The ABCs of God's Goodness: E

Everlasting.

Everything about God is everlasting. His will, heart, mission, grace, love, promise.. and the list goes on. He will forever seek after His people to know Him and be one with Him. As one of my favorite songs says, "Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades. Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame."

All that our Creator is shouts never ending.. He is everlasting.

The ABCs of God's Goodness: D

Dedicated.

"Wholly committed to something" is the definition given for dedicated in the dictionary. Wouldn't you say that it doesn't get much more dedicated than God? We may dedicate ourselves to a job or career, but years down the road decide we want something else. Marriages often end because dedication was misconstrued along the way. Dedication in a friendship can be thrown out the window after one argument.

God never ceases to chase after us. He is wholly committed to His cause-- His people.

He sent His son to die for us.. now that is true dedication.

The ABCs of God's Goodness: C

Creative.

God is THE Creator; the most creative. The best artists in history could not complete any works near to what God made. From the rolling hills to the sweet smelling grass in spring. Reaching to the stars and back down to the sandy beaches. Stretching from mocha colored skin to that which is fair. From brown eyes to blue.. men to women. Elephants to ants. It is all His.. the great Creator.

The One who spoke it to be.. painted the grandest scene on a canvas so vast.

God is creative.

The ABCs of God's Goodness: B

Beautiful.

God is beautiful.

Although we can't see God, we know that He is beautiful. We know that there is none other. We are certain that He holds the most striking beauty. We know this because it glows from the inside out. He pours out His love to us day after day. He chases us day in and day out. Unbelievable love, mercy, grace, strength-- we know the list goes on and on. Let us try and be a bit more beautiful today.. the way God calls us to be.. beautiful on the inside.

B for Beautiful!!

The ABCs of God's Goodness: A

Awesome.

God is awesome.

Webster defines awesome as inspiring awe. I would say that this only touches the surface of what it means when we say that God is awesome. He is the one that leaves us in awe of the power of His amazing grace, caught in the reality of this truth, we are left with gratefulness too huge to capture into words. We are left with a heart wanting to learn more. We are hungry for Him, hungry to learn the way of Jesus.

God is indeed awesome.

a changing heart..

I logged into my online banking account today. I balanced my checkbook and paid off my credit card bill. I almost clicked the X on the top right corner of my computer when for some reason, I was left staring at my account overview page. For the first time in my life, I had money in both my checking and savings and it wasn't already budgeted to something.

Now don't get me wrong, I have college loans that need to be paid off, but other than that I am debt free. I began to rattle off reasons in my mind of how I had accumulated this money:

"Well I have been working to save more"
"I'm babysitting more this year than last year"
"I have been fundraising for my mission trips so it's not all money I've made"

So on and so forth.. I then realized that there is just no explanation that points to my habits as the source for what I have. Before beginning my walk with Christ, I was obviously not tithing. I wasn't sponsoring children through Compassion or the FACT program. I wasn't out buying baby clothes and food for soup kitchens every week. Instead, I was spending money on clothes or dinners out. I do not have exact numbers to compare as far as my spending goes between these two categories, but it just amazed me that I have as much money as I do.

God has blessed me abundantly. He has called me to tithe, to give give give and become excellent at being generous. If it weren't for Him, I wouldn't have the will to give and to save and use my money appropriately. I wouldn't have been given chances to travel abroad to love His people. I wouldn't have been blessed with people in my life who support me in these great adventures. it is all because of Him that I have what I do.

I am working to become a better follower by stewarding my money better. I want to spend my money not on things of this world, but on things of eternity. I want to invest in Heaven by investing in God's people.

I am going to need to some help being held accountable so I am inviting each and every one of you who reads this to do so. After these 40 Days, I truly believe that WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER.

something's gotta change

Superwoman has got to go.

Since my first year at school I have taken on many diferent roles both on and off campus that have filled my days with meetings, events, classes, etc. I learned which things I loved and had a passion for and which I would need to leave behind. I make a few people angry with some of my decisions and others very happy with them.

Right now I am completely overwhelmed. I have reached the point where I can't take on another meeting or class or event in my week. I need to re-evaluate the organizations I am a part of on campus and where my time is being spent. God gave us all 24 hours a day.. how many of those am I spending glorifying Him?

When I am trying to squeeze in time to read the bible and meditate on His word and when I am rambling through a list of prayers before bed, I am not being a good steward of the time I have been given. I want to be able to pick up my bible when I feel the urge to during the day, rather than just between 3 and 330 because that's the only time I'm in my room in a day.

Something has got to change. God is calling me to slow things down and has shown me this through tiring me out. This is going to be a very different thing for me, as I am used to the fast paced, busy, yet rewarding life.

But I need people to help hold me accountable. I need to working toward the ultimate reward.

He'd wrestle on the floor with your kids.

Not too long ago, Steve bought me a book by Max Lucado titled Everyday Blessings. I have enjoyed looking to this little book each day for a new verse and short but sweet explanation and/or application. This specific blessing had me laughing and simply filled with joy.

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. John 1:14

Jesus was touchable, approachable, reachable.... He was the kind of guy you would invite to watch the Rams-Giants at your house. He'd wrestle on the floor with your kids, doze off on your couch and cook steaks on your grill. He'd laugh at your jokes and tell a few of His own. And when you spoke, He'd liksten to you like He had all the time in eternity. And one thing's for sure, you would invite him back.

How cute!! Such a fun way to remind us of a truth-- that Jesus lived among the people. He did the same things they did, lived in true community with them.

Enjoy!