Monday, October 11, 2010

It Gets Hard Sometimes. . .

"So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, 
always enthusiastic about the Lord's work for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless."

-1 Corinthians 15:58


I really feel the urge to encourage all of you today....

Keep serving the Lord with a joyful attitude even when it gets hard and things get in your way or aren't going the way you planned. Sometimes it gets hard when we're in the certain positions that we're in. I very often find it hard being the oldest child in my family...I end up thinking or saying things like, "I did not sign up for this!", "Why didn't God let me choose which "number" I got to be in my family?" (FYI, I probably would've picked the youngest! =), "Why is it that I set the example for all my siblings?". I'm sure for all of you that aren't the oldest wonder why you aren't because you could do so much better and get all the things first and tell your younger siblings what to do and everyone will notice you more, etc., am I right? =)

But you know what? If we could see how God planned all the the facts and all the little details and how He put us in exactly the position we're in and how everything will turn out by the end of our lives...We wouldn't change one thing that's going on right now.

Stay strong not only for yourself but for your family, for us that are praying for you, the non-Christians because they are always watching us, and all the rest of your friends and family in your life! Keep in mind that you are helping to change lives for eternity...Which is a huge job that was entrusted to us by the most powerful king there ever was, is, or yet to come!
Little by little; 
 step by step; 
feeling like you're falling then rising
feeling like you're failing then conquering;
we can do this together but it takes every player of the team in order for everyone to win.


Stay steady and keep walking with Jesus!

Hope you all have a great and blessed week!




"Carry the cross patiently with perfect submission 
and in the end it shall carry you."
-Thomas á Kempis



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4 comments:

Hermana Lydia K. said...

Dear Janai, not many Christian young people know who Thomas Kempis is, how encouraging to see that you used his quote.We first see this in the Bible where Jesus says to His disciples,"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. He then goes on to say "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. for what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world and lose himself,or be cast away? For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed when He shall come in his own glory and in His Father's and of the holy angels Luke9:23-26
Continue to study God's word it is power and life to your soul. ..Hermana Lydia K.<><

Rachel said...

Janai, I know EXACTLY what you mean!! I have thought that very thing often. Being the oldest is such a big responsibility. Your younger siblings are looking up to you, and sometimes it seems like your parents want you to be perfect. I have felt that way many times. There is a lot of pressure, but I wouldn't change a thing. Our God is amazing and he has a perfect plan for our lives. As the oldest in my family I am striving to be someone worth looking up to and copying, it can be a challenge but one worth working for :) Praise God for my younger siblings :)

And thanks Janai, your posts are a blesing :D

Janai Fuentes said...

That is exactly true. Thank you for sharing that passage with us, Mrs. Kitchen! Hope you're doing well... God bless =)

~Janai

Janai Fuentes said...

Rachel, I totally agree with you! That is how I feel alot of the time. I know I shouldn't but like you said, it is alot of pressure. But you know, if God thought we couldn't handle, He wouldn't have put us as the oldest in our family. But it's because he trusts us and knows that WE can do it and be the example to our siblings that He wants us to be....That's why he put us as the oldest. It really is a honor and a blessing (sometimes in disguise!).

Keep it up, Rachel! I'm sure your siblings are blessed by having you around. =)

~Janai