Tag: christianity

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Comfort in the Creator

katietkennedy

A new school year has started for most kids. I find myself with a senior in high school, a 9th grader, a 6th grader and a toddler. I’m covering the gamut. Our evenings are now filled with conversation about the school day, homework, lunch preparation, tired children, and very tired parents.

This reminds me of our faith journey. Every season has its challenges. We are now learning about the college process and all that it entails. We are coaching a middle schooler on the new challenges of that grade. While every season brings about new trials, there is one comforting notion we can rest on, God never changes.

This school year will bring about adversity and exciting opportunities, God is there for both. He is there for the emotional days (for me and them), He is there to praise during the celebratory times, there to comfort us when we need it, and there to help my husband and I when we collapse in bed and say, “Jesus, help us.”

In the past I would have felt embarrassed, maybe shame for being in over my head and not knowing exactly what to do next. Now it’s a common state and I’m at peace with it. I have peace turning to Jesus knowing He knows all. He knows where my oldest will attend college next year. He knows what trials will be thrown in front of us this school year. He also knows how to provide the peace that only the Spirit of God can provide.

Peace comes in Him alone. There is no vacation spot, no drug, no solution that the world can provide that will match His peace.

“In me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

blessings, children, faith, Family, freedom, God, God's love, God's grace, God's will, Jesus, parenting, religious, scripture, spiritual, Uncategorized

Defenseless Driving

katietkennedy

Recently, I have been driving with my daughter, who has her learner’s permit. This is a new season for our family. As I walk around the car, moving from the driver’s seat to the passenger’s seat, I can feel my sense of control escaping me.

I sit in the passenger seat trying to give the best advice I can, as she nervously drives around. While I can give her instruction and guide her to stay centered in her lane, in reality, there is very little I can do if something major were to happen. Grabbing the wheel would probably only make things worse.

This reminds me of our faith journey. We usually envision ourselves in the driver’s seat of our life, and to some degree we are. If we decide to turn right and find there is a dead end ahead, God lets us make that wrong turn and learn from our mistakes.

God sets the course, the speed, and the hazards in our way. Sometimes we may feel in control of our vehicle, and other times we are reaching over from the passenger side trying to grab the wheel and turn it away from what God has planned. We are unsure and scared about His plans for us so we try to take over and gain a sense of control.

Other times, we sit back in the passenger seat and trust that God knows what He’s doing, and submit to the fact that He is actually in control of my life, not me. Those are blissful moments filled with peace and joy until the enemy interrupts those thoughts with doubts.

While I will continue fluctuating between feeling confident and apprehensive with my daughter’s driving abilities, we will do the same in our faith journey. Maybe one day we will learn to fully submit and relax into His plans for our lives. Until then, we will keep practicing faith by knowing His plans are good, reminding ourselves that He loves us, and He is always there with us no matter how many wrong turns we take.

“All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.” (Psalm 25:10)

America, Bible, blessings, children, courage, faith, faithful, Family, freedom, God, God's love, God's grace, God's will, Jesus, religious, scripture, sin, spiritual, Uncategorized

Selfless Sacrifice

katietkennedy

One fall afternoon, I waited in our local country market for sandwiches to be made for my girls. An older couple walked in and approached the counter. The woman behind the counter noticed the man’s veteran hat and thanked him for his service. The man’s response left me dumbfounded. He looked the woman in the eye and said, “You were worth it.”

His response was loving and heartfelt. The woman humbly muttered something about not being sure about that.

His response surprised me. I expected him to say something like, “You are welcome,” or “Oh, it was no big deal.” He didn’t. He turned a compliment for himself around and made it about her and her value.

This reminds me of our faith journey. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice. He accepted torture, mocking, and death because it was the Lord’s will for His life. Because of Jesus’s sacrifice, we don’t have to carry around the burden of our sin. As we express our gratitude, Jesus’ fulfillment of the Father’s will shows us we are worth it, just as the veteran in the store verbally modeled.

We don’t always feel worth it. Realistically, we don’t deserve what Jesus did for us, but He did it anyway. He did it because it was the Father’s will. His sacrifice provides us the ability to live freely in a world that could weigh us down with sin.

Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice to offer us liberty from sin. True freedom is found in Christ alone. Let’s not forget the sacrifices that were offered on our behalf. Let’s show our gratitude by living with the freedom God intends for our life.