Believe Steadfastly on HIm

Every time you venture out in your life of faith, you will find something in your circumstances that, from a commonsense standpoint, will flatly contradict your faith. But common sense is not faith, and faith is not common sense. In fact, they are as different as the natural life and the spiritual. Can you trust Jesus Christ where your common sense cannot trust Him? Can you venture out with courage on the words of Jesus Christ, while the realities of your commonsense life continue to shout, “It’s all a lie”? When you are on the mountaintop, it’s easy to say, “Oh yes, I believe God can do it,” but you have to come down from the mountain to the demon-possessed valley and face the realities that scoff at your Mount-of-Transfiguration belief (see Luke 9:28-42). Every time my theology becomes clear to my own mind, I encounter something that contradicts it. As soon as I say, “I believe ’God shall supply all [my] need,’ ” the testing of my faith begins (Philippians 4:19). When my strength runs dry and my vision is blinded, will I endure this trial of my faith victoriously or will I turn back in defeat?

Faith must be tested, because it can only become your intimate possession through conflict. What is challenging your faith right now? The test will either prove your faith right, or it will kill it. Jesus said, “Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me” Matthew 11:6). The ultimate thing is confidence in Jesus. “We have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end . . .” (Hebrews 3:14). Believe steadfastly on Him and everything that challenges you will strengthen your faith. There is continual testing in the life of faith up to the point of our physical death, which is the last great test. Faith is absolute trust in God— trust that could never imagine that He would forsake us (see Hebrews 13:5-6).

-my utmost of his highest.

One Thing Remains

Faces | Haiti Highlight

¹ I will exalt you, Lord,
    for you lifted me out of the depths 
    and did not let my enemies gloat over me. 
² Lord my God, I called to you for help, 

    and you healed me.  psalm 30:1-2

 You turned my wailing into dancing; 
    you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, 
¹² that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
    Lord my God, I will praise you forever. psalm 30:11-12

I hate those who cling to worthless idols; 
    as for me, I trust in the Lord. 
⁷ I will be glad and rejoice in your love,
    for you saw my affliction 
    and knew the anguish of my soul.
⁸ You have not given me into the hands of the enemy
    but have set my feet in a spacious place. psalm 31:6-8

 But I trust in you, Lord;
    I say, “You are my God.”
¹⁵ My times are in your hands;
    deliver me from the hands of my enemies,
    from those who pursue me.
¹⁶ Let your face shine on your servant;
    save me in your unfailing love. psalm 31:14-16

Love the Lord, all his faithful people! 
    The Lord preserves those who are true to him, 
    but the proud he pays back in full.
²⁴ Be strong and take heart, 
    all you who hope in the Lord. psalm 31:23-24

Therefore let all the faithful pray to you
    while you may be found; 
surely the rising of the mighty waters 
    will not reach them. 
⁷ You are my hiding place; 
    you will protect me from trouble 
    and surround me with songs of deliverance. psalm 32:6-7

²⁰ We wait in hope for the Lord;
    he is our help and our shield.
²¹ In him our hearts rejoice, 
    for we trust in his holy name. 
²² May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,
    even as we put our hope in you.

Psalm 33:20-22

He loves us so much. He is good. And while we don't understand our circumstances and the circumstances of others, even orphans.  We can see his goodness in these sweet faces.  And because of that and so much more, we believe that his love is unfailing. always. forever and ever. 

Who Knew....

how much fun you could have with a group of 15 and 16 years old? I mean... They. are. Fun.

 Saturday... all these cute things came down to Nashville for the afternoon. We had the BEST time just hanging out! Gosh, they bring me SO much JOY.  I mean... Looking at them prepping for our photoshoot....

 Tooo much fun...

 I mean how cute are they? AND how hipster..... I mean really?

Straight up hipster yall.....