A Change for the Better

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”

        Isaiah 26:3 NIV

God's word is so vital for us everyday, yet I treat it like its another thing I have to "do" on my ginormous list of day to day busyness. I just cannot understand why I have to keep reminding myself of this fact. Each time I study the Bible and trying to deeply understand His words for me, I am so richly blessed and somehow it changes me. It changes me from the Brittany I don't always like to someone I can be proud of. It makes me want better things for my life and for my family. It gives me strength to start my day, and get through it with a loving attitude. It makes me want to pray for others, to care for others, and stop thinking of my needs. If that is how it makes me feel then why do I constantly need a reminder to spend time with God? It reminds me of the verse Paul wrote in Romans, " For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate." God, help me to think of you as I think of food and water. Not just an afterthought, but a necessity. Feed my soul and help me change into the person you want me to be. I want to seek you like I would seek out water in a desert. You are the only thing that can quench my thirst. Keep me from trying to fill myself with things that won't satisfy. Help me slow down and hear Your voice.

Update

Back after a summer of rest and relaxation...not! I hiked 74 miles of the AT and then painted the house. Oh, and helped Robin paint hers too. Now I am back at school with 22 students. That was my quick update. More to come soon! I will add pics of my wonderful trip and stories as well.
Britt

Distractions

     As I sit here at the library distracted by the screaming child that isn't getting her way, the man with the laptop that has no headphones, the phone that no one seems to answer, and the lady at reference that is talking like she is at a concert I wonder to myself, why do I not have a computer at home with Internet? I just wanted to go to my favorite place and relax. Not today.  After stopping and just really listening it came to me that amidst all the distractions its so easy to get caught up in what is going around me that I forget my purpose. What is my purpose, you ask? Well, let me tell you...my purpose is to be the kind of person that draws people to Christ. Not because I am so holy, because I'm so far from where I'd like to be in that area, but because they can see something different in me. I wonder if I measure up? I wonder if my attitude is just as it should be? Ok, so the answer is probably not...seeing that I just complained about the above mentioned annoyances at the library! Reflection has really helped me see what I need to change about me. It helps me look at my day and see what I did right, what I did wrong, and what I want to do better. So the annoyances I spoke of earlier turned out to be more of a lesson in self-reflection. Amazing how if I just stop and listen, God has a lesson for me. Distractions aren't always bad, sometimes they serve a greater purpose. Instead of keeping me from doing what it is I need to do, they point me back to my purpose!
Lovin' it. Strange how I can change my attitude from the beginning of my blog to the end just by stopping and listening to the distractions.
   

Third day- King of Glory

Doors

This morning as I read Psalms 24 I was reminded of just how much power God has. He is the creator of everything and sometimes I get so caught up in my little pesky problems that I forget that He has my back. In the Psalms it starts out with how amazing God is and how He is the creator of all things, then it asks who is worthy to give Him that praise. Well none of us are, but then I remember that God has called me His own. When I gave my life to Him, He wrapped his love around me and called me His child. Comforting as this sounds this was the real kicker for me:
 ⁷ Open up, ancient gates!
      Open up, ancient doors,
      and let the King of glory enter.
 ⁸ Who is the King of glory?
      The Lord, strong and mighty;

      the Lord, invincible in battle.
 ⁹ Open up, ancient gates!
      Open up, ancient doors,
      and let the King of glory enter.

I know...it sounds weird. At first I thought he was talking about physical gates and doors. Then it hit me that maybe he is just talking about me. Maybe instead of talking about castles gates and ancient doors, David is really talking about walls I build, gates I seem to shut without realizing it. Sometimes I can't help but think that when I take time to listen to God, He has something to say to me. He knows of all the hurts in my life, disappointments, and struggles that make me close the doors and gates to my heart. The sad thing is that beyond those doors and gates lie the King of Glory and there I am with the door shut. He doesn't mention any walls,which is great! Doors and gates can easily be opened if you have the right key or if you just push a little! So today, rather than shutting myself in, I am airing the house out. The gates and doors are open and I am going to bask in this King of Glory!!!!

Jephthah's Daughter

       I just read a story from the Bible about Jephthah. I know...who is this guy? I went to Bible college and somehow managed to let this story slip between my fingers. I sat here after reading it wondering what in the world I might reap from a story like this one. Ok...so you might have to look up Judges 11 and read it but I will give you the quick version:

       So this guy "Jeph" was born to a prostitute and his half brothers dropped him from the family like a bad egg.  He was set out and basically left for dead. Lucky for him he was a tough bird and so he went out and met other outcasts and became their ringleader. He was so impressive that when his previous clan got into a fight with the Ammonites they came back and wanted him to lead the cause.  He was perplexed by the offer but accepted. Off Jeph goes to fight for the same people who kicked him out in the first place. What an idiot.
       Well Jeph must have had a real desire for acceptance because he took the offer and made a promise to God that if God would let him conquer the Ammonites he would sacrifice whatever came out of his front door first when he came home.
("If you give me a clear victory over the Ammonites, then I'll give to God whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in one piece from among the Ammonites—I'll offer it up in a sacrificial burnt offering." )
      Jeph goes to war, wins by a landslide, and returns home. Dun duh duh...the plot thickens! Guess who comes dancing out of his house when he returns? His one and only virgin daughter! Does he know that is what is going to happen? Did he expect it to be his wife, mother-in-law, or the family dog? The Bible doesn't say that part but what I do know is that he freaks out and blames the daughter for being the first one out the door. HE makes a promise to God and then when God not only delivers but helps him conquer 20 more cities he starts blaming her. So basically Jeph was willing to give up a family member so he could look good in the eyes of others.
      Now this is where I get really interested! If it were me and my father made a promise like that to God I would be begging him to renege on his vow. But when the unnamed daughter finds out what is at stake she tells him to follow through with his vow. What???? Did she really just say that? She does do something that I think is really interesting though. She tells her dad that she wants to go to the mountains with her friends and mourn her inability to ever marry and have children. The daughter goes to the mountains with her most trusted friends rather than spending the rest of her days with her own father. She returns and is sacrificed. Or is she...it seems kind of vague whether she was literally sacrificed or whether she went the rest of her life unmarried and childless. This in itself was like a death sentence for Jewish women. They wanted nothing more than to have a child. Either way she paid the price.
     All this to say that sometimes, or most of the time, we do stupid things to impress people we don't even like. I find myself trying to please others all the time. Its happening less and less these days but its still a vicious cycle we get ourselves into. When our motive is more about pleasing people than pleasing God we end up unhappy and unfulfilled. Jeph made a promise to God to impress people who were horrible to him in the first place.  Jeph did great things for God in his time as a judge but sometimes he let his ego get in the way. I do that, too. God help me to do things for you and not to please man.

"I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant." Galatians 1:10

   

Finding Favor

     This morning was different than most for me. I woke up with God on my mind right away. It was as if He whispered in my ear to go and listen for Him. When I went to open my Bible the first verse that came to my mind was the 23rd Psalm.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (or through the darkest valley),
I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

-- Life Application Bible - NIV

It was such a comfort for me and it reminded me of the song Matt Redman sings called "Never Let Go" which is about God holding us during the storms of life. I put the song on while I read the verse over and over. Why was I so intense about these verses? On the way to school I realized that God was preparing me for a battle that I was going to have to overcome today. I had no idea that those verses would come back and soothe the pain that often comes with battle wounds. When I got to work I went straight for the first person I knew who was usually fully suited in her armor and ready for battle. She prayed for me and asked for favor for me today. Not just regular old "favor" that comes with being a child of God, but extra favor everywhere I stepped. As I sit here typing this blog thinking of the painful tears I shed this morning and how now they are tears of joy and peace. God found favor upon me...favor I don't deserve but am thrilled to get. Little things that may not matter on a regular day happened today to show me just how much God cares for me. Even though he has millions of children he still has time for his little redhead down here in Tennessee. Thanks God for showing favor on me today, for wonderful friends praying for me, for everything good.

This song really helps me remember who I need to call on: