Ready to Start Over?

There comes a time in many of our lives when we realize that it is time for a change. We realize that we need a big change, and definitely a change for the better. Baptism is a way for Christians to show everyone they love, family, friends, and their church family, that they are ready to make a change for the Lord. When we make the choice to get baptized, we are making a commitment to God that we will live by His rules, instead of playing by our own rules. We are making an outward expression of our belief in Jesus Christ as Our Savior and we make a promise that we will conduct ourselves in such a way that is pleasing to Him.

Matthew 10:32: “Whoever acknowledges Me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven.”

Baptism shows a tremendous commitment to God. Our faith and dedication pleases the Lord. He welcomes us with open arms into His Kingdom and we are made clean of all sin.  We are cleansed of our past and we are blessed with not only a new life but also eternal life in Heaven after this life has expired. We no longer have to fear death because God conquered death on our behalf. He washes away all of the impurities left behind by sin and makes us brand new.

1 Peter 3:21: “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ…”

When we are baptized by water, we are being cleansed. The negative, the mistakes, the regrets, they are all washed away because God has forgiveness us. Sin no longer lords over our heads. We are no longer victims to fear and pain because we have made a pledge to God to turn away from our old lives and to live in righteousness. If we really put things into perspective, we should all jump at the chance to be baptized so we don’t have waste another moment wallowing in sin. Obviously, it is the most meaningful decision we could ever make and, therefore, should not be entered into lightly, but, when you think about how the Lord shows us His love and commitment to us every day, of course we should give back all we can to Him.

Acts 22:16: “And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.”

If you haven’t taken that leap of faith as an adult by being baptized, I really hope that you consider it. It has been almost 4 years since I recommitted my life to Christ and almost 2 years since I was baptized. I think the most amazing part about being baptized and turning my eyes back to God is the amount of joy I feel. Baptism refocuses your attention on Him and, while your relationship with God grows, you will see a change within yourself that is astounding. When I think back to the person I was 4 years ago, I hardly recognize her, and that is a good thing. I used to experience life by the world’s standards, but those experiences are what have brought me to where I am today. I would not change a moment of the life I have lived. I can celebrate and praise the Lord because I am forgiven and I have an amazing relationship with God.

Romans 10:9: “Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Whether full-immersion baptism or sprinkling baptism, we all have the opportunity to express our love and faith in God through baptism. We need to remember that life is short. There is no time like the present to put our lives into perspective and to redirect our attention on God. We need to exercise our faith so it will remain strong and active. If we believe in Him and hold Him in our hearts, we should listen closely to His voice to lead us to a newly found intimacy. Baptism may be the answer to the closeness that you seek.

Thank you, Lord, for the our relationships with You. Let our relationships grow and blossom into pure joy and unending faith. Thank you for turning our lives around and bringing us new meaning and purpose. Thank you for rescuing us and forgiving us of our sins. Thank you for the opportunity to be baptized so we can tell you and also show you how serious we are about making a commitment to You. Amen. – Katie Ann 

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Is God Proud of You?

We can all agree that it is a great feeling when someone commends us on a job well done. When our hard work is acknowledged, we feel appreciated. The sun shines a bit brighter on the days when our efforts finally pay off and we are told that we made a difference, whether it is at work , church, or anywhere else where we devote our time and energy. Unfortunately, we don’t have the pleasure of experiencing that type of day everyday. There are days when we try and try, and yet nothing seems to work the way we hoped. We work just as hard as when we got recognition but no one seems to notice this time. It is important to remember that we don’t live our lives by the approval of others but it is only human to want someone to appreciate us and give affirmations when we go above and beyond. Positive reinforcement is a motivator for a reason.

1 John 3:22: “And whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.”

Unlike the world, God notices everything we do and He blesses us for being obedient. When we follow His commandments and live our lives for Him, He seeks to encourage us to continue. We are valuable members of His team and He appreciates us when we work hard. God is a proud father who takes his child out for ice cream when he gets an A+ on a test. He knows that we try hard ever day to do a good job and our effort does not go unnoticed. If we ever feel unappreciated in life, we only need to turn to God and spend some time considering all of the blessings in our lives, instead of focusing on our frustrations, and we will realize that God appreciates us constantly.

Proverbs 16:7: “When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”

The best way to please the Lord is to always live by faith. When we trust God through the trials and tribulations, we show God that our faith is strong enough to withstand the storm. If our faith starts to be shaken but we turn to God to regain our footing, God is also pleased because we had the wisdom to turn to Him for support. Even when we struggle with the not-so-favorite people in our lives, when we are at peace within ourselves, they will see that we have contentment and they will realize there is no benefit in trying to upset us because we have God to keep us stable and calm. They will be discouraged from bothering us because their efforts to upset us will go unnoticed as long as we keep our eyes on God.

Philippians 2:12-16: “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.”

The strength of our relationship with God depends on our effort to get to know Him on a deeper level. When we focus on living for God, we are less likely to be distracted away from building that relationship and we are able to get to know our Lord as our Heavenly Father and comforter. God is not an unattainable divine entity who watches us from afar. God is much more hands-on and He wants to be a part of our lives every single day. He wants to be our father, our teacher, our best friend. When we seek God first, we are inviting God to do great things in our lives. We should never expect praise and adoration from God because He loves a humble heart. We should thank the Lord for His many blessings and live life as the best possible version of ourselves so He is pleased with us. Remember that God knows us inside and out. Even though we cannot see him, He is always with us and encouraging us. We have to ignore the negativity and frustrations in our lives. Instead, we should listen for His voice of inspiration and motivation, and God will turn our day around.

Isaiah 43:4: “Since you are precious in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life.”

Thank you, Lord, for your encouragement. Thank you for your many blessings. Thank you for the tremendous opportunity to live a life that is pleasing to You. Please help us not to crave the recognition of others. Thank you for reminding us that we are precious and appreciated in Your eyes. Thank you for being proud of us. Amen. – Katie Ann

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How Do You Deal with a Bully?

As children, most parents tell us never to deal with a bully with fighting, but rather with our words. We should try to meet confrontation with civilized conversation and to rationalize with our bully until they see the error of their ways. The problem is though, most bullies have no interest in being civilized. Bullies want to find a way to build themselves up by bringing other people down. One would hope that, as adults, we wouldn’t have to deal with bullies anymore but, sadly, a different kind of bully exists. Adult bullies are sly and calculated. They don’t come right out and threaten to fight you and steal your lunch money like they did when we were kids. Bullies come in different varieties and most are more coy in their methods. But just as they did when we were younger, they still prey on anyone who seems weaker or more vulnerable.

Proverbs 15:1: “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Even though we want to please the Lord by being patient and pray for people who put us down, God doesn’t want us to allow people to demean or disrespect us. The important thing to remember is that there are proper ways of confronting our bullies in a way that is pleasing to God. It is better to approach a bully calmly and with respect, whether they deserve it or not. We should deal with all conflicts with dignity. Causing a scene, screaming, and other dramatics allow the bully to have more ammo against us and they begin to learn what pushes our buttons. Extreme emotions show a lack of control. If we respond in anger, we are allowing them to get under our skin and then they gain all the power. God’s power, on the other hand, keeps us grounded, calm and collected, in times of conflict. When we feel baited, all we have to do is turn to God to be our strength when we have none.

Matthew 5:43-45: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

Jesus helps to clarify that we are commanded to love everyone, even the bullies, and, while this seems like an impossible request, we have to remember that God is with us through everything. Every difficult person in our lives who seeks to make life more complicated and stressful, whether directly or indirectly, should be met with love and prayer, not anger. We are supposed to show them compassion, even though they would not show us any, because we know better. When we show love, especially when it is undeserved, we reveal the Lord to them. As much as we would hope that our positive example would help change their bad behavior and actions, only God can change their hearts. All we can do is follow the Lord’s example by loving the unlovable.

Roman 12:19-20: “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ To the contrary, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.’”

We have to fight our immediate impulse to either fight or hide. We have to take a passive stance against bullies but not like an ostrich who hides from a predator. We need to actively pursue love. Pray to the Lord for strength in times of adversity. We should never lose hope that the bullying will stop. The Lord will always make a path for us out of the Valley of the Shadow of Death. He will never leave us in harms way. Our Shepherd always rescues us from the wolf who seeks to destroy and devour us. Whether you are dealing with someone who is spreading lies about you, or someone who is trying to undermine you at every turn, God knows what it is like to have people speak badly about Him and attempt to cause Him harm. Have faith and He will rescue you.

Psalm 18:3: “I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.”

Thank you, Lord, for listening to our prayers. Thank you for giving us hope in times of trouble. Thank you for your hedge of protection that you place around us to shield us from our enemies. Thank you for giving us hearts of love, even when it is difficult to show love. We pray for the bullies in our lives, and in the lives of people who we love. Please help them to be content in their own lives so they don’t feel like they need to put others down for their own personal gain. We pray that they will find You and realize that a life of bullying isn’t the way they should live. Thank you, Lord. Amen. – Katie Ann

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What’s Your Worth?

Worth is based on the value of an item in reference to importance or usefulness. Today, the worth of the penny is technically one cent, but many agree that the penny is valued even lower than that, almost to the point of considering to get rid of it all together. A penny no longer holds much value in the eyes of the consumer. When it comes to the worth of a person, it depends on the person and how much they are valued (usually monetarily). Magazines, like Forbes, make lists of well-known people and post how much they are worth. Whether we are worth five dollars or a billion dollars, God’s perception of our worth is very different.

Ephesians 2:4-9: “But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”

God does not calculate our worth by adding up our money or even our good deeds. His mercy and grace is not conditional based on our worth. He saved us by sending His Son to die on our behalf because He loves us, despite the sins we commit and the mistakes that we make. We are not worthy, but God would never view us as worthless. He loved us enough to send His Son, Jesus Christ, to live as a human and to be crucified so that we can live an eternity in Heaven with Him. What an amazing gift we have received!

Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Today, we celebrate the risen Lord. Jesus did not die and stay laying in a tomb to rot. Jesus rose just as He said He would. His crucifixion was not the end, it was only the beginning. We have been made new in His resurrection through His grace. We have been given a fresh start. Now that we have grace, it doesn’t mean that we aren’t going to sin, but it does mean that our sins have already been forgiven. Although we are still sinners, we are not destined to die, as long as we believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Our relationship with God allows us to have a self-awareness when we sin. We are able to identify when we have sinned. Although our sins were already forgiven on the cross, we still need to acknowledge that we have sinned. The Lord told Peter that we should forgive others who sin against us seventy times seven (Matthew 18:21-22). God extends us the same courtesy. His grace is not a limited time offer; it does not have an expiration date. His grace is a testament to His deep, undying love for each one of His children. We need to be honest with the Lord when we sin and confess our sins to Him, and He will forgive us and help to guide us so we do not fall into the same temptation again. Thank and praise His holy name from rescuing us for a miserable fate. He is worthy to be praised.

Thank you, Lord, for your grace and mercy. Thank your for your endless forgiveness and patience when we mess up. Thank you for allowing us to confess our sins. Please help us to be conscious of our sin and to present those sins with humility. Let us ask for forgiveness and learn from our mistakes so we can live lives that are pleasing to You. Thank you for always keeping Your promises. Thank you for conquering death and rising from the dead to show us that we have life because of your love for us. Happy Easter, Lord. We love you. Amen. – Katie Ann

How Can We Be Better?

We all want to be good people who treat others with love and respect. We try to be positive examples to everyone we meet but sometimes we need to pray for God’s strength and encouragement to get us through difficult situations, or when dealing with difficult people. When we are tired, we may not be very patient. When we argue, we may be prideful and stubborn. The more we pray and read the Bible, the more we learn how we can constantly improve ourselves. Scripture helps to remind us that, although we are not perfect, we can always become better people. We are all unique individuals with different strengths and weaknesses and God loves us for who we are, but we all have things about ourselves that we want to improve.

Colossians 3:12-15: “Put on them, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”

God encourages us to possess positive character traits so we can be shining examples of His love and compassion for all people. God wants us to surround ourselves with positivity and love because then it becomes an innate part who we are, instead of just something we do out of obligation. The love we show to others will make an impression on people and perhaps they too will want to know more about God. The more we allow God to be a part of every aspect of our lives, the more natural it will become. Our relationship with God can always get stronger. Through prayer, study, and praise, we are able to fall deeper in love with God. The more we learn about God, the stronger our relationship with Him will be. When we are in tune with God, we are able to hear His voice more clearly, especially when we need Him the most.

John 16:33: “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

God never wants us to fear anything. Jesus had to endure all of the sins of the world as He died on the cross so that we wouldn’t die. Death is the biggest fear we could possibly have and Jesus took away that fear. There is nothing more to fear because God has removed the ultimate fear from our lives. We are saved and have peace because of His sacrifice. We also have to make sacrifices in our own lives. We have to make changes for the better so that we can live godly lives. We have to fight our impulse to stray from God’s plan for our lives. We may think that we are perfect just the way we are and, for the most part, we are pretty terrific people, but there is always room for improvement. When we read Colossians 3:12-15, we should ask ourselves if we embody all of the traits described in the verses. We shouldn’t feel discouraged if we don’t. Instead, we should take it as a challenge, a new opportunity to strengthen our own character and, in turn, strengthen our relationship with God.

Thank you, Lord, for Your Guidance and Instruction in our lives. Thank you for helping us to be better people. Thank you for taking away our fear so we can focus on living our lives for You. Thank you for showing us how to love others through Jesus’ example. Thank you for loving us and always welcoming us with open arms when we need you the most. Amen. – Pastor Katie

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How Much Time Do We Have?

Life is short and we should live our lives to the fullest. Many people follow this mantra, some who live life for themselves and some who live life for others. Living life for others does not refer to being codependent enablers but rather treating other people with the same love and respect that Jesus would have shown. Life should be spent caring for others and ministering to their emotional and spiritual needs by sharing the Word of God and putting it into action. Regardless of how much time we have left on Earth, we should embrace the years that the Lord has given us by serving each other. Life is an opportunity to show others that the Lord is The Way, The Truth, and The Life, and He is the key to unlocking wisdom in this life so that we can enjoy our short time on Earth as well as an eternity in Heaven.

Psalm 90:12: “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”

We should “number our days” by embracing each and every day and make the most of them. We shouldn’t let distractions, like fear and doubt, get in the way of God’s plan and purpose for our lives. When we are obedient, God blesses our lives and directs our path. There are many opportunities that God puts before us so that we may prosper. God places wonderful people into our lives to enhance our experiences through comradery and companionship. We gain wisdom through our interactions with others. Jesus stressed the importance of love: love for ourselves and love of others. If we can’t love ourselves, how we can we ever love anyone else? Love is the driving force in our lives. Without love, we have not gained wisdom as to the heart of Jesus.

1 John 4:7-10: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

While it is true that we need to make the most of our lives by loving others and sharing the gospel, this life is only the beginning. There are cultures that believe that we never truly die because we are reincarnated and our souls to live on in a new body but, as Christians, we believe in eternal life in Heaven with our King. Our earthly bodies wither away and die but our souls go on to Heaven. When our life on Earth ends, eternity in Heaven begins. Jesus died for our sins so we would be forgiven. Jesus paid the ultimate price by sacrificing Himself so that we could spend eternity with Him. He gave us an all-expenses paid trip to the most glorious paradise we could ever imagine.

Revelation 21:18-21: “The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.”

We have a beautiful and amazing future ahead of us beyond the grave. Because of Jesus, death has no power over us. Jesus conquered the grave and we have been saved. In Heaven, we will be surrounded by beauty and joy when our souls return to the Father. The Lord created us and gave us life; we should not squander our opportunity to show God our appreciation by following His instructions until it is our time to go home to be with the Lord. We may have a mission in life to work for the good of His ministry, but God also wants us to building lasting relationships, accomplish our personal goals in life and work, build families, or any number of other goals. Whatever God’s plan for our lives may be, we are to truly live life and make the most of every moment.

Thank you, Lord, for giving us all a second chance at life. Thank you for Your Sacrifice.  Thank you for being the perfect example of love so we can follow in Your footsteps. Amen. – Katie Ann

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Are You Too Busy To See Beauty?

Time is ticking on, day after day, and we can hardly find a moment to ourselves. If it wasn’t bad enough that there doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day, we often find ourselves wasting what precious spare time we have to rest and relax. That’s not to say that we don’t deserve to take time to decompress from a busy day at work and completely veg out. But we shouldn’t ignore the beautiful creation that God has made available for us to admire. We should take time to smell the roses and to stare up at the big blue sky. We should glorify the Lord for His wonderful creation.

Psalms 145:5: “On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.”

Nature is a product of God’s power and majesty over everything living thing. If we take time to think about the complicated mechanics of nature, such as the tides, tectonic plates, and gravity, it is unfathomable to think that God created all life with just a few words. People who don’t know God don’t accept that God was the founder of all life, but we can’t really blame them for not believing. They haven’t fully witnessed God’s power. They have no awareness of the miracles we have all seen in our lives and the many blessing He has bestowed to us. We, on the other hand, have experienced the power of the Lord in our lives and, to us, there is not a doubt in our minds that God is the creator of all.

Hebrews 11:3: “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.”

Faith is the belief in what we cannot see because we have hope in a power beyond ourselves. We are able to appreciate the beauty of nature on a deeper level as Christians because all of creation is a miraculous masterpiece by our Lord and Savior. God took a completely blank canvas and created the most amazing world anyone could possibly imagine. If we had the opportunity to have all of Picasso’s paintings hanging in our house, we would jump for joy at the opportunity because we would get to enjoy the art whenever we wanted. God’s creation may not be as exclusive but it is still as valuable.  When we enjoy God’s creation, it is like a love song to God for giving us, not only the beauty of nature, but also for life itself.

Revelation 4:11: “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

God created mankind in His own image so that we could act as guardians to creation. He created the earth, the plants, the animals, and all of mankind because it was His will to do so. He created us to bring order to an unbridled world. Mankind was created to bring balance to the world by making us stewards of all creation. We have been given the opportunity to live and experience all this world has to offer and all God asks is that we care for it and give God all of the praise and glory.

Psalm 8:3-9: “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”

We have been blessed with the privilege to enjoy God’s creation day after day. We should all make it a point to bask in the sun or take a roll in the snow or simply take a walk to admire all aspects of nature, both big and small. Although God created the world in just 6 days, He did not spare one detail. Every tiny intricacy was planned and perfect, just as each of our unique bodies are planned and perfect in the eyes of the Lord. We are His creation and He is pleased. Let us thank the Lord for all He has given us and to praise Him for His beautiful creation.

Thank you, Lord, for ground beneath our feet and the clouds in the sky. Thank you for the animals who roam the earth and the bird who sing in the trees. Thank you for everything You have created. Please help us to take the time to enjoy the beauty of nature and to praise You for Your Craftsmanship. Thank you for Your many blessings and the beauty You have given all around us.

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Is It Too Late To Change?

“A tiger can’t change his stripes.” “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” When we get accustomed to acting or behaving a certain way, it can seem impossible to change. Bad habits come in many forms, including habits that could be potentially hurtful and dangerous to ourselves and the people we love. When we allow those bad habits to control our lives, they become addictions. We can easily be consumed by addictions: money, sex, drugs, alcohol, food, and the list goes on and on. There are so many opportunities to lose control and become someone we don’t even recognize anymore.

If you are not one of these people, consider yourself lucky but, chances are, you have someone in your life who is struggling with addiction. Anyone who has been hurt by someone with an addiction would be the first to say that it is impossible for that person to change. For instance, if you have ever been cheated on in a relationship, it is hard to believe that a cheater won’t always be a cheater.

Bad habits. Addictions. They are ingrained into our lives but it IS possible to change. The ability to change, however, requires discipline, self-control, and a whole lot of direction and guidance from God. The good news is: NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD!

Luke 18:27: “He replied, “What is impossible for people is possible with God.”

Even if you have been blessed with unwavering values and an impenetrable sense of self, there is still an opportunity for sin to sneak in and take control. None of us are without sin. It is for this very reason that we need God. God can pull us through, lift us up, and carry us out of any hole that we fall into.

When we feel ourselves slipping away and losing control, we may not realize that we have a problem. Unfortunately, many people will be observing the destructive behaviors and may decide to hold it against us. We will be judged and even ridiculed for our mistakes. The only benefit to this is that sometimes that judgement helps us realize that we need to make a change. Or, it isn’t until we hit rock bottom for it to finally sink in that we can’t keep living in the world.

God does not want His children to hurt themselves. There is no telling how long a person will be held captive by addiction. They may wander as if lost in the wilderness, but God has the power to rescue them.

Isaiah 43:16-19: “This is what the Lord says – He who made it through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick: ‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.'”

God does not like to see us wandering and lost, Therefore, He will always provide a path to return back to His loving arms, but we have to want to return home. Like the prodigal son, the father did not go searching for his son. The father had faith that his son would return home and he allowed his son to make his own choices. God does not stifle us from making bad decisions and, even if He did, we would find a way to rebel. We are naturally rebellious children who want to do things our way and, eventually, if we are lucky, we realize that we were wrong.

In order to change, we have to make the first step to recovery. We have to want to change. We have to ask God to take the wheel and help us make the U-turn, away from our path of destruction.

Romans 12:1-2: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

We need to pay no attention to the naysayers and the pessimists who doubt our desire or ability to make a new start. We are renewed in Christ Jesus. We have faith that God can do the impossible and turn our lives around. He has the power to make us new. We have been forgiven for all of our sins: yesterday, today, and tomorrow. It is never too late to make a change as long as we follow God. We have to meditate on His Word so that we know how to live our lives according to His perfect plan. It will be an adjustment and there will be both good days and bad days, but we can find comfort knowing that we are not alone. Both God and other Christian brothers and sisters will celebrate in our rebirth and our triumphant return to the family of God. We can do all things through Christ who strengths us.

Thank you, Lord, for new beginnings. Thank you for allowing us to make a change and come back home. Thank you for making the impossible possible. Thank you for your forgiveness. Thank you for putting people into our lives to hold us accountable so we are able to see the error of our ways. Thank you for never failing us. Amen. – Katie Ann

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Are You Attractive?

We all want to be accepted by others. While most of us don’t want the acceptance to be based solely on our appearance, we can’t deny that we want to be considered attractive. No one wants to be viewed as ugly or fat or plain. We all want people to look at us and see beauty. A test was completed stating that beauty is based on the symmetry of a person’s face because, the more symmetrical the face, the more the brain translates a greater degree of beauty. The problem is that most of us don’t have symmetrical faces, or even conventional good looks. We were created by God with different hair, eyes, facial shapes, body shapes, and multitude of other differences to produce each of as a unique and precious creation.Even though human beings view others based on appearance, God takes a deeper look.

1 Samuel 16:6-7: “When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.’ But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'”

Although it is human nature to want to be loved and accepted by others, we need to focus on how God views us. We need to constantly learn more about the Bible so we understand what God expects from us so that He is pleased with our good works and our kind hearts. It may be easier said than done since bullying and name-calling is a serious issue that needs to be taken very seriously but, we all need to do our best to keep our attention on God when it comes to gaining favor. We gain the Lord’s favor when we seek Him above all others. He should always be our number one priority. If the Lord is for us, who could be against us?

Psalm 119:37: “Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.”

We can find peace knowing that God accepts us and see us as His beautiful creations. When someone puts you down or judges your appearance, run to the safety of the Lord’s protection and know that His opinion is the only opinion that truly matters. Try not to be downhearted. Their negative opinions about you have nothing to do with you; it has everything to do with them. They put you down because they aren’t content with themselves. They may think that their appearance is superior to yours but, the truth is, they are not happy at heart and they think that, by putting you down, they can ignore the darkness inside of them. As long as we focus on the good in both the world and in our own hearts, the light will always be prevalent within us. If we are ever mocked or ridiculed, we need to remember to turn to God and pray that the light will overtake our mocker and that they will turn from their dark ways and begin to look within.

1 Peter 3:3-4: “Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.”

There is absolutely nothing wrong with caring about your appearance and wanting to look nice. God isn’t anti-beauty. He simply cares more about who we are than what we look like. We can feel free to wear nice clothes or go to the salon without any judgement from God but we should never stop working on ourselves on the inside as well. By reading the Bible, we can clearly see that there is more to beauty than what can be seen. They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The perception of beauty is relative to the viewer. Always remember that you are beautiful in the eyes of the Lord and He will protect you from the ignorant comments and jeers of others. He loves you just the way you are.

Song of Solomon 4:7: “You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you.”

Thank you, Lord, for Your acceptance, love, and protection. Thank you for allowing us to run to You when we are being judged by other. Thank you for loving us for who we are. Thank you for showing us what is important in life. Please help the people in our lives who care more about appearances than the heart. Thank you for making us special. Amen. – Katie Ann

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Is Your Love Selective?

We all have personal opinions and views on life, people, and any number of other things. Sometimes we hold onto our opinions so strongly that we forget to love fully. Our ability to love can be stifled because we are distracted by conflicting points of view and prejudices against certain personalities or beliefs. When our hearts begin to harden and push people away, we should look to Jesus as the perfect example of unconditional love. We don’t have to always see eye to eye but we do have to love one another. Jesus may not have agreed with some of the actions of people He met or even some of the people He considered friends, but He never stopped loving them. He loved everyone in His life and He greeted everyone with open arms. He was able to separate the person from the sin and still show them love and compassion. Even in His teachings to His disciples and others, He spoke with love and forgiveness. Jesus sought to show the world that people are who they are. There is always room for improvement and growth but our Lord does not extricate people for sinning or having weaknesses. At the start of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus expresses the unconditional love He has for all people, including the people who may seem unlovable or stereotypically difficult to love.

 The Beatitudes

Matthew 5:1-12: “Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. He said: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heave. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Jesus teaches through these words that we don’t have to be perfect in order for God to love us. God sees us and knows us better than anyone else. He promises to love us no matter who we are or what we do. He doesn’t push us away when we make mistakes and He doesn’t stop loving us if we disappoint Him. Jesus experienced persecution while He walked the earth and started His ministry. He knows what it is like to be loved one minute and then despised the next. Although we too will experience the heartache of persecution and judgement, we can find peace that Jesus endured the pain and He will be Our Comforter. We are blessed to follow a loving and gracious God who only wants the best for us. He has given us His Word so that we can improve our lives and learn from our mistakes. What others may view as weakness, God sees as a blessing. We are each a unique creation that God has put on the earth for a reason. We all have an amazing purpose to fulfill and God will lead us to that purpose and on to completion. When we feel like the world doesn’t understand us, God does. He appreciates us for the wonderful people we are and He sees potential in all of us. God is in this for long haul.

Psalm 100:5: ” For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.”

Thank you, Lord, for loving us for who we are. Thank you for loving us for our weaknesses and our strengths, not despite our weaknesses. Let us be an example of Your Love to others. Thank you for knowing who we are as individuals. Thank you for coming to earth to save us, even though You had to endure persecution and betrayal. Thank you for going through with it all so that we can spend eternity with You. Thank you Your Unconditional Love and blessing on our lives. Amen. – Katie Ann

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