That was (not) easy.

 I have a button on my desk, which if you press, says, “That was easy.”

I wish I could say life was easy, but most of us cannot say that. Even the people who look like they have a charmed life probably don’t behind the scenes.

What do we do when life is not easy?  As a Christian, there is only one viable option… which is to hand it all over to Jesus.  Easier to say than do…I know.  Too often I try to hold on to things.  (Worry about them, stew over them, etc.—as if that will really do any good.) 

I am trying to be better at handing things over to Jesus.  Daily and hourly, as needed, I am trying to make the CHOICE to hand the difficulties that come over to Him. (verbally in prayer if needed)

These things I hand over are usually things I cannot change. (My family’s health problems, aging parents, my Sister’s handicaps, etc.)  Sometimes I try to grab them back. 

I have to choose to hand them over!  Again and again!

Life is not easy.  It is difficult.  That is what Jesus is for.

Hand it over!

Blessings,

Thora

Have you ever heard the phrase, “It’ s not about you!”

Too often, we think things are about us.

Actually, it all revolves around the King (Jesus that is).

 I heard a talk on this topic years ago….the fact that everything revolves around the King.  I was thinking back on this the last couple of days.  Everything important really does revolve around the King.

 When life gets busy, we easily start to think things revolve around us…what people do to us, say to us, say about us, what we think they are saying, what they are not saying, and so on.  It is way too easy to get wrapped up in simply how things affect….us.

 In reality, all things should revolve around the King.  He is the one we should all be focusing on.  If we were all focusing on Him, we would be worrying less about how things were affecting us.  We would not think we were in the center of so much happening around us.  (Have you ever heard the phrase, “It’s not about you.”)

 I’m asking God to help me remember it all revolves around Him!

 It’s not about me.

Blessings,

Thora

Questions for the Soul…

I read a book years ago about keeping my own “spiritual fires” lit as a leader.  I was thinking back on that the other day…nurturing the soul.

So…what does that mean?  I think it would mean things like…time with God, perseverance, pressing into God, courage to do what I know I should do even if I don’t feel like it, times of solitude, and asking the difficult questions.  (you could add 50  more items to this list easily)

So, this makes me think…When in the Bible does God give anyone an easy job?  When life gets crazy….these things are easier said than done.

However, if I am to finish my life well, I need to put them into practice on a regular basis.

Do we really have a choice to nurture ourown soul and keep our own personal “spiritual fires” lit.  

Tim. 4:7 Talks about spending your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness.

In what ways do you train for spiritual fitness?

1 Tim. 6:11-12 says, “But you, Timothy, belong to God; so run from all these evil things, and follow what is right and good.  Pursue a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness; Fight the good fight for what we believe. . . . “

I want to encourage all of us to press through with courage for whatever the day brings.

Here are some good “Soul“Questions for reflection and discussion:

1. Are you seeking times of solitude?
2. What feelings are you storing up?
3. Are you accountable to anyone?
4. Is there anyone with whom you find yourself competing?
5. Do you have any replenishing relationships?
6.  What insecurities am I pampering?
7. What rewards am I seeking?
8. What guilt or shame might I be carrying?

 Ask God to speak to you and He will.  It is good for the soul!

 Blessings,

Thora

The weekend of August 22-23, Pastor Brian started a new series on leadership. If you missed that weekend service for some reason, I want to encourage you to either get the CD or listen online by clicking here.

Let me just say, that I couldn’t take notes fast enough.  Brian was speaking truth after truth about much more than leadership.  It was really about living a life of obedience.

One truth stood out above the rest:  Saying yes always involves a very big no.

How I have learned that in my own life, and STILL need to learn it in some areas.  For example, saying yes to reading God’s Word often involves saying no to novel.  Saying yes to healthy eating means saying no to that extra piece of pizza.  

 Not only is this truth good for spiritual discipline, but it’s a healthy truth for finding balance in my life. I would like to just say yes to every good thing.  But I only have so much time, so much energy and so much money.  

Every time I say yes to an opportunity, I have to say no to something else.  If I keep trying to do it all, I’ll drive myself (and those around me) crazy. 

I said yes to home schooling my daughter Cathrine.  And I’m having to say no to a number of things in order to fit it in to our schedule.  My no is Facebook.  I just don’t have the time to check it. 

In the coming month, many women will be stepping in to a position of leadership in a small group.  These women have said yes to serving God by serving other women.  My guess is that each one is having to say no to a lot.  No to the fear that no one will show up.  No to the insecurity that she doesn’t know enough.  No to the extra time she had on Saturday morning or Wednesday night.  That’s just one group of women who are saying yes and making sacrifices.  There are many more.

Even though saying yes means saying no to something, I have found that God blesses a “yes heart.”  It is my prayer that every woman who says yes to God at VCNP has her cup of blessings filled to overflowing. 

In His Love,

Glynnis Whitwer

www.GlynnisWhitwer.com