Don't Look Back, You're not Going that Way.

The other day as I was driving back to school from lunch, there was this car in front of me that wasn't going as fast as I would've liked. Not to mention that I had left my house a little bit later than I should have. For a split second I looked into my rear-view mirror, only to see there was a another car behind me. In that instant, I merely hit the car in front of me. My guardian angels must have been watching over me because right then that car turned.

God used this to speak to me. He also gave me peace in what should have been a blood-pumping moment. He said to me: "Sydney, if you continue to look back to your past--just as you looked into your rear-view mirror-- you will miss what is right in front of you. There's no point in looking back, what's past is past. Greater things are yet to come. Trust me."

Wholly moly. Those words were right on the money. I have been struggling here lately to focus strictly on God and my future. I kept wanting to fix relationships and situations that had already past their time. Key word here: ME, ME, ME. Now, how in the world, am I going to try to change what God has already set in stone? We have to understand... I have to understand... that God puts people and circumstances in our lives for a reason, and removes them just the same. He is in control. God wants us to give Him the "steering wheel" of ours lives, if you will. He wants us to trust in Him with all our being, even when we don't quite understand why certain things have ended up the way they have. We must believe that it is all a part of His master plan.

Isaiah 43:18 says this: "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past."

As difficult as it is, we are commanded to not dwell on what was. Christ wants us to dwell on what is to come. This does not mean we have to forget about the fond memories we have with friends that are no longer as close to us as they once were, or we have to disregard the lessons we have learned from hurtful circumstances. It simply means, that God will pull us through, and there is no reason to constantly think of all the things we could've done differently or all the "what ifs." Just because certain situations haven't turned out the way we wanted them to, doesn't mean they haven't turned out the way GOD wanted them to. Think about that.

Are you willing let God have full-control over your future?
Are you ready to let go of what is past, and live in the present in preparation for your future?
I know I am, and I hope and pray you will join me.

Let Us Pray.

Dear Heavenly Father, 

Thank you for this day, and this wonderful weekend. God I pray that you would help me to let go of what is past, so that I may move on to my future. Help me to focus on you even with all these distractions. Thank you so much for everything, even the hurt I have experienced because everything I have been through has ultimately made me grow stronger. We love you Lord.

In Your Son's Precious Name,

Amen.

The Gift of Grace

 What does is mean to live a life filled with grace?

The dictionary defines grace to be this: "favor or kindness expressed to the undeserving."Another version states: "the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings." That's quite the definition.  In other words, we have the undeserved favor of God, who demonstrated His love for us by sending Jesus to save us, this is His gift. His gift of GRACE. 

Ephesians 2:4 says "But because of his great love for us, God who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead to transgressions(sin)--it is by grace you have been saved." Now, replace the word grace with definition above, or what grace means to you. This verse now reads a little something like this "But because of his great love for us, God who is rich in mercy made us alive with Christ even when we were dead to sin-- it is by the undeserved favor of God, who demonstrated His love for us by sending Jesus to save us, this is His gift to us." 

Grace is such a powerful word. How do we exhibit this same grace in our every day lives? When someone has done us wrong, or has irritated us, we can show grace in our speech; we can choose kind words of forgiveness instead of those tainted with anger. When something doesn't go as planned instead of throwing blame directly at someone, we could give them a knowingly nod of understanding. Grace is giving someone a break when it's the last thing they deserve. DISPENSE grace. When we do this, we find we are at peace with that person or situation. View every circumstance through the lens of grace... think about how much our view would change. When we let the gift of grace that is in us overflow; that same forgiveness, understanding, and love, we experience will show in the way we treat others. We need not to just receive His gift of grace, but release that same gift.

My inspiration for this blog came from a chapter I read from Pricilla Shirer's book "The Resolution for Women." Here's an excerpt from her book that really hit home for me: "I mean, didn't grace utterly transform your life when Jesus gave it to you? If you were too young to know just how much of your life needed repair and repenting, hasn't His grace brought you to worshipful tears more times than you can count in the years since?  Grace overwhelms. Everywhere it appears. Just think what it might accomplish when it comes gushing through your smile, your hug, your kiss, your tender pat on the back, your wink of forgiveness. Even this place, even these people could be completely renovated in something you barely recognize a month from now. Like you were, when Jesus graced your life." 

Have you accepted His wonderful gift of grace? Did you know that His grace and mercy is abounding and He will never cease in giving it to you? Well, now you do. I encourage you, as I myself, try to live a life of grace; where I will attempt give grace as much as I have received it.

Let Us Pray.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your everlasting love. Thank you for always forgiving our mistakes and standing with open arms. I pray that you would help us to give that same grace to others, so that they may see a glimpse of your love. Help us to live a life so filled with grace, that no matter the circumstance we have this peace and hope that will never fade away. Thank you for your gift of grace.

In Your Precious Name We Pray,

Amen.

Come to the Father, You who Thirst, and you'll Thirst No More.

The other night I did a devotional over John 4:1-13 which is known as the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman. I have heard this story a countless number of times, however, this time it spoke to me a little differently.

If you don't already know the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman, I encourage to crack open your Bible and read it. It's a short passage, but a very powerful one. Here's a quick review/ overview on what these verses are talking about. The Samaritan woman is just going about her day as usual, and as usual, she goes to the well to draw water. She wasn't expecting to meet the Son of God on this very ordinary day. What you have to understand is that Jews and Samaritans did not socialize with each other let alone a Samaritan woman and Jewish man. So, when Jesus asks her in verse 7, if she would give him a drink, you could imagine how much that caught her off guard. What she didn't know, is while  Jesus was asking her for a drink, he was really going to offer her the living water. In Verse 13 Jesus says this: "Every one who drinks the water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." If you haven't already figured it out, the "living water" He is speaking about eternal life. 

One of the follow up questions asked me this: "Forget superficial, temporary things for just a moment. What do you really need from Jesus right now?" I had to think long and hard about this question because it, along with the passage,hit me hard. Now, if they had been separate, I'm not sure if it would have affected me in the same way. Just like the Samaritan woman in the story, Jesus caught me off guard. He asked a simplistic question. Although the question was seemingly simple, the answer to that question lied deep within my heart. Much like the Samaritan woman, who realized she needed the living water that would giver her eternal life.

 I know you are probably are on the edge of your seat, just wondering what my reply was. To keep you from any further agony, I will tell you. These are my exact words, and it is straight from my heart. What I said was this: " What I need from Jesus right now, is to believe with my whole heart, that his love, mercy and grace is MORE than enough for me. More than any longing of my heart; I need Him to be my greatest affection; my greatest love. Because He loves me more than anything. I need to invest my time, love, and heart in Jesus, before any other thing this world. I need to put my full trust in His plan for my life." I  realized that I should pursue Jesus, more than anything. He pursues and romances my heart day after day, after day. So why do I and should I, let life get in the way? 

His perfect love can heal your deepest hurt and take away all your shame. His love is always near, and will always satisfy.

What do YOU need from Jesus right now? Have you experienced the living water? Because once you taste that living water (eternal life) you will thirst no more. Or maybe, you're like myself. You have already accepted Jesus into your heart, but you haven't thought in  awhile, really hard about what you NEED from Jesus. Jesus WANTS us to need Him.  I encourage you to think about that. It truly opened my eyes.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for this life. Thank you for another day. I pray that we would never forget how much we need you. I pray that you would be ever present in our lives, and that we will never stop hungering and thirsting for your love. Help us to pursue you before anything or anyone in this life. Because you are constantly pursuing our hearts, even when we are unaware. Thank you for the promise of eternal life, so that one day we will live with you, for all eternity.

In Your Son's Precious Name We Pray,

Amen.

Here's a song by 10th Avenue North that fits this message perfectly, listen to it when you get the chance: