Tuesday October 7th, 2014: Blessing To Be A Blessing

Devotions

I go to a very compassion driven church. We are constantly serving in some sort of way. Whether its single moms, abused foster kids, or orphans in India, we’re serving someone! Because of this culture, serving has become a huge part of my life. I want those who are in difficult times to know that Jesus loves them and He hasn’t forsaken them.

I have a heart for the homeless. I think that so many of them lose hope (because of their living condition) and this couldn’t be more saddening. Jesus never ever gives up on these people, but so many of them don’t realize this.

Over the weekend I went with a group of kids from my youth group to Downtown Dallas to serve the homeless with some hygiene and food items. We had all the items in backpacks and as we walked around we gave away the backpacks. We had the opportunity to pray with a lot of them too. It’s really interesting to talk to the homeless because you find out you actually have a lot in common with them.

I had the privilege of meeting a sweet man named Larry. Larry looked like a normal dude. He had on very normal clothes. Normal haircut. As I was talking to Larry he began to tell me his story. He was from California and had been a drug dealer for 19 years. He had gone to jail, which forced him to get sober, and found the Lord. Once Larry was released he came to Dallas to start somewhere new. He has only been living in Dallas for 2 weeks and currently lives in a shelter but is in search for a permanent living situation.

By the end of our conversation I realized that his story is much like mine. We’re both sinners in need of Jesus! Even though I’ve never sold drugs or served jail time, we are so much alike.

My point in sharing this with you is to share how important serving is. We get caught up in one point of view of life and forget that not everyone grew up in church like us, or go to Christian schoo,l or have iPhones. When you serve, you become humbled. You learn that you aren’t better than the drug addict on the streets. You have sin in your life too! If you don’t currently serve, find a way to serve someone! Maybe you can get a group of friends together and hand out free water at the mall or offer prayer to people waiting in hospital waiting areas. Maybe it’s serving your mom or dad by putting your dishes into the dishwasher. Don’t get overwhelmed feeling like you have to do this huge service project. Start small and see where God takes you from there.

Tuesday September 30th, 2014: But Christ

Devotions

I hope everyone is having a great Tuesday! I’ve realized something revolutionary recently… God is too good to me. I don’t deserve this life. I don’t deserve to be blessed with the friends I have. I don’t deserve my supportive family. I don’t deserve my amazing church family. I don’t deserve my school.

But Christ.

I am a sinner. I fall short daily… Hourly… Sometimes by the minute.

But Christ.

Because of Christ I am richly blessed. Because of Christ, and His love for me, I gained eternity. This has nothing to do with my good works. It is all about Christ.

“A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.” Proverbs 28:20 NIV

Now don’t get me wrong… There are some days where I don’t think that God can do anything with my mess of a life. But…

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” Ephesians 3:20 NLT

God is about to provide anything you need. He is going to provide blessing to you in such a way so that you will even have some left over to share!

“And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” 2 Corinthians 9:8 NLT

So today recognize the blessings in your life. Then think about how you can bless others with your blessings.

Thursday September 25th, 2014: Love Others… Really Love Them. Romans 12:9-11

Devotions

“Don’t just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically.” Romans 12:9-11 NLT

This is a hard one… Love others. Like really love them. Love them even though you may have different opinions. Love them even though you may not agree with how they are living their life. Love them through it ALL. Hate what is wrong… Yes hate it and do not take part in it but continue to love people even if you hate that they are doing wrong. Take delight in honoring each other. What does that even mean? Delight means to take pleasure in. So make it your pleasure to honor each other. This could be like complimenting someone’s shoes or maybe how they include someone. Never be lazy because we are to serve the Lord in everything we do!

Try loving someone who is usually hard to love. Honor your friends. Serve the Lord enthusiastically. It’s your call!

Happy Thursday!

Tuesday September 23rd, 2014: It Is Not Enough To Be Busy

Devotions

“It is not enough to be busy. So are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about?” –Henry David Thoreau

I tweeted this quote a last week and I just can’t stop thinking about it. It is not enough to be busy. We must ask ourselves what we are busy about. Are we busy with sports or social media or our boyfriend or school? Has God taken the sideline in your busy schedule?

“Whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, you must do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 NLT

This verse gets me every time… WHATEVER you do, do it for the glory of God. So this includes time management. Sometimes I lay in bed at night thinking about all the opportunities I missed because I was “too busy” to reach people. I mean if you are a Christian every moment of your day should be spent intentional, right? Did you even have time to think about God today?

I am by no means saying I’ve got this all down either. I don’t. I just feel convicted personally because I am so busy but I don’t know where my time goes! How intentional am I being with my time? So today think about how you can be intentional with your time.

Thursday September 18th, 2014: SHERO Kara Gore

Shero

Today I’m starting a new category on the blog called Sheros, which I got from Taylor! A Shero is a she hero (duh 🙂 ). Sheros are woman I find who exemplify the Proverbs 31 woman. These are women who put others before themselves and personify Jesus.

Today’s Shero is Kara Gore. Kara Gore is your modern day superwoman! I have the privilege of personally knowing her. Kara and her husband Shane have three adorable kids, Hayze (11), and twin girls Morgan and Makenna (9). Kara works with the youth at my church and as I’ve gotten to know her, she has become a role model to me.

Kara is the real deal. She is the most organized person I know. She can do literally anything. She handles herself with so much grace and humility. She has taught me what it looks like to balance church, a marriage, and raising kids. If you know Kara you know that she is truly Jesus with skin. Kara is willing to do anything for others. She would give you the shirt off her back. She is an amazing woman and a true SHERO!

-What do you like to do in your free time?

I love to spend time with my kids and husband. I know I only have a certain time with my kids so I try to spend as much time with them as I can. I also like having people over at our house. When I have time for myself I like to go shopping… Every momma who gets alone time needs some retail therapy! 🙂

-Would you have imagined your life looking like this when you were a teenager?

No, not at all. When I graduated high school I thought I wanted to be a paralegal. I grew up in church, but I never would’ve thought I would end up working in the church. I wouldn’t have imagined marrying a pastor either. Not that I wouldn’t have, but I just wasn’t living my life the right way. I wouldn’t have thought that God would’ve used me.

-If you could go back and change anything in your past would you, if so what?

Yes, just choices I made about boys that I liked and the way that I lived my life. I would’ve been a stronger Christian.

-What are some encouraging words to teenagers/ young women?

Pray about decisions and consult the Lord in every decision you make. In your dating life, friendships, etc. Make good choices. I learned the hard the way and I wish that I would’ve learned that the first time around. It’s better to make good decisions early in life than to look back with regrets. I also wish I would’ve been a better example at school and been a better Christ like example in my classmates lives.

-Favorite Scripture

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28

Get connected with Kara:

Twitter: @karagore

Instagram: @kgore

Thursday September 11th, 2014: Romans 8: 31-39 Nothing Can Separate Us From God’s Love

Devotions

Today is the fourth and final post of the Romans 8 series :(. If you missed the first three they are here, here, and here! I hope you guys have enjoyed this series as much as I have! Happy Thursday.

“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.” Romans 8:31-34

If God is for us, who can be against us? Some days I feel like everyone is against me, my parents, my teachers, strangers, even my friends. Then I’m reminded of this verse… God is for me! Those other people don’t matter because the highest king is for me! He spared His one and only Son for me! His son became my advocate with the Father. Jesus made me blameless. My debt has been paid!

“Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?(As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” Romans 8:35-37

His love has no exceptions. It doesn’t leave us when we’re in trouble. It doesn’t leave is when we’re in tribulations. It doesn’t leave is when we’re in danger. It never leaves us. His love is our victory.

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

What can separate us from Christ’s love? Nothing. Not life or death, not angels or demons, not fears or worries. Not even the powers of hell or powers of the sky above or in the earth below. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.

As always, thanks for reading!

Tuesday August 26th, 2014: Fruits

Devotions

“A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad.” Matthew 12:33 NIV

So how does this apply to your life? Your life produces either good or bad fruit and people will identify you by it. As Christians we should try to be a good tree with good fruit.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had a conversation with a non- Believer only to find out that the reason they don’t have a relationship with God is because of other Christian’s bad fruit. Now I’m not saying that this is truly the reason they don’t have a relationship with God but what if we didn’t give them a chance to say that. Too often than not we call ourselves Christians but have bad fruit… Because we are Christians our tree should be good creating good fruit!

So today’s challenge is to look at your tree… Are you producing good or bad fruit because your life will be identified by it.