Need Change? Do This One Thing
What is the most important thing in your life? What is your priority? Show me how you begin your day, and I’ll tell you what your priorities are. The way you start your day will affect the end of your day. Doing this one thing changed my life and it will change yours too.
Treat Them Like Unbelievers and Tax Collectors!
Jesus said, “Treat them like unbelievers and tax collectors!” Does that phrase make you stop and take pause? It did me. I began to ask myself, is that really what Jesus meant? Since Scripture interprets Scripture, I decided to look at exactly how Jesus treated pagans and tax collectors. Here is what I discovered.
Believing God for Answered Prayer: Having Faith Like Elijah
Does prayer really accomplish anything? How do I have faith my prayers will be answered? Those are good questions that aren’t without an answer. James 5:16 tells us that the “prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” and then demonstrates the awesome power released through prayer using the story of Elijah, an Old Testament prophet.
Faith: It Is What Pleases God (Hebrews 11:6)
When we love someone, naturally, we want to please them. Not because we expect to get anything in return, but because we want to make them happy and be proud of us. The same goes for God. We should want to please Him because we love Him; we want to make Him happy and be proud of us. But what pleases God?
Come and See: Rediscovering the Call to Follow Jesus
Have you ever paused to truly consider Jesus’ invitation to ‘Come and See’? In John 1:35-39, Andrew and John took a step beyond knowing about Jesus to knowing Him personally. This powerful passage challenges us to ask, ‘What do we really want?’ and reminds us of the transformative journey of following Christ. Discover how this simple invitation can lead to a deeper walk with Jesus!
When God Interrupts
I’m busy. I have things to do. I like to get things done and get them done quickly. I don’t like to waste time. I know what I need to accomplish in a day and I plan my time accordingly. So when things don’t go as “planned” or when there is an interruption, I can get testy. Just ask my kids. Ask my husband. On my lunch break yesterday, I was interrupted. Yes, things didn’t go as planned. I had several errands to do including getting gas. I usually avoid getting gas at lunch time because it seems that everyone has the same idea and I end up circling the pumps waiting for one to open up. Yesterday was no exception, but I had no choice but to wait, my tank was empty. I pulled into the station and every pump was full. I circled the pumps until I finally found one that was open. As I was pulling into the open space, a woman in a big truck began to pull into it too. When she saw me, she threw her hands up in the air in frustration. I immediately thought: “I was here first. I have been waiting. I’m in a hurry. How rude, throwing your hands up like that and all.” But then, a gentle nudge from inside me interrupted my thoughts and said, “Stephanie, back out and give her that spot. You can wait. Just do it.” I obeyed, but not without complaining. I thought, fine, “but this is my good deed for the day (like there is a limit on good deeds…) ” So I backed my car out out and circled the station again. After finally getting a spot, I began pumping my gas and went inside to get a drink while still grumbling to myself about how now I would be late… As I was leaving the store, a woman with a baby in her arms, stopped me and said, “Thank you for giving up that spot at the pump. My baby was hollering at me from the back seat and I was so frustrated. So, I just wanted to say thank you.” I was stunned. Looking back on it, I don’t know why I was stunned. My morning prayers usually include asking God to show me others as He sees them; to show me who I need to talk to or who needs to see His love today. Although I pray that prayer, I often become too busy and forget to slow down and actually listen for His answer. Tears come to my eyes still when I think about this – how God works through us, how He answers prayers. He knew that woman needed a break and He used me to show His love. As soon as I realized this, I felt shame that I would complain about being interrupted by God, about obeying His voice. I know this may be a small thing, but I thank God for His gentle reminder that He is constantly at work and if we only stop and listen and obey, He will use us. “Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live …” Isaiah 55:3 Originally published September 2014