thoughts by Kristi Huseby Archives - Page 6 of 6

Published February 3, 2015

Outbreak!

“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.” Hebrews 10:23-24 (NLT)

In the movie, Jakob the Liar, Jakob is a prisoner in a Jewish Ghetto in Poland during World War II. Everyone living there has lost all hope of ever being rescued and many have resorted to suicide. Jakob hears a radio broadcast and shares what he has heard with his friends. The news travels like wild fire through the ghetto. Jakob is moved by the renewed sense of hope he sees and so embarks on a plan to keep hope alive in the ghetto.

While watching this movie, I was astonished by the power of hope. Many of us have only a sketchy idea of what it is like to live without hope and we so easily take for granted the hope we have in Christ. “And this hope will not lead to disappointment…” (Romans 5:5 NLT)

We forget that we are living in as dark a place as Jakob was. People all around us are living and dying with no hope!

We have the hope. The hope that will not only give them purpose in life but will rescue them eternally!

What if we were to use the gifts God has given us to overwhelm others with the love of Jesus? What would happen if we had an outbreak in our churches of love and good deeds? Would people see the hope we have in Christ? Would they be “infected” with our love for God and others? What if we couldn’t contain this pandemic? Remember, it just takes one!

Thought: What gifts has God given you? Take some time to evaluate what gifts you have and ask God how He wants you to use those gifts to bring His light into the dark places where you live.

By Kristi Huseby

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If you have lost hope and would like to renew your relationship with Christ you can do so today. We are filled with the Holy Spirit by faith alone. However, true prayer is one way of expressing your faith. The following is a suggested prayer:

“Dear Father, I need You. I acknowledge that I have been directing my own life and that, as a result, I have sinned against You. I thank You that You have forgiven my sins through Christ’s death on the cross for me. I now invite Christ to again take His place on the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled, and as You promised in Your Word that You would do if I asked in faith. I now thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit.”

Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? If so, bow in prayer and trust God to fill you with the Holy Spirit right now.

If you prayed this prayer, we at Thoughts about God would love to hear about it! We would love to send you information to help you discover more about the Spirit led life.

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Published January 18, 2015

One Word

It’s 2015!

A clean slate. A fresh start. A blank canvas. Just waiting to be written on. What will you and I become this year, I wonder?

To be honest, I hesitate to make New Year’s resolutions because I rarely make it through January before they’re broken. Discouragement gives way to hopelessness and I wonder if I will ever resolve to do anything that costs me very much.

But this year, I was recently challenged to consider letting go of the New Year’s resolutions and instead choose “One Word” to give my attention to throughout the whole year. I was encouraged to reflect on the kind of person I want to become by the end of the year. It’s not about making external changes but internal ones.

It’s about the heart.

As I envisioned what I want to be, I began to write out heart struggles that I long to have victory over:

I want to celebrate other peoples success without wishing it was for me.

I want to be Holy Spirit-driven rather than self-driven.

I want to be an open book, with nothing to hide.

I want to be a lover of God, craving time alone with Him.

I want to embrace the life God has for me, instead of wishing I had someone else’s.

As I reflected, I discovered my one word . . . Undivided. Undivided in my love for God, undivided as a follower of Christ, undivided in my passion for Him.

“Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.” Psalm 86.11

My focus and my attention, as I travel through this year will be to have a heart that is Undivided.

So what about you? Will you take up the challenge and discover your One Word to be intentional about?

What needs to change in your heart? What person do you want to become this year?

Have you been discouraged with your New Year’s resolutions in the past? Why not take some time today to discover One Word and a Scripture verse that will challenge you all throughout the year. Here’s a website that I found to be really helpful in this journey:
My One Word.

May this be the year, we all look more like the Christ!

By Kristi Huseby

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2015/01/18/kh_one-word/

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Rest

Published July 13, 2014

Rest

“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God . . . For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.”
Exodus 20:8-11 (NLT)

Why is resting so hard for us to do?

It seems we always need to do, do, do and go, go, go. Even when we’re relaxing or on holidays we can’t seem to let go of the agenda.

If we’re not doing, going or achieving, we feel like failures. We see ourselves as lazy. Unproductive. Fruitless. We take pride in our busyness. We boast about how long and hard we work.

And we ignore the fourth commandment.

Do you realize that this commandment is right up there with not committing adultery and stealing?

But aren’t we more likely to admonish adultery and stealing than we are taking a day of rest? Why is that?

We justify and excuse our lack of obedience and rationalize that working seven days a week isn’t really wrong, it’s what we have to do to survive. Wasn’t this really just a suggestion, a recommended way of living?

I confess this is one of my biggest areas of weakness. I find it difficult to stop and rest. It seems there’s always something calling my name that needs to be done.

But as I reflect on this passage, I can’t help but see this resting command as a gift from my Heavenly Father who knows what I need better than I know myself. I just need to receive it and use it!

Sabbath rest isn’t a suggestion or a good idea, it’s a command from our Heavenly Father who loves us deeply. Will we hear and obey?

Heavenly Father, I confess my lack of obedience and rationalization with this command to rest. I’m sorry for excusing my disobedience and justifying myself because I keep the other commandments. I want to walk in ALL Your ways not just some of them. Amen.

Thought: Remind someone you love to take some time to rest this week. Remember, it’s not just a good idea, it’s a commandment.

By Kristi Huseby

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/?p=42381

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Published February 28, 2014

Impossible Love

by Kristi Huseby

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.” Luke 6.27-30

These days we toss the word LOVE around so casually. “I love football games, and ham sandwiches. I love movies that make me laugh and cry. I love hamburgers and apple pie. I love my spouse. I love my kids. I love God.”

Jesus calls His followers to a love that is way beyond casual.

It’s Crazy. Supernatural. Foolish.

It’s a love that goes outside the norm and takes our breath away. A love that is costly and knows no limits. A love that is bold and unexpected. A love that is lavish and expects nothing in return.

We’re not only to love like this but we’re to love our ENEMIES like this!

Do we love the one who left us for someone else? The one who held our heart in their hands and carelessly discarded it? The one who stole our innocence? The one who emptied us of all we are emotionally, mentally and physically?

How can we love like this?

We can’t! Humanly speaking, it’s impossible to love like this. But our God is the God of the impossible. He specializes in doing the unexpected, the astonishing! And He has implanted this crazy, foolish, transcendent love in our hearts that enables us to do what we could never do on our own!

His love enables us to love extravagantly, unconditionally, lavishly! Will you open your heart to this love the Father has for you and then let it overflow into the hearts of your enemies and friends alike?

Lord, we readily admit that we are frail and human, that our pain and hurt often get in the way of our love. We need you. Our love is fickle but Your is faithful. Our love is conditional but Yours carries no conditions. Our love is frivolous but Yours is purposeful and extravagant. Teach us to love like You love. Amen.

Today, Find an opportunity to show Christlike love to someone you usually overlook.

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2014/02/28/kh_impossible-love/
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Published January 20, 2014

A Front Row Seat

by Kristi Huseby

“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24-26 (NLT)

Why God does want me to be in community with other believers? Why can’t I just do church on my own? People always make things so complicated and messy.

Could it be that being in community with others causes us to grow in ways we never would on our own?

This past year, there was young woman in my Bible Study who slunk in with a hoodie over her head and slouched in her chair not making a single comment the whole evening until we got to prayer time. She blurted out that she didn’t want to be there. Why had she come? She really didn’t know.

Over the course of the year, the group encouraged, challenged and supported her as she slowly surrendered her life to God. We had front row seats, as we watched God transform a life!

Living in community is God’s design. It’s what He desires for each one of us. Community often brings joy and sorrow, beauty and pain, healing and messiness but don’t let the dark side keep you from experiencing the hope of community. The dark and the light both serve their purpose in making us more like our Savior.

Lord, I confess that I am drawn to the comfortable and simple. I don’t want complicated and difficult. I want easy. But that’s not Your plan, that’s mine. Today, I choose to be in community with Your followers even if it’s messy because I know it is what you designed especially for me. Amen.

A Thought: If you’re part of a small group, reach out to a member you don’t know as well. If you aren’t, do some research and join a small group at a local church!

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2014/01/20/kh_a-front-row-seat/

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