Author: shbcadmin

As I stood surrounded by the most  food I have ever seen at a recent event, I thought “I shouldn’t eat this because it was deep-fried,  and I can’t eat this because of the fat, but I can’t eat that because it has gluten, or definitely not this because of the sugar, and I can’t eat THAT because, well, it’s an Oreo.” As I stood there trying to figure out what I COULD put in my mouth to satisfy my hunger, it was as if God said: I am NOT a God of limitations. In that moment, I felt so limited, as I analyzed everything . Now I’m not giving you the ok to eat whatever you want,  but I will say that we serve a God who is all about abundance! Our God knows what we need before we even figure it out. So stop trying to figure it out! Don’t place too many restrictions on yourself or you’ll wood up in a place of guilt and condemnation. The Most High God has freed you from all that. So, if you’re feeling limited, restricted, guilty, and condemned, have a little talk with the God Who made you. And have…

Bring it all. Bring everything including worries, fears, and stresses. Jesus is not going to judge you for laying it all out there. Be as honest as you possibly can. Tell him everything. (Yes, even that!) Jesus isn’t like the people on this earth who have hurt you. Jesus isn’t the one who did that to you. Jesus didn’t come back down to earth to point fingers and cause you to feel shame and guilt. He came to rescue you from those things and those feelings that you think you can’t escape. Everything you think you can’t do, you can, but only with Him. It’s overwhelming for you and it’s overwhelming for me, but it’s not overwhelming for us when we meet Him carry the load as He directs our steps. (Sara Wylie)

Make it a point in 2016 (not a resolution, mind you, those never go well) to hear from God each and every day. Be clear and specific in what you ask in prayer, because truly, that’s a surefire way to know it’s God when your prayer is answered. God doesn’t limit us because we are made in His image and guess what! He’s limitless! We are His children and He wants nothing more them to give us the most amazing gifts while we walk this earth. Don’t doubt His love for a second this year. God loves you today and always. (Sara Wylie)

”A train wreck waiting to happen”…yep, that’s what we’re looking at when somebody starts to seethe. You can see the face turn red, smoke come out of their ears and you and I both know he’s going to blow at any second. That train needs to be de-railed before it goes too far! If you happen to be the one who’s seething, stop and think, walk away and cool down, whatever it takes to stop the train!

When life TAKES from you, remember that God is the One who GIVES you more than you could ever ask for. Every good and perfect gift comes from Him. I wonder what wonderful things He has planned for us this year?? Always remember that God’s gifts aren’t always what we expect, they don’t always look like what we think they should and sometimes we don’t think they really “fit”. God knows exactly what we need and “when” we need it!

Here’s a New Year’s Resolution for all of us: Live in the moment. Don’t let 2016 slide by in a blur. You know how quickly last year came and went. But in order to enjoy the little things, we have to make a conscious effort. Let this be the year we stop thinking about everything we have to do while others are talking. Let this be the year we stop getting upset when life takes us to an unexpected place. Let this be the year that we laugh more, love more and take joy in the little things.