Tag-Archive for » faith «

26
Apr
What Did Your Grandma Teach You?
Susan Gaddis

One of the most important duties of grandmahood is to teach your granddaughters how to knit, or in my case, how to crochet. Whoever wrote this grandma rule was someone who understood the ways of the Lord.

Teaching my granddaughters the way I crochet insures that some part of who I am and how I do things will be passed on to succeeding generations. The companionship fostered as we learn how to hold a hook and weave the yarn through a post stitch binds our hearts together tighter than a phone conversation.

Teaching involves more than communicating instructions—doing the directions together is part of the mentoring. I wonder if I am as teachable as my granddaughters. “Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; knit my heart to you that I may fear your Name” (Psalm 86:11 NIV).

What has God been teaching you lately? How has that experience knit your heart to his?

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

(If you enjoyed this post, I invite you to forward it to a friend.)

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Category: Quiet moments, Relationships  Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
05
Mar
What Story Are You Living?
Susan Gaddis

1176000_black_notebook_with_pencilThere are many scripts defining your life: The story you tell about yourself in your head. The story others tell about you or think about you. The story the enemy of your soul wants to create for you. But the story that matters is the one the Author of Life is writing for you. Which story are you living?

The easiest script to follow is the one running just below the surface of your thoughts. You know the one—“I’m not worthy.” “I’ve made a mistake AGAIN.” “I’m never going to be the person I really want to be.” Or perhaps it sounds like, “I deserve better than this.” “It’s not fair.” “It’s not my fault.” “If he would just change, my life would be better.”

Some choose to live the story others create for them. If you’re not careful, the expectations of your parents, spouse, kids, boss, or friends easily transcribes into your storyline.

A saga is often written by believing the opinions and judgments people place upon you. “You are difficult to live with.” “You can’t keep a job.” “You’re not a good parent.” People only see a facet of the complex person we really are, yet we tend to let their opinions define us.

The Destroyer of Souls creates his narrative for you based on the negative things you believe about yourself, whether gleaned from the story in your head or the things others think about you. The titles of Satan’s tales might read: The Good Wife, The Fugitive, Death Becomes Her, The Mother-In-Law, or Little House of Horrors.

You play a variety of roles in any of these stories—victim, hero, lost soul, damaged goods, villain, child, parent, or savior. Yet, none of these characters is really the starring role in the script God is writing for you.

God was writing your story before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). He is the author and finisher of your journey (Hebrews 12:2). God introduced your story when he intricately formed you in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139). The place and time of your birth were purposely planned by him (Acts 17:26). The life script bearing your name contains such descriptions as pure, holy, and blameless (Ephesians 1). The exciting part waits to be given voice by you, but you have to step into the story.

Which story are you living? Share your journey with us in the comment section below.

Join me for coffee on Monday and we’ll talk about how to daily Step into Your Story.

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

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Category: Brain overhaul, Personal growth  Tags: , , , , , , , ,
29
Jan
Got problems? Get focused.
Susan Gaddis

92296_the_stress_Is the economy dragging you down? Would your life be happier if certain people weren’t a part of it? Your circumstances in the problem department probably aren’t much different than were Nehemiah’s.

Nehemiah had a negative situation—his hometown was laid waste and the local residents weren’t too eager to address the problem. So Nehemiah did what any God follower would do; he fasted, prayed and reminded God of his promises. Then he listened carefully to God’s directions and proceeded to rebuild Jerusalem. God’s plan lacked some of the things Nehemiah needed, mainly enough workers and a neighborhood support group, but Nehemiah forged ahead anyway.

Like Nehemiah, we face difficult situations, many of them economical, some relational, and others physical. Proverbs 27:12 reminds us to look for problems and prepare to meet them. We gather information about a stressful situation so we can bring definition to what we are facing, but once a dilemma is identified, we fix our attention on God’s promises and power. 

A correct focus is the difference between a problem centered person and a promise centered person. This isn’t denial, but faith. Developing faith depends on what information is getting the most attention from us. Are we consumed with the situation we’re facing, or are we consumed with God’s promises? This is important because without faith, it is impossible to please God.

Solving our problems is not God’s primary aim. He is more concerned with building a person of faith then in erasing our troubles. If there is no obstacle, there is no need for faith.

Note how Habakkuk defined his problem, yet focused his attention in the right direction:

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights . . .” (Habakkuk 3:17-19 NIV).

What promises has God given you for your present problems?

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

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Category: Personal growth  Tags: , , , , , , , ,