Drops of Sunshine - Daily Bread

 There is a saying that the only constant is change. In an odd way, it's meant to provide comfort with an assurance that change is inevitable. There is no point in getting complacent, when things are bound to change. I choose to take comfort in the fact that God is truly the only constant. Through the bible, I see so many examples of Him being the same God He has always been. We can each hold on to that as an assurance for our faith, whether we are in a beautiful season or a tumultuous one. 

A concept that I always disliked in school was when teachers would ask the class to "show your work". No!! I couldn't stand it. I know that 8+8=16. That's factual. I don't want to explain it. It just is! It wasn't until I grew and matured that I began to truly understand the value of showing my work. It's not just about producing the correct answer. But I illustrate for the teachers that I have an understanding of the concept and I know how to reach the appropriate and correct conclusion. By learning that in math class, I also learn that there are many other paths with different variables. For example, 15+1, 26-10, and so on. That's how I sometimes think about understanding with the word of God. Exercising my faith is showing my work. There may be a great many of paths each of us will take, but the end goal should be the same destination for all of us. So when those tests of your faith come, be prepared to show your work. Be prepared to step out on fai...

Each day, it becomes increasingly vital for our overall well being to be able to have some semblance of control over our emotions. I listened to a writer/speaker on the topic of perfectionism. She hit on a very valid point that I held on to ever since, but I incorporate my spiritual belief into it. It's simply this. In a world where Satan is always busy, tearing us down mentally and trying to convince us that we aren't good enough and never will be, he doesn't need my help. And I'm not willing to offer it. I don't want anxiety or worry over what circumstances look like to dominate my mental bandwidth. This is a time when we need to be in prayer, no matter what circumstances we find ourselves facing. The more we pray and the more we exercise our faith, the less room Satan has to convince us that whatever we're dealing with is hopeless. Keep trusting and believing God to turn those situations around for you.

The scriptures reveal that the Lord searches our heart. That's a necessary thing to do because in it are the hidden things. Every single day we should make it our mission to rid ourselves of the mess that we store up in our heart. Just like weeding out a closet, which I've mentioned previously. The more old that we get rid of, the more Jesus we can receive. At the end of the day, that should be our desire. 

Redemption is a beautiful thing. It indicates that there was a price, one that I don't need to pay in order to gain something. That's salvation in a nutshell. With His life, Jesus purchased my freedom. It would be insane for me to reject such a loving and essential gift as eternal life with Him. 

A rewarding pastime for me is doing my laundry. I love the smell of my laundry room. It's so refreshing and makes being there practically all day worth it. As much as I love it, when I do laundry or clean my house, I wish it would stay that way forever. That small moment in my life gives me a regular glimpse into the cleansing that God desires for us. Even the desire for us to remain clean. Unlike the temporary of my home or my laundry, this is an eternal cleansing and I should desire it just as much.

There is a saying that one bad apple spoils the bunch. Just like the scriptures that say that a little leaven leavens the whole lump. Those things teach us that sometimes a little can be too much. I often say that a little can go a long way with faith. But the expectation is that the little will blossom into something great. That shows me the strength of small things. There is potential for growth. I don't want that to happen with sin. When my eternal home is on the line, a little unrighteous living has a very hefty price tag.