Saturday, June 29, 2013

Praise the Name of the Lord


Praise the Lord! 
Praise the Lord from the heavens; 
praise him in the heights! 
Praise him all his angels; 
praise him all his hosts! 

Praise him, sun and moon, 
praise him, all you shining stars!
Praise him, you highest heavens, 
and you waters above the heavens! 

Let them praise the name of the Lord! 
For he commanded and they were created. 
And he established them forever and ever; 
he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away. 

Praise the Lord from the earth, 
you great sea creatures and all deeps, 
fire and hail, snow and mist, 
stormy wind fulfilling his word! 

Mountains and all hills, 
fruit trees and all cedars!
Beasts and all livestock, 
creeping things and flying birds! 

Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth! 
Young men and maidens together, 
old men and children! 

Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted; 
his majesty is above heaven and earth.
He has raised us up a horn for his people, 
praise for all his saints, 
for the people of Israel who are near to him
Praise the Lord! 

~Psalm 148~

Thursday, June 27, 2013

The Radical Experiment

I just finished reading the book Radical by David Platt. I know I was meant to read this book at this exact time in my life. Two years ago, a year, even 6 months ago, God knew that my heart was not ready to really connect with what Platt is saying and take action. However, beginning on July 1st, I will take action and begin "The Radical Experiment" proposed by Platt in his book. The goal of the Radical Experiment is for individuals, families, and faith families to spend their lives together for the sake of the church, the lost and the poor around the world to the glory of God. (radicalexperiment.org

This experiment has five challenges. 

  1.  to pray for the entire world
  2. to read through the entire Word
  3. to sacrifice your money for a specific purpose 
  4. to spend time in another context 
  5. to commit your life to a multiplying community
As I continued reading about each of these challenges, I felt God's calling growing within me. 

Challenge 1- to pray for the entire world. Platt encourages his readers to use the website www.operationworld.org. When I saw the website and the resources offered, I knew I would be able to truly commit to this step by purchasing the book Operation World by Jason Mandryk. It arrived from Amazon today and is filled with everything I need to know about the nations. 

Challenge 2-to read through the entire Word. I am currently doing this step and will continue reading the Word during the next year. 

Challenge 3- to sacrifice your money for a specific purpose. This step is really exciting to me. I have been asking God to reveal which organization He wants me to sacrificially give to. According to their website, "Samaritan's Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to people hurting around the world." (www.samaritanspurse.org) If you want to find out more about this organization, I recommend visiting their website. I was amazed at all the ministry projects that are happening right now around the world. 

Challenge 4- to spend time in another context, either domestically or internationally. Basically, tell others about Jesus, but get out of your community to do it. The commitment is 2% (one week out of the entire year). Due to health reasons, I know this component will be a bit harder, but I am willing to say "Yes, Lord" and I know He will provide a way. 

Component 5-to commit your life to a multiplying community. In other words, commit to a church, get involved in your church and help your church grow and multiply. I have found a church that I have been going to for the last two years. I am hoping as my health improves that I will be able to get more involved in my small group. 

Wow! Seeing it all written out before me is a little overwhelming, but I know that "I can do all things through God who strengthens me." ~Philippians 4:13 

Linking with The Modest Mom and Inspire Me Monday

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Waiting

the Pit Crew waits for their driver

I am reading through the Bible in 90 days and for the last few days I have been in Psalms. I am struck by how many times the writers of the Psalms use the word "wait" or the phrase "wait on the Lord" or something similar to that. So I decided, starting in Psalm 1 through Psalm 69 (where my reading ends today) that I would count how many times the word wait appears. I was not disappointed. I found the word "wait" or "waiting" or "waited" a total of 17 times. Just in those first 69 Psalms-Book One and almost all of Book Two. (Book three of Psalms starts in chapter 73). Another interesting observation is that all of these Psalms that mention waiting are written by David, the only person in the Bible to be called "a man after God's own heart." (1 Samuel 13:14 and Acts 13:22).  

David says that none shall be put to shame who wait for the Lord (25:3) and that he will wait for Him all the day long (25:5). In the same chapter, David asks God for integrity and uprightness to preserve him because he waits for Him (v. 21). David says in chapter 27, verse 14 "Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord." He repeats Psalm 27:14 almost word for word just a few chapters later in Psalm 31: 24. In Psalm 33: 20, David says "Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield." 

In chapter 37, waiting is mentioned 3 times in verse 7 (Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices." -so applicable to our current world), verse 9 (For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land) and 34 (Wait for the Lord and keep His way, and He will exalt you to inherit the land...). 

Chapter 38:15 says "But for you, O Lord, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer." while in just the next chapter, Psalm 39:15 reads "And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you." 

Then the tense switches from present to past as David writes "I waited patiently for the Lord; He inclined to me and heard my cry." (40:1) After chapter 40, we do not see the word wait until chapter 52. Psalm 52:9 goes back to present tense- "I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly." 

One of my favorite verses (although I have so many favorites now :)) is Psalm 62:1-2 "For God alone, my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken." 

Psalm 69: 3 is different from the previous verses David writes about waiting. This verse says "I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God." We see David struggling with the wait, but that does not deter him. In the same chapter, in verse 13 David writes "But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your faithfulness." 

Oh to have a heart like Davids- to be a woman after God's own heart. To become more like my Savior each and every day. That is my prayer! (to be continued) 

Linking with The T2 Women and Titus 2 Tuesdays

Sunday, June 23, 2013

God's Call- Part 2

Since my last post on God's call on June 4th, God has been a constant presence by my side. He has been my strength, my peace, my joy, my everything. My Kindergartners last day of school was Friday and my last day of school is tomorrow. Then 55 days of summer until I head back to school on August 19th to get ready for the start of the new school year on September 4th. 

So what have I heard from God to do with these 55 days? First, I have felt the call to use these days to continue to cultivate a more intimate relationship with my Savior. I want to learn more about this God who loves me so much that He would give up His only son to save me from an eternity in hell. I want to pursue Him-purposefully, radically, un-apologetically. I don't know what that looks like completely yet, but I do know that God will guide my steps. 

The first step though is being in God's Word every day. Back on May 15, I decided to start another Bible reading plan on youversion.com. I had just read through the Bible in a year that concluded in March, but wanted to read the Bible in chronological order. The Bible in 90 Days Challenge fit my needs. It is day 40 and I am almost halfway through the Bible. It has been an amazing journey! I can honestly say for the first time in my life that the Bible has become my favorite book. 

Next, I have felt the call to trust Him with my health this summer. I know that He will open and close doors and show me which doctors to see, what medicine to take, what instructions to follow.  I still believe He can heal me COMPLETELY, but I pray that His will be done. He knows best and I have faith that His grace will always be sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9). 

Finally, I feel God calling me to learn homemaking skills. Single or married, I need to know these skills and 30 is a good time to learn them. Now I have lived on my own before, for 3 years, but never had the time to cultivate these skills because I was working 2 jobs and 80 hours a week just to pay the bills so it was fast food, frozen food, processed food. Now God has given me the time to learn to cook and eat the right way, especially since I am now gluten-free and have been for over a year. Cooking is the big skill, but I would also like learn to sew and be more consistent in being an encouragement to others-especially in the small things. 

Through prayer, reading the Bible and becoming involved in my church family, I know God will guide me and show me the steps He wants me to take. I want to follow God no matter what the cost, no matter where He leads because I have learned (sometimes the hard way) that there is no better place to be. This verse from Psalms 27 is my prayer for this summer (and the rest of my life). 

One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in his temple. ~Psalm 27:4

Linking with Titus 2 Tuesdays

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

My Cry

Three more days of school left and I cannot stand anymore...sometimes literally...but God has carried me through this school year. My first year downstairs in the basement, my first year in kindergarten, my first time having to be utterly and totally dependent on God-sometimes just to stand, just to walk, just to wake up and get out of bed. Some days I look back on and I have no idea how I got through them. Then I stop and smile. I know-the only way-my faithful God. My God who upholds me by his righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10), my God who gives me strength like the eagles to soar, to run and not grow weary (Isaiah 40:30-31), my God who never leaves me (Hebrews 13:5), my God who supplies all my needs (Philippians 4:19).

My cry to God everyday seems to be "Lord, I need you!" and that is just the way He wants it. That's how I can be thankful and rejoice in the midst of chronic illness, crushing fatigue, singleness...I wanted to share with you the song and lyrics by Chris Tomlin that has encouraged me. 







Linking with The T2 Women

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Rejection

Reject: to refuse to have, take, recognize, etc.; to refuse to accept; to discard as useless or unsatisfactory; to cast out or eject (www.dictionary.com)

Many times over the course of our lives we will feel rejection. Rejection comes in many forms, but the most common form is in our relationships. Rejection in relationship starts at an early age- in elementary school, on the sports team, in dating...Someone always feels left out, rejected, not good enough. That is how I have felt many times over the last 8 years as friends meet "the one", get engaged, get married, get pregnant, etc. The voice in my head tells me there is something wrong with me, that I am not pretty enough or thin enough or godly enough (insert your struggle). It is what keeps popping into my head as I write this. 

You see, I thought I had met the guy I was going to marry. It was a set-up and it went remarkably well (I can be incredibly shy-so to feel comfortable around someone new- especially a guy- especially a guy who could be The Guy-was amazing). He asked my friend for my number, we talked over the next few days for hours. I ran an errand with him. As I got to know him, I remember telling God- he is everything I have wanted in a guy. "God, I cannot believe it! Could this really be the one I am going to marry? The guy that together we can serve You better and bring more glory to Your name- than apart? Will this be the one who will love me like you love the church? Will this man be the father of my children?" *I thank God each day for what a good listener He is :)* 

And then just like that- POOF! The texts stopped, the calls vanished, my heart broke. Yet, I told God that maybe He just wanted me to wait, wait for the right time, the time that He has planned for this guy and me to start a relationship. I waited and waited...a phone call came. Then a few weeks later another. Then a few more weeks passed and another. Finally, I told him that I liked him and that I did not understand the silence and the random phone calls. He told me he liked to become friends with a girl and did not like to rush into things. This should have been my first warning sign, because how can you be friends with someone and get to know them if you don't ever talk or spend time together? 

Then he called one Friday night after 9pm and said he needed to pick something up at his work. Did I want to come? And of course, I jumped at the chance to spend time with him-no matter the hour! It was wonderful, but the words came out again-warning sign number 2 that I refused to dwell on- "I am not ready to get married yet. I am not looking for a wife right now." Okay so why am I here? You know how I feel about you. (Those thoughts were only in my head) Then I get another phone call yet again a few weeks later and then silence. 

Nevertheless, I still thought in the back of my mind that he could be the one. I know- you are thinking-yikes! how stupid is this girl? I agree with my mind, but my heart is a different story. Anyway, yesterday he called and for 3 minutes we talked and he said he would call me back. Do you think he has? No and so I sit here writing about rejection because that is the bottom line. He does not like me like that, he does not want me in his life, he does not even want to get to know me more-REJECTED! And I think what is wrong with me? 

Then I hear a different voice in my head saying, "I love you unconditionally, I will love you always, I will never leave you, Nothing can separate you from My love, I loved you so much I sent my son to die for you, He loved you so much that He laid down His life for you and took your sin and shame on Himself to give you an eternal gift- the gift of everlasting life. I have made you and formed you and have great and mighty plans for you because that is Who I am. I am the great I AM, I am your King, I am your Savior, I am the lover of your soul and I want you with me for eternity." 



Do you need to hear those words today? Open a Bible and read the promises of God-every one will come true. God is healing my broken heart. He can heal yours too. 

Linking with Titus 2 Tuesdays

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Faith...Trust...Hope


I am losing the battle today. I know to trust God in all things, to have faith in the One who made heaven and earth, to wait patiently for Him with hope. Yet my heart is struggling and the enemy knows this and attacks. Satan starts with my dreams- marriage, children- and gets to work in my mind telling me that it will never be, that I missed my chance, that no one wants me, that no one will love me like I long to be loved here on this earth. And it can all go downhill from there...BUT praise God! I have a choice. I have the choice to open my Bible and read the promises God has for me. There are so many verses to choose from, but here is just a sampling of what I found in God's Holy Word. 

Psalm 46:10- Be still and know that I am God. 

Proverbs 3:5-6- Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. 

Ephesians 6:16- In all circumstances take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one. 

Romans 15:13- May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. 

Jeremiah 17:7- But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. 

Isaiah 26:3-4 -You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. 

Psalm 31:14-15 -But I trust in You, O Lord; I say, "You are my God" My times are in Your hand; 

Psalm 141:8 -But my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord; in You I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless! 

Psalm 37: 5- Commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him and He will act. 

Jeremiah 29:11-13- For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you, not to harm you, to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 

Monday, June 10, 2013

To Make Christ Known

I love the Duggar family! They are an amazing example of living out your faith. This family has not only encouraged my heart as well as many families across this country, but has taken a lot of criticism for what God has called them to do at this time in their lives. Yet they keep serving Him faithfully! 

This article was awesome and I encourage you to read it! It blessed this weary mind! Michelle Duggar says this is her family's mission: "To make Christ known...to love the Lord and serve others, to make Christ known." They are answering the call. I want to answer the call to- to make that my mission- in every thought and action- that Christ is my life, He is my everything, He is my ALL! 

http://www.billygraham.org/articlepage.asp?articleid=9456

How can I keep from singing your praise?
How can I ever say enough?
How amazing is your love! 
How can I keep from shouting your name?
I know I am loved by the King!
And it makes my heart want to sing! 

How Can I Keep From Singing? 
-Chris Tomlin song lyrics 

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Laying It Down

I am thanking God for Paul today. He is an example to follow. What amazes me most is how God had great and mighty plans for Paul, but Paul was playing for the enemy. 

Paul, formerly known as Saul, was a man who persecuted Christians until  he met God on his way to Damascus. Then his life changed completely (Acts 9:1-19).  A man who had a known reputation of persecuting the saints. became "my (God's) chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel, I will show him how much he must suffer for my name." (Acts 9:15-16)

Paul was God's "chosen instrument" and indeed he did suffer. That day, on Damascus road, Paul was called to lay down his life for the cause of Christ and that is exactly what he did. God calls us to that as well. Jesus says in Matthew 16:24 "Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it."" This command is repeated numerous times in the New Testament: 

Matthew 10:38-39 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 

Mark 8:34-35 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself  and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. (see also Luke 9:23-24)

Luke 14:27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 

Paul endured more suffering and torture for the sake of the gospel than I can even imagine- imprisonment in filthy prisons, beaten, stoned, tortured and more-all for Jesus. And through it all Paul rejoiced and encouraged his fellow believers in Christ. He called himself a "prisoner of Jesus Christ" (Eph. 3:1 and Philemon 1:1).  I am thankful for the words he wrote mostly while imprisoned. As the end of the school year is approaching, these verses have become an encouragement to me:

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 3:13-14

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. -Hebrews 12:1-2

God calls us to lay it all down, to surrender ourselves to Him-moment by moment, day by day. It can only be done through His Spirit within us, but it is a choice we have to make. We cannot love both the world and God. Choosing God, becoming holy as He is holy, is incomparable, unparalleled and unmatched to anything this world offers. 

It is not easy, it requires sacrifice, but I have found that the rewards far outweigh anything that the world says I am missing out on. It is a daily battle, a dying to flesh, but God is beyond worth it. 

I leave you with these words from Paul that he wrote in 1 Timothy 1:12-17: 

I thank Him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because He judged me faithful, appointing me to His service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in Him for eternal life. To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 




Linking with Titus 2 Tuesday

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

God's Call

I was looking through one of my older Bibles and an insert from an old bulletin slid out onto the floor of my room. I was busy looking for an answer to Bible trivia on my phone so I didn't pick it up until the next afternoon. 

Lately, I have been struggling with God's will for my life right now. He has given me the gift of singleness and a kindergarten teaching position that I feel is my calling in life. In just 3 weeks (not that I am counting) God is giving me a month and half to recover from the last nine months. I am not sure what God wants me to do at this time. With Lyme disease (and related syndromes) I know that I am not going to be training for a 5k or half-marathon, but I do know that God doesn't want me to just sit around on the couch. 

So back to that old bulletin insert. On it are my sermon notes from May 2010 titled "Excuse me, please...God's Call" based on Exodus 3 and 4. Nope, not a coincidence, but God revealing Himself to me and showing me that He is there and working in and through and around me.

The first point of this message is: You must recognize God's call. Exodus 3:1-10 records God's call to Moses. Underneath this is what I copied: 
  • God's call is often unexpected.
  • God's call is often unexplainable. 
  • God's call is unavoidable.
  • God's call is undeniable. 
The second point is this: You must respond to God's call. 
  • Insignificance is no excuse. 
    • God tells Moses in verse 12 "I will certainly be with you"
  • Ignorance is no excuse (v14)
    • God will teach you
    • You have to be willing to learn. 
  • Unbelief is no excuse (v 2)
    • Follow God despite unbelief of others. 
  • Inability is no excuse (v 10)
    • God spoke through Moses anyway. 
"Mark H. Ballard, President Northeastern Baptist College. www.nebcvt.org

Unexpected, unexplainable, unavoidable and undeniable? Yes, that sounds like the God I serve.   It does not make it any less terrifying, but that is where faith and trust comes into the picture. Without faith and trust in God, my life would be one big panic attack filled with anxiety morning, noon and night. I feel that God is telling me that this summer will not be what I expect, it might not be explainable and it will happen no matter what. 

Why? Because when God calls there are no excuses! And believe me, I can always come up with plenty of excuses- especially regarding the first and last points on that list- insignificance and inability. I have been reading through the Old Testament of the Bible and am currently in 1 Samuel. So many times I have read the words- I will never leave you nor forsake you, I will be with you, I will go with you, I will give them into your hand. How can I be insignificant and unable when my God is always (yes always!) by my side? The answer is never-not when His Spirit is dwelling within me, not with God's power on my side! We serve a great and mighty God whose call I must be willing to recognize and respond to! (to be continued) 

Sunday, June 2, 2013

My Dwelling Place

Here is four minutes of Sunday night/Monday morning encouragement for the week ahead. I heard this song and felt it was the theme song for my life. It is called "Dwelling Place." I know many of you might have heard this song before, sung by Kari Jobe, but please watch the video and lose yourself in the Savior, who is the only one we need. 




Saturday, June 1, 2013

Trials and Suffering


The last few weeks I have found myself being more tired than usual. I am sleeping almost every afternoon I come home from school and sleeping in until 10:30 on Saturdays and coming home on Sundays and napping after church. Before the last few days, I have thought- obviously my body needs the sleep and God has given me the time in this season of life to do that, so I will be thankful. 

Now my fatigue has become more of a burden. Yesterday I came home from school and slept from 4 to 7 and then went to bed at 9:30 and slept until 10:30 this morning. Even writing this now, I find myself wanting to close my eyes and drift off. I have gone from being thankful to being resentful. I am 30 years old and feel like I am sleeping my life away. I feel I am missing out on life itself...but then that still, small voice says this is the place I have you right now. This is my plan for you at this moment. These are the trials I am allowing in your life and using to make you more like Me. Now you might think I am crazy thinking that sleeping too much is a problem. However, chronic fatigue with Lyme disease and fibromyalgia mixed in, creates some suffering. 

So what does the Bible tell me about trials and sufferings? The Bible provides many verses that speak to us about trials and suffering particularly quoted by Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul, the Apostle Peter and the Apostle James. Here are just a few that have captured my heart and mind-

James 1:2-4
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 

James 5:10-11
Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

God calls me to be joyful. God is strengthening my faith to produce steadfastness (perseverance). God wants me to persevere, to stand firm, to finish the course. He supplies me with compassion and mercy. My God is a gracious God. 

2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

God is the God of all comfort. He is able to comfort us in any affliction. Why? So that we can comfort others during their afflictions. God is using my afflictions in order for me to be able to relate, sympathize and support others through theirs. 

Hebrews 4:15-16
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 12:2-4
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

I could reread these verses all day. I stand in awe of the One who was sinless, yet suffered for my sin and shame. Jesus had a choice. He chose to do the Father's will. He loves me that much. 

2 Corinthians 12:9
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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

He gives us enough grace-for each moment, for each day. His grace is sufficient for me.

Am I boasting in my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest upon me? Am I joyful through my trials? Am I persevering? Am I comforting and encouraging others? Am I approaching the throne of grace and fixing my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith? 

Through God's amazing grace and mercy, I can say yes. Being completely lost and utterly dependent on Him each and every day, growing in an intimate relationship with the One who gave it all for me will I be able to say yes- in Christ alone. 

Linking with Titus 2 Tuesday