Steadfast, Beloved

Week 22 Hosea 2:14 “Therefore, behold, I will allure her into the wilderness and speak comfort to her.” My grandmother always told me that everything is only for a season. We go through seasons of mountain-tops, valleys, deep waters, and even wilderness. Reading through Exodus we can see how God took His people out of bondage and drew them to Himself. Although they frequently disobeyed, He was still with them, always guiding. Every year we take a camping trip and my favorite part of nature is to sit by the river and listen. So many times we can debate, fight and reason in our minds that it all becomes to loud to hear God’s still voice whispering to us. He is taking us out of that place that is distant from God and drawing us near to Him. It’s in the wilderness that I can be still and listen. Everything becomes clear. This is probably one of the most challenging aspect of my generation, with many different voices, technology and social media feeding us with opinions and false trut...

Week 21 1 Kings 2:12 “Then Solomon sat on the throne of this father David; and his kingdom was firmly established.” We look at David’s life and with confidence can say he lived his life after the Lord. No man is ever perfect, but it was his willingness to return to God when he messed up that deeply encourages me. But we know that 10/10 people die and life goes on. As we are approaching some of the final weeks in Guatemala, I am determined to leave this place better than when I first came. I am determined to set a higher standard for the incoming class, just like the class before me. During this time I feel called to pray for the next generation in Guatemala, in the next class, and in my home. When we follow by example, we can see clearly what is good and what is great.  We become greater decision makers, and by the grace of grow in wisdom. May we all feel the weight to lay a firm foundation with whatever God has given us.

Week 20 Psalm 46:5 “God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.” In context it sounds like the world is raging against itself. The earth is literally falling apart. Sometimes it can feel the same in our lives; like everything is slipping out of our hands and causing worry. But my mind always brings me back to the sovereign will of God. “He is in the midst.” Of what? His church, in us, in plans, in the future, the past. I think about all the things that move me and it’s usually when I’m full of self that I become moved. But if I claim that God is in me, why should I be moved? I can’t stop the earth from shaking, I can’t make plans come back together. He is faithfully breaking my desires in preparation for His will towards my salvation. When it seems like nothing is going in the way I think it should, I truly just remember that it is for His goodness. He won’t leave us deserted with no direction; He is clearly leading us using ...

Week 19 Psalm 27:13-14: “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!” We know that all things work together for good to those who love God. For each heart that loves, God has set a purpose. I’ve heard a lot that our culture is one of the most impatient and there is good reason for that. We have everything we want almost instantly; no need to wait anymore. But I think one of the greatest lessons I’ve learned to let got year down my pride. I always thought I obtained godly characteristics, but I know I always fall short of those expectations. God has always had a plan and when I can’t see the blueprint clearly I freak and complain. It’s always refreshing to have vulnerable time with the Lord and say, “Lord I want to trust you, but I don’t. Help me to surrender my doubt.” Just by being honest with ourselves befo...

Week 18 Psalm 107:33;35 “He turns rivers into a wilderness, and the water springs into dry ground.” “He turns a wilderness into pools of water, and dry land into water springs.” Every believer has come to a time in their lives where they can say they’ve gone through what we call a “dry season”. From the world’s point of view, it would be hard to understand why we have peace in this time. Even though it may be a time of loss, frustration, tears, exhaustion; whatever it may be, we rest in the promises of our Lord. I think many times I forget that I have seen God work miracles in my life. God is like the sun that shines on creation. He is there to strengthen and grow us. He may send the wind, snow, floods, but we are not shaken by this. Suddenly, a cloud covers the sun and I can’t see clearly anymore. It’s not until I remember that the sun is still shining, even when I cannot see it, that God is still sovereign even in the harder seasons of life. He is still in control of our live...

Week 17 Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me,” There comes a time when you look at your life and see the things around you and it makes you ask yourself a few things. “Am I where the Lord wants me to be?”, “Why isn’t this or that happening?”. A lot of these questions have been aroused in my head. To be honest, life doesn’t look the way I want it to. And it’s just that; my wants. Me, me, me. It’s not until I remember that I live a life surrendered that I will be content in all aspects of life. “I am crucified with Christ”. What a statement Paul makes here, one that continues to challenge me daily. When I chose Jesus, I chose Him for the best of my days and the worst. I asked to be lead where I have never been before, and boy, will God sure answer those prayers. Reality is, when we become Christians we are not immune to bad days, weeks, or months. But we do have a hope and a promise that we have Christ’s spirit dwel...

Week 16 2 Samuel 15:22 “So Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice.”” I find it hard to obey someone when I have not developed a sense of trust. Instead I will follow in my actions but disobey in my heart. “Do you trust God” should seem like an easy and simple question. “Of course I trust God”. Obedience is more than just the service, but the condition of the heart. I’ve fooled myself for too long. I’ve put in the mask of someone who doesn’t fear, when in reality the unknown quite terrifies me. God isn’t surprised by this. He knows every fiber of my being. Certainly He knows I wasn’t putting 110% of my trust in Him. Recently life has seemed pretty mundane and uncertain. Even in these times, I have seen God faithful to minister to my heart. It was never in the service that I would have realized where my trust was, but in the mundane and uncertainty. I could never...