Category: Christian Blog

Why Is Embracing Change An Opportunity For Wondrous Growth?

Why Is Embracing Change An Opportunity For Wondrous Growth?

The past few months at work have been a struggle. Change is coming. We will be expanding and moving forward with more and even better care of our veterans in Cardiology. A new doctor has joined staff and we will be able to expand our services to include care that previously had to be sent out. I am excited. Although it has meant a lot of overtime in preparing the way, I embrace the challenge with faith, hope and excitement. Not the case with everyone. In fact, change is hard for some people. There are a few who meet my enthusiasm with fear, anger, and frustration. Those few place barriers and emotional obstacles along each step of the pathway. Change will come. We can choose to embrace it as an opportunity to grow or we can become miserable, angry people resisting it.

llsas0005

The same is true in our Christian journey. [bctt tweet=”God is not willing to leave us where He found us lying in our own beds of self-righteousness.”] Change must come in our own hearts. We can either embrace the trials that are before us with joy as God’s gift of opportunities that are transforming us or we can become angry, frustrated and fearful. Either way, if we are God’s child and know Christ as our Savior; change will come. Change is a necessary part of our Christian growth. My heart can either rebel against becoming more Christ-like or embrace the trials as an opportunity to become like Christ in His suffering.

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3 Truths of Hope to a Weary Heart

What an incredible weekend!! Saturday, I was exhausted and all the good intentions to clean house, do the yard, and work on editing quickly turned into resting, listening to sermons, and pretty much doing none of the planned activities. At first, I was a bit frustrated with myself; then, I realized God did command us to rest and He had shut down my brain for a day for a reason.  I too often do the same thing in my Christian life, I try to work to please God.  He usually has to shut me down for a day so I can refocus and let Him work through me.  Sunday, I posted a poem from the archives, went to 8 am service at The Crossing, sat with Lindsey a while, and then left to visit another church downtown. I had promised a friend I would visit; although, the friend wasn’t there when I arrived. At this second church, a lady made her way over and sat beside me. She had been widowed only a few months, the weight of which showed in her eyes. At moments, I could see the tears rise as she tried to hold them back. By the end of the service, I knew I had found a new friend and I would be returning to visit.  I have learned that there are no accidents or coincidences in my life; God, uses it all to accomplish His purpose in His timing.

God Knows

 

Then yesterday evening I met with a small group from my church. It was the initial meeting with this small group that I would be joining to study the bible with. When I had first received the invitation and noted that the group was couples, I had wondered why God chose a couples group since I have been alone for such a long time as a widow. I was a bit afraid that the awkward ache of “loneliness” would creep back in. It had been a long time since I had allowed myself to think that or to desire anything else beyond the quiet aloneness that I have with God. [bctt tweet=”Had my heart really been healed? Or would the scars of a broken heart rip open to bleed once more?”] I have yet to see for certain. Still, this I know.

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Your True Desire Is The Gift Or The Giver?

Your True Desire Is The Gift Or The Giver?

Jesus had made His journey through Samaria to a countryside and a people shunned as “half-breeds” or “dogs” by the other Jewish tribes. They were shunned because of their intermarriages with gentiles as well as their departure from traditional Jewish faith. Yet, Jesus went to Samaria and indeed the scripture said He “must go”. He had a mission in Samaria to arrive exactly in the moment the Samaritan woman would be arriving at the well to draw water. He went to a group that were outcasts by society and there to meet a woman who was an outcast even in that outcast society. Think about that!!

What does your heart seek

Jesus purposefully went to Samaria to save someone whom by the world’s standards was the lowest of the low, totally “unworthy” of salvation. Then, He used her to go and tell the other people in the village of the miracle that Jesus, the Messiah was there. She went to tell people who looked down on her and had rejected her. She wanted to share the “Good News”.  That was an act of grace.  As a result, in Samaria, many came to believe in Christ as the Savior of the world. They heard the Word of Christ and believed. “many more believed because of his own word… Now we believe….for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world” (John 4). [bctt tweet=”They were saved because they believed in HIM, the Giver of life, the Savior of the World.”]

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Why Not Be Discouraged When You Are Planting?

 

As we left the story in John 4 last, the Samaritan women realized that Jesus was the Savior, the Messiah. With great passion, she left her water bucket behind and ran to tell everyone in the city. An unlikely missionary with a questionable voice; yet, God had sent her. She was a woman whose reputation forced her to go alone to draw water in the noonday sun. She was shunned by everyone and the one that all the town whispered about.

harvest

 

The disciples returned with food as the woman darted off. They wondered why Jesus had been talking to her; but, didn’t ask (as though they believed their thoughts were hidden from Christ). We know from the previous chapters that Jesus knew their hearts. He also knows our foolish questions, doubts, and fears. So, as they returned they encouraged Jesus to eat. Perhaps with a sense of pride and joy that they were returning with a gift for Jesus—the nourishment that He needed. Yet, His response once more puzzled them. Just like you and I so often are. They were focusing on the small picture—the here and now. Jesus was focused on the big picture—eternity. They offer Jesus the food and He replies, “I have meat to eat that ye know not of.” Well, they immediately begin to whisper among themselves, “Did someone else bring Him food?” Maybe what Jesus had was better?  Maybe what the mystery person brought was better than what they had brought? Were they jealous?  Were they disappointed?  How often do we respond that same way to God?  We bring in our tithes or we give up something and we stand waiting for God to pat us on the back and reward us.  Have you ever done that?  Then to find that God has a different plan?

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Where In The World Is The Love That Your Heart Needs?

She was the only one going to the well at this time of day. The lonely drudgery of the walk was worsened by her sense of brokenness. One too many times she had hoped to find someone who would truly fill that void; but, her hopes had been dashed with each divorce, each rejection, and each broken heart. She was truly an outcast—a Samaritan woman with an undesirable history. As she carried the heavy buckets, she knew that the water from the well would never quench the thirst deep within her heart. Nothing short of a miracle could satisfy the longings of her heart and soul. All hope had died long ago. As she neared the well she lifted her head and saw a man sitting there at the well. He was a Jew and the Jews didn’t walk through Samaria—it actually was dangerous after all the years of bickering. Besides the Jews thought the Samaritans were “half-breeds”, who had wandered too far from the scriptures and any association could “contaminate” their righteousness. Yet, there he sat and she had come too far and had too much need of water to turn around now.

refreshing spring

 

PURPOSE AND MEANING IN HIS JOURNEY

Jesus “3 left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. 4 And he must needs go through Samaria”. (John 4). It was the shorter route; but, all Jews knew that there was another route that could be taken to bypass Samaria. So, why did John 4 say that Jesus “must needs go through Samaria?” I dare to say as the chapter unfolds, it was with great purpose and meaning that Christ must go to Samaria to meet a woman of great thirst. He then leads many other Samaritans to believing faith after they saw her new vibrancy and joy. He had to go through Samaria because the Father had sent Him there to save this woman.

[bctt tweet=”Jesus is willing to seek us where ever we are to quench our thirst with living water.”] It is with great purpose that Jesus reaches out to each of us.  He is willing to travel to where we are to extend His invitation to come and drink from His fountains of living water. Having drunk, then we are to go and to tell others to come as well.

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