Thursday, February 26, 2015

Falling in Love

Do you remember the first time you fell in love? Was it in junior high, high school or college? Did you marry your first love, your high school or college "sweetheart" or did you have to kiss some toads before finding your prince? 

During college I thought I would find my future husband. When that did not happen I decided to do things my way. I walked away from God for a few years. I was in a relationship, but it was not love that drove me to stay in this toxic relationship. It was the desire to be with someone, to not have to be alone. However, that is exactly what happened. I was alone, I was not loved like I wanted to be and I was making reckless decisions. When God in His amazing grace rescued me from that disaster, I guarded myself and my heart for 5 years. 

Then along came this handsome Christian guy. I fell in love and I fell hard. I thought he was my forever love-my prince. He certainly treated me like a princess. I had never felt happier. He was worth the risk because that is exactly what happens when we choose to "fall in love." Love is a risk and what goes up must come down. Hence the fall part. 

As God has brought me to this new season of singleness, the last few months I have fallen in love again. This time there is no risk. There will be no fall. I have fallen in love with my Savior. God has captured my heart. He has filled those places inside of me that can only be filled and satisfied with Him. God has been restoring and healing my heart day by day. Without Him and His steadfast love, I know I would not be where I am right now. I would still be a mess. (And lets be honest- at times I still am.) 


However, the facts are that God's love never fails, never gives up, never runs out. His love is steadfast, faithful and true. His love is perfect. His love created me, redeemed me and restored me. His love heals and sustains. His love is amazing and marvelous. These verses have been become so alive in my life the last few months: 


I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant with joy; their faces will never be ashamed ~Psalm 34:4-5~


But this I call to mind and therefore, I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in Him." The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.
 ~Lamentations 3: 21-25~


You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. ~Jeremiah 29:13~

There are so many more verses I could share with you. The Scriptures have come alive and I have grown closer, learned more and fallen in love with the God of the Bible. The more I read, the more I want to read about my awesome God. The Bible has become my favorite book. Open it up, read it, search it, study it. You will not be disappointed!! 

You reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant joy; in Your right hand are eternal pleasures ~Psalm 16:11~







Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Where are you living?

Are you living for today? Are you stuck living in the past? or are you floating through each day waiting for the future? The Bible tells us in James 4:14, "Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes."

We are not guaranteed tomorrow. Today is a gift to be lived moment by moment. However, that is not where I  struggle. I get stuck in the past- in the "what-if's", "if only's" and "whys". Recently someone told me that they did not live in the past, that they could do what they wanted and that they advised me to do the same. A little harsh in delivery, but ringing with truth. 

It isn't always that easy, is it? When you see your future plans blow up, when your emotions run wild, when the enemy is prowling around telling you lies that make you question everything, just move on. Yeah right. I just laughed out loud. However, there is a BUT...

God is sovereign. He knows what is best for His children. This is when I need to make a choice- trust and have faith in God's plan and look to the future with hope- or get sucked into the lies of the enemy that tell me I once again failed or wasn't good enough. I choose God and you can too!  

God brings people into our lives and takes them out. He knows the future. He is the great I AM! When my world falls apart, I still have Jesus. I am still a daughter of the King. I have been meditating on this verse the last few days: 

"O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you." 
-2 Chronicles 20:12

This was Jehoshaphat's prayer. Some days I feel like Jehoshaphat and that "a great horde" is coming against me. I am helpless, I am powerless, I don't know what to do. That is not the end of the verse though. Jehoshaphat ends his prayer with  "...our eyes are on you." God has been teaching me that no matter what happens, I need to fix my eyes on Him. He is my hope and my future-He alone is all I need!