Resting in Arms of a Faithful God

Today is September 18, a day to rest in God's provision.

Perhaps I will pick up blogging again....perhaps not. I wish I would post more faithfully because I so enjoy reading my old posts and seeing God at work in my life. At any rate, I remembered I had a blog, had some time, and had something I felt was worth posting.

Recently, I started my first year of teaching! Woah! What a journey I have started. College, try as it might, most definitely cannot prepare you for what it takes. Sure, I learned how to lesson plan and how to deliver a good lesson, but there is SO much more to teaching. There are so many more responsibilities when you are the teacher in a classroom. I feel as if my workload never shrinks, no matter how many hours I spend checking things off my never ending to-do list. As much as I truly love my job, the pressure is enormous. Plus, there are the usual demands of starting out on a new path, getting used to a new job, and being in a new world. Through all of this, I have been feeling my inadequacy. It is in times like these that I am in awe of my God. No words can express how thankful I am for how big and mighty and powerful He is. Right now, He is teaching me to rely on Him and to rest in Him. As much as I wish the stress would go away, I am grateful for it. Yes, I know, that sounds like a contradiction, but if I didn't have it, I wouldnt be growing so close to my Heavenly Father. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me and I know it. . .He keeps that promise and he has given me the endurance and ability to do what needs to be done and to do it well. "But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31) Often I feel anxious, but He gives me the peace that passes understanding. During this time, I have grown so much in my love for my Lord. He has shown me that He is always faithful. Praise Him!

Future Grace

Today is July 9, a day to trust in future grace.

Oh look, I have a blog. Funny, I tend to forget about my blogs. In 2007, I began one for a school project but only posted for a grade. Later on, I had one for work, but I forgot all about that and never finished whatever it was that I was supposed to blog about on it. Last year, I started this blog, posted twice, and...surprise, let it collect digital dust. Having completed school, I have not had a writing requirement in a several months. But, I love writing. Now that I am free to write on topics of my choice, I decided to log some of my contemplative thoughts again. I am not kidding myself, I doubt anyone on the world wide web really cares to read my ramblings, but that is not why I am writing. By the time I wake up tomorrow morning, I may once again forget that I have virtual document. However, it was encouraging to see my posts of over a year ago and to reflect on what God was doing in my life then, what He has done since then, and what He is doing now in my life. In a way, this is tracking my growth. As a Christian, I certainly hope that I am maturing and developing spiritually. It is entirely too easy to become complacent and become stagnant. All that rambling to say. . .I hope that as I blog I will be able to muse over past posts and see, by God's grace, flourishing.

SO, future grace. . .Unfortunately, people outside of the Body of Christ are not able to understand that followers of the Lord are not just praying to the air and reading an ancient paper manuscript. If you can't see God, the query, how do you know He is there? My answer? I can see Him everywhere! Creation points to a Creator. Blessings point to a Blesser. But, does that make Him a personal God? I see my Savior in personal ways too. Constantly. For example, for the past 2 years, He has been teaching me to trust and rely on His plan. Some of these lessons happen subtly, and it is not until after the situation is past that I realize God's hand pointing me to His omnipotence; but, for the most part, His present dealings with me and those of the recent past (2 years) starkly show me that He is at work in my life. As far as I am concerned, there is no other explanation for the events (trials and blessings) that I have experienced. In fact, if I did not see Christ through these difficult times in my life, sometimes I do not know how I would go on. There have been times where I have felt like my life is out of control, like nothing is going like it is supposed to. But, thankfully, the truth of God's sovereignty has been come something so very dear to my heart. My life was never out of God's control. Everything is going exactly as it is supposed to. By God's grace, I have also come to realize that if I was in control or life went how I though it was supposed to, I would have a mess of a life. Some of His instruction comes through simple means, for example, putting a particular song in my life.

Honoring and Glorifying a Sovereign God

Today is April 8, a day to strive to honor and glorify my sovereign Lord.

I was driving home from school today, and, as is my practice, I was using the quiet time to pray. Praying for my ailing grandfather, I realized that I was telling God what I wanted...what I thought I needed. Suddenly, I realized that I was not praying according to God's will. God did not place me here on this earth for my own pleasure; the Lord is not my genie to rub and ask for things. I am here to honor and glorify an almighty and all powerful God. In all that I do, say, and ask, I need to remember that I should honor Him and ask that He bring glory to Himself in whatever way He sees fit to answer my requests.

(Shorter Catechism Question 1: What is man's cheif end? Man's cheif end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.)

Also, I was reminded of God's sovereignty and a peace fell over my soul. It is wonderful to know that God is in control and nothing happens apart from Him. Everything that does happen also happens for the good of those who are called according to His purpose; therefore, whatever way the Lord chooses to answer my prayer will be good for me, even if I do not think it is ideal at the time.

(Matt. 10:29, “Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.”

Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.")

The Glories of an Almighty, Caring God

Today is April 1, 2010. Although this beautiful spring day started out rocky, today is the day the Lord has made, and I have rejoiced and been glad in it.
Wakeful nights sometimes haunt my sleep, but I have found that prayer is the best way to pass the seemingly empty time. The Lord brings my church family to mind during these dark periods and I eventually fall back to sleep praying for the Body. I am thankful that the Lord is there to carry me through the nights. He is always there, never asleep, never too tired. Due to one of these sleepless nights, I slept past my alarm and too close to my departure time. Thankfully I did not have to be at the elementary school, so I was able to throw on a ball cap and rush off to class. When I rolled into the parking lot, I was discouraged about the day; I looked like I had rolled out of bed (I had) and now I was five minutes late to class and quite fearful of point deduction. On my way in, however, the Lord filled my eyes with sunshine and my nose with the delightful smell of spring and pollen, reminding me of His glory.
The nature of the day allowed for my afternoon class to convene an hour early in order to get out an hour early. Our teacher also had unusual measure grace and let us out an hour early (extremely unusual). I was able to get home at 2pm instead of 4. On my way out to my car, I looked around and observed the blooming trees, the whirring bugs, and the sunny sky. It was magnificent. I stretched my face towards the heavens and thanked God for His creation, His glory, and His amazing Being.
The dawning of each new season, with its own new glories always reminds me of what an awesome God I serve (The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalm 19:1). It also always saddens me to think that so many in this world simultaneously enjoy what I enjoy, but do not see God's glory ("For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities---his eternal power and divine nature---have been clearly seen, being understood from what had been made, so that men are without excuse." Romans 1:20)