A Quiet Soul

 Psalm 131:2

"But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content."

I believe that in this very fast pace world, we NEED calm, we NEED quiet. 

This verse, I mean yeah it's kinda weird when you first read it, but oh my goodness, how beautiful. When a child is still nursing, when it is in its mothers arms, it knows that it is there for food. But when it is weaned and in its mothers arms, it is there for comfort, just enjoying that moment of calm, that moment of protection.

When we come to The Lord, knowing that He is God, and he has us in His arms. How powerful man...

HE is the ultimate source of peace, calm, and quiet. When I just sit and enjoy that, like a "weaned child", not coming to ask for a ton of things (MILK!). But coming saying, "God, thank you for being God! Thank you for allowing me to come and be still in your presence!" That to me is just so beautiful.

Because we are designed to be still in the arms of God!

We are wired for Him!

We are the object of his obsession!

We are designed to be alone with God, designed to enjoy God,to be near Him, to experience Him!

Like a weaned child, enjoying just being with Him

Father,

Thank you for giving my soul room, to expand, so it can breathe again, so it can rest. Thank you for always being a good Father, thank you for revealing yourself to me in a new way today, in a very calm, comforting way. It is so awesome to me that you are holding me in your arms, just wanting me to be still, so that you can comfort, so that you can bear the load. Father the peace that you have given me these last few weeks blows my mind, thank you so much, because if it was up to me, at this point, well you know, I would be freaking out. I would be worried, jealous, and scared! But you have filled me with PEACE. Hallelujah.

amen

AMAZED and OVERCOME
.Judah Smith.
.healing my sickness today.
.my desk.
.quiet.
.Jacqueline.
.prayers answered.
.drawing bigger circles.
.forgiving.
.strawberries.
.simplicity. 

check out Judah Smiths podcast, from The City Church! It's what got me thinking about a lot of this tonight! It's awesome.

JOHN 15:5-8

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."

I have been thinking about this passage a lot lately, because I have been growing this little sunflower plant! I have been so excited to get up everyday, water that little guy, and see what progress it has made! Like really I think I am becoming obsessed with this thing, it is so amazing! Thank you Lord for nature! I mean...guys, I put a seed in some DIRT...

and look at it now!!!

It's GROWING!!!!!

It makes me think about Jesus Christ, and how he wants to see me grow everyday, he wants to help me grow! He is the gardener. He wants to help me grow by watering me with His love, He wants me to produce fruit, He will prune me to help me become more like him. I have no doubt in my mind that one of the reasons God put plants on this earth is so we can better understand our relationship with him and what it needs.

just like I water this plant everyday

The Lord waters me with love everyday

just like the sun has to shine on this plant for a time during the day

I have to spend time WITH The Son everyday

just like the roots growing deep into the soil 

as I become rooted and established in the ways of the Lord...

we will both produce something beautiful

all for the glory of The Father

My mom gave me this cross a few months ago, and I love it. I think a lot of the different things that are painted on it really remind me of the growth that comes from the cross, the growth that comes from Christ. 

Father,

Thank you for all of your good gifts, help me to not be the branch that did not remain in you, and was thrown away and withered. Lord pick me up, show me how to remain in your love. I desire to produce much fruit so that I can bring you glory. Lead me Father.

amen

AMAZED and OVERCOME

.this plant.

.Cassidy Long.

.a loving community.

.a happy surprise.

.the preparation for new growth.

.jesus paving the way.

.your word.

.Benjamin being my best bud.

.the cross mom gave me.

.the cross.

My Desire

God is so good, man so good haha

"The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love."

Lately all I can think about is wanting to become more like The Lord, everyday I want to become more like Jesus Christ. I like to focus in on one attribute at a time which can be very difficult, but I have been praying to become gracious. Grace, grace, grace.

What blows my mind is that God is the perfect example of the fruit of the spirit

(read these and ask yourself, if you are the PERFECT example of any of them)

 

LOVE

JOY

PEACE

PATIENCE

KINDNESS

GOODNESS

FAITHFULNESS

GENTLENESS

SELF-CONTROL

I am not the perfect example of ANY of those, hahaha not ONE!

The crazy thing is...He IS all of those things!!!! Like woahhhhhhh because I tell myself all the time, "Yo Marge that wasn't very cool, you really need to work on being more loving"... or..."There you go again, saying something that you didn't even mean, come on girl where is the self-control?"

I am never going to be perfect, but the more I press into God and ask him for all of those things, the more he gives me. He is constantly teaching me how to be more like HIM! The goal is NOT to become a kind, good, joyful and loving person, the goal is to become more like God, and the cool thing is that as he transforms me... I become loving, I become joyful, I become all of those things. Because He is a perfect teacher.

It is so easy to look at people on this earth and want to become more like them! SO EASY! It's comparing ourselves (and we can be pretty great at that)! But what can be much more difficult, but sooooo much more rewarding is looking towards The Lord and letting him make you into his disciple. I mean wow.

Lord,

My desire is to know you more and more everyday, I want to seek your face with a teachable spirit. Lead me Lord, help me listen. And mature my heart in you Father. 

amen

God has taught me so much about Him through Kyle. When I went to visit Kyle in Myrtle Beach these past few days, I was overwhelmed with how the Holy Spirit is moving, I am so happy. Some of the ways God speaks to me are, reading His word, praying, and listening and talking to other people about Him, and especially Kyle. He is teaching us so much, and I am excited to grow and learn even more about 

how to love

how to be joyful

how to be patient

how to be kind

how to be good

how to be faithful

how to be gentle

 how to have self-control

and above all 

how to become more like him so that I can love like him

because I am loved by him