God is faithful. He is so very faithful. He is faithful when we are not and He is at work even when we can't see it. He is with us when we feel alone and He is strong when we are weak. Recently, the word faithful has just been ringing in my ears and everywhere I go, I'm continually reminded of our God's faithfulness and His provision. Here are just a few places God has been revealing His faithfulness to me recently...
I look at my relationship with Jeremy and I see the Lord's fingerprints all over it, so much so that it literally blows my mind and makes me giggle. A year ago at this very time, I was struggling so badly with intense feelings for him and was desperately crying out to God to instill those same feelings within Jeremy (or take my feelings away!). Now, here I sit basking in countless answered prayers and smile at this new reality of doing life alongside my best friend. During the times of waiting and impatience, God was there and He was working things out just as He knew was best. He was preparing Jeremy and I for one another even when I didn't think it was possible and He was moving so powerfully in both of our lives even at times that I struggled to accept His strength. I am continually reminded of God's faithfulness when I reflect upon my earthly romance and am in awe of the way God uses our earthly relationships to teach us more about Himself and reveal more of who He is to us. I see God in the ways Jeremy serves me and the way he cares for me. I see God in the ways he loves those around him and in the way he ministers to the people God has placed along his path. I see God in the way Jeremy speaks words of encouragement to me and in the way he sees beauty in the way God made me. And I see God in the way He is continually shaping us into the man and woman He created us to be as long as we are willing to listen and be obedient to His will.
Not only have I seen God's faithfulness clear as day in my relationship with Jeremy, but I've also seen it through my Shift group girls. God has been so faithful in His work in each of their lives and has blessed me so richly by getting to pour into them each Wednesday night. Each of the girls has grown so much and it's been incredible to see the way God has brought us all together and instilled friendships within this community of girls. While I've seen God at work all throughout this past semester, He made His power felt tonight more than ever. Tonight after Synergy, Erin and I got to baptize one of our girls! Emilee decided late last week that she was ready to surrender her old life and accept a new life in Christ. And so tonight, the three of us stood in the waters of baptism and we got to welcome a new member to God's family. What a cool moment and humbling experience it was to partake in.
Pappy is another way God's been revealing His faithfulness to me. Every single day, I pray for Pappy's strength and ask that the Lord would give him energy and bless him with a good day. I know that God hears these prayers and that He is answering them. I also know that God is preparing a place for my Pappy to spend with Him for all of eternity and that is the epitome of His faithfulness. He has promised us Heaven and is faithful to sustain us here on this Earth until He's ready to call us Home to be with Him. God is faithful through Pappy's illness and He continues to show His faithfulness in His promise to be our Refuge and Shelter, our peace in this storm, our Rock, and our Salvation.
(This is one of my favorite pictures of Pappy, taken last Father's Day.)
(Here are the oldest & youngest members of our wonderful family, taken this past Friday. You can tell Pappy's not quite as "fluffy" as he used to be. And yet, he's such a strong and loving man who's dedicated to living each to the fullest, even as his earthly body is failing him and God prepares a new and healthy eternal body for him in Heaven.)
I've also seen God's faithfulness in a story I read about a little baby named Nora Rose. The other day, I stumbled across a blog by an incredible, Christian mother who just gave birth to a precious baby girl with Trisomy 18. You'll have to read the blog for yourself (you may need a few tissues) but even just through reading this blog, my heart has been touched and I've seen God's faithfulness through baby Nora's story. Here's the link to her blog...http://iwillcarryyou.wordpress.com/#. (Read "Day 4" if you really feel like crying ;))
There's so much more I want to say but it's getting late and my little eyes are getting heavy. I'm planning on getting back into the habit of posting all that I'm learning on a more regular basis...school just got a little intense these past few weeks hence the lack of blogging haha. Until then, please be reminded that God is so very faithful. He is good and He continues to reveal Himself to me in new and unexpected ways. He is better than we could ever hope to be, His timing is perfect, and He is above all things. I pray that you would rest in the comfort that He works all things together for your good and I hope that you would seek to know and love him more every single day.
[[Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.]] -Psalm 36:5
Oh...and I wanted to share a few songs that have been my most recent "life songs." I hope you enjoy them as much as I do and that God uses these simple lyrics to speak His truth into your life.
