Tag: redemption

Barefoot Devotions

Beacons of Light

Hannah B.

Often I hear complacent Christians complaining about this dark world we live in.  As Christians, yes, we can speak about this but we don’t have the right to complain unless we are doing our part.  We are to be light beacons in this dark world and it’s a dark world.  I look around and I see more darkness than I do light.  The light in some people’s eyes has completely gone out.  They don’t have any hope, only sorrow, and despair.

Sin can be appealing because it feels like it’s the only vice that has numbed their pain to make their life tolerable to deal with the repeated disappointment, despair, abuse, addiction, and broken home. We don’t know what goes on beyond closed doors or what havoc the enemy is causing.

Are we persecuting the sin or the sinner? Be concerned for their spiritual well-being. There is a deeper rooted issue under the sin that could be holding them in bondage. People are broken for reasons that may be unspeakable but for crying out loud, love them!  Even if it’s just to love on someone for a moment. One day they may look back at that one act of love and there will be a shadow cast in their darkest days. A shadow that offers a glimmer of hope.

John 1:5 | The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

They have not experienced God’s perfect love. It has not crashed over them like tidal wave drowning them in this perfect love that can only be found in Jesus Christ.

We must do our part and live out this redeeming love for others. The smallest act of kindness could mean the world for one person. One day they will look back and to them, it would be a light in their darkness.

1 Peter 4:8 | “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”

These words are written out of my own experiences and I have felt them down to my innermost being. So many people have been placed strategically in my life and have been like dragonflies lighting the way in my darkness. It’s our turn to light up the darkness that surrounds us and is drowning those around us.

Matthew 5:16 | In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

I leave you with this: Through Jesus’ blood that was shed on the cross, we have a way to always have His light in our life that turns on life for us and gives us eternal life.

Jesus is my salvation and the only way. Because He has reconciled and redeemed me, I must do my part to share Him with others and live out Christ’s perfect love. I hope you will join spreading me this contagious redeeming love.

John 8:12 | When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

With all of my love,

Hannah B.

Barefoot Devotions

Be Changed

Hannah B.

This summer we have been able to enjoy eating the tomatoes that have grown in our garden. We have watched them grow from a seed into ripe and juicy tomatoes ready to be made into salsa, spaghetti sauce, and my personal favorite a BLT sandwich and fried green tomatoes. I have a new love for tomatoes after tasting homegrown ones.

New love? Yes! My taste buds must have changed since last year! Tomatoes were never my favorite until this Summer. I thought my neighbor was crazy when he said he enjoyed eating two a day. Now, I am the crazy one for thinking such a thought!

If our taste buds can drastically change, why do we limit change in a person that was created in God’s image?

Yes! I am speaking about the person that you keep thinking, “they’ll never change” or maybe you are thinking that about yourself.

Just like a tomato, each person has God given seeds inside of them that are yearning to sprout and produce fruit. With the right amount of love, living water, and the son, anyone can be changed. The past, flawed personalities, and hard hearts can be washed away and your seeds can begin the beautiful process of growth and change.

As you begin to give life to your seeds, you will see change in yourself and you will experience a newfound love, joy, and peace about life. You will experience the unfailing and reckless love of God as all of your being starts living for Jesus.

John 4:14 | 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.

John 15:1-5 | “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

Galatians 5:22-23 | But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law.

  • Has God placed someone on your heart to encourage today?
  • How can you water your God-given seeds so that you can bear fruit?
  • Ask God to make Himself real to you and lead you in this process.

Xoxo,

Hannah B.

P.S. Did you enjoy today’s devotion? If so, leave some feedback in the comments and share on your social media feeds.

We also have a devotion series about growth, check out the first day here: https://barefootinaholler.wordpress.com/2018/05/07/season-one-day-one/

Barefoot Devotions

Unfailing Love

Hannah B.

Often times life causes us to lose our footing and we slip up. We are human and it’s hard being a Christian in this world. It seems there is an expectation that is placed on us to be perfect, not just from non-believers but from believers too.

The truth is we aren’t perfect. That’s why we have Jesus. God knew we would have flaws and he sent his son to die for our sins. Jesus’ blood washes away our sins so that we may be presented before God. When we recognize a sin that is in our life, we try our hardest and make a vow to God to stop the sin. After a while, it becomes harder because the enemy is dangling a carrot in front of you trying to entice you to fall to your sin of choice.

Our journey is bound to have times of great pain, sadness, and difficulty but we can rest assured that no matter what we face, Jesus is there with us even in our deepest turmoil. Every day we get up and cling to our faith and that makes it worthwhile. You might call me crazy for using worthwhile in this paragraph, but with faith comes hope and with hope and Jesus anything is possible.

Psalm 94:18-19

When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, you consolation brought me joy.

It’s important to remember to allow Jesus to catch us before we fall. I envision myself walking along on a wet floor and I slip but before the impact on the hard floor, a hand grabs me to prevent me from hurting myself even more. That’s the hand of Jesus. That’s how much your Heavenly Father loves you. Whether you have slipped or have completely fallen, Jesus is waiting for you. We all fall short of God’s glory but he loves us anyway.

Xoxo,

Hannah B.

Barefoot Devotions

Beyond Your Wildest Dreams

Hannah B.

The book of Ruth has always been inspiring,  life changing, and has changed my perspective on life.  Seasons may leave us feeling helpless, hopeless, afraid and bitter but through Jesus there is always hope. There is always a perfect ending with God’s redemption. I don’t mean an ending that will leave you with every desire of your earthy flesh but an ending that will be far greater than your wildest dreams could ever comprehend. A soul filling perfect ending created by your maker.

The Book of Ruth – Read the book for the full story

The story of Ruth begins with Naomi and her husband, Elimelech. They left their home due to a famine to live in Moab. Their two sons married Moabite women but unfortunately, Naomi’s husband and her sons died. Naomi was hopeless. She felt abandoned, bitter and that her life was a misfortune. She left her home full but when she returned she was empty. She encouraged her daughter in laws to return to their families to find other husbands as she had nothing else to give. Ruth was loyal to her mother in law and refused to go back to her home and her gods. So, together they began the journey back to Judah. They arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the harvest and Naomi had sent Ruth to the field to glean the left over harvest. At this point, Ruth had been discovered by Boaz. He instructed her to stay on his field and stay with the women as they followed the harvesters. Not only did he tell his workers that she was off limits and not to be touched, he told her to drink from his water jars that the men had filled. Ruth found favor in the eyes of Boaz and she continued to work in his fields until the harvest was complete.

Naomi had decided to find Ruth a better way of life and Boaz was one of their kinsman-redeemers. This means that he was one of the next of kin to provide for Ruth since her husband had died. Naomi told Ruth to put on her best clothes and sent her to Boaz. At this point in the story, Ruth has asked Boaz to be her kinsmen redeemer. Of course, he was willing to marry her and instructed her to wait until a decision was made. The elders decided that they could marry and they did. A son was conceived. A son who would be the father of Jesse and grandfather of King David. A family lineage that would bring us, Jesus. 

Looking at this story, we are able to see how God worked everything out for the benefit of not only these two ladies but for everyone. Through them, God was able to use them so that His ultimate and divine plan of redemption would be complete. Not only did He provide their needs at the moment but He orchestrated a plan of generational redemption for all of us. 

Even though Naomi became bitter, God showed great mercy and carried her through until she found her joy again. When we are living in the moment, we are often caught up in the emotions that surround our circumstances. We may find ourselves blaming God for the things in life that don’t go our way, perhaps blaming Him for the loss of a loved one or losing material possessions like a home, car or even a job.  Sometimes what we lose is simply not a part of God’s will and He moves things around to see His plan through. It’s okay to grieve, we are human after all but we must have faith that He is working everything out for our good, every detail, even the ones we won’t see in our lifetime! 

I don’t know what you are going through but I do know that you are deeply loved by a God that curates our wildest dreams into existence using our stormy seasons. No matter what it is, stand with Him, have faith and trust in Him. Whatever the ending is, it will be His perfect plan for your life. He cares deeply for you. When you place all of your trust and faith in Him, He ignites a fire within and everything becomes possible if when you don’t see a way.

Xoxo, 

Hannah B.