Tag: challenged

When Risk Is a Refuge

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“The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.”   Nahum 1:7 NIV

Every time you step out in faith in Jesus, it is a risk.

Being faithful to Jesus may look like being a failure to the world.

He may ask you to leave what you know, sacrifice whatever is needed, and embrace a temporary difficulty for the hope of a future promise.

Know that even though the risk seems great, a life lived in faith in the Son of God means that every cross He asks you to bear leads to a resurrection to a new kind of life you have never lived before.

This is the prayer I am whispering over you today, “Jesus, take care of my friends as they step out in faith. Thank you that they are trusting you as they face risk. Reward them with courage and vision and do what only You can do – the impossible in them and through them. In Your Name, Amen”

Being Humble

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“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Being humble means you can lead others without being bossy.

Being humble means that you can be happy and content when you are not in control.

Being gentle means that you have unclenched your hands from steering the direction of your life and have let Jesus take the lead. 

Being patient means bearing with those who don’t deserve your patience and loving people who are not easy to love.

This is about the little things that can undo our composure: the unexpected phone calls, the interruptions that add or postpone your to-do list, the change of plans because some people are unorganized.

These are the moments when being humble matters the most.

These are moments when being gentle makes all the difference.

These are the moments Jesus shines bright through you.

May you so confidently know who you are in Christ that you are able to gracefully engage with all that challenges you today.

Be Brave

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“Prosperity is as short-lived as a wildflower, so don’t ever count on it. You know that as soon as the sun rises, pouring down its scorching heat, the flower withers. Its petals wilt and, before you know it, that beautiful face is a barren stem. Well, that’s a picture of the “prosperous life.” At the very moment everyone is looking on in admiration, it fades away to nothing.” (James 1:9-11 MSG)

God doesn’t want to have a life that looks good. He wants you to have a life that is good.

That means facing the challenges, sticking it out thru the hard stuff to learn the hard lessons.

The hard lessons are the ones that give us the truths (and strength) to live a good life:

Your identity is in Christ, not a title, a position or job.

Your worth is who you are, not what you have (or don’t have).

You are loved completely, endlessly and for all eternity because you have been embraced by God.

You were made for more than just an easy life. You have been made to live a God ordained, Christ centered, Holy Spirit powered good life.

Worthy

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Who is worthy of love?

We all have our own judgements, our own criteria.

If they are nice, honest, try hard, love you well. If they are related, if they are not related, if they are friendly, if they are faithful, if they do the right things then maybe they are worthy of your love.

Who is not worthy of love?

If they are mean, dishonest, lazy, don’t love you well. If they are related, if they are not related, if they are not friendly, if they are not faithful, if they do the wrong things then maybe they are not worthy of love.

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.” (‭Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭32 NIV)

God has called you to do more than love those that love you. He has called you to go above and beyond that.

“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid.

Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.

You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.” (‭Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭35-36‬ NLT)

No, this is not natural, it is supernatural.

And that is the point.