These words echoed in my head on one Sunday evening as I was in a worship service recently at church. I felt God speaking to me saying, "Alivia, are you thankful for refinement?" A tug at my heart compelled me to really ponder this question. Am I truly thankful for times where I feel lost, challenged, struggling, and questioning. Am I thankful for all of those not so warm fuzzies in those difficult times in life. Warm fuzzies was a term my math teacher used in high school that still sticks me with. A cute little 70 year old women named Mrs.Bailey. She was a gem and had a super kind heart. So as I am asked this question, of thankfulness in the hard times, I am reminded of these verses:
"Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance" -Romans 5:3
"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." -2 Corinthians 12:9
When I look into the Bible and realize that these trials on earth that I have to go through, along with being faced with the unknown of what am I do to after I graduate, I am reminded that I share with Christ in my sufferings. I need to be more thankful in the refining times, knowing that my faith is being strengthened. Knowing my character is being grown in Christ.
On another note....
:)
Holy Living
I have been coming back to the idea of blogging on and off lately. Having numerous amounts of thoughts and not always good conversation to entertain the ideas. I figure I can blog out some of these pondering thoughts and hopefully inspire and encourage those who wish to read. Maybe it is the Lord prompting me to write out my life a little bit. I know I love sharing with other people and I hope you all may enjoy.
I want a lot of my writings to reflect the character of Christ. His steadfast and enduring love. So lets get to a topic lately that I've been wrestling with: "Getting too comfortable in our everyday life." Not being overly accustomed to the things around us that are of this world. What kind of living are you being called to?
A beautiful hymn comes to my mind:
Click here to listen :)
"Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace."
I find my heart restless often times. Craving more of Jesus. This verse resonates with my heart:
"Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." - Psalm 73:25-26
Although the Bible talks about things growing strangely dim, my heart is sadenned when I can't find my place because the corruption and misconceptions of daily living. The way society tells you what beautiful is or the culture of music that degrades women, or talks further about unhealthy relationships and sexual relations. What fulfillment is there in this? I think the biggest test for me is, as I draw closer to Christ I get frustrated at the ways of this world. This is where my next section on Holy Living comes in. That the things of this world upset me sometimes. Instead of getting upset I need to be praying into these things and asking the Father to intercede. I am left with this song with words that go like this,
"I am a sinner, if it's not one thing it's another, caught up in words, tangled in lies, You are a Savior and you take brokenness aside and make it beautiful, BEAUTIFUL!"
- All Sons and Daughters
I know that my satisfaction alone is in Christ. My hope is in Him. My anchor needs to be rooted in Him.
"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." Hebrew 6:19
I want to strive to step out daily and breathe the life of Christ in my actions and speech. It is so easy to get upset at the little things in life. I've been noticing this a lot lately as I worked in a customer service job when I was home. I've also been the person who can get upset because I demand something in that moment when my needs are not getting met. I find when people get really upset and demand that often times their expectations on you as a customer service person are too high. This can happen because they have deep rooted personal issues that are coming out when you can't deliver properly their product or needs. I'm getting a little side tracked here. My thought is this, what if our perception of what we want changes to, what does the situation really entail? Thinking in terms that the current situation is the opportunity or chance to act differently than others would. For instance I have some examples:
Forgetting to do your laundry the evening you needed to do it, losing your wallet or your night being ruined because the waitress spills water on your lap by accident.
How do you perceive the things around you when they go "wrong". What is your standard of living when things don't end up how you expected or thought they should have. Do you have too high of expectations? Should your attitude change if something doesn't go the way you had hoped. I think this all ties into Holy Living and how your representing the King.
WHAT IF...you forget to do your laundry but you have a relaxing evening instead and maybe that is just what you needed. WHAT IF....you lost your wallet...BUT by losing it, all the people you have to talk with and go through to get your photos redone, plus the papers signed etc -Through this you are able to make an impact along the way by your kindness in the process of frustration. WHAT IF...the waitress spilling water on your lap was the given opportunity to extend the hand of grace when you have needed it extended to you in the past.
If in the end Christ is glorified, than this gives me comfort.
Therefore I will hope in Him evermore, that when I fail I know He is gracious with me.
This quote was written down amongst other quotes I have in a book. I'm not sure where I received this, but I find it encouraging to read :)
"We have been entrusted with each other..we are each others opportunity to show our love, faithfulness, commitment, patience, discipline, etc....and when we love, as God first loved us, we can endure any trial and tribulation."
Amen.
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