April 29th- Let Me Teach You Thankfulness

"The secret of being thankful is learning to see everything from My Perspective."

This entry brought up the point that I have often heard, but rarely took the time to take to heart... everything I did have, currently have, or will have belongs to Him. I think that is so hard for me to wrap my head around sometimes because of how unnecessarily attached I become to the 'things' in my life.

I get so mad when my car breaks down, I cannot stand the idea of my computer breaking, I would not know what to do without my bed! And that is just the tip of the iceberg. Unnecessary attachment to these items prevents me from seeing my life from a thankful, GODLY perspective.

But all of a sudden, if I shift my thinking to: I can't believe I have a computer, I am so blessed to have a HOUSE- let alone my own bed to comfortably sleep in every night, and I am among the smallest percentage of people on this planet that can freely drive where I want, when I want because of the luxury of my own vehicle. That's God's perspective. And heaven forbid one of those things gets lost or broken- I will undoubtedly need to lean a little heavier on God. And nothing should make me more thankful than the fact that He's always right next to me.

I'm going to go out of my way to say an unexpected, heartfelt THANK YOU to someone today. Want to join me, K?

Love you!

KS

April 28 - As You Look

into the day that stretches out before you, you see many choice points along the way.

Sarah Young writes here that we must make our choices one at a time. It's brilliant thinking, actually. Before I could decide where I wanted to go to college, I had to choose if I wanted to play volleyball or not. Before I began putting most of my time into volleyball, I had to decide if I enjoyed that more than basketball or soccer. I know those stretch throughout a long period of time, but they happened in the correct order.

Sadly, most of the decisions that we make throughout the day aren't as easy to prioritize. We may begin making choices that should happen a month from now because they bring promise or joy while planning them. God wants us to be spontaneous because He works most strongly through our lives that way. Sometimes we can feel secure in our solid plans or decisions. I'm starting to realize that God wants us to feel secure in Him! He will put things on our hearts when their time comes.

Lord - Help us to take one day and one decision at a time. We may feel unnerved because it's not how we usually go about our days, but help us to lean on You in those times! We love You, Lord. Thank You for being strong always, so it's not life or death when we falter. Love! Amen!

Love to everyone!

April 27 - Come to Me

with empty hands and an open heart, ready to receive abundant blessings.

One thing that really struck me while reading this entry was that God knows that being human will be exhausting! There are days that will drain us. That is when we can turn to Him and let His spirit refuel us again.

This devotion also had a thread of humility in it as well. The more we acknowledge that we're weak and unable, the more freely His love and power will flow through us. One phrase was so touching for me this morning - Faltering steps of dependence are not lack of faith; they are links to My Presence. This is just more assurance for me that the Lord NEVER expects us to be perfect! We will never have a perfect day because (besides for one human to ever walk this earth) it's pretty impossible!

That fact brings me such hope this morning. Sometimes I feel like I can't begin reading my bible again or start writing on this blog again continually because I've sinned so much by not keeping up. I'm realizing now that it's OKAY! All I need to do is take a deep breath and jump back into things. God knows we will falter. He loves us anyway. Nothing we do can ever weaken His love for us. I'm positive in saying that that is the only relationship in the history of the universe that will ever be that way. Glory be to God!! Woo! :)

Lord! Thank You so deeply for being our Father. Thank You for knowing our hearts and knowing that we will make mistakes. But most of all, thank You for loving us no matter how we behave or what we decide. We love You, Lord! In Your wonderful Name we pray, amen!

love, bless and heart to all!

April 26 - Welcome Problems

with perspective-lifters.

It says in this devotion that there are two ways you can go when you're faced with a problem: up or down.

If a problem catches our attention or is large enough to control our thoughts, we might sink even lower into a pit of self-pity. I know that feeling, don't get me wrong. I know when a horrid thing happens the easiest thing to do is to question the way the earth is operated. We may think that God is at fault because why would this happen to me - what did I do wrong? The truth is, however, that God will NEVER put us through situations that we cannot handle with His help and guidance. We may never be able to handle tough circumstances on our own - but He hasn't made us to! He puts us through hard times because He knows we will come out stronger at the other side. He knows we'll learn to trust in Him more, and lean on Him more because we literally cannot handle it by ourselves. He is a smart God. He will not forsake us.

There is an alternative to this path of more despair, though. Sarah Young writes in this devotion that your problem can be a ladder. You can climb up to the top and experience God's view on our problem. It may seem like a life changer at this moment in our lives, but God has twenty different GOOD things coming out of this trouble. He sees our daily problems as obstacles - but not ones that last for eternity. Once our outlook changes, we can turn away from those obstacles and focus more on Him, our Loving God.

Lord - Thank You for having our lives planned out so perfectly. Thank You for giving us free will; we can either follow You or not. Lord, help us to follow You! In every situation! We love you so much, thank You for today. Amen!

LOVE to all!

April 25- Make Me Your Focal Point

So, I'm starting to 'learn to love running.' I would try over and over again to go out jogging and without fail I hated every minute of it. Yes, I was a college athlete, but as a volleyball player I didn't have to run more than about five steps at a time. ANYWAYS, something that I've heard many runners say is that they have a focal point when they run so they know what the goal is and where exactly they're running to. They keep their eyes on the horizon because the minute they look down, to the side, or behind them they get tired and want to stop (I know that feeling well) :)

The same is true of our faith. Paul calls Jesus the "Author and perfecter of our faith." I love thinking of Jesus as the author of this wonderful story and journey we're living. He's the one that made it possible and created the idea that we can have grace and live forever in heaven. Additionally, the verse before this one- found in Hebrews describes the very idea I was addressing at the start. It should be an encouragement to runners and believers everywhere!

"Let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race the lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus- the author and perfecter of our faith." (Hebrews 12:1-2)

This life, this journey is an endurance race. And we will make it through the hardest legs of this race if we're keeping our eyes on Jesus. It may seem sometimes that He is blocked by distractions, fatigue, or a sense of hopelessness- but He promises that if we continue to search for Him... HE WILL reveal himself in a powerful way!

What a promise to live by.

I love you all!

KS

April 24- Rest In The Stillness

... of My Presence while I prepare you for this day." There's no two ways around it, this time of the year is an exciting and busy one. Not only are many of us on the brink of final papers and tests (maybe even graduation), others are busy planning get-togethers, vacations, and new activities that come with the hope of Spring.

Resting in the the stillness of His Presence is the most important balance to all this busyness I have ever found. There is a passage in this devotional this morning that I just felt like I needed to write word for word to address how planning can at times be what takes us away from His feet.

"I am always with you, so you have no reason to be afraid. Your fear often manifests itself in excessive planning. Your mind is so accustomed to this pattern of thinking that you are only now becoming aware of how pervasive it is and how much it hinders your intimacy with Me. Repent of this tendency and resist it, whenever you realize you are wandering down this well-worn path. Return to My Presence, which awaits you in the present moment. I accept you back... always."

This 'excessive planning' has the tendency to be a 'well-worn' path in my life for certain. Without a doubt I am guilty of putting the plans of my week, my month, my year, my life above the plans God may have. The funny thing is, I don't think there has ever been a time when my plans worked out exactly how I had imagined. But 100% of the time I wouldn't have had it any other way. Why? Because "God is able to do immeasurably more than we can hope or imagine." (Eph 3:20)

"Be still and know that I am God."

I'm going to reflect on that today. Sounds so simple, but the 'knowing' part of that verse is followed by the most profound peace we could ever know on earth.

Love you!

April 23- Keep Your Eyes On Me

...not only for direction, but also for empowerment. I love the word empowerment because it eludes to the fact that we gain out power from something (or someone) outside ourselves. You can feel empowered- but it always stems from an outside source.

I think sometimes in my life I aim to 'keep my eyes on Him" when I need direction. However, when I don't feel like I get a clear sign or prompt from God as to what direction I should go next- I feel discouraged. THAT is where empowerment comes in. When direction seems scarce and I don't know where to turn to next, God gives me the power needed to keep going, keep trusting and keep seeking.

I hear often that, God won't give you anything you can't handle. But I loved Sarah Young's twist on this familiar phrase by writing, "I will never lead you to do something without equipping you for the task." I think it may be that sometimes God gives us things we cannot handle on our own so we seek His guidance and empowerment. BUT He does promise that He'll equip us along the way as we continue to focus on Him.

God, be my power and my guide today I pray. For the little things, big things, important decisions, and erroneous tasks, will YOU be ever present and ever strong in my life. Amen.

Love


KS

April 22 - Listen to Me Continually

I love when the first line hits you as much as the rest of the devotion.

"I have much to communicate to you, so many people and situations in need of prayer."

In this sentence alone I realized that when we do block out the noise and clutter of our busy world in our minds, God speaks to us in undeniable ways. Also, the second part of this line made me hopeful while making me crave for more peace in this world. There are 'so many people and situations in need of prayer.' Are these people we know personally? Faceless crowds maybe around the world? There are so many people in need of our prayer. If we can tune out the distractions, our Lord may be whispering us to do something about it. I also got out of that first sentence the reminder that there is really nothing more powerful and important that prayer. We can be in a constant conversation with our God, and then it makes it easier for us to decipher between our own thoughts and His words.

I think being spontaneous is one of God's most precious gifts. Sarah Young wrote beautifully that Jesus died to set us free, and that includes being free of constant planning and organizing our day. I'd bet that most of God's plans for us are going to be out of left field. Sometimes it'll be too sudden and scary that we don't follow through. But I pray that when something truly is in the plan of our life that we have the courage to look down that road of uncertainty, take a deep breath and walk with our hand grasping His, because we know that nothing can harm us when God is on our side.

Lord, I pray today that we have courage. I think as a Christian it may be one of the hardest traits to concur. I know I need an extra helping of courage when someone asks me about You or about my faith. Lord, I pray that we are willing to go on that other side and praise You when it's uncomfortable. I know we grow most when we're in hard situations, so Lord I pray that we have poise in even the toughest moments. We love You, Lord! Thank You for today!! Amen

Love to all!

April 21- Let Me Control Your Mind

Even though this may seem like a forced action, it's actually one of the most freeing encounters I have ever experienced. This past week, I found myself trying extra hard to distract myself from the fact that I was alone in my house and away from Austin. I would purposely put on the TV, music, or talk on the phone just to avoid the awkwardness of quiet and loneliness in my house.

Then it dawned on me how all of these distractions were clouding up my mind in a way that I couldn't ever hear from God. Now, I'm not saying I get to audibly HEAR God during the day, but I believe so firmly in the Holy Spirit's promptings... it's just a matter if I'm in tune enough to listen and act on them! Anyway, these distractions were actually making me even more lonely because of how distant I felt from my creator. I made a pact with God in my journal that day to stay clear from TV for a full week as a little experiment for myself.

The results of that have been unbelievable. The difference may seem small-but it has allowed for so many more God-breathed encounters because I have more freely allowed Him to "control my mind."

In no way am I brainwashed- I am more in tune than I ever have been before of what my purpose is in this life. And knowing and living with a distinct purpose may just be the most fulfilling and exciting way to 'do life.'

God granted us this freedom of thought because He loves being chosen. Like any single one of us, what makes His heart soar with joy is knowing that we take the time, make the effort, and train our minds to choose Him. In all situations. That is my deepest and purest desire and I pray the same is true for you.

Love you :)

KS

April 20- Do Not Be Afraid

"No matter what happens, I will never leave you or forsake you."

This promise may have to be one of my favorites promised by our Heavenly Father. It's so beautiful to know that there's nothing too hard, no place too dark, no sight unseen that we must set out to accomplish alone.

We are not forsaken.

Even though we may feel it sometimes. One of the most powerful times I have ever felt the Lord's presence was (in a very David, Psalms way) crying out to Him "Why have you forsaken me? I feel so alone. Where are you in the midst of all of this?" God, in the most loving and fatherly way showed up right there, in that moment, with the most reassuring Peace. It was almost as if He was waiting for me to be completely weak and broken before Him. Because after all, His strength is made perfect in MY weakness! His strength was able to take over in me from that moment on because I was fully honest and fully broken before Him.

So I will not be afraid. I will choose trust over self-reliance and choose to follow instead of lead. How completely ironic and amazing is it that when we learn to trust and depend on ourselves LESS is actually when we exude the best version of ourselves that we can possibly be! I love that about our creative God- the more lost we are in Him, the more found we will feel.

April 19- I Love You

One day in February I was looking for an entry out of Jesus calling that had to do with love as an encouragement to the women coaches that I work with for Valentine's Day. This one jumped off the page because of how often we associate love (on this earth or from heaven) with how we're doing, or how we're performing. Sometimes I don't even realize how much of myself is valued in my performance until I don't hear any affirmation about what I had been working on and I am crushed!

It goes to show that my self worth can lie solely on how good of a job I'm doing in my work, my marriage, my friendships, my social life or even my walk with God. And that is a trap! Why? Because we're human. We fail more than we succeed- we're just really good at covering those failures up with excuses, blame and other successes.

Here's the best news you'll hear all day. God is the king and the creator of unconditional love. That means in our mess-ups, our failures, or brokenness, and our ignorance of Him HE STILL LOVES US AS COMPLETELY AS THE DAY WE CAME TO KNOW HIM.

No matter what you bring to the table, this is the one relationship that has the potential to be 'baggage free.' What an amazing hope to know that there's nothing we can do to make Him love us any MORE and nothing we can do to make Him love us any LESS.

The verses given used words like everlasting, steadfast, and perfect to describe His love. That is like no other love we could or would ever know. And the coolest part is, having the love of Christ in my heart makes me better at loving EVERYONE else in my life. I have more unconditional, and steadfast love because I know it was first given to me. AMEN.

Love you guys,

KS

April 18- Peace Is My Continual Gift To You

My view from the top of Thunderbird Mountain.


I was blessed enough to read my Jesus Calling entry from atop a mountain this morning. Peace, I have found, is generated in such an organically natural way in my life when I am outdoors. Being a part of God's grand creation IS a gift. And I so constantly ignore this unbelievable avenue into His Powerful Presence.

I read the verse that it gave from Exodus today and continued reading the whole story of how God used Moses to part the Red Sea. This was a tremendous display of the Israelites truly trusting not only their leader, Moses, but the God that led them out of Egypt.

The Old Testament (though often mistakenly neglected by me) is filled with countless stories that represent peace as a continual gift. In these times, the Israelites, couldn't run out to Trader Joe's to stock up the fridge with all the food their families needed for the week. EACH DAY was a new test to trust God to provided the "manna' for them to collect to sustain their lives on earth.

In a less life-threatening way, Jesus calls us to trust Him with a new amount of trust each day. And this isn't a one-way street. We get something SO REWARDING back. We get His Peace.

My Trust+ My Life= His Peace. Each day. As often as we ask for it.

Let's use that gift today and dwell in the lavishing Peace He's poured over us.

Amen!

Love you Katie and others :)

KS

April 17- I Am Training You In Steadiness

I immediately pictured a tightrope walker when I read this entry. I'm sure you've head before that the most successful way to walk a tightrope is to have your eyes fixed on the horizon where the end of the rope is. The minute one takes his/her eyes off of their target, they begin to wobble and maybe even fall.

God needs to be our target on the horizon at all times. This world is one, big, wobbly mess at times and neglecting to fix our eyes on the author and perfecter of our faith can lead us to stumble and fall.

But take heart! For there is someone who is willing to put in the time, the effort, and the energy to keep you steady- if you are. I heard just this past week someone ask another "What is your favorite part about the Lord?" This woman answered by saying, He's available. And it is so true. He's here. He's always right on the brink of getting to transform our lives if we'll only let Him.

Steadiness may seem to people on the outside as a boring goal. To some, life is meant to be lived in a wavering fashion because of the HIGHS it can potentially bring. And I don't think this entry is touching on a lifestyle of steadiness as much as a mindset. Our minds are so easily distracted and only in constant conversation with the ONE who created us- can any of us have a mind that is steady and at peace.

So as you tightrope through the day today, be aware of His Presence and allow Him to steady you when you begin to wobble.


Love you!

KS

April 16 - I am Calling You

..to a life of thankfulness.

Sometimes Sarah Young, writing as Jesus, scolds us. Which I think is hard to read but is necessary. I felt like this entry on April 16th was a good example of that. "When you criticize or complain, you are acting as if you think you could run the world better than I do." That sentence hit me pretty hard. I began thinking about how many times a day I complain or criticize. Even if it's little things: "I'm tired, it's way too hot, I have a headache, I'd rather not eat that for dinner, they're being rude." After saying things like that, I never bring up how I can run the universe better than God, but that is what we're implying when we say things against the way He's running everything.

One major thing I love about this book, but honestly don't take enough advantage of, is how she puts the verses that inspired this entry after the devotion.

My favorite verse of today - 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (16 & 17 too!)

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

I love that! Those verses, in my eyes, print the picture of a perfect world. If everyone was joyful always, always prayed and gave thanks in every circumstance, I believe this would be a whole lot more like heaven!

Sorry the writing on the picture is so bad! I don't think I'll be

going into computer graphics anytime soon!

Love to everyone!

April 15- Trust Me And Don't Be Afraid

Oh how frequently and subconsciously I LONG to be comfortable. Isn't that a common trend among most people that we come in contact with these days? How is it that I can make enough money to afford a comfortable lifestyle, completing comfortable tasks, surrounded by my comfortable group of friends, and digging only deep enough in my faith to stay comfortable in what God asks me to do.

I remember hearing one time that upon telling others (that may not follow God) what it is that we're doing with our lives it shouldn't necessarily make sense to them. Living a life above reproach may sometimes mean living a life that is so uncomfortable that any other 'normal' human being would stop, give up, or get out of it.

I am so challenged by the men and women in the Bible that willingly put themselves in danger to follow God. When was the last time I questioned my safety because of what I believe? Umm... never. QUITE THE CONTRARY, I lived my life for so long afraid to share my faith- not of because I might be stoned, not because I might be thrown in jail, but because I was scared of what others might think.

TRUST ME AND DO NOT BE AFRAID.

As UNcomfortable that it may seem to talk about my relationship with Jesus Christ with others that say "that doesn't make sense..." I am going to choose in those situations to neglect comfort and tighten my grip on Jesus' hand to guide me. With hopes and prayers that maybe one day- It WILL make sense to those people and then THEY will share in the most uncomfortably awesome journey of following Christ while we have the chance.

Amen.

LOVE YOU

April 14 - Heaven Is

..both present and future.

How amazing is that sentence alone? Heaven is both present and future. The most amazing part of heaven is going to be the fact that we're so close to God all the time! But Sarah wrote right in the beginning that we're already in touch with the essence of heaven because we're near Him. That's such great news!

We can see God in everything, everyday! The sky, the sun, flowers, butterflies, clouds and rain. He's incredible! And He made EVERYTHING. What a blessing that He loves us!

Keep your eyes and ears fully open as your journey with Me.

Let that be our prayer today, and every day. He is always all around us. It's a matter of us looking for the miracles He's sprinkled in our lives. During hard times I feel that being grateful for the smallest things makes my day better. Knowing that things will look up, only because God has the entire picture of our lives (and it is THE most beautiful picture!), is total reassurance during the hardest days.

Lord - We love You! Thank You for being incredible for us - it's a blessing! Please help us to see You during each step of our lives. Amen!

Love

Bless

and

Heart

to everyone!

April 13- When I Give You..

... no special guidance, stay where you are."

WOW. Do you ever read something that hits you over the head with wisdom at the first line and each approaching line that your eyes come across brings even MORE overpowering insight that you're forced to stop you're busy life and acknowledge that you DON'T HAVE IT ALL FIGURED OUT?

That happened to me. This morning, April 13, 2010 at 6:44 a.m. Reading none other, than Jesus Calling.

I think so often as a believer in Christ, I think I deserve His wisdom anytime I seek Him and anytime I ask for it. Even though He promises to flood us with wisdom from Heaven, He doesn't necessarily promise when it's going to come.

Where did I get such a sense of entitlement? God doesn't owe me anything. He doesn't owe me understanding, even though I often come out the other end with that. He doesn't owe me an explanation, even though at the other side I am dumbfounded by how clearly He worked. And He doesn't owe me answered prayers, even though EVERY single prayer has been answered according to His perfect plan and not what I think is right.

So when God isn't giving any special kind of guidance, leading, or clarity, that should be enough to want to relish in the situation that we're currently in. I know SO MANY people in the midst of a powerful life transition right now. Graduating, moving, starting school, having a baby, committing a life to another, etc. And I think we can feel so frustrated when God isn't clearly speaking to us to let us know what we should do.

Today is what we should do. And not just us, we should invite our God to "do" today with us. How reassuring to know that all the wisdom, strength, and guidance we need will be met to its full capacity TODAY if we invite the Lord along for the ride. How much greater, how much sweeter, how much more fulfilling a life if we choose to live this way! Amen!

Love you!

K

April 12- Trusting Me

... is a moment-by-moment choice.

I feel as though trusting anybody in this life is a moment-by-moment choice. Because we are imperfect people, we enter into relationships thinking some naturally untrusting thoughts. When the person on the other end of a relationship shows us time and time again that they are worth trusting THEN we are able to give more and more of our heart away.

What is SO different about a relationship with God is that He's perfect. Even when we're 'walking through the valley of the shadow of death" He KNOWS us, GUIDES us, and LOVES us perfectly. He promises to give us rest when we're weary, give us strength when we're weak, be our light when we're covered in darkness and WITHOUT FAIL He delivers- if we trust Him to.

Maybe you're in the middle of a situation right now that you don't necessarily understand. This is the fork in the road. And honestly, throughout this entire trial that you're going through, you'll see thousands more of little forks that could be labeled as "Trust me" or "Don't Trust Me."

Austin and I are apart and there is a re-occurring opportunity every moment that I think of him to decide either, "This sucks, I don't understand it and I want it my way" or "This is hard, I don't understand it, but I take JOY in the fact that someone greater than me does understand. And I trust Him."

The second option isn't only what God calls me to think, but it's freeing, it's hopeful, and it allows me to go through my life here on earth relying on more that my own abilities. Because Lord knows- if I relied on me and me ALONE we'd have some real issues!

I will trust you this day, God. I will come to you when I don't understand. And I thank you for these opportunities to trust you more.

April 11- This Is The Day That I Have Made

... so let us rejoice and be glad in it." When I am able to approach each day with this kind of perspective, I am free to live the life God set out for me to live. I love what is written about human frailty. God PURPOSELY made us weak and unable to solve all the world's problems in one day because He knew we would (at some point) turn towards Him for help!

"Be careful not to complain about anything... since I am the author of your circumstances."

I don't know about you, but there are days that without being fully aware of it- I find myself grumbling about every situation that comes my way. "I am so tired, I hate sitting in traffic, Does this person even know how much they are annoying me? etc. Have you ever met a notorious complainer? Someone who religiously finds the bad in every circumstance? Are these people at all fun to be around? No! And sometimes I AM that person!

Sometimes I find myself complaining because I'm faced with a situation I can't control. I start thinking about the future, and when it begins to feel daunting I immediately resort to a complaint. Sarah Young writes, "In order to find joy in this day (not happiness, but REAL and GENUINE JOY) you must live within it's boundaries." Think of today as TODAY and suddenly, life seems so much more fulfilling, less stressful, and just DOable.

Love to you all. :)

-K

April 10- Trust Me In Every Detail Of Your Life

Because we have what Sarah Young calls, Transforming Grace...

No circumstance is wasted.

There are no coincidences or accidents.

Bad situations are soon discovered as disguised blessings.

Hopelessness dares to dream again.

Confusion meets its match in clarity.

Regrets reveal themselves as unique puzzle pieces critical to our completion.

Analyzers surrender to the One who never has to ask, why?

And nothing is random.


Grace is something that you, me, and that person you think is perfect don't deserve. My complete revelation in my Christian walk came when I discovered that there's no 'good version' of myself good enough to make it to heaven on my own.

CAPTIVITY is thinking that we should have to perform perfectly in order to get the greatest gift of all.
FREEDOM is knowing that our broken, heartless, and ugly selves are beautiful in the eyes of the gift giver.

He knows us inside and out and CARES about the details in our lives. So let's care about Him enough to trust Him today.


Love to you :)

April 9- You Are Mine For All Time

Every entry that I read in this book has the few lines that jump off the page at me. When I have a pen near me I will often underline the sentences that tug at my heart and cause me to pause and think instead of quickly reading the next line. These are the two that were underlined in my Jesus Calling book on April 9th.

"When your mind goes into neutral and your thoughts flow freely, you tend to feel anxious and alone. Your focus becomes problem solving."

I love having my quiet times in the morning, but there are days (like today) that I don't take the time in the morning to be still before the Lord. When I neglect to stop and truly enjoy His Holiest Presence these neutral thoughts seem to flow like a raging river. Worries, doubts, and insecurities inevitably follow. And here's a news flash- despite how experienced, how organized, how prepared or how in control I think I am- my problem solving skills suck! Problems will still continuously flow until I acknowledge how BAD I am at problem solving when compared to the knowledge, wisdom and experience of GOD ALMIGHTY.

Sarah Young explains from Jesus' perspective that many of these surfaced problems that occupy our mind and change the course of our day can be (and will be!) vanished when we humble ourselves in the Lord's Presence.

Okay, this was the second one.

"Each moment you can choose to practice My Presence or to practice the presence of problems."

The practice of problems! That sounds awful! Yet so much of our time and effort is exuded to solve and avoid the problems that CANNOT BE SOLVED OR AVOIDED by ourselves.

Man, do we need Him. We need Him so badly. And just admitting that is already a step in the right direction to knowing and believing what Exodus 33:14 says, "My Presence will go with you. And I will give you rest."

REST sometime today and while you're resting SOAK HIM IN. By saying "I need you" or even just "Thanks, Jesus... thanks."

LOVE YOU ALL :) We are HIS FOR ALL TIME AND NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM OUR GOD!

April 8 - I am With You and For You

This devotion challenged me more than one I can remember. Here, Jesus is telling us that it's our bad when our relationship with Him isn't flourishing. Which I get because He is perfect! I just don't think I've ever truly thought of it that way.

It's funny that knowing that we can ALWAYS mess up our relationship with God is insanely humbling because He loves us despite that. He loves is so abundantly that we can't even glimpse of how much that love is - we would get crushed! I just don't think I've gotten that much blame for messing up something that some (hopefully most) of the time is really great! The Lord is my Savior and Light and the way I know there is truly happiness in the world. I know it is important and good to take responsibility for our actions but one thing I'm going to attach to this April 8th devotion is the God LOVES us. I think after this I need to remind myself of that. He just loves when we give Him ALL of us. So let that be our prayer today.

Lord - Give us the strength to give You ALL of our being. Not just the parts that are easy and not just during the time we need You the most. Let us give you the parts of our lives that struggle without You but we think we have them figured out. Lord, thank You for loving us so completely. You are the Perfect God. Thank You for being perfect so we don't have to try to be. We love You!
Amen!

Bless all of your Thursdays!

April 7 - I am the Potter

you are My clay.

The part in this devotion that stuck with me was basically the entire second paragraph. "Talk with Me about what you are experiencing. Let My Spirit guide you through treacherous waters. As you move through the turbulent stream with Me let circumstances mold you into the one I desire you to be. Say yes to your Potter as you go through this day." That's poetry. I love how Sarah writes about how the circumstances that are raging waters are what mold us into who we are. Not the days that go by when everything goes our way.

I know that trust has been a significant subject in this book so far - but I really feel it here. On this April 7th devotion that word wasn't said but the last sentence, "Say yes to your Potter as you go through this day," is just caked in trust. The Lord has called us to trust Him and I feel like there's no better way than reminding Him and reminding ourselves that we do by whispering, 'Jesus, I trust You,' throughout our day.

Lord - We trust You! We know that your plan is so much grander than one we could ever dream of ourselves. Thank You for knowing our hearts and for calling us back when we've wandered away from You. We love you!! Amen

Love to everyone!

April 6- Bring Me The Sacrifice of Thanksgiving

I loved this parallel of the first woman to ever step foot on this world. In the midst of temptation, Eve's focus crept away from all the glorious and marvelous miracles around her and became fixed on the one thing she couldn't/didn't have. How often do we as human beings see an item that we may not be able to afford, a body that we may never have, a talent or skill that we will not be able to learn, or even a life that is just different from the one we've been blessed with.

In church this weekend, our pastor briefly touched on the Ten Commandments and it has never hit me like it did that day how coveting the possessions of others is such a sin. We live in a fast-paced, desire-driven, gotta-have-it kind of world. And I was convicted today with my own thanksgiving. Am I thankful more often than I am not? Do I desire first to make God happy and not myself? I have SO much to be grateful for- am I portraying that in my life to both believers and non-believers?

I want those answers to be yes- day in and day out.

One thing I tried awhile ago after I had just written a list of things I needed from the store was to write a list of things I did not need. The result of that blew my mind! It was a moment in time that I stopped and realized all I have!

Things I don't need:
1. It started like this, with items I am tempted to buy-
Jeans, dresses, shirts, jackets, scarves, shoes, underwear,
makeup, hair products, magazines, chocolate etc

and it eventually got into these things-
Salvation, a home, a car, a husband, family and friends close and far, a job, running water, the ability the cleanse myself, health, and a joy that cannot be stricken.

Wow. I am so thankful. I have so much and need so little. THANK YOU, LORD- for these things, small and big, important and unimportant are all precious gifts from You. Amen.

April 5- Let Me Fill You

"But we have this treasure in Jars of Clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." 2 Corinthians 4:7

Ever wonder how the band, Jars of Clay got their name? Ever wonder what this verse actually means? I did. So I cranked out my thicker than think NIV Study Bible and found something so awesome.

Back when these books of the Bible were written, treasures were concealed in clay jars- which had very little value or beauty and did not attract attention to themselves or what may have been hiding. These jars were frail and in some ways, 'unworthy' to hold such value inside of them.

We are jars of clay. We are frail, weak, unable, and from the outside- not very valuable or becoming. BUT we have the chance to hold the ultimate treasure inside of us. This treasure is so powerful, so beautiful, so meaningful that we begin to change from the inside out when we tap into it. The Holy Spirit is this treasure. With surpassing power directly from God. Our exteriors and interiors become so much stronger because we are strengthened by God and not by ourselves.

I didn't read this entry until it was time for bed last night. But I was so glad I did. I was feeling weak and unable knowing that it was only the first day of many that I will be alone in my room at night. But, God is so good and covered me with the gentle reminder that NEVER am I alone. And like the book of Isaiah reminded me before I went to sleep, "In quietness and confident trust is my strength."

Allow me to be a quiet, trusting jar of clay... holding a treasure I could never deserve. Amen.

April 4- I Meet You

... in the stillness of your soul. Right where you're at. Right in this moment. You can have an amazing encounter with God.

Maybe it's been too long since you have had a still moment before the Lord where He just encompasses the room and fills up your soul. I was able to just sit quietly, reading about how TODAY our savior was RISEN.

God speaks in marvelous ways when I actually allow Him to. It hit me today that the last full day I'll spend with Austin before he leaves for Wisconsin is the most joyous, hopeful, and exciting day we can possibly know as Christians. That is no accident. He's trying to tell us something. This day is meant to be spent glorifying ME and thinking less about YOU. Just like every other day. There is not a day more crucial or important to my faith than Easter and I love God for allowing this day to fall on what may otherwise be a day of complete sadness.

I don't know if I could have that perspective if my soul wasn't stilled this morning. God is living, He's active, and He's more than ready to move in me every day of my life. The choice is mine to let Him.

Happy Easter to you all! He is Risen and He is IN us!

April 3 - In Me You Have Everything

It is impossible for you to have a need that I cannot meet. After all,

I created you and everything that is.

This is the part in this Saturday's devotion that struck me the most. It is IMPOSSIBLE for us to have a need that God cannot meet. He created everything that is. After thinking about this I was in awe of space - the infinity of space that we don't know everything about. It's going to be impossible for us to know everything about our universe. However, HE created all of it. I'm sorry but I am just in awe of our God who is so powerful and so magnificent!

In a writing class this past semester our professor gave us an essay to read and I believe it was entitled, "The Creative God" (or something of that nature). It talked about how some people believe that creativity and the arts are useless but this author argued that they are what is most necessary in our world today. He also made the point that our God is the most creative being to ever exist. Everything in the world was nothing before He decided to create it. After thinking about this fact for a long while I believe it's very easy to begin thinking of our own insignificance in this universe. However, this is a very delicate line - God doesn't call us to feel so insignificant that we decide to give up hope or feel sorry for ourselves. On the contrary! He created US too! He wants us to grow, prosper and live an extraordinary life. What an amazing God!

Lord - On this Saturday, before your resurrection, THANK YOU for being a creative God! A God who loves us so much that You sent Your Son to sacrifice for us and our sins, mistakes and judgement. Lord, we love You so much and are so undeserving of Your love. Thank You for being our Father. Amen!

Love to all!! Happy Easter Eve! :)

April 2- I Have Promised...

to meet all your needs according to My glorious riches. This verse is such a powerful verse to turn into prayer. Often, working for a non-profit ministry I am led to pray this verse because all our needs WILL ultimately be met not by any riches of this world, but by HIS glorious riches!

I absolutely love the illustration as our savior as the great gardener. This beautiful metaphor so perfectly paints the picture of our on-going 'pruning process.' I may have a special attachment to our Lord as a gardener because of my dad's job and what I constantly saw him doing growing up. He had the wisdom to know what was best for the shrubs, flowers, and trees that he planted. He would prune each plant- despite how much it was determined to grow on it's own so that it could reach its full potential.

God is the same way. There are ugly weeds that freely grow in the garden of our beings. Pride, worry, selfishness, unbelief- are just some of the weeds that get in the way of our growth. However, when we respond to our great gardener, soon these weeds disappear and our blooming process becomes so much more beautiful.

On this Good Friday, 2010 it is my prayer that THE PERFECT ONE who payed the price we couldn't pay, died the death we wouldn't endure, and never lost focus of His Gardener would consume your minds and stir in your hearts. For this man, this King of Kings, and Messiah didn't need any pruning. There were no weeds anywhere around Him. Yet he willingly sacrificed in a way that has never and will never be duplicated. LOVE in a single action comes unmatchably on this day- Good Friday.

April 1 - I am Calling You

I am calling you to a life of constant communion with Me.

Basic Training: Learning to live above your circumstances,

even while interacting on that cluttered plane of life.

In this devotion a simple life and an uncluttered world is called 'fantasy.' We're never going to be able to have unlimited and undivided communication with God because we live on a crazy planet! Everything is a distraction. So we should keep talking to the Lord throughout our entire day - about our feelings, our thankfulness, our worries and our insecurities. He LOVES us! I can't think of one person who truly loves me and wouldn't want to talk to me - and His love is even greater than that!

I loved the line in this April Fool's Day devotion where Sarah wrote, "Remember that your ultimate goal is not to control or fix everything around you; it is to keep in communing with Me." So often I feel that if I can only fix this problem in my life or that previous mistake I'll be fine and feel fulfilled. Oh, how dangerously wrong that thinking is. Our main goal is to stay in communion with our Lord. That is SO much simpler and easy of a task! Thank You, Lord for giving us a task that much last tasking on our own lives - and a task that brings us closer to You! I know I can't say it enough but You, God, are a genius! Thank You for having our lives in Your control; we could not feel any safer. We love You, Lord! Amen

Love!