Started a new class last night on the life of Christ. My professor is in his mid twenties and has 2 masters degrees and a phd - talk about motivated!

What has your desire to know Christ better motivated you to do? I'd love to hear your answers!

Have a great day
Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie

Good morning and happy Monday my bloggy friends! I found great encouragement from my Exodus study this morning. In chapter 7, God is explaining to Moses that He wants him to go back to Pharaoh and ask to release the Israelites again even though God knows that Pharaoh is going to say no. God explains His plan of eventually changing Pharaoh's mind for him but wants Moses to be obedient now regardless of what Pharaoh says.

God knows my future.

God knows your future.

God has a plan for each of us and will make that plan happen.

We may see situations as impossible because of obstacles before us but we must remember that NOTHING is impossible with God!

Even when things do not go the way we think they should does not mean that it is time to give up and go another direction.

Be patient and allow God to lead your path.

Have a great day!

Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie

We live in a very individualistic society. The days of community are slowly slipping away. It is easy to go about our day with our own agenda in mind with no concern of what is going on around us. The Bible clearly states that we need each other. Galatians 6:2, Proverbs 27:17, and Romans 12:4-5 are just a few.

Are you connected in a community?I'm not talking about a town but a group of individuals that you can truly connect with.

Are you open to meeting new people even though it may take you from your comfort zone?

Instead of coming home from work and closing your garage door, do you ever walk over to your neighbors to visit?

Are you involved in a small group at your church?

Staying connected with other Christians makes you more likely to stay connected with God and isn't that what we all want and need?

I challenge you to do something today that connects you with someone else. Let me know what you do and how it worked.

Have a great day and a great weekend

Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie

"We humans are quick to blame God for our troubles. God does permit wicked, godless people like Pharaoh to bring suffering and injustice on other people. God's people need faith and patience to wait for God's liberating actions."
NIV notes on Exodus 5:1-23

Amen and Amen!

Have a wonderful day

Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie

Good morning my bloggy friends! I've been thinking about what God can teach us as we go through difficult times. Struggles in my past have taught me humility, perseverance, patience, and that God is faithful. A few things have stuck with me but others continue to be a struggle for me and God has to continuously teach me. I think I would endure a lot less hardship if I would just learn my lesson the first time but unfortunately I have a very thick and stubborn skull!

My newest struggle is to consistently be teaching my children the Word of God. As God has laid the importance of parental spiritual teaching on my heart, I have been convicted when I've thought of the times that I have fallen short.

Oh how I want to raise children that are so connected with God that they want to serve and obey Him every day of their lives but I fall short by not being the example that God wants me to be, not taking daily time to be in the Word with them, and not taking every opportunity to teach them a life lesson and how it applies to God's will.

I have repented of this short coming and asked God to give me great motivation and perseverance for this endeavor. I had the privilege of presenting a message last night at school on how it is the parents responsibility and not the church's responsibility to raise up spiritual champions.

Here's some things that I'm going to try:

Have a full fledged Bible study with our children at least once per week

When life happens, I will cease opportunities to share with our children how their situation or their response to the situation can be directed by the Word of God.

Use every opportunity to be a teaching lesson even when they roll their eyes at me

Purchase some Bible based games (Bible Trivia Pursuit or Bible Apples to Apples) and learn as we play

Now, don't get me wrong, live happens and things get crazy but I really want to be more intentional about taking the time to teach my children and I know that with the help of the prompting of the Holy Spirit, I can improve.

Have a great day!

Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie

In Exodus 3:19-20 God tells Moses "But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him. So I will stretch out My hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them. After that, he will let you go."

Is there something holding you back?

Is there something that God has laid on your heart but man tells you it cannot happen?

Does your situation seem impossible?

Be patient - WHEN GOD HAS A PLAN, HE MAKES THE WAY!

Have a glorious day!

Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie

Long time, no talk! Glad to be back with you today! Last week, I began studying the book of Exodus. As I read chapter 2 about the birth of Moses, God opened my eyes and spoke to my heart. Many of you have heard about Moses mother putting him in a basket and leaving him to float in the Nile river ever since you were a child in Sunday school. Pharaoh had ordered for all Israelite baby boys that were born to be thrown into the Nile and killed to keep from increasing God's people. Moses' mother had tried to hide him for 3 months but finally had to try something else to save her baby. Moses' sister watched as he floated past where Pharaoh's daughter bathed. The mother's heart must have been busting with joy and excitement when her daughter came to her and told her that she got to keep Moses and nurse him for pharaoh's daughter. I bet she soaked up every moment she had with her son. Verse 10 came too soon, "When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh's daughter and he became her son." Reading that verse broke my heart. If I were in her shoes, I would have been praying and hoping that God would intervene and allow me to keep my son. I cannot imagine the pain of giving my child away. I'm sure that her mothers heart was thankful that Moses was alive and well but how could giving him away be whats best for him.

This reminded me of how God's ways are not our ways. His "fair" is not our fair. Our hearts have to break sometimes to accomplish His will but we must remember, He has felt the pain of giving up a child and so much more. He understands but He also knows what is best for all involved.

Faith is believing that God knows what is best and accepting His will. Will this be joyful at times, for sure. Will this be heartbreaking at times, absolutely.

God is good all the time and all the time God is good.

Have a great day

Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie