Encourage Each Other

The wind and waves had kicked up around them.  From shore, Jesus could see his disciples struggling with the ores of their boat.  So Jesus walked across the lake to them.  When they saw him, they thought he was a ghost and cried out in fear, but Jesus said to them in Mark 6:50, "Take courage!  It is I.  Don't be afraid."

Jesus offered his words of encouragement to his disciples, giving them the courage that they lacked.  I can have faith that Jesus is always with me too.  When I am filled with God's light and love, even challenges become possibilities for growth, understanding, and blessings for me.  Anything is possible with God.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up."


Today I Pray

Dear God, 
Encourage me to find strength through you to see new possibilities in every challenge.

Peace through Trust

Philippians 4:7  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The harder I try to bully my life and circumstance into submission, the more unsuccessful I am at moving forward.  While God loves me exactly the way I am, He refuses to leave me the same.  My life is in a constant state of change.  When I trust that God's plan will bring about my full potential, I am filled with peace.

Today I Pray

Dear God,  Through trust in your divine plan I am open to your guidance so I may reach my full potential and be filled with peace.

Rest in Prayer

We are reminded again in Mark 1 how important it is for us to rest.  Jesus gives us another example of taking time alone after a long day on the job.  The very next morning, after driving out several demons and healing many diseased, Jesus "got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed."

There have been so many instances in my past where I have tried to push my way through struggles and stresses.  I had an "I" mentality. I needed to work harder, or I needed to make changes.  In reality, the only thing that soothed my racing heart and mind was spending time alone in prayer and meditation.  There was nothing I could do alone.  With faith in God the possibilities are limitless.

Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God."

The Shack by WM Paul Young, Book Review

Funny to be reading The Shack at this point in my life when I'm experiencing my own struggle of faith, but I guess that's how the mystery of things work.

It was an incredibly smooth read, but did tend to drag on a bit in places. The book was about a man named Mack who experienced a great tragedy in his life through the loss of his innocent daughter. His loss was overwhelming and brought upon him "The Great Sadness". His life was forever altered causing him to blame and judge God for the evil of the world.

One day he received an invitation from God to meet him back at the shack, the very place of his daughter's brutal murder. Here, the holy trinity (who was represented by a colorful and refreshing interpretation) was on a mission to transform Mack's heart back into union and relationship with God.

The Shack didn't grab my attention until about 200 pages into the 250 page book. However, the message in the last 50 pages was worth every bit of history I had to read through to get to the point. The Shack is a reconfirmation of faith and love. It re-introduced the positive relationship God intended for us all to share.

"Humans, ...,have a knack for taking a verb that is alive and full of grace and turning it into a dead noun or principle that reeks of rules - then something growing and alive dies."

This is a book I can reference over and over again to help me gain a fresh perspective while struggling with my own experiences of "The Great Sadness", as life doesn't exclude many from times like these. The Shack is a great reminder that we never have to face them alone.

Full of the Spirit

I can't tell you how many times I have heard someone say with contempt, "and they're supposed to be a Christian."  This statement has always bothered me a great deal.  In fact, as I type it I can see myself crinkling up my nose, shaking my head from side to side, and using an annoying, high-pitched, sing-song tone to my voice as I speak it out loud.  After all, aren't Christians sinners too?  Why are their actions and attitudes often scrutinized by others as if they set some sort of behavioral standard?

As I dive deeper into my journey with the Lord I am better prepared to answer these questions.  Yes, Christians are sinners too and make mistakes just like everyone else.  When in relationship with God we want to hold a higher standard for ourselves.  When God's spirit fills our hearts we yearn to be used for His glory.  We pray that the fruits of His presence within us can't help but overflow into everything we do.

Ephesians 5:14 "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."

Today I Pray

God, My heart is filled with faith and I am willing to follow your lead.  Guide me to live out your truth so I may experience a whole new world of wonder to explore.

Matthew 17:20, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, "Move from here to there" and it will move.  Nothing will be impossible for you."

Faith is my Guide

Obstacles are always popping up in life.  Some of them confront us repeatedly until we have learned the lesson intended for us to learn.  Overcoming these difficulties can seem nearly impossible.  But, if we respond to times like these with faith we will discover that all things are possible.

When hurdles won't move I can trust that God will guide me on my path and deliver me into times even more full of His glory and wonder.  The question is, am I willing to follow?

Through faith I am willing to live out God's truth.

Follow Your Heart

Have you ever driven to work in the morning only to arrive at your desk unable to recall one moment of your commute?  I have to admit that most of my adult life so far has been largely lived on auto pilot.  It's as if one day I woke up and wondered, how did I get here?  I don't remember signing up for any of this.  Yet somehow I arrived at the doorstep of responsibility and entered into adulthood.

It is easy to get caught up in the flow of life, making decisions off our cuffs or forcefully plowing through each and every day.  Who do we consult when there are important choices to make in life?  Do we take time to listen to and follow what is in our heart?  Like a map, our hearts will guide us on our journey and lead us to what we hold dear. 

What do I hold dear?  Matthew 6:21 tells me, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  My heart is open and I am listening.

Life is a Chore

If you are anything like me, you wake each morning with a to-do list that is a mile long. On many occasions I have looked at my list, then immediately buried it under one of the messes that needs attention. Throughout the day I will take great measures to avoid starting these mundane tasks I am tired of performing day in and day out. By the end of the day I am down on myself and everyone around me because I haven't accomplished anything.

When I am feeling like a prisoner of my home, trapped by my repetitive responsibilities, it is hard to find my sense of purpose. During these times it is important for me to take a moment to marvel at all the blessings God has put in my life, even the dirty cereal bowls that repeatedly appear in my kitchen sink each morning. I have faith that in the midst of "captivity" God can use me to captivate others.

Faith is a powerful motivator in my life.