So today I had some time to kind of hang out and do whatever. After some frustrating news I decided that I was going to go spend some quiet time with God. I decided to try to find a quiet place full of nature in the city. I did some searching and found a beautiful waterfall that just happened to be minutes from my house. It seemed like a perfect place to read and what not. So I made my way there and I sat to enjoy the hidden place in the city. After several minutes I decided to "get down to business".
I tried to read some in Ephesians... but I got nowhere. Then I tried to read a book, and got nowhere either. I was frustrated why God would not speak to me through this. Then finally He said, "Hey, I love you. Please just enjoy my company and relax". I finally did and just felt His joy and his presence.
I enjoyed God and while I did I journaled some and I realized something. I don't give God enough credit. I realized this as I sat beside the pool at the bottom of this beautiful waterfall. Here I saw fish, frogs, crawfish, gorgeous dragonflies, and numerous other of God's creation. In the midst of chaos and hustle of a city sits a perfect example of what God can do and how beautiful God can make chaos. I realized how many times I've walked past God beauty and passed it off as same old same old or everyday. I walk past a blooming rose bush or smile tulips and think they are pretty but I don't give credit to God.
From there my mind began to realize how often small things happen in my life and I give myself credit or think they were just luck. Simply things in life like a cool cloudless sky on a ride home or warm sunshine at just the right time. I think of oh how luck I am and not God smiling down on His creation at just the time His creation needed it. How great and personal is our God?
Finally, as I sat by the waterfall God smiled at me and said, "You see this waterfall? I created it for you". My God looked down when He was creating the world and knew that someday I would need that waterfall to sit and reflect. Man does God love me!!! It's funny that I had all these plans for reading and studying and seeking. All God wanted was for me to be with Him. He wanted me to be there then, in that moment.
I hope as you read through this you know just how desperately God loves you and wants to spend time with you, and, above all, wants to have that deep personal relationship with you. Stop and just listen, you never know what he wants to tell you. God bless.
With Christ's love,
Optimistic Prim
optimisticprime15@gmail.com
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Monday, May 7, 2012
Thank God I read Job!!
On Sunday the church I attend was continuing a series going through Exodus and the Israelites and Moses. The teacher was covering the final plague that God used to bring His people out of Egypt and from under Pharaoh's control. It was the killing of the first born males. Animals and humans a like would have their first borns killed. The only ones to be spared were those who had the blood over their door. The blood of a spotless first born lamb. God then calls the Israelites to remember this through Passover. This is also a foreshadowing to Christ and what he has done for us. Like in the original Passover, there is a choice to be made. We must choose to put Christ's blood around our door. We must choose His grace and redemption. (This story can be found in the first part of Exodus. From Moses birth through the plagues)
This is information that I have known but God put it on my heart a new way on Sunday. There is nothing I can do to my door myself. I can lock it, I can bar it I can do whatever I want, but the angel of death does not discriminate. I saw this picture of a door. On that door was my name. In big letters, there it was. The only thing that can stop be from certain death is for me to accept Christ blood and to put that around my door. I must accept the fact that Jesus, as my lamb, died. He died, however, not for humanity. He died for me. He died, suffered, bled, felt more pain that I ever could because He thought of me. He looked down from the cross as said "Optimistic, I forgive you and your sins are forgiven. I loved you enough to do this." He died because He knew I needed it. Just this thought of Christ moved me to tears. To be able to grasp that personal love of my creator. He loves me and He created me for Him. What a beautiful and moving picture of Christ? This also means that every time I allow sin to win I am telling Christ "sorry it just wasn't enough for you to die". A bit of a sobering thought, perhaps, but also powerful.
That's not all He laid on my heart though. These last few month have been tough, needless to say. I have no idea what the future holds for me, my job is not exactly paying me, and I've had some health scares. It has been trying on my and on my faith. Where is God going with all this? As I sat in church and reflected on Christ's decision to save me God said asked me if I remember reading about Job. If you remember from earlier in this blog I read through Job. What an awesome man of God? He was incredible. He was stripped of everything and yet he believed in God. Now I am in no way saying I am Job or I have remotely suffered like he did. It made me think though. If Job can do it with what Satan took from him, why can't I. I have to just keep putting one foot in front of the other. I need to remain faithful to my God. There were times when Job wished he was dead, he wished it would just all end. Most of the time, he didn't even get anything from God letting him know he was going to be ok. Yet, he remained faithful. I say this not because I want your sympathy or anything. It's just what's going on and on my heart. Who know's where God is taking me. I know it may get worse. But God has deemed me worthy of going through this. He thinks I have what it takes. I Corinthians 10:13 essentially says that God will never let us be tempted beyond what we can handle and He will never give us anything we can't take. God has deemed me a man. I have what it takes (prayers for strength are welcomed though). I know it won't be easy but I welcome where God takes me because I'm being seasoned and readied for His glory.
I hope this encourages anyone going through crap in their life that seems to overbearing and to heavy. Remember, God wouldn't let you face it if He didn't think you could do it. Step up to the plate and be ready to fight (perhaps a mixed metaphor but you get the point). Don't be disheartened by trials and struggles. Remember it is God's faith in your strength. God truly blew my mind with this one, I hope you receive as much hope from this as it gave me.
With all the love of Christ
Optimistic Prime
Hey don't forget you are always welcome to ask me whatever questions or comments you have. I am by no means the final word on anything. These are simply my thoughts and feels and am welcome to anything God has laid on your heart in opposition or agreement with anything I write.
This is information that I have known but God put it on my heart a new way on Sunday. There is nothing I can do to my door myself. I can lock it, I can bar it I can do whatever I want, but the angel of death does not discriminate. I saw this picture of a door. On that door was my name. In big letters, there it was. The only thing that can stop be from certain death is for me to accept Christ blood and to put that around my door. I must accept the fact that Jesus, as my lamb, died. He died, however, not for humanity. He died for me. He died, suffered, bled, felt more pain that I ever could because He thought of me. He looked down from the cross as said "Optimistic, I forgive you and your sins are forgiven. I loved you enough to do this." He died because He knew I needed it. Just this thought of Christ moved me to tears. To be able to grasp that personal love of my creator. He loves me and He created me for Him. What a beautiful and moving picture of Christ? This also means that every time I allow sin to win I am telling Christ "sorry it just wasn't enough for you to die". A bit of a sobering thought, perhaps, but also powerful.
That's not all He laid on my heart though. These last few month have been tough, needless to say. I have no idea what the future holds for me, my job is not exactly paying me, and I've had some health scares. It has been trying on my and on my faith. Where is God going with all this? As I sat in church and reflected on Christ's decision to save me God said asked me if I remember reading about Job. If you remember from earlier in this blog I read through Job. What an awesome man of God? He was incredible. He was stripped of everything and yet he believed in God. Now I am in no way saying I am Job or I have remotely suffered like he did. It made me think though. If Job can do it with what Satan took from him, why can't I. I have to just keep putting one foot in front of the other. I need to remain faithful to my God. There were times when Job wished he was dead, he wished it would just all end. Most of the time, he didn't even get anything from God letting him know he was going to be ok. Yet, he remained faithful. I say this not because I want your sympathy or anything. It's just what's going on and on my heart. Who know's where God is taking me. I know it may get worse. But God has deemed me worthy of going through this. He thinks I have what it takes. I Corinthians 10:13 essentially says that God will never let us be tempted beyond what we can handle and He will never give us anything we can't take. God has deemed me a man. I have what it takes (prayers for strength are welcomed though). I know it won't be easy but I welcome where God takes me because I'm being seasoned and readied for His glory.
I hope this encourages anyone going through crap in their life that seems to overbearing and to heavy. Remember, God wouldn't let you face it if He didn't think you could do it. Step up to the plate and be ready to fight (perhaps a mixed metaphor but you get the point). Don't be disheartened by trials and struggles. Remember it is God's faith in your strength. God truly blew my mind with this one, I hope you receive as much hope from this as it gave me.
With all the love of Christ
Optimistic Prime
Hey don't forget you are always welcome to ask me whatever questions or comments you have. I am by no means the final word on anything. These are simply my thoughts and feels and am welcome to anything God has laid on your heart in opposition or agreement with anything I write.
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