jesus – Grow Anyway

STOP and ABOUT-TURN

December 14, 2022December 13, 2022by Liz Goss2 Comments

There are 2½ weeks left in 2022 and I have a message for you: stop and about-turn. When you read those words, they probably caught in your throat and you instantly thought of something. We all need to stop and turn around in some area. So let’s look at twenty things we can stop doing and how we can turn them around with truth from scripture.

STOP: taking control

ABOUT-TURN: remember God is in control

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” – Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭28‬ ‭[NLT‬‬]

STOP: worrying

ABOUT-TURN: pray

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭[NLT‬‬]

STOP: saying “I can’t”

ABOUT-TURN: say “I can”

“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” – Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬ ‭[NLT‬‬]

STOP: giving into temptation

ABOUT-TURN: escape temptation

“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” – 1 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭13‬ ‭[NLT‬‬]

STOP: giving up

ABOUT-TURN: persevere

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” – Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭9‬ ‭[NLT‬‬]

STOP: letting anger control you

ABOUT-TURN: forgive

“Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.” – Proverbs‬ ‭19‬:‭11‬ [‭NLT‬‬]

STOP: letting your mind wander

ABOUT-TURN: control your thought life

“We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.” – ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭5‬ ‭[NLT‬‬]

STOP: filling your mind with garbage

ABOUT-TURN: fill your mind with virtuous things

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” – Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ ‭[NLT‬‬]

STOP: hanging out with people that lead you to sin

ABOUT-TURN: find friends that help you grow

“Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.”” – 1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭33‬ ‭[NLT‬‬]

STOP: feeling guilty

ABOUT-TURN: confess and be forgiven

“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” – ‭‭1 John‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬ ‭[NLT‬‬]

STOP: sinning over an over

ABOUT-TURN: confess your sin and stop

“People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.” – Proverbs‬ ‭28‬:‭13‬ ‭[NLT‬‬]

STOP: doubting

ABOUT-TURN: trust

“But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.” – Romans‬ ‭14‬:‭23‬ ‭[NLT‬‬]

STOP: looking everywhere for truth

ABOUT-TURN: look to God’s word

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” – 2 Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭[NLT]

STOP: asking everyone around you what to do

ABOUT-TURN: ask God

“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. – Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬ ‭[NLT‬‬]

STOP: blaming other for our wrongdoing

ABOUT-TURN: take responsibility

“For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.” – 2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭10‬ ‭[NLT‬‬]

STOP: getting drunk

ABOUT-TURN: take your problems to God

“Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,” – ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭18‬ ‭[NLT‬‬]

STOP: speaking harshly

ABOUT-TURN: be gentle with your words

“Patience can persuade a prince, and soft speech can break bones.” – Proverbs‬ ‭25‬:‭15‬ ‭[NLT‬‬]

STOP: holding people responsible for their wrong doing

ABOUT-TURN: love each other

“Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.” – ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ ‭[NLT‬‬]

STOP: holding grudges

ABOUT-TURN: forgive

“But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”” – Mark‬ ‭11‬:‭25‬ ‭[NLT‬‬]

STOP: following whatever ideas you want

ABOUT-TURN: discipline yourself by scripture

“Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly.” – 1 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬ ‭[NLT‬‬]

Now for the challenge:

Pick one thing to STOP from the list above.
Write down what you need to do to ABOUT-TURN.
Memorize the related scripture verse (or carry it around with you) this week.

liz goss

You Can Experience God Now!

September 21, 2022September 20, 2022by Liz Goss1 Comment

Could it be that God needs to grow us into people who can handle having a deeply personal relationship with Him? It is always easy to point our faces to the sky in exasperation and wonder where God is. After all, we are trying to find Him. We are seeking. Isn’t that our job? To seek?

This my friends is limbo land and we’ve probably all taken up residence here at some point in our lives. Feeling like we are holding up our end of the bargain and begging God to just show up. Seeking. Knocking. Very focused on getting right before God and trying to manage our inevitable disappointment because we just can’t feel Him.

But while we are focused on feeling God’s presence, finding God’s will and knowing what He wants us to do, God is just… here. I know it sounds too good to be true after all our trouble and effort but it’s actually (sorry) not required. Our striving doesn’t earn His notice. He is noticing you right now.

And that’s why I say God may need to grow us to a place where we are able to have a beautiful relationship with Him. Because He is always with us. Jesus’ parting words to His disciples were: “and be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew‬ ‭28:20‬)

God is always calling you to see more true reality. He is always looking for your gaze. Never doubt His perpetual protection or wonderful nature. We just need to get better at understanding Him. We need to learn who He is so we recognize Him. Keep our spirits open and sensitive by thinking on holy things. And most of all, we need to believe that God is with us because all too often we find exactly what we are looking for.

Experiencing God isn’t just about doing more – it’s about seeing more clearly.

VERSES TO PONDER:

“He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.” (Psalms 91:4)

“Why do you ask my name?” the angel of the Lord replied. “It is too wonderful for you to understand.” (Judges 13:18)

“Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ. I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready,” (1 Corinthians 3:1-2)

“I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” (Philippians 3:12-14)

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Love & Tolerance

August 31, 2022August 30, 2022by rachelleepallasLeave a Comment

In the book of Romans chapter 7, Paul teaches about life under the law versus life under Christ. He describes the law as a tool that introduces us to sin. After all, how would we know what a sin was if not for the laws in the Bible telling us? The thing is, knowing the law has very little to do with salvation. We can know every law in the Bible and not know Christ, and knowing Christ is what matters most.

I’m not saying that we should ignore God’s laws or that they aren’t useful. What I am saying is that prioritizing law over love perpetuates sin, brokenness, and hate. We are called to love, and not just when it’s easy or when it’s deserved, but to love our enemies. So who do you consider to be an enemy? Many Christians believe that their enemy is the homosexual, the provocatively dressed woman, the addict, or the person who opposes their political beliefs. Whoever you consider being “the enemy”, you need to ask yourself how Christ would treat them.

Christ loved the sinners. He befriended the prostitute and the tax collector. When Christ came across a sinner, He showed kindness, mercy, and unconditional love. Christ was never taken aback when He saw lost people acting lost. The lost are broken and therefore will act as broken people do. Christ looked past the filth of broken actions and instead spoke to the filth of broken hearts. The heart is where Christ’s work is done and true salvation begins.

Do not let your knowledge of God’s law distract you from what our Savior has tasked us with. We are all called to LOVE. We are called to represent the mercy and grace that Christ has shown us!

“Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.” Romans‬ 12:14, 16-18‬ NLT‬

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank you for loving me unconditionally. Thank you for looking past my faults and for forgiving my sins. I ask your forgiveness for all the times I have failed to love others. You have commanded that we love one another, please help me to be the proof of your love in this world. Lord, please give me eyes to see people the way you see them. Search my heart and wash away all hate, resentment, and pride. I pray for the patience, grace, and strength to be able to love as you love. In your holy name, I pray, Amen.

Song: Love Them Like Jesus by Casting Crowns

liz goss

COMMIT TO CHANGE (a how to guide)

August 17, 2022August 16, 2022by Liz Goss2 Comments

Have you ever had something hard to do? Maybe there is an attitude that you want to correct, a habit that’s gotten the better of you or something you know you need to do. But even when you know we need to make a change it can be so difficult. How do we even start?

God gave the Israelites some help in this area. He knew that they struggled with their attitudes, habits and to do what’s right. So he began with this advice:

“And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.” Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (NLT)

The first step is committing ourselves wholeheartedly… which is hard to do. It’s easy to begrudgingly decide to do something. Or make a change even though you don’t want to. Or drag your feet but to it anyway. But God says we need to commit with our WHOLE heart. Need a song to get this idea flowing?

WHOLEHEARTED by: Rend Collective

Next we have to battle our forgetfulness. Have you ever gone to bed with the best intentions to make a change when the alarm goes off the next morning… just to forget why you were planning to get up early? So what does God suggest? Repetition. God tells us to repeat our commitments over and over to others. Talk about them at home and away, morning and evening.

Do you need to commit to making a change? Do you need to stop or start doing something so that you are bringing glory to God with your whole life? We all do!! Keep Deuteronomy 6:6-7 in front of your eyes this week so that you remember what God is prompting you to work on. And then do it with all your heart.

liz goss

Have You Ever Read Numbers?

July 13, 2022July 13, 2022by Liz GossLeave a Comment

In case you are looking at the screen in confusion, Numbers is the fourth book of the Old Testament (right after Leviticus) and it has nothing to do with math. Instead, Numbers showcases the faithfulness of God. Unsettled and weary as the Israelites often were (and tempted to envy everything they left behind or saw surrounding them) they were the most blessed of ALL people. Even in the wilderness, God dwelled in their midst – no other nation had the presence of God.

I love this book because we get to see God intimately interact with people. It’s breathtaking. Scary. Exhilarating. Frightening. And nestled inside of Numbers is a truth I want to shout from the rooftops: God desires to do life with you.

But in order to do life with a holy and just God we will have to wrestle with this verse from Numbers, “The Lord is slow to anger and filled with unfailing love, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion. But he does not excuse the guilty.” Numbers 14:18

Interestingly enough the first half that I bolded is usually where people stop the quote. And while it’s a great half – it’s only half. See the Lord is slow to anger and filled with unfailing love, but he’s also pure. He cannot live with unexcused sin, which is why we see example after example of God’s punishment of the Israelite people in Numbers.

BUT. You and I are living in a time where God’s presence is even more precious because it is accessible. United through the sacrifice of Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit we have become the dwelling place of God. And while the Israelites could not completely escape their guilt… we can through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

Reading the Old Testament is a treasure of truth for our souls, helping us appreciate the true gift of a relationship with God. He wants to live with us. He wants to fight for us. He wants to walk beside us and speak with us. But he will not forgive the guilty. Which is why we need Jesus.

Have you thanked Jesus today for restoring you to God? Did you notice the relationship you now have with God? Don’t miss the heart of the one who knows you best and loves you most. In the book of Numbers, an entire generation of Israelites passed away in the wilderness under the guilt of their sin. God has provided a way back for you this very moment.

If you don’t have a personal relationship with God know that it isn’t because he’s distant. God loves nothing more than to do life with his people. He made a way to remove our guilt at great personal cost. But we have to want it. We have to choose with our lives. God desires to do life with you. Do you desire to do life with him?

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Woman, Why Are You Weeping?

March 23, 2022March 18, 2022by Stephanie Murillo1 Comment

I was eight years old when I found my mother face-down weeping on the couch. I stood there not knowing what to do to comfort her, not knowing the cause of her terrible distress. What I did not know at the time was that she was contemplating suicide and had already accumulated enough sleeping pills to end her life. What I learned many years later was that the weight of guilt and sin had torn all hope away from my mother’s heart and death seemed the only way out of her despair.

“What’s wrong, Mama?” I asked. She lifted her tear-stained face and, with a voice made raw from her weeping, said, “Read Mama something from the Bible, honey.” I raced into my parents’ bedroom to retrieve the only Bible we had, a King James version with tiny print. I knew nothing about the Bible, having just started Sunday School. In desperation, I let the Bible fall open and looked for a place to begin reading. My eyes fell on John 20:15, so I slowly read, “Jesus asked her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Who is it you are looking for?’”

I still remember my mother’s reaction to those words. She sat up absolutely startled! She later told me that she felt as if Jesus was right there in the graveyard of her disappointment, self-loathing, and the scattered, broken pieces of her life. Questions from God are potent, and this question powerfully rolled back the stone that was keeping my mother in the tomb. She realized that Jesus was asking her to acknowledge what was causing her pain and to face the fact that she had looked in the wrong direction for the acceptance and affirmation she needed so desperately. She had to face the same question the angels asked the women who entered the tomb, only to find it deserted: “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” (Luke 24:5). My mother’s Jesus was still on the cross; she had not yet met the resurrected Christ. She had not yet encountered the Jesus who announces in Revelation 1:18, “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”

God’s questions to my mother led her on a journey to discover the power and love of a risen Savior. A dear pastor, Dwayne Zimmerman from St. John’s United Methodist Church, mentored my mother and stood by her side as she walked from death into life. His greatest gift to her was to introduce her to God’s grace. The weight of her guilt, which had driven her to the brink of death, was lifted when she invited Jesus into her heart and received his forgiveness. For my mother, Galatians 2:20 expressed the hope, fulfillment, and reason she destroyed those sleeping pills and walked forward into life: “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

What about you? Are you carrying a burden of sin and guilt that is crushing the life out of you? Might you have been looking in the wrong direction for the help and hope you need? Are you tired of camping in the tombs? Jesus sees your tears. He is in the graveyard with you, asking the one question that can turn you toward life: “Who are you looking for?” Open your heart to Him. Tell Him the truth. Ask the One who mastered death to bring you to life again. He will! He will!

For Further Study:

Psalm 18:46

Isaiah 42:3

Luke 4:18-19

Mark 26:28

Acts 2:38; 26:16-18

Ephesians 1:7

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You and the Torn Curtain

March 16, 2022March 15, 2022by Stephanie Murillo2 Comments

[Mark 15:37-38 NIV] With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

Have you ever given much thought to what the miracle of the torn curtain means to the way in which you walk with Jesus? The fact that this incredibly beautiful, thick curtain was torn in two from top to bottom means that no human hand could have managed the rending of this sacred covering that separated the Most Holy Place in the temple from all the other courts. On the day Jesus died, a place that only the high priest solemnly and fearfully entered once a year to make atonement for the people’s sin, was opened to all believers, everywhere! The gap between the two halves of this massive curtain was huge, making room for all who give their hearts to Jesus to boldly approach God’s throne. But, in reality, how might some of us be entering into this sacred space? In what ways are we entering into the presence of God?

LOOKING BUT NOT ENTERING

Some of us might be thinking that only priests or other Christian “professionals” are invited to draw near to God. In Old Testament times, only the high priest could draw that near to God’s presence, and he could only enter once in his life after being ceremonially washed and sprinkled by the blood of a sacrificial lamb. But you and I, because Jesus was torn for us on the cross because his blood was shed for our sin, can fearlessly and boldly draw near to God as a Father who loves us with a perfect love. We aren’t slaves, forbidden to enter the inner rooms of our master’s house; we are beloved, taking-in-His-nature sons and daughters invited to come with our heavy burdens to be given rest. We can come anytime, for the veil is torn forever and cannot be hung up again. This is a powerful symbol of the fact that we can never be separated from God’s love ever again. Are you just looking and hoping for a connection with God, or are you boldly walking into your Abba’s throne room as a blood-bought, washed child of the King of Kings? Your Father is waiting, beloved child, to love you back to sanity. Won’t you come in?

ENTERING AS ADOPTED OR AS AN ORPHAN

Do you feel at home with God, or might you be feeling uncomfortable and hesitant? Beloved, when you give your life to Jesus, you belong in God’s presence! God calls you to not only enter into His Holy of Holies but to serve as a royal priest once you are there! We are to come to offer our praises and lift up our prayers. Spurgeon wrote, “Fellowship with the Most High is elevating, purifying, strengthening. Enter into it boldly. Enter into His revealed thoughts, even as He graciously enters into yours: rise to His plans, as He condescends to yours; ask to be uplifted to Him, even as He chooses to stoop to dwell with you.” Your best prayers are not offered outside looking in or with a toe barely over the threshold. You are not an orphan! Your best prayers are offered in the holiest of all as God’s beloved child. You are standing on the sure ground of acceptance where your thoughts are read, your heart-needs are met, and you are equipped to serve. Are you praying as a royal priest or a barely-tolerated orphan?

COME OUT TO BLESS

The high priest, after being in the very presence of God, came out to bless the people. That is a part of our job description as well. We are to become channels of God’s blessing to others, with living waters flowing out of our Holy Spirit-charged hearts. When we enter into God’s presence boldly, we are also to come out to bless boldly.

Jesus is the One who bridges the gap between God and us. The way through the curtain is ever fresh, new, and open. The blood of Jesus is still doing its atoning work, dealing with our sin and mess even now. His Word is still able to cleanse. His Spirit is alive in you now. So, come boldly! Come to your Abba, your Daddy-God, and, like a child, tell Him the truth, and trust Him to carry your burden. Let Him rest you and re-charge you, then come out to bless.

For Further Study:

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Hebrews 4:16, 19; 9:8 & 11-12;10:19-23

Ephesians 1:4-6

Revelation 3:8

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Ready With Him

January 19, 2022January 16, 2022by rachelleepallas3 Comments

The Bible is clear that we will not know when the second coming is, but we should still be prepared. When preparing for the second coming, we are not told to hoard and stock up on essentials nor barricade ourselves in our homes. We are said to be like Lot and Noah, working diligently in the plans God has laid down for our life.

Christ teaches about the second coming in Luke 17:20-37. He speaks about it coming at an unexpected time. He talks about the days of Noah with the flood and the days of Lot in Sodom. In these examples, Jesus lists many worldly activities that were happening right up until being destroyed. People were so consumed with the things of this world that they were utterly unprepared when the time of judgment came. Jesus wasn’t saying that these activities were sinful, but we can become easily distracted by them if we aren’t careful. How much time in our lives have we spent worrying about our finances, cleaning our house, rearranging our furniture, or deciding what we are going to wear that day? Jesus gave examples of eating, drinking, building, buying, and many others when the flood came and Sodom was destroyed. Jesus wasn’t saying that we shouldn’t do these things, but He warns that we should not become so distracted by these things that we are caught off guard by His promised return. Before all other things, we must be ready.

So what can we do to “be ready”? In Mark 13:33, Jesus says, “Be on guard! Be alert!” regarding the second coming. This means we cannot wait to be all-in. When Christ comes, we don’t want to be caught in a time of putting God on the back burner. We are meant to put God first, even in doing the things of our day-to-day lives. Putting God above all else is how we can be alert and ready to lose our worldly lives to preserve our eternal life.

Paul prays for things in Colossians 1:9-12 can give us even more clues to what “being ready” for the second coming looks like. Some of the items listed are spiritual wisdom and understanding God’s will for us. We are to live with patience, endurance, the strength that comes from God’s glorious might, and hearts that give joyful thanks to Him. Staying on alert and being prepared for Christ’s second coming looks like each of us living according to God’s will and individual plan for our lives. For the second coming, we should strive to not simply be ready for it, but instead, be prepared by living daily with Him.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I pray that you help me be ready for your return. I seek a deeper relationship with the Creator of the Universe, the God who keeps all promises. You have spoken that whoever desires to save their life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. Please give me the courage to daily life for you and not for myself. Give me the heart to love you and love others far more than my love for my own life and my own worldly possessions. Thank you for all you have done for me, and help me to live a life that shows the proof of your never-ending love. In your holy name, I pray, Amen.

Song: Lay Me Down by Chris Tomlin

Verses for extra study: Luke 17:20-37; Mark 13; Matthew 6:26

liz goss

Christmas Has Come

December 22, 2021December 22, 2021by Liz Goss3 Comments

We are all handling things. Hectic schedules. Kids. Marriage. Jobs. Family dynamics. Sick pets. Cancer treatment. Divorce. Death of loved ones. Disappointment. The list never ends. And because trials keep coming our hearts can get so weary.

Have you ever lost heart when things got more than you could handle?

How does it feel to lose heart? The idea that you have anything special to offer the world… fades. Adventure seems distant and life is only drudgery. And the idea that anyone cares about your heart and is coming for you is only a distant childhood fantasy.

We can lose heart in the midst of life’s really hard moments because we doubt that God is for us. And this doubt is Satan’s oldest trick.

“Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”

“You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”

The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. Genesis 3:2-6

Satan knows that if we can take our eyes off the lover of our souls, we can begin to believe his lies. Lies from the pit of hell such as: God doesn’t care what happens to you, God is indifferent to your pain, God isn’t paying attention, or God has other priorities. Satan will throw these ideas across your path like broken glass in your hardest moments, tempting your heart to despair.

But… Christmas. That word is like a sigh of relief from the depth of our souls. God with us. The God of the universe decided that humanity was so precious to him that he would come save them himself. All they had to do was believe. Believe that he was truly for them; here in the person of Jesus Christ and offering restored relationship with God.

He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. John 1:10-13

God will allow you more than you can handle to come into your life, because he knows that HE can handle it. God is for you and he treasures your heart over everything else in the world he created. So when life throws hard things your way feel the sorrow, and then take it right to the one who knows you best and loves you most.

I don’t know what you’re handling right now, but Christmas is the best news your heart ever got. The God of the universe came down to prove that he is for you, he loves you, and he would move mountains to reach you.

Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. John 14:1

Do not let your heart be troubled. Christmas. Has. Come.

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Season of Busyness

December 15, 2021December 14, 2021by rachelleepallas1 Comment

The holiday season is almost always a busy one. In my own life, I have seen that busyness comes in waves. I will have a week of hardly any plans, and then suddenly, my calendar starts overflowing. What I have also seen is that, more often than not, fatigue and stress pair right along with mine and others’ busy seasons. Why is this? Why do seasons of busyness leave us feeling anxious and run down? Is there a way to not let our busyness turn into burnout?

Busyness is not a bad thing. We are meant to spend our time wisely and intentionally. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” That means that whether you’re finding yourself extra busy with work, school, volunteering, friends, family, or some combination of everything, it is vitally important that God is at the center of it all. God can use our busyness to move mountains, but only if the work we are doing is for His purpose and His glory. Our busyness leads to burnout when God is no longer the central focus.

No matter how busy we are, though, we also need rest. Not just a good night’s sleep or an afternoon nap, but rest for your soul. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus tells us that we can find this real rest in Him. He asks us to take time out of our busy lives and come to Him so that He may recover and rejuvenate our spirits. We know that the enemy will use busy seasons to distract us. The enemy wants us to stay tired and worn. The good news is that our God is greater and stronger than the enemy. He provides rest when we need it, and He promises that we will be rewarded for our work when we are working with all our hearts for His glory. If we keep our eyes on Him, He will stay right by our side through every busy season.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, I ask that you stay close to me through this season of busyness. Please let the work I am doing be used for your will. It is so easy to get lost in the hectic nature of a busy schedule. I don’t want to be running around aimlessly, but instead, be running towards you, Lord. When my soul needs rest, I pray that you would slow me down to see you and recover with you. Please give me the courage and motivation to say yes to the opportunities you have in store for me and the wisdom to say no to paths that are not for me. Above all else, I pray that this busy season will glorify you and draw others closer to you, Lord. In your precious name, we pray, Amen.

Song:
By Your Side by Tenth Avenue North

Verses for further study:
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:28-30‬‬‬‬
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭127:1-2‬ ‬‬‬
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:23-24‬‬‬‬‬‬