He died for this...

     This past year, I have been doing a Bible reading program to read through the whole Bible in a year. It is the ninth month of this year and I am dumbfounded by the thousands of blessings, joys, nuggets of wisdom, pieces of awestruck wonder, and beautiful pictures of Him that He has revealed to me. Within these past nine months, I have completed high school, been to Israel, experienced my two newest siblings’ first Easter, gone to Miami on choir tour, spent six weeks in Haiti, moved into college, made incredible new friends, joined a sorority, missed my family, and loved my life so, so much. That’s where the problem lies. I love my life. I love doing life with my family at home. I love doing life in Haiti. I love doing the college life with new friends. I love my life even when its hard. I love my life because of Jesus. But I should also lose my life because of Jesus. Beginning what seems like a completely new life here at Samford can be uncomfortable. Its uncomfortable because I feel a sense of responsibility for my family at home because they are one of the greatest blessings the Lord has given me. I feel a sense of homesickness for the beloved people of Haiti. I feel a sense of fear of letting go of some of the things in my “old life.” I have “sacrificed” a lot to be where I am right now. Why would the Lord want more from me? Because He loves me enough to want ALL of me. All of my broken heart, all of my sinful thoughts, all of my wretched actions, all of my strong-willed stubbornness, all of my joy of life, all of my curious soul, all of my desires. He wants all of me so desperately. He died to have all of me. 

                   5k with Dow!

              These are my friends.

     That’s the thing. That’s the thing that Lord has so fervently been teaching me these past few weeks of new life in college. He died for this, whatever this might be. He died for me so I could have an abundant life. He died so that my heart could be in several places all at want, because that is only by the power of the Holy Spirit. He died so that I could build beautiful friendships with people who are absolutely nothing like me. He died so that I could cast all my cares upon Him. He died so that we can be strengthened to carry each other’s burdens with joy. He died so that every struggle I face has hope of eternal effect. He died so that I will never be alone. He died so that everywhere I go, He is holding my hand. He died so that I could come here to Samford and “accidentally” meet a new Haitian friend. He died so that I could come here and spend one afternoon a week with eight other girls who want to go onto the mission field full time one day. He died so that I could come here and go through of book with a precious, Indian friend learning how to adequately immerse in different cultures to spread the gospel. He died so that I could meet so many friends who have internationally adopted siblings. He died so that I could learn more about Him by studying Aristotle and Augustine in my Cultural Perspectives class. 

     He died for this, whatever this may be. So going through life in the most mundane of activities, the Lord whispers, “I died for this. What are you going to do with it?” I’m going to live sacrificially. I’m going to love God and love people. I’m going to rejoice. I’m going to live by intentional faith. My response should be the same every time because His voice says the same thing every time, it is only the circumstance that changes. He died so that I can be where I am right now. He died to claim me as His own. Why live like I am not His? He died to gain victory over me. I cannot be defeated. He died to be powerful in my weakness. He died so I might run and not grow weary. 

     Approaching any situation or scenario, I can look to His face, read His Word, or lift up words in prayer and know that whatever "this" might be, He died for it. Knowing this allows my heart to be centered around the gospel throughout the day. It leaves more in awe of the personableness of the cross. Our Savior is good.

            Bid Day!!

              ADPi!!!!!!

  Where the cross stands tall,

   it is into Your arms I fall.
   At the foot of the cross.

 I bow; everything else a loss.
   At the feet of my Savior,
   I remain in awe forever.

     The cross is the hope, the joy, the redemption, the power, and the solution to anything and everything. Live in the resurrection.

"He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory."  1 Timothy 3:16

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, ' Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." Matthew 16:24
           
"For I knew that while I gazed on the cross, I was safe and sound."

"I saw clearly by the faith I had that there was nothing between the cross and heaven to distress me... It taught me to choose the only Jesus for my heaven, come what may."

                THE BEST ADPi FAM!!