A Living Hope: New Growth & Sitting Among Friend #70

Jaime Wiebel — Wed, 12 Apr 2017 07:06:00 +0000

I cannot believe how many dinners I have been burning lately. I think I nailed down the problem today. I love cooking but lately, I love getting it done quickly and I don’t love sitting to watch or stir it. I have other things to do. Taking the time to care for it so it is good has not been my focus.

So, I turn on the dinner, get busy on something and well, there it is, burnt to the bottom of the pan. Not ruined, but needs work.

I had gone through life like many, caught up in the busyness of things. I had been a Christian for a long time but never really grew. I wasn’t willing to stir the pot so I was burnt to the bottom, stuck, in need of work.

The turning point in my life began when I faced a tragedy. I had lost twins in the middle of my pregnancy and it rocked my world.

That event was the start of what God had intended for me all along. He wanted me on my knees in desperate need of Him. He was the only place I could turn for real hope. He is my Living Hope.

I rely on Him for not only the breath I take but the life I breathe.

My true turning point, my true rescue came in His Word.

The words that stand out to me the most from this difficult time comes from Philippians 4:6a, which says, do not worry about anything.

My life had become consumed by worry. The thing I worried about the most was losing my child and here I was in the midst of my worry and I had not only lost one but two.

And God tells me not to worry because He is able to give me peace. God has not promised us life would be easy. He has not guaranteed when we follow Him, He will make all our problems go away and give us lives that are smooth sailing.

What He has promised us was hope for the journey. How we live without that hope, I do not know.

What I do know is for us to really lean into God and trust His words to be true, we have to know Him. We have to know His words.

It is easy to want the quick results. Turn up the bible study and church attendance and that will bring us closer to God. Hang out with Christian people and say Christian things and that will make us feel good.

While all those things may be good and have good results, the best results come from opening God’s Word and seeing who He really is.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

This was my life-changer. This was my life-saver. Earnestly seeking God. I realized through a tragedy that I needed Him desperately but I only began to really know and see Him when I began to seek Him.

We can make studying God’s Word and doing all the “Christian things” just the same way I have been preparing dinner. Look for the quick solution to an end result. Whether the result is good or not, it is done and semi-palatable.

Have you ever said to yourself, I need to spend more time praying or in the Word? I really want to know my bible more and what God’s purpose is for me. I really want to depend on Jesus for everything… but… then life.

We get consumed by life instead by The One who gives us life. We love Jesus but don’t love the work it takes to get to grow in Him.

We want the result, the good meal, without sitting, stirring, and dining with the Bread of Life. We get thirsty but don’t seek water from the Living Well that offers to quench us.

We have been convinced that something is better than nothing and to seek a refuel only when life gets tough. We have been sold on the idea that a couple minutes a day or Sunday morning service will work for our weary hearts.

Let’s be honest, have you ever had a real friendship or deep love for someone you never spent time with or just gave a few minutes a day? I know if that was all I gave to my kids or husband, we would all be in trouble.

While I certainly don’t want to discourage or derail any efforts being made, I think there is a point when we lay our cards out on the table and exam the truth.

God intended that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. For in Him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’ Acts 17:27-28 (BSB)

I want to live, I want to grow, and I to sprout wings and soar, how about you?

If you said, yes, here is the path to that. God intended that we would SEEK Him. Sit with Him. Get to really know who He is so He can help us define who we are and fulfill our purpose with passion. He rewards those who earnestly SEEK Him.

My greatest desire for you and I is that we will not only have a longing to love and know Jesus more, but we will take action in seeking Him. That we will continually grow closer to Him. That we will see Him as our great reward.

I hope we will realize spending time with Him will never leave us empty or thirsty for something else. That we will know Him as Father and Lord of our lives and seek Him earnestly so we experience the Hope that only He can offer.

God sent His only son because He loves us. Because He wants to have this time and fellowship with us. It was made possible through Christ’s death and resurrection. Because He lives, we too, can have life and have it abundantly.

Seek Him. Know Him. Trust Him. Walk with Him.

Personal Reflections:

Do you earnestly seek God yourself or do you rely on others to feed you the truth?

What has been the results or your greatest reward for seeking God?

Although, there are many ways that you can dig into God’s Word, what do you find to be the best way for you to be consistent or does your time need a facelift?

What would be the next step you can take to have a closer relationship with God? Are you willing to take that step? If not, what do you feel like is in your way? Don’t forget to praise God for all the victories along the way.

I hope you have enjoyed this series on A Living Hope. If you have any questions about how to get to know Christ more, I would love to continue this conversation with you. Comment below or email me at yoursewtrendy@gmail.com

Complete List of Links to A Living Hope 7-week study

A Living Hope: Hope in the Cross

A Living Hope: A New Heart

A Living Hope: A New Hope

A Living Hope: A New Covenant

A Living Hope: A New Day New Mercies

A Living Hope: A New Life

A Living Hope: New Growth

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Linkup with Sitting Among Friends Blog Party

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This week’s featured friend is Nicole Kauffman from Courage Hope Love. Nicole’s message this week on cultivating a heart of gratitude resonates with today’s message on Seeking God. Nicole also offers a course on Strengthening Your Marriage Foundation. Thank you so much for joining us, Nicole. I am glad you are here.

WOW! Thank you all for coming and for the 85 Amazing posts from last week. This party has been wonderful thanks to you, friends, who link-up with us and those who stop by and read posts. Thank you!

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