My Family in Christ

Family is more than your blood.

We’ve all heard that saying before, or something akin to it. Now, you’ve probably also heard that blood is thicker than water—it’s just one of the many sets of contradictory aphorisms out there. But I tend to lean on the side that family is more than blood.

The reason is because of my faith in God and Jesus Christ, and the experiences I have had bonding with other Christians.

They are my family.

Faith, Hope, and Love

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

 

Faith

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. Romans 10:10

My story of faith begins at an early age. I was seven when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior, and I don’t remember as much about the “experience” as I wish I did. It was during a revival, and I remember feeling like I needed to go forward, but I was a shy child and was embarrassed to go up in front of everyone, so I didn’t make my profession of faith until the next night. But I don’t really remember much else. 

Receiving gifts: a love language for all Christians

Earlier this month I wrote about the 5 love languages, and throughout the month, #LoveBlog prompts will feature each love language individually. Today’s focus is receiving gifts.

Now, as I said in my love languages post, I think that the receiving gifts love language is probably misunderstood. It sounds materialistic. For me personally, even after coming to a better understanding of what that love language meant, I didn’t really identify with it. It’s not a top language for me.

But it occurred to me earlier this week that, regardless of your score on the love languages quiz, we all speak the love language of receiving gifts.

At least we do if we are Christians.

Humbled

First off, this gorgeous place is only about 20-30 minutes from where I live, and today was my first time there!  What in the world!

But in all seriousness, what a beautiful, perfect day.  I snapped so many photos today just because I was in awe of the beauty around me. I wasn’t even as in awe as I should have been.  I take these little blessings for granted far too often. 

But besides all that, here’s the thing that struck me today.  As beautiful as nature is, it is NOT the best of God’s creation.   It was only after he created humans in His image that he called creation “very good” (see Genesis 1).

It’s hard for me to believe that my beauty doesn’t even compare to that of a mountain stream.  But all the splendor that Earth has to offer doesn’t compare to the fact that I–that we–were made in the image of God. He breathed in us the Breath of Life.  What could be more beautiful than that!

Awake My Soul

It’s not often that you find a musical artist that has both poetically relevant lyrics and interesting instrumentation.  Yet I think I have found that in Mumford and Sons.