The Great Exchange

While reading the book for the third time (it's really that good) “A Young Woman After God's Own Heart” by Elizabeth George I came across these lines.

My weariness for His strength,
My weakness for His power,
My darkness for His light,
My problems for His solutions,
My burdens for His freedom,
My frustrations for His peace,
My turmoil for His calm,
My hopes for His promises,
My afflictions for His balm of comfort,
My questions for His answers,
My confusion for His knowledge,
My doubt for His assurance,
My nothingness for His awesomeness,
The temporal for the eternal, and the impossible for the possible!

Selfless

Lord help me live from day to day
In such a self-forgetful way,
That even when I kneel to pray
My prayers will be for others.

Others, Lord, yes others,
Let this my motto be;
Help me to live for others,
That I might live like Thee.

-Author Unknown

Dare I Say This?

I wish Thy way
But when in me myself would rise
And long for something otherwise
Then, Holy One, take sward and spear
And slay

by Amy Charmichael

Long Overdue Report

Recently (actually maybe not quite that recently) A friend told me that I should make a post about the thing that have happened lately. So here is the basic outline of how the Lord has been directing me lately.

I graduated from Whatcom Community College with an AA in Elementary Education about a month ago. Although I am extremely glad that I have gone to college I don't know yet if the Lord will lead me into more academic endeavorers. Right now I'm content to pursue other things.

Right after graduation my dad, brothers and I went on a vacations, you will probably see pictures around soon (whenever I take the time to post them off my brother's computer)
Since those things I have been working a lot, gardening a lot, helping my aunt and grandmother, and looking into soap making in order to sell specialty soaps. I'm still praying about what to do in the fall. The summer is going by very quickly for me.

Renewed

I realized this evening that it has been awhile since I have written a blog post. I figured there were many things that I could say...but I wanted to post something that would encourage and uplift those who read. I decided to open up my Bible to 2 Corinthians (a place the Lord has been having me read from a lot lately) my eye immediately fell on this verse.

2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.

Is your inner man being renewed? Are you allowing God to work in you and revive your spirit? Life can be so frustrating at times. Much of this week I have been worried and perplexed over several things, and not allowing the Lord to renew me. He has been teaching me that if He can create me (which He obviously can) then He can also fulfill all my desires, if that is in His will. Allow Him to renew your spirit. Your body will eventually die...but your spirit will live on forever. Allow the Lord to renew it in His way and timing.

Calvary Love

If I wonder why something trying is allowed,
and press for prayer that it may be removed;
if I cannot be trusted with any disappointment,
and cannot go on in peace under any mystery,
then I know nothing of Calvary Love
Amy Carmichael

Spared by the Spirit

This verse made me think I had to go back and read it over again.

Galations 5:17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.

According to the Bible Knowledge Commentary, this verse is saying that, if allowed, the Holy Spirit will “block” us from doing the wrong things that our old man would naturally do. Not only does Christ save us from our sin, but the Holy Spirit keeps us from continuing to sin as much as our unsaved selves would. I think that is so amazing. God is so good to us.