Author: hcfwomen

**During the month of January, we will be reposting some of the top posts from 2024. We hope these will encourage you and connect to your heart. Stay tuned for all new posts coming in February 2025!**

When I hear the word “bloom” I think about my front porch flower bed. Where springtime brings new blooms, new beginnings, and a new enjoyment for my family. My front porch is one of my favorite places to sit and enjoy my morning coffee, read and study my Bible, or just hangout with Larry and Nala (my fur baby) in the evening as the sun sets and stars appear.

As I studied about “Bloom where you are planted”, I discovered it’s a phrase that you cannot find exactly in the Bible. But, there are many references to the thought of “bloom where you are planted”.

Genesis 1:28… God told Adam and Eve to bloom where they were planted. “Be fruitful and increase in number…”

Genesis 50:20…Joseph bloomed where he was planted, and God turned it around for his good. “…you intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done…”

1 Corinthians 7:17 God wants us to bloom where He has planted us, even if it is hard.  “Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned them, just as God has called them.”

God calls all of us to “bloom” where He has planted us. So, why are we sometimes not happy to bloom where God has planted us? Does He really have a plan for my life where I am right now? Why can’t I be more like ______ ?(fill in your blank) She seems to have it all together!

I believe sometimes we struggle to bloom where we are planted because we compare our lives to others. After hearing Pastor Anthony teach on an “orphan spirit”, a feeling of lack.  I feel like comparison is an orphan spirit.  “If I only had what Betty Sue had”, then I would be happy! Sound familiar? With all the social media at our fingertips today, and seeing all the “perfect” posts with the “perfect” family.  If our identity is not rooted in Christ, then we may have a sense of lack and struggle with comparison.  Our comparison can overtake our thoughts, minds and actions! Then we are unable to bloom where God has planted us.

As I was studying for this blog I found a story that I want to share…

“An ancient legend tells of a king who walked into his garden one day to find almost everything withered and dying. After speaking to an oak near the gate, the king learned that he was troubled because he was not tall and beautiful like the pine. The pine overheard their conversation and added that she, too, was upset, for she could not bear delicious fruit like the pear tree. The pear tree heard his name and began to complain that he did not have the lovely odor of the spruce. And so it went throughout the entire garden.

Near the very edge of the garden grew a little daisy. As the king approached, he noticed her bright little face, full of life. “Well, little flower,” said the monarch, “I’m glad to find that there is at least one happy face in my garden.”

“Oh king,” she said, “I know I’m little, and not many people notice me, but one day I realized that if you planted me here, you must have had a good reason. So, your majesty, I’ve determined to be the best little flower I can be!”

Our King has planted a beautiful garden. Not one of us is greater than the next. It is His perfection.

We must come to a place where we trust that God has a reason for creating us the way He has and has planted us in just the place he desired. Comparing ourselves with one another will only make us wither. When we become satisfied with His creation (that is us), that’s when we’ll find true happiness”.. and we will shine. Let’s give God all our disappointments and be determined to be the best that we can be for Him!”

God has a perfect plan for your life, embrace where you are in your life right now and as a daughter of the King you can bloom where He has planted you, by choosing to be content and trusting God’s plan for your future.

We want to thank Bambi Lutrick for sharing this post.

**During the month of January, we will be reposting some of the top posts from 2024. We hope these will encourage you and connect to your heart. Stay tuned for all new posts coming in February 2025!**

While waiting in the cardiologist’s waiting room, trying everything I could think of to get my blood pressure down, I started reciting the 23rd Psalm. “The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want, He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside still waters, He restores my soul.” That’s as far as I got! There was my answer! Here I was trying everything to make me relax and my blood pressure to be normal, when all along He was saying to me, “I’m the one that does that for you! I make you lie down, I lead you beside still waters, I’m the one that restores your soul. I am all you need, rest in Me!” 

I have a wooden statue of a shepherd and three sheep. One of the sheep he is carrying on his shoulders, the other he’s carrying in his arms near his heart and the third is following right beside him. I bought it many years ago, and It is one of the few things that I have kept out and not put up or thrown away. Every time I look at it, I see myself with my shepherd, Jesus. Every day in my life, I have been one of those sheep. 

I grew up on a farm north of Plainview with two brothers and a sister. Dickie (Richard), my older brother, and I were together most of the time. I believed that anything he could do, I could also do. The problem was he had an adventurous, bold spirit, and so did I. So our adventures usually got us into trouble. We weren’t rebellious, exactly. We listened and tried to do what our parents said, but our spirit of adventure spoke louder, and our plans seemed much better than theirs. One of these adventures ended up with me falling and breaking my arm. It was noon time and mother had just called us in to eat. Mother and Daddy had to leave their meal and work to drive 12 miles to the hospital to have my arm set. I cannot remember anything ever being said in anger to me about what happened (Grace). Sounds just like the sheep that keeps wandering off doing its own thing, not listening to the shepherd, getting in trouble. And the Good Shepherd comes, finds the sheep and takes it home. 

I have many stories I could tell of being held by my Heavenly Father so closely that I could feel and hear His heartbeat! These are the times where I grew in my relationship to Him, learned to rest and trust in His Love for me!

Thanksgiving of 2021, Stewart and I both were sick with Covid. Stewart was in the hospital fighting for his life. I was home feeling like I wanted to die. Our children had come to care for us, and it was the first night I was able to stay alone. I knew Stewart might not live, and suddenly I felt frightened and all alone. I knew in my heart that God never leaves us. He alone has the last word, and His Love is in all he does and allows in our lives, but fear of losing control and of the unknown was creeping into my heart. I was still so sick that I could not even form a sentence or a prayer. I noticed a bright light in our backyard, and it looked as if a tree was covered in light. I went to examine it closer and noticed that the light pole, which is about 18 ft. tall was burning brightly, shining light all over our backyard and through the trees. Now this light had not worked in over 20 years. I heard the Lord say, “Don’t be afraid; I AM with you! I will never leave you! Everything will be alright!” I felt that peace that passes all understanding fill my heart and mind. I knew no matter what happened, I would be OK. I could rest in His promises. That light worked until Stewart was completely well and strong. One night I went to turn it on, and it hasn’t worked since. I no longer needed a physical sign of His love. I was living it! My Shepherd was there to hold me close to His heart and give me comfort and peace. 

John 10:27: “My sheep, hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” For as long as I can remember, I have known Jesus as my Savior and my Friend. Through my life stories, I have grown to know my Father’s love for me. I have learned to recognize the Holy Spirit’s voice, and I have learned how to follow him. But like in my first story of the sheep, that spirit of adventure sometimes speaks louder and my plans seem better. Through it all, my Good Shepherd is always there for me! He gives me His Grace and righteousness. He makes me lie down in green pastures ( rest in Him). He restores my soul!

We want to thank Elaine Norrell for sharing this post.

My memories of Christmas as a child mostly consisted of a very old, white, aluminum Christmas tree that my half-sister was going to throw away. My siblings and I would make homemade decorations to hang on it. I especially remember the paper chains, where we would cut paper strips, color them red and green, and glue them together with homemade paste made of flour and water. One year we had a tumble weed that we decorated when the aluminum tree finally fell apart. On Christmas morning we would wake up to a sock with candy, fruit, and nuts.  No presents.

But there is one Christmas that really stands out in my memory. It had been a particularly bad year for my family. We had moved to Spur, because Daddy found a job there. I was in the second grade.  It was a very cold winter, and we had to walk to school. It seems you had to live at least 2 miles from the school to be able to ride the bus. It was so cold that we couldn’t feel our fingers when we got to school, and the teacher had to pry my lunch sack out of my hands. I think my older sister had it even worse, as she had to stay in the nurse’s office for quite a while trying to warm up. After that, we were told we could ride the bus. 

Then Christmas break came. Daddy had lost his job, and they had turned the electricity off to our house. Mama and all the kids (5 at the time, including a baby) huddled on the bed with all the blankets we had. You could still see everyone’s breath and ice on the inside of the windows and in the cracks in the walls. We were down to only pinto beans and rice to eat. It was a really bad time to not be in school.

One morning Daddy came in and told us to get in the car. We drove to a mercantile store downtown. Daddy said we were all going in. This was very unusual because Daddy never let us go into stores. A man unlocked the door for us and told us we could each pick out anything in the store that we wanted, and it would be our Christmas gift from him. He gave Mama a basket and told her to fill it with everything she needed to cook Christmas lunch, even dessert. We were all so shocked, we didn’t realize that it was Christmas Day. It seemed so magical. My sister picked out a Thumbelina doll and begged me to get a stroller to go with it.  It seemed like we looked around for hours. I chose a red rubber ball and it lasted for years, until there was no red coating left on it and there were chunks out of the rubber from being hit with our makeshift bats made of two by fours. When we got home, the electricity had been turned back on, and the house was so cozy and warm. One of the best things that day was a big Christmas lunch, with no beans or rice. I think this was probably one of the best Christmases we ever had. We had no tree and no stockings, but someone cared about us, and I am still in awe of how God sent this angel to show us His love. God came down that Christmas and joined us for a day I will never forget!

We want to thank Naomi Jones for sharing this post.

Christmas! The most wonderful time of the year. I love Christmas. I love the tree with lots of white lights on it.  I love the packages under it. I love the music. I love the movies (my favorite Christmas movie is Christmas Vacation. LOL). I love the Nativity sets I have, and yes, I have a few. But the thing I love most is the look of excitement on the faces of my grandkids. 

We have a family tradition of attending a Christmas Eve candlelight service. It started many years ago. In the past, I would have a house full of people for dinner, church, and opening packages. Now instead of the family coming to our house, we go to Canyon to spend Christmas with our kids and attend the candlelight service at Harvest Connexion in Amarillo. I have a picture I took a couple of years ago of my grandson, he was 2 years old. Don (PaPa) is holding a candle. Liam is looking at the flame with such a look of wonder on his face. To me, that captures the Wonder of Christmas best.  

Luke 2:1-21 gives us the story of the birth of our Savior. This story is full of wonder. Can you imagine being a young woman and being told you were pregnant, even though you were a virgin? Can you imagine being the man who was engaged to her and being told she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit and would give birth to the Savior of the world? Can you imagine traveling several miles from your home, in labor, and giving birth in a stable with animals all around you? I can’t. My youngest grandchild was born in the middle of August. I was blessed to be there for her birth. My daughter was in a sterile hospital with great nurses and doctors, and best of all, an epidural. It was such a miracle to witness, but nothing compares to the birth of Jesus.  

Can you imagine being the shepherds in the fields with their sheep, and Angels coming to give you the good news of the birth of the Promised Messiah? Luke 2:8-14 tells us the Angels told them they would find the baby wrapped in cloths laying in a manger (Luke 2:12). And THAT is the whole Wonder of Christmas!  A baby wrapped in cloths. A baby who had left heaven. A baby who was born to be both man and God. A baby who had been prophesied many years earlier. Isaiah 9:6 tells us, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the covenant will be on his shoulders, and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” A baby. Just a little tiny human who needed to be cleaned up, warmed up, and fed. A baby who was like all other babies, but a baby wrapped in wonder. A baby who would grow up and play with His siblings. A baby who learned from his earthly father how to be a carpenter. A baby who went into ministry.  A baby who was crucified, died, and rose again to forgive me and you for our sins. A baby who WILL come again. Luke 2:14 says, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

We want to thank Hope Warren for sharing this post.

The wonder of Christmas….lights, gifts, cookies, candies, gingerbread houses, families, candles, music, church services, baking, decorating, wrapping, rushing….what just happened? We just crossed over from the wonder of Christmas to the chaos of Christmas.

When you look into a child’s eyes during this season, you see wonder and amazement reflected in them. The older we get, we turn the season into work. We feel responsible for making Christmas memorable. If we’re not careful, between the amazement and the work, we can lose the wonder of the season. It’s time to slow down and focus on the wonder of Christmas.

The manger scene is a typical picture we see on Christmas cards and intertwined in our Christmas decor. But…do you see wonder? Do you see the wonder of prophecies fulfilled and the promise of what’s still to come? Have you read His name?

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

Let’s pause and look at the wonder of the descriptions of the newborn baby named Jesus.

His name is Wonder-ful. “Wonder” translated means something uncommon or out of the ordinary. Jesus wasn’t just any baby. He was the Son of God. He was fully God and yet fully human. When was the last time you were in awe at the love Jesus brought down from Heaven to Earth?

“Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.“  Philippians 2:6-7

Counselor…Has Jesus ever been your advisor? Your guidance? The baby that was worshipped in the manger held the knowledge and counsel of God. We can trust Him to listen to us and guide us in the right direction.

“In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:6

The infant in the manger was Mighty God. It means “God hero, warrior or champion”. To this day, He still possesses the divine power of a mighty warrior. We can turn to Him and trust Him to be our defender and protector.

“ The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you: in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

Everlasting Father…Jesus desires to draw near to us. He wants to wrap us up in His arms and care for us just as an earthly father does for his own child. The same Everlasting Father who cares for you today will care for you tomorrow and everyday.

“ Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…” James 4:8

That tiny baby in Mary’s arms was also named Prince of the Peace. Through His life and sacrifice, Jesus made a way to have a restored relationship of peace with God. A deep, abiding peace between our hearts and our Creator that cannot be taken away. He also allowed us to have a relationship with the Holy Spirit. Through this manifestation we have the ability to be filled with love, joy and peace.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

The baby in the manger didn’t remain an infant. He grew into a man who served God and fulfilled His redemption for mankind.

What a gift! The wonder of God, leaving His glory in Heaven to become one of us. Heaven’s love reaching down to save mankind and the world.

As you enjoy the beauty of the season and all it entails, don’t forget to slow down and keep the true wonder of Christmas in your eyes and in your heart.

We want to thank Kathy Jones for sharing this post.

As I’ve pondered what it means to be wrapped in wonder, the sunshine is coming through the window, and I can feel it’s warmth on my face.  I have just come inside from a brisk walk outside while at the ladies’ retreat at Ceta Canyon.  We were encouraged, after worship, to take an hour to be alone with God, to spend time with Him, to behold Him.  As I spent time outside, I felt the crispness of the Fall season in the air.  My attention was then turned to an oak tree, and the leaves were a beautiful, deep red color.  Other trees were a golden yellow and beautiful orange.  I stood still in the sunshine to feel its warmth take the chill off me.  I stopped to just breathe and take it all in.  I was intentional about taking time to notice His beauty in the nature that surrounded me.

At that moment, I understood what it means to be wrapped in the wonder of Jesus!  I was completely engulfed in His presence by a sense of awe and amazement, as I looked at His creation and took time to behold Him.  To stop and notice the love He has for everything He created captured my heart.  As I spent time just being in His presence, I wondered what it must have been like for Adam and Eve. God had an intimate, close relationship with them where they walked together in the garden. They talked together in the beautiful garden He created for them. Can you see the deep love He has for us and how strong His desire for an intimate relationship with us is?

Think about that for a minute. Get still, get quiet, listen. You can almost hear the sound of His footsteps as He walks, searching for you, just to spend time together and talk. Listen to Him whisper how much He loves you! He adores you! This same God who made the sun, moon, and stars; the same God that holds the universe in His hands, that holds our planet in midair as it sustains life. The same God that simply spoke things into existence but breathed His very breath into the man He created with His hands longs to have a deep personal relationship with you! Let Him wrap you in His arms and just hold you. Be still, be wrapped in the wonder of His heart for you!

I was also reminded that all through the Old and New Testaments, you can see His heart, His love, woven all through the stories of His mercy, gentleness, forgiveness, and redemption for humankind.  Look at the thread He created from Genesis to Revelation, the plan He set in motion to reconcile us to a right relationship through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

If you doubt His love and His heart for you, take the time to enjoy the beautiful sunrise and the morning sky He paints to tell you good morning.  Listen to the birds as they sing songs back to their Creator.  Stop and watch the sunset as He ushers you into rest and restoration from the day.  And lastly, take in the starry sky as you breathe in His wonder.  Ask Him to wrap you in His arms as you lay down to rest in His peace and thank Him for His love.

As you rise each morning, thank Him for the new day you have to spend together, as you experience a deep relationship with Abba!

Praise Him for who He is.  He is faithful, merciful, kind, gentle, and loving.  Gracious. Tender. Take some time and look up the scriptures that speak to His character and faithfulness to us born out of His deep love for us.  He adores us, so take the moments you have to enjoy being wrapped in the wonder of Jesus.

We want to thank Janie Keller for sharing this post.

We are coming up on a time of year when we take the time to be grateful for our gifts and blessings even more so than normal. But something I’ve really had on my heart is our God given gifts that become blessings to others. In a world busting at the seams with distractions and demands, it’s easy to overlook the unique gifts and abilities each of us possess. As women of faith, we are called not only to recognize these gifts but also to share them with others, turning our talents into blessings that reflect God’s love and grace.

Every woman has been blessed with unique talents, whether it’s a love for cooking, an ability to listen, or a creative spirit. These gifts are not merely for our own enjoyment; they are intended to be shared. The Bible reminds us in 1 Peter 4:10, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

To discover my personal gifts, it has taken a lot of time of self-reflection. What activities energize me? What compliments do I often receive? This self-awareness can be the first step toward understanding how I and, you too, can bless others.

Once you identify your gifts, think on how you can share them with your circle of influence. 

1. Give the gift of your time: Whether it’s teaching a class, mentoring a young woman, or helping at a local nursing home, your time is a precious gift. Your presence will uplift those around you.

2. Give the gift of creating: If you have artistic or creative talents, use them to create uplifting content—whether it’s writing, painting, or designing. Share your creations through social media, your place of work, and with those around you. 

3. Give the gift of listening: Sometimes, the greatest gift is simply being present. Offering a listening ear to a friend during their hard time can provide comfort and support that words alone cannot.

4. Give the gift of encouragement: Use your gift of encouragement to uplift women in your inner circle and beyond. A simple note, a warm smile to a stranger, or a heartfelt message can make a world of difference in someone’s day.

When we share our gifts, we create a ripple effect of positivity. One act of kindness can inspire another, creating a cycle of generosity and love. As women, we have the power to grow community and connection through our shared experiences and talents.

Consider the story of the widow’s offering in Mark 12:41-44. Her small gift was significant in the eyes of God, demonstrating that it’s not about the size of our gifts but the heart behind them. When we give selflessly, we contribute to a greater purpose.

To turn our gifts into blessings, we must cultivate a heart of service. Also including humility, gratitude, and a willingness to step out of our comfort zones. Regularly seeking God’s guidance in how I can use my abilities for His glory and the benefit of others is critical. 

Prayer and reflection help align my actions with God’s purpose, reminding me that every gift is an opportunity to serve.

In recognizing and sharing our God-given gifts, we become vessels of His love and grace. As we bless others, we also find fulfillment and joy in our purpose. Let’s commit to using our unique abilities to impact the lives of those around us, creating a world enriched by the love and kindness of women who dare to shine bright for Jesus. 

Together, we can transform our gifts into blessings that resonate far beyond ourselves, creating a legacy of faith, love, and service.

We want to thank Beckah Hunt for sharing this post.

I can go an entire day and not recognize the blessings around me. You too?

Sometimes I can go two days and not recognize the blessings around me. You too?

Sometimes I can go through a whole season and not recognize the blessings around me. You too?

Honestly, that hurts my heart to admit. And I have a pretty good feeling I am not alone in that. 

Life can get busy, and we can unintentionally miss the blessings right under our very nose. Busy-ness is a tool the devil uses to distract, distance, and keep us from noticing the gifts around us. What happens when we stop focusing on the gifts around us? They get smaller and smaller until we forget for an entire day, or two, or a season. 

I don’t want to be a woman who misses the goodness around me.

Not coincidentally, the hardest times for me to find the blessings are when I have walked through pain, walked through trials, been in the pit of parenting, in the pit of marriage, or in the busyness of life. 

Do I really enjoy disciplining my kids? No. Is it fun? Absolutely not. But the gift here is they learn boundaries, they learn that bad choices have consequences, and they learn how to be good citizens in the world. When my husband and I walk through something difficult, do I always count it all as joy? No. Is there internal growth inside of me? Yes. Is there a gift somewhere? Yes! The gift is that my husband and I draw closer to the Lord independently AND together as we lean into Him. Our relationship is able to reach new depths because of honesty. Did my heart shatter when our adoption fell through? Yes. Did I have a chance to show love and Jesus to that mama? Yes. Even through pain, even through the hard seasons, we can recognize goodness. We can find hope in situations that beg to steal our hope. I call these silver lining gifts.

Recognizing gifts is not always easy. But it’s always possible.

We can smell the freshly baked cookies, see the sky give way to fiery pinks and reds and oranges as the sun sets, hear the laughter in the next room coming from your children, smell the comfort of coffee, watch the butterfly flutter from flower to flower, notice the leaves changing hues as they fall from trees, appreciate the lady in the store who offers a smile, amuse over the baby calf whose legs are so wobbly as it learns to walk, embrace the school children who give you the biggest hugs, see the grandparents waving from the stands, or maybe it’s the sweet friends who check in, the husband who gives a knowingly loving squeeze to your arm and the faithful hand of our Lord. I call these immaterial gifts. Ones we often get comfortable with and take for granted.

Immaterial gifts are different for every person but the feeling of the joy they bring is the same.

I don’t want to be a woman who misses the goodness around me. Because there is “always, always something to be grateful for”.

How do we reel ourselves back in? We SLOW down and intentionally create time and space in our schedules to listen and see the gifts around us. We shift our focus. One person called it a “gift shift”. We remember that there is a gift somewhere in whatever we are growing through.

Lauren Daigle has a song called “Look Up Child” that reminds us to keep our eyes upwards in a posture of anticipation for what’s to come. A person that is looking upwards can physically breathe better and that was on purpose. As we habitually look up our hearts become more conducive with the good and beauty in our world.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable – if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy – dwell on these things.

Philippians 4:8

I will give thanks with all my heart; I will tell of your wonderful deeds.

Psalm 9:1.

Never forget to be thankful for what God has done for you. 

Colossians 3:15

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his love endures forever. 

Psalm 107:1

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Let’s be women who notice the gifts around us!

We want to thank Julea Bouma for sharing this post.

I used to think the worldly goods we had or received were the gifts and blessings in this life. The more life I live, the more I realize I was so wrong! While those “things” are wonderful to have and can make life “easier”, they are not the gifts and blessings that I now see surrounding my life.

As crazy as it sounds, I have observed over the past decade that great loss is such a gift from our Heavenly Father. When I lost 3 immediate family members in the first 5 years of my marriage, my heart ached. But the Lord met me in each situation and as Pastor Anthony discussed with us a few months ago, the Holy Spirit took me on a journey of learning how to suffer well. He tuned my heart and spirit toward His presence in a different way than when I had experienced past sadness. In this place of deep grief, I found what felt like a gaping hole within would open at unexpected times and create a tsunami of tears and weeping. The vulnerability of experiencing those intense emotions, especially at unexpected times in public places, led me to run to the Father. I found my comfort could only come from the one that I knew held my future and held my loved ones and all the others in the great cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1). This was a blessing. 

Those days of grieving slowly opened my eyes to what the Lord wanted to show me. We are taught about leaving a legacy for our children and future generations, but I didn’t understand what that looked like. It wasn’t until the moment we walked through the doors into the chapel at my father’s funeral and saw hundreds of people there mourning with us that I grasped the importance of investing in others and how that creates a legacy. My dad did just that – he invested in those around him. He loved people and he loved doing life with them. He learned that from his parents, who for 2-3 decades had Sunday lunch after church for our entire family and whoever else wanted to join, including every pastor that had come into our lives. The gift of creating community and pouring into lives through time spent with them was passed on to my dad and his siblings, and in turn passed on to me and my family.

In 1 Thessalonians, Paul is writing to and encouraging the church in Thessalonica after having left and not being able to return to them. He talks about the sacrifices that were made while he was there to invest in them without being a burden and in verse 2:8 he says, “We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.” Later in verse 19 he says, “After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what will be our proud reward and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns? It is you! Yes, you are our pride and joy.” 

This life was never meant to revolve around material things, but loving God and others He has placed in our lives. What a gift it is to be able to take a moment and look into my spouse, children, and friend’s eyes and see them the way the Father does. What a blessing it is to walk through different seasons together and suffer, dance, cry, and laugh. And one day, we will see the evidence of how we stored up our treasures in heaven and in turn leave a legacy behind for those to follow.

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” Matthew 6:19-21

We want to thank Christian Greer for sharing this post.

The holidays are approaching quickly, and I wanted to take this opportunity to be the first to address what is usually thought of as a Christmas passage. But this blog is NOT about Christmas.

In Luke 1:28, we are told that Gabriel appeared to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and said to her: “Rejoice, beloved young woman, for the Lord is with you and you are anointed with great favor.” This declaration not only marked a pivotal moment in history but also serves as a reminder of our identity in Christ. Just as Mary was chosen and favored by God, so too are we. You and I, like Mary, are blessed and highly favored. Let’s dive into this truth through three key points.

Our true identity is rooted in who we are in Christ. Ephesians 1:4-5 tells us, “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.” Let that sink in.  “…He chose us (when did He choose us?) BEFORE He laid the foundation of the universe!” Just as Mary was chosen for a divine purpose, we too have been chosen and adopted into God’s family. This identity is not based on our performance or worthiness. It couldn’t be. It was done before He laid the foundation of the universe. Our identity was based on God’s grace and His deep abiding love for us. When we understand our identity, we can walk confidently in the favor of God.

Mary was not only favored but also blessed. In Luke 1:42, Elizabeth declares, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!” We must recognize that we are blessed in Christ. Ephesians 1:3 states, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” These blessings include (among many others) peace, joy, and the assurance of salvation. When we embrace and understand our blessings, we can easily share them with others, helping them to see their own worth and favor in God’s eyes.

As recipients of God’s favor, we are called to extend that favor to others. In 2 Corinthians 1:4, Paul writes, “who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble.” Just as Mary was a vessel for God’s plan, we too are vessels of His love and grace. By encouraging others and helping them recognize their identity in Christ, we can lead them to understand that they are also blessed and highly favored. Our actions and words can reflect the heart of God, drawing others to know their true identity.

To wrap up, let’s remember that our identity in Christ is one of being blessed and highly favored. Just as Mary was chosen for a divine purpose, so are we. We have been blessed with every spiritual blessing and are called to share that blessing with others. May we help those around us see their worth and favor in God’s eyes.

We want to thank Di Zeigler for sharing this post.