It never ceases to amaze me how much grace God gives us. As Christians we talk about grace often but I don't think we will ever understand how much God loves us and cares about our life. This weekend I encountered a young man who to put it lightly is a mess. My first instinct was to judge him, then I thought about why and how he became this way. When I told my friends that we needed to be a positive influence on them they told me that it was a little too late for that. I didn't think too much of it but then in the middle of the night I was woken up and this boy was the first thing that came to my mind. God began to speak to me, he asked me "What if I was to look at you and say, oh its just a little too late for her?" This hit me hard, I realized that I am just as much of a "mess" as this young boy. I realized how I deserved to be given up on but yet time and time again God forgives me and never gives up on me.
My point is that we must not give up on anyone, we must always strive to share the love and grace of God to others. If we are saying its a little too late for someone, we obviously don't know the truth about God and have lack of confidence in what he can do. God can change around the worst in people. Don't we think if he can create a whole universe of people that he can change someones life for the better? We just have to be willing to allow Him to work through us.
I challenge you to not let fear or what others think to stand in the way of God's plan for your life. Be a positive influence on others and speak truth into their life. If God is calling you to say or do something for a certain person don't be afraid of what they will think. Because if He wants you to do it, and you respond, expect something amazing to happen. Even if you don't see a change of heart, you will plant a seed. You may never know how you affect people but know that if its God's plan then its for a reason.
In Christ,
Heather
Monday, July 25, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Joy in Suffering
So I have finally made myself get back to blogging. I really feel God calling me to share my thoughts for He will speak through me to those who read it. Lately I have been so amazed by God. I am always amazed by Him but this is just a deeper level then before. I never really understood the expression "pressing into God" or "going deeper" until this summer. It has been a summer of suffering and trials yet I find so much energy and joy at the most perfect times. It is so crazy to me how you can be going through the most pain and brokeness and God will still make you feel so joyful. I honestly love being in suffering becauese I feel Him the most in those times.
In Matthew 5:3-5 it says "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." WOW! This is just another reason to be encouraged when you are broken. I find such hope in this verse. It doesn't matter how much we are hurting or broken or doing the "ugly cry" because we are being blessed! I don't know about you but until now I never saw pain and suffering as a blessing.
I also have seen that you can learn so much when you are in a time of desperation. You have given up on your own plans and you have to trust in the Lord. Though we should already trust in Him, we all know that when things are going great we tend to set Him aside and do our own thing until the going gets tough. Then we are back to falling on our knees and begging Him to have mercy on us. And of course our loving Father comes to us and holds us and asks us to "deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow Him" (Luke 9:23). (look for more tomorrow about this verse). And we wonder, woh, denying ourselves? We don't need to do that, we know what we are doing. But truly think about every plan you have had and how many times it has failed. Then think about every time God has a plan and it has failed? I don't know about you but I would much rather the Father of the Universe who sees all take over then me who sees just in front of me. My plans are worthless. God cares way more about our relationships and future then we ever will.
Check out a podcast by Francis Chan called "Joy in Suffering". It will rock your world. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTWyT79MbbY
In Christ,
Heather
In Matthew 5:3-5 it says "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." WOW! This is just another reason to be encouraged when you are broken. I find such hope in this verse. It doesn't matter how much we are hurting or broken or doing the "ugly cry" because we are being blessed! I don't know about you but until now I never saw pain and suffering as a blessing.
I also have seen that you can learn so much when you are in a time of desperation. You have given up on your own plans and you have to trust in the Lord. Though we should already trust in Him, we all know that when things are going great we tend to set Him aside and do our own thing until the going gets tough. Then we are back to falling on our knees and begging Him to have mercy on us. And of course our loving Father comes to us and holds us and asks us to "deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow Him" (Luke 9:23). (look for more tomorrow about this verse). And we wonder, woh, denying ourselves? We don't need to do that, we know what we are doing. But truly think about every plan you have had and how many times it has failed. Then think about every time God has a plan and it has failed? I don't know about you but I would much rather the Father of the Universe who sees all take over then me who sees just in front of me. My plans are worthless. God cares way more about our relationships and future then we ever will.
Check out a podcast by Francis Chan called "Joy in Suffering". It will rock your world. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTWyT79MbbY
In Christ,
Heather
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