Pulling weeds

So I alluded to God doing some hard stuff in me last week. Over the weekend, God met with me at the Planet Wisdom conference. The first night Mark Matlock was teaching about being the clay in the Potter's hand. Through that, and other skits by the ever hilarious Skit Guys, God encouraged me that this current trial would be for my benefit and that he is doing great (albeit, painful) things in me. One of the guys spoke about the ever popular verse, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you, not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11) We so quickly hold to that verse, especially when we are going through trials and say, "But your not supposed to harm me, God!!" But if you look at the context (magic word here), there is a different perspective!

4 This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 "Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." 8 Yes, this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them," declares the LORD.
10 This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."

SEVENTY YEARS! Seventy years of exile!! And not until after that 70 years would God fulfill his gracious promise. These people needed some things worked out! And that was all in God's "plans to prosper" "not to harm" "to give a hope and a future". This was greatly encouraging to me. God does not have plans for my destruction (though sometimes it may feel that way) but rather, out of his love, plans for my betterment so that I will seek him and find him with my whole heart!! (v.13)

So, this weekend left me exhausted... yet encouraged that God has great plans and it is only through those plans can we be who He has designed me to be. I covet your prayers as God does this weeding through my heart and life.

So, I was looking through old photos (possibly getting ready for entry in the fair) and I came across this beauty. I love this image. Sitting on your Daddy's lap, enjoying a warm summer day, eating a (very unhealthy) hotdog, watching the crowds go by. Just wrapped up in the moment, soaking everything in and enjoying every minute of it. I've decided that I don't have enough days like this...

First Blog

So here is yet another thing to consume my time... isn't technology supposed to be giving me time, not eating it up??

Currently I am in an interesting place. God is working on some DEEP core matters in my own life and he is rocking my world. I see him trying to sort out in me what is my character and personality that he perfectly made as Justine and weeding out the sin and crap that I've so readily brought into this perfection. Its hard sometimes to allow God to work in you, mostly because of the pain and sacrifice it requires of you. But his work does not go without blessings; and it is to those that I am clinging currently. So, here goes the ride.