a phone call for confidence and a devo...

I know I just wrote a post a few days ago, but I read a sweet, and very applicable, devotion in "My Utmost for His Highest" this morning and I couldn't help but share it :)

Out of the wreck I rise
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" Rom. 8:35
God does not keep a man immune from trouble; He says- "I will be with him in trouble." It does not matter what actual troubles in the most extreme form get hold of a man's life, not one of them can separate him from his relationship to God. We are "more than conquerors in all these things." Paul is not talking of imaginary things, but of things that are desperately actual; and he says we are super-victors in the midst of them, not by our ingenuity, or by our courage, or by anything other than the fact that no one of them affects our relationship to God in Jesus Christ. Rightly or wrongly, we are where we are, exactly in the condition we are in. I am sorry for the Christian who has not something in his circumstances he wishes was not there. "Shall tribulation...?" Tribulation is never a noble thing; but let tribulation be what it may - exhausting, galling, fatiguing, it is not able to separate us from the love of God. Never let cares or tribulations separate you from the fact that God loves you. "Shall anguish...?" -can God's love hold when everything says that His love is a lie, and that there is no such thing as justice? "Shall famine...?" -can we not only believe in the love of God but be more than conquerors, even while we are being starved? Either Jesus Christ is a deceiver and Paul is deluded, or some extraordinary thing happens to a man who holds on to the love of God when the odds are all against God's character. Logic is silenced in the face of every one of these things. Only one thing can account for it- the love of God in Christ Jesus. "Out of the wreck I rise" every time. --Oswald Chambers

...the other day I received a phone call from Darrell and Annette, our team directors, who I love dearly! I was able to talk with Annette, who is always refreshing and freeing to share life with, and she filled me in on a few more things that they would like me to head up, and that I would now ask you to pray for...1. Think of something to do in the room with all the girls every night before we go to sleep, for bonding, encouraging, and consistency- maybe prayer, reading from a book...2. Lead the girl times- have a few topics already prepared for discussion- please pray that God would speak through me and fill me with questions, I pray that I would become a good question asker (seriously :) )...3. Memorize the book of 1 Peter - I read the first chapter this morning and was amazed by God- I can't wait to start memorizing it!...And there were a few other things, but if you all could be praying for God's hand in these 3 things, I would be so grateful and encouraged! :) Love to you all!

though your footprints were not seen...

Wednesday marked the finish of yet another semester of college, six down and one to go! Though the blessings of this year were great and in full abundance, the prime characteristic of this year was my constant state of weakness and God's very real presence.  I experienced the truth of 2 Corinthians 12:9 to a depth that I never knew, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."...For more reasons than one, I feel like this year may have been one of the most difficult I have experienced thus far.  And yet, as I spent today reflecting on all that happened this year, God kept reminding me, over and over, that though I could not always make out His footprints, and what exactly He was working through the difficulty, He was there, He was by my side every step of the way.  God did not once abandon me, not even for a second. He was always there, always drawing me to lean upon Him, always assuring me that I could trust Him who never wavers, always reminding me that He knew of the struggle deep within. He was there.

Psalm 77...I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me...Then I thought...I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph...Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen.

...though His footprints were not seen, He led His people like a flock, He redeemed His people from years of exile into a land of beautiful liberation, though His footprints were not seen. Though I may not always see or understand God's purpose, He is orchestrating a plan for His great glory.  Thinking on this passage quickly brought to mind two other stories, Matt. 14:22-36 and Luke 8:22-25...

Luke 8:22-25...One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake."...The disciples went and woke Jesus saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!"..."Where is your faith?"

Here, Jesus told his disciples to go to the other side of the lake.  One task- get to the other side. Period. There were no disclaimers about the weather...if it gets rough, if the waves begin to break and crash over you, if you fear you might be engulfed...no. none of that.  Jesus gave them one command and he expected it to be seen through- go to the other side.  Countless times throughout this year, the Lord has presented me with circumstances, decisions, and conclusions that I did not always understand, and yet, there was but one command- get to the other side.  And what was on the other side, a greater understanding and awe of His person, a realization that great weakness, however painful and uncomfortable it may be, is exactly where I want to be- for it is only in great weakness that He is enormously strong- and that, though His footprints may not be seen, He will never abandon me, if only I have faith in what I cannot see- an incomprehensible God of the Universe and Father of my heart.

So, as my summer trip grows all the more closer, I pray for challenge, I pray that I would be broken and that God would be all powerful in, and through, my weaknesses.  And, as I enter into my final semester of college and prepare for what God has next, I pray that I would keep my eyes so steadfastly fixed upon Him that I would not see the storm of circumstances raging around me.  Circumstances and emotions are temporary and always changing, God is never changing.  Would I be fixed upon that which never changes, though His footprints may not be seen.

Isaiah 43:19... "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up, do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."

"Patience is more than endurance. A saint's life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see, and He stretches and strains, and every now and again the saint says- 'I cannot stand anymore.' God does not heed, He goes on stretching til His purpose is in sight. Then He lets fly. Trust yourself in God's hands...Faith is not pathetic sentiment, but robust vigorous confidence built on the fact that God is holy love. You cannot see Him just now, you cannot understand what He is doing, but you know Him." --Oswald Chambers

my feelings about this summer...another quote from Chambers, "life is full of spontaneous, joyful uncertainty and expectancy." I have NO idea what Norway and Latvia will hold, but I do know that everyday will be filled with spontaneity and leave me with cause for rejoicing! Love you all and wish you could only know how your support has encouraged me!