God I'm just wrapped up in the midst of Your awesomeness. You are worthy of so much more than I can ever possibly give You. You are worthy of all honor and praise. You are God and that IS who You are. There is no escaping it. You surround us everyday in the beauty of your creation, your chosen people, and your Word. Lord, in order for You to be seen to others in my world, I need to die to myself, to follow after You, to commit to You. God, I will follow You all the days of my life. God, You come and meet me and help me. You assist me in walking for You. You don't desire me to be perfect! God, You just want me to follow You and seek You. There isn't some list that I have to complete each day in order to commune with You. I may have bad days; but God, You continue to love me and support me. You don't want me to stop following You. It is not by perfection or works that I'm saved, but by His precious, awesome, wonderful, majestic, all-sufficient price paid on the cross for MY sins. He took it all. 

In awe of the Savior.

Maybe

Maybe the decision to follow Jesus isn’t made in the first few months of salvation, when everything is excitement and wonder, when you see your world with completely new eyes, when every other day you feel another touch from God encouraging you to keep healing, keep transforming.

Maybe the decision to follow Jesus is made in the years and decades after. Maybe it’s made in the midst of turmoil, hopelessness, and lack of faith, when you feel spiritually dry and every day you thirst for God’s presence. Maybe it’s made as God finally works His way in to the deepest wounds that you hide in your very core, as He patiently chips away at the scar tissue wrapped around your most dreaded memories, as He frees you one by one from the chains that have held you for years. Maybe it’s made in persecution and injustice, in the times when you stand alone and friendless.

Maybe the decision is made when faith has never been more difficult, and yet you choose to believe anyway.

My brothers, this should not be.

"The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you." (Romans 16:20)

This comment comes at the end of Paul's letter to the Romans, as he's saying his farewells. I wish Christians talked to each other like this all the time- giving encouragement and wishing grace for each other. All too often I witness Christians at school passing judgment and gossiping about other believers behind their backs. It especially bothers me when I witness someone saying rude and spiteful things to a fellow believer's face.

It's a shame to disrespect anyone with your words, but when your harsh and hurtful words are directed at a brother or sister in Christ, you're disgracing the Spirit of God that lives in you both.

"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be." (James 3:9-10)

Drown it out

Many people go through life trying to ignore it. They plug in their iPods, turn on the TV, indulge in drugs and addictions, and drown it all out. As soon as they're faced with an uncomfortable train of thought or a painful situation, they avoid it by means of distraction. And so they live their lives, not really living at all, but constantly running away from a reality they're afraid to deal with.

Hosea 7:9-11,14 elaborates:

Foreigners sap his strength, but he does not realize it.

His hair is sprinkled with gray, but he does not notice.

Israel's arrogance testifies against him, but despite all this

he does not return to the Lord his God or search for him.

Ephraim is like a dove, easily deceived and senseless-

now calling to Egypt, now turning to Assyria.

They do not cry out to me from their hearts

but wail upon their beds.

They gather together for grain and new wine

but turn away from me.

This passage talks about a group of people who are in a tough situation but who aren't dealing with it in a healthy, effective manner, which is to "cry out to the Lord from their hearts," verse 14. To people like this, Paul writes:

And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. (Romans 13:11)

God's Glory

God has been revealing to me His amazing glory. He is not just a loving, merciful God. He is glorious, holy, and wonderful God. His holiness is too great for even the angels to view him. The seraphim have six pairs of wings. One set is to cover their eyes to protect them. That just amazes me!!! God's glory is too great for the angels to set their eyes on Him. I normally think of the angels as holy and righteous beings, but they can not look at God!! This reminds of how I am not worthy of God's love and mercy. I am a belligerent human being that God decided to love. It was nothing that I did or can do to receive His grace, mercy, or love. It was His decision to love us as his adopted heirs of the throne! His glory is too great for me, a mere human being, to understand.