Permanent

I get stressed out sometimes. I know, everyone does. But sometimes I carry my stress for so long that I forget what it was like without it. Yesterday was another stressful day. I tried to "cast my cares on Him", but they seemed to be attached to me with an iron chain. So tonight, while I was working at home, I had a realization. You know those revelations that happen when you aren't even looking for them. I realized that nothing is permanent. My job. My problems. My current stage in life. Nothing is forever. Except God. Do you realize how unbelievably freeing that is? Sure, things might be tough right now, but it's nothing compared to the glory that is coming. I've read that in the Bible a thousand times and I finally get it. It smacked me in the head like a foul ball, but I got it. So these pesky little issues seem completely insignificant compared to the grand layout of life. No, I won't always get my way. I won't always like where I'm at. But it's not permanent. Only God is. It's all part of the journey of the life He has for us. So the next time you're stressed, just remember, it's not permanent. Only God is.

Moving On

Well, now that my close family and friends are aware, I am finally moving out of my folk's place. My sister is getting a townhouse in Pleasant Hill with her family and they are graciously letting me rent out the basement. I know I'll still be living with family, but it somehow feels different. I think just taking that step out of the house I moved into when I was 14 is an important one. I'm very excited to make the space my own. And to see my nephews a little more. I know that I'll miss the family I live with now, but luckily, no matter how far apart we are (PHill is 10 mins from my "old" house) our family is stuck together like glue. So, as I look for furniture and dream about how I'm going to decorate, I know that this moment of moving out will also be a moment of moving on.

Deep

If you are really wise, you'll think this over- it's time you appreciated God's deep love. Psalm 107:43

Deep: extending far downward, inward, backward, etc; hard to understand; serious, profound; dark& rich; absorbed by; great in degree, intense; large, big; far down, far back; the ocean

The Time Has Come

You learn a lot while you're waiting. Patience. Wisdom. How to live in silence. Trust. But I wonder, is there any other way to learn these things because I'm kind of getting tired of learning it through waiting. I mean, these are valuable lessons to learn (apparently I'm still learning them), but isn't there another way? I suppose if Jesus had to do it God's way and die on a cross for all humanity, I can wait it out a bit longer. Look, another lesson learned while waiting.

Go

Do you ever feel like people just don't get it? Like there's this stirring in your heart and you can't put it to words, but you know it's real. You understand the heartbeat and it's leading you in a direction that doesn't make sense. I wonder if that's how Abraham felt when God called him to leave his everything, his familiar world. People probably asked him, "Where ya headed?". His response of "I'm not too sure, just following God" probably didn't satisfy. I'm sure they commented "If you don't know, then why not stay until you do?". But is that faith? Faith without works is dead. What if he had stayed until God told him where to go? Would God's promise of descendents more numerous than the stars have come to completion? Would Isaac have been born? Jacob? Where would the Israelites be? Jesus? Us? One man's act of crazy set into motion God's plan of salvation and His plan for us today. Abraham didn't know that. He didn't see redemption for all humankind hanging in the balance. He just knew that God had told him to leave so he did. Who does that? According to scripture, a man of faith. A man of righteousness. And a man of righteousness avails much when he prays. So, maybe people didn't get it then. Maybe they don't get it now. But it's time to go. Where? Does it matter? God told you to go. So go.