 Often life is made to seem so complex and difficult. I believe this complexity tends to spill over into our walk with God. The Pharisees are a prime example of this; they took God's laws and made them a burden which was something they were never intended to be.
For my devotions this year I have been reading in the book of Proverbs and read this verse recently, "A faithful man shall abound with blessing: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent ~ Prov. 28:20". I usually read a commentator to help me understand the verse better and he noted that the implied thought was a man faithful to God in every area of life. This really struck me and it started the wheels turning in my head; I have been thinking about it for the last two weeks. I realized that I have been called to be faithful. So often we make the Christian life complex but it is really quite simple; God wants us to faithfully serve Him in whatever task He lays before us. It is so easy to get distracted with life and lose focus on what is important. I know for me personally I get overwhelmed with my "to do" lists and responsibilities that I cannot think straight. It is at those times that I remember a quote I came across several years ago: "On days when life is difficult and I feel overwhelmed , as I do fairly often, it helps to remember in my prayers that all God requires of me is to trust Him and be His friend. I find I can do that. ~Bruce Larson". That's all. God simply asks me to trust Him, love Him and follow Him. Faith is the foundation of the Christian life. In 2 Peter chapter 1 the apostle Peter says that we are to add to our faith but in order to do that faith must already be there. It is also the only way to please God. Hebrews 11:6 says "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Faith is what pleases God most and must permeate my life in every area. At the end of my life when I stand before God I want to hear those precious words, "Well done thou good and faithful servant enter thou into the joy of your Lord." My mom enjoys watching HGTV which always leads us to some new project around the house(maybe I should try to cancel our subscription to that show:)). One show we both enjoyed watching was "Fixer Upper" featuring Chip and Joanna Gaines. They are a couple who live in Waco, Texas; they take the roughest houses in the area and turn them into the prettiest one on the block. I think for me personally it was enjoyable because of the Gaines. You soon realize just how in love they are with one another and how important family is to them. Money and fame are not their goal but rather raising a family that loves one another is. They are a sweet Christian couple who use their show to reflect Christ's love to the world. They may not always mention their faith but it is clearly seen through their actions. It is always a blessing to watch and encourages my heart every time I see them together. Recently they did an interview that I thought was very thought provoking. In it they share how each of them helped the other draw closer to God and enjoy a more intimate relationship with Him. God meant for a marriage to be a picture of His relationship with the church and for each person to bring out the best in the other; I believe Chip and Joanna are a great example of what happens when you follow God and allow Him to lead you to His choice for you!  This marks the third year that I have been involved in this event and I must say I enjoy it more every year. My heart is always encouraged by the testimonies that I hear coming from the campaign. Some may think that this is not worth giving to but I am here to reassure you that it is! Every year children are given not just a shoebox but the good news of the Bible; that God loved them so much He sent His son, His only son, to die for them. So often I hear that the children and even parents listen to the gospel because they want to know the reason someone who never met them would give them a gift. If you would live to be involved simple google your nearest drop off location or if you are local just contact me and I will be happy to get you a box to fill! Collection week begins November 13th; imagine all of the people we will see in Heaven because of a simple gift! Below are three such testimonies. I hope they bless your heart as they did mine! |
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Sarah GraceI am just an ordinary girl who is loved by an extraordinary God and I seek to love others the same way. I love to bake, read, do puzzles, watch Hallmark movies, and go shopping with my mom! This blog was created as a place where I could share some thoughts that the Lord has shown me and to be an encouragement to others who desire to know Him in a deeper way. My prayer is to learn to sit still and trust God with my future. Archives
July 2023
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