Reflections of the Heart

"As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart."
(NIV)

"As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person."
(NLT)

-Proverbs 27:19

What does your heart look like today?

Stay in the Race

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, 

let us also lay aside every weight,

and sin which clings so closely,

and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

looking to Jesus,

the founder and perfecter of our faith,

who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, 

despising the shame, 

and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

(who is indeed interceding for us - Rom 8:34,

with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him - 
1 Pet 3:22)

Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself,

so that you do not grow weary or fainthearted. 

Hebrews 12:1-3

What We Don't Understand

Just a few weeks ago I had a somewhat traumatizing experience: I failed my driver's test. Now, for some that may seem like no big deal. Everyone fails their test once, right?? Well, for me, it was a huge deal. I was devastated. I had been all ready to go get my little car, insure it, and get out on the road by myself, and now I was still stuck with my "L". I beat myself up over the dumb mistake I made that cost me the test. I cried. I felt like my life was over.

But over time, I started to realize something. And I think it can sort of be summed up by this verse I found today:

"The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?"
- Proverbs 20:24 (NLT)



Sometimes God works in ways that we don't understand. And sometimes it hurts. I realize now that God used that test to humble me... and show me that no one is perfect. My pride definitely took a beating, but in a good way. But what I like about this verse is that we don't necessarily have to understand what God's up to. Instead, we just have to trust that He knows what He's doing. Sure, I still get frustrated that I didn't pass and that I have to wait 3 months to take the test again, but I just keep reminding myself that God had a plan when He let me fail. I may not see all of it right now, but I believe He has a plan. I know He has a plan.

I also had a song that really gave me perspective during that time of disappointment:

Blessings
by Laura Story

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

I pray that when God leads you on paths that may not make sense, you'll learn to trust His guidance no matter what, and that you'll see the blessings He brings through the tough times.

Do Hard Things

I just finished reading a book called "Do Hard Things" by Alex and Brett Harris. It's a book written mainly towards teens, by teens, but the content applies to everyone. It's basically calling us to rebel against the low expectations society has for us, and to do hard things for Christ. The authors say that the teen years are actually the years where we have the most potential to grow and take big steps in life.

But doing hard things doesn't necessarily mean starting a big non-profit organization, or speaking in front of thousands of people. It could be a small, personal hard thing, like changing the type of people and influences we surround ourselves with, or taking a step to tell someone about Jesus.

The book is extremely challenging, and I'd encourage all of you to read it. The guys put hard things into five categories:

1) things that take you outside your comfort zone
2) things that go beyond what is expected or required of you
3) things that are too big to accomplish alone
4) things that don't earn an immediate payoff
5) things that go against the cultural norm

Doesn't sound too easy, does it?? But the stories they share in the book of other people doing hard things show how much those experiences help us to grow. Doing hard things requires character, competence and collaboration... and there are definitely challenges and failures along the way. But even then, the end result is a stronger, wiser person who has learned a lot about him- or her-self and, most importantly, God. Pretty cool, huh? I can't summarize the whole book in one post, so I'm leaving it up to you to check it out. Let that be your first hard thing: to find this book and read it :) God bless!

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 14: 27

My heart is troubled today. I am claiming this verse for myself today and for you as well.

...and it passes all understanding.