Trust

"Trust is the courage to accept acceptance." - Scott Hodge

It is always amazing to me how God uses many different people, readings, and messages to get your attention. Lately, this has been the theme. "Trust me", "Stop trying to do it on your own", "I am for you".......

I am realizing that this is an area in my life where I need to be continually reminded. I cannot do this on my own. There is NOTHING I can do to earn God's love. I just have to accept it. I never really think that's an issue for me. However, it keeps coming up, and then I realize that I'm putting my own view of God into my thinking, and I'm NOT trusting Him enough. It's in all the everyday little things, as well as the big things that He is already working on, in His time.

I have never had a church like The Orchard in my life. In so many ways, it is my dream come to life. When Scott Hodge teaches, I feel the Holy Spirit speaking to me. He is using Scott's amazing gift of speaking the truth to breathe life into my soul and to help me realize the areas that I need to work on. I often joke and ask him if he sees the "light bulb" going off over my head during his teaching, because I am constantly making connections in my own life during his sermons.

I am so incredibly grateful to The Orchard, for the steps that they have encouraged and helped me to take in my journey with Christ. I have never felt more at home, or challenged in my faith, as I do from being a part of this amazing community. I am so incredibly blessed!

YOU ARE FOR ME......

Amanda Hodge sang this song last weekend at The Orchard. It was the first time I had ever heard it, and I could not control my emotions as she sang it. First of all, it is a BEAUTIFUL song, and Amanda sang it like an angel. But the words have not left me all week. I have downloaded the song and video, and continue to say these words throughout the week.

The words that originally stuck out to me on Sunday were "I know that you will never forsake me in my weakness." That was easy for me to understand, as I am going through a tough stage right now with a broken heel. I am not used to being weak. I am not used to asking for help. I am not used to accepting others' grace towards me. I'm used to giving it, and serving others. Many people have told me that God is most likely telling me that I need to slow down, and I get that, and would also agree.

However, as I have thought on these words this week, I also see that God is also "writing upon my heart to remind me who HE is." I need to be reminded. HE is in control, not me. He understands and has all the answers, not me. Just when I think that I continually understand this, God uses songs and passages to remind me. I also read a quote from A.W. Tozer this week that said "The reason why many are still troubled, still seeking, still making little forward progress is because they haven't yet come to the end of themselves. We're still trying to give orders, and interfering with God's work within us." Wow.

Have I been interfering with God's work? Have I been still trying to do things my own way when I thought I had moved past that? This is definitely something that God is continuing to work in me to realize that I need to trust Him more. So I will continually think and sing 'I know that you are for me", and continue trusting that He has something planned for my life that I can't possibly comprehend at this moment.


KARI JOBE - YOU ARE FOR ME LYRICS:
"I know that you are for me
I know that you are for me
I know that you will never forsake me in my weakness
I know that you have come down
Even if to write upon my heart
To remind me who you are"