Over the past couple of days, especially today, I have been reflecting on what God has done for me. And not just in my lifetime, but a very long time ago.
I listened to a sermon a while ago about Ephesians 1:1-14, and it really opened my eyes to the awe factor of God. And this is what I have been thinking a lot about the past couple of days.
Ephesians 1:3-6 first speaks about all praise and honor go to God because He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing that we could ever imagine through Christ. It's because of Christ that I am able to stand before God; it's because of Christ that I have love, joy, peace, that I am able to be faithful in all things. So praising God is how I want to begin this.
Holy God in Heaven, You are great and mighty. God, only You could have created this beautiful earth. Only You could have created each person individually. God, You are beautiful, wonderful, and You are deserving of everything I have to give. You are the Author of Salvation. Everything begins and ends with You. You are the Bridegroom, waiting for His bride to return to Him. You are the Lover of Souls, the Giver of Life, and my Sustainer. You are bigger than my mind could ever possibly imagine. God, I love You! I love You! I love You! Let Your glory be made known through me and my life.
Paul then goes into exactly how God has blessed us. He tells us that "He chose us in Him before the creation of the world." (I added emphasis.) How amazing is that! God chose us before he even spoke light and darkness into creation. He knew our names, He knew what we would be doing at this very second. But even more than that, He was talking with Jesus about us saying that we would be His. The second part of verse 4 says that He chose us "to be holy and blameless in His sight." He was going to adopt us "as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will." What? God took delight in us way before we were ever born! He knew what was going to go down long before we ever knew that God existed.
I am speechless as to how great God is! Jesus came to suffer, be trodden upon, hurt, and ultimately crucified because it was the only way to bridge the gap between God and myself. It was the only way to undo what sin had done. I find salvation in Jesus because of His sacrifice.
My Jesus, I love thee, I know thou are mine, for thee all the follies of sin I resign; my gracious Redeemer, my Savior art thou; if ever I loved thee, my Jesus 'tis now.
I love thee because thou hast first loved me, and purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree; I love thee for wearing the thorns on thy brow; if ever I loved thee, my Jesus 'tis now.
In mansions of glory and endless delight I'll ever adore thee in heaven so bright; I'll sing with the glittering crown on my brow, if ever I loved thee, my Jesus 'tis now.
Happy Easter! :)
Christ is risen!!!!!!!
Friday, April 22, 2011
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Overwhelmed
by a crazy intense love from my Savior. He is constantly showing me ways He loves me and provides for me.
I was listening to a sermon earlier tonight by Todd Nighswonger. Todd said something that really made me think. Think about who God is, what He's doing, and how He's working in my life. He said: "The whole point of God choosing us and showing us His grace is so that at the end of it all, we can't go up to Him and say, 'Thanks for everything, here's some money to pay you back.' He did it so that all we're able to do is just stand there in absolute awe of Him."
What is God doing? How is He working? And how on earth did I ever think I could possibly pay Him back for it all??
I have absolutely no idea what God is going to do next. I don't know my next step. I don't know what tomorrow will bring. I don't know, I don't know, I don't know. It's frustrating, but at the same time, it's liberating. It's so freeing knowing that I don't have the power in my own life. I don't have the power to control things. I am free to "rest in the Shadow of the Almighty" (Psalm 91:1). I am free to stand in complete awe and be overwhelmed by His love. Because when I stand before Him, when I let my gaze fall on Him and Him alone, everything else is nothing.
Only Jesus matters.
It's all about Him.
Philippians 1:21
I was listening to a sermon earlier tonight by Todd Nighswonger. Todd said something that really made me think. Think about who God is, what He's doing, and how He's working in my life. He said: "The whole point of God choosing us and showing us His grace is so that at the end of it all, we can't go up to Him and say, 'Thanks for everything, here's some money to pay you back.' He did it so that all we're able to do is just stand there in absolute awe of Him."
What is God doing? How is He working? And how on earth did I ever think I could possibly pay Him back for it all??
I have absolutely no idea what God is going to do next. I don't know my next step. I don't know what tomorrow will bring. I don't know, I don't know, I don't know. It's frustrating, but at the same time, it's liberating. It's so freeing knowing that I don't have the power in my own life. I don't have the power to control things. I am free to "rest in the Shadow of the Almighty" (Psalm 91:1). I am free to stand in complete awe and be overwhelmed by His love. Because when I stand before Him, when I let my gaze fall on Him and Him alone, everything else is nothing.
Only Jesus matters.
It's all about Him.
Philippians 1:21
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
While I'm Waiting
The past few weeks have been a time of waiting. And I am all about that. It has been amazing to see how God is working and moving in my life, even when it's difficult.
I found out about 3 weeks ago that my application for Southeastern finally went into committee...so that's good. I will hopefully be finding out soon whether I've been accepted or not. I'm just waiting on God to show me the next step.
I'm also waiting to hear from NAMB about my confirmation for my placement this summer.
So lots and lots of waiting. But God is in control.
I went to Passion in Fort Worth at the beginning of this month. Oh my goodness. This was the best thing I could have done. God moved in my life. This was one of the most amazing weekends. And not because of the people there. But because of how God moved. God was present. He worked showed me things. I'm still kinda in shock about what all went down that weekend, and I'm still trying to process everything. But the greatest thing I think I could have taken away from this weekend was Philippians 1:21. This verse came alive to me this weekend. I learned what it really meant to me, and that it should completely and wholly define who I am.
I found out about 3 weeks ago that my application for Southeastern finally went into committee...so that's good. I will hopefully be finding out soon whether I've been accepted or not. I'm just waiting on God to show me the next step.
I'm also waiting to hear from NAMB about my confirmation for my placement this summer.
So lots and lots of waiting. But God is in control.
I went to Passion in Fort Worth at the beginning of this month. Oh my goodness. This was the best thing I could have done. God moved in my life. This was one of the most amazing weekends. And not because of the people there. But because of how God moved. God was present. He worked showed me things. I'm still kinda in shock about what all went down that weekend, and I'm still trying to process everything. But the greatest thing I think I could have taken away from this weekend was Philippians 1:21. This verse came alive to me this weekend. I learned what it really meant to me, and that it should completely and wholly define who I am.
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