Forgiveness

"But the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved." Judges 16:22

Samson has just disobeyed the biggest rule God told him about. A Nazarite from day one, Samson has never, never, NEVER EVER cut his hair . . . until now. He gave away his secret to Delilah, who betrayed him to the Philistines. They cut his hair, beat him, gouged his eyes out, shackled him, and put him to work grinding mill in their prison. This is the scene we come upon in verse 22. "But the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved." Whaaaaat? Samson disobeyed God. His amazing strength is brought down to nothing. "The Lord had left him" (16:20). And yet, through God's amazing mercy, Samson's hair began to grow again. Samson's hair is the symbol of his relationship with the Lord. While his hair was long, the Lord was with him and he would level towns and cities, kill lions with his bare hands, and nothing could stop him. His hair was shaved off, and the Lord left him and his strength was gone. But then his hair began to grow again. Samson had basically turned away from the Lord, and his relationship with him was gone. But then the Lord allowed his hair to grow again. Wow. I can't even understand it. There's no way for me to get it. My brain just can't understand that kind of amazing love. Thank you, Father, that you love us that much. Thank you for your love that never fails, never runs out, never gives up on me. ♥

One Passion

Today I'm posting DOUBLE because I found an old journal entry in one of my notebooks from 2008. I was 14 when I wrote this. I don't know if I heard it somewhere, or read it, or just heard it from my heart, but I really love this so here it is :)

"Give me one pure and holy passion. Give me one magnificent obsession. Jesus give me one glorious ambition for my life: to know and follow hard after You." ♥

Psalm 23

The Lord is my guide, my protector, my provider. He'll take care of me so I won't want for anything. He lets me rest in beautiful places. We'll walk together in places of peace, and he'll bring my soul back to life. I will feel alive in his presence. He teaches me to do what's right, no matter the cost, to glorify His Beautiful Name. So even if I'm in horrible places of darkness and despair, I will not be afraid because you are with me. Your guidance and your discipline, the way you take care of me, makes me feel at peace. Even when I'm surrounded by enemies, you lay out a banquet for me. You bless me and anoint me beyond anything I could even contain. Because of you, goodness, forgiveness, and mercy will be with me my whole life, and I will stay in your house forever and ever. ♥

Rejoice!

REJOICE! Be fuuuuull of joy! Today is a special day made by the Lord for you to enjoy! Dance! Sing! Laugh! Celebrate that fact that YOUR GOD REIGNS! He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and he loves you! Wowzie. Be glad! Be excited! He is the love of your heart and soul. Your other half. Smile, Jesus loves you! Live your life like a Jesus party! Say peace out to stress and worry and sadness . . . welcome in the jubilation of our Father! REJOICE!!! :) :) :) ♥

Peace

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." Matthew 5:9


"In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety." Psalm 4:8

"Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10


Peace. The lack of worry, the presence of calmness and tranquility, full of rest, full of confidence and trust. The Lord calls us to be people of peace. To be known as peacemakers, peaceful dwellers, and lovers of peace. When I used to think of peace, I thought of sitting down, with my eyes closed, listening to something soothing. And while that is definitely one picture of peace, there are more as well. In the Bible, Paul talks about a peace "which surpasses all understanding" (Philippians 4:7). Wouldn't it be completely understandable to have peace when you're in a restful place, like by a stream, or when you don't have any tests, deadlines, chores, or other bothersome things to get done? But a peace that surpasses all understanding . . . that makes me think that it's the kind of peace that is just . . . illogical. It doesn't make sense. It's the peace that was there with Daniel in the lion's den. He could have died! The fact that he was pretty calm the next morning when the king visited him is just delusional. It's the peace that the flowers have, knowing that God will clothe them and watch over them (Matthew 6:25-30), and not just clothe them in any old thing, but make them more beautiful than King Solomon's royal robes. It's the peace that only comes from our Father in heaven.

The Lord has been teaching me things about peace recently. About trusting him to take care of me, and living my life in obedience to him, specifically about being anxious about nothing (Philippians 4:6). I took some naps. I rested in the word. I took some quiet walks with God. And through that, he has started teaching me to have peace even when I'm not doing those kinds of things. I had a sweet peaceful time last week while TAKING MY SPANISH MIDTERM! Wowzie. I used to get so stressed before exams and quizzes, I would forget to trust and be sure of failure and just plain crazy scared of the results. But Jesus taught me that not only is that "bad" or "wrong", but that's a sin. That's like blasphemy. By not trusting him to take care of me and letting fear enter in, I'm saying that he is NOT Lord of Lords and King of Kings and Ruler over all the earth, I'm saying that he is NOT enough to protect me and keep me safe. But guess what? He really is big enough, strong enough, powerful enough, great enough, wise enough, brave enough, and loving enough to save me. The biggest thing he taught me over the past week or so, about trusting him and having peace in him, is that he is enough. ♥