Tag: #faith

God Yearns for You

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

Looking back at the beginning of my journey of becoming a Christ-follower, I realize that it was a process – I didn’t immediately change my old habits, although I wanted to be closer to God. This process of being freed from sin is called sanctification. After repenting and surrendering my life to Christ and asking God what He wanted, the Holy Spirit began to work on my heart. He began to mold and reshape me and my character. Not only did I not want to continue with the old habits, but the conviction was also so firm that I could not hide it.

As I wanted to be closer to God, my old ways and sins had to make way for Christ’s new creation to form. The two cannot co-exist if we make room for Christ and have the relationship He intends for us.  Peace comes when we stop allowing our loyalty to be divided between God and the world.

We can’t feel the closeness and relationship we desire if we are still straddling the fence. But when we go all in – wholly surrendered to Christ – that’s when it all comes together, and we feel His presence, even though He has not gone anywhere – He is always with us – we are the ones who pull away. Feeling distant from God has a direct correlation to our sins. Once we repent and let God’s grace wash over us, the relationship begins to form as we make more room for Him in our hearts.

James points out that it is impossible to please God and the world simultaneously (James 4:4). When we come close to God, He will come close to us (James 4:8). Straddling the fence only makes us miserable. These verses from James echo Jesus’ message – “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other” (Matt. 6:24, Emphasis added). We must step closer to Him, knowing His arms are open to welcome us. He patiently waits for us to look in His direction and want His comfort. He is a jealous God who yearns for the spirit He placed within us to worship Him alone (James 4:5; John 4:23-24).

God never tempts us – temptation comes from our desires. God always offers a way out of sin and temptation (James 1:13-14). “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7, Emphasis added). We must learn to use our spiritual weapons against the devil by speaking Jesus’ name and bearing His armor (Eph. 6:10-18).

We can ask God to reveal anything we are holding on to and ask Him to help us remove it to make more room in our hearts His Spirit. David shows us how to do this, “Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life” (Ps. 139:24, New Living Translation, Emphasis added). Furthermore, he also gives us a prayer, “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me” (Ps. 51:10, Emphasis added). A prayer I often recite.

Our goal should be to draw closer to God daily to allow more room in our hearts for His presence. I encourage you to take a step closer to God today and ask Him to help you yearn for His presence as He yearns for you. God wants to be your first love.

It Really is that Simple

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

Have you noticed how we complicate simple things? The life Jesus calls us to is straightforward – treat others well and live your best life – enjoy My creation –  let everything else roll off you like water off a duck’s back. Okay, Jesus might not have referenced a duck, but the Bible is clear that we are not to worry about our lives (Matt. 6:34, English Standard Version). We tend to complicate life with our agenda. Pride gets in the way, and we let our ego take over, afraid someone will take advantage of us as we try to control things only God should control.

In the scheme of things, does it matter? If we are doing our part to make this a better place to live, loving others, and being the hands and feet of Jesus to the best of our ability – isn’t that all that matters in the end if we want to hear the words “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matt. 25:23, Emphasis added).

Jesus has our backs. Even if someone doesn’t have our best interests in mind, we can live with a good conscience and have peace of mind when we are focused on Christ and doing our best to treat everyone with love and kindness – seeing everyone as someone made in the image of God (Gen. 1:27).

Jesus taught and modeled how to treat people. He said we must love our enemies and pray for those who torment us (Matt. 5:43-44). That is the opposite of what we want to do, but we are called to a higher standard as Christians.

Paul talks about this in various locations throughout the New Testament. As we are one in Christ, old divisions and wrongful attitudes of superiority and inferiority are eliminated (Gal. 3 28). The law revealed people’s sinfulness and need for a Savior and served as a guardian until Christ came. Life under the law was slavery, while life in Christ offers freedom (Gal. 3:19-24).

Our love for Christ and gratefulness for our freedom drive our obedience as Christians, and we want to do what is right in His sight. Furthermore, we are called to love one another with brotherly affection and outdo each other in showing honor (Rom. 12:10). Romans 12:9-21 provides the marks of a faithful Christian, including overcoming evil with good, never taking vengeance into our own hands.

It all boils down to one simple phrase – love God, love people. It’s that simple.

Let’s do our part to be kind and see what happens.

Hope is Alive

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

God is real. Hope is alive in Christ.

Those following my journey know that my heart has been guarded for a long time. I hadn’t dated in almost ten years after coming out of an abusive relationship. After becoming a Christ-follower, I learned more about who I am – as God’s child and who He says I am, instead of listening to Satan’s lies.

I have been building on my relationship with God, learning to make better decisions (making decisions at all is a huge accomplishment), and more about myself, such as my favorite things. God also helped me set and achieve some incredible goals I never had in mind.

I have not hidden my story but allowed God to use it to help others. This blesses my life immensely and takes the edge off the painful experiences. I can testify to the fact that God is a Redeemer.  

I didn’t know if God was preparing someone for me – but a while back, I began to have hope that He was. A few years ago, God connected me with a woman in Florida named Dana, who is a counselor for women who have been abused. She had her own story to share – but what stuck with me is that she also told me there was hope. She had re-married a wonderful man who respected her, and she wanted me to know there were still good, godly men in this broken world.

Even though, for anyone who asked, I was not looking for a man, I realized in my heart that if God had someone for me, He would need to put them in my path and show me. It couldn’t be of my own doing but rather something of God beyond the shadow of a doubt. He did just that. Every step of the way, God has been abundantly clear with confirmations. Even when the enemy tried to steal my joy with doubts and fears – God restored peace in my heart and supplied a patient, prayerful companion to help me through it.

Hope is essential to our journey. It provides the ingredients needed for perseverance on our walk with Christ.

Through Faith Walk Ministries and the care group I lead, the Sister’s Circle, God allows me to share this hope with other women survivors, as Dana did for me. As you may have noticed, I have a new name – but more than that – I am excited to share that I have a wonderful new husband who respects me, loves Jesus, and prays with and for me…just a few things from my laundry list of requirements I told God about a few years ago.

The Bible supplies a filter for character traits to seek – I Cor. 13:4-8. If you have not read this lately, please do, but I will give you a few of them: Love is patient and kind; it does not envy or boast; it is not rude or arrogant and does not insist on its own way…love bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things.

There is hope. God redeems.

If you know anyone who could receive help from the Sister’s Circle support group, please share this blog and the link above for information about how to sign up.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Romans 15:13, English Standard Version, Emphasis added).

Journaling for Spiritual Growth

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

Handwritten notes are becoming a lost art. There are many advantages to handwritten notes, besides being thoughtful and showing you care, according to a blog article by Stackoverflow, it is still the best tool for retaining information, improving reading comprehension, and memory.

Along those lines, journaling also has many beneficial traits that enhance spiritual growth. As new year resolutions are prominent, it is best to consider lifestyle changes for a healthier mind, body, and spirit, rather than short-term goals that never quite last.

When I became a Christ-follower, like handwritten notes, I found journaling, while reading my Bible, helped me retain information as I wrote things that stood out to me, along with daily prayers and scriptures. Something I still do daily. It is also nice to go back and read entries from my spiritual journey.

In the tapestry of our hectic lives, a hidden treasure awaits discovery — the transformative practice of Christian journaling. This article invites you to embark on a unique journey, exploring ten distinctive tips that not only enrich your faith but also unveil the extraordinary power of journaling in your spiritual growth.

1: Craft Sacred Moments in Time:

Carve out dedicated moments, crafting a sacred rendezvous with your journal.

Why: These appointed times serve as sanctuaries where divine connections and revelations unfold, reinforcing a steady rhythm of spiritual communion with the Holy Spirit.

Nurture Sanctuaries of Silence:

2: Seek out tranquil spaces that cradle your thoughts in silence.

Why: These sanctuaries foster an environment where whispers from the Holy Spirit are heard, allowing your reflections to flourish in the serene embrace of sacred quietude.

Harvest Gratitude Seeds:

3: Plant the seeds of gratitude at the start of each entry.

Why: By cultivating gratitude, you create fertile soil for spiritual blossoming, where every entry becomes a testament to the abundant grace surrounding your life. Gratitude adjusts your attitude.

Scripture-Woven Meditations:

4: Intertwine your reflections with the rich threads of Scripture.

Why: As you weave God’s Word into your narrative, the tapestry of your faith deepens, creating a luminous panorama of divine guidance and insight.

Courageous Emotional Dialogues:

5: Courageously pen down the symphony of your emotions, both highs and lows.

Why: Honest expression begets emotional release, and by sharing the depth of your heart, you embark on a journey toward healing and authentic spiritual connection.

Goals as Spiritual Compasses:

6: Chart your spiritual course by setting both short-term and long-term goals.

Why: Goals become compasses guiding you through uncharted territories, infusing your journey with purpose and direction. Ask God to help you set and keep them.

Inscribed Prayers:

7: Transform your journal into an intimate dialogue with the Holy Spirit.

Why: By allowing your prayers to dance on the pages, you embrace a sacred conversation, nurturing a profound connection with God that transcends the limits of spoken words.

Milestones as Testimonies:

8: Pause to celebrate and immortalize the milestones on your faith journey.

Why: In acknowledging these pivotal moments, you not only celebrate growth but also create a living testimony to God’s faithfulness in your unique narrative.

Challenges as Spiritual Forges:

9: Chronicle your challenges, seeking divine guidance and resilience.

Why: Within the crucible of challenges, your journal becomes a forge where faith is refined, and through prayerful reflection, you emerge stronger, anchored in the unwavering hope of God.

Conclude with a Surrendered Amen:

10: Conclude each entry with a prayer of surrender, placing your day in God’s hands.

Why: This concluding act of surrender is a sacred seal, affirming your trust in the Divine authorship of your life’s story and inviting the peace that surpasses understanding.

Benefits of Journaling:

In the artistry of journaling, you unearth a reservoir of benefits. Beyond the written words, the act of journaling becomes a sacred voyage that deepens self-awareness, fosters emotional well-being, and cultivates an intimate relationship with the God. Your journal becomes a mirror reflecting the tapestry of your faith journey, a map guiding you through unexplored realms, and a timeless testament to the extraordinary power of a pen dipped in grace.

I encourage you to pray for the best way to set an affective daily spiritual growth plan that you will stick to, for years to come, with God’s help and direction.

Happy New Year & happy journaling!

The Uncomfortable Comforter

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

A few years ago, I was in the waiting room at the doctor’s office when an older man in a wheelchair came in. He was sitting across the room from me and began talking out loud – to nobody in particular – and anyone who might listen. Most people ignored him.

He was questioning why God still had him in this world. Then he said, “All I ever wanted was somebody to love me.” The Holy Spirit nudged me, and I headed over and sat in the empty chair beside him, smiling, unsure what to say. It is better to let the Holy Spirit guide my words; all I had to do was be willing to go. That way, God gets all the glory.

I said, “God loves you.”

That opened a door for him to tell me more about his relationship with the Holy Spirit, whom he fondly called the Comforter. He remembered times when he sat alone with the Good Book and felt the presence of the Holy Spirit with him. He shared that he had tried to tell his dad about the Comforter, but he wouldn’t listen. I knew God put me there for a reason – to remind him of his Father’s love and to bring peace.

In explaining the Holy Spirit to the disciples before His ascension, Jesus describes Him as the Helper, whom the Father will send to bring remembrance to everything Jesus told them. He follows that promise with another – peace (John 14:25-27 English Standard Version).

When we remember what Jesus taught about how to conduct ourselves and strive to obey the Father and His will – peace follows. Paul admonishes us to stay in step with the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:25).

Still, an uncomfortableness is also associated with the Holy Spirit that comes when we are out of God’s will and away from obedience. This conviction is necessary for any true transformation in our lives and hearts. The continual process of sanctification helps us become more like Jesus.

If we are never uncomfortable, we won’t have the motivation to change. This is by the design of our Heavenly Father. It is also true for our children. In a recent group meeting, a friend and respected mentor shared his philosophy – if he teaches his kids to love Jesus and put Him first, he knows the rest will work itself out. He recommended the book Parenting by the Book by John Rosemond, which discusses making your kids uncomfortable to initiate desired character traits and positive changes. If you are a parent of a pre-teen or teenager, I highly recommend you check it out or share it with someone who is. We are not doing them any favors by not allowing them to be uncomfortable.

H.E.A.R.T.

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to be part of a leadership group at my church, where we spent a year learning more about God, ourselves, and the church. One of the assignments was to read the book The Heart of Leadership: Becoming a Leader People Want to Follow by Mark Miller. His acronym for the word heart stuck with me, and until recently, it was posted on the side of my refrigerator for me to see every morning. I still pray for God to help me with these traits to be a better leader.

It goes like this: Hunger for Wisdom, Expect the Best, Accept Responsibility, Respond with Courage, and Think of Others First.

Miller speaks of these as character traits – to be regarded higher than any skills we may have or acquire. It is an issue of the heart, and the only remedy is accepting Christ so the Holy Spirit can shape our character.

Paul writes that suffering produces endurance, which builds character that leads to hope through Christ (Rom. 5:3-5). Our character is the fruit of the spirit everyone should want to have – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). One of my favorite verses that follows this that I pray every morning is that God would help me “Keep in step with the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25, Emphasis added) so that I can please Him and align with His will.

The book is described as a road map for anyone wanting to make a difference and be a leader others want to follow. There are many verses in the Bible about wisdom, but one that stands out for me is when Solomon could have asked for anything, and he chose to ask God for wisdom so he could lead his people well. God gave him wisdom and understanding beyond measure (I Kings 4:29, English Standard Version). He hungered for wisdom – not for himself – but to glorify God in leading the people. He later had much of his kingdom removed by God because of his foolish decisions. Still, he is the one others are measured by when it comes to his wisdom. Jesus surpassed his wisdom and is more significant than Solomon (Matt. 12:42).

James writes that if anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask God (James 1:5). Wisdom is described as better than jewels, and nothing else compares (Prov. 8:11). In Eccl. 10:10, the author writes that wisdom helps one succeed.

To expect the best is to believe and trust in God, who is the best and wants the best for us.

Accepting responsibility is not always about admitting we are wrong and owning up to our mistakes, although it can be that. Still, there is far more here to be considered. It is also about stepping up to the role God has proposed for our lives.

This will require us to respond with courage. Many times, I have tightened my grip and reminded myself of God’s promise in the book of Isaiah – “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Is. 41:10, Emphasis added) when I needed the courage to respond to God’s prompting.

Last but certainly not least, we must understand it is not about us but serving and loving others – thinking of others first is just that, putting ourselves in their shoes and trying to treat them as we would want to be treated (Matt. 7:12); To love God and others (Matt. 22:37-39). Jesus says we are not to exalt ourselves but become servants to others as He modeled for us (Mark 10:43-45). Jesus was the ultimate servant leader that we can strive to be like. Servant leadership empowers others for success – instead of pushing others down as we climb the ladder to the top.

It requires a changed heart that reflects the character traits of Jesus as we put on the new self, including kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, and are being renewed every day to the image of our Creator (Col. 3:8-17).

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col. 3:17, Emphasis added).

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Ps. 73:26. Emphasis added).

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew the right spirit within me” (Ps. 51:10, Emphasis added).

Predestination: The Search for Answers

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

I grew up in a family with a long line of Primitive Baptist ministers; my dad was one of them. Predestination is a prominent doctrine rooted in Calvinism, taught, and handed down for generations. The idea is that God chose people destined to be saved before they were born, or as defined in the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, “To decide upon beforehand.”

This is the subject of many debates even before John Calvin. The opposition argues for free will. But when I did my research, I traced it back to Calvin, whose central theme in all his writings was the Sovereignty of God, which is where his beliefs in predestination are rooted. The Sovereignty of God refers to the biblical teaching that God is all-powerful and rules all things (Ps. 135:6; Dan. 4:34-35). Furthermore, “Scripture emphasizes God’s rule in three areas: creation (Gen. 1; Mark 4:35-41; Rom. 8:20-21), human history (Judg. 14:1-4; Prov. 16:9, 33; Ps. 22:28; Hab. 1:6; Acts 17:26), and redemption (John 17:2; Rom 8:29-30; Eph. 1:3-14; 2 Thess. 2:13-14; 2 Tim. 1-9-10)” (Brand, 2015).

Paul writes in Romans 8:29, “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.” Likewise, in Ephesians 1:5, Paul again teaches, “In love, he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons [and daughters] through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.” Paul also quotes the Old Testament: “Then Isaiah is so bold to say, ‘I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me’ ” (Rom. 10:20, English Standard Version). Talking about Israel, he continues that God held out His hands to disobedient people (v 21). What stood out to me was both sides of the coin being taught. Since the Bible is not contradictory, we must reconcile these passages.

The prophecy of Isaiah has been fulfilled; Gentiles who did not seek God have experienced God’s saving promises. Israel may have been disobedient, but God still extends His hand to them, inviting them to be saved. On the one hand, God predestines some to be saved; on the other hand, He still longs for others to be saved. Though it may seem impossible, both statements are correct. It is not a black/white either/or camp – putting limits on God – instead, there is a both/and concept to consider. I am not talking about moral teachings, which are non-negotiable; I am not debating that here. I am talking about doctrines on one’s salvation – both focused on grace. The issue is our ability to choose by free will. Humans can make willing choices that have actual consequences, good and bad. Notwithstanding God’s sovereignty, humans are still accountable to God for their actions (Rom. 2:5-11; 3:19). Paul raises the problem, but rather than resolving the tension, he affirms both (Brand, 2015).

I believe God chose me for this mission, preparing me for such a time as this (Esther 4:14). Still, I had a choice. God does no evil nor approves of it. Nevertheless, He can use it for the good of His children and the fulfillment of His purposes (Brand, 2015). When I hit rock bottom – in my darkest hour – God brought me to Himself through a tragic year. We must also tell others about Christ so they can be saved (Rom. 10:14).

I spent most of my life in church but never received spiritual discipleship. Nor did evangelism surface because if one was predestined to be saved, there was no need in their mind. Predestination does not negate the necessity for human repentance and faith; it shows the possibility for both. God has chosen the foolishness of preaching to awaken faith in the elect (I Cor. 1:21). But He offers the Gospel to everyone without exception, hoping for them to be saved. The Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary states that the same God who predestines also sends His laborers into the harvest to carry out His purposes. There is no grain of justification to slack on evangelism – sinners would never be saved without preaching (Brand, 2015).

Additionally, although it is possible to be chosen by God, it is not based on anything God saw in the person. It is solely according to His purpose, unknown to human wisdom, so a people of the great multitude will be with Him in His eternal kingdom (Rom. 8:29-30; Eph. 1:3-6,11). The ESV Study Bible notes that God’s predestination comforts His people because they are assured that all who come to Christ do so through God’s enabling grace and appointment. Even though Paul affirms in Eph. 1:11 that every event that occurs has some sense of being predestined by God – it is also true that human responsibility is an essential factor.

Paul and other biblical writers never blame God for tragedies and evil (Rom. 5:12; 2 Tim. 4:14; Job 1:21-22). Paul believed that personal evangelism and making conscious choices to obey God are necessary to fulfilling God’s plan. God planned the redemptive work of salvation through the death of Christ. However, those who killed Jesus did it of their own free will and evil intentions, not ordained by God, and will be held accountable for their crimes (Acts 4:28; 2:22-23; Rev. 13:8, Brand, 2015). Even as divine predestination is affirmed, so is spreading the Gospel to save others (Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:15). This is one of God’s mysteries to embrace.

The Sovereignty of God and human responsibility work together in the world, even if no one can fully understand it (ESV Study Bible). Brian Han Gregg points out in What Does the Bible Say about Suffering? God does not call one to trust in their understanding of Him, but He does call them to trust Him.

“For now, we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known” (I Cor. 13:12, emphasis added).

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord” (Is. 55:8, emphasis added).

God is Not a Genie

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (The Bible. ESV Study Bible. English Standard Version. Ps. 37:4, Emphasis added).

This verse sometimes needs to be better understood. God is not a genie in a bottle that we can expect to give us everything we want. We must focus on the first part of the verse – “Delight yourself in the Lord” (Ps. 37:4, emphasis added), to help us understand the context of the message. When our hearts are in the right place with God, we will delight in Him, and therefore, we will want Him over everything else. Additionally, we will align with what He desires most: to be with us. When we align with His ways, we will enjoy Him more.

We may have good intentions, but even our most heartfelt and sincere desires that are anything other than Him first are considered selfish. We cannot expect God to give us all our wishes. Only when we put Him foremost above all else will everything be in its proper place, humbly and delighting in His presence, we can relinquish control. This posture unblocks our hearts to receive the Holy Spirit as He moves according to His will and purpose. Jesus warns that wherever our treasure is, our hearts will follow (Luke 12:34). The nature of our hearts will reveal what we value most. This emphasizes the importance of what we love – the character of our heart – the center of our being and most profound desires, including reason, convictions, emotions, and will. Jesus explains that what comes from our mouth proceeds from the heart (Matt. 15:18).

When our heart delights in God, He changes our hearts to want the right things.

He is the giver of every good gift (James 1:17), and He delights in supplying provisions when we acknowledge Him as our Father and express our gratitude and need for Him. Nevertheless, He is not obligated to us for anything. Many heartaches in our lives are misunderstood while we are going through them. However, we can rest assured that our sincere prayers are heard. They are addressed. The goodness of God is embedded in His character. He is a God who sees us and cares about us. His heart breaks when we are in pain, just like a good father who cares for his child. Just because we cannot see the end or how it will turn out does not mean He is not there for us. Jesus says, “I will be with you always” (Matt. 28:20, emphasis added).

Propel Forward

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

Kayaking on a serene lake has been a vision of mine for a few years. Not knowing how to kayak alone kept me from making it a reality until recently. While strolling through the Lexington Parks & Recreation website, I stumbled upon an introduction to kayaking class at Jacobson Park. I eagerly signed up. This was the perfect opportunity.

After being instructed on land, I embarked on my maiden voyage with a few other participants, each in a brightly colored teal or red vessel. Landing my bum in the seat was not a graceful act by any stretch of the imagination. However, I did manage it and began to focus on the technique our instructor gave us.

After several minutes of ensuring we were secure, she turned us loose on the lake to roam at leisure and try our new skills. I headed for the other end of the lake to a cove filled with many kinds of waterfowl.

To propel forward at the smoothest pace possible, focusing on the paddling technique, which did not come naturally, was critical. As I improved my new skills, my body began to sway from side to side with each stroke, creating a motion I still feel when I close my eyes and imagine I am on the lake. It is a tranquil place to be.

I realized afterward that everything else on my mind that morning had vanished as I peacefully made my way across the quiet waters, focusing on my technique so that I could do my best to master the new skills and enjoy the journey.

Isn’t that what we are called to do in life? Focus on improving ourselves and being our best for God instead of looking at the mistakes of others, pointing fingers, and complaining. When I am focused on my flaws, improving myself, and trying to please God daily in my words and deeds, I don’t have time to criticize others. This makes the journey more enjoyable in light of God’s grace and love as I try to master these new techniques and learn to love others well.

God is not done. He is always working. He has the final say. I am a work in progress, and so are you. I have more peace at the end of the day when I show others the grace that God has shown me and work to please God, not people. That is the best way to propel our relationship with Christ forwardand experience the peace that surpasses understanding.

The kayaking class was an outstanding experience that gave me the confidence to go again, hopefully in the not-so-distant future. God gives us strength in our weakness, courage to overcome fear, and the God-confidence we need to embrace who He created us to be.

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:7, ESV, emphasis added).

“My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9, NLT, emphasis added).

Love: Still the Most Important Thing

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

All sins separate us from God. One sin is not more important or worse than another. We tend to emphasize certain sins rather than see them all the same. We are all born sinners in a broken world because of Adam and Eve (The Bible. New Living Translation. Gen. 3: 1-24; Rom. 5:17). There is one sin, though, that we are encouraged to run from: sexual immortality (I Cor. 6:18) because it is against our bodies. Nevertheless, we are all traveling in the same boat in the same direction. Still, God’s grace is sufficient and redeems our sins when someone repents and accepts Jesus (Acts 3:19). This is because of His love for us.

Let us imagine for a minute that we are all on this proverbial boat I mentioned. We cannot navigate the treacherous waters alone. When we begin to sink, God’s love and grace, through His Son Jesus, throws us a life preserver. We can accept it, be saved, or reject it and continue to sail down the river of destruction in the boat of self-righteousness on a disaster course.

Once we repent of our sins and accept Christ, we are forgiven forever and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38), who guides us for the rest of our journey. We still have the temptation to sin, but with God’s help we can overcome them because we are victors in Christ (Col. 2:14). We are not to continue in our old life or return to the boat but be renewed every day to the likeness of Christ (Rom. 6:1-2).

We can also experience joy and a piece of His kingdom while we wait for our eternal home, but we are not meant to pursue happiness in this life as a destination. C.S. Lewis put it this way, “If you think of this world as a place intended simply for our happiness, you find it quite intolerable: think of it as a place of training and correction, and it’s not so bad” (Lewis 52). Happiness comes from our circumstances; joy comes from our relationship with Christ, regardless of our circumstances.

There are many different beliefs, and we do not all agree, but no matter what our neighbor believes, we are still called to love them (Lev. 19:18; Matt. 22:39; Rom. 13:8). In this way, we honor God. Above all else – we are to love God first. When our priorities are correctly aligned, it becomes easier to love others as we see them in God’s image (Gen. 1:27; 2 Cor. 3:18).

“We love each other because he loved us first” (I John 4:19, emphasis added).

Works Cited

Lewis, C.S., God in the Dock. Eerdmans, 1994.

The Bible. NLT Study Bible. New Living Translation Version. Tyndale, 2008.