Keep Your Eyes on Christ

"Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept Thy Word... It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn Thy statutes... I know, O LORD, that Thy judgments are right, and that Thou in faithfulnss hath afflicted me." (Psalm 119: 67, 71, 75)

It has been so long since I posted that I hardly know where to begin!

This year has been one of ups and downs, joys and sorrows, trials and victories. Through it all, the Lord has been so faithful, and has never left my side. I am in awe at His goodness, patience, and everlasting love. He never changes!

I am constantly blessed and inspired by Hannah's great example of a loving, serving sister. She is so good with her younger siblings.

As I think over this past year, I recall many lessons the Lord has been teaching me. So many ways I would not have chosen my path of life to lead, yet now I look back and see those circumstances and happenings as things the Lord has used, and is using, to shape my life and transform me into His image. I would be the first to admit that I have a long ways to go; so many areas of life that need refining and changing and beautifying; yet, as Mom reminded me the other night, the Lord is so good to reveal to us little by little what He wants us to change in our lives. He is not expecting us to fix our lives and to be perfect all at once, or by ourselves. This is a life-long journey of continual refinement, ceaseless molding and shaping in the Potter's hands. Though the chastisement and testing may not be pleasant at the moment, God is doing His work (Hebrews 12:11), and I have confidence that "He that begun a good work in [me] will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6)

While working at the berry farm this fall, a dear friend and pen-pal of mine and her sisters surprised me by coming to visit and help out!

So, what are we to do during these times of trial and testing? We can decide to reject the lessons the Lord wants to teach us; to become stubborn, angry, bitter, and even turn away from the Lord. Or, we can choose to view the difficulties He allows in our lives as His loving tools to make us more like Him. In each trial, He is right beside us every moment, and will bring us through it to a wealthy place. "For Thou, O God hast proved us: Thou hast tried us, as silver is tried. Thou broughtest us into the net; Thou laidst affliction upon our loins. Thou has caused men to ride over our heads: we went through fire and through water: but Thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place." (Psalm 66:10-12) This is something I constantly need to be reminded of, and it is vital to growth and looking more like Christ. There are several areas that I would like to share with you that the Lord has been impressing on me this past year in regards to what to do and how to respond in times of difficulty.

Dad and Mom celebrated their 28th wedding anniversary in October. We were staying with some dear friends of ours that day, and their sweet daughter surprised Dad and Mom with pecan pie for dessert (one of Dad's absolute favorites!). I am so thankful for Dad and Mom's example of a marriage built firmly on Christ, and their love for one another and faithfulness to each other.

To keep my eyes on Christ. "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." ~Hebrews 12:1-2

To set my affections on Him.  "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." ~Colossians 3:1-3

Sweet Bekah

To call and cry out to Him. "And call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me." ~Psalm 50:15

 To praise Him. "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God." ~Psalm 50:23

To hope in Him. "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." ~Psalm 42:11

Special times with our dear friends!

 To offer Him the sacrifice of thanksgiving. "I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD." ~Psalm 116:17

 To seek Him. "And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee." ~Psalm 9:10 ~ "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." ~Jeremiah 29:13

 To obey His voice. "But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you." ~Jeremiah 7:23

Grandpa and Grandma celebrated their 57th anniversary a few weeks ago! I am grateful for the rare example they set of a long lasting marriage.

 To trust Him."Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him..." ~Job 13:15 ~ "The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence." ~2 Samuel 22:3

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." ~2 Corinthians 12:10-11

One night it was so cold that all the children got to camp out in the Family Room by the fireplace. :)

Paul talks about how he took pleasure in his infirmities. I believe that he truly understood what God ultimately designed trials for: so that we can bring Him the greater glory. For when we are weak, then God shows Himself strong. When we come to the end of our rope and realize that we are nothing without Him, then He is glorified and can show Himself mighty in our lives. But, we must first come to the point of complete surrender to His will and a deep, abiding trust in His sovereignty.

When we choose to follow these commands from Scripture, the Lord will show Himself strong on our behalf.

Hannah loves babies!

God has a life story written for each one of us. Each one will look very different. It can be tempting to look at someone else's life and be coveteous. But this is not what God has called us to. He has called us to rejoice in the plans He has for us, to live our lives for HIS glory, not our own pleasure. I have been studying Psalm 103 this month, and verse 2 has really stuck with me. "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits." How often the forgetfulness describes me. It is easy to forget, just like the Israelites did, ALL of the things the Lord has done for me.

We enjoyed a great Thanksgiving with family and friends.

One thing that opened my eyes in a deeper way was delving into what "redemption" actually means and what it implies.
It means to be bought with a price (1 Cor. 7:23)
It is of God (Is. 43:1)
It is by Christ (Gal. 3:13)
It is from:

• The bondage and curse of the law (Gal. 4:5; 3:13)
• The power of sin (Rom. 6:18,22)
• The power of the grave (Psalm 49:15)
• All troubles (Psalm 25:22)
• All iniquity (Psalm 130:8, Titus 2:14)
• All evil (Genesis 48:16)
• The present evil world (Gal. 1:4)
• Vain conversation (1 Peter 1:18)
• Enemies (Ps. 106:10,11; Jer. 15:21)
• Death (Hsa. 13:14)
• Destruction (Ps. 103:4)

It procures for us:

• Justification (Rom. 3:24)
• Forgiveness of sin (Eph. 1:7)
• Adoption (Gal. 4:4,5)
• Purification (Titus 2:14)
  

  

  One of our favorite things to do when we get together with other families is to sing hymns together. Such a sweet time of praise to the Lord.

What an amazing God we serve, that loved us and gave His very life for us that we might have this redemption and be free from sin!

Dani has been such a great blessing and encouragement in my life. I am so grateful for her wonderful, Godly example to me, and how she has constantly built me up in the Lord, and continually points me to Him.

As I experience difficulties and trying times, I am reminded to give thanks and remember all the great things the Lord has done for me. He is so good!

Blessings to you all,
~Amanda

"And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD." (Psalm 40:3)