Theme of the Summer

This summer...it's only been a month into my summer, but so far it looks like the theme of my summer is trusting God. Letting go of my plans and desires and following where he leads me. Trusting God that his plan is far better than mine even if I don't understand it. 

 I might have thought that I had the perfect summer outlined and planned in my head and when I would imagine my summer the picture seemed beautifully perfect, until it actually began and nothing seemed to be going right, people close to me were in the hospital, my plans seemed to be shattering around me, I even had to turn down a job that seemed absolutely perfect for me! At one point I just sat on my bed and cried, "I don't understand, what do you want God, what are you trying to tell me? Where are you leading me? Just tell me what's going on!" 

I so desperately wanted to follow God, but I didn't now how when everything seemed to be crumbling apart. I wanted God to guide and lead my summer, but I didn't understand what that meant. I wanted God to just come out and make it obvious what job I was supposed to have, what class to take, where I was going to serve etc. etc. etc. , and I figured if God would just show me his plan for my summer then I can just trust Him completely, but that's not exactly what God had in mind. I realized that if God told me the outcome of everything then I wouldn't actually have to trust him at all. You see it's easy to follow God when it's clear and you know what is going to happen, but it's when life hurts, and is hard, and complicated and you don't understand, that's when trusting God is hard, when there's the possibility of being hurt and let down, but you still have faith and keep following God that's real trust. 

Soo this summer I will chose to trust God, to trust him instead of worry, instead of trying to control things on my own, I will remember who God is and trust my good, sovereign and faithful God! 

Trust Him when dark doubts assail thee,
Trust Him when thy strength is small,
Trust Him when to simply trust Him
Seems the hardest thing of all.
Trust Him, He is ever faithful,
Trust Him, for his will is best,
Trust Him, for the heart of Jesus
Is the only place of rest.  

Trust God

"Welcome challenging times as opportunities to trust me. You have Me beside you and My Spirit within you, so no set of circumstances is too much for you to handle. When the path before you is dotted with difficulties, beware of measuring your strength against those challenges. That calculation is certain to riddle you with anxiety. Without me you will not make it past the first hurdle. The way to walk through demanding days is to grip my hand tightly and stay in close communication with Me. Let your thoughts and spoken words be richly flavored with trust and thankfulness. Regardless of the day's problems, I can keep you in perfect peace as you stay close to me."

Such a perfect reminder from my devotional this morning! Ohh how often I think about the tasks or difficulties in my life and I let myself get overwhelmed and anxious, by it all, but that is because I am not keeping my eyes on Jesus and looking to him for my strength. Yes, life is hard, and yes I am weak, but my God is strong and faithful and good and in control of it all and he will give me the strength to overcome whatever trial or difficulty I am facing no matter how hard or painful it may be. I simply need to stop looking to myself and instead trust my amazing savior who is most definitely worthy of ALL my trust.

"You keep him in perfect peace

    whose mind is stayed on you,

    because he trusts in you."  

       Isaiah 26:3 

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, 

for my power is made perfect in weakness.'

 Therefore I will boast all the more gladly

 about my weaknesses, 

so that Christ’s power may rest on me." 

2 Corinthians 12:9

Contentment

In this day and age contentment is not something that comes easily to people. Naturally I am always looking at what I think I need or things that would make my life better instead of seeking to be content in all circumstances I feel the need to complain and instead of being grateful I always find something that could be changed to make thing better. Or I look at the awesome things other people are doing and I wish that my life was more like theirs  Being content doesn't just have to do with things/possessions/money either it encompasses all of our life, it means being content with what we have, who we are and where we're going.

But God has called us to be content in all circumstances.

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. -Philippians 4:11-12

Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.   -1 Timothy 6:6-8 


Contentment means being satisfied and at peace with God's will in all situations. True contentment comes by comparing what we have to what our sins deserve and not by simply being thankful that you're better off than someone else. When we are content we are resting in the gospel and the fact that God has orchestrated all of our situations and that he has provided for us all that we need, and that everything that happens in our life will be for our good and God's glory.

I'm back!

It's been a while since I've posted....last semester was crazy, but great! Now that it's summer though hopefully I'll be posting more often! For now here's some truth that I've been mulling over. 

"When feedback hurts, angers you, makes you cry, puts you on the defense or offends you – that’s when you know it’s good. It hurts because it’s true, and you get the obnoxious privilege of deciding whether you’d like to remain indignant, in denial and a fake kind of strong or risk looking momentarily weak in order to find true strength and healing and be more Christ-like. It’s an art we’re all trying to master. Feedback takes an extra measure of humility."

You Have Me

Out on the farthest edgeThere in the silenceYou were there

My faith was torn to shredsHeart in the balanceAnd You were there

Always faithful, always goodYou still have meYou still have my heart

I thought I had seen the endEverything brokenBut You were there

I've wandered at heaven's gatesI've made my bed in hellYou were there still

Always faithful, always goodYou still have meYou still have my heartYou have me, You have meYou have my heart completely

Refreshed

Have you ever had those days and even weeks where you just feel so far away from God? Where you feel weighed down and overwhelmed by the world? Where the closeness of God and his peace are the last things that you feel? But then when I'm at my lowest point where I want to cry and can't go on anymore, when God points me back to himself and gives me the boost that I need. God never ceases to amaze me and show up. Today was no exception. God placed a friend in my life who noticed that I wasn't doing well and took the time to take me on a walk and she just listened as I poured out my heart and struggles to her.  Then later at night we had an impromptu Jesus talk and ended up walking to a lake and it was dark and foggy, but it was gorgeous with the lights beaming through the fog and the trees and we just stood there and admired God’s glory and majesty and I could just feel his peace overwhelming me and his presence was just so tangible I could feel it. We just stood out there admiring God and his beauty and singing songs and praise and worship to our creator. It was simply amazing! One of the best nights that I have ever had at college by far, just being able to let everything go and focus solely on God and take time just to sit in his presence and be encouraged it was so refreshing and amazing. I love it and I am so grateful for the amazing friends that God has placed in my life and for all the ways that they encourage me and point me back to my savior. I just want more of God and more of his greatness and love and presence in my life. I want to be filled with him, and I don’t just want it to be a Jesus high moment, I want it to be a way of life where I am constantly living passionately and in reckless abandon for my savior and loving him and feeling his presence. God knew exactly what I needed tonight and he showed me his love and care for me in a very tangible way through all the amazing friends he has brought into my life. My heart is full of gratitude and full of contentment and happiness as I sit in his presence and remember how awesome my God truly is! He is all I need! 

 "Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth. Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing. Know that the LORD Himself is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations."

Psalm 100:1-5

It's November, which means that it's gratefulness month! 

Today i'm super grateful for my Jazzers! 

My crazy little drool monster!

This little guy makes my day everyday! 

Love seeing his smile and big eyes! 

Can't wait to snuggle with him in 2 weeks!