Dwelling on Scripture in this way helps us to understand the ideas and concepts of character and virtue found in the Bible and cements God’s Truth within our heart. Until the words are hidden in the heart, they will likely be unable to be used by the mouth. The Church today, too often, lacks power because it lacks USABLE WORDS. We are Scripturally illiterate–babies who are being spoon fed milk because the effort of feeding ourselves seems too strenuous. If you have not yet discovered the delight of God’s own words to us, pray and ask that it be made known to you, open your Bible, and read.

Maybe you have a literal pile of socks in your home or maybe your socks are proverbial. Surely, you can relate even if your clutter is of a different variety. What are you avoiding because it’s difficult to manage or hard to have discernment about? It’s likely your procrastination is causing you additional grief as mine was. It’s ok to allow things to be left undone for a season, particularly a strained one. In such cases it’s only natural that what’s important come to the fore-front, but it should only last for a season, and therein lies the rub. When our slow-of-heart procrastination comes from laziness or indecision it will wreak havoc on our lives. So, what can we do to bring about change?

Philippians 2:14 says. “Do everything without grumbling or arguing.”

Affectionately dubbed the, “Suck It up cupcake” verse by my childhood youth leader, this verse became the mantra for our immature hearts to do all things that seemed hard with patience and endurance.

Parenting is the training ground and crucible where you grow into the person that your child needs. It’s an apprenticeship of sorts with God as the Master Carpenter.

Becoming a parent won’t automatically make you a better person. But parenting under the submission of Christ will produce a greater selflessness than you can imagine. So, if your desire is to have children, but you feel as though there is a long list of prerequisites before you can proceed, be encouraged. That’s not how parenting works.

When you look at your child now, they might not be your mini-me, you might be so different you have trouble relating, or so similar you repel. But it’s all in the parenting curriculum. It’s all wrapped up in relationship, the working through of each difficulty, the discipline and transfer of values, the cultivation of a soul.

Regardless of their age, if wisdom rings true; for as much as you teach them, they will have grown you.

Perhaps writing letters is not your thing, it’s ok if, to you, it seems antiquated or laborious. Maybe you can’t help but hear the words of Little Women, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, or your bosom buddy, Anne from Green Gables as you write. Whatever the case is for you, let us love each other well, in word and deed, and seek to do {well} all that God has ordained for us, making much of God in our worship as well as the everyday ways we live our lives. 

What places are familiar to you? What things do you allow in your life, not because they are “good,” but because they are comfortable? How are you afraid to step out in faith?

Sometimes we may find ourselves wanting to minimize the difficulty of where we’ve been and sugarcoat our past. We may find ourselves exaggerating our current trials, focusing on the wrong things, and making mountains out of molehills. We remember the past with rose-colored glasses, diminishing the severity of it’s consequences, and even neglect to appreciate the new, God given, blessings in our life.

7 common ways we error in our desire to do ministry well.

1. When your sense of security relies on the ministry’s success.

2. When your identity gets wrapped up in the success of your ministry.
3. When it has to happen your way and you can no longer be flexible.

4. When your service to God eats away at your one-on-one time with God.

5. When the predominant desire is to be seen and heard by others.

6. When you’re unable to take correction.

7. When you fear man more than God or live for any other reason than God’s Glory.

Auxano

I think a lot of us are suffering from spiritual motion sickness.

  We are busy and focusing too much on all the things around us.  We are inundated with so many details and so much information we aren’t able to grasp or process it all.  We strive to keep up with others and stay current with their daily posts. We are obsessed with the latest trends or following our favorite influencers. If I’m not careful I will spend hours scrolling through short videos on my media feed and making plans for way more than I’m capable of doing in my lifespan. Maybe we’re just distracted, tending to the very real responsibilities of our families, friends, and churches. These obligations can stack up fast and neglecting to count the cost even once can bring the whole house of cards crashing down with schedule-altering clarity. Sprinkle in old wounds, past failures, and other spiritual warfare and you, like me, will begin to look just about everywhere but ahead to the distant horizon.

With the holidays, fast approaching, most of us are, in some way, focused on…

The trimmings of the season; what we will cook, how we might decorate, and what gifts we will give. I also know that with the rising cost of living having the discretionary income to handle the ‘extras’ can be tricky.

Having the assurance of God’s love means I am able to take correction positively. I can see failure as a learning opportunity because my relationship with God is secure, and I am loved even when I experience or choose failure. Having a strong relationship with the Lord also helps us to take responsibility of our sin because there is no fear of judgement. As a Christian we have an amazing opportunity, thanks to Christ’s sacrifice, to confess our sins and restore lost fellowship with God and others. (1 John 4:18, Romans 8:1) Our identity, our strength, our circumstances, and all our resources come from God. This is not self-efficacy but a God-directed, God-efficacy. Faith and trust in God will never disappoint. They will produce a harvest of hope, and not one of hope alone, but one of courage and freedom. (Romans 5:3-5, Gal. 5:1) Only christians have a guarantee of success(in their faith) because that guarantee rests in Jesus, Himself.

Taking the time to dwell on scripture and the attributes of God helps us to cement the ideas and concepts of character and virtue that we need within our own heart. Yet, even when God’s Word is clear we are a people who easily forget. Taking the time and patience to critically think about the things of God is a discipline that must be practiced.