Stars

Saw the stars again tonight...
I was reminded once again of how big my God is,
how mighty and powerful is the God I serve.
People ask how I could believe in something so unsure, something intangible, invisible.

But here is how I know:

I know what it is to be in the pit, to be swamped in sorrow, and inescapable sadness.
And I know what it is to be pulled from that pit;
to realize that I have not been swallowed up, that I have not been lost;
That is how I know that the One who I call on answers my prayers.
Without that, I would certainly be dead.

I know what it is to doubt my future, my life, my friends, my God.
And I know what it is to be shown over and over and OVER again the truth of His word.
Without that, I would certainly be lost and aimless.

There is nowhere I can run, nowhere I can hide, nowhere I can escape His love.
But why would I want to?

But there is another kind of death: a death to myself.
God has called me to live a life of sacrifice.
What does that mean?

It means giving up the things I love, and replacing them with the things He loves.
But if I love Him, that is only the beginning of my demonstration of love.
How much more can I show I love Him except putting into His hands everything I treasure.

It means getting over myself, putting me outside of me, seeing what others see.
I am not to be a selfish, preoccupied, solitary being.
I am part of a body.

I know what it is to have to joy of the Lord;
to be in the worst and most trying circumstances,
yet still choose to praise the Lord,
to continue on in His strength,
and to know that I am walking in His path.