Day 23 In Him we find...

I'm so sorry I missed yesterday. I was super busy all day and didn't have a chance to stop by for the series. I wasn't busy with Black Friday shopping, but I was busy hanging out with some of my favorite people. First, my parents and I hung out and ate lunch with family members that we didn't see on Thanksgiving. Then, I hung out with my parents and ended the day off with a game night with some of my closest friends. Lots of fellowship and lots of good times.

 

I love my alone time, but I also love being with people. God wants us to be in relationships with others.These relationships are meant to grow and encourage each other with His love.  To motivate others to strengthen their faith is His desire. Obviously, being in the presence of others is a powerful thing. God is with us when we are alone, but He is also with us when we are in groups.

 

Jesus had His alone time, but He was also with people most of the time. In fact, His fellowship with His 12 disciples was meant to teach and grow them into disciples that would share the Gospel with others. These 12 disciples did everything together. They prayed, listened, taught, served, and ate together. Acts 2:42 says, "And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." They shared life together.

 

God wants us to be in fellowship with others. It pleases Him when we are focused on one thing- to bring Him glory. Through our troubles, we can uplift each other. Through our joys, we can celebrate together. We can pray and study scripture together. When we live in this way, we are in true fellowship with God. Philippians 2:1-2 says, "If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose."

 

In Him we find fellowship.

 

Be in fellowship with others...enjoy it...and use it for His glory.

 

If you're joining me through my year long journey of the Bible, you should be caught up until Acts 16. Use today and tomorrow to get caught up.

Day 22 In Him we find...

Have you counted your blessings today? Today is Thanksgiving...a day designated to be "thankful". Like I said yesterday (Day 21), we have an abundance of things to be thankful. All of God's wonderful qualities should bring us to extreme thankfulness. Not only does He share those qualities with us, but He also provides for us so that we may live here on Earth.

Look around you. Everything that you own is God's. You may not agree with me, but if it wasn't for God, you wouldn't own any of it. You may say, "Well I work and earn money, that's why I have these things", but it's because of God that you have a job or a family/community that supports you. Everything goes back to God. He gives and takes away. You may not have everything you want...like a specific car or phone or job, but there is a reason why you don't have those things. Maybe if you did, that special thing you want may become an idol to you. We shouldn't idolize anything, only have our hearts and minds set on God. He provides everything we need. Sometimes we may live from paycheck to paycheck, but we are living. He provides us with a beating heart. He provides us food, even if it may not be what we are craving. He provides us shelter, even if it isn't our dream house.

Philippians 4:19 says, "And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." We need to be thankful for all that He has given us. "In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). It is His will for us to be thankful, so we better be thankful! Harry Ironside said, "We would worry less if we praised more. Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction.” Think about that. Instead of worrying, praise God for all that He has blessed you. God doesn't want to hear us complain about the things we don't have, but He wants to hear our thankfulness for the things we do have.  The more thankful we are, the more satisfied we are in God. Let's not be thankful only for today, but thankful everyday for God's provision in our lives.

In Him we find provision.

 

I challenge you to have some quiet time with God today and thank Him for all your blessings and of course, His goodness.

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Today's scripture for read-your-Bible-in-a-year plan is Acts 8-10.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Making a List

I'm not sure about you, but I like to make lists. I make to-do lists, grocery lists, medicine lists, and even lists to remind myself what to talk about (gotta love that Lyme brain haha)! Sometimes I even make lists in my head about all the things that I've failed at, things that I need/want and a list of my flaws. All these lists can be overwhelming and even degrading. They certainly aren't real encouraging. Unfortunately, the world motivates us to make lists like this, but doesn't motivate us to make lists of the good things. Since when was the list time you made a list of all the things you have gotten DONE? Or a list of all the food you have in the pantry? A list of all your skills and abilities instead of imperfections? What about a list of all the things you are blessed with? I know I hardly ever make lists like the ones I just mentioned. This past Thanksgiving I wrote down something I was thankful for everyday, and I believe it really helped my attitude. I'm beginning to think I shouldn't only do that around Thanksgiving, but throughout the whole year! Although I may not be the healthiest, richest person in the world, I know the God has blessed me with so many things that I could think of something I'm thankful for everyday for many, many years to come. It may be difficult at times because we are so trained to think about what we don't have instead of what we have, but I know it's possible. Little things that I take for granted like running water or a roof over my head often don't make my thankfulness list, but I think they should! In the Bible, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, "in everything give thanks, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." So instead of letting a list overwhelm us with not-so-good feelings, why don't we make a list that overwhelms us with thankfulness and gratitude! Feel blessed today (because you are!) :)