Posts Tagged ‘February Challenge’
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“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” – Matthew 11:28-30 {The Message}
In February I took on a personal challenge to pray daily for an entire month for my younger brother, Fletcher. February turned to March and I kept praying. Then I prayed through the spring and summer. It’s October and I’m still praying. My constant prayer is that Fletcher would lay his life before the Lord and be saved by grace.
About three weeks ago Fletcher called me. Said he need to talk to me about some trouble he was facing, some hardships that happened. About half way through our conversation, Fletcher said “Sis, I’ve realized I can’t do this on my own. I need Christ.” I asked him what that meant. He said he was ready to lay his life before God; to surrender his life in return for a relationship with God. I wept. Literally. I stood in my kitchen and cried sweet, sweet tears.
Let me bold. Let me tell you, Christ died for your sins. He died to put you in right standing with God. He died because He loves you.
Christ wants to have a relationship with you. He wants to have a relationship with me. He loves us. He wants to “recover your life”. He wants to give us “real rest.” Recovery from our sins, from our hurts, from our pain. Rest in Him. Rest in the grace He gives, the mercy He brings, the love He covers with.
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It’s a new month and a new week. I love when months start out at the beginning of the week. Makes it seem easier to start something new. It’s Monday. It’s February. So guess what, I’m starting something new.
As I mentioned before, I have a love of New Year’s Resolutions. While I’m not technically doing any this year, I am slowly chipping away at my 30-before-30 list. In January I wrote about saving for Paris, #10 on my list. And I began learning piano (no easy task!), #6. This month I am starting three new endeavors; training for my half marathon, #1, learning to make crepes, #28, and sharing the Gospel with those on my prayer list, #24.
That last one is no easy task either, for me that is.
The first person on my list is my younger brother, “FP”. FP lived with us for nearly 15 months, during 2008/2009. He graciously went to our church, allowed us to be involved in his life and was actively involved with us as a real part our family. We spent most Saturday mornings eating breakfast and sipping coffee for hours. This was always the favorite time of the week for all of us. During his stay, FP saw the Gospel lived out, not only in our lives, but also in the lives of the people around us. He saw us stumble, sin, ask for forgiveness, rely on grace and get back up again. We shared the Gospel with him continuously.
And then he left.
He moved back to Tennessee last May. That was a very hard time for me. Life in the house was becoming strained. FP was 18 in every sense of the word – ready to spread his wings, make his own choices, and explore the world on his terms. I played the role of a mother well – sad to see him leave. Although, I was glad to let go of some of the weight of tough responsibilities. One of the hardest parts for me in watching FP leave, was knowing that he had never given his life over to Christ.
In the past 8 months we’ve kept in close touch with FP. Last week I asked him if I could pray for him for the entire month of February. Specifically, that God would reveal Himself in new and moving ways. He said yes.
And so begins my February Challenge. To pray for FP every day. I’ve set a timer on my phone for the same time each day. I expect to see God and something amazing in my life and in my baby brother’s.
A Wife Loved Like The Church 
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