As much as some may not like to admit it, it’s August now. The summer (but not the heat) is rolling to a stop as school is beginning (or has begun) for many. I personally go back to school a week from Monday. And as my summer internship ends and school is about to begin, I’ve been thinking a lot about what God has been teaching me this summer– and what I’ve still yet to learn:

Trust and control.

A little strange, right? If you grew up in a hymn-singing Southern Baptist church like me, you’ve probably heard these lyrics a little differently:

Trust and obey,
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.

Well sorry church, but this summer I changed the words. Trust and control. God, I trust you! I trust you with my marriage, my job, my finances, my future. But I still get to control them right? Like, I get to know all of the answers now? And everything will happen like I think it should? No struggling?

Nah.

I think the writer of the lyrics got it right the first time. God tells me to trust him AND give him control. And doing so will NOT make me happy, but it WILL make me happy in Jesus. The second verse of the song goes on to say that Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies, but His smile quickly drives it away; Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear, can abide while we trust and obey.

I pray that I can give God complete control.

I pray that no shadow can rise.

I pray that no doubt, fear, sigh, or tear can abide in my life. And trust me friend, that’s praying for a miracle. (Good thing my God is a God of miracles.)

That’s the happiness I want. Are you trusting the Lord today?

 

When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way;
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise,
Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear,
  Not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear,
Not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss,
Not a frown or a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey.

But we never can prove
The delights of His love,
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows,
And the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do;
Where He sends, we will go,
Never fear, only trust and obey.

Trust and obey,
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.

**P.S. There was your summer wrap-up, and here is your CHRISTmas present:

CHRISTmas IS COMING!!!!!!!

THIS. IS. NOT. A DRILL.

I know some of you claim to share my enthusiasm, but not until after Thanksgiving. Well that just won’t do for me. CHRISTmas only comes around once a year, so I’m going to milk it for all that it’s worth. And (speaking of God being a God of miracles) if you know what CHRISTmas is really about, then you know it’s worth a lot.

So, I haven’t decided how CHRISTmas will affect my blogs yet, but I just wanted you all to know that I’m getting ready. This will be my first CHRISTmas in my own place with my own decorations, and since Trigg and I are choosing to save money on gifts and decorations this CHRISTmas, I have no clue what that will look like. But get ready 😀

Countdown Cari says………. 135 days, 5 hours, 58 minutes, and 15 seconds until CHRISTmas!!!!!!!

Cari