We Are Happy When We Are Growing

Check out the last blog entry of the Lenten Blog tour about joy and the process of growth as a Christian. It is WELL worth your time!

http://rachelheldevans.com/happy-growing-lenten-series

Fighter Verse

Continued from the passage of last week's fighter verse:

"They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind."
(Psalm 1:3-4)

A Simple, Earnest Prayer

I want to be able to pray this prayer every day and continue to relinquish my grasp of control in my life and surrender my plans to God, exchanging them for his wonderful plans. As I read this prayer this morning, I really did find hope and excitement in thinking about his great plans for me. I hope we all can.

Dear Heavenly Father, I get so excited thinking about the great plans You have for me. Help me not to get so mentally stuck on what I want, that I miss what You had planned all along. I want to grasp Your great dreams for me and move forward full steam ahead. 
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Fighter Verse

Didn't have a chance to post this yesterday:

"Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night."  (Psalm 1:1-2)"

From Fear to Faith

Yesterday I was reading Mark 4, and God used the parable in which Jesus calms the storm to convict me of the lack of faith I have had in my life recently. Most of us know the story well: the disciples and Jesus are in a boat at sea when a large storm comes up, threatening to sink them. Jesus is dozing in the stern of the boat, and the disciples wake him in a panic, because they fear they will die. Then Jesus says to them, "'Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?'" (v. 40). He calms the storm, and they are all safe. And I imagine the disciples maybe felt somewhat foolish.

When reading this parable it is easy to scoff at the disciples and wonder how they could be so scared and distrusting. They had Jesus in the boat with him. Jesus! C'mon guys! I definitely scoffed, thinking to myself that the disciples were a bit ridiculous. But as I went back to read the passage again, I felt God asking me "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" 


"Wow," I thought. I do have a lot of fears in my life. But I shouldn't really be afraid, because I know that God is bigger than anything in my life, and he has a plan for everything. I don't need to fear anything when I have the God of the universe on my side. He has shown himself faithful and loving in so many instances in my life, yet I am still so quick to choose fear instead of trust. When I realized this, I was a bit embarrassed and ashamed that my faith was so little. But shame is not of the Lord, so I knew that I must give it back up to God and ask that he give me faith and help me to trust him and surrender my fears to him, laying them at the foot of his cross.

No more letting doubt, confusion, and fear rule my life. I will choose to remember the great faithfulness of my heavenly Father. I will remind myself often that he is the ONLY one I can truly trust, rely on, and put all my hope in. He will never leave me nor forsake me. So I am choosing faith over fear.

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline."  
(2 Timothy 1:7)


"And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows."   (Luke 12:7)


"So don't be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom."  (Luke 12:32)

Fighter Verse

Continuation of last week's verses:

"So let it [your endurance] grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking."    (James 1:4-5)

Risen Life

Today's daily devotional from the "God Calling" website brought me to tears, because it spoke right to the place my heart resides. I often feel despair, distrust, depression, sin, fear, and lack of purpose hindering me from truly claiming the life that Christ bought for me--the Risen Life. I do want to arise to beauty, holiness, joy, and peace, like the author says. It is what I need in my life at this very moment. He has the power to move and work within me if I open myself up to it. I pray that God's love, light, and joy flood my heart and my life, and that it may overflow to others and shine into their lives as well, so that others may know the beauty, joy, and love of Christ. 

"Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." Isaiah 60:1

The Call comes on this My Day for all who love Me, to arise from earth-bands, from sin, and sloth and depression, distrust, fear, all that hinders the Risen Life. To arise to Beauty, to Holiness, to Joy, to Peace, to work inspired by Love and Joy, to rise from death to Life.

Remember that death was the last enemy I destroyed. So with death My Victory was complete. You have nothing then to fear. Sin, too, is conquered and forgiven, as you live and move and work with Me. All that depresses you, all that you fear, are powerless to harm you. They are but phantoms. The real forces I conquered in the wilderness, the Garden of Gethsemane, on the Cross, in the Tomb.

Let nothing hinder your Risen Life. "Risen with Christ," said My servant Paul. Seek to know more and more of that Risen Life. That is the Life of Conquest. Of that Risen Life was it truly said: "I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me." Fear and despair and tears come as you stand by the empty Tomb. "They have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him."

Rise from your fears and go out into the sunlight to meet Me, your Risen Lord.


"That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death." Philippians 3:10

Sing for All He's Done!

The other night I was listening to this song in my car while I was driving home from Starbucks (where else would I be?), and as I was praying and worshipping, the lyrics of the chorus really penetrated my heart.

Chorus:
This is love
Jesus came and died and gave his life for us
Let our voices rise and sing for all He's done
Our fear is overcome
Our God is love
Our God is love


Jesus came and died for us. He gave his life to overcome the grave, so that we might also overcome it. Now we are driven to praise him and sing for all he's done. And he has done so much. Let's of course realize the weight of God's sacrifice of his son, and that we are saved from death. Then let us begin to count the blessings that God rains down on us, that we so often take for granted. Wow. We are so undeserving. Jesus already died for us, and if he never did anything else for us during our time on earth, his death would still be enough. More than enough. More than you or I deserve.

This definitely challenges my attitude of entitlement, and shows me that I have sooo incredibly much to be thankful for. I pray that God would fill my heart with such gratitude for all he has done for me that there would be no room for that sense of entitlement and ungraciousness.

I know that this is not really that profound, but it did strike my heart profoundly, and really that's what matters--how God is speaking to me and moving in my heart. Praise God that he wants to speak to us and move in our hearts! Sing for all he's done!

"By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers."  
(1 John 3:16)

Fighter Verse

Forgot to post this yesterday:

"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow."     (James 1:2-3)