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Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

The Light Shines

I feel as if God is preparing me for a great tragedy, but if we're honest with ourselves, isn't he always?

The truth of God's word rings true every. single. day. Every day whether we reach for it, study it, listen to it, and search for the answers that we so often seek.

I'm currently reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp, have you read it? It's a tough read, for different reasons, but currently I am at a spot that reflects on how all things, good and bad, come from God.

The great tragedies of our lives are gifts from God and this text hit me hard with that truth as I was reading it last night:

"All God makes is good. Can it be that, that which seems to oppose the will of God actually is used of Him to accomplish the will of God? That which seems evil only seems so because of perspective, the way the eyes see the shadows. Above the clouds, light never stops shining."

Above the clouds, light never stops shining.

I had to think about that for a good long while and breathe deep the realization that even when my own heart is breaking, when tragedy surrounds me, and when I feel like there is nothing but evil left in the world, God's mighty hand is allowing it.

I'm not leaving Satan's pull blameless and forgotten here, but our Almighty is in full control - He can step in an intervene in all things - good and bad. Everything that happens to us, our friends, our family, the world - it is His will.
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I read Romans 5:12-21 this morning as a start of a new devotional about Justice for She Reads Truth, and it seemed to tie everything together for me. Justice - we seek it in order to feel as if all the evil, the bad, that happens in this world is redeemed. But Jesus found justice at the cross when he died for ALL sin.

The problem is that we too often forget that great sacrifice.

I feel as if God is preparing me for a great tragedy: all these reminders that all things come from Him, that justice has already been served. I just hope I have faith enough to remember it when the time comes.

Join me in this new devotional? I'd love to reflect on God's truth together.

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Tuesday, February 04, 2014

The Struggle

When you open your heart, and your soul, and your day to God, you are sure to be ultimately surprised about what He may reveal to you. But be prepared...

Sometimes it's not always something you want to hear.

As a teenager, I was immersed in church and volunteering and being part of a youth group. I taught Bible school during the summers and a Sunday school class on Sunday mornings. I chaperoned as I grew a bit older when the youth went on trips and volunteered for everything that our church had going on. I knew my place and role and I played it well.

Since I married Jeremy, I've struggled a lot at finding my role as a Christian woman and wife.

For one, we can't seem to find a church that fits.

I miss the comfort and familiarity of a church where everyone feels like family and we have struggled for five years to find a church that fits us. Not only that, but I myself am struggling to figure out exactly what I believe.

I was brought up in a very southern Baptist way of believing where tattoos and alcohol and staying up past 10 (haha) was sinful. The only Bible you were to ever look at was the good old KJV and our preachers were 100% spirit lead and most of the time very hard to follow. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but as I've grown in my relationship with God outside of my home, I find myself thinking differently on some aspects.

It makes it hard because I have to start all over in finding a place that fits my beliefs but still carries some of the traditions and comfort that I'm used to.

Walking with God is not always a walk in the park, sometimes there are obstacles that we have to overcome and that's where I'm standing right now - in the midst of a storm where the road is hard to follow.

When I asked God in yesterday, He was not shy to reveal to me that I have stepped too far away from Him. Essentially he broke me down and showed me that I needed to trust in Him - in all things. That includes finding a church perfect for us. But with brokenness comes healing and that is where I am headed - towards His love and His comfort and His all-knowing power to send us in the right direction. Always.


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Thursday, July 25, 2013

We can ALL have it ALL

It's funny how certain things will stick with you.

At church last Sunday (Yes, I said church. It's been FOREVER since we've got to go to church on a day that WASN'T a holiday. Thank you, Jesus!) the message was based around Ephesians and the church and the meaning of the church and how this great mystery had just been presented to them.

The mystery was that the Jews and the gentiles alike would share in the gift of grace and salvation and would be joined together as one body, which is the church.

And although this was no new news to me, something new and wonderful did stick with me and it was this:

We can ALL have it ALL.

How amazing is that?

God's grace and blessings and His inheritance is given to us all, equally. Not parts of it, but all of it. We can all have it all. I don't have to give up part of my salvation, or part of my spiritual gifts, or part of my portion of grace in order for anyone else to have it, it is freely given to anyone who will accept it.

That is after all the good news, isn't it?

I guess I had just never thought of it that way. That God's grace and love and mercy and blessings are not split, they do not have to be shared. It's all mine, and when someone else accepts these gifts, it becomes all theirs too.

God is sufficient for us all. Always and forever. His grace and love and mercy will never run out.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Be Patient and KNOW that I am God!


We can all get frustrated with waiting for that next 'big' thing. When we're younger, we can't wait to turn 16, then 18. We can't wait to start driving, move out...get married. We can't wait to start a family, buy a home, get the big promotion we've worked so hard for. In all this rushing to get to the next 'big' thing, we can often forget that God has a plan for our lives and our plans do not always coincide with His.

We will cry out, pray, complain, wish, dream and just plain out feel fed-up when what we think should be happening just isn't. We are truly creatures of want; constantly wanting something more and more, no matter how blessed we are!

I am more than guilty of being a creature of want. Instead of praising God for what I have, I find myself often asking him 'why not now?' when it comes to what I THINK should be my next 'big' thing.

I have made it very known that Jeremy and I are trying to conceive and grow our little family from three to four. As I was making the hour drive home from my weekly trip to see my grandmother yesterday, Henry was snoring in the backseat and the radio was tuned to my favorite station, but my mind was elsewhere - talking to God. (God and I, we hang out in the car. I don't know why but that is OUR place!) I used to think that people were crazy when they would say 'God spoke to me..' and go into detail about what He would say. I always felt like God spoke to the heart and while you could have a feeling as to what He was saying, you'd never actually be able to cipher his exact words out of those feelings. So untrue. God can speak to you and while you may not hear an audible voice, it's very clear as to what He's saying.

So God and I were having a little chat and being the creature of want that I am, I was asking Him why it seemed like everyone else was getting pregnant but I wasn't. (Yeah, comparisons...already making a mistake there, right?) And as I was pouring my heart out about how badly I wanted another baby, I looked up and saw my sleeping beauty in the rear-view mirror and just stopped. And God said, "look at what you already have...quit working so hard towards the next and cherish this one for a little while longer" and I couldn't say another word. Thanks Father, thanks for putting me back in my place...



If we would quit focusing on the next big thing, quit wishing for more, dreaming for more...and focus on what God has given us already, we would be in a world of better shape. Faith includes faith in His timing, which is perfect timing. His ultimate plans are to grow us for Him and to Him and we must trust that His plans and His timing are what we need.

Today I'm praying to have patience and faith to trust God's timing. Completely.





Thursday, August 30, 2012

Jenn's Jams - Calling Glory - Don't Give Up

There are days that we all feel like giving up. Don't tell me that you don't have those days because I know you'll be lying to me - and that's not very nice. There are days where for one reason or another, we feel as if we've been pushed to the very brink of our existence and the tiniest tap is going to push us right over the edge. For various reasons, I felt that way last weekend. I was tired, I was grumpy, my husband had done something to tick me off and I had just had enough. On my way home from work, this song came on the radio and I lost it - the whole ugly cry thing, tears and snot and all went down in the driver's seat. I know it wasn't' pretty.

Wanna know the good news? Hope is on the way! We can't give up, won't give up because - God has promised in all His goodness that he would never, ever, ever give us more than what we can handle.

  Never.

No matter how hard it may seem, no matter the weight of what we feel like we've got piled onto our backs, the load will be lifted soon enough and if we allow Him, peace and comfort will enter our lives like a wave. And as the tide goes out, all that's been dragging us down will go with it.

The thought alone is enough to make my dark and stormy days feel a little brighter. I want to extend my friendship, my prayers, my support and all my love to any of you out there that need it right now. Seriously. I love people, I love talking to people and getting to know people. If you ever just want to talk, rant, share blessings with one another - email me. I will answer you fairly quickly and while I may not be much, I will try my darnedest to at least be a friend.

My email: OveyCreations@yahoo.com

Now listen, reflect and love this song as much as I do.

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This time your heart said it's had enough 
Sick and tired of everything that's so messed up 
You don't wanna move on just playing games 
Praying hard somehow that your life will change 
When you feel like you don't know what to do 
Stuck inside this maze you can't go through 

(Chorus) 
Don't give up 
Help is surely on its way 
And don't give up 
And the dark is breaking in today 
And just keep on moving through these storms 
And soon enough you'll find the door 
Just don't give up 
Oh, and don't give up 

These walls around you are caving in 
And your life seems like it is wearing thin
And your hope is drowning in despair 
It looks like you're not going anywhere 
Step inside this heart and then you'll see 
Such a love that is so amazing 

Chorus X2