Tossing Around Some Thoughts

Life is crazy and always changing.  On the contrary, God is good and constant.  It's true.  Your belief in that Truth despite your circumstances shows really just how much you trust God.  No doubt I often fail in fully trusting and relying on the Lord for the present and future, but thankfully he is ALWAYS faithful to me, even when I fail him.

It's been a while, but I wanted to look at some Scripture in 2 Peter that I have been meditating on lately.  God has been blowing my mind with Truth and challenges through this book.  Maybe it will do the same for you.

v. 16 - Peter didn't make up some this story, but saw the Lord's majesty with his own eyes.
v. 17 - He heard God say, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."
v. 18 - He was with the Lord on the holy mountain.
v. 19 - He have a sure sign of the Lord's promises... His very Word!
v. 20 - No Scripture comes from a humans own interpretation (thank goodness!)
v. 21 - Men spoke from God as they were carried by the Holy Spirit.

So to sum it up, the Lord speaks to us clearly through his Word.  Wowza.

Those who are searching for God's guidance, look no further then His very Word.  If you aren't, why?

I don't want to, nor can I, give you the answers to all of life's questions, but instead I want to point you straight to the only one who can comfort, heal, and save.  I don't want any person to miss God's clear direction when He made it so easily accessible to many of us.  On the other hand, how dare we take this beautiful gift for granted when many people in other countries don't have the Bible in their language or can't read it?

What is it in our generation that keeps us from sharing the Gospel?  Is it because we have not taken the Word and its message for the beautiful, priceless gift that it really is?

First, we are selfish.  Sharing the Gospel is certainly not an easy task, and when you are glued to your calender and only looking at your to-do list for the day, you will miss out on those chance moments that He provides us with.  We are innately selfish, and if something throws off our plans, we freak out, throw a fit, and sometimes get bitter.

Also, we like to decide who hears this Good News.  We look at others and judge them based on their actions, looks, or status in society and decide if they are good enough for us to share the love and grace that we have received with them.

Getting out of our comfort zone is where I found that the Lord has taught me most.  I believe it's times that we feel inadequate, awkward, and unprepared that God teaches us the most if we are willing to be taught.   When presented with opportunities to minister, we will stick to what we are most comfortable and good and, and how easily pride can creep in if we continue on in this pattern.  If you find yourself in an uncomfortable or unpleasant situation, think about how much the Lord can grow you during that time.  Though it may be painful and unpleasant in the moment, it will be worth it in the long run. 

Perfectly Aligned

"In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."  Ephesians 1:13-14

Friend, you are God's beloved child!  He knew you before the creation of the World and had a unique plan for your life.  Recently, I've been trying to concentrate on keeping in step with the Lord RIGHT NOW, rather then anticipating what He has for my future.  His plans for my life are only to prosper me.  

As followers of Jesus, our hope and future are not found in things of this earth, but they are found in eternal things, heavenly things.  Nothing can rob of us of the glorious inheritance that the Father has prepared for us.  We cannot imagine the glory that is waiting for us.  Let our main focus be staying close to God.  He is the one that knows how to perfectly align just what we need with his perfect plans and purposes.  

Try This Psalm on for Size

If I haven't already made it clear on here, I like writing.  But, I don't like writing as much as other things.  Things being, eating, reading, talking, etc.

A lot of times I write as a way to express what I feel I have been learning and feel led to share with somebody.  If I find that through writing then I write, but a lot of times I can find that outlet elsewhere.  Hence, my lack of posting as often as I would like.  It's not laziness, it's lack of motivation.

When I got to college I started this blog as a way to share and sort out the things that the Lord was teaching me and the experiences I was having.  It was a good way to adjust for me.

After two years at college, I now have godly, encouraging friends who I can talk to when I need perspective or to sort my thoughts out.  I have a job with my college in student leadership, my studies, friendships, and my church family to help me keep things in perspective, which is why I haven't really become "regular" in my blogging.

Of course there is a reason why I am writing this post then, when I have countless other things to be doing (just kidding, I am not busy in the least this weekend).

In a couple months I will be taking on a new adventure as an RA, and then a year from now I will be graduating.  I've been in prayer, read my assigned books, and emailed back and forth with my RD, and it's all becoming very real.  Not only will this be my last year at school, but I will be responsible for the safety of forty girls.  This is why I need to write.  This is when I need to sort my thoughts into order and watch paragraphs from.  And, thankfully end.

College girls say and do some crazy things.  They still cry about MANY things.  New challenges, obstacles, hardships, and trials arise on a daily basis.  As an SLD on my hall last year, these are things that I have come to understand are a part of life on a girl's hall.  I try to take them in stride.  I want to be more sensitive to them going into the new school year.  I want to build trust with the girls on my hall.  I want to know where they are spiritually.

Even more so, I'm excited/sad that next year will be my Senior year.  Sometimes I get a little overwhelmed by the bittersweet of it.  So many good things will be left behind, but even better things to anticipate.  But, I know that some of the things that were good during those four years, will continue to be good then.  But what will my life look like after graduation?

I don't know.

There is a great temptation to try and figure out what the future will look like, to analyze every possible outcome, to spend more time planning my life then living it.  Giving more energy towards avoid undesired outcomes then pursuing the only outcome that really matters.

Thankfully, I have another option...

"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act."

There is so much about the future that I don't know, and sometimes the weight of that can seem too heavy.  But I don't have to carry that burden anymore.  As I follow Christ, he will direct me where I need to go in due time.  

If you feel like this sometimes, take a look at Psalm 37:3-7.  I think you'll like what you see.