from the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks

"From the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks" or my fingers in this case.

The Lord has been helping me climb out of a hole these last few days. If you don't already know my Lord is Jesus Christ Son of the Living God who is, was, and forever will be. So, a little background information I'm a senior at Mississippi College and it is time for me to turn my eyes to the future or thats at least what society is telling me to do. Therefore, I began looking at the future next semester "where to student teach? where to live as I student teach? ect." this summer "do I go to alaska? do I stay in america? do I stay at home?" and next year "where am I going to get a job? where am I going to live? how am I going to afford this neat little home I'm envisioning in my mind? do I get a dog to protect me in my wonderful little home or is God going to have a handsome man in my life to protect me?". These questions have been asked before by others, I'm sure, which is okay. The issue came when I started focusing all of my attention on these questions and closed my eyes to the things around me.

I knew that God hadn't called me to a life of worry, so I started searching for a way to get out of this rut. I first looked to my family. My Parents are awesome! They live for God, love Him and praise Him openly in front of my sister and I, and they love us very very much. So my dad gave me some wisdom (if you knew my dad you'd know he was a man of wise sayings that are sometimes cheesy) he said, "If you're going to worry don't pray and if you're going to pray don't worry." Simple enough very cheesy but profound. Next he began to quote scriptures over me saying "God's word is a lamp unto you feet and a light unto your path" "For I know the plans I have for you, declare the Lord, plans to prosper not to harm, plans for a hope and a future. When you seek me you'll find me. When you call out I will hear" "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths" some good stuff. I've heard these before, but was stuck in my rut and needed to be reminded.

So the next day (yes I didn't run after God that moment... I'm a stubborn prideful human and I feel like my way is the right way at times but the truth is His was is the only way.) So the next day I began reading Daniel and King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream about himself. He was going to go insane and then after a time he would regain his mind and be restored. The dream was fulfilled and Nebuchadnezzar concluded in vs. 37 "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble." HELLO! I just said that I was stuck in pride. God used that verse and others in the book of Daniel to begin to soften my heart even more. The next day I enjoyed lunch with my mother. She is getting together a women's conference and working on some rental property business, so her plate is full. But she was telling me almost in tears how GREAT GOD IS and how HE PROVIDES EVERYTHING she needs. She had the song Great is Thy Faithfulness like a broken record in her mind one of the lines goes, "all I have needed Thy hands have provided, Great is Thy faithfulness Lord unto me." God is using people (many, not all were mentioned) and His word (living and active) in my life to help me get out of this hole I've dug for myself.

So, today is Friday and I can't help but proclaim that GOD IS GREAT AND HE IS FAITHFUL. No, I'm not out of the woods yet, the demon of worry is still right outside my door, BUT through the strength of God, that's where the demon will stay, outside.

Finally, this brings me to the reason to even write this blog. Yesterday, I started thinking about the death of a loved one and how we as a body of believers would handle it. (thoughts that I don't entertain often) At that time I had no idea, but God was preparing me for last night. I have the opportunity to work with innercity students middle school age and one of them last night was broken. She was crying bitterly and couldn't convey the issue at hand. While the other students were whisked away to do craft. This young lady, one of her close friends, and myself sat for a while. After she composed herself to speak she told me of how her father was killed last year and how she needs to be strong so her sister can make it through, but shes not sure if she can make it through. Whao, this young woman maybe 13 years old has the weight of her world on her shoulders. I started praying to myself asking the Lord to give me the words. I have not lost a close loved one in my life and I felt very inadequate in this conversation. But the Lord gave me some scriptures and some words. He was preparing me for that moment. I urge you to join with me as I pray for her.

How does this connect to the beginning about my worry about the future? Well, if I had still been seeing only my issues my heart and mind wouldn't have been open for God's preparation for last night. I urge you also to seek God for He is near. Rejoice in Him always. Let you kindness be evident. Present your requests to God with thanksgiving and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding WILL guard your heart.

There are many other blessings that I have been able to enjoy because of my focus change over the past few days I pray my focus continues in God's direction.