Whoever FOLLOWS me ...

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.””

‭‭John‬ ‭8:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

You have a choice today. Will you FOLLOW Him?  He is the light and when we follow Him there is light around us. We can see the path clearly and sense He is with us. Living in the light of life.    

When we don't follow Him , things get dark fast. Think about when you turn the lights off in your house or when it gets dark outside and how hard it is to see right in front of you.  We get out of sorts and we feel lost and we can't find our way!!!     Sometimes we run into things and even get hurt!  Hum???

Flipping on a light changes everything including your perspective.  Follow Him and  live in the light today !!!

 

 

Love Part 4 - Let love lead !!!

“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:6-8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Delighting in evil sounds like a horror film or some halloween madness !!!  I think though that it really is pointing to the deception of our hearts and flesh. The heart is deceptive beyond all other.  Motives are what reveals truth.  Rejoicing in truth even when it hurts and is painful will bring life and love. 

Protects - I hope that people that really love me will protect me. Protect my heart, my physical body and my reputation. Love others by protecting them.  

Hope - if we have no hope, we have nothing.  We must not give up even in the darkest moments.  Love hopes.  God is love so he brings hope to our lives. Don't give up. 

Perseveres - This word!  Let's get ahold of being strong in the Lord and never giving up hope so that others will see us win and know our God does that kind of work!!! Testify of his love by persevering.  

Never fails -This truth has to be real because if not I'm in trouble.  I fail a lot.  I worry about failing a lot.  Love covers a multitude of sin and it rights wrongs.  It does not fail. 

Let love lead and your soul breathe!

 

Love Part 3 Paused

".....it keeps no record of wrongs.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We decided to pause on this "record of wrongs today".   Talked about the king who forgave the debt of a man who went out and then held debt someone owed him against him.  So the king had him beheaded.  We are forgiven the same way we forgive others. Oh be careful how you treat others!!!!  No one has ever offended us the way we have offended Jesus , so how can we hold them responsible for their petty offenses as we have been freely and unconditionally forgiven of our great offenses.

Get some real perspective today!!!!

 

 

LOVE Part 3

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is NOT RUDE , it is NOT SELF SEEKING, it is NOT EASILY ANGERED , it keeps NO RECORD OF WRONG.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." 

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:4-8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Not rude - Lord , would you expose our tendencies to be rude and inconsiderate without regard for others. 

Not self seeking - Lord, please show us quickly when our motives are selfish. May we see the weakness in making everything about us.  

Not easily angered - Lord how quickly we can fly off the handle without any thought for how it might hurt others.  We pray for self control and awareness to be calm and yield to your Spiirt. 

No record of wrong - Lord, this one is hard when we've been hurt deeply by others and/or when we experience a repeat offender.  Who are we though to hold on to a list when you've forgiven our sins and cast them as far as the East is to the West.

Oh Lord let your love change us and grow us.  ❤️

  

LOVE Part 2

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails.- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

We are gutting 1 Corinthians 13 (The LOVE chapter) this week.  Today we talked about ENVY and BOASTING. 

Envy forms from a jealous spirit, one that can't be happy for others that are succeeding or in a place of "feeling good" about life.  Envy will eat you up from the inside out.  It is sooo much better to embrace a real spirit of contentment with who God made YOU to be so that you can rejoice with others in their times of celebration and joy.  Don't hold back such a beautiful part of life by being bitter and envious that you don't have what they have.

Boasting is evidence of pride in one's life.  When you find the need to "one up" someone every time a story is told or when you have a great need to make sure people know all the great things you have done or can do... you are living a life of selfishness and you are missing out on the joy of just simply being and enjoying the beautiful lives of those around you. 

LOVE IS NOT PROUD!

Wake up ! Love does NOT envy, does NOT boast.

 

LOVE

 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. Love is not rude, is not selfish, and does not get upset with others. Love does not count up wrongs that have been done.  Love takes no pleasure in evil but rejoices over the truth.  Love patiently accepts all things. It always trusts, always hopes, and always endures. Love never ends. - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

This past weekend we sat down with each of the kids and did some goal setting. For some time we've been hearing each of them say things like..."I really want to get better at ..." or " I'd like to spend more time doing...." and we all know that life moves fast and that there is never quite enough time to get it all done... so we just made time for each one on Saturday and now, they are on their way with goals written and accountability set.  Good stuff. Here's the link to the goal setting workbook we used:

https://ruthsoukup.leadpages.co/goal-setting-workbook-2016/

Within the goals was a line about RELATIONSHIPS.  Yep... each other.  Love. It was sooo good to talk to each one about how much relationships mean OVER the other things of this world and over BEING RIGHT.  When you chose to be RIGHT over ending right, you've just proven how wrong you were all along. LOVE like this is described in 1 Corinthians 13 and is what we see when Stephen was stoned for his faith as he was being killed he prayed "Father don't hold this sin against them."   It does take effort and yielding but the fruit is amazing! That decision is inspiring us still today to rise above and LOVE.

Looking forward to memorizing this verse with the kids this week.

Love is patient, Love is kind......

Let's go!

 

An Effective Prayer

James 5: 16 "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

This scripture is one I memorized when I was 16 years old during my summer in India between my junior and senior year of High School.   I found it to be one that really carried me through a time of growing my faith since I was not among close friends or family at all.  Everyone I traveled with was "brand new " to me, therefore the comfort of my Heavenly Father and my time alone with Him was more precious than ever because it felt like......home.

Praying, was a big deal to me then because it was the only time I felt "not alone" even in a crowd of people.  Of course, get back to the family and friends and the busy-ness of life and prayer drops down on the importance/need list.  Bummer.

Truth though, as we grow in Christ we start to understand what FAITH can do, and prayer that has faith attached to it AVAILS MUCH.   A fervent prayer from a child of God who believes wholeheartedly that God hears and WILL answer is powerful and effective.

Let us not fail to pray, but rather choose each day to set apart time to talk to the one who CAN and the who WILL and the one who LOVES us all.

Don't look back!!!

“This is what the Lord says: “In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances,”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭49:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Some of us look back because that was the "glory days" and life was good and right and God was moving then and so our focus and energy points to those days.  Some of us look back and can't seem to get over "what happened" and we live in a state of unforgiveness and bitterness and talk about the event as if it happened yesterday!!

Either approach is not healthy for a life that still has breath.  We should never live today in the past because then we don't get to really embrace what God has for us today!!

We liken it to our bonfire pit, the next day the ash may still be smoking but the fire is not blazing - if we were to go out there and sit by it like we did the night before and talk about what the fire used to be .... attempting to warm our hands by cold ash we are missing out on what is happening right now somewhere else and are wasting precious time!  The fire is gone!  Let's go!  There's more to experience and live for BEFORE us not behind us.    

Sure, take a quick , happy look backwards to remind yourself of His grace and goodness , but then strain forward to what is ahead!!!

Soak or Snap?

“Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world......"

‭‭John‬ ‭18:36‬ ‭NIV

We are called to be like Jesus. Although Jesus walked this earth in a different time and age we must copy his discipline to not be pressed and rushed.  

The central thing about the Kingdom of God is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ NOT public usefulness to men.  

Having no idea what strain is ahead in our lives or how our cicumstance may change we must SOAK in God. If instead we invest our time in overactive energy we will find ourselves not fit for what comes,  but instead we will SNAP when the strain comes.

Soaking in God prepares us and gets us rooted and grounded in God so that we will remain true to Him to matter what comes our way!! 

SOAK!!

Unashamed - part 2 by Kadin

Kadin shared a bit more from the book he is reading by Lacrea.  He shared with us about Lacrea's story of first coming to faith and having a season of just telling everyone else how wrong they were.  He had a reason (he thought) to tell them of their wrong ways, but in doing so he was hurting people.  He was young in his faith and his intentions were good, but the action was actually hurting the name of Jesus and the people.

He said it was some feedback on his first album that caused him to realize that he was not approaching the opportunity to share Jesus in a way that caused people to respond but rather repel.  Judgment doesn't attract !!! 

He's since then turned from a critical eye and judgmental spirit to a heart of love and compassion for others.  He recognizes now that it's in our love and actions that people see Jesus,and it's  not from our words of condemnation. 

It's HIS kindness that leads people to repentance so let's let that kindness flow through us today and everyday !!!

What if I Gave Everything ?

https://g.co/kgs/7Bs2rU

“David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.””

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭17:32‬ ‭NIV

The link above is a song by Casting Crowns called What if I gave Everything?     

This question should be in the forefront of our minds everyday as Christ Followers.  What if I held nothing back?   What if I moved from the shallow water to the deep?  What if?  What if???

Young David did it... no holding back . Gave it all as the giant Goliath threatened his family, their country , their very lives.  He said "with the power and strength of My God " NO!  Not today!  I'm stepping out and giving everything and he DEFEATED that giant !  

Same goes for our world today!  Don't be afraid !  Step out ! Have faith that God has your back and you can't fail.  Seriously as long as you have God on your side you can't fail. It may not always turn out as you want it to or expect it to but it's never "a fail" ... it's a step towards what is next and toward making you who God intended you to be.  

Don't hold anything back!  

God is enough

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭73:26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This scripture was Livia's several years ago.  We wrote it out and put it beside her bed.  She had some fear and anxiety and she was going through some pain in her body.  It's amazing what prayer and focus and the Word of God can do.  

It was such a reminder that God understands our pain and our emotion.  That He wants to be our strength and to be all that we need.  We really do have to allow our hearts and minds to get there and trust him.

I was reminded of this video when we read the scripture this morning: 

 https://youtu.be/-i8vsMPFm78    

God is enough. 

Examine yourself not others!!!

“For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”

‭‭James‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Have you ever been envious of someone to the point of not liking them because of it?  Have you ever been in a season where everything is "about you"?  ....probably hard to know that you are doing that , but I'm sure the people around you could tell you when you are!   Lol 

Man it's ugly. It's so not Christ like.  God doesn't just want us to love he requires we love , no matter what people have done to us or what the situation is.  

 Disorder is chaos. Have you been there? Yuck.  Ever thought maybe you are stirring up your own disorder and that it's not really others, but rather your response to them that is causing the chaos?   Take inventory today on YOU and how YOU respond and how YOU act and what YOU say instead of everyone else. Just try it for a day!!!!

And hey - give yourself a break from such heavy thinking and overload (lighten up!).....and  for Heaven's sake give someone else a break.  Unveiling others flaws is easy....but examining your own depths takes risk and vulnerability, but that is where true growth happens. 

Movement of God by Gina

ACTS 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

I did a study a while back about the evidence of a true movement of God. Of course the fruits of the Spirit  (Gal.5)  Love, Joy, Peace, Patience,  Kindness, Goodness , Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control are indicators of a life lived in Christ but a "movement" is something that is happening among people.   I love this list of things that are evidence of when God is moving and alive :

*Strong commitment to prayer

*Genuine reliance on Holy Spirit

*Sincere repentance and personal confession 

*Serious accountability 

*Deep desire to walk close with Christ 

*Generous givers

*Great emphasis on the Word of God

*Aware of all issues that impact the moral and spiritual life of community 

*Dramatic demonstration of reconciliation and restored relationships

*Strong families

*Crazy on fire heart for evangelism 

Each one of us shared this morning which one of these jumped out to us. Each of us chose a different one ...which was kind of cool!!! . Thank you Lord for the reminder of what it looks like in our lives when you are moving. 

 

Unashamed by Kadin

Kadin read some of Lacrea's book (a Christ follower who is a rap artist) last night and woke up this morning wanting to share.

He read about Lacrea's life, his testimony  of his young adult years and how he ended up in rehab after some pretty poor decisions and devastation.  It was there he started to read the Bible and found a new way of life...

After getting out he found those same things, those same temptations there to pull him back down and it was only the grace of God and His word that kept Lecrea on track. 

He shared how saying you are a "Christ follower" is easy to do in words but living it out day to day because you love Him NOT because there are rules to Christianity is quite another.   

Let us KNOW our God and LOVE our God and LIVE for our God.  

Choose who you will serve THIS DAY!! 

He Never Changes!!

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I was reading through my journal from 2015 and recognized a common thread ..... while what I wrote about then till now has changed - the truths written about who God is and my resolve to trust Him and lean into Him HAVE NOT.  He remains the same.  Steadfast.  Dependable.  Solid. I love that. 

Although He never changes , He changes everything. 

Indeed He does!  So ... This day I set out to embrace the change while leaning into  the amazing truth that He is the same and deserves my all. 

Perseverance

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

‭‭James‬ ‭1:2-4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

It is so good to be back home with the kids. It's been a whirlwind 8 days of coming and going for Tim and I and now we get to settle into some homecoming activities this weekend. Ahhh.....

This scripture reminds us this morning that this life is short (we told Devin ..."high school is a blip on the radar!" ) and there are many lessons we can learn or we can skip over without even realizing it.   How much better to let our faith bring us to more and more maturity and understanding of the purpose of our life.  When we embrace the process of trials they refine us and change us and we settle into a contentment and peace that comes from only Him.  Lacking nothing. Amen! 

What is inside comes out!!!

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6:19-20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Would you rather be fed dry bread crumbs or living water?  This was the question for us this morning after we read this scripture. 

We have the ability to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in you or to lean into our own understanding.  In these moments we have a choice.  Yield or not ?

We offer dry bread crumbs in our own efforts and living water with our words and actions when we are IN Him. 

Let it be Lord - that He takes the lead!!

Tim and I are headed out to meet some friends in ministry in CA today!  We will keep you updated on our adventure!!

Grateful for the opportunity to come home this weekend and connect with these beautiful human beings !!!!