What Does the Lord Look For?

Today's post comes from my current read, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World," by Joanna Weaver.





Are you a little bit Mary and a little bit Martha? Or, as in my case, a whole lot of Martha?! Read on for encouragement. God doesn't expect us to live in any extreme, but he does expect us to be transformed from either extreme as we grow closer to Him. We can have balance in our lives if we learn how to.

Ms. Weaver says:

"(God) isn't looking as much for workers as he is looking for sons and daughters--a people to pour his life into."

..."When we put work before worship, we put the cart before the horse. The cart is important; but the horse must come first, or we end up pulling the cart ourselves. Frustrated and weary, we can nearly break under the pressure of service, for there is always something that needs to be done."

"When we first spend time in his presence--when we take time to hear his voice--God provides the horsepower we need to pull the heaviest load. He saddles up Grace and invites us to take a ride."

Amen to that.

Later she adds, .."Good news is woven through the New Testament in a grace-filled strand that shines especially bright in the Gospel stories of Mary and Martha. The message is this: Salvation isn't about what I do; it's about what Jesus did."

I don't know about you, but these are good thoughts for me to begin my day with!
Warmest blessings,

Linore

Cheer Up! These Things Are True

Yesterday my pastor gave our church some truths to consider
which can make any dark cloud seem just a little brighter if you
think about them. The key is to really consider the meaning of these
four immutable and perfectly beautiful truths:

If you are a child of God (and not everyone is, you know)
then you can say the following:
1. I am CHOSEN
2. I am ADOPTED
3. I am REDEEMED
4. I am FORGIVEN

These things are true for the Christian no matter he or she feels;
no matter how low they feel they've gone;
no matter what they've done;
no matter what they think.

A person who has placed his or her faith and trust in Christ as
their Lord and Savior is always, at all times, irrevocably,
CHOSEN (called out from the crowd; set apart; picked specifically for God)
ADOPTED (Removed from their old life and into God's family; they have a new
identity; a new name; a new reason for being.)
REDEEMED (living for a purpose; given meaning to their lives; freed from
the chains of their past or their history)
FORGIVEN (made ready for heaven; no longer held guilty for sins--as long as there is ongoing prayer and asking for forgiveness.)

This really is GOOD NEWS.
I hope it's true for you as it is for me.
Have questions? Need to know how to become a part of God's family?
Leave a comment and I'll get back to you.

Warmest blessings,

Linore