Turning the page...

I love a new journal.  If you looked around my house you would find a dozen journals half full.
There is just something about a fresh, clean, crisp new journal.  I will pour my heart into a journal, all the joys, pains, sorrows, and accomplishments will fill the pages again and again; but there is just always this longing to start fresh, to start anew.  We all long for fresh starts, new beginnings, seasons where the old can be put on a shelf and the new is fresh at hand.

When I think about my story though, the words on the pages of my journals--there is always this longing for the manuscript of my life to mean so much more.  I get frustrated by my own emotions, I beat myself up for my lack of perfection, I cry out in fear as dreams and longings are not yet met....
because in the end I realize that my story is not my own.  This is when I long to put the current journal aside, and start anew---to open to that first blank page, and with a change of heart, and a willing hand, pray that God would take my pen and write the story He has for me.

My selfish desires arise again and again, and I constantly try to take back the pen, but God is so patient and so gentle in reminding me that His story is so much greater than any story I could dream of myself.  He then, turns the page, and allows me to start again---He is the giver of fresh pages, of new beginnings, of powerful words, and amazing stories.

Everyday and every page is an opportunity to allow God to take the pen and write for us.
He is the author of our story.

So on this crisp brand new page, my heart writes...
"Empty me of all I know...
Turn the page to something new...
Write on my heart your truth,
that my story may be less of me and more of you."

Courage in the Stillness

"Still" by Chris and Bethany Solynjes

"Don't you know I calmed the raging sea? 

Don't you know I hold your heart? 

Child, listen, slow down, slow down, slow down, oh...

I speak to you in miracles, I show love through my power, 

but sometimes just be still and know that 'I Am'."

  This week in the midst of emotion, in the midst of weariness, in the midst of fear, I heard God gently say, "my child...be still."  I never knew there could be so much power in such a gentle response.  Our first instinct is always to fight, to speak out, to run--but God says to just be still and know that "I Am."  

Are we okay with the silence of that moment?  

Are we okay with simply being still?

Let God wash over you with love today as He reveals His power in your circumstances--You need only to be Still.

I Surrender All...

The old hymn, "I surrender All" came on the radio this morning, but it's words felt new to my heavy soul.  A song so simple in lyrics but yet so profound to our Christian Faith.

I came to God today feeling like I had failed in my resolutions, in my plans, in my attempts at living out His will and purpose for my life and these were His sweet words to me...

Resolutions (Hopes/Dreams) are not bad--I give men visions of things to come but those visions have a purpose of hope and not weariness.  I give visions to show the promises I have spoken over you--promises that I will fulfill.  You take my visions and stress and plan and plead for understanding. I'm not asking you to understand--I'm asking you to have faith.  Visions are not given to be fulfilled by man--they are given to show that I operate above the power and abilities of man.  Visions are my promise to you--my gift of hope.  Hope is to bring peace and joy--an excitement to cherish in the every day for greater things to come.  You are meant only to focus on today and put your hope in me for tomorrow.  You must surrender your will to me so that you are free to operate daily in my will and not your own.  Let go of what you can't control and hold on to me.

This year my resolution is simply to surrender.  I will hold on to hope and let go of control.

God's will for us this day is to seek Him in prayer and simply ask,
"Lord what is your will for me today?"

"All to thee my precious Savior, I surrender all."