So, I had this great big plan about what I was going to blog about this week…wrote about half of it and just deleted it (on purpose).
Because I am sitting here, in the middle of Starbucks, writing this blog, collecting info on vaccinations I need for next year (woo hoo!) and just processing everything that has been happening lately as I have been preparing for next year.
And I am OVERWHELMED.
God's love and faithfulness towards me just hit me so hard that I literally burst into tears in the middle of Starbucks. I'm getting lots of fun stares, in case you were interested. And I wanna say, "Hey, this REALLY isn't me (Trust me, bursting into tears is about as non-Courtney as it gets)…but I JUST CANT HELP IT!" Because the truth of the matter is…God is good! SO good.
"God is good…all the time!" [crowd responds] "and all the time…God is good!"
"God is good!" is one of our "good" Christian mantras. But stop and think about it. Think about WHY you are saying it. When you declare "God is good!" reflect on all the specific things God has done to specifically show you just how good and amazing He really is. To show you how much he loves you. Not just people in general, but YOU.
Something that has been revolutionary in my relationship with God is understanding that He is WAY more than just our traditional understanding of God. For example, He is our Father. Understanding that is not as simple as it may seem. He is a father who loves and adores his children. He is a father who is captivated by his children. A father who wants to teach and discipline his kids so that they will be the best they can be. To teach them the right ways. To love them and support them. To believe in them. To be their cheerleader.To see them succeed. To give them gifts and delight in their joy when they receive them. Don't believe me about the gifts part?
Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. -James 1:17
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! -Matthew 7:11
That is incredible, life-changing news. We have a father in heaven looking after all of our needs. Who doesn't let us down. Who has GOOD gifts for us. When I think about this, I am so convicted about how often I subconciously, or conciously, have the mindset that God doesn't always have good intentions or good things for me. I often expect to be let down or have to experience things the "hard way." Even if it is something I would never voice, I sometimes fear He doesn't really have great or exciting plans for me. That He doesn't have gifts for me that are as good as He has for someone else. That He doesn't care about my silly requests.
Or, on a more personal level:
He won't give me the funds I need for the World Race. It is going to be a difficult and dreadful process.He won't equip me in the ways that I need for this journey. Noone will be moved to support me.
lies, lies, lies.
…All He wants is for us to ASK. He wants to have a relationship with us. He wants to TALK to us. If he says no, it is because He is a GOOD father and He has something even better for us…even BETTER than we could have ever planned for ourselves. 🙂 He knows what we need, and He CARES.
I want to be a daughter who expects GOOD gifts from her father because she knows that he loves her beyond anything she can can comprehend.
He is GOOD…all the time 🙂 Shout it from the rooftops!!!!
Merry Christmas, friends!
**If you feel called to support me this holiday season, click on the "support me" tab on the left. There are options to mail in support or contribute online. Thank you in advance!! I love you all and I couldn't do this without you!!**
