For Days You Need Encouragement

           Today, I just wanted to share with you some scripture that tells us about our Father and what He does for us and who He is. The other week I came across a post on Pinterest with many of the verses listed below. Whenever you’re down, remember who God is and what He does for you.

            My Father. . .

1.    Loves me: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have everlasting life.” –John 3:16

2.      Cares for me: “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” –Matthew 6:26

3.      Forgives me: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” –Psalm 103:12

4.      Is giving:  “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” –Romans 8:32

5.      Satisfies: “for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” –Psalm 107:9

6.      Persistently pursues me: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” –Luke 19:10

7.      Gives me wisdom: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” –James 1:5

8.      Carries my burdens: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you WILL find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."—Matthew 11:28-30

9.      Gives me peace: "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You." –Isaiah 26:3

      10.  Fights for me: “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” –Exodus 14:14

11.   Heals and forgives me: “But he was pierced for our transgressions he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” –Isaiah 53:5

12.    Knows me completely: You have searched me, Lord and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.” –Psalm 139: 1-4

Today, I hope you remember that God loves you and is constantly with you, protecting you, offering forgiveness, love, peace, wisdom, and strength.

Living Life Together,

Rebecca Thomas

Without Rain, We Have No Beauty

            Yesterday morning, I woke up longing for sunshine and the outside world.

            Having a ton of homework meant that I would be spending my day inside, but at least my blinds could be opened. So, I pulled back my curtain and twisted the plastic stick only to reveal a picture of dismal, grey clouds splattering raindrops on the ground.

            Immediately, my heart sank a little bit. Sunny days are my favorite, and I desperately need them sometimes, but then, I realized a truth—without rain, all beauty would cease to exist.

            Think about it. Flowers need sunshine and rain to grow. If we never had rainy days, the flowers wouldn’t bloom, the gardens wouldn’t grow, and all vegetation would shrivel away into a heap of nothing. If we want a beautiful sunny day, a rainy day has to come.

            The same is true when it comes to our lives. Many times when storms and trials arrive, we fall into despair thinking that nothing good can or will ever come from it, but our God creates beauty from ashes (Isaiah 61:3).

            James 1:2-4 states, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (NIV). Notice he last three words: not lacking anything.

            When we go through a storm, whether it’s financial, physical, relational, or whatever else, God promises that we will come out of it lacking nothing. If I never had financial problems throughout college, I wouldn’t have strengthened my faith in God, and I wouldn’t have many of the great friends that I do now. Through my seemingly impossible situations, God has given me so much more than the temporary thing I wanted at the time. The storm brought gorgeous flowers I would have never imagined asking for.

            I’m also reminded of Romans 8:28, which promises “that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” I don’t know what storm you’re going through today. You may have just lost someone you love or maybe you’re facing financial struggles or a serious break-up. Maybe you’re completely overwhelmed by all of the work you have to do, but whatever the storm, remember three things...

            God is with you. Storms end in beauty. You’ll lack nothing.

Living Life Together,

Rebecca Thomas

Here I Raise My Ebenezer

            The Philistines were coming for them. Death seemed imminent.

            The Israelites shook in fear as they saw them approach, so they cried out in desperation to Samuel.

            Samuel cried out to God and sacrificed a burnt offering to Him
.

            When the Philistines thought they were going to win, God intervened and saved Israel.  He had heard their cry!

            “Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us” (1 Samuel 7:7-12, NIV).

—˜™–

“Here I raise my Ebenezer. Hither by Thy help I’ve come. . .”

            I’ve sung those words to the song “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” countless times in my life, but never realized what an Ebenezer was until last year. An Ebenezer is a symbol that reminds you of what God has done in your life, so you will never forgets and so that in times of darkness, you can remember that He is always there and working. 

            Samuel knew that he and all of Israel needed to remember what God had done for them in Mizpah, so he made a stone of remembrance to remind everyone of God’s love and power.

            This stone was his Ebenezer, and for generations to come, people could tell their children of the deliverance God had brought them that day.

            Just as Samuel made an Ebenezer to remember what the Lord had done in his life, so should we. Maybe you’re like me and think that you will never forget something God has done for you, but something I’ve realized is that I do forget.

            Some days when I forget what the Lord has done, the sun isn’t shining and the birds aren’t singing. Life isn’t perfect, and I wonder where God is. All I see are the trials I’m going through—and that’s precisely why we need Ebenezers, to remember.

            Maybe you want to write out a few words of what God has done for you on a rock like my church does and put them in a bucket in your house. Or maybe, you want to write out your ebenezers in a journal or on little slips of paper tucked away in a keepsake box. Either way you want to remember the goodness of God, just do it.

            I don’t know if you’re going through a trial or hard season in your life, but if you are, take time to write down what and where God has brought you from in the past. Just like Samuel, you will then be able to look back and see what the Lord has done and that He is good. You’ll find that God has never left you and will always come through.

            Never forget what God has done for you. He is a good God, and after you start writing out your Ebenezers, you’ll never forget it.

            What has God done for you today? I promise, He's done something. 

Living Life Together,

Rebecca Thomas

While Everyone Else Was Running

            Screams echoed through the streets of Boston as the first and second explosion went off. Blood covered the sidewalks as people ran away in horror. No one knew another bomb wasn’t seconds away from going off. All anyone knew was that two bombs had exploded, and they had to run for their lives.

            As I watched the footage of that horrific day last week, a certain type of people caught my eye, those running back towards the explosions. They knew just as much as the people running away knew, yet they risked their lives to save another. While everyone else sprinted toward safety, they raced to save lives even if that meant losing their own.

            That’s what Christ has done for us.

            Jesus selflessly laid down His life for us almost 2,000 years ago. No, we didn’t deserve it, we couldn’t earn it, we can’t earn it, but we did deserve to die. Romans 5:6-8 state, “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (NIV).

            Even after we turned our backs on God, He came for us and paid the penalty for our sin. Pay close attention to this verse; it says someone could die for a good man (though it’s rare), but God died for sinners. He loved us that much.

            Let’s put dying for us into prospective. One of the criminals from Boston is now in custody and will be prosecuted  He helped kill and injure countless people. Would you take his place in prison or on death row? No, that would be insane, yet God did just that for all of us.

            We were destined to die a brutal death and live forever apart from God. Murder, hatred, gossip, white lies, disobedience, and countless other sins blackened our lives, but God ran toward us. When everyone else would have run away from us, He pursued us. He laid down His life so that we might live. The heroes of last week’s bombings were the perfect depiction of God’s love for us.

            Instead of letting us die and be separated from God for all eternity, He died. Even though we were guilty, he picked us up.

            While He should have been running away, He wasn’t.

Living Life Together,

Rebecca Thomas

Broken Tools and Shattered Mirrors

            This past Easter, my church did this thing where we could take a tour of creation to the cross where Jesus died. I’ll never forget the experience of creation.

            Imagine perfection. You’re whole and one with God. You’re in perfect relation with Him, yourself, and others. One room in creation had tons of mirrors hanging on the walls and one large one sitting in the middle of the room. The only instructions said to imagine yourself as God had created you to be: perfect, flawless. Before the fall, we knew that God created us wonderfully and fearfully and didn’t question that fact. I wouldn’t see my big feet and ears. I wouldn’t see the two red scars on the side of my nose that I believe everyone will see if I don’t cover them up. I wouldn’t think I was too skinny or not pretty enough. Before the fall, I would know that I am created beautiful, but that perfect creation didn’t last—Adam and Eve sinned and brokenness entered our world.

            As I walked out of the creation room and entered the fall, everything was mangled and tattered in the dark room. A picture of twisted DNA with garbage pushing through the strands rested on a pile of sticks. Then, a pile of broken tools and equipment sat on the floor with signs saying, “You’ll never be good enough.” “You can’t fix it,” “Give up.” Why even try.” It was a broken mess representing how sin killed the way men view themselves. I was heartbroken. Tears welled up inside me.

            Then, I saw a broken mirror with glass scattered on the floor. Pictures of the “ideal” woman were strewn across a bulletin board. Some signs read “Shake yourself skinny,” “10 ways to lose weight,” “You’re not pretty enough,” or “No one will want you.” Pictures of photoshopped women covered the board. In that moment, I realized what we had lost when sin entered our world, and my heart broke into pieces.

            I also realized that that perception of us, men or women, was a lie. Yes, a lie. It was also a sin. God tells you and me that we ARE fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14, NIV). For us to say that we aren’t is to tell God that He is a liar. I don’t want to do that.

            Men, God created you to be leaders and hard workers, which means that He has designed that into your DNA. Yes, sin has messed up a lot, but with God you can be who He created you to be. Be strong warriors. You can protect us. I believe that. God says it. He created you to love women fearlessly and to provide for us. Trust Him to sharpen that in you. He can. Through Him, you’re good enough, strong enough, brave enough.

            Women, my fellow, precious women. You’re beautiful. We don’t have to look for flaws. God has created us wonderfully. He designed us and calls us HIS daughters. Be confident. You don’t have to be a certain weight or height or color or anything else because God loves you and KNOWS that you are beautiful.

            Don’t let the lies of Satan drag you down. Remember who God created you to be. He doesn’t make mistakes. He is the perfect artist. You are beautiful. You are worth it. You are loved. You are being fought for. You are His.

           And remember, the story didn't end at the fall. One day, when Christ returns, we won't be a broken mess anymore. We'll live in perfection with the One who saved our souls. I can't wait until that day.

Living Life Together,

Rebecca Thomas

Love Covers All Wrongs

            A little bit ago, I was venting to my mother about a friend who was getting on my last nerves. This friend had, in my eyes, really offended me, and I couldn’t get over it. I kept telling my mom about it and even told my dad my “woes,” but then, my friend needed me. At first, I didn’t really want to help, but the Holy Spirit beckoned me to be there for her, to love her. 

            So, that’s what I did. I went and spent time with her and loved her, and guess what? I found myself not rehashing the things my friend had done wrong anymore. I saw what had happened in prospective and realized how wrong I had even been. Also, when I was loving her, I didn’t have time to hate on all the bad stuff.

            That night after realizing that I needed to just love my friend like Christ does, I opened my Bible to Proverbs 10:12 that says, “Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all wrongs” (NIV). In that moment, the scripture became alive to me again because I had experienced that verse earlier in the day with my friend. In the past when I had been angry with her, all my venting did was stir up more anger and fuel my selfish fire, but when I stopped and loved her, those wrongs disappeared and love covered all.

            God teaches us to love our neighbor as ourselves, and we can’t do that while hating him or holding a grudge or gossiping about them behind his back. We may think we are justified in “venting” and being angry, that maybe our anger is okay and justified, but in reality, all that stuff does is make you miserable and eat at your soul. Forgiveness and love is powerful; they set you free.

            When I let go of all the petty things that had been bothering me, it felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Don’t let anger hold you down and cause more trouble for your life. Hatred (or even "dislike") leads to more hatred and then, bitterness, but love erases hard feelings and sets you free.

            Love covers all wrongs. Who do you need to start loving today?

Living Life Together,

Rebecca Thomas

Living to Retire

            I recently did my taxes—well, someone else did them, but I saw the questions. Anyways, they asked me if I have a retirement fund. It got me to thinking about the future. At the moment, I only have a little bit of money saved up. In all honesty, I haven’t had the opportunity to save much, but I’m working on it. Thinking about saving money for retirement made me realize how odd that thought really is. Why would I work my whole life just to retire?

            Some of my friends and I discussed it later, and I realized that I am not alone in this thought. Before I go further, I want to say that preparing for the future is not a bad idea; it’s a good one, but what I am saying is that we shouldn’t be spending our lives looking forward to the time we can sit back a do nothing. Personally, I want my entire life to count. I don’t want to just work a job. I want my time to matter. When I meet Jesus, I want Him to say I’ve done well bringing Him glory.

            Then, I realized something else. I don’t want to work just to graduate from college and grad school. Waiting on a certain time in my life seems futile because God has called us to bloom where we are NOW. We aren’t supposed to wait to live. Life is happening all around us. We need to be a part of it. Fill your years advancing the Kingdom, not simply looking to the future and waiting on the next step in your life.

            I’m reminded of Colossians 4:5 that tells us, “Make the most of every opportunity” (NIV). Opportunities happen every day. Look for them. I don’t think we can make the most of every opportunity by waiting on graduation or retirement to live. Follow Jesus now. Take risks now. Give money, food, and clothing to those in need now. . .

. . .because, honestly, living to retirement isn’t guaranteed.

Living Life Together,

Rebecca Thomas