God is All-Powerful

Realize you can't. Realize HE can. 

These are words spoken by Phil Comer in chapel today. (And reposted on Facebook by my friend that made me think more into it)

These are words that sometimes seem as if they are an easy action to do- Realizing that He can do all things.

Sometimes I forget that He is the God of my life and want things my way, or without His help. But who doesn't do that, right? 

Our God is a God who can help us with anything.

"O Sovereign Lord! You have made the heavens and earth by Your great power. Nothing is too hard for you! (Jeremiah 32:17).

Our amazing God is capable of doing anything-as long as it does not violate any of His other attributes. No task is too big for Him. He never fails. And He is never tired, frustrated, or discouraged.

Yet our all-powerful Creator cares for us? He cares for us even though we do fail, and even though we always seem to be getting tired, frustrated, and discouraged. He longs to exhibit His power in our lives.

David writes, "When I look at the night sky and see the work of Your fingers-the moon and the stars You have set in place- what are mortals that You should think of us, mere humans that You should care for us? (Psalm 8:3,4).

Isn't it amazing that no matter what we are facing, God can help us? Nothing is too hard for Him. No need is to great for Him to meet. No problem is too complicated for Him to solve. No enemy is too strong for Him to conquer. No prayer is too difficult for Him to answer. 

The Bible promises, "By His mighty power at work within us, He is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope" (Ephesians 3:20).

If our hearts and motives are pure and we truly seek to do God's will, then why is it so hard to know and understand that there is nothing too difficult for us if we depend on His strength? 

"I can do everything through Him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13).

Lord, You are all-powerful.

Help me to realize that YOU can

and that I can't. You are the Lord

of my life, and I need to start treating

You that way. Help me be obedient to You.

Love is Not a Game

I got this book for graduation call "His Princess. Letters from Your King."
I absolutely LOVE it! It is basically a book full of letter written to me from God. Each one is a love letter from Him telling me in different ways that I am His princess and He loves me.

The letter I read today says...

My Princess... Love is not a game.
Listen to Me, My princess. Love is not a game—it is a gift. I know there are those who don't sincerely care for your heart, but I say that your heart is priceless. Reflect on your relationships, My royal one. Who are you allowing into your private world? Do they draw you closer to Me, or do they weaken your faith in Me and draw you away? I gave My life so you could be free. I don't want you to play "relational games" to get the approval of people. If you choose to play these games, you will miss out on all I have for you. I am your Father, and I know what's right for My Daughter. Hold on to Me and let go of those who harm you. Then you'll be free from their power, and you'll be wise enough to see what a real, lasting relationship is meant to be. Love, You King who bought you.

You are not your own;

you were bought at a price.

Therefore honor God with your body.

*1 Corinthians 6:19-20

I could not have needed this letter at a more perfect time. I have been reminded so much lately how God truly does have a plan for our lives and how He knows who we are going to marry. I have been reflecting so much on my past relationships, and how none of them were healthy, and it makes me know how that is not what I want anymore. I want a guy that relates with me. A guy who I get a long with well and has a true heart for God. And I know God provides, so I am waiting on His time for this.

Sometimes I feel like George Fox has such a huge standard for finding your "soulmate" while you are attending there. And maybe that is the case for me... Maybe not. Everyone seems to be trying too hard to find someone to be with. I am just being myself. Hanging out. Having Coffee. Talking. It's all fun to me. 

Lord, help me to realize that You have 

perfect timing. You put people into my life

exactly when You want to. Help me to be 

patient when it comes to my love life. 

You know who I am supposed to be

with and I trust You with that. 

God's Coffee

I read this today and I absolutely love it.

Had to share it. =) 

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite telling them to help themselves to the coffee. When the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, 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. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups...And, then you began eyeing each others cups.

Now consider this: Life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of Life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us. God brews the coffee, not the cups...So, Enjoy your coffee!

The happiest people don't have the best of everything,

They just make the best of everything.

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Leave the rest to God.

Patience and Strength

So much has happened since my last blog... I don't even know where to start.
I am officially moved back to Kalama. Living with the Campbells and loving it. I am completely blessed to be where I am at in life right now, but at the same time I am having such trouble.

I have a HUGE heart for people who are hurting. I really do. And it just comes naturally to me. I am very compassionate in the things others are going through. And ESPECIALLY when it is something that I personally went through, and I know how much it hurts. I know the feeling ALL too well and it is hard not to respond.

But I am emotionally drained. My heart is starting to get hardened because I feel so unworthy of helping people when I have unneeded frustration toward the topic. I am really struggling with patience right now and I think this is something I really need to FULLY give to the Lord. I have tried. And tried and tried and tried.

I think this may be my emotional and physical exhaustion speaking too, but I do know these are feelings I have on a regular basis.

But in all honesty, I am left speechless. This is such a short blog, but I have nothing to say anymore.

Lord, please control these circumstances.

Give me the patience to make it through.

I need to wisdom of what to say, and when 

to say it. I need boundaries.

Guide me Lord.

I really need You and Your strength.

I feel like my own strength is dwindling away.

Summer Thinking.

It's crazy to think that it is only June 1st and I have already been on summer break for a month.

I have never, in my whole life, had a summer break this long! It is so great, but seems to be such a stressful thing at the same time...

During the last month of school, my summer plans changed an uncountable amount of time. I applied to be an intern at my church and didn't get it. Which doesn't bother me at all surprisingly. So I talked to my friend Charis about jobs. It seemed like this conversation went on for DAYS.

I finally decided that I was going go up to Alaska for the summer and work at a lodge owned by one of my friends parents from Fox. It seemed like such a great idea. I would get to experience something completely new. I would be getting paid really well and because the lodge was in the middle of no where, I wouldn't have anywhere to spend the money I was making. That was a huge plus for me because I need to save all the money I can get to pay off my last semester at Fox and then for rent next year in an apartment. But then I got to thinking about how homesick I would get. Or what if I didn't like working at this lodge... What would I do then? Buy another plane ticket home in hopes that I could find another job? That wasn't going to work out...

Then my Aunt Jody called me. She told me that this diner in town was looking to hire for the summer and that I would be getting a ton of hours. That excited me A TON. My whole dad's side of the family lives down in Eugene/Springfield area and I would be working only 10 minutes south. I haven't spent more than a week or two down there at a time, so I would be able to hang out with my family more than I ever have. This turned out to be what I chose for the summer. I moved down to Creswell with my aunt and uncle. I love them to death and I really love being able to live close to that side of the family... Then comes the downside. I started working, and am receiving barely any hours. It is June 1st right now and in the past 2 weeks I worked MAYBE a total of 20 hours... I need way more than that. I need the money.

So here I am now. Sitting at Intermission Coffeehouse in Longview thinking of what to do. I love living down there, I really do. But when I am not working (which is most of the time) I seem to be sitting on the couch watching TV, playing on my computer, or reading a book. And to not live near any of my friends, it really kills me. I am 2 1/2 hours away from everyone I know and love. 

I was up at one of my high school teacher's house Tuesday night for dinner and they are so great. They talked to me forever about how many jobs I could find around here. And once again... My mind starts spinning thinking about all the options that I have. And I honestly think I would be so much happier to just move back up here.

So today, I applied at Children Around the World, a daycare in Kalama, and also the Rebel Truck Stop in Kalama because the manager handed me an application saying that he is looking for summer help. And then as I was walking out the door, he was discussing my application with his wife. The last words I heard as I walked out the door was, "Oooo George Fox! She's a keeper! That's a great school!" And that makes me smile. I would LOVE to move back here.

 Before I was so set on staying and living in Creswell because I have already moved in, my uncle and aunt are used to me living there, and they have also already bought me furniture for my apartment next year. I feel like I would break their hearts if I told them I am moving back home, but at the same time I think they would understand if I got a job back home that it would be in my best interest to move back...

So here I am. Once again dumbfounded on what to do. I mean, I think I have been so wrapped up in what I want to do, that I haven't taken the time to pray about it... Then today it hit me when I heard this song in the car. 

Are you in over your head

Are you in water so deep you're drowning

Do you think you've been left

And there is no one to feel your hurting

Well, everybody has been there

And everybody's felt lost. 

If you're in over your head

Lift it up, lift it up.

Oh, listen to the sound of hope that's rising

Up over your horizon

Listen to the sound, listen to the sound

And listen to the sound of a new beginning

Oh, this is where the old is ending

Listen to the sound, listen to the sound.

*Building 429- Listen to the Sound.

I don't think that through this all, I have even listened to or for anything. I have completely made all decisions by myself. And I have not taken the time to lift it up to Him. He knows what would be best for me and I think that is what I need to do...

Pray about it...

Lord, help me to hear You.

Help me in my obedience to lift

all things up to You because

only YOU know what is best for me.