God’s Family

If you were as fortunate as we were to spend yesterday with family, I hope you laughed as much as we did. However if you spent the day alone or in a less than loving environment, I pray the Lord was your comfort and that you were still able to see much to be thankful for. The future is brighter than today. This present challenge will be understood and even appreciated as you look back one day.

Happily Ever After

Is not the end, it’s the beginning of a new chapter. Sometimes it includes the passing of a particular difficulty or season but the next period will have its own challenges. Even heaven is a place of growth. There will always be more of God to know and understand. Getting this can help us better cope with today’s dragons. Let the slaying begin.

Embracing the Struggle

I used this term yesterday and have since heard some great things on the concept. Our culture tends to encourage that which comes easy. We elevate the “naturally talented” and bring the student that gets it easily, to the front of the class. Other cultures elevate those that overcome, encouraging the battle we must wage in order to accomplish that which doesn’t come naturally. What might God have for you to overcome?

God is at Work

You can count on it. Whatever the circumstance, whatever the difficulty, He can and wants to, make something fantastic from it. A life of ease is hardly worth living though that’s too often what we seek. A life without challenge gets old fast. The key is embracing the struggle, challenging ourselves and looking for God in the middle of it all.

A Challenge

Here’s a chance to do something with God; Pick a scripture to memorize or recommit one you already know and pray. Watch God bring someone your way that needs that very scripture. It will be exactly what they needed to hear from Him for just their situation. They’ll be touched by The Lord through you and think you know the Bible by heart.

Difficulties or…

Opportunities? A dear friend of mine calls every challenge that comes his way an opportunity. He sees them as a chance to learn something, to grow, to address a problem or change something that needs to be changed. I love his attitude.

The Bible says to count it all joy when we come upon trials in our lives. If we look at things the way my friend does it makes this possible. Ultimately what every challenge provides us is an opportunity to trust God. If we worry, get anxious or try to force things apart from Him, that’s not trusting. If we can face our setbacks knowing that God wants the very best for us, and if we seek Him for what can be gained, that’s the “peace that passes all understanding”.