love Love

So I recently read this book, Speaking of Love by Fred & Anna Kendall and Mary Hollingsworth. Very good book...talks about the seven behavioral life languages. (Similar to Gary Chapman's Five Love Languages.) I really enjoy these type  of books. I was just discussing it with my sister...It's just really interesting to learn about why you are the way you are and how you operate in comparison to others. I've been thinking about it often since I learned which behavioral languages I speak most naturally. I'm just beginning to understand why I am the way I am.

Well anyways... in thinking about all that, I was realizing how many different types of love are flyin' around this world. I mean, its great, God made us diverse for a reason. We should embrace our differences but also I was thinking about how many people find themselves wrongly communicated so often. Even how much love is just misunderstood or misinterpreted in all types of relationships. It's confusing. Sometimes frustrating when love isn't being given and received smoothly.

1John 4:16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. GOD IS LOVE. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 

 THEN, it dawned on me. How awesome that one day we will dwell with Love himself. We will be in the eternal presence of Perfect Love. Can you even imagine what that feels like? Flaw-less in every aspect. Never misunderstood. Completely pure. How sweet it will be to dwell with Love for eternity...

In Hebrews 11, that faith chapter, God's been revealing to me how so many of these people known for their faith were constantly "looking ahead." It's important to look towards the future in life, but even greater to look forward to our greater future when we reach our heavenly home with him. :) There is just something about keeping your eye on the prize.

Wow. It'll be...lovely.

How are you moving?...Are you moving?

Proverbs 16:9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. 

MSG: We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it. 

Just thinking... We can plan all we want about what we're going to do next, but unless we submit our selves to God, our plans probably won't evolve much past the planning stage. With God, we move. We progress. 

Being a visionary-type person, it's really easy for me to slip into daydreaming of where I could be in ten, fifteen years of life. I am easily wrapped up in the small doses, hints, glimpses of the future God lays on my heart and mind with His awesome promises or ideas. But its so important for me not to get so caught in the future that I miss the here and now. Where do I see myself in ten minutes?...one hour? ...what about just-tomorrow? 

Moving forward in life is an ongoing process. You don't just take a huge leap, sit down (in it) for a long while, then catch up with another leap again when your ready. I see it more as a steady process. It's like...a marathon. This past March I ran in the Sarasota half marathon and something I learned is the best way to do your very best is to never stop moving. You keep a steady pace. You give your best on race day. Funny thing is when you least expect it you get a boost of energy, a second wind. You may speed up quite a bit. It's like a gift, a season. In life, if we can just keep straining forward... we will continuously grow in God. Just keep moving, keep submitting yourself, moment by moment. I think with a steady upwards momentum, God will choose when its time to stick you on that fast track you didn't expect or give you a special boost, for all you Nintendo 64 Mario Carters, you can picture with me exactly what that looks like. ;) (Wow, that's old)

It's fun when we get those extra boosts, but its fun with out them too. It's just fun moving forward. It's fun being in the race when your not lagging behind all the time. I just don't know anyone who enjoys the stop-go jult-ing ride in a race car or while running for that matter...that just can't be good for your knees. ;)

Something to think about,

Grace

Walking with God

I love that my God is a God who hears my prayers. I love that I don't have to be on my knees at an alter to get his attention. He is intimate with me as long as I  call on his name. Ya know, he has already called each of us by name. The invitation has been sent out. (Revelation 3:20 -"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me") It is now up to us to respond. The ball is pretty much in our court. We make the next move. He initially calls, but today, its our choice to make the move. It is interesting to me how this parallels and proves true so often in the Bible...

"Draw near to him and he will draw near to you" -James 4:8

Or how about way back in Genesis 22 when God tested Abraham by telling him to sacrifice his own son, Isaac? Before any testing happened, or instruction was given, before the action, Abe says to God, "Here I am."

Check this out...When we make the first move, make ourselves available, when we let God know, "Here I am!"...when we ask, seek, knock...He gives, makes himself seen, answers the door. There is always a reply! It may not be right away. Sometimes we have to wait, but the reply always comes. God is great. God is faithful.

I thank him that we can talk consistently through out they day. Have you talked with him today? He's there. Just waiting to be acknowledged. Just waiting for us to draw near, or to see an interest in our eyes. He is so patient. I hate that there are honestly hours that pass by without any conversing between us. That is something I honestly want to work on in my life. God is the greatest best friend. I want to be that to him in return. I want to nag him to talk and walk with me every hour of the day. For with him, with this partnership, everything is just BETTER!

I want to make a recommendation to anyone who is looking for deeper intimacy with God...or just more REALNESS and liveliness in your relationship with him. Try this book- "Walking With God," by John Eldredge. God rocked my world through the context of the writings. I'm actually planning to read it again, because there is so much to obtain from it I think it deserves a round two! 

Love you guys, 

Praying God's nearness be evident in your life,

Grace

...Did i do that?

Hello Blog World... I am back. It has been a whole month already, here in Dallas, and oh how the time has flew by! I apologize for the lack of my regular updates but I plan to get writing more regularly. It has been an amazing month...a busy, crazy, indescribable, beyond expectation month. I am learning so much, daily... Its unbelievable. God is opening my eyes to things I've never seen before, or even pondered. I wish I could share everything in one blog but I will just have to pick up with the latest of my moments...

So we have been doing a lot of "out of your comfort zone" activities here in Master's- since day 1 of being here. I'm talking everyday, being challenged to do something you have never done before. In the first weeks alone, I can guarantee I've encountered over fifty new experiences I've never known firsthand in life. We are constantly challenged to do, say, create, work, search, and learn in totally new ways. I love it. But as I was discussing with some fellow students just yesterday...I find myself night after night, laying in bed saying to myself and to God, "Did I really do that today?" "Who was that out there?" "Was that me... HOW!?!"

I know me, I know me pretty well. And I know the things that I look back on night after night as I replay my day are actions are not of my nature. As I was reading Psalm  18 just yesterday I came across this verse, its numero 29, and it says this: "With my God I can scale a wall."

Haha...Oh Man, did i laugh when i read that verse! I can scale a wall? How awesome is that!?That is like some crazy spiderman, superhero action right there.

David wrote that verse in faith after God had delivered him from his enemies and the hand of Saul. David wrote that, relying on and believing in his Lord. He didn't just claim to have the power to scale a wall, but he started "With my God." With my God, I can do some crazy stuff! Some stuff I'm going to look back at and say, "did that really just happen??" And you know what, I don't know about you, but that's how i want to live. I want to go to bed every night astonished with how my King graciously worked in and through my life when I was least deserving. I want him to bring me out to "scale walls" and do the unthinkable. I am beginning to love being taken out of my comfort zone, getting embarrassed, and learning to volunteer first, because you know what...I think when we start to take those little steps forward...risking every bit of our pride along the way...God will begin to see in us a humble faith. I want that. Imagine what more we can do with God when we get like that.

I'll leave you with that. I don't want to say much more because I haven't even finished comprehending this one myself just yet.

Hope this finds you blessed,

Grace

Brand New

Road Trip

And.. the day has finally come! I arrived right outside of the city of Dallas, Texas, in the town of Addison, just this evening around 8:00p.m. -after two veryyy long days of driving! I'm exhausted.. but also thrilled. :) From what I have seen so far, it's a great area! Busy city feel, which I like. I was just telling a friend, It is an interesting feeling to know you are about to step smack-dab in the middle of God's will for your life at the time being. To be exactly where He wants you, when He wants you there. It's a feeling of excitement, wonder, and I'd be lying if I didn't say-a bit of intimidation. 

Now on the contrary to the intimidation factor, there is actually a great sense of assurance and confidence I have found in all of this. Let me explain... I'm a firm believer that "God does not call the equipped, but he equips the called." I really love how Paul explains (in 1 Corinthians 1) that God's "weakness" is stronger than our strength and his "foolishness" wiser than our wisdom. God is so very far above us, even at our strong points, and yet He chooses and uses us for His will. When we're broken and humiliated He raises us up to be more than conquerors-through HIM! He makes something brilliant out of our mess, and in return receives the glory He so greatly deserves. 

The last few days I have felt so secure, so grounded, so... owned by God. It's as though I can feel His hand over me, truly guiding each new step. It's a confidence not at all found in myself. For if it were up to me, moving across the country by myself, I guarantee I'd bring the house down...in a not so good way. But I'm realizing its not up to me to figure everything out, to know exactly what to do, say, think, feel. It's up to me to trust in God and lean not on my own understanding. It's up to me to believe in verses like Jeremiah 17:7-8, "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord- whose confidence is in Him..." When you are "blessed," when you are made like that strong, fruitful tree, your roots of life go deep in God- and THAT is assuring. 

I know that God has called me to Masters Commission USA at such a time as this, for a reason. I know that I am about to be stretched- probably in ways I didn't even know you could be stretched. ha ha. Part of me is ecstatic and my brain tells me to be scared. But my spirit tells me to trust, believe, know that I never walk alone, and to belt in for the ride of my life. I'm gonna go with that :)

I decided I would start this blog as I start this new season of life. I figure it will help me to keep friends back home better updated regularly. I miss you all so much already. Enjoy the read and a few pics from the road trip with mama dukes. I tried to post an entertaining video from the drive but had some technical difficulties so hopefully I'll get it up at some point. 

Peace & Love,

Grace