Beautiful Presence!

Flourish

Life can be difficult when we face struggles and obstacles, especially when we believe that we are all on our own. We work and scheme to look out for “number one.” However, number one will only be able to get us so far because number one is finite and flawed. There are just too many variables and possibilities to control everything in life. Not only is trying to control everything impossible, it will eventually make a person miserable in the process.

Jesus Christ paid the price so we can be in relationship with our Heavenly Father. By simply receiving Jesus into our hearts we can be united to Him and restored into our rightful place as a child of God. In this relationship we can know that we are not alone. We can let go of all of our fears, worries and anxieties that come with looking out for self…

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Captivated By His Love

mandylynncarpenter

Being real with God and others isn’t easy. In fact, it’s hard.

We long to appear “good” to others and if not careful we come before God with a heart of pride.

I use to read about the Pharisees and think how could they miss it, how could they act that way?

Yet, the closer I get to the Lord, the more I see my own pharisetical tendencies emerge.

I have always been a good church girl.

It’s what has always been expected of me.

And when I compare myself to others, I appear pretty spiritual.

Yet, the reality is, I can always find someone to compare myself to that will make me look good.

This is what the Pharisees did, they measured their spirituality based on doing and by comparing themselves to the tax collectors.

The Lord never intended we compare ourselves with others, instead He says, “Look at Me…

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Sufferings

All the world is full of suffering. It is also full of overcoming. – Helen Keller

“And He said this to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NASB)
We grow in our understanding through difficulties, as God opens to us that which we could not have understood with any other background or in any other set of circumstances. Our assurance as children of the Living God is that He is able to bring beauty from ashes and to give the “oil of joy” for the spirit of the mourning. And in addition, He refines, purifies, proves, and causes to grow in us something very precious and lasting in our attitudes toward Him and in our actions to other human beings. As He removed the hedge protecting Job (or any one of us) He is also able to give us the grace to come through the onslaught that follows. However, there is much more than just “coming through,” still hanging on to our trust and love of God. There is a “coming through,” with a shinier, ,more gleaming sheen on our surface. We have the possibility during the hard time to have skimmed of more of the specks and scum which are hindering the more beautiful reality of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, and meekness.” – Edith Schaeffer

When life seems empty
and there’s no place to go,
When your heart is troubled
and your spirits are low
When friends seem few and nobody cares
There is always God to hear your prayers.
So go to the Father when
troubles assail you,
For His grace is sufficient
and He’ll never fail you.
Helen Steiner Rice

The Gospel According To Jesus – Part 28

“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
Matthew 13:3-9 (NLT)