refreshing words {trusting in jesus}.

yesterday's jesus calling reading. love, love, love this lil book and how it applies to my heart every.single.day.

"i want you to learn a new habit. try saying 'i trust you jesus' in response to whatever happens to you. if there is time, think about who i am in all my power and glory; ponder also the depth and breadth of my love for you.

this simple practice will help you see me in every situation, acknowledging my sovereign control over the universe. when you view events from this perspective--through the light of my universal presence--fear loses its grip on you. adverse circumstances become growth opportunities when you affirm you trust in me no matter what. you receive blessings gratefully, realizing they flow directly from my hand of grace. your continual assertion of trusting me will strengthen our relationship and keep you close to me."

(psalm 63:2, isaiah 40:10-11, psalm 139:7-10)

may i strive to have this be my response: i trust you jesus. loosen fear's grip on me. i am yours, lord. may i trust you more this year that i did in the last one.

refreshing words {his strength in our weaknesses}.

i was thumbing through jesus calling tonight, my ultimate favorite devotional, and came across this reading i remember seeing this summer. it just spoke perfectly to my heart tonight, and i had to share it.

as i've written about before, seven years ago my dad was diagnosed with a rare liver disease. he's probably had six beers in his entire life, so it has nothing to do with alcohol. just one of those fluke things in life that doesn't seem fair. it's been a hard journey over the years for all of us to trust god in our fears, to accept this turn of events, and to watch dad suffer and grow more and more sick.

i guess you never know what you can handle until you're in the middle of it and you're still surviving. that's how the past couple of weeks have been for me, my mom and my sister. my dad's health has gone downhill so fast. he's been hospitalized in boston for over a week now, his disease aggressive and progressing. we don't know what's next... sometimes it seems hopeless... other times i can barely see what the next moment holds, let alone tomorrow, next week, or next month.

that's why this reading spoke to beautifully to my heart tonight:

"come to me when you are weak and weary. rest snugly in my everlasting arms. i do not despise your weakness, my child. actually, it draws me closer to you, because weakness stirs up my compassion--my yearning to help. accept yourself in your weariness, knowing that i understand how difficult your journey has been.

do not compare yourself with others, who seem to skip along their life paths with ease. their journeys have been different from yours, and i have gifted them with abundant energy. i have gifted you with fragility, providing opportunities for your spirit to blossom in my presence. accept this gift as a sacred treasure: delicate, yet glowing with brilliant light. rather than struggling to disguise or deny your weakness, allow me to bless you richly through it."

(isaiah 42:3, isaiah 54:10, romans 8:26)

the beautiful words of jesus. what i'm clinging to now and always.

always on time.

waiting is never easy. almost exactly three months ago, nick&i packed all of our belongings into a bright yellow penske truck and drove thousands of miles to our new home, leaving behind the comfort, safety and familiarity of our life in dallas. there, we knew what would happen next. we both had jobs, life felt secure and predictible. which is how we like it, right?

three months ago, we began our new life in maine. and what a journey it has been! living with my parents while we get our new home ready, mailing off applications after applications, interviewing, praying, waiting... and repeat.

phew.

throughout these past few months, god has been beyond faithful. the moments i've felt weak, discouraged or scared, he has provided. scripture verses that i had grown to take for granted, god resurfaced in my mind... anchoring my heart in its truth.

we knew this was where god had lead us. we knew he would provide for us. we knew he had a perfect plan for our family...even though we didn't always feel it.

the saying is true: god is never late. he is always on time.

a couple of weeks ago, i accepted a position as a school counselor at an elementary school three days a week. knowing it was part time, i'd have vacations, holidays, snow days and the summers off, i couldn't pass it up! especially since school counseling is what i ultimately have been wanting to do... god was working for our family and he was reminding us of that, even when we couldn't see what he was up to. just today i finalized care for bel for the days i won't be with her... which has been agonizing to my mama-heart. but even in that, god has shown up. our pastor's wife is going to watch her two days a week, and my sister will watch her one day. bella will have socialization with other children (tanya's sweet little baby whose name is also bella who my bella loves to touch and call "baby! baby!" and my nephew jude who is bella's best bud) aaaand she will be watched by caring women who love god and will love my baby so well. we couldn't be more grateful!

just this week, nick interviewed for a physics and chemistry teaching job at a local high school. about two hours after he left from his interview, they called and offered him the job! i am SO proud of him. after a few hoops to jump through because of certification, he signed paperwork on tuesday and started training yesterday. school starts next week.

that's right... god is always on time :)

i'm so thankful for this summer of waiting on god's plans for provision for our family, even though it was stressful and scary at times. sarah young, in her book jesus calling, talks about looking at trials in life as opportunities to work our "trust muscles". how true.

we know that through this season of trust and blind faith, god has made us stronger for the next part of the journey he has us on. and for that, we are thankful.

"trust in the lord will all of your heart, and not on your own understanding. in all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths." (proverbs 3:5,6)

refreshing words {living in the moment}.

nick&i found a new devotional that we *love*. since graduating from seminary four years ago, i have struggled with my quiet time. it's like a piece in my brain is now far too analytical sometimes for my own good.

i'm working on that.

but we recently bought jesus calling, by sarah young and it is refreshment for my soul. she writes so tenderly, in the words of jesus speaking to his children, rather than readings written out of do's and don'ts of the christian life. ms. young works as a christian counselor, so i'm sure that is why my heart is so drawn to her writing style; gentle, loving, peaceful. this devotional has ministered to me so much that i am going to start posting a few of the readings that have especially encouraged me.

here was yesterdays... it spoke so much to my heart with where nick&i are right now in our life transition and trusting god to put all the puzzle pieces together, even when we can't see how he will do it:

"rest with me a while. you have journeyed up a steep, rugged path in recent days. the way ahead is shrouded in uncertainty. look neither behind you nor before you. instead, focus your attention on me, your constant companion. trust that i will equip you fully for whatever awaits you on your journey.

i designed time to be a protection for you. you couldn't bear to see all your life at once. though i am unlimited by time, it is in the present moment that i meet you. refresh yourself in my company, breathing deep draughts of my presence. the highest level of trust is to enjoy me moment by moment. i am with you, watching over you wherever you go."

(psalm 143:8, genesis 28:15)

if you are looking for something to read each day that will refresh your heart and mind and bring you closer to the heart of jesus, check out this book. a-mazing. there's nothing more life changing than reading what the god of this universe would say to me.