“Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.” (John 15:4-5,7,10)
Why do I feel like I am continuously wrestling with the urge to NOT believe that God is really in control of every aspect of my life? It is like this constant attack against my spirit, my ability to trust in Him. I find myself in thought patterns, worrying about how I should handle (blank) so (blank) can happen, or how can I change my plans so I leave open the door for (blank) to occur? WHAT am I thinking? How do I get so far away from my deep-seated belief that God can do ANYTHING. I do nothing without Him. It is not up to me to control the events of my life. He could change my life in an instant if He wanted to. I am not working on this earth for an end to a means. I am not here to fill my own agenda.
I love Oswald Chamber’s little reminder for July 28th (http://www.myutmost.org/07/0728.html). I obey now; I serve now; my purpose is being fulfilled now. (Catching a pattern?) The purposes of my actions should not be rooted in my desire of certain (self-centered) future events to occur. God may have the opposite in mind for what I have for myself, so it is time I RELEASED CONTROL. My way always ends up stinkier than decaying fish chum…long dead and about to be devoured by the world. (*not so relevant fishing analogy*). My love lies in His ways, not the world’s ways. I have to trust Him in the present without getting caught up in my wants for the future. His purposes for me are that I live each day intentionally. Immediately. Each moment is precious.
It is not up to me to manipulate my situations or courses of action. I rely on Him and His word only. He has me at this place to glorify Him in everything that I do. I do what I do because I love Him, not my life on this earth. I don’t look back at mistakes made, and when I look forward, I look heavenward. Heavenward is all about Him, not me.
“Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galations 1:10
“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Phillipians 3:13-14
Friday, July 30, 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
Mi Vida Loco
"Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31
My title is the name of a Pam Tillis song in which one line goes, "I'll go where the wind blows, you can't tame a wild rose, welcome to my crazy life!" I always chuckle when I hear that song because I can't help but think, "THAT IS ME!"
I pray that the wind is God's direction in my life.
Lately I've been tossing the theme of "adventure" back and forth in my mind. Amidst the craziness of internship and paper-writing for grad school I have already been given some unexpected crazy-fun adventures this summer. If you know me you'd probably say, "so, what's new?" True, it has been my modus operandi my whole life, but for some reason in the last month or so I have been so much more aware of the God-given part of my persona. As my twenties come to a close in the next couple of months, I can't help but realize how many rich experiences I have been through in the last decade of my life. I can see how God has brought me from one excursion to the next, over and over again, drawing me closer to Him all the time.
After sharing some pictures on facebook, a friend recently told me that my life must be filled with adventures, happiness, and blessings. Instantly, I agreed! And then I reflected. Wow. So God, you haven't given me MY plans for my life. I'm sorry for pouting about that at times because I am so thankful for YOUR adventure.
Deep in my heart I have this longing to soar like an eagle and to run and not grow weary. Adventure is at the core of my being and looking back over my life I'm trying to learn who I am in Christ and just why he places these desires on my heart. Because he has assigned us all the Great Commission (GO thereforth and make disciples of all nations...), I think he gives us all a longing for adventure on different levels and in different ways. I know that lately I have been more keenly aware of the sense of adventure he stirs in my soul. He created me this way, and now it is my choice to follow His direction for the adventure of my life.
We each have our own story, and we are living it right now. Each story is different, but each story is our one chance to follow the great adventure He sets before us. How exciting! No wonder I absolutely love stories. And adventures. :)
Thank you God for this crazy life that is filled with unexpected twists and turns! Thank you that my life's adventure is your plan, because it is far more exciting and wonderful than I could have ever planned on my own!
My title is the name of a Pam Tillis song in which one line goes, "I'll go where the wind blows, you can't tame a wild rose, welcome to my crazy life!" I always chuckle when I hear that song because I can't help but think, "THAT IS ME!"
I pray that the wind is God's direction in my life.
Lately I've been tossing the theme of "adventure" back and forth in my mind. Amidst the craziness of internship and paper-writing for grad school I have already been given some unexpected crazy-fun adventures this summer. If you know me you'd probably say, "so, what's new?" True, it has been my modus operandi my whole life, but for some reason in the last month or so I have been so much more aware of the God-given part of my persona. As my twenties come to a close in the next couple of months, I can't help but realize how many rich experiences I have been through in the last decade of my life. I can see how God has brought me from one excursion to the next, over and over again, drawing me closer to Him all the time.
After sharing some pictures on facebook, a friend recently told me that my life must be filled with adventures, happiness, and blessings. Instantly, I agreed! And then I reflected. Wow. So God, you haven't given me MY plans for my life. I'm sorry for pouting about that at times because I am so thankful for YOUR adventure.
Deep in my heart I have this longing to soar like an eagle and to run and not grow weary. Adventure is at the core of my being and looking back over my life I'm trying to learn who I am in Christ and just why he places these desires on my heart. Because he has assigned us all the Great Commission (GO thereforth and make disciples of all nations...), I think he gives us all a longing for adventure on different levels and in different ways. I know that lately I have been more keenly aware of the sense of adventure he stirs in my soul. He created me this way, and now it is my choice to follow His direction for the adventure of my life.
We each have our own story, and we are living it right now. Each story is different, but each story is our one chance to follow the great adventure He sets before us. How exciting! No wonder I absolutely love stories. And adventures. :)
Thank you God for this crazy life that is filled with unexpected twists and turns! Thank you that my life's adventure is your plan, because it is far more exciting and wonderful than I could have ever planned on my own!
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