God is so much bigger than you.
... Than me.
Why is it so difficult for us to lay to rest the trivial matters that do not even affect our personal salvations? Our personal ministries? Our personal relationships with the God Who loves us more than we know... ?
More often than not, no one is to blame but yourself when these things are affected in such a way that is deemed undesirable, unfair, unreasonable, irrational, upsetting, etc.
When are we going to accept the fact that we do not know what is best?
When are we going to accept the fact that we need to learn to trust?
When are we going to accept the fact that change happens?
... Sometimes simply embracing change makes it all the more easy to understand, rather than kicking against the goads trying to comprehend all the facets of said change. Learn things for yourself. Don't skip around between multiple points of view.
Multiple stories.
Multiple lies.
Multiple hurts.
Turn away from that which is meaningless.
Turn, in entirety, to Him Who reigns on high.
... To Him Who is above all else.
' "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness..." '
[Matthew 6:33a]
......
Click here to revisit Chapter 356.
Showing posts with label Change. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Change. Show all posts
October 20, 2010
February 18, 2010
Ch. 655 - Vessels
God and man.
Potter and clay.
I like this.
A lot.
Overused?
Not to me.
We truly are like clay.
The transformation of clay into pots is involved.
The clay needs to be refined.
The removal of impurities takes time.
Water gives life to clay. Makes it pliable.
A solid base is given to each pot. Stability to build upon.
The clay is molded by hands into the form the potter desires.
No pot is the same, even though they all come from the ground.
If the pot is not coming along the way the potter imagined, the potter will break it down and start anew. There is no hurry. Even though no pot turns out to be perfect, each is perfect in the eyes of the potter.
Each pot is unique.
Traits.
Character.
But they are made to be used.
Filled.
Poured out.
Filled.
Poured out.
Be thankful that you do not sit on a shelf as a dry, decorated vessel.
For what good is a pot that remains empty and still all of its days?
' "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the Lord. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel." '
[Jeremiah 18:6]
Potter and clay.
I like this.
A lot.
Overused?
Not to me.
We truly are like clay.
The transformation of clay into pots is involved.
The clay needs to be refined.
The removal of impurities takes time.
Water gives life to clay. Makes it pliable.
A solid base is given to each pot. Stability to build upon.
The clay is molded by hands into the form the potter desires.
No pot is the same, even though they all come from the ground.
If the pot is not coming along the way the potter imagined, the potter will break it down and start anew. There is no hurry. Even though no pot turns out to be perfect, each is perfect in the eyes of the potter.
Each pot is unique.
Traits.
Character.
But they are made to be used.
Filled.
Poured out.
Filled.
Poured out.
Be thankful that you do not sit on a shelf as a dry, decorated vessel.
For what good is a pot that remains empty and still all of its days?
' "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the Lord. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel." '
[Jeremiah 18:6]
August 14, 2008
Ch. 162 - The Clock is Ticking
I haven't had a busy summer.
At all.
It's been really nice, I'm not going to lie.
But I can't wait to have a busy schedule again once I'm in school.
Classes.
Church.
Service projects.
Finding a semester ministry.
Hanging out.
It's all going to be there.
And I'm excited for it all.
However, what I'm most excited for is learning how to live a God-filled life. How to put Him into practice, you could say. You don't have to go to school to learn how. In fact, most people don't. But to have that extra background and such? A great opportunity, in my opinion. This summer hasn't been very God-filled on my part, and I've no one to blame but myself. I haven't been pursuing Him at all. I haven't been preparing for the upcoming year. I haven't tried to grow closer to Him. And I have definitely not felt quite right since I've come home. So I'm excited to be simply surrounded by believers again and really striving to know God better.
I kept saying to myself, "I need to set aside time for God." In reality, I had all the time in the world - and I knew I did! Terrible. I know that I may have to set personal time aside in the near future, but it's nice to know that things are sort of planned out for me in advance for general time with God.
This is going to be a great year.
' "I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you." '
[Isaiah 42:8-9]
......
Ch. 162, Part Two:
This week's memory verse:
'Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?'
[1 Corinthians 3:16]
At all.
It's been really nice, I'm not going to lie.
But I can't wait to have a busy schedule again once I'm in school.
Classes.
Church.
Service projects.
Finding a semester ministry.
Hanging out.
It's all going to be there.
And I'm excited for it all.
However, what I'm most excited for is learning how to live a God-filled life. How to put Him into practice, you could say. You don't have to go to school to learn how. In fact, most people don't. But to have that extra background and such? A great opportunity, in my opinion. This summer hasn't been very God-filled on my part, and I've no one to blame but myself. I haven't been pursuing Him at all. I haven't been preparing for the upcoming year. I haven't tried to grow closer to Him. And I have definitely not felt quite right since I've come home. So I'm excited to be simply surrounded by believers again and really striving to know God better.
I kept saying to myself, "I need to set aside time for God." In reality, I had all the time in the world - and I knew I did! Terrible. I know that I may have to set personal time aside in the near future, but it's nice to know that things are sort of planned out for me in advance for general time with God.
This is going to be a great year.
' "I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you." '
[Isaiah 42:8-9]
......
Ch. 162, Part Two:
This week's memory verse:
'Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?'
[1 Corinthians 3:16]
July 10, 2008
Ch. 127 - More Changes
I have no problem staying up late to read a new book - or even one I've read before - and finishing the entire book.
But when I stay up late because I feel 'I need to read my Bible' I'm asleep within five minutes of opening my Bible.
I have no problem sitting down and planning out my coursework for the next year.
But when I sit down to write out prayer requests or a new journal entry, I find my mind wandering and I'm soon up and out, forgetting about what I sat down to do in the first place.
I have no problem dreaming and thinking about doing work all day every day in the future.
I have no problem dreaming and thinking about being a missionary overseas.
But when help is needed here locally, I find myself thinking that I've been dragged into work, and then I help out with a not so cheerful heart.
Not. cool.
What is wrong with me?
Honestly.
I need a change in attitude and heart, and I need it now.
I'd like to think that if my focus were on God and building up the Church and spreading His love, things would seem entirely different.
I'd have no problem reading my Bible regularly.
I'd have no problem staying focused and keeping up with the intercessory prayers.
I'd have no problem helping out whenever and wherever needed, and with a cheerful heart at that!
'Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.'
[Psalm 119:1-2]
......
Ch. 127, Part Two:
This week's memory verse:
'Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.'
[Ephesians 4:29]
But when I stay up late because I feel 'I need to read my Bible' I'm asleep within five minutes of opening my Bible.
I have no problem sitting down and planning out my coursework for the next year.
But when I sit down to write out prayer requests or a new journal entry, I find my mind wandering and I'm soon up and out, forgetting about what I sat down to do in the first place.
I have no problem dreaming and thinking about doing work all day every day in the future.
I have no problem dreaming and thinking about being a missionary overseas.
But when help is needed here locally, I find myself thinking that I've been dragged into work, and then I help out with a not so cheerful heart.
Not. cool.
What is wrong with me?
Honestly.
I need a change in attitude and heart, and I need it now.
I'd like to think that if my focus were on God and building up the Church and spreading His love, things would seem entirely different.
I'd have no problem reading my Bible regularly.
I'd have no problem staying focused and keeping up with the intercessory prayers.
I'd have no problem helping out whenever and wherever needed, and with a cheerful heart at that!
'Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.'
[Psalm 119:1-2]
......
Ch. 127, Part Two:
This week's memory verse:
'Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.'
[Ephesians 4:29]
January 26, 2008
Ch. 10 - Forever Changed
As I was praying this afternoon, I took time to thank God for my family here in Utah. When I say family, I mean my friends, because they truly are my family here. For example, when I can't reach my mom to ask her a question that came up as I was reading my Bible, I'll call Matt. When I can't reach my dad to simply have a nice, serious conversation, I'll take a trip down the hall to see Shawn. When something is bothering me and I can't reach my sister, I'll talk to Darcy. I really don't talk to my sister often enough, though... Anyway, I'm reminded of my brother when I'm around Kastin - nobody can make me laugh like they can, they are such goofballs.
When I came to Utah, I didn't exactly care about leaving my friends. Honestly, the only people I was sad about saying good-bye to were Tyler, Abbie, Tim, and Amy. I was just so ready to leave everyone behind and start a new chapter in my life. I get to Utah and find myself transitioning to 'college life' pretty well - but I don't make many friends. I was so blessed to have Darcy and Ariel as my suitemates. They were basically my only friends. Anyway, fall break comes and goes, and that is when God reeled me back in. The very first week after break, Darcy and I went to Cru. After that, it was as if we had always been friends with 'the group' - they accepted us completely and I suddenly had the best friends anybody could ever ask for.
I've learned so much from all of them. Each and every person has something amazing to offer and it's one of those things... as cheesy as it may sound... I can't imagine my life without any of them. That's why I'm having such a hard time with Ross being upset with me. I messed up and am reaping the consequences, I know. It just breaks my heart when I extend my love as a sister in Christ and he won't accept it.
Never before have I had such a God-loving group of friends. As Shawn likes to say, they are all Hot-God-Men and Women. I would do anything for them... anytime, anywhere. I don't think I've ever felt like that before, other than with my 'real' family.
This is what makes the decision of transferring difficult. Friends. My family. I have no doubt that I'll be able to keep in touch with them over the years. They've all had such an influence on my life the past few months. It is partly because of them that I have grown so close to God lately and as I have, God has taught me so much and wrapped His arms around me so tightly.
But you know, I was thinking the other day... I would love to spend summers here. I definitely would like to come back to Salt Lake to work and live, raise a family - if it's God's will, that is. Granted, all my friends may not still be here, but that's ok. I really think I belong here. It's simply unfortunate that there aren't any programs for ministry and such at any schools in the area. Shawn and I decided there's such a ministry in working with kids, especially because of the dominant LDS presence. I was looking at the website of a Methodist church here in Salt Lake just yesterday, and they have no youth program whatsoever. I would love nothing more than to start one for them and help kids advance in their walks with Christ and develop deep, meaningful relationships with God. It makes my heart pound just thinking about it.
God brought me here and put these people in my life for a reason. I have no trouble believing that He'll bring me back. After all, there's an unsolved mystery here that I want to get to the bottom of. I've come to accept that maybe it's not God's plan for me to solve it before I leave, as much as I would like to. It could be years before it's solved. That's alright. It keeps things exciting.
God is so good.
'Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed -'
[1 Corinthians 15:51]
When I came to Utah, I didn't exactly care about leaving my friends. Honestly, the only people I was sad about saying good-bye to were Tyler, Abbie, Tim, and Amy. I was just so ready to leave everyone behind and start a new chapter in my life. I get to Utah and find myself transitioning to 'college life' pretty well - but I don't make many friends. I was so blessed to have Darcy and Ariel as my suitemates. They were basically my only friends. Anyway, fall break comes and goes, and that is when God reeled me back in. The very first week after break, Darcy and I went to Cru. After that, it was as if we had always been friends with 'the group' - they accepted us completely and I suddenly had the best friends anybody could ever ask for.
I've learned so much from all of them. Each and every person has something amazing to offer and it's one of those things... as cheesy as it may sound... I can't imagine my life without any of them. That's why I'm having such a hard time with Ross being upset with me. I messed up and am reaping the consequences, I know. It just breaks my heart when I extend my love as a sister in Christ and he won't accept it.
Never before have I had such a God-loving group of friends. As Shawn likes to say, they are all Hot-God-Men and Women. I would do anything for them... anytime, anywhere. I don't think I've ever felt like that before, other than with my 'real' family.
This is what makes the decision of transferring difficult. Friends. My family. I have no doubt that I'll be able to keep in touch with them over the years. They've all had such an influence on my life the past few months. It is partly because of them that I have grown so close to God lately and as I have, God has taught me so much and wrapped His arms around me so tightly.
But you know, I was thinking the other day... I would love to spend summers here. I definitely would like to come back to Salt Lake to work and live, raise a family - if it's God's will, that is. Granted, all my friends may not still be here, but that's ok. I really think I belong here. It's simply unfortunate that there aren't any programs for ministry and such at any schools in the area. Shawn and I decided there's such a ministry in working with kids, especially because of the dominant LDS presence. I was looking at the website of a Methodist church here in Salt Lake just yesterday, and they have no youth program whatsoever. I would love nothing more than to start one for them and help kids advance in their walks with Christ and develop deep, meaningful relationships with God. It makes my heart pound just thinking about it.
God brought me here and put these people in my life for a reason. I have no trouble believing that He'll bring me back. After all, there's an unsolved mystery here that I want to get to the bottom of. I've come to accept that maybe it's not God's plan for me to solve it before I leave, as much as I would like to. It could be years before it's solved. That's alright. It keeps things exciting.
God is so good.
'Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed -'
[1 Corinthians 15:51]
January 19, 2008
Ch. 3 - What She Saw; 30. 12. 07
'God is working on your heart - He's softening you, isn't He? You're seeing things for the first time... He's changing you.'
That's something my mom said to me. Paraphrased, of course. And I probably added something in there that I believe to be true, or something that I wish had been said. Anyway, I don't know if anyone would be able to comprehend the joy I felt in my heart when I heard those words come from the mouth of my beautiful mother. I had spent the past couple years being an insensitive, stubborn-headed fool. I realized awhile ago how cruel... truly cruel... I had been to my family. So to hear those words... it was magical. To hear from my mom - who's known me since before I was born, technically - that she can see the way God is working in me, was, quite possibly, the greatest gift I've ever received from her.
It's funny. I don't think I truly realized what was happening until she pointed it out.
'Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer.'
[Deuteronomy 10:16]
That's something my mom said to me. Paraphrased, of course. And I probably added something in there that I believe to be true, or something that I wish had been said. Anyway, I don't know if anyone would be able to comprehend the joy I felt in my heart when I heard those words come from the mouth of my beautiful mother. I had spent the past couple years being an insensitive, stubborn-headed fool. I realized awhile ago how cruel... truly cruel... I had been to my family. So to hear those words... it was magical. To hear from my mom - who's known me since before I was born, technically - that she can see the way God is working in me, was, quite possibly, the greatest gift I've ever received from her.
It's funny. I don't think I truly realized what was happening until she pointed it out.
'Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer.'
[Deuteronomy 10:16]
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