HIS GRACE // Personal

 

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."  Romans 15:13

This week I spent time making good food, and learning how to use lightroom, driving stick shift, exploring future things, and reading scripture with my dad over breakfast.  My heart aches, but life is good.

"After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort...  Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?" Galations 3:3-5

HE IS RISEN.

Deep Calls to Deep // Personal

spending some time in the word.  sticky notes on pages.  reminders of how great He is. 

A New Year

On the first day of the new year I cried several times.  I've been stressed on a number of levels and the new year, though not off to an altogether terrible start, has reminded me of the decisions I have to make.

And though I usually scoff at the New Year, with all its superstitions and unrealistic resolutions, it does make one think.

What are my resolutions?  I don't particularly like the idea of them.  Everyone knows they're broken by January 2nd.  I don't want to make something that's not planning on lasting.  Instead I'm always seeking God.  I'm always looking for ways to praise him and glorify His name.

But frankly, I haven't done well on that.  And the new year brings such things up when you're asked what your resolutions are.  I've been putting off decisions that need to be made.  I've been putting off necessary planning and not putting 100% effort into my schooling.  I've been lagging behind in the things I know I should be working diligently on, because I don't want to go forward.  I want to stay cosy at home, and not grow up.  I have been infected with a Peter Pan bug, and it's difficult to face the reality of school, ballet verses work, school, friends, church problems, and I have not been casting my cares on Christ. 

I have a verse on a post-it stuck to my computer.  It's Phil 4: 4-7
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Every time I read this, it has new meaning to it.  I've known it for a long time, but my deeds show otherwise.  I'm carrying the weight of my stress on my own shoulders, putting off the inevitable, and not casting my cares on Christ.

So Resolutions?  I'm not going to say that I'm going to work on school more diligently, or blog more frequently, or read more, or any of that.
I'm simply renewing.  Reminding myself to give my cares and worries and wants to Jesus.  To let Him change me from the inside first.  I want to be a light for him, not a blubbering mess, crying about how I don't know what to do.  

I still feel stressed, and I still don't really want to grow up.  I still see those deadlines on the horizon.
But Jesus sees them too.  Not only has He seen them, He put them there.  And that, is a comforting thought.  God has got a plan for me, and not only is He here for me, a have some very loving parents too.   

So I've wiped away my tears, and hopefully they'll stay away.  I'm going to keep God at the front of my mind, not let Him get pushed behind the stresses I feel looming above me.

And, knowing that this isn't a resolution but a reminder, a renewing, it'll last longer than January 2nd, right? 

Here's to living, loving, learning, and laughing in 2012. 

Lillian ♥

Bringing out the scissors and the paper

Time for the paper snowflakes.

"Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10a)

This verse is like a hug.  Such a simple reassurance of God's vastness, we need only to be still and trust Him.

This.

Lillian ♥

Thanksgiving.

As Christians, Thanksgiving day shouldn't be a special occasion.  Thanksgiving day should be everyday.  Don't you think?  We should be praying with thanksgiving and praise to our great Creator.  Every. Day. 

But sometimes life "gets in the way" right?  Sometimes I need this, or don't feel like it, or I am just praying for a specific thing or person.  That shouldn't be an excuse. 

In all things be thankful: "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.  And be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly... and as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:15-17)

We should be giving thanks in all things, and living fully the life God has given us. 

In the midst of trials: "Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:  Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion; therefor I will wait for him.'" (Lamentations 3:21-23)
Even in the midst of trials we shouldn't turn away or beg for things to be "all right" from God.  God has a great reason for everything and we should learn to be like Paul and Job and Jeremiah and praise God through the trials, knowing that God has us in His hands.  We should trust that he will not give us more than we can handle, as he promised, and that it's all for His glory.  We should use our trials to bring glory to Him.  Not just ask for something better.  

With Praise and Thanksgiving: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." (Philippians 4:6)
It doesn't matter the reason we got on our knees, we should always remember to thank God.  He's got us in His hands. 

Because we serve a great God.  He's given me an amazing life, a life I should be thankful for, and praise him for every day.  I should be living for him every day.  We should be living for Him every day. 


So as we near the day that's become known as the "stuff-yourself-and-watch-football" day, let's take a moment, or you know, the whole day, our whole lives to be thankful to our amazing, loving, generous God. 

But don't forget how much Jesus liked food.  It's okay to eat some delicious food.  God wants us to eat together. 

"Listen, listen to me and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.  Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live." (Isaiah 55:2-3)

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Lillian ♥

New Name

Of the Field.

I came up with the name a couple weeks ago for a username I had to make up, but it's not the first time I've thought about it.

What's "of the field" supposed to mean?

I'm referring to the verse in matthew 6:28-30:

“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?"

There are several things I like about this verse.  When I was little, it was because I was a lilly. Then, it was because God clothes the grasses in beauty, because of my love for clothing, I really liked this.  Now, I like how it says to not worry, about our clothes or other things.  For us to rely on God.  


And so, a name.  


Lillian ♥

Living Joyously

School.

Firstly,
I am often dissatisfied with what I am doing, or even who I am.  I think that "if only" I did this, or had that, that my life would magically become better, or that I would be happier.  But I am lying to myself.  I know that I need to work diligently in my work that God has set before me, and I know that I have to be the one to initiate these things.  God has given me an amazing life, and I am not living to bring Him glory to the best of my ability.

Secondly,
Part of the reason I have been dissatisfied has been because of the discontented norm our society has brought on itself, and the perfection of life that is so easy to translate onto the Internet when blogging and talking to other people over the Internet.  At this point in my life, I've been very jealous, unwilling to change, and then upset because of the mixture of those two.

Thirdly,
Many blogs these days have such an amazing simplicity and joy that I am so jealous of.  The writers, though acknowledging everything is not perfect, seem to be so happy and lovely, and even when they "confess" everything seems so perfect.  I want to take those lovely blog posts as inspiration to live my days.  I want to live with that simple joy, bringing praise to God.  Not just being jealous of their lives. 
 
I am generally a pretty lazy person, and I want to change that.  I want to live with a joy of life worthy of our great Creator.  And when I realize I've wasted another day, doing practically nothing, I get mad at myself instead of changing it.  That's not what God wants me to do.  I'm not posting this to just complain, I'm starting this blog to keep myself accountable for my days.  I want to live joyously, not dwelling on the negative things, that do happen, but living each day to it's very fullest.  I don't want to to be simply swayed by what other people do and say, I want to become the woman God wants me to be. 

This is probably my favorite group of verses ever.

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

So here's my journey in blog form, keeping me accountable.

Living joyously, one day at a time.

Lillian ♥