More Thoughts from Psalm 27

The LORD is my light and my salvation---whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life---of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1

God blessed me with another amazing day…and brought me through my second day on the job. Some of you may wonder what I did, so I’ll tell you all about it, step by step. First, I woke up bright and early (well, it was early---but not so bright) at 5am to read my Bible, eat breakfast, and get ready for the day. Then I headed over to the gym at 6:30 to exercise. At 8am, I began work with some other fellow rookies, painting. We painted up till lunch time then took our lunch break…then continued painting until 3pm. I headed downtown to a nice coffee shop for some hot chocolate and to check my e-mail and face book. After that I headed back to my room and ate dinner (good old’ Mac n cheese!) That was my day!

I’ve been thinking a lot about Psalm 27 lately---I find it so encouraging, challenging, comforting, convicting, etc. Never would I have imagined myself living in a big city like Seattle working in the Coast Guard, but this is where God has placed me. I miss my family and friends back home, and wish I could have brought them all with me! But God has placed me here and so I will rejoice (Pray for me…it’s not always easy to rejoice). I know I am receiving amazing training for the mission field, and in fact have an amazing mission field in front of me with the other Coasties I am working with. I am excited about being here in Seattle…I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world…but also pray that I keep my gaze upon Christ because I know I’ll waste this great opportunity He’s given me if I am not focused on the Lord.

Family Pics!

Now A Guardian

I am finally all finished with boot camp! Oh the lessons God taught me throughout the whole eight weeks is truly amazing. Right now I am home on leave for a few days and then I'll be flying up to where I'll be stationed on the Coast Guard Cutter Midgett in Seattle, Washington. I am savoring every moment I get to be home with my family...it's just amazing!

I'm planning on sharing all about my boot camp experience once I get settled in Seattle, but for now I wanted to share the passage in Scripture that God used to carry me through the past eight weeks. Psalm 27 was never far from my heart and mind especially as I was down in the push up position or lugging my huge sea bag around.

The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid...Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple. For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock...I would have lost heart if I had not believed that I shall see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD! --Select verses from Psalm 27

These verses were constantly running through my thoughts. God was my strength, He was the one sustaining me day by day, and every single day of the past eight weeks I know I have been held and carried by His grace.

Only Eight Weeks...

...to make an impact for the Lord on my fellow Coast Guard recruits and Company Commanders, to shine the light of the Gospel in a dark place, to have the attitude of Christ Jesus as I give my best in all I do, and to be a witness of the transforming beauty and power of the cross.

Tomorrow I embark upon an eight-week adventure, which marks the beginning of my service in the Coast Guard. Boot camp will be hard and challenging, but it is only eight-weeks...eight weeks and it will all be over. I will be a Coastie, heading to a new duty station where I'll meet new challenges (hard, fun, exciting, difficult, etc.) that will stretch me. In such a short time (even though it may seem like an eternity at the moment), boot camp will be behind me...it's only eight weeks.

But a good friend challenged me to look at it in a different light---to look at it through Christ's eyes. I only get eight weeks to make an impact on the people that I'll come in contact with; only eight-weeks to be a witness of my precious Lord and Savior; and only eight-weeks to make much of Him through my actions and attitudes at Cape May, New Jersey. I am an ambassador of Christ, and He is the one who has placed me in Coast Guard boot camp for such a time as this. I thank and praise Him that I get eight weeks to serve and glorify Him in Cape May, New Jersey. An exciting, challenging adventure is just about to begin in my life---God is with me and He will strengthen me to shine for Him.

Thank You, Lord, that I get eight-weeks of boot camp---eight-weeks to point others to the Living God.

The Narrow Way

The narrow door leads to the narrow way;
Nothing with us can we bring,
No merit of our own will fit,
And no good works with us can stay.

Upon our knees we must come humbly
With our eyes fixed solely on the Cross.
No other way will lead to Glory;
Compared to Christ, all else must be considered loss.

Pain and suffering, He has ordained
As tools to work His will.
He is near the broken hearted;
Their souls He will forever sustain.

So let us meet Jesus in the fire
Of our sorrow, pain and loss.
In the suffering God bestows to us,
Let us follow Christ as we take up our cross.

Girls Day Out!!!

Yesterday all of us Waite girls had a special outing together. After getting lunch from Wal-Mart's Deli we headed to the Sandias for a picnic. We found a nice spot in the forest, and sat down for some lunch.

God has definitely blessed me with an amazing mom and some amazing sisters. Not only did we have a wonderful time, but we also were able to encourage one another with what God has been teaching us this past year.

After Lunch we went on a nice hike through the woods. Esther deemed herself the leader of our group and charged ahead of us all.

While we were hiking, we got some good snap shots of us girls together. We wanted to make sure we remember the special day we had after I leave for boot camp.

All in all it was a wonderful day with my mom and sisters. These are memories that will stay with me the rest of my life.

~The Cost of Drawing Near to the Lord~

This morning as I was enjoying my quiet time with the Lord, I read Psalm 34 and verse 18 stood out to me: "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." I have always been encouraged by this verse because it is a comfort to know that God is near me when my heart is broken and hurting. But this morning as I read the verse and meditated upon it, a new thought struck me. Perhaps the cost of drawing near to the Lord is a broken heart.

How many of us are willing to sacrifice and endure suffering and trials, which will cause our hearts to be broken in order to be near to the Lord? How many of us live our lives in such a way that honors Christ at the cost of our comforts---at the cost of our ease---at the cost of our hearts being broken??? So many of us want to be near the Lord, but so few of us are willing to pay the price and count the cost. Yes, our hearts will be broken here on this earth, but will be full of joy and happiness in Heaven; we will bear the weight of taking up our crosses now, but the pleasure of resting in His presence then forever; and we will experience loss below, but far, greater gain above. Drawing near to the Lord hurts---broken hearts brings great pain, but in the end it will be more than worth the pain we experienced for such a little while. Knowing that it will be worth it does not make it easier though, nothing makes it easier, but Christ makes it possible.

Draw near to the Lord, sacrifice comfort and ease, be willing to suffer and go through trials, cling to Christ, and fix your eyes on the goal. The cost is great but the cause is greater, the suffering hurts but the reward is worth it, a broken heart seems to much to pay but drawing near to the Lord will cost you something. We cannot serve both God and comfort---it must be one or the other. Serve the Lord with me---draw near to Him and count the cost.