Monthly Archives: October 2016

Weekly Devotions
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Worry: the Hearts Defeat

The world is full of struggles that we cannot physically or mentally handle on our own. Every day we are faced with “what if” situations that can take our comfortable, easy lives and turn them upside down in a split second. What if your parents break up? What if the car in front of you runs a red light and totals your brand new car? What if your best friend moves out of state? What if you find out you or someone you love dearly has terminal cancer? The scenarios could go on and on for pages but the fact of the matter is, we don’t know. We don’t know what is going to happen next; we don’t know how we would react; we don’t even know if we would truly survive some of the worst case scenario situations we think of in our own minds.

As it is often said, we are our own worst enemy. Our minds can and will run wild if we let them. Because of this, it’s time we take control. Take back the peace of mind that God gave you and realize that He is in control. Give Him the lead and realize that whatever happens, happens in His hands and His will. Give God the lead, focus on His Word, and let worry subside for another day.

Are you truly giving your worries to God and letting Him take control? What are you holding on to that’s keeping you from trusting God? Holding on to your worries is basically telling God you don’t trust that He has a plan.

Let go and let God take care of you.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 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

Weekly Challenge: This week shift your focus from the negativity in this world to the peace that you can have through Jesus Christ. Focus on the power of Christ, trust in Him, and let Him show you His will for your life. Let others see Jesus in you.

 

Weekly Devotions

When God Says Go

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Matthew 28:19 states, “Go therefore and make disciples of ALL nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

When Jesus says “Go” you better get up and go. He never once said ministry is only for people that have 4 years of college, 2 years of seminary, and at least 3-5 years of experience in the mission field. We all have a mission field and we are all called to serve Him. Are you fulfilling your calling?

If you look back in Matthew chapter 4 you’ll see that Jesus called the common man to follow Him. Throughout the entire book of Matthew, Jesus called upon fishermen, tax collectors, and other ordinary men to follow Him. The thing that I find crazy is that when He looked at them and said, “Follow Me” the men never asked Him where they were going. I am the type of person that likes to know details about where I’m going, what I’m doing, and who is going to be there. To be honest, I’m a little OCD when it comes to planning. This is where faith is put to the test. Do you always know where you are going in life?

Where do you see yourself in a 1 year? 5 years? 10 years?

Do you really know?

When my husband first surrendered to the ministry we did what any job hunter would do, we went to google and searched for jobs. Of course we spent time in prayer seeking the Lord’s will but we knew we had to do something if we wanted to serve. Sitting around twirling our thumbs was getting us nowhere. After a few weeks of waiting, he got a call from a church in OKLAHOMA! I don’t know about you but Oklahoma is not my ideal dream vacation spot. Sorry Oklahoma fans.

When Dustin received the call, we were in shock. Were we ready to move? Was this even real? Struggling with the idea of moving, we hit our knees and said “Lord, you know better than we do, send us to serve if it be your will.” That was one of the hardest prayers I’ve ever prayed. My life has always been in South Carolina. On top of that, my parents have lived in the same house since the day I was born and my family is very close. My sister lives 3 miles from house, my sister in law lives 5 miles away. My parents live 10 minutes away and my mother in law lives the furthest away from me at a total of maybe 20 minutes. Right now, we are in our comfort zone. I love South Carolina and I love my home.  But in my heart I knew that if God had a plan for my family to move, He would see us through every step of the way. Wherever He lead, we were ready to follow.

After prayer, we spent a few hours on the phone with the church leaders and even more time researching the church and the area. We had 3 Skype interviews and multiple conversations with leaders and directors at the church. We even looked up the housing market and tried to figure out how we would move with a baby on the way 18 hours from what we had always considered “home.” It was terrifying to think we were actually going to do this. Yet God gave me peace in knowing that He would see us through whatever may come about. As scared as I was, my faith kept me grounded and gave me comfort. Every day as I searched for homes and prepared for a possible move I had to step back and let God take the lead.

Time would tell that this was not where God wanted us to be; however, it was a growing experience for both of us. It was a chance for us to see how strong our faith truly was. Were we ready for true surrender no matter the cost?

If God told you to go somewhere today, what would you do? What would hold you back?

Whatever is holding you back is being put in front of Jesus Christ. As you know, anything you place above Jesus Christ is considered an idol.

“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 10:37-39

I’m not telling that you that it’s wrong to love your family or your home, but do you love them more than Jesus Christ?

Keep in mind that this is not our home. We are just passing through.

If you would find it hard to follow Christ wherever He calls you, I challenge you to prioritize your life and take a step back. Realize this is not your home and turn your focus on Christ above. Let God lead your life and have faith that He will see you through each day.

Weekly Challenge: Make a list of things that get in the way of your bible study. What’s holding you back from your true potential with Christ? Refocus your eyes on what matters most, Jesus Christ.

“Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:1-2

Weekly Devotions

“Blessed”

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“I have been blessed”

“He’s my shoulder to lean on when I am so down, a rock where He leads me when I’m overwhelmed. The place where He hides me under His wings. He’s not just a song, He’s the reason I sing, Oh, and I have been blessed.

I have been blessed, God’s so good to me, precious are His thoughts of you and me. No way could I count them there’s not enough time, so I’ll just thank Him for being so kind. God has been good, so good. I have been blessed.”

If you’ve never heard the song, ‘I have been blessed’ I highly recommend looking it up on YouTube by CT Townsend.  It may not be your style of music but listen to the words. This beautiful song is a constant reminder of how blessed we truly are. In a world of disappointments, struggles, and trials it is so easy to get discouraged and depressed.

Depression is no longer a battle that only adults deal with. In my experience in Youth Ministry, I’ve realized that more and more youth are dealing with depression than ever before. Teens of all ages are dealing with suicidal thoughts, depression, and anxiety issues. You are not alone.

Last year, while working with the Youth at my church, I heard of multiple suicides within the school district. The teenagers that committed suicide were your average students. They were what seemed to be ‘happy’ and living life every day as  normal teenagers. They weren’t addicts or troublemakers, they were just kids. It’s devastating to imagine what was going through their minds when they decided to take their own life. What brought them to that point? Why didn’t someone stop them? Could it have been prevented?

Life is tough. God never said it would be easy, but if we can look up and remember how blessed we truly are, it makes this life a little bit easier. Remember that this life on earth is only temporary. Count your blessings each day by remembering the simple things. Remember your parents are gifts from God doing the best they know how to raise you in this dark world. I know it’s hard, but thank God for them even when they aren’t your best friends. If your parents aren’t in your life, thank God that they chose life instead of abortion. Thank God for the people around you that care for you enough to discipline you and help guide you in life. Be thankful even when being thankful is hard to do. Thank God for the roof over your head, the food on your plate, the shoes on your feet, and every second He has given you. Everything you have and everything you are is because of Him.

Focus on the positive blessings in life and I promise it’ll make your day better and possibly someone else’s day too. Your positive influence could save a life. Suicide is permanent. Serve God by being thankful and lifting those up around you. Make a difference, save a life!

“He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are already doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:10-11

Prayer: Pray for the person sitting beside you each day. You never know what they may be going through on the inside. Pray that God will give you a positive outlook on life and help you share it with others. Be the Light!

Challenge: Every time you have a negative thought today, stop yourself before you say it out loud. Fast (stay away) from negativity and see how your life changes.

May God Bless you and show you His Grace every day!

 

Weekly Devotions

It’s Okay to Laugh

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“It’s Okay to Laugh”

“Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to a man one hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” Genesis 17:17

Abraham had followed Christ for a long time and heard Him say over and over again that he would be the father of many nations, yet 24 years passed by and he still had not had a son with his wife Sarah. Abraham had already left his hometown and gave up everything to follow Christ, yet his patience was growing thin. At one point in time, Sarah looked to Abraham and said, “Now behold, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I will obtain children through her” (Genesis 16:2). Sarah decided that God was taking too long to make things happen, so she gave her maid to her husband so that they could conceive a child for their family. In today’s society, the maid (Hagar) would be considered a surrogate for the couple that could not conceive on their own. Sarah’s impatience did bring them a child but it also brought them strife in the midst of their marriage and showed their lack of confidence in God. Shortly after Hagar conceived, the Lord affirmed that this child would not be the heir of the family. Sarah’s plan to ‘help the Lord out’ was not the plan God had for them. The Lord once again promised Abraham and Sarah a child of their own just in His timing, not their own.

Finally, at the age of 100, God came to Abraham and announced that Sarah would bear a child. Abraham’s response was similar to what mine would have been. Abraham laughed. He not only giggled a little, the Bible says he fell on his face and laughed when the Lord told him he and his wife would have a child in their old age.

Sometimes, God’s plans for our lives seem so farfetched that all we can do is laugh. Today, you might be thinking that God wants you to be a Doctor. Tomorrow, He may lead you into the mission field. You never know where God is leading you, but when you feel the call and sense that He has a plan for you, realize that it’s ok to laugh. It’s ok to be in shock, and it’s ok to think He has lost His mind. You are not alone.

When I first felt that God was calling me into the ministry I felt like Abraham. I felt like falling on my face and laughing at God for even thinking I could handle the ministry. At the time I was just getting back into church after being away from God for over 7 years. I had changed my major so many times in college that I forgot what I was going for in the first place. My degree stated “Associates in Arts” and my classes ranged from Medical Terminology to Early Childhood Education to Real Estate. I literally had no idea where God was leading me, but I did know He was in control.

As I laughed at the thought of leading teenagers in Youth Ministry, God reassured me that He had a plan. Within a month of this confirmation moment, I was directing a youth ministry program with multiple youth groups across the Upstate. Once a month I was hosting a youth rally for local churches with various speakers and bands. Being young and new to the ministry my contacts were very limited. One by one in less than a month God supplied my entire calendar with bands and speakers from South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina. Did I mention this program was on a zero budget and all of the speakers were volunteers? This definitely was a God thing!

At the end of the month I looked back at this experience and realized that my God, the One True God, can and will do anything if it is in His will and His timing. When Abraham laughed at God, his humanity was telling him “there’s no way this is possible.” But God hears our doubts and tells us, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

Whatever God is telling you to do may seem extreme or over the top, and to be honest, it may even seem terrifying, but realize that His will is the only will that matters. He has a plan for your life, and if you will be patient and stop trying to figure everything out on your own, you’ll realize that His plan is much better than you can even imagine.

As for Abraham, He did have a son with his wife Sarah at 100 years old. They named him Isaac and God blessed them over and over again. Just as the Lord said in the first place, Abraham became the father of many nations.

With God the impossible is just another way to show others His power and Grace!

Be patient and trust in God!

Challenge: This week, think about the impossible battles that you face every day. What is your “mission impossible” that you can’t handle alone? Give it to God and let Him show you His plan for your life!

May God Bless you and show you His Grace every day!