Mark 4:3-8 (NLT) 3 “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. 4 As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. 5 Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. 6 But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. 7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. 8 Still other seeds fell on…
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8–9. The Lord declares that not only are His ways are higher than our ways, but also His thoughts. For this, I am grateful. When Things Don’t Turn Out How You Expect Have you ever prayed and felt like God was going to give you exactly what you wanted? Me too. Has He done something completely unexpected and you felt cheated from the blessing that you desired? I’ve been there too. I’ve been crushed by God’s indefinite “no” and I’ve cried out to the Lord, “why is this happening to me? “What are You doing, Lord?” In my walk with God I try my best to not feel entitled to a life without pain and heartache. Regardless of how much I’ve invested into the Kingdom of God, I remind myself that my righteousness is like dirty rags (Isaiah 64:6). I need the Lord to clothe me with His righteousness and love. Hopelessness is a real feeling. It a state of mind where you may…
Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel. Proverbs 27:9 True Support I have the most amazing friends in the world. My best friends are comprised of amazing women who encourage and cheer one another to accomplish amazing things. When one rejoices, we all rejoice. When one is hurting, we all hurt. If one is promoted and receives a raise at work, there isn’t jealousy; there is pure joy as we thank God for blessing our friend! We send coffee gift cards and UberEats meals when someone is going through a difficult time. In short—we support each other, love one another fiercely, and have been with one another through the highs and lows of life. Our friendship is a form of unconditional love. I have thanked God so many times for gifting me with like-minded, caring, hilarious, brilliant, encouraging, authentic (I could go on) friendships. In short, my friends are the best of the best. True Experience I guess I have been naïve to believe that everyone has experiences like mine. For years I was under the impression that everyone has incredible friendships that have endured the highs and lows of life. I have learned…
“When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.” Acts 11:23-24, NIV. The above scriptures describe Barnabas perfectly; he was “the encourager,” and it highlights his gift of building others up. When I think about discipleship, I picture Barnabas and John Mark. Paul and Barnabas invited the young John Mark to travel with them on a missionary…
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest. Matthew 9:35-39, KJV. God’s Call Can Be Difficult A few years ago I attended a Home Missionaries Conference. I was surrounded by people who were driven by a call to reach their city, but who were also tired, weary, and broken. One man walked up to the pulpit to testify, but began to weep. He said, “I was asked to speak about all of the amazing things that is happening in our church, but to be honest I’m so discouraged. I just lost my job, my wife is pregnant, and even though I believe we are called to this city, I am questioning God’s purpose.” His honest emotion evoked tears into my eyes and I saw the room…
Proverbs 13:12. Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. Every single person reading this has felt disappointment in their lives. Disappointment is no respecter of persons, age, or personality. Children, teens, and adults fall victim to this unique facet of heartache. Maybe you feel disappointed right now. Disappointment means unfulfilled expectation. I can think of so many times in my life when my goals, opportunities, or my future did not happen the way I expected. Disappointment floods a persons heart with grief and many times evokes tears. In The Message, the same scripture says “Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick, but a sudden good break can turn life around.” The latter part of this scripture is so important. It says, “but a sudden good break can turn life around.” What is that sudden good break? It’s the peace of God and it’s the realization that your hopes and dreams were small in comparison with God’s plan and purpose for your life. When God brings fulfillment into your life, you will be grateful for the past disappointments because He blesses you with the best. It will turn your life around. So, whatever is disappointing you…