Today’s Devotional

Kerrington's Posts, UYM

{Worth} Darkest Hour.

UYM

Written By: Kerrington Sweeney


Young Girl about 14…Damp tear filled eyes.  Messed up mascara.  Sad expression imprinted upon her face.  I could tell she was depressed. “She had it rough.” I thought to myself.

One week in our small groups at youth, I began asking the girls, about their favorite hobbies or something that really interested them.  Some it was, horse-back riding, others shopping, and then, it came time for this particularly quiet- sad looking girl, to answer this quite simple question.

The room was silenced.  We all waited in great anticipation, for a few seconds to hear her response.  She replied with…”Nothing.”

In that moment, my heart sank.  This girl, even at her young age, was already believing a lie from the enemy, that she had no purpose.  That she was nothing.  She had no reason to even be here on this earth.

Even then, while still in our small group, I said a quick prayer to myself, for that beautifully broken young girl.  When I got home that night, I sat down and wrote her a letter of love and encouragement… I didn’t even know her name but, the Lord laid it so thick on my heart to just simply sit and write to her.  To take time, just for her, nobody else.  Focused attention on this precious young soul.  This is the letter, I still have the hand-written copy actually sitting in my room ready to give her, if I ever see her again.  I look forward to the day of being able to bless her and pray with her.

Dear Young Girl,

Wherever you are reading this…I want you to know that I am thinking of you and praying for you.  I want you to know that you are worth it, you have a purpose.  No matter how worthless and depressed you may be feeling, God has plans for you.  He has a unique purpose just for YOU!  The enemy  is always looking to steal, kill, and, destroy you.  The enemy, knows and sees your divine potential.  He doesn’t like it.  Now you may be thinking, God could never love me…I am so dirty.  I am so sinful.  I am so dark.  I have done and been around so much ‘stuff.’  Well my friend, it says in the Bible in Romans 5:8…”I loved you, at your darkest hour.”  He loves you, just as much as He loved His only son Jesus.  God sent His Son down to earth to live a life.  Jesus was crucified a horrific death for you and I.  He died on a cross just so that you could be alive and breathing, today.  An act of sacrificial love was taken place on your behave 2,000 years ago.  When He hung there on that cross, in complete agony…He thought of you.  He took every mistake, every sickness, every pain, every, trouble.  HE took it all, so that you could walk in freedom and FULL of Light!  He loves you, even at your darkest-lowest points in life.  Never forget that.  I pray that this letter one day finds you…because you are worth every word.  God has so much for you sweet girl!!

 Love, Kerrington 

Until Next Time,
~Kerrington

Joceline's Posts, {Love}

{Love} Dear Bride to Be

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waiting-groomsm

Written By: Joceline Sweeney

Dear Bride to be:

Don’t look so disappointed and say “Well this post isn’t for me, I’m not engaged!!  Even if you’re not in a relationship now and would someday like to be in one, and you are praying that God will bring that special someone into your life in His perfect timing…you are a bride to be!  You may already have a Pinterest board full of ideas of that blissful day.  The only thing that is missing is the name to fill that blank spot on the invitation and face of the groom whom you have countless times married in your dreams, and as soon as he turns to look at you…beautiful, coming gracefully down the aisle…your alarm clock always goes off keeping his handsomeness a mystery that only God knows!!  Argh!!  Don’t despair it will all come into focus in God’s perfect time.

I want to share with you some things that I wished someone would have bestowed on me as a young bride to be.  These things you won’t be pinning anytime soon, but you will be glad you were prepared.  🙂

Dear Bride to be:  not everyone may be as happy for you as you are!!!  Some of your friends shockingly will be upset you got what they wanted before them, but don’t be discouraged; your engagement in God’s timing is an event of rejoicing, a time for you to celebrate what God has blessed you with, an answer to your prayers…

For you have found the one whom your soul loves. (Song of Solomon 3:4)

Dear Bride to be: be ready for everyone to have super, wonderful suggestions of what yours and your beloved’s special day should look like.  From what boutonnieres the groom and groomsmen should be wearing to where you should go on your honeymoon!  You could be bombarded by ideas, thoughts and requests by family, friends and yes, sometimes even strangers.  Upon hearing the news of your forth coming nuptials, many will be ready to give you their opinions of what you should and shouldn’t do.  In no way am I saying you should be a crazy, driven “Bridezilla”, but you already know in your heart what you want.  Make your wedding day about you and your best friend, whom you are committing to love, honour and cherish for the rest of your life.  Make it a celebration of your love, an expression of who you both are, and a time to celebrate with those who have poured into you and your groom.

Dear Bride to be: if you haven’t yet had your first argument with your darling, you probably will very shortly after your engagement.  Not to worry, it will most likely be over something ridiculous that you will both eventually, maybe by your tenth anniversary, laugh about.  Remember it’s just details during this very intense planning time that in the grand scheme of things won’t change or take away from your vow of love.  Most importantly, this day is about the two of you beginning a beautiful journey… two people…two souls becoming one and dear bride to be, keep your eyes open when that special day arrives.  Look toward the altar, it is no longer a mystery… Dear Bride… he is waiting for you.  It’s all in God’s perfect time.

Until Next Time,
~Joceline

Taylor's Posts, {Life}

{Life} Lifeline

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god_is_faithful

Written By: Taylor Fast

Life has a way of not going as planned, have you ever noticed that?  My husband and I recently went on our honeymoon to Jamaica.  We had a pretty incredible time as I got to scratch quite a few things off my bucket list of ‘Travel To-Do’s’, but we experienced quite the scare when we were there!

For a couple days while we were in Jamaica, I got extremely sick; I experienced shaking, vomiting, fever, and dizziness.  I was terrified to now be treated with a medical system from a different country and had no idea what was wrong.  I also felt awful for my husband, who had to stand by my side through the nights when I could hardly stand myself.  It ended up after IV’s and countless needles that I experienced heat stroke and also got myself a lovely bacterium from something I ingested!  After I was treated, I felt a million times better, but there is no way I could have managed without my husband.

This man was my advocate, he cared for me, and he did not take out any anger on me from him not being able to do some activities we had planned because of my illnesses.  Do I still feel awful about it?  Actually, yes!  I still get that nasty pit-in-the-gut feeling that I ruined a part of what is suppose to be a magical experience, but my husband never once blamed me, which I think is pretty awesome.

This life experience taught me quite a bit though.  God was faithful to me and I was able to get back to normal pretty quickly.  I had to put my trust in Him, and He followed through.  I was terrified being in a doctor’s office in a country I did not know, but God was faithful in my life.  I know there will be many more circumstances where my husband and I will be tested throughout life, but this causes us to grow as Christians.  It is so important to continually grow in God, so when the storms of life come, it is time to grasp tightly to the word of God and have faith.  He will provide.

Though that week was not exactly as I had planned, God showed His goodness, and thanks to a quick recovery my husband and I have some pretty awesome memories from our week in Jamaica, and a few funny ones.  (You should have seen my sunburn- word to the wise, where a hat always if you go there).

For those of you, who may be struggling due to an unforeseen or even scary life circumstance, hold on to the promises of God today.  The storm will cease and you will come out stronger then before.

“Whoever goes to the Lord for safety, whoever remains under the protection of the Almighty, can say to Him “You are my defender and protector. You are my God; in you I trust. “ Psalm 91:1-2

Until Next Time,
~Taylor

Amie, {Faith}

{Faith} The Race

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faith

Written By: Amie Comber

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” –Hebrews 11:1

My feet pounded the pavement.  My breaths were steady as I inhaled and exhaled the crisp morning air to the beat of my steps.  I was running.  Shivering from the cold, I listened to the other runners around me; to the chatter, and the laughter.  Everything was in motion: the people, the scenery, and the water on the lake.  It felt in that moment that the only thing that was steady was my mind, and my determination to hit the finish line.

What no one else knew on that half marathon race morning was that I was injured.  I had visited the Doctor a few weeks prior to see if I still had hope of running this race I had prepared months for.  I had faith I could do it.  I was put on heavy pain medicine, and he told me I could go for it.  So there I was, pushing away the doubt, and having faith in the training I had had before the injury to propel me to the finish line 13.1 miles later.  I had faith in the medicine.  I had faith in my determination.  I also told God at the start of the race that I had faith in His plan, and that I surrendered the outcome to Him.

Four miles in I stopped.  Knee throbbing, heart pounding, and spirits down to my shoes, I watched through downcast eyes, as the other runners sprint past me.  “I’ll be fine in a moment,” I said to myself.  My head kept telling me to walk it off.  So I walked.  I walked for a mile, and another mile, and yet another one.  I was at mile 8 out of 13.1 when I started to panic.  My time was running out, I was all alone, and I wouldn’t be able to finish.  The other runners had long since passed me up, and there I was, a girl who looked like there was nothing wrong with her, slightly limping, and trying to hide the fact from the pedestrians walking faster than me on the trail, that I was a part of a big race that day.  It was in that moment that I decided God wanted to talk to me about something.  I felt hurt.  I had done everything I could do to train.  My training told me I was ready, my doctor told me I was ready, and my heart told me I could do it.  I felt like I had been cheated out of something.  God and I talked a lot along that wooded trail.  We talked until the last person passed me.  What started as grumbling and complaining, turned into a beautiful conversation as the miles passed and my heart softened and let go, once again, of my will, and put my faith back into HIS.

Just because I have faith that something will happen doesn’t mean it will.  This was not a demonstration about how much “faith I had,” but more a surrendering of my will and plans to the plans of God.  I had faith in a lot that morning, and everything fell through.  I also had faith that God’s plan would be best for me, and it was.  It was nothing like I had planned, and it hurt so much going through it, but through that small test I see the world differently, and like to think that my talk with God grew me in ways that wouldn’t have happened if I had been able to run the entirety of the race.  God wants me to have faith in Him: in His love for me, His plan for my life, and His truth.  I can choose to put my faith into whatever I’d like, but when I build my faith upon the Rock it will stand.

I walked until mile 10.  God provided a helper along the race that offered to give me a lift, and I humbly limped through the finish line.  I came away with a medal, but what I truly walked away from that race with was a heart filled with much more humility, some precious moments spent alone with God, and a better understanding of His will and faith.  HIS plan is always best, sweet girl.  Put your faith in HIS plans, not your own.  Sometimes you have to have those long talks alone with God along a wooded trail to get to where He truly wants you to be.

Until next time,
~Amie

Melissa's Posts, {Beauty}

{Beauty} Princesses, Problems, and Perfection

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godseyes

Written By: Melissa Longval

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  Philippians 4:8

I blame Disney.  I blame Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty.  Princess perfection.  Lovely voices, animal taming personalities, and tiny feet.  This clod hopper didn’t measure up.  As a size 10, jokes about throwing away shoes and just wearing the boxes were common!  Yeah, yeah, I get it…I don’t even need to wear skis…cause my feet are so big!

Along with big feet came other large things that I wished were smaller, hair that I wish were curlier and bigger (it was the 80’s after all), skin that was clearer.  The list was endless.  The quest to be beautifully perfect haunted me for a long time.  I know I wasn’t alone.

The desire to be perfect doesn’t stop after high school.  In fact, once I became a mother, I had a whole new idea of perfection.  Being the perfect mom with the perfect child.  Breast feeding, cloth diapers, homemade baby food…again the list is long.

We don’t have to look far to see this idea of perfection invades our culture and most cultures around the world.  As a Christian, I know perfection is not attainable here.  And yet, the wrestling continues.

My thoughts are that the idea of perfection, flawlessness, comes from the Lord.  He is perfect.  His laws, statutes, and ways are perfect.  Everything about Him is perfect, yet we have perverted this perfection to fulfill desires of the flesh.

“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.  Matthew 5:48

But, perfection is only attainable through the righteousness of Christ.  My imperfections, my weak and broken places are where Christ’s strength is found.

“For where I am weak, then I am strong.”  2 Corinthians 12: 10

Chasing after perfection, as a goal in and of itself, is like chasing the wind.  I will never catch it.  When I am willing to let go of the idea of perfection, I can hold on to the beautiful plan God has for me.  And, I don’t have to rush around for Him, because He is always with me.  What a Savior!

I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.  Philippians 3:12

Christ has given me His perfection…His righteousness…His holiness.  Best of all, I do not have to horde it and keep it to myself, but the more I give it away, the more I receive.  The more I allow people to see the imperfections, the wrinkles, and age spots, the more freedom I have to love others the way Christ loves me…with abandon!

And as we walk this journey on this small planet, knowing where we are headed, following our perfect Lord and Savior, may we all live happily ever after…

Until Next Time,
Melissa

Lanissa's Posts

{Becoming} BUYING IN

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Buying In

‘Beginning Your Becoming’ Series: Part 2– Buying In

Written By: Lanissa Reale

There can be a lot of joy that comes from saying “yes” to things or situations.  Saying yes to a new job, saying yes to the man of your dreams, saying yes to the dress or even a loud yes in response to finally accomplishing a task that you have been working at for months!

But there is an even more powerful yes to be said.  A yes that will pierce through your discomfort and transfer your emotions and thoughts into real reality.  Saying yes to where you are right now even if you don’t like what you see.  Buying in.

We like to be in control, we like to be comfortable, and we like to have it our way… let’s be honest.  Our flesh wants what it wants, and it doesn’t like wearing someone else’s “have faith” shoes.  But we are called to a life of yes’s.  And that means that we have to live presently, and say yes to where we are.  We are called to buy in.

Buying in looks like embracing who we are, the good, the bad and the ugly and knowing that what God made is GOOD, even when we can’t see it.  Buying in looks like embracing whatever may come your way, and not running away from God when life gets hard.  Buying in looks like getting planted in a community of believers, and actually starting to share your life with them.  Buying in looks like getting committed to living your life (in every moment) in response to your relationship with God!

Buying in, IS FUN!

The Lord has sung a song of promise over us, He has spoken secrets to us and given us a glimpse of our future… but He is calling us to even greater things than our future.  He is calling us to our now.  What is YOUR now?

Is it not being able to find a job, is it an overly busy mom, is it experiencing a death in your family, is it finding recent hardships?  And are you saying yes to those things, or are you trying your best, in your mind, to live an alternate reality?

The Lord is telling us that we have to say yes, and to live in pursuit of Him surrounded by His grace in the midst of our uncertainties.  We need to speak faith, trust, reality and truth over ourselves.  Yes I haven’t found the one yet, yes I am going through this hardship, yes I am experiencing some discomfort and pain but YES my God is still faithful.  YES, I will let Him have control over all of my future endeavours and decisions.  YES, I can feel this pain, but I will move forward in grace.  YES, this is not the end.  YES, He is still pleased with me.  YES, I will choose to spend today in pursuit of Him, even if He isn’t giving me answers yet! These yes’s my friends, are the ones that will really change your life.

It is our daily yes’s that allow us to truly Become into the person that He has created us to be.  It isn’t in the grand opportunities, or the shiny successes.  It’s the yes in the wilderness to realize where you are, yet keep going.  It’s the daily saying of yes to where you are and whose you are.

Join me in saying yes.  This could be the best yes you ever proclaimed over yourself.  You can do this, you were made for it! 🙂

Until Next Time,
~ Lanissa Reale (lanissareale.wordpress.com)

 

Cheyenne's Posts

{Chats with Cheyenne} Standing Firm

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Written By: Cheyenne Ranta

Looking out at the dismal trees, I noticed one in particular that stood alone.  At one time it stood proudly with vibrant  leaves that swayed in the wind.  Now it seems slanted and barren from fighting the cold winter days.

This reminds me a lot of our walk with God.  We have our days when we are full of life, but then there are other times where the colour in our lives has dimmed.

But does that mean that our God is not in control?  NO!  He has a plan for us.
In time, those vibrant leaves that were once there will grow back and be as beautiful as they once were.  We go through many seasons in our lives.  Sometimes it’s like we are fighting the winds of life with everything we have.  It seems that if we give in even the slightest, our world will collapse around us, like the tree branch cracking under the pressure of the snow that has built up on it.

Many friends have struggled with the winds of insecurities and the feeling of not being worthy.  And so have I.  But how comforting it is to know that we are able to trust our God, who knows exactly what He’s doing.

The desolate tree stands firm despite being void of leaves and colour.  And so can we!

He sees, hears, feels, and knows everything that we may be going through and he promises us that He will NEVER leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6 ), because He has a perfect plan for us.

Be encouraged.  In due time God will bring back life and colour to your gloomy days.  So stand firm, my friend!

Until next time,
~Cheyenne

Melissa's Posts, {Worth}

{Worth} Worth in the Rubble Part 2

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worthy2

Written By: Melissa Longval

Rahab had determined to hide the Hebrew spies and keep her end of the bargain…this promise that would save her and her family from the coming destruction by the army of Israel.  I love that God uses the least of these to accomplish great things.  A woman…a prostitute…an adulteress.  Shocking!

But the very things that label and trap us can be used for good.  In Joshua 2, we learn that the king of Jericho had discovered that the men of Israel had come to search out the land.  He inquired of Rahab.  The two spies held their breath as she wove her tale.  The soldiers listened to her.  They believed her, and pursued the spies where Rahab had suggested.  I can only imagine why the king would know her so well.  Perhaps she was good at her job and had the king in her good graces.

Let’s be real…she knew men.  She had to.  Rahab served and catered to men.  The very label that tried to define her was turned, to be used for her good and God’s glory.  She feared the Lord God of Israel, as we discussed last time, and decided to take a risk on Him.  We call that faith.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

The very labels that threaten to strangle and pull us down can be used for noble causes.  Whether these labels are warranted or not, God is big enough to turn our ashes to beauty.  He can take something defiled and make it clean.  He brings life to what was dead.  He is God after all.  Rahab understood this and acted upon it.  Perhaps ignorance is bliss…maybe she didn’t know how much prostitutes were looked down upon.  More likely, though, she knew…we all know and carry shame from past choices.

Sweet friends, may I ask you to dig deep…to really believe that the very thing, the very label you are trying to remove or run from could be what God will use for good.  Will you take the risk and believe God can take what made you “dirty” and small and use it for good, glory, and beauty?  All the lessons learned…the empathy you feel for others in similar situations, your perspective is of great value in God’s kingdom.  There are many who need to hear your story, because maybe, they share the same label.

We are not passive in this game of life.  Like Rahab, we have a choice in the midst of our biggest battles – to melt in fear or march forward on God’s side.  We can choose to let past choices direct our future or choose to let God use our past for good.  We can choose to wear our labels and let them define us, or we can learn all we can from them and use those lessons to bless others.

“Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent.”  Joshua 4: 17

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 2 Corinthians 1: 4

What will you choose?

Until next time,
Melissa

Kerrington's Posts, Uncategorized, {Love}

{Love} He’s There. 

UYM
Written By: Kerrington Sweeney
I think at times, we as a culture often forget that God is a personal God.  We forget that He deserves our undivided attention first and foremost.  I challenge you, that before you start your day:
Stop.  Seek.  Pray.  Reach and Regenerate.  Because, He’s there.
He’s there.  He’s there in those moments when you could just break down and cry.  He’s there celebrating with you in your greatest achievements.  He’s there in the stormy crashing waves of life and He’s there in those moments of sweet stillness.
He’s with you in hardship and in worship.  In agony and in freedom.  He’s always there.
He’s there in those situations where you can’t keep it all together.  He’s there with you, as you glorify Him in a crowd of 2,000 people.  He’s there when you weep in sorrow.  He’s there when you jump in joy.
He’s there with you as you lay down your own selfish desires for Christ.  He’s there with you when you need to act in boldness and walk in authority.  He’s also there when you need to keep quiet.  He’s there in the seasons of busyness and He’s there in the seasons of rest.
He’s there when you say “I do”, but He’s also there if you have to walk through painful divorce.  He’s there when you are in love.  He’s there when you don’t feel like loving.
He’s there with you, as you lead that cashier to Christ.
He’s there with you as you watch your mail-man receive the tongues of the Holy Spirit on your front lawn.  He’s there with students who boldly approach the leadership of their schools to bring God back into them.
He’s there.  He’s there when you start to see children prophecy over people and preach the gospel to the nations.  He’s there when you tithe every Sunday at church and He sees your faithful sacrifice and your diligence in this.  He’s there when you can’t move forward.  He’s there when you can’t keep up.
He’s there when you say good bye to a close loved one on funeral day.  He’s there when you welcome a new, little life into the world at the hospital.  He’s there through your teen years when all you want to do is rebel.  He’s there when people try to force their worldly views on you.  He’s there when you need more grace than most.  He’s there when you mentor.  He’s there when you lead.  He’s there when you’re being led.  He’s there in peace and in turmoil.  He’s there during cancer.  He’s there in loss.  He’s there as you send your hubby off to fight that fire in the middle of the night.  He’s there when you teach.  He’s there when you are being taught.  He’s there.
He’s there when you stand up and stand out against the crowd of today.  He’s there to comfort.  He’s there to bring peace.  He’s there to love.  He’s there to bring hope.  He’s there to bring power.  He’s there when you walk in your full authority as a child of God!
Dear readers, what I am trying to explain to you today, is this this simple statement:
“He’s always there…”
Until Next Time,
~Kerrington
{Faith}, {Life}, {Love}, {Worth}

{BIG Announcement} OBS! 

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We are so very thrilled to be now finally introducing a NEW Feature through our ministry and that is….Online Bible Studies!!!! It has been brewing in the works for quite awhile but, now we are able to officially give you a date that we will begin! Starting March 1st—31st, You’ll journey through the book of Proverbs with our brand-new, OBS Team who has been working so diligently to see this Bible study be a successful learning tool in your personal walk, with Jesus Christ. Sign up starts, TODAY!!! YAY! 

Follow the link below and “like” our UYM OBS Facebook page for fun updates, video blogs and encouraging words! We absolutely can’t wait to experience the Book Of Proverbs with you all 💙

Much Love and Prayers! Until Next Time,

~The UYM Team