" I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13
I have so much hope for my future. What I love about this Bible verse is that right smack dab in the middle of the it comes the word "trust". I think it's so exciting how trust in God gives way to things like joy and peace, but I especially like hope. Hope's one of my favorites. True hope comes from that place of trust. Sometimes that trust is completely sacrificial. Let me give you an example in my own life.
I believe that God had given me a promise. I've been holding onto this promise ever since I was a little girl. I believed that one day I would be a wife. Recently, I've been moving forward into new things, trying to listen to God's leading. As I've listened, I've realized that in order to move forward I need to sacrifice, in trust, the promise I believe God gave to me.
As I took this journey of sacrifice, I read two stories from the Bible. First, Abraham's story from Genesis 22:1-18, in which Abraham was asked by God to sacrifice his son Isaac. Then, I read Jesus story of sacrifice on the cross in Matthew chapters 26-28.
In Abraham's story, a ram was provided by God to replace Isaac as the sacrifice. Because of his faith and trust in God, Abraham was blessed in Genesis 22:17-18.
17" I will certainly bless you. I will multiply your descendants beyond number, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will conquer the cities of their enemies. 18 And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me.” Abraham must have been feeling pretty hopeful, joyful and peaceful that day.
In Jesus' story, He was the lamb who took away the sin of the world. Because of His magnificent sacrifice we are the one's who have been blessed with eternal life.
16" For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16-17
Once again, a message of hope, peace, and joy, through sacrifice.
As I sacrificed this promise, I took it very seriously. I knew what it meant. The Lord will not necessarily provide me a ram in replacement. I must be willing to give up this promise in order to make way for the Lord to move in my life. Do I know God's plan for my future? Of course not. But, I know I can trust Him, and where I lack trust He is teaching me to trust Him, day by day. One thing I do know is that God's future for me is far better than the one I imagine. It is full of Joy, and Peace, and Hope. But, best of all it is full of Him.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Musical Mayhem
There's something about music and singing that I absolutely love. A few years ago I was given a special gift by the previous youth pastor at our church. I had been dog sitting for him and his wife, and to show their appreciation they gave me a gift they knew I would never buy for myself, an Ipod.
As for buying an Ipod for myself, the youth pastor hit the nail on the head, I would never have done such a thing. But, now that I have one I'm hooked. My Ipod has seen me through some rough nights, some long and painful workouts, and when I'm just not having a very good day I turn to two things, Jesus and music. These are the things that lift my spirits.
Earlier this week, I was exercising away listening to one of my favorite songs. I clicked off my Ipod for just one moment to ask my daughter a question, and when I came back and tried to switch it on again, all that stared back at me was the black screen of death.
I was doomed. I began to sweat. I looked up at my daughter, "It's dead," was all I could manage to say.
"Is the battery charged?" She asked me, her eyes beginning to widen in sheer panic and horror.
"I just charged it."
I quickly grabbed my laptop and sat down on the couch. I plugged my Ipod into my computer and waited for the familiar Itunes menu to come on the screen. Nothing. Nyet. Zilch. Nada. The black screen of death stared up at me as if to say, "Where's your precious music now?"
The rest of the day passed in a blur. I reminded myself that the Ipod was just a thing, that it really had no value. I told myself that I didn't need to listen to music while I did the rest of my exercises, or while I cleaned my room, I could just hum to myself. Who was I kidding? Let's face it, I was bummed.
Music has this eternal quality about it. It doesn't just hang out in the background making noise. It winds its way into our souls, lifts our spirits and makes us feel good. It's a gift. Something from our Creator. Something so special that it even helps us to give love and praise back to God. That's pretty cool.
The next morning I rolled out of bed and walked into the living room. I spied my little dead Ipod sitting on the kitchen table. I picked it up and walked to the couch. Sitting down, I decided to give it one last try and clicked the menu button. As if by magic, the light came on and the menu started up.
I was so excited I wanted to throw a party, or have a parade through the neighborhood in my pajamas, waving the little piece of technology high above my head and shouting, "It's not dead! I beat the black screen of death!" But, I didn't do it, don't worry. Instead, I poured myself an extra cup of coffee and celebrated quietly, while I restored my Ipod. Here's to music, and those crazy little mechanical devices we play it on.
As for buying an Ipod for myself, the youth pastor hit the nail on the head, I would never have done such a thing. But, now that I have one I'm hooked. My Ipod has seen me through some rough nights, some long and painful workouts, and when I'm just not having a very good day I turn to two things, Jesus and music. These are the things that lift my spirits.
Earlier this week, I was exercising away listening to one of my favorite songs. I clicked off my Ipod for just one moment to ask my daughter a question, and when I came back and tried to switch it on again, all that stared back at me was the black screen of death.
I was doomed. I began to sweat. I looked up at my daughter, "It's dead," was all I could manage to say.
"Is the battery charged?" She asked me, her eyes beginning to widen in sheer panic and horror.
"I just charged it."
I quickly grabbed my laptop and sat down on the couch. I plugged my Ipod into my computer and waited for the familiar Itunes menu to come on the screen. Nothing. Nyet. Zilch. Nada. The black screen of death stared up at me as if to say, "Where's your precious music now?"
The rest of the day passed in a blur. I reminded myself that the Ipod was just a thing, that it really had no value. I told myself that I didn't need to listen to music while I did the rest of my exercises, or while I cleaned my room, I could just hum to myself. Who was I kidding? Let's face it, I was bummed.
Music has this eternal quality about it. It doesn't just hang out in the background making noise. It winds its way into our souls, lifts our spirits and makes us feel good. It's a gift. Something from our Creator. Something so special that it even helps us to give love and praise back to God. That's pretty cool.
The next morning I rolled out of bed and walked into the living room. I spied my little dead Ipod sitting on the kitchen table. I picked it up and walked to the couch. Sitting down, I decided to give it one last try and clicked the menu button. As if by magic, the light came on and the menu started up.
I was so excited I wanted to throw a party, or have a parade through the neighborhood in my pajamas, waving the little piece of technology high above my head and shouting, "It's not dead! I beat the black screen of death!" But, I didn't do it, don't worry. Instead, I poured myself an extra cup of coffee and celebrated quietly, while I restored my Ipod. Here's to music, and those crazy little mechanical devices we play it on.
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