Just One Sentence

...can change the course of your day.  Words are so powerful.  I've said this a million times, but sometimes I forget.

This week, Kristie and Drew have been in Eastern Montana hunting with Travis.  Drew got his first deer (YAY!) and they stopped here on their way to and from.

They spent the night last night.  They wanted to get an early start so they could drive in the daylight.  I got up with them to say goodbye and I was glad for the opportunity to do my bible study homework and do my daily bible reading (I'm on day 37 of 90 in my reading plan - on track to be done reading the bible cover to cover by the end of the year!) before I went to church.  After they left, I was so tired and thought "Oh, I'll just do all that after church".

Right after, I got a text from her (probably while she was in line for Heaven Lattes - my FAVE) that said, "Txt me your favorite bible sentence read today..."  And I said I would.  UGH.  Me and my commitments and desire to be authentic to my word. 

So, I stayed up and read in my bible, looking for my favorite sentence.  I didn't find one and couldn't keep my eyes open so I set my alarm to get up in time for church.  I prayed that I would wake up feeling refreshed and excited to get up and go out.

I woke up and hauled my sorry butt to church, knowing it was of the devil that I didn't really want to.  And boy, am I glad I went. 

The message was about peace and how to get peace:

Phillipians 4:4-9 (NIV)
^"4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

and a very specific roadmap on how to be a Christian:

Colossians 3:12-17 (NIV)
^"12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

My favorite sentence is "And the God of peace will be with you."  How powerful is that?

So, thanks, Kristie.  Thank you for the great idea and giving me something to seek... and a reason to keep a really awesome promise.  I'm going to print this post so I have it with me and when my thoughts are obsessive, repetitive, not productive, and NOT of Jesus, I can replace them with this awesome message.

And maybe it will sink in and help me become a better Christian!