Posts Tagged With: challenge

Bubble Wrap Faith

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Sharita

Oh bubble wrap. The magical packing material that has been causing squabbles among siblings for decades.

Or was that just my sister and I who fought over who got to pop those addictingly-fun little bubbles? Either way, ya just gotta love the multi-purposeful qualities of bubble wrap.

bubble wrap

Via CMMahon @ Flickr

As I was pondering this idea (again, at 3am… sorry, apparently 3am is prime time for random thoughts to enter my mind– blame it on the new-mama sleep deprivation) I, as usual, started thinking about how bubble wrap can relate to our faith.

Random. I know. Sorry. It’s how I roll.

Anywho, I considered the topic at hand… when I was thinking about it, I was struck by the idea of motherhood and how the first few weeks of baby girl’s existence  I was (ok, still am) so twitchy and overprotective… And I really thought at one point the possibility of how to “bubble wrap” her from this world to keep her safe.

Then I heard God’s voice: “Beloved daughter… that’s not your job. You are called to love her and care for her– but in this world, you will all have trouble. I am her protector. Trust me.”

Gulp. Ok. Heard you, Father.

Then, my random thoughts took me to the scene from Finding Nemo where Marlin the clownfish (Nemo’s dad) and Dory are in the mouth of the whale. Marlin starts to yell at Dory and the following scene ensues:

Marlin: “I promised I’d never let anything happen to him!!”
Dory: “Hmm. That’s a funny thing to promise.”
Marlin: “What?”
Dory: “Well, you can’t never let anything happen to him. Then nothing would ever happen to him. Not much fun for little Harpo.”

Dory, although she can’t remember Nemo’s correct name to save her tail, makes a pretty good point. And it holds true not only to “real life” parenthood but also our walk of faith.

Sure, we all wish nothing <specifically: bad or challenging> would ever happen. But if that were true– where would we stand with God? I don’t know about you, but I am typically closest to God when things are the toughest.

Ultimately, Jesus is our bubble wrap. He protects us. He guards us. And He makes sure we get to our final destination (ahem, heaven) in one piece.

But in order to really live a bubble wrap faith life, we have to let go of our need to be the bubble wrap in both our lives and the lives of those around us. We can’t protect those around us from all harm. We can’t control others to make perfect decisions. (Heck, our decisions aren’t perfect either– even if we think we know best.)

We have to let go and let Jesus do the guarding and protecting. We have to trust Him that He knows what He is doing (He does) and loves us beyond all comprehension.

In what areas of your life do you try to be the bubble wrap? How would letting go of that desire to be the bubble wrap free our spirits?

Be encouraged, friends. Letting go and letting Jesus be our bubble wrap isn’t an overnight process. (Believe you me, I am still working on it!) When we transition from control to trust, we can rest assured that He will not only carry us to our final destination– but we will be more protected and secure than ever before.

That’s what I call a special delivery handled with care.

Wrapped up in Christ,
SGK

“He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled.” ~Joshua 24:17

Categories: trust | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Finding Comfort (Five Minute Friday)

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Sharita

Hey folks.

It’s Friday.
Five Minute Friday
Which means we link up with Lisa Jo and write. For five minutes flat.

Today’s prompt: Comfort

And Go!

****

Comfort. Just the word brings warmth to my heart. I personally need comfort in all sorts of situations and can find it in so many different ways.

I’m guessing you can too.

It’s been an extremely rough week in new-mommyland for me. What started out as a 2-month check up for our precious baby girl bracing for 2 month shots and ended it in the words “beginning stages of failure to thrive.”

Needless to say… I about lost it. My world felt like it was crumbling. I felt like a failure– and the Enemy wanted to make sure that “reputation” as a mother stuck.

But, as usual, our loving, sovereign, comforting God had other plans.

Although my week was foggy and filled with stress, I knew God was in it somewhere. I just had to keep looking. Praying. Seeking His comfort, relying on His faithfulness that He had this planned long before Baby Charis arrived on this earth.

Fortunately, Baby Girl/s lack of weight gain looks like a milk production problem on my part. (Thank you Jesus– it’s fixable!) As we move forward to rectify this issue, I continue to find comfort in prayers, quotes from others, Scripture– all stemming from the God of all Comfort.

“God doesn’t ask us to be perfect– He just wants us to be simply faithful.” ~Linda Dillow, Calm My Anxious Heart

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in EVERYTHING, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And then the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” ~Philippians 4:6-7

“My kids don’t need to see a super mama. They need to see a mama who needs a Super God.” ~Ann Voskamp

“The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it.” ~1 Thessalonians 5:24

Yes. I have found comfort. I have found confidence. I have found courage…

It all stems from the Most Highest, Eternally Holy, Always Loving God.

****

Where and how do you find comfort? I would love to hear all about it.

Know you are loved, my friends. Thanks for stopping by!

Thankful to Worship a God of all Comfort,
SGK

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Go, Mama, Go!

Go, Mama, Go!

Categories: Five Minute Friday | Tags: , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Embrace the Suck

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Sharita

Sometimes, life sucks.

Yeah, I said it. And yeah, I said it on a Jesus-loving Christian blog.

But its the truth. Sometimes life sucks.

We live in a world of pain. Of hurt. Of disease. Of evil. Of hard circumstances. Of moments where we wonder how the heck we are supposed to continue to function.

“Sucky” things in life range from the seemingly small and trivial (I lost my stupid wallet– again!) to the painfully large and unexplainable (Sandy Hook school shooting. Boston bombing. Explosion in Texas.)

So yeah, it’s the truth. Sometimes life really just kinda sucks.

Which might be why this world is not our home. (THANK YOU JESUS! Can I get an AMEN?!?!)

For those of you who have been around 7 Days Time for a hot minute, you know it’s my policy not to leave things on a negative note. So if life sucks… What are we supposed to do about it?

Embrace the suck.

image

Now, I don’t mean we have to welcome it. Or enjoy it. Or even ask for the hard times to come our way. But we all know that hard times, aka the sucky stuff, is inevitable in this life. We live in a fallen world and really there’s no getting around it.

But instead of wallowing in the suck and turning our eyes inward… We can embrace it knowing that we have a Lord and Savior that has been there, done that.

And no matter what suck you are going through right now, we can take solace in the fact that this world isn’t our home and we have the promise of heaven closer than we can imagine.

“Well, Sharita, this ‘embrace the suck’ idea is all fine and dandy… In theory. But seriously. What can we do about it?”

Great question. Glad you asked. :-)  Here’s a few tangible thoughts…

*Pray. A lot. God doesn’t care if it’s a huge suck like battling cancer or a seemingly minor suck like a newborn baby who has gotten her days and nights mixed up and refuses to sleep. (Not that I would know that one from experience or anything.) Remember, if it matters to you, it matters to God. He will hear your plea for help. He might not fix your suck, but I promise He WILL be with you through it!

*Rejoice. I know it’s hard in the moment… But 1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to rejoice IN (not necessarily FOR) all circumstances. That’s where making a list of your blessings and small God gifts in life come into play.  Be thankful.

*Share. Find another Christian or person you trust and share the “suck” in your life.  God made us to live in community and bear one another’s burdens.

*Keep perspective. This one is also easier said than done, but sometimes taking a quick step back and trying to look at things from God’s perspective can be a huge help. It might require extra meditation, prayers, quiet time, a mini-sabbatical, rest or a variety of things. Ask yourself not WHY… But WHAT God is doing in your suck situation.

*Embrace Jesus. This is something we can (and should) do whether or not we find ourselves in a “suck” part of life or not. Again, he’s been there, done that– a thousand times worse than we could ever imagine. He understands. He is always with you. Yep, even in the midst of the suck of life.

Be encouraged today, sweet reader. If you are in a suck season and desire prayer, please feel free to contact me by leaving a comment below, sending me a message on Facebook or holler at me via email at sharita{dot}knobloch{at}gmail{dot}com.

Take heart, friends. Embrace the suck by embracing Jesus. He’s got your back– always.

Embracing Him Wholeheartedly,
SGK

“So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.” ~2 Corinthians 4:16-18 MSG

Categories: challenge, God | Tags: , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Everyday Jesus: Run For God… Mama-Style

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Sharita

Remember a few weeks ago my friend Charity sharing about leading a “Run for God” journey at our church? Yeah… well here is the INCREDIBLE conclusion with a great “Mother’s Day” twist. Seriously, you don’t wanna miss it. It is sure to inspire you to lace up your tennis shoes and hit the pavement… to run your Race for Him– as we find Jesus in the Everyday. 

Running to Him,
SGK 

****

On our very first run, it rained. In the first guest post, I talked about the rain and all the reasons we avoid it. I also mentioned that without rain, there is no growth.

Well… God sent that rain for a reason. His amazing, loving hands have “watered” us in ways I could have never imagined. His eternal gardening has caused some amazing growth with beautiful fruit and flowers.

I have grown. God used Run for God to challenge me in my leadership. I have been so humbled by the opportunity to be his vessel for this class. Run for God opened my heart to a career of helping others achieve their physical goals while allowing me to share my testimony of God’s amazing grace. As I pursue this passion, God continues to open door after door. His plan is so perfect. I am very thankful for the growth in my life. All the glory to God!

God also allowed me to watch others bloom. We began the class with about 65. A few left and a few new people joined. When we ran our goal race on April 27, 58 people completed the race. Here’s our group picture before the race.

 Group R4G

There are many stories that I could share of growth during Run for God, but I’m going to share the one that is nearest to me and closest to my heart – my Mom’s journey.

 Charity mom 1

First off, my mom is a champion! She has been through so many challenges, but her heart and life have always been in God’s hands.  I have watched her turn to God for strength in all she does. She’s been a single Mom since I was 2 and has sacrificed so much in her life, so we could have more.

My mom has supported me in all I do especially in running. She’s been my photographer for all of my runs. I love having her as the cheerleader.

She has also battled with weight issues and health issues for much of her adult life. So when she called me in January to tell me she wanted to join Run for God, all I could do was cry. I knew, right then, if the only person that signed up for Run for God was my mom, I would have been happy!

Her journey hasn’t been easy. In fact, it’s been tough. Here’s an email I received from her near the end of the journey about a week before our goal race:

Charity,

I thought about my race and wondered if I could do the race coming up.  Tuesday around 4 o’clock, I slow run/walk and it was so unbearable that I only walked 1.39 mi for 33.47.  Needless to say I was very disappointed because I know I need to be ready to walk 3.1 for the race.  So last night, I begin to mediate on what I could do different and decided to change my strategy. You know if you always do the same thing, the same way , you will always get the same results.  My decision was to get up Thursday and run around 8 to see if this was better.  I really wanted confidence that I could do this and with God’s help I can do ALL things.  So this is to tell you my teacher, my coach, my mentor, my friend but most of all my daughter Thank You for encouraging and believing in me.  Today, I finished 3.01 miles in 1.08.02.  I thank God and give Him all glory.  I love you!

Mom

See what a beautiful flower God has pruned, watered and bloomed. She finished the goal race in just under 1 hour and 5 minutes. Here’s her picture as she neared the finish line. All the Glory to God!

Charity mom ****

charity runningCharity is a child of God. Simple as that. She love’s God and is thankful to have such an awesome church family, and thankful daily for the work God is doing in her life. Everyday. She is married to an incredible man, Adam-  there are so many great things to say about him that she’ll save that for another time, date, and location. But just know he is awesome. Finally, she has two cute, furry, cuddly cavalier King Charles spaniels, Zoe and Charlie. You can connect with Charity via her Running 2 His Arms Blog.

Categories: Everyday Jesus | Tags: , , , , , | 2 Comments

It Ain’t Easy Being Green

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Sharita

I’ve learned some great lessons over the years… from muppets. (Yeah, I said it.)

Growing up, it was Sesame Street… Big Bird, Mr. Snuffleupagus, Oscar the Grouch, Burt and Ernie… I learned that sharing is the right thing to do, that C is for cookie (that’s good enough for me, cookie, cookie, cookie starts with C!–Anybody else remember that song?) and many other life lessons that have served me well the last 27 and a half years.

I’ve also learned a lot from other muppets– perhaps the more widely known clan… Yes, THE MUPPETS. Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear (Waka, waka!) and of course~ Kermit the Frog.

In one of my brand-spanking-new-mama late night feeding sessions with Baby Charis, a thought from Kermit came back to me:

It ain’t easy being green.

Kermit The Frog

Via Eva Rinaldi at Flickr

I know. Weird thought, right? But I let this idea marinate. What exactly does he mean, it ain’t easy being green? Green isn’t really a positive color to be I guess (at least according to Kermit.) He wrote an entire song about it– wanting to be a different color, more bright and brilliant and noticeable.

Green doesn’t have the best connotation in our world either… Check it out:

Green can denote inexperience: “Oh look at the new guy… over there fumbling around. He’s so green. (Or what a greenhorn.)”

It is the color of envy… Which is one of the seven deadly sins. “When I saw her new necklace, I was green with envy.” Uh, not good.

And finally, it signifies a “sick” look. “Are you ok? Was that roller coaster a little too much for you? You look a little green.” (Insert vomit noise here.)

But as I mentioned, this random “being green” thought came to me one drowsy morning around 3am. After I pondered the worldly connotations, it brought me to one of my favorite Bible verses from Jeremiah.

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” ~Jeremiah 17:7-8

Huh. Who knew, right? I want to be green. I want to be THAT tree, planted by the stream who is not afraid because I KNOW that God has my back.

This current season of life as a new mama is a blessing (as I write this, I am playing “Beat the Clock” as Baby Charis kicks and squirms beside me on the floor… hoping I can get a good chunk of this knocked out before she gets bored.) But as blessed as being a new mama is… It’s still FREAKING HARD. Which I knew it would be. But still. SHEESH. (Love you baby girl!)

I’ve been pretty green lately… in most of the ways mentioned above. Feeling like a greenhorn not having a clue what I am doing have the time with this 7 lb ball of needy, adorable love. I admittedly have been a little green with envy of others who still drive their own schedule– or who have survived the initial hard season of newbornhood. And yes, I have been even a little green with nausea on occasion. (Not really from being grossed out– but just with the prospect of being solely responsible for this little life. Dear Lord, help me.)

In this season of different shades of green– I am reassured that yes, it ain’t easy being green… But when it comes to following Christ, I want to be that tree. I want my leaves to always be green and bear fruit.

Are you in a “green” season? One of growth and bearing fruit? Or in a time of the drought where you are just trying to make it through one day at a time? How do you cling to God in those times? I always welcome your thoughts– leave a comment below.

Today friends, I leave you with this thought from a Godly perspective– it’s ain’t easy being that tree, always trusting in the Lord– nope, it ain’t easy being green. But being that green tree and placing our confidence in Him sure is worth it.

Growing and greening up for Jesus,
SGK

“Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.” ~Genesis 9:3 NIV

Categories: growth | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Jump to Jesus (Five Minute Friday)

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Sharita

Five Minute Friday
Hello friends! Five minute Friday is back here at 7 Days Time.

As a recap: Each Friday (or whatever Fridays that I briefly have a free hand from baby girl) I link up with Lisa-Jo Baker. She gives us a prompt. We write. No planning, no overthinking, no excessive editing. Then link-up and share our posts with the online community. Good times.

That’s all there is to it. Simple. Yet potentially profound and a great writing exercise.

So before little girl says TIME’S UP before my stopwatch does, let’s get this party started.

Today’s Prompt: JUMP

AND GO!

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First thing to know, I don’t like heights. Never have, probably never will. Also, when I was younger, I wasn’t much of a risk taker. Play it safe was my theory. I didn’t want to be “that girl” to ever forget anything in class, I always wanted to do everything perfect.

Yeah. Bout that. You can about guess how well THAT went over. I mean, I survived and did well, but soon I found myself bored with playing it safe… I wanted more.

So I jumped into activities. I was from a tiny high school (um, 18 in my graduating class- I’m not kidding) so if you wanted to be involved in something, all you had to do was show up. I was super-NOT-athletic, but I did everything that didn’t involve a sports ball flying at my face. (Although my brief stint of cheerleading did land a few hits to the face.)

I jumped in… Over the next few years, it didn’t stop. I stayed involved. I found my worth in what I did.

And then… Something changed… Life fell apart… My activities no longer fulfilled me… And I was met with my biggest challenge ever… Faith.

Jesus got ahold of me around college graduation– and lemme tell you what, that was one jump I was terrified to make. It was worse than conquering any fear of heights or jumping off the trust fall in a leadership ropes course.

I didn’t want to fail. I had done everything “perfect” (ha!) up to that point. Faith was hard. It took work. I didn’t know what I was “supposed” to do to get it “right.”

Now, several years later, I know that He doesn’t care if we get it “right.” He just wants us to jump. Jump into faith. Jump into His arms knowing He will be there to catch us. Jump with joy for His salvation.

Yes. He wanted me to jump. So I did.  It changed my life. Yes, I jumped to Jesus– Have you?

STOP!

****

So what are your thoughts? Have you jumped to Jesus? When? How did it change your life? I would love to hear all about it– don’t be shy… Leave a comment below.

Well, readers, baby girl’s attention span is about to run out– so I must depart. Praying for your hearts this weekend– and I am so incredibly grateful that God continues to grow this ministry even with a new baby in tow. (He really CAN do all things!!)

Jumping for Joy,

SGK

“I’m thanking you, God, from a full heart, I’m writing the book on your wonders. I’m whistling, laughing, and jumping for joy; I’m singing your song, High God.” ~Psalm 9:1-2 MSG

Categories: Five Minute Friday | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

From Seed to Orchard

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Sharita

When I was growing up, I loved field trips.

I mean, what kid doesn’t? It was an excuse to get out of the classroom, explore something new, educational (ish) and exciting (ish.) Plus we got to pack a lunch in a classic paper bag or cool metal (or plastic) lunchbox.

Some of my favorite field trips were trips to local orchards.

It probably stemmed for my love of agriculture… and also my love of food. (Rarely did these trip ever not include free samples of juice, fruit, candy, etc.) Plus, orchards weren’t a super popular deal in Kansas– wheat and beef, yes. Orchards? Not so much.

I am still love visiting orchards and down-homey-agricultural commodities. (And no, not only for the free samples. That’s just a perk.) Each time I visit or drive by one of these super cool businesses, I can’t help but to be impressed. I mean, planting and growing one of these bad boys is no small commitment.

It takes YEARS. Like, a long time before the owners see fruit from their rewards. Apples, if planted from a seed, can take from six to ten years before they bear good fruit. Peaches range from three to five, pecans need up to six years and oranges start bearing minimal fruit at around three years, but don’t reach full production strength and maturity til 27 years.

Good grief. That IS a commitment.

orange tree

As I pondered this truth, I (as usual) was drawn back to thinking about our walk with Christ.

It’s not an overnight process. I mean, seriously, we aren’t growing a Chia Pet here people… This kind of thing takes TIME.

And apparently, lots of it.

In fact, our walk with Christ is going to be a lifelong experience. We will never reach “full maturity” and truly see all of our fruit until we reach heaven’s gate.

But don’t be discouraged… The growth process is very rewarding too!

Just like the orchard owner starts out small, perhaps with just a few seeds or some baby seedlings, God does the same with us. He plants a tiny “Jesus seed” in our heart…. and then events, circumstances and people we encounter over the coming years cultivate us, growing our faith from a leedle-bitty seed into an orchard that anyone would be proud to explore!

God plants us on solid ground– rooted in Christ… Encouraging us to reach for good soil in His Word. He sends sunshine to encourage us to grow upwards… Sometimes comes rain because we need it to grow. Every now and then He will prune back the “unproductive” branches of our lives to ensure we are reaching our fruit-bearing potential. And yes, He even sends the “fertilizer” events in our life– things that kind of stink, but make us grow stronger and healthier.

Then, after much tender care, protection, and nurturing– we bear fruit. As that fruit falls around us, new little baby trees sprout up from our seeds– and the orchard that is our earthly life continues to grow.

Kind of a cool thought, huh? At what rate would you say your current “faith orchard” is growing? What type of Christian fruit do you see in your life? What encourages you to keep growing?

I love the power of God… How He can take empty vessels like you and me… and with one tiny seed (and lots of love!) grow us into a sweet, fruit-bearing orchard!

Growing with God,
SGK

“Earth produced green seed-bearing plants, all varieties, And fruit-bearing trees of all sorts. God saw that it was good.” ~Genesis 1:12 MSG

Categories: growth | Tags: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

This is the Stuff…

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Sharita

Ever have one of… THOSE DAYS?

You know exactly what I’m talking about. Things just seem to fall apart, one thing right after the other.

We’ve all been there.

In case you are there today (or were yesterday. Or might be tomorrow) let’s shift our perspective.

Here is one of my fav songs of all time– a great perspective shifter. It’s “This is the Stuff” by Francesca Battistelli.

Pay close attention to the lyrics… and just see if it doesn’t give your frustrated brain (and/or heart) a quick Jesus switcheroo!

What kind of “stuff” does God use to shape you into the person He has called you to be? How do you deal? Spill your guts (well, at least your thoughts) and leave a comment. :-)

Hope your day is less messed and more blessed– By Him!

Beyond blessed even in the mess,
SGK

“And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.” ~Colossians 3:17 MSG

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The Exception

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Sharita

What is your first thought when you think of the word “exception?”

Do you think it is something special? Something unattainable? A person, place or thing that is out of the ordinary?

If so, then you would be right. Sorta. Ish.

Webster defines exception as “an instance or case not conforming to the general rule.” That makes sense, right?

But what about being an exception in the world? Or even more so… In our walk with Christ??

As I was strategerizing (man I love that word!) about this post, a quote from the movie “He’s Just Not That Into You” came to mind . It’s been forever since I watched that movie and it sure as heck isn’t Christian-based them. (Few chick-flicky romances are, let’s be honest.) But this is what came to mind…

In short, the whole movie is about a girl (Gigi) who is trying to find “the one.” She’s desperate and clingy and starts getting relationship advice from a dude acquaintance. (If you’ve ever seen any kind of chick flick, you already know where this is going.) Her dude friend Alex tells her that if a guy is into her, he will make it happen. He says that she needs to essentially stop living in pretendland, thinking that every guy who blows her off is going to miraculously change her mind and spontaneously propose just because her cousin’s friend’s neighbor did that and they lived happily ever after. Bottom line: She is the RULE… NOT the exception.

Well, here’s how things end up. (FYI spoiler alert to follow.) At the very end of the movie, Alex and Gigi have a final scene where she realizes that he is into her. He plants a kiss on her and ends with saying “You are MY exception.” (Then you hear my beloved husband making his gagging/retching/vomit noise in the background.)

So what in the heck does being the exception mean for us as Christians?

You, Beloved One, are the exception... Not the rule!

You, Beloved One, are the exception… Not the rule!

If we were all perfectly honest with ourselves, we might admit that we are completely ok with simply being THE RULE. Not coloring out of the lines, not drawing attention to ourselves. Flying under the Jesus radar. Going to church (if we are motivated) and not doing much else.

But God has called us (yes, as in you, me, your family, and your Christian neighbor) to be the exception for Him.

And before you freak out… it’s a good thing. Kind of a difficult thing sometimes, but a good thing. I promise. (And so does He!)

Being the exception for Christ can be found throughout Scripture. It can be present in the big and the little things in life, from loving our enemies to having child-like trust. It can be a boldness found in praying for the cashier or buying a stranger’s lunch just because Jesus nudged you to do it.

Oh, and don’t let the enemy convince you that being the exception is a bad thing. Sure, it is a fine line between embracing your God-given gifts and talents while remaining humble, resisting the urge to be prideful. As long as we know that God gave us this privilege, chose us for this calling to be His and the glory is all for Him… THEN we can be the exception.

In what ways you do feel God has called YOU to be the exception? Is it in your home and family? Or community or workplace? Does being the exception intimidate you or excite you? Be the exception to the rule– and leave a comment below.

I would like to challenge you to do something “exceptional” for Christ in the next 7 days. And it doesn’t have to be “exceptional” by the world’s standards as in big, profound and/or expensive. But exceptional in the love for Christ.

After all… He has called YOU (yes, you!) to be the exception. Let’s make it happen!

Exceptionally blessed,
SGK

“And these God-chosen lives all around— what splendid friends they make!” ~Psalm 16:3 (MSG) 

Categories: God | Tags: , , , , , | 2 Comments

Not-so-lonely Road

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Sharita

We’ve all experienced it at some point in our lives.

That moment of heart-heaviness. It feels like we are surrounded by darkness. We might be by ourselves or in a crowd of people.

Either way… we just feel straight up lonely.

Lonely, at least in my personal opinion, is one of the most un-fun places to be. Now, true loneliness is a heart issue and is very different from intentional solitude. We all need some “alone time” every now and then, whether it is to rest, recharge, reflect or just  BE.

But being lonely, especially in our hearts, can be a painful and scary place.

Honestly, as a Christian and army wife, I sometimes feel a bit alone in my walk.

Sure it looks long and lonely... but it's not. He promises.

Sure it looks long and lonely… but it’s not. He promises.

This happens frequently when we move to a new place or my husband is gone for an extended amount of time. When we first moved to Georgia, the first several months were some definite lonely-heart moments. Just me, the dog… and the enemy, duking it out in our living room.

Lemme tell ya what… It was exhausting. And way not fun.

Now before you get all up in my Kool-aid about Jesus always being with us, I know that is true. And I drew a lot of strength from Him in those moments. But He has also designed us to be in community.

Recently, I was having a conversation around this topic with great friend and fellow army wife, Sam, while we hung out on an impromptu Sonic date. (Sometimes the best revelations come over milkshakes and cherry limeades.) We talked about the struggle we face when battling this lonely feeling… because while God calls us to live in community, we have to be careful where we plant ourselves.

After all, we are called to be IN the world but not OF the world. (John 15:19) Great theory, super hard to live out. It’s a fine freaking line, one that I have yet to completely figure out. Sometimes, especially in the military realm of life, some of the things aren’t exactly productive for our Christian hearts or minds. Instead, we are exposed to negative seeds that try to take root. (And let’s be honest– the same thing can be said for ALL areas of the world… it’s a fallen world. We have to deal with it. SIGH.)

So whats a gal (or guy) to do in those lonely moments?

First of all, we can pray. Like, a lot. We can beg for Jesus’ presence to fill us up, to be the light in darkness as we battle the heart-lonely feeling. Also, we can recognize when the enemy is trying to attack. (More than likely, he’s lurking– so watch out!) We can surround ourselves with others who build us up– Christians who are genuine in their walk with words, love AND deeds, so that when we are called to go out into the world and walk a new path (military or otherwise) we can be IN the world and not OF it… We can cling to our strong, solid roots in Christ.

Oh, and we can take heart knowing that we aren’t alone in our struggle. So many people, just like you (and me) struggle with this lonely-heart feeling that rears its ugly stinkin’ head from time to time.

Christ understands our struggles. After all, He was alone on that cross when He took His final breath for you and me.

Take heart, dear friends. Christians before and after you have felt the same thing you might be feeling right now. While it might seem like a long path, remember that with Christ and fellow Christians, our path is a not-so-lonely road.

Hand in Hand with Him,
SGK

“If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.” ~John 15:19 NIV

PS: Where or when do you find yourself most lonely? How does Christ show up in those moments? Let us know– comment below.

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