Posts in category: Encouragement

"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said." (Luke 10:38-39 NIV)

Jesus is near. This is our faith.

Spending time with him between Sundays can feel elusive or confusingly mystical since he is not with us in the flesh.

Go to him – in your living room, around the dining table, out on a walk, in your car before going into the office, or settled into a spot at your favorite coffee shop.

Sit at his feet in these four practical ways:

• Worship him for who he is.
• Worship him for what he has done.
• Ask him for help in your circumstances.
• Apply his teachings to your life.

Respond to any emotions that come while meeting with him, but do not chase a certain experience. It doesn’t need to feel a certain way to count as meaningful.

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42)

Jesus is near.

Sitting at his feet is good and important and necessary.

If you would like to watch the full teaching segment around this topic, you can find it here.

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“Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” (Ephesians 6:16 NIV)

Shields up. The horrific events in Buffalo and Uvalde fall into a long line of “never-again” unthinkables—yet they happened. People made a routine grocery run, but never made it home. Children went cheerfully, innocently, and carelessly to school, but then evil burst in to steal life and wreck families. The reasons why, and clean solutions for going forward are beyond our grasp. But as the people of Jesus, as people of hope, we choose to Believe. God sees. God cares. God has a plan.

Shields up. The mass shootings took place many miles from our home, but we felt the shockwave and we share in the grief and outrage. Evil launched brazen attacks, like a curtain of arrows flying across an ancient battlefield. The arrows came at us to cut us, to terrorize us, to divide us. Each razor-sharp tip aimed to bleed us of faith, to leave us empty and doubting. Where was God? Why didn’t he stop this? How could he allow children to go through this unthinkable?

Shields up. Our faith can extinguish the arrows flying at our hearts and minds.

Yes, swift action is called for. Reform and change—though complicated and imperfect—must come, to try to make sure this is the last Buffalo, the last Uvalde.

But it’s likely not the last such event, because the root of these horrors is not a legal loophole, a failure of law enforcement. The root is evil itself, with its disregard for life, acting out to steal, kill, and destroy. This has been the story since Adam and Eve left the Garden. Countless wars have claimed innocent life—including the one currently waged across the sea. Evil adults, in every century, abuse and violate and kill children. Until Jesus comes, evil remains unleashed in this world. Shields up.

Lifting our shields of faith is not mere sentiment or blind allegiance to an invisible God. We believe the world’s troubles stem from sin. We believe the way to be free from sin’s grip is through a relationship with Jesus. We believe our Jesus told us that in this world we would have trouble, but that we should take heart, because our Jesus has overcome the world.

We believe a day is coming when evil’s run will end, banished to the abyss. Come quickly, Lord Jesus—our shields are up, but each year you delay, we are tempted to let them slip.

In faith, we invite people to meet Jesus – who changes sinful hearts, liberating people to a new life, in a new dominion, under a good and great King.

In faith, we assert that there is one God who made all things. He is on his throne. Sovereign. Not rattled. He sees. He cares. He has a plan.

What is his plan. We cannot know.

When is he coming back? We cannot know.

So we live by faith.

Shields up.

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O God My Father,

This moment in life—this time spent as a student—is a privilege made possible by your generous hand. You created my academic abilities, you led me to this school and you made the finances possible. Thank you for opening doors and providing for needs. I am grateful for the string of kindnesses you have supplied to bring me this far.

I believe this season is an investment for what awaits when I am no longer a student. Thank you for making plans to use my life. Thank you for exposing me to the ideas and books and concepts and teachers in this place. It means so much to me—that you would train me and prepare me in this way.

Because you have trusted me with this opportunity and because you have been so good and kind, I want to do well—to honor you and to seize the possibilities.

Right now, there is so much to keep-up with; I fear I am slipping behind. Carry me, O Lord, through this demanding season. I confess that I have said “yes” to too many things. Shine a light on places where time and energy are wasted. Give me courage to say “no,” to cut what needs to be cut. Help me to manage well all of the expectations on my life—the classes, the assignments, the relationships…the tests.

The pressure at times feels suffocating. The Enemy terrorizes my mind with fears of looming defeat. Do battle for me, O Lord. Silence the Accuser, burst through the clutter and noise to show me the way forward–with hope.

I know your love for me is not tied to my grades. I know my value as a person is not tied to my grades. Yet I want to do well. I need to do well.

As I spend time in study, help me to absorb what I read. Help me to prepare well for the tests. Help me to sleep well the night before. And help me to remember that the purpose and impact of my life does not hinge upon one grade.

Thank you for your comforting presence—with me in every class, in every book, in every test. I have experienced your faithfulness many times. I need your help this week—the assignments are many, and I am discouraged. Quiet my fears, give rest to my soul, and be my help this week. Carry me through, as you have done so many times before.

Amen.

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Today, we affirm that family is a concept born in the heart of God.

We also affirm that you are family to us.

Today, you commit to leading this child in the ways of Jesus.

Today, you commit to raising them to believe that they have been made by God, that they are loved by God, and that they have a purpose from God.

Today, we commit to pray for you in this sacred leadership role.

Today, you dedicate yourself to living out the grace and truth of the Gospel in your home—you are this child’s first encounter with the tough and tender love of Jesus.

Today, we remind you that the Lord will be your strength.

Today, we remind you that God is for you and with you in the nurturing of this child.

Today, we remind you that we are for you and that we will be with you, for whatever you need.

Your church loves you.

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