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Let’s Dig In! {1 Peter Chaper 1}
Shhh… it’s naptime. And sometimes those sweet little wild-haired cuties that call me Mom have been known to fall asleep while eating. It’s hard not to giggle, I know.
What do they put in those fries?!
I’m sorry I’m a day late posting! I’ve been working on our church website and social media. Feel free to check it out at www.livingpraisetrenton.com . It’s still a work in progress. If you have any web design tips, please hit me up! 🙂
I’m super stoked about sharing with you some great insights and encouragement from the book of 1 Peter this week! I pray that if you’re not already subscribed to my free email updates, that you’ll do so to stay connected by entering your email address into the space provided to your right. It’s free and encouraging! 🙂
I want to share with you today 10 key points I have found through studying, highlighting and praying about chapter one. But before I do that, I want to give you a little brief bio on Peter and an intro to this little book of insight.
Peter was a fisherman when Jesus found him, befriended him and called out to him, “Follow me.” {Matthew 4:18-20}
Do you remember who you were when Jesus found you?
Peter became a right-hand-man to Jesus. You could say they were best friends. He watched in awe and wonder as Jesus performed many miracles throughout his ministry. He suffered greatly for following Jesus and even denied him, but later got his act together and inspired many to follow his Savior. I think we all can take notes from his life.
In chapter 1, Peter writes to God’s chosen people and describes them as being “scattered” throughout many regions. He wishes them grace and peace and goes on to share this living hope they {and we} have through the death, burial & resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Here are 10 things I found so encouraging! Pull out those highlighters!
- We have a living hope in Jesus Christ! If He hadn’t risen like He said He would on the 3rd day, we wouldn’t have this living hope! He’s a promise keeper! (vs. 3)
- We have a protected inheritance waiting for us in Heaven! No one can touch or destroy what God has prepared for us! (vs. 4)
- Through faith, we are shielded by God’s power! Kay Arthur touched heavily on this one during her live simulcast Friday night. It doesn’t matter what comes our way, we are protected through faith by God’s power! Praise God! (vs. 5)
- We will have trials and struggles, but this refines our faith and brings glory to God! We can’t escape frustrating situations and unexplainable circumstances we are faced with, but if we maintain the right attitude and remain faithful, God will receive the glory and we may see others around us be encouraged in their journey. (vs. 6-9)
- Suffering always comes before glory. Jesus suffered tremendously on the cross. Unfortunately, those mere words don’t even do it justice. However, when all was said and done, He was glorified through the Father. One thing is for sure, God’s power and glory was revealed in a mighty way that day! Remember – suffering always comes before glory. (vs. 11)
- Everything is not about ME. That’s a shocker, isn’t it? So many times we make things all about us. Our successes, our struggles, our pity parties. If we would only grasp this concept like the disciples did, we would make such a greater impact on this world around by allowing the life-changing light of Christ to shine through us. (vs. 12)
- Be prepared. Have self-control. Be holy & refuse to conform to the evil of this world. I’ve heard all my life we are living in the “last days” and boy do I believe it now. There is so much evil and perversity in this world; it’s scary. We as the body of Christ have got to be prepared. Stay in the Word and be holy. Have self-control and refuse to conform – no matter how hard the big ugly giants stare us coldly in the eyes. (vs. 13-16)
- This isn’t our home. This world we live in is temporary, praise God! We must live in reverent fear of the Lord as strangers in this world. Remember, as believers we have an inheritance waiting for us in Heaven! This world has nothing in comparison! (vs. 17)
- We were bought with a price. And it wasn’t cheap. I don’t know many who would willingly lay their life down for people who they knew would reject them. Yet Jesus was in this thing for the long haul and said, “Yet not as I will, but as you will”{Matthew 26:39-42; emphasis mine}. We were bought with a heavy price – every last drop of life and blood our precious Savior had in His body. We ought to live like we are grateful. (vs. 18-21)
- Love one another deeply – from the heart. We are told many times throughout the bible to love one another. In 1 Corinthians 13 we are reminded of what love is. Love is patient, love is kind.. You can find so much more there if you continue to read along. Then backing up to John 21:15-17, Jesus speaks to his beloved Peter and says “Feed my lambs” and “Take care of my sheep.” Jesus didn’t place limitations on this command. Not to only love when we feel like it or when it’s convenient, or when it is reciprocated. Do you love one another deeply, from the heart?
I don’t know about you today, but I’m encouraged! I’m encouraged to know that we are not alone in this life. There are so many warriors in the faith that have walked this road before us and have left us such precious, golden nuggets of wisdom waiting to be unpacked in the Word of God.
I’d love to hear what God has spoken to you through 1 Peter 1 today! Will you share your thoughts below? Please share with a friend if you enjoy these posts!
Live Life Unscripted,
❤ Brittany
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Open up your hands
My inner control freak was beheaded last night. All because of a completely generous and selfless act of kindness from our 6-year-old. Thank you, Jesus, for these moments… We so desperately need them.
Kendyl needed a haircut. It has grown like wildfire over the last year and it needed some weight cut off. Florida is hotttttt and us curly headed girls have some thick hair.
It didn’t take long for the talk about getting a trim to switch gears. She remembered our friend Kaitlyn getting an adorable bobbed haircut a few months ago and she had a lot of questions about why she donated her hair.
She didn’t think twice. When she heard the need, she immediately wanted to donate her hair. She didn’t need a 5 point outline or detailed game plan. There was a need to be met and she was ready to make it happen.
Open up your hands..
For months she has been growing her hair out. This picture was taken right before we walked into the salon. I had already straightened her hair at home and measured it.
10 inches. 25.4 centimeters of beautiful, blonde flowing locks of love. And she was ready to part with it in a New York minute.
You could tell the ladies at the salon were trying to caution her. “It’s going to be real short now, you know that right?”
I even chimed in. “Baby, I’m so proud of you for wanting to do this. I want you to know this your hair and your decision.” And God placed His hand over my mouth.
She didn’t need to hear anyone else’s opinion. She felt led to do this. A little girl with a big heart spoke volumes without even opening her mouth.
How many times do we hear of a need and have to consult our wallet first? Or have someone come to us in desperation and we sigh about it being an inconvenience?
Please don’t miss this. Open up your hands..
There’s a passage of scripture in Proverbs 3:28 that says, “Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”– when you already have it with you.”
God has really been dealing tenderly with my heart on this concept lately. We can’t miss those in our paths because we’re so focused on the destination. If we come face to face with a hurting soul yet we neglect to give them something we already possess, oh baby we’ve missed the mark.
It may not be financial. It may not even be a physical touch. It may be simply looking them in the eyes and giving them your full attention for that moment in time.
As the Proverbs 31 She Speaks conference was closing, the lady on stage began asking questions that pulled at my heart. “How much has this weekend meant to you? Can you put a price tag on it?”
God began moving me to give to this ministry that has so richly blessed me. When I fumbled though my bright yellow wallet, I started counting what I had and immediately I felt God whisper, “Stop counting and give all you have.” I honestly have no idea how much I gave but my heart was overjoyed with knowing I had been obedient to God’s voice.
Sometimes the initial release of what’s in our hands is difficult. But there is nothing like the joy of immediate obedience to an Almighty Savior who wants to do great things through us. We have to come to the realization that what we have isn’t ours – it’s His. And He can do so much more with it than we can.
I want to leave you with this verse to chew on tonight.
Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Prepared in advance. That tells me He’s got some pretty awesome things just waiting for you, babe. Just open up your hands..
I’d love to hear from you! Has God asked you to do something you struggled with at first? Has there been a time of immediate obedience that has helped grow you in your walk with Christ? Comment below!
Live Life Unscripted,
❤ Brittany
Pick Up Your Cross
Following God isn’t easy. Woah now, slam on the air brakes. You thought when you accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior that you’d get a mansion on Easy Street? Somebody somewhere lied to you.
Pulling out of my grandparents’ house today was pretty emotional. We stayed almost a week for Christmas and it was so awesome for everyone to be together under one roof. I believe it was Shakespeare who said, “Parting is such sweet sorrow.” He couldn’t be more on target. I was ok until Papa squeezed me tighter than he ever has and started crying on my shoulder. And I lost it.
I know without a doubt we are living and breathing the perfect will of God for our lives. God called us to tend and love His sheep almost 12 hours away from home. I’ve been totally ok with this. I have fallen in love with Florida.
That is, until we come back and visit family. Saying goodbye isn’t easy, especially when you know it will be months before you get to smell your dad’s cologne again and see your brother’s no-shave-November face. Or taste your granny’s amazing cooking. Or watch your kids interact with your sweet papa.
When Jesus called the disciples, they were ordinary men working average jobs. They weren’t super spiritual, bible thumping, seminary graduated scholars. Many were fishermen. Yet they were beckoned by the Messiah to pick up their cross and follow Him.
Many times I think we get confused by this concept. Picking up our cross and following Him doesn’t mean we are frolicking and skipping half-heartedly behind Him. See, when Abraham was told to sacrifice his promised son, he wasn’t on the fence with his relationship with God. He had surrendered his life completely to God and was willing to do whatever He asked – even when it hurt.
Don’t get me wrong, I am so in love with what God is doing in our life. He’s taken us to a beautiful place that has such a vast field to be harvested. We love our church and our teens so deeply. I know we’re in the right place.
The funny thing about God is He knows where you’re comfortable and He knows that sometimes you have to be uprooted and replanted where you can grow. My prayer for over a year now has been, “God, wherever… however… wherever… whenever… And with whoever… God, just use us…” Well my darling, when you pray those things with a sincere heart, our Father hears us and is so willing to answer. But you need to prepare yourself for His response.
If you’ve been searching for the master plan and blue prints for your life, let me ask you. Have you been praying your will or His? Are you seeking your own dreams and goals or the direction God is leading you? He’ll gently tug at your heart. He’ll pursue you and woo you. But He won’t beg. He’s a gentleman and He’s sovereign.
He will give us the desires of our hearts, but we need to make sure we’re desiring the things of God. Matthew 6:9-13 gives us a model, almost a top secret formula, of how we should pray. We need to pray that His will and His kingdom are glorified. It may not be His will for us to attend that 4 year university in Tennessee to obtain a degree in teaching. He may have other plans.
Are you comfortable and settled in? Or miserable and waiting? Well, watch out honey. God is calling you. The million dollar question is – are you willing to pick up your cross and follow the King of Kings? Live life on the wild side and walk by faith. He has fully equipped you for this journey.
P.S. The right road and the easy road aren’t always the same road.
P.P.S. I believe in you. 🙂
Living Life Unscripted,
❤ Brittany
