I’m so happy to announce that my beautiful baby niece was born Thursday, January 26! She is absolutely beautiful and my sister-in-law is a champ! ! I’m so thankful I was able to be at the hospital that day and not only see the love my brother and sister-in-law have for one another, but see their love overflow into their new addition to their family. It’s just so crazy to think they now have a daughter! My little brother …. has a daughter! She’s going to be one loved girl! It feels like yesterday him and I were playing nerf guns in the basement, or I was forcing him to be my student while I played the role of teacher and threatening to send him to the principal's office (mom) if he didn’t listen.
This week, I’ve found myself thinking about the meaning of life. Time just seems to be going so extremely fast and I want nothing more than to make the most it. It seems that within the blink of an eye, my family is growing, we’re now moving into our first house, my husband is full force into owning his own physical therapy clinic, and I’m already into my 4th year of teaching. I started thinking that if the past 5 years went as fast as they did, how fast will the rest of my life go?
So, I asked myself, “How do I experience life?” There are things in my life that I long to still achieve, places to see, people to love, and growth to be made.
This week I began my next study, “Entrusted” by Beth Moore. I was reminded that my purpose is to glorify Christ, to be called according to his purpose. I’m the type of person that loves writing all over my bible or throughout the pages of the study. Whenever I hear something that hits home, I have to write it down. Below of are some of the words that hit home with me throughout this week. Please tell me it’s not just me that these words spoke to:
We get to know scripture so we are equipped to fulfill his purpose
We are called to do what we cannot do
We can make a good living without faith, but we will not fulfill our calling without faith.
Since God has always been, who he’s always been, we don’t have to be, who we’ve always been.
A big part of our effectiveness is our connectedness
I want to experience life to the fullest! I’ve found that when I begin listening to myself, and not repeating scripture, it is allowing satan direct access to come in whisper lies for me to believe. I’ve found that without faith, I begin to doubt. I’m learning that life is not just simply about the living I make, but the way I interact with others while I’m living. I have ultimately learned that relationships and showing Christ’s love is my ultimate purpose.
People have asked me what my favorite scripture is and I’m beginning to have a list of them. Throughout different seasons, each of these scriptures have spoke to me so dramatically that I have altered the way I’m living.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” - Jeremiah 29:11
“We love because He first loved us.” - 1 John 4:19
“We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it.” - Proverbs 16:9
We are called to experience life. To live out the plans that Christ has for our lives and not our own. We are called to love others because he loves us so unconditionally despite how messy our lives are. What if we no longer planned our steps? What if we purely pursued Christ and lived out his plans for our lives. What if.
How do we know what the Lord’s plans are for our life? We get to know him. We talk to him! We sit down and lay our hearts out to him. We listen to him through his word. We open our hearts to be ready for when he calls our name.
CHALLENGE
Experience life this week! Not the life you desire, but the life the Lord has planned for you.
What is something you feel you are incapable of that is in the will of God? Ask Jesus to give you favor and work through you so that his will is done.
Journal and pray through the following scriptures:
Jeremiah 29:11
1 John 4:19
Proverbs 16:9
Romans 8:28
Isaiah 14:24-27 (Powerful!)