The Fact That Love is a Gift

These past few days have been all about learning about give and take, effort and reward, work and life....it's been rough. So many unexpected things have come up, and I just keep ending up in situations that I've never been in before. Talk about out of your comfort zone. Then talk about how your faith has never been in this place before. Repeated unfamiliar territory really stretches it. And it's confusing. And I don't understand.

But, when I step back and look, I am still covered with love and grace. It breaks my heart sometimes--when I realize just how much I don't deserve it.

And guys, what I want you all to understand is that just because I step back and [have to] put something into perspective, doesn't ever mean that it gets any easier. Please don't ever believe this. Does this feel easy? Being so committed and leading things, starting to work for real and trying to do school work all at the same time? NO. Just NO. BUT when you are where God wants you (I guess I'll just find out soon enough the why of the where), it's worth it. I just love Him so much, and love being able to rejoice in His love. This is what I have to cling to when it comes down to it all. As "tied down" as I often feel because of my responsibilities, I have to remember that I have been set FREE in Christ, and nothing, no amount of work, supervisors, demanding professors, demanding friends, to-do lists that will never get done and people pulling at me can EVER take that away.

As one of my good friends who is a fellow blogger put it,

".....it’s bad when your identity is found in those things instead of Jesus and what he has done on the cross. He is more important and more valuable than any of your “blessings” will ever be and you should be willing to depart from any and every blessing of this world for the sake of following him if it comes down to it."

 

Even as I consider all of my options, I have to remember that if I EVER want to look ANYTHING like my Lord Jesus Christ, I MUST follow Him, wherever He leads me. And not just with my actions but my heart. If that means just to keep doing what I'm doing, then bring it on.

 

So friends, my advice to you is use the Bible as your DAILY weapon, keep your diligence in prayer and walk with Him every step of the way.

"Praise the Lord!
How good it is to sing praises to our God;
    for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting.
 The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
    he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
 He heals the brokenhearted,
    and binds up their wounds.
He determines the number of the stars;
    he gives to all of them their names.
 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;
    his understanding is beyond measure.
 The Lord lifts up the downtrodden;
    he casts the wicked to the ground.

 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
    make melody to our God on the lyre.
He covers the heavens with clouds,
    prepares rain for the earth,
    makes grass grow on the hills.
 He gives to the animals their food,
    and to the young ravens when they cry.
 His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
    nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner;
 but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
    in those who hope in his steadfast love.

 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!
    Praise your God, O Zion!
For he strengthens the bars of your gates;
    he blesses your children within you.
 He grants peace within your borders;
    he fills you with the finest of wheat.
 He sends out his command to the earth;
    his word runs swiftly.
He gives snow like wool;
    he scatters frost like ashes.
 He hurls down hail like crumbs—
    who can stand before his cold?
 He sends out his word, and melts them;
    he makes his wind blow, and the waters flow.
He declares his word to Jacob,
    his statutes and ordinances to Israel.
 He has not dealt thus with any other nation;
    they do not know his ordinances.
Praise the Lord!"

 

Psalms 147