Good Morning, friends!
I know, I know. It's been a while. The Lord has taught me SO much this summer that I just couldn't post a thousand times. (actually, i just couldn't decide on what to talk about, so i waited for things to come together)
I hope you all have had a wonderful summer & are ready for school to start back! :) I could not be more excited to start back next week. I've missed my dear friends SO much, but I know leaving home & my church again will be difficult, but not nearly as difficult. This summer was definitely meant to stay home with the family and hang out with the youth. Needless to say, I've had one amazing summer.
So, while I've been home, I've learned a lot about.. well, a lot. I've learned that the Lord is faithful & good (which, honestly, isn't anything new.. I just needed to state it) & He is more powerful than anything we could ever imagine. Also, the power of prayer, in my life, is seemed to be overlooked so many times. He, also, mends the broken in powerful, powerful ways. I'm so excited to explain myself.
The part about the Lord being faithful & good started earlier in the Spring when I applied for a summer job. Although I did not get the job, the Lord was faithful in bringing along another. I have been babysitting a girl here in Crossett all summer. I've learned that even though my plans seemed better, He is always in control & always has my good into consideration. Lainey has been a joy & such a good kid to learn from. I couldn't have been more blessed.
The part about Him being more powerful & mending the broken is really with my family. It's always amazing to see how God works through..years at a time. You see, my brother used to have some serious issues. Issues that only the Lord could heal. He doesn't understand it, but I know that it's taken a long time for him to be the man he is today. I'm blessed beyond compare with an amazing friendship with both of my siblings. We get irritated at times, but we love each other. Before, you couldn't have seen it, but now, you can when we are all calm. ;) Another way is with my dad. Recently, he had to have another surgery, which doesn't seem to be anything new. For as long as I can remember, my dad has always had to be in and out of the "horse pistol" as he calls it for some reason or another. Even though we are used to it, it can get painful. I know it hurts him more than we see, but the Lord is good in comforting us when we need it the most. Papa is an amazing & strong guy that has gotten through it all. Hopefully, the surgeries & junk will cease, for a little while, at least.
& last, but not least, the power of prayer. Friends, it's amazing what prayer can do if we just did it like the Lord asked us to do it.
"Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live." --1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
See what I mean? Life is THAT simple. Be cheerful, pray continually, & thank God in everything you do. How did we miss that?
The reason on my prayer deal is because when I went to Siloam this summer with the youth from my home church, I was a part of the leader meetings we had in the afternoon. We were able to lift up our lost kids we knew were at camp & pray for their salvation or for healing for our hurt kids or whatever was there. It was phenomenal to come in day after day hearing about the kids that the Lord had called out. I was grinning from ear to ear. Like I said, the Lord is faithful & good.
Like I began, I've had a wonderful summer. It's been frustrating at times & exhausting at others, but it's been one of the coolest learning experiences ever. I love sharing with you guys, so hopefully you see through this that the Lord is bigger than you or I could ever imagine. :)
until next time.. because we are all a [work.in.progress]
love&prayers:)
