Real Life by Peggi Tustan

Welcome to Real Life . I'm thinking about sacrifice. A fitting topic for Memorial Day Weekend. People who put themselves on the line and sacrifice their own safety for the greater good and for others, and anyone in any profession whose concern is the welfare for other people instead of the individual, are inspiring and important. Chris Hemsworth  We’re a contradiction. In a culture averse to violence, it saturates our entertainment, and erupts all around us. Mass shootings are on the increase. Heroes emerge. Riley, a student at the North Carolina college. [1] Lori, a woman in the California synagogue. [2] Two ordinary individuals place themselves in harm’s way so others may live. We marvel at their bravery. In the same circumstances, would I be brave, selfless, willing to shed my blood? “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John the Baptist exclaims at first sight of Jesus. The crowd who overhears him understands the metaphor. For every year, ...

Welcome to Real Life . For a long time, I had this verse taped to the wall by my kitchen sink. I needed the daily reminder. Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, not sacrifice. Dad and Mom at "Boot Camp" My elderly parents were living in Florida when their health began to fail. After Mom lost her lower leg to poor circulation, she landed in a nursing facility for rehabilitation. These facilities do the best they can with the staff they have. But, I knew Mom needed more attention than they could provide. So, I devised a plan to move my parents into my home in Ohio for a 6-week boot camp and whip Mom back into shape. (I know...pretty naïve, right?) Those six weeks stretched into a year. [1] It felt like (and it was) a huge sacrifice. Our lives changed drastically. One morning as I read God’s Word, He spoke this verse to me… Go and learn what this means, Peggi : I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I had the wrong focus. God wasn’t impressed by my sacrific...

Welcome to Real Life . I was teaching on the topic of surrender and needed a strong example. Abraham came to mind. Abraham Series | Part 1 | Genesis 11:26-12:5 God asked Abraham to surrender something huge—his only son Isaac—and offer him as a living sacrifice. Amazingly, he did it. But, before we talk about Abraham, let’s talk about surrender. My spiritual journey began with an act of surrender: I gave my life to Christ. However, it doesn't stop there. Surrender is a continual discipline for a believer. Full devotion (to God) is a state of our hearts when our understanding of truth is equal to our level of surrender. –Mindy Caliguire [1] God won’t force me to surrender. I decide. I live with the consequences. Though, when God does ask me to give up something, he has a reason. While preparing to teach, I kept asking the Lord if there was anything I needed to surrender. I sensed him saying, “Peggi, you have the wrong focus. You fear what I might ask you to give up. W...