A short praise report

I’ve been praying lately (and having friends pray) that I would get more hours at work because things were getting a little tight, financially.  Well,  today I was checking out the new schedules with my manager (who is the world’s best manager, BTW) and miraculously my hours have doubled – almost tripled.  I’m so excited!  It’s awesome to see what God does for His children when we simply offer it up to Him in prayer.

Grace

Lately I’ve been struggling with understanding God’s grace. It’s been frustrating because I know God does not condemn me since I have already been justified by Jesus Christ’s death on the cross, I’ve just had a hard time understanding how I can still be forgiven when I make such big mistakes so often.

A few Sunday’s ago at Kaleo Erick was speaking on Jesus’ disciples and how He didn’t pick perfect people to follow Him, He picked some pretty messed up characters. He pointed out the apostle Peter who seemed to consistently screw up big time, yet Jesus forgave him and Peter still remained a disciple. He made big mistakes and his spiritual life looked like a roller coaster with huge highs and lows, but over time God worked on his heart and he became more consistent in his relationship with Jesus Christ. This is the awesome work of sanctification. I found the example of Peter so encouraging in my struggle. It really helped to see that life isn’t always going to be like a roller coaster. I am a sinner, but God is working on my heart, sanctifying me. God doesn’t love the far-off perfected version of me, He loves me as I am now.

I read a really awesome verse in my devotions this morning that I found very encouraging in the matter:

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the originator and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12: 1-2

Basically, I take this to mean I need to lay aside all my issues, all my sin, condemnation and guilt, and pursue God with my everything. I need to live under the grace Jesus has given me and have faith that He will continue to work in my life and change my heart.

I still may not fully understand all this, but God is slowly opening my eyes to what it means to walk in His grace and I am so thankful that He loves me enough to show me that.

Thursday – Kaleo Girl’s Night!

Every Thursday night some of the girls from Kaleo get together to chill. We encourage one another, pray for one another, and pig out on chocolate cake. It’s an awesome time of fellowship and I just love the girls there. They are always keeping an eye out for me and praying for me. I truly appreciate their friendship and genuine care for one another. Tonight we had some great conversations about Kaleo’s recent marriage/biblical roles studies. I really enjoyed hearing all the girls perspective on the studies and what they took from it. I definitely encourage all the girls out there looking for an awesome time to join us on Thursday nights :)