As it rains and rains and continues to rain, the somewhat dreary weather could cause me to feel restless cooped up inside or depressed at the lack of sun and warm weather. On the flip-side, rain is a glorious thing that nourishes the earth and reminds me of how I am washed through the waters of Baptism. I was far too young when I was baptized to truly remember much of what went on that day, but I know that my parents pledged to raise me in the faith and daily model for me what it means to be Christian. I may not always agree with my parents or understand how or why they do what they do, but I am still thankful for how they raised me and daily demonstrated Christ's love to me through their words and actions.
One of my all-time favorite songs by NeedtoBreathe, Washed by the Water, illustrates this very fact and encourages me that even when I seem to be struggling through the most tough situations in life, God is truly with me and He loves me more than I could ever comprehend. Even when my darkest sins are dragging me down or my deepest struggles are pulling me away from God, this song reminds me that nothing can separate me from God's love; nothing can take away the precious gifts I received through the waters of Baptism. Just as Paul states in Romans 8:38-39, "For I am convinced, that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Washed by the Water (NeedtoBreathe)
Even through the most powerful storms of this life, Christ reassures us that He is all-powerful and is able to calm any storm. In Luke 8, Christ calms the raging storm when the disciples begin to fear the tempest (Jesus Calms the Storm, Luke 8:22-25). Just as Christ calmed this storm in Bible times, He is right there beside us through every storm of this life, ready and willing to walk with us through the storm and guide us as we navigate through this life of sin and struggle.
"Even when the rain falls, even when the flood starts rising, even when the storm comes, I am washed by the water." ~NeedtoBreathe
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Overcoming tragedy with Christ
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." ~John 16:33
Bombs. Explosions. War. Fighting. Earthquakes. Hurricanes. Fires. Tragedy.
Our world is filled with tragedy. Our world is filled with hurt and pain. Suffering surrounds us and we don't always understand how and why God allows such suffering to take place. In light of all the tragic events that have been taking place in our world this week, in can be challenging to trust that God is still in control and is guiding us through such disaster and tragedy...
According to the dictionary definition, a tragedy is, "a lamentable, dreadful, or fatal event or affair; calamity; disaster: the tragedy of war." Lamentable. Dreadful. Fatal. Calamity. Disaster. Each word rings out with connotations of fear and sadness we experience when such tragedies strike; the fear and sadness that comes with living a sinful, sin-filled world. God never said life in this world would be easy. Christ promised to bring us peace, but never said life would be a breeze if we chose to follow Him. As He clearly reminds us in John 16:33, there is no denying the fact that troubles and hardship will strike us in this world. We can, however, trust that He will be with us through it all. God will be with us to guide us through life's challenges, help us up when we fall, and help us run the race He has marked out for us. Life will challenge us, but Christ promises to be with us through it all and through the hope that comes through Christ's death and resurrection, we know that one day we will leave all suffering behind and join Him in paradise forever.
As I was reflecting on the recent tragedies in our world this week, the above Bible passage popped into my head. I may not be experiencing any personal tragedies at the moment, but I am going through lots of big life changes. College graduation is an exciting time and pursuing exciting job opportunities is most definitely invigorating. It is also a very confusing and overwhelming time, trying to sort everything out, discern God's plan, and trust that He is leading me and using me for His will...As I step out in faith, I trust that God is leading and guiding me and He will be right beside me every step of the way. A song by Tenth Avenue North has been playing in my head a lot lately. It reminds me that even when we are tired and weary, God is there to lift us up. He gives us the strength we need to persevere through life with sin. I couldn't imagine life without my Heavenly Father. Just as my earthly dad was there to pick me up when I fell and skinned my knee or crashed when learning to ride my bike, my heavenly father is always there to listen, comfort, and pick me up when I fall.
Tenth Avenue North's song "Worn," just seems to put into words everything I've been thinking and feeling lately. Life pulls at you from many different directions, people expect a lot, and the world presents lots of expectations and pressures, but Christ understands what we are going through. God knows we can't do this alone. Take heart! Even a midst our most troublesome earthly struggles, Christ is with us and has overcome evil once and for all. God is with us through our joys and sufferings and Christ came so that we could have peace. We may not feel it in our hearts every moment of every day, but we have the hope through faith in Christ that one day we will be freed from this world of sin and suffering. One day we will experience the true peace of paradise in heaven. For now we pray and trust that God will grant us the peace that only He can provide, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." ~Philippians 4:6-7
Bible verses to explore for comfort and encouragement: Isaiah 40:28-31, John 16:33, Romans 8:38-39, Matthew 11:28, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, 1 Peter 5:7
Bombs. Explosions. War. Fighting. Earthquakes. Hurricanes. Fires. Tragedy.
Our world is filled with tragedy. Our world is filled with hurt and pain. Suffering surrounds us and we don't always understand how and why God allows such suffering to take place. In light of all the tragic events that have been taking place in our world this week, in can be challenging to trust that God is still in control and is guiding us through such disaster and tragedy...
According to the dictionary definition, a tragedy is, "a lamentable, dreadful, or fatal event or affair; calamity; disaster: the tragedy of war." Lamentable. Dreadful. Fatal. Calamity. Disaster. Each word rings out with connotations of fear and sadness we experience when such tragedies strike; the fear and sadness that comes with living a sinful, sin-filled world. God never said life in this world would be easy. Christ promised to bring us peace, but never said life would be a breeze if we chose to follow Him. As He clearly reminds us in John 16:33, there is no denying the fact that troubles and hardship will strike us in this world. We can, however, trust that He will be with us through it all. God will be with us to guide us through life's challenges, help us up when we fall, and help us run the race He has marked out for us. Life will challenge us, but Christ promises to be with us through it all and through the hope that comes through Christ's death and resurrection, we know that one day we will leave all suffering behind and join Him in paradise forever.
As I was reflecting on the recent tragedies in our world this week, the above Bible passage popped into my head. I may not be experiencing any personal tragedies at the moment, but I am going through lots of big life changes. College graduation is an exciting time and pursuing exciting job opportunities is most definitely invigorating. It is also a very confusing and overwhelming time, trying to sort everything out, discern God's plan, and trust that He is leading me and using me for His will...As I step out in faith, I trust that God is leading and guiding me and He will be right beside me every step of the way. A song by Tenth Avenue North has been playing in my head a lot lately. It reminds me that even when we are tired and weary, God is there to lift us up. He gives us the strength we need to persevere through life with sin. I couldn't imagine life without my Heavenly Father. Just as my earthly dad was there to pick me up when I fell and skinned my knee or crashed when learning to ride my bike, my heavenly father is always there to listen, comfort, and pick me up when I fall.
Tenth Avenue North's song "Worn," just seems to put into words everything I've been thinking and feeling lately. Life pulls at you from many different directions, people expect a lot, and the world presents lots of expectations and pressures, but Christ understands what we are going through. God knows we can't do this alone. Take heart! Even a midst our most troublesome earthly struggles, Christ is with us and has overcome evil once and for all. God is with us through our joys and sufferings and Christ came so that we could have peace. We may not feel it in our hearts every moment of every day, but we have the hope through faith in Christ that one day we will be freed from this world of sin and suffering. One day we will experience the true peace of paradise in heaven. For now we pray and trust that God will grant us the peace that only He can provide, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." ~Philippians 4:6-7
Bible verses to explore for comfort and encouragement: Isaiah 40:28-31, John 16:33, Romans 8:38-39, Matthew 11:28, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, 1 Peter 5:7
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Living by Faith
"Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." ~Isaiah 40:28-31
Simple verses, yet so complex. Simple verses spoken so powerfully through the prophet Isaiah. Simple verses that can be more encouraging and comforting than one might initially realize.
A few years back, I experienced times so tough I never thought I'd be able to make it through...times so tough I thought I'd never be able to pick myself back up and continue pursuing the dreams I'd had since I was a young girl. Then one day, when I thought things could not get any worse, I received a phone call from my mom, encouraging me and reminding me to pray. She encouraged me to check my email since she had sent me something earlier that morning. Within her email she directed me to the above Bible passage, encouraging me to read it and always remember that God is with me no matter what I may experience in life.
Later that day, I found a note on my desk from my friend who knew everything I had been experiencing. She reminded me that God is always with me no matter what, and she encouraged me to keep pushing forward. She wrote out Isaiah 40:28-31 and encouraged me to reflect on those verses for comfort. As I read her note I began to tear up, realizing that twice in one day two separate people had shared with me the same comforting verses from Scripture. Just when I felt like I was hitting rock bottom, God had spoken to me through two of the closest people in my life...
Since that time, I have experienced my share of joys and struggles. Family and friends have always been there to comfort and encourage me, and I always think back to Isaiah 40 for continued comfort from the Lord. Whenever I experience joys or struggles of any kind, I think about how God truly has pulled me through quite a lot. Even through times when He seemed farthest away, I reflect back and see the amazing ways He was working in and through me.
Life is far from perfect. Living in sin, struggles are bound to strike. God truly is with me everyday, no matter what I encounter. I know there are times when it is hard to trust and understand why or how He works, but in the end it is amazing to look back and see the mysterious ways in which God works. Living by faith isn't always easy. Trusting in things unseen challenges our human limitations. God still loves and cares for us more than we could ever imagine and as I continue to pursue the dreams I have, I know He is always with me and even though I may be unsure about the future or what I am experiencing right now God is with me through it all. Isaiah 40 will always ring true:
"Even youths grow tired or weary and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." ~Isaiah 40:28-31
Simple verses, yet so complex. Simple verses spoken so powerfully through the prophet Isaiah. Simple verses that can be more encouraging and comforting than one might initially realize.
A few years back, I experienced times so tough I never thought I'd be able to make it through...times so tough I thought I'd never be able to pick myself back up and continue pursuing the dreams I'd had since I was a young girl. Then one day, when I thought things could not get any worse, I received a phone call from my mom, encouraging me and reminding me to pray. She encouraged me to check my email since she had sent me something earlier that morning. Within her email she directed me to the above Bible passage, encouraging me to read it and always remember that God is with me no matter what I may experience in life.
Later that day, I found a note on my desk from my friend who knew everything I had been experiencing. She reminded me that God is always with me no matter what, and she encouraged me to keep pushing forward. She wrote out Isaiah 40:28-31 and encouraged me to reflect on those verses for comfort. As I read her note I began to tear up, realizing that twice in one day two separate people had shared with me the same comforting verses from Scripture. Just when I felt like I was hitting rock bottom, God had spoken to me through two of the closest people in my life...
Since that time, I have experienced my share of joys and struggles. Family and friends have always been there to comfort and encourage me, and I always think back to Isaiah 40 for continued comfort from the Lord. Whenever I experience joys or struggles of any kind, I think about how God truly has pulled me through quite a lot. Even through times when He seemed farthest away, I reflect back and see the amazing ways He was working in and through me.
Life is far from perfect. Living in sin, struggles are bound to strike. God truly is with me everyday, no matter what I encounter. I know there are times when it is hard to trust and understand why or how He works, but in the end it is amazing to look back and see the mysterious ways in which God works. Living by faith isn't always easy. Trusting in things unseen challenges our human limitations. God still loves and cares for us more than we could ever imagine and as I continue to pursue the dreams I have, I know He is always with me and even though I may be unsure about the future or what I am experiencing right now God is with me through it all. Isaiah 40 will always ring true:
"Even youths grow tired or weary and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." ~Isaiah 40:28-31
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