Prayer

It's almost 3:00 am, and for some reason I can't sleep.  For some reason, I think God has kept me up to pray.  I want to encourage you that prayer truly does make a difference.  The power of prayer, and faith that God hears our prayers and answers our prayers (even if we don't like the answer), is tremendous.  I've seen it time and again.  The question is though, "Why don't we immediately go to God when things go wrong or we don't know what to do?" It's easy to fall out of the habit of praying, and even easier to just worry instead or continue to go about our day.  Prayer is simply communication with the Father.  There are no prerequisites for prayer.  You don't have to have a degree in Biblical Studies and you don't need to have read the Bible all the way through seven times. 
I keep a prayer journal.  For some reason, writing out my prayers seems to help keep me focused.  I'm guilty of a wandering mind when I'm praying.  Putting pen to paper helps, and I encourage you to do the same if you struggle with even knowing what to pray for!  I usually am lead more easily by the Holy Spirit when I'm writing, and sometimes I'll fill four pages in my journal in one sitting. 
No matter is too small if you bring it to the Lord.  Thank Him, praise Him, ask for wisdom, but most importantly just spend time with Him.

I hope you are all asleep!  Have a great week.  Jesus loves you! :)

Romans 8:35-37

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  As it is written.

"For your sake we are killed all day

long;

We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, no any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Praise the Lord.  To Him be the glory!

Grace is Enough

Wow, life has been moving at a fast clip the over the past week and a half.  I feel like this is the first time I've sat down just to sit down in a very long time.  My time away has been time well spent though ( I think) and time to continue to grow closer to God (I know). 

I'll start with my weekend at Shasta, which was last weekend the 6th - 9th.  One word couldn't summarize.  This whole blog probably couldn't even summarize it, but I'll try my best. :)

We were blessed so much by God-gifted speakers, cabin time, and of course playing in the sun.  God spoke to my heart, and blessed me beyond what I thought He would.  One thing that really sticks out in my mind was the true meaning of grace.  I've always knows what grace was... but I guess I never made it personal, I never claimed it as my own.  The moment that it all fell into place for me (concerning grace at least) was beautiful.  It wasn't fire works and dancing, but simply two cogs in the assembly line of my life falling into place.  I'm really not sure how else to describe it. 

God has really been showing me His grace since I got back from Shasta.  I've been released from my past, and I KNOW that Jesus loves me.  He chooses to love me, just as I am.  He sees me as innocent, because I am covered by His blood.  He died for me. 

Today is a new day.  No matter what happens, my Father will still love me.  I will try and honor Him and bring glory to Him in all I do.  Life is difficult.  Really difficult right now.  But, I know that God is good, and His grace is enough for me.  I hope you know that too.  Until you claim His grace, I think you'll always be searching, and always wanting to live up to a standard that we can't reach.  Grace provides the ladder.  Forgiveness opens the door.  We can't live mildly, we have to live on fire for God or not at all.  Why was I chosen to such a calling?  I know that I am uncapable of succeeding.  Thankfully, there's someone who's already paid the price for my lack of ability.  He has already taken the weight off of my shoulders concerning everything.  Sometimes I want to keep holding onto it because I think I can do things on my own.  Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  The antithesis of the verse would then be, "I can do nothing without Christ who strengthens me." 

I can't do school without Christ.  I can't be patient while waiting for my future husband without Christ.  I can't drive to the grocery store without Christ.  I can't pray without Christ.  I can do nothing without Christ.  He is my foundation.  If I take my foundation away, then what am I?  I'm a sad story to behold, that's what. 

I just really feel the need to reiterate again that God's grace covers all.  He loves us.  It makes me want to cry to think about how he chooses to love me.  He didn't have to, but He does anyway.  That's just really blowing my mind right now, I'm not gonna lie. 

Right now, I'm drawing near to God.  He promises to near to me, when I draw near to Him, and that's something that I need today. 
Jesus loves you. (Seriously) And so do I.

A Quick Note

I haven't been on in a while, and I just wanted to assure you all that, yes I am still alive. :)

God has been working mightily in my life the past few weeks, and I have lots to share.  I'm off to Hawaii for about five days, and I'll really update when I get back.

God bless, and Jesus loves you... don't forget that :)