“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!
Worship
What does it mean to worship God? What images come to your mind? I think about singing songs of praise, praying and thanking God, lying on my face before Him, lifting hands to praise His name...living a life of love for Him...there are so many ways to engage with our Creator. So many ways to praise His name. I love to read the Psalms. David was a man who knew how to worship. He was flawed, sinful, human just like us, but he knew the deep value of coming back day after day to toe Source of all life. He spent a lot of time worshipping God, pouring His heart out in good times and bad, always giving glory to Him. As you go through your week, think about ways in which you can worship God. What speaks to your heart? Take time to read through some chapters of Psalm. Maybe you can find fresh new ways to connect with God this week!
"Honor the Lord, you heavenly beings;
honor the Lord for his glory and strength.
Honor the Lord for the glory of his name.
Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness."
Psalm 29:1-2
Journey on!
Do this Together
"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." Helen Keller
Who are the people in your life you rely on the most? Your family, your kids, your spouse, your closest friends? When life feels exhausting and overwhelming, who is it that brings you dinner or calls to check on you? When you celebrate life's biggest moments, who is there cheering you on?
We were never made to be alone. God created us so that we could love Him and He could love us. And when he created Adam, he knew that, "It is not good for man to be alone." (Gen 1:18) God blesses us with community! Having a healthy support system is so important. Not all relationships are positive ones, and not everyone feels like they have a good support system. If you are searching for community, pray about it. Ask God to put good people in your life. Be a good friend to others. Go to church and seek out groups that will lift you up and point you towards Christ. And if you have amazing people in your life, thank God! Tell those people you are grateful to have them by your side. It's so much better to do this life together.
"Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." Ecclesiastes 4:12
Journey on!
Light in Christ
When we watch the news, it can discourage us seeing the difficult situations in the world. We see sin in many forms and wonder how we can find hope in the difficult places. We may feel lost in our own spirituality.
Christ tells us that he is the Light that has come to destroy darkness. We know that when this world ends and we go to be with Him in heaven, there will be no more darkness. But that everlasting light isn’t just something to look forward to in the future- it’s a hope we can hold onto even now. Whatever sin holds us captive, whatever hardships we face…God can conquer all those things and Christ’s light can fill those dark places and make us new. When we allow Christ to shine through us, we can live in a brighter world here on earth, regardless of what's going on around us. We need His light to guide us and to remove anything that hinders us from a deep relationship with Him. And we need to trust that He is with us even when the world seems a scary place. Bask in His illuminating presence today and let go of the darkness and fear in your life.
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12
Journey on!