God's Will For You...

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

1. Joy is eternal and from God.  We don't have to be happy (happiness happens) about what is going on but we can find joy in knowing that God is who He says He is. He promises us that He will take care of us.  We must cling to His promises!

2.  Pray!  Pray!  Pray!  God does not desire for us to be silent in our relationship with Him!  We are to call upon Him in trouble, in sacrifice, in peace, in good times and bad, when we are right with Him and when we have fallen back into our pit!  God says, "Call to me and I will answer you..."  Tell Him when you are angry and disappointed (He can handle it)!  Give Him your questions and doubts (He can handle it)!  Praise Him when all is right (it teaches us and will help us remember when things are wrong)!  

3. Practice thankfulness.  Everyday find something (or 5 or 10) that you are thankful for.  There may be some days when you have to search for that one thing, but it is there.  And if you can't find one thing on this earth to thank God for, praise Him for who He is.  Turn the focus off of you and back on to God.  Thank you God for being who You say You will always be.

4.  God's will is for you to live in a relationship with Christ.  Relationship: a connection or involvement; connection between persons by blood.  Jesus established that relationship with you when His blood covered every part of who you are.  He is involved in every aspect of your life (whether you choose to accept that or not) and He has connected Himself to you through your baptism.  You are His.  This is His will.

May the God of grace shower you with His love, may Christ Jesus remind you of the forgiveness you have through His redeeming blood and may the Holy Spirit cause you to sigh in wonder at the joy at God is about to do!

Gracious & Compassionate

Let me be honest. Sometimes I struggle with the church. There. I said it. I am a church worker and I struggle with the church. And here is why: I think that sometimes we forget who makes up the church.

Who is the average person that sits in the pew at church? Really...think about it....

Let me list who I am and who my friends are (without using names, of course): wounded, hurt, depressed, struggling with marriage, thinking they are the worst parent in the world, having a good day, so tired, questioning, hoping, praying, having a hard time believing, aging, wondering, wanting more, bored...

Do any of these fit you? And yet, with all of this and more sitting out in the congregation, how do we answer it? Sometimes the words we speak are so embedded into us, we do it without thinking. Sometimes the words wash over us in a way that is completely new. Sometimes...how do you finish the sentence?

The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. Psalm 145:8-9

Do you need to hear this today? I do. I feel like I am in a rut sometimes. Going through the motions. I hear the words, but is there real compassion behind them? Does anyone really care about my needs? Do my needs really matter?

I care about yours. I would love to pray for you. To lift you up. What are you and are you not getting? Can we start praying for the church? Is it really doing what Jesus intended? To heal, to bring hope, to offer forgiveness?

Know this for certain. God created you with His heart full of love for you, Jesus came to rescue you from sin and chase after you when you are tempted to something other than Him and the Holy Spirit continually whispers in your ear that you are His.

You, dear friend, are completely taken care of. Life happens, hurt impacts us, questions arise, but that does not change Whose you are. Believe Him and His promises. He will never, ever leave you. Ever!

Sweet Jesus

My girls were flying down the tubing hill this weekend at Camp Perkins. Actually, so was Riley. And I was too. I just couldn't help myself. But after awhile, I got tired of walking up that big hill so I just sat down and took it all in. My kids. My amazing husband. The snow. The mountains. The beauty. The silence.

On our long drive home today I could not get over what peace I felt at that moment, sitting on the hill. The wind was blowing, the snow was cold, my girls were screaming and laughing their way down, but still there was such a peace...such a quietness.

God says, "...though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be white as snow..." Isaiah 1:18. That blanket of white covers my multitude of sin and even though a storm may rage around me, I can find peace and quiet in the midst of it. I saw that, with my own eyes, this weekend and it was incredible.

Now as I sit here, just having finished up my Bible study notes for High School Bible study tonight an old (not super old)song comes to mind. "Sweet Jesus, wash over me. Would you come and sweep me off of my feet, please. It's been far too long since I sang Your song and I was hoping that you might like to meet me. I heard You hear the broken hearted, even those who have been discarded. Oh, how I need You, I need to hear You say. Don't worry now, don't worry how, everything just seems to all work out. Would you sing me now to sleep?"

Too often I take myself away from Jesus, because I don't have a pressing matter. There is no drama right now. And all of a sudden I realize it has been far too long. I miss the peace and quiet that His everyday Presence can bring to me. And removing myself from Him actually gives Satan a foothold to remind me how discarded I have been. This is not a good place for me.

I am covered by the blood of my Savior. I have been given a peace that passes all understanding. I want, no need, to live in that everyday.

Sweet Jesus, won't you sing me now to sleep?