Like-Minded

“Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for

one another, love as brothers, be tenderhearted, by courteous.”

     1 Peter 3:8 (NKJV)

“For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because

the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.”

    Philemon 7 (NKJV)

Yesterday after a long, challenging day of work, I went for a walk around the nearby lake hoping some fresh air would refresh my spirit.  God knew exactly what I needed. 

I felt led to walk on the sunny side of the lake (where I usually never walk). As I passed up a woman ahead of me, she spoke to me, and we started walking and talking together.  After just a couple minutes, we realized that we are both born-again believers.  It was so encouraging to meet someone of like-minded faith, especially since I’d been feeling so out of sync with the world and culture.  True, we may be in the minority these days, but as brothers- and sisters-in-Christ, we can and should “be of one mind,” and have compassion for one another.  It’s not always an instant connection like I experienced yesterday, but if we are in Christ, we should have love for each other.

Karen had just received some devastating news about a dear friend, and we were able to comfort and encourage one another.  And our hearts were refreshed by our time in fellowship.  We thanked God for bringing us together and exchanged numbers with plans to meet again.

We are so blessed to be part of God’s family when we trust in Christ.  And He is so faithful in caring for His children in big and little ways.  Let's show our appreciation for all He has done by being tenderhearted and courteous to one another, by rejoicing in the fellowship we have in the body of Christ.

Thursday Devotional - Chasing After the Wind of Perfection

I am naturally a perfectionist. Because of that, I tend to wait for the perfect day or time or environment to do certain big projects. I don’t want to start something until I know I have all the time and resources to complete it and complete it perfectly.

Solomon saw a problem with this. If we always wait for that perfect day or time, certain things may never get done.

Ecclesiastes 11:4-6     

⁴ Whoever watches the wind will not plant;
    whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.

⁵ As you do not know the path of the wind,
    or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb,
so you cannot understand the work of God,
    the Maker of all things.

⁶ Sow your seed in the morning,
    and at evening let your hands not be idle,
for you do not know which will succeed,
    whether this or that,
    or whether both will do equally well.

It’s better to do what we can today with what we have (of course, while seeking and following God’s wisdom and direction). 

One of my desired home projects for the summer was to go through all the kids’ toys, throw out broken ones, donate no longer used ones, and reorganize everything. Well, it’s the end of the summer and I never had that “perfect” day to tackle it all! This past weekend, though, I started tackling the books and then Joe had an idea for the toys. It seemed overwhelming and I didn’t think we had time to finish (at least not to my standards). However, with all four of us working together, we made huge headway! It isn’t totally complete or up to my standard of perfection, but it’s way more organized than it was. We can now easily chip away at the rest.

Where else do you and I need to forgo waiting for that perfect day or time and get started on something God’s laid on our heart? We can break it down into smaller chunks, and tackle them one day or week at a time, the agile way. 😊 

Alice

Be Still

Psalm 46:10a

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God.

This morning, as I sent my son off to his first day of first grade, I felt that I kept telling my heart to be still.  My son has been in daycare since he was 10 weeks old.  He started pre-school at 3 and so when I sent him off to Kindergarten, it really didn’t seem to bug me.  This morning though, I must admit that I kind of felt like he was so much more grown up as he got on the bus. 

While I kept needing to remind my heart to be still this morning, God also tells us to be still.  Be still, and know that he is God.  He is out refuge and strength.  He is with us.  He will be exalted.

Today, as many of us send our kids back to school, or face something else in our lives, be still.  Know that the Lord is your refuge and strength.  Turn to him doing these times.