amen

Almighty God,

I am loved with everlasting love, clothed in eternal righteousness, my peace flowing like a river, my comforts many and large, my joy and triumph unutterable, my soul lively with a knowledge of salvation....

I have scarce anything to pray for;

Jesus smiles up on my soul as a ray of heaven and my supplications are swallowed up in praise....

If Jesus were not my righteousness and redemption, I would sink into nethermost hell by my misdoings, shortcomings, unbelief, unlove; If Jesus were not by the power of his Spirit my sanctification, there is no sin I should not commit.

O when shall I have his mind! When shall I be conformed to His image?

All the good things of life are less than nothing when compared with his love, and with one glimpse of thy electing favor.

All the treasures of a million worlds could not make me richer, happier, more contented, for his unsearchable riches are mine.

One moment of communion with him, one view of his grace is ineffable, inestimable.

~Valley of Vision, "Assurance"

Why is it that the most important time to trust is when it's hardest to?

It's easy to trust when everything is sunshine and flowers and happy, but when it's dark and stormy and cold, it's hard to trust, and yet that is when trust is most vital.

Why is it that when I least feel like reading my Bible and praying is the exact moment when I need the most to?

And yet it's the most rewarding. When I bring myself to read my Bible and pray, and humble myself before God, then is when He speaks to me more than ever, because when I draw near to Him (even if I resist at first), then He draws near to me in return. And oh, what an utterly blessed thing it is to have one's dear Savior draw near to them!!

Life is hard. Full of thorns and trials and tempests and confusion and disbeliefs and temptations.

But that's okay, because Jesus is loving, gracious, merciful, restful. And He's always there, right in the middle of my storms and trials, and not only is He there, but He's holding me, and carrying me, and holding my hand to lead me through it.

When I feel like kicking and struggling and resisting the most, that's the time for me to be still. To be patient, to relax, to trust. No matter how hard it is.

I have to trust that the God of the universe, who created all things and is in all things, is on my side, that He never breaks a promise, and that He loves me with an everlasting love.

You know, maybe life isn't so bad after all.

For if God is for us, then who can be against us?

♥

Crazy life

I'm finally done with my spring semester!! One more year of college down, one to go. I got all my grades back too...three A's and one B+! Not bad! All those late nights studying and frantic rushes to get stuff done before the deadlines paid off, I suppose. ;)

And my brother just graduated college! Whoa. Talk about crazy. It feels like just last week we were all playing Playmobils downstairs after homeschool lessons upstairs, and it seems like just yesterday we were dropping him off at college. And now he's graduated. Can't believe how old he is!! ;)

Now, I have time to myself, and I don't even know what to do with it! :P I was doing good for a while today...slept in (finally!), took my little brother to the library, applied at some nearby preschools, and watched some TV....but now I'm bored and don't know what to do with myself! ;) I have no homework, no school, and I don't even have to work until Friday. I should get stuff done probably, but this rainy weather is making me lazy! And it's supposed to rain allll week long.

I am babysitting tomorrow morning though! Last time for the semester, maybe last time forever. *sniffles* Gonna miss babysitting my little kiddos. I've certainly enjoyed babysitting them!! ♥