The Heart of a Branch

I recently acquired a box full of branches to use for craft projects. I began to cut them in pieces today, and one of the first cuts I made revealed this cute little heart! It was such a pleasant surprise! I feel like it was hidden there just for me! I love the little things that nature surprises us with! 

Dirt

I am SO glad football season has started up again! I have been increasingly interested in football over the past two or three seasons. I never really understood the game as a child and young adult, but my husband took the time to explain it to me. And I LOVE it!! Now I remind him when the games are coming on and who is playing and such. We enjoy game days immensely! And being in a new area, it is always easy to talk about the local sports when meeting new friends! It is easy to talk to people about things they enjoy. 

Something that has been increasingly difficult to talk about is my faith. To be honest, with all of the scrutiny on Christianity right now, the last thing I want to do is to start up a conversation with a stranger about Christianity- hoping they will understand and accept the Good News. I don't want to take that chance. Sure, they may listen, understand, and accept Christ, but with growing hostility towards those of us who choose to stand on the principles of God's Word, I fear that I would face ridicule rather than acceptance. I fear that I would anger those to whom I reach out, and I want to avoid that possibility at all costs.

"At all costs"- what is the cost? What is the cost of NOT sharing Christ with others? If Christ is not shared, the souls of men will not be reconciled to God, and those who have not been reconciled to God through Christ will be eternally separated from Him in a place of eternal torment (Hell). That is the cost- a cost that someone will have to pay because I feared rejection. 

How do I overcome the fear of rejection to the point where fear is replaced with motivation and mobilization? I must come to the realization that, I must share the truth with everyone regardless of how I feel they may or may not accept it. Their acceptance or rejection of the gospel will depend on the state of their heart, and only God knows the condition of each man's heart. God knows my heart better than I know it myself, and so it is with every person. 

Matthew 13:3-8 is the parable of the sower. The soil represents the heart. The seed represents the Word of God, or the Gospel. The thing that strikes me about the parable, something that I had never considered before, is that the sower just sowed. He spread the seed around obviously not considering where it went. He just worried about getting it out there. Nature would take care of the rest. The seed that fell on good soil would be nurtured and grow. In the same way, I as a Christian, am commanded to spread the good news of the Gospel. I don't need to worry about the state of the soil. The Holy Spirit is the one who works on the soil (the heart). 

Dear Lord, may I constantly be reminded of my need to share your love. May I have boldness to live out my faith, to love others as you love them. Please Lord, give me courage from a heart of passion to serve you, and to see others come to know you and live victoriously in you! Let your Word be so deeply rooted in the soil of my heart that it overtakes every area of my life. Let all glory be to you for your greatness and compassion and mercy toward me, Amen. 

Sacrifice

Remembering 9/11

Today, as I reflect on the attacks of terror from 14 years ago, I pray for the families of the victims, and I pray for our nation to become a nation of truth, justice, integrity, and a nation that seeks the One True God.