A Fools Gold, A Beggars Bargain

{Frye: 15R Harness in Chocolate}

I am SO excited for these! I have saved a vast amount of hours (it's taken about two months) to get these babies. They are the perfect combination of rustic and comfort. The best is that they are my first pair of Frye boots ever.

 I normally wouldn't be able to afford these but thanks to my job, I can. Sure my job isn't perfect and I have swayed back and forth a lot in wondering if I should stay, and in time I know God will lead me in a different direction. But as for right now, this is where I am and I need to make the best of it (no, not just because of my new boots people... even though it may seem like it).

You see this is the attitude I need to have whether or not I get awesome shoes as a benefit. I find that I am ALWAYS searching for the flaw in everything, my job, my singing, my relationship, you name it I can find a mishap in it. It's the pessimist in me. Most of the time Carl is reminding me that I need to be more positive and make the most out of where I am. Sometimes it gets annoying when he reminds me, like when I just want to vent about an issue with my job, "Aimee, look at this as an opportunity to show grace and be a light in the place you don't want to be." I hate it because he is right. Yes, I am admitting that my boyfriend is in the right about something {commence stubborn humble moment}. Sometimes God puts us in situations, relationships, jobs, etc that can be SO entirely frustrating that you just want to straight up walk out on it all. However, this is not what He is trying to convey to us. It's an opportunity to learn, grow, find the faults in ourselves that we need to work on, be a positive influence in a stressful worldly place.

 I recently listened to the Solid Rock: A Jesus Church// My Name is Hope series by Pastor John Mark Comer, all about anxiety and depression, a topic near and dear to my heart. One thing that really hit me that John Mark said in the 3rd speaking was this: "We take every thought captive... Control your thoughts or your thoughts will control you."(a paraphrase of 2 Corinthians 10:5) This is so true when it comes to thinking negatively about your situation. So thus, I am attempting today and every day after, to make exactly that a habit. To take captive every negative thought that would spiral me into sin, a bad attitude, complaining, etc. Can I get an amen?! AMEN! 

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

– 1 John 4:4 (NIV)

*Consuming Fire*

"Our struggles are both internal and external; we struggle against our desire to rebel against God, and we are bombarded by a world that wants to pull us into its grasp. Yet God is greater than both, for Christ died to take our internal turmoil upon Himself and empower us through the Holy Spirit to flourish in this world." 

Time and time again I fail to remember the things God has done for me. I allow selfish intentions, motives, and actions engulf me, swallow me until there is no light but a small peep hole. In those moments, I forget that God is GREATER than my desire to sin. He is more POWERFUL than any thought that I have. I need to surrender my sinful and habitual nature to Him every moment, because if I don't... well Satan knows where I struggle and the things that can grab me by the neck, it's a easy fight for him once he grasps my attention. Why on Earth would I FORGET how mighty my God is?! It sounds so absurd right? He sets us free! FREE!! Where else can we find that kind of freedom?!

I leave you with this tonight: we all struggle and even wrestle with our sins, especially the habitual ones, however our God is bigger than these. We don't realize how much power we have over darkness when we have the Creator of the Universe on our side. Feast your eyes on Him and how He deeply  cares for you, how He craves you. All we have to do is surrender. 

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our 'God is a consuming fire.' "

-Hebrews 12:28-29 {NIV}