Just Breathe

Am I really listening or am I just ignoring?

For the past month I’ve been struggling with the fact that I feel like the Lord is asking me to quit one of the jobs I have. It’s been so hard for me because I can’t really afford to only work one job, I like the job I would be quitting, and the extra money I make there is helping me to save. In all honesty I’ve just been pretty scared because in my mind it would be a struggle, and not as secure as I am now. It would mean I would actually have to put some real trust and faith in the Lord instead of just pretending I’m trusting him like a lot of us do sometimes.

Every time I would hear the Lords gently nudge of “please be obedient, I want you to quit this job,” I would give the Lord some excuse like, “well I can’t afford it, plus I’m saving so much money and that’s wise.” And with that he would always bring Matthew 6:19 to my mind which says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.” After he would remind me of that little gem in the bible, I would try to just avoid it and not really think about it at all. Yet somehow all throughout the day I would hear him whisper, “Just TRUST me Charity, just trust me.”  

Today as I drove home I had a podcast playing but I wasn’t really focussed on what was being preached because I was deep in thought in my own head. This issue weighed heavier on my heart than I could handle. The thought alone of how disobedient I have been and how much I’ve put my trust and invested in a paycheck here on Earth was just sickening me inside. 

I ran home long enough to change my clothes from one job and head back out to the other but I decided to stop and ask my mom to pray for me because I told her what I felt like the Lord was saying to me. Of course she had a few quick wise and encouraging words as always and I was on my way. As I walked out of the door to my car I was on the verge of tears and thinking, “I just don’t know how I’m going to do this. Is this really what you want me to do Lord?” As I got in my car and started to turn the key the podcast started blaring right in the middle of the sentence…. “JUST SURRENDER IT TO ME, I REALLY WILL TAKE CARE OF THINGS” blasted through my speakers and I  instantly began to sob. 

I still have no idea what the rest of the podcast is even about but the Lord had that podcast play on my way home and cued up for his perfect purpose when I got back into my car. I just want to say that the Lord is faithful even though we may not be sometimes. Even though we may need him to tell us the same thing 900 times until we get it through our heads, he is patient with us. He takes the time to speak to us individually and clearly until he knows when we will listen. He deals with us on a personal level.

So tomorrow I’m going to go put in my 2 weeks notice that I’m quitting and I’m going to trust in my heavenly Father. I’ll be honest I am still a bit nervous about quitting, but I have a perfect peace and confidence that the Lord is going to take care of me. Like I said, He is faithful, and there is no denying that. For he even takes care of and watches over the birds so how much more valuable am I to him. He is my God, and I want to please him in ALL that I do.

Hebrews 13:5

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

HE IS RISEN!

Reality Check

Stop making a checklist of the qualities you want your future spouse to have, and instead start making a checklist of the qualities the Lord wants YOU to have FOR your future spouse.

Truth is not a teaching, truth is a person.

Your debts are being paid one of two places, at the cross or in hell. Which one are you choosing?

If you don’t want to spend time with Him now, what makes you think you will want to in Heaven?

“If your heart takes more pleasure in reading novels, or watching TV, or going to the movies, or talking to friends, rather than just sitting alone with God and embracing Him, sharing His cares and His burdens, weeping and rejoicing with Him, then how are you going to handle forever and ever in His presence…? You’d be bored to tears in heaven, if you’re not ecstatic about God now!”  -Keith Green

Don’t Get it Twisted

I’m sitting here tonight, and I’m just thinking how I’ve gotten things so twisted. I’m thinking about all the times I’ve felt so proud because I’ve “given up” or “sacrificed” something for the Lord. I’ve gotten rid of movies, music, tv shows, books, language, even friends all because I felt a conviction. After it was all said and done I would pat myself on the back and think to myself, “good job Charity that was pretty hard but I bet God is really proud of ya for laying that down.” 

I am disgusted and embarrassed at the thought of myself acting this way. I won’t even get into the prideful side of things thinking I sacrificed something by myself instead of God’s grace, but rather let’s focus on the fact that there is no real sacrifice when we give something up or hand it over to the Lord. Let’s focus on the fact that everything you could possibly give up or sacrifice is rubbish! What you hand over/sacrifice to the Lord is usually selfish, prideful, indulgent junk (sin) and it’s absolute garbage in comparison to the amazing gift he hands back to us. 

Don’t kid yourself and pat yourself on the back for laying something down at his feet because it’s not all that great when you think about it in comparison to His gift to us. I just have to say, there is no true sacrifice on our part when we hand over trash to the one who created us, and he hands back eternal life. 

He is a good God and being called to a higher standard, living holy, set apart, and not of this world isn’t a sacrifice….it’s a privilege….so don’t get it twisted. :]