It’s challenging to attend a Christmas celebration with all the food options and not walk away overly satisfied. Consider the full belly you will have when you pull away from the Christmas table. Some of you are so family rich you may experience multiple Christmas tables. Now ask yourself, “Am I spiritually satisfied?” Have I fed well on spiritual food? Have I indulged in God’s Word?” Do you ever tell yourself, “This is the last bite!” as you discipline yourself to stop feasting on God’s Word?
Steve continues to do a fantastic job keeping the grass manicured. But when the head on our weed eater broke, rather than getting it replaced right away, we let the weeds take over for several weeks. I admit, the yard was starting to look rough. It reminded me of the time Steve put me in charge of all weed eating because I had told him that I didn’t think his skills were measuring up. You can watch that video below:
Above video previously posted in January 2016
Copyright©2017, Gloria Stucky
Video by: www.stuckycreative.com
Are you a list maker? Do you ever add something to your list just so you can mark it off the list? I love the feeling of accomplishment!
As part of our Sunday morning Life Group lesson, we were asked to make a “TO DO LIST” for the week. We then numbered our list in order of importance. Then we renumbered the list in order of reality.
It has been fun to watch the week progress to see how I responded. Guess what? It was an ambitious list and I still haven’t even started several items. But I did finally get my windows washed!!
I had no idea God would speak deeply into my heart through the words of so many of you. Over 80 people committed to the challenge. As the month progressed you overwhelmed me with your sweet emails, Facebook postings and personal conversations.
Your words have encouraged me to read more and dig deeper in my own daily quiet time with the Lord. One friend said she needed to talk and have someone just listen to how God was speaking to her heart. She said, “If I don’t talk to someone I’m going to explode.”
I set a goal in 2016 to read the Bible all 365 days. Rather than experiencing disappointment over missing three days, I am more interested in focusing on the value I gained having met God in His word 362 days.
Many of those were average days, hanging out with God in His Word, exercising a valuable Christian discipline. But I must confess, some of those days were heart changing!
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking,
correcting and training in righteousness”
2 Timothy 3:16 NIV
It’s challenging to eat a delicious Christmas meal without finishing overly satisfied. Consider the full belly you had when you pulled away from the Christmas table. Some of you are so family rich you may have experienced multiple Christmas tables. Now ask yourself, “Am I spiritually satisfied?” Have I fed well on spiritual food? Have I indulged in God’s Word?” Do you ever tell yourself, “This is the last bite!” as you discipline yourself to stop feasting on God’s Word?
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the Word became flesh. (John 1:1) Bethlehem is said to mean “house of bread.” In John 6:36 Jesus called Himself the bread of life! “…whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”
Jesus nourishes us spiritually! Only He can satisfy our spiritual longings. When we trust in him we do not hunger. Our spiritual longing to know God will be satisfied.
James says, 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you…” One way we draw near to God is through reading His Word. God speaks to us through the Bible. If you are interested in taking your spiritual nourishment to the next level, would you consider joining us in a 31 Day Bible Reading Challenge? It is as simple as committing to read your Bible all 31 days in January. You can read 1 verse a day, a chapter or an entire book of the Bible. It’s completely up to you how much you read!
Ask God to give you a spiritual hunger for His word and please join the challenge today by clicking on the below link:
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE CHALLENGE
Copyright©2016, Gloria Stucky
Photo by Brooke Lark @ Unsplash
Sunday is my favorite day of the week. I worship my Savior with my husband, chew on a message from God’s powerful life-changing Word, hang out with some incredible people and there is often a nap involved. I just don’t want the day to come to an end. If you don’t attend church you may be missing out on your best day of the week.
I don’t usually dread Monday until a recent experience. I had an overwhelming feeling of dread on a particular Monday. I wasn’t looking forward to some of the responsibilities of that week. As I always do, I started my morning reading the Bible. The words of Psalm 16 brought an overwhelming sense of contentment that warmed my soul and reminded me of God’s providential arrangements placed on my life:
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance. Psalm 16:6
The words are a poetic reference to the “boundary lines” of the Promised Land which climaxed the fulfillment of God’s promise to His people. “Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.” Joshua 21:45
I can pack my lunch on a Monday morning with confidence in facing the days ahead. I can count on my faithful God to fulfill His promises over my life. My feelings don’t always offer a tremendous amount of support on Monday and I may need a little extra coffee but my mind can rest assured in confidence knowing the steps of today are part of His plan for my life!
Which of God’s promises are you counting on today?
Copyright©2016, Gloria Stucky
“Business Concept, Business Man Feeling Tired On Monday. Illustration” by aechan from FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
Church changed my life today!
As I drove to church this morning I quoted 2 Timothy 3:16 and asked the Lord to use my time there to teach me, rebuke me, correct me, and train me in righteousness. I knew God’s Word would be taught and I was hungry to completely soak in everything He had for me! I did not want to go through the motions. I longed to be fully present.