Living in the Sonrise

Hello friends!! Today's post is Part Two of the series "Come Home" which is based off a sermon I did at my church. Here is the link to read part one, if you missed it:  https://livinginthesonrise.blogspot.com/2023/05/come-home-part-one.html From Part One: " After the Pharisees started complaining about Jesus’ company, Jesus dealt with the matter as He often did: by telling parables. These parables show us the answers to our other statements!" So, the first parable is found in Luke 15:4-7. "What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, m...

Hello friends! :) Over the next few blog posts, I'm going to be sharing a sermon that I recently gave at my church. If you want to watch it, here's the link:  https://www.youtube.com/live/7vihqoq77ag?feature=share  I really was stuck when I was writing it, but God really blessed and helped me to know how to put it together. I pray He speaks to your heart as you read it.  Have you ever believed one of these statements? “God could never want to be with me, I am such a sinner.” “I’m too far gone for God to love me.” “I’m not good enough, I’m just worthless.” “I’m not worthy to be called God’s child.” I think most of us have fallen into believing these lies at one time or another. Maybe we’ve heard that God loves us no matter what, but we have a hard time believing that it’s true. I know I have fallen into these traps before.  So how can we find the sure, true answers to these questions? Let’s go to Luke chapter 15.  Luke 15 starts off with this verse: “Then drew ne...

Hi, friend! :) Have you ever felt like you are too small for God to care about? Maybe you feel like God is too big to be concerned with your life, that you are not as important as all the other things and people in the world. My friend, this couldn't be further from the truth!  The other week, I was laying on the grass in my backyard, admiring the tiny purple flowers that were growing in the grass. Upon taking a closer look, I discovered that they were actually clusters of even smaller flowers! I was amazed as I picked one of the flowers from the cluster, and as I thought about how tiny the flower was, a song came on the playlist I was listening to: "Why should I feel discouraged, Why should the shadows come, Why should my heart be lonely, And long for heav’n and home; When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He; His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me. Refrain: I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m...

Hey friends! In a popular Bible story, a young man faces a mighty giant that everyone else is too scared to even try to fight- and he confidently overcomes this giant! You've probably guessed that this is the story of David and Goliath. I've heard this story many times, but I recently read it again, straight from the Bible, and it really encouraged me! What stood out most to me was, when David faced Goliath, he wasn't confident in his own abilities, but rather in God's power! He was so confident in God that he said these words to Goliath: "This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee... that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands." 1 Samuel 17:46-47 These were brave words to say! But David didn't merely say them, he acted on them! He went forward and faced that gia...

Hi, friends! Today I'd like to share with you one of my favorite quotes of all time:  Mission: -to know Him  -to make Him known It's so simple, yet so profound: our whole lives revolve around these two things: falling in love with the Creator of the universe who died to save us, and telling everyone we meet about this God who loves us so much.  To Know Him How can we make known someone we don't first know? Something God has been impressing on my heart lately is the importance of getting to know Him. Many people, if you asked them if they know God, would say yes. But perhaps for some, they merely know of   Him, rather than truly knowing  Him.  For example, let's say Peter and Sallie are engaged to be married. In their free time, Peter plays basketball and Sallie goes shopping. They never spend any time together, only talk to each other when they have to, and one seldom thinks of the other. When they get married, will they really know each other? No! The...

Hi friends!! :) Have you ever been scared to share the gospel with someone, unsure of how they'll receive it? Maybe you've heard God say "Go" and you ran the other way. I know I have. In fact, not that long ago, I did just that- but God was merciful and gave me the chance to make it right.  Before I share that story, however, I want to share a Bible passage with you: "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Matthew 28:18-20 We have been given a command from our Savior and King, Jesus Christ, to go - not to sit idly by, relishing the light while ignoring all the hurting hearts around us, but to carry that light to those who are wandering in the darkne...

 Hello friend! :)  Have you ever struggled to trust God?  I know I have. Sometimes our human nature wants to know what the outcome of something will be, rather than trusting our Heavenly Father to take care of it. Sometimes we want to take things into our own hands, thinking we know what is best. Perhaps one of the most popular Bible verses about trust is Proverbs 3:5-6, which says, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.   In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."  Trust is more than a feeling. Trusting in God is a conscious decision to place ourselves- all that we are, all that we desire, all that concerns us- in His hands. Trust involves surrender.  When a child puts their hand into the hand of their father or mother, the child is allowing their parent to lead them where they choose, trusting that they know best. In the same way, when we surrender to God, we are allowing Him to lead us in...