It is so late, but I really felt an urge to write and share a little of what's on my mind. I apologize if it's scattered, and I'll let the fact that it's so late be my excuse. I’m anticipating the amazing time I’m going to have at Greystone this summer and what God has in store for the 9 weeks I’m about to spend in Zirconia, NC. Greystone is such a beautiful place with such beautiful people who love the Lord. Recently, two little 7 year old girls’ have really inspired me through their cancer stories. Both of their moms update their blogs every week or so, and I try to stay updated on them so that I can pray more specifically. The girls’ names are Kate and Abby, and both of them are fighting brain tumors that have reoccurred. I don’t know either one of them personally, but have come across their pages from other people I know/other pages I follow. God has kept both of these little girls strong through this process and battle, and I pray that He continues to do so as they both are beginning new chemo treatments. Strength is vital to being able to even administer the chemo, as they need certain minimal blood counts, etc. I want so much to meet these sweet girls and give them a huge hug and tell them how strong and brave they are, and that God is going to get them through this.
God’s plan is perfect, and I trust Him, and I know that He also performs miracles and is our Healer. That does not mean that we won’t have to face the impossible and that we won’t have to fight diseases and obstacles and that our lives will be easy. God has a plan for me, and His plan included cancer. I’m cancer-free right now, and hope and pray that I will be for life, but it doesn’t mean I will be. The chances are so small that it probably won’t happen, but so were the chances of even having cancer in the first place. It was even stranger for me to get it with almost no history of cancer in my family. I won my fight for cancer, but I didn’t do it by myself. God was there the whole time, and He taught me to fully rely on Him. If you don’t read anything further, at least remember this: F.R.O.G. aka Fully Rely on God. John 15:5 says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” Apart from the Lord we have nothing; we are nothing; and we can do nothing. Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Isaiah 40:26 says, “Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing.” The Lord God comforts the people of Jerusalem by declaring His great might and strong power. The Lord is our fortress, our rock, our stronghold, our deliver, our strength and our shield. We can take refuge in Him because He loves us and is there in our time of need, and His plans work together for good. We can stay strong and have an unwavering faith if we continue to believe this truth, and trust God’s sovereignty and mighty power.
I have a little fear of having to go through a cancer fight again, and it hurts me so much to hear about others going through a journey with cancer. Don’t allow cancer or another obstacle in your life define you. Christ is the only one who defines us, and when everything else seems out of control, we can rest and put our hope in Christ. Pray Colossians 3:15, that the peace of Christ will rule in your heart, and Philippians 4, that the peace will transcend all understanding for your struggles. I like the New Living Translation of 2 Timothy 4:5, which says, “But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don't be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.” This is referring to proclaiming the Gospel and being bold, but it can be translated into any circumstance in which you have the opportunity to bring God glory. Allow God’s glory to shine in your circumstances by trusting Him and proclaiming your faith. I think this can only be possible if we fully rely on Him: relying on ourselves and our own weakness will get us nowhere.
Ultimately, if I had cancer again, it would be part of the Lord’s plan. I don't think I'm going to, and I'm thankful that I can be almost certain I am not because of my odds. Cancer is evil, but suffering through it made me stronger, and 2 Corinthians 1:5 says, “For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.” We will share some in Christ’s sufferings in our life, but we can be at peace because of the comfort that He provides, and because He promises that all things work together for good for those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Whatever happens to me, whenever it happens, I know I will be living out His plan for my life, and that’s where I can find peace, even with the slight possibility of an evil such as cancer returning. There is no reason to worry about it because He tells us not to be anxious, but to pray, and He will give us peace in the end. It’s so common for people to say, “It will all work out,” or “God will work it out for you I’m sure,” but that’s just not true. When you’re facing reality, it can be tough. There will be uncertainty and it may be difficult. It’s not that it will all work out, but I guess a better way to say it is that it will all work TOGETHER FOR GOOD, because in the end, if we are faithful and live our lives fully relying on God and declaring Him as our Lord and Savior, we will spend eternity with Him in Heaven, and that’s more than good.
Lastly, I wanted to share with you part of Kate’s blog. Her mom posted this a few days ago. Will is Kate’s younger brother, and I think he is 5 or 6. “Last night Will was scared to go to bed. Nightmares have been plaguing him, so he didn't want to sleep. I laid with him and offered to pray, hoping it would bring him comfort and solace as it had so many times before. He rolled over and looked me straight in the eyes. ‘Why mom, God doesn't always choose to give us what we ask for. People still die. I asked and asked for Kate not to be sick anymore and she is. So why should I pray not to be scared? He just might not answer.’ I wanted to cry, but sat silently for a minute. Will was processing the things so many of a struggle with, the question of suffering and why God allows it. The deep disappointments when the answer is far different than we have been pleading for. I was hurt and yet grateful he could verbalize his frustration. Our frustration. God tells us to pray. He tells us to unrelentingly intercede. And so we continue to do just that. . . Kate was able to start chemo on Tuesday. Everything is bittersweet these days. And I can't imagine that changing for us anytime soon. Life seems intricately intertwined with joy and sorrow. Each not exclusive to a season, but rather have been two steady realities.”
Life is intertwined with joy and sorrow, but like it says in Nehemiah 8:10, the joy of the Lord is our strength, and it is this balance that keeps us loving life and also fully relying on God to get us through the hard times. Kate and Abby continue to have joy in the midst of their suffering. Please pray for them, and remember, F.R.O.G.!
Monday, May 30, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
The Innocence of a Child
Tonight, I watched two of the youngest Idol contestants ever both perform so well on television, and they both seem like, from what I have seen, to love the Lord, which is awesome. Music is one of my biggest passions in life, and I love to sing for the Lord and for the joy it brings to me. 1 Chronicles 16:23 says, "Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day." Psalm 100 says to come before His presence with singing! Camp Greystone really is one of the greatest places on earth. I've been searching for some great, kid-friendly, fun songs to add to my Itunes for camp this summer, and I am anticipating camp more and more. Singing at camp is one of the best parts for me because it is something that we do to give God glory and to demonstrate our love for Him, and I love being a part of a large crowd of people worshipping the Lord. We worship in a group, but it is an individual experience, and it is wonderful. When I'm by myself at home or in the car, I often turn on some contemporary Christian music and begin singing. Sometimes though, we forget that the songs are meant for worship, and we do not always think about what we are singing and whether or not we mean it. We do this with other types of music as well. I confess that I occasionally listen to hip hop and rap songs and do not agree with the lyrics, but love the beats enough to sing along. It's similar to listening to contemporary Christian music and singing along but not taking the lyrics to heart. I've been a lot more careful about listening to lyrics lately, and worshipping through song is so much more meaningful because of it.
Now, more about Camp Greystone: less than a week until I am back, yet it feels like I just left in the middle of August! So much has happened since then, and God has been working a lot, but it still doesn't seem like it's been almost a year! Because of the impact that Greystone had on me in less than 6 weeks of being there last summer and the things God taught me and revealed to me through it, I could not be more excited and anxious to return for 9 weeks this summer. In fact, I'm sure that it's not going to be enough because of how fast I know it will fly by! I don't like the phrase, "it's like heaven on earth," but being at Greystone does give you a little taste of heaven. Galatians 5: 22-23 says that "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." I experienced all of the fruits of the Spirit at Greystone, and learned a lot more about each one. At Greystone, I learned how to be more loving, more joyful, more peaceful, more patient, etc. The campers and the counselors teach you so much, and the Lord works through everyone and every experience that you have while at camp. There is no greater love or joy in my opinion than the love and joy that younger children and teens bring, especially when you are able to share your love for the Lord with them. Having this opportunity for a summer is amazing, and the Lord shows you your imperfections, but also shows you His perfect love and grace and the chance to grow in the fruits of the Spirit.
Also, in Matthew 18, when the disciples are wondering about greatness in the kingdom of heaven, Jesus calls a child, stands him in the midst of the disciples and teaches. He says that you have got to become like children to enter the kingdom, and the one who humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom. "And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, 'Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'" Children who love Jesus are humble and innocent. They are also often extremely perceptive and love to ask questions. I LOVE being able to share my biggest passion, my passion for the Lord, with an innocent child, and I pray that I can become like the child in Matthew 18. Last summer at Greystone, one huge work the Lord did was confirm to me and encourage me, through my experience and through a sweet lady named Smith Houts, that it is the Lord's plan (as of now) for me to become a teacher of some kind after graduation. Smith saw how much I loved my 7-year-old girls in August, and she said that I would absolutely love teaching. She has taught kindergartners for years and is so great with children and the Greystone campers. I started babysitting when I was 12 with the sweetest family of 3 kids, and I have always had a passion for being around kids and spending time with them. I'm 21, and I would say I'm mature for my age (I hope this is true!), but I can relate well to kids and i love being around them and acting like one myself (and by that I mean playing games and laughing all the time). I came into college a journalism and mass communication and vocal performance double major. I love both writing/editing and singing, but I do not think I can do either one of them for the rest of my life, at least not as my main focus. I do think I can be around kids ALL the time and never get tired of it. I don't think that teaching is one of my spiritual gifts, but I love to be challenged and I do believe that God can grow me in that area. I think that, because I can relate to kids well, I can serve the Lord by working with them.
I'm not sure right now if God wants me to teach elementary school, preschool, or work in a preschool or children's ministry or something like that, but I am excited to see what He has in store for me. I am also anxious about what He is going to reveal to me this summer. I'm praying that He will work in all of us at Greystone and that the staff and campers can learn to be lights for the Lord and to shine His light in everything we say and do. We don't know His plans, but all of us can live everyday for Him and shine the light He has brought to our world and that He brings to our lives!
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin." 1 John 1:7 (camp verse for the summer!!)
"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Hanging On to the Word
These are the lyrics to one of my favorite songs, "Hanging On," by Britt Nicole:
You see my anxious heart
You see what I am feeling
And when I fall apart
You are there to hold me
How great Your love for me
Now I see what You're thinking
You say I'm beautiful
Your voice is my healing
Without You I just can't get by
So I'm
Hanging on to every word You speak
'Cause it's all that I need
Hanging on to every word You say
To light up my way
Even every little whisper I'm
Hanging on as if it were my life
I'm hanging on
And when the darkness falls
I can't see what's before me
Your voice is like the dawn
Always there to guide me
Without You I just can't get by
So I'm
Hanging on to every word You speak
'Cause it's all that I need
Hanging on to every word You say
To light up my way
Even every little whisper I'm
Hanging on as if it were my life
I'm hanging on
You know me better than I know myself
Better than anybody else
Your love is sounding like a ringing bell
Oh, oh, I won't let go
Hanging on to every word You speak
'Cause it's all that I need
Hanging on to every word You say
To light up my way
Even every little whisper I'm
Hanging on as if it were my life
I'm hanging on
Prayer Requests for yall-- people who are hanging on in different ways-- we all need strength and hope that comes from the Lord and from the Word, and if we hang on to the Word and rely on God, He will "light up our way" and show us His will, peace, and understanding
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God; and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
Abby Smith- little 7 year old girl who lives in Atlanta, and one of my fellow camp counselors babysits her; she was diagnosed with a brain tumor when she was 23 months old, and she is still fighting; please pray for her battle with low platelets and for her chemo treatments that she just started again
Leigha Barteski- gorgeous girl who has just started a new form of chemo and goes weekly or bi-weekly to get treatments for liver cancer- pray for little/no side effects from the chemo and for the new chemo to be successful
Lauren Haley- she and her sweet family's house was destroyed in the tornado-pray for peace and understanding and also for wisdom during this time- a praise is that they are living in a permanent house that is fully-furnished!
Anna King- awesome good friend of mine who is from pleasant grove and has had some family members and friends affected by the tornado disaster, also for her cousin, who is battling leukemia
Pleasant Grove, Pratt City, Tuscaloosa, Jasper, other areas affected by the tornado- provision from the Lord for them, both with tangible goods and help from the community in rebuilding, etc.; also, wisdom, peace, and comfort for the families
Kate McRae- beautiful 5 year old girl whose page I randomly came across through another girl, Libby's blog; Libby just finished chemo a few months ago for the same cancer I had, Hodgkin's Lymphoma, and she is completely healed- praise the Lord! but, Kate was diagnosed with a brain tumor and has been fighting for 2 years; she just started chemo again and is losing her hair that she's had for a little while now, so please pray for that; also, just pray for strength for her little body and pray that the chemo will kill the cancer cells for good!
Kirsten- my boyfriend Matt's mom knows her mom, who teaches at the same school as her; Kirsten is in 7th grade and has a rare type of tumor; please pray for the doctors to figure out the best way to treat her and for her to rely on the Lord during this time- middle school is rough enough already!
Perrin Thompson- such an encouraging girl who goes to Furman and knows a lot of girls I work with at camp, has a beautiful spirit; just found out that she has 3 months of no chemo- praise the Lord for that break! please pray for wisdom for the doctors in deciding the next steps to take, and for a miracle with her kidney cancer
2011 graduates- economic troubles, wisdom and making the Lord's will clear to them, finding security in Christ when everything may be uncertain
Today was a CRAZY day, but a really good day. So much change is happening so fast, and it's hard to take in quickly. My boyfriend, Matt, graduated today, along with many of my close friends. They are going out into the real world, and that can be so scary. Also, as of today, I'm a senior in college! It's hard to believe, and this year has definitely been a little bit of a blur. But, God has taught me so much patience and trust in His sovereignty and faithfulness this year. It's amazing what you can learn from experiences. God works in and through you in every experience in your life if you look to Him and allow Him to move in them. I love that cancer is a part of my testimony now, and I would never want to change how things are because I know that they happened for a reason, and it made me stronger as a person and as a Christ-follower. Having cancer gave me a little glimpse of the sufferings of Christ, and that opened my eyes to how wonderful the gift of salvation is. Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." God gives us salvation as a free gift! We don't have to work to receive our salvation, and we can rest in the fact that our Lord and Savior has plans, and they are perfect. They might include suffering, but there will also be many blessings along with that suffering.
Eccelsiastes 3:1 says, "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." Sometimes, there will be suffering in your life. Other times, you might feel lost and confused, heart-broken, unloved, weak, uncertain, stressed. BUT, other times we will feel so much joy and love and hope and peace and comfort in the Lord, and we can rest in that. We can always find those feelings within our suffering and stress, etc. if we look to the Lord, pray, and trust in His promises of faithfulness. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 says, "But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one." Satan tricks us into thinking that we shouldn't have to suffer with Christ, and that his path is better than the Lord's. But, the Lord promises to deliver us from the storms ("call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me" Psalm 50:15). Let's all have the faith of Job, and in every situation of change, uncertainty, or suffering, trust the Lord and rejoice even when everything we treasure and in everything with which we find security is taken away from us. Whether you're worrying about finding a job, maintaining relationships after graduation, fighting an illness, or just feel like your world is spinning, we can all find peace in the Lord in these times. Psalm 37:7 says to be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him, and Romans 8:28 says that everything works together for good for those who are called according to His purpose. Rest in that truth, and hang on to that Word!
Life can be scary and tough, but remember, we are not made for this world."If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." -- C.S. LEWIS
P.S. Camp countdown: 17 days! Can't wait to spend time with campers and worship the Lord for 9 weeks!! It was hard for me to leave school, but I know that I'm going to LOVE camp and that God has me there for a reason, and He's going to do some great stuff at Greystone this summer!! :)
You see my anxious heart
You see what I am feeling
And when I fall apart
You are there to hold me
How great Your love for me
Now I see what You're thinking
You say I'm beautiful
Your voice is my healing
Without You I just can't get by
So I'm
Hanging on to every word You speak
'Cause it's all that I need
Hanging on to every word You say
To light up my way
Even every little whisper I'm
Hanging on as if it were my life
I'm hanging on
And when the darkness falls
I can't see what's before me
Your voice is like the dawn
Always there to guide me
Without You I just can't get by
So I'm
Hanging on to every word You speak
'Cause it's all that I need
Hanging on to every word You say
To light up my way
Even every little whisper I'm
Hanging on as if it were my life
I'm hanging on
You know me better than I know myself
Better than anybody else
Your love is sounding like a ringing bell
Oh, oh, I won't let go
Hanging on to every word You speak
'Cause it's all that I need
Hanging on to every word You say
To light up my way
Even every little whisper I'm
Hanging on as if it were my life
I'm hanging on
Prayer Requests for yall-- people who are hanging on in different ways-- we all need strength and hope that comes from the Lord and from the Word, and if we hang on to the Word and rely on God, He will "light up our way" and show us His will, peace, and understanding
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God; and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
Abby Smith- little 7 year old girl who lives in Atlanta, and one of my fellow camp counselors babysits her; she was diagnosed with a brain tumor when she was 23 months old, and she is still fighting; please pray for her battle with low platelets and for her chemo treatments that she just started again
Leigha Barteski- gorgeous girl who has just started a new form of chemo and goes weekly or bi-weekly to get treatments for liver cancer- pray for little/no side effects from the chemo and for the new chemo to be successful
Lauren Haley- she and her sweet family's house was destroyed in the tornado-pray for peace and understanding and also for wisdom during this time- a praise is that they are living in a permanent house that is fully-furnished!
Anna King- awesome good friend of mine who is from pleasant grove and has had some family members and friends affected by the tornado disaster, also for her cousin, who is battling leukemia
Pleasant Grove, Pratt City, Tuscaloosa, Jasper, other areas affected by the tornado- provision from the Lord for them, both with tangible goods and help from the community in rebuilding, etc.; also, wisdom, peace, and comfort for the families
Kate McRae- beautiful 5 year old girl whose page I randomly came across through another girl, Libby's blog; Libby just finished chemo a few months ago for the same cancer I had, Hodgkin's Lymphoma, and she is completely healed- praise the Lord! but, Kate was diagnosed with a brain tumor and has been fighting for 2 years; she just started chemo again and is losing her hair that she's had for a little while now, so please pray for that; also, just pray for strength for her little body and pray that the chemo will kill the cancer cells for good!
Kirsten- my boyfriend Matt's mom knows her mom, who teaches at the same school as her; Kirsten is in 7th grade and has a rare type of tumor; please pray for the doctors to figure out the best way to treat her and for her to rely on the Lord during this time- middle school is rough enough already!
Perrin Thompson- such an encouraging girl who goes to Furman and knows a lot of girls I work with at camp, has a beautiful spirit; just found out that she has 3 months of no chemo- praise the Lord for that break! please pray for wisdom for the doctors in deciding the next steps to take, and for a miracle with her kidney cancer
2011 graduates- economic troubles, wisdom and making the Lord's will clear to them, finding security in Christ when everything may be uncertain
Today was a CRAZY day, but a really good day. So much change is happening so fast, and it's hard to take in quickly. My boyfriend, Matt, graduated today, along with many of my close friends. They are going out into the real world, and that can be so scary. Also, as of today, I'm a senior in college! It's hard to believe, and this year has definitely been a little bit of a blur. But, God has taught me so much patience and trust in His sovereignty and faithfulness this year. It's amazing what you can learn from experiences. God works in and through you in every experience in your life if you look to Him and allow Him to move in them. I love that cancer is a part of my testimony now, and I would never want to change how things are because I know that they happened for a reason, and it made me stronger as a person and as a Christ-follower. Having cancer gave me a little glimpse of the sufferings of Christ, and that opened my eyes to how wonderful the gift of salvation is. Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." God gives us salvation as a free gift! We don't have to work to receive our salvation, and we can rest in the fact that our Lord and Savior has plans, and they are perfect. They might include suffering, but there will also be many blessings along with that suffering.
Eccelsiastes 3:1 says, "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." Sometimes, there will be suffering in your life. Other times, you might feel lost and confused, heart-broken, unloved, weak, uncertain, stressed. BUT, other times we will feel so much joy and love and hope and peace and comfort in the Lord, and we can rest in that. We can always find those feelings within our suffering and stress, etc. if we look to the Lord, pray, and trust in His promises of faithfulness. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 says, "But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one." Satan tricks us into thinking that we shouldn't have to suffer with Christ, and that his path is better than the Lord's. But, the Lord promises to deliver us from the storms ("call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me" Psalm 50:15). Let's all have the faith of Job, and in every situation of change, uncertainty, or suffering, trust the Lord and rejoice even when everything we treasure and in everything with which we find security is taken away from us. Whether you're worrying about finding a job, maintaining relationships after graduation, fighting an illness, or just feel like your world is spinning, we can all find peace in the Lord in these times. Psalm 37:7 says to be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him, and Romans 8:28 says that everything works together for good for those who are called according to His purpose. Rest in that truth, and hang on to that Word!
Life can be scary and tough, but remember, we are not made for this world."If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." -- C.S. LEWIS
P.S. Camp countdown: 17 days! Can't wait to spend time with campers and worship the Lord for 9 weeks!! It was hard for me to leave school, but I know that I'm going to LOVE camp and that God has me there for a reason, and He's going to do some great stuff at Greystone this summer!! :)
Sunday, May 8, 2011
A Proverbs 31 Woman
Happy Mother's Day!! I should be studying right now, but I just wanted to make a little tribute to the most wonderful mother I know: my mom, Deede Kleimeyer. My mom has always been amazing. Growing up, she has always been so encouraging to me in whatever I did. Her sweet smile and fun-loving personality, goofiness, and contagious laugh are just a few of her good qualities. I respect my mom for who she is, and that is a woman who loves the Lord and whose light shines in everything she does, especially in her role as a mother to me. But, everyone who knows my mom loves her: she has a bubbly personality and a heart for people that everyone loves and appreciates. Whenever someone tells me that I look like my mom or that I'm a lot like her, I definitely take that as a compliment because I think she is one of the most beautiful people God has made, both inside and out. This year, I've gone through some hard times with my mom by my side, and I hope she knows how much I appreciate everything she has done for me, and how much I loved that she was always with me, even if it meant hours and hours of driving for her. Most of the time she was with me this year, I was not feeling too well, and she served me and was always there. I am so thankful for that because I know this year was hard for her too. Cancer was a part of both of our lives, of our family's life, and we can thank God that He has healed me and our family does not have to fight it anymore. My mom has so much joy and energy that she spreads to everyone around her, and I have seen that firsthand for the 21 years I have been her daughter. God is so faithful and blesses us so much, and I am so blessed to have a mom who exemplifies the woman of God in Proverbs 31. She is so great, and she serves the Lord as a mother, a daughter, a wife, and a woman of God! The bold words are characteristics based on the verses, and they also define my mom. I love you so much! :)
The Proverbs 31 Woman
An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels. (rare, precious)
The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. (trustworthy)
She does him good and not evil all the days of her life. (kind)
She looks for wool and flax and works with her hands in delight. (works joyfully)
She is like merchant ships; she brings her food from afar. (goes extra mile)
She rises also while it is still night and gives food to her household and portions to her maidens. (disciplined)
She considers a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard. (enterprising, prudent with money)
She girds herself with strength and makes her arms strong. (energetic)
She senses that her gain is good; her lamp does not go out at night. (good steward)
She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hands grasp the spindle. (diligent) She extends her hand to the poor, and she stretches out her hands to the needy. (compassionate, generous)She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet. (provident)
She makes coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. (elegant)
Her husband is known in the gates,when he sits among the elders of the land. (influential)
She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies belts to the tradesmen. (industrious)
Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future. (poised)
She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. (wise)
She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. (manages her home)
Her children rise up and bless her; her husband also, and he praises her, saying: (praiseworthy)
"Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all." (distinguished) Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. (God-fearing)
Give her the product of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates. (honored)
Proverbs 31:10-31
The Proverbs 31 Woman
An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels. (rare, precious)
The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. (trustworthy)
She does him good and not evil all the days of her life. (kind)
She looks for wool and flax and works with her hands in delight. (works joyfully)
She is like merchant ships; she brings her food from afar. (goes extra mile)
She rises also while it is still night and gives food to her household and portions to her maidens. (disciplined)
She considers a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard. (enterprising, prudent with money)
She girds herself with strength and makes her arms strong. (energetic)
She senses that her gain is good; her lamp does not go out at night. (good steward)
She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hands grasp the spindle. (diligent) She extends her hand to the poor, and she stretches out her hands to the needy. (compassionate, generous)She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet. (provident)
She makes coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. (elegant)
Her husband is known in the gates,when he sits among the elders of the land. (influential)
She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies belts to the tradesmen. (industrious)
Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future. (poised)
She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. (wise)
She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. (manages her home)
Her children rise up and bless her; her husband also, and he praises her, saying: (praiseworthy)
"Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all." (distinguished) Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. (God-fearing)
Give her the product of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates. (honored)
Proverbs 31:10-31
Monday, April 11, 2011
While I'm Waiting, I Will Serve You
"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:6-7
"The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord." Lamentations 3:25-26
"Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14
“He has made everything beautiful in its time … God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, for there shall be a time there for every purpose and for every work.” Ecclesiastes 3:11,17
"But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40: 31
John Waller wrote a song called "While I'm Waiting." Not only is the song beautiful, but it also speaks so much truth, and the lyrics are so applicable to our lives. He says that, though it is painful, he will continue to wait upon the Lord, patiently, and he will trust Him. He also says he will "move along, bold and confident, taking every step in obedience" while he is waiting on the Lord. Though it's not easy, he waits on the Lord faithfully and peacefully. The Bible tells us that the Lord is good to those who wait on Him, and that the Lord's purposes will always be revealed after a period of waiting and of obedience. The verses at the beginning of this note are just a few of many verses on waiting on the Lord. Being patient and able to wait on the Lord's timing is one of the more difficult things for us to do, and we often struggle with it in our walk with God. We often struggle with waiting on God to deliver us from trials in our lives. James says that our trials will make our faith stronger and make us more perseverant. Trials occur for different lengths of time, and sometimes they last a lot longer than we expect. We live in such a fast-paced world, and it is so hard for us to accept that God's timing is often a LOT slower than ours, and to trust that His timing is best. When God places trials in our lives, He wants to work in us so that we can spiritually grow. These trials are NECESSARY for our spiritual growth and are a part of God's plans for our lives.
In November, I began my journey with cancer, and I have been able to see God's faithfulness through that trial. I have now overcome it, and I could not be more thankful for the past few months. If you asked me if I could choose not to have had cancer, I would actually tell you no. Don't misunderstand me: cancer stinks, and it would have been great not to have it. But that wasn't God's plan, and I would never want to change that. It's so hard to understand God's timing, and why God gives us certain trials to face, but I think it's a lot easier to understand it after you have overcome it. In the midst of things, it is so difficult to patiently wait because, as humans, we cannot fully comprehend the ways of the Lord, and we cannot always see the purpose of things until a lot later.
I just read this quote in an article about God's timing, and I love it: "God’s wisdom and timing will always be perfect in every single situation that you will ever face in this life – so learn how to rely on it, as it will help keep you safe and out of harm’s way, along with keeping you on His divine path for your life and making your life that much more productive in Him." Now that I'm finished with chemo and radiation and I'm cancer-free, it's WEIRD. It's weird to have overcome such a huge trial and to transition from everything. Radiation hasn't had side effects for me really, and so I've already been transitioning back to my "normal" self, but it's confusing. I think I have been so used to being sick and going to the hospital ALL the time that being finished scares me! I know that I'm cancer-free, but I don't know how to be me again. Not that I wasn't me, but I was me with cancer, and me struggling with emotions and physical feelings I had never before experienced. I learned quickly that God wanted me to use my cancer for His glory, and I tried not to focus on myself too much, but it changed who I was. It's almost unexplainable because it's a personal experience, but all I can say is, God draws you so close to Him through trials, and especially through crazy ones like cancer. You become dependent only on Him because He's the only One you can depend on and trust for your healing.
I had cancer at age 21. God healed me from that cancer at age 21. God doesn't always heal, and He picks and chooses who to heal and when He will heal. It's hard to be patient and to understand why God does things when He does, and to wait and see how things play out in a situation. We always want to rush through everything, to press fast forward on our circumstances, to know what will happen. But, God is the only One with this sovereignty and knowledge. His plans are perfect and His timing is also perfect. So many of my friends are graduating in a few weeks. It's actually been really hard on me thinking about them leaving, me being a senior in just a few months, and insecurities with timing and plans have been on my mind a lot. I would love for everyone to stay here in Birmingham, but God has different plans for everyone, and He has placed those friends in my life for a specific amount of time for a specific reason. I know I will keep in touch with some, if not all, of them, but I think accepting change and facing transitions and trusting God's timing is hard for me. Trying to rush things, whether if it is in a trial or in other areas of your life, such as relationships, calling, or spiritual growth, is simply not a good idea. Let's be still and know that He is God, and continue to serve Him while we wait on His PERFECT timing.
"The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord." Lamentations 3:25-26
"Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14
“He has made everything beautiful in its time … God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, for there shall be a time there for every purpose and for every work.” Ecclesiastes 3:11,17
"But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40: 31
John Waller wrote a song called "While I'm Waiting." Not only is the song beautiful, but it also speaks so much truth, and the lyrics are so applicable to our lives. He says that, though it is painful, he will continue to wait upon the Lord, patiently, and he will trust Him. He also says he will "move along, bold and confident, taking every step in obedience" while he is waiting on the Lord. Though it's not easy, he waits on the Lord faithfully and peacefully. The Bible tells us that the Lord is good to those who wait on Him, and that the Lord's purposes will always be revealed after a period of waiting and of obedience. The verses at the beginning of this note are just a few of many verses on waiting on the Lord. Being patient and able to wait on the Lord's timing is one of the more difficult things for us to do, and we often struggle with it in our walk with God. We often struggle with waiting on God to deliver us from trials in our lives. James says that our trials will make our faith stronger and make us more perseverant. Trials occur for different lengths of time, and sometimes they last a lot longer than we expect. We live in such a fast-paced world, and it is so hard for us to accept that God's timing is often a LOT slower than ours, and to trust that His timing is best. When God places trials in our lives, He wants to work in us so that we can spiritually grow. These trials are NECESSARY for our spiritual growth and are a part of God's plans for our lives.
In November, I began my journey with cancer, and I have been able to see God's faithfulness through that trial. I have now overcome it, and I could not be more thankful for the past few months. If you asked me if I could choose not to have had cancer, I would actually tell you no. Don't misunderstand me: cancer stinks, and it would have been great not to have it. But that wasn't God's plan, and I would never want to change that. It's so hard to understand God's timing, and why God gives us certain trials to face, but I think it's a lot easier to understand it after you have overcome it. In the midst of things, it is so difficult to patiently wait because, as humans, we cannot fully comprehend the ways of the Lord, and we cannot always see the purpose of things until a lot later.
I just read this quote in an article about God's timing, and I love it: "God’s wisdom and timing will always be perfect in every single situation that you will ever face in this life – so learn how to rely on it, as it will help keep you safe and out of harm’s way, along with keeping you on His divine path for your life and making your life that much more productive in Him." Now that I'm finished with chemo and radiation and I'm cancer-free, it's WEIRD. It's weird to have overcome such a huge trial and to transition from everything. Radiation hasn't had side effects for me really, and so I've already been transitioning back to my "normal" self, but it's confusing. I think I have been so used to being sick and going to the hospital ALL the time that being finished scares me! I know that I'm cancer-free, but I don't know how to be me again. Not that I wasn't me, but I was me with cancer, and me struggling with emotions and physical feelings I had never before experienced. I learned quickly that God wanted me to use my cancer for His glory, and I tried not to focus on myself too much, but it changed who I was. It's almost unexplainable because it's a personal experience, but all I can say is, God draws you so close to Him through trials, and especially through crazy ones like cancer. You become dependent only on Him because He's the only One you can depend on and trust for your healing.
I had cancer at age 21. God healed me from that cancer at age 21. God doesn't always heal, and He picks and chooses who to heal and when He will heal. It's hard to be patient and to understand why God does things when He does, and to wait and see how things play out in a situation. We always want to rush through everything, to press fast forward on our circumstances, to know what will happen. But, God is the only One with this sovereignty and knowledge. His plans are perfect and His timing is also perfect. So many of my friends are graduating in a few weeks. It's actually been really hard on me thinking about them leaving, me being a senior in just a few months, and insecurities with timing and plans have been on my mind a lot. I would love for everyone to stay here in Birmingham, but God has different plans for everyone, and He has placed those friends in my life for a specific amount of time for a specific reason. I know I will keep in touch with some, if not all, of them, but I think accepting change and facing transitions and trusting God's timing is hard for me. Trying to rush things, whether if it is in a trial or in other areas of your life, such as relationships, calling, or spiritual growth, is simply not a good idea. Let's be still and know that He is God, and continue to serve Him while we wait on His PERFECT timing.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
