Getting Rid of the Old.

I leave for college in a month. I am getting rid of old things, packing up the remaining items & moving to a completly new state full of new people. I'm leaving the central time zone and trading it in for the west coast time zone. I'm trading the changing seasons of summer spring, winter and fall for 300 school days of warm weather. I'm leaving behind the people I love more than life itself. Yet, my God goes with me wherever I go. I'm not leaving behind my laughter nor my faith. That will be constant. Maybe different but constant.

As Iook at all the old clothes and things that I have decided to throw away I can't help but sit here and ponder what  old things I need to leave behind in order to start this new chapter of my life. Old things like being self centered and bitter. Things like not caring or giving my whole effort. 

This past week I counseled at a girls camp, where we talked about taking off our old self and putting on the new. This is exactly what The Lord is speaking to me about right now. Just like me throwing out my old clothes,Jesus has given us the chance to exchange our old "clothes" (which are dirtied with sin) for a brand new pair which are clean. We no longer have to wear those old rags with our painful past, because we have been redeemed in Christ!? 

What things do you need to "throw away"? Re-evaluate what old "pieces of clothing" are hindering you from fully accepting the new self He has offered us?

How He Loves

I'm having one of those moments where I am overwhelmed at the endless love that Jesus has for me. My heart is smiling from ear to ear. 

Sometimes it is so hard to comprehend the love of Jesus. In fact, no one will ever be able to fully understand how much He loves us. Just sitting here writing this is giving me the chills. Like why would such a perfect God send his son to die for me and all my sins?  I am such a sinner, yet Jesus loves me. He loves you. His love is yesterday, today, tomorrow and forever. 

More days than not, people generally feel unloved in someway. Whether that is a broken relationship with a parent, sibling, friend or significant other. Yet, when all earthly love fails in one way or another there is a being who's love is constant. A being in which love is ALWAYS constant. Jesus loves us soo incredibly much that he took every sin that had been done or that will be done on the cross and died for us. How amazing is that? How does that make you feel knowing that you are loved infinetly. Take a moment, be still and just feel His love surround you. It is the most indescribable feeling in the world. Ahh. Sigh. 

I love those days where I can just sit here in the quiet and just feel so completely loved. 

Until next time. 

In Christ,

Taler 

A good read

I'm am currently reading the book Kisses for Katie, for the second time. As I read this book the first time I simply read the pages, simply to say I had finished reading another good book. As I read for a second time, The Lord is breaking and reforming my thoughts, actions, priorities and love. 

 I'm guilty of simply thinking about myself, my relationships and my plans with the goal of always trying to achieve more. We are always wanting more, and are never fully satisfied with what we have. As I read this book, I feel ashamed of the way my family, and most other American families live. 

Katie, at the age of 19 moved to Uganda to pursue Gods calling. Little did she know that her life would be changed forever. Katie shows a great example of what it is like to surrender your own desires, submit completely and have unending faith in Him. 

Sometimes I get discouraged when it comes to the area of missions, because I never feel like I am doing enough. The Lord has been reminding me that missions come in all kinds of forms. I so greatly admire those who serve on mission fields internationally, where they have been called to share the love of Jesus to those who have never heard what real unending love is. Let us always pray for them. 

I was reminded through reading and prayer that we don't have to go international to be a missionary. We are all missionaries, right where we are. What I'm trying to get at is that it doesn't matter where we are. It's whether we are ready to fully submit our lives to Him with undoubted faith. 

I encourage each and every one of you who reads this, to examine your life and make changes accordingly. Ask The Lord to work in your heart. Let Him lead your life, because his plans are greater than your own. 

Reflection

So yes, it has been quite along time since I have blogged. I have been extremely busy with this thing called life. It has a strange way of creeping up and taking over.

My life this school year has been a beautiful disaster. I'm slowly learning to grow up. ( and by slowly, my parents would tell you that it is not an exaggeration:) Growing up is an interesting concept, because although I  am learning to become independent I have had to lean on God more than ever.

Last August, I prayed that this school year God would help me close doors that needed to be closed, and that He would open new ones. I also decided that my theme and constant reminder of the year would be to Let Go and Let God. Little did I know that He would show his provision in a completely and totally unexpected way. He has blessed me with new friendships, renewed friendships and a wonderful future ahead of me.

As I reflect on this coming school year at a close, I am constantly reminded of how how much Christ truly loves us endlessly.This past Easter, Christ reminded me loudly through His word that His love never leaves. He died for me and for you. He carried countless sins on that cross, for us. Because He loves us. Can you even imagine that kind of love? It's a beautiful thing.
I was in Florida recently, and being able to watch the sunrise and set every morning was one of the most majestic and powerful things I have ever witnessed. As I saw the sunrise, I was reminded in my quiet time with God that His mercies are new every morning. Each day of living brings triumphs and failures and somedays are harder than others. Somedays I just want to shout for joy, while others I want to cry. Each an every day we have on this Earth is a blessing. It was a beautiful reminder to me that His mercies are indeed new every morning even though we do not deserve it at all. We serve a wonderful Creator.

1- The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;^[a]
    his mercies never come to an end;
²³ they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.