Full of Life.

"Who is with us is more important than what we have or where we are."-A.T.

How true is that?! I love the people in my life that make the simple things that much sweeter. The ones that no matter where you are or what you are doing you know it's going to be a good time. I've found that those people are usually the one's "full of life". As I type that it's funny because I've never thought too much about the statement "full of life", but that actually could translate to full of the Spirit.

"The Spirit gives life..." -John 6:63

"...through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death." -Romans 8:2

I loved Adam's question from Tuesday, "What would you do if you were confident that God was with you?" I started thinking about the friends in my life that seem full of life...full of joy and I truly believe that they too live as though God is with them always. It is so contagious being around these people that are full of love, joy, excitement, compassion, and laughter. Life is sweet being around them. Unfortunately many of us often let our circumstances dictate our happiness, forgetting that God is with us and has best for us. When any sort of adversity comes our way we pray that God would please change our circumstance, and when things are going well we start getting complacent and ask God for more. We continually look for and pray for God's blessings to satisfy us rather than God himself. Think about that statement for a second...we look for and pray for God's blessings (Him to change things, give us more of things) to satisfy us, rather than being truly satisfied with God himself. I'm not sure about you all, but that is pretty humbling to realize.

Do you truly believe that God is with you ALWAYS?

"Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authoiry in heaven and on eath has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'" -Matthew 28:18-20

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you...The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." -Deuteronomy 31:6&8

"No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of you life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you." -Joshua 1:5

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'" -Hebrews 13:5

There was a long time where I couldn't wrap my head around this idea that God was always with me. That he would never leave me nor forsake me. It wasn't until I truly took the time to understand our Lord and his character that I was able to see that God has always and will always be with me through the good and bad times, and when I have a lot and when I have little (Philippians 4). I've learned that even the times when I felt completely lonely, broken, and helpless...God was there. He probably was sitting there broken hearted with me, saddened at the poor decisions I have made or others have made that have brought saddness. God was always waiting for me to turn to Him and trust Him, and once I did he has redeemed and restored every bad situation I've been through. He didn't change the circumstances or give me more worldly blessings, but He gave forgiveness, peace, and finally joy. I'm not sure what you may be going through, but I know God is with you always. Be satisfied in HIM, be full of LIFE!

"Here in the desert with you God is far better than the promise land without you...Anywhere with God is infinently better than anywhere without God."

"O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD...Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are thee. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, eve there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, 'Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night aound me,' even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

-Psalm 139:1-14

www.theporchdallas.com