Restored

My friends, our God is faithful. I'm not sure why I ever doubted it, questioned it, forgot it, overlooked it, or denied it. God is faithful. Last night, I was telling my dear friend Angela about my guitar woes and after she heard my story, she said, "Beej, can I tell you something?" sure, go for it. I thought she was going to change the subject to something more pressing (like her upcoming nuptials!). She simply said, "I want to give you my guitar."

What?!?!?

I told her it wasn't necessary, that I was OK and that there was no reason in the WORLD why she needed to give me her guitar. She responded by saying that she bought the guitar several years ago with the intention of learning how to play, but that it had been stored at her parents house for the last two years, not even being touched. And, if she ever DID want to learn, Dom has two guitars so she could just use one of his. She was very persuasive and generous, so I accepted. So as of tonight, I will be the new owner of Angela's guitar. I am so blessed. To top it off, she won't even let me give her any money for it. I am blessed.

I tell you this not to boast of my friends (who are AMAZING) nor to brag of my new guitar (which I am so excited about). I tell you this because through such a small and simple gesture, the Lord has restored me. I was so upset about my guitar breaking for several different reasons, the least of which actually being that the guitar was broken. And lately, I've just had a really hard time seeing how God is working and what He is doing in my life. Last night, through the kindness of my dear friend, the Lord reminded me that He IS faithful, He DOES love me, and He WILL take care of me. Even in the small things. Shall I not trust Him with the big things as well?

A big prayer of mine lately has been to simply focus on the Love God has for me and the way He desires to reveal that to me. I feel like it's something I've been overlooking lately... focusing my thoughts on people rather than Him, desires rather than blessings, confusion rather than His promises. The bottom line is that He loves me with an everlasting love, He pursues me with a godly jealousy, He is ONLY working for my good, He will never leave me or forsake me, He knows my innermost thoughts and loves me in spite of them, and above all, HE IS FAITHFUL. His future for me is full of hope and prosperity. He is within me, I will not fall. And he uses the simplest things, like a broken guitar, to remind me of such. His mercies are new every morning and I continue to stand amazed.

"Moses answered the people, 'Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians (hardships) you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.'" Exodus 14:13-14

"How great is the love the Father has lavished upon us that we should be called the children of God." 1John 3:1

"I have set the Lord always before me, Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Psalm 16:8-11

"Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.!" Psalm 72:18