Everlasting God

Lately, I have been searching and wishing for a roadmap for my life.  I want to know where I'm going and exactly what is coming next for me.  Wouldn't it be great if we could be totally prepared for the journey? 

Well, we are completely prepared...when we put our trust in God.  See the sacrifice?  It's putting our trust in Him, not in ourselves. 
Even when things are busy and overwhelming, He is in control.  When things are frustrating, He is calm.  And when we can't do it anymore, He is there. 

Psalm 25:10 (NLT) The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep His covenant and obey his demands.

With all the craziness in my life, it is hard to put my faith in someone other than myself.  I try my best to get things done and to make things go the way I think that they should....but when is there time to sleep?  I can't do it on my own! 

I am in complete awe of the fact that God is always there and is in perfect control of this world.  He is in control of our jobs, our families, our fears, and our hearts.  We need to constantly remind ourselves to give Him our trust.  He is, after all, a truly faithful God. 
God is faithful through the storms and the sun, through the tears and the smiles, through whatever it is that you are facing right now.  He is Everlasting.

Everlasting God by New Life Worship     One thing I know that I have found, through all the troubles that surround: You are the Rock that never fails. You never fail. One thing I know that I believe, through every blessing I receive: You are the only One that stays. You always stay. You never change. You're still the same. You are the Everlasting God. You will remain after the day is gone and the things of earth have passed. Everlasting God. One thing I know that I have found, through all the troubles that surround: You are the Rock that never fails. You never fail. You never change. You're still the same. You are the Everlasting God. You will remain after the day is gone and the things of earth have passed. Everlasting God.

Empty My Hands

No matter how hard I try, I always feel like I have to be a planner.  I want to plan every detail of every day so that things happen perfectly.  But do they ever?

I consistently forget that God has all the plans - and, unlike mine, His are perfect!  No matter how much I organize and think and decide . . . things will never be exactly what I expect.  But, they will always be the way that God intends them to be.  He always intends great things for us when we let Him work in our lives. 

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)  "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Lately, I have been run down by my thoughts that tell me how I want things to go.  I have my own plans and visions for the future and I get so caught up in what I want to happen.  Why can't I give God the room to control what is going to happen?

Over the past few days, I did manage to let God take over.  I went on a trip with some friends to Lake Placid, New York.  I didn't pick the location, the hotel, the schedule - I didn't plan any of it!  I have to admit that I was nervous heading on a road trip without a plan; but, as always, God is faithful!
We booked an amazing hotel suite, the weather was perfect, the food was delicious, and I survived a 14 mile hike!  I would not have been able to have such an amazing experience if I had not allowed God the room to work. 

As my husband and I go through life's transitions that are ahead of us, I know that we both need to give God the control.  Our plans are futile compared to His. 

This song has been playing on a CD in my car for about a month; but I didn't fully understand the meaning of this song until this past week!  It is all about giving up our own desires and plans and expectations for God's perfect plans and power.  As hard as it is to give these things over to God, the rewards are incredible and indescribable.  God is great!

Empty My Hands by Tenth Avenue North   I've got voices in my head and they are so strong.  And I'm getting sick of this. Oh, Lord how long will I be haunted by the fear that I believe?  My hands like locks on cages of these dreams I can't set free.  But if I let these dreams die, if I lay down all my wounded pride, if I let these dreams die, will I find that letting go lets me come alive?  So empty my hands; fill up my heart; capture my mind with You.  These voices speak instead and what's right is wrong.  And I'm giving into them.  Please, Lord, how long will I be held captive by the lies that I believe?  My heart's in constant chaos and it keeps me so deceived.  But if I let these dreams die, if I could just lay down my dark desire, if I let these dreams die, will I find You brought me back to life?  My mind is like a building burning down.  I need Your grace to keep me, keep me from the ground.  And my heart is just a prisoner of war - a slave to what it wants and to what I'm fighting for. 

Healing Begins

This past weekend was Memorial Day Weekend and was -- as always -- filled with picnics, friends, and family.  The weekend was also filled with God's power and Spirit!

Right now, with everything going on in my life, all I can do is thank God for His unending faithfulness.  The Lord has been working in my family's life and it is hard to describe how I'm feeling at this point in time.  God is calling my husband and I to work for Him in a way that we were not expecting at this moment.  We are excited for what God has in store for us, but also sad about ending our service at our current church.  All we can do is trust that He is in control: of our hearts, our futures, and our feelings.  

Psalm 103:1-5 (NLT)   Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise His holy name.  Let all that I am praise the Lord, may I never forget the good things he does for me.  He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases...He fills my life with good things.  My youth is renewed like the eagle's!

Even though things are going according to God's plan, that's not to say that some things don't still hurt.  My feelings and emotions have been heightened through the ups and downs of the weekend's events.  In the midst of all of my inner emotional struggles, God spoke to me during a worship service.  I was reminded of this song by Tenth Avenue North as I sat in a church pew and cried.

God reminded me that I have to give everything over to Him.  I can't just trust Him with some parts of my life, I have to let all of my walls down and let Him be in control of everything!  

It has been so long since I have truly laid down all of myself to the Lord.  I had been trying to keep up appearances, be confident in my own strength, and act like I had everything together.  God reminded me that, through whatever may come, I need to give myself up to His control.

As I tore down my walls of pride, God began to show me that He can bring me through anything.  Just when I though that I could never be saved from hurting, He healed my heart.

Healing Begins by Tenth Avenue North      So you thought you had to keep this up, all the work that you do so we think that you're good.  And you can't believe it's not enough.  All the walls you built up are just glass on the outside.  So let them fall down.  There's freedom waiting in the sound when you let your walls fall to the ground.  We're here now.  This is where the healing begins.  This is where the healing starts.  When you come to where you're broken within.  The light meets the dark.  The light meets the dark.  Afraid to let your secrets out.  Everything that you hide can come crashing through the door now.  But too scared to face all your fear, so you hide but you find that the shame won't disappear.  Sparks will fly as grace collides with the dark inside of us.  So please don't fight this coming light.  Let this blood cover us.  His blood can cover us.  

No matter what you are feeling, He knows how to heal you.  Even when you don't know what you need from Him, He is waiting for you to break down your barriers and run into His loving arms.  

You Are More

This weekend, I saw God work in my life in a new way.  I was blessed with the chance to share my testimony at a teen girl sleepover.  I didn't talk about when I found God on this particular night; rather, I talked about the relationship choices I had made throughout my life.  I shared my story with perfect strangers in the hopes that my experiences could inspire the teen girls at the event.  I felt God speaking through me and I know that He used my story to impact lives. 

I can only give thanks to God for allowing me to take down my walls and become both brave enough and vulnerable enough to share myself with others.  As I shared my successful decisions as well as my epic mistakes, I reminded these girls (and myself) that God does not dwell on our pasts.  He simply wants our hearts right now. 

Romans 3:23-24 (NLT)  For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

Because of what Jesus did for us on the cross, we can be washed completely clean.  Even though we sin every day and make mistake after mistake, God still loves us more than we can even know.  Can you believe that? 

I try to comprehend that fact daily.  It is so hard to wrap my head around it.  He loves me no matter what.  It is not by my own works that I am saved (thank goodness!) . . . it is only through His sacrifice that I am worth anything! 
This song reminds us of God's undeserved grace!  Take the time to thank Him for the fact that He does not give us what we deserve, but that He died for us so we could live forever with Him.  If our life worth was determined by our own actions, we would be counted as worthless.  But with Jesus' ultimate act of love, we can live and know that with God, our lives are worth more. 

You Are More by Tenth Avenue North   There's a girl in the corner with tear stains on her eyes from the places she's wandered and the shame she can't hide.  She says, "How did I get here?  I'm not who I once was.  And I'm crippled by the fear that I've fallen too far to love."  But don't you know who you are?  What has been done for you?  And don't you know who you are?  You are more than the choices that you've made.  You are more than the sum of your past mistakes.  You are more than the problems you create.  You've been remade.  Well, she tries to believe it, that she's been given new life.  But she can't shake the feeling that it's not true tonight.  She knows all the answers and she's rehearsed all the lines.  So she'll try to do better, but then she's too weak to try.  'Cause this is not about what you've done, but what's been done for you.  This is not about where you've been, but where your brokenness brings you to.  This is not about what you feel, but what He felt to forgive you and what He felt to make you new.

To God Alone

We all like to think that we're doing the best we can.  We try to be successful with our families and in our jobs.  But did you ever stop and think about who gave you the ability to work hard?  What about who gave you the talents that you use everyday at work?  Your ability to be strong during struggles?  Your peace in hectic times? 

Didn't all of those gifts come from God?  Of course they did!  So, why do we always praise ourselves for the great jobs we are doing?  We should be praising and thanking and giving the glory to Him!

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)     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.

This verse reminds us that without God, we are insubstantial and weak.  It is only through His power and His grace that we are able to be worth anything. 

If we rely on our own selves and our own strength, we will fail and falter.  It is only through His grace that we are able to accomplish anything.  It is important for us to remember that it is through God that we are blessed; it is through God that we persevere, it is through God that we move forward.  It is not by our own strength.
   
I pray that you find the humility to admit that everything in your life is because of God.  Thank Him for your victories, thank Him for being faithful through your trials, and thank Him for His unending power and mercy.

Let God take over for your weaknesses and let Him work through your life.  After all, when we allow God to be the Lord of our lives, He doesn't fail.   

To God Alone by Aaron Shust     Can You take me by the hand?  Can You use me as I am?  Break me into who You want me to be.  When the time is finally right, will You open up my eyes?  Show me everything You want me to see.  This life is not my own.  To God alone be the glory.  To God alone be the praise.  Everything I say and do, let it be all for You.  The glory is Yours alone, Yours alone.  Take the offering I bring.  You want more than what I sing.  Can I give You every part of me?  Turn these pennies into gold.  Take this life I call my own, until I'm running after Your heart.  I'm needing to let go.  To God alone be the glory.  To God alone be the praise.  Everything I say and do, let it be all for You.  The glory is Yours alone, Yours alone. We will rise and we will fall; but You remain after all.  You're glorious and beautiful.  You're beautiful.

So the next time you receive a compliment on a job well done or when you find success in an area of your life, stop and consider who really deserves the praise?  Remind yourself that it wasn't through your own ability that you succeeded; God deserves the praise and thanks.  Give the glory to Him for what he has done!

Take Over

Yet again, I struggled today with my control issues.  When am I going to figure this one out?  I really do want to let God control my life; but, tragically, my own control gets in the way.  As much as I know I need Him, I can't seem to give up the control.

Psalm 31:14-16 (NIV)   But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God."  My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.  Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love. 

Today, I found God in a very humbling way. I was at a lunch meeting for an upcoming mission trip and I had brought a salad with homemade dressing (that is scrumptious, if I do say so myself!). To make a long story short, there was a mix up and my dressing couldn't be used. A silly mistake left me frustrated and in tears as I stood in the kitchen.

Was I seriously crying over salad dressing?  No, I was crying because I was not in control. I wasn't in control of the misunderstanding and I couldn't use my control to magically conjure up more dressing . . . I even lost control of my own emotions as I cried over the sink.

I went on to let that one instance determine my mood the rest of the afternoon. I could barely hold it together as every little frustration tore me up inside. After my tears spilled over once again, a friend sat down to talk with me about it. She reminded me that Satan loves to tear us down through our weaknesses. Satan knew that this tiny instance would ruin my day and he took advantage of that. But, as always, God was there to pick up the pieces.

On the drive home, I heard the song Take Over on the radio and it was just what I needed.  The lyrics matched my heart perfectly.  It was God's way of reaching out to me right where I had fallen.  The song picked me up and it became my honest and heartfelt prayer for today.

Take Over by Aaron Shust    I tried to run, I tried to fight You.  I'm done.  I'm giving up.  I've learned to trust You, Your love.  Now I'm singing: can You take over?  Take over. Can You take over me?  I've been here over and over again, here on my knees.  I'm only closer and closer to where I want to be when You take over.  Take over.  Can You take over me?  I tried before to let go and I just hold on more.  Amazing Lord, I need the strength to let go and be Yours.  So, now I'm singing: can You take over?  Take over.  Can You take over me?  I've been here over and over again, here on my knees.  I'm only closer and closer to where I want to be when You take over.  Take over.  Can You take over me?  I surrender all I have and I surrender all I am as I remember what You've done to set me free.

Let God pick you up today.  Even though you might feel like you have fallen too far from His reach.  Just give it all up.  Give up the worries, the stress, the control - give it all to Him.  He will take over everything, especially the things you have failed at.  Let Him pick you up and He promises to save you with His love. 

Everything Falls

This post is for every person out there who, like me, wants to control everything.  I think that's one reason that I became a teacher - I can be the little ruler of my kingdom in that classroom.  I like to have things in their place, I like to have order, I like to be in control of the things in my life. 

Lately, I have been really tested by things going on around me.  God keeps reminding me that I'm not the one in control.  As much as I want to be able to be in charge . . . God is the one who's ruling everything in this world.  Even silly things in my daily life that stress me out, He is in control of those, too. 

That realization gives me both relief . . . and terror.  On one hand, it is amazing to know that someone else is in charge.  Someone who knows all and sees all.  We are following such a steadfast Creator.  On the other hand, I wonder, "why do I even try to control the things in my life?  Do I worry and stress every day for nothing?"

John 16:31-33 (NIV)  "You believe at last!"  Jesus answered. "But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home.  You will leave me all alone.  Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.  I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world." 

The one thing that I am in control of is myself!  While I can't control the people and circumstances around me, I can control my own attitude and outlook.  I can focus my energy and strength on becoming closer to God - instead of becoming closer to success.  I can work on being patient - instead of worrying about deadlines or shortcomings.  No matter what craziness and chaos surrounds me, the one constant is the Creator of the universe who is by my side through it all. 

Everything Falls by Steve Fee  You said You'd never leave or forsake me.  You said this life is gonna shake me.  You said this world is gonna bring trouble on my soul.  This I know: when everything falls apart, Your arms hold me together.  When everything falls apart, You're the only hope for this heart.  When everything falls apart and my strength is gone, I find You mighty and strong.  You keep holding on.  When I see darkness all around me, when I see tragedy has found me, I still believe Your faithful arms will never let me go.  Sorrow will last for the night, but hope is rising with the sun, it's rising with the sun.  There will be storms in this life, but I know You have overcome, You have overcome. 

He is with you through it all. When everything falls apart around you, God is strong. You just need to remember to hold on to Him, to lean on Him, to hope in Him.