Footprints of Grace

My soul is at rest. I breathe in and out with a lightness I could very easily become accustomed to. Peace is overwhelming me. In the last 4 days I have spent at least part of my day with other believers, in meetings and worship. I was not really looking forward to my weekend being so full, but I was pleasantly surprised at all the blessing that came out of such a weekend. 

Friday, I enjoyed a morning worshiping and studying with some wonderful ladies at our James Bible Study. During our discussion time, we happened upon a difficult subject, and I was struck by the fact that I had some answers. I am leading this group with a dear friend who is like a Grandmother to me. She was my leader over a year ago when we studied Believing God, a great Beth Moore Bible study. Anyway, I had discovered some insight over the last few years and I had some of the answers. I am walking with God and he is revealing to me his heart and teaching me such amazing things. 

I am so bad at memorizing Scripture, but I am in the word more, and God is helping me to find what I seek in the Bible. James 1:17 calls God the father of good gifts. Beth Moore is so quotable, and I love how she said "God uses time to unwrap presents that appear as curses." I'm shouting "AMEN!" aloud in my quiet place of study, as though Beth and I are having a conversation. And then she said, "Temptation attempts to tear open the package before its due date, and in so doing, disfigures what's inside." So flee from temptation and believe that God will use your scars for his glory if you will let him!

Friday evening, I had a Young Life fellowship dinner followed by some community time and amazing worship. I made friends with some new ND freshman who will be new leaders. I got to hang out and chat with some amazing people who love Jesus, and I really enjoyed a devotion on Acts 2:42-47. I am liking Acts more and more. Then I met a friend at Starbucks, and we talked life and ministry. I told her about a book I had been reading in the afternoon about prayer, and how we need to ask God what to pray before we just go off and assume we know his will. So I asked God how he wanted me to pray in a few situations, and was amazed at what he told me. I am so thankful I serve a God who tells me what I want to know! I just wish he did every time. 

Saturday I was up early for another YL meeting, this time, being a part of the planning for the next year. I am the newest one to this group, and I absolutely enjoyed spending most of my day discussing the future, and laughing and sharing with a group of people who love Jesus and teenagers. Plus the lunch was amazing! And the hosts were just about as good as you can have. And being the newest senior leader, I felt totally welcomed and loved by the committee and the other senior leaders.

After that, I went home and finished a sewing project for a friend's new baby. Then I met a friend at the local mega church, for some more worship! At this time I was super excited that I was totally connecting with God. We were aligned for some parts of the day and my soul felt so free. It is such an amazing thing to experience. I have been enjoying this church on Saturday evenings lately. It was some good worship and a decent message, followed by Starbucks.

Sunday I woke earlier than normal. I was eager to get to church, and so ready to see God move in my congregation and in my life. I crave more worship time than the typical 3 songs before the sermon. But we sang some wonderfully classic songs, and I connected with God. My favorite of the morning was Jesus Paid It All. I absolutely love singing that song!

This evening, I had my prayer group, and the study we are doing on A Praying Life, and it is really challenging me on what I believe on Prayer and God's nature. Every day of study I find myself questioning the author, as well as all I have believed before to be true about my God. I feel so full of grace and light, I think I may be able to fly!

Jesus Paid It All

I hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

Lord now indeed I find
Thy power and Thine alone
Can change the lepers spots
And melt the heart of stone

Jesus paid it all
All to Him I owe;
My sin had left this crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

It’s washed away
All my sin
And all my shame

And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete,
"Jesus died my soul to save,"
My lips shall still repeat

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

O praise the One who paid my debt
And raised this life up from the dead

We’ll praise the One who paid my debt
And raised this life up from the dead