I know it's been forever since I last signed on. Don't worry, things have been good...correction, I've been good. One thing my pastor said that resonates with me: You might not be able to rejoice in whatever situation you are placed. But whatever situation you are placed, you CAN rejoice in God. I cannot describe how God has shown His presence in my life this year....wordy, talkative, verbose me- speechless! Let's just say God has used my circumstances, individuals associated within my life, basically everything to show me how awesome, loving, and completely worthy HE is! Despite some situations I have been placed in, He has turned those daunting factors into reasons why He is worthy to be praised. Am I making sense? I find myself searching for words to properly articulate my thoughts and feelings lately. Words don't seem to measure or truly capture how I've been feeling...how blessed I feel...how at peace I feel. And it's all because of God. So far this year I've learned: 1. Despite how far I venture away, God has and will always be with me. He promised He would never forsake me and He is completely thorough, completely consistent. 2. God answers prayers, I just had to learn how to ask. 3. Sometimes answered prayers don't turn out how I imagined, however they're always, exactly what I wanted (good thing God is God and I'm not, right?). 4)Sometimes God answers prayers by placing me in a situation where I develop my desired outcome. For example, I've asked for patience. At one point my group leader sagely reported sometimes God will provide you with a situation where you have to be patient. As another friend reflected: God doesn't send patience or humility in a cute little jar for you to open up and use. 5) To further expand on number 4, God really does have a great sense of humor...or maybe it's just me (it's not!). 6) There is nothing greater than love because God is love. I believe this is what God is trying to teach us. Or least that what I feel He's been showing me so far this year: Don't judge, unless I want to be judged. Forgive others as I want to be forgiven. Give mercy because He gives so freely and abundantly. Love unconditionally, because His love is unconditional for me. 7) Rest in Christ...Know that He has done it all. While I may not be perfect or complete, I must rest in the fact that in Christ, I am perfect, I am complete, I'm worthy and good enough to have a place with God. And there is Nothing I can do to win a place in heaven; There is nothing I can do to have that place taken away. It is a precious gift! Now please don't misconstrue what I'm saying: just like any other store policy I can always give the gift back, exchange it for something else (worldly, empty things), or simply not extend my hand to receive it. What I've learn is once I've truly accepted and embraced that gift,
I cannot damage it. It's not like fine china and once dropped it's broken and destroyed. Nor could I
regift it and give it to someone else (
ie Dirty Santa game). It's mine and as long as I want it, I believe in it, and I cherish it, it will NEVER go away.
I want to come back to my last few reflections later on and expound on them, particularly numbers 4, 6, and 7.
Until then, please rest easy in Christ: Romans 8:38-39
"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come. Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
