April 26, 2020
Today is Sunday, one of my most favorite days of the week. Sundays allow me to have a fresh mindset knowing that I am in the beginning of a new week. I try and set goals on for achieve throughout the week. For example last week my goal was to begin a bible study plan that I was 100% percent devoted to. In hopes that it would become a habit and it has.
I pray that everyone is staying safe, healthy, and enjoying this time of unknown. As hard as it has been trying to "self quarantine from my friends", social distancing has come with many positives as well. I have loved being able to have more family meals at home, going for walks and bike rides together, and just being able to spend more time with my family. Along with the family time, I have come to realize how important certain things are for me. Things such as horseback riding and church. Sometimes, it is not until these things of which you enjoy are taken away that you come too the realization of how important those things are to you.
This week, I really wanted to focus on something that I personally have struggled with. I feel that sometimes we as Christians get so caught up in "trying to please God" or "gaining our way into Heaven" that we forget the real reason we do things for Christ. As a Christian who has accepted Christ as their Savior, once you have been "reborn as His" you should come out with the drive and desire to do good works for the Kingdom of God. I personally find myself trying to please and achieve God's acceptance, but the truth is, He has already accepted us as His own. We now just need to follow our hearts and listen to what God wants for us. 1 John 2 : 17 " The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever."
I love you all so much and will continue to pray for you. Stay strong and allow God to lead you.
April 18, 2020
Hey everyone! I hope your week has gone well and you were able to find some extra time to spend in the Word. I know personally I feel that this week has really encouraged me, and I feel that I have fallen back on track with my relationship with Christ. This week, I really want to talk about something that I really had to lean on when I was in the midst of my hardest trial. Because of Gods love and care for us, we are able to experience things that many in this world could not even imagine. If you know Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, you know the gratitude and thankfulness of His forgiveness. He is the almighty. Nobody, no disease, no disorder, no cancer, no relationship issues, nothing can stop Him. He is ultimately in control of everything that will ever happen in anyones life. He can overcome anything. John 1:5 states, "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." Romans 8:37 says, " No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." 1 John 4:4 says, " You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." All of these verses help me to see that we are all OVERCOMERS. Keep trying. Keep pushing. Don't let anything, anyone stop you from your end goal. If it is in the Lords plan, He will get you there. Trust in him and let him lead your steps. I am contiually praying for all of you and please know if you ever need anything, my email is always open. Love you!!!
PRAYERS
- Frontline workers
- Stronghouse
- Those currently struggling with mental illness
- People who have lost their only source of income
April 14, 2020
We are officially 4 weeks into quarantine as of yesterday. Just think, you are doing great. After all, you have made it this far and I know you can continue. The better job we do of self isolation, the sooner this will all be over. Anyways, I pray that each of you had a blessed Easter and enjoyed celebrating while at home. I know for my family, even though it was a little different than usual we still felt just as grateful and thankful for our Lord. Which brings me to this weeks topic. I really want to focus on the fact that we should not only celebrate Christ's death and resurrection on Easter. However we should celebrate and give praises to Him as if every day was Easter. It is so hard to believe that Jesus paid our debt. He took all of the torment and torture that we as sinners deserve and laid it upon himself. Therefore, every day should be Easter.
I do not know about you, but since the virus has been going around I have really struggled with growing and strengthening my relationship with God. So, I challenge you just as I am doing to read one Psalm every day. I wake up, read my chapter of Psalms in my Bible, then I go to my study bible and read the explanation of that chapter, and last I draw a picture of whatever comes to thought when I read the chapter. Here is an example, for Psalm one I drew a tree bearing fruit to remind me that in all I do I need to be producing and giving fruit for the Lord. I hope that this weeks update really brings joy to you and ultimately leads you closer to finding your identity in Christ. I love you all!!!!
Prayers:
- STRONG HOUSE
- Those affected by the major storms
- Those who have lost their jobs
- People to start leaning on Christ through this trial
April 5, 2020
Can you believe we are already in April? I feel like this past year has flown by. I pray that you were all able to focus your minds on the positive rather than the negative. I really hope that by doing this, you were able to enjoy and praise God a little more. Sometimes we get so caught up in the "not do great things" in life that we forget everything the Lord has done just to make today possible. Which leads us into this weeks mini lesson, Easter is just one week away and it is hard to even imagine because of all of the quarantining taking place done. However we as Christians are called to praise God in the midst of it all. Just as the song by Casting Crowns says, "And I'll praise you in this storm and I will lift my hands for you are who you are no matter where I am." These last few weeks I have really been trying to find all of the blessings I am surround by. It wasn't until this past week that I was really able to put into perspective how much God does for you and me. He sent his One, His Only, His Beloved, His Almighty, His Perfect, His Sinless son, Jesus to be tormented and tortured on the cross for us and our sins. We are all sinners. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" Romans 3 : 23 - 24. We should have been the ones on that rugged cross, but because of His unfailing love for you and me, He Jesus Christ took our place. So, just because we are not able to gather together does not mean we cannot worship and give God all the praise. I challenge you this week to read the Easter Story. Then on Sunday the 12th, tune into a church service. If you do not have a church service to listen to, come to mine at www.roopvilleroad.org. I love you all so much and pray for you daily. See you next week.
My Prayer Request:
- The Strong House Foundation
- B3 Boxes
- Everyone being faced with COVID-19
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