Why I relate to the Psalms

~Tuesday Thoughts~

What's up! I was working on a project this past weekend. While I'm extremely excited about sharing it this Thursday, I am sorry about the lack of posting this weekend. Also, there is a poll on the left sidebar, that I would absolutely love if you checked out! It's about how often you think I should post, something I have been thinking about lately and would love your opinion on.  

Just recently I decided that I will be reading the Psalms. I have been having trouble with having consistent Bible reading and prayer times for a while now (anyone else?), but hopefully, since I have figured out what I will be reading exactly, I might get back on track.

The main reason I picked the Psalms was that I feel I relate to a lot of them. So many Psalms are outcries of a heart in pain, a heart afraid to hope. And God hears those prayers. 

God reminds us again and again that He is our hope. The Lord is our Deliverer. He will never leave us, even if we've spent the first half of the psalm crying that it feels like He has. God hears those prayers, those screams about the unfairness of life and the horrors of it. He hears them, and He answers them. 

 "You have put more joy in my heart

    than they have when their grain and wine abound.

  In peace I will both lie down and sleep;

    for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." Psalm 4:7-8 (ESV)

How about you? Have you had times when your prayers to God are mainly crying for help or asking Him if He's still there? How has God answered your prayers and shown you His presence?

Whole Heart

~Monday Movies & Music~ 

Brandon Heath has a fun truth-filled song, "Whole Heart." Here are the lyrics. Be sure to check the song out! 

"1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

His love endures forever.

2 Give thanks to the God of gods.

His love endures forever.

3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:

His love endures forever." Psalm 136:1-3 (NIV)

The more we get to know and see God through Scripture and our own lives, the more we want to give Him our entire selves. He is an amazing Creator and Father who has always loved us, even before we loved him. Let us rejoice and rest in this eternal truth. Our Father is so worthy of our praise and love!

How about you? Have you trusted God to see you with all your sins, mess-ups, and disappointments? Have you learned of His unending love and mercy?    

Terrifying yet vital

~Tuesday Thoughts~

"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect," 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

This is a terrifying verse. I'm on a mission trip at the moment, and this is one of the verses that we were supposed to really apply to our lives in preparation and during the trip. 

I (think) I am getting better at briefly mentioning that I am a Christian. For example, people ask me where I'm from and I say, "My parents are missionaries in [country]." Or to "What did you do this weekend?," I can answer, "I did homework, worked, spent time with a friend or two, went to church." When asked where I work, I say that one of my jobs is in the nursery at church. All of these are true, and I love bringing up Christianity in this nonchalant way. 

However, openly discussing the good news of Christ and why we need His love - that seems terrifying to me. But it is such a vital skill to learn. I am hoping that, throughout this week, I get better and better at doing this. Something that has been encouraging is that the leaders say that even for them this was hard at first. But you get used to it with practice. Not that they're perfect at this business, but that it really takes practice to get better, to feel less awkward, to get bolder*. 

And it for sure takes God's strength.

How about you guys? Are you scared by the idea of sharing God's Word with others or do you feel more comfortable with it? Do you have any stories of you sharing it that you'd like to share?

*I am speaking of the good kind of bold. I am NOT encouraging being bold and coming off as rude and obnoxious to anyone you pass.

Change is coming -fast!

~Tuesday Thoughts~

The school year is nearing an end, and about 25% of all high school kids are getting ready for a huge change: college. So many teenagers also have different changes looming on the horizon. For me, change is a pretty hard thing. And sometimes I wonder how I can ever pass a new challenge, whatever it is. But I know one thing - God has seen me through hard times before and He will continue to do that. Amen! 

""Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”" Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

How about you? Is a change coming up for you? What is a change that you have lived through with God's help? Please share! 

My God is near

~Monday Movies & Music~

Moriah Peters has a song, "Oh Fear" ("My God Is Near"). Here are the lyrics.


"For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you;
    never will I forsake you.”[a]" Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)

How about you? Does fear keep you from doing what is right? Do you keep on doing things you know are wrong? Can you give your fears to God?  

Forsaken?

~Tuesday Thoughts~ 

"1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
    Why are you so far from saving me,
    so far from my cries of anguish?
2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
    by night, but I find no rest.[b]
3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
    you are the one Israel praises.[c]
4 In you our ancestors put their trust;
    they trusted and you delivered them.
5 To you they cried out and were saved;
    in you they trusted and were not put to shame."Psalm 22:1-5 (NIV)

Sometimes it feels that God has left us. But He never has and never will. Amen! 

""The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”" Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)

Alone

~Monday Movies & Music~

"Alone" is a song by Hollyn. Here are the lyrics. 

 "Do not hide your face from me,

    do not turn your servant away in anger;

    you have been my helper.

Do not reject me or forsake me,

    God my Savior." Psalm 27:9 (NIV)

""The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”" Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)

He will never leave us. Amen. 

"Never be afraid" and more quotes

~Saturday Stories~

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” ― Corrie ten Boom

“Faith is not the belief that God will do what you want. It is the belief that God will do what is right.” ― Max Lucado

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” ― Jim Elliot

“God can't give us peace and happiness apart from Himself because there is no such thing.” ― C.S. Lewis

How about you? Which quote touched you? 

No reason to be afraid

~Friday for Friends~

God is with us. The one and only God tells us not to be afraid.

""Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”" Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

He is always with us - every single minute!!! What an amazing Friend!

Who can you encourage today with the words God Himself has said?

Scared

~Tuesday Thoughts~

"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity." Colossians 4:5 (NIV)

I feel guilty sometimes for not just sharing about Christ wherever I go. Doesn't Matthew 28 explicitly say I should? Maybe you're also wrestling with fear of telling others about our Savior. How about praying together for the courage to speak about Him? Blessings!