Between the Blogs

Personal Epiphany: The words we want to say are not always the words we ought to say, and sadly, the words we ought to say or not always the words we actually say. ~Trena & Randy Reed©

An Everlasting Hope (Embracing God’s Promises)

Along the way I’ve discovered the Christian life is a life lived in hope. Hope for restoration and rebirth. Hope that a broken past filled with pain can be a stepping stone instead of a roadblock. Hope for a present overflowing with unlimited forgiveness, unconditional love, and unbridled joy. Hope for a future abundant with blessings of wisdom, peace, joy, happiness, and truth. Hope for a future not filled with worldly wealth, but with a wealth of the Spirit. Hope for an eternity where sorrow and pain is a thing of the past and the God of the universe eagerly waits to embrace us.

After experiencing this living hope I cannot imagine a life devoid of it. Without hope, life would stretch out endlessly—a dusty road leading to nowhere. Instead I choose to dwell in the abundant hope of a living, engaging God who is eager to renew and restore me.

And the best news of all is that this is not a flimsy hope or an unreachable dream, this is an everlasting promise from the living God!

So join me on my joyful journey as I embrace God’s promises of restoration and rebirth; unlimited forgiveness, unconditional love, and unbridled joy; wisdom, peace, happiness, truth, and abundant wealth of the Spirit. Join me in the eternal embrace of our ever-loving God.

Naked and Vulnerable (Thoughts from the Pot): I have an everlasting hope.

Between the Blogs

Personal Epiphany: One of the greatest blessings of following Christ is that even in our darkest moments of despair, still hope shines bright.

Between the Blogs

Quick Quote: In all things it is better to hope than to despair. ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Between the Blogs

Bible Blessings: I have to confess, God, if I didn’t know how the story turns out, I would have lost hope long ago. But knowing that in Your time You will lavish Your goodness upon me in this life and the next—that has made all the difference. ~Psalm 27:13 (Randy Reed Paraphrased Version)©

Service Redefined (Love in Action)

Along the way I’ve discovered that service is love in action and this love should express itself in every thought, in every word, in every deed.

Recently I’ve wrestled with the idea of service, asking myself what it should look like and how it should play out in my life. After much prayer, asking God to show me the right charity, to point me to the right volunteer opportunity, to show me how I should serve, I’ve concluded that I need to throw out the idea that service is a once-a-year, once-a-month, once-a-week, or even a once-a-day act that I check off my to-do list; instead, I must view service as a lifestyle choice.

This realization required me to stop attempting to fit service into my busy schedule and learn instead to embrace the barrage of endless opportunities that quietly introduce themselves every minute of every day. I had to redefine service and embrace the idea that service in my life should be an accumulation of small acts that become embedded into my everyday rituals—acts that are transformed from conscious acts of service into a steady stream of service habits. For service to become habitual I must start by intentionally scrutinizing every activity, every interaction, and every chance encounter for service opportunities.

I want to embark on a lifelong journey of service, where service tops every priority list, pervades every thought, and becomes a permanent part of my psyche. I want the words “How can I help you?” to live on my lips. And I want my automatic response to every situation to be an open hand reaching out to help.

So join me on this joyful journey as I redefine service in my life, as I look at every moment for opportunities to serve, and as I make these words my daily prayer: God, make me a servant.

Naked and Vulnerable (Thoughts from the Pot): As a Christian, I am commissioned to be a servant, to live a life fully dedicated to the service of God and my fellow man.

Finding Fulfillment (Modifying My Mindset)

Along the way I’ve searched for fulfillment in all the wrong places. I’ve looked for it in my relationships with my family, my coworkers, my friends, my husband; I’ve sought it by expanding my knowledge, by reading, by traveling, by studying; I’ve hunted for it in my job, volunteer opportunities, service, and other noble pursuits. I’ve searched for fulfillment in all these good things, but the one place I failed to look was the one true place it can be found—in a rich, full relationship with God.

I desire to live up to my potential; not the potential I or others see, but the potential God sees in me.

Unfortunately I have become self-sufficient, and too often this stubborn independence seeps into my relationship with God. I believe I can do it on my own, or maybe with a gentle nudge in the right direction, I can continue down the right path on my own. When the inevitable happens, and I find myself lost, I cry out again, “God show me the way so I can walk in it!” But I’ve learned that instead of asking Him to show me the way, I should ask Him to lead me in His way—walking by my side, holding my hand, and carrying me through the tough times.

So join me as I change my mindset and seek fulfillment in a rich, full relationship with God. Join me as I ask Him to walk with me, allowing His will to become fully develop in my life. Only then I can finally embrace and experience the joy of this journey—a journey overflowing with abundant fulfillment that comes from fully embracing God’s will and urgently pursuing an intimate relationship with Him.

Naked and Vulnerable (Thoughts from the Pot): Every attempt to find the fulfillment I so desperately sought outside of God left me looking for more, searching for answers, feeling empty and void. Every single attempt ended in disappointment and failure until I looked to God.