Blameless

It's the end of the race. Only 500 meters left to go. You turn the corner and can see the finish line. Your body's tired, but you push past the pain and sprint as fast as you can to step over that line. You've made it, maybe just barely but you did, and that's one of the best feelings in the world. That is what today has felt like for me (and it's only Monday). And days like today, I come running to my Father.

No words can describe how wonderful it feels, after a crazy, hectic day to run into the arms of the Father. His comfort is unfathomable. His majesty, uncomprehendable. No matter what happened that day, no matter how much you've messed up and lost sight of the prize, He stands there with arms outstretched, ready to catch you. Ready to embrace you.

Even though I fall short of God's glory immensely( Romans 3:23) I am still seen as holy and righteous. It is because of His grace through Jesus Christ that I am redeemed. God, the sole creator of the universe, the definition of righteousness, sees me, a sinner, as righteous, holy and blameless in His sight! Let that one sink in a minute!! 

When God looks at us, he sees us as His Beloved Son, in whom he is well pleased! Jesus' righteousness has been credited to us. (2 cor. 5:17)  God treats us as if we have lived blameless and holy lives like Christ did. He doesn't see our shame, or how tired we are from chasing after the wrong things, or trying to be "good" people. He only see's His Son. Perfect. Blameless. 

As humans, we tend to dwell on our short comings, or sometimes pretend like they don't even exist, always comparing ourselves to other people. But we do not gain God's approval by doing the "right" thing, or trying our best. We cannot trust in our won self effort.  Romans 4:5 says that  "to the one who does not work but trusts God, who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness."It is by faith and not by works that we become righteous in His sight.

That becomes such a good reminder. It allows us to really examine our lives and motives behind why we do the things we do. Are you loving God's people because it is the right thing? Or are you truly seeing the world through God's eyes, loving on the lest of these because of what God has done for you, through grace? Sometimes we get caught up in the motions and forget to stop and stare at the power of our God and what He has done for us.

Romans 5 says it so sweetly, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ through who we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has even poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly...But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Christ died for us. For me. For you. For the sinners. Because of Him we am free. We are unchained. We are blameless.  

Content in all Circumstances

I've always dreamed of my life going a certain way, looking a certain way, following the typical american lifestyle: going to college, getting married, having a family, making a lot of money, the white picket fence. You all know what I am talking about. Yet the more and more I dive into Christ and the plans He has for me, the more and more I am seeing that might not be what He has planned for me. 

I've always thought God's plans would coincide with my plans. That somehow the desires of heart (my oh so selfish desires) would be God's. (how silly does that sound?!) I want my plans to be His, yet I have been unwilling to surrender to Him. I am desperately clinging to the worldly goals I have that  I know will never satisfy.Yet whenever I read Jeremiah 29:11-13 ^, I  tend to leave out the last two verses because it requires me to come and give myself to Christ, seeking after Him with all my heart, not being afraid of what it is that He has set aside for me. Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah probably never asked or planned to be a prophet and be placed in all of the hard and difficult situations that he had to endure. Yet he remained faithful to the living God, the provider of living water, where none will ever grow thirsty. He held steadfast, following God's call on his life, even though it wasn't the plan he himself had for himself. 

I must accept what it is that God has set me apart for and be faithful. God measures successes much differently then I.  He measures success by our faithfulness to Him. Not by what job I have, or the possessions I have, or how smart and pretty I am but by my faithfulness to Him. That is how God measures our success. I must surrender the desires of my heart to Christ and allow Him to change those desires to the desires of His heart. I can make as many plans as I want, but God's plan is so much better than mine will ever be. I must learn to be content in all situations and all circumstances, whether they are going the way I want or not. (Proverbs 16:9) He remains faithful, so I as well must remain faithful to my Father, the creator of the universe, the director of my steps. 

Lamentations 3:22-24

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,

    for his compassions never fail.
²³ They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
²⁴ I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
    therefore I will wait for him.”

A Conjumbled Mess

As I am sitting here, thinking about all that has happened in the past 5 months, I am in complete awe of where God has led me. I never would have expected to be where I am right now. In the past few months, I have had so many changes, adventures and learning curves. I do not even know where to begin....I guess I'll start with my heart. God has given me a heart for missions and for people. I guess this is something that I learned this summer and wouldn't have figured out if it wasn't for the people he placed in my life. I've always felt God "calling" me to missions but i've always shrugged it off, thinking i'm not good enough or smart enough or holy enough but oh how wrong I was.God wants to use everyone! In fact, he calls us all to be missionaries no matter where we are or what we are doing. We are to glorify Him in all that we do. He demands that we share the love of Christ with others, everywhere we are. (Matt 9:38,10:16,  28:19,Isaiah 42:6) As I begin my new adventure at MSU, I pray that I will go outside my comfort zone and be a light in the dark to my campus. I pray to exude God's love. 

Ever since I first went to Malawi in 2008, my life was forever changed.  I saw things and experienced things that are indescribable. I knew I had to go back. God had more to teach me. I dreamed of going back for 3 years after that. Finally I got my chance. I would spend a month over summer serving in Malawi at an HIV/Aids rehabilitation center with Save Orphans Ministries and at Esther's House with Pure Mission. So two days after graduation I was on a plane to Malawi Africa. Little did I know that that month would drastically change my life forever. I could write about my time in the warm heart of Africa forever. About what God taught me and the majesty that He revealed and how he worked on my heart. In no way will I be able to write all that He taught me on this little blog. (I love to talk about it, so if you ever want to know more, I would be overjoyed to share!) Even just thinking about what He has done, I am overwhelmed by His greatness. Maybe, little by little I will post stories from my trip, just as a reminder to myself of what God has done and is doing.

I don't really know where this post is going, since it has been so long and I feel like I have so much to say. But today, I am just revealing in God's great power and control over my life. Control is something I know a lot of people struggle with, especially me. I like to know what's going on and where my life is headed. As a freshman in college, it's hard not to get caught up thinking about all the stress of the future and what it is that I should so with my life. I seem to always forget that God needs to be the one in control of my life. He is after all the creator of the universe!!! I'm slowing learning to surrender  control of my plans to the one who wrote them. Check these verse out! So good!(Psalm 31:15, Proverbs 19:21, 16:9) They are so much better than mine would be anyway! I need to remember to live this day well. To live for Christ and Christ alone. Why should I be concerned with what the world thinks of me in I am living for Christ?

The transition from Malawi to school at State was hard. Not a day goes by that I don't think of those beautiful people who changed my life and have ahold of my heart. But God has me at school for a purpose and I am loving discovering what it is! God has blessed me with an amazing group of people who love God and desire to be closer to Him. That is something that I begged God for for the longest time and boy is faithful. 


"All things work together for our good." I might not understand it in the moment, but that is where my trust and faith in my heavenly father comes in. As I continue on this journey, my prayer is for God to break me, mold me, shape me into the women of God that he has created me to be. I pray that I be BOLD in my faith and live each day for Him and Him alone. I pray that I will daily surrender control and let God lead, wherever it may be. 

Whether I be in Malawi or Michigan, I know God will use me and I can't wait to be used my Him!

How He Loves

http://youtu.be/IO-Cp2kcFjc

Perfect Timing - God's Timing

     I never thought I would be so blessed to have such awesome followers of Christ in my life to look up to.I am so thankful that God reminded me of this tonight at a meeting around a kitchen table. God has blessed me in so many ways through the people he brings into my life. To see their devotion to God and their thirst for Him inspires me! To see what God has done and is doing in their lives ceases to amaze me.To see how they fully rely on Him and to see His response is breathtaking. I long for that closeness with Christ, to live each day in full surrender to Him. That is a choice that I must make everyday when I get up in the morning, no matter how hard it may be. God is so incredible in the way he plans things.Psalms 31:15 says "The course of my life is in Your power."  This is so true. As I come to a crossroads where I must choose which path to take, My God will provide and show me the way. (Jeremiah 29:11-13) As of right now, I do not know if MSU or the Air Force is the path that is chosen for me. However, I do know that I am called to be Christs' hands and feet. This is what is expected of me. And in due time, I will know which to choose. As of right now I am content with living each day with the intention of diving deeper into my relationship with Christ and praying for guidance and peace.

Hello!

            The reason for writing this blog....well I'm definitely not a blogger or know anything about it but I wanted a place where I can share what is going on in my life and how God is working in me. I didn't really make this blog for other people, I made if for myself. I can't guarantee I will blog often, but it is my goal to really be honest and real here. I don't want to pretend to be someone I'm not, to pretend that I have it all together and ever thing is perfect. Because it's not. I am a flawed human being who makes mistakes and fails miserably. I am a broken person. But God can and is using my brokenness to create something beautiful, something I can not even fathom.
              This year is sooo going to be a learning and growing year for me as I graduate high school and move into a different stage of life. I'm so excited to see what God has in store for me but to be honest I'm a little nervous too. Just a few days after graduation I am going to be going to Malawi, Africa for a month! I am beyond stoked! I will be able to be Christs hands and feet, living out true love to the beautiful people of Malawi. I have waited so long for this trip and I can't wait for God to use me!
              As I prepare for this trip  in the next few months, I need to keep my eyes on Christ, staying fully committed to him. It can get so easy to forget what is important in life. Christ needs to be number one. I need to find my identity in Him and Him alone. I ask that you keep me in your prays as I take this next step forward in my walk with Christ!
                      In Him,
                                  Morgan