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Living the Christian life takes effort

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 How merciful and gracious of God to offer eternal life as a free gift!  It’s wonderful that undeserving sinners can trust that Christ was completely righteous in their place and then turn to him in faith.   But this free gift is not meant to simply be admired and appreciated.  God intends for us to live out what we say we believe.   Let’s not be deceived into thinking that the Christian life is just letting go and letting God do his thing.  Those of us who know Christ as Lord and Savior have been granted "by his divine power all things that pertain to life and godliness." (2 Peter 1:3) As “partakers of the divine nature” we have “escaped the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.” (2 Peter 1:4)   God has given us eternal life and it doesn’t start when we die.  It starts now.  And it's so important that we realize it will take effort...diligent effort to live it to the glory of God. Notice the theme of dil...
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God helps us in our messiness

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  No doubt we all have things we are not particularly good at or excelling in.  We all have sin issues, bad habits and ways in which we need to grow.  I am 41 years old.  I am married to a pastor and I have eight kids that I homeschool.  If I shared with you all of the ways in which I struggle on a daily basis and come to the end of myself, it would fill volumes.  I desperately need Christ.  I need his grace.  I need him powerfully working in me, helping me and giving me strength as I cling to him.    But with that said, I am not the same woman I was 20, 10 or even 5 years ago.  I have had victory over sin in my life as I have looked into the “mirror” of God’s Word (James 1:22-25…sometimes with feeble efforts), seen my desperate need for change, and trusted God for the grace and strength I needed to obey what he says.  That is the Christian life.     Today I cried over things I wish were different. ...
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Part of my story

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  I'll just say upfront that I have no idea what I am going to write tonight.  I just have a strong desire to write something.  I have inspiring classical music coming in through my headphones.  All of the small children are in bed.  I can hear my husband and oldest daughter laughing and enjoying their relaxing evening watching Netflix.  With every passing moment, memories are being made.   As I type my mind is filled with thoughts of the future.  Will my children one day read about these seemingly insignificant details and it will be a treasure to them?  I write with this purpose in mind.  I suppose I want to go on being known and have my story be told.  I do wish I were better at telling my story.  There is often much I'd prefer to leave out or hide.  There is much I can never...will never speak of.  Does every parent feel that way?     I know all people sin but is it possible for my precious ...
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God's perfect plans

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I grew up in an Air Force family and we moved to a new place every few years or so.  I know what it feels like to uproot, leave everyone I know (or was atleast getting to know), and start over again.  I don't think I have ever really gotten used to it though.  I have often longed for roots, roots that dig in deep. This longing increases when people talk of being friends for years.  They live and have lived in the same town for a number of years.  They've been through much together.  They know and understand each other and they have many shared experiences.  And there I am...always feeling like the new person that most people don't know yet. I realize that I could fool myself into thinking that life would be so much better...if only it were just so but I know better than to go down that road.  The truth is everyone has a different story.  Mine is as unique as yours is.  But the thing that really gets me is that God planned it all....
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