Sunday Sprint: Resolving to Love

"For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love."

Galatians 5:13 (NLT)

I've been reflecting a lot lately on love. It seems like the entire Biblical message can be boiled down to that single deceptively simple word. God's love for his people. God's love for his son. God expecting his children to love one another and him. To quote the Beatles... perhaps "all you need is love." 

It's easy to say. It's easy to post it in fancy cursive on plaques and walls... but it is oh-so difficult to live out on a daily basis. God has freed us from our sin. We have been given a complete freedom unlike any other. Why is it so difficult for us to thank Jesus for settling our insurmountable debt by loving him, the Father, and each other?

This New Year, I'm resolving to love my Father with the love he deserves for saving me, loving me, and forgiving me. I'm also resolving to live my life minute-by-minute with a heart of love for others. It won't be easy. I have a case of chronic selfishness and am afflicted with bouts of anger and impatience. I just pray that God will transform my heart to be like His, so that I can love like Him. 

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 

Matthew 22: 37-39

Sunday Sprint: What God Wants From YOU

"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing."

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

I don't know about you, but throughout my childhood I used to dream of God calling me to do something great--like all of the Biblical figures I grew up learning about and admiring. If only God would make me a prophet... or a miracle worker... or possess unwavering faith. If only...

But the Bible makes it clear... God holds LOVE in highest esteem. Jesus declared the greatest commandments were to "love your neighbor as yourself" and to "love the Lord your God." While we are awed by healed sickness, parted waters, and raised dead... God delights in unfailing love. 

Every time I find myself wishing I could do something great in the name of the Lord, I try to remind myself that God thinks living a life of love is great. Living a life of Love is a prerequisite to anything else. 

Sunday Sprint: This is What You Signed Up For

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

Sometimes we are tempted to question God during tough times. It can be difficult to understand why a God of love would let his people suffer so much. However, none of us were promised an easy life. God never said that Christians were immune to pain and sorrow. Jesus himself promised that we would have trouble in this world. The reason why we continue to have hope and joy in the face of adversity is because we know that Jesus has "overcome the world." We will soon exchange our temporary hardships for eternal joy in the presence of our God. 

"The real problem is not why some pious, humble, believing people suffer, 
but why some do not.”

- C.S. Lewis

Sunday Sprint: Take the Next Step

I am currently working through a workbook titled Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God, by Blackaby and King. I only started this journey yesterday, but so far I am thinking that this book could have a profound effect on my walk with God. I will likely be sharing my thoughts and ideas over the next 3 months or so based on my studies. 

Yesterday, "Day One" in the book, my eyes were opened to the fact that I've been desperate to know the Will of God for my life, but I've been waiting for God to reveal His whole plan to me. I've been waiting for a road map. However, this is NOT how God works. In Genesis 12, God calls Abram (later called Abraham) to leave his home, take everything he owns, and go "to the land [God] will show [him]." God only gives Abram the first step. He never tells Abram the whole plan. 


I finally realized that if God gave me a road map there would be no need for faith and I would be tempted to declare that everything I did after given that "map" was done by ME alone. Where did my reliance on God go?


God highlights the next step ahead. I need to be living my life every single day in search of and in the action of taking that next step. I need to ask myself, "What does God want me to do today?" rather than "What's God's will for my life tomorrow?".  I need to be faithful and take the baby-steps asked of me rather than demanding to know the entire route before budging. 

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing" 

-John 15:5 

**I would encourage you regular readers to get your own copy of 

"Experiencing God" and journey with me over the next couple months. 

Let's keep each other accountable and on track.

Sunday Sprint: Better to be a Nobody

"Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant 

   than pretend to be somebody and have no food."

Proverbs 12:9

In this society and in this age it seems like everybody is fighting so hard to be a somebody. In seeking fame and fortune and in the pursuit of "somebodyness" so many people lose everything. This verse reminds me that it is better be content with an "ordinary" life--to have all your needs provided for and a even few small luxuries--than to be in constant pursuit of fame, prestige, fortune etc. and end up losing it all.

Too many people make the foolish choice to pursue prestige by stockpiling fancy cars and big houses and other material things only to lose it all when that stockpile of debt buries them. We need to stop looking longingly at the "somebodies" in town and learn to be happy with the blessings God has given to us.

I honestly think that most people will be a lot happier if they choose to live in a thankful frame of mind than an envious one. 

Thank you God for all your blessings. 

Sunday Sprint: Live From the Inside Out

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness."

Matthew 23:27-28

Any Stumbler like myself is all too aware of the fact that sometimes Christians' inner lives are incongruent with their outer lives and vice versa. If we are truly filled with the Holy Spirit, our lives should and will exude His Fruits. 

If we are trying pass off our own "counterfeit fruit", it will be quite obvious to those around us that what we're peddling isn't the "real deal". We should have motivations to match our actions, and actions to match our place in Christ. We should live Godly lives from the inside out. There should be no room for hypocrisy and no room for apathy. 

This Stumbler has a difficult time letting the Holy Spirit fill her up to the brim and overflow in her actions. It is so tempting to just take control of my own life and attempt to "fake" a Spirit-led life. The sad fact of the matter is, we all fail miserably when we try to counterfeit holiness and righteousness. We look and sound like frauds. We stink of deceit. Anyone---especially atheists---can sniff out a hypocritical Christian from a mile away. 

My prayer is that God would fill me with His Spirit so that my motivations would be His and that my actions would reflect a heart that is drenched in His Love. "Fake it 'til you make it" just doesn't cut it with God. 

Sunday Sprint: Privileged Relationship

 “In that day,” declares the LORD, "you will call me ‘my husband’; you will no longer call me ‘my master.’

Hosea 2:16

"For your Maker is your husband— the LORD Almighty is his name—"

Isaiah 54:7

"Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready."

Revelation 19:7

The Bible often compares the relationship of God and Christ to the church as that of a marriage. God wants a real, passionate, intimate relationship with all of his people. He is madly in love with his church. Are we, as members of that church, returning those affections? Can we honestly say that we are madly, passionately, and intimately in love with our God and our Savior? 

Wedding bells are ringing. Are you ready? 

Sunday Sprint: Stand Firm

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

- 1 Peter 5:8-9

When it seems like everything in life seems to be going wrong, it's important to remember that there are evil forces at work in this world that want to see us fail. Our enemy wants us to give up. But we have God on our side, and we are not alone. Everyone in this world--every single person--goes through some tough times. Some more than others. We have to stand firm against an enemy that wants to see us suffer and we need to stand together, unified, in Christ.

Don't let life knock you down. 

Sunday Sprint: Satan-- Beyond the Halloween Costume

"The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved." 

2 Thessalonians 2:9-10

I had a dream last night... it was of a suave, handsome gentleman. He dressed smart. He was sophisticated and charming. He had a smile that could melt anyone's heart and instantly endear them to himself. 

However, as the dream went on, this man grew more and more agitated and upset. His charming smile disappeared and he began to rant about the disrespect he had to endure from others. He vowed to get his revenge on the world. He would demand the respect of everyone. 

This man's eyes became more wild with every passing moment as a rage ignited within them. He performed unimaginable acts of cruelty in order to have his revenge on the world he felt had insulted him. 

This man's name? Satan.

With Halloween just around the corner, we're sure to see a myriad of devilish costumes roaming the streets... red horned headbands, plastic pitchforks, and pointed red tails. The world has reduced Satan to a comical cartoon. 

While Christians have nothing to fear in Satan---our Savior has assured us of that---he is still no laughing matter. Satan has put on a charming face for thousands of years... he has put up with our disrespect and scoffing. However, this fallen angel who was so arrogant and power-hungry as to face off with the God of the Universe--his own Creator---is not one to be scoffed at. He will destroy anyone not under God's protection when the time is right.

Satan isn't some fun party animal. He isn't a punchline to some funny joke. He is very real. He has been allotted real power. While his power is minuscule in comparison God's, he still has the permission and ability to torment and destroy all those who refuse to acknowledge Jesus as their Savior when the time comes.  

We take Satan's power away by putting our trust in God and our faith in Jesus. To those who are under God's protection, Satan can do little more than whisper arguments in their ear. And those who have set down roots in God's Word will see right through Satan's lies and schemes. However, those who have not yet accepted the Salvation found in Christ, Satan has the power to destroy--mind, body, and soul. 

This Stumbler is going to watch her step carefully so that she is not tripped up by this cunning tempter. The more of us who turn our back on the world and Satan's schemes, the less power he has. How blessed we are to have found safety in the arms of our God! Without Him, we would be hopeless...we would be defenseless against the anger and wrath of a prideful Satan, seeking his revenge.

Keep your eyes and ears open. 

Keep your faith unwavering. 

Keep a healthy respect for your enemy. 

Have no fear. 

Sunday Sprint: Coffee? Try Depending on God for your Pick-Me-Up

"It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect"

Psalm 18:32

If you're anything like me, you probably feel that you just can't take it anymore some days. You just can't go one. Can't face the day. Just want to pull the covers over your head and declare the day a write-off before you even begin.

Well you're right.

We can't do this on our own. The day IS a write-off before it even begins if we don't have the Lord leading the way. He is the one who gives us the strength and guidance to make the day worth living. Life is meaningless without Him.

Have a good week in the Lord, fellow Stumblers.

**Sorry for the late post. Monday's regular post will be up later today.

Sunday Sprint: Thanksgiving

"I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving." 

Psalm 69:30

Today I celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving with family. We had a wonderful time with each other, sharing in good conversation and great food (thank God my husband can cook...if it were left up to me we'd probably have mac and cheese!) I was filled with gratefulness for a great long weekend and time with family.

 It's so easy to thank God when times are good--- surrounded by loving family and good food. However, today I am reminded that I need to thank God during the difficult times too. If nothing else, I will always thank God for forgiving and saving a Stumbler like me.

Times won't always be good or easy, but God will ALWAYS be worthy of our praise and thanks. After all, he loved and saved us while we were still acting like wretched, selfish brats. He didn't wait for us to be "worth" saving.

Thank you, God. 

Sunday Sprint: Living by the Spirit

"So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature." 

Galatians 5:16

NIV

My pastor's sermon centered around this verse today. I fully admit, and the entire focus of this blog, is the fact that I am an imperfect Christian. I stumble. I struggle with my faith and living a Christ-like, Spirit-filled, Godly life. 

However, this passage in scripture, as my pastor stated offers us "the most audacious promise" the Bible has to offer. The fact of the matter is, if I'm stumbling, I'm not living by the Spirit. Which is to say, if I'm living by the Spirit, I will NOT stumble. 

Quite the food for thought, isn't it? 

If I am following the Holy Spirit's lead and living according to God's will, the fruits of the spirit (joy, peace, love, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control) will be evidenced in how I live my life everyday. I will be actively demonstrating these "fruits" if the Spirit is firmly "planted" within me and I am allowing Him to cultivate my life. 

This is not to say that I will never have bad days. I will be tempted. There will be tough times. However, this scripture promises me (and all believers) that if I am following the Holy Spirit's lead, I will not succumb to temptations or "bad days". I will not sin. I will not "gratify the desires of my sinful nature." 

I truly hope that while this Stumbler may have many tough days ahead, she will never ever fall to sin. I pray that God's Holy Spirit will fill me up to the brim so that all my words, actions, thoughts, and feelings will be by His leading---not at the whim of my sinful nature. 

Praise the God who can make imperfect people into perfect creations. Praise the God who can make Stumblers, like me, graceful in their Walk. 

(Late) Sunday Sprint: Finding the Strength to Go On

"My soul melts from heaviness; 
Strengthen me according to Your word."  
Psalm 119:28

Sometimes the world punches you in the gut. Leaves you breathless. Leaves you broken. Sometimes you just don't think you can go on. Your heart is "melting"... breaking...

This why God left us the Bible. We have a love letter from the Lord to refer back to on our dark days. We can find strength and hope in His Word and His Love for us.

Thank you, God.

Sunday Sprint: Turning to God in the Bad Times

Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; 

    my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief

Psalm 31:9

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Matthew 5:4

We all go through times of sorrow in our lives. Tragedies happen. The world threatens to overwhelm us. Sadness and depression tighten their grip on our hearts. 

While the bad times are inevitable, they don't have to be interminable. We have a loving Father in heaven whom we can turn to in our dark times. We can cry out to him and he will comfort us. While relief may not come as quickly as want... relief will come. 

With tears in my eyes, I will turn to my heavenly Father for a comforting embrace and a shoulder to cry on. I will cry out to him for help, and in my ear I will hear his compassionate voice whisper, "Child, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." (Matthew 5:34).

Sunday Sprint: Love is a Verb

^"18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions."

1 John 3:18 NLT

Love is such a misused and abused word in our society today.

"I love my car! I love pizza! I love that show! I love this song! I love your shoes!"

Is it any wonder that the words "I love you" have lost some of their potency? 

This is why we have been called to love others through our actions, rather than just with our words. 

Talk is cheap. Let us lavish each other with the luxury of loving actions. 

Prove your love by showing it. 

Sunday Sprint: My Selfish Request

When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.

Psalm 94:19 NIV

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7 NIV

Hey Stumblers! 

I need your prayers this week. The ever-present pothole in my life's path has been anxiety. I struggle with it almost on a daily basis, but by God's grace I am usually able to keep it under control. This week my anxiety has been exceptionally bad, however. I can't just pray it away. I can't ignore it. Deep breaths aren't ridding me of it. Nothing seems to be working. 

I know that there is no reason to worry (in fact I wrote a blog post about it)... however my body does not seem to listen to logic and my faith seems to be too weak to simply "cast it onto God." Through it all, my heart still chooses to race, my mind chooses to spin, and my adrenaline chooses to pump. I can't seem to catch my breath and I have been having trouble sleeping. 

I've been struggling to understand why God doesn't free me from my anxiety. I have to believe it is my own failing as the Bible says, "the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace" (Romans 8:6 NIV) and Jesus promised  "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:27 NIV). My faith is small. Just like Simon Peter, I let my lack of faith allow me to sink into the crashing waves rather than rising above. 

This is my struggle. This is my stumble. I would like to selfishly ask you pray for me. My faith is apparently too weak for my prayers alone to allow me to overcome this struggle. However, I know that with your help I can overcome this, as Jesus said, "I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven." (Matthew 18:19 NIV). I hope you can come together in agreement with me and pray that this anxiety has a dangerous stronghold in my life. I need you to pray that God would give me the faith to trust in Him so I have no reason to worry, and that He would remove anxiety from my body, mind, and heart completely --today and forevermore. 

Thank you, Stumblers. I would encourage those of you who have prayer requests of your own to submit them  in the comments section so that I can return the favour and pray for you in your struggles. 

Sunday Sprint: Don't Walk... Fly!

" ³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,

       and young men stumble and fall;

 ³¹ but those who hope in the LORD

       will renew their strength.

       They will soar on wings like eagles;

       they will run and not grow weary,

       they will walk and not be faint."

Isaiah 40:30-31 (NIV)

There is no one in this entire world who can live this life without stumbling. Everyone gets tired. Everyone drags their feet. Not even gold medalist Olympians could play their sport ceaselessly without getting tired. 

When I'm feeling overwhelmed, tired, stressed, and burdened to the breaking point, I need to remember that I have an intimate relationship with a God that can not only carry me, but carry all my problems as well. I can live this life without being a Daily Stumbler if I depend on God to daily pick me up and sustain me. I can walk, run, and SOAR if I have the Lord at my side.

Thank you God for enabling me to fly when the best I can do on my own is crawl. Thank-you for giving me a hope to keep my spirit going, even when my body is not willing. 

-Me

Sunday Sprint: Don't Judge Me!

JUDGE: to form a judgment or opinion of; decide upon critically.

"...let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way." (Romans 14:13 NIV)

 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." (Luke 6:37 NIV)

REBUKE: to express sharp, stern disapproval of; reprove; reprimand.

 "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him." (Luke 17:3 NIV)

"Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning."            (1 Timothy 5:20 NIV) 

Often people confuse the above two terms. A person being rebuked for their sinful behavior mistakenly retorts with the oft-used phrase "Don't Judge Me!". Meanwhile, an extremist church stands outside an abortion clinic holding up signs that say "You're Going to Hell!"

Jesus made it clear in the Bible--judgment lies with God, not with people. Christians are not to pass judgement on each other or others. They have no right to decide what a person's reward or punishment should be. They have no right to be critical of others when they, themselves, are guilty of sin. However, this does not mean that Christians should not correct sinful behavior in each other or others. This is what's known as a rebuke. It is important that Christians give and take correction humbly and not maliciously.

On the other hand, Christians are told not to be "stumbling" blocks to one another. This means that if one Christian feels something is "wrong", and it is not expressly sinful according to the Bible, another Christian should not partake in this activity around the other. For example, one Christian believes drinking alcohol of any kind is wrong, another Christian believes that drinking is fine in moderation. However, the moderate Christian should respect the other Christian's conscience and abstain from drinking alcohol in their presence.

Moral of the story:  Never Judge. Rebuke Sins. Respect Others' Consciences.