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Not meaning to quote R-Swift, That Girl, which I heard this morning then used it for the title not even meaning to...wow, the little ways God brings things to you!
I don't know how else to put it except that life has been so wonderful lately. It is only two weeks into the year, and it has already been one of the best years of my life. There hasn't been anything big happen, just lots of small, yet meaningful and enjoyable things. I'm just daily in awe of the little blessings God is giving me. I keep a Word document of the things that stand out to me as messages from God, and it is awesome to keep note of. I might write a book one day, kind of like Chicken Soup and The Little Cabin on the Trail.
I've been wanting to blog so many things for a while now, but honestly didn't know where to start I'm so behind, but today I just told myself to do this one. To begin, yes I am a communications major and full of words as it is, but there are times I get frustrated with this because there are just not words accurate enough to describe things God puts in my heart, but that's part of the mystery and beauty of who He is.
In these past couple weeks I have really come to see how great the past few years have come to be. No, they were not at all great in themselves, but where I am now is great, and I am made by everything that has happened to me. Both Pastor Dean's sermon and the video from Passion we watched in Sunday School today were right in line with all of this. I am amazed at how much more and more God connects things throughout daily life. (Is He doing more, or am I more open to seeing them?)
In Pastor Dean's sermon he referenced a passage that I had just done a couple days ago in my daily devotion, Philippians 3:13-14. I have a hard time sometimes thinking about my past and all the heartache and the mistakes I made, but I do not have to be bound by that. This passage and the words of our pastor encourage us to not be held back by the things in our past but to move forward, trusting God with our future.
The message we watched from Passion was spoken by Levi Lusko, a guy that I had heard brief clips of on KLove but never longer sermons or seen him. He is an awesome guy and probably now one of my favorite speakers ever. God has given him a way of holding attention and spreading the good news. This message he titled "Kicking the Bucket List." Well that stood out to me right off the bat because I am the kind of person who makes lists everywhere of everything I need and want to do. Not that we should not set goals, but we shouldn't be so caught up in them, making life about always striving to do bigger and better things.
The focus passage he used was 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (see bottom of page for verses), one that I have used a lot in the past going through hard times, but this brought me to look at it from the other side, too. Then I would use it to help me through trouble knowing that there were better things ahead. Now, as things are going well, it helps me to stay humble and not get caught up in things, remembering that there are even greater things ahead. "The more you look forward to the next life, the less you will need from this world" was his summary of the message. Knowing the greatness of heaven awaits allows us to live now in service, perseverance, and enjoyment of each day where God has us. Instead of always striving for more, we can enjoy the simple blessings He has given us right here. This has been one of the biggest things of my life that I have been overflowing with joy and contentment in. I thank God everyday for the little things I am currently able to enjoy. My life is nothing special, but at the same time, it is because God has made it so.
A question he asked that was a challenge to me, and likely almost everyone in this day and time was, "Would you still do it if you couldn't brag or post about it?" Hm. I love to share the things I do, but I need to watch my heart that I am sharing things to show the good that God is doing, not to make myself look good or feel better. We are called to be good at what God has called us individually to do, not in comparison to others. Colossians 3:17 says to do whatever we do to the glory of God.
I also struggle from FOMO, fear of missing out, and multitasking, another part of my nature to do, do, do, but focusing on what God has for me helps me be content with less. Levi continued on these things (and my life) with living simply, quality over quantity, and being content. These are times I giggle to myself because God told me that, too, and now here He is, telling me again through another person. I have this renewed desire to simplify my life. I get stressed out when there are too many things, whether it be my schedule, my to-do list, or stuff on my desk or laying in the floor, and I have found much more peace when I clean things out. I don't need so many different things going on but just enough things that are meaningful. As Christmas break is ending, I am finally getting to the things that I had saved for when I got slowed down. Sometimes I have to get rid of distractions so I can focus on better things. For me, this has been everything from going through a stack of comics on the table, finishing a bottle of body wash, letting Mom do more of my grocery shopping, going slower on Bible studies when they are good and not doing a certain amount each day, to finishing a bag of cookies, among more.
I now have a job, am about to start second semester classes and an internship and possibly another job, and I babysit. All these are new within the past month-ish. So many new things, and a new fire in my heart to serve God with it all. I have lots of goals and dreams, but I am not set on them anymore. I don't expect things to happen. The past has taught me that. Only God is certain. I thought it was awesome when Levi closed up the message with a reference to Psalm 37:4, "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." I had just told myself this a few days ago because I am simply joyful in daily life, which is a gift from God. That's all I really want in life, to enjoy wherever I am. He said, "Don't follow your dreams; follow God, and He will give you the desires of your heart." I have been through a lot of good and bad, but the best comes when I let go and let God take control. In the car after a slightly stressful night at work last night, the song Control by Tenth Avenue North on the radio brought me to tears.
God, You don't need me, but somehow You want me
Oh, how You love me, somehow that frees me
To take my hands off of my life and the way it should go
God, You don't need me, but somehow You want me
Oh, how You love me, somehow that frees me
To open my hands up and give You control
I've had plans shattered and broken
Things I have hoped in, fall through my hands
You have plans to redeem and restore me
You're behind and before me
Oh, help me believe
You want me
The King of Heaven wants me
So this world has lost its grip on me
****
Philippians 3:13-14 "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
