Jesus, You have my heart above all. i pray that this world and it’s temporary trappings won’t take my focus off of You. no matter how far i try to run or how distant i may feel, You always bring me right back to You. You will never let go. keep me close to Your heart Lord, for You hold my life together. i pray that You would lead and guide my steps and that i would continually seek Your face-for true joy comes from You alone. when others try to bring me down, when my selfish heart gets the best of me-bring me closer to Yourself. empty my life of any vain desires or anything that is not of You- and fill me with more of Yourself.

this life is not my own. it is temporary. it is so short.

You, Lord are enternal…You are forever, and all praise belongs to You.
i live to glorify Your name. i live to bring You praise…

“for years younger people have asked me how they could know God’s plan for their life. while reading Fénelon and other saints, i find they are not concerned with that question. their concern is not with the plan but with the Presence. when we have a guide, we don’t need a map. without the Presence we attempt work for God instead of letting God work through us. Fénelon said: put aside your self-interest and simply let God’s will unfold around you. everything He does for you is for your good. worship Him without having to know and see everything. continue doing the good things that you do since you feel that you should and you can do them so easily. be careful that all your extra energy does not lead you into trouble and, above all, live in the present moment and God will give you all the grace you need. He continues. live your faily life out in the presence of God. He will give you all that you need. God’s glory and His purpose are the end of all things. you will find happiness and salvation there but not as an end in itself. it is all for God.”

this is a beautiful life.

it is soo reassuring to know that there are others who still don’t really know what they are doing yet in life at my age, and older. i’m only nineteen. 19…    do i have an idea of what i want to do? yes. do i know when, where, or how? no.. but then again, He does.

i should be thankful! i have a job….i’m saving money by living at home. i have everything i need. and more! it’s a beautiful thing to be content. ..it is really the simple joys of life that make life so good. yes, there will be troubles, but then is the time to take a deep breath, pause, and realize that this life is so short.

these momentary troubles will pass away…just like the things we strive for. money, vanity, status quo’s….oh they will all fade and fade…

Jesus, give me a heart for the things You love. may i never lose sight of Your love and the unmeasurable joy that is found in You alone!

my prayer today.

Lord, i choose to be thankful. i won’t be dissatisfied with where You have placed
me. i will have a heart of gratitude and thankfulness. life is such a gift; salvation
is such a gift! and i thank You. may i be content with where You have placed me
and where i am in my life. i no longer want to be looking for the next thing or what
is to come or what should be or what will be. i will rest in knowing that where i am
in this season of life is good because You are good. and sovereign. i will be
glad in Your love each day. who am i to have ungratefulness or question Your ways?
forgive me, for the doubt and sin and self that i get so wrapped up in. i’m trusting You..

amen.

“the beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.” george mueller.

“the future is not in our hands. we have no power over it. we can only act today. we have a sentence in our constitution that says: ‘we will allow the good God to make plans for the future- for yesterday has gone, tomorrow has not yet come and we have only today to make Him known, loved, and served.’ so we do not worry about it.”

happy

          new

                   year!

can i just say that i am blown away by the goodness of our God? can i just say that His love and grace is more than enough for us? i think about the times when i’m so discontent or confused and wonder…why? God has so graciously given us His son–our salvation– and that is enough. He is enough for me. things are finally coming together in my life (the last couple months have been SO confusing) and i’m thankful. so thankful.

got so much to do….exam to finish, classes to set up, cards to send, people to write, things to see…

much love!

“don’t search for Jesus in far lands – He is not there. He is close to you. He is with you. Just keep the lamp burning and you will always see Him. keep on filling the lamp with all these little drops of love, and you will see how sweet is the Lord you love.”

-mother theresa

hey there …. so, lately the Lord has brought me to a place where i feel so… vulnerable. i’ve been in such an awkward season in life..transitioning, i guess. i’ve missed spending time in His presence and have felt so distant from Jesus. i’ve prayed and waited and sought for answers, but no answers have come. just silence and no direction. having faith when He seems distant is humbling. it really, truly is. i have had my mind set for so many years that i must do something great and extrodinary for the God. i thought that i must be some sort of world-changer or someone who did something for Him that looked great. (otherwise, i’d just live a mediocere life.) why? what were my motives behind this? i’ve had so many big dreams, so many great plans and desires but slowly he has taken them from my hand. as i let go and surrender them to Him, i see how they fade away. those big dreams i once had, seem so selfish to me now. those desires i had, seem so distant. my eyes were focused on doing something for Him instead of simply abiding in Him. there should be only One thing that has my focus and that is Christ- He is the main thing. religion, church, bible studies, big dreams, mission trips….though they may be good, are not the main thing. Jesus Christ alone should have my heart. not all of these other things.

so now that i am in the place, where i feel like i have no idea what direction i am going in life and feel some-what restless, i know that i am secure. my discontented self wants so badly to do something- to go somewhere- to be somewhere else- to experience something new. but He gently whispers “be still..” He calls me to lay down all of my burdens and doubts and draws me away from all distractions and worries. He beckons me to know Him more because this is what is most important. i may never ever be a great missionary or do something great in the eyes of men and that is ok. who am i anyway? who am i to recieve His grace? to know that i have been freely forgiven, to know that His grace covers me completely…to know that in Christ, i have everything..to know that in Him alone, i am satisfied and saved. this is a beautiful thing!

i don’t want the things that are here on this earth to distract me from His love and who He is….He is so much better than all of this, friends. so much better..