Song of a Sparrow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy9nwe9_xzw If you haven't heard the song "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" off the new Hillsong album, please take a moment to do so.  Another rough day of schoolwork that seems neverending and tests that were brutal.  I feel so wrong daring to complain.  But I heard this song this evening, a good start to the new day (it is past midnight right?) and was reminded to "keep my eyes above the ways." Yes Lord, forgive me, and help me to always keep my eyes above the waves.

I can't help myself but quote Elisabeth Elliot. Her words always come so simply, so profoundly, yet practically and succinctly. A verse she wrote in her college days so speaks into mine: "Lord, give to me a quiet heart That does not ask to understand, But confident steps forward in, The darkness guided by Thy hand." May my heart echo this little verse along with the words of a psalm: "Why so downcast, O my soul, why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in the Lord, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior, My God."

"My unmoving mansion of rest is my blessed Lord. Even when prospects are few and hopes are squashed and joy is waning, I have lost nothing of what I have in God. He is "my refuge" to which I continually return. I am a pilgrim in the world, but at home in my God. In the earth I wander, but in God I dwell in a quiet dwelling place." -Spurgeon I love my daily devotional email i get from TruthforLife.org. It tends to be so perfectly timed with the seasons o my life. Presently graduate school feels it will be the death of me, but I am slowly and painfully discovering what I am making into priorities v. what I should be making into priorities. I am learning the loneliness that will ensue if I cannot discipline myself to study well alongside friends- then I sentence myself to solitary study. I wanted life to be all fun and games but to make this season of life worthwhile, if I desire to do my best and honor God in it all, then "sacrifice" (so meager in comp

Call me an egotist, but I love reading through my old journals.  Sometimes it can be therapeutic and it really helps me see in what areas of life I have progressed and where I, unfortunately, am exactly the same sinful me I've always been.  And it can be fun because I really surprise myself in the middle of all my self-centered rambling, some sort of poignant thought will make its way to the surface.  Often times the poignant thought isn't my own.  Such is the case with this evening.   For background:  I was in a phase of harboring a terribly strong crush on a guy I knew from a missions trip and totally hating myself for it because I knew I was being ridiculous.  I returned to the words of my favorite author, Elisabeth Elliot when she was struggling with her feelings for Jim: "My heart was saying, 'Lord, take away this longing, or give me that for which I long.' The Lord was answering, 'I must teach you to long for something better.'" Such a simple

I just found this quote floating around my Bible. Someone from Bible Study had handed it to me last week and I never got around to actually reading it until now. It's a quote from Beth Moore's study "Psalms of the Ascent": "You and I will never move to the next level with God if we're scared half to death of what awaits us. On this mysterious pilgrimage we will find that when we do meet difficulties and sorrows, they were not meant to stop us but to form the character required for out great harvest in the coming season. Step into your future, Precious One. Something wonderful awaits you." Usually I tend to get theologically picky and think "Actually you don't know what awaits me. Aren't we warned that our road will lead to suffering and persecution in this life?" But today this is just what I needed to hear... Not sure why there has been such a heaviness in my soul lately, I feel it is unwarranted and distracting. I mean there a

Dear dear Jesus, my Comfort, my Rest, my Salvation: Both physically and emotionally I find myself struggling this past week and most especially the past few days. And even as I'm writing this prayer I realize how I have neglected much needed time in the Word this week. Even worse than feeling weary is I get down on myself even more for being weary. I want to be good at waiting, trust your timing and your wisdom... But tonight I am just weary of it all. I am sorry. I like to think I am stronger and not phased by this or whiny about this as some others are, but the truth is I am not. I am human and I am weak and I am tired. Tired of praying for Your will and desiring to follow it yet still finding myself disappointed when I don't get what I want. Let this self die to Christ that I no longer have to bear this burden, lift me out of my weariness tonight. But if this is the load I must carry then just continue to remind me that You gave me the strength to bear it. Spiri

"For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish." Jeremiah 31:25 I am weary tonight Lord.