Convicting thoughts….

I haven't updated my blog for a very long time now. After some encouragement (more like yelling at me) by Ryan, telling me to update my blog!...I finally decided to…:)

I think I've allowed myself to be filled with a lot of internal strife, complaint and anger at God throughout the week, that I've lost sight of a few important things.

I've forgotten how much God does love me, and how without Christ, I would be living a life without the purposes of God, without joy, without hope, without knowing Christ. I've forgotten that it's not because of me or anything that I have done that God loves me and thinks about me, but because of His grace, and because of who He is. The song "Who am I" by Casting Crowns…..

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart
Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling Lord,
You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who
I am I am Yours

Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love and watch me rise again
Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me
Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are

I've let myself worry, and be pre-occupied by thoughts and motives that steal joy and deprive me of peace.

Matthew 6: 25-34

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

I realize that I think too much about myself. I think too much about what I want….what I hope for….my goals….my dreams….etc..and I've forgotten that I'm supposed to be taking up my cross and following Christ and living for something bigger than myself.

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it." (Luke 9:23, 24)

I've lost the passion that I once had for Christ. Life has been dry and meaningless at times.

you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:37 – 40)

I've forgotten that God wants us to take risks for Him. Oh! how I always want to feel safe and secure…but He wants us to take risks…

Isaiah 41:10 - So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Lastly I have forgotten that faith pleases God…

Hebrews 11: 6 - And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.