Trust in His Power

“The reason why I smile even in the midst of the storm, is because I know that Jesus Christ will carry me through.”― Gift Gugu Mona, South Africa

When things are uncertain, I find myself feeling anxious. I like to know the plan, know what to expect, and prepare as best as I can...but that's not often a realistic option! Instead, life can be extremely unpredictable! It veers in all directions. We feel overwhelmed when life feels so out of control. But these twists and turns do not come as a surprise to our faithful, omnipresent Lord! What seems like chaos to us is a beautiful tapestry of life to the One who created the world. He knows the good that will come from our lives. He knows the plans He has for us, and they are to prosper and not harm us (Jer. 29:11). We just need to remember that when life feels out of control, it's not...it's in His control. Be intentional about trusting in God this week as you face life's unpredictability. He loves you and has you in His all-powerful hands. In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid.

What can mere mortals do to me?  Psalm 56:4

Journey on! 

Peace Anew

Today is a new day. We don't have to stress over what happened yesterday or what will come tomorrow, only rest in His perfect peace as he gives us the gift of today! Our God loves us so much, and He is ready to do a new thing in your life. Open your heart to Him. Sit with Him, listen for His voice. Embrace the peace and joy and security that you have in His arms. Today might bring new challenges to face and new obstacles to overcome, but we can go into every circumstance knowing that He has gone before us and will walk us through every step. The Lord is gracious and so, so good. Focus on these things today. 

“A new day will dawn on us from above
because our God is loving and merciful.
He will give light to those who live in the dark
and in death’s shadow.
He will guide us into the way of peace.”
Luke 1:78-79 GW  

Journey on!

Sharing Hope

“Give a man a dollar, and you cheer his heart. Give him a dream, and you challenge his heart. Give him Christ, and you change his heart.” Anonymous

How can we share the beautiful message of freedom in Christ to those around us? No one appreciates having the Bible forced on them or being judged harshly, yet that is how some choose to spread His word. Instead, we should love people exactly where they are- show them we care and respect them! Be a light to those you work with and people you meet. Share the amazing things God has done in your life. Show Christ in how you treat others. It's not about condemnation- it's about offering hope. How can you share Christ in love this week?

"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ." Ephesians 4:15

Journey on! 

Inconvenience Yourself

As humans, we can be a self-absorbed bunch. We worry about our futures and spend our days focused on our wants and needs. God tells us we need to pay attention to the world around us as well:

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4

Notice this verse doesn’t say, “whenever you can fit it into your schedule,” or “if you can, but if not, no biggie.” God fully expects his followers to live lives that honor Him and care for His children. It’s why God didn’t leave Adam as the sole inhabitant of the earth…He knew we needed each other. When we work together, amazing things can happen, and lives can be changed. What can you do to be more mindful of others? How can you have a larger impact on the world around you? I challenge you to find ways to inconvenience yourself for the sake of someone else this week. When we say, “I’m too busy to get involved with anyone else” what we’re really doing is exposing our misplaced priorities. It’s time to look at the bigger picture, beyond our personal day-to-day focus, and get our hands dirty serving others. When we do, we can truly be a part of something bigger than ourselves, and find a greater significance to our lives.

‎"You can't do anything about the length of your life, but you can do something about its width and depth." - Shira Teharni

Journey on!

Renewal

It’s a life-changing experience to let Christ into your heart. There is such joy in unburdening yourself and letting go of the past. Like any relationship, though, we have our own highs and lows. God doesn’t change, and neither does our salvation, but we still have our good and bad days. We go through times where we feel incredibly close to God, and other times when we may feel burned out, dried up, or just tired. We may even stumble back into some of our old bad habits that leave us feeling like we aren’t worthy of enjoying God’s love. But God loves us ALL the time! He cares for us and lives in us through the mountains and valleys in our lives. When you find yourself in those times where you just feel “blah” spiritually, ask God to refresh and renew your spirit. Psalm 68:9 says,

“You sent abundant rain, O God, to refresh the weary land.”

Just as He refreshes the land, he cana refresh your spirit. Don’t give up when you are in a spiritual low. Understand that God is with you even then, and seek His beauty in a new, refreshing way. Read a new book, sing a song, pray, talk with a friend, go on a nature walk…the options are endless. Find what refreshes you and enjoy a spiritual renewal this week.

Journey on!

A New Thing

A New Thing

It's easy to dwell on the past...on our failures and negative circumstances that we wish had gone differently. But with this new year comes new opportunities, new chances to make this year a better year. And even if we feel this way in a few months, too, it's never too late to start fresh. Our God loves us and offers us new life and new hope through His son Jesus- not just at New Year's, but all year long! Let Christ into your heart and let Him create a beautiful new thing in you today. 

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."

Isaiah 43: 18-19

Journey on! 

Where do you Place your Value?

We choose the coolest car, house, or clothes. We splurge on an iPad or a Blackberry. We post our best pictures on Facebook. We act a certain way and make specific choices based on what someone else is going to think about it. What are some other things you do to make yourself feel “worthy?” One of the most common desires we share with each other here on earth is the need to feel accepted. We all want someone to think we’re great.

We often look for our self-worth and our value in the wrong things. We spend more time trying to create an appearance of awesomeness rather than actually living our lives to the fullest. We need to remember that God, who created us, loves us more than anything…our self-worth comes from Him alone. Our deepest needs can only be filled by our Maker. When we see ourselves as God’s precious children, fully loved and accepted, we can let go of the need to impress the world. We can stop trying to prove ourselves worthy and start living our lives with purpose, passion, and love for others. Remind yourself that God loves you for who you are, and He values your life tremendously!

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save.  He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17)

Journey on!

A Savior Of Shepherd and Kings

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” Luke 1:8-11

We hear this story often, and yet it still fills me with a sense of wonder as I imagine what it must have been like to be one of those shepherds. An actual angel of God appearing before lowly shepherds, probably living a fairly uneventful life out in the pastures until that moment. Can you imagine the beauty of that sight? The glory of the Lord was shining down, and this angel was bringing a message of hope to them. I would love to have heard their excited conversation as they travelled towards that manger in Bethlehem. How incredible it must have been to gaze upon Jesus himself, a tiny newborn child, the Savior of the world. As you think about the well-known story of Christ's birth this Christmas week, take a few moments to truly absorb the magnificence, the beauty, the joy and the peace of that night. Praise God for the greatest gift we could ever imagine…a gift for great kings and lowly shepherds alike.

Merry Christmas!

Surrender to Win

“Judah will hold the royal scepter,
And his descendants will always rule.
Nations will bring him tribute
And bow in obedience before him. “ (Genesis 49:10, a prophecy of Jesus’ birth)

     We generally associate the word “surrender” with defeat. It means giving up, quitting, losing! I think that is why it is so difficult for us to grasp the concept of surrendering our lives to Jesus Christ. We say we give ourselves to Him…but how well does that play out in our lives? We still struggle to take control, to do things with our own strength. The story of Jesus seems too far in the past for us to submit to such a king. We need to do it ourselves, and then we feel frustrated when we can’t measure up.

     Ironically, when we completely surrender to Him, that is when we win! We may lose our sense of being in control, but we were never in control in the first place. Surrendering to the Lord in EVERY area of our lives may go against our human nature, but it frees us in ways we can’t imagine. He knows the best plan for you. He knows your heart’s greatest desires and your struggles. And He will show you the best path if you can let go and LET HIM! Remember that Jesus was called Immanuel, God with us…when we submit to Him we allow Him to work in us and with us in amazing ways. What areas of your life do you need to surrender more fully to God?

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”

(Matthew 16:24-25)

Journey on!

He is WITH You

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name ‘Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us.’ ” —Matthew 1:23

In the midst of the jolly excitement this holiday season, there are many who are hurting and in need of healing. This verse reminds us that with the promise of a baby, a Savior, there was also a promise that God would be with us! His very name speaks the truth that the Lord dwells in us and with us. He can comfort us, heal us, protect us, and strengthen us. If you see someone walking though a difficult time this season, remind them of the blessing of Christmas- that our Savior came to be with us, and is ALWAYS with us even now. Shine Christ's light to the world this holiday and remember His amazing love for you!

Journey on!

The Gifts of the Season

"I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the LORD Most High." Psalm 7:17

One of the fun parts of the holidays was always exchanging gifts with friends and family. Not merely because we cared about receiving "things" but because it gave us a chance to bless each other! There is something beautiful and satisfying about blessing another person. And when you receive a blessing, it inspires feelings of gratitude and love. The Lord has blessed us abundantly and given us amazing gifts every single day. We don't always take the opportunity to acknowledge all the ways in which we have been blessed, but I hope during this Christmas season, you will reflect on the people God has placed in your life, on the provision He has given over the year, on the warmth of a happy home or the security of a job. Whatever blessings God has given you this year, take time to thank Him for them! Gratitude is such a critical thing to have. What gifts has God given you this year?

Journey on!

Open Your Heart

God wants us to be generous in helping those who are in need. The Bible tells us in 1 John 3:17-18:

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."

Many are struggling to make ends meet, and they may not always come out and ask for help, but if we keep our eyes open and really listen to people, we will notice the ones who really need a helping hand. Take time this week to pay attention to those around you, at work or in your community, and pray for God to help you recognize opportunities to give. It could be financial, helping someone pay for groceries or buying something their children need, but it could also be by lending a hand. Maybe you could watch kids one day for a young mom who desperately needs a break, or take a meal to someone who is battling illness. Offer to help an overwhelmed co-worker with a project or give someone a ride. There are many ways to be generous and many ways to love others with our actions. How can you open your heart today?

Journey on!

Give Thanks

I read a statistic that says that if you have food in your fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head, and a place to sleep at night, you are richer than 75% of the world. Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the many blessings we have, and it’s an opportunity to really focus on praising God for what he has provided. Take time this week to appreciate the things you might take for granted, and realize just how truly blessed you are. Thank God for those things and pray about ways that you can use what you have to bless others who need help. Meditate on the following verses, knowing that all the things we have are not truly ours, but come from our loving God:

"Yours, LORD, is the geatness and the power
   and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
   for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, LORD, is the kingdom;
   you are exalted as head over all.
Wealth and honor come from you;
   you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
   to exalt and give strength to all.
Now, our God, we give you thanks,
   and praise your glorious name."

1 Chronicles 29:11-13

Happy Thanksgiving, and Journey on!

Watch and Listen

When we’re driving, we have to keep our eyes on the road. We have to watch for redlights, warning signs, other cars, and many other things that protect us from hurting others and ourselves on the road.

As children of God, we have to keep our eyes focused on the only one who can see what lies ahead of us in life. God can see a bad situation long before we can, and it’s up to us to trust in Him when he’s guiding us in a new direction. We can have confidence that He knows the right way to go so we can live life to the fullest without as many pitfalls along the way! Seek His direction in your life today!

“My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare.”  Psalm 25:15

Journey on!