If By Grace

If by grace... Salvation.  The gift of God's only begotten Son to us, so we can reign forever with Him.  Salvation is a hard thing to grasp.  It is so simple, and yet to our human minds it is more than complex.  Do you mean to tell me that God gave His only son to cover my sins, and all I have to do is believe him?   I don't have to work?  Surely God wouldn't just want me to believe him... that is much to simple!  Many of us protest..  and yet it is what God requires.  Simply believe.

Grace: the free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from him.  How true this is!  Grace is the free, unmerited love and favor of God.  God sent his only son, Jesus Christ, to be the blood sacrifice for our sins.  Jesus Christ, who knew no sin, was crucified so that we could be with God eternally.  How unmerited is that love!

 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.~ Ephesians 2:1-10

Joy in Contentment

 I have been thinking a lot about thankfulness lately.  People that are thankful are such a joy and a blessing to be around.  If you are helping a thankful person, and serving them, no matter how hard the task... a thankful person makes you feel really special.  Thankful people are just a joy to be around!  So that made me start thinking... What causes thankfulness and joy?

I think I boiled it down to contentement.  It's one word packed with meaning.  I think it's a little bit like trust.  Content means: rest or quietness of the mind in the present condition; satisfaction which holds the mind in peace, restraining complaint, opposition, or further desire, and often implying a moderate degree of happiness.  Paul said, "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."

If you are content where you are then doesn't thankfulness and joy follow?  Paul said, in whatsoever state I am.  He didn't say.. "once you reach the place where you have everything you desire and are truly happy you can be content."  He said, whatsoever state.  

It doesn't come naturally..  Paul said "for I have learned"  I think contentement is like a state of mind.  It's like putting God's best above the way you think things should be and going on with life, putting all your energy into it.  Some people call it "blooming where you're planted."

After you have accepted the state you are, I believe joy and thankfulness follow.  If we're not always looking ahead...  Oh, when I get out of highschool, when I get a better job, if I just had a guy after me, when I get married... And the list goes on.  Why can't we just be content in the state God has placed us?  Why are we always looking to something we think would be better?

For so many young ladies the time of waiting inbetween highschool and marriage is the hardest time of their lives.  Why is that so?  God has instilled in us the desire to marry and have a family, but while we're waiting why don't we do something with our lives? 

I believe this time of life for us is the most precious of all.  We don't have a husband or children to take care of.  We have more time than we will probably ever have.  We will never get this time back.  Let's use it to serve God and further his kingdom!  Instead of looking at the time we have and pining for the day when we will marry, let us be content.  These years of waiting are God's gift to us to do something for him.  Let's use them!

To love God is to love His will. It is to wait quietly for life to be measured by One who knows us through and through. It is to be content with His timing and His wise appointment. ~Elisabeth Elliot

About my Car... ;)

So, I'm pretty sure that God has been teaching me about trust..  Recently I wrecked my car.  I didn't understand why God allowed it to happen, and yes, I shed a few tears.  Yet, as I watched the towing guy load my car up onto his tow truck (yes, I totaled it :P), there was a peace within me.  I thought, "Lord, I know you are trying to teach me to trust you, but what am I going to do?!  Help me to trust you!"  I do have a job, and college classes so I pretty much relied on my car for everything.  The insurance I had on my car was just liability, so it only covered the other vehicle in the accident.  I was pretty much on my own to buy a new car.

Through the accident, no one was injured and it was pretty much the best of what could have possibly happened.  God is faithful.  The night before the accident my friend and I were discussing how God lets us do stupid things, but he protects us.  He allows us to learn and grow through all the foolish things we get ourselves into.  How true that statement proved to be the following day!

When I got home that day I was pretty much still in shock from everything.  I praised the Lord for protecting us, and asked him to help me trust him.  I didn't really ask for a car, though.  I just prayed that God would work everything out according to his will.

The next day I started searching Craigslist for a car.  I had bought my previous car off of Craigslist in April.  So I was pretty short on money now, since I had just bought a car 5 months ago.  I was looking for a car that was $2000 or less.  I don't know if you know this or not, but cars that cheap are rather hard to come by.  I didn't come up with any cars that day.  That evening I prayed for a car.  I prayed that I would find a car soon; it would be under $2000; it would be blue; it would have lowish miles; it would be an automatic; it would be cute. ;)

The following day was a Sunday, so I didn't get on Craigslist until the afternoon.  I found a few cars that were cheap enough and quickly ruled them all out but two.  One of them was a 2002 Dodge Neon.  They didn't have any pictures up of it or anything, but they said they could text pics, so I asked her to send me some.

The car looked good and everything.  I had to go to work, so I told the lady that I would ask my dad what he thought of it, and get back with her.  Later I asked my dad and he said it looked good if I liked it.  We happened to be going into town the next day, so I texted the lady back and asked her if I could see it the next morning.

That evening I prayed that God would make it clear if it was his will that I buy that car.  I prayed that if he wanted me to have the car, I would get it for $1600. (They were asking $2000.)  The next morning my mom and I went to see the car.  It was everything I'd prayed for.  When it came time to buy it I asked if she would take any less on it.  She said yes and to make an offer.  So, I held my breath and offered $1600.  She took it.  God obviously wanted me to buy the car, so I did.

The people I bought the car from were so nice and helpful.  I was only out a car for three days.  I praise God for his faithfulness!!  I still don't understand why God allowed me to wreck my previous car, but I pray that he would be glorified through everything that happens concerning it.  I love my new car.  I think it's cute. ;) God is so good. <3   

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Those who Threaten It :)

Yes... I know it's a strange blog title.  I get my strangeness from my family. :P  That phrase came from my older brother several years ago.  I use it to title things when I can't think of what else to put. lol  Anyways... I figured I should tell you something about what I'm up to since... I haven't really written much about that.  It's easy to write about!  Some of these posts take a lot of brain power!! :)

I got a job at Subway about a month ago. :)  I was so excited to get hired there!  It was the one place in the entire town that I actually wanted to work.  I would have worked other places, but I didn't really want to.  I have the most amazing boss in the whole world I'm pretty sure.  She is really nice.  Also, the girls I work with... (yes I work with all girls), are just incredible.  I thank God for letting me get hired there all the time.  I seriously love my job.  Which... If you talk to me much you would know that. :)

I am also taking dual-enrollment classes this fall.  I am taking drawing, desktop applications and photoshop.  I have the same professor for all three classes (coincidence?), which happens to be a good thing. :)  He is a nice guy.  I am learning quite a bit so far. :)

Music... I am not taking orchestra this semester.  I have started taking voice lessons, however, and I am also still taking flute lessons.  I am loving my voice lessons!!  I've always wanted to take them, but I never took the time.  Since I'm not doing orchestra I decided I was going to take them.  I'm learning a lot! :)

That pretty much sums up my life at the moment..  Work, school and music. :)  Along with memorizing scripture with my friend and going to church. :)  God is good!

Through the Faith of Christ

A friend of mine and I are memorizing part of Philippians 3.  Well the other day we were on verses 7-9 and my friend asked me.. "what do you think this means?" ...that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:  I thought about it for a while. (I was making lunch at the time ;))  Then all of the sudden it clicked.  I was so excited that I had to tell you all. :)

The key is in the beginning of the verse.  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law,  Whenever we see someone that we view as godly or righteous we see it through their works.  By following the law we are working righteousness.  (If that makes any sense.)  Our best day.. that day when we did everything right.  The day that we were serving, helping and loving people even when they weren't appreciative..  God says "...all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.."  Just think, though.  Compared to the righteousness and glory of God... What is our righteousness?  It's as filthy rags.

Paul understood that, so he said "...not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:"  As Christians, when we get saved we are born again.  God imputes his righteousness unto us, by faith.  What is faith?  Faith is believing.  So when we believe on Jesus he imputes his righteousness to us.

As a Christian, when God looks at us he doesn't see our failed attempts of serving him...  he sees Christ.  He sees Jesus.  A sinless perfect man.  The righteousness which is of God by faith.  Hallelujah!  What a Savior we have. <3

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: ~Philippians 3:7-9