Tag Archives: inspiration

Hey You…Follow ME!

Christ's rest, Christian encouragement, Freedom in Christ, Grace, Hope, Jesus Christ, Love of God, Spiritual Encouragement, Surrender, Who I am in Christ, , , , , , , , , ,

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Hey you Guys! Follow ME!

He walked down the street for days. He knew that he had a mission, something that he was to do soon. He also knew that he needed to find someone to help him. He figured he would know who to ask as soon as he saw them.

The guys were playing basketball on the court outside the apartment building. “Three on Three” as they said. Terry’s team was winning. Terry had a brother on the other team that was not winning.

Terry and his brother were taking a break from the job that they had at their father’s bakery, across the street. It was time to head back inside to prepare for the afternoon when they saw him. Continue reading Hey You…Follow ME! →

I Never Liked Tests!!

Christ's rest, Christian encouragement, Discouraged Christian, Encouragement for Women, Grace, Hope, Jesus Christ, Love of God, Spiritual Encouragement, To Rest in Christ, Trials, Troubles, , , , , , , , , ,

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I Never Liked Tests!

Ok, I admit it…I never liked taking tests in school.  And when I think about it, I don’t like them now! I don’t want to pretend that I am “super spiritual” and like them….I don’t!

We all have been through personal trials.  And like many of you, tried to learn from them.  I am trying to be an encouragement to some loved ones dealing with specific trials right now.

John 6:5-6 “When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.”

The King James Version says: “When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.”

Look at the words test and prove. In these particular scriptures the Greek translation of the word is peirazo.  This means “to try, to prove in a good sense.”  This is in direct contrast to the Greek word dokimazo which means “proving that one has been evil or to make him evil.”  The intent of the first, peirazo is to prove someone good and acceptable.

James 1:13 tells us that God does not “tempt” us.  Things that are evil were sent to destroy us.  But from my very humble, layman’s  understanding, the tests we often endure will refine us and prove who we are in Christ!  God is allowing us to be “approved, to be tried as metals by fire and thus purified.”  We are becoming more and more like Him!  He knows where we are spiritually and how He has equipped us to be worthy and approved.  What a good, affirming word for us today!

Think of it this way:  A student is tested to see what he/she has learned in a certain subject area.  He is given a test and somehow in someway it proves what he/she knows.  Now if he fails the test, it looks as though nothing was learned.  It could have been a bad day for a test, or he/she may have really not learned anything.  If he passes it might be that learning took place, or he had the ability to guess well!

The Father knows where we are and when we are tested and proved.  He is trying to show us what we have learned from Him and His word.  Do we believe that, do we trust Him?  This strengthens our faith and indeed teaches us.  He is never tempting us with “evil”.  He cannot do that, be He can take what the enemy intended for evil and make it good, if we choose to see the life and love of the Savior.

I do not claim to understand God’s ways…but I do know that we are to filter it all through His tender nail scared hands of love….life it tough, but He will pull us through and teach us along the way.

Be blessed~

IN CHRIST ALONE

Isaiah 55:8-9

*google image, Strong’s Concordance, NIV/King James Bible

The Race of Love

Christian encouragement, Discouraged Christian, Encouragement for Women, Grace, Hope, Jesus Christ, Love of God, Spiritual Encouragement, Trials, Troubles, , , , , , , ,

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The Race of Love

I taught school for many years and must say that I learned a lot along the way. Sometimes my kids taught me more than I could ever teach them. I always had a special education room in some form. Their special needs helped me see the world through their eyes.

While I was in college, one of my favorite activities was working in the “Special Olympics”. As you most likely know, this event is similar to the regular Olympics held all over the world every four years. There is a marked difference however. These participants are developmentally delayed or physically challenged in some way.

There is competition. The individuals compete against each other in races, shot put, distance running and other such things. One day something unique happened, yet I found out it wasn’t really unique at all at this competition.

As a “hugger” my job was to hug participants as they crossed the finish line, no matter their placement in the race. A couple of races had taken place and there were hugs, giggles and smiles everywhere. I think I was having as much fun as any of the competitors!

Another race was set to begin. The runners were at their mark. The gun was fired. The runner in lane three fell down. He went down on his knee, scraping it as he fell! There was a gasp in the crowd and you could have heard a pin drop.

Soon the other runners stopped running. They all turned around and went back to the fallen boy. They reached down to pick him up. They brushed him off, checked his skinned knee and starting running again…but this time altogether as one. Most of them did not even know one another.

They crossed the finish line as one. All the huggers were in tears, as was the majority of the crowd. What a precious sight! It was an example of the unconditional love of God to me.

Can we do that? When our brother falls, do we stop what we are doing? Do we pick him up, dust him off and help him finish the race? Or do we go on running, not worrying about the fallen runner? Do we mumble to ourselves how they didn’t do it right and they deserved to crash?

1 Peter 3:8 “Finally all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.”

So next time you are in that race…and your competition falls….what are you going to do?

Be blessed~

IN CHRIST ALONE



Isaiah 55:8-9

*google, shutterstock image, NIV Bible*