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What is the Purpose of Life? -Matthew 28:18-20

Last week we discussed, “What is the Meaning of Life?” People have searched for the answer to this question since the beginning of time. They are hoping to find a meaning to all of the chaos we face. They mistakenly believe that if they can answer this one question, then all of their problems will fade away. As Christians we know that God gives us the answer in His Word. It’s surprisingly simple, yet powerful. If you missed last week’s post, you can read it here.

This week, I’d like to take the discussion one step further and look at the Purpose of a Christian’s life. Because we are followers of Jesus our purpose is different from the rest of the world. While most people are working hard to buy expensive possessions or rack up their 401k, we are called to achieve a more important goal.

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20

This passage of Scripture we all know as “The Great Commission”. But what does it mean in our lives right now? This verse is our purpose and our calling as Christians. It is a commandment from our Savior about how we should be living every day. Within this one commandment there are three distinct points about the purpose we have been given, and how we are to grow God’s kingdom.

Go and make disciples…

Some of us will have the opportunity to serve God in foreign countries. But most of us will serve God here in our own country. We don’t have to go to a far off land to follow the Great Commission. Wherever we are, and whatever we are doing it is our responsibility to tell people about Jesus. We can’t leave it to chance that someone else will do it for us. God puts us where He wants us to be and we can win souls for Him right here in our own backyards. All we have to do is look around us and we will see that there are so many people who are already in our lives that need Jesus. Whether it is our calling to serve God at home or abroad, we have been given the power of the Holy Spirit to fulfill our purpose to make disciples.

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
Acts 1:8

Baptize…

Baptism is an outward showing of our faith. It is a symbol of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. Being baptized doesn’t save us, instead it shows the world that we are changed and have a new life in Jesus. When someone is saved, the next step is baptism. We need to make sure that we follow Christ’s command to baptize people in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit once they have received Jesus as their Savior. As always, Jesus is our example. He was baptized by John the Baptist and in doing so, fulfilled God’s will.

It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Mark 1:9-11

Teach…

Once someone that we have witnessed to is “saved”, our job isn’t over. They need to be taught the Bible and about how to have a personal relationship with Jesus. I’m very grateful for all of the wonderful people who poured their knowledge of Jesus into my young mind while I was growing up. Of course, my parents, but also many Sunday School teachers, VBS workers, Deacons and friends. They invested in my life and discipled me along the way. Now it’s our turn to be the teacher. All of the things we learned, probably many years ago, God tells us to teach to the new Christians in our lives. Jesus spent time, one on one, with people. He taught them all that God wanted them to know. He is our example of how to be a teacher, and how to invest in the lives of the people around us. Just as He gave His knowledge to the twelve disciples, we must pass on our knowledge to the people that we have witnessed. Then one day they will be ready to teach all that they have learned to the next batch of new Christians.

And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

2 Timothy 2:2

While other people are worried about their place in life, we can rest easy. Our loving Heavenly Father has given us the answers the most pressing questions we face. What is the meaning of life? Why are we here? And what is our purpose? We now know that we were created for His glory and our purpose is to share Him with everyone we meet.

I’m so excited to bring this Bible study to you this week! And I hope that it will encourage you, as you go out into your personal mission field, wherever that may be! There are so many people in our lives who are lost and need Jesus. I pray that you will be able to show them Christ’s love. May the God of hope guide you as you fulfill the Great Commission!

Again, if you missed the first part in this series “What is the Meaning of Life?” you can find it here.

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By Connie Rowland|2020-07-27T15:56:59-05:00February 17th, 2020|Bible Study, Christian Life|4 Comments

What is the Meaning of Life? -Isaiah 43:7

It’s the age-old question that scholars have pondered since the beginning of time…

What is the meaning of life?

For a Christian, the answer is very obvious. God doesn’t leave us in suspense. He tells us, in His Word, exactly why we were created.

Everyone who is called by My name,
Whom I have created for My glory:
I have formed him, yes, I have made him.
Isaiah 43:7

So the simple answer is this, we were made for God’s glory! We were put on this earth not for our own glory, but to bring glory to the One who created us.

We were put on this earth not for our own glory, but to bring glory to the One who created us. #MeaningofLife #BibleStudy Click To Tweet

This revelation leads us to another, more important question…

How do we bring glory to God? Let’s take a look at a few verses that tell us some of the ways we can glorify Him.

#1 Praise God.

Whoever offers praise glorifies Me…
Psalm 50:23

If we want to bring glory to God then the first thing we need to do is to praise Him. It’s easy to praise God when life is good. But sometimes praising God is the last thing in world that we want to do. Maybe times are tough and things aren’t going so great in our lives. But God doesn’t ask us to praise Him only in the good times. When we praise God, in good times and in bad, we bring glory to Him. No matter what our current circumstances are, we can rest assured that when we praise the God who made us for His glory, He will lift us up.

#2 Live our lives in a way that pleases God.

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31

The way that we conduct ourselves can either bring glory to God or dishonor to His name. The world is watching us to see how Christians react. Most of us probably don’t think about if we are bringing glory to God when we are at work or school or wherever we are spending our time. It’s not really about what we are doing at these places, it’s if the people around us can see that there is something different about us. Do they see Jesus when they look at us? Or do we act just like the rest of the world? Sometimes I live up to that standard and sometimes I fail. But what’s important is to keep trying to set an example of why we are different. And that brings us to the last verse I’d like to look at today.

#3 Let your light shine.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16

I’m sure there is an unsaved person in your life that you know is watching you. They ask questions that they think you can’t answer or they point out the things that you do wrong and say, see they aren’t so perfect after all. We all have a few of those people in our lives and it’s our job as believers to shine our light in a way that shows them Jesus. I have people in my life like this too and I want so badly to show them the Savior. I try to be a good example of Christ’s love, but somehow I always leave feeling like I said or did the wrong thing. I wonder if I’ll ever get it right. But it’s a humble reminder that I am living my life not for myself but for Jesus, and whatever I say or do should bring glory to our Father in heaven.

We no longer need to ask the question, what is the meaning of life? If we are saved, then we already have the answer. So, let’s start living our lives to glorify God. He will surely bless us for it!

Now that we know the Meaning of Life let’s take it one step further and discover the purpose of a Christian’s life. Check out Part 2: “What is the Purpose of Life?”

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By Connie Rowland|2020-07-27T15:47:30-05:00February 16th, 2020|Bible Study, Christian Life|1 Comment

3 Ways to Grow in Grace

Grace is God’s love poured down on us. It’s a gift we don’t deserve, and no matter how hard we work, we can’t earn it.

Ephesians 2:8 tell us this simple truth…

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God

Grace through faith in Jesus saves us. But this only the beginning of a Christian’s salvation journey. So, what comes next?…

but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 3:18

This verse is about becoming a mature Christian. It’s continuing to learn the Bible, pray, and seek God’s guidance in our lives. Because we can always dig deeper, stretch farther, and grow a little more in God’s grace.

Just like a tree needs certain nutrients to turn from a tiny twig into a towering oak, we also need life sustaining truth to grow in the faith.

Today we’re looking at 3 Ways to Grow in Grace. Each one takes us closer to understanding our Lord, Jesus Christ. And combined they show us the depth of God’s grace toward us.

So, let’s jump in and discover how we can grow in grace and knowledge.

#1 Prepare the Soil

Let’s face it… We all start out with a little rocky terrain. For some of us, it’s because we’re new Christians, learning the ways of the Lord from the beginning. For the rest of us, it’s contentment, not wanting to push the boundaries of our daily lives. We feel like we’ve already made it and our relationship with God is good enough.

But to get to the next level of spiritual maturity we must plow the field and prepare the soil to receive the seed.

Sow for yourselves righteousness;
Reap in mercy;
Break up your fallow ground,
For it is time to seek the Lord,
Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.

Hosea 10:12

We’ve all heard the term, “fallow ground”. But what is it?

Fallow ground is abandoned land. It’s been unused for so long it has become hard and riddled with weeds. For it to become useful again it must be worked. The weeds pulled, the clumps of dirt broken up, and the rocks removed.

Over time our hearts can become fallow ground. We go through the motions, attending church each week, but never actually moving forward in our relationship with God. We’re on a hamster wheel of spirituality, never getting where we want to go.

But God is calling us to a new and exciting place. A deeper relationship with Him!

It’s time for us to get off the hamster wheel and onto the plow! The first step is to break up the fallow ground in our lives by clearing our hearts of unused space and readying our minds to receive God’s Word.

#2 Water the Seed

We know from experience water is essential for anything to grow. And without it, all living things dry up and blow away.

So, it only makes sense that once we’ve plowed the field and planted the seed of God’s Word in our hearts, it needs to be watered before it can grow.

For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit.

Jeremiah 17:8

This is an image of a Christian’s life. We are the tree, planted by the Living Water of Jesus Christ. When we spread out our roots, He gives us all that we need to overcome the heat and bear fruit. It’s a stark contrast to the uselessness of fallow ground. The tree, us, is always useful to God. It is alive and vibrant, growing leaps and bounds above everything else. All because it is watered by the Living Water of the One who saves.

It’s true, we will always have difficulties, because life is hard sometimes. And this verse is not a promise that our lives will be easy. Instead it’s a promise that God will take care of us when our drought comes around.

If we want to be fruitful, it’s as simple as planting ourselves next to Jesus and allowing Him to water the seed of God’s grace in our lives.

#3 Let the “Sonshine” In

Nothing grows in darkness. Expect maybe a mushroom, and who wants to be a mushroom?

As our tree analogy continues, we see the need for a little sunshine to enter the picture. Without it our tree won’t have the proper nutrients to survive. It will become weak and turn a terrible, sickly shade of yellow.

This is true of our spiritual lives too.

In the beginning, when God created the world, He commanded the light to shine and separated day from night.

When we became Christians, again God commanded the light to shine by flipping the switch in our hearts. Out of the darkness we once where, the glorious light of the Son shone.

That’s the moment of salvation. The time when we acknowledged who Jesus is.

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:6

By letting the “Sonshine” of Jesus in, real growth and knowledge happens! Without that moment of light, our hearts and minds wouldn’t be changed. We wouldn’t be a new creation in Christ. That’s Pure, Simple, Truth, ya’ll.

And since we’re speaking the truth today, I’d like to add this to the conversation… It’s not enough for us to have “Sonshine” in our hearts. We need to pass it on. It’s contagious and once you have it, you want to give it away.

There’s a quote from C.S. Lewis that I absolutely love… Don’t shine so others can see you, shine so that through you others can see Him.

Once we have the knowledge of who Jesus is, it’s our job, our honor and privilege, to share that truth with everyone we meet. So, let’s shine bright and let others see the Sonshine in us!

I pray you will take these 3 Ways to Grow in Grace and seek a closer relationship with the Lord. Don’t be afraid to plow the field, water the seed, and let the Sonnshine in. Combined they will take you farther than you ever imagined as you grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

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By Connie Rowland|2020-06-22T18:26:52-05:00January 14th, 2020|Bible Study, Christian Life|0 Comments

How to Store up Treasures in Heaven – Matthew 6:19-21

Have you ever wondered how to store up treasures in heaven? What does that even mean anyway?

The world tells us that having wealth, or treasure, is the most important thing in life. And that having money is what gives us worth as people. The more treasure we accumulate the better off we’ll be.

In my life there never seems to be enough money to go around. I live on a tight budget and I try to make every dollar stretch. I save for a rainy day, but, honestly, when it comes to finances, it’s always pouring. 😊 Somehow, by the grace of God, my family makes it through, the bills get paid and the groceries are bought.

Maybe your life is like this too. I know so many of us are in this same situation.

Because we are, it seems we’re always on the lookout for that proverbial “pot of gold at the end of the rainbow”. And if we can’t have a cute green leprechaun to call our own, we can wish on a star that we’ll win it big in the lottery or inherit from a long lost rich relative. If that doesn’t work out, maybe we can work eighty hours a week and finally get ahead. That sounds like a lot of fun, right?!

As much as I would love for one of these get rich quick plans to work in our favor, I seriously doubt they will.

But God has a plan for us. A perfect plan to give us lasting wealth. It’s not wealth in the traditional sense, but something much greater.

I’d like to share with you what Jesus said about true wealth and what He thinks gives us value.

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:19-21

Jesus has a lot to say in these scriptures. So, let’s dig a little deeper and discover God’s version of a get rich quick plan and how we can have it for ourselves.

lay up for yourselves…

The phrase “lay up” in verse 19 and 20 means “give priority to”, so these words of Jesus are about the priorities we have in life. Our priority as Christians should always be to have a lasting relationship with our Savior and to reflect His light to the world.

I often ask myself, “What are my priorities and are they pleasing to God?” Sometimes my priorities are in line with God’s. And other times, it becomes obvious I need to do a real gut check and change my way of thinking.

where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal…

Society tells us having “stuff” will make us happy and give us meaning in life. They say that the more “treasure” you have the better off you’ll be. But material objects can be broken, stolen or lost. And in the end, they won’t give us the happiness we’re looking for.

It’s true, we all need money to survive and it isn’t necessarily bad to have things. It’s the importance we place on them that makes them worldly instead of heavenly. And when “stuff” becomes more important to us than anything else, we are missing out on the blessings God wants to give us.

treasures in heaven…

Our reward is waiting for us in heaven. And guess what…Jesus is that reward! He is our treasure!

But at the same time, we don’t want to forget that what we do here on earth matters. Our job as Christians is bigger than just paying the bills. It’s to show others the way to heaven through our words and actions. Then they will repeat the cycle of sharing the gospel and begin to lay up their treasures in heaven also. It’s the circle of life! Yah! 😊

there your heart will be also…

The condition of our hearts is what is most important to God, and in verse 21, that’s what Jesus is talking about. When our focus is on making money and accumulating wealth then we aren’t making room in our heart for Jesus. But when we focus on the spiritual rewards of a Christian life our walk with Jesus will be greatly improved and our hearts will be opened to receiving His blessings.

So, how do we store up treasures in heaven? The answer sounds so simple, but sometimes as we go through life it gets lost in the jumble.

When we live for Jesus, that’s when we are laying up our treasures in heaven! Our priority should always be our personal relationship with Him, walking with Him every day, and sharing our faith with other people.

I pray you will join me in asking yourself these questions…What is my priority? Is it acquiring wealth? Or is it my relationship with Jesus and bringing other people to Him? If we search deep within our hearts and ask God to reveal the areas of our lives that keep us from having a meaningful relationship with Him, we can rest assured that He will give us the answer.

May you store up treasures in heaven today and always!

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By Connie Rowland|2020-07-02T15:30:39-05:00March 11th, 2019|Bible Study, Spring|2 Comments

God’s Unconditional Love

LOVE. Most of us are searching for it in some aspect of our lives. And it seems to hold so much power over us. Without love, we feel empty, like there’s a gaping hole in our chest. With it, we feel happy, fulfilled, even giddy, like we’re dancing on air.

In our quest for love, what we’re really after is unconditional love. A love that doesn’t care if we’re having a bad hair day or our jeans are a little too tight. A love that stays with us through all the ups and downs. This is the love God meant for us to have all along, not just with each other but with Him.

Not long ago, I was sitting in the Sunday morning service. Our Worship Pastor and his lovely daughter were singing a duet. You’ve probably heard the song before, it goes… Your love never fails, it never gives up, it never runs out on me. As I listened to them sing these beautiful words, God whispered in my ear, “You know My love is for you too.” Honestly, that broke my heart into tiny pieces.

I spend a lot of time thinking about how I can share the love of Jesus with the people in my life. Whether they’re family, close friends or someone I met five minutes ago, I want them to know how much Jesus loves them. It’s kind of an obsession of mine. 😊

But somewhere along the way, I forgot that God’s love is for me too. Well, of course, I knew God loved me, I just set it aside temporarily and forged ahead. But God didn’t forget or set me aside. Instead, He pursued me and reminded me of His great love. The love I was always destined to have.

God’s love is unconditional. It’s the love we’ve been looking for all our lives. His love meets us exactly where we are. It reaches down to scoop us up when we’re low. And when we’re soaring high, His love sails right along with us. Because that’s who God is, a loving, caring Father we can always depend on, in good times and in bad.

Maybe you’re looking for this kind of love in your life. Today, God wants to give you the love you were always meant to have and whisper in your ear, “My love is for you too! You are mine and I love you with unconditional love!”

So, in honor of the author of love, I’ve put together a list of Bible verses about God’s Unconditional Love. I hope they will encourage your heart the same way they have mine.

God’s Love for us

The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying:
Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.

Jeremiah 31:3

I will betroth you to Me forever;
Yes, I will betroth you to Me
In righteousness and justice,
In lovingkindness and mercy;
I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness,
And you shall know the Lord.

Hosea 2:19-20

God, your God, is God indeed, a God you can depend upon. He keeps his covenant of loyal love with those who love him and observe his commandments for a thousand generations.

Deuteronomy 7:9 (MSG)

Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.
Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
your justice like the great deep.

You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.
How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

Psalm 36:5-7

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his #love endures forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34 #BibleVerses Click To Tweet

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

1 Chronicles 16:34

He brought me to the banqueting house,
And his banner over me was love.

Song of Solomon 2:4

Christ’s Love for Us

As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

John 15:9-10

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,

Ephesians 5:25

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?…

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:35;38-39

As these verses attest to, God’s love is faithful, steadfast, loyal and most of all unconditional.

And God wants you to know He loves you with unconditional and unwavering love! Nothing will ever separate you from His love! Just like the song says… His love never fails, it never gives up, it never runs out on you. Are you ready to accept the priceless gift of God’s unconditional love?

This is my sincere prayer for you… Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. (Jude 2) In the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Blessings and love to you!

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By Connie Rowland|2020-06-22T18:21:49-05:00February 12th, 2019|Bible Study, God, Love|0 Comments

What I Learned Moving My Website from Weebly to WordPress

Have you ever felt like you made a huge mistake? Yeah, me too. Many times. My latest huge mistake moment came when I realized I’d picked the wrong website server.

Some time ago God had told me to build a website and blog. I immediately thought, I can’t do that, I don’t know any of that technical mumbo jumbo. But I began researching and found Weebly. It’s drag and drop interface seemed like the perfect fit for my non-technical skills.

I spent months and countless hours building my website, only to find out that I really couldn’t get anyone to see my site or read my blog posts with Weebly. It seemed that I had missed the boat and was paddling my little website into the big black sea all alone. This is when I discovered WordPress and found out that everything I needed to do in order to see my little website get going was on WordPress.

Now, I had two problems. I didn’t know how to use WordPress and I needed to figure out how to move my website over to it.

Again I did some research and found out that moving a website from Weebly to WordPress is not an easy task. That was a real gut punch. I decided I had two options, give up or figure it out. Well, I’m no quitter, especially when God has told me to do something. So, even though it seemed like an impossible task, I resolved myself to the fact that it was time to make the move.

With a lot of trepidation I began by setting up a WordPress site where I could transfer all of my Weebly stuff over. Setting up the new site was the easy part. I had 115 posts and I don’t even know how many pictures to move. I thought it would take about a week to do it. Well, it ended up taking six weeks, a lot of headaches and some shear determination. In the process I learned a lot about WordPress, and more importantly God taught me some great lessons on following Him even when it seems impossible. Here are my three big takeaways from this experience.

#1 Be Patient and Persevere

Rejoice in hope, be patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Romans 12:12

When we think of affliction it’s usually in the physical form. Someone who has a terrible disease or debilitating disability. Although I wasn’t afflicted in a typical way, I felt I was afflicted in a mental and emotional sense. The frustration I felt grew bigger every day until I wanted to throw my computer out the window. Mentally, I thought, I just can’t do this. Emotionally, I felt drained. About half the way through I wanted to give up completely. My normal “can do” attitude was gone. But God whispered from deep inside of me, “Keep going. Don’t give up.” I knew I had to finish what I started so, I put blinders on and pressed forward. I found a rhythm, get one post transferred and then the next and the next. Still it seemed like there was no end in sight. Patience and perseverance became my only goal. Patience because it was taking so much longer than I expected. And perseverance to keep at it no matter how long or hard it got. After weeks of endless hours staring at the computer screen, I suddenly realized everything was moved and it was time to make the permanent change over to WordPress.

#2 Trust God when change is scary.

Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in you.

Psalm 56:3

I don’t know when or how but during this six week period my Weebly site became a security blanket to me. It was a backup just in case a transfer didn’t take. Now it was time to delete the Weebly site and make the move permanent. All of the hard work I had put into building that site was about to disappear with one click of the mouse and my security blanket was going to be pulled out from underneath me. It was scary! I hemmed and hawed about it and walked away from the computer multiple times. Finally, after much deliberation, I decided it was now or never. I sat at the computer staring at that delete button and prayed, “Please God.” Those were the only words I had in that moment. And with that I clicked delete.

Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in you. Psalm 56:3 #BibleVerseClick To Tweet

It took some time for the new WordPress site to become active. That next day of waiting was full of stress and dread. Doubt filled my heart. What if it doesn’t work? What if I can’t fix it? But I put my trust in God and believed that He had it under control.

#3 God makes the impossible possible.

With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

Matthew 19:26

I may have had serious doubts about my technical abilities going into this move, but I had zero doubts about God’s ability to bring about His will in my life. When I saw my new website up and running I can’t tell you how much relief I felt. God is good, always good. But it took me being obedient to Him and stepping out in faith to see the goodness of God in my life. I give God all of the credit. He did it. Without Him it would have been an impossible task for me to accomplish on my own. But with God the impossible became possible.

I know it may seem that this post is all about me, but in my heart it is all about you. I want to encourage you to seek God, persevere through the difficult times, trust Him when change is scary and see the impossible happen in your life too.

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Has God asked you to do something that seems impossible? Are you thinking of taking that leap of faith? You may feel that the deck is stacked against or that you’re facing an impossible task. But when you follow God you will never go wrong. May God bless you!

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By Connie Rowland|2019-08-14T13:27:34-05:00February 21st, 2018|Bible Study, Christian Life|0 Comments

Loving God’s Law – Psalm 119:97

Oh, how I love Your law!
It is my meditation all the day.
Psalm 119:97

When we think of the law, it usually brings to mind images of the police or a set of rules that we must comply with. If we don’t, then we have to accept the punishment that comes for noncompliance. But God’s law is different. For a Christian conforming to God’s law is a pleasure. It is something that we are happy to do because it brings us closer to a loving Father and ultimately the blessings that we receive from Him.

In Psalm 119, the psalmist continually talks about his love for the law and keeping the precepts of God’s word. But what does this mean to us and how can we apply this to our lives? First, in order to love God’s law, we need to understand exactly what it is.

God’s law is a gift that He has given to those of us who are saved through belief in His Son, Jesus Christ. It’s not for everyone, only for us. It is a set of instructions that gives us direction and teaches us how to live as God intended us to. God’s law is not meant to harm us or keep us from the things that we enjoy. His law is for our benefit, to guide us, help us and keep us in alignment with His will.

God has given us His law because He loves us and wants us to have joy and fulfillment in life. In return, we love God and want to live within His will. It is our love for God draws us to His law and our thankfulness for our salvation that attracts us to keeping it. Once we understand this truth, then we can begin to study His law and implement it in our lives. So, with that in mind let’s look at just a few of the many verses from Psalm 119.

I opened my mouth and panted,
For I longed for Your commandments.
Psalm 119:131

Here, the psalmist likens his love for God’s law to an animal panting for water. We only have to go a short time without water before we begin to feel thirsty, then start panting as we become more and more dehydrated. Just like the animal in Psalm 119, we can’t live without water any more than we can live without God’s law. We become thirsty for it, then more and more desperate to get it as time goes by. We long to have God’s law because we know deep down inside that we need it to survive.

How sweet are Your words to my taste,
Sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Psalm 119:103

We can all relate to the craving for something sweet like cake or chocolate or as the psalmist said, honey. When that craving comes over you, it is all you can think about until you taste the sweetness in your mouth. You can’t get enough of it until that craving is satisfied. When we learn to love God’s law, we crave more of it and more of Him. We never get our fill of it, because there is always more to learn and more to experience.

Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.
Psalm 119:105

As I said earlier, God’s law is a set of instructions. I like to think of it as a roadmap for life. But even if you have the instructions you can’t get anywhere in the dark. So, we need a light to shine the way. Our source of light is God’s word and when the world is dark, God shines His light on our path and shows us the way. But the only way for us to have this light is to know God’s word inside and out. To memorize it, store it in our hearts and meditate on it daily. That brings us back to our original verse.

Oh, how I love Your law!
It is my meditation all the day.
Psalm 119:97

The best way to grow your relationship with God is to read His word, meditate on it throughout the day and love His law. I’m just like you, I have struggles and days when I’m not as faithful to spend time with God that I know I should. I am guilty of putting God on the back burner when I get busy. But I do long for God’s law and His word. I want to spend more time with God and develop a deeper relationship with Him. I encourage you to think about your relationship with God and the closeness that you feel or don’t feel with Him. He understands where you are right now and where you want to be. God is full of grace and understanding. He has given us His law so that we can have the relationship with Him that we were always meant to enjoy. Through time reading God’s word and in prayer, He will teach us how to love His law and how to live within it. When we do, we will see His blessings.

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4 Older Comments. (These comments cannot be replied to, but you are welcome to leave your thoughts in the Comments section below.)

Rebecca L Jones

8/2/2017 11:21:09 am

It is a shame that many do not understand the sweetness of His Word, you might like following Embracing Your Creativity.

Connie from Master’s Hand Collection

8/2/2017 11:49:58 am

Thanks Rebecca! I’ll check it out.

Cindy

8/4/2017 03:07:53 pm

What a delight to read this post about a subject I love so dearly!

I love God’s Word and studying it! I often hug my Bible when I am full of emotion about His Word. Have you ever felt like that? You feel overwhelmed with the sheer joy of having His written word that you can only hug it to express your love?

Visiting from Faith Filled Friday.

Connie from Master’s Hand Collection

8/4/2017 03:29:00 pm

Hi Cindy!

Yes, I love studying God’s Word and discovering all of the wonderful promises He has given us! I usually feel like God is the one hugging me and giving me that joy you are talking about. It’s an amazing feeling when you can see God working in your life and showing you verses that speak directly to where you are right now. Thank you so much for visiting today. May God bless you!

By Connie Rowland|2019-08-15T18:00:02-05:00August 2nd, 2017|Bible Study, God|0 Comments

Monday Motivation – James 1:22

Of all the Bible Verses about God’s Word, this one always cuts me deep. James was a straight shooter, and never afraid to tell it like it is. So, today I’m going to do the same. It isn’t enough for us to sit in a pew on Sunday morning and listen to a sermon. We must allow God’s Word to penetrate our hearts and transform our minds. Then the hard work of being a doer begins. Whatever it is that God has asked of you, I pray that you will follow Him. And I pray I will do the same.

Blessings, dear friends, as you put your faith and trust in God’s Word!

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By Connie Rowland|2019-06-02T19:33:37-05:00July 24th, 2017|Bible Study, Monday Motivation|0 Comments

The Most Important Thing On My To-Do List -Psalm 1:2-3

I love lists! I love them so much, I make one almost every day. And I love the feeling of accomplishment I have when I can cross out that “big” thing on my list. Usually my to-do list includes ordinary things like grocery shopping, returning phone calls, answering emails, running errands, etc. with a few occasional “big ticket” items thrown in for good measure. But there’s one thing that lately hasn’t made its way onto my list, a quiet time with God.

Okay, so I admit it, I’m not perfect. But I’m such a perfectionist! Still, I struggle. Probably with the same things you struggle with too. Recently that struggle has been a lack of motivation to spend time with God every day. My heart just hasn’t been in it. There’s an ebb and flow in life where things are good for a while and then all of a sudden everything seems hard. Right now, I’m going through one of those hard times. I’m still recovering from a low back injury and in a lot of pain. Even the smallest task seems difficult. My house is a total wreck. Everything that could break is broken and everything that could go wrong has. I’m falling so far behind on everything, that my to-do list makes me want to freak out. Plus a million other excuses that don’t mean much, because that’s all they are, excuses.

Knowing God and His will for our lives is the only way we can ever truly get ahead. And spending time with Him and applying His Word to our daily lives is what grows our faith. God doesn’t ask much from us. And He promises to give us so much in return.

In every relationship there are ups and downs. But we can’t have a relationship with someone we never spend time with. It takes commitment and follow through on our part to make it happen.

The great thing is, God hasn’t gone anywhere. He’s exactly where He was before. He doesn’t change. He is constant. He is faithful. Even when I am not.

Psalm 1:2-3 says.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And on His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.

I want to be like that tree, firmly planted by the river. And I want to be firmly planted in God’s Word. So, I am committed to growing my relationship with a God who loves me and wants to see me prosper in His ways. I know the only way to get there is to “delight in His law” (the Word of God) and make my time with God a priority every day.

So, I began by praying and asking God to return the joy of reading His Word to me. At the same time, I also began searching for a Bible study that would speak to my heart as I started my devotions again.

Slowly, God has restored my love of His Word to me. The more time I spend reading the Bible and listening to His wisdom, the more I understand who God is and how much He loves me. And the more time I spend praying and seeking His face, the closer I feel to Him.

I love God more than anything and I know that He loves me even more. So, I am fully committed to making my time with God the most important thing on my to-do list from now on! And I hope that you are too.

If you are struggling to spend time with God every day, then I want to encourage you. The investment you put in today will be repaid tenfold. When you began to spend time with God you will see His blessings in your life the same way that I have. You will become like a tree firmly planted by the rivers water. And everything you do will prosper.

You can begin the same way I did, by praying and asking God to give you joy and knowledge. Then find a Bible study that speaks to your heart or just start reading the Bible. Any book in it is a great place to start. I think you will be surprised by all of the wonderful things God has in store for you. God Bless!

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By Connie Rowland|2019-08-16T20:46:13-05:00October 12th, 2016|Bible Study, Christian Life|0 Comments

What Does Your Bible Look Like? -Jeremiah 29:13

And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:13

What does your Bible look like? Has it been used lately or has it been sitting unopened for a while? Is it worn and tattered from use? Or is it in “perfect” condition? My Bible was once in “perfect” condition. I thought that if I wrote in it or the pages were wrinkled I was being disrespectful to God’s word. But that was before I understood what perfect really looks like. Now, my Bible may look a little worn and it’s stuffed with notes but I have a much better understanding of what God has to say to me. I’m not saying that I’m perfect or that I have all the answers. Trust me, I don’t.

What I do have is a better relationship with God. He wants to have a close and very personal relationship with all of us. But the only way we can have that, is to get in there, read His word, pray, seek His face and draw near to Him so that He will draw near to us. (James 4:8)

Sometimes it’s difficult for us to put aside the chaos of life and make time to spend with God. There are so many distractions that pop up in a day’s time. But like any relationship it takes work for it to flourish. The time we spend with God is an investment in our future. We need to have that closeness with Him in order for our lives to have meaning. And we need to study God’s word so that we will be prepared to share it with other people.

The time we spend with #God is an investment in our future. #BibleStudy Click To Tweet

If, like me, you struggle to find the time to read your Bible every day, I want to encourage you. Yes, our time is precious but there is nothing more precious than our relationship with God. And there is nothing more important than growing our understanding of His word. The benefit we receive from our time with God is tremendous. You see, it’s not about what your Bible looks like, it’s about where your heart is. God promises us that if we search for Him with our whole heart, we will find Him. And that is what God wants from us, our whole heart.

So, even when time seems short I hope that you will join me in setting aside time to spend with a loving Father who truly desires to know you and to be known by you. And I pray that you will turn to God’s word and reap the reward of time well spent. Much love and peace to you on your journey!

Revival In Our Country -2 Chronicles 7:14

I know many of us are praying for revival in our country. We feel that the nation is headed in the wrong direction and we so badly want that to change. It doesn’t seem to matter whether it’s an election year or not, most of us fall into two categories. Either we’re fed up with Washington and all of the gridlock from both sides of the aisle, or we’ve become complacent and think that no matter who’s in office, nothing will ever change. It leaves us wondering…Is there anything that we can do? Can we get back to “one nation under God”? Let’s take a look at what God says we can do to turn our country around.

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14

The first words of this verse are the most important part. And I don’t want us to miss it.

If My people who are called by My name…

This is a powerful message directed at Christians! God isn’t talking to the world at large, He is speaking only to those of us who are believers. If we want to see real change in our country, then it’s up to us. God says that we have to be the ones to lead the way!

Many times in the Bible God makes both unconditional and conditional promises to those of us who believe. This verse is an example of one of the “conditional” promises that God has made to us. In order to receive the blessing, we first have to do the things that God asks of us. In this verse God gives us a list of three actions that we need to take in order to see revival in our country, then He promises us that He will do three things in exchange.

Our Actions to Take

#1 humble themselves…

Humbling yourself is hard to do and admitting that you are wrong is equally difficult. But God is asking us to do just that. We need to recognize that our way of doing things doesn’t work and God’s way is the right way. If we want to see real change in our country and in our lives then we have to follow God’s way.

#2 pray and seek My face…

Praying and seeking God’s face is a way of creating an intimate relationship with Him. He wants to spend time with us each day and He wants us to be close to Him! Praying isn’t just about asking God for stuff, it’s seeking God’s will and listening for an answer. How can we have a relationship with someone we never talk to and how can we know God’s way if we don’t listen for His answer?

#3 turn from their wicked ways…

Are we willing to admit that we’re not always right, that we’ve made mistakes? As a nation and as a people? In order to turn our country around, we must repent of our sins and admit that we’ve made bad choices that have lead us away from God and His will. We must turn away from those past decisions and seek God’s way.
When we do these three things God will fulfill His promises to us.

God’s Promises

#1 I will hear from heaven…

The ball is in our court. God is listening and waiting for us to do our part.

#2 forgive their sins…

God is always faithful to forgive us of our sins, all we have to do is ask. I think that’s pretty amazing! Don’t you?

#3 heal their land…

When we do our part, God will do His. He will bring revival to our country! He will bless our nation! Because God always keeps His promises!

Are you are frustrated with the direction our country is headed in? As Christians, it’s up to us to recognize that our nation desperately needs revival. And we must be the ones who lead the way back to a relationship with the only One who can give it to us. If we return to God, humble ourselves before Him, seek His face and turn from our sin, then we will see a new revival in our hearts and in our land. If we do our part, God will do His! So let’s get to it. Please join me in seeking God’s will for our nation and praying for revival in our country. God bless!

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By Connie Rowland|2020-06-28T18:06:32-05:00July 27th, 2016|4th of July, Bible Study|0 Comments

Abide in the Love of Christ -John 15:9-11

What does it mean to abide in the love of Christ? The word “abide”, isn’t used very often in our modern vocabulary, but it’s a word that sparks my imagination. When I hear it, I think of cozy family dinners or intimate conversations with close friends. I would like to think that my relationship with Jesus is cozy and intimate. And I want to feel that there is a real connection between us and not just a ritual that I was taught as a young child. So how do we get there? How can we develop the close relationship we desire and abide in the love of Christ? The words of Jesus tell us how.

As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

John 15:9-11

As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. John 15:9 #Love #JesusChrist Click To Tweet

The word abide means to continue, remain in, or dwell. In this passage, there are three key points about what it means and how to abide or dwell in Christ’s love. Let’s look at each one.

First, Jesus tells us that He loves us just as the Father loves Him. What an amazing thing to hear! Jesus wants us to continue to experience the joy of our salvation through Him and to have a close and personal relationship with Him, all because of His great love for us.

Second, Jesus explains that when we keep His commandments that is when we “abide” in or remain in His love. If we are obedient to Christ and His teachings then we are able to have the intimate relationship with Him that we are looking for.

Lastly, Jesus says that when we are obedient to Him, His joy will remain in us. This joy is a complete joy that is full of love. To receive this joy, all Jesus asks of us, is that we obey Him just as He has obeyed the Father. The idea of obedience is not a popular one these days, but to obey Jesus is to love Him. And when we love and obey, then we can truly experience what it means to abide in the love of Christ and have the fullness of joy through Him.

Simply put, to abide in the love of Christ means to love Jesus and to be loved by Him. Just as the Father loved the Son, Jesus loves us. It sounds so easy, yet seems so complicated. In the fast-paced modern world we live in, we can become so caught up in chasing the things of this world that we forget to be still and abide in the love of Jesus. But to set aside the things of this world and dwell in Him is exactly what we should do. My prayer for us today is that we will learn to obey the commandments of Jesus and understand what it means to follow Him in everything that we do. Then, through our obedience and love for Him, we will abide in the love of Christ and have fullness of joy.

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By Connie Rowland|2020-06-30T15:56:32-05:00July 20th, 2016|Bible Study, Christ, Love|4 Comments

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If My people who are called by My name…

Our Actions to Take

#1 humble themselves…

#2 pray and seek My face…

#3 turn from their wicked ways…

God’s Promises

#1 I will hear from heaven…

#2 forgive their sins…

#3 heal their land…

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