Tag Archives: Jesus

June 4, 2012 · 6:00 am

I’m Tired of Giving

I give. I give and give and give and give.

I give of Time. Money. Ability. Friendship. Experience. Talents. Food. Help. Love.

I give until I think there’s going to be nothing left.

Sometimes I don’t feel like I get anything back.

I see others, others who appear to give far less than I, who seem to get so much more.

They get Time. Money. Ability. Friendship. Experience. Talent. Food. Help. Love.

I give. They get.

I’m tired. I pout. I decide life isn’t fair.

I question why I give and give and give and give, and get nothing.

And He speaks.

My child, you give because I have commanded you. I, who have Given all.

Just once, I’d like to be a getter, too.

Then I hear these words, human words from the mouth of the shepherd of our flock.

“Your level and capacity to love is a reflection of the Spirit working in your life.”

I am rebuked. I am repentant.

I am refocused. I am renewed.

Spirit work. Spirit move. Spirit pour out, so that I may give as He gave.

For I am reminded that in him, I have received Everything.

Share with me: What’s the most recent example you can recall of when someone was able to help or minister to you unexpectedly?

11 Comments

Filed under The Christian Walk

Tagged as giving, help, Jesus

April 9, 2012 · 6:00 am

Tell Your Face About It

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12

Do you know what the word rejoice means? It means to be glad or to bring joy; to delight.

Delight. Be glad. In HOPE.

Hope is our eternal, it is our wellspring, it is our lifeline.

We have hope because of His sacrifice.

At Easter, it’s such a timely message–that of hope.

We hope toward a life eternal in the presence of The King.

But the Bible also gives us encouragement for hope in this life.

In Mark, Christ himself says that all things are possible for him who believes.

So the question is, then, do you? Do you believe?

Do you believe in God’s promises? Do you believe in his son? Do you believe in hope?

Even more, do you delight, joy, and find gladness in hope?

If you are believing and hoping and waiting on the Lord, do your heart and your face reflect it?

Is your heart full, delighting in the very promises of God? Is it filled with peace and joy, abounding in that hope? (Rom 15:13) Is it full of trust and praise? (Ps 71:14, Jer 17:7)

Have you told your face about it? Do you find smiling easy and laughter natural?

Truly delighting in hope, trusting in peace, & praising in joy should be reflected in your countenance.

Yep, this is me telling you that if you are really hoping in the Lord, you should be smiling.

So smile today because Jesus loves you and you have the promises of God to prove it. Trust and believe. Smile, laugh, and if you feel really crazy, give singing a try.

Share with me: What are you rejoicing in hope about today?

9 Comments

Filed under Just For Fun, The Christian Walk

Tagged as encouragement, faith, hope, Jesus

March 19, 2012 · 6:00 am

The Promise When Words Aren’t Enough

We hope for what we don’t have yet. So we are patient as we wait for it. In the same way, the Holy Spirit helps us when we are weak. We don’t know what we should pray for. But the Spirit himself prays for us. He prays with groans too deep for words. Romans 8:25-26 (NIrV)

As writers, we love words.

We love what they mean, how they sound, what they convey, how they flow in combination, the feelings they provoke, the stories they tell.

But there are times when words just aren’t enough.

There are times when words, no matter the combination or the intention or the meaning, cannot do justice to the depth of the emotion within.

There are times when even we, the ones who manipulate words for a living, can’t find the right ones to express the innermost thoughts and desires of our soul.

So we bask in the promise that the Holy Spirit, the one who dwells within us and sanctifies us, knows how to convey even our sighs and groans (AMP Bible) as prayers to the Holy one.

Praying over this verse brings peace in times of heartache, but also in times of joy, when our hearts are too full to describe what we’re feeling.

What a comfort it is to know that one so much more powerful than I, one who IS God, knows me well enough to convey the prayers I can’t even think of.

It’s beautiful. It’s overwhelming. It’s calming. It’s a promise.

And it makes it a whole lot easier to wait patiently in hope for what we do not have yet.

Share with me: What verses or promises has God been giving you lately?