Tag Archive: spiritual life

Cling to Jesus and Remain

vine

In all my life and in all I have learned, all the good, the trials, the storms, the lovely and the hard, I know one thing for certain and above all else…I must cling to Jesus.

I have to cling to Jesus.

To cling is to have a strong emotional attachment or dependence. To remain or linger as if resisting complete dissipation or dispersal.

Depend  on Him. Linger in His presence.

If I don’t…If I let go even for an instant, I will dissipate. I’ll become less.
Purposeless, faithless, graceless, loveless, godless.

I have to cling.

Cling until my knuckles are white and my muscles are tense and Jesus becomes a part of my hold, my grasp, my fist.

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Praising Him in the Midst

Psalm 108.1

All too often, I have trouble praising God in the midst of unpleasant situations. I’m full of praise when I see His work in my life, and I praise Him for the beauty He creates around me. But it’s those times of trials where I struggle.

Praise was my One Word for 2013. So, you’d think I’d have this praise thing worked out. But, I’m still working on it. I think I’ll always be working on it because it’s hard to put myself aside—how I feel and what I’m thinking—and start praising.

It takes a conscious effort to praise God at all times—especially times I don’t feel like it, when I’m angry or complaining…times when I’m overwhelmed by life…and times I’m starting to doubt that everything will work out.

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New Life in Jesus Christ

Stock photo. Spring Crocus 3
Spring has always been my favorite season. I like that although 50 degrees in the fall feels cold, in the spring it feels like a heat wave. And with the warmer air, there’s hope that winter is nearing its end.

Spring reminds me of new life—buds on the trees, flowers peeking through the ground, the subtle shift of everything turning from brown to green…

And the new life we have in Jesus Christ.

New life because Jesus took on our punishment, and through His death and resurrection, we are set free from sin.

For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many.

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Life in His Word

Isaiah 40.31 eagle

I recently had the pleasure of reading an advance copy of Jennifer Hand’s 31 Days to Coming Alive. Written as a daily devotional, her words captured my attention, and really got me thinking…and going deeper.

God could have made one common animal, but Genesis describes how He made varieties of animals, plants, ecosystems, environments, even the land and the sea. The powerful part of God? He spoke all of creation into being with His words. Jennifer Hand, 31 Days to Coming Alive (bold mine)

I couldn’t help but stop here and ponder. God spoke all of creation into being—with His words.

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Something New Has Begun

Something New Has Begun 5MfF 12.12.13 pic

Advent is the season of waiting expectantly and preparing our hearts for the arrival of Baby Jesus. We reflect on the miraculous conception, the birth in lowest of conditions, and the fulfillment of the prophecy…

…the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’). Isaiah 7:14 (NLT)

We rejoice on Christmas morning—Christ is born!

And then…Christmas is over. Or at least that’s how it feels. We put the Christmas decorations away and go back to our busy lives as usual.

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God Will Make a Way

God will make a way
Last month, here on 5 Minutes for Faith, I wrote about the day God stopped me in my tracks. He reminded me that no matter what I think I know, only He knows the full and complete picture of His plans.

That same day, although I don’t remember what I was reading at the time, this verse was put in front of me.

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

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Peace That Comes Only from God

MP900441048[1]

Sometimes God stops us in our tracks…for our own good.

I was recently on my knees in prayer…over a situation I have no control.

A situation that was getting the best of me.

I didn’t know what to pray anymore, and I’d moved to just trying to prepare myself for whatever might happen.

While I talked with God, something changed in how I was praying.

“I know what you’re doing here God, and…”

Immediately, I felt God ask me…

Do you know what I’m doing?”

My breath caught sharply, and I thought of the book of Job when God gets fed up with Job and challenges him with a lot of questions.

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For the Days You Feel Like Less

John 3.30

There are days I feel like less. Depending on the day, it might be less skilled, less useful, or less liked by others. And sometimes, I just feel like less. Just. Less.

It happens when I compare myself to others, leading to jealously, anger, and feeling like someone else is better than me.

Maybe you’ve been there too, feeling…

…like less of a mom when you watch other moms who seem to have it all together.

…less loved when you see other marriages.

…less valuable to God when you can’t do what He calls someone else to do.

…less talented when you read or view someone else’s work.

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