Spiritual Low

You often hear the phrase, “More prayer, More power.” but underestimate the power of the quote. December 2012 I completed a year of daily writing a prayer out to God. Many times, I felt almost as though I was mundanely telling Him everything He already knew. At the beginning of this year, I began to forget about my prayer journal, placing it on my shelf and not touching it for about three or so months. It was not until about two weeks ago that I had one of the most stressful weeks of my life. The stress was stacked so high that I couldn’t sleep at all, so I took my prayer journal back off the shelf and began to write everything down. It took hours, and my hand was sore, but my faith was strengthened. For the last three months, I have been feeling as though I am on a spiritual low, and haven’t been able to “fix” it. Unfortunately it took me these three months to realize that my communication with God had been lacking. I have heard so many times that Satan wants to take prayer out of churches and our personal lives because that is what keeps us connected with God, but I never applied that to my own life. Today is a beginning of a new life, where my prayer journal will be taken off the shelf for life. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.- Philippians 4:6-7

Fill My Cup

I stood on the ocean shore, the waves breaking right before my feet, the brisk wind kissing my face as it passed by. My eyes and thoughts searched for miles, it seemed that I had reached the end of soil and water went on for eternity. I imagined myself as a cup and God as the all the waters of the earth. Someone once asked me, “If you were a cup, and God was all of the bodies of water on the Earth, who are you to think that you can fit everything about God in your simple little cup?” Truth is, He is all-powerful, He has power beyond our imagination, and compassion beyond our vision. Truth is, He is bigger than all of the waters on the Earth, He created the water. Truth is, we can live our whole entire life getting to know Him better, and we will always have something to learn about Him, He is beyond us in everyway. Isaiah 55:9 says, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your was, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” God could drown us with His power, but He gently fills our cup when the time is right. A friend of mine has been praying for something for twelve years. This past week, she was struggling with God’s plan, and why He hadn’t answered her request. At her lowest time, God filled her cup and answered her prayer request. His thoughts are far beyond our thoughts, and His ways are far beyond our ways. Trust in Him, and He will guide and direct your path. 

"We Love You Back"

The other day a couple friends of mine and I were praying on the phone together. As one closed his prayer, he said “we love you back”. It is so true, we didn’t love God first, so why do we say, “we love you” or “I love you”. Did we forget that Jesus laid down His life because His indescribable love for us?  So many times we like to take credit for what is God’s. I am not blaming anyone, I daily fall into the same trap, but his quote was a simple reminder that I need to consider where I place credit for my thoughts and actions.  This weekend is a reminder of the incredible Sacrifice Jesus experienced. Consider what Christ has done for you, and how you can return that love for Him. 

Different Plan

My alarm went off, and before I knew it, my hand clicked the snooze button. Several times I mindlessly clicked snooze as I dozed off between each ring. Next thing I remember, I grasped my phone and viewed the time. It was 9:26, and I was supposed to be at Sabbath School at 9:30… My half asleep apathy decided that since church was just several doors down from me, I would collect myself and go for church. 10:40 came buy quickly and I hurried down the hall to the chapel where ARME was located for the morning. So far, the meetings had been excellent, uplifting. Ivor Myer’s spoke for church…Mind Blown. His message was spoken just for me. He trailed through the Bible and how each book of the Bible is a part of the Great controversy. I wish everyone could have heard the sermon; it blew me out of the water. The depth, and enthusiasm, and detail were phenomenal. It was there that I came to terms that God may have a different plan in mind for me than I was thinking. I wish so badly that I could express what I learned. My mind was on so many different ideas. It was so uplifting to go to the united prayer sessions. I didn’t go to the all night session, and I wish I had, I loath the fact that I rejected that opportunity to pray and hear blessings and be blessed. God's plan has been profusely on my mind this week, wondering what He really wants me to do. This evening, I went for a run, and after my run, I decided to spend time with God. So, I sat near a stream, and prayed. The peace that passes all understanding was present. To sit there and listen, and talk to God was fulfilling. I addressed topics that I have questions about, and may not have gotten a direct answer, but I have peace that God will lead in where He wants me for next year. So many times I find myself talking to God, but not listening. So I made it a focus to listen… Every time I take out quality time for God, I wonder why I don’t do it more often. He is so incredible, and there is something completely healing about being in His presence spending time with Him. So tender and refreshing. His will be done.

Only the Beginning

I was exhilarated. It was my first road trip without an adult, not that we would have done anything against the law anyways. I had been thinking about this trip for seven months, and planning for about three, and we were successful. My roommate and I pulled together a group, and headed on our way to Folly Beach, Carolina for some surfing. Eventful was an understatement. Several interesting stories have accumulated from the trip, but I will begin at the beginning. We stepped on the gas, and arrived at our campsite ten minutes from the beach we were to surf at. Just like most camping trips, we set up our tents and moseyed around searching for firewood. After our successful search, we built a fire, made and ate dinner, had worship, and drifted off to bed. Day one, and our trip was a success. Day two, lead into some surprise. We got together; deciding that we were going to go walk along the beach for some time, then tour the city.  Upon arriving at the beach, the four of us walked and chatted about our adventure. In the distance we spotted remainder stumps from an old dock. Our imagination wandered as we stood on the remainder stumps and attempted karate. I glanced back at the sand, and noticed a flawlessly flat spot that was perfect for a handstand. While the others were distracted, I pranced about ten feet up placed my hands in the sand and bounced, kicking one foot in the air. One second, I imagined my handstand to be perfect, and the next, I was efficiently curling up into a ball as I heard my pants tear. I noted that the new addition to my pants was about ten inches long and about two and a half inches wide. Perfect for exposure to anyone who stood in front of me. After collecting myself from laughter, I took my sweatshirt off, and wore it as an apron until I arrived at a gas station with a change of clothes. That was only the beginning to our adventures.