Tag: courage

Half Way There

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In just a few more weeks, Christmas Day will be upon us.

It is so easy it is to get overwhelmed with all the things to do and prepare for.

When you’re overwhelmed, the best thing to do is to take a minute and remind yourself what Christmas means and why we celebrate it.

Christmas is a holiday that celebrates the gift of God’s love and presence through Jesus Christ.

To restore you.

To reconcile you.

To renew you.

Jesus was born for you.

He who was from the beginning became flesh so you would know God.

Christmas is a reminder and a celebration of this truth:

“But whoever did want him, who believed he was who he claimed and would do what he said, He made to be their true selves, their child-of-God selves.” John 1:12 MSG

Wherever you are in your preparations for Christmas, my prayer is that your heart would be filled with the wonder of living loved as a child of God through the gift of Jesus today and every day after will be a celebration of it!

On Hope

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“Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.  His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”         

2 Peter 1:2-3 NIV

God’s divine power through Jesus has given you everything you need to live the life God has given you.

To the call He has placed upon your life.

That doesn’t mean it will be easy.  

If it was easy, you wouldn’t need God’s power to do it.

You will need Him. 

You will need His power to keep going in spite of the obstacles, the setbacks, the failures, and the frustrations you are facing.

Good thing you have Him. 

The promise is yours.

Grace and peace are yours in abundance.

Anchor your hope on His word and live fearlessly the beautiful life before you.

The Rock You Can Stand On

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“Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.”

Isaiah‬ ‭26‬:‭4‬ NIV

Maybe today you are feeling sad and overwhelmed.

That is okay.

What you are facing is hard and what you have lost is significant.

Bring your feelings to Jesus.

Pour them out at His feet.

Cry when you need to and allow yourself space to grieve.

Feelings will ebb and flow but I want to remind you that Jesus’ love for you is unchangeable.

His love is the truth you can build your life on and the guide for you to follow.

It is the rock that will not be moved and a faithfulness that will not end.

What you are facing may be difficult but remember that with God all things are possible.

Feel your feelings and trust God.

He is the trustworthy Rock you can stand on when the storm around you rages.

Need Grace?

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“May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.” 

1 Corinthians‬ ‭16‬:‭23‬ NLT

Need grace? 

Today you may be venturing into unknown territory and uncomfortable terrain.

You may need to have a hard conversation with someone you love.

You may need to extend mercy for someone you don’t love or don’t know.

Whatever happens today, my prayer for you is that the unstoppable grace of Jesus will be with you.

His grace is the very grace of God that was with Him as He walked on the earth, went to the cross and rose from the dead.

His grace is to you, for you and in you.

With Him, you can face anything that comes your way.

Have Courage

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One of the most amazing things about receiving God’s love (and I mean really receiving it- taking it in, letting it sink into your soul, walking in the truth of it, living loved) is that it gives you courage.

Courage to step out of your comfort zone.

Courage to change the way you talk to yourself and to others.

Courage to not give in to old habits, coping mechanisms or escape tactics.

Courage to face your feelings and issues.

“My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.”

1 John 3:18-20 MSG

Have courage my friend, you are not alone and God will help you in your darkest place.

Love Never Gives Up

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“Love never gives up.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:4 MSG‬‬

So much can be communicated through a small touch.

A reassuring pat of the hand.

A hug.

A gentle tug on the elbow of someone who you want closer.

Holding a hand.

A small touch can make a bad thing okay, an okay thing good, and make a good thing great.

Small touches are difference makers in a relationship and in our lives.

They can be the first thing we unconsciously give and the first thing that we unconsciously withhold.

When we struggle, when we are angry, when we are hurt, we withhold the small touches.

It’s easy to forget how important they are to us and to those we love until we can’t give them anymore.

Love never gives up.

If you need to reconnect to someone today, a small touch may be a great way to start.

Have Courage

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“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 NIV

Life with Jesus is a journey of overcoming and conquering, first steps and new beginnings.

It is an adventure of discovery and healing, of bold moves and humble hearts.

It is about facing difficulty with courage and having peace in the midst of uncertainty.

It is possible because Jesus promises to be with you every step of the way.

Things God Will Not Do

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“For He, God, Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let you down or relax My hold on you! Assuredly not!” ‬

‭Hebrews 13:5 Amplified Version

God will not leave you without support.

Jesus is bigger than your situation.

He will not leave you helpless.

He will not relax His hold on you.

He will make a way where there seems to be no way.

As you face the challenges before you, know that God is beside you in them.

All things are possible with God.

Burden Bearer

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“Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.”

Psalm‬ ‭68‬:‭19‬ NIV

Every day brings new choices to make, new challenges to face, new fears to conquer, new burdens to bear.

Every day also brings old memories that linger, mistakes still bearing consequences, fears that refuse to die, emotional baggage that demands space and attention.

God will bear your burdens every day. 

Old, new, heavy or light.

Everyday.

You may not know what burdens will be thrust upon you today but God does. 

He stands with open arms and strong shoulders to bear them for you.

What burden do you need God to bear today?

Set Free

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You have been set free from sin”

Romans 6:22 NIV

The power of sin in your life can feel like a noose that the enemy gently lays upon your neck. Then slowly, surely, he begins to tighten it until you feel trapped, choked and bound. 

It is a lie. You do not have to live in bondage anymore. 

It is Jesus clothed in the white garments of resurrection, bearing the fresh scars of the crucifixion declaring to the universe that the power of sin is broken. 

The good news is that through Him, you are set free.

You are free from sin.
You are free from its power and control.
You are free from its endless demands, requirements, small print and a false sense of control. 

Jesus took that noose upon His own neck for you. He took the penalty it demanded, death. Then He conquered death in a blaze of glory and held freedom in His hands. Wherever shame lurks and condemnation whispers, wherever fear and anxiety chokes, wherever lies and rejection linger – Jesus comes. 

He comes with His love, His power, His mercy and His forgiveness. 

He washes away the stains of the past and brings to you new hope for the future.  

He sets you free to live life saturated in His love and filled with His power.

The power of sin has been broken.

How will you live the truth of it today?