The Path We Follow

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." -Colossians 3:15

"I have held many things in my hands, and lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess." -Martin Luther

Hello again little blog! There's a big world out there with big things going on it in, and I've been in the midst of them. Life is blessed, but has been more filled than it used to be.

I've been searching for peace in different ways, but on the same path: prayer and quiet time. And God has taught me many things about finding it. Here are a few thoughts.

It starts with the debate between more sleep and quiet time, when I rationalize in my tired brain which one will revive me the most. It's always the later, but the things our tired brains do are mischievous, haha.

It goes on when stress levels become Stress levels (upper case = proper stress) and I have to remind myself the steps of living: a) breathe, b) pray, c) realize the promises and blessings you have, and c) keep going. Sometimes I just have to put my feet back on the ground instead of floating off with the breeze.

It flourishes when I talk to those I love. They are like fingerprints of God's craftsmanship and reflections of His love in our lives; I've been trying to take those loved ones in as much as possible for this reason. No amount of responsibilities should ever take priority over our family. It's the difference between something you could lose in a day and someone you could lose. There was a tornado warning in my parent's town which put things into perspective for me (they're all good now!). It only takes your mom talking about missing you when watching Gilmore Girls to remind you to smile :)

I've been struck by Martin Luther's quote on what we put in God's hands as I've seen the evidence of this surrender-to-gain countless times. If it's not my church who just moved into their own building and out of a school gym, then it's my friends taking on ministry roles even though there is risk - because what is faith without risk? I've seen those who have held as much as they could ever achieve and still felt empty; Solomon is a good example. He was the man who asked for wisdom and gained more, but still:

"When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the labor that is done on earth - people getting no sleep day or night - they I saw all that God had done. No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun...Even if the wise claim they know, they cannot really comprehend it." - Ecclesiastes 8:16-17

We go on with our hearts in our own hands and expect to find direction. It's funny because our hearts have always been His; He created them. He knows each muscle and hair on your body by name, let alone the fibers that grow on every tree and the white feathers on every pathway. Can He not lead you the best?

When I think about my testimony and the times I've surrendered to Christ, those were the times I gained much more than "so much". He's given me what I didn't know I needed, and who I didn't know I needed, and the direction I didn't know I needed, and the heart I didn't know I needed.

Lead on, my Father, my Captain, my Peace.