Reflections are About Today

"As water reflects the face, so one's life reflects the heart."-Proverbs 27:19

This weekend marks an entire year since I met some of the most amazing people the Lord could have ever possibly blessed me with, started a new chapter of my life, delved deeper into my relationship with Jesus, and made a complete fool out of myself at Cru Fall Retreat. The funny thing about time is that it continues to go on. So at this point in time as I sit here at this years Fall Retreat I can't help reflect and apply to today. 

Reflection is so much less about yesterday as it is about tomorrow and the days in the Lord to come. Last year at this time I was hoping for those friends I had always hoped for, the type of friends I could share my faith with entirely and relate on a whole different level. Little did I know the Lord had so much in store for me. The speaker that weekend was none other than Tyler Jones. I mention this because what Tyler said resonated so much with me then and carried into my life today; at this very moment in this new season of my life. Tyler spoke on Freedom; and not in the sense that we are free in the United states to do such and such, but what it is really like to be FREE in the Lord. In Galatians 5:16 it says, "But I say walk by the spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." To me this speaks so much in that we have the amazing honor to walk in the spirit and that we are free of the works of the world. God is so amazing that he provides us with such a freedom that cannot be earned. 

In everything we have ever done the Lord has been there and so of course he is there today, right now. We will never be alone to reflect on a lonely life. Not a single moment should we spend time think about what could have been but what is because of what was. We are here in this very moment for a purpose and what a purpose that is. So what work is the Lord doing right now? It is so beautifully expressed in Ephesians 2:22, "In him you are also being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit." So as we are being built we are building the kingdom in turn. Currently I am letting the Lord live in me and through me and seeing what he has in store for me as I do his will. 

Like Tyler Jones said at that Fall Retreat Just a year ago; we either allow the Spirit to change us or we hinder him from doing so...but regardless we cannot lose our Salvation because by the grace of God we are FREE. So wherever we stand at any given time we can reflect on certain points in our lives that made great impacts or were a turning point and apply them to today to live in the freedom that is God's grace. God never stops pursuing us, not for a single moment did he ever and he will never. "All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you."- Psalm 22:27 Wow. God is imminently transcendent and transcendentally imminent. Isn't it so true that life is inconvenient and confusingly unexpected? Of  course it is but as we reflect upon yesterday we see today's purpose and that in itself is something so beautiful. 

"And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."- 2 Timothy 2:2 

The Words that are Written on my Heart

"You have a unique message to deliver, a unique song to sing, a unique act of love to bestow. This message, this song, and this act of love have been entrusted exclusively to the one and only you." - John Powell 

I am a writer. I might not be a writer in the sense that I get up everyday and work on a novel that I dreamt up one night and continue to get ideas for in my sleep. I also might not be a writer in the sense that I get an amazing grade on all the papers I have been assigned to write for odd classes here and there. In fact in neither of those senses am I a writer. When it comes to writing I write what comes to my heart and that is not always the task but I feel as though it is my task. I have about a journal a year from when I was thirteen full of who knows what to testify that sometimes my writing was just merely for writing itself. Whenever I write the Lord is ever-present and in that sense that is why I continue to write and I think that is why I am a writer and have been since I could remember. 

Not until recently did I discover some of the things I had written years ago in different stages of my life. Only then did I realize I always had that desire to write and share my love for love and Jesus because when it  comes to God's love and that happiness, it really is not much unless you can share it with someone. When you think about it that is what we are called to do each and every day. John 13:34 is perhaps one of the most memorable verses in the bible about loving one another, "just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another." Now the Lord never said that was going to be easy in no passage in the bible did the Lord say that was easy. Whether it be in my writing, friendships, everyday interactions with people, or whatever it may be it might not always be received in the way we hope or intend. But is anything? No. it isn't but that is perfectly normal. So normal in fact that we should not be phased...well no in fact we will always be phased but that should never stop you from voicing or writing those words that are on your heart. 

Just to enlighten you on what Lauren from July 3, 2012 had to say about writing the words that were so much on her heart...

Dear Journal, 

When I decide I want to write in my journal I realize I usually end up writing to God! Which in itself is not that surprising because God is my center and he is amazing. God is all I hope for and all I truly care about. In this particular point in my life I am beginning to have to make more decisions about my future and honestly that kind of scares me to think that life is going by so fast.... I am so blessed and incredibly thankful for what the Lord has given me. It doesn't particularly bother me as much as it once did that I don't have a boyfriend. I know that the Lord has a plan for that part of my life. Waiting makes me feel like the outcome is just going to be that much more special....I can't wait to just live each day growing closer to the Lord and trusting in him more and more. I myself promise to ALWAYS live and love forever for Jesus. HE deserves our honesty, fairness, trust, kindness, gentleness, and everything we have.

 Lauren

               

Just this passage from my journal tells me and whomever may be reading now, that of course I was struggling then with some very minor things but I was still turning to the Lord and writing about it. As we all can do, I chose to share it. Each and every moment of our lives is written out in this amazing book that is our lives, we don't have the power to write that but we do have the ability to write what is on our heart in each of those moments. "...I am writing out the plan in them, carving it out on their hearts. I'll be their God...they will know me."- Hebrews 8:10-11 God's plan is written on our hearts and because of that we know him! How intensely awesome is that? Because even with that the Lord has given us the ability to know him and in that we have so much to say, I know I have so much to say. 

From day one in our hearts that yearning to share love and happiness with others was placed. So... 

I write. 

I sing. 

I love because the Lord loves me. 

What do you do? How can you share the love of the one who loves you immeasurably more than your heart could ever hope or imagine? "Go into the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation."- Mark 16:15 Brothers and sisters I love you! I cannot wait to meet all of your beautiful souls in heaven so we can forever praise and rejoice in that crazy love we have read, written about, and yearned for all of lives. 

"And let us not grow weary of doing good (sharing that love with others), for in due season we will all come home, if we do not give up!"

Live Free, Wild, and On Fire for the Lord

I am a free spirit...

Everyday that the Lord has made is another adventure that we are beyond blessed to embark upon. There is always somewhere to be, something to do, people and things to see; but no matter what the adventure or where the your free spirit may take you the Lord will meet you there. It is amazing to me that the Lord knows us so well and has planned our tomorrows out. What is more is that each one of us is incredibly different and yet we all love the Lord in our own way and do life the way we feel called to serve him best.

I would describe myself as an insanely free spirit with so much energy to face tomorrow wild and free. Even in a life full of unknown adventures the Lord's love and guiding hand is constant. Psalm 32:8 speaks on how the Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you." When you think about it, that is undeniably amazing. The Lord has planned  your entire lifetime why worry? Why stress? You have the ability to live your life free to worship the Lord in every way whether that be singing to the top of your lungs, dancing like a crazy person, laughing with a brother or sister in christ, traveling to different locations to observe the Lord's beauty, you are so free in God's love.

Exercise your life in the fact that "Where the spirit of the Lord is there is Freedom!"- 2 Corinthians 3:17 Shout it from the mountain tops! If you are like me you always want to go on an adventure to soothe your free spirit and your heart for adventure. That is perfectly fine because the Lord put that there. We are all made different and if you have a free spirit that you just can't tame, feed it! Our most important mission in life is to praise the Lord and spread his love among the nations. So if your free spirit calls you that speaks volumes.

"God will direct your steps"- Proverbs 16:9 God will guide your free spirited steps where you can best carry out his plan for you. Today is another day where you can march to the beat of your own free spirited drum and live a wildly in love and on fire for your Heavenly Father.

The Lord Knows The One Your Soul Loves...

The Lord Knows Him

"Put not your trust in Princes."-Psalm 146:3

In my earlier teen years I had a fixation on a guy, lets just refer to him as Contender 1, that I thought was very much my ideal guy. Looking back a those moments I can see that while he was the epitome of the christian guy I was looking for he is not the christian guy that the Lord has planned for me in my life. I know that during that time I spent countless moments wondering about the future that could be. When in all actuality I should have been going through that time focusing the most on how I could please the Lord more. 

When I sit and think about it now, I realize that the Lord 's purpose for that time was fulfilled. More often than not we think we know a lot more about our lives than we actually do. So where in the time that I spent invested in someone else who was a little less interested in me I gained a little more patience through such an experience. 

The Lord knows my heart. He knew it then when I was experiencing young love. It is the same for everyone; believers and non-believers alike. The Lord knows your heart. One of my favorite verses to refer back to when thinking about this time in my life and this current single time is, Song of Songs 3:5 "Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires." 

 As a single christian women I know what it is like to be in love. I was in love, I had that experience. The Lord's plan for my life was not to have a boyfriend or even be in a relationship in the time where he wanted me to be seeking him and growing in his love for me. So you may have experienced something similar or may be experiencing it. Know that the Lord has a plan for your future Husband.

Not every boyfriend or love interest is going to be a contender for your Prince Charming. The Lord has planned out your life from beginning to end and knows him. He knows his heart as well as he knows yours. So if you have not found him yet, thats ok because that just means that neither of your hearts are ready yet. What the Lord wants is for your love to be His. So young love may seem like the most important thing but as christians we know that ultimately all our love is for Jesus and we share our love with those whom we care about dearly. 

As women and simply as christians we strive for that love that is "patient and kind...rejoices with the truth...and always preservers." (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) That is a love made after God's own heart. The love that the Lord has planned for us is perfectly crafted after his own heart and we need only be patient. 

Sure there will definitely be people we fall in love with and it might happen more than once. But the Lord knows when your heart is ready and he will arouse and awaken love in your heart. We will know when the time is right because the Lord will be so present in all of it and it will be a love made after his own heart. 

So my Contender 1is just that, a contender. While I did spend quite a long time loving him he wasn't the one the Lord has planned for me. He still has a place in my life as a brother in Christ but that is all. So until the time is right I will continue to pray to the Lord for my Prince Charming and follow the path the Lord has for me as I pray you will do the same.  

Connecting With God On A Personal Level

Have You Ever reached a stagnant point in your walk with the Lord? Did you ever just feel disconnected in a way you could exactly describe? Have you ever just needed reminding how amazing God's love is for you?

It is completely normal to hit that point in your Christian walk where you just get caught in a valley where you feel like you are disconnected. It is not always easy to maintain the mountaintops experiences you have with the Lord. 

The truth is your faith walk is not going to be a series of mountaintop experiences. As christians we have valley experiences. But the good news is that in the Lord our mountaintop experiences will far out weigh the others. 

In everything we do we look to the Lord. if ever there is a time when we feel disconnected or just simply not on fire as we usually are, take that time to pray to God that he may fill your heart and ignite that fire. 

One of my favorite verses to quote and just think back to is Hebrews 12:29 "Our God is a consuming fire!" We are always consumed in his love. But there will most definitely be those times where we feel the fire is not as hot as it should be. All we need to do is look to the Lord and know that we are consumed in his love. He picks us up when we are down and is with us even when we feel that we are alone in all of the stress that we may have.

It is extremely hard not to let all of the little things run our lives. As humans we get so caught up in the planning that we feel obligated to do. We stress ourselves out involving every minute detail. That in itself is how we draw away from God. Where our focus should be on our AMAZING Heavenly Father, our focus is instead on things of this world. 

For we do not belong to this world and the ways of it. We belong to our Lord and Savior who resides in the home of our hearts. We are not home yet. 

And while I can't give you a step by step procedure on how to have a more personal relationship with Jesus, I can tell you that no matter where you are or what you are doing; it is never too late to come home to the one who loves you more than you could possibly even fathom. 

It is so immensely important to take time every day to speak with the Lord and just tell him how much you love him. He loves you so much, even if you feel as though your fire has dimmed in this particular moment. 

The most exciting thing about walking with the Lord is that no matter what you are his beloved. 

Remember that he loves you the very first, last, and of course the best. He knows your name and will come when you call on His. Ultimately the Lord will take away every bad thing in your life until you have gain in him. 

Connecting with God on a personal level is something that never ends. Everyday we grow and want more and he is there always. We need only call on him and he will remind us of his consuming fire and there we can cozy up and be warm and spread that warmth to others. 

Stressing Is A Part Of Life...But It Is Not The Center

Why must we stress? 

There really is no concrete answer to this question "why must we stress?" And yet here we all are stressing over the simplest, most minuscule things in our lives. It is human nature to be stressed in all kinds of ways at different times in our lives. That is something as a race that we cannot seem to get away from, it is inevitable. And yet with the Lord it is so possible. 

God is so good. When we are stressed He wants us to come to Him. "Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens."-Psalm 68:19 Not just once in a while, the Lord bears our burdens DAILY. I don't know about you but I find so much comfort in that. So we are going to get stressed but in the Lord that stress becomes a testament of our love for our Heavenly Father who will never leave us to bear our own burdens. 

So this is midterm week at Meredith and for many, and in particular some of my close friends that can be major stressful. It is possible that you could study for hours on end, stressing yourself out over what? A midterm? When you think about that one college midterm or maybe that one relationship that didn't pan out and you harp on it you stress. But what for? Paul says in Galatians 5 that "Christ has set us free to live a free life. Take a stand and do not let yourselves be burdened again." So instead of succumbing to the stresses of school, relationships, friendships, jobs, commitments; take a stand for Him and do not let yourself be burdened by worldly things. For we are not of the world, we are are not home in the stresses and burdens of worldly things, but instead our home is in the Lord. 

If there is something you are struggling with at this very moment...stop...tell the Lord of your struggle, your stress; and give it up to him and do not let yourself be burdened. The Lord wants us to live a life in Him and be a light to those who do not know of his unfailing love. We should not waste our time stressing over worldly things that do not near compare to our AMAZING, burden-bearing Heavenly Father. 

The next time we begin to stress about some irrelevant worldly thing we must stop and remember we have a wonderful Savior who died for our sins, and daily bears the burdens that we may have a life in Him and His love. We live for him and are a walking light for His love for us. Stress does not touch Him. So therefore stress should not be something we let control our lives. The center of our lives is the Lord and shall forever be. 

We must seek His peace daily by filling our minds with His word, by lifting up our hearts to Him in prayer, and simply sitting at His feet in awe and reverence. For, it is ONLY by His mercy, grace and His never-ending love, that the stress we hold onto so tightly in our lives can be taken away. 

The Lord says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." What more could we even ask for? We are blessed by Him so immensely. So do not stress dear ones for the Lord almighty is here and always will be. 

Nothing You Could Ever Do Would Make Him Love You Less

It is crazy to think about The Lord's love for us. How could someone so perfect, almighty, beautiful, everlasting, and so much more could love such an imperfect people as us? This is something I think about all the time. It is a constant discussion among my friends and I. The Lord is literally so amazing and present in our lives and yet we are so undeserving.

One of my close friends recently came to know The Lord. Such a relationship is so indescribable. She didn't know before that God was such an amazing and loving God. When we think about it, none of us did and we are so blessed by that fact. I think that is something we often undermine. It is ultimately amazing that no matter what our past may be, however dirty we have felt, how low, that when we accept Christ into our hearts that we are washed clean because he loves us so deeply. This simple fact while so simple is so profound. 

It is normal for us as humans to look back on our past, our sin, and to beat ourselves up about the choices we have made. But the real truth of the matter is that The Lord doesn't look at our sin and judge us. He loves us in our darkest times, in the midst of it all his love is washing over us. His amazing, cleansing love makes us new. Because Jesus took the fall for our sins we are forever blessed. He loves us first, He loves us last, and He loves us the BEST. 

So when we are looking to be loved why look anywhere but to The Lord? He loves us, so deeply, and by his wounds we are healed. Romans 5:8 speaks to these points so beautifully, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were sinners, Christ died for us." When I look to this verse my heart fills up with so much love for my amazing Heavenly Father and I am in awe. It is so crazy to know that even while we were sinning "Christ died for us", he died for us. Just a lowly

race of people. 

At our worst. 

There is NOTHING

Absolutely nothing 

That we could EVER do 

to make him love us any less. 

Our perfect Lord died for us when we are so far from perfect. We fail constantly. We sin and The Lord loves us the same. I am so completely overcome by God's great love for me and for all of us. "But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness."- Psalm 86:15 He is abounding in his love for us always and no matter where we are in our walk with him, no matter what sins we have committed or will commit, he loves us the same and he ALWAYS will. In that we know.... 

There is nothing we could ever do in all of our lives that would cause him to love us any less.