quietness & trust

I love this verse.  It encourages me so!  Oftentimes, I want to voice my thoughts and do things quickly, but I need to remember that my strength comes from quietness and trust.  He is in control. 

He is so Good

The Lord has been so good to me lately! It's the little details that shows me how much He cares. The parking spot when I got to school, the 90% on my sight singing exam (remember I'm a piano major so singing isn't exactly my thing ;) ), the possible take-home exam in math...all these things are prayers I should, but don't often make. I prayed to pass my exam, but I certainly didn't expect an A! I've never had a take-home exam and considering the week it's been, it's like a miracle for me!  These are things that the Lord uses to just remind me that He's there, watching over me and blessing me. 

He really is good and His love truly endures forever. He never ceases to amaze me with all the little things... :) 

A Glimpse of Selfless Beauty- Fanny Crosby

"This is my story, this is my Song,
Praising my Savior, all the day long."

Be All There

~I can't even count the amount of times people have told me something and I not "register" it in my mind...

~I don't know how many times I've been listening to a sermon or be at a prayer service or reading my Bible only to find that somewhere along the way, my mind drifted off…

~My mom has sent me to do something so many times and then when I get to the place she sent me, I forget what it was she asked me to do…

~So often during school I find myself thinking about church, a friend, or any little thing that comes to mind instead of on the subject at hand...

~I often miss the opportunity to speak to people because I'm simply on my phone...

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I read this quote by Jim Elliot in the book written by his wife titled Shadow of the Almighty.  When reading and pondering through this thought, I realized how often I really didn't keep my focus on what I was doing.  During that time, Charis Gonzalez came from Spain and shared something about that.  She said how oftentimes, she'd pray before entering class or speaking to someone.  She'd ask the Lord to keep her attentive and focused throughout and not get distracted by anything else. She said it worked and that she saw the way the Lord kept her diligent and focused and as a result she got better grades and had more friends. 

I needed that so I decided I'd take up the habit.  For quite some time now, I've learned to pray before doing anything.  Asking for strength of quietness to listen to someone (Isaiah 30:15), a happy heart and cheerful attitude to befriend someone (Proverbs 15:13), or a quiet heart to seek God (Psalm 63:1).  I want to make new friends and seek the Lord diligently.  I want to thirst for Him like that Scripture says; however, it won't happen if I let all kinds of distractions into my life.  Praying and asking the Lord to help me focus on what's truly important in any given aspect has actually helped me focus.  I still catch myself every so often letting little things in that keep me distracted or taking my mind off of Christ.  I still oftentimes forget to pray before doing something or speaking to someone, but I'm working on it.  I know God is pleased when we give something our all, because that's the way He is with us.  God doesn't give us His spare time or partial time as He multitasks.  He gives us His undivided attention and I know I should be the same way.  That alone motivates me.  I want to be known as someone who can be trusted because I'm diligent and attentive.  

Truth In a Beautiful Hymn...

Even if I should...

lose my family,
lose my home,
lose those closest to me,
quit school,
lose my health,
not be allowed to pray,
not be permitted to read His Word,
lose my church,
lose my dreams...

Even if I never see, feel, hear, or touch all that's dearest to me again...

....I will forever have Christ, thus it is well with my soul.