Jesus wept. [john 11:35]

John 11:35 is the shortest verse in the bible. These two words are so powerful, Jesus wept. Stop and think on that, Jesus Wept. Jesus being one with God, wept.

There are so many times whenever I see things that move me. A friend that's going through something that I wish I could take away, seeing someone in my family hurt, wanting so badly to change situations that only God can...sometimes the thing to do is what Jesus did --be moved and just take a moment to weep. To me, it reveals something so much more than tears streaming down our faces, it reveals our hearts.

[[where is your faith]]

So this morning as I was reading through Luke I came to the part where Jesus wanted to go to the other side of the lake with his disciples. They got in the boat, set out to the other side, obeying what Jesus had asked of them. Jesus falls asleep. Even though Jesus was asleep He knew what was about to happen. It began to storm, the disciples thought they were going to die. They wake Jesus with, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!" Jesus rebuked the wind and raging waters and the stormed stopped; all was calm.

He asked them one question -

"Where is your faith?"

I don't know why this struck me so hard this morning. It made me think about my personal life, where is MY faith? Do I really believe God is going to give me all of the desires of my heart like He has promised to those who delight in Him? Do I really believe He is here with me? Do I really believe He is my provider? Do I really believe that He is directing each one of my steps? Do I really believe that He is watching over me? I think God may be trying to tell me, He knows that I am coming into a part of life where it's a natural reaction to be a little fearful, but where is my faith?

My faith is in God, in Jesus -my savior, who saves me daily.

Thank you for the reminder, Jesus.

SNO <3

storms of life are going to come, but He can calm any storm and He will whenever we call out to Him

CHANGE

I have always told people that CHANGE, no matter a good or bad change, is always hard. It is in change that forces us to move from the comfortable to the uncomfortable. As I go through a completely new season of life, I am forced into the uncomfortable and with this change I am daily discovering things about myself. Some things I like, some things I don't.

Throughout all of the changes that life brings, there is one thing I know to be constant;

God's love.

I am finding out that in certain areas I may fail miserably, but I look up and realize that no matter what, God's love will always be there. I pray that my life is pleasing to Him, that His Will be done and not my own.

SNO.

:: Revive [renew] Me ::

Have you ever had one of those weeks where you just don't feel like yourself? It can be super FRUSTRATING! This past week --this beautiful, sun filled, spring break, blessed week -- I have NOT felt like my self, and I have been so mad for being discouraged...so this morning, I decided to let it all out. I mean, it's not like I can hide my thoughts from God --"The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile [useless]." Psalm 94:11 --so I decided to just let it go. To express my frustrations in my prayer to Him this morning.

The result?

He understands. He sympathizes. He listens. He answers.

"For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weakness, but was in ALL POINTS tempted as we are, yet without sin." Hebrews 4:15

It's Easter weekend, so we are all reminded of what happened so many years ago. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and was raised from the dead on the third day. HE DIED FOR ME AND YOU. Is it possible to fathom that kind of love?

Just as Jesus came down here and went through life for us, I believe that we go through different things so that we may sympathize with the people God brings into our lives. Sometimes we may go through discouraging seasons so that God may be our encourager -- and later we may be the encouragement to others that may be discouraged by life's different challenges. So it's normal that there will be times when God has to "revive us."

I was reading Psalm 119 yesterday morning -- one of my faves -- but the thing that struck me yesterday was "revive me."

"O LORD, revive me according to Your justice." Ps 119:149

"...Revive me according to Your judgments." Ps 119:156

"...Revive me, O LORD, according to Your lovingkindness." Ps 119:159

The author of this Psalm --I imagine-- could relate to what I have been going through this past week. Just calling out to God to revive. That comforted me. The experiences I go through are steps in this walk of life God has placed before me.

There will be seasons in life where it seems like someone has pressed a pause button, but it's comforting to know God is working even in those times. So during this time I will call out to my precious Savior to "revive" me
--and no, I will never give up on this adventure God has blessed me with called LIFE.

God bless!

<3 SNO

"..He loves us, not only when we do right..but always.."

...I heard this today, and it was one of those sentences that made me stop what I was doing and really think on what I had just heard. "God loves me, not just when I do the right things, but always." Today I realized, I have to stop myself and remember that even though God wants me to go and do "works" for Him, He is never changing and His love for me is always going to be there. So today, as I go throughout this BEAUTIFUL Saturday I will continually stop myself and remind myself that through my mess-ups and my triumphs God loves me the same. What an awesome God we serve.

SNO.

candid [[free from reservation, disguise, or subterfuge; straightforward]]

..anyone who knows me well, knows that I have always been someone who journals, a lot. It's a way to get my thoughts, experiences and goals down on paper. I guess it's been my safe place throughout the years to get all those thoughts bouncing in my head out. One of the sweet things about journaling is to go back and read how I have changed, grown and gotten through different things throughout the years. This past year I began journaling my prayers to God. Going back and seeing all the answered prayers -- wow, it's amazing.

I say all of that to say this.

I know what it's like to be scared to make life changing decisions...

I asked God to never let me forget what those first few steps were like, so looking back in my journal I got to revisit those thoughts and feelings...

"9/30/2008...So Sunday I rededicated at church. I'm scared because for the past 7 years all I've really done on the weekends is party. I feel like I'm making a good decision -- it's just going to be a totally different life -- I really want to have a positive impact on people and hopefully lead people to God......I just don't really know what I'm doing, but I do know I'm changing and I'm letting go. ....I am letting go of my old ways. I am trying.

-SNO"

...sharing parts of my journal makes me feel a little vulnerable, because as I said earlier, my journals are my safe place...

..but I want to get candid because I understand what so many people are struggling with! I know what it's like to want to make that jump for Christ, but to chicken out and not do it for a long time because of the fear of the unknown.

Oh, but if I would have only known earlier how awesome being soldout to God truly is.

It's not weird, it's indescribably amazing.

If you're wanting to go to that next level with God, if you're wanting to give your life to Him {the true giver of life}, just do it.
Dive in to the unknown and trust Him.
You won't be disappointed.
I can honestly say, everyday is an adventure with Him.

SNO.