Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD...

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD and whose trust is the LORD. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit." Jeremiah 17:7-8

Yesterday, I happened to run across that verse, though I remember reading it many times before and always have been blessed by it. I noticed how twice in the first sentence it says to trust in the LORD, which to me seemed to be because Jeremiah is trying to make that point - we gotta trust the Lord. I just love those verses as they speak to me so much. Fear and worry is something I battle a lot, as many others do too I am sure. Lately, in my struggles, the Lord has been really convicting me that worry is evidence that I am not trusting in Him. It is so easy to rationalize my own worry, as it is with any sin, and think, "I'm just trying to figure things out" or "I'm just struggling" Bottom line is I'm not trusting Who I should be trusting, and hence the cause of the worry.

Here in Jeremiah we see so clearly that BLESSED is the man who trusts in the LORD. And then we have the example of a tree whose leaves remain green, even in the midst of heat. I love that, that even when the trials and pressures of life are attacking us, we don't have to let fear cause us to shrivel up and become worry and fear driven. We can be strengthened in the Lord, but we must trust Him and not focus on the fear.

We also see in these verses that even in the times of drought, the dry times where you feel as though you're in the desert, if we keep our trust in the Lord we won't have to be anxious. Even when things are hard and don't seem to make sense to us, we are called to simply trust. It is only when we are trusting that we can still bear fruit for Him. Apart from Him we can do nothing, and that's what worry does...it draws our heart and mind away from Him.

I'm taking a speech class, and so today as I was doing the assigned textbook reading I learned about the importance of communication, and what communication really is. The author explained that noise has a negative affect on communication, because it blocks out the message that is trying to be relayed. The author talked about how noise can interfere and keep the message from having the desired effect. The author explained how noise can be literal, such as a lawnmower, or it can be psychological, such as worry. When our mind is focused on our worries, then miscommunication can occur because we are not focused on what we are supposed to be learning or hearing. I thought about how the noise of our worries can easily drown out the communication we have with the Lord. So often I am guilty of not really focusing when I open up His Word or spend time with Him in prayer, instead I have the noise of my own thoughts, fears, and worries, drowning out His voice. I want to be able to lay all my fears and worries down at His feet, so that I can hear and receive all that He wants to teach me.

These are things the Lord has been showing me, though I am so far from perfect and wish that just knowing this would help my doubtful heart to trust. Praise the Lord for His mercy and grace which He pours out so freely on us every day, every moment. Lord, take this anxious and fearful heart and make it trusting.

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." John 14:27

"God doesn't often calm the storm around the man, but if the man is willing to trust He will calm the man in the storm." ~Unknown

Ready, Set, Pray...

Some of you reading this may know that I have been planning to go to Belize as an intern for Patrick and Deana this upcoming summer. It is something that I have been seriously considering since about last spring, and in August on the mission trip to Belize I had wanted the Lord to show me whether or not it was HIS desire for me to be an intern. I knew it was my desire, but I wanted to be sure it was also His. On that trip the Lord met me in such an awesome way. I struggled with missing home, which suddenly made me realize it would be terribly hard to be away for the summer, and yet the Lord so sweetly reminded me that HE is my home, just as the song goes... "You are my rest, You are my home, safe in Your arms, my Hideaway." I never really missed home before on the other two mission trips I had been on, not because I didn't miss my family, but on trips like that you are so busy that the time just flies. This trip didn't seem that way though for some reason, even though it was about the same amount of time as my trip to Germany was.The Lord taught me to depend on Him in a way I never before had, to depend on Him to be my home; my rest. I really think it was because the Lord was showing me that as I plan, as I get ready, as I go to Belize, I am totally dependent upon Him. In my own strength, I cannot do it. I simply can't. I can't think of being away from my family and friends that long. I get nervous when I think that this will be the first mission trip I am going on without a team of friends coming alongside me. There is no way I can do this alone; it has to be the Lord...which is how it should be.

I get so excited when I think about what the Lord will do on this trip. I can't wait to spend time with the McCusker family and love on little Chasey and Kylan. I am so excited to go see the girls again who live in the neighborhood. They are all so sweet and I can't wait to be able to see them again and get to know them more. I can't wait to meet new people and build new relationships.

Even now though, about 6 months before I am even going, I feel the fear that threatens to overwhelm me. Lately right before I fall asleep, I seem to often think about Belize. Of course I am excited, but lying there at night is when the worries and fears begin to creep into my mind. Isaiah 41:10 "Fear not, for I am with you, Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." I find so much comfort, so much peace in that verse. The Lord is just so good! I have all of His promises He has made to me, every single one He is faithful to keep. I surely do not go alone.

I simply cannot wait for the summertime, and even now it is so exciting to see the Lord's provisions for the trip. This morning for Christmas my parents gave me some money to put towards the trip, on the package my Mom wrote "Proverbs 3:5-6" When I opened it, it was money and my Dad told me it was for my trip. It made me so happy, not only to be that much closer to funding the trip (now I have about half a month's funding, yay!!), but to have their support in this. I know that it is hard for them to let me go, even if it is just for the summer. The Lord is faithful and I know that just as He will provide me with peace and strength, He will give them that as well.

Have I mentioned how excited I am? Because I AM SO EXCITED! I think that there is nothing more exciting than knowing the Lord is with you in what you are doing, and knowing that you don't have to pretend to be strong enough, or brave enough. HE is strong enough, and His perfect love casts out all fear. There is nothing to fear when you're in the center of God's will. Thank You, Jesus.

Psalm 56:9-10 "Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call; This I know, that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with ALL your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."

Deuteronomy 31:8 "The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed."

"God's work, done in God's way, will never lack God's supplies." Hudson Taylor

"When I can't see You I know You're there
When I can't feel You I will not fear
I will trust in You and I will not be afraid
When the battle is close at hand
Though You're with me and help me stand
I will trust in You and I will not be afraid

I will not be afraid
I will not be afraid
I will trust in You
I will trust in You
I will trust in You"

(Jeremy Camp, "Trust in You")

John 3:30

"He must increase, but I must decrease." John 3:30

Now that is a verse that my flesh greatly struggles against. It is SO against my flesh to ask the Lord to increase and myself to decrease, because basically my flesh wants everything all about me, though what a contrast that is to how we are called to live. In Luke 9:23 Jesus said that if we want to come after Him we must deny ourselves, take up our crosses daily, and follow Him. Once again, the whole denying self thing is difficult, as it is so against what I in myself want and even against what this world teaches.

I guess I am in the process of learning (and always will be I am sure!) to be driven by the Lord's desires and wants for my life, rather than my own. Reading John 3:30 tonight I was encouraged, because that is what I so need all the time. Lately as I have been thinking about my life, where I want to go and what I want to do, I am learning to simply surrender it all to the Lord. I'm learning to not be guided by my emotions and what I want, but to simply wait on the Lord and let Him lead me to what He wants for me, and to trust that His desires are far better than any of mine. Lord, decrease me in all areas of my life, so that You might increase.

"Holy fire burn away

My desire for anything
That is not of You and is of me
I want more of You
And less of me

Empty me, empty me,

Fill me with You, with You"

Waiting as He is Working

I read a quote by Corrie Ten Boom that I loved - "Picture a piece of embroidery placed between you and God, with the right side up towards God. Man sees the loose, frayed ends; but God sees the pattern."

That brings me a lot of comfort, and hope, because sometimes life doesn't make sense. Sometimes, like lately, I wonder what the Lord is doing in my life, I wonder how He is working even when things don't seem right. It brings joy to know that even though right now all I see is the frayed, loose ends that don't look very pretty, He is indeed working something beautiful in my life.

My job is to simply trust Him and wait on Him as He works on me. It doesn't always seem that simple though, and lately I have been feeling unsure of what He is doing in my life presently. I feel like things are changing and I miss the things of the past and at the same time I'm excited for the future, but don't really know what I'm supposed to be doing right now, I feel like I'm in an "in between" stage in my life and I desperately wish that the Lord would reveal Himself to me in a powerful way and show me where He wants me.

I guess as humans we tend to think we need to have everything all planned out, and if we feel unsure about things, we are supposed to figure everything out and know exactly what is going on. How important to learn that there are times we simply cannot know what is going on, and we can't figure everything out, no matter how hard we try. It is so assuring to know that even when we feel confused and unsure, God knows. Even when we don't know exactly which path to take, God knows. Even when we don't have the answers to the questions that come to mind, God knows. It doesn't necessarily make things all of a sudden easier, but it brings peace knowing we can trust the One who does know all things, the One who has promised right in His Word to work everything for good if we love Him and are called according to His purpose.

I do know that right now at this very moment in time, He has called me to serve Him, to worship Him, and to wait on Him.

I am learning to wait on Him as He is working, and to trust that He is making something beautiful, even if I can't see it right now.

"While I'm waiting, I will serve You

While I'm waiting, I will worship

While I'm waiting, I will not faint

I'll be running the race

Even while I wait"

"Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary." Isaiah 40:31

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

Joy

"Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you." ~John 16:22

This evening I wasn't quite sure where I was going to read, but I knew I wanted to read a few verses in the Bible because I knew I needed it. So I opened to where I had a slip of paper still in my Bible and read in John 16 where I had underlined that above verse.

The overhead title in my Bible for John 16:16-24 is "Sorrow Will Turn to Joy" I love the promise of verse 22. How that our hearts will rejoice and nobody shall take away that joy.

I don't know, but it just encouraged me so much. It reminded me that no matter what we face in this life we will in the end have joy. And joy forever. I think that no matter how big the pain or struggles may be that we are facing, the joy will be great and stronger. These struggles are just temporary whereas our joy will be everlasting. It is everlasting. I'm so thankful that the Lord gives us some of that joy even here on earth, so that His joy can be our strength daily. I thought how cool it is that though the Lord tells us we will have trouble in this life, He also tells us we will have joy forever if only we believe in Him.

So basically it just really encouraged me. I know there are crazy, crazy things happening in this world today, and it was a great reminder how we as disciples of Christ get to hold onto that promise, the promise of everlasting life and joy. I wonder how often we forget to hold onto that, I know I do. But I'm very thankful that the Lord is so patient despite my sin and blesses me by bringing to my memory how much I really need to hold onto that joy. He is good.

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:33

His Promise

Through many storms and many trials there stands a promise. A promise so full of peace and comfort it shines even in the darkest of nights. So when your hope seems gone, and your dreams are shattered, when you're alone on the raging sea of life and are drowning in your struggles...let it shine. Let the promise of His love uphold You, and may His grace always strengthen you. No matter where you are or what you've done, it's there. It's your night light always on, your beacon of hope. It's the sweet voice of your Savior, softly whispering to your heart, "Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

~Isaiah 41:10

Missions

I hope you all had a blessed Holiday Season! 

Though I know winter just began I must say I am already anxious for spring! I have started to think about possible upcoming mission trips this summer and I get so excited! Belize seems like a big possibility and I am really hoping this will be something God has in my future.

Germany still remains close to my heart as well. I definitely want to be on the next trip there if I feel that is where the Lord is leading. Part of me wants to go just there, but then, I realize that any other trip could be just as much of a blessing, as long as I follow His lead. I pray that I could do just that. 

The last couple days in particular, I have been very thankful for the trip to Berlin the Lord allowed me to go on this last summer. Something will make me remember the fun times there evanglizing, or the sweet time we as a team spent together, or even just a funny story, and I'll wish so much that I could go back. And I believe that someday I will.

Until then I pray that I could just follow wherever He may lead and as I love what my pastor said, "bloom where I am planted." 

I am very, very thankful that I was able to experience how much richer a mission trip can make your life. But I realize that you don't have to go out of the country to experience those blessings. Each day as you walk out of your room you're entering the mission field. I know many, many times I forget this, and get so caught up in my own struggles, but I am so thankful for the grace of God.

May we be a people who treat every day as a mission to lead others to Christ.

Psalm 85:13

Righteousness will go before Him, And shall make His footsteps our pathway.

"I pray for Your light to so shine

For me not to lose sight in these struggles of mine

Of the fact that this world is lost 

And it needs to know that You paid the cost

So may everything I say and do

Bring glory to You and only You"