Show Me Something Great

Well, Saturday night I slept on a 2 seater couch because someone else slept in my bed. We had company over. That couch made for a very eventful sleep, as you can imagine. Or rather, a lack of sleep. I didn't actually fall asleep until about 3:30 or 4. So, what do I do when I can't sleep? I pray. So, I did. I prayed for everything I could think of. Then I prayed for me. I knew it was church the next day, and I wanted to get a special message from God just for me. I wanted to learn something new or be reminded of something that applies to my life specifically. Well, the pastor spoke about inviting God to take your problems and that we have to ask God and not just expect Him to do it (that was sort of the idea.) Well, the pastor said something along the lines of:

Some of you might have financial troubles, or physical difficulties, or academic problems. You might have a class that you say, "I just can't do this!" Well, you're right. You can't. But God can. You have to allow Him to take that class and be your strength.

Well, here I am stressing big time over student teaching, and I'm not listening to my own advice. Well, God did it. He spoke to me specifically. I'm sure there were other people there who needed it too, but I was thrilled.

In the evening service at a different church, the pastor was giving background about one of Daniel's visions (about the ram and goat.) He was talking (brief overview) about all the kingdoms that fell. But God's doesn't. God is always in control of everything, and He rules fully. That was a comfort to me too.

All in all, God is in control. He knows what's happening, and He has everything in His hand. That's something great.

Here I Am After All

Well, here I sit in the dining room of my new apartment. It's really very nice, in fact. Of course, I've spent disgusting amounts of money furnishing it, but that's ok because I'm done now. I only have to wait for school to begin so that I have something to do with my time. Not that I'm not grateful for this quiet vacation time! :)

I've still found myself being nervous about student teaching. Although, every time I doubt, I pray a quick prayer and hand it back to God. I know I can't carry my own burdens, but sometimes I think I can help (even though I can't!) It's really a great comfort that I can give it back to God. I need to stop treating God like He is so small. He's mighty when I am weak. :)

It's church tomorrow! YAY! I'm very excited to go worship with fellow believers. God knew we would need that gathering once a week. Sometimes I wish I could do it more often.

I'm steadily praying for a friend who might not be able to return to school due to financial difficulties. I know that in the end God will have her right where He wants her, but I still pray that she can complete her senior year. Let God's will be done, and praise Him when He gives AND when He takes.

I don't have much else to say today. I'm just getting ready for school and not doing much of anything, really. I'm spending quality time with family.

Peace out, people.

I Made It!

Well, I survived the plane rides and shuttle bus. I'm here at my new apartment. Ahhh, I stink, but God was good, and we had a very smooth trip. Prayer really does work, people. God listens. And I'm very grateful that He does.

How great is our God? Can anyone ever know? Nope. We can only see tiny pieces of His greatness. I believe that if we saw it all at once, it would be way too much for us to handle. But it's always there, and He's always showing Himself strong.

Pray for me as I begin this new adventure of my senior year. God WILL get me to where He wants me, and I'm so happy to know that I can completely rest in Him.

He's more on my mind at this stage of my life than He's ever been. I'm growing up, standing on my own two feet, and embracing Him because I want to and not because other people tell me to. I go to church to worship Him because I want to do. I pray and read my Bible because I crave it daily. What a wonderful feeling to want Him for me and not because my parents or teachers say I need to. He's mine and I am His.

He's All of Our Best Friends

I just got to thinking as I sit here waiting to board the 3 hour shuttle ride to my 6 hour plane ride, that God is our best friend. Obviously we know that, but I mean, think about it. He's never late and His phone would never be off (if He had one), He's never sleeping so we can talk to Him whenever, He never gets tired of our questions, He never says, "I've had enough" when we mess up, He doesn't laugh at our "stupid questions," even if we have no one else then He's there, He never gets mad and gives us the silent treatment, He never forgets (whether it be something we've asked or something else like that), He always listens, He always has the best adivce, there's no job that's too hard for Him, He can help us out of any situation, He's always watching out for us, He DIED for us, and the list goes on.

If we really think about all the things God does for us, we'd have to love Him more. But what is love, exactly? A feeling? Nope. In the Bible, love is clearly actions. Be partient, kind, don't envy or boast, don't be proud, etc. Those are all things we DO not FEEL. So, how do we show love back to God for all the things He's done for us? We keep His commandments (yup, the 10 and all the others throughout scripture,) we build our relationship with Him through Bible reading and prayer. Basically, we do back to Him all the things we does to us. We can never pay back all the love He's given to us, but we can keep on showing it through everything we do.

So, next time you tell Him or someone else that you love God, think about what you're saying. Do you really love Him (aka showing it) or is it just something convenient to say to make people believe that you do? I know that I often say those 3 special words, but I'm not living my life like I really do love my Jesus. I do love Him, and I want to do all that I can to show it. Just like I would show it to my boyfriend or my parents and siblings. That's the challenge for you. Show your love to God, dont' just say it.

I Gave It Up

No question about it, I'm ready to student teach. Last night I wasn't...no siree! I had been giving advice to a friend about accepting God's peace while making important life decisions and praying that God will take care of everything and that God's will shall be done. Well, here I am giving this advice, but I'm stressing big time about my senior year student teaching. Last night I was having a hard time falling asleep, so I started to pray. I prayed for friends and family, safe travels back to school for me and a lot of other people, health of grandparents, etc. I usually save praying for myself until last, and so I did the same this time. Somehow I got praying about student teaching. Tears came to my eyes as I realized how small I was making God. I was letting my anxiety get in the way of His strength in my situation. The hymn popped into my head, "All your anxiety, all your care. Bring to the mercy seat, leave it there. Never a burden He cannot bear, never a friend like Jesus." I asked forgiveness for doubting God's power, and then I asked Him to fully take my burden of worry and feelings in inadequacy, and I asked Him to let me fall back into His arms and rest while letting Him steer through life. I realize I'll have to work, that's life, but I won't have to worry while I work.

Psalm 55:22
"Cast your burden upon the Lord, and He will sustain you: He will never suffer the righteous to be moved."

Psalm 28:7
"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song I will praise Him."

God took away all my fear and replaced it with all His peace. He took away all my weakness and replaced it with all His strength. I am grateful to Him.

So, I head back to school tonight. I get to see my grandparents one last time before I have to leave, which is nice because I don't know how long they'll be around for. Then, it's off to school (3000 miles away) and the store so I can furnish my new apartment. I'm pretty excited about that.

Yes, I am student teaching. Like I said, I was afraid, but not anymore. There will be a lot of work to do, but God's gotten me to my senior year, so pretty sure He can get me past that. I'll try to stay updated as I go through life. Typing just seems to take so long... :) Ta ta for now.

Whatever You're Doing

"Whatever You're doing inside of me

It feels like chaos but somehow there's peace

It's hard to surrender to what I can't see

But I'm giving in to something Heavenly"

This is what I feel like often. I want to surrender, but it's easier to hold onto the world that I can see. My life feels like everything is wrong. But then I remember that God had my every breath planned out before He even created the world. That's an amazing thought. No matter what I or any one else does, we can't change what God's going to do. We're not strong enough to fight against His perfect plan. Besides our strength, His way is perfect and He does good things for His children, so why would we want anything else but to fully surrender?

So, where am I in my life right now? On a path that is narrow. On a road that leads to Heaven. A born again Christian who wants to get to know the God that saved me on a much more personal level. My life takes crazy turns like on a roller coaster, but God is down at the control station pushing the buttons, and He has total control of what goes on in my life. So, for now, my life might be turning upsidedown, but what do I have to worry? He's in control. He's changing me to be more like Him. He's the one who gives me the peace during the choas. I'm giving in to Him.

My God is Amazing. Indescribable. Awesome. All powerful. Untameable. All knowing. Loving. Perfect. Holy. Wonderful. Mighty. Reigning. Creator. Father. Beginning and End. Giver of Good. Unchanging. Ruler. Beautiful. Gentle. Shepherd. Pure. Most High. Everywhere. Drier of Tears. Leader. Unlike any other. Calmer. Peace. Given to All. Mine.