things far too wonderful.

Happy Wednesday everyone! I have decided that Wednesdays are one of my favorite days here in Hawaii. I think it's because Mondays and Tuesdays are so stressful and after Wednesday night, the rest of the week is so chill! Anyways...

I was thinking recently about the retreat my school had up in Hana a few weeks ago. We were so blessed to have an amazing speaker flown in from Colorado who constantly challenged us in every talk. On the first day, he asked us each to make a list of things we believed about God, things we adore about Him, and verses to back it all up. Sounds pretty easy, right? I made my way over some cliffs and finally found a quiet place to settle, watch the crashing waves, and make this list. My mind went blank. All I could come up with was words like powerful, Holy, loving, etc. All the words I have grown up hearing but in that moment, they weren't carrying the weight they should. God has brought me out of some pretty heavy stuff in my life, yet I couldn't think of any words to describe Him. It was as if I didn't know Him at all.

After much frustration, I remembered our speaker had mentioned something about the last few chapters of Job. I pulled out my Bible and opened to Job chapter 38 and the first thing God asks Job is "Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them." (Job 38:2-3 NLT). The Lord goes on to ask Job a series of questions over the next 4 chapters questioning Job about what he knows about God. In chapter 42, Job replies,

 "I know that you can do anything and no one can stop you. You asked, 

'Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?' It is I - and 

I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful 

for me. You said, 'Listen and I will speak! I have some questions for you, 

and you must answer them.' I had only heard about you before, but now I 

have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and 

I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance." (Job 42:2-6 NLT).

His response really hit home for me. I realized that yes, I still know God and I do have a relationship with Him but I can't limit what I know about Him to the things that I have seen of Him. He is so much more than that and He has so much more to show me about himself! I couldn't think of anything to say because I was getting too comfortable in what I have seen of Him so far even though none of it was wrong. It is scary  how we can let ourselves fall into such a small view of God without even realizing it.

So what about you?
Who do you believe God to be?
What are things that you adore about Him?
Do you have a small view of Him or a big view?
How can you allow Him to teach you new things?

"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." - AW Tozer

just be.

I never realized how much I value my alone time. But then I moved to one of the most remote islands in the world where I didn't know anyone into a tiny condo with four other girls. Hopping in my car and going for a drive isn't an option anymore. Now don't get me wrong, I absolutely love each of those girls. They all make me laugh and encourage me every day. But still... I'm pretty introverted. I miss the time alone to think. The time to just be with the Lord.

Since moving out here, God has been teaching me a lot. One of the things He has really placed on my heart is my prayer life. I am beginning to see that at home I took so much advantage of opportunity for quiet time or prayer time that I never actually did it out of desperation. Desperation. That seems like a strange word coming from someone kickin' it on Maui but when God wants your attention to really grow you, it doesn't matter where you are in the world. God calls us to live uncomfortable lives and in those moments, the ones where you have no where else to go (like you're on an island or something..), that's when God can really move.

I encourage you to give yourself time to just be with the Lord. Don't get to the end of your life and realize that you have wasted every moment of opportunity to be with Him. He is waiting for you.

"So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help." 

                                       Isaiah 30:18