Trust

“In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed.” Psalm 22:4-5

What am I trusting?  Each and every day as I live life, what is my constant?  Some days it is quite evident, other days not so.  As I have read through this book Stressed-less Living by Tracie Miles, I have found myself less stressed.  Is it because of this book I am reading or it is because of the commitment I am making to God?

I would venture, the commitment is the answer.  Too often I allow myself to get caught up in the busy-ness of life and fail to acknowledge HIM and all HE is to me.  I fail to daily feed on HIS word and talk with HIM.  The further I stray, the more stressed I become as I pull further away from the source of my peace and joy.

Has my life changed in the past eight weeks?  Same marriage, same family, same job, same address...life has taken some turns with our children.  We watch them struggle with hard issues in life.  There is no more, no less "things" in life about which I could stress; however, with the song of HIS praises and worship playing in the background, I find myself less stressed over the seeming impossible.  I know I have a hope, I have a future in HIM.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

I heard a new song at church that really spoke to my heart recently.  


Here is the Link to a YouTube video:  Passion 2013 - My Delight is in You (Christy Nockles)

Lyrics:-

My delight is in You
On Your word I set my heart
You are peace, You are calm for my restless soul
You light my way through the dark

I want to know You even more
Holiness is my desire
Purify, burn in me, come and make me clean
You refine me in Your fire

Here I am, open arms
Draw me close to Your heart
You're my life, You're my refuge
My delight, my delight is in You
My delight is in You

My delight is in You, Lord
You're the treasure I have found
You're the rock where I stand
I will not be moved
All my life is in Your hands

Here I am, open arms
Draw me close to Your heart
You're my life, You're my refuge
My delight, my delight is in You
My delight is in You

Here I am, open arms
Draw me close to Your heart
You're my life, You're my refuge
My delight, my delight is in You
My delight is in You
My delight is in You
My delight is in You

Refiner's fire
My heart's one desire is to be holy
Set apart for You, Lord
I choose to be holy
Set apart for You my Master
Ready to do Your will

Here I am, open arms
Draw me close to Your heart
You're my life, You're my refuge
My delight, my delight is in You

Here I am, open arms
Draw me close to Your heart
You're my life, You're my refuge
My delight, my delight is in You
My delight is in You
My delight is in You

My prayer for your life and mine is our delight will always be in HIM alone.

Awed by HIS mercy and grace,
Arla

WhatEVER

Whatever...

Funny how perspective changes EVERYTHING....

Whenever I am focused on God and looking for all the good things, good ways HE is blessing me, life could not be better.  I see opportunities to share His love and speak His truth and feel like a vessel that is full and overflowing....

Whenever I am focused on ME and all things happening wrong in MY WORLD and how I wish things were different...what if I had...what if I hadn't...why didn't this...what about that.... Oh how stressed I become!

Life is full of bumps and curves...sometimes I take the road less traveled...Often I see so much when I do....and then there are days....when all I can do is cry, cry, cry... What makes things different?  Am I transported from one world to another?

Yes, in fact I am...whenever I focus on Jesus and all HE has done, is doing, and will continue to do for me, I am transported to the presence of Jesus...and the scenery around me is different.  This world doesn't seem so bad for a temporary lay over....because you see...one day soon, I am going home!

And some days I just can't wait to get there!

Awed by HIS mercy and grace,
Arla

My Legacy

Live, Laugh, Love

Not quite two years ago God finally answered a prayer from my heart. This prayer began sometime in my little girl life. It morphed through the years until in my forties it became at times a desperate plea and others a whisper barely spoken...Father, what about me?

In all my years of praying, I never realized what the answer would look like. I never dreamed it so well. I still cannot fathom He loves me this much. And I often stare my unworthiness right in the face. I am truly humbled by His mercy and grace...His relentless pursuit. No matter what...no matter how far...no matter how many times....He never gives up.

Yesterday I was once again amazed and delighted as He spoke directly to me. For weeks now I have drug myself along this life feeling so discouraged and stressed...wondering where I am strayed from the path...knowing what I was feeling was not His will, not His plan....Why? Why? Why?

I finally gave up my struggle and released all my "rights" and said "Okay, Lord not my will but Thine" no more complaining....I am done and I am sorry and it's okay. Just show me how....

As I gave up the struggle, God began to speak in my heart and the words that are the theme of my marriage began to echo across my heart once again.  When my husband and I married just a year and some months ago, we decorated our kitchen with the Live, Laugh, Love theme...and we have truly LIVEd BIG......we have shared SO MUCH LAUGHter....and I LOVE him SO MUCH and feel LOVEd like never before in my life. 

In the midst of it all, we experienced another crisis...a gut wrenching, heartbreaking crisis...and yet God spoke to me smack in the middle and whispered.....Live, Laugh, Love....what will you leave behind?  What are you going to do? He encouraged....Live, Laugh, Love I knew it was Him and I smiled in agreement.....

And then I was able to attend a funeral with my husband and I was so blessed...as God spoke audibly to me in the words of the Pastor at the funeral....His message concerning His child who had passed... Live, Laugh, Love....what will your legacy be?

Praise You Father!! No other words...just Praise YOU Father.....

Awed by His mercy and grace,

Arla