"I am gonna bless your socks off!"

"...you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!"  John 15:11

How awesome is that?? God, my crazy big infinte God, has promised me, little insignificant me, overflowing joy and all I have to do is accept it...

So, why is that so hard?

Accepting joy has always been difficult... I've been scared that if I feel one ounce of happiness, that my world will turn to crap and I'll just be let down and disappointed. It's just easier to start off being disappointed then to get my hopes up for something that might fail.
This mind set has got to go.

I realized that I have no reason not to trust Him, He has never disappointed me. He has never failed me. I have never been without His love. Even when I was in absolute darkness He was there waiting to let His glory burn bright in my life. In my relationship with Christ I have been the inconsistent one, the one that has failed and disappointed, not Him. And for some insane reason His love can look past my failures and promise me this beautiful gift of joy. Who am I to refuse or doubt it?

This morning's quiet time chat ended with me in complete awe at His reliability and an excitement to fully embrace His promise of joy.
My reassurance comes from His conclusion, "I am going to bless your socks off. All I want is for you to thank me for it, love me for it, trust and know that this joy will only come from me. You can search the whole world over but you will only find this joy in your surrender to my will. Press deeper into my Spirit, dig deeper into my word, then sit back and see what I can do. This is only the beginning."

Time Traveling

We ventured to the Eco Musée last week! The little ones loved it and it was a blast to see how the Alsacians lived way back when. One of the houses there was built in the 1400's! Think of how much that house has been a part of, how many families it's held throughout the years... It's mind blowing, really. So glad we got to see it!

A Thrifty Miss

 

Mulhouse may not have an abundance of thrift stores but they make up for that by having the greatest outdoor market my eyes have ever feasted on.
Seriously. It was Heaven. 

Good Good Father

"Continually bring out the truth in your life, working it into every area in your life, or even the life you do possess will turn into darkness."- 'My Upmost for His Highest'

"Walk while you have light, lest darkness overtake you." John 12:35

This past year has been a time of awesome healing, I feel like a lot of issues that I had been holding onto were finally broken and God stood by me as I walked in true freedom. It was pretty scary claiming that freedom at first! Declaring victory over a 7 year old problem then being asked to share that victory with a ton of people I didn't know. (Check out 'Restored' by Petra Ballet)
God has been showing me that I have to constantly change, I have to grow and expand. My relationship with Him can't be stagnant and I can't always be content with where I'm at. If you never change, then you're spiritually and emotionally dead... I don't want that for my life.

Being seperated from everything I know has given me the opportunity to evaluate areas that need change and He has proven faithful in revealing solutions. It seems like once I wrap my mind around one certain idea/question/concept almost imediately He is there offering something else to pursue! We're so lucky to have a God that wants us to discover Him daily.

Even though sometimes the things He uncovers hurt (I'd rather have them tucked away deep inside and never think about them again) but He says they have been hidden for too long. It's time to clean out my soul and purify my heart and I'm willing to be uncomfortable while He does this. I'm thankful for the revelations He has already given me and am looking for others everyday. He will prove Himself steady and faithful.

 Hope your Wednesday is full of discovery!!

Organized Coping

This week I experienced a teensy weensy bit of homesickness. Although they were fleeting thoughts, they were still recognizable so I made a list of the things/people from home that I was missing.


1) My mom

2) Kara
Life would suck without this lady. Everyone has that friend that they can't picture living without and for me that person is Kara. I know I can call her with anything, good or bad... Or when I just really want Steak and Shake at midnight.

3) American keyboards
French keyboards were extremely hard to get used to but it's a little better!

4) Establishments that are open later than 6 P.M.

5) Petra Ballet Company
It's so strange not seeing the girls everyday and knowing that they're rehearsing and performing... I know I'm where I'm supposed to be but still...Not dancing is the pits.

Well, there's my top missed things about good ole' Springfield!
Miss everyone! 

 This was from the rooftop at work. Great view, right??