Am I worthy?

“And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.”

‭‭1 Thessalonians’s 1:10NLT

“You yourselves are our witnesses—and so is God—that we were devout and honest and faultless toward all of you believers. And you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children. We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory. Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God—which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe. And then, dear brothers and sisters, you suffered persecution from your own countrymen. In this way, you imitated the believers in God’s churches in Judea who, because of their belief in Christ Jesus, suffered from their own people, the Jews.”

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭2:10-14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

2020 is coming to an end. I would be lying if I didn’t say on top of the Covid-19, it wasn’t a great year. Deaths, friendships cut off, illness..it had its moments. But as I was reading this morning, I read something I’ve read again and again, but this time it’s like the combination of a cup of coffee and the Holy Spirit brought this excitement over me! So I couldn’t help but share that with you this morning. I was in 1 Thessalonians, the first 2 chapters. And as I got to chapter 1 verse 10, something ignited. The verse is above, but after picking it apart, and studying it, I read it as: 

Turn to God.

Serve God. 

Look forward to the return of Jesus!!

Turn from sin. 

Be fervent as you serve. 

And be prepared!

And then if you skip over to chapter 2, verse 11-14(also above), you see where Pail is talking about a fathers love. Most, if not all fathers, would never ever neglect the safety of their children. A father would not allow their child to walk into something harmful or even fatal. So in a similar way, as Christians, we should be taking on new believers, until they are mature enough to stand firm in their faith. That’s why I love so much that our church is so passionate in our mentoring programs. This is why!! Part of Discipling is helping newer Christians become stronger in the faith so that they can go out and share the Good News as well. 

Paul is encouraging the Thessalonians to live in a way God considered worthy. Read that again, and then take a deep breath. Worthy. 

And I have to think.. what in my daily life would be an embarrassment to God? Is there anything? What about or this? What do people think of God from watching me? From watching you? Take another deep breath if you need one. :)

This is why it’s important for me to be in the Word daily, and I’m not always. Gods Word isnt just words, or a document. It is a VERY REAL source of transforming power! The Bible is full of this amazing REAL and LIVING power! Read it. Study it. Share it. Encourage new believers to read it. I mean while you’re at it, you can encourage non-Christians to read it. Because, if you’re really seeking truth, and if you’re really yearning to learn, there’s a very good chance that you will be transformed, and touched by this living power. And there’s an even better chance that you’ll never be the same. :) 

At the same time, taking a stand for Christ doesn’t come easy.. usually. Instead, it can come with opposition, disapproval, ridicule, and that’s from the people you’re close to. That’s why part of building this foundation of faith, is standing firm.

For me, being a Christian is an everyday battle. There’s always a battle in my mind between the Wordly way and the way that models a life after Jesus. Its not easy but it’s so amazing and rewarding when we choose to follow Jesus every single day. 

I’ll wrap this up and say.. Christianity isn’t perfection. But having a community of believers, and people who keep you accountable is so important. I’m not perfect, and I’m never going to be. But I rest assured that God will be my strength, my hope, my peace, my joy, and my life. And I am taking that with me into 2021. 

Finding my Rhythm

 The past month I have taken a break from social media, with the exception of utilizing Facebook for work, and that is where the girls' videos are shared for their virtual learning, and one of my bible studies. What's been so amazing though is that through the month I've had the discipline to get on for those things, check my notifications, and get off. No scrolling. If I did catch myself starting to, I'd get off right away. It gets a hold of you quick!! I decided to do this 'digital detox' for 30 days, and I've chosen to come back to Facebook a bit, but I've chosen to stay off Instagram, and other social media for 90 days.. although I'm kind of enjoying not being on them. Ha! God really has showed me that I was becoming someone that would get on my phone, and just scroll, or post a ton of stories, and content. While, thats not a terrible thing, it WAS becoming a terrible thing for me. Not that I was comparing myself to others, but I was just sitting there scrolling..for hours! You cannot invest in those around you, if you're too busy scrolling. Let me say thing again.. you cannot invest in your friends, your family, your children, your community, the stranger needing to hear your voice, when you are busy scrolling, or focusing on YOUR content.

 

Part of this 90 day journey has been coming back into rhythm. Practicing rest(not the sleeping kind), restoration, connecting and creating. It comes from a very wise author that I so relate with, Rebekah Lyons. I have been able to sit down every morning and journal out what kind of rhythms I'm going to practice that day, and at the end of the day, sit down and journal what things I'm grateful for. The effect this has had so far on me, is I've made it a point, every single day, to come to God. To say thank you God. To praise the one who created me, who gives me rest, restores my soul, and putting people in my life to connect with on a little bit deeper level.

 

I've been on a RIDE the last few years. I look back to 2018 and I was dealing with Postpartum Anxiety, panic attacks, fear filled days, and in a situation where I learned my opinion or voice didnt matter, and I started going through a bit of depression, crying every single day, and not being able to fully express how I felt, or what was going on, because well one, I wasn't allowed to in one situation, but also because if you tell someone you have anxiety, or even worse, you're having panic attacks, you would be surprised how many people will tell you to get over it, or just dont accept that kind of thing. It was hard, it was dark, and it wasn't fun. I was yelling when I didnt want to, offended more easily, and hurt more often, it seemed. If you've ever truly lived through anxiety, where you dont want to leave the house, then you know. As embarrassing as it is, I had mornings, where I would be in tears having to leave the house. All this was in the year my mom was diagnosed with ALS. We are coming up on a year from when she left this earth, and its been rough. Holidays are tough.

However, after typing that paragraph, it now blows my mind that I even went through that time. I also want to say, that through all that, my husband was by my side, at all times, and I had people in my life that were praying over me and speaking life in to my life, and I will forever be grateful for that. What I can tell you is today, I am still healing, and I still have my moments, but I am so thankful for where God has brought me and this journey I've been on. I have the most amazing, supportive co workers, friends and family. Having this last month to really go into a time every day of reflection, journaling, reading scripture, and praying has then the most amazing thing. You'll find joy, and peace in the midst of it too. If you want to see healing, come into the presence of God every single day. Get off social media completely for a month and realize that if you really want to know how someones doing, then you'll think of them and send them a text, or call them. It is so much better to connect with someone that way than to leave a like or comment. Invest in the people around you. Loneliness is at an all time high, and someone needs to see your message, or hear your voice.

I also want to say a book I've been reading through all this is Rhythms or Renewal, by Rebekah Lyons. I HIGHLY recommend this book!! My goal is do do a fun digital detox in this next year, where I detox from my phone, from everything but text, calls, and email if you have to, and I ask if you want to join me in this let me know! Also, I'm wanting to move my blog off of here and have no idea how to, so if you have any tips on that, let me know :) 

I pray that you all would have an amazing holiday season, a Happy Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas!