A Couple of Updates...

For those of you who were tuned in last week as I had struggled with my ability to draw close to God. And to those of you who had prayed for me... Thank you!! Since my post last Tuesday, He has shown up in many ways and reminded me in His own way that He is right here with me and is very much so 'on the same page' as I am.
As you already know, He awakened me Thursday to the truth of 1 Peter 5:6-7. "Cast all you anxiety on Him, for He cares for you." Well, then, the sermon this Sunday? - You guessed it. "I Promise Peace!" Pretty much tailored just for me this week.

• I can be at peace with God. (Romans 5:1)
• I can be at peace with others. (Ephesians 4:3)
• I can have peace to endure life's storms. (Mark 4:35-41)

And, speaking of 'life's storms'... ! Did we ever get some this week in the Atlanta area!! Friday, as you may recall, was when the tornado hit downtown Atlanta. Then, Saturday afternoon we got slammed, thankfully not by any tornadoes where we were, but by hail! Biggest hail I have ever seen and it lasted about 15 minutes. Of all days not to have my camera! But, I just noticed that my friend, Michelle posted some pictures on her blog. I was at work, so I was pretty well held captive until it all finally got past us, but it was truly something. Now, I'm not the type to come unraveled by a storm of any kind, but even I was willing and ready to head for the basement of the restaurant to watch from there! Now I just need to decide if it's worth it to claim the lovely 'hammered' look I have going on my car now, along with the cracked mirror. (!) Oh, well! At least my car was still in the parking lot, and not 10 blocks away! : )

And, one more 'little' reminder that He truly is "Emmanuel- God with us"... I'm proud to say, I finally picked my "Breaking Free" study book back up this weekend and got crackin' on that... got to a scripture referring to David and Bathsheba. Beth didn't really go deep into the whole story there, as she was just using that scripture along with several others to make a certain point. But, I was curious "now what was the rest of that story? I wish I knew, but I don't remember covering that one before now". But, not wanting to get too far off-track with my studies, I just finished my work and put the workbook down for the night. Picked up David Nasser's book to go to bed with and lo and behold... what does he use as his illustration for the next chapter: "Glory Revealed through Sin"? You guessed it again! - David and his rendezvous with Bathsheba! Pretty much spelled out for me in those 5 little pages!! And even explained into further detail for me. So, what else could I do, but look up and give a grin and a nod to God saying "Thanks. Got it!" : ) Then, tonight, as I continued back into "Breaking Free", Beth had us over in the Psalms and while she had us looking up the 55th Psalm, I wandered over to the 51st, where it even has the coordinating Psalm of David during that time of sin with Bathsheba! Tying up even more loose ends for me! And, now, of course, I have a new burning passion to finish the Max Lucado book I had started a while back on David: "Facing Your Giants"! I mean, there must be a lesson for me in the life of David - or perhaps the lesson just lies in His reminder that we're 'on the same page' - which is even more awesome to me! Thank You, God!

~ Oh. And the song "Surrender" by Barlow Girl that several of you mentioned from my post last Tuesday... I have to give all the credit to God on that, too. I had my little heart set on using "Lay it Down" by Jaci Valesquez and was so disappointed when I couldn't find it on the playlists. But, then just 'stumbled on' the one by Barlow Girl and I had never heard it before in my life. (Though it is sure to show up on my iTunes SOON!) And it just fit better than I could've ever penned myself. Exactly my thoughts and feelings - word for word. And just in that little instance, I've been reminded all week to be an open vessel for Him 'into which He can place what He wants and out of which He can take what should not be there' (Sheila Walsh).