#faithintopractice

[bethanydevos]

“What’s on Your List?” by Justin March

“And he said to his disciples, 'Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.  For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.  Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them.  Of how much more value are you than the birds!  And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?  If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?” - Luke 12:22-34

     Boy do I make a lot of lists!  I have a list for work of all the tasks I want to accomplish for the week.  I have a list for home of all the chores I need to get done.  I have a list of all the vinyl albums I possess so I don't duplicate a purchase when flipping through the used sections at the music store.  I have a list of all the books people have recommended I should read.  I have a list of all my accounts and passwords as it would be impossible for me to remember them all.  And I have a list for this, a list for that, and a list for everything in-between.  I have more lists than time, and sometimes when I stare at all the things I would like to accomplish, these lists become daunting and weigh me down.

      So, why do I allow these lists to take over my life?  Well, I guess I deem the tasks within them are important.  They help me remember what is important in life, and they help remind me to get things done.  They keep me from wasting time, they allow me to stay on track, and when something is crossed off the list, I feel fulfilled and satisfied.  Yet, these lists can also be a burden as they never seem to get completed.  And when tasks remain undone, I can often feel unworthy with the stress of knowing that I am failing and drowning in the pressures of everything I am not getting accomplished.

      As I think about all the lists that encompass my short life, there is one that is missing.  If my lists help remind me what is important in this life, then where is my list of the deeds God wants me to fulfill?  Why do I not have a list that helps me remember to take care of His mission for my life?  And if I had a list like this, wouldn't the satisfaction be much greater when I knew I had accomplished something from this precious guide for my life?

      Maybe I should try this for the week?  Maybe I should make it a priority to take care of this list, above all others, so that I am fulfilling the promises I made to my Savior?  I think that is a good idea, and here is a new list I now have in front of me.

1.  Pray multiple times a day.  Pray for a loved one, a stranger, the world, and our leaders. 

2.  Be thankful for what I have.  Let God know how much I appreciate all His gifts and workings in my life.

3.  Tell someone I love them.  Make it a point to reach out to them, listen to them, and embrace them unconditionally.

4.  Get outside and enjoy God's beauty.  Keep my eyes open to what He is trying to show me through His wondrous creation.

5.  Smile.  The world is dark and angry.  Make sure my smile brings light so it may shine upon others.

6.  Be generous.  Volunteer at a non-profit organization or make a donation to those organizations helping the less fortunate.

7.  Kiss the dogs.  In a world of judgement and ridicule, these creatures do nothing more than show gratitude and devotion.

8.  Spend a few moments in silence.  God has so much to say, but if I never slow down, I am unable hear those beautiful messages.

      Wow!  It felt good to make that list!  It gives me inspiration, hope, and purpose.  It reminds me to be humble, thankful, and gracious.  And it brings a satisfaction that only God can provide as He uses me to be a blessing in a world that hungers for His love.  I will always have my other lists, with chores to tackle and goals to accomplish, but this list seems so much more important.  It is a list that gives my life meaning, a list that helps me share my gifts, and a list that may actually bring a lost soul to the foot of the cross.  It is a list full on intention, and a list I must focus on so I am fulfilling my promises to the one who saved a wretch like me.

      What do you need to do to make sure you are fulfilling your calling?  Is God putting something on your heart that you need to add to your list?  I pray you find time this week to focus on what He is asking you to do.  And when the week ends, and you are able to take time and think about the things you got done, I pray there is a comfort in knowing that some of the tasks accomplished brought a light into this world, spread love amongst God's people, and ignited hope into the lost and lonely.  God has His list for you, but the question is this, what do you need to do to make sure it gets completed?

[thecatechismproject]

#FaithIntoPractice Week 5 - Rest

Day 5 -  We pray that you would give yourself the gift of rest on a regular basis.  Time for enjoying your life and the blessings of God.  After all, this gift of rest and enjoyment is one that God longs for you to accept.   

The Practice Explained:  Make a plan to take a Sabbath this week.  Work ahead and shift your schedule so that you can take 24 straight hours of rest.  On the day of your Sabbath, move slowly, take your time, and simply enjoy the blessings God has placed in your life.  

[bethanydevos]

Pastor Gary’s full sermon from 6/13/21.

This sermon is based on Ezekiel 17:22-24 and Mark 4:26-34. 

[bethanydevos]

“Pulling Weeds” by Justin March

“Pulling weeds and planting seeds.  That's the story of life.  We are individual lots on which either weeds of selfishness or fruit of the Holy Spirit grows and flourishes.” Dennis Rainey

  “Let your roots grow down into Him and let your lives be built on Him.  Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:7

I walked down the sidewalk to chat with a neighbor yesterday and he was feverishly pulling weeds.  He and his wife have been traveling for a month, and upon his return, he could not believe how his lawn, driveway, and flower beds had been taken over by these pesky growths.  He was flabbergasted by the amount of work ahead of him, and I could tell it was going to be a struggle to make his property right again.

 Are we allowing the weeds of life a chance to choke the beauty within us?  Are there times we ignore God's nurturing and allow our foundation to be susceptible to unwanted growth?  And should we really be surprised when our lives are not lush after forgetting to give thanks and glory to the one who provides everything we need?

 After my neighbor asked me how I keep the weeds out of my yard, I simply answered, "I pull them everyday."  It did not mean much to me at the time, but the more I think about my answer, the more it rings true.  Ignoring the weeds when they first pop up gives them the chance to develop roots and grow strong.  It allows them to spread and steal the nutrients my flowers and lawn require to flourish.  And when I ignore them for too long, my property lies hostage to the overgrowth and ugliness these weeds promise to provide.

 "I pull them everyday."  In life, we need to pay attention to what God is showing us and rid our lives of the weeds that creep within.  The weeds that bring selfishness, hatred, and separation are just waiting for us to ignore God's messages.  But when we take those moments to be thankful, when we lend a helping hand to someone in need, when we forgive those that have wronged us, and when we extend grace to everyone we encounter, we begin to plant seeds that will build the rich foundation needed and keep those weeds away.

 It is easy to allow the days to pass without taking the time to nourish what is needed.  But as I walk this path that Jesus has laid before me, He continues to show me how simple it can be to take a few moments each day to glorify His Father and bring others to Him.  He has taught me that showing gratitude is as simple as saying "Thank you God" in those moments of happiness.  He has taught me that smiling at a stranger can sometimes be all that was needed to uplift their day.  He has taught me that forgiving another can destroy a barrier that is trying to keep us apart.  And He has taught me that loving unconditionally allows me to see a person for who they truly are, instead of judging them with my own preconceived ideas.

 Are we making sure we pull those weeds everyday?  Are we taking a few moments to read our Bibles, scan a devotion, give thanks, have a conversation with a friend, and relish in God's beauty so our lawns stay rich and beautiful?  And when a weed does begin to take root, are we making sure we pull it immediately so our soil is open to the seeds God wants to plant in our lives?  It does not take a lot of maintenance to live a healthy life, and it does not take but a few moments to help another maintain theirs.  But it does take a willingness to be open to God's word, to be humble when we do His work, and to take a few moments each day to glorify Him so others can see His light.

 I pray you take the time to pull the weeds this week.  I pray that you nourish God's gardens and make them attractive to others.  And I pray that you find the time to encapsulate God's beauty and allow it to flow through you in every moment of your day.  Because when you rid yourself of the weeds this world wants to plant, and you replace them with the seeds only God can provide, your life will be nourished, your soil will be rich, and your lawn will endure any hardship as you allow the love of Christ to fertilize your foundation!

[bethanydevos]

“Are You Ready to Graduate?” by Justin March

  It is graduation season, and we have been blessed to take part in many of our youth’s glorious celebrations. The joy of watching them applauded for their accomplishments, recognized for their hard work, and congratulated for reaching their goals is always refreshing and gives me hope for a brighter and better tomorrow. And as I try to write some thought provoking, love filled words in their graduation cards, there are always three subjects I feel are important.

     Spreading your wings. The further you spread them, the better the opportunities. Like an eagle flying high above the ground, you are limitless when you soar with open wings. Unclipped and unbroken, your wings take you places you never knew existed. They bring you to heights you thought were impossible to reach. And just as a hen spreads her wings to draw the chicks near, you too encapsulate others as you come to them with open arms and honest invitations.

     Dreaming big. There are two things I feel we should avoid in this life. Allowing others to crush our dreams and being a dream crusher. We were created to dream big. We were created to be innovative, thought provoking, and trend setting. We were created to have goals, work hard, and learn from our mistakes. And we should never allow anyone to tell us our dreams are unachievable. We should be supportive of one another’s dreams, and even when we do not think they are good ideas, we should do whatever it takes to help them come to fruition.

     Having faith. You are going to meet many people in this life who will tell you they have the answers. There are those who will push their agendas and ask for your support. There are those who will seem like good people but may take advantage of your lack of experience. And there are those who will become mentors, teachers, and life changing partners in your next steps on this journey. Pay attention to the people that have your best interests in mind and be wary of those who push their ideals. It will not always be easy to tell the difference.

     I believe these three things build a solid foundation for our lives. They are teachings we can follow throughout our journeys. And I believe they are lessons that allow us to do God’s work, strengthen our relationship with Him, and draw others closer to Him. So, spread your wings, dream big, and have faith. Do not allow what you love to be hindered by forces that are not of God’s doing. And support one another, love one another, and lift one another up as each day is a new adventure full of God’s graces and blessings.

[bethanydevos]

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[bethanydevos]

“Beneath the Surface” by Justin March

"I waited way too long to mow this lawn!"

As I grabbed the mower and pushed it to the backyard, I quickly understood I had a daunting task ahead of me.  I knew I was going to have to raise the mower to its' highest settings, make one pass through the yard, then lower the settings and go over it again to get our lawn to the desired length.  I had definitely waited too long, and now my chore was going to be more difficult than I had anticipated.

The first pass was not too bad.  The settings were high enough and the mower enabled me to glide over the lawn without much effort.  I did have to stop multiple times to empty the bag, but at least I could push through and get the job done.  But as I looked at the freshly manicured lawn, I knew the first cut was not going to be enough.

The second pass was not so easy.  As I lowered the mowers' settings to the desired length, I quickly found out the obstacles that awaited me.  The lawn was thick underneath that top surface.  It had been ignored too long, and the growth below put up quite a fight as I struggled to cut through it.  It almost felt like the lawn had become comfortable in its' heavy laden, rain soaked haven, and it was going to do its' best to hinder me from breaking through.  But even as the mower got bogged down, the blades stopped churning, and the engine shut off, I never gave up.  I continued to empty that bag, clean the debris that stopped the momentum, and pull that cord so that the tool I was using would fire up again and complete the task at hand.

Do you ever feel like following Christ can be as difficult as mowing a long ignored lawn?  On the surface, we may look like we have it all together and life is easy.  We may glide through each day, do the basics of what God is asking, and be seen by others as a mission led disciple.  But what happens when God wants to cut through to that next layer?  Are we more resistant?  Do our barriers rise?  Or worse yet, do our comfort levels and sin filled natures stop us from allowing God to get through all the layers so he can make us healthy, prosperous, and open to all His gifts?

Like the story of the lawn above, I often find myself comfortable in my heavy laden, sin soaked haven.  I am okay with what is on the surface, and when God tries to go deeper with our relationship together, I can become a hindrance and try to stop Him from breaking through.  But you know what God does?  God powers through.  He continues to find ways to empty our bags.  He continues to clean the debris from our lives.  And He continues to pull that cord so that we can use the tools He provides to fire us up and complete the tasks he sets before us.

Our relationship with Christ is a journey, not a sprint.  There may be times when a quick pass is enough to get the job done, but there will be also be times when the goals will seem more daunting and difficult.  We may get bogged down in the thickness of sin, our blades may slow down as they struggle to churn, and our engines may shut off as the weight of the world gets heavy.  But just as the lawn needs to be manicured to a certain level to be healthy, we too need to be shaped and molded to fulfill God's needs.  It may take a few passes to get there, and we may need to allow Him to cut through multiple layers, but if we are open to God's messages, if we understand His missions, and we use His tools to get the job done, we will blossom as the beautiful creations He made in His image.  And before you know it, you will be healthy, vibrant, and an amazing wonder as others pass by you and marvel at the magnificence God's work has created!

[bethanydevos]

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