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Showing posts from May, 2024

Overflowing with Divine Love

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  Overflowing with Divine Love This is a different one, a little personal;  I just wanted to share some thoughts that have been swirling around in my heart lately. It's about the presence of God and how it's not something that's doled out in tiny, measured doses. It's more like this unstoppable force of nature, like a waterfall that just keeps gushing forth after a season of abundant spring rains. I've had moments where I've felt this incredible outpouring of love and grace. It's like standing beneath a waterfall; you can't escape the flow, it just envelops you in its entirety. That's how God's presence has been for me – overwhelming in the best possible way. It's not just a trickle or a stream, it's a mighty river that pours out of the Father's heart, and it's meant to saturate every part of our being. When I've allowed myself to just be still and take it all in, it's like my heart becomes a conduit for this divine river....

Embracing Grace in the Present Without Predicting Tomorrow

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  Embracing Grace in the Present Without Predicting Tomorrow In contemplating life, it's important that we acknowledge a source of strength and comfort often discussed in religious contexts: grace. The concept that God's grace is a gift freely given, not earned or deserved, shapes many believers' understanding of spiritual sustenance. It is said to be enough for our day-to-day needs, encouraging us to live in the moment and trust that our needs for today will be met without anxious stockpiling for an uncertain future. Moreover, this notion of grace extends beyond mere provision; it's intertwined with the idea of being present and content in the 'here and now.' When we try to predict or control the future, we drift away from living in grace. Instead, we often find ourselves oscillating between premature celebration or unnecessary worrying. By waiting for the actual outcomes and embracing the journey, rather than bracing for hypotheticals, we can experience a...

God is a Good Gardener: Transforming Life's Chaos into a Flourishing Garden

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  God is a Good Gardener: Transforming Life's Chaos into a Flourishing Garden In our lives, much like in a garden, there can be elements that seem harmful and destructive—anger, sin, and the chaos of daily struggles. Yet, in the hands of an adept gardener, what appears detrimental can become the very substance that nurtures and enriches. Similarly, when we entrust the troublesome parts of our existence to God, who is likened to a gardener, we find that He has a unique way of transforming it all. He takes the raw material of our lives, the good, the bad, and the broken, and composts it into something that can foster new growth and beauty. Just as a skilled gardener knows exactly when to prune the branches to encourage a plant to thrive, God too knows the precise moments to intervene in our lives. His pruning may sometimes feel harsh, like a loss or a letting go, but it is always purposeful. The pain of being pruned is only momentary when compared to the abundance of fruit that c...

How the 8 Fold Path Can Guide Christians to Overcome Modern Anxiety

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  How the 8 Fold Path Can Guide Christians to Overcome Modern Anxiety In navigating the complexities and anxieties of modern life, many of us seek pathways that can provide a template for a balanced and ethical way of living. The Eightfold Path, a core concept of Buddhism, offers a structured approach to human behavior that emphasizes moral conduct, meditation, and wisdom. While it is rooted in the teachings of the Buddha, the universality of its principles allows people of diverse faiths, including Christians, to apply its lessons in a manner that aligns with their own beliefs. This approach encourages us to live with compassion, nurture wisdom, and deepen our practice in ways that can alleviate the burdens of daily stress. As Christians, we can draw parallels between the teachings of Jesus and the principles found within the Eightfold Path. By interpreting these Buddhist concepts through the lens of Christian theology, we can find common ground focusing on love, compassion, a...

Let's Keep Our Eyes on Jesus: Discovering Life's Real Miracles through Faith

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  Let's Keep Our Eyes on Jesus: Discovering Life's Real Miracles through Faith In our journey through life, distractions are plentiful, and sometimes we lose sight of the true source of transformation and hope. When we elevate our gaze and fix our eyes on Jesus, it's like redirecting the compass of our soul toward true north. Jesus is not only the foundation of our faith but the dynamo of miraculous changes, the starting point of ‘newness’ in our lives. Our faith is personal yet shared, a tapestry woven through individual lives and experiences but centered on a single figure: Christ. Through shifting our focus to Jesus, we unlock a reservoir of life-altering energy. This approach does more than just guide us; it creates the conditions for profound shifts in our lives, akin to the fresh start afforded to Lazarus. It's about tethering our daily walk to a powerful pathway lined with potential new beginnings. Key Takeaways Adjusting our focus to Jesus is key to experiencing...