Work has not really changed over the last few weeks. It is still really stressful! I feel like I am doing damage control constantly. I have been so scatter brained too. I have to wake up in the morning and make a decision to focus on Jesus every single day. If I don't the day will not go well and I don't want to say or do something that doesn't represent Him.
I know God knew that this would be happening in my life at this exact moment. So everyday I will chose Him! He holds my future in His hands and I will chose to trust Him. Why would I not trust Him with my entire life? I am so grateful I can walk through life knowing He is by my side walking ahead of me, walking beside me, and sometimes carrying me through. On nights like tonight I like to worship and praise Him. Just rest in His presence. I am so thankful that I am given that opportunity!
I am praying that something changes! I don't think it will change quickly but I don't know for sure. I know one thing is for sure, I will be changed! For that I am grateful! You can't have to many learning moments! :)
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Take and Eat
We were given an assignment in my Old Testament survey class where we had to compare "she took...and she ate" and "Take and eat". This was really eye opening to me! I love what this represents! The following is what I wrote for the class.
I found the connection between "she took...and she
ate" and "Take and eat" very interesting. I have never made the
connection between the fall of man and salvation from these simple words. In Matthew 26:26, Jesus is saying to us to
"take and eat" of Him. The bread represents the Word and the bread is
His body. Just as we must eat every day we must "take and eat" of His
word every single day.
The devil lied to Adam and Eve telling them that if they ate
of the tree they could be like God. In reality they were in God's presence all
along and by eating the fruit they separated themselves from God. It is so
amazing to me how these two words "take and eat" can be used to
separate us from God and yet redeem us at the same time. It is no coincidence
that these two words are used in the Bible in these two places. We "take
and eat" what the devil has for us sometimes and it leads us to brokenness.
Jesus redeems us by showing us His Word and leading us to a place of freedom in
Him. If we "Take and eat" of Him, He is all we need.
That Presence that Adam and Eve had in the garden we are now
freely given once again. Jesus gave us His body for to be able to freely be in
His presence again. When we read His Word, Worship Him, and speak to Him; He
breathes His life into us. When we Believe that He died on the cross for us He
gives us salvation. We can now experience Him all the time, wherever we are! He
took the lies of the devil and turned them into the most beautiful outpouring
of love and grace. He gave His life all for us to be saved from death so that
we may experience life as He intended it to be from the very beginning.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Trust: The Way God Intended
It seems 2013 is the year of change. First at church, then starting school, and now changes with work. Needless to say the past two months have been hard. Really the past three weeks have been the most trying. Work has not been fun and my patience has been wearing thin. I had come to the point where I really didn't care anymore. I didn't even want to get up and go to work. I just wanted to do my own thing. I don't like that place. I don't like not caring. This past Sunday Pastor talked about the satisfied heart. He talked about three blockages that will keep us from having a satisfied heart. They are comparison, control, and condemnation. The one that really got me was control. I struggle with so much with letting God be in control of every part of my life. I need to trust him more. Pastor made this statement on Sunday that was really eye opening, "It's like we are suspicious of Him and we aren't sure what He is going to do in our lives." Wow! That was a slap in the face. I have to trust Him with my life. He does know everything about me so why shouldn't I trust Him. This week I am starting my journey in trusting Him more. I decided to look up every verse that deals with trusting God. This very first one I looked up was 2 Samuel 22:31-33.
"As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried. He is a Shield to all those who trust and take refuge in Him. For who is God but the Lord? And who is a Rock except our God? God is my strong Fortress; He guides the blameless in His way and sets him free."
His way is always perfect. He is a perfect God! I love how it says He is our shield if we trust Him. This just shows me that I have nothing to worry about when He is in control of my life. He is my Rock and my strong fortress! So I started to look up more verses. The crazy thing is almost every verse after the very first one God had already showed me back in October when we had the Prayer week at church. All of the following verses have trust or be confident or both in them.
"The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer; my God, my keen and firm Strength in Whom I will trust and take refuge, my Shield, and the Horn of my salvation, my High Tower. I will call upon the Lord, Who is to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies." (Psalm 18:2-3)
"But I trusted in, relied on, and was confident in You, O Lord; I said, You are my God. My times are in Your hands; deliver me from the hands of my foes and those who pursue me and persecute me." (Psalm 31:14-15)
"What time I am afraid, I will have confidence in and put my trust and reliance in You. By [the help of] God I will praise His word; on God I lean, rely, and confidently put my trust; I will not fear. What can man, who is flesh, do to me?" (Psalm 56: 3-4)
"Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; reverently fear and worship the Lord and turn [entirely] away from evil. It shall be health to your nerves and sinews, and marrow and moistening to your bones." (Proverbs 3:5-8)
"The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever leans on, trusts in, and puts his confidence in the Lord is safe and set on high." (Proverbs 29:25)
"For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning [to Me] and resting [in Me] you shall be saved; in quietness and in [trusting] confidence shall be your strength." (Isaiah 30:15)
"[Most] blessed is the man who believes in, trusts in, and relies on the Lord, and whose hope and confidence the Lord is." (Jeremiah 17:7)
"The Lord is good, a Strength and Stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows (recognizes, has knowledge of, and understands) those who take refuge and trust in Him" (Nahum 1:7)
"And again He says, My trust and assured reliance and confident hope shall be fixed in Him. And yet again, Here I am, I and the children whom God has given Me." (Hebrew 2:13)
It's like God has been trying to show me this for months! Why can't I seem to get it? I am a work in progress and He already knew that I would be going through all of this. So I will put my trust fully in Him. Every aspect of my life. He did say "For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome." (Jeremiah 29:11) Why should I not put my trust in the One who knows everything about me and my future? So I leave you with these words: "Be Confident in Him!"
"As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried. He is a Shield to all those who trust and take refuge in Him. For who is God but the Lord? And who is a Rock except our God? God is my strong Fortress; He guides the blameless in His way and sets him free."
His way is always perfect. He is a perfect God! I love how it says He is our shield if we trust Him. This just shows me that I have nothing to worry about when He is in control of my life. He is my Rock and my strong fortress! So I started to look up more verses. The crazy thing is almost every verse after the very first one God had already showed me back in October when we had the Prayer week at church. All of the following verses have trust or be confident or both in them.
"The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer; my God, my keen and firm Strength in Whom I will trust and take refuge, my Shield, and the Horn of my salvation, my High Tower. I will call upon the Lord, Who is to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies." (Psalm 18:2-3)
"But I trusted in, relied on, and was confident in You, O Lord; I said, You are my God. My times are in Your hands; deliver me from the hands of my foes and those who pursue me and persecute me." (Psalm 31:14-15)
"What time I am afraid, I will have confidence in and put my trust and reliance in You. By [the help of] God I will praise His word; on God I lean, rely, and confidently put my trust; I will not fear. What can man, who is flesh, do to me?" (Psalm 56: 3-4)
"Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; reverently fear and worship the Lord and turn [entirely] away from evil. It shall be health to your nerves and sinews, and marrow and moistening to your bones." (Proverbs 3:5-8)
"The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever leans on, trusts in, and puts his confidence in the Lord is safe and set on high." (Proverbs 29:25)
"For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning [to Me] and resting [in Me] you shall be saved; in quietness and in [trusting] confidence shall be your strength." (Isaiah 30:15)
"[Most] blessed is the man who believes in, trusts in, and relies on the Lord, and whose hope and confidence the Lord is." (Jeremiah 17:7)
"The Lord is good, a Strength and Stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows (recognizes, has knowledge of, and understands) those who take refuge and trust in Him" (Nahum 1:7)
"And again He says, My trust and assured reliance and confident hope shall be fixed in Him. And yet again, Here I am, I and the children whom God has given Me." (Hebrew 2:13)
It's like God has been trying to show me this for months! Why can't I seem to get it? I am a work in progress and He already knew that I would be going through all of this. So I will put my trust fully in Him. Every aspect of my life. He did say "For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome." (Jeremiah 29:11) Why should I not put my trust in the One who knows everything about me and my future? So I leave you with these words: "Be Confident in Him!"
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