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Emily Wickham

A New You

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“And have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him.”

Col. 3:10, NASB

medium_11345289194-2, A New YouNew shoes. New clothes. A new hairstyle. What is it about something brand-new that makes us smile? I don’t know anyone who dislikes receiving an unused item–especially among my female friends :).

Material novelties aside, how do you feel about becoming a new you? I mean on the inside … who you are … your character? If you’ve placed your faith in Christ, God is diligently renewing you. It doesn’t matter if you’re tall or short, blonde or brunette, soft-spoken or outspoken. God meticulously is working on you day-by-day and minute-by-minute. 

This truth encourages me immensely because let’s be real: sometimes life’s responsibilities become hum-drum. Doing dishes, washing laundry, cooking, and cleaning occasionally drive me crazy–I grow weary now and then of their constancy. Even more, repeatedly dealing with the same old sins can be discouraging. Why do I fail so often?

Friends, God isn’t taking who we were and fixing it up. At the moment of salvation, He ends our state of corruption and initiates a new beginning. This is HIS work, which I find extremely comforting.

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil. 1:6

Though I struggle with sins like selfishness and speaking thoughtlessly, God is making me new. Despite my frequent missteps, God is making me new. And He won’t stop until Jesus comes back.

What about you? What responsibilities or failures weigh you down? Pause. Look up. Be encouraged. Almighty God holds you in His hands and carefully shapes you through the very situations that just crossed your mind. In every aspect of life, God renews us with a true knowledge–an experiential knowledge–of Christ, while forming Christ in us at the same time.

Rejoice! God is making you new.

Much love to each of you in Christ,

Emily

 

photo credit: vanessafalle via photopin cc

If You Feel You Don’t Have a Purpose…

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“For now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord.”

1 Thessalonians 3:8, NASB

sunset, If You Feel You Don’t Have a Purpose…

Something dawned on me last week.

I feel most alive when I invest in someone’s spiritual well-being.

And I think that’s what God intends.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10, Nasb

The Lord God created our bodies and intricately wove distinct personalities, talents, intelligence, and more within us. As if that’s not awesome enough, God made us new when we placed our faith in Christ for salvation. Twice born–once physically and once spiritually–we’re living, breathing, walking works of God. With a purpose.

Almighty God blueprinted a purpose for each of us long, long ago. Isn’t that incredible? You know, sometimes we sense a lack of purpose, which causes us to drift uncertainly. That’s not God’s plan. I believe He developed a purpose for us before we even existed. And it doesn’t revolve around the physical–our purpose lives and breathes and moves in the spiritual realm. While those two realms often intersect, investing in someone’s spiritual well-being should be our ultimate motivation.

This doesn’t mean we preach at people or care only for spiritual conversations. It doesn’t mean we overlook physical needs to concentrate on spiritual needs. On the flip side, neither does it mean meeting physical needs without spiritual goals. Many humanitarian organizations exist and do an outstanding job helping people. But as Christians, we possess something more: God’s love. The Spirit of God. Hope. We’re “created in Christ Jesus for good works,” acts that demonstrate spiritual truths so others can know Christ too.

Living our God-designed purpose pairs who we are with doing what He’s prepared for us.

Though this looks different for each individual, the final outcome stays the same: building God’s Kingdom. This is God’s heart. He reaches peoplethrough His people--whether we serve soup, lead Bible studies, rear children, or work in an office. God made us in Christ to communicate eternal truth in various capacities. He longs for others to know what He’s graciously revealed to us:

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16

When we invest in someone’s spiritual well-being, we fulfill what God created us to do … and we feel really, truly alive.

Let’s live BIG. Let’s live with PURPOSE. Let’s be flooded with an outpouring of the Holy Spirit as we serve our mighty God!

“‘He who believes in Me,’ as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.’” John 7:38 

I’d love to learn from you. How is God using you to reach people for Christ?

Much love to each of you in Christ,

Emily

Pressed

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“The LORD your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.”

Zephaniah 3:17, NASB

emily pressedYou never know how good you have it until something’s gone…

Last Friday, my family and I sat smiling around the table at my parent’s home. Friday night dinner at their place has become a tradition this past year, and we thoroughly enjoy it. I was running low on time, so we took frozen pizza and leftover baked ziti. Happily, my parents were pleased with this menu, which also included cake for dessert. Everyone interacted in good spirits, and our time together quickly progressed into a fond memory.

Then my mom fell. This past Sunday, she broke her hip. Our days since then have been filled with hospital visits and today’s relocation to the Rehab Center.

I knew these special Friday dinners were limited. But I didn’t realize until now how it would feel to go from eating together to missing the opportunity to do so. Tomorrow’s Friday … and instead of visiting at my parent’s home, we’ll spend time with Mom at Rehab. I already miss our regular plans.

We’re pressed. Mom can’t care for herself like before, and Dad’s routine has been overloaded with new experiences. My sister and I have been keeping in touch, making sure someone is with Mom as much as possible. Mark and my kids have been troopers, and they’ve given of themselves to cheer Mom in person.

God is SO good. This thought strikes me–if I can re-word my opening statement a bit:

We never know how good GOD is until we’re pressed into desperate need for Him.

I haven’t been able to read the Word much this week or pray like usual. Often while I’m en route I utter sentence prayers, asking God to meet specific needs of the moment. And friends, I cannot tell you how absolutely, perfectly, and wonderfully He has come through Every. Moment.

God’s love and His presence fill us up when we’re empty of all else. He never fails us, and the enormity of His supply is overwhelming. Whether we’re pressed by life’s circumstances or walking in joy, we can’t exhaust the resources God possesses. An awesome God and faithful Father, HE takes tender care of His own.

Much love to each of you in Christ,

Emily


Image courtesy of lemonade at FreeDigitalPhotos.net