Tonight was one of the most beautiful nights it's ever been. It was practically the most perfect weather. As I was walking in to my house I look up and what do I see?... STARS!! ahhh, one of the most amazing creations God has made. I don't know what it is, but just looking at the stars amazes me. I can literally just be outside for the whole night just staring at them and thinking about God. Although while I do that, I am just overwhelmed.

Out of all creations, God loves us the most. I mean seriously, come on, He CHOSE us!

Basically, God's awesome.

I'm a fan.

building faith/trust

it amazes me to see people go through the hardest of things and yet still have such a peace and trust. it's only by God that they have such a strong faith.

One awesome woman of God, who was going through breast cancer, had this kind of faith. Sadly, she passed away last March. She had cancer twice. The first time she was healed. then it came back. i remember her saying in church, "i'd go through it again if it makes my faith and relationship stronger with God." that just blew me away. she'd be willing to go through the whole cancer again, just to make her relationship and faith stronger with God.

how amazing is that.

Now, one of my close Aunts is going through cancer as well, she has had it for about 6 months. as days pass, it's only getting worse. but through it all she is not letting this cancer take her down. she, as well, is a fighter. my Uncle, has such a peace as well. Why? because they trust in God to do the right thing.

crazy, how many of us have something so small and yet we don't trust in God. but like these individuals, in my life, they trust in God; even if that means they come to their death.

let this be a testimony and eye opening to all of us.

God, i pray that i have just an ounce of faith and trust in You like that.

background noise.

As I sit here listening to all the noise that is going on in the house, I am reminded of what I keep telling myself, "just shut off all the background noises!!" I think God says that to me a lot of times as well.

You know what I'm talking about. The music that is played while we drive to work/school, while we are at work. The TV that is on while on the computer, or the cellphone that is on while the TV is on.

and we wonder, "where's God?!"

Maybe, it's the fact that He's been talking over and over, but the background noise is on?

Some won't take the time out of their day just to talk to God, let alone even stop and listen. It's the constant, "I NEED NOISE!" So if we are ourselves won't take the time out of our day to talk, or listen to God. why should He do the same for us?

Psalm 46:10, "be still, and know that I AM God..." notice the first two words of that verse. "be still," then there is a "," after the two words.... it's like taking a breath right after the words are said. "be still," and then it goes on... "and know that I AM God..." Most of us know that God is God. He is "I AM" but we seem to forget the "be still," part don't we? We live in a culture that is go go go and never stop. or the I'll sleep when I'm dead because I am constantly busy. When we don't take the time to be with God and we take the time to do our "busy schedules" it's like we're telling God, "I'm too busy to hang out with you. I'd rather get this all done, and then we can talk. but when we get together I'm going to do the talking and you listen." When it should be the other way around... "I am busy, but I'm going to stop and put what really matters in my life, and be with You, God. Just sit in Your presence and listen."

One of my absolute favorite verses': 1 Kings 19:11-12 - it's when God appears to Elijah.. Elijah goes out and stands on the mountain and God passes through.. there was a wind, earthquake, and fire; but God wasn't in any of those. He was in the soft gentle whisper.

Isn't that crazy to think about? Out of all that chaos that had happened right in front of Elijah God was only in the still and quiteness. God didn't come out in this LOUD BOOMING VOICE. He came in the soft gentle whisper.

I think many of times we think God is out to get us, and when He does find us, He's going to have this huge voice and just tear us apart.

It's the total opposite!

His grace and love cover us.

So, as I now sit in silence, because I turned the TV off half way through typing this, I am embraced in God's presence. I am thankful for when God reminds me to shut off the background noise and stop the busy schedule - even for ministry, because without His presence, I can't carry on filling others up, when I need to be filled up with God myself.

Shut off the background noise.

I'll be doing the same.