...thoughts abounding...

Go figure.
I decide to take a month off from blogging and feel like I could have written a book every day! :) ("Phew"- you're thinking - "good thing she took a month off or we'd be reading all of those posts..." ha ha ha). I've been deep in thought and prayer (and journals!) about many thing that are dear to my heart. During this month, I've also been blessed to discuss and interact with so many precious Christian brothers and sisters, whose prayers and guidance I deeply cherish! I love the community of the body of Christ.

[I was also lovingly accused of doing too much thinking and introspection, which I find funny but also potentially true! :) I guess sometimes I try to figure things out too much, which leads to my blog for today....].

One theme especially on my mind this past month was the relationship between God's providence and sovereignty as He directs our lives and our human responsibility to make decisions. God knows everything that will happen in our lives and has orchestrated each event. That still (rightly) baffles, humbles, and comforts me! Yet at the same time, we have our individual choices to make. They are to be made in light of the Scriptures and God's revealed will, and always with prayer, but when it comes down to it, we have to make choices.

Why have decisions always made me cringe? I remember getting stressed as a child because I couldn't decide on which ice cream flavour to choose or which game to play at recess. Such trivial things. Yet as I get older, the decisions become more and more "weighty."

Yet I find incredible comfort in the fact that God does indeed direct our paths when we desire to follow after Him. Decisions may not be clearly laid out, and there may sometimes be equally "right" options from which to choose. But Christians possess the gift of the Holy Spirit within them, and that is an assurance of guidance from the Lord Almighty when we stop to seek and listen.

I know I'm not really saying anything new. I just rejoice that, no matter how agonizing decisions sometimes seem (and there are always decisions), God is a faithful God who does not change!!! He is there. He does guide and lead. He does direct. And He also trusts us to step out in faith as His children, led by His Word and His Spirit.

May you feel the comfort of the Lord's leading hand.

Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths.

Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation;

On You I wait all the day. Psalm 25:3-4

reminders

It was time for a summer picture, especially in light of all the snow we've had!

Sabbatical

For various reasons, this blog is taking a one month sabbatical.
Thank you.

"We Give Thee But Thine Own"

I was just playing through the Psalter Hymnal, enjoying the music but not reflecting much upon the words of the songs. I just finished We Give Thee But Thine Own and was about to move on when the title caught my attention. Whoa. I started to read through the words...and realized what a blessing this song is for me tonight. Lord, help me to truly continue to give back to you with open hands. May my dreams and goals and hopes be surrended at the foot of the cross and may I be purified in your love.

"We give Thee but Thine own,
Whate'er the gift may be;
All that we have is Thine alone,
A trust, O Lord, from Thee.

And we believe Thy Word,
Though dim our faith may be;
Whate'er for Thine we do, O Lord,
We do it unto Thee."

(verses 1 and 5; William Walsham How, 1823-1897)

Lonely people part 2

It occurred to me that some of the lonely people I wrote of earlier this week may actually be reading this blog! I guess most of us are somewhat lonely at some point in our lives, right?

Hence, here is a bit of encouragement from yours truly, Elisabeth Elliot. :) (I've quoted her seven pieces of advice and given a brief summary.)

1) Be still and know that He is God. Use the stillness and time to be quiet before the Lord and know Him as God.
2) Remember that you are not alone. See Deut 31:8 and Matt 28:20
3) Give thanks. The loneliness is used to help us look to things that are not seen, an eternal weight of glory (2 Cor 4:17-18).
4) Refuse self-pity. It is deadly and can destroy you. "Turn your thoughts to Christ who has already carried your griefs and sorrows."
5) Accept your loneliness. It is a stage on a journey that brings you closer to God - it will not always last.
6) Offer up your loneliness to God. God can transform our loneliness into good (and He does!)
7) Do something for somebody else. Bring someone else joy!

"The important thing is to receive this moment's experience with both hands. Don't waste it. 'Wherever you are, be all there,' Jim [her husband] once wrote. 'Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God' "(80).
Passion and Purity, Chapter 17: What To Do with Loneliness, pg 79-80.

May God comfort all those who are lonely, as He has promised!!!

lonely people

More and more I realize how lonely people are today.
In our world bustling with people, it seems there are so many scurrying about with a deep longing inside. There are homes filled with sadness and many people who lack purpose.
Generalizations perhaps, but observations from the past few months in Canada.

What is the deal?
Are our lives too full of work?
Are we too preoccupied with material things?
Are we "too busy" for meaningful relationships, or we don't know how to really form them anymore...as in our relationships are based on fluff rather than on substance?
Are we too busy thinking about ourselves and not busy enough thinking about and serving others?

Is it a God-sized hole in our hearts that we're cramming full with everything but God?

Or am I the only one who is observing this?

just a thought

I obviously don't blog very much anymore. Sorry! I guess I'm more "in touch" with the people that used to read this blog, so its less important to me. And I write less. :( I'll still try from time to time...

Here is a thought for today.

"Do not fear going forward slowly; fear only standing still."

~ Chinese Proverb