The third step to finding God’s will is: Serving. Once you’ve Surrendered your life to God and Obeyed His commands, you can finally Serve Him with all that you are.

Congratulations! If you’ve made it to this point, I can tell you are serious about finding God’s will for your life! You are a dedicated child of God!

Being a servant for Christ means living for His Glory, serving as He served us, and living sacrificially to serve Him no matter the cost.

You can Serve God by simply loving others.

By serving God’s children, helping others, and letting Christ work through you, you are being a true servant of God.

Following the commands of Christ is essential to being a servant and obeying the Lord. One command we hear repetitively in the Bible is “Love one another.”

 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34

If we love one another like we are commanded to do, we will find ourselves serving each other without even realizing it. We are to do everything for the Glory of God and with a cheerful heart.

“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” Galatians 5:13

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Ephesian 5:21

Every follower of Christ is called to Serve the Lord; however, every person has different spiritual gifts that allow them to serve in different ways. Some people are gifted writers or speakers where others prefer not to speak in front of crowds and work better with small groups or one on one conversations. Others may serve best making meals for families in need, sending cards to shut ins, or even simply sending a text or making a call to check on others. Not everyone is able to travel across the world and work in the mission field every day of their life, but everyone is called to serve.

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17

My challenge to you is start today finding God’s will for your life, serving the Lord with all your heart, and finding out what spiritual gifts you can use for His Glory.

God made you with a purpose, created you for more than the bad day you are having today, and He wants you to have peace in finding His will for your life.

Start your prayer today asking God to reveal His plan to you. Be quiet about your plans and simply listen to your Heavenly Father.

When you feel like you’ve gone off track and have no idea where to go, remember S.O.S.!

Surrender

Obey

Serve

When a traveler is lost or stranded on a deserted island, they can signal for help by created a S.O.S. symbol in the sand or somewhere noticeable so passing by air crafts will know they are in need of rescue. In the same sense, when you are in trouble, remember SOS and let the Lord rescue you from your struggle and get you back to the life He has planned for you!

May God Bless you and show you His Grace every day!

Last week we talked about the 1^st step to finding God’s will in your life: Surrender. When you fully surrender your life to Christ, He will guide you in His will and direct you in the way that you should go.

Surrendering to God includes turning away from your sins, fighting your temptations with His Word, and focusing on His will for your life. To fully surrender you must realize that “it’s not about you…it’s only about Him.”

Obedience is the 2^nd step to finding God’s will in your life. Once you surrender to Christ you must wake up each day and choose to OBEY God. Some people believe that salvation is a “magic fix” for all your troubles and once you get saved you are a new person with no struggles, no temptations, and no more sin in your life…but the fact is…it’s not easy. Salvation is a continuous process called sanctification. Every day as a follower of Christ, you must wake up and choose Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. When you choose Christ, you are rejecting the ways of this world and accepting Christ as Lord of all. You’re putting Him before yourself and His will before your own will.

“Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23

It’s not always easy to choose God’s way. Have you ever known God’s will and felt that you weren’t right for it? What about hearing God and questioning His reasoning? What has God called you to do, and you said no? Maybe He’s leading you to the ministry or to a career that you are unsure about? Or maybe it’s the opposite…what if God is telling you quit or move in a different direction in life? It’s not always easy to follow God’s plans…but when you get confused or start to question His will…fall to your knees and pray.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

Sometimes, the world will paint a picture that looks beautiful and perfect for your life but God says no…God’s plans are not always our plans, but if you will trust in Him, I promise you will be rewarded.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.                                                       For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

Jesus doesn’t want your excuses or want to hear why you can’t give up that friend or that sin that keeps dragging you down, He only wants your surrender and obedience to His will.

Are you ready to obey?

Are you ready to discover His will for your life?

May God Bless you and Show you His Grace every day!

Have you ever wondered if you are truly saved?

The Bible says in Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Every day we are faced with challenges and doubts that can cause us to drift away from God. The devil hates to lose and he hates to see you follow Christ, so stay strong on the path the Lord has set before you and when you start to doubt your salvation, remember that Christ alone is your strength and your refuge.

In the Book of 1 John you can find a checklist for your salvation. If you are having doubts or wonder what it means to truly be saved, I challenge you to read the Book of 1 John and see the love that Christ has for you and what He offers to His Children.

Starting in 1 John 2:4 it says, “The one who says “I have come to know Him (basically I am saved), and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;”

If you say you are truly saved but continue to disobey God and not keep His commandments, the Bible says you are a liar and the truth (Christ) is not in you.

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” John 14:6

Here is the Good News: “But whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this WE KNOW that we are in Him. The one who says he abides in Him ought Himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.” 1 John 2:5-6

As followers of Christ, we can KNOW that we are saved and that Christ abides in us because we keep His word and follow His commands. Throughout the entire book of 1 John you’ll see sentences that start out with “BY THIS WE KNOW…” each verse is a part of the salvation check-up list. Read each verse and compare it with your life.

Do you KNOW you are saved?

This one question determines your eternity? Make it a priority to read 1 John and check up on your salvation.

True peace begins with Jesus Christ. If you have any questions or special prayer requests for yourself or friends or family, send me an email and I’ll be honored to pray with you!

May God Bless you and show you His Grace every day!

Hey Ladies!

Today’s devotion is from one of our awesome Glitter and Grace Teens, Sadie Grace! Thank you Sadie for sharing how God has changed your life and is continuing to work through you each day! May God Bless you for your service to Him!

You can also follow Sadie’s blog at: www.nourished2serve.wordpress.com

Here’s a little bit about Sadie:

Hi there! My name is Sadie Grace, creator of “Grace Fitness”. I’m passionate about Jesus, family, nutrition, and fitness. I’m here to encourage, inspire, and share my story with you all. I’m currently 3 years into my fitness journey and have already learned so much but can’t wait to learn more! The word  Grace to me means something very personal that I’d like to encourage y’all with! G. – grit R.- radiance A.-ambition C.- courage and finally, E.- endurance. All of those characteristics are what I personally aspire to have! I hope you enjoy my website and don’t be afraid to reach out!

Sadie’s Blog:

“I’M ANXIOUS! WHAT DO I DO?” – Grace Fitness

In today’s blog I’m going to be talking about how to cope and deal with an anxiety disorder. *Disclaimer; I’m speaking from personal experience, not professionalism.*

I have had an anxiety disorder for about 7 years now and I must say, it’s the toughest battle I’ve ever fought.
-What is an anxiety disorder like?
* The best way to describe an anxiety disorder is constant racing of the mind and constant fear of unrealistic and uncontrollable things. Such as; the fear of dying, fear of failure, and fear of rejection from those you love.
– I personally suffer with all of those listed above. You must understand that it’s not just a fear that comes every now an again– no. This fear keeps you up at night, wakes you up in the morning, and goes with you throughout the day. The devil is constantly laughing because it’s weighing you down and you constantly feel defeated.
– How do I deal with it?
1.)Spiritual Warfare.
My parents have reminded me thousands more times than I can count that my anxiety disorder is the devil’s way of discouraging me in my walk with Christ. Often times my worst attacks are when I’m sitting on the front pew at church trying to listen to my dad preach. “You’re not really saved,” “You really think God will forgive you for holding a grudge against XYZ?” “Do you remember what you thought about that day last week? God won’t forgive you! who do you think you are?” Those are all thoughts that he piles on top of me when I’m trying to serve The Lord. It’s what you’d call “Spiritual Warfare”. You can’t quit just because it’s hard YOU HAVE TO FIGHT!!!
2.)The Word- when the devil spits lies of anxiety, you have to give that spitfire attitude right back to the devil. He cannot stand the name of Jesus nor can he Scripture. Some things i like to quote when having a panic attack are (Matthew 4) “You must serve The Lord your God and serve Him only.” Or, “Get out of my head in Jesus name.”

3.) Prayer- Our peace, our hope, and our strength is found where God is. He will strengthen you, carry you, and hold you through your anxiety attack. It’s not easy and you probably are so scatterbrained you can’t even think of the words to pray, but simply calling on the name of Jesus and asking him just to be with you is enough. God knows what you need even before you pray– always remember that!

4.) Grit- this has become my new favorite word in the dictionary. I love learning about our Army and Navy. The group that fascinates me the most though is our Navy SEALS. These guys have what you call “True Grit.” They are the elitist of the elite and you literally have to kill them before they give up. I don’t know about y’all but I want the same to be said about me! A lot of times my anxiety just won’t stop no matter what I do to try and prevent it. So i start quoting in my head, “SEALS don’t quit SEALS don’t quit.” Now obviously, I’m not a Navy Seal. But in my head it feels like I’m in the midst of war with the enemy. Don’t quit just because it gets hard, you’ve got to have GRIT! Perseverance, courage, and bravery!

5.) take care of yourself.
When you have an anxiety disorder it drains you. Mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Don’t let that give you a reason lay in bed all day and starve yourself. everyone is different but I, personally, lose all of my appetite when i’m anxious. In result, that gives the devil more leeway because I’m exhausted and thus, more vulnerable. I’m very passionate about fitness because of many different reasons but a huge one being it helps my mind relax tremendously! I highly urge you to go for a run, lift some weights, and do yoga instead of taking medication for your anxiety.(obviously though, if you are currently on medication don’t just up and quit. That is very dangerous– make sure you consult with your doctor first!) Also, make sure you are properly fueling your Temple! Eat lots of veggies, fruits, lean meats, and whole grains. What you eat is so much more than losing weight, but it’s also HUGE for your mental state.

Shower daily and get lots of sunshine. God has blessed us with beautiful creation that we can enjoy! For me personally, walking in the field outside my house gives me so much peace of mind, I feel close to God.

Anxiety is not for the fainthearted, it’s a battle that is constantly going on in your head though others can’t see it. You’ve got to always remember that God is sufficient, nothing takes him by surprise, and HE is your strength. 💗

GLITTER AND GRACE RESPONSE:

Sadie, I applaud your strength while fighting this battle! Anxiety is not for the fainthearted but the sad part is – the majority of teen girls are facing this battle every day! In my years of ministry, the main struggle that is common among all teen girls is anxiety. We all worry, we all stress, and we all have racing thoughts that keep us up at night. It’s a battle that the devil loves to attack people with, but the truth is, the only way you can fight back is with the WORD, with PRAYER, and WITH CONSTANT FOCUS ON JESUS CHRIST. We live in a world of uncertainties and it’s important to stay focused on the one thing we know will never change, and that is God’s love and His Grace for us. Stay focused on Him and don’t let the worries of this world distract you from your true purpose!

Love and Grace,

Kayla Rampey

Enjoy all the little things in life

 By: Gracie Cutliff

I believe in order to truly appreciate life, you must take a step back and observe the big picture. I have learned through experience and observation that the world doesn’t belong to me or you. It rather belongs to our wonderful Creator, who created us to bask in the majesty of His creation. I seem to run around only focusing on what I need to do, or where I need to be and forgetting to “stop and smell the roses” and simply breath! I am guilty of that myself, I tend to fall into “Gracie land” and I neglect to live in the moment! So often I scold my brother for playing video games constantly, both in the car and at home. It frustrates me because that’s all he seems to do! But it now convicts me because I am always either at school, work, out of the house, or sleeping. I regret not soaking up all the little moments that have passed through my life, big or small. I regret not spending more time taking in all the moments I had with my brother Samuel during his precious time on earth. I regret not enjoying every little moment I had with my Grandpa before cancer took him from away. I wish I could re-live oh so many things in my life either to change things I have done or said to better them for the situation. Or to fix crazy or embarrassing things I’ve done! Writing this has made me realize the impact of taking my time and the need for seeing the bigger picture! I intend to focus on what God intends to shine through me and not only what I wish to see. I want to see His light in all I do and in all I think!

Dear Gracie & all my Grace Girls,

Thank you so much for sharing your story with Glitter and Grace! I know that it will inspire others and remind them to “Enjoy the little things” and be grateful for everything the Lord has done! Every breath we take is a blessing! No one is promised tomorrow, and no one knows when their time will come. No matter how scary it might be, old age is not promised. We need to be grateful for each day and take time to breath, relax, and take in the “little things.” I read a church sign the other day that said “Can you say It is well with my soul no matter what is going on in your life?” God does not promise us an easy life on Earth but He does give us hope for an eternal life with Him in Glory! We can look back at our past, our regrets, and our bad days and be thankful that we are forgiven, freed from our sins, and promised better days! Today, I want you to let go of the regrets you are holding onto, give them to God and let Him restore your joy! Remember how blessed you are, treasure the “little things,” and let His light shine through you each day!

Love in Christ,

Kayla Rampey

Glitter and Grace Teen Ministry Director

But God had a plan…

Last weekend, my family and I decided to take a little mini getaway to the Winston-Salem, NC. Nothing special – just a getaway to an old town we’ve never been to before.

(yes that is my husband doing a handstand on some random cool bridge in Old Salem…#BigKid)

I guess you could say that’s our nerdy side. My husband and I love historical sites and old timey movies, documentaries, and even black and white television shows. I’ll admit sometimes I just like to sleep while my husband watches old westerns. Ha ha My husband loves them a little more than I do, but I love any excuse to get away from a weekend.

What we didn’t plan on was a fussy baby, crazy traffic with 1 way roads on every corner, and bitter cold weather. Our sunny and 75 dropped down to about 40 and windy. Needless to say, it wasn’t the best trip.

But GOD had a plan…

Through all the arguing, complaining, and whining about the cold weather, God had a plan.

He knew exactly what we needed.

While walking downtown in freezing weather…after a steep half mile hike uphill with a 17lb baby in my arms…we walked past a homeless man sitting on the side of the road begging for money. The man was smiling and happy despite the cold weather and simply asking for 75 cents to get a newspaper. My mind automatically started to wonder so many things like if he truly needs the money, why is he homeless, and how did he end up that way? Then again, my mind raced into why can’t he work? Could he not work at the coffee shop he’s sitting in front of? What about McDonalds? I mean, couldn’t he find something to do?

But then I had to stop myself and remember…I’m not God…and I don’t and will never have all the answers. Occasionally we need to remind ourselves this.

Why this man was homeless is not the question I should have been worried about.

Instead, I should’ve been thinking how can I help this man? Does he know Jesus? How can I pray for him?

It’s not my place to know his life story. It’s my place, as a follower of Christ, to care for him, pray for him, and share Christ’s love with him.

I can’t imagine sitting on the street homeless with no family, no friends, no job, and begging for money. It’s something I’ve never had to deal with, but I have been close to losing everything.

When my husband and I first got married, I got laid off from my job 8 weeks before my wedding. I had planned an expensive crazy wedding (I highly recommend not doing this and keeping it simple) that my husband and I were paying for, and I had just bought a new car shortly after my husband had just bought a new truck. Overall, we were in over our heads. When I lost my good paying job unexpectedly, we suddenly had to downsize everything and cut corners wherever and however we could. It was not fun.

It was terrible for almost newlyweds but we had to do what we had to do just to survive. We sold the truck, cut back ALL excess spending, and asked for help from family just to survive until we got back on our feet and I could find a new job. When I look back, those care packages from our families were some of the best gifts we’ve ever received. We were young and struggling, but God had a plan and those tough months grew us closer together than any amount of money could.

It wasn’t easy. Harder than that, we had to “humble” ourselves and ask for help before we let the struggle overwhelm us.

The Bible says that Jesus was “humble.” He wasn’t a filthy rich business man walking around taking everyone’s money and building His earthly kingdom. Instead, he was “humble.” He started out as a carpenter, walked the streets with everyone else, and even called on the fishermen and common men to be His disciples. He didn’t draw attention to Himself with materialistic things; instead, God drew mankind to Him.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” 1 Peter 5:6

Freezing my tail off in my warm winter boots, gloves, and heavy coat; I had no right to complain. This man was smiling and doing what he could to survive. On the way back down the street my husband handed the man $5 and asked him if he knew Jesus Christ. Before he could answer, he smiled. Then the homeless man preached the Gospel to us better than most Christians can. Despite his past, despite his current situation, he knew his future was in God’s hands.

I praise God for showing us how to be humble, reminding us of His Glory, and placing just the right people in our paths each day.

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Ephesians 4:2

May God Bless you and Show you His Grace every day!