He called, they Followed

When someone asks you for a favor or for something that belongs to you do you agree right away, no questions asked? Or do you have to stop and think about it for a second? Do you weigh all your options and try to figure out if you could benefit in any way?

I was reading in Matthew chapter 4 and verses 18-20 jumped out at me. Matthew 4:18-20 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." AT ONCE they left their nets and followed him. They didn't ask questions, they didn't ask for a couple days to think about it, they didn't drag their feet, 'AT ONCE they left their nets and followed him.' Isn't that amazing?! Think how much faith they must have had to be able to just up and follow Jesus and they had know idea where they were going or where they would sleep or what they would eat... All they knew is that they wanted to follow Jesus and that was enough for them.

Just think how different our lives would be if we lived like that! We would probably live in a completely different world if we just followed Jesus wherever he asked us to go, no questions asked, just by faith. Our neighbors would would probably go to church with us, the people we interact with on a daily basis would have no doubt that we are Christians, Churches would be growing on a weekly basis, the people living on the streets who have lost all hope would have hope again. Y'all, we could truly change the world.

Jesus is calling you and He's calling me. Are we ignoring his call because it seems like a lot of work or it's scary? Or are we living the life that He is calling us to live? Are we reaching the people He's asking us to reach? Are you doing your part to change the world, or are you sitting around waiting for someone else to do it...? Think about it.

Jesus is calling you to follow him, will you answer that call?

As always I hope y'all have a blessed day! Smile cause you are loved!! God Bless You!

Katelyn

Grace

God's grace is a hard concept for me to wrap my head around. How could he let His only son, whom he loved very much, come to earth as a man knowing very well that he wouldn't be accepted by the very people he came to save.

I don't have kids yet but whenever I think about God sending Jesus to us I try to put myself in that position. I try to imagine what I would do if I had a son, or daughter, and someone killed them... I'm not exactly sure how I would react but I can tell you without a doubt that I would not invite them to come live in my home after that and I don't think I would have an easy time forgiving them. That's what God did though, He forgave us for killing his son, he still loves us so much that he still wants us to live with him in Heaven for the rest of eternity. That is what Grace looks like and I have a really hard time grasping that.

I don't think any of us realize what Grace really is until we've been shown it first hand. We all make mistakes and we've all done stuff that we wish we could undo and some have even done things that they think are 'unforgivable' and no one would ever be able to forgive them if they knew. I know what that feels like, I know the feeling in the pit of your stomach when you know you need to ask for forgiveness but you don't think they could ever forgive you. Here's the deal; you already have been forgiven. Jesus already paid the price of every sin you ever did or ever will do. You've been bought out of the enslavement of sin and the selling price was the Precious Blood of Jesus. He willingly gave his life on the cross so you could be made new and live with him in Heaven for eternity, all you have to do is confess that you've sinned and ask Jesus to come into your heart. That's what Grace is.

God bless y'all, I hope you have an amazing day and remember that you are loved.

Katelyn

It is Well with my Soul

I really like old Hymns because they are just so beautiful when sung by a room full of people worshiping God, but I have to say that my all time favorite hymn is 'It is Well with my soul'. We just sung this at my church recently and as I was singing I started to really listen to the words and take in what they were saying. The hymn goes like this...

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, 

when sorrows like sea billows roll; 

whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, 

It is well, it is well with my soul. 

Refrain: 

It is well with my soul, 

it is well, it is well with my soul. 

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, 

let this blest assurance control, 

that Christ has regarded my helpless estate, 

and hath shed his own blood for my soul. 

(Refrain) 

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! 

My sin, not in part but the whole, 

is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, 

praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! 

(Refrain) 

And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, 

the clouds be rolled back as a scroll; 

the trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, 

even so, it is well with my soul. 

(Refrain) 

The part that stood out to me the most was in the second stanza where it says, 'Christ has regarded my helpless estate and hath shed his own blood for my soul. It is well with my soul.' Honestly the past couple of months have been a real roller coaster for me and there where times when I was feeling sorry for myself and I was frustrated with God because even though I had made all of the decisions that had brought me to where I was I still tried to blame God and tell him that he didn't understand what I was going through. The truth; He did and does understand, He went through so much worse for me. None of the "hard things" I was going through were his fault, they were the result of me not listening to Him. As I sang 'It is well with my soul' I realized that I meant those words and I felt a strong sense of peace because no matter what life throws my way, no matter how hard, I can truly say "It is well with my soul" because I have God watching my back and waiting to pick me up when I fall. He already made the ultimate sacrifice by coming to earth as a man and dying on the cross for my sins so that I could spend eternity with him in Heaven and that is something to get excited about I must say! If nothing else, that should give you Hope even on the darkest days! 'It is well with my soul."

God Bless y'all and I hope you have a wonderful day! Thank you for all who have encouraged me with this, you have no idea how much that means to me!!

Katelyn