Tag: faith

faith

Being a Grace Giver

Emilydvsn

If you’re anything like me, giving grace isn’t always on your radar. I’m a grudge holder. I point out others’ faults, and I am normally the last to extend grace. But this isn’t how Jesus wants us to live.

Matthew 6:15 says, “But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
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That verse always stops me. I want to be forgiven, so I know I must extend grace to others. I must be a grace giver like Jesus. I have to extend grace to those around me.

I normally can justify all the reasons why I don’t extend grace starting with, they don’t deserve it.

Neither did I. When Jesus went to the cross for my sins, He knew how badly I would mess up and need forgiveness. And guess what? He knew about you too. But He went anyway. He extended undeserved grace to you and me.

Now it’s our turn. We get to be grace givers to those around us. We get to extend grace so that others can see the light of Jesus.

We are grace givers not only to those outside our homes, but also to those inside. That’s when it becomes the hardest. We see all of their faults. Trust me, I am quick to point out all the mistakes made by others.

But today I challenge you to be a grace giver. Inside and outside of our homes, let’s extend undeserved grace to those around us. We can extend this grace because Jesus has extended it to us.

If you don’t know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior and you’ve never received His grace, you can do that today.

Just follow the ABCs:

A – First, admit you are a sinner. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

B – Second, believe Jesus died on the cross for your sins. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

C – Last, confess Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Romans 10:9-10 says, “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

If you want to pray to receive Jesus today, pray this prayer below:

Dear Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner. I believe you are the Son of God and that you died on the cross to save me. I confess You as my Lord and Savior and ask you to be Lord of my life. Amen.

If you accepted Jesus today or you just want to talk, I’d love to hear from you. Click the link below.

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faith

Choose His Forgiveness

Emilydvsn

This morning I had an ah-ha moment as I was reading Priscilla Shirer’s book The Resolution for Women. This book is broken up into twelve resolutions and then individual chapters. I am now on the resolution about forgiveness.

This whole section has spoken to me quite a bit because forgiveness is something I struggle with at times. Today, though, stood out to me more than any other.

She tells the story of a girl asking how you forgive yourself. It’s a question I’ve asked and wandered myself more times than I can count. How do I get ride of the shame? Her answer hit me to my core.

She told the girl simply, you can’t.

You can’t forgive yourself.

Only Jesus can.

And if we have accepted His gift of salvation, then He has forgiven us. Romans 8:1 says,“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
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That guilt and shame you and I feel is from the devil. If you are a child of God, you have been forgiven. Jesus took it all upon Him when He died on the cross for us. You are not responsible for forgiving yourself.

Psalms 103:12 says, “As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.” We must choose to accept His forgiveness and live in freedom with Him.
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If you’re looking for a great book for women, I recommend the one above!

If you don’t know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, I’d love to talk to you.

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Uncategorized

Choosing to Give it to the Lord

Emilydvsn

Today begins a new school year. Although I won’t meet most of my students until Friday, today is the official start. Every year I’m excited and nervous and sometimes even dreadful of what the new year might bring. However, I’ve felt mostly excitement this year. So what’s different?

I’ve decided to give this school year to the Lord. Psalms 37:23 says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way.” Some versions use the word righteous instead of good. But this doesn’t just happen. We must choose to give it to God.

It’s so easy to begin grumbling and complaining about everything. Even after trying to hype my husband, who is also a teacher, up about this school year, I found myself complaining about certain aspects of our professional development. However I’m reminded of Philippians 2:14-15, “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.”

So this year I’m choosing to give it all to God. Im choosing to be content in my circumstances. Im thanking God for the little lives I get to impact everyday. Im thanking God for the people I get to work with and for.

Im excited for this year, and I’m hopeful for where God is going to use me.

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faith

Finding Joy in the Pain

Emilydvsn

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 2 Corinthians 4:17

Our church has been reading The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. I can remember reading this book early in my Christian walk and not fully understanding or grasping everything he was saying. As I read through it a second time, I’m blown away at the times God speaks to me.

Today, I read the chapter “Transformed by Trouble”. This chapter really hit home with me. I feel like when live in a culture today where we measure other people’s godliness by how much stuff they have equating that to God’s blessings. But that is such a distorted view of God’s Word.

Joni Eareckson Tada said, “When life is rosy, we may slide by with knowing about Jesus, with imitating him and quoting him and speaking of him. But only in suffering will we know Jesus.” If everything is always good, why would we need a Savior? It in the pain and suffering that grow.

Rick Warren uses an example of a jeweler to illustrate how His use’s circumstances to hammer away at our impurities. Now, I’ve never been hit with a hammer, but it can’t feel too great. The Bible uses the term “refiner’s fire” to show how God makes us like Him. This is another example of how pain forms and molds us.

We can’t rely on prosperity gospel in our Christian walk. When we think of the people in the Bible who were highly favored, they were nobody in the world’s eyes. There’s even a prostitute in the lineage of Jesus! God will use our past, our sins, our hurts, and our regrets to transform us if we will let Him.

James 1:2-3 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” So, today I’m going to look at my circumstances differently. I’m going to trust God’s plan and purpose for my life. I know He is working all things out.

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faith, Uncategorized

For God’s Purpose

Emilydvsn

For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Romans 11:36

This school year has been difficult to say the least. I’ve questioned everything I know, and I’ve spent more hours at home trying to help students understand the material. I have students this year that just don’t care. These aren’t students who can’t do. They just don’t want to do.

I’ve done everything I know to do from taking away recess to giving lunch detention and calling home. I’ve reached out to administration to no avail. I feel lost. And yet if these students don’t do the work, they don’t learn. Then that is reflected in state testing.

I’ve cried more and been more frustrated than I have in a long time. Then I began reading the book, The Purpose Driven Life. As I came to Day 7: The Purpose of Everything, this verse was at the top. As I read through the chapter, I couldn’t help but think about my students.

We are all here for a purpose, God’s purpose. No matter how frustrated or upset I get, I must remember that God created them for His purpose. In the moment, this can be so hard, but there are ways to remember they are God’s workmanship.

1. Pray for your students.

This is something I have started todo each and every day. I pray before I come to school. I pray during our moment of silence, and sometimes I even pray throughout the day when things get hard.

2. Take a deep breath.

Sometimes when I’m so frustrated, I need to walk away from the situation. This helps me remind myself to give grace to my kiddos. Even on the hard and trying days, I give grace because Jesus gave me grace.

3. Know your students personally.

One thing I began last year was circle up time. We make a big circle and pass a bear around. When you have the bear, you share something you did the night before or over the weekend. This opens the lines of communication, and if I ever forget, they remind me. I’ve also started going to my students’ ball games. They love when I show up to support them.

All of these things help me remember they are created for God’s purpose and so am I. I am asking God to see others as He sees them. I am striving to live my life surrendered to Him.

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faith

The Miracle in the Storm

Emilydvsn

Forty years You sustained them in the wilderness; They lacked nothing; Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell. Nehemiah 9:21

I have been reading through my Bible again this year. I’ve done it several times, and every time, the Lord reveals something to me I haven’t noticed before. Part of my reading each day is the Old Testament while the other is in the New. Right now, I’m reading through Numbers. If you’ve never read Numbers, it’s not exactly the most exciting book of the Bible.

But today I could hear God speaking. I could hear him tell me that there are miracles in the storms. If you haven’t studied much about the Israelite people, let me just tell you that they didn’t always have things easy. After God delivered them from slavery in Egypt, they then spent the next 40 years wandering the desert before they could enter the Promised Land.

However, even in that waiting, even in what seemed like a storm, God sustained them and loved them. He showed them His goodness and mercy. He gave them manna from heaven to eat and their clothes never wore out.

God still does the same for us. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Our God doesn’t change. We serve a good God and a big God. He will see us through whatever we are facing.

Right now, my family is under attack. Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” This is a spiritual attack, although it looks carnal if we focus on it. I know this has to be fought on our knees, and I know the Lord will see us through.

Genesis 50:20 says, “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” This is what Joseph says after he was thrown in prison for being falsely accused of rape by Potiphar’s wife. God took that situation and moved him to an even higher position as second in command to pharaoh. God performed a miracle in that storm.

So many times we look at our bad situations and think we’re being punished or that God must not love us, but that simply does not line up with Scripture. James 1:2-3 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” So many faithful men and women in the Bible endured things we find unfathomable. However, God’s glory shined every time.

You, too, maybe walking through a storm like us. Sometimes God will calm that storm and it’s over quickly. Other times, that storm seems to rock your whole world. However, you have to keep your feet grounded in Christ. He will keep you and sustain you. Instead of asking God, “Why?” start asking, “What?” What is God doing in this situation? How will He use this for His glory?

I believe we will see miracles through our situation. I believe we will see God work in a mighty way. I believe His glory will shine. We serve a big, big God who loves us. He can do big things if we allow Him to. I’m ready to receive His miracles through this storm.

If you’re going through something in your life right now, I’d be glad to pray with you. Let me know in the comments below.

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faith

Are You Shining?

Emilydvsn

I’ve committed this year to read through my Bible again. I’ve done this for several years, and I love how new things pop out every time I read. Some days I feel like I’ve heard everything in the Bible a million times over, and then something hits me like I’ve seen it for the very first time. Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “For the Word of God is living and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” How true that is!

This morning as I was reading in Exodus, a passage really stuck out to me. Read Exodus 34:29-35 below.

“Now it was so, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the Testimony were in Moses’ hand when he came down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him. So when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. Then Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned to him; and Moses talked with them. Afterward all the children of Israel came near, and he gave them as commandments all that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face. But whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with Him, he would take the veil off until he came out; and he would come out and speak to the children of Israel whatever he had been commanded. And whenever the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone, then Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with Him.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭34‬:‭29‬-‭35‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

When I read those verses, I felt the Holy Spirit convicting me. Does your face shine after you’ve been with the Lord? Now, I don’t think we’re going to walk around with literal glowing faces everywhere. I felt the Lord convicting me of the question, Do people know you have been with the Lord? We’re not going to walk around with luminescent faces, but people should know we have spent time with the Lord of lords and King of kings.

1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” It some versions it says, “peculiar people”. We are different and should be different than the world, not by spewing hate but emanating Jesus.

I want people to know I’ve been with the Lord. I want people to look at me and see Jesus. I want to show His live to those around me. I want my face to shine with His glory.

Are you shining for Jesus today? As little kids we sang, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.” We sang the words not really understanding what they meant. Now, as we’ve matured we should know that means showing the love of Jesus to those around us. We have to choose each day to let our lights shine.

Lord, help me to shine Your light in this world. May others know I’ve been in your presence. Amen.

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faith, family

We Were Made to Worship

Emilydvsn

We were made to worship.

That sentence has played over and over in my head for the last two days. We were made to worship. It has been as if God has been calling me into His presence more and more. When things are easy: We were made to worship. When things are hard: We were made to worship.

Yesterday morning Witten and I both ended up around 6:30. In addition to his lack of communication, my poor baby is suffering from extreme eczema on his face that makes it look almost burned.

After changing his diaper and giving him medicine, I began to sit with him and read my Bible while he watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. After sitting for several minutes, his poor face began to irritate him again. I simply got a cool wash cloth and began patting his little face. I put on the song “By His Wounds” and just became to claim those words over my baby. We were made to worship.

Colossians 1:16 says, “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.” We were made to worship.

Romans 8:38-39 says, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

No matter what you’re going through today, He is with you. If you’re on the top of the mountain, worship Him. If you’re in the lowest valley, worship Him. He is there with you. And don’t just worship Him for what He’s done for you, worship Him for who He is. He is the Lord God Almighty. He is the Lord my provider. He is God, the mighty Creator. He is the Holy Spirit, my comforter. He is the Lord my shepherd. He is my God, the healer. He is peace. He is the Lord who predicts. He is the Lord of hosts. He is the Lord Most High. He is the faithful God. He is the God of mercy. He is the Consuming Fire. And He is God, my exceeding joy.

That is who He is and He never changes. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” So no matter your circumstances, you can still worship Him for who He is. Take some time today to worship the Almighty God.

We were made to worship.

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faith

Wherever You Go, Lord

Emilydvsn

Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Luke 9:23

Over the past week I have been reading the book Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman. It’s an awesome book that has convicted me on more than one occasion. Anyone who says they are a Christian should definitely check this book out.

The last couple of chapters I’ve read have really focused on the verse above from Luke. If you’ve spent your life in church, then you have heard that verse countless times, but have you ever stopped to take it in? Kyle Idleman takes you through crucifixion in his book and what exactly it would have entailed. It was the most gruesome and embarrassing death of the Roman government at that time, and Jesus wants us to take up our cross.

When is the last time you had to sacrifice something for your relationship with the Lord? When is the last time it cost you something? If we’re really honest, we’ll answer with not very often. If you’re like me, you may have lost a few friends along the way because your lifestyle has changed, but you don’t really get out of your comfort zone. I know I don’t very often.

But God is calling us to a different life. He is calling us to die to our earthly desires and follow Him. It won’t always be easy, but it’s not supposed to be. Matthew 7:13-14 says, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Jesus tells us to follow Him wherever He goes. There is a song from the 1970’s called “I Will Follow Him”. It keeps playing over and over in my head when I think about following Jesus wherever. The chorus goes like this:

    I will follow him, follow him wherever he may go
    There isn’t an ocean too deep
    A mountain so high it can keep, keep me away
    Away from my love

YouTube video

When is the last time we said we would follow Jesus wherever? This is a secular love song, but Jesus maybe calling us to deep oceans or high mountains or anything that seems utterly impossible without His grace and His strength. I want to follow Jesus wherever He calls me. Maybe it’s just to the neighbor next door or maybe it’s all the way across the world.

I know this walk with Jesus requires everything, no matter how uncomfortable it might be. I pray that I always say, “Yes, Lord. Send me.”

Won’t you follow Jesus wherever today?

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faith, Uncategorized

Believing God’s Promises

Emilydvsn

And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” Genesis 15:4

If you’re anything like me, or most people for that matter, you have taken things into your own hands time and time again. I mean God obviously wants us to help ourselves, right? God helps those who help themselves, right?

WRONG!!!

Why God continues to use us, I don’t know. He obviously doesn’t need our help. In the passage above God is talking to Abram (Abraham). Abraham was old at this point and had no children, but God promised an heir would come from his own body, his own flesh and blood. Now, God is directly talking to him. How many times have we just thought if we could hear God audibly speaking to us? I mean surely we’d get it right then.

But you see, even then when God was plainly spelling it out, they still thought they needed to help God out. If you read on in the next chapter of Genesis, you’ll see that Abraham’s wife took matters into her own hands. She told Abraham to take her maidservant, Hagar, and have a baby with her. This all seems so ridiculous. First of all, God has promised an heir. Secondly, there is no way I’m handing my husband over to any woman. However, if you read on, Hagar has a son named Ishmael, but he was not the promised heir. The promised heir, Isaac, came several years later when Abraham was 100.

We can look at that story and wonder why, but haven’t we all been there? Haven’t we clearly heard the Holy Spirit talking to us, and then thought we needed to help out? I know I have. If you know me at all, you know I am not patient. I hate waiting for anything. I don’t even like driving around the parking lot looking for a good parking place. So when God makes me wait for something He has promised I struggle.

I have a really hard time waiting for God’s promises to come to fruition, but sometimes that’s what we have to do. Sometimes we just need to sit still and wait. Psalms 27:14 says, “Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” Isaiah 40:31 says, “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

I am learning to wait on the Lord. I am learning to be still and listen for His voice. It’s not always easy, and I’m sure I’m not always going to get it right. I am, though, learning to believe God’s promises and wait for His timing.

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