Connected Hearts

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another…” Hebrews 10:24-25

Relationships are a vital part of our walk with God. Throughout the bible, God puts emphasis on relationships. His relationship with us, our relationship with our spiritual family, our relationship with our physical family, relationships with sinners, relationships between husbands and wives, children and parents, truly, He left no relationship untouched.

Why do you think He did that?  What’s the big deal about relationships with each other?  Can’t we do this on our own?

No way, sister.  We cannot do this on our own and God knew that. Every conversion story in the bible involves at least one other person! The new testament talks about how the Christians met together, studied God’s word together and met each other’s needs. Keep in mind that the story that did involve only one person (Adam) ended with a partner by his side. God knew then that it was not good for man to be alone (Genesis 1:15-25). So from the beginning of time, God has emphasized the importance of relationships.

Why? Because we need each other.

Why are you here today? What brought you to this blog?

You want inspiration. You need encouragement. You want to know that you are not alone as you walk through this life. You want someone to pray with, someone who understands what you are going through. You want to connect.

At least, that's the reason I'm here. I know there are many women out there who face the same struggles that I do, and I need the encouragement of their faith.

Every time that I have tried to tackle something on my own, I fail. Every time! You may think to yourself, “not me, girl. I’ve been doing this alone for years.” While that may be true to some degree (for instance, I’ve been doing the spiritual walk alone in my marriage for years), it’s not entirely true.

I would not be as faithful if it weren’t for my sisters in Christ. 

I would not be as fruitful if it weren’t for my church family.

I would not continue to persevere if it weren’t for my spiritual family.

I need them.  I need to stay connected to them.

I am constantly calling or texting my girlfriends on the daily. If I run into a bump with my husband, I reach out to a sister in Christ. A situation with my pre-teen daughter (Lord help all the moms of pre-teen girls), I’m on the phone with a sister: “help me out. How do I handle this?”

And why do I call a sister in Christ before I call a friend of the world?

Because she has my best interest in mind. She’s running the same race that I am. She will help me stay on the straight and narrow path.

I’ve completed the Los Angeles Marathon twice. Both times I ran the race with my best friend, who also is my sister in Christ (can I get an amen?). The races were brutal. Our legs were killing us, our bodies did not appreciate our effort and we were exhausted. But when we saw that finish line drawing near, we grabbed each other’s hand and we ran, with whatever energy we had left, across that finish line. Despite the hurt and desire to quit several times throughout the race, we both knew that we wouldn’t allow the other to stop. We were going to finish this together. And we did. Hand in hand. 

You are in the marathon of your spiritual life. 

Find your racing partner and run towards your crown.

Reach out. Connect. And keep going.

The race is much easier when you have a cheerleader by your side telling you,

“Keep going, don’t stop. I’m right here and we’re in this together.”

Xoxo

(This article was originally written by Jennifer Osler and featured as a guest blog post on GirlfriendsPray.org)

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On the Grid!

                                       

I am excited to let you know that I have been invited by BibleGateway.com to be a member of their Blogger Grid!

BibleGateway is a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing and is the most visited Christian website in the world. You have most likely visited BibleGateway.com at some point in time, whether it was seeking a particular scripture or wanting to read scripture in a different version (for example, NIV, King James, Message, Living Bible, etc). 

My blog first had to be reviewed by BibleGateway administrators to make sure that my content is scripturally based and truthful according to God's word.  My blog is now amongst a group of incredible authors whose goal is to share God's word all over the world. So exciting!

As a member of BibleGateway's Blogger Grid, now when I reference scriptures in my posts you will be able to click a link that will direct you to BibleGateway's online bible where you can read the scripture in its entirety and surrounding scripture.

I am so excited to be a part of something like this and I have YOU to thank for it!

Xoxo

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Window to His Love

Not to brag, but this is the view from my bedroom window. This view is the reason my husband and I put all of our pennies towards buying our house. 

Imagine covering up this window.  And not with sheer curtains that still let you peek through to see the evening sky, but with dark, heavy, dust covered curtains that were purchased back in 1963. What a waste of a window if we kept it covered all the time. We would be missing out on seeing God.

Our hearts and our lives are like my bedroom window. There is so much beauty to be seen, but only if the curtains are pulled back so that God’s handiwork can be admired.

Sisters, we are the window to God’s love.  Every day, we encounter people who are admiring the view (girl, I know you’re pretty, but that’s not the view I’m talking about). 

Can they see God’s handiwork?  Or is it covered by dark, heavy curtains?

Each morning we when wake up to begin a new day, we start with a window that has been opened for us. Throughout the day we are the ones that determine what others will see.  

Let’s take a second to look at that picture above.

It’s beautiful. There is so much to see. The color of the sky, the shape of the clouds, the sun’s rays shining through. I can look at that picture and see God’s handiwork. I don’t need to hear anything to know that God created that beautiful scene. I’m sure there were birds chirping and possibly the rustle of a gentle breeze. But even then, those sounds would be beautiful. 

That is how God wants to be represented by each of us.  The view of His handiwork in us should look like kind hearts and joyful living. People should be able to see His spirit in our actions and our love for others. The sounds our observers hear should match the gentleness of birds chirping or the low rustle of leaves of a tree.  Our words should be soft to the ear and soothing to the soul.

We are the window to God’s love. What do others view in you?

It’s easy to take something as beautiful as that view from my bedroom window and cover it was dark, heavy shades.  The same principal holds true with the view of our lives. A bad day at work, someone cut you off on the freeway, your dinner burned in the oven, you can’t find your keys, your dog ate your shoe…anything can happen throughout the day that has the potential to draw the curtains over God’s spirit in us.

Each day we rise with a beautiful view of God’s spirit in our hearts. By choosing how we live and respond to situations, we are determining the view that others see. 

I keep my bedroom window curtains open from sun up to sun down. The view is just too beautiful and I am anxious to see God’s beauty because it’s different every day. He surprises me with variations of color and winds that move the clouds. It would be a shame to cover my bedroom window because I am the one who is missing out on His beauty.

Be the window to God’s love. Let the world view His spirit in you. As people move throughout the day, let them interact with the most beautiful of God’s creations: you.

Within your soul is the most beautiful view. You are the most gorgeous sunset. You are the gentleness of a cool breeze. You are the promise of new day filled with hope.

You are God’s handiwork, and He wants everyone to see what He has made.

xoxo

(This article was originally written by Jennifer Osler and featured as a guest blog post on GirlfriendsPray.org)

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