Complete The Mission

“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24 NIV).

As men, we love projects. We love to build something and to be a part of something greater than ourselves. Most men enjoy working with their hands and tend not be comfortable speaking to a group of strangers, especially about their faith. We have many large tasks that we want to accomplish in life – pay off the mortgage, raise our children to love God and their neighbor, get promoted at work to get the coveted corner office, etc.

The term “bucket list” has recently come into vogue with many men. Most bucket lists include things such as visit a foreign country, take a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, go fishing in Alaska, learn how to fly, etc. These are all fine things to do but they are not the mission that you have been given by God. You can and should still do these things, but keep in mind that God wants you “testify to the good news of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24).

The Great Commission is our mission and is found in Matthew 28:19. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” God put each of us on Earth for a purpose. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). He has a mission that only you can fulfill. That mission is to tell other people the Good News of God’s grace. Somebody told you about Him. Who will you tell? The way we show our gratitude for the grace of God is by making our own lives count; living a life of extravagant generosity with our time, talents, and money; and by telling as many people as we can about the Good News.

Now consider the words of St. Paul to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:7. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” The mission is clear to finish the race and finish strong! God has anointed and equipped you to be His hands and feet. Please remember that the greatest testimony is lived and not spoken. As St. Francis of Asi Asi said, “Preach the Gospel wherever you go

and use words when necessary.” Go with the confidence that God has prepared good works for you and Jesus is walking with you. Go from this day forward that “you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9).

Prayer: Dear Holy Father, we long to complete our mission. With Your help we will fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith. Help us to live a life of meaning and be a role model for our families and the young men in our church. Help us to find a Timothy to continue our ministry and to expand it in ways that we can only imagine. Amen.

Meet the Author

Todd Shupe is a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men and is in training to be a Certified Lay Minister through the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. He currently serves as the President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and is a Board Member for Gulf South Men and serves on the Action Team for The Kingdom Group. He is a volunteer for the Walk to Emmaus, Grace Camp, and Iron Sharpens Iron. Todd resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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Return to the Father

“If you return to me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve me” (Jeremiah 15:19 NLT).

All of us that follow Jesus have many things in common. One of which is that we are all sinners. As we become a believer in Christ, we are born again into God’s family. Once you are born again you cannot be unborn. Our relationship with God can, and will be, damaged by sin. However, read this closely – no matter the sin- the relationship is still there. The Parable of the Prodigal Son (also known as the Two Brothers, Lost Son, Loving Father, or Lovesick Father) appears in Luke 15:11–32. The love of our Father is unconditional, as is His grace. We as humans tend to deem some sin to be acceptable and some not. For example, sloth is a deadly sin, but we tend to look at it as far more acceptable than murder. God considers all sin equal. So, if we feel that our sin is too great to receive forgiveness and we cannot return to Christ, we are underestimating the power in His blood. Christ did not come for the righteous but rather for the sinners. So, that means He came for me and for you.

So, what can we do to regain our relationship with the Father? One word: Return! Come back to Christ. It’s that simple. Isaiah 1:18 says, “No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can take it out and make you as clean as freshly fallen snow.” As we earnestly repent our sins, they are forgiven. The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 103:12, “as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

If ever there were a sin you’d think was unforgivable, it would be the same as denying Jesus three times on the night He was betrayed. Jesus knew Peter would deny Him, and He even knew Peter would come back to Him. In fact, before it even happened, Jesus said to Peter in the Upper Room, “I have pleaded in prayer for you that your faith should not completely fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen and build up the faith of your brothers” (Luke 22:32).

Our Lord knew that Peter’s ministry would be more effective after his denial than it was before. Peter wrote two of the books of the Bible known as 1 and 2 Peter. Then he shared his memoirs with a relative, and that’s the gospel of Mark. Peter, who denied Jesus three times on that fateful night, was the rock of which Jesus built His church and was later recognized as the first Pope of the Roman Catholic Church.

Sometimes we think that God has forgotten us, but He has not. The Good Shepherd leaves the 99 sheep to go after the one. He knows how you’ve fallen away. It can happen through one big step or a series of small steps that have distanced you from Him. Regardless, we need to pray what David prayed when he came back to God after committing adultery. He said, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation” (Psalm 51:12). David did not have to pray, “God, restore to me my salvation,” because he hadn’t lost his salvation. He had lost his joy.

Prayer: Dear God, We are humbled by your unconditional love for us. Our sins separate us from you and as such we can do nothing. Restore in us a clean heart, accept our earnest plea for forgiveness of our sins, and provide us a peace that surpasses all understanding. Amen.

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Proper Casting is Essential for a Bountiful Harvest

“casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

All fishermen know that proper casting is essential to catching fish. For some fish such as bass, we cast and then slowly reel the hook back in to attract a strike. However, the opposite is true for some other fish. For example, when I fish for catfish, I cast and wait. 1Peter 5:7 is a favorite scripture of mine because it tells us that we can cast all of our anxieties on Him. The Psalmist gives similar instructions in Pslam 55:22. “Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.”

Each day I cast my anxiety on our Lord. However, each day I also take it back. The key to fishing with God is patience. Fishing for catfish requires sitting patiently and waiting. “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord (Psalm 27:14). Our time and God’s time are as far as the East is from the West. 2 Peter 3:8 tells us “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.”

Some would say that an inability to cast and leave your anxiety on God is an indication of a lack of faith. Perhaps this is true but I don’t think so. I have faith but I think many of us struggle with the “human condition.” Faith is critical for a disciple, and I think it is a natural consequence of our human condition to cry out to God in times of despair. I would never underestimate the need for faith or the value of all the fruits of the spirit. However, I think love is of upmost importance to the disciple. “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing” (1 Cor. 13:2).

Our God is waiting patiently for us to come to surrender to Him and give Him our anxiety. Then, and only then, we can live without worry. “Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you” (Isaiah 35:4).

Fishing was a common trade in the time of Jesus. It is well known that some of His diciples were fishermen and even returned to fishing after His crucifixion. I love the story in John 21 when the disciples were not catching fish and a Jesus tells the disciples to “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” The disciples did not know at the time to whom they were speaking. His advice is still applicable today. We may not be physically fishing with nets or poles but all of us are fishing for peace. The key is to cast it on Him and leave it. Jesus will tell you where and how to cast it, just be patient and wait for His voice and don’t be surprised if you don’t immediately recognize the source of the voice. Cast your anxiety on Him and the harvest of peace will surpass that of all understanding.

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A Prayerful Life

¹⁶“Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray continually, ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

The Bible has much Scripture that encourages us to seek God through prayer. The Gospels and the Epistles are particularly filled with Holy Scripture that encourages us to seek God’s face through prayer. Our direct line of communication to God is prayer. It is a deeply personal process by which we bring Him our prayers of thanksgiving and supplication. We go into our inner room and pray to our loving Father with full confidence that He hears us and will act on our behalf in the perfect manner and time.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 calls us to “pray continually” and other translations will indicate “without ceasing.” I don’t think we are expected to spend all of our life on our knees in prayer. I do feel

that we can and should lead a prayerful life. This includes having a prayerful attitude. Look at the context of “pray continually” in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. The Scripture begins with “Rejoice always” and then tells us how by “pray continually.” It concludes by giving the reason: “for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

A prayerful life has two fundamental components. First, we are constantly aware of the many blessings that we have because of Him. Second, we are able to be grateful in any circumstance. We are not grateful for all circumstances because some circumstances are evil and not from God. However, just as Paul was able to find joy while shipwrecked or in prison, we can find joy in our adversity because we wait with child-like anticipation of how He will use it for good.

A prayerful attitude is developed by acknowledging our dependence on God (Proverbs 3:5-6), realizing He is always with us (Isaiah 41:10), and choosing to trust and obey (Psalm 9:10). Prayer then becomes a continual process of offloading our fears and worries and uploading His love and grace. In a prayerful life, we put God first not out of obligation or fear but out of faith and love. Matthew 6:33 instructs us to, “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness.” If we do put God first, then He will surely give us His provision and protection as the good Father.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, We thank you for the gift of prayer and the comfort of knowing that you hear all of our prayers. We thank you for the comfort of knowing that you desire greater things for us than we can ever imagine. Help us to develop a deeper sense of appreciation for our blessings. Keep us mindful that we can find joy in all circumstances because we know that any adversity we face on earth is temporary and will be used by you for our good. Help us to always prayerfully proceed in life and seek your kingdom first in all that we do. Amen.

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Acceptance is not Approval

“Accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory” (Romans 15:7 NLT).

The blood of Jesus provides us the opportunity for forgiveness of our sins. Our sins will be cast as far as the east is from the west once we earnestly repent and ask His forgiveness. However, our society has slowly tried to redefine what is and is not a sin. In the political world, these are known as wedge issues that force people to one side or the other. By design, there is no common ground. Similarly, the enemy seeks to find issues to divide us because he knows we are weaker when divided.

Some people living a non-repented sinful life want the Body of Christ to categorize their sin as acceptable. The exact type of sin is not necessarily as important as its reclassification. The goal is to allow the sin to become acceptable and label those that do not approve as intolerant.

I have a friend living in a sinful manner with no desire to change. I do not feel it is my place to judge him. However, I do feel it is my place to love him. I know that by showing him love, I am giving glory to God. I know that God is love and great glory comes from revealing God to others without judgment. I have my own sins so I am in no place to judge anybody else, but I can and do offer intercessory prayers for my friend. I hope he prays for me too!

You can show love to others just by accepting them. Just because you don’t like what people do doesn’t mean you can’t accept them. I think that non-repented sinner need our love and acceptance the most. Jesus said in Luke 5:32, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Most of us are familiar with the story of Jesus encountering a woman accused of adultery in John 8. The men left after Jesus told them that whoever is without sin should cast the first stone. I feel that Jesus was indicating that if you are without sin, then by definition you must be God, and as such you are free to render judgment. His last words to her were, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more (John 8:11).” Our Lord had every right to offer judgment, instead offered mercy and grace. It is critical that we all recognize that He did not condone the sin and instructed her to “sin no more.”

Jesus was modeling for us the difference between acceptance and approval. We can accept people without approving of everything they do. We are called to accept everybody; we are not called to approve of everything everybody does. God loves us, but it doesn’t mean He approves of everything we do. Love is not saying I approve of everything you do. Love is saying I accept you in spite of what you do.

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for the unconditional love you bestow upon your children. Help us to show that love to everyone we meet. You are our sovereign God, and we trust in you and you alone.

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Are You Living To Do or Living To Serve?

“…choose this day whom you will serve…” (Joshua 24:15 ESV).

I like to make “to do” lists. I don’t trust myself to remember the various big and little chores I need to do at home or at work so I always have a list for both. The list is great for helping me keep track of projects and staying on top of things. I feel a sense of accomplishment when I can cross something off of the list. A close friend recently asked me about my attention to my list. I appreciate his candor and honesty, and it has really gotten me to think about things.

In short, his point was do you control the lists or they control you? They can certainly be a useful tool, but they also have the potential to control you and dominate your thoughts and time. I began to wonder if my lists were a false idol. I have used the lists to organize my time and how you spend your time is how you identify your priorities. Household chores and work tasks are critical and should not be taken lightly but nobody on their death bed ever claimed that they wished they had done a better job of mowing their grass.

A workaholic is not honoring God. If you make your work at home or at work your master, you have in essence place another god before Him. My friend and I both had our houses flooded in 2016. I admire his ability to go on a vacation during the recovery and rest and renew his physical, mental, and spiritual strength. I have tended to take on a pit bull attitude with big projects – bite down and stay with it until the end. I also don’t think approach is consistent with Holy scripture.

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work but the seventh ay is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy” (Exodus 8-11).

Living according to lists is living a life “to do.” However, we are not called to do but rather “to serve.” Perhaps instead of numbering my chores I should consider the prayer of Moses in Psalm 90:12. “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Living a life to serve takes away the inward focus and replaces it with an outward focus to be the Body of Christ.

We can number our days by asking God each day “What can I do this day to advance Your kingdom? How can I make my life a living sacrifice? Numbering your days does not require moving mountains. But when you realize that your days are numbered and time is precious, you begin to want to use your time wisely. Using your time wisely is certainly the fruit of a heart yearning for God’s wisdom.

Prayer: Dear God, Help us to choose each day how we can best honor you in our actions and thoughts. May others see Christ when they see us, and may we see Christ when we see others. Amen.

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Who Do You Trust?

“‘My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the Lord. ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts’” (Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT).

Many years ago, I was an undergraduate student. I took a few Philosophy courses to fulfill the degree requirements in liberal arts. I loved the classes because they forced me to attempt a deeper level of understanding. One class was on Logic and Reasoning and we (students) were given an assignment to use logic and reasoning to write an essay that supported our belief or non-belief in God. I thoroughly enjoyed the teaching assistant that taught the class. She was very knowledgeable, laid back, and approachable. We had some great conversations, and I learned a lot. She was an atheist and we had great talks to challenge each other in a kind but profound manner, which I enjoyed. I used the above Holy Scripture as the basis of my position as a Christian. I recall I got an A on the paper and the class, which likely influences my fond memories of the class.

This Scripture is critical to my Christian faith. How can we as mere humans pretend to understand the ways of God? It is as silly as expecting a single cell organism to understand macroeconomics. If we were to fully understand the ways of God, then there would be no need for faith. Christ wants us to walk with Him by faith and not by sight. Do you recall His words to Thomas after He appeared following His death? “Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). Jesus wants to bless those that are following Him based on faith.

Some may lose trust because they feel that God has failed to hold up His end of the deal and allowed tragedy to enter our life. It is not God’s job to make every moment of your life easy. If He did, we would never mature but would be spoiled and self-centered. That is clearly not what God wants for us. We live in an age of instant gratification. So, when we are in pain and pray and don’t immediately see the results that we want, we may be tempted to lose trust. However, His grace is sufficient for us, and His power is made perfect in our weakness.

God is more interested in drawing us closer than in making us comfortable. We will be comfortable for all of eternity in heaven. I know He wants good for our lives even more than we do. Psalm 118:8 tells us, “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” So, I trust Him more than I trust any person, especially myself.

Prayer: Dear God, We often do not understand your ways. We lack your vision and perspective. Forgive us when we cry out for you during times of tragedy but yet fail to thank you for the many blessings that you have given us. Help us to realize that any tragedy that comes to us is not from you but will be used by you to bring about good for us. Give us the courage to walk with you in faith regardless of the clarity of our sight. You are the Good Father and we trust in your provision, protection, love, and grace. Amen.

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Trusting In The Valley and the Mountaintop

“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” (Psalm 23:4 KJV).

Jesus warned us that we’d have problems in life. No one is immune from pain or insulated from suffering, and no one gets to skate through life problem-free. You may have heard the old saying “nobody is an atheist in a fox hole.” Many of us turn to God during the difficult times in our lives but then go back to living in the flesh during periods of good times. This is a recurring theme for the Jewish people in the Old Testament and is epitomized by the story of the golden calf in Exodus 32.

The apostle Peter assures us that problems are normal, saying, “Don’t be bewildered or surprised when you go through the fiery trials ahead, for this is no strange, unusual thing that is going to happen to you” (1 Peter 4:12). God uses these problems to draw you closer to Him. The Bible says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). It is during suffering that we learn to pray our most authentic, heart-felt, honest-to-God prayers. We gain character and hope through our suffering and a closer walk with God. God could have easily kept Joseph out of jail, kept Daniel out of the lion’s den, kept Jeremiah from being tossed into a slimy pit, kept Paul from being jailed, beaten, and shipwrecked three times, and kept the three Hebrew young men from being thrown into the blazing furnace, but he didn’t. He let those problems happen, and each of those people was drawn closer to God as a result.

We trust God with our problems but do we always trust him with everything, including our blessings. Perhaps we should stop and ask ourselves – where do our blessings come from? James 1:17 tells us “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

According to the Genesis 22, God commands Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice. After Isaac is bound to an altar, a messenger from God stops Abraham at the last minute, saying “now I know you fear God.” God is seeking our trust and faith in good times and bad. In other words, He wants us to trust Him with our blessings as well as our problems.

Hebrews 11 details the accomplishments of people of great faith: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and others. I find it noteworthy that Hebrews 11:31 details the faith of a prostitute. “By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.”

I like the King James Version of Malachi 2:2. This is important scripture that deals with the consequences of not trusting God. “If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.” Now, contrast this to the blessed life that awaits us if we do trust Him and trust Him completely.

You’ll never know that God is all you need until God is all you’ve got.

Prayer: Dear God, Help us to realize that You are always with us, always love us, and will never forsake us. Amen.

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Put On The ‘Full Armor Of God’ To Maintain Hope

Put On The ‘Full Armor Of God’ For Hope

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:11 NIV).

We all experience times in our lives in which we feel hopeless. For some, these periods linger into years and years. Given these circumstances, I would like to equip readers with some thoughts on how to maintain hope when all hope appears to be gone. In this article, you’ll find some thoughts on the importance of hope in your life. For your consideration, Job was a strong disciple of God, but had all of his possessions taken. He expressed hopelessness in Job 17:15 saying, “Where then is my hope — who can see any hope for me?”

I have heard it said before that the most dangerous man is one without hope. He feels he has nothing to lose and no future. I have seen the look in someone’s face when there is no hope. I have seen this in hospitals, prisons, nursing homes, hospice facilities and even in church.

One of the greatest goals of the enemy is to convince you that you have no hope and that God has forgotten you and you have no future. I recently heard on a Christian radio station, “If you do not believe in the promises of God, then by default you are believing in the lies of the enemy.” Carefully read the following premise: You must know that you are a beloved child of God that is very precious in his sight. He desires you to seek Him and for you to be happy. He will walk with you always and never leave you. All of your sins have been paid by the blood of Jesus.

The enemy appeared in the Garden of Eden with the same goal as today – divide, destroy, and deceive. The relentlessness enemy wants to rob you of your hope and joy.

Ephesians 6 goes on to explain how to fight the enemy.

The Belt (of Truth): “Stand firm in the belt of truth buckled around your waist,” Ephesians 6:14. The belt of truth involves our hearts and our minds. Truth keeps us close to Christ and is essential in the Christian walk. The belt of truth holds our amour in place. Commit yourself daily to be in the Word. “Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth!” Psalm 86:11.

The Breastplate (of Righteousness): “With the breastplate of righteousness in place,” Ephesians 6:14, a soldier with a breastplate goes into battle boldly with confidence. The enemy is constantly attacking with lies to steal our hope. Without the breastplate of righteousness, these will penetrate your heart. Become aware of who you are in Christ Jesus. Come boldly into His presence, (Hebrews 4:16).

The Shield (of Faith): “Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one,” Ephesians 6:16. The shield not only defends our whole body, but also our armor. The shield of faith has a very specific function: To stop all the fiery darts of the wicked.

The Helmet (of Salvation): “Take the helmet of salvation,” Ephesians 6:17. Satan’s target: Your mind. Satan’s weapon: Lies. The enemy wants to make us doubt God and our salvation. The helmet protects our minds from doubting the truth of God’s saving work for us. Our mind is the battle ground. “Since we belong to the day, we must be serious and put the armor of faith and love on our chests, and put on a Helmet of the Hope of Salvation,” 1 Thessalonians 5:8.

The Sword (of The Spirit): Put on “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” Ephesians 6:17. The sword of the Spirit is the only weapon of offense in the armor, but the Word is also a tool for defense. Lies and deception are all weapons the enemy uses against us. With the Sword of the Spirit, God’s word, the people are equipped to deal with them all. We need to trust in the truth of the Word.

It is so important that you begin each day with hope. Romans 5:3-4 tells us, “we know that suffering produces perseverance; and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” So if you feel that there is no hope in your situation, be patient and realize that you will develop perseverance, then character, and finally hope. It is a promise from God. Be blessed!

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for Your provision and protection. Deliver us from all that is evil. Amen.

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Defeating Fear

“There is no fear in love; perfect love drives out all fear. So then, love has not been made perfect in anyone who is afraid, because fear has to do with punishment.” (1 John 4:18 GNT)

I have two dear friends that have no worries. They are not financially rich, but they are rich in the Spirit. I admire their love of God. They have absolute confidence in Him and His provision for them and their families. I love God but, I also have worries. I have a son with autism that will likely never speak complete sentences or have a job to support himself. I worry about his future when I am gone. I do not want to put a large burden on his sister, and I am very hesitant for him to be in a group home where he may be abused.

I have to remind myself of the endless love that God has for all of His children. My son will truly always be a child at heart and mind and as such I know he will one day enter heaven. Matthew 18:3 tells us “And He said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

My son has an inner innocence and kindness to him. He has no fear. He only gives and receives love. His vocabulary is limited so he has never professed Jesus as his Lord and savior, but I know that Jesus wants the children to come to him – children of all ages.

We can all take our fears and cast them on God. Once we focus on thoughts on God and His love for us, we become confident of our present and future. I realize how much God loves me and my son and in turn it is my joyful response to share His love with others. There are many opportunities and ways in which we can share God’s love. For some, it may be to join the choir. For others, it may be to help maintain and beautify the grounds of the local church. For me, it is to write and speak about my challenges and how I have yoked myself to Him to share my burden. I was comforted during my divorce by older men that had already gone through a divorce. I was comforted during the flood of my house by a close friend that quoted Isaiah 43:19 to me. I will always believe that God was speaking to me but was using my friend’s tongue.

God is love and wants good for all of us. His light will always conquer the darkness in our hearts and minds, if we let Him in. Faith and trust are essential to opening our hearts. If He loved us so much to send His son to die for our sins, He certainly loves us enough for us to leave our burdens with Him and then walk away with confidence that we are in His hand and there is no better place to be. Consider the words Jesus left with his disciples immediately following the Last Supper. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27). We are His disciples. Let our hearts not be troubled and let us not be afraid.

Prayer: Dear God we live in a fallen world and we have so many worries about ourselves and our loved ones. Help us to give these worries over to you and to not take them back. We know that You have plans to prosper us and not to harm us. We know that You have plans to give us hope and a future. We thank you for your tremendous love which we cannot even begin to fully comprehend. Please help us cast out the fear in our lives and replace it with the confidence that can only come from your love.

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Complete The Mission

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Return to the Father

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Proper Casting is Essential for a Bountiful Harvest

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A Prayerful Life

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Acceptance is not Approval

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Are You Living To Do or Living To Serve?

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Who Do You Trust?

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Trusting In The Valley and the Mountaintop

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Put On The ‘Full Armor Of God’ For Hope

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Defeating Fear

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