Notice His Presence

"...and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” Matthew 1:23b

What things help you experience Christ's presence right now? Do you hear him in the beautiful lyrics of silent night? Do you see him in the calm of the stars on a clear evening, or the soft blinking glow of a Christmas tree? Maybe you feel Him in every kind act or gift given. You may experience God through incredible miracles, or the tiniest breath of a baby...in a place of quiet solitude or amidst the laughter of friends and family. Jesus came to this earth born as a baby not just so the people in biblical times could experience his presence, But for all mankind! Take time to truly notice His presence this week. 

"Rejoice, rejoice, Immanuel

Shal come to us, o Israel." (O Come, Immanuel)

Journey on!

Prepare for the Season

"He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth." Luke 1:14

The Christmas season is upon us, and all around you can see the beginning preparation. People are decorating their homes, purchasing the perfect trees, listening to Christmas music, and buying gifts on sale. There is something exciting about the beginning of this season every year. The world buzzes with anticipation and hope. As you begin your preparations for this holiday, remember to prepare your heart and mind to receive all the blessings that God has to give you. Take time to read the Bible, pray, sing, and listen closely to what the Lord wants to reveal to you as you reflect on the birth of his son. May this be a season of peace, joy, hope, and love after a difficult year! 

"When I think upon Jesus

The King of all days

I can't help but respond

With an offering of praise

Like the wise men and shepherds

I'll follow Your light

Like the angels I'll lift Your Name high" 

-Hillsong Worship

Journey on!

Psalm 100 (NIV)

A psalm. For giving grateful praise.

1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2     Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his[a];
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Photo by Timothy Eberly on Unsplash

Psalm 95:1-3 (NIV)

1 Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.

3 For the Lord is the great God,
    the great King above all gods.

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Prayer Warriors

"To do more for the world than the world does for you - that is success." (Henry Ford)

It’s tough to watch people we love go through difficult times. We often feel helpless when the circumstances are beyond our control. But there is an incredible thing that we CAN do for others…pray. Maybe you underestimate the incredible power that your prayers can have. If so, be encouraged, because God hears your prayers and they do make a difference! We can pray for guidance, comfort, protection, and strength for our friends and neighbors. We can pray that the situation will get better. We can pray that God will provide for their every need. Our prayers can become huge blessings to those we pray for. Become a prayer warrior today. Make an effort to pray hard this week and be a “Prayer Warrior” for someone in your life.

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." (Ephesians 6:18).

Journey on!

Stillness with God

“Be still, and know that I am God…”( Psalm 46:10) 

Life can be stressful. It seems like it doesn’t take long in a day before I’m bogged down with responsibilities! There are kids to feed, emails to send, work to do, meetings to attend...the list is long. When you get hectic and scattered in all directions, turn your face to the Lord. Remember that He is so much bigger than anything your day can throw at you. He will give you the strength you need to make it through! You don’t have to be overwhelmed, but simply be still in His presence and allow His peace to fill you even as you work. Check out these lyrics to Don Moen’s song, “Be Still My Soul.”

When the ocean rise and thunders roar,
I will soar with you above the storm.
Father, you are king over the flood,
I will be still and know you are God!

Find rest my soul, in Christ alone.
Know His power, in quietness and trust.

Journey on!

Sovereign Lord

In this election year, many of us feel anxious wondering who our next leader will be and what it means for our country. It's incredibly important for us to pay attention to what's happening and do our part to make this country a better place; but as we are tackling these political issues, keep in mind that no matter what happens, the Lord our God reigns over all. He has you in His hands and He loves you so dearly. You don't have to live in fear! Stand up for the things you believe in, but know that it is in God's hands. Trust that He will do amazing things in the coming years regardless of who is in office, and we can still continue to fight for what matters. Your ability to impact this great nation is not dependent on who wins the election. Trust in God and He will do great things!

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.” (Isaiah 40:28)

Journey on! 

Make Space for Peace

We spend a lot of time online getting the latest information about politics, weather, and all kinds of other news. It's an incredible thing to be able to access any information we would like to know! Unfortunately, there is also an abundance of negative media stories, and it can be overwhelming. It's important to take time away from this assault of negativity sometimes.

How much time have you spent this week getting out in nature, reading a good book, spending time in scripture or praying? Maybe you like to do art projects, go fishing, or go to the beach. Everyone relaxes in different ways, but no matter what you like to do, make sure you prioritize peace this week!

"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." - John 16:33

Journey on!

Path to Success

"We are what we repeatedly do, excellence then is not an act, but a habit." Aristotle

Often when we reach for our dreams, things don't go exactly as planned. When we strive for a goal and it doesn't quite work out, we may be tempted to give up completely. But greatness is rarely achieved in the first attempt; it is accomplished through perseverance, self-discipline, passion, and seeking wisdom from the Lord. He has given you talents and abilities, but it might take some time to discover what you are meant to do with them in this season of your life. Trust that He has a plan for you, and don't give up! Keep trying new things with confidence and praying for God's direction. He will guide you on the right path!

"For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7

Journey on!

Silver Linings

This year has been tough for many reasons, but there are still silver linings! In a season that has shaken us to our core, I challenge you to pay attention to the good, beautiful things that are still around us everyday. The Lord has blessed us with so many great gifts if we just look for them. Spend time with Him this week and let His blessings fill you with joy and strength. It's okay to acknowledge the difficult circumstances, but don't let that be your only focus or you will miss out on some incredible experiences!

"Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10

Journey on!

Photo by Jacob Mejicanos on Unsplash

Speak in Love

In the age of social media, and especially in this election year, a lot of time is spent discussing and debating current issues. While healthy debate can allow for positive conversation and change, too often these controversies move away from the actual issue into personal attacks. People from both sides ridicule, belittle, and eviscerate each other, often without even actually listening to the other's point of view. If we are going to shine Christ's light to the world, we have to keep our focus on him. We need to be patient and kind. It's important to speak up and be a voice for desperately needed change, but also to listen and give others grace. Next time you feel yourself tempted to fire off an ugly response online, stop and pray about it. We will do more good in this world if we resist responding out of anger but rather  speak truth in love.

"I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love." Ephesians 4:2

Journey on! 

Trusting in His Plan

"Faith doesn't always mean that God changes your situation- sometimes it means He changes you." Steven Furtick

There have been times I have prayed and asked for God to answer my prayer in a specific way, or if it was not His will, that He would change my heart about the situation instead. It's hard when you are praying for something you truly hope will happen, because you also have to trust that God's plan is perfect either way. We don't have all the answers. We don't see the big picture that He sees. God does care about our desires, our hopes and our dreams. He loves us and wants to bless us. So if He's saying no to something, He has a good reason in His perfect plan, even if we can't understand. Trust in Him and boldly ask Him to do great things in your life, but trust that if He closes a door, it's because he is being a good father. He loves you and wants to mold you and shape you in His image. We may not always understand, but we can always trust. 

'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding."  Proverbs 3:5 

Journey on!  

We are His People

"Worrying implies that we don't quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to care about what's going on in our lives." -Francis Chan

When we worry, we forget the great power of our God, and we forget just how much our mighty Lord loves us. He has all things in His hands, and He will take care of our every need. Sometimes we need to be reminded that we are His children, and that He is guiding us, protecting us, and making a path for us every single day. If you are worried about anything this week, lay it down at the throne of God. Visualize physically handing it over to Him, placing it at His feet, and then embrace the peace of knowing that He is in control. You have nothing to fear when you trust in the Lord.

Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Psalm 100:3 

Journey on!

Take Shelter

It's easy to feel busy throughout the day with work, family, and other responsibilities, but if we don't carve out time to spend with God, we can become depleted emotionally and spiritually. Taking time to reconnect with the Lord is essential! When you pray, meditate, read the Word, or listen to worship songs (or any other way you find to worship), it allows you to take shelter from the world for a brief time and be comforted and renewed in the shadow of His wing (Psalm 91:4). Take the initiative to connect with God today! 

"You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." Psalm 32:7

Journey on!