Good afternoon As 1 Family!
Its been just a little over a week since the mission team left and I’m sure we all miss our daily devotionals!
I love that each journey we take as a church family we grow stronger and more united. It has been phenomenal to experience all the giving and support coming from all over; whether in monetary support of the mission, coming early to help set up, checking up on all the families, or hosting fundraisers to support in creative ways- WOW! This church truly is exercising its unity as Christ has always intended for us to. Praise Him!

I shared briefly last Sunday about wanting to give up about a year ago and now realizing how detrimental that would have been to both where the will of God was taking me individually but also our family. How sad I was to see the mission team leave, but how happy I was as I realized all the goodness I would have forfeited out on had I given in to Satan’s pleas to destroy me. He is ALWAYS looking to destroy us. The Word tells us very clearly He comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). A lot of times its in the most smallest, subtle of ways. One of those small ways that snowballed into a broken heart condition for me started with complaining…

Complaining about our life is basically an overt expression of what is really going on in our heart. The bible tells us, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45) So you can very much tell where our heart is based off of what comes out of our lips. I tend to mask my complaints with sarcasm, thinking I’m being “funny”…but that is simply an excuse to complain. I do that quite often.

When we complain, we are denying that God can and will be in control of the situation. We are saying, “Lord, you are not really sovereign”.
“By complaining about your difficult circumstances, you are forfeiting the grace that could help you through it…by clinging to the idol of a perfect life, you are flushing away the grace of God.”* Amen! I need to hear that. I need to hear that often. I can very easily go on a rant about something, someone, some incident and sometimes I catch myself and other times- not so much. “Shut yo mouth Ange!”

We all are going to slip up at some point, at some time and that’s why we need Him. Forgive me Lord for my complaining heart. For my secret thoughts or outright statements that reveal I am lacking faith to know you are in control and all sovereign. It is so easy to confess but so hard to put into practice. Help me. I need your power to help keep my heart, mind and tongue captive. Help me to see You in both the good and bad around me so that I am a reflection of Your light in my home and out in the world. Amen!

Have a great day everyone!

in love,
Ange

*Lord, Change My Attitude by James MacDonald

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart”
Jeremiah 29:13