Practice His Patience

Problems...Will Always Be Present 

Today. What a funny thing today. Today is another day the Lord has made but I am having a hard time rejoicing and being glad in it. The thing about today is that no matter where we go the Lord will be there. Despite the disappointment or stress we may feel for whatever reason we must keep the faith. 

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the almighty love of Christ that forever flows through us."- Romans 8:38-39

I know I am experiencing a really hard day and as soon as I got back to my dorm room this afternoon I went to the word. The only place we can ever truly find a home is in Christ himself. It is evident throughout scripture that nothing, NOTHING, not one single thing, can separate us from Christ and his amazing love. There is a peace that we find in the Lord and I know that sometimes we have trouble resting in it. But even in that we must know that many problems vanish instantly in the Light of God's love because we realize that we are NEVER alone. 

The Lord replies in Exodus 33:14 "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." We have rest, peace, love, and everything we could ever possibly need in the presence of the Lord. Even in the midst of our problems and our days that just fall short. Each moment we can choose to practice his presence or to practice the presence of problems. Often it feels easier to take the problem or problems at hand and run with them; but in the Lord we are blessed to have patience and understanding in knowing that no matter what the circumstance he is so much greater. 

Christ has set us free. He has set us free from the attachment of the problems that come with living in this world. For we know that what awaits us is more than worth the problems we face. I know I must remember and that we all must remember; Nothing, not one little problem, NOTHING, can separate us from God's great love for us. 

I am Famous in My Father's Eyes

He Knows My Name 

"What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world (and gets fame and fortune) yet, loses his soul?" - Matthew 16:26

As I sat down to write this post of course the Lord decides to prompt me with the song by Francesca Battistelli, He Knows My Name. This song really speaks to me in a deep personal way; from when I was a little girl I had this dream that I could be famous. This dream that I could be the next pop superstar/actress was a fire for years fueled by so many different things. Of course as I got older it wasn't as much of a pressing dream, but the embers from that fire still remained. So when I was in high school I was involved in many different theatrical and musical pursuits and it seemed to me as though such a thing as 'fame' could be a potential facet in my future. I truly got swept away with the glamour of people knowing my name and being commended for my performances. Graduating from high school I was voted 'most likely to be famous' and I was told that I had the potential to really make that happen. So I really began to think about what that might look like for me. 

While it is wonderful to have a talent and a blessing to share it with the world, it became this fantastical to-do that was an important part of my future. So I really got to thinking about this thing called 'fame' and the idea of millions of people knowing my name... 

I asked myself questions like; 

                                        What would my life look like to be famous?

How amazing would it be to be noticed on the street by fans?

                                                                                

                                                                                   What would it take for people to know my name?

But in the midst of this obsession with being known, and taking my talent and showcasing it for the world to see I soon realized that is not at all what this life is about. Of course I knew that to be the truth but it didn't actually set in until I was sitting in church this morning and I realized that I am at home in the Lord, my Heavenly Father, who is more famous than any single I, or any single celebrity could ever hope to be. How amazing is it that God knows my name and knows me more personally than anyone could ever hope to? He crafted me to be the outspoken, theatrical, musical, Christ-lover that I am. He made each one of us and HE knows each one of us by name. 

So while it wold be interesting to be famous, we already are. We are famous in the Lord. He knows your name and he makes a big deal about everything you are and every talent you have because he loves you and me infinitely more than we could ever hope or imagine from fame and fortune. In Ephesians 5:19 Paul tells us to "Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord." For the Lord is the only audience that truly matters. He gave us this life so that we may sing for him and proclaim his name for the world to hear. 

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine, according to his power within us, to him be the glory!"- Ephesians 3:20

Let us always know that he knows each and every one of our names and we are blessed beyond compare to call the most amazing God our Heavenly Father! Whether it be fame or fortune you seek no that the Lord is much more than you could ever wish for in something so fleeting.