Keep Going

I know this season has lasted longer than any of us wanted. 

This season of shutdowns, unknowns, Coronavirus, fears, and deferred plans. 

In this season, God hasn't been still. We have seen Him working. He is actively pursuing us and drawing us closer to Himself. In the midst of all the chaos, He has been with us. He has been our strength and our refuge. 

This season has not been easy, but it has taught us much. And it's not over yet. It's easy right now to grow tired and quit. But you don't have to. 

Let us keep pressing ahead. Let us not grow weary. Let us keep running the race that God has laid out for us. Let us keep doing what we know is right. 

With Christ by our side empowering us every step of the way, we can do this. In Him and with Him.

Know that I pray that today you would be encouraged to run the race well and love those around you. 

Don't Give Up During Quarantine

It's easy right now to think that we are stuck and can't do anything worthwhile. I mean we have to stay 6 feet away from total strangers. How could we possibly do anything encouraging?

I know I've thought these thoughts. It's easy to want to give up. It's easy to want to think we can't do anything with our faith when we can't reach out and touch someone. Might as well just go watch a ton of movies or check out from life. Might as well just try to forget about it and wait for it all to blow over. 

Friend, this is where Satan wants us. He wants us to give up. To numb the pain. To become ineffective for the Kingdom right now. 

I know that this week I have grown tired of the battle and tired of the distance. When I let my eyes wander, Satan had a foot hold. I wanted to be done with this time instead of embracing it. Thankfully there is repentance and grace.

God hasn't called us to give up in this time. We are called to rise up and reach out to the hurting. We are called to shine Christ's light in the middle of the darkness of fear. We are called to press on. Christ is the Author and Perfector of our faith. Let us fix our eyes on Him and keep running the race. 

I don't know what that will look like for you, but I can offer a few suggestions from how I feel that God is calling me in this time to keep running. 

Reach out to the unbelievers you know and see how they are doing. 

Take groceries to an elderly neighbor. 

Engage with your family. Take time to be with them and do things for them. 

Send letters of encouragement to friends. 

Be kind and gracious to all retail workers. 

Stay connected with friends and pray for them. 

Dig deep into the Bible and study the matchless God we serve. 

What's on your list? What has God given you to do? How has He called you to keep running? 

Do it my friend! Don't let discouragement drag you down. If you've stopped running, pray, repent, and then start again. Turn off the distractions and run toward our Glorious King. He is worthy of a well run race. 

A Grateful Single

Recently I saw a single woman write a post about what she wished she had. She bemoaned her single state. She made a long list of all the things she was missing. 

How many times have I been there? Maybe I haven't posted on Facebook about it, but I too have focused on what I didn't have and bemoaned my lack of a wedding ring.

But is that what God wants me to do? Hasn't He called me to live a life of joyful praise and service to Him? Hasn't He invited me to live dependant on Him and enjoy the life He has given me? Isn't He calling me to live fully alive now, not wait for someday? Hasn't He opened a way for us to live an abundant and full life now? 

We can choose to live life always looking at what we don't have or we can choose to look at what we have been given. We can choose to live in grateful service to God.

Choose to look at the blessings He has given and live a life of gratitude. It's a beautiful thing to see.