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Wendy Grages

Why is God important?

Wendy Grages
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Why is God important?

It seems this question is everywhere. There are so many voices telling us what is and what isn’t important in life. You may even have heard that knowing God is an important part of having a meaningful life. But why is God important?

Because He created us

We are only here because God created us. He is important because He exists as the giver of life. Everything we see could not have come from nothing. God created the Earth and everything in it for our enjoyment. He created us with a purpose and destined us for good things.

Because He loves us

God’s love for you is unlike any other love you could imagine. It is unconditional, keeps no record of your wrongs and nothing can separate you from it. He loves you so much that He sacrificed Himself so that you could have life. Not just in this life but in the life to come. The Bible says in Romans 6:

“Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death. But God’s gift is real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master.”

Because He has a plan for your life

Human beings seem to be hard-wired to search for God. Some describe it is a God-shaped hole in our heart. There is a void within us that we try to fill with money, success, love and so on. But the truth is, nothing can satisfy that vacuum within, except a relationship with God as our Creator, Saviour and Friend. We are all searching for meaning and significance. We want our lives to mean something. Having a relationship with God gives us the meaning we are longing for and gives our lives greater purpose. The Bible says in Jeremiah that before God formed us in our mother’s womb, He knew us and gave us purpose.

God is eternal, almighty, all-knowing, just and loving. If you don’t yet know Him, we would love to chat to you.

If you would like to know more about God’s love or His purpose for your life, click on the pop up or on the link below.

What must I do with my life?

Wendy Grages
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What must I do with my life?

We all ask this question at some point in our lives, “What must I do with my life?”. Everything else comes with an instruction manual. Whether you are learning to drive, cooking, operating a new phone or purchasing a new computer, they all come with operating instructions. Except life. No instruction manual provided.

Can I tell you why? Humans were created with free will. God created us with the ability to choose our own way. But the good news is, He doesn’t leave us stranded. The most incredible instruction manual to life is, in fact, the Bible.

If you are wondering, “What should I do with my life?”, here are some tips to get you started.

What are you naturally good at?

Often we can over complicate things. Many of us feel pressured to go into a certain career field. Maybe it’s because doctors run in our family. Or perhaps your family wants you to be the first lawyer in the family. We can chase money yet end up miserable. My advice to you is not to chase money. It’s simply not worth it.

Find out what you are naturally good at and pursue that. For instance, if you are creative, then explore how to learn some skills in design of some sort. If you are naturally good at admin and organizing, then perhaps a career in an office would suit you.

My point is this, if you love being outdoors, then an office job will slowly kill your passion for life. There is a saying that goes, “Do what you love and you won’t work a day in your life”.

Do whatever you do, with passion

Perhaps you don’t get to do your dream job. Don’t let that stop you from enjoying your life. Whatever you do have in your hands to do, do it well. Do it with everything you have and you will see how your life will be rewarded. Don’t underestimate the doors that can open for you when you are faithful, hardworking, loyal and full of integrity.

The purpose of life is this – To love God and love people. You can do that everyday and in every circumstance. And if you do, you will experience a fulfilling and blessed life.

If you would like to know more about loving God and putting Him first, click on the link below or on the pop up. We would love to chat to you.

Have you stopped dreaming?

Wendy Grages
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Have you stopped dreaming?

Life can be cruel. Somewhere in our lives, we start dreaming about what our lives can be. Perhaps you feel that God placed a dream in your heart. It’s a burning desire and motivation to do something beyond yourself. But then, something goes wrong. Disappointment comes. It may be that too much time has passed and nothing has happened. Have you stopped dreaming?

This happens more often than we’d like to admit. Years of believing and working towards your dream can become exhausting. When last did you get excited about what God put in your heart? When last did you expect Him to do something incredible? If you find it difficult to answer those two questions, you may have stopped dreaming.

The good news is that dreams do not have a human origin. They don’t originate out of human thinking. That’s why even though they may die, dreams can come back to life because they originate in the mind of God. And He is eternal. In addition to that, He is an expert in bringing dead things to life.

So what can you do if you have stopped dreaming?

Allow yourself to hope again

It can be disappointing when you put yourself out there and  nothing happens. But you must remember this: everything can change in an instant. There is a time for everything. You never know when your time will come. Begin to hope again.

Remember why you started

We get tired of waiting because we lose sight of why we started to dream in the first place. Remember what you are passionate about. Remind yourself of the dreams God placed in your heart.

Have the courage to dream again and hope again. You never know when the fullness of time will come in your life. God is faithful to His promises. He has never failed and He won’t start now.

If you need to reconnect with God and start dreaming again, click on the link below or on the pop up.

Have you lost your way?

Wendy Grages
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Have you lost your way?

We all start our Christian journey full of enthusiasm and wide-eyed wonder. We’re so excited by how Jesus has touched our lives. And we can’t wait to get to church and we are ready to talk to anyone about what Jesus has done for us. But then, someway, somehow, things begin to slowly change. Our enthusiasm turns into tolerance, our wonder turns in cynicism and before you know it, we’ve lost our way.

It can happen to any of us at anytime. Maybe the storms of  life have left you beaten and tired. Maybe people in the church have offended or hurt you. Perhaps you sit and wonder how you got to be in this dry, lonely, cynical place.

My friend, you are not alone! The Bible tells a similar story. Have you ever had your parents say, “While you live under my roof, you’ll abide by my rules”? Well, this young man got tired of being under his father’s roof so he asked for his inheritance and left home for the hustle and bustle of the city. You can read the story in Luke 15.

To make a long story short, he squanders his money on gambling, prostitutes and wild parties. He’s left homeless and hungry and sneaks into a pig pen just to pick up some scraps of food. It suddenly dawns on him that even his father’s servants live better than this so he decides to go back home. He knows he has broken his father’s heart and he’s in a lot of trouble. He goes home to beg for forgiveness and asks to come back home as one of the servants.

Here’s what we learn from the story:

The father was waiting all along

The Bible says that the father looked out from the porch everyday to see if he could see his son. His father’s anger and disappointment was dwarfed in comparison to his love for his son.

The father restored him and then some

His father welcomed him back with open arms. In fact, he clothed with a beautiful robe, new sandals and put a ring on his finger. In addition, he ordered the biggest celebration ever. He was just happy that his beloved son had come home.

It’s the same with us and our walk with Jesus. If you’ve lost your way, Jesus is waiting with open arms to welcome you back. He wants to bless you and heal you and set your life up for success.

If you’ve wandered away from God, we would like to pray with you. Click on the link below or on the pop up. Welcome home.

How to move forward

Wendy Grages
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How to move forward

We can all get stuck sometimes. Perhaps you’ve seen some victory in your life. Maybe it’s a bad habit you were able to kick or a destructive relationship you were able to leave behind. However, fear, disappointment and even past victories can at times cause us to get stuck.

This can happen to any of us. The problem with living in the past is that you are now in the present. We cannot move forward by looking back. So how do you move forward?

Just take one step

If revamping your whole way of thinking and doing life is too overwhelming, then just take one step. We don’t have to have it all figured out. Taking one step of faith at a time is all God expects of us. The good news is that when we follow Him, He is leading the way. We can take a step because God has already taken a step for us. He promises to lead us and guide us every step of the way.

Fear is a lie

Fear can often hold us back. It’s like the roar of a toothless lion. The roar can be frightening, but that’s all it is, a roar. Fear only has the power we give it. If you give it no place in your mind, it loses its power.

God has something new for you. You can’t experience it if you are living in the past. Take a step of faith and watch what God can do. I’ll close with this beautiful verse from the Bible:

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” – Isaiah 43:18-19

God is in the business of new things. In addition to this, He is the God of the impossible. Maybe you haven’t been able to move forward because the situation you are facing seems impossible.

As we see from this verse in Isaiah, God can make a river in the desert. He can make a path in the wilderness. Trust Him and just take one more step.

If you are feeling stuck in your past mistakes, God is a God of new beginnings. To find out more, click on the pop up or link below.

Christianity is not for everyone

Wendy Grages
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Christianity is not for everyone

I think we have been sold a lie. You don’t have to look far to find a televangelist telling you that serving God will solve all your problems. They entice us with promises of living our best life now. But what if I told you that Christianity isn’t for everyone?

Now please don’t get me wrong. I do believe God wants to bless us. The best decision I have ever made is to follow whole-heartedly after God. But I do maintain this thought. That Christianity isn’t for everyone.

That’s why many people become disillusioned. Preachers promise a better life, so many people respond and begin following God. However, life is not always sunshine and roses. People begin to drift away from God as hard times come. This happens when we think God’s love is measured in blessing.

The Bible is full of promises about blessing. But here is one thing we must understand:

God’s love is unconditional but His blessing is not

God loves us no matter what. His love for us doesn’t diminish when we sin, nor does it increase when we live according to His way. You could curse God and it would no effect on how much He loves you. That is incredible! But God’s blessing? That’s another matter altogether. The Bible says in Isaiah 1:19, “If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land;” There is an “if” attached to the blessing of God.

Many are called but few are chosen

This may seem paradoxical. This means that the invitation to live in the promises of God is extended to everyone. The Bible says in John 3 that because God loved the whole world so much, He sent His only Son so that anyone who believes in Him will find life to the fullest. Although the invitation is for the whole world, there are only a few who are willing to live according to God’s ways. We often try to make Christianity suit us. We try to make it as convenient and easy as possible. However, the Bible paints a different picture. Jesus said that in order to find your life, you have to be willing to lose it.

It’s a wide open invitation to all but to accept the invitation, means we enter through the narrow gate which is belief in Jesus and willingness to live according to His ways.

Blessing, courage, strength and comfort belongs to those who are willing to follow God according to His ways. He is better than we think He is, and His way is the only answer to our best life.

If you would like to know more about what it truly means to follow Jesus and experience the life He has for you, click on the link below or on the pop up.

Surviving the teenage years

Wendy Grages
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Surviving the teenage years

Everybody warned me. Teenagers are a nightmare, or so I was told. Family members give their two cents and sitcoms paint the teenage years as something to dread. Well, I would like to shed some light on surviving the teenage years.

My one child is nearing the end of their teenage years while my other child is entering them. Here are some things I have found help make these years not only bearable, but fun!

Keep communication open

As your children grow, so should your communication. When they are younger, they do less talking and more listening. As they get older, you should do less talking and more listening. Create a safe space for your teenager to be able to tell you anything. There is nothing worse than your child really needing someone to talk to but can’t turn to you because you will freak out. Honesty is more valuable than perfection. Let your teenagers know that you don’t expect them to be perfect, but you do expect them to tell the truth. It’s much easier to guide your teen in their decisions if they can be open with you about what they are facing.

Keep having fun

You might think your teen thinks you are uncool because you are older and you are the parent. But don’t forget to have fun with your kids. Break the ice and find ways to be silly together. A family that laughs together, stays together. Laughing let’s your kids know that we don’t take ourselves too seriously. There is a lot of pressure on teens these days to behave well, play sports well, get good marks at school and get into a decent university. Let your home be a place of fun and laughter.

Be as firm as you are loving

Teenagers will continue to push the boundaries to see what you will allow. Stay consistent and firm. Remember, you are moulding them into an awesome asset to our society. Teach them self-discipline, give them chores to do and set a standard for them to live by. If you do that, they stand a better chance of being responsible and successful adults.

I must admit, I am really enjoying the teenage years. My son and I have great, deep conversations about life and we can be silly together. My daughter gives great advice and helps me pick out my outfits for special occasions. Each season of your child’s life can be rewarding and special. It’s all in how you look at it.

It’s not easy raising great kids, but I am found raising them in the belief and knowledge of Jesus Christ really does help. To find out more about this, click on the link below or on the pop up.

The entitled generation

Wendy Grages
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The entitled generation

Are you part of the entitled generation? There are so many good things that the modern day and age have brought us. There are so many conveniences and ways to make life better. Unfortunately, it has also resulted in us being faced with an entitled generation.

It started off well. We wanted our kids to know that they are valuable. That what they had to say mattered. That they could do anything they wanted to. They got prizes for just showing up or just giving something a try. We had good intentions but sadly we are now sitting with a generation that doesn’t like to be told what to do. They are willing to work or study or volunteer, but all on their terms. Here are some characteristics of such a generation:

It’s more about what you can get than what you can give

Do you feel like people should just be grateful that you even showed up? In your job, in your family, in your friendships, is it more about what you can get or what you can give?

You feel like the world owes you

Many people today have a victim mentality. They feel like the standard should be dropped to accommodate them. This generation feels like people owe them something. They think the world revolves around them.

I hope this post does not come across as negative. This is a subject I have been faced with lately and I really wanted to challenge us all on this. I especially want to challenge myself. If I am not careful, I can easily fall into these traps. What about you?

Let us not become a part of the entitled generation. Instead, let’s look for ways to add value without expecting anything in return.

The truth is, the world does not owe us anything. We are not victims, we are victors. Because of what Jesus did by dying for us, we can live lives that are successful and meaningful.

If you would like to know more about how to live this kind of life, click on the pop up or on the link below.

When life doesn’t make sense

Wendy Grages
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When life doesn’t make sense

Have you ever faced a difficult time? Many of us have gone through really tough times. Perhaps it was a tragedy or a painful experience. You don’t have to be alive long to know that life is not always easy and it’s certainly not fair.

So what can we do when life doesn’t make sense? How do you get through tough times? In the midst of difficult times, I have found one fundamental truth that has been an anchor in my own life. Can I share it with you?

The extravagant love of God

This may sound like an oxymoron. How can I be talking about God’s love and difficult times in the same sentence. Some may be thinking, “If God loves us He wouldn’t allow anything bad to happen to us.” I don’t necessarily think that is true. It’s not God’s love that keeps bad things from happening to us. The Bible is filled with stories of good people who went through difficult times. Rather, I believe that it is God’s love that helps us survive bad things happening to us. We live in a world that has turned it’s back on God and chosen to follow their own way. Because of that, our world is in a state. Bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people.

When life doesn’t make sense, the thing that I hold on to is that God loves me. He loves me so much that He sent His Son to the earth to take all the sin and punishment I deserved for turning my back on God. He couldn’t bear for sin to separate us so He made a way for us all to get back to Him. His love is unfathomable. Without it, I wouldn’t survive a single day.

So when your life doesn’t make sense, I pray that you would find the extravagant love of God come alive in your life. His love is what comforts us when we mourn. It’s what sets us free when we are addicted. It’s what leads and guides us into the right path for our lives.

To know more about this extravagant love, click on the link below or on the pop up.

How to guarantee a great marriage

Wendy Grages
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How to guarantee a great marriage

Marriage can be the greatest blessing or the source of immense pain. There’s no sure way to know how your marriage will turn out. When people get started, it seems like it will last forever. However, over time, things happen, words are said and we hurt each other. At this point, many people throw in the towel and call it quits. Others plod along, sticking out the misery. On the other hand, there are couples who can bounce back from tough seasons and grow old together, their marriage stronger than ever.

So how can you have a great marriage? Unfortunately, in life there are no guarantees. But here are some things I have found can make a marriage great.

Don’t be too proud to say sorry

This is a big one! Even if it’s not your fault, be the bigger person and say sorry. So many fights can be stopped in their tracks if more people were prepared to say sorry. Pride is what holds us back from apologizing. We want to be right, right? Arguments are quickly dissolved when couples are quick to say sorry.

Keep short accounts

Most arguments start with “You always do this and that”. To say always when you actually mean now and then, can be dangerous to the health of your marriage. To keep short accounts means to resolve issues when they come up, forgive your spouse and move past it. Bringing up previous arguments can escalate the argument to unhealthy levels. Try and deal with just the argument at hand.

Keep the fun alive

With kids and careers and extended family,  life can get busy. If you’re not careful, you can end up living past each other. Make an effort to connect, just the two of you,  no kids, no phones, no distractions. Be spontaneous, do something crazy. Make some hot chocolate and go for a walk. You’ll be surprised how these little investments into your relationship can yield lasting results.

Marriage is not easy, but it is awesome. Remember why you first fell in love with your spouse. Remember why you wanted to marry them. Remind yourself of the good times you’ve had and then keep making great memories.

That’s how you can guarantee a great marriage!

If you are struggling in your marriage and need some help, prayer is powerful. To know more about how having a relationship with Jesus can help you navigate tough times, click on the pop up or on the link below.

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