Catching up weeks 6-8

  Solitude- There seems to be one main reason people avoid solitude-driven silence: 1) they feel the need to talk, or explain their actions and situations, and 2) they do not want to be challenged by Jesus' voice. I feel that both of these are completely true in my life. I hate having my actions or words misunderstood, and often explain myself to people, and I do the same with God. Now that I think about it, He already knows all, so my desire to explain my actions is futile. Once I accept this, it will be far easier to be silent. If I do not speak, I run the risk of having to confront the, shall we say, less God-pleasing aspects of my life, which I would like to just disappear without my acknowledging them. Even as I say this, I have known that silence in which God speaks to you, giving you peace and security even in the challenging of your sins and showing you your inadequacies. Lord, You are omniscient, I dont have to explain myself, and I praise you for that. I pray that I set aside time to experience your silence, solitude, challenge, and peace. Amen

  Service- "Jesus does what He does because He is who He is." He is a servant, and we are servants of this servant. Jesus, our Lord and Savior, became the most base and humble servant to the people he came to save. How can we do anything else? I love the distinction between serving and servant. I want to give up all my control and let God choose how and who I serve and every aspect of my servant-lifestyle. Lord, I surrender my control over my service to you, and I pray to be Your hands and feet. Amen.

  Celebration- Galatians 2:20- "I have been crucified with Christ, and no longer live. I am a new creation now." I am not my sins, or my past, so I celebrate! I have been given the opportunity to be reborn, so I celebrate! I can wait for my Lord and Savior to come back with definite certainty, knowing that He has saved me and He loves me, so I celebrate! EVERYTHING is a celebration of God loving us and saving us. When we were in Arizona on our mission trip, I spent a good twenty minutes staring into a huge canyon and sunset, and singing spontaneous praise to the Lord. Standing over a canyon, or sitting in my house this is easy to remember, but when I go through the pains of life, celebration is much harder. My sincere prayer, Lord, is to honestly thank you for my tribulations, as they will strengthen me and prepare me further for my servant-hood (I might have just made that up). I love you God! Praise and Honor to You forever! Amen