Journal Entry ~ 01/09/18

9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. - Galatians 6:9-10

“Life is not a game with no lasting consequences. The way we live our lives has eternal consequences.”  I read this in a John Piper sermon this past week, and it’s really had a profound impact on the way I read these verses. As I said yesterday, God is telling us in this passage that our eternal life depends on our ability to continue to do good. These verses are not simply suggesting we become a kinder person - our eternity is at stake here so it’s important we understand what God is asking of us. The way we live out our lives matters, but it isn’t about our ability to do that in our own power, it’s about surrendering our will and allowing Christ to move in us. 

So many of us get it wrong so often. We spend our time trying so hard to be a good person or do what we’re supposed to do. If you’re anything like me, you read a verse like this, you immediately start thinking about where you have failed to do good and you resolve to change. We read scripture as a to do list - what are we supposed to do and how are we supposed to behave to be a good Christian. There is still so much hidden pride when we approach scripture like this - we’re still trying to manage our change. It’ll never work that way. Eventually, we’ll grow tired of getting it wrong and just give up. 

We do not earn our salvation through our good works. Life is not about demonstrating all that we can do to show we’re good. It’s not about showing our power to make good choices. Life is about allowing God to take a hold of our hearts, to humble us by revealing our selfishness, then growing our compassion for others by dwelling inside us and giving a glimpse of His perspective. Life is about showing our faith and proving in whom we place our trust. 


Press on ~ you are loved 💗

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Medical Update ~ 09/27/17

Image
Today was a challenging day.  I met with the oncologist to discuss chemo as part of my treatment plan.  The oncologist explained there were 3 additional invasions discovered during surgery, so there were actually 4 isolated invasions in the breast tissue.  To review - my diagnosis is Ductal Carcinoma in situ (DCIS) with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.  All 4 of the invasions are HER2+ (aggressive) and hormone negative (recurrent).  My oncologist walked us through the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCM) guidelines for treatment of this type of aggressive, recurrent cancer - chemo and radiation. The good news is God had already moved the mountain in my heart opposing chemo, and rested me in a place of acceptance.  While my initial prayers focused on not having to have chemo as part of my treatment, after hearing I had multiple invasions, He moved me to a place of understanding that chemo is a necessary part of my treatment.  If there were 4 invasions in the sample they took, there co
Read more

My Journey Begins...

I am a believer in Christ, and I have breast cancer.     On August 17, 2017, I was diagnosed with an aggressive (HER2+), recurrent (hormone negative) type of Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.  At this point, they have not yet staged my cancer because they are waiting for the biopsy results from a suspicious spot in the second breast. The biopsy is scheduled for September 5th, with a lumpectomy to follow on September 7th.  They will formally stage my cancer after they biopsy my lymph nodes, which will be taken during the surgery.  It doesn't make any sense to me that I have a cancer diagnosis - I am a fairly healthy woman who runs 2 miles almost every day and eats a gluten-free, primarily paleo diet, with no family history at all.  But it makes sense to God, and so here I am. Update ~ They found 4 isolated invasions during the lumpectomy.  Due to the nature of my cancer (HER2+ and ER-), the recommended protocol is chemotherapy and radiation.  Beginning in October, my chemotherapy regime
Read more

Grace in Marriage

When we launched our new blog we had no idea if anyone would see it or be helped by it, but we knew that the LORD was prompting us to step out in faith and just do it. The response has been amazing and we are looking forward to how God will use this space for His glory. We have learned over many years of service in a variety of ministries, that God does not require human assistance to realize His plans for individuals, churches, nations, or the human race. But the story of the bible is the story of God’s will playing out through the words and actions of the His children. So…we pray, meditate on his Word, and write from the heart about the truths that mold our faith, guide our actions, and inspire our hearts and minds. Please visit the site and subscribe to continue receiving posts.  https://graceinmarriage.com/ It is our sincere hope that you are blessed by our work here and welcome your input on how we can make Grace in Marriage even better. Thank you for your support.
Read more