What Are You Waiting For - Shawn McDonald

Worry No More

 Luke 12:22-26 NLT
Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?

Worrying is probably one of the biggest struggles everyone has in their life, throughout their whole life, whether they realize or categorize it as a problem or not. Some people's brains are constantly rolling with "oh my gosh I need to do this. oh my gosh I need to figure this out for some date in the future. oh my gosh if I don't get this done today the world is going to end…." The world's way of being successful is getting things checked off a list, getting things planned, and getting things done by a deadline. Which is not really God's "definition" of success. If I had to say what His "definition" of success it would include trusting Him always in all circumstances (which means not worrying), doing as much good as you can for others despite what you need (because He will always provide for you if you're trusting), and let everything you do glorify Him. In my opinion, that is what it boils down to. Not worrying about everyday life. Just living your life as God gives it to you, and enjoying every moment of the ride. Not being all choked up and stressed out with everything that "needs" to get done. It'll get done.


Matthew 6:34 NLT
So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

Ephesians 3:20 NLT
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

God is With You

Colossians 2:6-7 NLT

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

(I encourage you to read all of chapter 2 in Colossians: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians%202&version=NLT)

God is always with you. He never leaves you, even when you "leave" Him. He never hesitates. He never stops loving you for any reason. Some people find Him better in their troubled moments, when they must fully depend on Him; and others see Him better in the light and the brightest days of their lives, when they are filled with thankfulness. Both situations reveal His Presence around you.

He knows you better than anyone ever could and will. He knows exactly what you need to get through each and everyday, and He places those opportunities and moments and events in your life right when and where you need them. He is present in every situation, good or bad. You just have to open your eyes and look around you.

Look for Him

Isaiah 33:6 NLT
In that day he will be your sure foundation,providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge.The fear of the Lord will be your treasure.

When you get up in the morning, try taking a different view on your day and how it will run. Remember that God is the one ultimately in control. He has already planned out your day for you. As you go through your day, instead of just getting up and racking your brain to get through your routine and check things off your list, look more closely for Him. In the good and the bad, He will be there. When things aren't going your way or how you planned, He is present in the situation. Whether or not the negative situation is fixed immediately, God makes sure there is an opportunity for your gain and growth. He will make sure that it betters you in some way or another. He will make you stronger, He will give you a new outlook on something, He will bring you closer to Him, He will pull you closer to a family member or friend, He will do something, I guarantee it, but you just have to be looking and trusting. 

1 Peter 5:6 NLT
So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.

When things are going your way and you're thinking "oh man, everything is great, life is great! I don't need to do a thing or give a care in the world about anything!" You can still be on the search for God. That doesn't mean you have to stress about finding Him or let it be a weight to you, you just look right around you. Nature is a prime example of that. Blessings that we don't even think about that we receive on a daily basis. Everything will always be okay and work out, however the key is trust. You don't try to do it yourself, you just give it 100% to God and He will take care of it. He knows what we can and cannot handle. He will comfort and hold us in our time of need. He will always be with us and never stop loving us.

Psalm 138:8 NLT
The Lord will work out his plans for my life—for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.Don’t abandon me, for you made me.

Depend on God

Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;

do not depend on your own understanding.

Seek his will in all you do,

and he will show you which path to take.

Proverbs 19:21 NLT
You can make many plans,

but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.

God is the one ultimately in control of how each day turns out for each of us. He is the one that makes the sun rise in the morning. He is the one that wakes you up. He is the one that gives you your next breath. Don't take advantage of those blessings. Yes, blessings. It doesn't matter if you are in the deepest darkest hole in your life right now… You. Are. Blessed. He has a hold on your life. He decides whats next. You plan your day however you wish, but keep in mind that your plans might not match up with God's plans. And if they don't, well His plans override your plans. We have to anticipate that He might have a better idea for you today. Instead of looking around for things to do, do what is right in front of you. Focus only on one thing at a time and let all else vanish from your mind. Relinquish your plans, your control, everything. Because God is awesome, powerful, and totally in control. He will guide you each step of the way, showing you His will so that you may agree and make it your will. And in doing this, depend on Him. Let Him take the reins. Take your life day by day. Depending on Him each new day that He brings you. Do not worry about tomorrow or what you will need for tomorrow or what will happen tomorrow. Worry about today, except don't worry, because everything is alright. Ask God for what you need for today, and He will bless you with what you need. Do not be independent like the world teaches you to do. Be dependent like God teaches you to do. He will not fail you, ever. Even though it may seem like it sometimes because you do not get what you want. He never has and never will fail you.

Luke 1:78-79 NLT

Because of God’s tender mercy,
the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,
⁷⁹ to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,

and to guide us to the path of peace.”

God is Great

James 4:7-8 NLT

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

God doesn't tell us or promise us that we won't suffer in our lives. But this doesn't mean that He just lets bad things happen to you. God doesn't cause bad things, He uses them to better you as an individual and child of Him. When something terrible happens in your life, God will comfort and protect you through it and something good will come of it if you just keep holding onto Him. I know it is really tough to do, but you must keep a hold on God and keep Him at the center of your life. 

Romans 8:28 NLT

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Which brings me once again to the importance of spending quiet time with Him each and everyday. It just brings you comfort and peace of mind. Now, I will admit, I have not done a very good job of this lately, and I can see definite things that were different because I didn't have that quiet time. Feelings that boiled up inside of me because I didn't spend that quiet time with God. You're always so much better off when you do. Even just five minutes. It is a necessity to living. It gives you strength against the devil. It reignites and kindles your relationship with God. It gives you hope. It gives you peace. It gives you comfort. God uses that time to heal you, to love you, to show you what He needs you to see. It is essential to life and everyday. 

He is our Father, our Daddy, He wants to be that for us, but we have to let Him into our lives. 

Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) - Hillsong

Just Live!

We often find ourselves lost. Don't know where to go next. We feel like we are short of something. Something we need every day. That is a blessing. It is an opportunity. Instead of being negative all the time when something isn't how we want it, we need to search for God in it. Because I guarantee you that He is right at the center. When you feel like something isn't going as YOU have planned, first remember that that isn't how it works, things go by GOD's plan on HIS TIME, not yours. He is in control, and its the best because He knows exactly what is best for you, even if it doesn't seem like it in the moment. So when you feel lost or in need or negative, it is an opportunity for you to turn back to Him, to hop back on His train. You need to learn to live in the moment. Worrying too much leads to over thinking, and that is just unnecessary. If you just keep your focus on God, you have nothing to worry about. If it is in the past, don't worry about it. If it is in the future, don't worry about it. Even if it is right now, don't worry about it. JUST LIVE!!! WORRY IS SUCH A WASTE OF PRECIOUS TIME THAT GOD HAS BLESSED YOU WITH!! HE IS CONSTANTLY BLESSING YOU AND YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS EVEN A SECOND!!

James 1:2 NLT
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.

2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT
Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

It Never Stops

We cannot stop wanting God. We cannot stop wanting to grow. When we hit a "good streak" in our faith, we cannot just be satisfied with that and stop. That isn't how faith works. Your faith is shaped ultimately by God, but also by the events and things happening around you. We can never "see it all." There is always going to be more. God is so infinitely great, and it just doesn't stop. When you get bored, it's not God's fault. It's not because God isn't doing anything. It's because you've stopped trying and stopped pressing forward, you have found some sort of content with where you are now and by filling yourself up with worldly entertainment, which takes away from your wanting God. You have to lay those things down. You have to continue to search for Him. You will find Him everywhere. He will continue to reveal Himself to you in new, amazing ways. 

And in that process we have to learn to be thankful. Thankful for what we have right now. Thankful for the many blessings God gives us. Thankful for our circumstances, whether they are good or bad. Know that everything you have belongs to God. It is not yours. You are not even yours. You are God's. When you lose sight of that thankfulness, you have to remember to spend quiet time with Him. Start with small chunks every day, 2 minutes, 5 minutes, 7 minutes, 10 minutes. Its about forming a habit of doing it every day, yet we have to remember we don't want to view it as a habit because then it will seem to get old. We have to view it has a positive experience that is helping us grow each day and improving the quality of each day. We have to learn to see things through God's eyes, for He is our guide. 

Psalm 119:105 NLT
Your word is a lamp to guide my feet
    and a light for my path.

Psalm 40:5 NLT

O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us.
    Your plans for us are too numerous to list.
    You have no equal.
If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds,
    I would never come to the end of them.

"The Best Way To Overcome Your Fears"

You Are Not Alone. You're Never Ever Alone.

If you ever feel so alone you don't know what to do, just please please know that God with you, and He loves you more than anyone on this earth, and your worth it. Your life is worth it. You can never do something so bad or so wrong that God won't stop loving you. Find someone to talk to and know that there are people that care for and love you, even at your darkest times. 
My heart breaks for the people who struggle with self worth and feel like no one loves or cares for them or that their life isn't worth living. 
There is so much to experience in this world that God created! Its so beautiful! Many of us barely scratch the surface of really experiencing all of the awesomeness God has put before us. There is so much to do. So much to see.
Praying for those who are feeling alone, scared, and worthless today. 
You are not alone. Do not be afraid. You are so worth it.
God can and will pull you out of your deepest darkest holes. He will never let go you you.

Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT
So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.
1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT
The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

"I'm Not Who I Was" - Brandon Heath

Romans 12

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. ² Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

³ Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. ⁴ Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, ⁵ so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

⁶ In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. ⁷ If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. ⁸ If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

⁹ Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. ¹⁰ Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. ¹¹ Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. ¹² Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.¹³ When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. ¹⁵ Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!

¹⁷ Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. ¹⁸ Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

¹⁹ Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,

“I will take revenge;

    I will pay them back,”
    says the Lord.
    If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap
    burning coals of shame on their heads.”

²⁰ Instead,

“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.

²¹ Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

All of Creation - MercyMe

God's Will

God's Plan

Scripture

1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 NLT

12 Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. ¹³ Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.

¹⁴ Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.

¹⁵ See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.

¹⁶ Always be joyful. ¹⁷ Never stop praying. ¹⁸ Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

¹⁹ Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. ²⁰ Do not scoff at prophecies,²¹ but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. ²² Stay away from every kind of evil.

2 Corinthians 5:7 NLT

For we live by believing and not by seeing.

Hello, My Name Is - Matthew West

Trust Is So Important

Isaiah 12:2 NLT
See, God has come to save me.

    I will trust in him and not be afraid.

The Lord God is my strength and my song;

    he has given me victory.”

Many times throughout our life, our comfort zone is pushed further than we are willing to let it go. When things happen in our life that put us out of our comfort zone, we can't just stop living and crawl back under our safety rock. That rock ain't protecting you from nothin'! When you stay there, you're not living! Living a full life with God is not about staying in the same place all your life, what good would that be. If we all just stayed in the same place all our life, nothing would ever happen in the world, no one would ever change, no one would see how great God really is. When you're pushed out of your comfort zone, kicked out of the nest that you grew up in or whatever, God is pushing you to go. He is pushing you to do something for Him. You have got to start trusting and living more. You have to just know that He is protecting you. You have to trust Him with all parts of your life! If He is leading you to go do something, you have to move your life around that command from God. You can't just move that part of your life. You can't live just that part of your life with God and take care of all your earthly needs in "another life." God wants all of you. He wants you to give yourself up to Him and go out of your comfort zone to live for Him and share His word and His light. God will give you the strength you need to move forward for Him, just ask for it. Just trust Him with every step you take.

Psalm 61:2-4 NLT

From the ends of the earth,

    I cry to you for help

    when my heart is overwhelmed.

Lead me to the towering rock of safety,

 for you are my safe refuge,

    a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me.

Let me live forever in your sanctuary,

    safe beneath the shelter of your wings!

Elevation Sermons

http://elevationchurch.org/sermons/in-fin-8
To this point, I've seen part 2 and part 3. And it just blows my mind what we can learn from these stories in the Bible. I guess I mean I knew, but then again, I've learned so much more from those two sermons than I ever thought I could.
Just the real life today kind of application that Steven Furtick brings to those old stories is so awesome! It applies to everyone no matter where they are in their life. I know that both sermons really touched me!

Always Come Back to God

Psalm 119:50 NLT

Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles.

God is always with you. He knows when you are going through a tough time. Jesus knows exactly how you feel. Sometimes it seems like there is no one else on earth you can turn to. That is why you have to turn to God. You will find Him in His word. There He will comfort you. He will show you the way. He will let you know it's all going to be okay. He is taking you on your life journey and you have to follow Him and not let go. God's way isn't the best way if you want the quickest way. God's way isn't the best way if you want the least painful and suffering way. God's way isn't the best way if you want the easy way. But God's way is ultimately the best and He promises you will become the best version of you if you take His way. His way has the most meaning, you learn the most lessons, and you certainly live the best life that He is offering. And if He gave you your life in the first place, why would you not want to live up to your potential and serve and praise Him the whole time?

We have to turn to the Bible when we need help. However, you can't expect to turn to the Bible read something and it be all better in a second. Time heals. God heals on His time, not yours. According to His plan, not yours. 

We also cannot just take pieces of the Bible out of context just to fit exactly what we want to hear. I don't mean that we can't hold on to certain verses of scripture during certain times of our life. I just mean that we can't twist the words because God's Word is ultimate, He provided us with it, we can't change it. It is what He fully intended for it to be. 

We have to know that through everything, we are never alone. You belong fully to Him and Satan cannot have you. God will protect you. Sure you will fall into sin (Romans 3:23 NLT "For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard."), but that does not mean that God will stop holding and loving you. 

Hebrews 13:8 NLT

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

We have to go through each day searching for the little bits of Heaven that God has placed on our path. We have to hold on to those things. It could be as simple as the beautiful weather. We have to take time to enjoy those things. He puts so many opportunities in front of us and we often miss them. I know I've missed a bunch lately. I have sort of gotten wrapped up in my own life doing what I want to do when I want to do it. But that isn't how it works. And I continually realize that I'm not happy living like that without reminding myself that God is constantly there and constantly blessing me. 

This morning I asked God to open my eyes to the things that I so often miss. 

He will renew you if you let Him. There is always hope.

Hebrews 6:19 NLT

This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.

This was so comforting to read...

Be Thankful

Don't take things for granted…that can be much tougher to do than it is to say. I mean once we are rollin' with our day, we can so easily get wrapped up in things. We forget to be thankful for the simplest  things around us that God created. I know I'm guilty of this everyday. 
And other times we take things for granted by focusing on what we don't have. We begin to want that and forget all the many things that God has blessed us with. That makes our mind dark and more prone to Satan's picking at you. You are more likely to be pulled in by Satan if your mind is focused on negativity. 
So to avoid that all together, think happy thoughts! Be happy with what you have! I know times may seem rough and it may be easy to overlook the simple blessings around you, but trust me, they are there all the time. 
I encourage you today and this week to remind yourself to be thankful for the little things, you live a much happier life that way. Thank God tons and you will feel and see His light shining brighter around you. 

Colossians 3:15 NLT
And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

I Love How God Works

I was so taken away this morning by both Abundant Life and Jesus Calling. 

Abundant Life could not more perfectly describe the struggle I often have some days, and I assume many other people as well. 

And then I read Jesus Calling which entirely supported Abundant Life.

And I just thought there is not better way I could sum this up than Nancy Guthrie and Sarah Young have done here.

I really hope this reaches and connects with someone like it did me.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 NLT

Never stop praying.

Proverbs 3:6 NLT

Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.

He Is Our Strength

Proverbs 3:5 NLT

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;

do not depend on your own understanding.

Seek his will in all you do,

and he will show you which path to take.

This morning was perhaps a small turning point for me, I don't know. But I felt God's Presence so powerfully this morning and the devotions I read were just terrific and spot on!

I've been weak in that I've not been having my normal quiet time on a regular basis, sometimes I just read the devotions right quick and run. I just got off a little while back, and has been just irregular. And looking back I can see somewhat of a difference in those days. Little things that could have and would have been better or different had I spent my quiet time with God that morning. 

I know that God was still there by my side everyday, but sometimes I just didn't think much about it, I just went about my day.

Deuteronomy 33:27 NLT

The eternal God is your refuge,

    and his everlasting arms are under you.

He drives out the enemy before you;

    he cries out, ‘Destroy them!’

Even when you fall into the deepest darkest black holes, the weakest points in your life, God is still with you. He is always there. We just sometimes fail to see or remember that because we are so consumed in our circumstances. He is our strength always. When we are weak He is our strength. When we think we are strong and on a good roll, He is still our strength providing for us. We cannot let Satan take us over when we fall down into horrible places in our lives. Satan will make it seem darker and darker. But we have access to God's Light. Read His Word. Let the Scripture fill you up and reassure you. We have to trust in Him, especially during the rough times. Believe in Him. Hold onto His Strength. Surround yourself with godly people who know and believe strongly so that they can also help guide you. He has planned out your day before you even wake up in the morning. Every day holds much to learn and chances to grow with Him. Use your faith to fight. Rest your soul in His hands, for He is your ultimate source of life and strength.

Jeremiah 29:13-14 NLT

If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”

Wait Patiently

I know that being patient, especially during tough and unknown times, can be really difficult. And I know that its hard to put the lives of loved ones, or your reputation in the hands of another person, but why not put it in the hands of God? What is holding you back from trusting God with it? 

I also know that sometimes it seems like it is taking forever for something to happen or get better, but God's time is totally the best. It is perfect! If you've ever experienced a great God moment, you know how awesome that is and God's perfect timing on those things. Or just hearing the right song at the right time. Or hearing the right sermon at the time you need it most. Therefore, we have to wait patiently on God. Trying to figure things out on your own or taking things into your own hands does not get you anywhere. 

Lamentations 3:24-26 NLT

I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance;

    therefore, I will hope in him!”

The Lord is good to those who depend on him,

    to those who search for him.

So it is good to wait quietly

    for salvation from the Lord.

Isaiah 30:41 NLT

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.

    They will soar high on wings like eagles.

They will run and not grow weary.

    They will walk and not faint.

Psalm 16:11 NLT

You will show me the way of life,

    granting me the joy of your presence

    and the pleasures of living with you forever.

Trust Trust Trust

Psalm 36:7-9 NLT

How precious is your unfailing love, O God!

All humanity finds shelter

    in the shadow of your wings.You feed them from the abundance of your own house,

    letting them drink from your river of delights.

For you are the fountain of life,

    the light by which we see.

God is so big and so great. He is so much more than we will ever be able to comprehend. I mean really, just sit and think to yourself about how big you think your home town is, then think about how big your state is, then think about how big the country is, then think about how huge the earth is, then think about how ginormous you think the universe is. GOD IS INFINITELY BIGGER THAN THAT!! Now compare that to the problems/struggles you have in your life right now. 

James 4:14 NLT

How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like        the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.

We cannot sit around and worry about our problems. They are so small compared to God and how awesome and great He is. And if He is so much bigger than us, then why do we struggle so much to fully trust Him with our worries in life? I would have to say it is just because of our insecurities. Not insecurities necessarily in this world, but just because we don't know what is going to happen. But I promise you, no matter how big or how small something is in your life, giving it entirely to God is the best decision you can make. 

The more we trust Him the more He reveals of Himself. The more He answers prayers. The more He shapes us. The more we give to Him of us, the more He blesses and renews us. 

The trust you put in Him is just so incredibly important on the direction and path your life takes.

March 21, 2013

I have gotten into a short term habit here not blogging everyday. I got really busy with the week before Spring Break, then I was lazy over Spring Break, and now here I am.

Blogging is an interesting thing, I mean how it works. Well for me anyways.

It's neat really. (And I've been slacking.)

What it does for me:

In the mornings I read my devotion, well devotions. I started reading Jesus Calling along with Abundant Life shortly after the year started. I sorta just realized that even though I love Abundant Life and it has been great, I just have to read Jesus Calling. It always comes around on the days I need it most. Its just totally the most amazing things how it just always relates.

Abundant Life does the same thing in a different kind of way. It often covers more topics of daily things we should practice in our faith. But Jesus Calling just doesn't get old, even though it is always talking primarily about trusting during the rough times.

Anyways, I read my devotions in the morning and pray and sit in silence. I wake up early to do that. And it has been one of the best changes I've made in my lifestyle. Sure, I still have sucky days. But I have learned to rise back up from them much quicker than I used to could do. 

After I read the devotions it helps me best to process it by writing about it. I know I'm not much of a writer or anything. I don't really like writing a whole lot, but writing helps me to connect with what I've read. A lot of days God leads me stronger in what I write than others. Sometimes I write and don't post in on my blog. I write for me about more personal things, situations, struggles, etc. When I just start writing a stream of consciousness kind of deal, it helps me to better see my thoughts and think through things. I don't know about you, but I'm a pretty poor multitasker (well technically according to some research I read about, pretty much no one can actually multitask and we are all much worse at it than we think we are.) Anyways, I have a hard time organizing my thoughts in my head and I easily lose things up there in my noggin'. So writing and blogging just really help me to process things.

And I guess that has become part of my time with God, blogging that is. And when I don't I find myself more lost than when I do. 

The Jesus Calling devotion today was just another reminder for me. God is always giving me reminders. Its pretty cool really. Different people connect with God in different ways. Me? I connect with God through other people and through just little things throughout my day. I just see God. Even when I'm not looking for Him I see Him in someone's smile or someone's kind words or in the weather and environment. God is just there and I know it. 

I'm not always good about talking directly about my faith to someone, I have to process and be prepared. I guess that is a bit of a weakness in a way. I struggle to just jump in and share things right off the bat. But I do not however struggle with showing God through my actions and interactions. I mean sometimes I fail when I'm not in good mood or just not me. (I wasn't saying I'm perfect at that, because I am totally not even close.) Just saying I think about it and sometimes I don't think about it. But I always say thank you when someone holds the door (even if they have headphones in and can't hear me.) I always say "Thank you! Have a great day!" at the checkout register and smile. I always smile at random people when they happen to look at me in passing. (I'm not bragging in anyway, just giving examples.)

That is how I live the happiest days. With God and for God and exhibiting God. Just being myself and who God made me to be.

I'm not really sure how I got to rambling, but today's Jesus Calling was just a really great reminder that everything is going to be okay no matter what. I just cannot stress enough how important it is to continue to trust Him. Praise Him in all situations. He is our strength. Without Him we are nothing.  

Jeremiah 17:7-8 NLT

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord

    and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.

They are like trees planted along a riverbank,

    with roots that reach deep into the water.

Such trees are not bothered by the heat

    or worried by long months of drought.

Their leaves stay green,

    and they never stop producing fruit.

Isaiah 12:2-3 NLT

See, God has come to save me.

    I will trust in him and not be afraid.

The Lord God is my strength and my song;

    he has given me victory.”

With joy you will drink deeply

    from the fountain of salvation!

Psalm 21:6 NLT

You have endowed him with eternal blessings

    and given him the joy of your presence.

I heard this song (Praise You in This Storm) on my way back to school this morning. And I noticed in the chorus it says "And every tear I've cried You hold in Your hand" Assuming many of us have cried many tears, the fact that hand is singular just reminds me how big and great God is and that He is never going to leave my side.


And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

Reminders

God is constantly trying to remind us of His Presence in our lives, His love for us, and to spend time with Him. 

Zephaniah 3:17 NLT 

For the Lord your God is living among you.

    He is a mighty savior.

He will take delight in you with gladness.

    With his love, he will calm all your fears.

    He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

Lately I've not been as punctual, or perhaps that word is too constricting, um diligent in doing my quiet time every morning with God. Some days I find myself just reading both devotions and moving on, praying randomly throughout the day. That isn't my so called "norm." I want to get back to doing what I do best with every morning. I want to read the devotions every morning, pray, sit in silence, blog if I feel God lead me, read my Bible sometime in the afternoon. That is what I can do to make my day the best it can be, aside from staying positive as much as I can. And lately I've failed to do these things in my "normal" way. Even though I've had some pretty good days, they could have been better had I stayed super connected with God. I guess I've just sort of been drifting, not in the sense of drifting away, just sorta floatin' along. 

Today in both Abundant Life and Jesus Calling, God reminded me that He is always loving me no matter where I am at in my walk, whether I've fallen down or am sky high. He reminded me that it isn't about being "punctual," it is more about just living, and living with Him. A lot of the time we are more concerned with getting things done and staying on a schedule, and that isn't what is important. And we should not hold schedules to such a high place in our life. I am not saying that it is okay to be late everywhere you go, but getting stressed over sticking to a schedule also causes you to stress and get upset over little things. And by all that I am just saying that many of us miss out on important things and opportunities with God that are right in our face. We miss them because we are too focused on schedules, getting things done, and always working. We don't ever just chill out and go with the flow. If more people just relaxed and went with the flow a little more, then there would be a lot less stress in the world. Little kids are the best example of how we should live. They see the beauty in the little things that God provides. They notice things adults don't. Let God handle things. He loves you. Trust Him. Find your happiness in God. Live like a kid.

Jesus Calling March 9th Rest in Him

I hate using school as an excuse to not write on my blog, but I have been so incredibly busy lately that I've barely had time to just sit down and breathe. 

This devotion in "Jesus Calling" is so perfect for today, the first day of spring break! It's all about rest and satisfaction. We are to seek that in God and not worldly pleasures or things. This past week for me the world seemed to be spinning so fast that I could not take it. But every time I made time for God I felt relieved of my responsibilities. I just didn't feel the rush to get things done. I just slowed down. God reminded me that I am to turn to Him and put Him at the center of my life all the time, especially when I am super busy.

Galatians 5:22 NLT

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness

1 John 4:12 NLT

No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.

Jesus Calling March 5th

"Jesus Calling" will always be such a huge important part of my life. It was just the biggest turning point for me in my life, I mean aside from giving my life to Christ. "Jesus Calling" brought me back to Christ after a valley in my life. 

Each day's devotion never fails to mean something for each day that I go through. Today's was especially meaningful. 

Romans 8:28 NLT

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

1 Corinthians 1:23-24 NLT

So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense. But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Every day we have to make thousands of choices, even though we don't realize it. A lot of them are choices that we just make without thinking because they are natural reactions. 

Many days we face struggles, problems, etc. God can help you with those, He can fix them, He can make things all better, but part of it is for us to place our full trust in Him. We cannot just expect to snap our fingers and God fix everything. That wouldn't do anyone any good. It wouldn't get us anywhere in life. We have to discipline ourselves to learn that if we place our trust in God, He will bless us even more. Blessings come from problems. We learn from our problems and mistakes, so that we may prosper in the future.

Comfort Others

2 Corinthians 1:4

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

Wow. What a powerful verse. God is leading us to help others. 

We have struggled and we are struggling people. He wants us to use our past struggles to help comfort those who are struggling now. He wants us to "channel" that comfort to them so they know that it is God reaching out. He wants us to tell our stories showing them that God has been faithful always so that they will gain that sense of hope. Whether it is coping with the loss of a loved one or struggling with a family member/friend who is sick now. God wants us who understand the concept of struggle to be the first to reach out to those people. The first one to give them a phone call when something happens. The first to be at their door with a hot meal. The first to give them a great hug and tell them it is going to be okay because God is present. 

We are the people of God, we are called to help those in need and those in times of trouble. He loves us no matter what.

Time

Wow, it's hard to believe we are already starting the third month of 2013. Time seems to just be flying at this point. Are you ever afraid you will blink and "time" will just be over? I know it's a slightly depressing thought, but sometimes I think, "wow, that went by quick. If I am not careful my whole life will go by before I know it. And what will I have left? God. But aside from that, what will I have done with my life?" I sometimes forget to live in the moment and live life to the fullest. If we don't live life to the fullest right now, we might not get another chance. I think about how time seems to be going so quick and sometimes think if it's going this quick, I'll be out in the real world in no time. Sometimes we get wrapped up in the little things and work and jobs and "important" stuff. We forget to spend maximum time with those who are most important to us. We forget to stop and breathe in and enjoy the beauty around us that God created. 

I want to live with no regrets. I want every moment of my life to mean something. When I see opportunities of awesomeness that God puts in front of me, I want to take them. I don't want to miss out on anything. I want to live up God's plan for me. I don't want to get bogged down by past mistakes, I want to be thankful for the renewed life He gave me and live it! 

I want to let Him shape me into who He wants me to be! I want to let Him be the potter and me be the clay! I want Him to be in me in everything that I do! I want to be as much like Jesus as I can be! I want to be His beautiful masterpiece!

Don't you? What's holding you back?

Ephesians 2:10 NLT

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Isaiah 45:9 NLT

“What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator.

    Does a clay pot argue with its maker?

Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying,

    ‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’

Does the pot exclaim,

    ‘How clumsy can you be?’

Let Go of the Past. Be Yourself.

Doing a devotion is so awesome! God just totally puts the right thing in your face at the right time. His timing is beyond amazing!

I read both Abundant Life and Jesus Calling today, and I am just blown away.

Lately I've been non intentionally beating myself up in a sense for my past and my mistakes. I've definitely come a long way in a short amount of time. I don't need to tell what I've done or why I did things because that would only defeat the purpose. It would only be a source of gossip to many who read it. It doesn't matter how bad or not bad or how big or small any of my mistakes are. Mistakes are mistakes. Here I am today because of learning from them and turning to God. Or rather God showing me at the right time and place where to go from there.

I know I kind of worded that like I committed some terrible crime, but no worries I've done nothing of the sort. Just personal mistakes, that is all.

I know that everyone has made mistakes that they are ashamed of. And it does not matter what they are, God will never let go of you. You can change. You can become a new person. You can start over. GOD GIVES SECOND CHANCES!!! You can't get second chances anywhere else. You can't get second chances or make it better and go away by drinking. You can't make it go away with drugs. You can't make it go away by physically abusing yourself or someone else. You can't make it go away by getting addicted to something whether it be an action or substance or other thing. You cannot make it go away with anything on this earth. It just isn't possible. God, however, can make it go away. He can't change the past, but He can make it better. He can give you a new day and a new breathe and new opportunities. God is the only exit from the old life, mistakes, etc, and He is the only entrance to a new life with Him. A prosperous blessed life.

You cannot continue judging yourself for what you've done. That gets you no where. It either puts you in the dumps, or it puts you on a pedestal, thinking that you are better than everyone else. On that note, pride is wrong. 

Psalm 42:5 MSG

Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?

    Why are you crying the blues?

Fix my eyes on God—

    soon I’ll be praising again.

He puts a smile on my face.

    He’s my God.

God wants to take you on a path, a journey, that is specifically for you. He made it JUST FOR YOU and no one else! It will not be the same as anyone else. It may cross over and go with someone else for a while, but your path is a gift from God. Special for you. You are special. You cannot look to other people to make you happy or to know what to do. You cannot put your hope in the opinions of others. Go out on a limb. Be yourself for a change! Be who God wants you to be! He is the only true source of our full happiness. Don't look at Him in a way that you think He is negatively judging you for your actions, looking for and picking out what you've done wrong. It isn't like that. He sent His son, Jesus, to die for you. He saved you from your sins. You are saved. He forgives. He gives second chances. He does what He does because it is best for you. 

John 3:16-17 NLT

For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

Proverbs 3:11-12 NLT

My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline,

    and don’t be upset when he corrects you.

For the Lord corrects those he loves,

    just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.

Both Jesus Calling and Abundant Life showed me today that it's okay. It's going to be okay. It is okay. All is okay. God has got my back. And I know that with all my heart. That's how I keep moving on. He provides and I go. 

Matthew 7:13-14 says "You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

I know it's easier to do what everyone else is doing. I get it. Most humans feel better and more comfortable in a group and being a part of that group and accepted and to do what they do. That's not how it works with God. He is bigger than that. He doesn't care about the majority. People who live by the majority are living wrong. They don't get it. They don't know God. They haven't given Him a chance to lead their life. They don't know what makes life worth living. They will end in a disastrous way. You don't have to go down that road. Turn to God with your problems. "I have decided to follow Jesus. Though none go with me, I still will follow." That has to be you. You have to stand up for you first. Put God first. Make Him your priority. He will be with you. You have to identify with Him. Not with a certain group of people or thing. He will give you the strength to stand alone. Just ask. Simply ask. He will lead you on a path of greatness. He will lead you to Him. You have to learn to go against what the world thinks and wants. You have to "take up your cross and follow Him."