Friday, June 10, 2011

Lazy Afternoon

Gluten Free Pasta with Spicy Peanut Sauce!!!
SUMMER! It is such a gift to have time to be creative, cook, sleep, wear pajamas, go on adventures, and just chilllll in general.

I love seasons of rest. I do not think God designed us to go 24/7 all year around. Times of rest like these are healing for the soul; and frankly and that is exactly what I am in need of. I need an attitude change, I need comfort, I need healing, and I definitely need some time to just digest this whole last year (seriously...what the heck happened this year?). This summer is off to a rough start, but I am hopeful. Lately hope has seemed just beyond my grasp, but today God graced me with layers inspiration and a general attitude change. My attitude is slowly changing from negative to positive, from fearful to trusting, from anxious to at peace, and from ungrateful to worshipful. I think this is going to be a process, but isn't everything?

All I know is if I keep focusing on myself and on my circumstances, hope will not be a close companion. So, in the same way that my absolutely beautiful friend Camille did today, I too choose hope and truth over my feelings and perceptions. I read this passage yesterday, but today God is opening my eyes to the truth in it:

"And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.

What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."

(Romans 8:26-39)

DANG. Hope? why not?

Thank you God for the gifts of a lazy afternoon, truth, yummy food...and Ella Fitzgerald. I really love them.

4 comments:

  1. HEATHER. That passage.... ah. It totally came to mind the other night and so I looked it up, wrote it in my journal and started praying (keep in mind.. it's been awhile & i'm working at it) BUT I think it's sooo incredibly hopeful in so many different ways.

    Don't get overwhelmed with everything, I know it's so hard not to but really, TODAY is the day and in this "choose today" lesson that I'm being faced with, I'm learning that simply if you can just choose to live today and not focus on past mistakes, regrets, etc OR future worries, etc, you really will start to see a major attitude change and a different heart perspective. That's what has been happening for me and it's not always easy, but today let us together choose hope and truth, grace and mercy above all though. Today, I pray for rest for your beautiful soul and nothing but truth & freedom to be spoken into your heart today.

    I love you soooo dang much heather. Can't wait for Sunday <3

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  2. Camillioooooooooo. You really really really have no idea how incredible you are, and what a Godly and spirit filled woman you are! I love you more than I could say. Thank you thank you thank you for this. God is speaking directly through you. My friend emailed me this (from her daily devotional) today too:

    "REST IN ME, MY CHILD. Give your mind a break from planning and trying to anticipate what will happen. Pray continually, asking My Spirit to take charge of the details of this day. Remember that you are on a journey with Me. When you try to peer into the future and plan for every possibility, you ignore your constant Companion who sustains you moment by moment. As you gaze anxiously into the distance, you don't even feel the strong grip of My hand holding yours. How foolish you are, My child!
    Remembrance of Me is a daily discipline. never lose sight of My Presence with you. This will keep you resting in Me all day, every day."

    haha...think Gods trying to tell me something?

    Thank you God.

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  3. Dude Jesus is soooo faithful!!!

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  4. daaaaang. that just hit me like a ton of bricks. soo good. so needed. ahh.

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