Entrusted with my Family

Joshua 24:15- “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for

yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the

Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my

household, we will serve the Lord.”

I believe we have all created ideal dreams and plans in our head about our lives. We’ve envisioned the perfect wedding, the perfect husband and the perfect children. Our dreams are often much different than our reality. Waking up every hour on the hour to breastfeed your newborn baby is a lot different than the dream of waking up looking flawless, fully rested and feeding the baby with ease. After the first night at home you realize it may be a few years before you are fully rested, baby spit up and messy hair buns become your best friend and it's okay to not always look picture perfect. We readjust our life as we are given more responsibility. When you become a parent you learn it is no longer just about you. We now are responsible for teaching our children about God, we are entrusted to raise them and model a righteous lifestyle. Children learn more from what they see you do. More than they learn from what you say to them.

1 Timothy 5:8 says “anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

Sometimes the daily routine of work, household chores and caring for your family can become mundane but it is in the special moments that God reminds you he has entrusted

you with your family for a reason. This morning my six year old daughter said “mom are you

ready?” I asked her, "Am I ready for what?" She said, “to put on your armor?” So we did! We got to the shield of faith and my six year old could not remember it was faith. I paused and asked do you remember and my two year old daughter shouted “Faith momma, shield of faith!” Our plans may be different in our head but God always reminds us in these moments why he has trusted us with such precious gifts. We are building the next generation, they too will change the world!

Amanda Bengston

Prayer Team Lead

ENTRUSTED WITH LOVE

… but God is the definition of love. Without Him, love does not exist (John 3:16; 1 John 4:8-10). Biblical love (Gk. agape) is active, yet selfless. Though most graphically and fully illustrated in God's love for us, agape love is also God's pattern for our love for Him (1 John 4:19) and for our love for one another (Eph. 5:25; 1 Pet. 1:22). Its basis is God's deliberate, active, sacrificial giving of His Son for our redemption. To be loved by God means that He has set His sights on us and is actively wooing us toward Himself at all times.

- Thomas Nelson / The Woman’s Study Bible

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"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." - John 13:34 (NIV)

Our Heavenly Father has entrusted us with his love. In many ways he has shown and entrusted his love for us. Among these is his most precious treasure; the life and blood shed of his son Jesus Christ on the cross. Through the sacrifice of his son Jesus we have been entrusted with our lives, the lives of others, and each of many different gifts.

In the depths of our existence, we find ourselves cradled in the loving hands of our Creator. God, in His infinite wisdom and boundless love, has entrusted us with the precious gift of life. With every beat of our hearts, we are reminded of the privilege and responsibility we carry as stewards of this divine trust.

At the very core of God's nature is love. He is the abbreviation of perfect love, and through His Son Jesus Christ, He revealed the fullness of His love to humanity. Jesus, in His sacrificial act on the cross, not only paid the price for our sins but also demonstrated the depth of God's love for us.

Through His sacrifice, Jesus has entrusted us with a mission, a mission to love one another as He has loved us. This command is not a mere suggestion, but rather a calling that shapes the very essence of our lives. God's love, lavishly poured out on us, compels us to extend that love to those around us.

As we journey through life, we encounter people from all walks of life, each carrying their own burdens, joys, and struggles. It is precisely in these encounters that we are given the opportunity to be vessels of God's love. We are entrusted with the task of reflecting His love, compassion, and grace in every interaction.

However, God does not send us on this mission unequipped. He has left us with precious gifts, one of which is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit dwells within us, guiding, empowering, and transforming us to love as Christ loves. It is through the Holy Spirit's presence that our love becomes selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional.

In this journey of love, we may encounter challenges, disappointments, and moments when extending love seems difficult. But it is during those times that we can rely on the strength and guidance of the Holy Spirit. We can trust in God's faithfulness and draw from His never ending well of love.

Let us be reminded today of the great trust God has placed in us to love one another as Christ has loved us. May our hearts overflow with gratitude for the trust He has bestowed upon us, and may we faithfully embrace the mission of love that we have been entrusted with.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for entrusting us with the gift of life and the calling to love others as You have loved us. Help us to be faithful stewards of this trust, leaning on the power of the Holy Spirit to guide our steps. Fill us with Your love and compassion, that we may reflect Your grace to everyone we encounter. In Jesus' name, amen.

Estephanie Guillen-Garde

Assistant to CEO - We of More Inc.

Communications Team Lead

Outreach Team Lead