Tag: scripture

liz goss

STOP and ABOUT-TURN

by Liz Goss2 Comments on STOP and ABOUT-TURN
STOP and ABOUT-TURN

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.
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Compassion from the Gut

by Stephanie Murillo1 Comment on Compassion from the Gut
Compassion from the Gut

“But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd” Matthew 9:36 KJV

Where in your body do you feel your strongest emotions? Temples? Back of the neck? Shoulders? Stomach? Where might your body register an overwhelming feeling of pity? The ancients believed that the seat of compassion and other strong emotions was the bowels. That may seem strange, but today’s scientists say that we have a nervous system in our digestive tractthat communicates with the brain, playing a key role in our overall health. Those “gut feelings” are real!

Perhaps the scholars who translated the New Testament into Greek accidentally explored a bit of this gut-brain connection when they wrote in Matthew 9:36 that Jesus was “moved with compassion.” Jesus was flooded with emotion when he saw masses of people who were “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. The ancient Greek language did not have a word that expressed this gut-feeling of pity, a feeling that moved one to take action, so they coined one: “compassion.” When Jesus was “moved with compassion,” He experienced very deep emotions; His eyes gushed tears; and His heart was bursting with pity for the sufferers He saw before Him. The compassion He felt was visceral, a yearning He felt in every inch of His gut, a body-soul response to misery that moved Him to do something about what He saw.

Jesus has been compassionate from the very beginning. He was moved by compassion to take on a mission to reverse the terrible effects of the fall of man, before we even knew we needing saving. Compassion moved Him to enter the world humbly as a vulnerable infant, stooping low to bring heaven to us. Compassion moved Jesus to take our sicknesses and carry our sorrows (Isaiah 53:4). His compassion moved Him to restore sight to the blind (Matthew 20:31) and to heal the leper (Mark 1:41). Compassion for the demon-possessed man moved Jesus to cast out that evil spirit (Mark 5:19). Great pity moved Him to restore a dead son to life when He saw the terrible grief of the widow at the gates of Nain (Luke 7:13). Jesus took our punishment because He was moved by compassion for so many lost lambs (Isaiah 53:5). The compassion of Jesus is still here today. We have the Bible, giving us access to truth even if there is no teacher available. God still raises up men and women who are willing to share their faith-walk with others as they take compassionate action when they see a need. Perhaps the greatest compassion of Christ is that He has sent His Spirit to dwell with us right now, touching our hearts, and moving us to come to God’s throne of grace. We can come freely to ask for help and the energy to respond to the needs we see. In compassion Jesus has taught us to pray, and in compassion He has promised to meet our needs when we sin, when we fail, and when our enemies abuse us.

Jesus was moved by His compassion to take action; we are called to do the same. That is why Paul pleaded with the Philippians to let their own deeply-felt compassion result in unity, humility, service to others, and a life that could be a light to those still in darkness (Philippians 2:1-18). If you read theses verses in the King James Version, bowels get involved in verse one! Paul also urged the Colossians to clothe themselves with “tenderhearted (bowels of) mercy” as a love response to God (Colossians 3:12). When have you received the compassion of Jesus? Were you moved to some kind of response? When have you been “moved by compassion” to take some kind of helping action? Where might you need to respond now because God is asking you to pour out mercy from the deepest part of yourself?

Prayer: My Savior, I am so grateful for Your compassion towards me. You are a fountain of mercy that never runs dry. Help me to offer this same compassion to others with the same love that motivates You. Amen.

liz goss

You Can Experience God Now!

by Liz Goss1 Comment on You Can Experience God Now!
You Can Experience God Now!

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)

liz goss

COMMIT TO CHANGE (a how to guide)

by Liz Goss2 Comments on COMMIT TO CHANGE (a how to guide)
COMMIT TO CHANGE (a how to guide)

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?

by Liz GossLeave a Comment on Have You Ever Read Numbers?
Have You Ever Read Numbers?

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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The Fruit of Our Lips

by Guest Blogger4 Comments on The Fruit of Our Lips
The Fruit of Our Lips

By Idella Zell

“By him, therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” Heb. 13:15

There are many ways to praise God by speaking to Him in prayer, reading His word, thanking Him, lifting your hands, and singing to Him.  There is no wrong way to praise God however today I would like to talk about praising Him with your lips, opening your mouth, and giving Him glory and honor with your words. In Psalm 96:4 the Bible says, “For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.”

One of the ways to praise God is with your testimony.  There is no better way to let others know what God has done in your life than to share your personal experience of His power in the midst of your trials.

In my own life, I have experienced betrayal and tremendous loss however God sustained me through His word and prayer.  I continued to praise God with the fruit of my lips in the midst of those trials.  The scripture that I meditated on was Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”  I knew that God was going to work everything out for my good regardless of how the situation appeared because I loved Him with all my heart and soul and knew that I was called according to his purpose. God has promised to use everything for good if we trust Him.

How about you?  Has God given you a scripture to meditate on in the midst of your trial?  What about a song?  If not, ask Him to give you a song and begin to open your mouth and give Him praise even if you don’t like the way you sound and even if you don’t feel like it (remember, it’s a sacrifice of praise! – Heb. 13:15). You may never know who is watching you. He wants to use everything you are going through to be a blessing to someone else. As a matter of fact, he wants you to praise him in the midst of your trial and thank him for it. As you begin to praise God, he will fill your heart with joy in the midst of your trial. I challenge you to try this!

The Bible says in (Ps. 51:15) “O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.” 

As you begin to praise God, it will amaze those around you, whether you’re praising him during a trial or simply waking you up in the morning and giving you strength in your body.  The world will be affected by your praise and before you know it, they are asking questions about how they can experience that same joy!

Remember Paul when he was in prison, he was singing and rejoicing with the fruit of his lips, God stepped in to change Paul’s situation. Paul had learned the lesson God wanted him to share with us. “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say Rejoice.” (Phil. 4.4). We can rejoice in our situations as Paul did and God will step in and change them for us.

No matter what you are going through or how difficult you think your problem is, open your mouth and give God the fruit of your lips in the midst of your tragedy, and trust him to bring you through it! He will leave you hungering for more of his presence as you focus on him and not your problem. Ps. 145:2, “Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name forever and ever.”  I pray this for you today and every day in Jesus Name!

Scriptures for meditation:

 “I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth; yea, I will praise him among the multitude.” (Ps. 109:30)

“My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips.” (Ps.63:5)

“My lips shall utter praise when thou hast taught me thy statutes.” (Ps 119:171)

“Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.” (Ps. 63:3)

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You and the Torn Curtain

by Stephanie Murillo2 Comments on You and the Torn Curtain
You and the Torn Curtain

[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

liz goss

Christmas Has Come

by Liz Goss3 Comments on Christmas Has Come
Christmas Has Come

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

by rachelleepallas1 Comment on Season of Busyness
Season of Busyness

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

liz goss

GATHER WITH GRATEFUL HEARTS

by Liz GossLeave a Comment on GATHER WITH GRATEFUL HEARTS
GATHER WITH GRATEFUL HEARTS

Thanksgiving Day is arguably the best holiday of the year because… FOOD. Here is a glimpse of what I cooked last year:

But menu aside, this November holiday is deeply rooted in spending time with family, and above all else, gratitude, making this special day the perfect opportunity to tap into a more reflective mindset. So after you’ve said a Thanksgiving prayer over the bounty of food, consider capping off your meal with a few meaningful Thanksgiving Bible verses to share around the table.

NOTE: Even if you are not surrounded by food and family on Thanksgiving Day, you ARE surrounded by the love of your Heavenly Father. Paul assures us of this in Romans 8:39, saying, “No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” And that’s worth being thankful for!

I have compiled a bunch of verses from the Bible on gratitude, Thanksgiving, and praise. In case you don’t have time to make a list of your own during the hustle & bustle, feel free to use mine. Adding Thanksgiving to God into the mix of holiday traditions may just be your NEW favorite reason for loving Thanksgiving.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.

1 Chronicles 16:34

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Colossians 3:15

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

Colossians 4:2

I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians 1:4

Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks. For we know it is made acceptable by the word of God and prayer.

1 Timothy 4:4-5

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

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

But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For my salvation comes from the Lord alone.

Jonah 2:9

Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High.

Psalm 50:14

You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine.

Psalm 4:7

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.

Colossians 3:16

Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.

Hebrews 12:28

Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does. Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! He is to be feared above all gods. The gods of other nations are mere idols, but the Lord made the heavens!

1 Chronicles 16:23-26

O our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name!

1 Chronicles 29:13

Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name.

Hebrews 13:15

The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

Psalm 28:7

I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?

Psalm 56:4

Then I will praise God’s name with singing, and I will honor him with thanksgiving.

Psalm 69:30

I will sing of the Lord’s unfailing love forever! Young and old will hear of your faithfulness. Your unfailing love will last forever. Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens.

Psalm 89:1-2

Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him. For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods.

Psalm 95:1-3

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High. It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening, accompanied by a ten-stringed instrument, a harp, and the melody of a lyre.

Psalm 92:1-3

Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

Psalm 107:8-9