Hosea 14:4:

"I will heal their apostasy (waywardness); I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them"

I read this awhile back and it is currently one of many verses stuck to my wall. I read this thinking of others, that God will heal my friend's waywardness. But, now I am reminded of my own neglect. I have moved to college, yes. It is a christian college, yes, but I have not spent serious time in the word since getting here. I have become wayward, using excuses and counting my bible classes as devotional time.

Now, I read this and then Zepheniah 3:17 "The Lord your God  is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing."

He will quiet me. I am busy and I am distracted from my real purpose. But, God's love is poured into me as faithfulness. He stands by me waiting for when I fix my eyes, once again, to the heavens.

Glorious and mighty, you're awesome in beauty, greatly to be praised.

College Bound:

It has been a while since I've been here. I have since then moved into college, broken the ice probably a hundred times. Missed my friends intensely. Ate lots of unhealthy foods. Met incredible people. Made new friends. Rejoiced in the presence of God with hundreds of others. Slept in a new home. Accepted what God is doing in my life.

I had no idea that God would do so much in my life in such a short time. I came to this campus fully expecting to feel awkward and scared. Instead, I was excited and comfortable. I feel at home in my little cave of a desk. I feel ready to start classes and to dig into God's word. I am so incredibly thankful to my Father that watches over me and guides me into the places and situations that will best glorify His holy name.

This week I have not spent much time in the word. I have been in a wirl-wind of moving and adjusting and I have allowed that to be an excuse not to be spending quiet time with God. But, He continues to bless me.

I have met a girl that is on the floor under me, in my same hall. We clicked pretty quickly, but, I have a feeling based on a small converstaion we had last night that we will have a lot more in common than I could imagine. I know God put her in my life and I can not wait to know her whole heart and to share mine. To experience the kind of connection I am expecting.

(this was written weeks ago and is just now being published.)

Psalm Nineteen:

The Lord's law is perfect. I kind of just want this psalm to speak for itself.

The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 

Day to day pours out speech,

and night to night reveals knowledge.

 There is no speech, nor are there words,

whose voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out through all the earth,

and their words to the end of the world.

In them he has set a tent for the sun,

which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,

and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.

 Its rising is from the end of the heavens,

and its circuit to the end of them,

and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

The law of the Lord is perfect,

reviving the soul;

the testimony of the Lord is sure,

making wise the simple;

the precepts of the Lord are right,

rejoicing the heart;

the commandment of the Lord is pure,

enlightening the eyes;

the fear of the Lord is clean,

enduring forever;

the rules of the Lord are true,

and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold,

even much fine gold;

sweeter also than honey

and drippings of the honeycomb. 

Moreover, by them is your servant warned;

in keeping them there is great reward.

Who can discern his errors?

Declare me innocent from hidden faults.

Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;

let them not have dominion over me!

Then I shall be blameless,

and innocent of great transgression.

 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable in your sight,

O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

I've been reading this psalm for a week as my prayer. I need to know and believe and have faith that the Law of the Lord is perfect. 

God promises, revival, wisdom, rejoicing, enlightenment, endurance, righteousness for those that follow his law. 

Cleave unto another

My sister got married on the 12th.

At her ceremony I read from Philippians:

Christ's Example of Humility

 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

I just read it not really sinking in what I was reading.Then I went to a Hillsong United concert last night. Their focus was Jesus, of course. They weren't there to put on a show, instead to worship with fellow brothers and sisters it was incredible. 

They were there to worship Jesus, the savior that was perfectly spotless and still humbled himself to take His father's wrath for the world on his shoulders. To die the death that we deserve and it was powerful. I don't think I've ever sang so loud in my life. Everyone around us was pouring out their soul, basking in this glory. Rejoicing and completely emptying themselves to bring praise to our mighty savior.

When I had read this at the wedding, I knew the purpose was to commit to each other a life of humility. They followed it with a foot washing so they had a public symbol backing their verbal commitment. But, the band during the concert kept reminding us of the humility of Christ. The ultimate surrender that saved us all. That we were the bride. But, we need to be the church. Yes, we are married to Christ but, are we living as wives, submitting to their husbands? Am I being humble and giving my life to God? No, I'm not. Realizing that smoked me. God certainly ripped that curtain from my eyes.

So, I made that commitment again, Jesus, have your way, have your way, have your way. I kept asking and praying that. God almighty, have your way in my life. I want to live that way, to be living completely for the Lord with Jesus at my side. A beautiful marriage.

Psalm Eleven:

I don't think that I have read many of these earlier psalms and what I'm realizing is that David urges us to trust in the Lord. He presses on the important knowledge of God's all powerful control.

In verse 6, he says, "Let Him rain coal on the wicked", I focused on the word let.

David used that word and in doing so he highlights our human nature to need control of things. 'Let' opens the way for 'allow' and 'surrender'.

In psalm one, I found a caretaker and here it is clear that I need to trust in his promise of justice, provision and might control in my life. I need to let Him have his way.

He is in control and more than able.

God will take care of us. We are his beloved. The other day at the Tabernacle, I learned about God the covenant keeping God. If God makes a promise He will uphold it.

Psalm 12:8 "The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times." 

Psalm Ten:

I hit a wall with this one, I studied it for a few days because I just didn't really know what I was supposed to get out of it.

"To you the helpless commits himself; you have been the helper of the fatherless... O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed."

Basically, I keep skipping over David's request to punish the wicked. I don't really know why I'm not trying to understand it. But, David keeps writing about God's attention to the poor, fatherless, the small or oppressed person. God sees, hears and takes account of all that goes on. He is the person that the needy put their hope in. He is Hope.

Ephesians 1:1-14 [Identity in Christ]:

So so so many notes. Yesterday, I went to Crossroad's College group for the first time. I thought it was surely time to accept that I am now a college student. Anyway, Lauren (a dear friend) spoke from the heart about our identity in Christ. So, I'm just going to put my notes on here because, they certainly are a picture of what God is and what He has done.

We started with a few verses to summarize the identity and promises for followers of Christ:
Genesis 1:26-28 (We are made in His likeness, and we have dominion over the earth)
Romans 2:22-23 (all sin and fall short of the glory of God, we have the righteousness of God)
Romans 5:18-19 (we are made sinner by Adam, we are made righteous by Christ)

Then we watched, The Gospel by Eric Ludy on youtube:
(We are rebels, rebellion is sin. But, we are made in God's image so as rebels we are rebelling against our own image. And then we all realized that that was really stupid)

Then we dove into Ephesians 1:
Verse 3 (we are given every spiritual blessing in all of the heavenly places. We are citizens of heaven, we are given new life [Hebrews 11})
Verse 4 (he chose us before the foundations of the world. God desires me. --->Ephesians 2:10, for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them, We are his firstfruits. ---> 2 Thes 2:13)
Verse 5 (adopted as children according to His will. We are new members of His holy family. ---> Romans 8:15, have a spirit of adoption.)
Verse 6 (for his glory and grace, in Jesus the beloved. ---> Isaiah 42)
Verse 7 (we are redeemed, we have forgiveness. What does redeemed mean: restored, made right)
Verse 8-10 (We have lavished grace)
Verse 11 (we are possessors of His inheritance. We are God's inheritance. Also, though, wer are co-heirs with Christ. ---> 1 Peter 1:3-5, we inherit salvation, we have a redeemed relationship with God)
Verse 12-14 (We are sealed with the Holy Spirit, He protects and preserves me through our walk. [elements withstood]. He is faithful to complete His will for us.)

So, find your identity in Christ. I ask God that this will sink so deeply within me and take root of my heart, of my soul.