March 3, 2008

Hush and Be Still
Current mood: Trusting and Believing


Hide me now
Under your wings
Cover me within your mighty hand

When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with you above the storm
Father you are king over the flood
I will be still and know you are God

Find rest my soul
In Christ alone
Know his power
In quietness and trust


Isn't that the truth though? Within the christian's walk, within the christian's life, to be still and know that He is God. When things are going crazy, when things spin out of my control, when I'm stressed, when I'm distracted, I always meditate on those words, "Be Still and know that I am God" God's basically saying, "hush Amber, listen to me, drown out the distractions, depend on my strength not your own" Telling me to be still, and know that God is the Lord. The Lord of my life, of my heart, of my desires. Sometimes I just have to sit there when I'm stressed, and quiet my myself. Quiet my mind from going everywhere with burdons and friendly distractions, and think about knowing God. Knowing who He is. That statement, "know that I am God" is saying, "Know me, know what I can do," which is such a comfort because I know what God can do. He always takes care of me, no matter the circumstance. No matter how crazy everything around me is, God will always take care of us. One of the most amazing things that I am in awe of in God is how He wants to take care of us, He wants to know us, and us to know Him. That intimacy He desires to have with us, and just that care. Where else can you find that?

My walk with God is like marriage I've began to realize. Maybe that's why I'm not one to compromise. I'm put in situations where I'm tempted to (in my mind basically), but I don't. Even though I've hurt God, even though I've done shameful things against Him and sinned against Him He will always forgive me. There are times when I don't want to listen to God, I avoid Him some days, or I refuse to even think about Him. I like the way I live, and I like doing things my way. Not that marriage is totally like that since we are all human therefore both people sin. But to walk with God is a committment and a broken relationship. I mean, I hate living in this world. It's a distgusting place, full of sin and temptation that I don't want to be a part of yet I do. It hurts my relationship with God, and it makes me feel so wretched. Yet even though it's not that fun of an experience, God put me here to glorify Him. What I look forward to the most in this life, isn't my death, but going through all its struggles, all the temptation, all the pain in health, mental, or emotional situations with myself or with those I love and in the end when I'm alone in my house with my children grown up and my husband passed away, my love for God is shining through. Where it is just me and God, and I can be able to say to Him, "See all this I went through? It was to show how much I love you. That I could have chosen to give up on You, and to take matters into my own hands and live a life pleasing to myself and yet it was worth it just to show my love for You." That is the greatest expression of love I can show my Savior.

Well this weekend was amazing. I needed it so much. I love how when I get together with my friends and with other christians on a retreat, even though the preaching is good, and the games are fun, what I take away the most is how we all want to serve God in serving each other. and when we're together we don't just play games, but we also praise God. I also took away and put into practice a sacrificial love. Sacrificing myself, my time, my energy, for others. But of course, not just for others, but for God by serving others. That my attitude should be that of Christ,
"Who being in the very nature of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:6-8)

Jesus made Himself nothing. He did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, which means, He didn't say, "Hey, I'm God too so I'm not becoming some petty human and living on that sucky sin-filled disgusting earth!" It even says he didn't even consider it!! No, instead Jesus made himself nothing. He took the position of a servant. He humbled himself in doing that and was obedient even to death! He obeyed God even though it threatened His life, and took His life. What amazing sacrificial love is that.
So that's something new I'll be practicing. Or actually something to continue to practice more often.

Well, what should you remember most in this blog and that I hope you can grasp?
To just hush, be still, and to know who God truly is.
God bless! :-)

In Christ,
Amber