God Loves What You Give...Whether A Little, Or A Lot

We often become discouraged because we think we are not doing enough. If there are spare moments in our day, we are certain that we must be missing something that needs to be done, or we need to find another activity to fill that slot of time. We have become so accustomed to the busyness of life, and we forget that nothing we can do could make God love us any more. We can attend church 5 nights a week, be active in our Bible study groups, volunteer at our church, help our children to know the Lord, and speak to others about Christ. But again, doing all of that does NOT make God love us more. He already loves us with a perfect and endless love. When Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross, he took on everything...for all of us. He sealed God's love for us in spite of our sinful nature, and our selfish tendencies.


Now, being involved in groups, volunteering, leading our children, and immersing ourselves as deep in the Word as we can are all WONDERFUL things. But not because they make God love us more. It is because we fall into a deeper and more secure relationship with Our Father. When we learn more about Him, we can understand His truths for us better and apply them to our lives. That is the end goal. For some people, this requires many hours a day or week. For others, it may require only small segments of minutes per day or week. Neither one is wrong. The fact that we consistently work towards a deeper relationship through Christ, and that we continually strive to be better ourselves and to others...those are the things that God appreciates. God does not measure in how much we do or how big our deeds. God measures in purity of heart and genuine intentions.


Becoming spread too thin or overly involved can actually hamper our relationship with Our Savior. When we do this, our actions become simply "doing", as if trying to get across a finish line, or be noticed for multiple achievements. But the truth is, this can actually cause us to not embrace the reason we are doing these things, and we tend to not allow ourselves to be still enough at times to hear God's voice, and to spend necessary quiet time with Him. It is through these times that we grow the closest to Him, and if we miss these times, we miss precious opportunities to feel Him working in our lives. Sometimes saying yes to too many things, causes us to say no to God. Sometimes filling our time constantly with "things" (even though they may all be ministry related and wonderful things), can cause us to take control of our own time, and miss God's actual plan for us.


We need to be able to take time to hear what God wants for our lives, where He wants us placed, and when He wants us to say yes and no. Be sure to start taking this time, if you are not already, so that you can live the abundant life God has called you to. I believe time in study, fellowship, and community involvement are all extremely important. But so is stillness and quiet--take a moment to write time with God in your hectic daily schedule, no matter whether it is 5 minutes, or 5 hours...and be sure to do so in ink, not pencil!

Don't become so busy doing FOR God, that you forget to be WITH God!

Do Not Be Afraid

I thought someone else worded everything perfectly for me today, and this goes so well with the season I am in. So I am going to give credit where credit is due, and just share with you the February 15, 2013 devotional from "Words of Hope". They truly are wonderful and inspirational writers. This one is by Joy Petroelje.

Do Not Be Afraid

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? (v. 1)

What are you afraid of? What worries invade your thoughts and keep you up at night? Perhaps it is the unknown, possible illness, or the loss of someone important to you. Maybe you are afraid of failure, unmet expectations, or even the darkness that falls each night.

Fear can shake our confidence. It may make us question the present and be apprehensive about the future.  The writer of Psalm 27 had every reason to fear for his very life. He was surrounded by is enemies, threatened by evildoers, the victim of slander. War raged around him. He felt as though his own mother and father had turned away from him.

When we are afraid we often seek comfort in  something or someone. We may either go home or run away. We may seek hope in things that do not last or turn to destructive behaviors to try to forget our fears. The psalmist took a different approach. He chose to turn to the only true source of comfort, the Lord. In God's presence he found confidence, beauty, and singing. God alone provided acceptance, a level path, and safe refuge.

The next time you are fearful, consider the safe and secure comfort of a loving God. Through his word and faithfulness, the Lord provides a sense of security like no other. When you know you are his child, you do not need to be afraid.

Prayer: Loving Father, I give you my fear, and I delight in your comfort.

Only Trust Your Heart, If It Is Centered Around God

Why do we wrestle with decisions? Why do we constantly make choices and then regret them, or wish we could take them back? Why do we feel one way this hour, and a completely different way another hour?

It is because the heart is treacherous and cannot be trusted...unless it is rooted in God. Our emotions, heart, and mind have a way of wandering to things that are not good for us. We usually do not even see it happening until it's too late...that is how Satan works, sneaking subtly into the smallest cracks of our weaknesses. Proverbs 23:19 reminds us of this:  "My child, listen and be wise: Keep your heart on the right course." (NLT)   Our hearts course is to live for, through, and because of Jesus. Not for our own sin, desire, or control. We need to remember this in times of heartache or consequences. We must ask ourselves, "Did I cause this because of the choices and decisions I made that were rooted from my own wants and a heart looking out for my own desires?" Many times, the answer is, "Yes."

Proverbs 3:5 also reminds us of the Lord's command to trust in Him, because our own ways and human tendencies cannot be trusted. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." (NLT)  This is one of my favorite of all verses in the Bible...it reminds us that He will NEVER steer us wrong, and brings only good, regardless of the sinless nature we possess. How comforting to know that God's love never fails, that He alone can bring us happiness, peace, and joy. And that He is the Almighty One who can always make our paths straight, and show us where to go. Although we cannot trust or rely on our own hearts to make wise decisions, His heart is ALWAYS wise and true.

Look to Jesus, Not Man For Your Wholeness

We all think about it, we all wonder, and we all look for answers. Why do things happen? Why DON'T things happen? Why do people hurt others? Why can we never seem to find complete happiness and peace? Why do the same things keep repeating themselves in our lives?

Simply put....most likely because we are looking to ourselves and others to fill our hearts and minds. We look to parents, spouses, children, friends, family, and community to make us whole. Make no mistake, all of these elements are very important in our lives, but not a single one of them (and not even all of them combined), can give the peace, happiness, comfort, and healing that we so need and desire in our lives. Only Jesus can heal our hearts and fill our minds with his Almighty Good. When we keep our sights on him, all things become easier, more manageable, and clearer. We can gain a sense of peace from knowing he wants to carry our burdens for us. We are not meant to carry our burdens, or the burdens of others. We are to cast them on Jesus for him to deal with as he sees fit...and then we are to trust in his timing and outcome.

Our sufferings make us richer by bringing us closer to God, reaffirming our trust, and building our faith when we see what miraculous blessings He pulls out of even the most difficult times for us. This is always easier said than done...but sisters and brothers, it is essential to us have a balanced life centered around Christ. Here are some scriptures I will leave you with today that will hopefully speak to you and calm your mind, as they have done for me:

(Ecclesiastes 2:26 NIV)

To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

(Ecclesiastes 7:14 NIV)

When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future.

(Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV)

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

(James 1:2-4 NIV)

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

(Romans 5:3-5 NIV)