To Be Still and Know

Have you ever had the same message or topic come your way multiple times in a short time period?  I have and I love it because I know God's speaking to me directly and wants to teach me something, encourage me, or challenge me to grow.  After hearing this same message in a variety of ways I decided to write about what God's been teaching me and maybe someone else who reads this will also be challenged like I have been.   "But anyone who does not love, does not know God, for God is love."  1 John 4:8 Love.  A little four letter word that holds so much meaning. Most people think that love is something you feel.  While there are many types of love (romantic love, parental love, child love, friendship love, familial love) none of them have to do with feeling a certain way.  A simple definition of love would be to choose to treat someone with respect, kindness and selflessness.  To choose to forgive and treat someone the way you would want to be treated.   Love is

"You must each decide in your heart how much to give.  And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure.  'For God loves a person who gives cheerfully .'  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 9:7-8 For years I have struggled with giving simply because we live on a very tight budget.  I would see the bills that needed to be paid and various other needs that I knew were coming up and I would think we just didn't have enough as it was to give anything more.  Let me tell you God is such a patient God!  He convicts us over and over about areas of our lives we need to change and submit fully to Him until we finally surrender our will to His and learn to take a leap of faith, or sometimes just simple baby steps of faith!  God gently lead me to a place of knowing that if I said I trusted Him like I said I did then I needed to trust Him with providi

Do you need more peace in your life?  Do you need more joy?  Do you feel like you never have quite enough of ( fill in the blank )?  Do you ever feel like you, yourself, aren't quite enough?  There is one thing you do need more of and that is contentment .    "Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have." Philippians 4:11 Every day we are inundated with the misconception that we must have the latest and greatest of everything.  The latest iPhone, tablet, smart tv, laptop, upgrades to software, newest style trends, hairstyles, shoes, home decor trend, vehicle, etc and so on.  The list is endless in ways we are told we need to buy more, do more, have more, and be more. I remember one time when I had worked so hard to lose 70 lbs and was feeling really good about myself, I went to my doctor and instead of a really enthusiastic good job, I got "That's good, but you still need to lose 5 more pounds to be within your recomme