Sunday, November 28, 2010

I FINISHED JOB!

I never thought this day would come. I have finished Job! Last time that I attempted this Bible reading plan, I completely gave up on Job. It was too difficult for me to read. I felt as if Job complained all the time, and was not listening to his friends. I stopped reading Job close to the middle. Well, this week... I FINISHED JOB! I am so very proud of myself.

In Job 38 the Lord finally speaks! I waited 38 days to hear the Lords voice in Job! In Job 39 the Lord describes the animal kingdom. In Job 40, the Lord begins to speak directly to Job.

My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you. Job 42:5. I truly feel like we all have to experience God's grace and see God move in our lives to truly know who He is. Friends can tell us about God, our Pastor can tell us about His grace, but until we experience it in our lives... we can't fully believe. Some people may be more stubborn, and need to experience God move radically in their lives. I was one of the more stubborn ones. God has always had His hand on my life, but it took me many years to truly accept that it was never me, it was always Him.

After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before. Job 42:10. I love this! This says to me that though we may feel as if the Lord is not with us in our struggles, He is. If we remain faithful and turn to the Lord when we are struggling, when we are no longer struggling He will bless us more abundantly than imaginable. It is too easy to praise the Lord when our lives are easy. When all our bills are getting paid, we have the family we always dreamed for, and the spiritual life we always wanted. It is not easy to praise the Lord when we get laid off, our husband is drifting away and we can't seem to hear from God. If we continue to call out to Him when we are in need, He will bless us!!

I do not know a lot about suffering. I have never lost everything I had. But, I do know that I am confused as to what He is doing with my life. I do know that it is hard for me to thank the Lord for a well paying job, when I can't get 40 hours a week to pay my bills. I currently feel like, I would be better off to take a pay cut somewhere else and make 40 hours a week. I do know that the promise in 42:10 is alive and well, the Lord is with me. He will bless me if I remain faithful in this time of need. It is all too easy to turn away from Him right now. But, I will not. I will keep showing up, as Pastor said. :-)

So, Job is over :-). I know how it ends. (Shh... don't tell anyone I said this, but...)It was worth the read. Now, if I could get into Isaiah...

Friday, November 26, 2010

Reflection

As I sit out on the porch of our beach front hotel room this morning, I can't help reflect on the last time I was at the beach. God is truly amazing. He changes lives in ways that we could never imagine.

The last time I was at the Myrtle Beach was Labor Day weekend 2009. I was with someone who I thought was my friend. We came with her family, and enjoyed the beach. Not only did we enjoy the beach, we spent a lot of time enjoying the shopping scene. We went shopping everywhere possible. I checked my account balance on my phone before we left the trip. The number was shockingly high, but I went with it! I was happy to have more than less. I was having a wonderful time. I spent what I thought I had... which was not what I actually had. Something funny had happened with my rent check. It didn't show up on the account balance. After unpacking many bags, putting new clothes up, trying on clothes I didn't even bother to try on and making a pile of thigns I may return... I checked my account balance. I WAS OVER $400 NEGATIVE!!!! I thought I was going to die. My stomach instantly went in knots, and I balled over in tears. There was no one I could call for help. I began calculating overdraft fee's, and becuase I swipped my card so many times... THE FEES WERE GOING TO BE MORE THAN THE $400!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I thought I was going to die. I love living on my own, I love the responsibility that comes with living on your own. I do not like having to ask anyone for help. I called my parents, which was the hardest thing on Earth for me to do. My parents had enough money!!! My mom and I met at the bank and we quickly deposited the money in my bank. God is so good. Bank of America took the money as if it was deposited BEFORE I STARTED MY SHOPPING SPREE. I had no overdraft fee's, no fines, and a bank account that was not in the red!! It felt like it took ages, but I paid my parens back and have no more interest in shopping. I didn't even step in a mall for 9 months after that experience.

It was several weeks after that that Pastor preached the Student Takeover series, and I accepted Christ as my Savior. The Lord is so good. He has transformed my life and I will never be the same.

I am very thankful for life change. The Lord changed my life through that experience. I was a shop-a-holic. Everyone I worked with would tell you that. I blew every dime I had on shopping. I liked having nice things and wanted to have a lot of nice things. :-) I no longer have that desire to have as many clothes as possible. This year I cleaned out my closet and donated 6 bags of clothes to a friend. Old Keirstin would have never been able to part with 6 bags of clothes.

The Lord is so good. I am so thankful for that. I am also thankful that the Lord is alive and well inside Pastor Steven. Pastor Steven preaches straight from the Bible and never holds anything back.

Happy Black Friday everyone. The only thing I am buying today is a phone charger, since I left mine at home. :-)

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Thankful

I just want to post real quick. I have so much to be thankful for. The Lord has truly blessed me. I am thankful for my friends. I have some of the best friends in the world. My friends are true men and women of God. They give me Godly advice. I am thankful for my eGroup. I am thankful for my eTeam. I am thankful for Elevation Church. God has put greatness in Pastor Steven. He has transformed many lives and continues to transform lives. The Lord is alive inside of Pastor Steven and I am thankful for this.

I am posting this on a beach front balcony. My parents got a condo in Myrtle Beach for two days. I am so very thankful for my parents. Everyone in my family is supporting me, and helping me through my financial difficulties lately. I am thankful for them.

I have so much to be thankful for these days. Thank you, Lord for blessing me. Thank you, Lord for blessing me with a family who blesses me continually and supports me constantly. Thank you, Lord!

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Yay!

Really quick...
I have finally made it farther than I made it last time doing this plan. I am so excited. I am excited that I have made it father, I am excited to see how God is transforming me. I am excited to see God is transforming the members of my group. :-) God is great.

The Blakeney campus opens tonight. It's great!! :-) God is going to change thousands of lives there. God is increadible.