Even so...it is well with my soul!

This past weekend Amber and I went down to Orlando and what a wonderful time it was. The whole time there we felt like we were on a retreat…We were able to catch up with many friends we don’t get to see very often and during all the meetings (singles, church, and a worship and ministry night) the Lord was faithful to meet us. We both realized that we needed to break away from all the chaos of life for a couple days. I came home very refreshed (and tired, but thank God for caffeine!) and ready to take on a busy week….

Over the past couple weeks the Lord has delivered me from many challenging obstacles and turned them into joyful circumstances. I’m becoming more and more aware of why God had me where I was over the past couple years even though, at times, it made absolutely no sense. Though I’m still just as busy and maybe even busier than I was, the Lord has brought much joy to my soul and has lifted a huge burden off my shoulders. Things are still kind of crazy for my family. It’s especially hard not having dad at home, but God continues to be faithful. He has been our rock during troubled times! Words do not express how overwhelmingly wonderful His love has been to me recently. I’m continuing to see glimpses of His faithfulness and learning to rest in the arms of my Daddy in Heaven through difficult times. Though still walking through a season of the unknown…strength is rising as I wait upon the Lord! How kind He is!

Psalm 62:5-8- “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.”

Lamentations 3:22-23- “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Lift Up Your Eyes

This past year the Lord has placed many challenging things in my life and I've had to learn time after time to rest in God’s sovereignty and faithfulness. God has shown me that He is steadfast and that His love is greater than any trial or pain. Though it has been a hard battle and there have been many days of feeling downcast, I’m so grateful to God for everything! Just when I thought I was so deep in the water that I was going to drown, God came and lifted me up. I can't imagine where I would be in my relationship with God had I not gone through some difficult things this past year. I've learned numerous things! I know there will be many more circumstances/trials that will come up in my life, but I have hope (I know I’ve said this SO many times) because God has been faithful and he will be again!

This morning I came across the following quote out of a daily devotional titled, “Streams in the Desert” and I found it to be very helpful, convicting, and encouraging:

“We must remember that it is not in any easy or self-indulgent life that Christ will lead us to greatness. The easy life leads not upward, but downward. Heaven always is above us, and we must ever be looking up toward it. There are some people who always avoid things that are costly, that require self-denial, or self-restraint and sacrifice, but toil and hardship show us the only way to nobleness. Greatness comes not by having a mossy path made for you through the meadow, but by being sent to hew out a roadway by your hands. Are you going to reach the mountain splendors?”

Lead Me To The Rock

This morning I woke up feeling anxious about many things. I was worrying about things that I have no control over and no need to even worry about. Instead of trusting God, I became anxious! The Lord was kind to very quickly remind me of His love for me. He reminded me that all the things I was worrying about, He already has an answer to. Whether it's the answers I want to hear or not, it will be for my good and His glory.

I find it very sad that I was worrying after being in Gainesville yesterday hearing a message out of Psalm 61 titled, "Our Rock in Troubled Times." Phil Courson did an excellent job speaking on this Psalm! This message was very timely for me! As I turned to my notes this morning during my quiet time I came across a quote that he shared with us:

"There is a Rock to be found. There is an inner rest to be experienced that's deeper than conceptual understanding, human love, personal success, and the accumulation of possessions. There is a rock that will give you rest even when all of those things have been taken away. That rock is Christ and you were hardwired to find what you are seeking in Him. In His grace, He won't play hide and seek with you. In your weakness and weariness, cry out to Him. He will find you and He will be your rock." -Paul Tripp

Psalm 61:1-3- "Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart it faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy. Let me dwell in your house forever! Let me take refuge in the shelter of your wings!"

What a fresh reminder this is to me! God is faithful and sovereign over all things. Just as he has been faithful in the past, he will be faithful today and forever. He is the everlasting God and will NEVER change. His grace will always be there to remind me of His love every time I sinfully begin to worry! The duty to trust God will never be out of season!

Psalm 62:5-8- “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation and my, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.”

Faithful...

...firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty.

Yesterday, I pulled many scripture references out of the chapter I shared about on “faithfulness”. Today I typed them all out for you to read. It's much easier for me to comprehend when I have it all right in front of me to read. Hopefully this is helpful for you as well.

We are dependent upon His faithfulness for our final salvation:
1 Corinthians 1:8-9- “who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.”

He is faithful in deliverance from temptation:
1 Corinthians 10:13- “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

He is faithful to sanctify us:
1 Thessalonians 5:23- “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

He is faithful to forgive us of our sins:
1 John 1:9- “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

He is faithful for deliverance in times of suffering:
1 Peter 4:19- “Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their soul to a faithful Creator while doing good.”

He is faithful in the fulfillment of our ultimate hope of eternal life:
Hebrews 10:23- “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promises is faithful.”

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Constantly Faithful

I just finished reading through the chapter titled, “Faithfulness” out of the book I’ve been reading, “The Fruitful Life” by Jerry Bridges. As I've mentioned in previous posts, this book has been so convicting and outstanding to read. I would recommend it to anyone! If anyone would like to borrow my copy, you are more than welcome to (once I'm done reading it, that is :) )! Here is what the Lord has been showing me and reminding me of through this chapter:

“Consider for a moment the absolute necessity of the faithfulness of God. We are dependent upon His faithfulness for our final salvation (see 1 Corinthians 1:8-9), for deliverance from temptation (see 1 Corinthians 10:13), for ultimate sanctification (see 1 Thessalonians 5:23), for the forgiveness of our sins (see 1 John 1:9), for deliverance through times of suffering (see 1 Peter 4:19), and for the fulfillment of our ultimate hope of eternal life (see Hebrews 10:23). We can easily see that every aspect of the Christian life rests upon the faithfulness of God, and we have the assurance that ‘The Lord is faithful to all his promises’ (Psalm 145:13.”

“A faithful person is one who is dependable, trustworthy, and loyal; who can be depended upon in all of his relationships; and who is absolutely honest and ethical in everything. As with the other graces of Christian character, the first step in growing in faithfulness is to acknowledge the biblical standard. Faithfulness entails absolute honesty, utter dependability, and unswerving loyalty.”

Something that I’m learning time after time is that God is faithful and that will NEVER change! I’m realizing more and more every day the faithfulness of my God and Savior. He was faithful to me yesterday and today and will still remain faithful tomorrow. “Am I this person”, I asked myself? In my desire to grow in being more like Christ, I needed to challenge myself and ask myself some questions: Am I the type of person who is constantly faithful to reach out to others? Do I make an effort on Sunday mornings to go meet the new visitor? Have I been following up with friends and asking them how their doing in their relationship with God? Yes, I might ask someone how they’re doing or go say hi to the new person, but do I always follow up? God is not a person who asks how we’re doing and then, doesn’t follow up! He is CONTSANT! I want to be that person more often than I am now! I want to be a person who is CONSTANTLY asking people how I can be praying for them or how I can serve them. God is faithful to meet our every need, every second of the day!

God has placed individuals in our daily lives that we interact with that we are to care for and hold accountable. Obviously I cannot even begin to compare myself to God, I am wretch and He is Holy. I’m a sinner and He is a Savior. No, I cannot work in other people’s lives like God can, but He does use us as "means" in other peoples lives. He calls us to reach out to the weak and weary, to help those who are falling away from His truths, to serve those in need of service. Faithfulness to God includes faithfulness to one another. It is God who requires that I be faithful in all of my earthly relationships. So only if I seek to grow in the grace of faithfulness toward others will I have any hope of hearing Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

"Great is Your Faithfulness"

Faithful are Your mercies Lord
They drench me like the dew
Pure and sweet Your holy love
I find my joy in You
Your favor greets me like the dawn
My burning heart must sing
To You who rises over me
With healing in Your
Healing in Your wings

Your faithfulness is higher
Than the heavens
Deeper than the sea
Great is Your faithfulness
Your faithfulness is higher
Than the heavens
Deeper than the sea
Great is Your faithfulness to me
Great is Your faithfulness to me

You seat me at Your table Lord
You’ve given me a place
You robe me in Your righteousness
Adorning me with grace
You crown me with Your victor’s wreath
You gained upon the tree
You take the oil of gladness
And pour it out on
You pour it out on me