Hola Todos,

It has really been a while since I've written.  I guess it has been because I haven't been inspired.  I could be like some people and write all about the little things that happen every day or I could be like the people who use this as a quiet time journal.  I use a more sporadic approach.  I use this as a place I can share what God is teaching me and sometimes just to write about what is going on in my life.  Tonight, I'm going to begin by using this as a quiet time journal and sharing a Psalm that God has shared with me.

Psalm 50

 1 The Mighty One, God, the LORD,
       speaks and summons the earth
       from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets.

 2 From Zion, perfect in beauty,
       God shines forth.

 3 Our God comes and will not be silent;
       a fire devours before him,
       and around him a tempest rages.

 4 He summons the heavens above,
       and the earth, that he may judge his people:

 5 "Gather to me my consecrated ones,
       who made a covenant with me by sacrifice."

 6 And the heavens proclaim his righteousness,
       for God himself is judge.
       Selah

 7 "Hear, O my people, and I will speak,
       O Israel, and I will testify against you:
       I am God, your God.

 8 I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices
       or your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.

 9 I have no need of a bull from your stall
       or of goats from your pens,

 10 for every animal of the forest is mine,
       and the cattle on a thousand hills.

 11 I know every bird in the mountains,
       and the creatures of the field are mine.

 12 If I were hungry I would not tell you,
       for the world is mine, and all that is in it.

 13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls
       or drink the blood of goats?

 14 Sacrifice thank offerings to God,
       fulfill your vows to the Most High,

 15 and call upon me in the day of trouble;
       I will deliver you, and you will honor me."

 16 But to the wicked, God says:
       "What right have you to recite my laws
       or take my covenant on your lips?

 17 You hate my instruction
       and cast my words behind you.

 18 When you see a thief, you join with him;
       you throw in your lot with adulterers.

 19 You use your mouth for evil
       and harness your tongue to deceit.

 20 You speak continually against your brother
       and slander your own mother's son.

 21 These things you have done and I kept silent;
       you thought I was altogether like you.
       But I will rebuke you
       and accuse you to your face.

 22 "Consider this, you who forget God,
       or I will tear you to pieces, with none to rescue:

 23 He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me,
       and he prepares the way
       so that I may show him the salvation of God."

I really like this Psalm because it is something that I have thought about for a long time.  It starts out talking about who powerful God is and that He has the power to judge his people.  He is our judge.  Sometimes we forget this.  the psalmist goes on to the people who are religious and are just putting on an act when there is no depth to it.  He says "I have no need of a bull from your stall or f goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills."  Next, 'God' addresses the wicked.  He asks "What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips?".    They do not love him and they do not follow His law.  He tells them that He is not afraid to rebuke them.  I like the last verse of the psalm.  He says that those who follow him and give sacrifices he will show the way of salvation.  This is cool looking at it after Christ.  As a Christian, we must give our lives to Christ and follow Him and he will show the way of salvation to us.

 

Ok, now that I have done the whole quiet time journal thing, I'll continue by doing something closer to the daily journal.  It is cool looking back over a year and looking at what God has taught you in that time.  Sometimes you have seen the point of what He has been teaching you and sometimes you will never see until you are in heaven.  I know over the past year, I have felt like God has been far from me a lot.  This hasn't changed, but right now I have hope.  I know I need to keep pursuing Him and waiting on Him.  I know I've tried this in the past and gotten frustrated.  I am sure at some point in time, whether in the near future or somewhere down the road I will get to the point of frustration again, but I am hoping that I will learn from past experiences and will use that frustration to draw me closer to God.  It is also cool to see the changes that God has made in your life in a year. 

1.  I'm dating an awesome man of God.

2.  I've had some awesome riding experience and learned lots.

3.  I've opened my mind to allowing God to take me where He wants.  I will always be working on this, but I realized that for a while, I was telling God 'no'.

4.  I feel like I've grown so much as a person (not just in a year, since I came to college).  I've gotten a few comments from people that knew me my freshman year.  I don't always notice these things.  I like that I have grown in my relationship with Christ so that I feel that I can be more open with people and come out of my shell.

One last thing that I am going to share this evening. This is an inspirational story that came in our church newsletter.

Blind Horse

By Alison Cotter

Just up the road from my home is a field with two horses in it.  From a distance, each looks like every other horse.  But if one stops the car or is walking by, one will notice something quite amazing.

Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind.  His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him.  This alone is amazing.

Listening, one will hear the sound of a bell.  Looking around for the source of the sound, one will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field.  Attached to her halter is a small bell.  It lets her blind friend know where she is, so he can follow her.  As one stands and watches these two friends, one sees how she is always checking on him, and that he will listen for her bell and then slowly walk to where she is - trusting that she will not lead him astray.

Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges.  He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need.  Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by God and those whom he places in our lives.  Other times we are the guide horse, helping others see God.

 

That is all I have for tonight.

Yours In Christ,

Jess

Hola Todos!

So, two posts in one day. 

It is so hard and frusterating when you don't quite know what God's plan for you is.  I understand waiting but it is hard.

I'm back at keeper.  I love working with horses and I love working in the barn and I love riding and I love teaching people about horses.  But, I feel like I just go to the barn and work.  Life seems so unfulfilling.  I feel that there is so much more I should be doing with my life - not that I necessaraly will be able to do it (God would fill in the places I don't have strength).  It is so frusterating not feeling fulfilled.  It is frusterating not knowing what God is calling you to do in so many different situations.  It is frusterating that my humanness interferes with His Godliness.  I just want Him to work in and through me, but I get in the way of what he is doing.

I was in Barcelona a year ago.  I miss it sooooo much.

Enough for the randomness.

Yours In Christ,

Jess