trust God

It doesn’t matter if you have failed; start failing forward and don’t give up.

It doesn’t matter how many no’s you have received, keep pushing forward till you get that yes.

Do you have a dream? Keep moving towards it!

Do you want to see change in the world? Then be that change!

Do you feel you are unheard? Perhaps, your time just hasn’t come yet!

Keep moving forward and know every prayer is heard. Sometimes the answer is yes, sometimes no, but often wait.

Wait at the Master’s feet.

Wait to hear the plan He has just for you.

Then, move forward and keep going no matter what!

be.the.church

Trust God with the now, but more importantly with your future.

“I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out – plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” Jeremiah 29:10-11 MSG

change the narrative

Feeling blue and want to complain?

Change the narrative!

Cat got your tongue, but your mind is racing.

Change the narrative.

Thinking negative and thus spewing out half-truths.

Change the narrative!

You get the picture, but you do not always act on what you know is the right thing to do.

Take those thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 10.5a) and make them obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10.5b).

When you do, others will see you…

be.the.church

as you change the narrative!

“…(fit) every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ…building lives of obedience into maturity.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 MSG

“just living is not enough… one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower”*

Ah, vitamin sea (pun intended)! So good for our health. Get out and enjoy the Sonshine (spelled wrong on purpose so look again.)

Freedom – even if you live somewhere where you do not have full freedom, we all can live free from the punishment we deserve from sin which is damnation or separation from God for all eternity. That is true freedom! Knowing we will one day be in heaven should put a perpetual smile on your face.

A little flower blooming should do that too! Revel in the Father’s detailed creativity.

I also thought how these three things can remind us of the triune God we serve.

Sunshine – the Holy Spirit shines into our lives to guide and direct.

Christ came to give of Himself so we can have freedom.

And The Father created all things bright and beautiful for us to enjoy.

So, again put a smile on your face…

and if need be turn that frown upside down.

As Christians, we should be the happiest people on earth regardless of our circumstances.

So, yes: “Just living is not enough… one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.”

And I say, keep a smile on your face to represent God in a powerful way. That is how to…

be.the.church

Let the world know by your countenance whose you are and to whom you belong!

“A joyful heart makes a cheerful face…” Proverbs 15.13

*H.C. Andersen, Danish author and poet

f.r.o.g.

If you have read this blog for any length of time, you have probably seen an acronym or two.

Here’s a few posts to look back on and see in case you don’t remember or are just joining us:

https://bethechurch.home.blog/2019/07/08/miles-may-separate-but-prayer-unites/

https://bethechurch.home.blog/2019/06/12/nbc/

https://bethechurch.home.blog/2019/02/07/keep-fighting-the-good-fight-2/

And here’s a few to contemplate today:

F.R.O.G.

F – ully

R – ely

O – n

G – od

Can I get an amen?

Your priorities should be:

J esus (first)

O thers (next then…)

Y ou

And if you are:

H ungry

A ngry

L onely or

T ired

You might want to h.a.l.t. before you speak.

“…Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,” James‬ ‭1:19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

When you are, you will do better as you strive to…

be.the.church

Just for fun, see how many other combinations for G-O-D you can add to this list:

Good Orderly Direction

Guardian Over Death

Greatest of Deities

God Opens Doors

Get off drugs and Go Obey Dad

black beauty

Yesterday’s post ended with discussing the originator of the quote: “I am never afraid of what I know.” Anna Sewell who wrote the children’s book Black Beauty. It got me thinking of the children’s song: Jesus loves the little children. Some of the lyrics say: “all the children of the world – red or yellow, black and white – they are precious in His sight.”

To be honest, none of us have ever seen someone with skin tones of any of those colors except maybe if someone was jaundice (yellow) or is sunburned (red), but there really is no such thing as black or white. We really are all different shades of tan – some are darker brown others lighter, but like I said there is no black and white.

And we all have the same stuff inside!

Why do we get hung up on color?

Jesus died on the cross with the same red blood flowing for us that is in each of our veins. And that blood is all we need for the forgiveness we can receive if we just believe in that ultimate sacrifice He made by dying on the cross.

It matters not the tribe, class, or culture you belong.

It matters not the continent, country, or county you live.

It matters not the language you speak or the clothes you wear.

We all are in need of a Savior.

We are all precious in His sight and when we live in sin, He pursues us. He desires none to perish.

“But rebels and sinners will both be broken, and those who forsake the Lord will perish.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭1:28‬ ‭

But: “God so loved the world that He gave His One and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” ‭‭John‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Because: “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans‬ ‭3:28

So in the end, it doesn’t matter the color of your skin. You can be a ‘black beauty‘ or albino cutie. All shades of skintones and all walks of life are welcome into the kingdom of heaven.

I pray you find your way there and daily strive to be a great example so others can see you…

be.the.church

“I am never afraid of what I know”*

“I am never afraid of what I know” nor should you be.

I know God loves me, is gracious, is full of loving kindness, and always forgives. May I in return be loving, gracious, full of loving kindness and forgiving.

Do you know God loves you, is gracious towards you, and will always forgive? I sure hope so. If not, consider becoming a child of the one true God and if you are already; be fully committed and devoted to Him. For…

God loves you: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NIV

Is gracious toward you: “The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.” Psalm 116:5 NIV

Forgives you: “If you confess your sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive you your sins and purify you from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

And wants you to have a great life: “I have come that you might have life and that you might have it abundantly.” John 10.10

Embrace Him fully and…

be.the.church

*FYI “I am never afraid of what I know” is an Anna Sewell quote. She was an English writer (1820-1878). She wrote Black Beauty

which is one of the top ten best selling children’s books ever published. It was originally written for those who work with horses so they would learn to be kind to the animals. At fourteen, Sewell slipped and severely injured her ankles. For the rest of her life she could not stand without a crutch or walk for any length of time. For greater mobility, she frequently used horse-drawn carriages, which contributed to her love of both stallions and mares alike and concern for the humane treatment of all animals. She received a single payment in the amount of £40 in exchange for it which is about £3,500 in today’s currency.

stay in it to win it*

What do you need to do to keep transforming to be more like Christ?

Read and study scriptures.

Spend time in prayer.

Carve out time to worship and commune with God.

Draw close to the Lord and He will draw close to you.

Serve at a local body of believers. That is who makes up the church. We do. And we are to serve. And when we do we will all…

be.the.church

Be like the early church. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.” Acts 2.42

Be in it to win it and look forward to hearing the words: “Well done, good and faithful servant…enter into the joy of your Lord.” Matthew 25.16

So, fight the good fight and finish your race well (I Timothy 6.12, 2 Timothy 4.7) and stay in it to win it!

And do add your ideas of how we can stay in it to win it in the comments below.

*Inspired from church sermon by EP

the powder room

For for most men (and some women), it is a mystery – the powder room. What do they do in there and why do we call it such?*

Ladies go alone, with another friend, or a with a whole group. Perhaps more often than not the powder room represents a moment to collect your thoughts or to catch your breath with those who are closest to you rather than just using the bathroom or powdering the face.

We need to do this with our relationship with the Lord. Spend time powering up instead of powdering.

Just like the powder room, make an excuse for an escape and meet God in a prayer room or closet. Give your burdens to God and this will help you escape your problems, your stressors, and anxieties as you surrender them to the Lord.

“In this life, you will have trouble…” the Bible tells us in John 16.33, but we need to take heart because Christ has overcome the world. Take those troubles and give them to the Lord and you don’t even have to go to a powder room.

When you do, others will see you…

be.the.church

Here’s some links to previous posts that can enrich your prayer life:

https://bethechurch.home.blog/2019/07/08/miles-may-separate-but-prayer-unites/

https://bethechurch.home.blog/2019/06/09/boastful-prayers-2/

https://bethechurch.home.blog/2019/04/25/boastful-prayers/

https://bethechurch.home.blog/2019/05/12/i-miss-my-time-with-you/

*My guess is in days gone by it would not be polite for a lady to announce she needed to use the toilet. So to powder one’s nose or excuse oneself to go to the powder room became a euphemism for eliminating bodily fluids or solids.

above and beyond

I met a man who was wrongly accused of a murder. He spent over three decades in different prisons, yet he’s not bitter or angry. In that jail, he found his Savior. Now, out in the world, he knows that his life would’ve been so different as he would have continued on a path of destruction and believes he might even be dead had he not had this long trial.

The day he was exonerated a woman approached him with money and a phone prepaid for a whole year of service. It was not just any phone either, but it was the latest and greatest iPhone. Not that it made much difference to him since he had never even used a computer let alone a cell phone. She went above and beyond and makes me want to do more for the desperate and needy. How can you do more for others that are down-and-out in your circle of influence?

“Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.” Luke‬ ‭6:30‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This man was humble. He was loving. He said he would not change a thing if it meant not knowing Jesus. Could you say that if you had been in his shoes?

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah‬ ‭29:11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What a testimony.

What a blessing to hear his story.

What a reminder that God can use everything and does.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 NIV

Never doubt that your circumstance can be used to draw you to the Lord – let it. He will go above and beyond to pursue your heart if you are open and willing for it to be found.

Be encouraged to know God is no respecter of persons and is waiting for you to answer His call. He created you with purpose and gave you gifts to equip. Seek after Him and desire to be transformed into the likeness of His son.

As you do, day by day you will…

be.the.church

more and more.

What a blessing.

What a plan.

What a great way to spend your time as a human.

Go above and beyond for our Lord.

Check out this previous post: https://bethechurch.home.blog/2019/04/30/be-the-hope-for-the-hopeless/

when you don’t have anything to give – give away a smile

We were on sensory overload as we experienced Peru’s sights, sounds, and some smells we would rather not remember. We had some amazing and interesting experiences (holding a sloth, having a boa wrap around us, having a tarantula in the building we were doing the children’s program during the pastors’ conference, eating piranha, and the list could go on) but nothing can compare to the loving people we came to serve.

I just wish we had more to give but a smile is universal and reciprocal AND free.

When you don’t have anything to give – give away a smile. We can give that anywhere so I challenge you to smile at everyone you see today as we did on that mission trip. That truly is a way to…

be.the.church

“…I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face, and be of good cheer…”. Job 9.27

And by the way, if you have never been on a foreign mission trip; start saving up now to go on one some day. In the meantime, there are plenty of local options where you can serve at I am sure you can find. It helps us stay humble, be reminded we are to be our brother’s keeper, and God delights in us when we allow ourselves to be His hand of blessing extended.

Also, everyone should at least once a year reach out to others in need and at least once in a lifetime go on some kind of mission oriented trip.

It doesn’t even have to be far away or expensive to do, but it will keep you in check and help keep your perspective humble, loving, and kind. Now, go use your smile to brighten someone else’s day.