The past 2 days we have had so much personal time. Time to get things done and time to spend with the Father. I spent the last 2 days out in the woods in my hammock. Reading, sleeping, and writing. It has been so good to get away spend time by myself and not think about life. We have been so busy here that I haven't been able to really spend some time to myself and definitely no time where I haven't been thinking about what I need to do or get done, so these 2 days have been a huge blessing from Father. He is so good to bring rest and refreshment to us.
Lately Father has been continually showing me just how well he keeps his promises. He is our Father of peace. I think I have become numb in some ways to the fact that he is our peace in times when we are stressed, in times of hardship, in times of trial, in times of persecution, and also in times of great joy. The peace we receive from Father is beyond anything this world can give us and I find myself turning to his creation to find the peace I seek in my heart. Romans 1:25 says that we tend to exchange the truth for a lie and serve the creature rather than the creator. This can be viewed as an extreme, but it can also be looked at in every facet of our lives. We all have idols that we hold so tightly in our hearts which is much like exchanging the truth for a lie. We exchange his peace for worldly satisfaction. This is something I have been sifting through and processing over the last few days. Much has happened in my life lately that I have immediately turned to sin, friendships, busy-ness, sleep, or whatever over spending time with Father and seeking his counsel. Isaiah 26:3 says, "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." While in my wonderful hammock this verse was running through my brain and I realized later that I was so much more relaxed and my mind was so much clearer because Father had brought me that peace that he promises. Father revealed to me that he is my peace, and what a wonderful feeling to feel his peace around me. For me his peace looked much like the woods in these pictures. His peace can look much like these woods completely enveloping you and can drown out all other noises, busy-ness, and situations in your life.
Starting today we are going through some rather intense training that will be very draining mentally, emotionally, and probably spiritually. haha. This training is going to push us to our extreme limits. It is much needed and much applicable training, so I am so grateful to go through it, but it is going to be exhausting. With this said, I am so thankful that Father gave me these 2 days filled with time away before heading into this training.
Father is good to fulfill his promises. Trust in all that he says. He is completely trustworthy.
"For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed," says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
Isaiah 54:10
For fun.....
While in our hammocks we kinda had a snake encounter. haha. Some of my friends were so very intrigued by the creature. So much planning went on to try and destroy the poor thing. I remained in my hammock and took pictures while they persisted in there expedition. haha.
