Fresh and New

"It's such comfort to drop the tangles of life in God's hands and leave them there"
Tonight I went before God and gave it all to Him. My struggles, my desires, my purpose, my life. I asked for a new, deeper faith than I had before. I want to be used, really used, by Him. I want my life to shine of all He has done for me. I share this, because I struggle. We all struggle. As a Christian, I fail, I slip, and I get brought down. But God is there to forgive, to hold, and to help me back up. And I'm so thankful. Thankful He has never left me. I've made some mistakes along my way to the here and now, but God has freed me from them. And never again do I have to carry the weight of them. They are swept away like the wind, gone and forgotten.

I'm reading "Experience a Fresh Explosion of Faith: A Taste of Believing God" by Beth Moore. It's amazing. In the introduction she lists the 5-Step Pledge of Faith. I love how easy it's laid out. 5 simple things to remember daily.

I'm having faith that things in my life will be provided for and taken care of. Not by me but by Him. The struggles I have are known by Him and it's in God alone will I get by. I have a Father in Heaven that loves me, teaches me daily, and provides even when I entertain thoughts that it's never going to happen. All because He loves me. He works miracles everyday and because I'm a child of Him, I am a receiver of miracles and blessings daily.

Beth Moore pointed out three things that really stood out to me:
The God I serve is able. -Daniel 3:17
Everything is possible.-Mark 9:23
Nothing is impossible.-Luke 1:37

I was freed of some things tonight that I have struggled with recently. They are gone and forgotten. And the weight of their hurt has been lifted. The faith alone I have in my God is what allows me to be free. And you, too, can be free. All you have to do, is ask.

5-Step Pledge of Faith:
1.God is who He says He is.
2. God can do what He says He can do.
3. I am who God says I am.
4. I can do all things through Him.
5. God's word is alive and active through me.

So far I've read through 1-3. I'm going to finish 4 and 5 tomorrow. So be looking for my thoughts on those tomorrow evening.

Hot Chocolate

Hot Chocolate
A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives. Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups - porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - te lling them to help themselves to the hot chocolate.

When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said: 'Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. The cup that you're drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, not the cup; but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each other's cups.

Now consider this: Life is the hot chocolate; your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate God has provided us. God makes the hot chocolate, man chooses the cups .

The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything that they have. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly... And enjoy your hot chocolate.

I received this in an email, and thought it was too good not to share. How true the words are. I'm guilty of going through life wanting more at times. Wanting more dinners out instead of mac-n-cheese from home, more clothes {even though my closet is overflowing with plenty of nice things}, more trips, more, more, more. None of those things that I constantly want more of are going to change me. My friends are still going to love me, no matter what I wear or where I go on vacation. Josh is still going to love me, whether we go out to eat or I cook a not-so-decent- meal sometimes. No matter what I have or what I do, I'm still me. Just a simple girl, with simple dreams. I have been truly blessed by all the things I have been given and have. There are some people my age who are a lot less fortunate than I am. I have a wonderful life, a great apartment, a nice car, good job, and a wonderful future with the man of my dreams ahead of me. I'm truly thankful and can honestly say, I'm going to start enjoying my hot chocolate in my simple little cup.

Browsing Blogs

Earlier, as I was browsing others blogs I found my new favorite. Nitty.Gritty. I can't remember how I found it, but by clicking and clicking I stumbled upon it, and Wow I'm moved. I have some of her recent posts, as well as the story of her young daughter and have instantly become more thankful and faithful as a result. Her story is real, there is nothing fake in her faith and belief in the Lord. It is amazing. I'm looking forward to reading more or her encouraging words.