Update Time

Okay, wow, it's been a while since my last post.  The busiest time of the year for my family has come (April and May).  But it's also the best time of the year and I'm gonna tell you why.

I have the best job ever!!! I work at Rock-n-water (a Christian living history camp) during the spring.  I get to dress up and time-travel to 1854 to teach 4th graders about the Gold Rush and about God.  I love teaching the kids about history but the main reason I just love my job at Rock-n-Water is because I get to make a difference in the world and teach kids and their parents about the most important thing - God.  That is my greatest aim in life.  To make a difference in the world by sharing God's love with others.

So as April comes to an end I sadly realize that there is only one more month to this wonderful season. And though I'm glad that the busyness will come to an end, I'm far from ready to say goodbye to my job until next year.  I feel so blessed to be able to work at this wonderful place and each day I'm learning and growing more and more in my walk with God.   

Due to being so busy I have not been able to post much but I still plan on continuing my series on the Fruit of the Spirit.  It may have to be put off a little longer but I plan to write the next segment as soon as I find the time.

Peace that Passes Understanding

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27  

I've been wanting to post more regularly but Spring is one of the busiest seasons for my family.  We work at a Christian living history camp.  The camp is awesome, but due to this I have not had the time to post much.  But today I found the time to write the next part of my Fruit of the Spirit series.  Sorry if it sounds a bit rushed.  I just have so many things on my list of things to do and my mind is feeling exhausted and a bit overwhelmed.  

But with the business all around there is no better subject to meditate on then peace.  By taking the time to sit down and write this I have learned a lot about peace.

Peace (the sacrifice of trust) - Whenever I think of peace the words of a song I used to sing when I was little pop into head.  Maybe you know this song.

I have the peace that passes understanding 
Down in my heart!

Where? Down in my heart!

Where? Down in my heart!

I have the peace that passes understanding 
Down in my heart!

Where? Down in my heart to stay!

'The peace that passes understanding' was a phrase that I just couldn't quite wrap my mind around when I was a little girl. I remembering feeling very pleased with myself when I was able to sing this particular part of this song without any mistakes. But I didn't really know what it meant. Now I look at this song and it makes so much more sense to me.  Actually, even thought it's a song I sang when I was in elementary school, I find that I enjoy this song still, if not more now that I'm older.  There's just something about the the simplicity of this song.  

Philippians 4:6-7 says; “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Peace is gained by taking all of our worries and fears and giving them to God. Whatever it is you are facing: trials, fears, or just the everyday challenges of life, you can't find God's peace until you give those problems to God and trust that God will take care of you. You must go to God in prayer and in thanksgiving, just like the verse plainly states, and God will fill you with the peace that passes all understanding.

The peace that God will give you is amazing. It goes beyond understanding.  With everything falling apart right before our eyes God fills us with a peace that sustains us and gets us through the day.  For the unbeliever who watches us go through life with God's peace it is impossible for them to even comprehend how we can be so calm.  I believe that this is what it means to have the peace that passes all understanding.  It just doesn't make sense to the outward eye.  

These past few days I've been struggling with being content with my life and being single, wishing that God would bring that 'someone special' into my life soon.  It just so happened, and I know it was not a coincidence, that during my devotion I came across Philippians 4:6-7. I knew exactly what God was telling me to do. I went to God in prayer and I thanked God for His goodness to me and I told God of my problems and asked Him to take it away and fill me with His peace. Immediately after my devotion I was filled with happiness. God's peace rained down on me like a flood. I was so happy I literally skipped down the stairs this morning (which is not a good idea cause I've slipped on the stairs too many times to count).

My point is that God is waiting to bestow upon you His peace. He's waiting. He's waiting for you to ask. All you have to do is ask and God will shower His peace down on you. 

So what is keeping you?  Give your problems to God,  trust that God's plan for you is the best, and ask God to fill you with His peace. 

Joy ~ The Second Fruit of the Spirit

Well, Happy Easter!  I know Easter was yesterday, but I did't get a chance to post anything so I'm saying it now.  HE IS RISEN!  

And with that said what a  great way jump into the next installment of my Fruit of the Spirit series - Joy! 

Joy (the sacrifice of praise) – Again, like love, joy can be wrongly thought of as a feeling or emotion. Joy is too often confused with happiness. Happiness is an emotion. If our life is going good we are happy but as soon as bad things happen we are no longer happy. Joy doesn't mean we should trick ourselves into thinking we are always happy even when bad things happen. Sometimes you have a bad day and it is just not in your power to be happy at that moment.

God does not say that life as a Christian is easy. It is filled with troubles. But God does promise us His joy. God's joy is all we need to get through all our hardships.

So if true joy is from God and is not a feeling, where can we find this joy?  We can find this joy in God. When you turn to God He will fill you with His joy. When you are overwhelmed with your life here's a easy way to get your focus fixed properly on God again. Think back to the day God opened your eyes to His truth. What was it like before you knew God? Think of what God did to save you. God sent His only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross to save you. All our hardships should dim in comparison to God's great Gift to us and we should be filled with the deepest gratitude for what God has done for us. Your life doesn't seem so bad anymore after you put it in this perspective. 

Also, another way to find Gods joy can be as easy as reading your Bible daily and spending time in prayer. The Bible is full of God's promises and meditating on each one of His promises brings joy to our hearts. 

If you were to make a list of all the things you are thankful for and then compare it to a list of everything in your life that you aren't happy about which list would be longer?  We, as Christians, have so much to be thankful for, and a thankful heart is the first step in finding God's joy.

So, in conclusion, Joy is a choice and as Christians we must choose to have joy. We look beyond our suffering and joy fills our hearts because our eyes our fixed on God and the life to come when we will live forever with God in Heaven.

I Belong to God ~ Poem

I really what to be active in my blog and keep posting often.  These past few day's I've been brainstorming ideas of what I could post.  I would love to do another tutorial but I've been so busy lately.  I don't plan on my life slowing down in the next few months either.  At this time of the year I have a lot of things on my plate so it's hard for me to find the time to write, or create something with my hands.  

Then I came across this poem I wrote a few years ago. I don't normally write poems but I have tried a few times.  I probably broke most, if not all the rules of poetry.  And I know there are rules to poetry, I took a class on poetry one year. 

Anyway, here is my poem.  I won't criticize myself anymore and I'll let you decide for yourself what you think.   I need to not say anymore or else I might decide not to post this ;)

I Belong to God

by Sydney R

My heart isn't mine

It belongs to God

So let me treasure it

I won't give it to just anyone

I will wait patiently

Until I meet the right man

Then I will present it to him

Pure and spotless as it is

My life isn't mine

It belongs to God

So let me live for Him

I won't settle for anything less

I will serve God

Until the day I die

Then I will go to heaven

And meet Him face to face

I hope this poem encourages you to wait patiently for love to find you in God's perfect timing and for you to live every day of your life for God.