Pouring My Heart Out to You

It has been quite some time since I last blogged on here and today just felt like the right time to do it. I had every intention of going to church this morning but the overwhelming fatigue and soreness from my volleyball challenge with work yesterday just pushed me over the edge. So rather than going to church, I had my own time with God…which may times, is much more powerful and focused.

I never really know where to start when I start reading so as a safe bet I always read Psalms and proverbs. I try to read the Proverb of the day (since today is the 30th, I read Proverb 30). And I started with Psalm 30 and read to 34. Lately God has been blessing me abundantly, however I feel I haven’t been giving much back to him. Its kind of like a one-sided relationship. One person gives all they have, but the other sure may be thankful, but does nothing in return to show their gratitude and may just give 50% instead of 110%. You would think that, in my case, since I am so blessed that I’d give 110% right? I would think so too…but I just haven’t. I’ve taken too much time for myself and just kind of pushed God aside or find “better” things to do than read my Bible or simply spend time with God. That needs to change and its going to change today.

Not only have the verses I’ve read today told me to move, but recently I heard a song on the radio by TobyMac called, “City On Our Knees,” which bring up the question of procrastination in our faith. Why do we hold off on serving God? Why not start now? Why not start here? It brings us back to the importance of prayer. Life is too short to let things get in the way of our purpose so why not do what we’ve been called to do and make tonight the night to make a change in ourselves and also in the world around us?

Going back to the verses I read today, the ones that stood out to me were found in Psalm 33 and 34. I love whe nI can here God speaking to me, since most of the time I’m the one doing the talking to him. Here’s what I read today…

“Let the godly sing with joy to the LORD, for it is fitting to praise him. Praise the LORD with melodies on the lyre; make music for him on the ten-stringed harp. Sing new songs of praise to him; play skillfully on the harp and sing with joy. For the word of the LORD holds true, and everything he does is worthy of our trust. He loves whatever is just and good, and his unfailing love fills the earth. The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. he gave the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs. Let everyone in the world fear the LORD, and let everyone stand in awe of him. For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command. The LORD shatters the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes. But the LORD’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken. What joy for the nation whose God is the LORD, whose people he has chosen for his own. The LORD looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race. From his thrown he observes all who live on the earth. He made their hearts so he understands everything they do. The best-equipped army cannot save a king, nor a great strength eough to save a warrior. Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory—for all its strength cannot save you. But the LORD watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailng love. He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine. We depend on the LORD alone to save us. Only he can help us, protecting us like a shielf. In him our hearts rejoice, for we are trusting in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in you alone.” - Psalm 33 NLT (emphasis added by me)

“I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the LORD; let all who are discouraged take heart. Come let us tell of the LORD’s greatness; let us exalt his name together. I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me, freeing me from all my fears. Thos who look to him for help will be raidiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. I cried out to the LORD in my suffering, and he heard me. He set me free from all my fears. For the angel of the LORD guards all who fear him, and he resuces them. Taste and see tha the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who trust in him! Let the LORD’s people show him reverence, for those who honor him will have all they need. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the LORD will never lack any good thing. Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the LORD. Do any of you want to live a life that is long and good? Then watch your tongue! Keep your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good. Work hard at living in peace with others. The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help. But the LORD turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth. The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous face many troubles, but the LORD rescues them from each and every one. For the LORD protects them from harm—not one of their bones will be broken! Calamity will surely overtake the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be punished. But the LORD will redeem those who serve him. Everyone who trusts in him will be freely pardoned.” - Psalm 34 NLT (emphasis added by me)

God has blessed me with a wonderful man in my life, family who loves me unconditionally, and friends who have always been there for me. its time that I thank God a little more for the things I do have and for the things to come that will be placed in my life. Everything happens for a reason, I believe, and although I may not be able to see the reasoning behind it at first, I know that I will see that light eventually.

To find peace, we have to go through sorrow…

To find love, we may go through pain…

To find change, we must fix our mistakes…

To find Christ, we must surrender…

To find life, we must live without holding back…

To find direction, we must be willing to listen…

In all areas of life, we will go through experiences and even losses that seem to boggle our minds and make us question everything we believe, but these sacrifices and hardships are the things that make and shape us into a better person; the person we are today. So today, look back on your life…through the good times and bad…and see how you’ve changed. Look at both the good changes and the bad changes. Do you like who you see? What would you change? Why not start now? Why not here? Do something about it…tonight won’t last forever…