Abide

*So- this blog is going to kind of piggyback off of the last one- heads up.*



Here lately, the idea of holding on to things has just been very present in my life.
I'm not sure why.
Maybe it's because I thrive on consistency.
Security.
I get this idea in my mind of how something is going to be,
and thats how it's going to be.



But then on some idle Monday-
things change.
That idea of things in your head took a right,
and you missed the turn.
Ever find yourself there?

See, so often we find ourselves holding on
with relationships,
plans,
friends,
people,
promises,
ideas,
and how we think things are going be-
that we so often forget we came into this world with nothing,
and we can't take anything with us when we go.

But on a grander scale,
we are busy making plans, deepening relationships, and holding on to words-
That we forget these things were never ours to begin with.
They were graciously given to us by the God who knows our hearts,
The God who knows how the story is going to go,
The God who gives,
and takes away.

After a few long nights, and a few crazy days-
I am beginning to see that yes, we hold on to these things for comfort,
when the only true comfort can be found from the One who made us intricately.
Because you see,
The One who made us intricately designed us to need Him, to seek Him,
to abide in Him.
And then we will find a place to put our dependance, our relationships, our longings, our plans, our promises.
In Him.

We hold people to standards.
We put them in a position to meet all of our needs, and they can't.
While yes, they can do a lot and life is a lonely place without friends/relationships,
and they each add so much to our lives individually and collectively,
They shape our lives and teach us things we were meant to learn from them specifically,
but they can't ever fully satisfy our hearts need,
-and we can't expect them to-
They are a gift from God, but they are His- not ours.

When or if we can ever fully grasp this,
maybe then we can let people finally be people-
and just maybe
we can finally let God be God.


Just maybe,
we could let God be all we ever need.
because-
He is all we will ever need.








"... and the things of this earth will grow strangely dim- in the light of His glory and grace."

To fully embrace- grace.

So, sometimes I like to sit back and watch.
To be silent.
To observe.
To learn.

Actually, most times I like to do this.


Well, here lately I have been watching some of the people closest to me,
as well as reviewing the pages of my own story the past few months.
And I must say, for awhile I have been left without words.
Not necessarily in a bad way, but just not able to string my thoughts together like usual.

I have noticed with myself, as well as with those around me that we hold on.
We hold on to love,
to fear,
to life,
to loss,
to material things,
to words,
to traditions,
to things we can count on,
to things we can't stand to see change.

We hold on to these things, sometimes- for dear life.


But I have to wonder, what would we do if we let these things go?
If we let them go and live,
If we let go and let God be God.

Do we fear that lack of control?
Are we afraid to let Gods power be portrayed in our lives?
Are we afraid of His power?
The One who knitted us together in our mothers womb,
the One who loves us without fault or fail,
the One who sees past our pain.

Could you imagine letting that everlasting, almighty, loving power loose?
Us letting go of all we hold on to,
and just getting out of the way-
to let Him take the pen and write the pages of our lives?

It's a freeing thought.
Can we have the courage to see the redemption in our lives come full circle,
by letting go of our lives?

Like a good mother told me "God is just watching our lives, He's already got it tivo'd. He knows what is coming next, let's just let go and let Him work."


Can we have the courage to dance in His freedom?
To fully embrace- grace.

I know this one is going to be short,
but-
Have you ever just stopped,
Stopped and looked around?

Looked at the little things?
Forgetting about the struggles,
and strifes-
but the good things?

Have you just looked at some of the good things in your life and just been thankful?
And have you let that thankfulness just sink in?
and not just surface level sink in,
like letting it seep into every ounce of your being?

Where you breathe in thankfulness, and breathe out hope?

Just a thought.

It changes things.
Let's try it together.



Genuine thankfulness.