I am Weak.

I am so weak. I struggle with even the daily things in life. Getting out of bed on time, completing my chores with a good attitude, respecting those in authority, and the list goes on. This past week I've been especially struggling. Yet,


He has proven to me over and over that when I am at my weakest, He is at His strongest.

Last summer while working at camp He showed Himself to me. It was towards the end of the summer and I was tired. It seemed like I could do nothing right. I struggled waking up for chores and was nearly late once because I didn't wake up to my alarm. I wasn't working fast enough cleaning stalls--"you're too much of a perfectionist! just get the big spots, everything else can wait until later when we have more time..." I wasn't able to get one of the kids in my lessons to understand anything I was trying to teach her. Then to top it off, a kid fell of the horse on a trail ride I assisted because I failed to double check the cinch. (he was not hurt other than a slight bruise where he fell on his hand) Oh I was feeling so discouraged. Why couldn't I do anything right? Yet, even then, when I was at my weakest, He used me to encourage others. He gave me a smile while I worked and His light shone through me. "I know you haven't had the easiest week, but your cheerful attitude to do whatever was asked of you encouraged me." Oh how that conversation encouraged me too! His grace is enough for me.

Last month He showed Himself to me. Last month before finals I was very stressed out. It was my own fault that I procrastinated so much. That knowledge didn't help anything. I had until Friday at 4pm to finish everything. That Friday was also the day that the youth group left for snow camp. My parents said that I was going.  I didn't want to go to snow camp. Staying up until 3am and getting up at 7am doesn't appeal to me. Negative five degree weather doesn't either. I also didn't want to go with the youth group. We had just switched churches and I didn't like the new youth group. They seem to me very shallow and worldly compared to my other circle of friends from the other church. I would rather have stayed home and prepped for the new semester with good sleep and a clean desk. I begged, I cried, but still I went. I had an awful attitude about it too. Yet even then, when I was so weak, God still worked through me to encourage others. I don't know what it was Actually, I do know. It was God working in me. I could not have encouraged others on my own at that time--I was so weak and full of self-pity, self-want...I was consumed by self. He had to step in. By His grace my weakness is made perfect in His strength. I wrote this post during that time--although I didn't type it up and hit publish until much later.

Right now He will show Himself faithful to me. I feel so weak. I can't overcome the bad habits of procrastination I slipped into last semester...I can't have a good attitude when I have a headache...I can't love my siblings as Christ loves them...I can't...
I can't wait for Him to show Himself faithful to me now. It is coming...His grace has made my weakness perfect in His strength...He has shown Himself faithful to me before...

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.


1 Corinthians 1:9
God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.


Psalm 33:4
For the word of the LORD is right and true; He is faithful in all He does.


Deuteronomy 7:9
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.

He's Always Been Faithful
Sara Groves

Psalm 30

PSALM 30

The Blessedness of Answered Prayer

A Psalm. A Song at the dedication of the house of David.

I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up,

And have not let my foes rejoice over me.

O Lord my God, I cried out to You,

And You healed me.

O Lord, You brought my soul up from the grave;

You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His,

And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.

For His anger is but for a moment,

His favor is for life;

Weeping may endure for a night,

But joy comes in the morning.

little things // anything

Now in my prosperity I said, "I shall never be moved."

Lord, by your favor You have made my mountain stand strong;

You hid Your face, and I was troubled.

I cried out to You, O Lord;

And to the Lord I made supplication:

"What profit is there in my blood,

When I go down to the pit?

Will the dust praise You?

Will it declare Your truth?

Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me;

Lord be my helper!"

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;

You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,

To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent.

O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

My Constant despite the changes

Right now it feels like everything in my life is changing. Nothing is how it once was. 

My daddy has a new job. He has to commute 6-8 hours away one way. He is only home on weekends.

My family switched churches. Everything is so different. The people, the services, what I do, the whole atmosphere.

My dance studio closed. The flooding from Lee was so bad. The teachers still want to teach, but don't have a building. We will have to use another studio's rooms. Classes still haven't started. It is going to take twice as long to get there.

My life changed from camp to coming home. Camp is its own little world up there on the mountain top. Coming back home has been such a change. 

It seems like everything in my life has changed this past year--my life at home, at church, at dance, everywhere.

Yet I have a constant.
 

Your commands ... are my constant guide.

-Psalm 119:98

Right now it may feel like everything is changing and there is nothing to cling to. Wrong. I can cling to HIM.

Serve only the LORD your God and fear him alone. Obey His 

commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him. 

-Deuteronomy 13:4

 He is always faithful and constant. 

Understand, therefore, that the LORD your God is indeed God. He 

is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand 

generations and constantly loves those who love him and obey His commands. 

-Deuteronomy 7:9

I will trust Him.

But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.

-Psalm 13:5

I think back to this guest post by Nana.

He's Always Been Faithful

Sara Groves

It is not about me--it is about Him. --something I learned at camp this summer.
He is using this time to grow me, it may not be comfortable(in fact it is not at all!), but He has my best in mind.



And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
-Romans 8:28

I will trust Him. 

In Christ's unfailing love,

Strength in Weakness

"So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."                                —2 Corinthians 12:7-10

I am weak. I have many faults. I worry. I stumble. I doubt. I fear.
Is it just me, or is it heartening to know that even Paul was weak? That even though he prayed and pleaded to God, that he was given the 'No.' answer? The fact that others have faults may be heartening to my humanness, but it is so comforting and reassuring to me know that:


If I didn't worry, then I wouldn't rely on His faithfulness. Because He cares for me.
If I didn't stumble, then I wouldn't rely on His grace and forgiveness. Because He forgives me.
If I didn't doubt, then I wouldn't rely on His Sovereignty. Because He even died for me.
If I didn't fear, then I wouldn't rely on His protection. Because He loves me.
If I can't __(anything)__, then I wouldn't rely on Him. Because:



In Christ,

The Hope of Easter

Yes, it is Veggie Tales. =) It has such truth though.

There's a story that started on Christmas
When a baby was born in the night
And those who came far, who followed the star
Were seeing a heavenly sight ...
a heavenly sight.

Well the years hurried by, and the boy, now a man
Could make the blind see with a touch of his hand
He was born to be King -- he was Rabbi and Priest
But the best that he had, he gave to the least ...
He gave to the least.

He was born and he died, almost 2,000 years ago
He laughed and he cried, he felt all the fears we know
But what does it matter? A story so strange ...
Even if it is true, what does it change?
What does it change?

Well he spoke like a prophet -- like no one they'd heard
This simple young carpenter -- crowds hung on every word
He hated injustice -- He taught what is right
He said “I'm the way, and the truth, and the light.”

His friends soon believed that truly he was the one.
The Savior, Messiah, God's one and only son.
But others, they doubted, they did not agree
So they took him, they tried him,
He died on a tree ...
He died on a tree.

God has made a way
for all who mourn and grieve
Death will never be the end
if you just believe.

There is nothing left to fear
nothing Heaven knows
For he died for us to give us life
and to give us hope He rose
He died for us to give us life
And to give us hope He rose.

The hope of Easter is that:

Matthew 28:6

Happy Easter!
In Christ,

Encouraging Verses

I came across this lovely collection of Bible verses over at Liberty's blog, Teenage Musings. =) Be encouraged!

When you are sad, call on John 14
When you don’t feel loved, call on Romans 8:38-39
When you have sinned, call on 1 John 1:8-9
When you are facing danger, call on Psalm 91
When people have failed you, call on Psalm 27
When God feel far from you, call on Psalm 139
When your faith needs encouraging, call on Hebrews 11
When you are scared, call on Psalm 23
When you are worried, call on Matthew 6:25-34
When you are hurt, call on Colossians 3:12-17
When you feel no one is on your side, call on Romans 8:31-39
When you are seeking rest, call on Matthew 11:25-30
When you are suffering, call on Romans 8:18-30
When you feel you’re failing, call on Psalm 121
When you pray, call on Matthew 6:9-13
When you need courage, call on Joshua 1
When you are in need, call on Philippians 4:19
When you are hated because of your faith, call on John 15
When you are losing hope, call on 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
When you are seeking peace, call on John 14:27
When you want to do good works, call on John 15
When you want to live a happy life, call on Colossians 3:12-17
When you don’t understand what God is doing, call on Isaiah 55:8-9
When you want to get along with others, call on Romans 12:9-21

Have  a lovely evening!

(p.s. I'm coming up with a pretty awesome new spring/summer design! =D)

Love in Christ,

Saturday's Scrawls 2

1.) I came across this quote and love it:

""Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it." --C.S. Lewis

Pretty profound, huh? (he just told the truth! =P)

2.) My photo made it in the top five for Allie's Happy Monday photography challenge! =D

(you can go [here] to see the other finalists and vote for your favorite)

3.) Polyvore is just way too much fun =D


4.) A favorite verse of mine this week:

5.) I've got a fun new spring design for my photography blog in store--but not for this blog. =( So we'll just have to deal with the winter theme for a while more. (after all it is still snowing outside anyhow...)

sneak peak at the spring-y colors!

6.) I'd better get back to finishing up school--I'm rather behind this week....yuck.

7.) Oh and a special welcome to all the newest followers! =D

Love in Christ,