Grow Your Faith by Being Faithful

“The mountain before you is steep enough without the heaviness of hatred on your back.”

Max Lucado

“Let it go”

Elsa

In Romans 12, we learn that we should not to pretend to love but really love. In the wake of what happened this week, I wanted to encourage Jesus followers to study this chapter. It says “Bless those that persecute you.” We are to pray that God will bless them. Of course, we weep with those grieving and find ourselves grieving ourselves. It says “ Never pay back evil with more evil.” We are to be honorable and live in peace with everyone.” I can remember after the killing of Amish children when the speaker said on the news that they forgave the killer. This was just hours after, and I wondered how they could have processed their feelings that fast. The truth is they had not, but they knew how they were suppose to live and chose it. We are to leave revenge to the righteous anger of God for He promises that He will do it. I know this is hard. We have all these feelings. However, our feelings shouldn’t be allowed to rule us. It ends with “Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good”

Jesus died so we could LIVE for Him not for ourselves. I would encourage Christians to reach out to those around you struggling right now even the ones that don’t agree with you. Pray for them. Pray for our country.

Keep climbing!!!

You saw how the Lord your God cared for you all along the way, just as a father cares for his child. Deuteronomy 1:31

“ Discouraged I would often be - my heart remains so vile; except I know I’ll be like Him in just a little while.” William C. Martin

Faith can place a candle in the darkest night. -Margaret E. Sangster

Alone in the corner of an ER room crying in the dark can almost overcome you. The Holy Spirit comes like a fresh wind and reminds you that you are not alone. A voice speaks that is no longer a whisper. It is strong and direct. “ You are putting your faith in what you see and hear. Turn your eyes upon Jesus.”

The night was no longer scary and dark. It was just bedtime. I knew whatever was happening my God could handle it and through Him so could I.

Thank God for His presence and Spirit in times of weakness and trials.

“Lord, where we are wrong , make us willing to change.”
- Peter Marshall

Little Phoenix came up in my memories this morning. I worried over that one leaf plant and had to have patience for a year before I saw growth. It is now solid green and totally different from it’s mother but thriving and almost a foot tall. As a Christian, it taught me that when we sow what we know and see small growth, we can’t just walk away and hope the person thrives. We encourage and water and love the person until they are sowing and growing!

Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him.
Colossians 2:7

Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
I desire you more than anything on earth.
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever:
Psalm 73:23-26

Loving my Gardenia I found yesterday. I have had it a few years, and I have never had a bloom until now. It was rooted from a bush at my grandmother’s house. It stayed in a pot behind my home until one day I decided to “figure” it out. I learned it needed more sun, so I moved it to the front yard. Then, I decided it’s roots had not been allowed room for growth, so I replanted it in a new pot. The plant itself then began to look healthy and green but still no bloom. Until, one day I learned it needed to be fed. I gave it some food and began to get the food deep in the soil around it. Within days a beautiful bloom so precious opened up!

Isn’t this so much what happens with our own lives? If we stay in the back away from the son, we don’t get the light we need to keep our walk healthy and away from the dark. Even after understanding that the son was needed, we must allow the Holy Spirit to uproot and replant whatever in our lives is necessary so we won’t be stagnant. However, to bloom or have fruit, we must be fed by the Word of God.

What are you reading this morning?