Change and Peace

Seasons are crafty, changing in the most delicate ways, so subtle, one can find it hard to recall exactly when warm days left and long nights came. They creep in like a dream with all it's stillness that one can hardly notice it came.

Winter is coming, the year is winding to a close, and for many people that brings to mind the Winters and years past with all the joy, beauty, sorrow, love and hurt that may have been a part of them.

Life is sweet and beautiful and incredibly hard. When I think about life and am tempted to see failures and mistakes, I think of Philippians 3:13, that says, "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead".
We don't have to worry about the future when we know that we are "sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory." (Ephesians 1:13b-14)

I find myself looking back now and I think of how very different things were this time last year, and how His grace has carried me, brought through so much change. Some changes have been, at times, lighter than a breeze gently touching my face, and at other times seemed to have equaled a strong wind that so painfully stole away all breath from my lungs and I wondered how I'd recover. Yet still I can say through it all, He is faithful and loves me with a greater love and cares for me with a greater care than could ever be found in all of the worlds in all of the universe.

If the pain seems to much, I can find hope in the fact that my Savior has suffered far greater than I have, He knows and understands my weakness and can carry me in His unending grace so that I may endure. When it is easy and when it is hard, I can have faith and hope in His love. With each change, be it small or immense, I have learned of His good will, experienced His joy, and felt His very heart just a little more.

I don't know how the story ends, and yes, there are times in between that are difficult, but I can have faith, that it will be alright, because He wrote it. I know the Author. The One who promises that all things work together for good to those that love God, HE writes my story.

Yes, He is good. So, though I may not understand His timing or purpose, I don't need to, I only need to look back on His faithfulness over my entire life and be filled with faith, hope, and love....

So if I could speak to you right now, from my heart I would tell you that He knows you far better than you know yourself. That even though you may not understand why the Lord is doing (or not doing) what He's doing, trust that He sees from beginning to end, He knows when the small sparrow falls and He loves you more than many sparrows. Have faith that He can and He will work every moment you can't understand to His glory.

Look up at the crystal night stars. Our Creator has named every one of those star and yet He knows your name, your every thought, dream, need.

 

His love is unconditional, so infinitely truer than any love we can comprehend, and everlasting. He only is deserving of all our faith, hope, and love.

 

 

May you be filled with His grace and peace, dear sister (or brother) in Christ, this day, and ever day to come.

"Look unto Jesus. I looked on Jesus and the dove of peace entered my heart. I looked at the dove of peace; and lo . . . off he went.

Once it was the blessing, now it is the Lord.

Once it was the feeling, now it is the Word.

Once the gift I wanted, now the Giver owns.

Once I saught for healing,

Now Himself alone. 

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above

James 1:17

Lord, thank You for all You have given me, but thank You most of all for who You are."
[from Each New Day, by Corrie ten Boom]

He Is Faithful

"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." -Isaiah 43:2

Sometimes God doesn't take us over the water, or pull us out of the fire; sometimes He takes us through it. It, at times, feels unbareable. But He is so much bigger than my problems. His strength and mercy is enough when I let Him take me through.

I recently listened to a sermon called "As Always, So Now Also" by Pastor Randy Cox. God truly blessed me with that sermon. (You can listen to it at thecrowncollege.com/chapel_archive/) The first thing the pastor said was "You cannot plan a better course for you life than what God has already planned."

Psalm 30:5b "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning"

There is nothing that compares to the good and acceptable and perfect will of God!

I hope you have a blessed week.

-Ashlin

P.S. Summer is my busiest season so I hope you don't expect to many posts until Autumn. ;-)

Tend Your Garden

In the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. (Mark 1:35)


Janie's Garden by Erin O'Donnell

Janie's got a hidden garden
She's been tending it for years
And when the world gets too oppressive
She hides away in there

Janie's got a sanctuary
Where she can speak her every need
And when she's longing for reflection
She falls down to her knees

Nobody knows
Nobody sees
The place where she meets her God in secret
But everyone knows
And everyone sees her life
And Janie's garden looks like paradise

When Janie walks outside her garden
She can still see clearly in
And when she looses her perspective
She talks to God again

Nobody knows
Nobody sees
The place where she meets her God in secret
But everyone knows
And everyone sees her life
And Janie's garden looks like paradise

Jesus is my Hiding Place; He preserves me from trouble and surrounds me with songs of deliverance. (Psalm 32:7 )

Surpassing All My Understanding!

Wow. I don't know how, or what to write, but I feel like I need to express this joy, this amazing inner peace. It's like a great light trying to shine out, like a beautiful song trying to burst through, or a dance -deep inside of me- ready to leap into action!

"Remember surrender; remember the rest? Remember the weight lifting off of you chest, and realizing it's not up to you and it never was..." -Sara Groves

"Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, Thou art very great; Thou art clothed with honour and majesty. Who covers Thyself with light as with a garment: who stretches out the heavens like a curtain: Who layeth the beams of His chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds His chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: Who maketh His angels spirits; His ministers a flaming fire: Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills. He watereth the hills from His chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of Thy works. He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God. O LORD, how manifold are Thy works! In wisdom hast Thou made them all: the earth is full of Thy riches. So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts. There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom Thou hast made to play therein. These wait all upon Thee; that Thou mayest give them their meat in due season. That Thou givest them they gather: Thou openest Thine hand, they are filled with good. The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works. He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: He touches the hills, and they smoke. I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. My meditation of Him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD."
(Psalm 104:5,10,13,14,21,24-28,31-34)

It is so wonderful to know that He is sovereign! When I realize that God has a plan for me, He has a reason for all this that is too high for me to grasp... it makes me smile.

I have been pretty busy with VBS for the last couple of days. I have been praying for the students I would have for VBS as soon as I knew I would be teaching a class; and it has just been so wonderful knowing that God choose these (two) students just for me.

God, as gracious as He is, has given me faith this week to surrender, and because of that I have been seeing how, the facts that I've had to change the weeks lessons and only had two very introverted children have been planned out perfectly by God. I can't explain it, but if each thing this week had not happened how and when it did, it just wouldn't have been right.

The Lord has put verses and answers in my mouth to give to these kid's questions, and I can really see them opening up! And it is so exciting.

All I can say: God is so good! His way is perfect! Oh, if only I would learn how high above my way His way is. He has turned my anxiety into a peace that surpasses all understanding!

Psalm 37:4,5, "Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass."

(If you have made it down here, I commend you, because my mind is going 100 miles an hour right now and I have know idea how random this post may be.) I guess what I'm saying is trust, obey, and be thankful; because He has a treasure in store, because His way is better than yours, and because there is not a chance you can see ahead and find out what peace, joy, and fulfilment it will bring to serve where and how God has lead you to work.

As I was learning/teaching in VBS, without the shield of faith all of the devils fiery darts would have harmed Joseph and Job and you. But when we simply trust that He allowed this for a reason we can grow -completely unaffected by the devils fiery darts.

Oh, I am so thankful for the love He gives!

Adopted by the Heavenly Father,
Ashlin

P.S. If you feel lead to pray for Jacob or Julia, my two VBS students, that would be greatly appreciated. Jacob started out closed and seemingly unresponsive, but now he has opened up so much he would rather learn more from the Bible than play a game! I can really see God working, but I would still like prayer. Thank you! ♥

It's May!

"I pray for you, that all your misgivings will be melted to thanksgivings. Remember that the shadow a thing casts often far exceeds the size of the thing itself (especially if the light be low on the horizon) and though some future fear may strut brave darkness as you approach, the thing itself will be but a speck when seen from beyond. Oh that He would restore us often with that 'aspect from beyond,' to see a thing as He sees it, to remember that He dealeth with us as with sons."

Jim Elliot

When I Am Weak -part 2

"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

The Lord has given me assurance I'm forgiven; I have reason to rejoice. But what about when I don't take the "way of escape" that God has prepared for me?

I have the victory through Christ Jesus. But there is a time for mourning. After all Jesus did say "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." Psalms 34:18 says "The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit."

2 Corinthians 7:9-10, "Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death."

The difference between godly sorrow and the sorrow of the world: I still recognize the cost of sin, but it doesn't stay, I make a 180* and go the right way, but I don't need to keep looking back and remembering what I've done wrong. "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins." (Isaiah 43:25)

The fact that I'm a sinner, and a miserable sinner at that, is what makes Christ strong in me. Amazing...
"And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."(2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

When I Am Weak -part 1

Job 42:5-6 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes."

I hate myself. I have been hating myself more and more resently. I read that verse in Job and I winced... I've been really down and the more I've read from God's Word the more I felt... unworthy.

Right after reading that verse I flip through my flash cards and read Romans 7:12, "Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good." Again and again words like "holy and just and good" popped up each time I read the Bible and each time I would cringe inside thinking of my own short comings.

(Another flash card verse: Romans 7:5) "For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death." Am I still in the flesh? No! Why do I continually act so unlike a new creation?

Now, I don't mean I was just feelin' down, I was aching, sick of myself I felt like Job when he said he said he abhored himself.

But then the Lord showed me these verses -1 Corinthians 6:9-11- "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God."

Now, believe it or not after that I didn't feel like singing or dancing -which is what I normaly do when I am really happy- I just leaned back and smiled. I felt a peace, God's wonderful peace, and I felt tears.

None of these verses were new to me, I had not only heard them before but had memorized them, but nothing sunk in quite like it did last night.

2 Corinthians 11:3 (another one of my flash cards ;) ) says "But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."

The message of the Gospel is simple; a no-brainer! (How could I have been so deceived!)

Last verse:
"Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death." (Revelation 12:10-11)

Rest

So often times we find ourselves being caught up in the busyness of our lives and we forget what it's like to just to be able to sit back and just find peace in our Heavenly Father's arms. Our minds are most often focused on the next thing we need to do or the next place we need to be and we often forget to hear Him calling us, telling us just to rest. There are times when we need to just sit down and take a break- to just stop and spend time in prayer, to sit at His feet and to simply listen, instead of always trying to run, and be doing things.
He wants us to take minds off of our busy day and just rest. Just resting in Who He is. Not always praying about all of the problems and the things that are going in on our day, but simply resting, just trusting Him. Knowing that He will make everything alright. Know that He has put us in our situation to teach us a lesson or to bless someone else.
Listen to Him, and all that HE is saying to your heart. Listen, and this time drown out all the other noises and the voices that are going off and are buzzing around your head. Until everything is quiet in your heart and in your mind.

Matt. 11:28-30 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, Its about learning to dance in the rain!

Matthew 5:11-12 says, “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." It says when the persecute you not if they persecute you. We were called to suffer. Something about suffering helps us to draw nearer to God. Suffering makes us realize we need Him. James 1:2-4 tells us, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” Again it says when the trials come not if.

A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials.-A Chinese Proverb

“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5) In all of these passages God shows us the end result of our sufferings: “great is your reward in heaven”, “that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing”, “tribulation produces…hope”.

Although it may seem like these times when we suffer last forever, remember what the Lord says "Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)

Everyone will have suffering in their life. Suffering brings growth. It truly is a blessing in disguise. But how often does one find themselves praying for hard times. I believe that when you pray and ask God for trials (and His strength to get through them), we are asking for a very good thing. After all, long suffering is a fruit of the Spirit . Galatians 5:22 lists it as number four on a list of 10! Long suffering is a part of God’s character, a part of His image and a part of His nature. The Bible tells us He has “great kindness” and that “His mercy endures forever”.

We need to strive to be like Him, we need to add to our character patience. Long suffering is joy that endures in all circumstances. In 1 Timothy 1:16, Paul says, “However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all long suffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.” We need Jesus to live through us so that He may “show all longsuffering” through us.

Long suffering is always associated with hope and mercy. Psalms 62:1 Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation.

“If you have great challenges, have greater faith”. Leinani Kamaka

1 Thessalonians 1:3 “remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father” What will you be remembered for?

My Hiding Place

Psalms 32:7 You are my hiding place;
You shall preserve me from trouble;
You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.

Psalms 62:6 He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense;
I shall not be moved.


Psalms 94:22 But the LORD has been my defense,
And my God the rock of my refuge.

Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence,
And His children will have a place of refuge.

Psalms 71:3 Be my strong refuge,
To which I may resort continually;
You have given the commandment to save me,
For You are my rock and my fortress.

Psalms 61:3 For You have been a shelter for me,
A strong tower from the enemy.

Psalms 143:9b
In You I take shelter.

2 Samuel 22:47 “The LORD lives!
Blessed be my Rock!
Let God be exalted,
The Rock of my salvation!

Psalms 30:4-5

"...every night, however long and difficult, ends in a dawn of gold." -Amy Carmichael