Justified by Faith and Set forth in Forgiveness

We are Called to Forgive Even When it is Hard and Walk by Faith...

"The terrible thing, the almost impossible thing, is to hand over your whole self -all your wishes and precautions- to Christ."- C.S. Lewis 

It is incredibly hard to let go of something and give it to the Lord when you know that it would be so much easier to hold on to what it is and continue to give into it. Tonight as I was walking on the beach (I still cannot believe I live where I can walk on the beach every night. Praise God!) with my Activities Director and friend, Sam, we were discussing something that had us both so addled and in bitter spirits and it was just not where we wanted to be. Halfway through this walk I had this thought that came right to me. It could only be explained as a word from the Lord. This feeling was strong so I spoke on it and said, "Sam we just have to pray and forgive. That is the only way we are going to be able to let go and let God work in this the way he intended." Forgiveness is the last thing I would have ever thought I needed to do but yet the exact thing that needed to be done.

God is so good. He blesses us each and everyday in such amazing ways and it just puts this smile to my face and fuels a happiness in me that is undeniable. Even in this happiness there is still room for sin and mistakes and failure of different measures. In this instance this failing was holding onto something that was becoming this toxic thing that was only hurting me and doing the opposite of good in my life. It was becoming this default focus of my time here and that was not ok.

So when Sam and I got back tonight after our walk we started talking about this situation and we were just like we have to pray now and go to the Lord and ask for his guidance and just forgive and let go of this. We crawled up on Sam's bunk and dove into the word. Sam just so happened to turn to Galatians 3 and wow what a God thing that was. It was exactly what we needed to hear and applied to our situation more perfectly than either of us could have ever imagined. How amazing is the Lord? Galatians 3:24-25 says, "So the law was put in charge to lead as to Christ that we might be justified by faith.  Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law." After Sam read that verse we looked and each other and we were just like, wow God thank you. This law that was put forth served its purpose, and faith came so we live in this faith and are no longer supervised by the law. In the Lord we are free and how amazing is that?

To finish out Galatians three the verse -28 speaks on being one with Jesus and I am still so amazed on how perfectly this plays into today and this situation. "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, MALE NOR FEMALE, for you are ALL one in Christ Jesus." We are ALL one in the Lord. In everything, every single thing. It is such an easy thing to remember and yet so hard to accept. No matter who you are, where you have come from or what you have done we are ONE in Christ. We are equal in our father's eyes. At the end of Galatians 3 we proceeded to pray and put forth this forgiveness in the Lord that was so greatly needed and this immense and indescribable peace just washed over us and this weight was just lifted. Something as simple prayer time and look into the word was what this situation needed. I think we often forget and underestimate the power of prayer and God's word. He speaks. Whether it be through situations, through the word, in prayer, whatever it may be he is speaking to us, all we have to do is be open to what he is telling us.

I am firm believer that the Lord calls all times soon and that he reveals and provides when the timing is right. So tonight following this powerful prayer I turned on my Holy Spirit Flowing station on spotify and the song that came on was "Forgiveness" by Matthew West. I looked up to the Heavens and giggled at the Lord. He speaks. Every day in every way he speaks to us. The lyrics to this song are so profound and I couldn't help but be consumed by how perfect the Lord's timing really is.

It's the hardest thing to give away

And the last thing on your mind today

It always goes to those who don't deserve

It's the opposite of how you feel

When the pain they caused is just too real

Takes everything you have to say the word

It flies in the face of all your pride

It moves away the mad inside

It's always anger's own worst enemy

Even when the jury and the judge

Say you've got a right to hold a grudge

It's the whisper in your ear saying set it free

Forgiveness, forgiveness

Forgiveness, forgiveness

Show me how to love the unlovable

Show me how to reach the unreachable

Help me now to do the impossible

Forgiveness, forgiveness

Help me now to do the impossible

Forgiveness

It'll clear the bitterness away

It can even set a prisoner free

There is no end to what its power can do

So let it go and be amazed by what you see through eyes of grace

The prisoner that it really frees is you

Forgiveness, forgiveness

Forgiveness, forgiveness

Show me how to love the unlovable

Show me how to reach the unreachable

Help me now to do the impossible

Forgiveness

I want finally set it free

Show me how to see what your mercy sees

Help me now to give what You gave to me

Forgiveness, forgiveness

Forgiveness truly is one of the hardest things to give away, just like these lyrics say, but that is what we are called to do. I am so thankful that tonight Sam and I could come together in prayer and ask the Lord for forgiveness for the way we have handled this and give forgiveness. For God is good and everyday we shall rejoice in his grace and go forth in faith. What a blessing it is to come here to this place that is so visibly in need of the Lord, and have the opportunity to share the most important part of who we are as Christians. Thanks be to the Lord for situations that cause growth and bring us closer to him. Thanks be to God for this amazing Christian family in which I can share and thanks be to the challenges that being part of this family brings.

 Life is not easy, neither is forgiveness but nothing worth the gain is ever "easy." Praise God for a challenging life that makes every day a new adventure and a chance to extend his forgiveness, grace, and mercy. Psalms 100:5 is a great reminder of the Lord's goodness, "For the Lord is good and his love endures forever. His faithfulness continues through all generations." It continues, his faithfulness is forever and always, in every single situation. Going into tomorrow I pray for peace and joy regarding this situation and anything that I may face, that Sam may face that any of my SummerShine family members may face. As a body may we love each other and together love others. Tomorrow is another day the Lord has made and his forgiveness is in my heart and mine on my lips. 

Thank you Lord. 

You Have A Way With Humor

"He will yet fill your mouths with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy."- Job 8:21 

In the midst of every single day that the Lord has made there is some room for some laughter. I don't know about everyone else but I love to laugh; and I tend to laugh even when things aren't funny, and often I laugh or work to produce laughter when the situation is less than ideal. When you can look at the world with humor and see everyday as an opportunity to laugh or make someone else laugh that is awesome. Shining your light through your demeanor and sharing a laugh and a happy moment with someone is part of what the Lord calls us to do. 

This summer I felt that the Lord called me to work with SummerShine at the Myrtle beach KOA. So I arrived to move in this past Sunday with my Mom and my brother only to find out that I was there before my Activities Director and they weren't expecting me until the following week. So naturally my first instinct was to panic and think "how in the world could this happen to me?" Once I got settled into where they were going to let me hangout for a few days I really thought about the situation and I came to the conclusion that it was actually kind of funny, a story to tell sometime and laugh about the crazy things that always seem to happen to me. I believe the Lord has a sense of humor and that we definitely see him in the funny instances in life. 

Psalm 126:2 speaks some serious testament to how the Lord's love and devotion really impacts our lives; "Then was our mouths were filled with laughter, and our tongues with songs of joy. Then they said among the nations, The Lord has done great things for them." When I sit and break this verse apart I get these few things; a deep spiritual connection with the Lord produces happiness which then brings laughter, when you are immersed in God's love you want to shout and sing for joy that he is your beloved and you are his, and among those people who are right where you are you then do what you are called to do, which is to share God's love with every single person you meet. 

This summer is going to be one with some crazy new things but I am excited to see what it holds for me. I can only hope and pray that my love for the Lord will be shared with those around me. Whether it be some laughter, a smile to someone in passing, or just a friendly hello to a neighbor, God's light can shine so bright if you only let it. 

One of my all time favorite verses is about going out and being salt and light and shining before all men. Matthew 5:16 says; "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." It is really just as simple as laughing at a sticky situation and making the best of it. Simply choosing to look on the bright side of things shows those around you that you are a part of something so much bigger than this world. Our God is an awesome God and I pray that this summer and forever we all take the time to laugh, sing, smile, and show others the amazing love of our Heavenly Father. 

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.

Good Morning Beautiful!!

I See Your Face in Every Sunshine...

This morning I woke up to the birds chirping and the sun streaming through my bedroom window. I know it sounds like the beginning of any Disney Princess movie ever, but this morning it was just so beautiful. As I was doing my morning ritual and preparing to go to my church I was getting butterflies. The Lord's presence was so thick this morning and I couldn't wait to fellowship with his children who too share such a love for Jesus. 

Today, this morning and every morning is a morning the Lord has made. As I was sitting and listening to pastor this morning the Lord really laid something on my heart. The Lord actually spoke to me and my heart stirred with excitement and there were those butterflies again. This stirring really made me think about how every day something different happens to us in our walk with Christ, whatever that may be. So that being said, every single day is a special day between you and God.

On my drive home I couldn't stop smiling. As the sun was shining through my windshield and warming me I thought about how God is in every sunrise, sunshine, and sunset. His presence in this world and in us warms us, from the inside out. What could be sweeter than God's unfailing love for us? Wow we are so blessed. So blessed beyond compare. 

I opened my bible this morning and it fell open to Psalm 143. I had to giggle at the Lord, because wow how he knows my  heart. The main verses that my eyes went to were 8-10 which essentially say, "Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love...show me the way I should go...teach me to do your will." How amazing is that? This morning truly brought word of the Lord's unfailing love for me and for all of us. The stirring in my heart about mission work in another country was present in the verse with "show me where I should go." This truly opened up to my eyes to the fact that no matter where we are, whether it be in the beautiful morning, in the dark night, wherever we may be, the Lord is the home of our hearts and he makes everything beautiful. 

God's unfailing love is present in every morning, day, and night. He is forever within us warming us from the inside out, living in us so that we may spread his love and shine his bright light. So wherever the Lord may lead you, know that you always have a home in him and that he is present in every morning. 

"In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation"-Psalm 5:3 

An Immense Love for Love

Love is Not Just a Four Letter Word...

I have always had a such a crazy love for love. From a young age I would watch romantic comedies and dramas, read books with an underlying love story, and just take notes. Obviously I soon realized that real and true love wasn't just like the movies or the books, but it was better. But with that knowledge that it is better, it is also more real and raw than one might realize. True love isn't forced, it is as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13; "patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not proud, not rude or self-seeking, not easily angered, doesn't delight in evil but instead rejoices in truth, it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love NEVER FAILS." 

Real and true love is unforced like waves because authentic love comes right from the Lord. We are blessed with the ability to love others the way the Lord loves us. So when I was younger I made the decision that I would hold out and wait for that love that love that mirrors Christ's love for his bride. There is no love that can match the Lord's love for us. When you think about that and the love you feel for others here on earth it is something to know that the love you feel stems from the love the Lord has for you. That crazy love is everything. 

Even as I read novels today and watch movies, I am so in love with the loves stories that I see. To be in love is something that every woman, man, child, everyone wants to experience. True love on earth is a blessing from the Lord. Proverbs 19:22 says it best, "What a man truly desires is unfailing love." The truth is that unfailing love is something that comes from our Heavenly Father. The love we experience and indulge in on earth is just a glimpse into how much the Lord loves each one of us. When I think about it I can't imagine a greater gift than that. 

I am still currently waiting on that true love that is shared with a significant other. As I am only a freshman in college that isn't too crazy. When I think about that love that the Lord hand crafted between man and woman I get butterflies and a warm feeling. Because when I think about it, the longer you wait in the Lord's timing for that love the sweeter it is when you have it, and the less likely you are to ever think about letting it go. I know and believe that when the Lord's timing is right that love will be awakened. So fret not because your love story has been written by the one who created love. How amazing is that? 

"May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else...may he strengthen your hearts that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones." Whenever I read those verses, 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13, I can't help but smile to think that our love will increase and overflow for our true love because in the Lord love is abundant. Being that love is my favorite thing, that simple fact that love is abundant, is just beyond anything I could ever imagine. 

Watching true love unravel before your eyes in movie form, book form, or even in real life with people you know and care for is so amazing to me. It warms my heart and makes me smile to see love so uninhabited and so real. It is only natural to want a love like that. So true love is different than the books and movies, so what? The love that is bestowed upon us from the Lord is crazy. His crazy love for us knows NO BOUNDS. "Hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." (Romans 5:5) 

So the next time you see a movie, read about love, experience love yourself; know that, that love comes from the one who loves you more than you could ever begin to imagine. True love doesn't wait, you already have it in the Lord. The truth is, you have no idea who you are meant to share that intimate love with here on earth. The moment you know who you are going to spend the rest of your days on earth with, is when you can't imagine sharing your love and life for the Lord with anyone else. Now I don't know about you but that sounds like a love worth waiting for. 

That four letter word, Love. L-O-V-E. Isn't just a word. It is so much more. 

I'm Not Afraid To Say That I Am Waiting

In regards to my last blogpost "The Lord Knows Who Your Soul Loves" I put a song at the end called "Hide Your Love Away" by Anthem Lights. In today's culture it is seen as such a cliché or a taboo to save yourself for the one that the Lord has made for you.

But as a Strong Christian Woman who has never been in a relationship and has received so many questions regarding that choice to wait until the love is wakened for a christian gentleman. I love that this song speaks volumes to the regard that waiting for your Prince or Princess is God's plan. Because the truth is the Lord has something so magnificent in store for your life. He knows that someone who is going to be your other half on this earth. That someone who through your love for Jesus you will love each other so wholly.

So if you listened to the song from the last post I highly encourage you to watch this short video on the reasoning behind the song. If you are waiting that is amazing. Don't be afraid to say that you are because in the end the Lord will bless you well and you will be more than happy that you did.

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.