Conquering Fear

Romans 8:37-39 "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Today was a day of victory and conquering a fear I've lived with, actually wrestled with, for a LONG time... way to long! It being a new year, leaving behind 2011 and beginning 2012, I have told myself that I am going to stop living under fear. I'm going to face it and conquer it. Well, actually, it wasn't hard in itself. It went rather smoothly and I know now that I am not longer under it's "control".

It wasn't going to seperate me from anything, take away anything that's mine, or even kill me. My mind had been believing lies and letting the fear control me. It even kept me from going to a specific place, but not anymore! I know I'm free from it and I'm way more powerful, because the Lord is on my side. Without the Holy Spirit in me I would not have been able to act on this, I would have continued to "huddle down into a ball" so to speak, and hide from facing it.

Praise Jesus for His mighty power!

From 2011 to 2012

As my mind flashes over the last year I'm reminded of all the things the Lord has done, events full of excitement, events that caused me to grow tremendously, and events that we're extremely hard to face. Lets see if I can sum it up for you.
- January was a new beginning for a new life
- Winter Retreat with Overflo
- Study on Jonah with Brandi
- Baptism on Easter, I am a new creation in Christ!
- Made the Dean's List for the Spring semester
- My first vacation in June (all by myself) to Pennsylvania to see Tracy
- August brought some defining moments and growing opportunities
- Lots of fun events with the Overflo group
- November was another month of learning and growing
- Started & Finished a HUGE research project. Got an A!
- Presented with the opportunity to lead a Life group of teen girls

Now that you see the list here's a deeper look into what the Lord taught me through it all.
He is...
Faithful... to always be by my side
Gracious & Merciful... giving me things I don't deserve
Mighty... he gave me strength when I was oh so weak
Redeemer, Restorer, Sustainer, Healer.
He has restored and redeemed my heart. He sustains me when I feel like I can't move anymore. He is still healing my heart, taking His time to mend each piece together. A key passage for the year was Ephesians 6:10-20 - walking boldly with the armor of God and choosing to be obedient to what He says.

In 2011 I faced some extremely hard challenges but through it all I've grown, taken steps I never thought I could take, allowed the Lord to have control, and each day I tried to keep moving forward. Leaving 2011 behind, thank the Lord it's over. Bring on 2012!! I'm excited to see what the Lord will bring in 2012, He already has given me a glimpse of what's to come. Here we go God, I'm with you!

The Same God

The Same God by NewSong

Back to the wall, scared you'll fall
What you going to do
Day and night,
Don't know why its like the worlds' against you
You're praying for a break through

There was a day
When your faith couldn't be held down
God was near enough to hear every word
But somehow you wish He heard you right now
Don't you know

The same God who was with you then is with you now
The same God who led you in will lead you out
So take all the fear and doubt
Go on and lay them down
The same God, the same God is with you now

Can't you see
Everything happens for a reason
There's a time, there's a place
For every season
He knows what's best for you
So don't be afraid

The same God who was with you then is with you now
The same God who led you in will lead you out
So take all the fear and doubt
Go on and lay them down
The same God, the same God is with you now

Just keep holding on
Oh keep holding on

The same God who was with you then is with you now
The same God who led you in will lead you out
So take all the fear and doubt
Go on and lay them down
The same God, the same God is with you now

Less Like Scars

Less Like Scars by Sara Groves

It's been a hard year
But I'm climbing out of the rubble
These lessons are hard
Healing changes are subtle
But every day it's

Less like tearing, more like building
Less like captive, more like willing
Less like breakdown, more like surrender
Less like haunting, more like remember

And I feel you here
And you're picking up the pieces
Forever faithful
It seemed out of my hands, a bad situation
But you are able
And in your hands the pain and hurt
Look less like scars and more like
Character

Less like a prison, more like my room
It's less like a casket, more like a womb
Less like dying, more like transcending
Less like fear, less like an ending

And I feel you here
And you're picking up the pieces
Forever faithful
It seemed out of my hands, a bad situation
But you are able
And in your hands the pain and hurt
Look less like scars

Just a little while ago
I couldn't feel the power or the hope
I couldn't cope, I couldn't feel a thing
Just a little while back
I was desperate, broken, laid out, hoping
You would come

And I need you
And I want you here
And I feel you

And I know you're here
And you're picking up the pieces
Forever faithful
It seemed out of my hands, a bad, bad situation
But you are able

And in your hands the pain and hurt
Look less like scars

And more like
Character

Real Quick...

Okay so this one's short. I heard this on the radio the other day.

A sign in front of a store that had some construction taking place said this...
"Please excuse the mess, we're growing"

It's so true right now for me. Well I'm sure it's true for many of us. Our lives can be messy, but that's because we are growing. Sometimes our growing causes a mess in our lives. But thats okay because in the end it will be all new. We are becoming new creations in Christ, He is shaping us into the people He had originally planned to be.

So please excuse my mess, I'm growing. The Lord is doing construction in my life.

Continued...

Okay I know that was quick! But sometimes the Lord answers quickly. Right after I posted "A Characteristic of God" I looked in my email box and there was a Proverbs31 devotional waiting for me to read. So within this devotional the Lord gave me a glimpse of His many characteristics. Here it is...

I pour into the Word, a measureless crevice in which my words rest. He asks three words my parched soul thirsts for, “How are you?”

I’m weary. "I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10b (NIV)

I feel alone. “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b (NIV)

I can’t take much more. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28b (NIV)

I pour out, He pours in. An ebb and flow more natural than the ocean’s tides. My needy soul needs His words; needs Him: the Word.

Community is God-given. But friend’s and family’s ability to be leaned on will ebb and flow. Hence our soul’s deepest need: friendship with the Lord. {Inhale deeply that delight: we’re friends with God.} Friends with the unchanging nature of the Word, Jesus.

Will you take His cupped hand, reaching out to hold you, your cares, your friends and family members? Take His hand and take a walk through Him, the Word. Pour your truthful answers into Him and pour yourself into the fields of Scripture. Refreshment awaits. He’s asking, “How are you?”

I'll post more when the Lord shows me more of who He is. 

A Characteristic of God

Have you ever studied the multiple characteristics of God? Well I've done few small studies that just cover the surface of who God is. Have you ever thought about how unchanging and constant God is?

Lately my heart has been burdened by the things in my life that aren't or haven't been constant. Things are always changing. Don't get me wrong, I like change most of the time. But lately I have been hating (yes, "hate" is a strong word but it's the truth)... the things in my life that aren't constant or things I can not count on. I suppose it's the things in my life that I can control that I don't mind if they change. But those things that I have NO control over, those things that change when least expected and seem to turn your life upside down that really get to me.

So what's something in my life that is constant, unchanging? There is only one... my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Three in one... Father, Son and Holy Spirit. How someone can be three things and not change is beyond my human comprehension.

So this will be to continued later... when I've really learned the meaning of a constant and unchanging God in my life. I'll be back... it's just going to take some digging!