Faithful in all circumstances

“Your future is greater than your destiny.  Your history does not need to define your destiny.  Jesus Christ has got a great plan, purpose, and destiny for your life.”    ~ Christine Caine

Another year is closing and a New Year is here already! Crazy how time flies by so quickly!  It’s been an incredible year, full of up’s and down’s, and inside out changes all around.  Now it’s time to take what 2018 has taught us and propel into 2019 with all of it!
These past weeks, with Christmas break and all has been full of rest and restoration for me.  A chance to sit back and relax and just be still.  Something we all tend to take for granted, I know I do at many times. We feel as if we have to be doing something to be productive, call it our Martha syndrome, right?  Why can’t we, more often than not just sit and be still, after all that’s what Mary did, as she sat at the feet of Jesus while others were making preparations all around.  Sometimes we need to stop, not worry about what needs to be done, and just take time to sit, to be still, and engage with people.  Be that listening ear, be that person that someone can talk to, and be a friend.  Don’t get so caught up in the hustle of day to day activities that we forget why we are here in the first place.  Let’s live out our faith and be the hands and feet of Jesus in a world so desperate for His attention.
I don’t want to just be someone who talks about her faith. I don’t want to be someone who just writes about her faith. I want to be the girl who gets up everyday and lives her faith out with all she’s got!  Now I can pretty much guarantee that there will be days that I’m just not going to feel this at all, but isn’t that the beauty of it all?  It’s the challenge! The challenge is what keeps us going. It’s what keeps our hearts in check and our souls alive!  Each day we get up and conquer our fears and take one step closer to our dreams and goals, we can stand strong in our fight.  If we never try something, we never know if we would’ve been able to do it at all, if we never say yes to something, we never know what would’ve been, and if we just talk about doing something and never do it then how are we going to accomplish anything?

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
Ephesians 3:20 (NLT)

So with this New Year and all,  is there a word sticking out to you for this upcoming year? Has God placed something on your heart?  How are you living out your faith?
For me, one word that sticks out is Promise.  To remember that staying faithful in my walk and God will fulfill His promise to me, in His timing.  To remain faithful in the waiting and God’s timing is everything.
 


Blessings,

Embrace the Unexpected

Adventure Awaits!

When you are about to embark on your next adventure and the time to leave is closing in, your heart is racing and your head is spinning, and the fear of the unexpected creeps in. 

Well, here it is... FOUR days before leaving for the refugee camp in Greece. So many emotions happening right now.  Thinking about preparations to make and plans to lay out.  It's only that I realize I can only plan so much and the rest...well...stay tuned for how this adventure plays out in the coming weeks.

Excited, nervous, a little scared. Am I really supposed to do this? What did I sign up for?  All legitimate questions going through my head right now.

I’m terrified of not being fully prepared for what I may encounter over there, but it was in my devotional time this week when I was reading about choosing peace. The storm of life rages all around us. Fear creeps into our lives on a daily basis. It is when we choose to take a stand against this fear and look fear in the eye and say, “you don’t own me!” “You have no business inferring in the plans that have been set before me!” “We are through!”

Fear can't exist when our mind is fully focused on and filled with God.  When the storm is all around us and we are trying to weather the chaos, we often get discouraged.  When circumstances change and unexpected things get thrown at us, we feel helpless and confused, not knowing which way to go.  We are not meant to go through the storms of this life alone. Jesus is always there and will always be there for us, He is the true peace and comfort that we need and long so much for.  

In Matthew 14:22-36, we read about the disciples seeing Jesus in the storm while they are out on a boat.  They were terrified at the storm raging all around them.  Peter, being the one to walk toward Jesus on water even got scared and began to sink into the rough waves.  Peter started sinking when he took his eyes off of Jesus and began focusing on his fear. When we keep our eyes on Jesus and focus on Him even in the tough times, when the storm is raging, and the waves are high we can feel peace and comfort in the midst of the storm and we can release our fears to The One who can carry us through our storms.  

As we are traveling overseas, I pray for our team as we draw closer to God in prayer and in relationships with each other, that we can be vulnerable as we talk to and do life together in the coming weeks.  As we come together to be the hands and feet of Jesus, let us also remember that we need to fill ourselves up as well in God's Word.  Fill us with passion and the strength to keep going when things are going to get difficult and rough. The waves will eventually calm and the sun will shine through the clouds again.  When we remain strong and confident in the Lord we can make it through.  We may get bruised along the way, but it's through the bruises that tell an amazing story.

Matthew 25:25-36

For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.

Through out these next few weeks I want to share about what's happening.  I want to give a greater knowledge to what is not spoken a lot about. I want to spread awareness by writing about these experiences, corresponding about life circumstances in a foreign country, and to be able to bring a little hope to those who need it.  I can't wait to see everything God has for us over in Greece.

Francesca Battistelli - The Break Up Song

Blessings,