Strength Renewed

It's getting toward the end of the summer.  Many students and families are starting a new school year.  Joshua and I have less than two weeks until school begins again for us.

I'm ready for a new schedule, a change of pace, a different routine.  This summer has been wonderful, don't get me wrong--but I'm ready for some changes.

At the same time, I'm a little apprehensive.  With the new school year will come new challenges: juggling being a wife and homemaker with being a full-time student and working part-time and trying to spend some time with friends, too.  It's a bit overwhelming!  (If you're feeling like you have a lot on your plate--you are not alone!)

A verse from Isaiah came to mind this morning.  God said to Isaiah,

"I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you.  So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." -Isaiah 41:9b-10

God has chosen me to serve him.  He is always with me; he gives me strength and help.  I have nothing to fear or worry about.  And neither do you, no matter what your life looks like right now!

In the previous chapter of Isaiah, God spoke more comforting words:

"Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary, and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall.  But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."  -Isaiah 41:28-31

Our strength does not come from ourselves.  Even youth (like me!) grow tired and weary.  But God never does.  Our God is everlasting--Creator of all that exists.  It is when we put our hope in him, not in our own "strength," that we become strong.  It is God who lifts us up.

I won't get through this coming school year on my own power.  It will be with the strength of God, by his grace and his will, that I will live each day to his glory.  I won't do that perfectly... but I can trust that God has forgiven me.  And he chose me to be his servant knowing that I'm imperfect, so I know he can and will use me for his will despite my imperfections.

I can't wait to see where his strength will take me this year... to what new heights I'll soar.  I wonder...where will God take you?

Linking up with these lovely ladies:
 Growing Home; Thankful Homemaker; Time-Warp Wife; Cornerstone Confessions; Lessons from Ivy

 

His Strength, Not Mine

A friend posted this on her blog last night:
We've heard it so many times, the cliche has dulled the sharp edges of how hard it can sometimes be to believe:  God never gives you more than you can handle.  Everything has passed in front of the Inspector for approval. 


In my comment I said this:
Sometimes I think God has more confidence in my ability to handle things than I do. Then I remember: He doesn't have confidence in my strength. I simply need to have confidence in his. "I can do all things through HIM who gives me strength"!! (Philippians 4:13)


Sometimes life is tough.  Being a believer doesn't mean everything goes the way I want it to.  I'm still a sinful person, so often, the way I want things to go is not the way God wants them to.  Sometimes I feel like it's too much, more than I can handle, more than I can bear.


But it's not more than God can handle.  On the cross he bore the sins of all of mankind, the weight of every wrongdoing that every person has ever committed or will commit.  That's huge.  He, therefore, can bear the weight of my struggles, my weaknesses, and my sorrows.  He wants to bear them, because he knows I can't, and because he loves me.


Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."


What grace.  What love.

The Proverbs 31 Woman: One of My Role Models

In chapter 31 of the book of Proverbs, King Lemuel describes "the wife of noble character."  Here are selected verses from that chapter:

10 A wife of noble character who can find?  She is worth far more than rubies.  11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lack nothing of value.  12 She bring him good, not harm, all the days of her life...15 She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family...17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks...20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy...23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land...25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.  26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.  27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.  28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

The first few times I read over this, it was a little overwhelming.  It's a lot to live up to!  This is pretty much the perfect woman!  And that's not even all the verses.  She makes clothes and linens, too, and is also a successful businesswoman.

I see this woman in some of the special women in my life.  My mother, most especially.  She takes that "getting up while it's still dark" thing literally.  :)  My mother has been an at-home mom since I was born.  Some people would look on that as being old-fashioned, that she's not standing up for her rights as a woman. I think it's the most noble profession she could have chosen, and the one that will reap the most rewards.  A Godly wife, mother, and homemaker is, I think, the highest goal a woman can aim for.  It's the goal I have in sight.  "Wife" is coming up in less than two months.  "Homemaker" too.  I can hardly wait.  :)

Anyway, back to this woman.  Actually, back to the GOD who makes her possible.  This woman is perfect; no one person could constantly do everything right.  But God makes it possible for us as women to be the best we can be, to do our very best at everything.  Being a wife, mother and homemaker is a vocation, that is, a calling from God.  As a wife, a woman supports and encourages and takes care of her husband, in myriad ways.  As a mother, a woman has the privilege and responsibility to (along with her husband) raise her children to be God-loving and God-honoring.  As a homemaker, a woman has the opportunity to share the love of Jesus with her family first of all, and every person she encounters.  (My mother is accomplishing all of this with beautiful, God-praising results.)

God has called women to be what they are (even if it's not as a wife or mother; don't get me wrong, that's not the only vocation God calls women to!).  I feel that he has called me to this vocation.  Therefore, he will give me the strength, the wisdom, the knowledge and the abilities to accomplish it--all to his glory.  Everything I do in my life, I want to do to praise and honor God.

Unfortunately, I very often fail at that.  I'm a sinful person, despite the best intentions.  I try hard every day to live a life that is pleasing to God, but many times a day I screw up, big time.  I sometimes get very discouraged and Satan plagues me with guilt.  No matter how hard I try, I still mess up!

The amazing thing is, the God who has called me to be what I am, at every stage in my life, understands the troubles and temptations I have.  He is there with me, even when I'm sinning.  Sometimes I can fight temptation, sometimes I succumb.  But God loves me just the same, no matter what.  He forgives me no matter how many times I mess up.  He gives me a new start every day.

So this becoming-a-wife-and-homemaker thing isn't about me, really.  It's about God, working in my life and in the lives of those around me.  It's about him giving me some new jobs in which I can praise, serve and honor him.

Still can do all things through Him...

Strength to eat, even when I don't feel like it.
Strength to make it across campus for chapel despite hardly any energy.
Strength to not fear my stomach's protests.
Strength to smile despite the aches and pains.

Most importantly: strength to remember that this is the flu, I will get better, and I have SO much to be thankful for.

Strength that comes from Him and Him alone.  His strength is made perfect in my weakness.

My Current State of Mind

SO much to do.  Not nearly enough time to do it.


I can do all things...


There's so much I need and want to do.  I wish I could make everything okay.  I can't handle it all...


Through Christ...


I'm so tired.  Not enough sleep, not enough time to rest, hardly any time for myself today.  I've been dashing from one thing to the next since 8:30 this morning and it won't end for another 3 1/2 hours.  I'm still not fully healthy.  I just want to curl up and sleep.


Who strengthens me.



This is what has been going through my head, practically all day.  Trying to do life on my own doesn't work.  Letting God take the reins does work.  (Ever notice how "reins" is a homonym of "reigns"?  Yeah...)

His strength is made perfect in my weakness.  When I am weak, he is strong.  When I can't do it, God can.

And he helps me get through even long, tiring days like today.  He has given me my amazing finace, without whom I don't know how I'd get through life.  He makes me so happy and just holds me when that's what I need.  He's encouraging and he inspires me to work hard.

God let me run into two beautiful women today, two sisters in Christ who gave me some much-needed love and encouragement.  I'm so thankful for all my girl friends; don't know where I'd be without them either!

And it's such a beautiful day.  The sunshine lifts my spirits so much.

I can do ALL THINGS
through CHRIST
who STRENGTHENS me.