Journey With Me!

“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me- the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.”     Acts 20:24

If I woke one morning to find myself standing at the finish line of a race, with a trophy in my hand and a bunch of people cheering, I would be quite confused.  I would be wondering why it was such a big deal and would feel kind of funny standing there with some silly little trinket in my hand.  The blood, sweat, and tears that it takes to run that race are what makes the finish line so valuable, and what gives that trophy such importance.

There are so many times where I think I have it figured out and then things go in a completely different direction. It reminds me that He is God and I am not.  I always look back from the other side of things and see so clearly how things went the way they did and why.  I think, how did I not see that, because it is so obvious. I am realizing that I do not have nearly the patience and faith that I think I do.  There is so much less fear and frustration when I do not seek beyond one day at a time.  Tomorrow is never certain so why waste my time worrying over what is not here yet.  If I focus on what I choose to do, say, and feel in today, I am much more content and I see more of what He wants of me.

The journey is where we find value, making us who we are.  I think I want to look to my finish line and see my Heavenly Father waiting for me with love, hope, and open arms; then I can strive everyday to find joy in my journey and finish well!

“The seas have lifted up, O Lord, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves. Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea- the Lord on high is Mighty.     Psalms 93:3, 4.

I choose to live by faith and trust in Gods word, His truth! I am so very small but He is Mighty!  Everything that is good, pure, and beautiful comes from Him…how can we not stand in awe and wonder at who He is…there is too much proof for me to doubt Him.  Too many times I have been on my face before him, overwhelmed by things I thought impossible, and I look up to see obstacles crumble before Gods awesome power.  When things seem too big to overcome, just remember to look up, look to His word, look to His truth, and remember how Mighty His love for us is…there is no battle He will not wage for us his creation, His children…and He will win, for HE IS MIGHTY!!!!!

“Who is he that overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the son of God.”     1 John 5:5

When I became born again, God placed His seal of approval upon me, placing me within His hand, and nothing can ever snatch me away. He placed His Holy Spirit within me to dwell as His guarantee that when I am called home, I will have a place in His kingdom. Christ, sinless and blameless in His father’s sight, was crucified, died, and was raised from the dead, in order to make it possible for my name to never be erased from the book of Life. By His seal upon me, I have been given Gods authority to do good works that bring glory to His name. Everything I do, think, or perform is laid bare before the Father. I am by no means perfect and I fall short and fall on my face a lot, but I am so grateful that Gods Grace does not wash off and I need only get up, dust myself off, look to Him and walk forward with a desire to try again. God knows we are unworthy…that’s what Christ is for…to bridge that gap…we need only Believe!

“…A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”     Galatians 6:7-9

I read this scripture and it struck me that I feel so much more fulfillment in doing something kind for someone else than I do when I think about what I want for myself. The more I pray for others needs, the less I seem to care about my own. I try each day to simply trust that God knows my needs and will provide.  Trust me, there are times that I struggle with fear over my needs, but I try to remember to lay it at the Fathers feet, and somehow He always works for my good.  When I look over my life, I see where God has used a lot of very wonderful people who had a servant’s heart, I believe, to meet my needs.  In a time and age where there is so much anger and selfish behavior, it can easily cause us to become very cynical about the good that is left in humanity.  That is the enemy!  I may have no control over the choices and behavior of others but by george, I am gonna be a servant!  When I stand before my father on the day He calls me home, I want to hear, “…Well done, good and faithful servant!..”   Matt.25:21

“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us..”     Psalms 103:11,12

I thank God that he fills me with His presence. He fills me with such sweet peace, love and forgiveness every day. I am so grateful that I am His child and that each day He opens the word to me, breathing His peace and understanding over me like a gentle wave. God gives me purpose every day, walking beside me, as well as carrying me through deep waters. Following God is so much sweeter than walking alone. He laughs with me in my joy, cries with me in my sorrow, and lifts me up in his arms when I have not the strength to stand in struggle…That is Perfect Love!

“Then you will call upon me and go and pray to me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek me and find me, when you search for me with all your heart”.     Jeremiah 29:12-13

I have read this verse over and over  and I just keep coming back to how God promises that he will hear me and that he is right there for me to find if I am actively looking for him. So I pray every day that I will continually search my heart for any areas that I am not seeking him in.  I want Him, I love Him, and I need Him every single day! It doesn’t matter who you are, there is no way to navigate this world without Gods help! I certainly don’t want to try doing that anymore, because I am terrible at doing it on my own strength. All of my life God has followed me, never giving up on me, and immediate in washing over me with His Forgiveness and Grace.  I am so very comforted in that!

I have felt lost at sea, drifting, I knew not where. I felt trouble underneath, constantly breaking the surface and disturbing the water, which cast me in yet another direction. There was no land that I could see in any direction, no steady current that I might follow. There never even seemed to be shallows anywhere that I might feel stillness.  Yet His word was enough to be my anchor, the only thing I could hold onto that would be my constant.

I choose to remain faithful, even if I see that my life will never be more than seeking my God, my Redeemer, my eternal comfort…for He is enough!