God seriously blessed me today.
Not only did I spend the afternoon with Leah picking up my maid-of-honor dress/shoes for her wedding, but I also got to talk to three of my leaders in Church from back home. It was just really encouraging to talk to them about everything God is doing in their lives and how he is using them. Plus, it was just nice to talk to people that I hold very dear in my heart.
I am so grateful that the Lord surrounds me with people who really love me. I am just overjoyed with the deep and meaningful relationships that I have with my mentors, my friends, and my family. It is a priceless gift.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Friday, October 12, 2012
When things get tough...
When things get tough and everything feels like its caving in, all I can do is endure and trust in the Lord. These past three weeks have challenged my strength and commitment to the Lord more than anything else in my life. It's easy to trust and remain steadfast in faith when things are good. But, it's a whole other matter to remain steadfast when your heart is breaking as you make the decision to endure.
Endurance in Christ is probably the most challenging thing every believer faces. Every voice that speaks into our ears, let alone our own selfish will, cries out and demands that we take the road of least resistance. "Remain comfortable" becomes the slogan of the highly traveled road. But, comfort leads to stagnation and ruin. Nothing worthwhile results from ease. Endurance, persistence and perseverance result in victory. Distraction, comfort, and the need for immediate satisfaction merely lead you in a perverse and self-destructive circle.
This is know for sure: nothing is worth pursuing if the Lord is not behind it. If you will it to be, you will not get the result you expected--and, you will hurt the people closest to you in the process. Life is not all about me. My decisions don't solely effect me. My decisions create a ripple effect that merge out of my sphere and cause side-effects in the lives of those I most care about.
This is why I must endure. This is why I have to remain steadfast in following the voice of the Lord. He is crafting me, molding me, into the individual who can withstand hardship with a joyful heart full of thanksgiving and praise for the Lord's goodness.
I will praise the Lord God simply because of his glorious attributes, His loving-kindness, His mercy, His justice, His righteousness, and His ever-present guidance. My lips will never cease praising my Heavenly Father. Without Him, I would not prevail. Without Him, I would not have the patience to wait for anything higher than second-best. But with Him, my life will follow the most wonderful path that He has ordained for med. Although there will be trials, they build character. Although my dependence on the Lord may cause other's to judge and turn away from me, the Lord will bring joy to my soul. Thus, I will continue to follow His voice and wait upon His direction.
The Lord is my Light and my Salvation. Because He is my Lord, I have nothing to fear but displeasing Him through my own disobedience. Therefore, I long to please Him in all that I do. I long to be like Christ Jesus-- only doing and saying what The Father tells me to do and say. Only then, will I have true freedom and joy.
I love you, Lord, with all my heart, soul, and mind. I will forever praise You!
Endurance in Christ is probably the most challenging thing every believer faces. Every voice that speaks into our ears, let alone our own selfish will, cries out and demands that we take the road of least resistance. "Remain comfortable" becomes the slogan of the highly traveled road. But, comfort leads to stagnation and ruin. Nothing worthwhile results from ease. Endurance, persistence and perseverance result in victory. Distraction, comfort, and the need for immediate satisfaction merely lead you in a perverse and self-destructive circle.
This is know for sure: nothing is worth pursuing if the Lord is not behind it. If you will it to be, you will not get the result you expected--and, you will hurt the people closest to you in the process. Life is not all about me. My decisions don't solely effect me. My decisions create a ripple effect that merge out of my sphere and cause side-effects in the lives of those I most care about.
This is why I must endure. This is why I have to remain steadfast in following the voice of the Lord. He is crafting me, molding me, into the individual who can withstand hardship with a joyful heart full of thanksgiving and praise for the Lord's goodness.
I will praise the Lord God simply because of his glorious attributes, His loving-kindness, His mercy, His justice, His righteousness, and His ever-present guidance. My lips will never cease praising my Heavenly Father. Without Him, I would not prevail. Without Him, I would not have the patience to wait for anything higher than second-best. But with Him, my life will follow the most wonderful path that He has ordained for med. Although there will be trials, they build character. Although my dependence on the Lord may cause other's to judge and turn away from me, the Lord will bring joy to my soul. Thus, I will continue to follow His voice and wait upon His direction.
The Lord is my Light and my Salvation. Because He is my Lord, I have nothing to fear but displeasing Him through my own disobedience. Therefore, I long to please Him in all that I do. I long to be like Christ Jesus-- only doing and saying what The Father tells me to do and say. Only then, will I have true freedom and joy.
I love you, Lord, with all my heart, soul, and mind. I will forever praise You!
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