What Is A True Friend?

We have all seen friendships that have come and gone in our lives over the years. Ever since we were children, we made friendships that enhanced our lives and brought us such joy but many friendships don’t last forever. Sometimes people simply grow apart as the years go by but sometimes we make friendships that can stand the test of time. It is amazing to have a friend who we don’t speak to or see for a long time but, when the opportunity arises to hang out, it feels like no time has passed. These are the friendships that we should appreciate and cherish. When we are blessed with healthy, loving friendships, we should thank God for putting that person into our lives. Friendships have a way of enriching our lives to our very core. A quality friend is absolutely a blessing from God.

Ecclesiates 4:9-10: “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!”

Friendships are an integral part of our lives. God wants us to have friendships as a means of love and support. A friend is someone who comes to our aid when we need help, someone who is our shoulder to cry on when we are upset, someone who encourages us when we feel like giving up, and someone who makes us feel like we can succeed at anything we put our minds to. It is for this reason that we have to be a good friend to others in return. We have to be the best possible friend we can be, just as we would expect our friends to treat us. We need to be the positive force in our friends’ lives because then we are acting as God acts toward the ones He loves. God is the perfect example of a selfless, loving friend. We need to emanate the same compassion and generosity as God shows us every day.

John 15:13: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”

We should consider ourselves lucky if we have been blessed enough to have a friend in our lives who would do absolutely anything to ensure our happiness. Although we will always have a friend in Jesus, our Savior who paid the ultimate price by laying His life down so that He could save us, God has blessed us with friendships so we can love and support each other in life as an extension of Him. Friends help to remind us that we are unique, amazing creations that God has created to serve a purpose and that He will not let us fail. When we start to get discouraged, a friend is there to remind us that we can move mountains with God’s help. A true friend knows how to say just the right thing to turn a struggle into an opportunity. We need to keep our friends close and show them that we love them. Whether near or far, true friendships can be hard to find so, if we find a true friend, we should feel truly blessed.

1 Thessalonians 5:11: “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of friendship. Thank you for providing friends for guidance, love, and support, especially in the difficult times. Thank you for being our friend above all. Thank you for Your encouragement. Thank you for helping us to establish healthy friendships. Please help us to be amazing friends to others. Thank you for being our example of what it means to be a true friend. Amen. – Katie Ann

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Do You Have Daddy Issues?

The classic American family consists of Dad, Mom, 2.5 children, a dog, a cat, and a big house with a white picket fence…or does it? Today, there is a wide spectrum of family dynamics that have made it impossible to generalize what a “classic family” means. One such scenario is the family without a father. Many people have dealt with the loss of their father, whether by divorce, abandonment, or death, and the absence of a father in our lives is something that is hard to accept and, in some cases, we may not realize the hole it leaves in our hearts. We crave to have a masculine presence in our lives so we can feel protected and supported, to have strong arms that we can fall into when we have no strength left. The innate need to have a father figure in our lives doesn’t mean we are weak. We are simply lacking a piece of ourselves that we need to fill but, the good news is, we can fill that hole with the Lord and He will make us whole once again.

1 Peter 5:7: “Casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.”

The Bible describes the father as the head of the household that supplies the discipline and instruction for the family, while the mother is responsible for nurturing and raising the children. While either parent could satisfy both the father’s and mother’s responsibilities on their own, such as in the case of a single parent situation, the Bible tells us that God’s desire is for the traditional family unit to be complete so the responsibility to the children is a shared effort. However, God understands that the traditional family isn’t always possible.The unfortunate truth is that there are many incomplete families that have to learn to adapt in order to succeed at creating a loving family environment.

2 Corinthians 6:18: “And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”

One of the best parts about being a child of God is that we always have a Heavenly Father who loves us and provides us with all the support we could ever need. God has chosen each of us and He will never leave our side. Whether we have an earthly father in our lives or not, we will always have the Lord. He has welcomed us into His family as His adoptive children and He loves us so completely that He allowed His Son to die so that we could live. We are His precious children. We don’t have to feel like we are missing out on a father’s love because we have the love of God. His love for us is filled to the brim and overflowing. His love is unconditional, without limits, honest, and true. We cannot begin to imagine the love God has for us but He is able to show us His love by the many blessings He has and will continue to give to us all the days of our lives.

1 Corinthians 2:9: “But, as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.’”

Thank you, Lord, for welcoming us into Your family. Thank you for putting Your loving arms around us and for protecting us. Thank you for the being the constant in our lives. Thank you for filling any holes we may have in our hearts. Thank you for loving us so completely and providing for our needs. Thank you for your love, mercy, and grace. Amen. – Katie Ann

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Have You Found Good Soil?

In order for a plant to grow, it requires good soil. Soil holds the roots and keeps the plant stable. Soil provides the integral nutrients that the plant requires to flourish. Soil is the sole means of support so a plant can survive. We also require good soil in order to survive. Our survival is found in Jesus. Through grace we have been saved. We are planted on the rock, Jesus Christ. He provides everything we need to succeed in life. Jesus told the multitudes a parable about the importance of finding good soil.

Matthew 13:2-8: “That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.’”

It is important to take a look at our lives and figure out if we find ourselves on good soil. Life is full of distractions that the enemy tries to put in our path to keep us from focusing on God. We shouldn’t feel defeated if we relate to the seeds in the parable that landed on the bad soil; we should view it as a opportunity to get to know God on an even deeper level. The more we seek God and follow His commandments, the greater the foundation we have in Him so we will plant our roots and remain in the good soil we find by following Him. Jesus then explained the parable so the people could understand and apply the story to their own lives.

Matthew 13:18-23: “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

God wants us to flourish but we have to also want the same for ourselves. Life is not easy and that is why God has provided us with the Bible. The Bible provides all we need to succeed as we learn to trust God and praise Him for His many blessings. The Parable of the Sower helps to remind us that, when we follow the Lord, He will help us to prosper. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. We need to commit to learning everything we can about the gospel so we can grow into a healthy child of God.

Thank you, Lord, for speaking to us through parables so that we can apply Your Word to our lives in You. Thank you for teaching us how to believe and to have faith in Your awesome power. We pray that we will always yearn to learn more about You and to always seek the good soil. Thank you for being our support and strength. Thank you for Your blessing on our lives. Amen. – Katie Ann

Why Try So Hard?

There may be times in life when we question why we believe what we believe. Usually these kinds of thoughts are following a huge occasion that has occurred in our lives, frequently something that has had a significantly negative influence on how we view the world. Such an occasion may cause us to reevaluate the role we play in life and what is important to us. We may ask ourselves why we believe in Jesus and call ourselves Christians. It is in these moments that, although we may be tempted to be angry with God and run from Him, we should instead turn to Him for love and support because He is our hope in the dark times.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9: “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.”

We are tempted to blame God when bad things happen. When we live godly lives and trust God to take care of us, our faith may be tested when things don’t go our way. God has never told us that life would be easy if we follow Him but it is definitely worth the effort. When life gets complicated and our faith is stretched to the max, God is our confidant and our adviser, and we should treat Him as such. God is never the enemy. God gives us strength and, in time, brings meaning to the hard times we experience. By allowing us to have free will, we live life with both the good and bad moments, and that means that we also accept the trials and tribulations that come with it.

 Psalm 34:19: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.”

Although we have to endure trials and tribulations, God cares for us just as any father cares for his children…with His whole heart. He would never seek to bring us harm and He never gives us more than we can handle. We must never forget that God has given us the ultimate gift through His gift of eternal life. Jesus died so that we might live and then rose from the grave to have victory over death for each of us. Even though the enemy reigns over the earth, Jesus conquered the grave so the devil has no power over our salvation. We endure sin and hardship on earth but we have eternal life in Heaven. So we must build our faith and hold steadfast when times are tough because the Lord has rescued His faithful children and given us life after death. Life isn’t easy but it is all worth it. We have to continue fighting and living our lives for Him to show God that we appreciate all He has done for us and that we are conquerors through Him who showed us grace.

Thank you, Lord, for motivating us when we would just assume give up. Thank you for giving us hope. We rejoice in the trials because they bring us closer to You. We pray that we will turn to You when we are tested so our faith will be strengthened despite the hardship. Thank you for loving us. Thank you for saving us. Amen. – Katie Ann

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Are You Still Listening?

He who has ears, let him hear.

(Matthew 13:9)

Jesus would speak in parables because people respond to stories. Quite often, the parables were about common people, like fishermen and farmers, who the listeners could relate to. Jesus was able to teach people by making personal connections to the listeners’ life experiences so that He could share the gospel in a way they could understand. Jesus wanted all people to listen and understand how to live their lives in the Lord, including people who had no understanding of religious concepts or religious law. By telling parables, Jesus was able to spell everything out in laymen’s terms so His teachings were accessible to everyone who took the time to listen.

Matthew 13:10-13, 16-17: “Then the disciples came and said to Him, ‘Why do you speak to them in parables?’ And He answered them, ‘To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.'”

The Bible isn’t always easy to understand but, just like studying in school or practicing a sport, we have to take the time to learn and apply the lessons God tries to teach us. As Christians, we have been afforded the ability to comprehend the Bible but even we have to take the time to hone our understanding. Jesus was able to simplify the principles of what it means to be a Christian so people’s eyes would be opened to the Lord’s teachings and their hearts would embrace a deep relationship with the Lord. Being a Christian is more than just a label; being a Christian means a new state of mind. Jesus said that, in order to be saved, we have to be born again, not as in childbirth but as an awakening and a cleansing of our body, soul, and mind. We have been granted a new beginning by following the Lord and an opportunity to be reborn and reinvented according to His plan for our lives.

Colossians 3:2-3: “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

We need to be like those people who sat beside the sea to listen to Jesus. We have been blessed with the ability to both listen and hear the Lord. We have to try not to allow ourselves to become complacent in our desire to hear His voice. It is easy to fall into a rut because we grow accustomed to our daily routine. We have to remember to take the time to learn more about our Lord every day so our path to wisdom does not become stale. We need to keep our passion to learn more about Him and apply His teachings to our lives.  There is always more for God to teach us, and we should strive for a greater understanding always. The more we learn about our Father through the Bible, the stronger our relationship will become.

Thank you, Lord, for  being the key to unlock an understanding of Your holy word. Thank you for constantly teaching us how to be the best version of ourselves. Please help us turn to You for everything. Let us always desire a greater understanding of Your ways and a stronger relationship with You. Thank you for speaking to us so we can hear Your voice. Amen. – Katie Ann 

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Need Some Motivation?

A word of hope for today:

Galatians 6:9: “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

The work week can be draining but the Bible helps put us back on track by giving us an extra boost of motivation through scripture. God’s Word provides us with inspiration and encouragement when our energy starts to wane. While we work hard to keep a roof over our heads and food in our bellies, sometimes it feels like we live to work instead of working to live, but God blesses us for our commitment to hard work and commends us for our perseverance.

Proverbs 13:4: “The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.”

God loves us and is proud of the effort we exhibit through our hard work and determination to do a job well-done. We should always put effort into everything we do. By working hard to earn a living, we are thanking God for His generosity and love. We need to remember that, when we are at our jobs, we are not merely working for money to pay our bills or for the esteem of our boss or co-workers. We are Christians first and foremost and we work to glorify God. Even at work, we need to let our light shine bright so our co-workers see a difference in us and want to know why. Make God proud every day by keeping the faith and working hard. Idleness only leads to trouble so focus on the task at hand and take each day step by step. God is with us every step of the way and He will guide our steps.

You are favored! You are loved!

Psalm 90:17: “Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!”

Thank you, Lord, for motivating us when we grow weary of work. Please help us to be positive examples at our workplace. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to shine for You at work. Thank you for the many blessing you have provided. We want to always make You proud. Thank you for our jobs and our ability to support ourselves. Thank you for always walking with us and for carrying us through when we are struggling. Amen. – Katie Ann

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How Can You Cope with Loss?

We know that every living thing on earth eventually dies but that doesn’t make it any easier when someone we love dies. The thought of never getting to see their smiling face or to hug them again is a difficult reality to accept. When an integral person in our lives is no longer with us, we feel like a piece of us is missing but God is our comfort in these tough times. God acknowledges that there is a time to mourn the loss of life. Although we may not realize, God wraps His loving arms around us in these heart-wrenching moments.

Psalm 34:18: “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

As we mourn the loss of the physical presence of our loved one, the Lord will begin to work in us to find peace. There isn’t a typical grieving period so we all have to work through grief at our own pace but, when we look to the Lord for comfort, we are able to put things into perspective sooner. We can find peace knowing that, although their body has died, their soul lives on with the Lord. By grace, our loved ones have been saved and we should rejoice that the heavens are celebrating their homecoming.

John 14:1-3: “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

In death, we return to be with our Father in Heaven. He has told us through scripture that our future is ready and waiting for our soul’s return to Him. He has prepared a place for each of us. When someone dies, we know that they will be spending eternity with God, without pain, without fear, completely accepted and joyful, and, even though we may find little comfort when the loss is still fresh, we come to know that God called them home because it was their time. We may not be able to see beyond our grief at first, especially when the death is unexpected, which is why we have to pray for peace and understanding. There is always a purpose in God’s decisions. It might be difficult to comprehend why things happen but God reveals the purpose in time.

Job 22:21-22: “Agree with God, and be at peace; thereby good will come to you. Receive instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in your heart.”

We need to remember to turn to God in our most painful times. Holding onto our faith in times of grief is very important. God wants to heal our hearts. He wants us to remember the wonderful times we had with the people we love, instead of fixating on the loss. Only God has the strength to carry us through grief to acceptance. When we cleave to our relationship with God, He can repair our broken hearts so we can can continue to show love to others. When we have finished mourning, it doesn’t mean that they will be forgotten; it means that we can honor their memory by being a source of joy and comfort to others. We should always remember that their lives are not lost; they have gone home to be with the Lord because they have been claimed.

Thank you, Lord, for Your gift of grace. Thank you for preparing a place for us in Heaven, to spend all eternity with You. Thank you for the comfort and peace that You bring to a grieving heart. Please help us to turn to You when our hearts are breaking. Thank you for allowing us time to mourn the loss of life. Thank you for showing us that death is not the end; it is only the beginning of an eternity spent in Paradise with Our Lord and Savior. Amen. – Katie Ann

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Do You Need to Apologize?

There are people in our lives who we need to forgive, which is sometimes easier said than done. Depending on the severity of how we were mistreated, the concept of forgiveness can seem practically impossible, but God can help us forgive the people who have hurt us. (Read: https://hcochopeseekers.wordpress.com/2016/02/05/can-you-be-the-bigger-person/) But then there are those times when we are the ones who need forgiveness. Even if we are too proud to admit it, we never want to be the source of someone’s unhappiness. We never want to steal someone else’s joy; we should be the ones sharing joy with others, not taking it away. We need to be considerate of other people’s feelings and sensitive to how we affect the people around us. God has instructed us to be a light to the world. By fighting and holding onto anger or resentment, we are hiding God’s light. When we apologize, we push away the darkness that tries to take hold and we bring restoration to our relationships.

1 Peter 5:5: “Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

When we apologize, we are humbling ourselves to the person we have wronged and we are asking them to show us mercy. Humility is not an easy task but God expects us to put away our pride for the common good. It is important to realize that pride holds us back. Pride keeps us from moving forward. By being prideful, we are hindering ourselves from our future and our full potential because we are looking at the past instead of living in the present. Asking for forgiveness requires us to relinquish our hold of the past and to take a chance on love. God showed us His love by forgiving us. We can show others His love by asking for forgiveness.

Colossians 3:12-14: “Put on then, 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.”

It is very clear that God expects us to love one another. The gospel of Jesus Christ is full of verses about love and many times He instructs us to “love your neighbor as yourself.” This doesn’t simply mean that we should treat everyone how we treat ourselves because there are people who don’t even treat themselves with the respect they deserve. What Jesus is telling us to do is to treat others how we would LIKE to be treated. In a perfect world, we would like everyone to treat us with love and respect, therefore, we should treat everyone in that same way. Because we are God’s children, we have been set apart as examples of His love. When we apologize to someone, we relinquish our control over the situation so God can repair the relationship.

Ephesians 4:31-32: “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Arguments happen and mistakes are made, but the questions is, “How are you going to fix it?” If we have a fight with a friend, we shouldn’t let the negative feelings last very long. We need to pray to God for guidance on how to apologize when we are wrong and how to forgive when we have been wronged. God has placed people into our lives as a blessing, to bring us joy and comfort. We need to humble ourselves so that we can show them that we appreciate their contribution to our lives. There is a saying: “Let go and Let God.” Apologizing and asking for forgiveness can be terrifying but God is our strength and He will see us through. If the relationship can be mended through our apology, we should always take a chance to make things right.

Thank you, Lord, for giving us the strength to apologize when we are wrong. Thank you for the amazing people You have put into our lives, and help us to show them how much we love them. Please help us to be slow to anger and to be kind. Thank you for the honor and privilege of showing others Your love. Thank you for being the perfect example of love so we can follow in Your footsteps. Amen. – Katie Ann

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How Can You Hold Onto Hope?

When trouble comes our way, our first response usually is a bit of panic. We have to figure out how to overcome the obstacle as quickly as possible because we know that, if we wait, the problem will most likely get worse. The beauty is that we are not alone in coming up with a solution. God has given us hope in all trials so we can see beyond the problem to the inevitable resolution. We have hope because we have put our trust in God and we know that He will lead us through it all.

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

God has given us His Word to show us how to handle life and be successful. The Bible says that we should rejoice when we are dealing with a trial. Most people would say this concept is completely crazy to be expected to be happy when things are going horribly but, because we are Christians who have faith in the His power, we know that all hard times come to an end. All we have to do is ask the Lord to helps us, and He will.  God also wants us to be patient when we are struggling and, while this concept is equally as crazy, God shows us that there is no need to worry because the problem will be over sooner than we think. As long as we pray and ask for the Lord to be near us and help us in our darkest hours, He will light our path and lead us out of the darkness. Following God isn’t a gamble. We don’t have to cross our fingers and hope for the best. He will always provide for His children.

1 Peter 3:15: “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”

We have to do all we can not to lose our hope. God gave us all hope by sending Jesus to forgive our sins. Our faith can be confusing to the non-believers in our lives because they don’t know what it is like to be Christian. They don’t understand how we can still hold onto hope even in the hard times. There will come a time when our faith will be questioned and we should welcome the opportunity to show others that the hope we possess is resilient enough to stand up to anything that the enemy may throw our way. People who we meet will see a difference in us by how we deal with problems and, while some of them may think we are crazy to hold onto hope so tightly, others will see our faith and will be impressed by our positive thinking. Hopefully our positivity will help to bring change to the people around us by being a positive influence on their lives and showing them a hope that never ends.

 

Thank you, Lord, for keeping us positive. Thank you giving us hope, even in the hardest of times. Thank you for being Our Light. Please help us to remember to rejoice in the hard time so we can replenish our hope by reminding us that tough times never last. Thank you for opportunities to show other people what it means to be a Christian.

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Who Can You Trust?

Let’s be honest: people can be a huge disappointment. We rely on other people so much and, when they don’t follow through, we are often hung out to dry. Many say “if you want something done right, do it yourself”. Most of you have experienced moments that have given merit to that saying. Luckily, there is another option. We have the pleasure of following a God who will never let us down. There is no catch. His grace and love have been freely given to us. God is reliable, honest, loving, loyal, and encouraging – everything we look for in a leader, teacher, and friend. We may be disappointed by our friends and family because they are not perfect and they make mistakes but God is perfect. He doesn’t make mistakes. We can completely trust Him.

Psalm 9:10: “And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.”

God does not mind that we rely heavily on His guidance and support. He created all of us to be perfect and pure but Adam and Eve’s choices in the Garden of Eden changed everything. We became imperfect human beings. He appreciates that we do our best to live righteous lives but, unfortunately, there is no way for us ever to become perfect again. We make mistakes and we take the wrong steps from time to time. We all have the potential to let each other down but all we can to do is stand back up, brush ourselves off, and keeping on living our lives for the Lord to the best of our ability. When we live our lives for Him, He provides us with the foundation we need to prosper in life.

Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

Whether we put our faith in ourselves or in other people, things are going to fall through the cracks but, when we put our trust in God, we cannot fail. God’s wisdom can’t be measured because He created all and knows all. If only we would rely on Him completely, He would show us that, although bad things happen to everyone, things always have a way of working themselves out because everything happens for a reason. Faith allows us to stop worrying because we have placed our worries in God’s capable hands.

Jeremiah 17:5-8: “Thus says the Lord: ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.’”

Put your trust in God and do not rely too heavily on the assistance of other people. God will lead us through the trials and tribulations. It is by His grace we are saved which gives even more merit to having faith that God has everything handled for us. We simply need to relinquish our need to have control and hand over the keys to God. His love for us will never fail. We can trust God.

Thank you, Lord, for being the rock of our lives. Thank you for carrying our burdens when we are lost and confused. Thank you for taking care of all of our needs. Thank you for being the constant in our lives. Thank you for proving to us day after day that you can be trusted with every aspect of our lives because we know You want the very best for us. Amen. – Katie Ann

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