Heart – Collective Circle Gathering

Grace In The Fire

March 20, 2019March 21, 2019 Hannah B.

Life can feel like an all-consuming fire especially if you are not prepared for the flames that have come up around you. If you are lacking the proper equipment to extinguish the fire, then you can be certain that the flames will grow hotter, more fierce, and feel as though the flames are impossible to put out.

Your world may feel like it’s on fire and burning down to the ground but here is what I am confident of:

1. You are on the right path God has called you to and are engaging in spiritual warfare.

2. God is setting your world on fire in pursuit of you.

There is another one in the fire with you and His name is Jesus. Regardless of your number, Jesus is the living water to extinguish the flames.

You can walk out with nothing but ashes or you can walk out untouched and a fighter with Jesus.

To the One that is the First Person

You know that God has a plan for you, a purpose, and a calling for each season of your life planned for you. I don’t have to remind you of this wonderful truth that is confirmed in God’s Word.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11

Just as certain as it is that God has a plan for your life, you can be certain that the enemy will throw darts, distractions, and problems at you to try and discourage you from pursuing the will God has for your life.

It may seem that all of a sudden your world goes up in flames but you have the confidence to know that Jesus is with you.

This is your reminder to always put on the Armor Of God daily. It is so important to be prepared, expecting, and ready to put the fires out. Just as you can expect the enemy to derail your plans, you can also expect that Jesus is in the fire with you and when you call on Him, His living water extinguishes the sting of the flames.

To the One that is the Second Person

Perhaps, you once had a zeal for the LORD and fulfilling His purpose He had for you but you’ve found yourself back in bondage over the sin you have been freed from or maybe you have been set free. Maybe you have let negative thoughts take over your mind, or have been distracted to the point of what feels like no return. Sometimes the battle we fight can get the best of you and the desires the LORD has placed deep within your heart fade away.

Maybe you have never pursued a relationship with God.

I want to remind you that grace is not under the fire but it is within the fire with you. It can’t be burned to ashes, it can’t be driven away, and it can’t be lost.

Grace can only be rejected by you. It never left you in the fire alone. The One in the fire with you holds the keys to grace, and His name is Jesus. He is the living water.

John 4:14 ESV – But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

We can be confident in knowing that God knew there would times when you would stumble and fall short of His grace but Psalm 37:24 tells us
“though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.”

If your world seems to be crumbling to the flames around you, perhaps God is in pursuit of your life? It might be time to reevaluate your heart posture, your actions, your social circles, and really let God do a heart check. At first, it doesn’t feel “good” as our inward flaws, desires, and true self are revealed. With God, we can expect the process to be gracefully done between you and Him inside the fire. When it’s time to arise from the ashes, you will have a powerful story to tell, a newfound faith, and a purpose deep within your heart.

Whether you are the first or second person, that’s between you and God.
I trust that God has revealed to you which person you are and if your heart is open, He is already working in your life. If your heart isn’t open, then you can expect your world to burn to the ground and you will be left with ashes. Don’t let another day go by without saying, “yes” to Jesus. He doesn’t give up on His pursuit.

Isaiah 58:11 ESV – And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

Personal Reflection

Are you Number One or Number Two?
In light of this discovery, what else can you observe in your relationship with Jesus?
In what areas of your life do you need to surrender to God?
How can you wholeheartedly seek God starting now?

Heavenly Father,

I come to you with all that I am and I give you my heart. Search me and know me, reveal to me the areas in my life that need to be revived and that need to be watered by your grace, love, and mercy. Thank you for your endless pursuit of me.

With all my love and encouragement,

Hannah B.

Barefoot Devotions

A Christmas Miracle

December 25, 2018 Hannah B.

As I am sitting here reflecting by the tree, I am reminded of a time of my very own Christmas miracle I experienced as a little girl.

Many years ago I was in a church Christmas play but I just didn’t have my lines completely memorized. I don’t remember much about this Christmas play, the part I played, or even the year. This part I am about to tell you, I remember well.

My mom, sister, and I were on our way to the Christmas play but as we reached the top of our long drive way, my dad was parked at the top with his truck. From the back seat, I heard him tell my mom that I didn’t need to see this. Immediately, I knew something was wrong as my dad neared the window of the car. He told me the absolute worst news I ever thought I’d receive. My dog Daisy had been run over and did not survive.

The pain was heart wrenching and I didn’t understand why this had happened. During the complete hysterical meltdown and out of no where, I knew every word to my part of the play. My crying immediately ceased and my mournful cry turned to joyful cry. For a little girl, it was truly a Christmas miracle despite the devastation that was experienced just minutes before.

As life has passed me by, I’ve often wondered if Christmas miracles really happen anymore. This past holiday season, I have witnessed a beautiful Christmas miracle. It started with a chance encounter with one man that changed my life. With my brief encounters with this man, I have learned the true meaning of Christmas and I have learned that Christmas miracles do happen.

This kind hearted man has been living in a tent under a bridge. He is the most genuine and selfless person you will ever meet and when you are in his presence, you can feel his goodness. He volunteers at the local shelter and gives what he can. Our local hotel has given him a place to stay until his housing is official. Although he has experienced a rough time, he has shown me that love, kindness, and giving are free and it doesn’t take much to make a difference.

For the first time in my life, I truly understand the meaning of Christmas. I thank God for placing a stranger in my life as I have witnessed the pureness, sweetness, peace, and joy of the Christmas spirit and the possibility of Christmas miracles.

When the body of Christ works together in unity, amazing God miracles can happen. This my friends, is why it is important to drench every fiber of your being with God’s word so that you may walk in spirit and truth because you never know what miracle you are missing!

Have a Merry Christmas, my beautiful friends!

With all of my love,

Hannah Boyd

Barefoot Devotions, The How To Series

How To Overcome Unbelief

December 10, 2018December 10, 2018 Hannah B.

If unbelief is not counteracted with the promises of God and His word, it is easy to fall prey to the enemy’s lies. It begins with a simple thought of, “oh, just this once” or “it’s not really that bad, is it?” Not only does unbelief creep in through sin, but it can also find a way into your heart and mind but causing you to doubt God’s love and promises for your life. Before we even know it, we have entered a downward spiral that leads to a hardened heart turned away from God. If you let the little sins and thoughts in, slowly they will morph into a wall of hardened responses, thoughts, and perspective. How great of a God do we serve that He loves us unconditionally and His grace is sufficient for us? The most awesome God! We must keep our unbelief in check so that we may live our lives to the fullness Christ intends. The Bible gives us this warning about the dangers of sin and unbelief:

Hebrews 3:19 NIV | Warning Against Unbelief

So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts
as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, where your ancestors tested and tried me, though for forty years they saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’ So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ” See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. As has just been said:

“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts
as you did in the rebellion.”^[b

Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies perished in the wilderness?And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.

Steps to preventing an unbelieving heart:

Fellowship with other believers
Talk about your mutual faith daily.
Be aware of the deceitfulness of sin.
Encourage others with love and concern.

Personal Reflection:

How are you going astray in your walk with Christ?

In what areas of your heart do you feel like God is asking for a complete surrender?

How can you make better steps to stay committed to your faith?

Dear Heavenly Father,

I come to you seeking forgiveness, willing to turn from sins, and follow You wholeheartedly. Make known any areas in my life that I have allowed anything that is not of you into my heart. As you reveal them, give me the grace to follow through in obedience of your will for my life. Equip me with discernment to know when seed of unbelief are being planted and pluck them from my heart.

In Jesus’ Name, I pray! Amen!

Be encouraged in your faith!

Hannah B.

Barefoot Devotions

A Heart Like Joseph

August 23, 2018October 26, 2018 Hannah B.

The story of Joseph is full of grace, forgiveness, and love toward his brothers that wronged him. It not only demonstrates to us the importance of always seeking God first in all of our circumstances but to do so with a mindset that God will work everything out for the best possible outcome and you will overcome the circumstance at hand. Although our circumstances, problems, and people in our life intend to harm us, God has a way of intending it for our good.

Genesis 50:20 | You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

A Summary of Genesis Chapters 37-50

Isolated for Purpose

In Genesis, we read about a young boy named Joseph who was deeply loved by his father. Unfortunately, his brothers were very jealous of him. In a plot to get rid of him, his brothers sold him into slavery. Joseph soon finds himself on a caravan traveling toward the land of Egypt. However, God was with him during this time of his life as he found favor wherever he went. Unfortunately, Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph on several occasions and finally, she decided to lie and tell her husband, it was Joseph who tried to seduce her.

This event led to Joseph being imprisoned for 13 years for a crime he did not commit and in a land of slavery where he was sold into. During his prison time, Joseph was promoted to the prison administrator and was in charge of the cupbearer and baker who were imprisoned with him. The two men were visibly saddened by not having anyone to interrupt the dreams they had the night before. However, Joseph correctly interpreted their dreams for them. The cupbearer was set to be restored to his position and Joseph asked him to remember him and mention him to the Pharaoh. Of course, he did not. Two full years had passed when Pharaoh’s dream needed to be interpreted. At this time, the cupbearer remembered Joseph and he was called to stand before Pharaoh and interpret the meaning of his dream. God was with Joseph and was rewarded as the second in command of Egypt.

The Purpose Revealed

Now, the famine was severe and Joseph’s brothers were sent to Egypt to buy grain for their family. Of course, Joseph is in charge of who enters the country and had authority over the land and grain. After sending his brothers off with all the grain they can carry, they were shortly stopped and searched at the orders of Joseph. Joseph had placed a silver cup in his youngest brother’s bag to “frame” him of stealing. This was a test to see if his brothers had had a change of heart, which they prove they did. Judah once wanted to sell a favored brother but this time, he offered to become the slave in Benjamin’s place. After this, Joseph makes himself known to his brothers and admits his true identity. His brothers became terrified in his presence – wouldn’t you too? Pharaoh sent carts back to their home to gather all of their wives, children, and Joseph’s aging father. They are given the best of all of Egypt.

Genesis 45: 5-8 | “And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years, there will be no plowing and reaping.But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.”

Could you imagine being hated by your brothers, mocked, rejected, sold into slavery by your own brothers, and then imprisoned for 13 years for a crime you didn’t commit?

The flesh wants us to cry out in anger, hate, and bitterness and act out in vengeance after we have our “woe is me” party. It is natural for us to feel these emotions and want to act in a way that we hand out our righteous justice. Do you find yourself asking, “How did Joseph not do this? What’s his secret?” Some people will hold on to their circumstances and wrongdoings that have longed passed and look forward to the day they will be able to have “their justice served”.

Let’s Look at Joseph’s Character

As we look at Joseph’s character, we can see that his heart was full of desire to worship and know God. This is what sets him apart from the people who intended him harm and his reaction in his circumstances. He wholeheartedly wanted to have a relationship with God, he embraced his gifts and wanted to share them with those he loved. Even though he found resistance from his family and was rejected, he didn’t stop. Each day he found a way to fight through and do what was right in the eyes of the LORD. Joseph accepted the circumstances that he faced without the woe is me thinking and he acted out his faith. He stayed close with the LORD and was used for a great purpose! He was a wise man that was able to see what the LORD was doing and extended so much love, grace, and mercy to his brothers that sold him into slavery. Throughout the days of his life, he found favor in the eyes of God wherever he went – even in a prison cell.

Modern Day Lessons from Joseph

In our Christian walk, we will experience hardships throughout life that will often test us and cause us to fight between our flesh and our spirit. Being a Christian isn’t about an easy walk but it’s about what’s in your heart and most importantly, your relationship with Jesus. You are called to love others as Jesus loves you – abundantly! He gives mercy, forgiveness, and grace to us even when we fall short. And, it’s expected of us to show this great love to others! Ultimately, God’s vengeance and justice are righteous and He works out every detail for those who love Him. So, why not let God handle the dirty work?

Let’s Respond

Are you responding to your situations and the people who cause you harm in the right way that Jesus Christ would approve of?

In what areas are you experiencing rejection and resistance? How can you lean on Jesus for help?

Is there an area or person in your life that you need to forgive and show God’s great love as He has done for you?

Heavenly Father,

I come to you today to thank you for seeing me through the trials I have faced in life. Search me and know my heart, God. I desire to have a heart like Joseph to display your love to those around me. Forgive me for the areas in my life that I have sinned against you. Remove anything in my life that is hindering my relationship with you, I only want you. I know it’s through your son, Jesus, that I have everlasting life and the strength to endure the hardships I face. I lay them all down at your feet and know that you will provide a way. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen!

Psalm 34:17 | The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.

Psalm 34:19 | The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.

Xoxo,

Hannah Boyd

P.S.

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Barefoot Devotions

Learning To Rejoice When God Removes

July 16, 2018August 9, 2018 Hannah B.

When God removes a relationship or something from your life, He replaces it when the time is right. It will be so much better that you will thank Him for removing the thing you lost.

Are you thinking that I am crazy? How can this be? It must be true, I just experienced it!

After seven months, I thank God for the friend He removed because the friend I gained is a beacon of light for my purpose versus a friend who was a stumbling block for my purpose. This new friend will shine the way to my calling instead of blowing out the light.

It doesn’t mean that I don’t love the person that is no longer in my life, because I do. I always will regardless of the differences that set us on different paths. Just like our disagreements with each other, it doesn’t mean that either of us are bad people. We completed the need in each other’s lives that God intended and therefore, He closed the door to our relationship.

It was hard. I grieved. I was sad. I was angry. I was hurt. I felt betrayed. I was a mess. I second guessed my actions and wondered about everything I could have done differently. I even questioned my ability to choose friends and I second guessed all of my relationships. I could feel the enemy pressing repeat and starting with these emotions again.

Finally, I have seen why this has happened and I can rejoice. In the future, I hope I am able to endure situations more gracefully and with even more faith but most importantly, I want to rejoice from the beginning. God did more with my emotions than I ever could have.

We have all experienced times in our relationships we were hurt by someone or we hurt someone. Perhaps a decision was made to let someone go because you recognized they were not good for you during your season of life.

As we change, we grow apart from the people we bonded with and grown to love. Sometimes it is a season where both of you are growing in different directions. Although it is painful to experience the loss of someone you have bonded with and shared life with, God has a reason and a plan. Our minds are unable to comprehend His reason and plan because we would not be able to believe what He has planned for us.

We have to remember that sometimes people, things, and jobs are removed because they don’t serve a place in our lives any longer. Although the suffering was long, the perseverance will lead to greater things.

Do you think Ruth could have ever dreamed about her Boaz?

Romans 12:12 | Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

James 1:12 | Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him

Romans 5:3-5 | 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.

Xoxo,

Hannah B.

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