Acknowledging God's Faithfulness

I have really been enjoying the last week or so of my "Believing God" homework, because it has involved writing down my spiritual journey. One of the things that I've seen is as I can look back on events in my life, I can see how God was at work even when I didn't realize it at the time. At first when I saw that we were going to write down our journeys, I didn't think much about it, but it has really had a profound impact on me, and I've only gotten to age 18! After that is when I really started to let God have control of my life. I am amazed at the provision and protection that He provided during those years when I wasn't allowing Him to have complete control. I would encourage each of you to write down your story. Take it in bite-size portions (I'm doing 1/5 of my life at a time), and make note of your family situation, major events, spiritual events, and any "God-stops" (instances & seasons where you know God was at work). After I get through this homework, I think I'll actually compile my thoughts in a journal to keep. Part of truly believing God is knowing that He has been at work all along and that His ways are so much higher than mine. His track record speaks for itself. . .HE CAN BE TRUSTED!!

Someone who I have grown to care deeply about who doesn't have a relationship with Christ recently posed the question, "How can you pray to a God that lets bad things into your life?" While I can completely understand this concern from someone who doesn't have a personal relationship with Christ, my answer has to be "How can I not?" When this broken world we live in leaves me at rock bottom, I have no where to turn but to the One Who I know has always been faithful. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever! (Hebrews 13:8)

Have a great week trusting the One Who can always be trusted!

"When the Saints"

I blogged a while back about my new favorite song, "When the Saints," by Sara Groves. I've been listening to it a lot because I'm going to sing it at church in a couple of weeks. As I was listening to it on the way to work tonight, I was overcome with emotion as the song really drove home some of the things God has been teaching me in the last few weeks. The first verse says: "Lord I have a heavy burden of all I've seen and know; It's more than I can handle; But Your Word is burning like a fire shut up in my bones; and I cannot let it go." My mind has been focused on the utter poverty and injustice that occurs in our world today. I've been thinking about Africa and our upcoming trip; and India as I followed the Compassion bloggers; and the sickening reality of human trafficking that even occurs in America. You can't be aware of those things and not be compelled to do something about it, but at the same time, it can be so overwhelming, you don't know where to start. What is so amazing, and the point Sara Groves makes in this song, is that God has always used broken down, ordinary people who don't have it all together and who are completely overwhelmed by their circumstances to completely change the world around them. The second verse of the song says, "Lord it's all that I can't carry and cannot leave behind; it all can overwhelm me; but when I think of all who've gone before and lived the faithful life their courage compels me." As we look at others who have served God in their lives, we are encouraged. This Scripture verse has really stood out to me this week: "He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.'" (2 Corinthians 12:9). God is able to do things in and through us that we never imagined were possible. The song goes on to list heroes of the faith from biblical times to the present. I'm working on a video that goes with the song, and in talking with several people about it, we thought it would be good to put pictures of people that have gone on to heaven who have touched our lives and our spiritual journeys; people who simply allowed God to use them. So many people have come to mind, and I'd like to share a few of them. . .

Billy Snell Bennett: Mr. Bennett and his wife Aleta (who I still get to see twice a week at church), served faithfully in the 2 year old Sunday School class for 30+ years. Some of my very first memories of church were in the nursery in their class. I also cherish memories of working alongside them on numerous mission trips throughout the years.

Doug Adams (my Paw Paw): He was my "adopted" grandfather and served the Lord faithfully throughout the years. He loved unconditionally, and I loved that about Him.

Hannah Harpster: Hannah was a little girl who entered our lives when she had cancer and as a church, we prayed fervently for God's healing. He decided to go ahead with her ultimate healing and took her home to heaven. She always said she wanted to be a missionary when she grew up, and she was! She spent her time in and out of the hospital and told people about Jesus everywhere she went!

Mr. & Mrs. Salters: The thing I remember most about both of them was their hearts for missions. Glen actually died of a heart attack suffered while on a mission trip. Their lives truly exemplified utter faith and dependence on the Lord.

This list could go on and on. But, my point is, these people, along with Abraham, Moses, David, the disciples, Paul, and many others were ordinary people who simply submitted their lives to Christ and His will for them. God wants to use each of us to move mountains. We must first set aside all our "rights" and cling to the One who can do amazing things in and through us. We need to get over our insecurities and thinking we're not good enough, because the fact of the matter is, we're not good enough, but He is!!! And we can boast in the fact that His power is made perfect in our weakness!