"I Can't Do This Anymore!"

"I can't do this anymore!"

That statement has been my most often quoted-to-self statement. And, it's quite true. Without Christ, I cannot do this, much less do this anymore. 

I have had quite a summer. I had looked forward to a "break", whatever that means for me, but between work and still-unresolved health issues, it has been anything but a break. By the end of the school year, I was physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally drained and ready to spend my summer in bed. However, that idea was not based upon reality. So, I went on the job hunt, and God faithfully provided jobs for me (one as a nanny, and one in a daycare with infants).

I knew it was going to be hard to take on two jobs, but I didn't remember just how hard it would be. Working with kids can be very rewarding, but when you don't have much energy output to begin with, it can be quite challenging. I have almost made it to the end though. I have about 3 more weeks of work before school will start back up.

This entire summer, I have been telling myself over and over again of my inability to continue on. I think this self talk has occurred daily. Even so, whenever I have made that statement, "I can't do this anymore!" I hear that still, small voice say, "Exactly!" and I am reminded that I am not going to be able to do this on my own strength. It is essential that I abide constantly in Him. I am not in this alone, and I most certainly cannot do this alone. I guess that is the point He has been making ALL summer and it has taken me this long to get it.   

'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

~2 Corinthians 12:9~

I am going to be replacing my negative self-talk with this verse. I know it is something that is going to continue to be necessary not only through this summer, but also throughout the school year and after that...every day of my life. I'm so thankful that my loving Father has not left me to do this by myself. Life is most certainly not always easy, but living life with Him by my side gives me the power to make it through every trial and weakness.

Isaiah 40:29,31

"He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
But those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint."

Isn't it so great that no matter how low we go and how helpless we feel He is there and He picks up? I'm so thankful for His strength, His truth, and His unending, unfailing promises. When we put all our worries, fears, and hopes in His hands we will be free to soar on wings like eagles. Hope in the Lord, He is the source of all strength.

I'm Learning...

One of the hardest verses in Scripture to follow:

Wait on the LORD;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the LORD!

~Psalm 27:14~

But, God is good. He has a plan. He will reveal His plan in His timing. I meanwhile have to keep moving forward in obedience to His will. I've finally found peace in my waiting. I've finally taken my hands off of the steering wheel. The time I have been spending with God has been beautiful. I'm learning and I'm in a process, but I know God is revealing Himself to me. I don't know how to express all that He is doing in my life, but I can say this, I at last have found peace. I give thanks to all who have been praying for me. Your prayers are being answered.

Matthew 5:3-12 (The Message)

"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.

"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.

"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.

"You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.

"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.

"Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.

~Jesus~

The Difference Between Romance and Love

Romance is flying.
Love is safe landing.

Romance is seeking perfection.
Love is forgiving faults.

Romance is fleeting.
Love is long.

Romance is the anguish of waiting for the phone to ring to bring you words of endearment.
Love is anguish of waiting for a call that will assure you that someone else is happy and safe.

Romance is eager-striving always to appear attractive to each other.
Love is two people who find beauty in each other-no matter how they look.

Romance is dancing in the moonlight, gazing deep into desired eyes across a candlelit table.
Love says, "You're tired, honey. I'll get up this time," as you stumble through the darkness to warm a bottle or comfort a frightened child.

Romance is flattering attention.
Love is genuine thoughtfulness.

Romance is suspense, anticipation, surprise.
Love is dependability.

Romance is tingling excitement.
Love is tenderness, constancy, being cherished.

Romance is delicious.
Love nourishes.

Romance can't last.
Love can't help it.

~Marjorie Holmes~

My God Sees My Needs

(I thought I would combine a couple of articles and some Scripture on this one since they all go together so well. It works best to read the articles as you come to the link.)

Boundless.org has been such an encouragement to me. They recently posted this article.
Here are some Scipture verses that have also been reiterated over and over to me recently (All from The Message translation).

Don't bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn't a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we're in. If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn't think of such a thing. You're at least decent to your own children. So don't you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better? ~Matthew 7:7-11

You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus~ Phil. 4:19

If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.~Matt. 6:33-34

God is confirming over and over again that I have no reason to worry about money or if I'll be provided for. Even now, when I have so many unexpected expenses pop up each month, there's always money to cover them. (How? I have no idea!) I read a guest post on Crystal's blog today called, Trusting God For Provision.
It's so neat to see how everything I'm reading blends together so wonderfully and only strengthens my faith in my God. My God who sees all my needs, big and small, will provide for them all.

The Power of Friends

Ecclesiates 4:9-12

It's better to have a partner than go it alone.
Share the work, share the wealth.
And if one falls down, the other helps,
But if there's no one to help, tough!

Two in a bed warm each other.
Alone, you shiver all night.

By yourself you're unprotected.
With a friend you can face the worst.
Can you round up a third?
A three-stranded rope isn't easily snapped.

Yes, we very much need each other. God didn't make mankind to be loners. He created the church body for our good. We all work as a unit, and none of us can function properly without the other parts. Don't ever neglect friendships and relationships, they are what every aspect of life is truly about. Remember, "With a friend you can face the worst."

The Way of Love

1 Corinthians 13 (The Message)

If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.

When I was an infant at my mother's breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good.

We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!

But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.

Not exactly a typical American (emotionally driven) definition of love, is it? Notice that 1 Corinthians 13 never once mentions the emotional accompaniment to love. Let's remember what God says love is this Valentines Day.