It's only Thursday, but already this week has been so amazing.
At church on Sunday, we sang "The Stand" by Hillsong, and every single word resonated within me. As I sit here listening to it while I write, I am in awe of my God, who sent His son to carry a cross and die on it in order to save me… an extremely flawed, selfish, broken, unworthy girl. I struggle all the time with how unworthy I am, and how I have done wrong over and over, how I have time and time again chosen myself and wandered down sinful paths- while God patiently called me to come back to Him. It's hard for me to wrap my mind around His mercy and grace; how I'll never end up in Hell because of His mercy, and how I will end up spending eternity with Him due to His grace. What a gift! He has clothed me in salvation and righteousness!
Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD;
my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Yesterday, I worked at job #1 from 9-4, changed clothes, and headed to job #2. I was in an awful mood, I was tired and the last few times that I have worked a weekday at the wine bar it has not been lucrative. So, I prayed on my way in that God would help me have a better attitude and thought of Colossians 3:23, Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.
When I got to work, I felt better and my irritation at having to be there had diminished. A little bit later in the evening, a woman came in alone, she was visiting her kids who attend school at U of Rochester and we got to chatting. I told her about the World Race (because I tell pretty much EVERYone I run into!) and she quickly told me that church was not her thing and she didn't really understand it, but that her son had gone on a mission trip! Excitedly, I asked her to tell me about her son's trip. She didn't really know very much about it except that it was a "church thing" and that he worked to get clean water to villages in Africa. Then she asked me about the Race, how I learned about it, what made me apply and how I ended up where I am. So I shared a little bit of my past leading up to now, and had the opportunity to show her God's grace, love, and mercy prevailing in my life. When she was getting ready to leave, she paid her bill and stood to give me a hug, asking if I was single and wanted to meet her son (hahaha!). She proceeded to hand me a $100 bill, and tell me good luck and that what I was doing was amazing.
Once again, God is so good, showing me that if I trust Him and seek His plans that He is going to provide for me. It's crazy to hear someone tell you church or God isn't their thing, and next thing ya know they're supporting your mission trip 🙂
This morning, I had a meeting with my pastor to talk and pray about the World Race. When I got there, his assistant told me that he was unfortunately still out sick from this past weekend, but that I could meet with Pastor Don. I asked her if I should just reschedule and she said, "Well, why don't you go ahead and meet with Pastor Don, then if you'd like you can reschedule with Pastor Grace when He feels better?" I was like- sure why not, I'm here anyhow! For the record, I have only been attending this church for a few months, I just started attending shortly after I moved back home; I am still getting to know who's who and wasn't really sure who Pastor Don was. So I meet him and we start talking, I tell him about the Race, how I got here, etc. After about half an hour he says "So, you do know I'm the missions pastor?" I was like, welllll no- but I'm not surprised! Cracks me up- I nearly rescheduled to meet later, and here God had it all lined it up for me to meet with the man who deals with missions as his career 🙂
This will make you laugh if you've read my other blogs… I was hired at Starbucks this week, and have another interview today to serve at a restaurant. I've just been praying for God's will in my life and that He will show me where He wants me!
So, this is how my week has gone so far. That song we sang in church Sunday is so full of truth! And has been an awesome reminder; my heart seems to be all over the place, constantly I'm fighing not to let it be consumed by worry, fear, or doubt; I long for my heart to be abandoned and full of love and a crazy desire to live like Jesus. To wrap this up, thank you for reading, praying, and supporting. Here are the lyrics to The Stand:
You stood before creation
Eternity within Your hand
You spoke the earth into motion
My soul now to stand
You stood before my failure
Carried the Cross for my shame
My sin weighed upon Your shoulders
My soul now to stand
So what can I say
What can I do
But offer this heart O God
Completely to You
So I'll walk upon salvation
Your Spirit alive in me
This life to declare Your promise
My soul now to stand
So what can I say
What can I do
But offer this heart Oh God
Completely to You
So I'll stand
With arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the One who gave it all
So I'll stand
My soul Lord to You surrendered
All I am is Yours
