Skylar's Blog & Podcast

Isn't it amazing how one day of hell can make you forget about 364 days of God's presence? I have been feeling this way for the last couple days. As I reflected on my time at CFC I began to think about how I have failed and I have fallen short. However, this morning something hit me. Notice the focus of my disappointment: it's me. Why is this so important? Because my ministry has nothing to do with me. This hit me as I was reading Romans 5 this morning, read along:

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Romans 5:1-5

What is the first thing you try to do when you are feeling like a failure? If you're like me, then you search for something to reaffirm your abilities. However, no matter what you do, almost all of us seek for a place to place our feet so we can stand up again. Imagine walking along the beach on those slippery, moss covered rocks. You carefully pick your footing step after step. However, you finally miss the mark and you step on a super slippery one and you fall. Your next move is to find something to put your feet on that you can stand up and move on. Paul is giving us ground to stand on in our failure and in our success, read the second sentence again: "Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand..." It is God's grace on which we stand. It is His goodness, His power, and His sovereign control over everything that allows us to stay firm and endure. That is why Paul says we can "...rejoice in our sufferings..." Because as we endure and suffer we learn to lean more and more on the only sure footing out there: God's grace. So, if you feel like a failure today in any area of your life, if you feel like you've fallen short in any way, then you are blessed. Because God is inviting you to plant your foot firmer on His sustaining eternal grace. Join me, as I journey towards planting myself in the center of our God's goodness.

Competition doesn't seem like such a bad thing. Many people find it fun, and as a great way to bond with others. However, competition has an ugly side named: comparison. Because humans can be so obsessed with being the best we will logically fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to those we are "competing" against.

Maybe you don't think comparing yourself to other people is a bad thing. Maybe you feel like every time you compare yourself you end up feeling better about who you are. Why? Because you think you win. However, the act of comparing ourselves to other people is the most subtle cancer to our relationship with God. Why? Because when we compare ourselves we are taking God's place in our lives.

Think about it: whose right is it to judge other people? God! Whose right is it to judge you; your looks, your personality, your quirks, your strengths, and your weaknesses? God! When we begin to put ourselves or other people down with our comparisons we are playing right into Satan's hands. And not only that! We are robbing ourselves of the ultimate joy: to let God delight in us. Read w/ me Zephaniah 3:17

Did you see it? Do you see what God is doing for you? Question: when do you believe God is doing this? When do you believe He is not doing this? The answer: ALL THE TIME! You are a treasure of God's. However, we so often focus on what He's given others that we miss the rich blessings He has poured out onto us. God is saying something, can you hear Him? Here it is: "You are the best!" Please Read Isaiah 43:1-4 and meditate on this and Zephaniah 3:17 and know how much God loves you.