to your adult Sunday School class.

  7. God never forgets!

    My son has served 3 tours, and the effects can be debilitating, at times. Also, I met a Vietnam Vets wife, who tells me that her husband hides out in the basement over the fourth of July, while we celebrate. Interesting, because my son has to hide out too.

    A young friend was with my son, one the first 4th after he came home. She told her mom (who then reported to me) that while driving, some loud and unexpected fireworks went off. Instantly, even though in the drivers seat, he tried to duck and cover. PTSD, they say. Too much time spent, living hyper-vigilant, waiting for the inevitable, and seeing mass loss of life; trauma.

    Just last night, while watching a fireworks show with a friend in a nearby town, we got word that there was a live shooter. Sure, it could be anyone, but from experience having witnessed an area vet of Vietnam ara revert back to war days, I wouldnt doubt that this could be results of all of those “bombs”, bursting in air.

    Please remember our veterans, but also others who have been in war zones when celebrating. It is so frightening to some.