God, You are enough.

As much as it hurts, I need the Lord's rod and staff. I have cried out to God to help me understand the condition of my heart right now. Despite all the many amazing blessings I am so thankful for, I've had silly moments of discontentment. Sometimes I worry about time going by so fast. If only we could have a baby, or at least a dog, pay off all the school debt, etc. I prayed that God would show me how to deal with the longings of my heart. He has relentlessly provided me with an answer to how to deal with my hearts longings. The sermon Sunday was about how God is enough. Good things come in His timing. I've been thinking this over and randomly opened my Bible to the 23 Psalm. Then the verse of the day on my Phone Bible App just happened to be

Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

God, You are enough. You refresh my soul, and will bring me through every trial. I love and trust You.

You alone are God.

Psalm 23 A psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Taming the Tongue

At the beginning of the school year a speaker gave a very motivational speech about gossip in the work place, and in a very comical way introduced the phrase "Shut it down!" I love thinking this in my head when I encounter negativity in conversations. While in church today I started thinking about how horrible it is to actually tear someone down with words. Even if they have done something horrible, the truth is that Jesus died for them. How can we think we have any right to drag them down when Jesus died so that they might be saved. Negativity is so easy to slip into, and the tongue is described as a double edged sword in the Bible. This is something to carefully consider at all times, and yet, I know I will at times fail. Grace is such a beautiful gift. My prayer is that I may require grace and forgiveness in the least bit way, especially in this area. May God help me be mindful and full of His strength not to indulge in this sin. James 4:7 New International Version (NIV) 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.