thankful :)

First, my sincere apologies to those of you who get bogged down by the length of my e-mails and blogs. I'm writing this one, and I literally just wrote another pretty long one. There's just a lot on my heart that I want to share while it is fresh (and I have time). So, I would encourage you, don't get stressed. Just go, find the blog (or e-mail) that I recently sent. Read that. And save this one for tomorrow or another day! ;)

As I am sitting here in a coffee shop in Birmingham, Alabama I am not at all where I thought I would be or expected to be. My plans have change and I have been faced with the unexpected what seems like again and again lately. I know I quote “Jesus Calling” every time I write, but God seems to speak to me so often through this little book. This one seemed to capture where my heart is right now:

“You are blessed to hear from me so directly. Never take this privilege for granted. The best response is a heart overflowing with gratitude. I am training you to cultivate a thankful mind-set. This is like building your house on a firm rock, where life’s storms cannot shake you. As you learn these lessons, you are to teach them to others. I will open up the way before you, one step at a time.”

My heart is truly overflowing with thanksgiving and gratitude. Even in unexpected times and uncertain times, the Lord is leading me. He has provided above and beyond for my needs right now. A family very close to my heart has opened their home to me, and I’m overwhelmed beyond words with the blessing it is. This house is such a haven for me. It is somewhere I know I will go and be encouraged and find evidences of God all around. It is a place of solidarity in the midst of uncertainty. For me, it is such a testimony and picture of God’s character. Even when things are hard and there is uncertainty, God is a refuge. We can find solidarity, peace, comfort, safety and love in the midst of all things that are shaking. What a beautiful picture.

Matthew 7:24-25

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them, they will be compared to a wise man who built his house on a rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the wind blue and slammed against the house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock.”

The Lord, in His goodness, has brought me to the place where my house is not built upon YWAM Wollongong. My house in not built upon being overseas. My house is not built upon my church. My house is not built upon my relationships. My house is not built upon a job. My house is not built upon having what society says about me right now. My house is not built upon ______. My house is built upon the LORD, my Rock, who stands forever. And the rains have fallen, and the wind is blowing and slamming, yet I am not shaken. I am not falling. Because He is a strong Rock to those who build their foundations upon Him.

Look at this Scripture God gave me this morning. It’s long, but it is SO rich!

2 Corinthians 4:7-18

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

God is speaking a lot to me personally in this. Almost more than words can say at the moment. I feel right now like I am in a place where everything I put my hope in is being stripped thin. And that God is being glorified and exalted- my ultimate aim. My circumstances are hard, but they are showing that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to me. Suffering and hardship (“carrying the death of Jesus") is serving to make God’s faithfulness, goodness, and provision known (the life of Jesus is being manifested)! And I feel like thanksgiving to God is increasing to His glory and my spirit inside is being renewed more and more every day! Because what He is doing is unseen, but it is eternal!

That is some weighty stuff, but as it weighs heavily, my heart is filled with peace. I hope this encourages some of you today who are suffering and that His presence meets you where you are.

Grace and Peace,

Christy