Christ in You

"You're an overcomer, you stay in the fight til the final round. You're not going under! 'Cause God is holding you right now..." Overcomer by Mandisa

This world is full of difficult situations that we consider unjust. We may deal with an unfair boss, someone might cheat us, or our plans don't go the way we hoped. What do you do when faced with disappointment and persecution? 

As Christians, we know that Christ is our strength. He lives in us, and we can trust in Him to get us through our toughest problems. That doesn't mean solutions happen overnight, although they absolutely can. But more often, Christ displays His strength in the waiting. When we are waiting for resolution, we can turn to Him and know that in all things, He has already overcome. Speak that victory out loud and declare that He already knows how it will all work out, and you are believing in Him to stand up for you and work in you. What do you need Christ to give you strength in right now? 

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.1 John 4:4

Journey on!

Waiting to Hear from God

What do we do when we can't hear God? We pray and ask God for an answer, and He seems to be silent. All we want is to know He's there and know His will. In those moments, remember that faith is believing even when you can't see. God has made a promise to you that He will never leave you, nor forsake you (Heb 13:5). Take time to be still, pray, listen, and wait. Sometimes our problem is that we don't want to wait for the answer. I struggle with impatience, and find myself wondering why God isn't answering me by my timeline. But God has a perfect plan, with perfect timing, and it's up to me to trust in Him even in the waiting. What are you praying for today? Seek Him with all your heart and don't give up hope in this season of waiting.

 “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” Psalm 27:14

Journey on!

New in Him

We all sin, and when we feel like we've really messed up, it can be hard to believe that God will really forgive us again and again. But the Bible tells us that Christ died for all our sins, and we are forgiven through Him! Don't let your bad moment define your relationship with God. He loves you and His mercies are new every morning. It's a new day, a new chance to walk with Him. If you simply come to Him, He will welcome you with open arms, day after day. You are a new creation in Him, and as you strive to walk in love and serve Him, He will continue to bless you abundantly. 

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

Journey on!

Greatness

“Whoever wants to be great must become a servant.” - Mark 10:43 (MSG)

We all have our own ideas of what it means to be truly great. Usually we think of greatness as relating to strength, fame, accomplishements. God sees greatness in the small things, the humble people, the servants. When we submit to God and put others' needs ahead of our own, giving of ourselves to help others, that is greatness! How can you be a servant this week? 

Journey on!

His Presence in Sadness

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. Psalm 34:18

We all struggle with sadness sometimes. Some of us are more prone to it than others. We see some who appear to be perpetually happy, and others who struggle in despair often. I find myself somewhere in between. I try to look at the blessings of life, but that doesn't mean I never feel sorrow. And believe it or not, God cares deeply about your sadness. He loves you and the bible tells us He draws Himself close to those who are hurting. If you are feeling sadtoday, you can find hope and peace in knowing that God cares. You can ask Him to restore joy to you. God wants to be with you when you are having great days and when you are feeling down! He is always with us. Always. What a comfort and blessing!

Journey on!

Grace in Frustration

As we go through our day, frustrations can arise. It's easy to snap at a coworker or feel fed up with your kids. When you face these inevitable moments of frustration, how should you respond? Take a deep breath and say a quick prayer. Stop and read a scripture. Find it in your heart to proceed with grace and love! We won't always respond the way we should, and that's ok. But if we make a conscious effort to look at the person through God's eyes, we have a better chance of show His love to others even in challenging moments.

"Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ.” Philippians 1:27a

Journey on! 

Pressure

We are pressed on all sides by the pressures of this life- sometimes these pressures overwhelm us. As you go through your week, facing big decisions, bills, tight deadlines, parenting conflicts, and any other stress that comes your way, turn your face first and foremost to God. Start each day with a scripture, a song, a prayer. Anything that weighs on your mind and heart, take it to the Lord and lay it at His feet. Ask for His favor and His peace as you face these things. With God on your side, you can find joy and calm even in the most stressful situations. He will guide your path and help you have wisdom, and He will comfort you in the things that don't go your way. Our God loves us so much that every hair on our head is numbered (Luke 12:7), so believe with all your heart that He cares for you in even the tiniest details of your day. 

"Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved."  Psalm 55:22

Journey on!

Love So Amazing

"Love isn't something you find. Love is something that finds you." Loretta Young

Have you ever poured out love to someone who took it for granted? Love is the most powerful emotion and force we humans have to share, and yet it can cause us the most pain when it is not reciprocated, or when it is false. Not everyone will accept the love you show them. 

Sometimes we mistakenly believe that God's love is conditional and easily lost as well. But the truth is, He does love you no matter what! You are His child and even if you make the choice not to accept it, the love itself is not taken away. He loves you dearly and longs for the day you will return to Him and accept His gift of salvation, just as the shepherd searched longingly for his lost sheep (Matthew 18). The choice is always yours. The love, compassion and grace He has for you is shown through the sacrifice Jesus made on that cross. There is nothing you have done or could do that He would not forgive if you come to Him. His love is amazing. Don't push God away because you are afraid that He could never love you- that is a lie from Satan. God will ALWAYS love you. Will you love Him back?

"Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies...how priceless is your unfailing love!" Psalm 36:5-6

Journey on!

In His Hand

"He's got the whole world in His hands." Laurie London

We can't walk on this path of life without slipping and tripping, bumping into things, and needing to turn around and find our way again. Mistakes are a part of being human. Sometimes we feel we have gone too far to find our way back. Sometimes we feel alone in our struggle up the mountains we face. But the Lord God is ALWAYS with us, in the best moments and the worst. He love you dearly, and wants to guide you along the way. Stay strong in your faith and He will carry you through! 

"When I said, "My foot is slipping," your unfailing love, LORD, supported me." Psalm 94:18

Journey on! 

The Glory of God

I love the beauty and newness of Spring. Flowers bloom all around, butterflies emerge, trees blossom, baby animals are born...it is a season of beginnings. In this gorgeous time of year, take every opportunity to sit outside, go for a walk, and embrace the glory of God. Experience His majesty in the beauty of nature. Listen for His voice in the whispers of winds through the trees. Feel His peace beside the bank of a creek. Let the sunshine of His love shine upon you. The Glory of God is evident all year, but what a blessing to take note of it especially in this precious season of new life.

"The heavens declare the glory of God;
    the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalm 19:1

Journey on! 

Spiritual Encouragers

"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us." 

-Albert Schweitzer

As we journey through this life, it is so important to have close friendships with others who love God. We need a spiritual community! We need people who will help guide us, give us wisdom, and point us to God. And we, in turn, need to reciprocate that help to others! If you don't have a strong support group of believers in your life, you should make it a priority to find one. Maybe you can look for friends at church, a small group, or a book study. Pray that God will open doors for you to make those friends who will be great spiritual advisers in your life. And if you have a group already, tell them how grateful you are for them. Make sure you are remembering to check up on them and encourage them along their paths. We need each other. 

"See to it brothers that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart...but encourage one another daily..."  Hebrews 3:12-13

Journey on!

The Here and Now

How many of your thoughts during the day are focused on things of the future: where are we going this weekend? How will we pay our bills next month? Who will I marry? Should we have more kids? When should I retire? So many questions about the future fill our minds daily. 

I am planner, so I like to think ahead. It's not a bad thing to do, but when we allow all those questions to cause us anxiety and fear, we are missing out on the peace of God. We can also miss out on the blessing around us, right here in the present. If you find yourself concerned about your future, take a moment to pause and reflect on the beauty of your day. Look into the faces of the people around you. Listen for ways that God is speaking to you in this very moment. When we embrace the here and now, we appreciate all that God is doing. If you still have concerns about what's next, take them to the feet of God in prayer. You will find that by surrendering your worries, you can embrace His peace and joy in this very moment!

"This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

Journey on!

God's Compassion

"The Lord is full of compassion and mercy." James 5:11

As we walk with God, there are going to be times when we stumble. We try to model ourselves after Jesus, loving others and making choices that honor God. But no one is perfect, and sometimes we fall pretty short of that expectation! The great news is that our God is compassionate, loving, and forgiving. He is slow to anger and quick to forgive. This life is complicated, often messy, but our God loves us right where we are. Our faith journey isn't always going to be easy. But when we make mistakes, we can go to God and He will renew and restore us! Do not beat yourself up about sins of the past. Accept the grace and peace given by God. Honor and praise Him for His love, and "go and sin no more." (John 8:11) His compassion and love are great blessings if we are willing to receive them. 

Journey on!

Seek Rest

"He who cannot rest, cannot work; he who cannot let go, cannot hold on; he who cannot find footing, cannot go forward." Harry Emerson Fosdick

We have an amazing gift in Jesus; we receive salvation when we accept and give our lives to Him! But a lot of us aren't claiming the peace that comes with this promise. We live hurried, frazzled lives and feel anxiety about the future. We work ourselves too hard and try too intently to please others. As children of God, our hope, our salvation, our rest and our peace do NOT start when we die and go to heaven- they start here in the present! Immerse yourself in Him today. Feel his comfort and calm. Make yourself take time for rest. Fill your mind with God's word and your heart with His praise. When we choose Christ in our every moment, we can find rest and peace in Him. Don't ignore the blessings He is offering you today! Embrace rest, and see how much more you can actually accomplish for His glory when you are refreshed. 

"My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him." Psalm 62:1

Journey on!