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Spiritual Gardening

January 22, 2013

“The crucial test in determining if we’re planting real seeds or just rocks emerges in our motivation for planting. Am I sowing seed to meet my own needs or to meet the needs of others? In John 12:24, Jesus explains, “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” The seed has to go into the ground, and in the silence of the ground, it dies. All alone there, it opens up to bring forth life. In the same way, we have to die to ourselves—to our selfish desires and goals and dreams—so we can plant an unselfish seed. People are created in God’s image as spiritual beings who will live for eternity, either with Him or apart from [ … ]

Failure is Not Final

January 21, 2013

“Adam and Eve blatantly disobeyed God and then lied about their sin. David committed adultery with Bathsheba and then plotted the murder of her husband. Peter bragged about his commitment to Jesus and then denied Him not once, but three times. In fact, it’s hard to find biblical characters who didn’t fail at some point, but those who learned from their failure and used it as a tool of growth were often used by God to accomplish great things.

I have come to believe that failure is a necessary part of our growth and maturity as followers of Jesus Christ. Failure can interpret the unconditional love and forgiveness of God like nothing else can—if we trust God enough to transform tragedy into triumph. Desperation can be our friend if it makes us crave God and long to see His power [ … ]

Lean on Friends

January 18, 2013

No one is meant to walk alone through life. This painful journey is best walked in the company of good friends—people who will laugh, cry, vent, and grow with you through life’s adventures. I encourage you to invest time in these critical lifelines. Follow through on that lunch date, make the phone call, plan a weekend away, or rally your prayer team.

Excerpted from 99 Ways to Fight Worry and Stress by Elsa Kok Colopy

Daily Reflection: What is one step you can take today to build you friendship base?

God’s Time

January 17, 2013

“Although I felt God was present and holding me, I was still entirely conscious of my predicament and my surroundings. I was able to feel the current pushing and pulling my body and feel the pressure of the water. I could not see anything or hear anything but I was acutely aware of everything that was happening around and within me. I was comfortable, calm, and marveled at God’s presence.
[…]
As I waited under water, I thought about and analyzed my life; its course, my choices, my joys, and my regrets. I thought about everything. Eventually, I thought about how bored I was. I was tired of thinking and tired of waiting; I was ready to get on with the journey, whatever that was meant to be. With the assurance that all would be okay regardless of [ … ]

Children Playing

January 16, 2013

I recall sitting in a church service with my parents when I was very young, listening to the minister invite people to come to the front for prayer. People went forward (some were crying as they did), knelt, and prayed. When they finished they returned to their seats, and I noticed a distinct change in them. They were happy and at peace. I looked to my dad for an explanation, but he only motioned me to be silent.

Finally a day came when I looked to my dad, and he bent down to speak. “Would you like to go forward?” he asked. I nodded my affirmation. Like those who had gone before, I knelt, prayed, and cried. Before long I felt better too, and I sensed the time had come to return to my seat. My dad smiled. My little [ … ]

Graceless Christians

January 15, 2013

“I want to encourage you to simply believe in your own possibilities and stay the course as you pursue them! I’m amazed at how often we stand in awe of the accomplishments of others, as though we cannot achieve similar things. If you find yourself doing this, I encourage you to stop looking at what everyone else has accomplished and begin appreciating your own talents, experiences, abilities, and potential.”
 
Excerpted from Putting a Face on Grace by Richard Blackaby

Daily Reflection: As you start out this new year, what can you do to reclaim the wonder of what God’s grace has done for you?

Start Small

January 14, 2013

“I want to encourage you to simply believe in your own possibilities and stay the course as you pursue them! I’m amazed at how often we stand in awe of the accomplishments of others, as though we cannot achieve similar things. If you find yourself doing this, I encourage you to stop looking at what everyone else has accomplished and begin appreciating your own talents, experiences, abilities, and potential.”
 
Excerpted from Why Not You? by Valorie Burton

Daily Reflection: How can you put your talents, past experiences, abilities, and potential to use today to pursue a personal goal?

A Bond Forged in Prayer

January 11, 2013

“A great mental picture of bonding may be to envision two objects glued together. When issues of life feel overwhelming, a healthy bonding between husband and wife, as Allen and Eileen demonstrate, can carry us through those times: ‘Prayer is definitely a key factor in growing close to each other. It allows you to reveal your heart to the Lord. It is an outpouring. It allows you to share the burdens of life with each other.’

After a long morning of intense communication, I’ll often climb onto Craig’s lap as he sits on our oversized recliner, lay my head against his chest, take a deep breath…and rest my worries and fears before God as we seek his direction through prayer together. The bonding that I feel at those times is indescribable. It can only be God-designed.”
 
Excerpted [ … ]

Our Living Faith

January 10, 2013

“When things don’t go our way, when our happiness is threatened, when God isn’t giving us what we want, when we don’t think our needs are being met, there is a great temptation to take the easy way out, to turn back to our old ways, to yield to our flesh, or to give up in discouragement.

This is the feeling the recipients of the letter to the Hebrews were experiencing. They didn’t understand that the trials they were enduring were part of God’s discipline. And so in the eleventh chapter of his word of exhortation, the author of Hebrews reminded them of their need of faith. He spoke to the fact that things are not over, that the drama of redemption has not yet come to an end. He encouraged them to remember that if they wanted God’s [ … ]

Children Believing

January 9, 2013

Children believe. Without the skepticism and doubts that adults carry wherever they go, children simply believe. Tell a child that God answers prayer, and he or she will put your words to the test, often with remarkable results.

As I was preparing this book, the kids’ stories reminded me of a valuable lesson. Children are very specific when they pray. If their family is short two hundred dollars on their mortgage payment, they don’t ask God to “meet their needs” or “provide for their family.” Instead, they ask God to send them two hundred dollars.

I’m reminded of four-year-old Dana, the daughter of a writer-friend, who prayed, “Dear Jesus, help us not to eat slugs.” Now that’s praying specifically.

My prayers, on the other hand, are often too general. I pray for my children, but not with concreteness. I pray [ … ]