I value you. And I thank you for going through my Christian journey with me, beside me. Just as I need Jesus, I also need you for fellowship in my walk.
Do you have a testimony?
What's your story?
Welcome to those who believe, and I also welcome those who may not believe, or may be questioning your faith. Whatever point you may be at in your walk with Christ, you are invited. And for those who do not believe, you are invited to share my story, too.
In our spiritual journeys, our time is easily taken from us. Our patience is often tested far beyond our limits, and direction can often be misleading. It is then, that moment, where we take a step back from the world to look at it through a broader lens. We take a deep breath and let life spinning at 100mph, slow down before our eyes.
Have you ever stopped and said:
"Is this really what my life has come to?"
"I can't make time for things that matter - family, friends, hobbies."
"Do you remember when life was easy and I had few responsibilities?"
Those questions circle my brain more often than liked. Amen, friends. We are in this together. More often than not, life begins to spin faster than we can think, walk, act, and keep up with, and when this occurs, we forget about the truly momentous things that God has given to us. It is in this moment, where it is crucial to refresh ourselves, our minds, our souls, our hearts, our relationships, our perspective, and our faith.
re·deem, verb: to gain or regain possession (of something).
Once we focus on refreshing ourselves and our souls, will good come from this if our refreshments cannot be redeemed? Maybe, in your situation, you need to gain or regain possession of __(you fill in the blank here)__. For some, this could be a healthier lifestyle or another commitment. Aside from God, you alone truly know that gap in your life that needs to be refilled.
With change and redemption comes the commitment to ensure that this will be permanent endeavor for you. A new career. Weight loss. Lifestyle changes. The biggest challenge here is to remain.
Remain in love. Remain calm. Remain a follower of Christ.
This word 'remain' is more frequent to us than we would expect. I ponder the thought that I may take advantage, or think too little of what could remain in my life. And that's just it, there are some things in life that we do have control over.
Am I putting in all the effort I can to truly remain in all that is presented to me in life? Am I being too hard on myself or am I giving myself too little credit? These overwhelming questions continue to consume our thoughts. We're only human and it's natural for these thoughts and emotions to overtake us.
Three simple words: refresh, redeem, remain. Three simple words I will commit to as I work to strengthen my journey with God and in life. This is only our beginning, friends. Together we will tackle so much of this thing called 'life' through fellowship together. Come join me. It will be a beautiful walk. A walk through Bible Studies, Book Clubs, Scripture, Sermons, and a magnitude of more thoughts, feelings and faith.
Blessings to you,