“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word “masterpiece” means “a work done with extraordinary skill” We were all created by a very skilled master. He took his time forming us, making sure everything was perfect. He decided our hair color, the exact shade of our skin, and our height. He is the master artist and we are his masterpiece. He knew who you would be, your talents, and what you would struggle…
“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust Him.” Psalms 91:1-2 There have been countless times in moments of anxiety and worry that I have clung to these words “He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust Him.” I have declared these statements over tragedy and loss, and I have whispered them through tears, struggling so badly to believe them once again. Through every season of life, God has proven Himself faithful time and time again. The only catch is, I must CHOOSE to live in the shelter of the Almighty. I have to place myself directly under His care, and I will find rest there. This world is so busy and chaotic, that sometimes I crave a moment of solitude. A moment of complete and perfect peace that it can only be found in His shadow. I read an article about a man who wore all of the clothing he packed for a trip on himself, to save…
“The Lord will fight for you, and you only have to be silent”. Exodus 14:14 ESV We live in a day and age where we don’t usually have to step onto the battlefield and war for what is rightfully ours. We aren’t bloodied and bruised from the fight, and we certainly (hopefully) don’t carry swords and shields with us for protection. We do fight spiritually though, whether we realize it or not. We can pray, worship, intercede, and storm the gates of Hell, but we still sometimes need God to fight FOR us. There are some things that are simply beyond our human capabilities. When we have done all we can, that’s when God does His best work. When we come to the end of ourselves and defeat looms in the distance, God moves and triumphs. He will fight for you, and He is always victorious – so that means you have victory too! Stay calm. Do your part, and watch God fight for you.
“Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the…
The writer of Ecclesiastes made it perfectly clear: there is a time, a season, and a purpose for everything—the good, the bad, the ugly. (See Ecclesiastes 3:1–8.) Just as the earth experiences spring, summer, fall, and winter, our life cycle has its seasons. Much like spring, we emerge into existence out of the darkness, and just as easily as we emerge, we eventually fall back into the cold of winter. It’s called “life cycle.” From seasons of stretching, where God seems to shape something new in our heart, to times love is tested, to visits by the cruel hand of death, life happens in seasons. There will be those winters when we simply cannot figure it all out; we are cracked and brokenhearted. We endure long nights and our prayers seem to go nowhere. We yearn for the glory of spring, the warmth of summer, the beauty of fall. However, every step and every stumble makes us who we are. All the smiles, all the tears, all the big moments, and all the little ones tell our story. We cannot change the seasons, but we can change ourselves. That’s how life gets better: not by chance but by change. We’ve all lost loved…
“And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.” (Luke 1:38). And Mary said, “Yes” when the angel came, not knowing all it would mean. For “yes” was only the beginning. “Yes” to giving birth in a cold, dark stable while cows and sheep looked on. “Yes” to a sword that pierced her soul as her Son died on a cross while she looked on. And Mary said, “Yes, let it be.” But do I? Do I say “yes” when God calls to me? Oh, not through an angel who comes in the night, but maybe a pastor who asks if I’ll lead a Sunday school class or a former friend who calls to mend our broken relationship or a stranger who wonders if I might spare some change for food. And for a moment, as I ponder what to say, does God’s purpose flicker like a flame in a sudden breeze, to be snuffed out by “no,” or to burn even brighter with the power of “yes”? For “yes” is only a beginning. “Yes,” I will give my time to sharing God’s Word.…