Lead Me to the Cross

“But he was pierced for our transgressions,he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”~Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)

Life is messy at times with unexpected twists, turns, hurt, pain, and betrayals.  When you are going through uncomfortable and painful seasons of life, it doesn’t feel good.  Jesus’ journey to the cross was messy, painful, and full of betrayal.  Yet, Jesus went anyway. As we grow closer in our relationship with Christ, we can’t gloss over the messy parts of life.  Jesus’ journey to the cross was messy, uncomfortable, and extremely painful.  In the midst of our pain, God is still leading us to the cross. Despite the ultimate death that Jesus knew he would face, he pressed forward surrendering to God’s will. We must be willing to confront and grow through the uncomfortable seasons.  It is natural and easy to want to quit, become cynical or remain frustrated.  However, God didn’t send Jesus to die on the cross for us to throw in the towel.

Jesus endured an agonizing road to death that was painful and messy.  Jesus’ guiding motivation for death was his great love for us! He did it so that you and I can live in freedom and overcome sin and the challenges of this world.  You may be in an extremely painful season of disappointment, loss, uncertainty, or resentment.  I invite you to keep moving toward the cross.  Your road may be hard and unrelenting.  God is present with you in your pain.  Draw close to God through prayer, worship, and communion.  It is in the messy parts of our lives that we are reminded of God’s ultimate sovereignty.

During this Lenten season, embrace and sit with the messy parts of your life that God wants to uproot and restore.  At the cross of Jesus, there is burden, beauty, pain and promise.

Invitation to Prayer:

Dear God,

Thank you for your continued presence in my life including the messy and uncomfortable parts.  Thank you that you endured a painful road and death on the cross so that I may have life.  Help me to not shy away from the tough parts of life but run to you.  Thank you for guiding and directing me during each season.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Question for Application:

What is one uncomfortable or messy part of your life that you can ask God for guidance in surrendering?

Have a great week!

Kirstyn

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Cast Your Cares to God

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”~I Peter 5:7 (NIV)

Is your mind always racing?  What thoughts continually disrupt your sleep and weigh on you?  Do you constantly worry about things that are keeping your peace?  I know I have.  As soon as I wake up, I begin to download all the things that I need and want to “accomplish” during the day.  The things that I didn’t get done, re-enter my mind when I go to sleep.  Our minds race a mile a minute.  Many times, I find myself thinking so much about the next task, that I’m not fully present in the moment. God wants us to cast ALL of our cares to him, because God cares for us.  When we cast all of our anxieties  to God in prayer, it frees us to live in peace.  Our circumstances may not immediately change, but we are assured that God is working it out for our good.

As women, we often nurture and serve those around us leaving little time for self-care.  Our mental health is suffering because we feel that we have to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders.  Friend, God wants to carry our anxieties for us, but we must first cast them to God.  I know that surrendering control is not an easy thing, but it is necessary if we want to live more peaceful and present lives.  God will equip us with all that we need to accomplish the plans that God has for us.

Friend, I invite you to cast ALL of your cares to God today!  You will be so glad you did!  Your relationships will be stronger, your sleep will be sweet, and God’s peace will ease your troubled soul.

Prayer: Dear God, thank you for wanting me to cast all of my cares and anxieties to you because you love me.  At times when my mind is racing, please help me to receive your peace that is available.  Thank you for equipping me with all that I need.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Reflection Question: Name one care that is weighing on your mind that you can give over to God today. I invite you to pray the prayer above for guidance and direction.

BE Encouraged!!!

Kirstyn

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Give Yourself Grace

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest one me.~ 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

I must admit I am my harshest critic at times.  When things are going well, I often find a way to look for improvements that can still be made.  My unrealistic pursuit of perfection leaves me drained and not fully able to celebrate my small victories or progress.  God’s grace is available to cover my sins, mistakes, and shortcomings. That is good news for you and I!  When I fall short, God’s grace is sufficient in my weakness.  Why is it so hard to give myself the same grace that God does?  Are you struggling with giving yourself grace?

Friend, I invite you to give yourself more grace today.  Give yourself grace for the endless piles of laundry.  Give yourself grace for the harsh word that you said in frustration.  Give yourself grace for the project that has to be delayed yet again. The good news is that God’s grace frees us to pause, breathe, and tell ourselves, “I’m ok and there is another opportunity to start again.”  Grace is a gift from God that cannot be worked for, outperformed or bought.  Receive God’s grace today so that you may experience the abundance in life that God wants for you.

I invite you to pray this simple prayer today:

Dear God, Thank you for your grace that you have given to me as a free gift.  Help me to receive your grace each day and be gentle with myself when things don’t go as planned.  Help me to celebrate the progress that you empower me to have each day.  Thank you that your love for me is not dependent on any performance, but of who I am.  In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Question for Reflection: What is one area that you can receive more of God’s grace today?  Pray to God for guidance.

 

3 Sweet Affirmations about God’s Love for You

“Give thanks to the God of heaven. God’s love endures forever.”~Psalm 136:26 (NIV)

Do you know how much you are loved by God? God loves you forever.  God’s love is unconditional and is not dependent on anything that we can do.  There is no circumstance, event, or mistake that we have done that can separate us from God’s love. We don’t deserve God’s love, but God loves us anyway.  That is amazing news!  With Valentine’s day recently celebrated, many received tokens of appreciation and gifts from those who are special to us.   It is great to give and receive love from those around us, but God’s love endures forever.  Think about that!  FOREVER!!!  There is absolutely NO ONE on this earth who can love us like the Lord!

At times, I struggle with  being fully content with the love of God.  I look to others to provide acceptance and validation of  who I am, what I contribute, and gifts that I offer.  Does this sound like you? In this endless pursuit of acceptance, I am often left feeling frustrated and empty that people don’t meet the expectations that I have set.  In these times of frustration and realization that humans are fleeting, I run to God’s word.

Below are 3 sweet affirmations about God’s Love for You:

  1. God’s Love is Selfless~  “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”~ John 3:16 (NIV) God loves you so much that he gave up his only son Jesus so that we can be free from our sins and live in freedom.  This selfless act affirms God’s great love for you and me!
  2. God Cares for you deeply~ “ For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”~Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) God cares for you so deeply and has a purposeful plan for your life!  Continue to pray and seek God’s word for wisdom and direction.
  3. God’s Love is Consistent~ “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end.” ~Lamentations 3:22 (ESV) God’s love is consistent and never changes!  We don’t have to worry about God’s love running dry.

I encourage you to meditate and be reminded of God’s sweet affirmations of love for you!  At times when you may not feel God’s love, be assured that God’s love is selfless, God cares for you, and God’s love is consistent!

 

Reset Your Relationships

Valentine’s Day will be celebrated in a couple of weeks and our relationships are on full display.  Stores are filled with cards, candy, flowers, and teddy bears.  It’s a day set aside to show appreciation and affection to the ones we love.  While I definitely enjoy the extra attention from my husband, it further highlights the importance of maintaining strong relationships throughout the year. I often do a self-check asking myself, how can I be a better friend?  A stronger spouse?  Can you do a quick self-check of your relationships? Ask yourself: How can I be more intentional about spending quality time with the those who matter to me?

Relationships matter. Maintaining strong friendships and relationships take work. Whether it is a friendship, marriage, or significant other, we have all allowed life’s demands to distract us from giving attention to these important relationships. The good news is that we can reset our relationships.  Each day that God allows us to wake up is another opportunity to start anew. God has created us to be in community with one another for a listening ear, encouragement, support, and comfort.  I encourage you today to take time to reset and re-prioritize relationships that matter to you.  Send the text. Pick up the phone.  Go on the outing. You’ll be glad you did!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Encouragement for Women in Life, Love and Leadership

Welcome to my first blog!  If you are reading this, I’m glad you are here!  As we begin this journey together of encouragement, I hope that you are inspired and empowered by God’s word, practical resources and a community of support!  The purpose of this blog is to provide everyday encouragement for women who are growing daily, making mistakes, and not afraid to get back up again! My encouragement today will be to Step Out!  Don’t be afraid to try new things or opportunities.  It is never too late to start fresh or change course!  God is wanting us to live our best lives, and be purposeful in how we do things!

I encourage you to journey with me and encourage other women who you know are in need of support to subscribe to this blog.  I’m looking forward to growing with you!

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