Goodness

Goodness

“The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.” Romans 8:7

As humans, we are born into sin. Romans 8:7 says that we are “hostile to God”, that we are opposed to God’s ways. Our natural decisions, as humans, lean towards sin. We are born into the mindset that we should defy God and his ways.

Genesis 3 details the story of “The Fall”. We see that Adam and Eve fall prey to Satan’s lies, separating us from God. This sin is why we need to be sure to display fruits of goodness, as our very nature is sinful. Paul included goodness in the fruits of the spirit, not because it is easy, but because it is necessary. To have a relationship with God, we must be free of our sins and come to the truth.

Goodness is being righteous and truthful, free from sin. Having the fruit of goodness means that you overcome the sin that is in your life. It means that you choose to follow God’s ways and not your own.  

Satan is constantly trying to get into our minds, he is trying to make us do bad. But, our example is Christ. 1 Peter 2:24a states, “and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.” This verse is telling us that Christ came so that we can leave our sins behind. We are to live a life of righteousness, of goodness, in response to the sin that we have been freed from and the love that we have been shown.

Goodness is about living a life that is free from sin. It is living in response to the love and truth that God has given us. Go and live life as God intended, live justly and truthfully.

Kindness

Kindness

The woman in the picture above is about to receive an offering from the older woman. We cannot see her face, but can you imagine how she feels? She is probably smiling, thankful for the gift she is about to receive.  Kindness makes us feel good. When we are kind, we show the world a piece of God’s character.

We are kind to others because God was first kind to us. He shows us this kindness by providing us with our needs. He meets not only physical needs, but spiritual needs, like love, joy, and hope. When we have been shown this kindness, it is only natural to pass it on to others.

God requires us to be kind to our enemies. 1 Samuel 25 tells the story of David and Nabal. David had been kind to Nabal’s men when they had crossed paths with them, so David was expecting Nabal to return the kindness by providing for David and his men. But, Nabal turned David away, saying that his servants can lie and that it is not his job to meet the needs of people he does not know. David took his men and tried to discipline Nabal, but God stepped in. God sent Abigail, Nabal’s wife, to stop David from punishing Nabal for his unkindness. Soon after this, God punished Nabal and he died.

It is not our job to repay people for unkindness, it is the Lord’s. Romans 12:17-21 states that “If your enemy is hungry, feed him: if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” We must be kind to everyone. If we know them or not, if we like them or not, does not matter. God calls us to be kind to everyone by meeting their needs in the same manner that he has met ours. God wants us to be kind to everyone: enemies, friends, family, strangers. When we are kind to others, we show God’s love to them.  

Patience

Patience

Patience is so much more than waiting in a long line at the grocery store. It is more than having to wait two weeks for your amazon shipment. It is more than waiting to see if you got the job you applied for. When you are patient, you are waiting for something that you do not even understand. We must be patient when we work with God because we must stand by until his plan is ready. We do not know what he is doing, but we sit with anticipation of the glorious plan that he has in the works.

Patience is a fruit of the spirit because it is a necessary trait for you to be able to have a fruitful life. In Ephesians 1:4-6 Paul states that for the body of Christ to have unity, we must be patient with one another. We must be tolerant of each other and be able to cooperate. This helps us to do the works God has called us and to build his kingdom. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 states that two are better than one. For this to be true, we must work together and be forgiving of one another.

Patience is required to endure the suffering that is found on this earth. We must be patient with God and his plan if we are to endure this world. In James 5:10-11, we see that there are many who have suffered in the name of the Lord. But, these verses also tell us that because of their patience, the Lord was merciful on them. They waited on God’s timing and he provided for them.

Hebrews 6:15 states that “After waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.” Abraham was promised to be made the father of many nations, that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars (Genesis 17). He was almost 100 years old when this happened. Abraham and his wife, Sarah, has been waiting for years for a child, but they had to be patient. Abraham tried to fulfill God’s promises on his own (Genesis 16), but that was not God’s best for him. He had to wait until God was ready, he could not act on his own timing. We can see that after waiting, Abraham received something greater than he could have ever imagined.

Be patient. Wait until God brings you what is best for you. You may not know what you are even waiting for, but do it with perseverance and trust. God will see you through, you just need to wait for his timing.

Peace

Peace

“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

We all long for peace. But, in this world, we are not promised to always have a peaceful life. This life is hard and long, anything but peaceful. But, having the fruit of peace is being at peace in the situations you are in. It is reacting calmly to whatever comes your way.  Peace is being in a mental state of calm that comes from being in a relationship with God. There are two types of peace. There is the peace that comes in initial salvation and the peace that comes as a result of living everyday with Jesus.

The first kind of peace comes when we accept God’s grace. There is a sudden peace that floods into your life because you now know the enormity that is God. Your future is set and your needs are cared for. That is the peace that comes from your first encounter with God. When you know where you are going to be for eternity, it makes it so much easier to come to peace with the situations you are placed in on Earth.

The second peace comes when you live your everyday life with Jesus. It comes when you wake up in the morning and give your day to God. Peace comes from fellowship with God and daily growth in your faith life. When you spend your days drowning in the love of the Lord, you cannot help but be at peace.

John 14:27 tells us that when Jesus left the Earth, he left his peace for his disciples in the form of the Holy Spirit. He does not give us the worries of the world, but the peace of his spirit. We do not need to be afraid or troubled in this life because his peace is there everyday to comfort us. All we need to do is accept his spirit and live everyday with him.

Joy

Joy

With so much going on in our lives, it can be hard to be joyful. With tests, deadlines, appointments, disappointments, and heartbreaks, it is difficult to remember joy. But, during all of that, think of all the good things that have happened. You woke up, you had food to eat, you have a God that loves you. If you think about all the good things that happen on even it worst of days, then you will begin to question how we could ever forget to have joy.

True joy comes from God. Everyday when we wake up, we find joy in our Lord. He gives us the joy, the strength, to face the day. Joy is so much more than basic happiness. It is a deep and lasting sense that will not fade even during the hard times. You can be sad, but still rejoice. You can be exhausted, but still rejoice. In every season of your life you can rejoice in the Lord.

There are many things you can do to be more joyful in your everyday life. My favorite way is to keep a “joy journal”. In it, I write all the things I am thankful for, all the things that make me happy. I do whatever I want in it, with no expectations of how each page will come out. You could paint in it, tape in pictures, draw, make lists, use stickers and stamps, paste in movie tickets, or write yourself encouraging notes. Only include things that bring joy rushing into you, so that when you open it you can feel all the more encouraged.

True joy comes from God, but that joy can come in many forms. Other things you can do to cultivate joy in your life are surround yourself with joyful people, be in constant communication with God, listen to good music, or go somewhere that brings you joy, like a park or coffee shop.

Remember that you can be joyful on even the worst of days. Being joyous will change your outlook on life for the better. Ask God to work in your heart and mind to give you a more joyful outlook on life.

Much Love, Lydia

Love

Love

The greatest commandment is to love (Matthew 22:37-39). We are to love God with our entire being and love people as much as God loves us. But to understand the love we must display to others, we must first understand the love that God has for us. "To love your neighbor as yourself" is so much more than that. It is to love your neighbor as God loves you.

In Romans 8 Paul describes the love of God as deep, wide, unconditional, and more powerful than anything you could ever imagine. God loves you with an all-encompassing love. He loves you so much that he sent his son to die for you, even though you do not deserve it. We do not deserve to wake up, have food, friends, clothes, or even life. But God loves you that much. We see his abounding and ferocious love on display every day. There is no way to even begin to comprehend how much God loves you.

Imagine loving yourself that much. Imagine forgiving yourself every day and not living in guilt and shame. Let love shine in your life. Be a broken vessel. Pour your love out through your cracks. We are all incredibly stained by sin, but when love shines through, we create beautiful  stained glass windows. Our sin, our brokenness, can become beautiful. Lay down your pride, so you can love. Lay down your guilt, so you can love. Your shame, fear, regrets, past, everything. Lay everything down at the feet of Jesus. And then go and be free to love others. Love others as much as God loves you.

Love can be scary. I am scared of lots of things that God has put in front of me. I am scared of publishing this blog, but I did it anyways or else you wouldn’t be reading it. I am scared of making new friends and losing old ones. I am scared of offending people. I am scared of not displaying God's love properly. I am terrified of these and so many more things. But, I am not going to let that stand in my way of loving people. When you have found true love, there will be no fear. When you love from God's heart, you do not need to be afraid. For, as 1 John 4:18 says, there is no fear in love. Maybe you are like me. Maybe you are afraid to love for whatever reason. But, I have found that God makes a garden in the places that we thought barren. He will let love flourish in your life, if you just let him in.

Do not be afraid to love. You are loved so much and there is no fear in perfect love.  Love people like God loves, unconditionally and completely. Start small. Say hello to someone, invite them to coffee, write them an encouraging note. Let your love shine out into the community. Remember, God never runs out of love, so do not be afraid to pour yourself out onto people. Pour your little clay jar out onto the world and trust that God will always fill you back up.

Much love, Lydia

How to Focus on God

How to Focus on God

It can be hard to focus on God sometimes. There are seasons when we are busy, exhausted, and distracted. So, how can we keep our focus on God? Here are my top tips to keep God at the top of your mind and the center of your heart.

1. Pray Continually. Whenever you meet somebody new, say a prayer for them. When you hear a siren, say a prayer. When something good happens, send up a praise. Thank God that you made it home safely. Pray for your parents or you kids. Pray for your tests and your football games. Pray for safety, health, love, patience, and peace. Be in constant communication with God.
2. Go on a date with God. Plan time into your schedule daily, or even weekly, to be with God. Write it down on your calendar or in your agenda. Make it a time where you sit in God’s presence and focus in on what he is trying to tell you. Don’t let yourself out of it, you wouldn’t cancel a coffee date with your friends, so don’t cancel on God.
3. Be in Community. Attend a church, bible study, or small group. Having people to learn from and walk alongside is so important in keeping yourself accountable. Being at church or a bible study helps you to deepen your understanding of God and his word. Joining a small group will put you with like minded people who can help you along your faith journey.
4. Have a daily devotional. You can get a book or an app that will give you a reading each day. This helps you to refocus on God each day, as well as giving you something specific to think about that day. Daily bible readings/verses can do the same thing. Make sure you dive into the word of God daily, even if it is for just one verse.
5. Listen to Christian music. Hearing people praising our marvelous God through song is a great way to focus on God. It takes little effort, but has a huge effect. There is so much fabulous music out there, so find a genre you like and get listening. You will be amazed at the difference it can make!

These are my top 5 tips in how to focus on God. Have you done any of these things? Do you have any others? Please comment below. I would love to hear from you!

Top 10 New Testament Verses

Top 10 New Testament Verses

The New Testament is the story of God’s love for his people. It is full of wisdom and encouragement in running the race that is Christian life. I picked out my 10 favorite verses to share with y’all today. I hope you find the comfort and the grace of God in these verses, and that they will encourage you in your daily life!

1. Matthew 10:27 “What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs” I love this verse because it tells us to share the love of Christ with the entire world.
2. Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” This verse gives me so much peace. Knowing that I can come and lay all of my baggage down at the foot of the cross lightens my heart and my mind.
3. Matthew 19:26. “But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” I prefer this verse to Philippians 4:13 because it gives all the glory to God. I cannot do anything by myself, but when God is there, all things are possible.
4. Matthew 20:28 “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” This verse explains the entire gospel to me. It states that Jesus came to serve all his people and to give up his life for us. In response to that, we must love and serve as Jesus did.
5. Luke 9:23-26 “Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.’” To follow Jesus, you must put in work and time every single day. Everyday you need to wake up and dedicate your day to following Jesus and doing as he says. If you give away your earthly life, you will gain a heavenly life. Do not be ashamed of Jesus, for he is the one that has saved you. This verse is such a good reminder of how we need to act and the dedication that needs to be put into a relationship with Jesus.
6. John 1:1-5 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” This verse reminds me of the eternity of God. He has always been and always will be. He shines through our dark lives and removes sin from the picture.
7. Romans 12:9-21. This is a very long passage, but it talks about loving your enemies. It is not our place to judge, but it is our place to love. My favorite verse in this passage is verse 21, which states “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
8. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7. Another long passage, this one is about how God comforts us. It is titled “Praise to the God of All Comfort”, which is amazing to me. God comforts us, so that we can comfort others. In our troubles, he is there. He is there in our times of suffering and our times of comfort, always fueling us so that we can help others.
9. Ephesians 3:16-21 “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” This is just part of the verse, because it is another long one, but it is so amazing. This is my favorite prayer of all time! It talks about how Christ strengthens us and his deep love for us. This is so powerful to me and so important.
10. Philippians 1:9-11 “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,  filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” Another one of Paul’s powerful prayers, that talks about the deep and abounding love that we need to have for people. We need to do what Christ has ordained always to the glory of God.

These are 10 of my favorite verses from the New Testament. What are you favorites? Please comment below! I would love to hear from you!