devotions

^{9Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them,10and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive. (Titus 2:9-10)}

16Be joyful always; ¹⁷pray continually; ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (Thessalonians 5:16-17)

I shared with Aaron this morning what I learned in my devotion, but then decided to write it on the ole' blog.

The first passage was in the actual devotion. The second passage I read out of habit... Ever since we have read this passage a few Sundays ago, I have finished out my daily devotions with it. After reading these two passages, one right after another, I was reminded of something. Even if I am not an actual "slave", God has still put several authorities in my life. I, being the stubborn human I am, don't like it when ANYONE is put over me... in any leadership position (even if I am completely aware that you can't live life without authorites... bosses, teachers, coaches, mentors, pastors, parents, GOD). I just LIKE to be in charge. However, God chooses my path, He chooses my authorities, He chooses where I am and when I am there. If there are authorities over me, He put them there. I was reminded how blessed I am, and the Thessalonians passage reminded me to rejoice ALWAYS in the Lord and to THANK God for where I am, even if I don't want to be there, "for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."I am thankful for the authorities God has placed in my life. I can't count how many times I have disagreed with most of them... but God has used them each in powerful ways and I am truly, truly thankful and will rejoice in the fact that God is in control and His majestic character shines through His powerful plan for my life.

I will rejoice always and praise God for the trials that make me weak. When I am weak, He is strong.

(bunch of rambles... hope it all made sense! did to me... that's what matters, I guess!)

so much to do. it's time for a checklist.

-phone

-order new computer battery

-e-mail roommate

-make college purchase list : school supplies, books, and dorm stuff

- gather all checks

-finish thank you notes

-trim bangs

-fix shoe rack

-confirm New York dates

-finish H letters

-plan *paint partyyy*

-clean room

-organize shelves

-start a new journal

-work out car details

the chorus' of 4 songs that play constantly in my head.

Circle me and the needle moves gracefully
Back and forth
If my heart was a compass you'd be north
Risk it all cause I'll catch you if you fall
Wherever you go
If my heart was a house you'd be home

[If My Heart was a House {Owl City}]

Into the darkness you shine out of the ashes we rise there's no one like you none like You!

Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other.
Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!
Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other.
Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!

And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us.
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against.
And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us.
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against.
What could stand against.

[Our God {Chris Tomlin}]

do you want me to show up for duty and
serve this woman and honor her beauty and
finally you have found something perfect and
finally you have found......yourself


all i want is for you to be happy and
take this woman and make you my family and
finally you have found someone perfect and
finally you have found...yourself

[Hard to Concentrate {Red Hot Chili Peppers}]

And with my head in Your hands

You looked in my face and lifted my chin

You stared in my eyes and said, "I'd rather die than be without you."

And like a wind and like a fire

Your love rushed in and lit up my heart

A place to belong

I join in the song

I can't be without You.

[Come As You Are {Jess Ray & the Rag Tag Army}]

you miss it, but then you realize God still has them next to you.

also, just because you learn something doesn't mean that it comes easy... or even easier really. It just points it out that you have the problem and then you realize even more that you can't do anything without God.... which makes you a little discouraged but more confident in your omnipotent God. This summer has drawn me so close to God, just because I have to depend on Him. I have to. I have nothing else perfect to hope in... I have nothing else perfect to depend on BUT Him.

listen people, I apologize for the lack of communication! My life has been slam packed with camp! When I'm not at camp, I'm with camp people orrrrrr soaking up as much time as I can with youth group people (whom I miss so so so so so much). BUT, I will say that I will write on what has been happening so very soon.

Camp has taught me so much. I have truly seen the value in talking to God constantly throughout the day. I feel like Christians refuse to think that praying without ceasing is possible, so they just give up and don't even try for it. That's not the attitude we are supposed to have. If God wrote it as instruction, then you do it, and if you feel like you can't do it... then you ask God for help with it. The days that I am constantly praying to my Father, I am at peace and I don't waste time saying things that are going to waste away to nothing... I actually think before I speak because if I'm not saying things to build up the surrounding cloud, then I might as well just spend that time talking to God.

God gave us voices... they were and are blessings to us. They are supposed to be used for Him, but they are a tool that Satan uses to help us sin. We open our mouths and we are either saying things that lift up His kingdom or hateful things that tear down our brothers and sisters or things that waste away to nothing. I don't want to look back on my life and realize that I said nothing of worth. That I just opened my mouth to just... speak... for the heck of it. If we are in constant conversation with God, the words that come out of our mouths won't disintegrate into nothingness... they can change the world and encourage even those who deem they can't be encouraged any longer...

I am sorry to leave this at such a cliff hanger... but, I must leave now to go be with my sweet, little Dragonflies!

I will finish later!

D