Up, Down, ???

It's amazing how many emotions a person (ok-me) can go through in an hour. One second I'm excited and hopeful about one situation, the next saddened and defeated about a different situation. I'm up and down. Questioning God, asking Him why and knowing immediately after that it doesn't matter why because that is where faith and trust come in. Do I trust God enough? Do I have enough faith? Why do some things come into our lives, we imagine wonderful possibilities and then they disappear so quickly? Why do I hang on to something that isn't happening? I get wistful and wonder why it didn't turn out the way I thought. As I sit here writing this I know its because I didn't like the answer God has given me. I know that the door was shut for a reason. That God has my back, He has the best for me, He uses every situation for my good. Yet while my head knows all this my heart feels disconnected. 

SO those were the words I wrote last night when I could not fall asleep. As soon as I wrote them, I shut down my computer and was able to fall asleep. This morning I have felt a peace that I did not feel last night which is completely God's doing. Then God gave me another gift- a snow day! This kindergarten teacher was not ready to go back today. After sleeping in late I was looking at FB while eating breakfast and saw this:

God knows what I need to see and hear! He knows EVERYTHING, He has it all under control and His timing is perfect! Have a blessed day!! 

Blessings

This year has flown by! I feel like we were just at the end of December 2012. As days fly by, it is so easy to focus on the negative and what we don't have, but want. In 2014 I want to be a more thankful person. A person who complains less, rejoices more and radiates God's love. Apart from God, none of this will happen. With God all things are possible. I am making a list of the blessings God has given and things that I am thankful for as 2013 comes to a close. This list is just a beginning...there is so much more. 

1. God
2. His Son, Jesus Christ, my Savior 
3. the Holy Spirit 
3. my salvation
4. everlasting life
5. unconditional love
6. endless grace
7. continual mercy
8. that God is always with me
9. His strength that allows me to do all things 
10. peace beyond understanding
11. the Bible
12. freedom to worship without fear of prosecution
13. freedom of speech
14. freedom, period. 
15. freewill 
16. my family
17. my church family
18. my small group
19. a house to live in
20. heat in the winter
21. AC in the summer
22. a car with a heater/AC
23. clothes
24. food
25. shoes
26. blowdryers
27. makeup
28. Christian music
29. Christian authors
30. Christian podcasts 
31. my job-a dream fulfilled 
32. friendships
33. Cedarville 
34. my health 
35. the fact that God has enabled me to still teach full time
36. being able to go to the gym even if just for a short time
37. nature
38. sunsets/sunrises
39. snow-its so pretty when its falling
40. shoveling-yes-because I haven't been able to in years but have twice already this year
41. clouds-I love looking at the clouds. 
42. books
43. energy drinks
44. health insurance
45. a computer
46. a cell phone
47. a kindle
48. Facebook-so I can keep in touch with friends near and far and see how God is working in their lives
49. pictures
50. the ability to sing-even though I cannot carry a tune :)

Linking with Titus 2 Tuesday

Glorious One

A few weeks ago at church we sang the song "Glorious One." It has been stuck in my head ever since. I don't mind. It is a praise song and God deserves my praise. Psalms is full of verses that talk of praising God joyfully:

O Lord, open my lips and my mouth will declare your 

praise. ~Psalm 51:15

Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. ~Psalm 63:3

My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, 

and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips

 ~Psalm 63:5

My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; 

my soul also which you have redeemed. ~Psalm 71:23

My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me your statutes. ~Psalm 119:71

and continually: 

I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. ~Psalm 34:1

Upon you I have leaned from before my birth; you are he who took me from my mothers womb. My praise is continually of you. ~Psalm 71:6

But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more.~Psalm 71:14

and in Hebrews: 

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. ~Hebrews 13:15 

One of my goals for the coming new year- for my lips to joyfully and continually sing praise to God, my Savior. Here is the song "Glorious One" by Steve Fee. 

(If you receive this post through email, please go to worshipingwhilewaiting.blogspot.com to view the video)

Linking with Inspire Me Monday

Late Night Thoughts

Its night two of not being able to fall asleep. So what does one do when they cannot fall asleep? Well in my case they look at Facebook and Instagram over and over again because I have already used up all my Candy Crush lives and have to wait 30 minutes to get a new life. Then I try to fall asleep, but my mind starts thinking about my singleness and wondering if I will be alone forever. Wondering if I will never have the opportunity to be pursued by a man of God. Its fun to be pursued. Its been a long time since it has happened to me. 

Don't get me wrong-I don't want to be pursued just because its fun. I want to be pursued by my future husband, by the man that will love me like Christ loves the church, who puts God first and is hungry for more of Him and wants to actively serve Him. I want a man who wants a family and considers children a precious gift from the Lord and has entrusted us to raise them in His ways. I am not naive. I am not looking for a husband to make me complete or to find my satisfaction in him. I have already found my completeness and satisfaction in Christ and Christ alone. I know marriage is not a fairy tale. It is hard work, but I think it is worth it. 

However, I know that might not be in God's plan for me. I hope it is, but I know that God will provide grace and strength and peace if it is not. His plans are perfect and my times are in His sovereign hands. Each day is a gift from above. I have been created by God to glorify Him, to become more like Him, to be His hands and feet. This world is not my home. I cannot wait for Jesus to return and take me away to live with Him FOREVER!! The sooner the better. Here is a song I want to share with you tonight by Michael W. Smith called "Take Me Home."

(If you are reading this through email, please go to worshipingwhilewaiting.blogspot.com to view this video)

Linking with Faithful Friday Blog Hop

The Gift

Christmas is such an exciting time of the year! For those of us who have accepted the ultimate gift, Jesus Christ, Christmas is so much more than the glitz, glamour and gifts. It is about the birth of our Savior! Jesus' birth was prophesied in the Old Testament long before He was born. This baby was born to conquer death, born to save us from our sins, born that we may have everlasting life with Him! It is the gift that has no expiration date, no monetary value, no end. It is the gift that we can share and proclaim to others each day God has given us on this earth. It is the only gift that has changed my life and that can change your life FOREVER!! Christmas is just the beginning of the story!

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; 

and the government shall be upon his shoulder, 

and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, 

Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 Of the increase of His government

 and of peace there will be no end, 

on the throne of David and over his kingdom, 

to establish it and to uphold it with justice 

and with righteousness from this time forth and 

forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this." 

Isaiah 9:6-7 

Unashamed

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." ~Matthew 28:19-20

Witnessing has never been a strength of mine. I am a shy person, quieter than most and definitely do not like to be the center of attention (yup-I'm the person with the beet red face). However, God gave us this command in Matthew. He does not add an asterisk* next to it and say at the bottom-only those who are outgoing or great speakers, etc. Nope, its not there. However, He gives me Himself. He goes with me always and that is why I can witness. Through Him and Him alone. I have this amazing, life-changing news (John 3:16) and how can I possibly keep it to myself?!?! 

This is what the latest controversy has me thinking about lately. Phil Robertson..."Duck Dynasty"...you know what I am talking about. I love the Robertsons. I love the show. I would love to meet them and hang out with them for a day or a week or a month. The longer, the better. When you watch the show, week to week, you see what is important to them. Their faith, their family and ducks! Their millionaires yet they don't act like it. They are warm, relatable and loveable. There is no pretense or airs. What you see is what you get. And you get a lot! 

The Robertsons are not afraid to witness. There are unapologetic, unashamed and undaunted. It does not matter who you are...a neighbor or a GQ reporter...they are going to tell you the Gospel news! They will share with you this life-changing news no matter what. Phil knows who he answers to and it is not men. Phil loves people so much that he wants to share the Gospel in order that people can be saved and have eternal life. If you have never heard the Robertson stories of redemption, listen here at  http://www.iamsecond.com/seconds/the-robertsons/

The Bible tells us: 

"For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." Mark 8:38 (see also Luke 9:26)

"For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16

"for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began..." 2 Timothy 1:7-9

"for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me." 2 Timothy 1:11-12

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15

"Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name." 1 Peter 4:16 

At one point in the interview, Phil did not use the best choice of words. However, that is between him and God. It is not my place to judge as I do not always make the best choices and have the best reactions. Each day I fail, yet God is full of grace and mercy. 

2 Timothy 3:16-17 says "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." 

As a Christian, I believe you cannot pick and choose which parts of the Bible you want to believe. All Scripture is God's truth. The Bible is used-for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness-why? so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 

I stand by the Word of God. 

I stand by my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. 

I am not ashamed. 

Linking with Inspire Me Monday and Titus 2 Tuesday

Free Indeed

A dear friend of mine shared a video on Facebook today. She knew I would love it. She mentioned me in the comments so I would see it. I am so thankful that she did. This video is from the I Am Second ministry. It is about my favorite family-the Robertsons. Yes, those Robertsons from Duck Dynasty. I love this family and the way God is using them to represent Him and to spread the Gospel message. This family is not perfect-they never claimed to be. They are real, authentic, genuine. They have a past, but they know Who holds the future. Please watch this video when you have time. It piggybacks my last post about the "prodigal parade." God uses them, He uses me and He can use you. No matter what your past. He died for YOU because He loved you so much! God is first, I am second! 

Click this link to take you to the video: http://www.iamsecond.com/seconds/the-robertsons/