Monday, March 19, 2012

A New Chapter

A couple of weeks ago, i talked about how we shouldn't shy away from commitment. Little did i know then, what God had planned for my husband & i. My husband is a licensed pastor. At the time of his licensing, we visited churches that were in need of pastors, where he would fill in at the pulpit. But after quite a few rejections, Hubby thought maybe he wasn't meant to be have a church. After all, you don't have to have a church to minister. Throughout the last couple of years, there was one church that repeatedly invited him as a guest pastor to fill in when needed. And recently, this church offered, & he accepted the position of pastor of that church.
This church is a very small church at this time. And the focus will be on growth. The first step is to start a Bible study. Hubby will lead the adult group study & i will lead the youth group study.

"Now what I am commanding you is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach!"
Deuteronomy 30:11 (NIV)
Recently, i read this verse in my morning devotion. And with this new assignment from God, i knew He meant for me to read this verse at this time. I do not have experience in leading a youth Bible study. But i realize that God will not call us to do something that is too difficult. God knows each one of us & knows what we can do. All we have to do is trust Him. And i know that not only is God commanding us to the tasks ahead to grow this church, but that Hubby & i are not shying from the commitment to obey.

We are beginning a new chapter of our lives next month. And i am so excited to see how this story unfolds.
I know i've kind of gone in a bit of a different direction today. But i am just so full of joy that i just had to share it. It's also another wonderful example of God's timing. He makes amazing things happen in His perfect time. One of my favorite sayings is, "When you least expect it, expect it." I've learned that's how God works.
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Monday, March 12, 2012

Love One Another

All of us were created with love by God & all of us - every single person on the face of this earth - is loved by Him. That's whey it's imperative to love everybody we meet everyday. By loving your fellow man unconditionally, it strengthens our love & relationship with our Heavenly Father. And it does open doors to future ministry in the lives of others. What an amazing thing it is to feel loved! God wants us to love & beloved. And isn't it great to feel God's love?! That's what he wants us to share with others.
"A new command I give to you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
John 13:34-35 (NIV)
www.ifrogcrafts.etsy.com
Loving others seems easy enough to a Christian. But sometimes showing that love can be difficult. When we are hurt by the actions or words of another, we don't really want to love that person. But God tells us that we must. The key is to ask God to help us forgive that person & give us His love to feel for that person. Because when we hang on to resentment &/or anger, we end up grieving the Holy Spirit.
When we love in the face of adversity, we show the world that our love for God is real. His love keeps us going whether we are faced with set backs & feel discouraged, or whether we've been hurt by words &/or actions. We need to value all of our trials, person & physical, & show God's love through it all. 

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Monday, March 5, 2012

Don't Shy Away From Commitment

As the saying goes, "When you fail to plan, you plan to fail." That is a great lesson for time management, but it's not really appropriate for God's timetable. But when you commit everything you do to God, you're saying to Him, that His plans are more important than anything you might plan.


Some days, it seems that i have so many interruptions &/or distractions. But if i give God these interruptions & distractions & ask Him to use & guide me, at the end of the day, everything i needed to do, gets done. I'll never understand this amazing miracle, but i thankfully accept it.


"Commit to the Lord whatever you do & your plans will succeed."
Proverbs 16:3 (NIV)

God has a plan for each & everyone of us! But walking this journey called life, wonderful things can be missed by insisting on doing things your way. God does give us freedom of choice. More often that not, we try things our own way & when all else fails, then we call on God. Another saying i like - or should i say question that i like - is "Why is there always time to do it over, but not enough time to do it right the first time?" Committing your day to God is doing it right the first time.

Commiting to the Lord is not just an attitude of positive thinking, but also an act of faith that He does keep His promises. Commitment involves follow through also. We have to do our own part & allow God to do His part. I especially think of my ifrogcrafts Etsy shop. I have dedicated it all to Him. But i have to do the work. I have to give it all to Him....the creating, the marketing, etc. But i have faith that He will give me His ideas & lead me to the correct marketing avenues. The result? Last year, i tripled, actually God tripled the number of sales that i had the year before by 300%! That's all thanks to God! But my favorite part was being able to send the increased tithes to Casa de Fe*. 

It's fruitless & sometimes painful to fight & rebel against the Creator. And why would we want to disobey Him? He has our best interest in mind - always! All we have to do is follow His recipe for our lives. Don't be afraid of commitment.

*Casa de Fe is an orphanage in Shel, Ecuador that provides spiritual as well as physical needs for special needs & abandoned children.
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