Too Quickly Forgotten

My how incredible is the God that we serve? Do you ever just sit in silence and just marvel at how great our God is? I think that I have forgotten that the past few weeks. It is easy for me to worship God, and pour out my heart to Him, but often times I just forget how insanely incredible He is. 

This weekend my cousin, Kara, and I went up and stayed with our grandparents in MI (and we totally didn't get lost on the drive up there which is kind of a miracle in and of its self. Tthough if we had gotten lost, I was totally ready to ration off my fruit snacks so we could survive :)). And while we were visiting them, we watched this History Channel presentation of the Bible, the OT to be specific. I have mixed feeling about the Old Testament. The history lover inside of me absolutely loves it, and the other part of me often wonders why God was the way He was in the OT. I mean if you think about it, He did some pretty incredible things (i.e. parting the red sea, giving Abraham a son, the burning bush, winning like a million and ten battles). God is like a pretty cool guy... He has this incredible power. Then there is another part to God that sometimes confuses me. Sometimes He seems harsh. (You know, He did save a bunch of people from dying as slaves in Egypt, so yeah He really did want them to follow Him and obey Him. I'm just saying, He totally deserved it at the very least). The same God who destroyed an entire city, Sodom and Gomorrah (I guess it's really 2 cities) is the exact same God who watched over a little Hebrew baby floating in a basket. Isn't our God incredible?! 

This past week has been really difficult. I am trying to adjust to the pain that I have had for about a week. I realized tonight how frustrated and mad I am. I have lived with constant knee pain since I was in fifth grade, and even before that, my feet and ankles were already in pain. I have struggled with this pain, knowing that God can heal me. Knowing that He is going to heal me. But in the midst of my frustration and even anger at still being in pain, I remembered that this is how God is shaping me. He isn't finished building me and growing me and transforming me into who He wants me to be. 

Its very easy for me to forget sometimes that God is walking through this with me. I am at a time in my life when I feel so far from Christ, I feel lost in my walk with Him. Life recently has been a waiting period, and if you know me, you know that I am not very patient. And because of this time in my life, I have too quickly forgotten that our God is awesome God (see what I did there?! For old times sake)

I am reminded tonight of two verses. The first verse comes from Hebrews 13:5-God has said, "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you." This verse was so encouraging to me today. Even though it feels like I am miles and miles from my Savior, I know that He is right next to me. He is holding my hand, and He keeps giving me the strength to push on towards His plan that He has for me. It is so reassuring to know that nothing I ever do will ever separate me from our powerful God. 

The second verse comes from Psalms 139:14-I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, Your works are excellent, I know that full well. It is one of my favorite verses because it holds one of the prettiest truths in it. I am wonderfully made. God did not mess up when He made me who I am. He created me wonderfully. He created each of us wonderfully. And He isn't done shaping us. I so needed to be reminded of this. He has a plan and a purpose for my life, and for everyone's and it is so incredible to think about. 

I am so anxious to see what God has for me after my surgery. He can use me now, there is no doubt in my mind. I am just so excited how He chooses to use the fixed Charlotte. 

And now my dear friends, I leave you with a challenge. Some time during your busy day, take a break and sit in the presence of Jesus. Take a moment to think of how awesome our God is. Maybe you could think of the way He showed His perfect power in the OT, or how He revealed Himself through miracles in the OT. Maybe He has done, or he is doing, an incredible work in your life. Wherever you see His might, praise Him for that. Bless His name. Worship Him. We serve an incredible Creator who deserves all of our heart, and all of our mind, and all of our strength. And please remember that even when you feel miles and miles from the heart of God, He is closer to you than you think. He has created you for a purpose. 

10,000 reasons continued:

19. His wonderful signs of POWER in the OT. 

20. His perfect plan, for not only me, but for each of us. 

21. His ever constant presence. 

22. His mind blowing, earth shaking, mountain moving power and might. 

23. The ability to worship Him. 

24. His healing hand! (Even when it isn't on my terms, which lets face it, the Creator of the world has WAY better plans than me!)

25. The voice of the Holy Spirit that can be heard in our lives.