STOP IT!!!!!!!

Kind of a crazy title I know. Just hang with me for a minute. Our church us going through the book of Psalms this year....in the order they were written. What a task!! But thanks to the amazing talent God has given Pastor Chad and the other pastors at Life Church, we are learning a LOT!

So yesterday we landed on Psalm 69.

Not exactly the Easter story. Not exactly the call to worship a risen king.

But some where in there is that exact call.

In Psalm 69 David is crying out. He is lost, feels totally down, like every enemy is against him. And he asks God to strike them down, to punish his enemies. Then the Psalm takes a turn.  David remembers that though

 "I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me.

The Lord hears the needy and does not despise his captive people,

Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and all hat move in them,

for God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah." (Psalm 69:29, 33-35 NIV)

That salvation came when Christ died on the cross and rose again. It was the perfect sacrifice so that our sins (all the stuff that makes us feel worthless, unlovable, undone) are forgiven. So we were challenged to STOP IT!

Stop making excuses about our walk with Christ.

Stop making excuses why we can't be a living, breathing, walking testimony to the love of God.

Just Stop It.

This rang so true for me. The demons I feel like I have been battling have been strong (stupid depression), but you know what, God is stronger. He is love. He is alive. He is RISEN.

After church we spent the afternoon exploring one of the trails and a park by the pond on post.

 I loved getting to watch my children just run and play in the sun.

See how He is renewing the earth and growing new life.

I got to see once again how God is MOVING through our family. 

Not everyday is gonna be great or perfect or even good. (ie: the major tantrum J threw downstairs because he was tired and had WAY too much sugar yesterday.)

But through it all, I know that its going to be ok. My purpose on this Earth is not to feel sorry for myself, not to hate those who persecute me, not to be down, or discouraged or anything remotely even close. My purpose on this Earth is to love and serve God, worshipping Christ my savior and bringing Him glory by sharing the gospel. It is what I intend to do from this day on.

Am I a perfect Christian, NO WAY!!!! Never could be. I know though that God will bring me through the darkest days, He will use my pain to bring healing and I have to trust him 100%.

Thank you Jesus for taking my sins on the cross and giving me the chance to worship you now and forever.