Devotions (Page 7)

A funny thing about loving people that I recently started thinking about is that not everyone will respond in kind. Not too long ago, I was trying to be intentional about loving and being caring towards some people in my life. Maybe I was being awkward about it, but their responses were pretty dismissive in an off putting way, and I was slightly taken aback. I guess I was expecting to feel the love back at me. Do unto others…

One of the things that stood out to me from Mary Cho’s message was her approach to teaching people how to make art. She felt like patience was what was needed as many of the people would finish their artwork really fast and expect it to be something of good quality. She reminded the people that if you want something of quality, it requires patience. This is true for many things in our lives. Some things that come to my…

We had the privilege of hearing from Mary Cho, a missionary to Sierra Leone in West Africa. She shared about her adventures and challenges serving in a foreign nation founded on witchcraft while serving and loving those often forgotten. Mary serves at a blind school. As Mary spoke to the church family, she kept encouraging us that although our lives and surroundings seem so far apart, we were all part of the same body. In my quiet time this past…

We have a lot of things to worry about as we enter this season. As a new school year starts up, some of us are caught up in all of the scheduling, the extra curriculars, and the after-school activities. For others, it could be job security, health or finances that take over our thoughts. When our minds are constantly running from one thing to another, we need to make room for God. We can make room for God by blocking…

Dear LifeSpring Family, As I was reading Andrew’s recent devotion titled “Purpose Over Potential“, I was reminded of Philippians 2:4-8 (ESV): Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,…

Happy September! It’s hard to believe that fall is upon us. But with the change in weather, kids returning to school, summer hours ending and the like, it definitely feels like we’re heading back to our regular routines. I know for me, it feels like summer flew by this year. I’m glad that as a church family, we had an opportunity to close the summer out by gathering with friends new and old at our central site this past Sunday. A big thank…

“So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts. 7 ‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” ’ ” 8 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple;  His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know That the Lord of hosts has…

One of the things that spoke to me from Andrea’s message was when she mentioned that Jesus had all the potential in the world to do whatever He wanted, yet He chose to do what God told Him to do.  Jesus ended up choosing purpose over potential. On the one hand Jesus was/is the son of God; the word made flesh, fully God and yet fully man. He had the potential to heal whoever He wanted to heal, perform whatever…

When we thing about fruitfulness, we think first about fruit. That fruit can look like actual fruit, for example; tomatoes, peppers, or zucchini. It can look like getting a raise, buying a new home or property, or having a baby! But there is another side to fruitfulness, which requires obedience and sacrifice.   One of the common ways people practice obedience and sacrifice in the church is by tithing. Tithing is giving 10% of what you make, the first fruits…

In God’s design, a requirement for growth and fruitfulness is the act of pruning. Pruning is the process of cutting away dead or overgrown branches/stems. The act of pruning is required to increase fruitfulness and growth. When Karyne is working in her garden, she is constantly snipping away. I often see dead branches and leaves being cut off so that it makes room for the new. However, sometimes I see her cut off large, fresh, and lively branches. In cutting…

Last Sunday we had the privilege of having Joe Chong as our speaker. Joe currently serves as an elder at Lifespring, but I’ve also had the privilege of partnering with Joe when we served together as leaders in our youth group. One thing I always enjoy about Joe’s messages is how he shares from his own life–things that God has been teaching him, as Joe grows and learns in his own faith. His message was an encouragement for all of…

Last week, Sam Tse spoke at Wildfire (and she invited us over for dinner too. Best speaker ever!). The thing that stood out from her teaching was this line: “Am I [God] not bigger than this?”   This hit me because I am a great worrier. I love to plan things out and then worry about a million ways in which things can go wrong (under the guise of being prepared). And it’s not difficult to see all the problems,…