I have been finding myself at times lately not having the best attitude.  I think in part is because I have felt really busy and my to-do list seems never ending.  I am getting married in a bit over a month, and I do have some final planning to do.  Then I am also doing RAGBRAI (Register’s Annual Bike Ride across Iowa) a few weeks before my wedding, so I am making sure I have most of the wedding stuff done before I go on that trip.  I also have some anxiety when it comes to doing this event as well.  It is very fun, but it is very exhausting as you are biking across the whole state in a week.  

Overall, I have a lot going on.  I know I am probably preaching to the choir right now.  There are probably a lot of you reading,that have even more going on and in your own extremely stressful situations.  Also, I am speaking about very exciting events and things I am looking forward to, so there really shouldn’t be a lot of negative stress attached.  However, I have really wanted more time to relax and have the opportunities to focus on these two upcoming events, while I still have my job to do and other volunteer obligations.  

However it is important to remember to care about all these day to day obligations including work or volunteer opportunities with the same good attitude as I am approaching wedding planning and my RAGBRAI trip.  I just want to work on those things and get myself mentally and physically ready for both, but I need to remember this desire to work at the office or when I am volunteering at church or various other organizations.  

One verse I want to highlight is Romans 12:2 which says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”  I love this verse because it is a reminder to not live like the world tells us to but rather to live like the Lord has expected.  The Lord has expected us to care and work hard no matter what.  We shouldn’t just focus on a few small things. We also need to have patience and to have a good renewed mind for all things. 

I do need to remember to have patience as I prepare for all the pieces of these next two months.  Yes, I have a lot going on, but I just need to remember to look to the Lord for guidance and patience.  He will help me out and be there for my comfort.  I do need to look to Him for strength as opposed to looking to other places.  I also need to go to Him for any attitude adjustments when I don’t want to work hard on something.

I especially need to remember to have a good attitude when it comes to opportunities to share God’s message with the world.  For example, one of the big things I had going on this week was getting to work on VBS or Vacation Bible School for my church.  It was actually called Sports and Arts Camp this year, so the kids got the chance to try different sports and different arts throughout the week.  I am in charge of teaching the track section.  I got to work with kids running and doing some relays.  

Even though I was a bit stressed out and at one point in time I was wishing I hadn’t signed myself up for help with VBS this year with everything going on.  However, this has been a great time for me to meet with kids who are at my church to learn about sports, arts, and the love of God.  I am so glad I had this opportunity this week.  The second day was especially great.  (The first day, it rained, so that was hard).  The second day, I had a group who was so ready to run in some relays as well as do some sprint races.  It brought joy to my face watching them run and work together as a team.  

The challenge for the week is to be reflective over your particular week.  This is making sure you are having a positive attitude whenever it seems like you are starting to fall into a bad one.  This is the kind of attitude that can come up when you just don’t want to do something.  This could be a certain job shift you just don’t want to do, or a time serving you already signed up for, or even spending time with people who maybe you don’t necessarily want to see.  It is important to be a Holy Godly Christian, no matter the circumstance.

I have talked a lot about running during my time writing this blog.  I do still love running and getting to participate in races and the feeling of the runner’s high which can come from a good run.  However, I have been struggling with running lately.  I still love it, but I have been feeling a bit heavy and been a bit slower than I have been in the last few years.  I think this is for many reasons such as a sinus infection I had earlier in the year, to starting new medication, and from just a busy and at times stressful schedule from moving and planning a wedding.  This has been a bit discouraging for me, but I have also been good about still finding time to run and continuing to try to improve. 

Because of this, I have also been really extra excited to run with my mom.  My mom is a very good runner, and she has been very helpful in running with me and encouraging me to run faster. This really showed last weekend when I ran a 10k at the Bridge of Storm Lake with her.   I was able to run the race in under an hour which I would not have been able to do without the help of my mom. This is a good reminder to me that sometimes it is very important to have a partner.  In exercise, it can be really important to have a partner or have someone who can push us forward.  We can push ourselves harder and faster to eventually reach the potential we really want to reach.  

This is also important in other areas in life.  We can have this at our workplace.  I have been really blessed these past two years to work at the Job Foundation where I have been able to grow in lesson planning, working with families as well as working with people who have different perspectives and backgrounds.  I have even got to work with students who I usually wouldn’t have had the chance to beforehand.  I hardly ever, besides in church, got the opportunity to work with elementary students.  Now I get to quite a bit throughout the year. 

I have already seen myself grow in relationships through my relationship with Cole.  I am getting better at communicating and better at compromising, better at thinking of other people, specifically Cole, and better at listening.  This is something really important for not only a long-lasting marriage and relationship, but also to be better at relationships with those I am seeing at church, or those I am working with, or with my family and friends.  Growing in relationships is important, for all areas and walks in life.  

Lastly, we can grow in our relationship with God.  I have discussed this a lot, but this is because it is so very important.  We can only best grow in our relationship with God through other believers and discussing our faith with them.  This is because our God has designed us this way.  He designed us to be relationship based people or to be in communication with others.  God designed Adam and then Eve, so he had a partner.  He did this because he also had good relationships with the other members of the Trinity, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  

These other believers can even help you in other ways.  This can be helpful to help fight any sins, any financial struggles, or any other issues one has been struggling with.  A mentor or partner in the faith can really help you through everything and through any struggles.  This is why it can be so very beneficial to have a mentor be a good guide for you and your christian life.  

One group of verses that discusses fellowship and growing with each other is Philippians 2:1-2 which says, “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.”I love this because it is a reminder that as we grow to know Christ, we become more and more united with the Body of Christ and Christ himself.  

The challenge for this week is to spend some time at church this next week to get to know different people.  This is important, so you have the chance to meet possible different mentors and different Christians from all different walks in life to help you in your present walk in life.  This is to give you the chance to get to know people and have the chance to talk to people from all walks in life.  Then the second challenge is to ask advice from someone.  This could be someone you have already met or someone you meet in the first part of this challenge.  Wherever you feel you need help and assistance in your life.  You never know this could really help you in your journey.  

Recently, I had one of my best days ever, and this was my bridal shower.  To give a short bit of context, I have always loved going to Bridal Showers.  I have loved the chance to celebrate the bride with gifts, fun snacks, and playing games, all while wearing fun clothes and taking lots of pictures.  So the fact that I was having my bridal shower filled with the people I love the most and care about, was a day I had been looking forward to. 

I’ll give a little summary.  I had it at the Bridge of Storm Lake where I used to work for seven years.  It was awesome to be able to celebrate a big experience in a place where I grew so much and a place where I have so much love in my heart.  As I am approaching another milestone this special place got to be the host for one of the events leading up to the main event.  

To give a bit of a summary of what the day all consisted of, it had great snack food of chex mix, an amazing charcuterie board, and also beautiful cookies.  The snacks were definitely one of my favorite parts.  Then I also had games where people could decide if the sentence fit me or Cole better.  Overall, most people got us pretty much solved.  Some of them don’t know Cole super well, but they were able to guess by my personality.  Then I also received some beautiful gifts and some cards with wonderful words on them of good tidings.  I am truly very blessed with the words and the generosity from my loved ones.  

This event made me realize I need to be very grateful for the things I have.  I have so many people who are 1. Willing to help set up this awesome shower for me 2. To drive the long way to get to my shower, and 3. Give me kind gifts and words.  How truly blessed am I to receive such great gifts and cards from loved ones.  I can always look back to the gifts and re-read through the cards I received on this day, and remember the love and the joy given to me on this special day.  

This shower overall was a big reminder for me to love the everyday moments and the journey.  I have tried really hard to enjoy all the moments of the engagement season.  I loved getting to pick out my wedding dress with the loved ones who have joined me. (That was the biggest highlight).  I also loved picking out the food for the reception, getting to walk through the reception area, doing the dress fittings, and finally having a bridal shower.  I also will have a bachelorette/birthday party coming up very soon.  

It is important to remember to slow down.  Often we as people are in a hurry to get to the thing we are most looking forward to.  Sometimes we can start counting the days to what we are most looking forward to and we start to miss the little moments on their way to the bigger event.  For example, we can solely look towards the wedding as opposed to all the steps of getting prepared for one.

There are many verses about joy and love throughout the Bible, even about finding those in the simple moments.  One example is Proverbs 3:3-6 which says, “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”  I love this verse because it is a reminder to never let love and faithfulness leave you.  Have them constantly in your heart.  This is during both the good times and the trying times. 

The challenge for this week is to spend some time thinking about two things.  The first one is to spend some time thinking about the people who are in your life who you really love.  Who are the people you have been blessed with?  Maybe take some time to even say thank you to these individuals.  Then the second thing is to spend some time in appreciation and in happiness for the little life moments.  This is important to remember the little times or moments in life.  We can’t just be happy or excited for the big moments or for the moments or days most looked forward to, whether this be graduation, wedding day, start of the new job, etc.  The little moments can even be today as you are reading.

I was just at the Iowa state golf meet to cheer on my fiance’s team he coaches.  This was a very good time.  I had a really good time getting to talk and cheer on the student golfers, the chance to talk to a lot of families of the golfers and see their many victories  throughout the two days.  The best news was that the team won! They are state champions! I was so proud of them and all they accomplished.  Cole was also really happy for the girls.  He wanted this for them so badly. 

The road to being a champion isn’t always very easy.  In fact, I would say, most of the time, it is very hard and there are many ups and downs.  There are triumphs and defeats.  While an effortless win or championship would be nice and relaxing, there is something about coming together and achieving something after the many setbacks.  It is feeling as though you saw something through to the end, even when there were obstacles that tried to step in your way.  

This team certainly had their hurdles.  One of the biggest obstacles was that one of the golfers wasn’t able to golf for a majority of the season due to a knee injury.  She was a good leader and cheerleader for the rest of the girls while she recovered, but she wasn’t able to include her score or be able to practice.  However, she was able to come back at the very end of the season, during the team’s second regional golf meet to help propel them to the state golf meet. She was the second golf score at state for the team, so her comeback made a huge difference. 

There also were some other big giants in their competition to the top.  There was a team who had been undefeated all year, and their scores were incredible.  Then there was another school who won the prior year and was back again at state, and this team also had a 3-year school individual champion.  There were definitely some intimidating factors out there.  However, Day 1 the team shot their best score in school’s history, and this propelled them to the top.  

The hard thing was keeping their score up for the second day.  They needed to make sure no one would come up behind them and take their number one spot.  It was very important they kept focus to keep up their scores.  They needed to be confident, but not overly confident that they made some easily overlooked bad decisions and mistakes.  The one team did get closer in the score, and there was definitely some stress and anxiety for all those watching.  However, the athletes and the coaches kept their cool and completed the course with the ultimate lowest score, propelling them to the top and victory.  

God highlights championships in the Bible as well.  God loves to acknowledge when people have completed and achieved the hard things.  There are hard things people, especially Christians have to overcome throughout their lives.  However, we should all strive to be champions of Christ one day.  One example of a verse highlighting being a champion is 2 Timothy 4:7-8 which says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

The challenge for this week is to focus on your particular course.  What is your particular path the Lord has set in front of you?  What has God created and planned for you to complete?  What is the way you can best complete this challenge?  Is there a challenge God has given you, you need to overcome?

I would say my course currently right now is to do the best I absolutely can for the students who are in the Job Foundation.  I know a lot of 125 students who are not in the best life situation and who need more guidance and love.  This includes the students who are easy to get along with and the students who are not as easy to get along with or who need more attention and guidance.  I also need to challenge myself more to spread God’s love with all those who are around me.  I often forget to really spread God’s word and his wisdom to all who need to hear it.  I may be afraid and impatience at times, but this is the course God has set before me, and I hope to be a champion at the end of my days for Christ.  

I have started a new book for my quiet time with Jesus which is, “Restoring All Things: God’s Audacious Plan to Change the World through Everyday People.”  This book is by both Warren Cole Smith and John Stonestreet. This book has been very interesting because it has been bringing up different areas in the world where there are a lot of people, and how Christians can impact those areas. 

One chapter was all about education and how it is a big piece of sharing God’s message and God’s Word with others. This can come in different ways, but they all can make a difference.  Some are starting their own Christian private schools bringing up their own students to know Christ is the one and only God and teaching those students that we are to serve Him.  Others have used public education and to make sure their platform of being Christian to the students in their class.  

Two quotes I really loved about education were, “To learn is an act of worship.”  Then another quote was “We learn so we can more fully become who we were created to be.”  Education does help us  know everything about God and all his creations in the world.  I really loved these quotes because it is a reminder we can worship God in any way, even through education and learning.  When we spend time learning and appreciating, we are worshipping and appreciating God. 

There are some limits to this, however.  It is very important we don’t spend a lot of time learning about unholy or unGodly things.  It shouldn’t be an excuse to learn about things that would be very dishonoring and not loving to God.  I personally love learning about a wide array of topics.  However, I also sometimes find myself interested in pop culture and the things that are happening in the world.  This is especially true when it comes to some of the podcasts I listen to or the shows I watch.   

I personally love education, and I have always enjoyed going to school and learning.  College is where I made the best memories.  I was able to make memories with friends, yes, but at the same time I was also able to make memories with learning in the classrooms or having big discussions, or working on big projects.  I loved getting the chance to spend time learning at college.  

I also have loved getting to work with students and getting to spend time educating youth.  I loved the chance to teach for four years, teaching Spanish.  I also have loved working at nonprofits and getting to be an education coordinator where I can work with students from Waterloo and give them financial literacy education.  Getting the chance to spend time with students and working on lessons has been really helpful to me, reminding me of the importance of education and learning. 

There are many verses about wisdom and paying attention to instruction.  One of those verses is Proverbs 1:7 which says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”  It is really true that those who really care about God and not wanting to be a fool will be those who will look at instruction.  Those who are really caring about being a kind and loving God-follower will make sure to follow instruction and do more research and learn more about the Lord and all that His Word has to show.  

The challenge for this week is to spend time thinking about how you feel about knowledge and wisdom.  Is there a time when you find you are good about learning and trying to be closer to God through education.  However, are there times when you don’t spend a lot of time learning and working with education? Are there times you don’t feel as though you need to care about instruction or following the rules and learning?  I want to challenge you to care more about instruction and to care more about the love of learning and the importance of instruction and instructing others.  

 My fiancé is a golf coach for the high school girls’ team.  He has been very successful in this role, and I am very proud of all his accolades.  This year his team won their conference, and they will be going to the state golf meet for the third year in a row. I love going to meets and seeing them compete or hearing about how they are doing by following online if I can’t be there in person.  He will often talk about the meets and things he is teaching his athletes, so they can make better choices in future meets. 

One decision he is hoping his golfers will soon learn will be going around a tree or obstacle properly.  Sometimes his golfers, like all golfers have found themselves at times, will be directly behind the tree.  Sometimes what golfers, including myself, will do is try to go through the tree or over the tree.  This can work, but it also sometimes doesn’t work well at all. A golfer has to be lucky and/or very skilled to hit it just right in that position.  Sometimes it will just hit the tree and then go back farther than it was originally, or it will be in an even worse spot than it was before.  

The more strategic way to get around this obstacle is taking another golf stroke and hitting your ball towards the fairway (the grass leading up to the hole).  This takes more time, but it is also more reasonable of an option than taking the chance of going through the tree.   When choosing to take more time and one more swing, this will have a better chance of the ball having a good position of the hole,which could overall, lessen the frustration.  

This is a good reminder to sometimes spend more time on something than we would have originally expected, but it is better than having to rush through certain obstacles or problems.  Sometimes when we do rush through them, this may end up causing more issues or problems.  Sometimes we need to make sure we talk about the steps necessary for solving any life struggle or problem. 

For another good life example, I am in the process of moving.  For the most part, it is done.  I have put all my materials and objects in boxes, moved those boxes to the new place, and then slowly I have gotten the chance to put almost everything away in the new place.  It was very important to not just throw things around or throw things in a car and then throw them all the different ways.  If you really want to make sure the moving is done well and right, there needs to be some thought and time given to it. 

I discovered the big way I tend to cut corners is when I am cleaning.  I don’t always like to spend the same amount of time cleaning as is recommended.  I don’t have much enthusiasm, if any at all, to really take the time to dust all the areas, vacuum all the places, and clean all the other grime areas in the house or in the apartment.  I was very appreciative of my grandma who helped me do the final clean of my apartment before I officially moved to the new place where Cole and I will officially live after we get married. 

There are definitely other examples.  These are just a few.  The point is to realize that when we are in certain situations, we need to be willing to do the hard work.  We need to do a good job of following the protocols and the procedures when encountering stops or having problems we now need to deal with.  We can’t just rush through issues and problems.  It could end up getting a lot worse if we do not take the time to really do everything right.  I once heard a saying, “if you do not have time to do something right the first time, will you really have time to do it a second time?”  (John Wooden-Basketball Hall of Fame) It is a good reminder to be consistently taking time on things the right way, the very first time. 

One verse I want to highlight is John 14:27 which says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”  I love this verse for many different reasons.  I do believe it includes great comfort in knowing God will be there for us and help us in all situations and reminds us that the world will not give or treat us as the world does.  This is a good reminder we need to do something different because the Lord has decided we need to do things differently than the world has told us or has shown us through other’s actions.  

The challenge for this week is to spend a bit of time wondering if there is anything you try to cut corners on.  Are there sometimes when you try to take the easy way out of something?  You may try to do something that has not been recommended, just because you believe in your heart there is an easier way, or you don’t have to take as much time.  Are there times you want to cut corners? 

This could even be at work, when you don’t feel the need to do absolutely everything your boss has told you, the exact way it has been advised or recommended.  This could be at church through not completely following through on the Bible reading plan you have declared to be starting.  There are so many ways we don’t like to do everything full-fledged, but ultimately, this just may end up costing us more in the end.  Whatever is the main area of times when you don’t do things as completely well as you should, I do want you to feel challenged to take a bit more time this next week on them. 

I have been continuing my Bible Study on the characteristics of God.  God still has many beautiful and lovely characteristics.  One of those, of course, is God’s grace.  I thought for sure I would read the section about God’s grace and believe there would be nothing I could read I hadn’t before.  I didn’t believe I would be interested in the reading because I figured it would be something I have read many times before.  However, this reading would really impress me because of its approach.  

To give a reminder about grace, the definition of Grace is “unmerited favor, love, and kindness of God to humanity.”  Sometimes it is defined by those in the church as, “not getting what you do deserve.”  Because we sin, we deserve death.  This isn’t just the physical death, but also spiritual death or complete separation from Christ for the rest of eternity.  However, even though we do have a physical death we will experience, we are now given an opportunity to have a relationship with Christ through his son’s death and then ultimate resurrection.  

I want to highlight one paragraph.  Again this book is called, “The Attributes of God,” by Kristin Schmucker.  The text says, “The word, grace, is mentioned often, as it should be.  Yet, sadly, this has sometimes meant that the richness of grace has become commonplace to us as believers.  Grace should never be commonplace.  It should leave us in awe and wonder of who our God is, that He would lavish us in a grace that we do not deserve.”  

I really enjoyed this quote because I realized this is me.  I can sometimes forget about grace and its importance. We in the church hear about God’s grace on a regular basis and how this impacts our life, but we can let it become sole head knowledge as opposed to heart knowledge.  Head knowledge is knowing something but treating it like a fact or general information.  Heart knowledge is when we really let this information take root and change our lives for the better. 

There are many times when the word grace is mentioned in the Bible. In fact, grace appears in the Bible roughly 170 times.  An example would be a group of verses in Ephesians 2:8-9 and this says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

I have really struggled with accepting God’s grace at various times.  I think I can take it for granted.  I believe this can be something that happens to those who have been a Christian for a majority of their lives or at least for quite a few years.  We can not imagine living without God’s grace because maybe we have always lived around and with it with those who have been in our lives.  I know I am this way.  I grew up with a grandma who started telling me about Jesus and His grace at a young age.  Then my mom had me going to church, Sunday school, and youth group from the start of school.  It was plenty of time to really know this information, but at the same time grow to not appreciate it as greatly as one who ever lived without it.  

 I will struggle through certain sins such as saying and thinking mean and inappropriate words and thoughts.  I know I am forgiven by God and the grace He gives and provides.  However, sometimes it is the excuse I have for not making any changes.  He can just forgive me again and again.  I don’t have to change much about myself.  However, even though His forgiveness is true, I need to also be aware of trying to be more like Christ, daily, working slowly at it to get better and better with the help of the Holy Spirit.  

The challenge for this week is to think about grace, really think about it.  What comes to your mind when you think of grace? How does it make you feel?  Is it something you easily write off as not important or do you actually think about its importance and the impact it can have on your life?   Are there ways you can express more gratefulness for the grace God has provided? Is there someone or a few people who you could tell about God’s grace?  

This really can best be shown through spending some time in prayer.  It is important to make sure to spend time praying to God and thanking Him for all you have and all the grace He has shown you as well as the grace He will continue to show you.  It can then also be important to spend time asking for this grace to mean more and more to you personally and for it to be something you never forget about on a regular basis. 

I have continued reading the devotional book, “The Attributes of God,” by Kristin Schmucker.  This devotional book has really been helping me see the good values of God.  There was one quote I really enjoyed from this devotion when learning about God’s Omnipotence.  Omnipotent means God having all power and his power being limitless.  He is the ultimate creator and Keeper of the world.  Everything that happens in the world happens because of Him and His ultimate power.  

The quote I really enjoyed was “We grasp for power and leverage it for personal gain at the expense of other people made in God’s image.  We naturally look up to those who have power and disregard those who do not.  This is tragic evidence of our fallen state.”  This quote was a good reflection for me.  We do have a tendency to see people who are in power and who are in great positions as more important than others.  We spend a lot of time focused on influencers and those who are famous because we believe they are the most important. 

However, this is not how God wants us to view power.  He wants us to remember that all power on earth and in heaven is to God and his son, Jesus Christ.  He is the one who has power.  He bestows some power on His people, such as with Adam in the very beginning to name the animals.  He gives us some people power in blessing them with certain jobs and positions.  However, it is important to make sure to never use this power to solely our advantage. This power is only to help spread God’s love and God’s message to those who are standing behind you or are under your supervision.  

I personally need to remember this because of the place I work.  I do work with low income families.  I need to always make sure I show them just as much respect as I would to someone who is very influential in the world.  Even when there are situations these families are in that I have never experienced, or if they ever make certain decisions I wouldn’t usually agree with.  I need to remember to see the best in all of them and desire to help them to the best of my abilities and the power the Lord has bestowed on me.  

A couple of verses I want to highlight about God’s power is Ephesians 3:20-21 which says, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” I love this verse as a good reminder that God is the one who is in control of all things.  He is the one who is able to do all things and be in all things. 

Are there times you have found yourself looking down on those who are in a lesser position than you?  Are there times you look down on people for the positions they are in because you may have never experienced it?  Are there times you find yourself more concerned about certain individual opinions as opposed to others?  Are there times you don’t think much about others and are more focused on where you want to be in life? This is a time to be reflective over how we view and treat other people, how we see those who are in a different life position than us.  

It is important to make sure we look at all people as children of God.  If we see only some people as a person of God, then we are not really showing God’s love.  God’s love is equal with everyone.  The challenge for this week is to spend time thinking about how we view others.  How do we see those who may be in a lower position?  How do we see those who have experienced something we haven’t?  How do we find a way to love those who are not seen as the most loveable?  This can be very hard.  It is important to remember we do have the Holy Spirit on our side who can help us be the most loving and kind to all those who we will ever come to meet. 

I have been continuing my work on my new Bible Devotional  about the characteristics of God.  This book is called, “The Attributes of God,” by Kristin Schmucker. In the second week, we started to learn about God being Infinite as well as God being immutable or unchanging nature.  God is infinite in the sense that He is a part of the past, present, and the future.  He is all knowing, all powerful, and all good.  He has always been this way and will always be.  

We, as people, are constantly thinking we need to be infinite as well.  We are constantly thinking that we need to do and be in charge of everything and everyone.  When in reality, we are only in charge of a small number of things.  Our only main goal or reality is to praise God and to remember his infinity.  We need to remember He is ultimately the one in charge and the one who is good.  This is why we don’t have to be.  We don’t have to be everything.  We don’t have to feel intense pressure on our shoulders at all hours.  

Through this devotional book, I have started to really look at how there are choices I make where I don’t fully understand God or his infinity and eternity.  This is an important thing to be aware of.  The world is constantly telling us that we need to be able to do everything.  We need to have it all and we need to do it all.  Our society, especially in American culture, praises those who work really hard and do a lot of stuff.  We need to be aware of this bias to do absolutely everything.  

We don’t have to be completely moral or completely good.  We just need to be willing to serve a God who is. I personally really struggle with this.  I struggle feeling as though I need to do everything perfectly right.  I want to always be the best employee, best daughter, best partner to my future husband, and the best Christian.  I want to know I can do everything to the best of my ability, all the time.  

One quote I want to take from this devotional book and have us all reflect on is, “We look to our spouse to be a rock for us that only God can be.  We dread the thought of friendship growing apart.  We do not even like to change the simplest parts of our routines.  We crave the eternal and immutable, but by doing this, we make idols out of earthly things.”

I love this because it shows we do enjoy making idols out of pretty much everything.  I know I can struggle to make idols out of exercise, out of my job, and out of my friends.  I want to be known for being a good person by others.  I want those to know me to like me, and I start to get insecure when I think some people are starting to dislike me or are disappointed in me.  I also want to be known as someone who can do a lot of hard exercises.  I am proud when people are impressed by how long I run or how long I bike and when I describe the different races.  I also love when I can get acknowledged at my work.  I want people to know me as a hard worker and to want to acknowledge my abilities and skills at my job.  

There are also many verses describing God as infinite and eternal.  One verse is Psalm 147:5 which says, “Great is the Lord, and mighty in power; his understanding is infinite.”  Another verse is at the end of the Bible in Revelation 1:8 which says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” These are verses we should speak to ourselves, so we can remember the position God is in and the ones that we are in.  

The challenge for this week is to spend some time reflecting on whether or not, you are a person who does not like to see God as an eternal or an infinite being.  If you are one to not see God as either one of those, how do you try to be eternal or infinite yourself.  How do you try to make up for it through your work, or through your friendships or even through your hobbies and talents?  Do you find solace in the other things of this world?

I have started a new devotional series recently which is about the Lord and his characteristics.  There are a lot of characteristics we need to remember when it comes to God and what he shows his children and his followers.  He shows love, grace, peace, and displays mercy.  He also is completely sovereign and knows everything is going to happen.  He is all knowing and all powerful.  One thing I really enjoyed that the devotional has highlighted in the first few devotional days was how we as people spend time thinking about God.  There is a quote by A.W Tozer that says, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”  This is a good reminder that how we see God is foundational for our whole faith.  

If we think of God as a judge, we may be in constant fear of doing something wrong.  We will be fearful of being judged for every thought and every wrong move we make.  Granted, we should care about avoiding sin.  We shouldn’t necessarily go looking to sin.  However, we need to be aware of the grace and forgiveness from God.  We will not easily see the grace, the mercy, and the forgiveness that is so readily available for us. Similarly, If we think of God as some eternal being far away, we may not think much in regard to the relationship we have with Him.  We may just think he is a Big God (which He is) who doesn’t care about our problems or our issues (which He does).  This will definitely depend on how we think about how close we are to God. 

However, If we think of God as our Father who loves us and cares about us, then we will be less likely to think of God as scary or as a judge.  We will also know we can go to Him for love and support, and He will want to help us because He is a good God who also serves as a Father for us.  This devotional is really trying to introduce the theme of knowing God as opposed to just knowing about God. There is a big difference between knowing about God and knowing facts about him, knowing his Bible and knowing verses describing Him to actually knowing Him and knowing he cares about us. 

A group of verses I want to highlight is John 17: 1-3 which says, “After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”  I love this grouping of verses because it describes what our eternal life is all about.  Our eternal life is when we have the opportunity to truly know God and get to spend the rest of our lives with Him. 

I will be honest when I say I struggle to know God at times.  Sometimes I consider Him more of a boss figure.  I have certain rules and expectations I am supposed to follow, and He is looking down checking on me to make sure if I am doing my work correctly.  Maybe this is because I have always had an obsession with getting high grades and getting good marks at work.  I always have a fear of disappointing those who are giving me marks at either school or at my job.  However, this is a rough way to view God.  This will not make me do things like spending time with the Lord out of pure love, but rather because I am seeking approval.  This is something I need to be aware of when it comes to my relationship with Christ.  

The challenge for you this week is to spend time in reflection thinking about whether or not you truly know God and whether or not you really know Christ.  Spend time reflecting on whether or not when you think of God, what you think of and how you feel.  What is your gut reaction?  Do you get fearful, or do you get filled with love? Then think about spending time with God and spending time reading His Word.  This is especially important as we celebrate Easter Sunday and really remember all that God has done for us.