My Rock

I have decided that blogging this summer will be more difficult than I thought.  But here it goes:

The Acts 1:8 Team has been going through a book called "Contemplating The Cross." It is a 40 day journey through Jesus' journey to the cross.  It has been a great opportunity to focus on all that He went through for us. Each of the team members gets a turn to do the devotion and share what they learned through that day by reading the book.  It has been awesome to hear the insight of my brothers and sisters and be able to share what has been on my heart. 

But that is not the reason for this post... 

I first have to give a background of who I am and what I am about... So I am not sure if you may or may not know... but I tend to be one who worries... and not only worries - but takes it to the extreme.  A perfect example: Tonight I left Highland Coffee (a beautiful little shop on Bardstown Rd) and my phone was dead (from using the gps to get to highland).  So I didn't really pay much attention to what I did with it - I know that is a terrible way to treat a phone -.  So when I got into my room and was going to call one of the girls in acts 1:8, I almost freaked out when I couldn't find my phone.  I ran (walked quickly) down to my car and searched every part of it (or so I thought).  

I used my friend's phone to call Highland to see if anyone had turned in a lonely maroon blackberry.  There was no such thing turned in.  I then called back and made sure that the man double checked the table we were sitting at to see if there was a phone there - he seemed so calm and happy (how could he be calm! My phone was missing!) 

I walked down to my car again and by this time - was able to tell that I would be panicking soon... I took deep breaths and kept on my mind that God is sovereign even without my phone - and that I could survive without it - whether I would want to or not.  This was a good process to help me keep my cool (compared to how I have reacted in the past). 

After I finally found my phone and got it all charged up and ready to use, I sat down and opened the Word for some much needed guidance and encouragement.  I am also reading a book in my quiet time called "Names of God."  The name today was very relevant to life, it was entitled, "Rock."   

"I love you, O LORD, my strength. 

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; 

my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.

He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

For who is God besides the LORD?  

And who is the Rock except our God?

The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock!

Exalted be God my Savior! 

                    (Psalm 18:1-2, 31, 46)

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, 

out of the mud and mire; 

he set my feet on a rock

and gave me a firm place to stand. 

                     (Psalm 40:2)

It is verses like these that are able to get me through times when I feel like the walls are caving in - or the time is going by too fast and I won't get things done.  I am able to remember the truths that Jesus taught while He was on this earth and the ones He continues to show us through the Spirit.  How beautiful are the things He reveals.  Like the fact that He is our cornerstone and our foundation.  It never gets old.

"A large rock is secure, fixed, and unmovable. It represents constancy and permanence, something to grab hold of when everything else about us seems to be changing."

 

So ... it is safe to say that the LORD is definitely using this summer to teach me a lot of things. 

This week has been spent with Edge Outreach - training and learning health education and also working at the Edge Mission House with cleaning and fixing it up for youth groups to come and live while they are working in Louisville.   

I am getting more excited about the Dominican Republic as the days go by.  It is almost here! In almost two weeks I will be on my way to Cincinnati to depart on a plane to the D.R. with some wonderful friends that have recently been placed in my life.  It will be such a great adventure!