The Power of One.

Sweet Sleep team meetings are each Tuesday, and with each we open with a devotion from a team member.  This week’s devotion came from Shayla, our External Relations and Advancement Director.

The focus was of giving, believing, and seeking the Lord’s will in our everyday lives.

Proverbs 22:9

A generous person will be blessed for he shares his food with the poor.

Proverbs 19:17

Kindness to the poor is a loan to the Lord, and He will give a reward to the lender.

Matthew 23:12

Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

We give to others because we believe.  We give because it is in scripture.  We give because of the abundant gifts we have been given by our faith in Jesus Christ and it overflows from the love He has poured onto us! To give is through not only monetary gifts, but of the simple act of listening, helping hands, sharing joy with one another, and serving your time on behalf of someone else.  Giving is simply the overflow of love.

By believing and having faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we are able to share with others what faith truly looks like through obedience to Him.

The Lord will be the driving force in our lives so long as we allow Him to take on that role.  As believers we have to be careful not to get lost in the daily shuffle of life.  We can go day to day without slowing the pace enough to see something right in front of us. Something as simple as recognizing a face that says, “I need someone to talk to.” Taking the time for those short sweet conversations, time to listen, time to be still, and more importantly time with our Father.

A lot of the time we underestimate the power of our Lord and Savior and don’t fully trust or believe of what he’s truly capable of.  The word "one" is singular, so do we let that singular word deceive and intimidate us in thinking that one cannot make an impact?  Sweet Sleep began with one, one person with a vision and a calling, and almost 10 years later the Lord has continually been faithful in providing for the orphan through the provision of beds!

Will you join us in answering the call to obedience. The call to give through the overflow of love we have received; the call to believe that our Lord and Savior is the maker of the universe, so why should we ever underestimate the amount of power in His name?!

If you feel that you have a calling to help serve Sweet Sleep in some capacity, first of all please pray for a discerning heart of in what capacity, contact us or visit our website, and join us as we use the love He has given us to advocate for the orphan through the provision of beds!

Growth in the Faith

Faith is something that each of us are called to have as believers.  Faith that we will spend an eternity with our Father in heaven.  Faith that He is in control and knows our every step.  Faith that we are called to be lights to this world and love well.  Faith that He will continually provide.  Faith that He will reveal to us our unique calling either here or elsewhere.   It's one of the hardest yet crucial things about taking on the role of Christ-follower.  2 Peter 1:3-8 has been heavy on my heart lately.

Supplement Faith w/ goodness

Goodness w/ knowledge

Knowledge w/ self-control

Self-control w/ endurance

Endurance w/ godliness

Godliness w/ brotherly affection

Brotherly affection w/ love

These qualities are ones that I have read, I have meditated on, and I long to present as I walk as a believer of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I have faith that it is possible to live out a life confidently seeking the Lord's guidance through our faith.  Will it be easy? Not all the time.  Will I fail? 9 times out of 10, yes, but isn't that the beauty of forgiveness and an image of the cross.

Would you challenge yourself along with me and attempt to embody these qualities of faith, daily. To deepen our walk, our faith must also deepen, and taking the proper steps is crucial.  Become content, yet not complacent, Psalm 37:16.  Be humble, pushing pride away, Proverbs 15:23.  Place yourself in communities of believers to hold you accountable in your walk and let’s take responsibility for why we were put here on this earth in the first place—to make disciples of all nations, sharing with others what faith in Jesus Christ looks like. Matthew 28:19-20