I’ve never been a big fan of change. Ever since I was young any little change would throw me off. I remember I hated to move around my room because the first few nights I wouldn’t be able to sleep. Other people always loved changing things or didn’t really mind if things changed, where I would freak when things changed. In the last few weeks my good friend and roommate left and in a few days I’ll be moving out too and it brings back my reservations about change. But I’ve come to realize that as life comes we need to embrace change. I don’t mean just blow with the wind and change things just to because you’re bored but don’t stay away from change because of fear.
I think much of my problem is that I find comfort in routine. I like to know what happening and know what I’m going to do. A few years ago I made a choice to move to Florida which was a huge change. I wrestled with leaving all that I knew and coming to something totally unfamiliar. I’ve often thought why did I do it and I think what I’ve realized is that while a routine is good it can become so comfortable that it begins to numb us to what we have in our lives. I’ve learned in my walk with God He challenges me with change.
I remember battling with the idea of moving to Florida because I knew God was calling me to something else and I wanted to follow but I was paralyzed by this fear of change but of course He’s always more than faithful. I can’t imagine not moving to Florida its grown me in so many ways. What I’ve learned is my life isn’t mine the more and more I surrender to God the more He continues to show Himself faithful. “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21
When I was growing up I remember the beginning of summer being one of my favorite parts of the year. The relief of school being over, the warm weather, staying up late, and sleeping in. Then sometime in the last 6 years without warning what use to be 2 months of freedom has turned into a few days or a week of vacation here and there. And really its not that bad just changes in life. This summer which I would say began about 2 weeks ago has already become chaos. I can tell when life is getting chaotic my room, office and car all start to get a little messier than usual. I felt all of these the past week and I know its usually a time when I rush the important part of my life. I rush through conversations with people, start worrying a lot more, and see my dependency on myself become stronger than my dependency on Christ which usually leads to failure.
I’m the kind of person who doesn’t mind stressful moments sometimes I may even say that I enjoy them. But I know there comes a point when I feel as the weight of it all and loose my reliance on Christ. However during these moments is when God is begins to reveal Himself again. I grew up in a church that I wouldn’t say was legalistic but did preach the law heavily which I don’t is wrong. But from an early age I always grew up knowing that I’ve been redeemed of my sin but not fully understanding the fact that my sins have been cast to the deepest depths of the ocean. I’ve been reading Romans 3 this past week Paul says this
“But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. “
So many times I forget how powerful the love of Christ is for us. We fall to Satan’s lie that makes us think our sin is greater than Christ’s love for us or that it can separate us from the love of Christ. Roman 8 says “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[m] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Praise God that He has redeemed me and His love surpasses and covers all my sin.
Its been about 9 months now and this battle with the blog world has continued. I’m finishing a few months of craziness of school, traveling, and work. It’s the end of a relaxing day off with a little game of FIFA ‘09. I was recently re-reading a book called the Unquenchable Worshipper by Matt Redman. It one of those books that you can pick up and re-read and get something different out of it every time.
As I was reading I came across this statement “the heart of God loves a persevering worshipper who, though overwhelmed by many troubles, is overwhelmed even more by the beauty of God.” I’ve always been someone who loves nature. Not like the tree hugging loves nature but the rather be outside with fresh air than laying around or stuck in the office. But even since I was little I loved being outside. I always loved to travel just to see different terrain. It could be fields (though not my favorite), mountains, river, beaches or the ocean I was just mesmerized by it. In Romans 1 it says “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.” The last month I’ve been concentrating on the holiness of God. Not the idea of being set apart but the idea of Holy our God is.
I was in Indiana this last month and for the first time encountered a midwest thunderstorm (which I hope never happens again). But I was so blown away by the power of God. In Psalm 97 it talks about the power of our God and He is most high over all the earth. When I sat back in awe and this lightning I thought the creator of this lightning, the one that has the power to control the rotation of our planet, the one who allows the air to breathe, in all His vastness still loves us individually and though each of us doesn’t deserve it He’s grace has saved us and is sufficient. I don’t know but it becomes custom so many times that I think we let it become another thought that our all powerful God has allowed us to be used by Him so that He can receive the glory due to Him. It continually blows me away and I pray that it does that continually.
First of all Rock Camp 08 was awesome check it out at www.rockcamp08.com. Thank you to all the leaders and students that made it happen. I’ve been cooped up at home the last few days recovering from camp and some little rash I encountered from Kulaqua plant life. Plants always worry me. I’m getting ready for a student worship night on Wednesday @ 7pm at our RP Campus which I’m really excited about and then Ascent Night of Worship on Sunday night. Maybe with a quick Orlando visit somewhere in the middle. So if you’re reading this make sure you come out this Wed or Sun for the worship night hope to see you there.
I was driving down 95 around sunset time yesterday to Cityplace and started remembering the times when I use to come to Florida for vacation. I think living in Florida we become so use to the sun, nice weather, the color of the water, freak thunderstorms in the middle of the day, or watching lighting storms illuminate the sky during summer nights. I overwhelm myself with work, classes, and so many other things that I forget to enjoy living in paradise. I forget that I live 10 minutes from the beach and never enjoy it. So I encourage you in my 2nd blog to take time to enjoy that finer things of living in the 561.
