It is truly amazing the way God uses the baggage, the ugliness, the dirt from your life to bless, encourage, and love others. The way God takes dust and makes it beautiful. After a long conversation with a friend today, I am left amazed. Amazed that my sin, my mistakes, and my regrets brought her comfort, hope, and encouragement. I cannot say enough how amazing my Father is and the way He works.

God, thank you for taking me down the roads you have taken me. Although I cannot always see the purpose or the outcome, I know you have a bigger plan and I will forever put my trust in you. Thank you for letting me see a glimpse of how you are using me and my story. Thank you for answering my prayer.

“I don't always knew where this life is going. I can't see the end of the road, but here is the great part: Courage is not about knowing the path. It is about taking the first step. It is about Peter getting out of the boat, stepping out onto the water with complete faith that Jesus will not let him drown.”- Katie J. Davis

Trancends all Understanding

I wanted to share the devotional that really touched me this week. It is from the devotional Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman. I love it! I was given it as a gift after my summer at Canby Grove.


It is dated for October 13:

"Anxiety should never be found in a believer. In spite of the magnitude, quantity, and diversity of our trials, afflictions, and difficulties, anxiety should not exist under any circumstances. This is because we have a Father in heaven who is almighty, who loves His children and He loves His 'one and only son' (John 3:16), and whose complete joy and delight is to continually assist them under all circumstances. We should heed His word, which says,

'Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.' (Philippians 4:6)

'In everything' - not simply when our house is on fire or when our beloved spouse and children are gravely ill, but even in the smallest matters of life. We are to take everything to God-little things, very little things, even what the world calls trivial things. Yes, we are to take everything, living all day long in holy fellowship with our heavenly Father and our precious Lord Jesus. We should develop something of a spiritual instinct, causing us to immediately turn to God when a concern keeps us awake at night. During those sleepless nights, we should speak to Him, bringing our various concerns before Him, no matter how small they may be. Also speak to the Lord about any trial you are facing or any difficulties you may have in your family or professional life.
'By prayer and petition'-earnestly pleading, preserving and enduring, and waiting, waiting, waiting on God.
'With thanksgiving'- always laying a good foundation. Even if we have no possessions, there is one thing for which we can always be thankful-that He has saved us from hell. We can also give thanks that He has given us His Holy Word, His Holy Spirit, and the most precious gift of all- His Son. Therefore when we consider all this, we have abundant reasons for thanksgiving. May this be our goal!

'And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hears and minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7)

This is such a wonderful, genuine, and precious blessing that to truly know it, you must experience it, for it 'transcends all understanding.' 

May we take these truths to heart, instinctively walking in them, so the result will be lives that glorify God more abundantly than ever before. (George Mueller, from Life of Trust)

Search your heart several times a day, and if you find something that is disturbing your peace, remember to take the proper steps to restore the calm. (Francis de Sales)"

Such a great devotional. I hope this blessed you and encouraged you as much as it did me. :)

Perfection

per·fect  (pûrfkt) adj.

1. Lacking nothing essential to the whole; complete of its nature or kind.

2. Being without defect or blemish: a perfect specimen.

 

 source

 

2 Corinthians 12:8-10

"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 

How amazing is that? When we are weak and falling on our knees is when Jesus is perfect, complete, lacking nothing? That is when we are strong, because of Jesus.  I am weak, but He is strong. My Jesus is strong, and He will always be. I find this as a deep deep comfort. I'm making some changes in my life. I've realized I put things from this life into the place in my heart where only God can satisfy. I realized that I became complacent in my walk with the Lord and I became okay with my own sin. 

Jesus, I never want to be at this place again. Anytime my sin keeps me from you it is a big deal and I need to take it seriously. Thank you for your grace, your strength and your love towards me, your silly lost sheep. Thank you for going to the mountains to search me out.

Matthew 18:10-14

^"'See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. 'What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 

In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish."

source 

This passage of the wandering sheep is always comforting to me. Sheep are not the smartest animals and Matthew is using sheep in this parable to relate to us as humans. We do stupid things and we wander away.  But God does not shrug his shoulders when one wanders away. He goes and leaves all the other sheep to find the one that went astray.

Restless for where I belong

Living in the Northwest sometimes gets to me. I love it, but sometimes the weather makes me have "ehh" moods. Since I've been back, I've been in a funk. Today it is actually sunny, so I fully intend to get outside and enjoy some Vitamin D.

A song I've heard a million times before spoke to me today. Isn't that just always how it works?

Safe by Phil Wickham

To the one who's dreams are falling all apart
And all you're left with is a tired and broken heart
I can tell by your eyes you think your on your own
but you're not all alone

Have you heard of the One who can calm the raging seas
Give sight to the blind, pull the lame up to their feet
With a love so strong he'll never let you go
oh you're not alone

You will be safe in His arms
You will be safe in His arms
'Cause the hands that hold the world are holding your heart
This is the promise He made
He will be with You always
When everything is falling apart
You will be safe in His arms

Did you know that the voice that brings the dead to life
Is the very same voice that calls you to rise
So hear Him now He's calling you home
You will never be alone

These are the hands that built the mountains
the hands that calm the seas
These are the arms that hold the heavens
they are holding you and me

These are hands that healed the leper
Pulled the lame up to their feet
These are the arms that were nailed to a cross
to break our chains and set us free

 How incredibly beautiful is this? We are not alone. Even when we feel completely alone, we are NOT. God calms raging seas and heals blind so they can see, this is amazing! This song is so comforting to me. 

The other comfort I had today was a line in Heaven Song, also by Phil Wickham.

"My soul is getting restless for the place where I belong. I can't wait to join the angels and sing my heaven song."

Lately, I've really tried to find a place where I feel comfortable. I feel like I've been searching. I am trying to find something useful to do with my summer. It kills me not to be able to work at a camp this summer, especially Canby Grove. A  year ago today, I walked onto camp grounds for the first time. I was scared, nervous, and really excited. I didn't know how much my life was going to change. And it did.

I met the love of my life at that camp. I brought kids to Christ for the first time. I enjoyed true and beautiful community with the staff who became my family. I did things to get me outside my shell that I would NEVER have done. I wore chacos. I used duct tape. I sat in a dunk tank and got dunked, again and again. I lead activities. I swam every single day (no matter how cold it was). I chewed up M&Ms and spit them out at campers. I tubed down a river...with a tube and without one. I saw the love of God first hand touch people. I used a ho. I got blisters on my hands. I sang silly camp songs. I laughed. I grew. I blossomed. I found true joy. I appreciated beauty. I danced. I was in skits. I screamed my heart out. I raced kids in bounce houses. I blew bubbles. I caught bubbles. I had many smores, sandwiches, air heads, pizza, and apples. I cried. I was frustrated. I leaned on God. I trusted God. I had difficult campers. I had amazing campers. I worked very closely with hay and had an allergic reaction to it. I worshiped. I built a sling shot course. I had zillions of ants attack. I got called Nala. And sometimes Goldielocks. I slept outside without a tent. I put oatmeal in my hair, paint all over my body, and whipped cream and Cheetos on my face. I dug in the dirt. I enjoyed digging in the dirt. I caught a fish. I gave kids bait. I shot a gun. I watched the stars. I woke up at 5 in the morning, everyday. I had sleepless nights. I had great conversations. Sonic runs. Sunflower seeds. I had the time of my life. 

I belong in ministry. I thrive in ministry.