Funny Friday: Quarantine Days of the Week
Does anybody know what day it is?
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 (ESV)
Funny Friday: Quarantine Days of the Week
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Jesus Will Carry Your Burdens
Jesus Will Carry Your Burdens
**This post was one I wrote several years ago, on February 17, 2015 during a sad, heavy-hearted time. While I am not currently sad, or heavy-hearted, I know that many are, and many are carrying extra burdens, extra duties, and extra cares & stresses during this present time in our world. I’d like to revisit this post with reminders for times like these.**
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” Psalm 34:18 (NLT)
My heart is so heavy, burdened and sad this past week. I have had to remind and tell myself that “Jesus will carry your burdens.” I am fine, and I have had no personal loss. Unfortunately though some of my friends have, which makes me hurt for them. For some reason I just feel like there’s so much sadness (like I said…my heart feels heavy). If you know me at all, you know that I’m a person of great empathy. I hurt when others hurt.
This past week a friend of mine unexpectedly lost her husband. I can’t even begin to imagine the pain and suffering that she and her children must be enduring. There’s also a feeling of helplessness because there is absolutely nothing that I can say or do to take away any of their pain. I absolutely HATE death and the pain that it brings with it.
Sad times
On the same day that I learned about my friend’s husband, I saw that Continue reading
Funny Friday: Weekend Travel Ideas
Funny Friday: Weekend Travel Ideas
I borrowed this meme to share with you guys. It’s just about right… Looking at the map for some weekend travel ideas. #travelinplace
“In those days it was not safe to travel about, for all the inhabitants of the lands were in great turmoil.” 2 Chronicles 15:5 (NIV)
Prayer for Time of Crisis
Prayer for Time of Crisis
This week I wanted to share a Prayer for Time of Crisis (with some foundation scriptures). This prayer is timely during the COVID-19 crisis that our world is currently facing.
A few helpful things to remember during a time of crisis:
- Our first response during times of crisis should be to go to the Bible to see what God’s word has to say about it.
- Crisis happens all the time. Whenever a crisis comes up, God has something for us to grab right in the middle of it.
- If you give the devil enough rope, he’ll hang himself. Satan often overplays his hand, and the very attacks he makes are often the very things that seal his fate. He brings about his own undoing, and God will turn the tables on him bringing his people out even better on the other side of crisis.
- The people of God come out in victory on the other side because of faith. If we keep our faith, we will get the victory. We have to fight to keep our faith. The devil will try to steal it from us because he knows that’s how we will get our victory.
“For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.” 1 John 5:4 (NLT)
“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12 (NIV)
- Just because we experience crisis doesn’t mean that we aren’t living right or following God. Jesus even told us trouble would come to us.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NIV)
- There’s a balance between faith and wisdom. These things were never meant to be separated.
- There are examples in the Bible of faith in the midst of crisis and quarantine (Old Testament and New Testament). God wants us to honor and respect the laws and rules of quarantine but still use our faith. Our mandate is not to be fearful, but be respectful and full of faith. We can be both at the same time.
Take Some Practical Steps to Pray During This Time of Crisis:
Funny Friday: If you need 144 rolls of toilet paper
Funny Friday: If you need 144 rolls of toilet paper
If you need 144 rolls of toilet paper for a 14 day quarantine you probably should’ve been seeing a doctor long before COVID-19.
“And this, too, is a very serious problem…” Ecclesiastes 5:16a (NLT)
COVID-19: Fight Fear
COVID-19: Fight Fear
I hesitated adding yet another thing out there having anything remotely related to COVID-19. Quite honestly I’m exhausted and overwhelmed with reading and hearing about it everywhere I look.
That being said, I do feel like God compelled me to provide resources for those who may need some extra encouragement to fight fear or who may need more reassurance and comfort. Just because I’m not struggling does not mean that others aren’t. Additionally, it would be nice to see some positive, encouraging, faith-related information out there to counterbalance and fight fear and panic inducing media that’s being shoved down our throats everywhere we turn.
Today, I’d like to provide you with some practical steps, encouragement, reminders, helpful scriptures, helpful posts/articles, and some faith and hope building resources to support you and help you fight fear during this volatile time in our world.
First and foremost: God is still God, and He can turn bad into good
God can take something bad, something evil, something the devil uses for harm and turn it into something good. God can turn the tables on our enemy. No matter how bleak things may look in our world right now, God can and will still work through this and in spite of this crisis.
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28 (NLT)
“You plotted evil against me, but God turned it into good, in order to preserve the lives of many people who are alive today because of what happened.” Genesis 50:20 (GNT)
Read this helpful post:
Getting Through a Tough Time and Coming Out Better On the Other Side
God is immutable—He will not change
Funny Friday: Jesus supped with his apostles
Funny Friday: Jesus supped with his apostles
I came across this meme on Pinterest. It made me giggle. 🙂
“The Last Supper: And when the hour was come, He reclined, and the apostles with Him. And He said to them, “With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I say to you that never again will I eat thereof, until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
And having received the cup, having given thanks, He said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves. For I say to you that I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now until the kingdom of God shall come.
And having taken the bread, having given thanks, He broke it and gave to them, saying, “This is My body, which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me,” and the cup likewise, after having supped, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is being poured out for you.” Luke 22:14-20 (BLB)
Can I Really Live Like Jesus?
Can I Really Live Like Jesus?
This week I was very inspired by our pastor’s message, “Can I Really Live Like Jesus?”. I’d like to share this sermon resource with you because it was just so good and so practical. I loved Pastor Whit’s stories, analogies, and visual/video clip examples that he used (funny, relatable, and some tear-jerkers). You know I love a good analogy! 😉 It reminded me of how Jesus would use parables to illustrate his teachings. I would love to encourage you to go watch or listen. I sometimes fancy myself a “curator of resources”, and this is a good one!
I’ll post the YouTube Video (message starts at 37:45), and below that I’ll include a message summary, adding some of my own notes and complementary scriptures that came to mind. BONUS: I’ve also added an instructional image straight from my brain at the bottom (Well…almost straight from my brain; I did my best!).
Message summary with some of my own notes and complementary scripture additions:
“The destiny of your life is to become like Jesus.”[1] The idea is…Yes, it is possible to live like Jesus! In fact, we are told to do so in several places in scripture. Jesus even says to numerous people, “Follow Me…”
“For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” Romans 8:29 (NLT)
“Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.” 1 John 2:6 (NLT)
“I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.” John 13:15 (NLT)
“For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.” 1 Peter 2:21 (NLT)
“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NIV)
“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2 (NLT)
“Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.” John 12:26 (NLT)
God wouldn’t tell us to do something that’s impossible to do. If he tells you to do it (i.e. live like Jesus), then it’s completely achievable.
The word used to describe this is “discipleship”. A modern day equivalent could be “apprenticeship”, except a disciple takes learning a step further into becoming exactly like the person they are following or learning from.
“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.” Luke 6:40 (ESV)
“The call to follow Jesus is a call to follow the way of Jesus.”[2]