In All Things God Works for our Good!

 "And this we know: in the journey of life, whether green rolling hills or the desert bare and dry, in all things, God works for our good: for those who love the Lord!" "I will wait on You, Lord, for my hope is in Your Word! More than watchmen wait for morn', I will wait for You, my Lord! I will wait for You, my Lord!" These two songs have been running and running through my mind lately, and they, along with so many other great songs, are packed with meaning and truth! The first song begins with "this we know..." This phrase alone has a load of meaning. Because of the fact that what we "know" is truth, we can say confidently that "we KNOW" that this is true. We know that God's Word never changes, and we know that He is good! The next phrase, "whether green rolling hills or the deserts bare and dry..." is very important as well. No matter if we are going through good times or bad times, through joy or sorrow, through victory or defeat, we can KNOW that God is good and that He works things for our good! This next phrase gets me every time. "In all things, God works for our good!" Wow! This is an incredible statement of faith! But what does it mean that in all things, God works for our good? Romans 8:28 says that "all things work together for good" for those who love God. But the things that come into our lives don't seem good! In fact, they seem bad! So where is the good? The good comes in the fact that this verse doesn't say that God makes everything to BE good, but He works everything together for good. In other words, the circumstances in our lives are bringing about good rather than being "good" themselves. The end result of those circumstances is our good because, if we allow them to, they will change us and make us more like Christ! That is such a comfort! Wow! That song has a lot of good truths! The second song is more of a prayer rather than simply stating truth. This song is a prayer from David's Psalm 130. This is a prayer to God acknowledging that He is in control. David is saying that because his hope is not in this world and not in himself, but in God's Word, he can wait on the Lord's timing. God's timing is always perfect! The allusion of watchmen was to older times when they would have watchmen guarding castles and important places. The watchmen on the night-watch had a much harder time than the daytime watchmen because at night it is harder to see. So the watchmen on the night-watch would sit or walk and very confidently await the morning light. This was a very expectant hope and watch. It is an eager watch of patience. Our waiting on the Lord should be even more than that! We should be watching so eagerly and intently for God's timing, knowing that His timing is best! These two songs have been such a challenge to me lately, and I hope they can be a challenge to you all as well!


~ Stephanie ~ 
    *Phil. 3:13-14*

What is Love?

Love...what is it? Is it that mushy feeling you get when you see that guy or girl? Is it a hug? Is it saying "I love you"? What is love? Love, as defined by our very accurate and correct Holy Bible is one word: God. I John 4 says that God is love. This statement does not simply mean that God is something else: He is really love. This means that love is His very nature. It is the basis of everything that He does. And we are commanded to love. In Matthew 22, we are told that we are to above all else love our God most of all; then in the very next verse we are commanded to, next to that, love our neighbor the same way that we love ourselves. We love ourselves WAY too much. I know from experience that I love myself way more than I should. Whenever I have a choice to make, I will most likely make the choice that makes things easier for me, not for those around me; but by the grace of God I am able to deny myself and show love to others and make the unselfish choice, but that isn't even very often. I am so selfish, and I know so many people who are. So then if we are commanded to love, how DO we love? If God is love, and I KNOW I am certainly not God, then how do I become something that is that is the very essence of His character? This has been a question in my mind for some time, and I am just completely amazed by the love of my God. His love is not a selfish love. It is not a taking love. His love gives and sacrifices and puts others before self. THAT is my God. THAT is love. And how to do that, I have no idea; but I will continue to pray that God will be gracious to me and grant me His love so that I may love others the way that He loves me: unselfishly and sacrificially.

~ Stephanie ~
    *Phil. 3:13-14*

Control

God is good. That is all. I have been realizing this SOO much lately. God is so good to save me from myself and to give me chance after chance after chance to do right and to live for Him. I want to. I want Him to have complete control. That is my heart's desire right here, right now. But this is so often easier said than done. It is easier to say " I want God to have control" than to actually GIVE Him control. I have definitely experienced this in my life. There have been so many times when I have honestly wanted to give God control and to allow Him to control my life; but I haven't. Why not? Why is it so stinking hard to just give up and let Him rule my life? This is still a HUGE question in my life right now, but I think I might be getting closer to the answer, but I am not there yet. All I know for now is that the answer is in His Word and in submitting to it when He shows me something that I need to change. Basically, repentance. Well, these are just some thoughts that have been running through my head lately. Hope they are an encouragement!

I regret the hours I have wasted,
And the pleasures I have tasted
That You were never in.
And I confess that though Your love is in me,
It doesn't always win me
When competing with my sin!

And I repent!
Making no excuses!
I repent!
No one else to blame!
And I return
To fall in love with Jesus!
I bow down on my knees,
And I repent!

I lament the idols I've accepted;
The commandments I've rejected
To pursue my selfish end.
And I confess I need You to revive me;
Put selfishness behind me;
And take up my cross again!

And I repent! 
Making no excuses!
I repent!
No one else to blame!
And I return 
To fall in love with Jesus!
I bow down on my knees,
And I repent!

~ Stephanie ~ 
    *Phil. 3:13-14*

Surrender

In selfishness and pride,

I cling to what is mine.

In stubbornness I hold back things from God.

And at times it seems to me,

That He holds back things from me,

So I try to put things where I clearly see.

And as to my rights I hold,

His soft voice speaks to my soul,

And in brokenness I relinquish all control.

I let Him lead!

Now I hear His voice!

And instead of strife and pride,

Now my will is crucified.

So in full surrender now I've made my choice:

Your will be done

In my life, O Lord.

Now I know I will be blessed,

For my Savior does what's best.

Now I can finally rest.

When I take control from Him,

And drift back into sin;

When I start getting worried and confused,

When I don't understand;

Things aren't going as I planned.

I can put my broken life back in His hands.

He will heal and He'll forgive,

Then in fellowship I'll live,

And with power from me He'll banish Satan's sin.

I let Him lead!

Now I hear His voice!

And instead of strife and pride,

Now my will is crucified.

So in full surrender now I've made my choice:

Your will be done

In my life, O Lord.

Now I know I will be blessed,

For my Savior does what's best.

Now I can finally rest.

This song has been a huge challenge and encouragement to me lately. I have just been realizing more and more that I need to simply let go and let God be God and trust that He DOES indeed have a GOOD plan for my life, and He will work that plan out in my life no matter what it takes. My prayer the past few days has been "Lord, break me. Whatever the cost, whatever the pain, break me." I want to be used by God and I want to be so close to Him that nothing can move me and nothing can cause me to doubt Him. I want to be so in love with Him and so overwhelmed by His love that I can do nothing but respond in humble obedience and love. As Christmas is right around the corner in about five days, I want Christmas this year to be about Him and about His birth, not about me and what I am getting for Christmas. I want to give HIM a gift rather than simply receiving His wonderful gift. After all, it is HIS birthday, not mine. How would I feel if on my birthday, I gave everyone presents and no one gave me anything? I would feel pretty rotten. So why should He be any different? It is His birthday, and He gave us the ultimate gift and we, in response, give everyone else gifts but give nothing to Him! I am so ashamed of myself and of my selfishness. I want to give Him the only thing I CAN give Him--my life!

~ Stephanie ~
    *Phil. 3:13-14*

"I'll be home for Christmas...if only in my dreams!"

This year this song hurts more than ever. I found out this morning that I in fact WON'T be going home for Christmas. Why? Well, plane tickets are too expensive. But really why? Why does God have to keep bringing things into my life that hurt? What is the point? What is He trying to accomplish this time? "Lord, this hurts! Show me what You are trying to do so I can do it and then the pain can stop coming!" This prayer has been running through my mind the past few days. When will the pain stop? I know God is good IN SPITE of the pain, but why can't I see the good? I know that God has a bigger and better plan, but why can't I see it?(Jeremiah 29:11) I know that He works out EVERYTHING for good, but why can't I see that "good?"(Romans 8:28) It is so hard in the midst of painful and difficult circumstances to "rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice."(Philippians 4:4) "YET I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation."(Habakkuk 3:18) I can and I MUST rejoice in the Lord in ALL things, whether "good" or "bad." I can and must TRUST that He does indeed have a plan and that plan is better than my plan. I am an insignificant human, yet my loving God takes thought of me. He loves me and wants me to love and trust Him with my whole heart. Complete and utter dedication and trust is what He desires and requires. Until He has that, He will continue to slowly take things away whether they are big or small, significant or insignificant. He will continue to break me and draw me closer to Himself until He has all of my heart and not just part of it. This is a hard place to be in, but it is SUCH  a wonderful place to be in. In this place, I come to the realization that God indeed never gives up on me. He is still working on me and will continue til the day I die!(Philippians 1:6)

~ Stephanie ~ 
   *Phil. 3:13-14*

All I Have is Christ!

I once was lost in darkest night
and thought I knew the way.
The sin that promised joy and life
had led me to the grave.
I had no hope that You would own
a rebel to Your will.
And if You had not loved me first
I would refuse You still!

But as I ran my hell-bound race
indifferent to the cost,
You looked upon my helpless state
and led me to the cross.
And I beheld God's love displayed:
You suffered in my place,
You bore the wrath reserved for me,
now all I know is grace!

HALLELUIAH!
ALL I HAVE IS CHRIST!
HALLELUIAH!
JESUS IS MY LIFE!

Now Lord, I would be Yours alone,
And live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands
Could never come from me.
Oh Father, use my ransomed life
In any way You choose,
And let my song forever be:
"My only boast is You!"

HALLELUIAH!
ALL I HAVE IS CHRIST!
HALLELUIAH!
JESUS IS MY LIFE!

This song has been such a challenge to me lately. My condition before salvation was lost. I was in darkness. I could not please God, I could not do anything worth any merit. "But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (Ephesians 2:4-5)." Wow. That is amazing to me. Why God, who is so almighty and powerful and sovereign, would come to die for me and take the punishment for my sin is unfathomable. I cannot and never will understand it. But it happened, and now, by God's grace, I am saved, and I can say "Halleluiah! All I have is Christ! Halleluiah! Jesus is my life!" Because Christ's death on the cross gave me life, I can say that He is all I have, and He is my life. He is the One who gave me life. I did not conjure that up on my own. I couldn't. I am not intelligent enough to think up something so incredibly unthinkable. But I do know that because of that act of love and mercy, the third verse of this song should be true in my life: "Father, use my ransomed life in any way You choose." Christ saved me and bought me; therefore, He owns me. My life is His to use in any way He desires to use it. But He still gives me the power to choose how I want to live my life: do I want to live my life my way, or am I going to give over control to Him and let Him lead? That is a question I find myself asking very often. How thankful am I that Christ saved me? Am I thankful enough to give Him my life? Are you?

~ Stephanie ~ 
    *Phil. 3:13-14*