Thank You, Lord!

Thank You, Lord, for life. Thank You for redeeming me from death and Hell! You shed Your own blood, You gave Yourself up completely, You were reviled, You died. Willingly. For me.

I can never repay the debt I owe You. Your love surrounds me, cleanses me, overwhelms me. You are my life, my strength, my rock, my friend. Lord, you are the lover of my soul!

Thank You, Jesus, for Your grace in my life. Thank You for putting me through fires, for holding on to me when I tried everything to run from You. Thank You for giving me strength, for lifting me up to see Calvary when I was crying out in the deep valley. I can not even begin to repay You for Your love.

Thank You, Lord, for Your peace that surpasses my understanding, that washes over me, calms my fearful heart. Your peace is what keeps me sane, thank You, Jesus!

Thank You, Heavenly Father, for my family. My Dad, my Mom, my sisters and my brothers. I could not live without every single one of them! You've blessed me beyond words, and I love You.
Thank You, my Lord.

"I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and He heard me out of His holy hill, Selah!"
~ Psalm 3:4

"He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings!"
~ Psalm 40:2

"Many, O Lord my God, are Thy wonderful works which Thou hast done, and Thy thoughts which are toward us.
They cannot be reckoned up in order unto Thee.
If I would declare and speak of them,
they are more than can be numbered!"
~ Psalm 40:5

"I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep. For Thou, Lord, only makes me dwell in safety!" ~ Psalm 4:8

Jesus Is All I Need!

My Jesus thoroughly amazes me every single day, and today is no exception. Sometimes I become so caught up in His blessings that I forget Him, my Savior. Getting back into daily, hourly fellowship with the Lord is more thrilling than anything He's ever given me. The Lord is more necessary and more fulfilling than the very breath I breathe to live. But I forget that so easily. The gifts of life become more important than the Giver Himself, and that, indeed, is a very sad fact.

God has been speaking to me through the book of Philippians recently, and this particular passage has held my attention:
"That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.
Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ, that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel."

Wow. It made me stop and think, "What if Paul were to come visit me? Would he find me rejoicing abundantly in Jesus Christ? Would he find me standing fast in one spirit with my church striving for the faith of the gospel?"

So, that's where my thoughts are. My Jesus is so gracious, may my love for Him increase!

Lord, Use Me

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. - Isaiah 55:8

I have fallen in love with this verse over the past few days and weeks. It has become so real in my life, and I am thankful that the Lord's ways are not my ways.
He has gradually changed my desires over the summer and given me opportunities that I never would have imagined! How great is our God? He is greater than me, higher than me, and He knows exactly what is best for me!

My thoughts have been selfish, stubborn and rebellious, but the Lord has shown me what destruction such thoughts will bring. My ways have also been selfish and stubborn, but, again, the Lord has shown me that His ways are higher, greater, and more glorifying to Him than any of my ways will ever be! The Lord had to put me flat on my back for weeks, He needed to bring me to the bottom, He had to destroy my plans and break my heart for me to finally give in to His will. He had to put me through fire before I would even begin to realize just how small I am, how great He is and how much He loves me! My desires and plans no longer matter.

I used to think I was consecrated to Him, my loving Savior, but I wasn't really. Now I know that only He can give me direction ... because His ways are not my ways. His thoughts are not my thoughts. I want my ways to become His ways. I want my thoughts to conform to His thoughts. I'm done with trying to twist His thoughts and plans into my own. I'm ready to become who He wants me to become; I'm ready to live, walk, talk, work and do whatever He desires, wherever He plans.

I love my Jesus with all of my heart, He's been so very good to me!

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths!" - Proverbs 3:6