Posts by Angela Moody

Forgiveness is one of the most difficult things we’ll ever have to do. We don’t want those that hurt us to “get off easy.” In fact, have you ever thought to yourself, “they need to suffer for what they did?” But who really suffers when we refuse to forgive someone?

What do you tell yourself when things get hard? “When things get tough, the tough get going,” or some such phrase to motivate yourself? I don’t know about you, but for me, that just doesn’t cut it. This may energize me for a bit, but ultimately, things continue to spiral because my focus is still on the problem, on myself, on what “I” need to do to fix it.

Have you ever thought that life should be easy because you’re a Christian? Now that you believe in Jesus life should be full of rainbows and butterflies; that life should now be smooth sailing; that you should get your cake and eat it too? Those are nice thoughts but that’s not what the Bible tells us.

This month we’re kicking off a new theme of Ice Cream Sundae as we see how God has a plan for each of us. You may be asking what an ice cream sundae has to do with God’s plans for us.

How can your gifts and talents be used for the kingdom of God? Do you even know what your gifts and talents are? God has blessed each of us with gifts and talents that we can use to help others.

Think of someone you care about, someone that means a lot to you. Don’t you want to talk to them all the time? To share something exciting that happened, something upsetting, or just because. Do want to hear from them about all the same stuff? When you love someone, when they are important to you, you want to share life with them.

God made us and we are important to Him. Take a moment to truly soak that in. God didn’t just make us and then forget about us; we ARE important to Him.

Last week we began our look at how God made us wonderfully in His image. If He did in fact make us wonderfully (Psalm 139:14 – it’s in the Bible so you know it must be true), what does that mean?

Say this out loud: “I am wonderfully made in God’s image!” Do you believe that? As we grow up, we tend to forget the wonder that actually went into making us. But each and every one of us, YOU, are wonderfully made in God’s image.

We all have a place that is special to us. That place that brings back memories, that makes us smile, where we can be ourselves, or just gives us a sense of peace. Jesus is preparing a place that surpasses all of that for each and everyone of us that believe and follow Him.