ENCOURAGE - EQUIP - EMPOWER
IT STARTS HERE.
Let’s pretend for a minute that Jesus was living physically in the 21st century:
The alarm on His phone goes off before the sun comes up, He wakes – although reluctantly – because He stayed up way too long watching sermons on YouTube and reading cool Instagram inspirations. He heads to the gym for a quick work out, showers there, and begins His day of ministry. He picks up His disciples and they grab fast food – uttering a quick prayer of thanks as they wolf down their meal while they drive…
The following is a transcript of the testimony I shared before being baptized at Willowdale on December 5, 2021. While some details of my story have changed (ex. at the time of my baptism I was single, and now I’m engaged), the truths I share about God are — and always will be — unchanging.
“Jesus, please come into my heart.” These are the words I remember praying the day I accepted Christ as my Savior.
I hate small talk. Even though I’m an extrovert, those first-time conversations with people I don’t know well or don’t know at all often feel flat, shallow and, frankly, difficult. I don’t hate meeting new people – I actually really like it, but I hate the getting-to-know-you stage.
Too bad we can’t skip all that stuff, right?
My mom was a rare bird. She had unusual ways of doing things. When I was little, she tried many crazy folk treatments to remedy warts I had on my fingers, before ever consulting a doctor. As a widow, when she couldn’t afford to get her dryer door fixed, she used it as an opportunity to read a book with her feet pushing on the door for the full cycle. When she worked in the business office of an orchard, she fined anyone 25¢ for swearing, including her boss. Curiously, she was never one to give directions or teach us the specifics of how to do something. But through her actions she taught me many beautiful lessons about trusting God.
I was pleasantly surprised to receive a notification that the automatic payment for my health insurance has been correctly debited from my account. After several go-arounds with the “helpless line” and assorted other demonstrations of futility, I just wasn’t sure if we would actually end up with the proper insurance coverage. But lo! we did!
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When life is full of trials, sometimes I just want to crawl into the fetal position with covers over my head. I’ll call my sister or a girlfriend and just vent. But, oh how I have learned God wants every part of us. He wants those cries. He wants to go through all circumstances with us to guide us and show us His hand.
Yesterday, someone asked me what I have going on this fall, and my immediate response was to answer with the responsibilities I have: my job and my children’s schedules and activities. My brain then moved to commitments I have to various groups and then to some other family commitments. It was only after talking myself through all of those that I even thought about some of the things I am doing that I really enjoy outside of my responsibilities. And maybe that’s appropriate, as my responsibilities are the work God has given me to do, but I also know for me, it is often difficult to find mental and physical energy to devote to something after I get through all those responsibilities. Having “a hobby” often feels like a luxury my mind can’t afford.
On the night of the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, our family gathered to watch the parade of nations on boats cruising down the Seine River. When the six Olympians from North Macedonia appeared we cheered because that country is special to us. Our daughter, Lauren, serves there in the city of Skopje in North Macedonia, a small country bordering Greece.
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Jesus. Just five letters, two syllables. His name is so simple yet so powerful. Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you were unable to put words to a prayer, but in your pain could simply whisper the name “Jesus”? Take a moment to reflect on these Jesus prayer moments. Here are a few of mine …
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Today’s blog post is Sarah Flowers’ continuation of her June 19 blog — thoughts that she wants those dear to her to always remember.
… You’re going to meet a lot of new people. Some will have a positive influence on your life and some will have a negative one. The vast majority of people you meet won’t have any influence on you at all, unless you let them. What do I mean by that?
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I have had the privilege of going out on a boat with my family in the Delaware Bay numerous times over the past few years. We have seen the water as smooth as glass and so rough we have to stick to the inner harbor! We have seen completely blue skies and fog so thick we could not see past 20 yards of water. We have seen ferries, sailboats, fishing boats, and carriers. We have seen osprey, pelicans, sea gulls, horseshoe crabs, turtles, and dolphins. We have jumped in and swam to shore. (Okay, my family has; I prefer clear pool water. But I watch.) Each time I am amazed by God’s creation – the diversity in colors, shapes, and abilities.
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This is adapted from something I shared on Instagram a couple of months ago:
If there’s ever been a time I’ve felt less deserving of God’s gifts, it’s now.
I cried three separate times today. Dirty laundry and unanswered texts are piling higher and higher. I’m in a constant state of exhaustion and overwhelm.
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But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” – Luke 10:40-42
I just came home from an extended time away from my everyday obligations…
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I was taught by a pastor at some point that Christians should be the ones having the best parties, the most fun, and freely celebrating the good things in life.
Put another way, I’ve heard people say they take life seriously, but they don’t take themselves too seriously.
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