I can't believe how fast the weeks are flying by! In 3 1/2 weeks I will be headed to Switzerland. As my last day of work approaches, I have mixed feelings. One minute I am excited to start something new, and the next I am terrified. What am I thinking? How can I be going to another country without my friends, church and family nearby? What if I don't have enough money to buy groceries and pay all the bills? What in the world will I do without all the comforts I have grown so accustomed to? Things such as: laundry dryer (most of them hang their clothes), different kinds of foods (sliced squishy bread...), air conditioning, etc. These thoughts attack me constantly. So I get still before God and listen. This amazing peace comes over me and covers every area of fear. He reminds me that He is more than enough for me. He will provide for me in EVERY single way I can imagine.
I realize that growing up in America, although I view it as a true blessing, has spoiled me in what I think I NEED to survive. Will it be a pain in the butt to hang my clothes up all the time? Yes. Will it kill me? Nope. Actually, they may even last longer! Am I excited to have to walk up and down 90 steps everyday to get to my apartment? Heck no! My lazy butt wants an elevator! But maybe I will lose some weight and get healthy for a change! Every little thing I think will be an inconvenience, God shows me there is actually a positive side too! He reminds me that He would not have opened the door for me to go to Switzerland, if He did not have a plan for me to be there. "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." ~John 16:33 NIV. What an amazing promise!
I am so incredibly grateful that I finally have a deeper relationship with God that allows me to hear his voice. What an AMAZING God I serve! There are times (such as right now) when my heart is so full of JOY that I feel like it could literally burst! Has your heart ever felt like that? So completely full? It's pretty amazing. It has come to my attention that people can actually tell when I am super joyful because I tend to speak in song. I laughed when someone shared that with me because I really do randomly sing about nothing in particular quite often without realizing it most of the time! I pray that everyone could experience this kind of joy at least once in their lifetime! Jesus is the only One who can bring happiness like this :) How can one go through life without Him? What a dark and lonely place it must be to not have His peace! This is why it is SO important for us to shine his light as bright as we can!!
"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" ~John 1:5 NIV
Friday, December 30, 2011
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Walking by Faith
So there are 50 more days until I take off :) I have really been amazed at how God continues to take me through situation after situation that is preparing me to be at my best in Switzerland. Although I will still be far from perfect, it will be much easier to not have situations holding me back from being the woman of God He has called me to be.
Today I wanted to talk about taking the easy way out and how it always seems to catch up with us. When we try to do things "our way", of course there is always a reason. Trying to save money, time or energy right? Well I know there have been things I have tried to take the easy way out of because God is having me deal with everything now. When you make a choice to go after God and EVERYTHING He has for you, that doesn't mean you get to walk away from past decisions and start over scott free. We are forgiven but God still wants us to deal with things that have been "put to the side". Take my health for example. I decided I wanted to save money so I started not going to the doctors on a regular basis. (and by doctors I mean primary care physician...dentist...eye doctor...all of them) Before I left for Switzerland I wanted to make sure everything was up to date so I have gone to ALL of those doctors in the past week. I was shocked to find out how many things were wrong with me all because I wanted to take the "cheap way out". My eye doctor told me because I kept my contacts for longer than I was supposed to (to save money) that my corneas are swollen, I now have an astigmatism in my left eye and I have blisters on my eyes and eyelids. I then had to buy glasses that same day as he said I could no longer wear contacts (for at least a month). I was so upset with myself because I ended up spending more money in one day than I would had I gone to see him for my check up 3 years ago (yes it had been that long). The funny thing is though, I was so grateful I listened to God to go before I left so this can be corrected now. He is SO faithful!!! I mean...I really didn't even think about how God wants me to take care of things like this. I never viewed it as important which goes to show you God really does care about the little things too!
When we choose to turn it ALL over to God and allow our ears to hear His voice, He will lead us exactly where we need to be. He will help us walk THROUGH these mistakes we may have made in the past. Not avoid them, but deal with them. He stands by our side the whole way through. What a faithful amazing God! I am looking forward to see what else God has for me to walk through because I know He is making me a new creation every step I take.
So remember, every decision you make matters because if you leave it unresolved, God will be bringing that up. Not to hurt you, but to help you better yourself. Make sure you are listening to God and what He wants for you! He wants to be able to use you to shine His light as bright as you can :)
"For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" ~Jeremiah 29:11
Today I wanted to talk about taking the easy way out and how it always seems to catch up with us. When we try to do things "our way", of course there is always a reason. Trying to save money, time or energy right? Well I know there have been things I have tried to take the easy way out of because God is having me deal with everything now. When you make a choice to go after God and EVERYTHING He has for you, that doesn't mean you get to walk away from past decisions and start over scott free. We are forgiven but God still wants us to deal with things that have been "put to the side". Take my health for example. I decided I wanted to save money so I started not going to the doctors on a regular basis. (and by doctors I mean primary care physician...dentist...eye doctor...all of them) Before I left for Switzerland I wanted to make sure everything was up to date so I have gone to ALL of those doctors in the past week. I was shocked to find out how many things were wrong with me all because I wanted to take the "cheap way out". My eye doctor told me because I kept my contacts for longer than I was supposed to (to save money) that my corneas are swollen, I now have an astigmatism in my left eye and I have blisters on my eyes and eyelids. I then had to buy glasses that same day as he said I could no longer wear contacts (for at least a month). I was so upset with myself because I ended up spending more money in one day than I would had I gone to see him for my check up 3 years ago (yes it had been that long). The funny thing is though, I was so grateful I listened to God to go before I left so this can be corrected now. He is SO faithful!!! I mean...I really didn't even think about how God wants me to take care of things like this. I never viewed it as important which goes to show you God really does care about the little things too!
When we choose to turn it ALL over to God and allow our ears to hear His voice, He will lead us exactly where we need to be. He will help us walk THROUGH these mistakes we may have made in the past. Not avoid them, but deal with them. He stands by our side the whole way through. What a faithful amazing God! I am looking forward to see what else God has for me to walk through because I know He is making me a new creation every step I take.
So remember, every decision you make matters because if you leave it unresolved, God will be bringing that up. Not to hurt you, but to help you better yourself. Make sure you are listening to God and what He wants for you! He wants to be able to use you to shine His light as bright as you can :)
"For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" ~Jeremiah 29:11
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