A few years ago, I quit my job in order to stay at home with my children. I have no regrets, but it is humbling in some ways. In the past, I NEVER had to worry about money. Now, I have to make a lot of sacrifices. A LOT. I'm fine with that. There is a trade off.
However, there are times when I ask myself hard questions. What am I doing with my life? When I die, will I have left a mark? Will I be remembered by anyone?
Jesus reminded me that what society deems as successful, often looks nothing like what He considers successful. "What good is it, if a man gains the whole world, but yet loses his soul?" And still He whispers, "The least shall be the greatest, and the greatest shall be the least," reminding me that success, whether in the workplace or the home, is measured by how much we are willing to love and serve others.
Lately, Jesus has been doing a work in my life. I tend to go through phases where I get distracted. I lose my purpose, my vision. There have been times when I have kept Jesus in the rear view mirror.
The result has been a lack of peace, a struggle with anxiety, and a well of love that has often run dry.
I can always tell when my heart is failing. I look at my speech. I cuss (a lot). I struggle with anger. I rush. I get impatient. I am quick to yell. I hurt others with my words and my actions. It is on these days that I feel that I have truly failed as a human being.
But, God.
I am so thankful that God always steers me back to Him. I recently went through an experience that brought me to my knees, and now Jesus is directly in front of me where He belongs.
He is restoring my peace. I've tried to stop cursing on my own, but I ALWAYS fail, but God. When He truly changes our heart, He changes our speech as well. The anger is gone. The impatience. He truly does make us into a new creation.
Lately, I have found immense comfort in Psalms 23.
It talks about how He makes us lie down in green grass, and he restores our soul. He brings us out of the darkness and into His Light.
Yesterday, I was talking to Jesus about Joy. He is restoring my peace, but I sometimes seem to lack joy. I felt the need to reread some of my writings when Jesus first consumed my life. There was a very real joy that came from simply loving others.
There is true joy in serving others. It is the purpose. It is why we are here - To love one another.
To help one another. There is joy in that. As I began to realize this all over again, I felt joy for the first time in a very long time.
Whoever is reading this, Jesus can turn things around for you. He can give you beauty for ashes,
He can exchange your pain and turn it into purpose. He can restore your soul. He can make you lie down in green grass, and lead you beside the still waters.
He loves us.
However, there are times when I ask myself hard questions. What am I doing with my life? When I die, will I have left a mark? Will I be remembered by anyone?
Jesus reminded me that what society deems as successful, often looks nothing like what He considers successful. "What good is it, if a man gains the whole world, but yet loses his soul?" And still He whispers, "The least shall be the greatest, and the greatest shall be the least," reminding me that success, whether in the workplace or the home, is measured by how much we are willing to love and serve others.
Lately, Jesus has been doing a work in my life. I tend to go through phases where I get distracted. I lose my purpose, my vision. There have been times when I have kept Jesus in the rear view mirror.
The result has been a lack of peace, a struggle with anxiety, and a well of love that has often run dry.
I can always tell when my heart is failing. I look at my speech. I cuss (a lot). I struggle with anger. I rush. I get impatient. I am quick to yell. I hurt others with my words and my actions. It is on these days that I feel that I have truly failed as a human being.
But, God.
I am so thankful that God always steers me back to Him. I recently went through an experience that brought me to my knees, and now Jesus is directly in front of me where He belongs.
He is restoring my peace. I've tried to stop cursing on my own, but I ALWAYS fail, but God. When He truly changes our heart, He changes our speech as well. The anger is gone. The impatience. He truly does make us into a new creation.
Lately, I have found immense comfort in Psalms 23.
It talks about how He makes us lie down in green grass, and he restores our soul. He brings us out of the darkness and into His Light.
Yesterday, I was talking to Jesus about Joy. He is restoring my peace, but I sometimes seem to lack joy. I felt the need to reread some of my writings when Jesus first consumed my life. There was a very real joy that came from simply loving others.
There is true joy in serving others. It is the purpose. It is why we are here - To love one another.
To help one another. There is joy in that. As I began to realize this all over again, I felt joy for the first time in a very long time.
Whoever is reading this, Jesus can turn things around for you. He can give you beauty for ashes,
He can exchange your pain and turn it into purpose. He can restore your soul. He can make you lie down in green grass, and lead you beside the still waters.
He loves us.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.Proverbs 16:24
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone Colossans 4:6
Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.Proverbs 16:24
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone Colossans 4:6
Taming the Tongue
3 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?
