God's Love

I have had to consciously remind myself these last few weeks how near the Lord really is. I have felt distant; like there was something caught between us or some shackle holding me down. Something was clearly drawing my attention away from him... or worse, my heart.

My dearest friend explained it perfectly the other day (this is my paraphrase, not her exact words) "The Lord is in all things and through all things. It's weird that sometimes we feel distant from Him, when really, He has never budged. Rather, we distance ourselves. That's when we need to repent and ask the Father to take hold of hearts and thoughts again." It's about us realizing where our hearts are and making a change, if there needs to be one.

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, neither anything else in all of creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." -Romans 8: 35-39

Through HIM who loved us, we are MORE than conquerors in ALL things. What confidence we can find in the Lord! NOTHING... ABSOLUTELY NOTHING can separate us from His love. It NEVER leaves us!

Why is that so hard to remember sometimes?

Because I let the fuss of this world get in the way of my knowledge of His pure, unflinching, stubborn love. Having realized this, I hear Him say "Natalie, I have not, and WILL not, take My love away from you. I have your right hand. You are mine and I'm never leaving you." Wow! What a beautiful promise! It puts my soul at ease. I tend to pollute my faith with perishable hope and fading love, but after this pruning, I want to fight with everything I have to remember this constantly.

"I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness." -Jeremiah 31:3

As Iron Sharpens Iron

My dearest friend leaves for England tomorrow for two months. And when I say dearest, I mean the GREATEST; the kind of friend that rejoices with you when you are excited, prays with you when you are weak, and stands by you when times are rough... no questions asked. It's an accountability and a love that is very rare in the world we live in. Out of anyone I've known, she has been my biggest encourager. "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."-Proverbs 27:17

Tomorrow, she will be off on a wonderful adventure, spending everyday learning more and more about our beautiful Father. I will miss her terribly, but I am undoubtably excited for her.

Tonight, on the way home from CVS, we agreed it didn't seem like she was leaving in less than 24 hours. However, when we got home and I started packaging my belongings, my heart realized what was going on. This was it: the end of life as we knew it. Things are changing. That's what is so baffling about this season of life; nothing stays the same for very long anymore. The only thing that really does is the Lord; His strength, His beauty, and the promise that He will never leave us. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him..."-Romans 8:28 No matter what is going on in our lives; whether joyful, unsettling, or moving... it is ALL for His glory and our good.

Life isn't going to go the way we want, but we have to remember that the Lord is in control and knows far more than we do. "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."- John 13:7 The Lord is FOR US!! He is good! He holds you in the palm of His hand! He is teaching you, healing you, and always loving you.

Sometimes I wonder what people would do if they honestly trusted that the Lord was always with them? I know what Kristin would do, I have witnessed it and I am moved by it.

Here's to the amazing adventure the Lord has laid out in front of her. May it be an experience far beyond her imagination and filled with His love. We will be praying for you! I love you, beff!

Soul Vacation

Life as I know it will change in less than nine days. NINE DAYS! Scary? Kind of. Exciting? Definitely! The last 3 and 1/2 months have been spent trying to understand where the Lord wants me and now that I finally know a little bit more about where I am headed, I am at peace. During these three months I have detached myself from what I used to know, embarked on new adventures, and searched many mysterious places (specifically, my soul and the heart of God) in order to know just a little more about who I am and who my Savior is; I guess you could call it a "soul vacation." I recommend having a soul vacation at least once in your life, or whenever you feel like you've succumb to the ways of this world instead of listening to the Lord. Romans 12:2 explains this perfectly, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is- His good, pleasing, and perfect will."

I've spent years trying to figure out what His "good, pleasing, and perfect will" is, but haven't found it because I have polluted my mind with the ways of the world. It seems impossible, to me, to be able to figure out what His will is when so many sectors of this world are calling my name; their calling is a lot louder than the whisper of the Lord.

In the midst of this little vacation, I learned to stop listening to what the world wanted me to be and figured out who the Lord has created me to be. No more self-pollution, no more faith-pollution; just me authentically and the Lord organically. Through this I have found pure joy... comfort in my skin knowing I am and am still becoming the individual He has created. This kind of joy produces a certain kind of strength. (Note: I said produces not requires.) "The ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away."-Isaiah 51:11

It is the Lord's strength in my weakness that brings such a freeing joy. I am relieved that such a mighty, loving, and beautiful Savior has me in His hands, otherwise I would be scared to death.

It is my joy to serve Him and to be consumed by Him. Without this soul vacation I would still be a disoriented girl, engrossed by the way the world has taught me to think, searching for the world's calling instead of HIS.

THANK YOU, LORD!

Joie De Vivre

"Why did I start this blog?!?" that is the burning question in my mind as a stare at this blank writing space. "I did it because I thought the background was cute." and, if I'm going to be honest, that is the real answer. Great! I just wasted more space on the internet by creating another stupid blog. Yes, I said "another." I have 3. I believe this being the 4th. Wow! I can't help it! I can't stick to one... I never get past ONE post. But, I promise on this blog I will post as long as there are things that continue to inspire me; which will be often. I try to find the joie de vivre, or the joy of life, in every day. And I've decided to use this blog to record the little joys I find, hoping to inspire you to do the same. I will look for these little joys in moments of peace and happiness, when things go completely wrong, when I'm scared, and in the people around me. It won't be a list of things I find, but, rather, a story... and I believe everyone has a story worth telling.

-XOX