Two Weeks.

So lots of things have happened the last two weeks that shouldn't have. I messed up so much and I know it. On top of it there are a lot of decisions that I have to make about a situation and it's weighing down on me very much. However, in these times, God is teaching me! Even though it's painful, I praise Him because of His grace. I get the chance to get molded more into who God wants me to be by GOD Himself!

"The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride." ~Ecclesiastes 7:8

God is teaching me how to be patient. We all know the pains of this lesson- this life long lesson. I will never fully understand how to live out a patient life, but the joy of having a little more understanding now than a year ago helps me hope in Him.

I'm very confused. Not about who I am...I am God's. Rather, I am confused about certain decisions I have to make. Where does the Lord want me to go? What would He have me do? Who will He put into my life to encourage? Who will He put in my life to be encouraging? What will come next?

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." ~Colossians 4:2

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." ~Philippians 4:6-7

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34

Lord, please help me trust You more. Lead me in the way You would have me go. God, please teach me how to live, how to speak, how to think, and how to act according to Your Word. Holy Spirit, help me live for You as an example unto others- those who know You and those who are living in this world. Holy Holy Holy is the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, Who was and is and is to come. Worthy are You for all the praise and glory. May Your will be done here on this earth as it is in Heaven. God, please help me to love You more. In Your Name, amen.

What Child Is This?

The precious words of the famous Christmas hymn, What Child Is This, astound me. While the church body was singing this chorus this morning, the last part of the second verse just popped out.

Good Christians, fear, for sinners here

The silent Word is pleading.

It amazes me how much this phrase is true. We should fear! Why? Because the silent Word (the Holy Spirit within us) is pleading for the sinners here! We Are All Sinners. The Holy Spirit is pleading for US. (Hebrews 10:14-16) The Spirit is given to us freely because of the cross of Christ. We are given a Counselor who is the wisest of the wise. The Spirit teaches us what to say and when to say it. (Matthew 10:19-20)

Friends, good Christians, know that we are the LORD's. We are made to love Him. When God sent Jesus to this earth, we were given a gift. Don't waste it or throw it away or play it as if it were a game. The SPIRIT OF GOD is here among us today. Be filled. Be loved. Be confident. Don't be satisfied. Instead, hunger and thirst for righteousness! (Matthew 5:6)

Just Love God with ALL your heart,

With ALL your soul,

With ALL your mind,

and with ALL your strength.

Not just half way.

Love Him with EVERYTHING that He has made you to be.

Let Us Adore HIM

So today is Christmas day-the most popular and most celebrated day in the whole world. It is a day to remember the gift of Christ, who was BORN TO DIE. Earlier today, my youngest sister, Abby, posted that on her facebook. She said that Jesus was "born to die." It caught my attention immediately. Jesus, the Son of the Most High God-who created the entire world-came to this sinful world to die. The cute little baby that everyone sees in all the manger sets and Christmas plays was born that day to die For Us. He was born to show us the way. To show us that if we really do love Him, we will obey His commands and His way for our lives. (John 14) It's not easy to remain faithful in obedience to Him, but that is what we are made to do. Praise God for His love in sending His only Son to teach us His way!

O Come All Ye Faithful
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him,
Born the King of Angels;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

The Beginning of Forever

Today is a new day from the Lord. I'm starting this blog as a reminder to myself, and hopefully to others, that God is still working among us. That He is still working and changing my heart every day.

Over the past few months, God has shown me so many things about who I am in Him. He is teaching me how to be fruitful. Jesus said that "every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit....by their fruit you will recognize them." (Matthew 7:17-20) And in Galatians 5:22-23 he tells what those fruits are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This is how God calls me, and all of us, to live. It is not promised anywhere that this life will be an easy one. On the contrary, it is the hardest one to live because it means I must take up my cross and follow Jesus. (Mark 8:34)

This first blog will be short, but it is the beginning of my journal. May God be honored and glorified through this. May anyone who reads these entries be encouraged, not by my words, but by what the Spirit is speaking to you.