The world is going to hell in a hand basket and I feel like I’m stuck in a season that will never end.

Stressed?

“Let not your heart be troubled.” – Jesus (John 14-16)

It’s easy to get troubled, isn’t it?  The news, social media, and life in general can be so depressing.  Things we don’t want to happen happens.  Paul writes in Philippians 4,

“FINALLY, BRETHREN, WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE TRUE, WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE HONEST, WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE JUST, WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE PURE, WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE LOVELY, WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE OF GOOD REPORT; IF THERE BE ANY VIRTUE, AND IF THERE BE ANY PRAISE, THINK ON THESE THINGS.”

Sometimes, it can be hard to see anything good, can’t it?  How can you think on things that are lovely and pure when 9.5/10 things you see or are surrounded with are the completely opposite of lovely and pure?

“THESE THINGS I HAVE SPOKEN UNTO YOU, THAT IN ME YE MIGHT HAVE PEACE. IN THE WORLD YE SHALL HAVE TRIBULATION: BUT BE OF GOOD CHEER; I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD.” – JOHN 16:33

The bible says FEAR NOT 365 times.  That is a different passage for every day of the year. We are sojourners passing through this life and our life is but a vapor.  Obviously, God meant what he said, right?  We are temples of the Holy Spirit which is so crazy when you think about it.

I am so thankful to serve a God and Heavenly Father whose mercy never runs out.  While I struggle He always loves to teach me.  He lets us see over the edge and then He runs in and says “THIS!”.  This is why.  This is what I’ve been trying to teach you, but you’re so stubborn.  Let me show you.

Last week He showed me Ephesians 4.  I’ve read it before, but that is how my Father works.  I was praying while riding my bike and asking for Him to just “TELL ME!”  When I got home and was fixing dinner listened to Ephesians on YouTube.  When Ephesians 4 played I burst into tears.  From beginning to end it was a summary of all I’d been struggling to let go of.

Ephesians 4 <— Click link to read entire passage.
“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace….”

My paraphrase:
Put off the old man and conversations thereof.  You are new and righteous.  Don’t be like the gentiles who walk after the darkness of their hearts.  Let no corrupt communication come out of your mouth, but only that which edifies.  Let go of bitterness and anger and be kind.  Forgiving one another as God has forgiven you for Christ’s sake.

What would the living almighty God want me for?

I’m not special.  But, I am willing.

That’s the thing about being a Christian… it’s not a perfect or easy life, but it is surrendering to Who is good…

Matthew 5 says, “THAT YE MAY BE THE CHILDREN OF YOUR FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN: FOR HE MAKETH HIS SUN TO RISE ON THE EVIL AND ON THE GOOD, AND SENDETH RAIN ON THE JUST AND ON THE UNJUST.”

… but it is surrendering to the almighty and letting Him have His way in your life.  Good things happen and bad things happen to the righteous and unrighteous, but are we to live by our emotions or by the truth of God?  Following your emotions is living on a rollercoaster.  Ups and downs left and right can wear you out!  Wow!

Surrender.

Surrendering means you don’t know what will happen, but are walking in faith into the unknown because the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will be there.

“I AM” …and Who always was and will be …will be there.

The God who was in the beginning and made everything good will be there.  The God who had a plan of salvation even before the creation of the world will be there.

The who God led Moses and the Israelites out of the desert will be there.  The God who destroyed the enemies at the same time of delivering Hi children by way of the parting of the Red Sea will be there.  The God who watched His only Son suffer for the sake of our souls will be there.

The question is will we trust Him?

It’s so hard to give up control.

Yesterday morning was so nice and chilly outside so I went for a run (after not running in a long, long while).  I didn’t bring my phone or any music so it would just be me in my own head.

There are two ways this could have gone:
1).  “This will be excruuuuuciatinnggggg.  I haven’t been running.  I hate this.  I’m out of shape.  I’m gonna have to walk.  I’m so much slower than I used to be…..”
2). Prayer.  Jesus, you are so good.  The song, “Old Church Choir” was in my head and I was singing out loud to myself.  “There ain’t nothin’ gonna steal my joy!”

“I got an Old Church Choir singing in my soul…
I got a sweet salvation and it’s beautiful.
I’ve got a heart overflowing ’cause I’ve been restored!
There ain’t nothing gonna steal my joy!”

I ran slow, but I ran.  I had joy.  It was a fun run.  Cool weather which is a rare treat and praising Jesus.  Yes.

The last few weeks have been real for me and a breaking point was an anxiety attack.  Good times.

That’s what happens when you take your eyes off of Jesus and start focusing on the things you don’t have.  You start seeing the cares of this world and how enticing they can be.  You seek change and things you can see and crave are right there.

“NO MAN CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS: FOR EITHER HE WILL HATE THE ONE, AND LOVE THE OTHER; OR ELSE HE WILL HOLD TO THE ONE, AND DESPISE THE OTHER. YE CANNOT SERVE GOD AND MAMMON.”
-MATTHEW 6:24

“FOR WE ARE SAVED BY HOPE: BUT HOPE THAT IS SEEN IS NOT HOPE: FOR WHAT A MAN SEETH, WHY DOTH HE YET HOPE FOR? BUT IF WE HOPE FOR THAT WE SEE NOT, THEN DO WE WITH PATIENCE WAIT FOR IT.  LIKEWISE THE SPIRIT ALSO HELPETH OUR INFIRMITIES: FOR WE KNOW NOT WHAT WE SHOULD PRAY FOR AS WE OUGHT: BUT THE SPIRIT ITSELF MAKETH INTERCESSION FOR US WITH GROANINGS WHICH CANNOT BE UTTERED. AND HE THAT SEARCHETH THE HEARTS KNOWETH WHAT IS THE MIND OF THE SPIRIT, BECAUSE HE MAKETH INTERCESSION FOR THE SAINTS ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD.”  – ROMANS 8:24-27

Would it be nice to have these things?  The desires of your heart?  Yes.
But, seek God first and all His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you (Matthew 6:33).

God’s timing is not our own.  Let Him have His way in your life.  He does not disappoint.  What we think we want is so small in comparison to His glory.  Our desire must be Him first.

It would be nice to have a lot of things, right?
What does Paul write to the Philippians?

“BUT WHAT THINGS WERE GAIN TO ME, THOSE I COUNTED LOSS FOR CHRIST…” – PHILIPPIANS 3:7

“…WHEREIN YE WERE ALSO CAREFUL, BUT YE LACKED OPPORTUNITY. NOT THAT I SPEAK IN RESPECT OF WANT: FOR I HAVE LEARNED, IN WHATSOEVER STATE I AM, THEREWITH TO BE CONTENT. I KNOW BOTH HOW TO BE ABASED, AND I KNOW HOW TO ABOUND: EVERY WHERE AND IN ALL THINGS I AM INSTRUCTED BOTH TO BE FULL AND TO BE HUNGRY, BOTH TO ABOUND AND TO SUFFER NEED. I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHICH STRENGTHENETH ME.” – PHILIPPIANS 4:8-13

These are some pretty powerful and very famous bible verses.  They are quoted countless times.  It’s an easy thing to say, isn’t it?  It’s easy to say so many things to make the Christian life look peaceful and seem “righteous” and make us look good.

Actions speak louder than words.  Those are some of my favorite verses as it hit home on several occasions and I could write so much about it.  Paul was in prison when he wrote that.  I’m not in prison and nobody is after my life and yet I am not content like Paul.

The world is out to destroy, but let not your heart be troubled.  They can’t understand Jesus.  So, never let go or forget the promise Jesus put on your heart.  The world can’t take that from you.

One of my favorite songs is “Lord, I need You”, by Matt Maher

“Without You, I fall apart.  You’re the one that guides my heart.
Where sin runs deep your grace is more.  Where grace is found is where you are.
Where you are, Lord, I am free!  Holiness is Christ in me.
Lord, I need you.  Oh, I need you.
Every hour, I need you.
My one defense…my righteousness.
My God, how I need You.”

Every hour.  Every minute I need him.  It’s so easy to get distracted.  Stand firm in His word and promises.  Equip yourself for the battle that’s not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities of the dark ages.

On another note I’d been eyeing this spice cake recipe for a while and finally made it.  I am totally all over this Fall baking thing…at least it isn’t pumpkin.  😀