Praying For Perseverance

By Jason (Connecting to Impact)

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." (Hebrews 12:1)

We live a society that has become transfixed on happiness at all costs. Everything seems readily accessible and easily replaced. The value on people has receded just as the value on things has.

Relationships with family, friends, spouses, and others are all judged and weighed through the lens of what we gain from the arrangement. Church becomes yet another place to be a consumer instead of a contributor. And even if they do want to contribute, they may not find something that immediately interests them and walk away.

Our kids have to have perseverance. It’s not just because that’s a nice value to promote, the Bible tells us a lot about enduring and overcoming. As Hebrews 12 goes on to say, the hardships we endure can be counted as discipline. Discipline doesn’t make us happy, but we need it to be all that He has called and made us to be.

As I said in the post about our kids and work, if these are important values, we certainly have to model them, but we also need to pray them consistently for our children.

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." (Romans 12:12)

Click to read more ...

Down The Slide!

By Chuck (Sharing Compassion)

Last week the nation was transfixed by the JetBlue steward who had enough of his job and made a dramatic exit from the plane and his career. In his side of the story he got fed up with a passenger and once the plane landed he opened the emergency exit, deployed the slide and slid down into infamy. Regardless of whether his side of the story is true or not people rallied around him and cheered his actions. He became a cult hero for his actions. To many he represented the person we would like to be. The person who finally has had enough and then in a dramatic fashion tells the world and makes a difference.

I know that their are many times in my life that I would just love to do the same. Working in a customer service environment I can understand the frustration that he encountered. I can easily say that the majority of calls that I handle are by customers who are angry and want to lash out. It certainly does not matter to them if I am at fault...I represent the company therefore it is me that bears the brunt of their anger. I must admit it can be tiring at times. However I would never dream of just telling a customer off and walking out. That is too far off the spectrum for me.

Click to read more ...

Are You Wondering?

By Pat

I recently went through a very difficult, emotionally trying time, and although it's over now and the outcome mostly favorable, spiritual questions remain for me. We all know, as Christians, that we are to trust in God and give Him our cares. We all know that God has our best interest at heart. But we also know that sometimes things don't go the way we want them to, and that even God's faithful followers don't always get their way. Well, what then? During the five months of the difficult period I went through, I prayed fervently.

Desperately. I prayed for God to make sure that the outcome was as I requested it to be, for I knew that was what was needed, and I knew that God knew that, too. But after a time, I began to also pray for God to enable me to accept whatever happened; not only accept it, but continue to trust God and not allow anger, pain, bitterness and resentment to affect my faith. And quite honestly, I wasn't sure what I would do, how I would go on if wrong decisions were made. What would I do? A horrible way to feel.

Click to read more ...

Are Your Roots Planted?

By Pat

In the back portion on my mother's yard was a huge weeping willow tree. For many years, it stood beautifully, but eventually it became diseased and unhealthy. Parts of it began to die, and it became weakened. Finally, a few months ago, a storm with very gusty winds toppled the tree. It lay there for a couple of months until my mother found someone who wanted the wood and agreed to cut up and haul away the tree. But in that period of time between the falling and the hauling, we watched in amazement as portions of that seemingly dead tree sprouted new growth. Although the root ball was out of the ground, evidently the tiny amount of root still in the ground helped to bring life to parts of the tree. It reminded me so much of us humans

We sometimes are toppled, blown over by the strong winds of life, and we feel at times as if God has deserted us. We appear to ourselves and others spiritually dead. But we're not! As long as our roots are planted firmly and deeply in Jesus, we never have to fear the storms of life. Jesus will continue to be at work in us, and will allow our weaknesses to build new strength, new growth. We need only to cling to our Lord. After all, if He can raise the dead to life, He can certainly see us through our storms and make us stronger than ever!

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

Pat is a good friend who is passionate about her faith and her family. She works from home supporting a family business, and loves to read, write and garden when she can, and spends every spare moment with her grandkids.

Weeding The Flower Beds

By Pat

A few weeks ago, I decided to give my flower beds a much needed and long overdue weeding. I dread it. I hate it. But... I have to do it, so after much procrastinating, I began the task.

As I began working, I said a prayer, and asked the Lord to just let me feel His presence, hear a word from Him. I didn't ask for anything in particular, but just to have a sense of the Holy Spirit as I worked in the flower bed.

The first thing I started with are the weeds I hate the most. I have no idea what kind they are, though I'm sure they have a name, but if you're a gardener you'll know what I mean... they are prickly and they get very big and will, in fact, take over the flower bed if they're not kept up with. You can't pull them out. They have to be dug, for the stickers on the leaves hurt like the dickens.

Click to read more ...