"a peace that passes all understanding..."

 I have felt God's peace and presence in my life recently more than I ever have before. I never knew that my convictions could be so freeing. Over the past couple of months, He has shown me two specific things. 1) I give too much of my attention to material things...I must find my fulfillment in Christ alone and not those pair of shoes I am "dying" to have. 2)I shouldn't "serve God" to make myself look like a "better Christian" (I don't believe there is such a thing) but rather I should feel so compelled by His death for a wretch like me that I want to display "thank you" to Him in every aspect of my life.

While these are things I have heard preached time and time again, God has shaped them into the desires of my heart. As he convicts me of areas in my life that need transforming, yes, there is regret for my sin, but there is excitement knowing that God in his grace can change me from the inside out. With that being said, this requires me too put one hundred and ten percent of my faith in him and not in my own strength like I try to do all the time. Even the smallest glimpse of Who He is and who I am not can compel me to trust His ways and not my own. While my faith may be small, (maybe even smaller than a mustard seed at this point), it has to be in Him...noONE or noTHING else. There have been several instances lately in which I have seen how even if we try to plan things on our own, even down to the finest details,  God is the most beautiful and ONLY perfect planner there is! Nonetheless, there are things in my life I still worry about and therefore am ridiculous enough to try and control on my own.

I am sorry if this post is all over the place but as the Holy Spirit constantly reminds me of my constant need for the Lord, I have to write about how HE he is changing me! I know that I have been consumed with my own selfish desires for far too long and it is my desire that He becomes my number one desire.

"So as to live the rest of the time in flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God."
1 Peter 4:2


Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'"
Matthew 22:37

Baseball and a "Bible Study" :)

Today was the first time I have ever been to a Carolina baseball game!  Even though I don't know much about baseball, it was so much fun to just sit in the sun talking to Morgan, her brother Drew, Daniela and Taylor. I definitely hope to go to more games next year!

After the game, I had such a fun "Bible study" with my Bible Study.  :) Somehow we all got to talking about a bunch of different things and before we knew it we had been laughing and watching YouTube videos for an hour and a half!  While we didn't get to our study in James, it was wonderful to be able to unwind from our busy schedules and fellowship with each other! Here is one of the videos we watched, courtesy of Lauren, while we were together...it's so cute! Watch This!

After Bible study I went to what's called Tuesday Nigh Worship.  Let me just set the scene...when you walk into TNW at Chapel of the Cross, the lights are dimmed.  We are led in acoustic worship songs.  You can sit, stand, sing, be silent, pray...whatever you choose...it's awesome....a place to just talk to God and worship Him freely!  As we sang "Blessed be the Name," one verse really stood out to me...

"You give and take away, you give and take away...my heart will choose to say, Lord blessed be your name."

While this has always been my favorite part of the song, I was especially encouraged by it tonight.  While it is sometimes frustrating to have things taken and withheld, I received a peace from the knowledge that God always does these things because He is always looking out for my best interest and sees the bigger picture! Then I realized, what has God really taken or withheld for me if He took on my sin and gave His life for the many many things I would do wrong?! Because he has shown me  the greatest definition of love, anything I "lose" I really should consider gain!

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."-- John 13:15

"What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ" --Philippians 3:8

PS- I have been listening to this song all week! It's such a great reminder of God's unfailing love! Check it out: "Your Love Never Fails"