If you are a female, and reading this, you should probably start following the Living Proof Ministries blog. I'm pretty sure I heard about it through 2 of my sister-in-laws (yay!) at some point last year, and I've been following it ever since. Also, Beth Moore has some really great devotionals. I sort of stole this from her blog today..just thought I would pass it along..I think she read it in one of her devotionals and decided to post it.
“Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee.”
— Psalm 55:22
— Psalm 55:22
Care, even though exercised upon legitimate objects, if carried to excess, has in it the nature of sin. The precept to avoid anxious care is earnestly inculcated by our Saviour, again and again; it is reiterated by the apostles; and it is one which cannot be neglected without involving transgression: for the very essence of anxious care is the imagining that we are wiser than God, and the thrusting ourselves into his place to do for him that which he has undertaken to do for us. We attempt to think of that which we fancy he will forget; we labour to take upon ourselves our weary burden, as if he were unable or unwilling to take it for us. Now this disobedience to his plain precept, this unbelief in his Word, this presumption in intruding upon his province, is all sinful. Yet more than this, anxious care often leads to acts of sin. He who cannot calmly leave his affairs in God’s hand, but will carry his own burden, is very likely to be tempted to use wrong means to help himself. This sin leads to a forsaking of God as our counsellor, and resorting instead to human wisdom. This is going to the “broken cistern” instead of to the “fountain;” a sin which was laid against Israel of old. Anxiety makes us doubt God’s lovingkindness, and thus our love to him grows cold; we feel mistrust, and thus grieve the Spirit of God, so that our prayers become hindered, our consistent example marred, and our life one of self-seeking. Thus want of confidence in God leads us to wander far from him; but if through simple faith in his promise, we cast each burden as it comes upon him, and are “careful for nothing” because he undertakes to care for us, it will keep us close to him, and strengthen us against much temptation. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee.”
Spurgeon, C. H. (2006). Morning and evening : Daily readings (Complete and unabridged; New modern edition.). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers.
I know, I know..I had to read it a couple of times to really understand it because of the way the author worded it. But I think it's something we should come back to pretty frequently in our lives..because it's something that we all deal with on a daily basis. In some situations, I definitely put myself in His place and try to figure things out on my own..It's pretty sad that I call myself a Christian, and most of the time it's when a situation turns extreme, THAT'S when I'll go to God with it. It's something that I struggle with daily, and I will probably continue to struggle with it because I'm only HUMAN and I'm not perfect. I go through times in my life where I will automatically pray in a situation (honestly, I do that a lot.), but that doesn't mean that I actually leave that situation up to Him. Anyway, I could go on but I just wanted to post this and let whoever is reading it get something out of it for themselves.
Judah and I just got back from Grand Isle last night..we went for the weekend. Some of my aunts and uncles and cousins were staying at their camp down the road, so we spent a lot of time there. My cousins's husband, Gary decided that we should go fishing on Saturday afternoon in my uncle's boat..I'm not sure that he's ever taken out my Uncle Woots' (s's..?) boat before, so I was a little nervous about it. (If anyone that is reading this doesn't know me personally, my family has been fishing ever since I can remember being alive. So, I may not know much, but I knew enough to be a a little nervous about it!) After a few tries and finally getting the boat launched, we were out in the bay. We went to a spot where there is an oyster bed and caught quite a few fish here..at about 6:00, we decided to try out a different spot, but we knew it would be far away and we had only a few more hours of daylight to go..so we decided to go anyway, we stopped to get some more bait, and headed out to the spot (known as Four Bayous). We fished for about a half hour (and caught maybe about 10-15 specks) and then decided we had just enough time to get back before it got dark..so Gary cranked up the boat. Nothing. The engine wouldn't start. (Gary is probably the most laid back person I have ever met in my entire life) Apparently, the engine was flooded. Thank God there was one more boat not far from us..they were crankin up their boat, heading in too. We yelled over to them and they came over to check it out..they couldn't get it cranked up..so they had to tow us. At 8 mph. At that rate, we wouldn't be getting back until well after nightfall. (We never got their names, but they were some cute Louisiana boys) And neither of us had lights on the boat. Thank God, about 30 minutes later, our boat cranked up! So we untied the ropes that they were using to tow us, and hauled butt back to the island. It was dark by the time we got back..we were so relieved. After close to 28 years of being out on the water, I can say that this never happened (my memory is faulty, but I don't think it ever happened) to me! I probably made this story too long, sorry, I tend to do that..I will say, that in that situation, I didn't freak out. I just knew that we were gonna be okay.
I really can't waaaaaiiit until my brother and sister-in-law come into town in June and we go back. (I might go back before then!) I could probably live there all summer long if I didn't have to work. Here are some pictures:
My cousin Colton, and his girlfriend, Kacey (she caught the most fish, he caught the biggest fish :):
Gary didn't fish, he just called himself "The Captain"
It was hot..
I <3 pelicans!
The towers..
Bye bye, sun..
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