Grow in Trust

When you adopt a child, it takes time for that child to fully trust in you, and to feel safe with you. As chosen children of God, we can be the same way. We hear the words "trust in God," but it can take time for us to grow spiritually and truly put our trust in Him. And even when we have lived many years trusting in the Lord, circumstances can shake our faith and make us doubt. It's human nature! But as we continue to grow in Christ and follow Him, it's important for us to stay focused on the truth of His Word- He IS a trustworthy father. His love never fails us. Whatever might be threatening your peace today, keep your eyes on the One who has it all in His control, and trust in Him. 

“But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”- Jeremiah 17:7-8

Journey on!

Across Generations

In the days of virtual reality and high-speed internet, it’s understandable that some may find it hard to relate to the Savior who wore sandals on his feet, preached to fisherman, and drank water from the well. The stories can seem so far out of reach, so long ago. How could his life relate to me today? 

Christ came down to earth during that time, but he existed long before the world was created! And he is alive and working today! His time on earth was essential for our salvation, but it is not the only time He has done great things. Even today, His sacrifice washes us clean, offers us hope, brings peace and love to our hearts. Let Him work in your life today!

Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus is the same yesterday, and today, and forever." 

Journey on!

Be Encouraged

Our lives look very different right now, and some days that can feel overwhelming! If you are struggling to stay positive this week, remember to pause and take time to pour your heart out to the Lord and spend time in His word. When we lean on Him, He fills us with His hope, love, and encouragement! Let God speak sweet truth to your heart today, and remember that you can have joy in all circumstances through Him. 

"Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD." Psalm 31:24Journey on! 

Glorify Him in All Things

In these times of uncertainty, when the world looks a little different and we have to adjust our sense of normalcy, let's remember that our God is always with us! He loves us and cares for us, and our time is in His hands. Let's find ways to focus on Him even more intentionally right now, and glorify His holy name. This is an opportunity for us to draw closer to Him and worship Him as we find ourselves with more time to do so. In what ways can you connect with God this week? 

“Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.  I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.”  Psalm 63:3

Journey on!

Overcoming Ourselves

"Who has a harder fight than he who is striving to overcome himself?" Thomas a KempisAs we live our lives trying to be more like Christ, we can be our own worst critics. We find ourselves feeling like failures because something didn't go the way we planned, or we feel unloved or unworthy because of things that we have said or done. It can be hard to believe that our God could be so forgiving and so loving to us when we can't always love ourselves. The negative things we tell ourselves have a huge impact on our lives! We need to replace those negative criticisms with truths: we made a mistake, but we have learned, not failed. We didn't accomplish something we hoped we would, but God still loves us and is proud of us. It's so important not to let Satan have a foothold in our minds when we are going through hard things, because he loves for us to beat ourselves up. Instead, we need to stand up, make things right wherever we can, and forgive ourselves. When you feel like being your own worst enemy this week, replace those negative thoughts with God's truth. Meditate on His word and remember that we serve a God who loves us dearly, and who has already overcome any obstacle we face. 

John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  Journey on!

Embrace the Blessing

During a time when many of us are staying home or have limited access to friends and family, it's important to focus on the blessings that we still do have to enjoy. What has God given you today? Maybe it's a beautiful sunrise, a garden to plant, your family members to laugh with, a chance to work on projects you have been meaning to do, a phone call from a friend...the blessings are many if you take the time to look for them. Instead of focusing on the things you are missing this week, try to find the goodness around you right in your own home and backyard. The Lord is taking care of us and blessing us in all circumstances!

How abundant are the good things
that you have stored up for those who fear you,
that you bestow in the sight of all,
on those who take refuge in you. 

Psalm 31:19

Journey on!

Love Like This

"What have I done to deserve love like this?

I cannot earn what You so freely give..." Lauren Daigle 

This is such a beautiful song acknowledging the fact that there is nothing we can do to earn the love of the Lord. He loves us unconditionally! If you are feeling "less than," or not good enough this week, remember that you are more than enough because of HIS power in you! You are a child of the King. He adores you and wants what is best for you, and He longs for you to walk in His perfect ways. But His love for us is not based on our works. It is a gift that He freely gives. What an incredible blessing! Embrace that truth this week. 

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God."

Ephesians 2:8

He is Our Shield

Whatever you are facing this week, remember that your hope is in the Lord. He is strong and mighty to save! He has already worked out any problems you will face. He is in complete control of every aspect of your life, and you can rest in His peace this week. Don't let the stresses of this life overwhelm you- you are in His hands! Put your hope and trust in Him.

"But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the LORD, and he answers me from his holy mountain. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me." Psalms 3:3-5

Journey on! 

Words and Thoughts

Watch your thoughts, they become words.Watch your words, they become actions.Watch your actions, they become habits.Watch your habits, they become your character.Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.

-Author Unknown

It’s amazing how when you have (or are around) young children, you become very aware of what you are saying because they tend to repeat your every word. You start hearing the way your voice sounds by hearing it parroted back to you. If you are using a negative tone or unkind words, you will realize quickly when those things are said through the mouth of a four-year-old. We teach our children to say and do the right things, but the way we act has an even bigger impact on their behavior. And truthfully, it has a pretty big impact on us. 

Whether you have children or not, allowing yourself to have negative thoughts, words, habits, etc. detracts from the amazing plan God has for you, and it makes it harder for us to shine Christ’s light to the world. What aspects of your speech and behavior could you work on improving this week? Make a change and see what a positive effect it has on your life!

“I will watch what I do and not sin in what I say. I will hold my tongue when the ungodly are around me.” Psalm 39:1

Journey on!

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!