relaxing week-end

friday night myself and several girls from the floor went to our friend hannah's house for the night...(hannah lives across the hall from me). it was a much needed time of rest, watching movies, and playing outside, just being away from the city.
we watched mean girls, then elf...which though i was enjoying it, my eylids were too heavy to stay open and i went upstairs to hannah's super comfy bed and had an amazing nights sleep...
the next morning we woke up to breakfast, homemade bluberry muffins, and i even at a few scrambled eggs....(for those of you who don't know, scrambled eggs and i usually do not mix, as i have bad memories of having to eat them with soy sauce as a child...)
we then went to the park and played on one of the sweetest playgrounds i have ever seen..rock climbing, ropes course, it was pretty much amazing
also, hannah's 8 year old sister abby and i were adventurous and crossed the stream, jumping from rock to rock...very cold water...
i was able to get a little bit of studying done before we headed out to harvest bible chapel to hear joe stowel speak...
he was talking about purpose...God's purpose for our lives

We are chosen on purpose with a purpose in mind (ephesians 1.."even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before him..."

He is willing to use short term trouble to achieve his glorious outcomes in our lives...

we must turn our hearts toward what we KNOW rather than what we FEEL..."Knowing this that he who began a good work in you will carry it on unto completion..."

we must recognize that we are a risk to the process of what God is wanting to accomplish...our tendency to bail under the burden...james 1"consider it pure joy my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverence..."
bitterness blocks the grace of God...

Despair is never an option...
do we believe: (that He is)
Presence of God
His protection
love
capable
worthy
enablement

Stop looking at trouble and start looking to God...

though these notes are somewhat sporadic, they are truths that i constantly need to be reminded of ...do i really trust Him...do i really believe that he is all of these things? why do i despair?
do i love and follow Him for the blessings that he gives....or for He Himself?
can i really say
"blessed be your name!"