Abide

Dictionary.com defines the word Abide as this:

• to remain; continue; stay  
• to continue in a particular condition, attitude, relationship. 

As a verb Abide is defined as:

• to have one's abode, to dwell, reside 
• to remain to continue to stay 
• to wait for, await
• to accept with opposition or question

 In a couple different ways this word resonates really deeply with me. It most clearly applies in the fact that I am reminded daily how I am not so good at abiding...but let's be honest here, the word packs a lot of punch.  
 I love the way the Lord talks about this word in scripture, specifically in John 15:1-17 and 1 John 4:7-21. The Lord talks about really remaining in Him and all that He is, specifically, his love. My head can wrap around that fact, that the Lord loves me, it's pretty simple, but I know my heart has a harder time grasping that concept. In abiding in the Lord, His promises, His truth, His word, I also have to accept without opposition or question all that He is and therefore all that he says I am. To fully and completely believe and reside in His truth. Again, it sounds so simple. And it really is, and in moments and seasons it has been really easy for me to take him at his word, believe him fully, live there, and to remain. And there have also been lots of seasons where I have needed a lot of grace to abide in the Lord and His truth. This word pairs so perfectly with one of my favorite hymns, by Louisa M. R. Stead,
Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus.
I hope these lyrics resonate in a new way with you today as you read them:

1. ’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
   Just to take Him at His Word;
   Just to rest upon His promise,
   And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”
   • Refrain:
     Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
     How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;
     Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
     Oh, for grace to trust Him more!
2. Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus,
   Just to trust His cleansing blood;
   And in simple faith to plunge me
   ’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!
3. Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
   Just from sin and self to cease;
   Just from Jesus simply taking
   Life and rest, and joy and peace.
4. I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
   Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
   And I know that Thou art with me,
   Wilt be with me to the end.
   
   

Abide is really a word that I desire as a banner over my life, heart, and mind. To remain fully in, to accept without opposition or question, and to dwell there in who the Lord is and all He says I am.

Some Recent Thoughts...

" He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of men! For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things." Psalm 107:7-9

Well for the three of you that even know that this blog exists, I apologize for my long absence. There is a lot that is new and exciting in my life. I can't wait to share in pictures and words of the ABSOLUTE sweetness of this season.

 But instead of tackling that right now, I thought I would try make sense, in blog format, of the things that have been rolling around my mind and heart. I have been thinking about covenants, promises, hope, and joy in the waiting. I have been stirred to study the different covenants the Lord makes through out the scriptures and still today, so naturally I dove into "Systematic Theology" and the Bible to begin to learn more. There was more than I could possibly speak to now and much of which I am still processing, but at the elementary level of it all the Lord, allows us to enter into covenants with him. Usually those covenants center around some sort of promise/hope the Lord has given us. Sounds basic enough, right, but then as I begin to linger more here I thought about how the person of Christ is an answered promise, continued hope and the key to entering into a covenant relationship with God the Father. The answered promise of Christ didn't come anytime soon after he was first mentioned. There was longings for Him, generation after generation, we first hear of Christ's coming in Genesis 3 and don't see that promise come to fruition until the gospels, and that comes after lots of waiting, hoping, and 400 years of silence. 

So track with me here for a minute...

I was thinking about how God, our Sovereign Father, who knows all, and orchestrates all, planned out  to the exact detail when Jesus would come. He is our hope and our promise. He knew exactly when it was best for every prophecy to be made about Jesus and how exactly all the pieces would fit for Jesus to humbly enter this world when he did. Now I can understand that, seeing the more complete version of how the whole thing fits together. But I wonder what Old Testament me would have thought... In a period of 400 years of silence would I have continually faithfully served and believed my Father's promises to be true even if I would never see them come to fruition in my, my children's, or great grand children's lifetime? 

I just keep coming back to how fervently they waited, hoped, and trusted in the Sovereignty of God. How I desire that in my day to day, moment to moment life, to live completely in taking the Lord's scripture and promises to be true; yet, also fully trusting in His sovereignty and timing. 

I am not sure that this is a completed thought and you will probably see remnants of these thoughts through out the next couple of weeks, but this is all I have as of now.

knowing jesus

"Come let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us. He has Struck us down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us: and on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord: his going out is as sure as the dawn; He will come to us as the showers, as the spring rain waters the earth." Hosea 6:1-3

I really love this section of scripture, and as I find myself spending time with the Lord recently I just keep sitting with this same passage of scripture. I am finding that the Lord is placing in me a deeper desire to KNOW Him. Let me explain to you what this means to me. For so long I have associated the Lord by the way I have seen Him work in my life, my families life, my friends life, and so on and so forth. And don't get me wrong I absolutely believe there is power in that, in seeing the Lord work in a variety of circumstances, both favorable and unfavorable. And while I don't discredit that knowledge as good and from the Lord, I have just recently been desiring to KNOW more of who the scriptures say the Lord is. I am desiring a deeper knowledge of scripture, because scripture is inherent, God breathed, and powerful. Because even in my finite mind believe, that knowing more of the Lord is powerful. Matt Chandler, of the Village Church in Dallas, has a podcast on this very subject and I promise you is much more eloquently put than this blog, its entitled "A Deeper Yearning" listen to it, you won't be disappointed. But I absolutely love when the Lord manifest himself in scripture, when you get to read His word and are moved to tears because you sit in a new knowledge of the fact that, this is the God we serve. I love how accessible he is, that I, a flawed, sinner, get to KNOW Him intimately. So with all that I know and all that I am learning about the Lord, I am pressing on the know Him more!

It's Official Y'all!

There has literally been monumental changes that have happened in my life and heart since the last time I sat and blogged. I am sure you will see the affects of that unpack themselves as I vow to be more diligent in my blogging abilities! But mostly, I have been seeking the Lord's face for answers, for clarity, and discernment. And he has been so faithful to provide those for me! The most life changing of which includes a move back to Texas this summer!!! I am beyond peaceful that this is where the Lord has me for the next season of my life, and I am expectant and hopeful to see what this new season, community, and place bring! Jesus has just been so very sweet lately, in scripture, prayer, and friendship and I am so excited to tell more and more of what the Lord has been doing in my life in the days to come!

"The lord is good to those who wait for him" Lamentations 3: 25

I feel as though the Lord has been so near and sweet this week! I can hardly even express my thankfulness for that fact. In the sweetest ways I am experiences how much better Jesus is! I am so thankful for the peace and joy he is redeeming in my life. So very thankful for the intimacy with my sweet savior!

2010

Well the end of this year is rapidly approaching, and I can't believe how quickly the year passed. I was talking today with my dear friend Mackenzie, about the year and what all has transpired. If I could sum the year up in one word, I would have to say different. This year has been full of different and unexpected things, and if you would have asked me a year go if this is what my life would look like I never would have guessed it. While this year has been different relationally, spiritually, and emotionally there has absolutely been so much purpose in it as well. If i can sum up in one word what the Lord has meant to me this year, is absolutely constant. When so much of my word felt flipped and change was around every corner, He was unwavering in showing me His goodness and love. The changes that have transpired have been both good and hard. And while I know that changes in life are inevitable and that with out a doubt this next year will be riddle with change as well. This year has proven that this Lord is good and faithful above and beyond, and so I walk into this next year hopeful and excited for what this New Year holds. I pray that as you reflect on this year and anticipate the year to come, you take time to process, and I pray that the Lord continues to bless you with rich relationships, and more of who he is and his goodness.

open hands

I recently experienced something that made this image to my right very real for me. I thought that the Lord had done such a work in my life, that I felt like I had freely given Him so much of my life that there was little I still held very tightly to, boy was I wrong! How evident that became when he asked me for more. At first I fought the idea of giving HIM more, not like it wasn't his to begin with, but still in my finite mind I fought it. But I realized I am not entitled to anything, I have been given these things as a gift and in that remains every right for him to ask for more. So as he gently pryed back my fingers I got to say yet again, "I trust you with this, even if you take it away". And that I guess is the sweetest part of letting go of things you love is that He will do immeasurable more with my dreams, hopes, and desires than I could! I was talking with my best friend the other day about how the stage of life we find ourselves in, is going to continue to call us to trust the Lord with more. But not only will we have to trust Him with more, but also bigger things as well. And while that seems daunting some days, what I relief that ultimately someone who is so trustworthy is holding it all. So all I really know is that I want my everyday life to identify with this picture open handed, ready and willing to freely give and take whatever the Lord may ask of me. And what a sweet joy when He calls us to trust him with more and more!