Second Chances

I sit on my couch and stare at my blank walls. My eyes fill with tears as I don't know what our future holds. Then I hear my husband playing his guitar and singing in the next room. The words coming from his mouth are from the song "Second Chance" by Rend Collective Experiment. I suddenly am reminded that I have a God who gives us countless second chances. No matter what I do, He loves me and He forgives me. How could this God not provide a home for us? If I have a God that loves me enough to send His son to die for me would He not also provide all that I ever need? Of course He would!!! Why do I worry? I'm still trying to figure that out. Hopefully one day I'll stop worrying about things. But for now I'm thankful for another second chance. I'm thankful that God forgives me from my worrying and reminds me that He is good. Being content in all circumstances and living FULLY trusting in God is not easy... but it's what He calls us to do. I can not do it by my own strength but with God's help I sure will try. 

Second Chance by Rend Collective Experiment

Daniel 9:9

The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him;

Matthew:25-34

 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Waiting on God

There is a time and place for everything

…waiting is my season right now.

I admit I'm not the most patient person. Waiting for Christmas to come or waiting to see a family member can be hard but it does not compare to waiting on God. Waiting on God is often difficult but we can choose to praise God while waiting and receive huge blessings at the same time.

 I know that doesn't seem to make sense but let me explain. When I'm waiting on God I find it difficult because I can not physically see God and don't clearly hear His voice.  In today's society we want everything NOW. God does not work that way. God keeps no record of time. God is the same every day and never changing therefore there is no being late with God.

Thankfully we have the option to live by faith and can decide to TRUST God and can choose to be content during our waiting period. I believe God has us wait at times to help us grow in our faith. God kneads us like dough to make us rise.  The kneading process can be long and tiring. When you're frustrated and worn from waiting, remember that God has not forgotten about you.

God has a plan and His plan always comes together in His perfect timing.  Open your heart and allow God to work in you and strengthen you during your period of waiting.  It's not always easy but in the end we will see the benefits of waiting and realize God has a reason for everything. Never stop praying and asking God for guidance. Pray consistently and specifically and pray trusting that God will hear your prayers. We are God's children and I believe He will always take care of us.

I find comfort and peace in these verses below when I'm going through a waiting period. 

I also love this song---> While I'm Waiting by John Waller

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

                   

Proverbs 3:5-6

But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.

Micah 7:7

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Matthew 7:7-8

 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life^[e]?

Matthew 6:25-27

but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!

Psalms 66:19-20

Memorize Scripture…It's Necessary!

I recently picked up a book called 100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart and started reading it. I haven't gotten very far in it but it discusses the importance of memorizing scripture, how it's vital for us emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. For some reason it suddenly clicked…oh yeah, I should be memorizing scripture! Why have I not been doing this? The Bible is our guide and our manual on how to live life. It's the best way to get to know God better. We study and memorize rules, things in school, and stuff for our work. Why aren't we memorizing Scripture? Sure we memorized stuff in Sunday School as a kid, but are we still doing that? Maybe you have, but I know I have not been doing this.  We are taught to live by God's Word... but isn't that harder to do if you don't know it by heart. Now I'm not talking about memorizing the entire Bible…that's just not realistic, but I am saying we should memorize verses of the Bible, especially those that are good to share with others in time of grief, hardship, worry, joy, sickness, fear, and to use in evangelism.  I thought to myself,  how can I  live by and share with others the best book ever written and the best, most important news ever if I don't know it by heart? God's Word is the most important and life changing thing! I don't want to just study it from now on, I want to KNOW it and MEMORIZE it! I understand memorizing does not come easy to everyone. However, we have a God who is good and powerful! If memorizing is difficult for you, PRAY! Ask God to help you! He will! I know it! Daniel and I are challenging ourselves to memorize a new verse each day. We are supporting each other and helping each other in this. Find someone to help you! I challenge you to MEMORIZE scripture... not because I'm saying you should…but because it's important so we can better live by it and have it fresh in our heads to share with others!! 

                                                     

Things I Learned in July :)

1. I don't like sharing my husband for a week. The first week of July we took our youth group to Texas for the National Youth Gathering and while I was with my husband daily...I was also sharing him with the whole group! We slept in separate rooms (to be expected of course) but I never had alone time to just talk to him and see how each other were doing. Even though I was with him…I missed him and our alone time together!

2. Don't make rash decisions or purchases…take the time to think and PRAY about it!

3. Everyone handles grief in their own way and it is not our place to judge them. Instead I learned to pray for them and encourage them even if it's not the way I personally grieve.

4. I feel so much better when I TRUST God and be PATIENT instead of worry and want things in MY timing. When I pray and truly seek God's will and just wait quietly…I'm so much more relaxed and at peace with everything.

5.  I really do feel better when I eat healthier and exercise! Junk food and couch sitting makes me feel lazy and slow all day!

6. I like blueberries! I've never really eaten them before July and now I'm eating them like crazy!

7. I started my blog in July! I always wanted to but never thought anyone would want to read it. I realized that it doesn't matter what others think…I'm doing it for me because I enjoy writing!! I CAN do things just because I want to!! There's no need to try to please others all the time.

8. I have the most amazing husband…well, I didn't just learn this in July...but July was our 2nd anniversary and I was thinking about how he never ceases to amaze me. I love him more each and every day and he is constantly teaching me new things and showing me his love :)

9. Last but not least…to LIVE LOVED means to live each day fully knowing and embracing God's love for us...HIS PERFECT LOVE! Never let a day go by without thinking about how amazing God's love is, how awesome it is that He forgives us, and how un-limitless His grace is! This is what they talked about all week at the National Youth Gathering and it was such an awesome reminder that we are SO LOVED by God and we should act like it!

I'm sure I learned a lot more but these are the things that came to mind right away.


To see what other bloggers have learned in July check out Chatting at the Sky