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A Note to Say Thank you!

Monday, July 5, 2010


“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

It has been an overwhelming weekend but overwhelming in a good way. I have felt so blessed this weekend to be home with my family and friends and to be here with EverPraise. Sunday was a great worship experience. It by far is the most intimidating crowd for me to be in front of and I probably had more nerves going into Sunday than I thought I would.

Saturday night as I was getting ready to go to bed, I started to pray about the service the next day. I knew that I was asked to share something, but I had no idea what I was going to say. I don’t talk often, I get nervous and most times feel like I am going to trip all over my words and embarrass myself. I began to pray that God would give me the words that he wanted me to say and that he would let the service go smoothly.
Sunday morning came. It was so great to see everyone, and I was overwhelmed at the people who came that I asked to come. I felt so loved. Music is what I am passionate about and so I was extremely excited to be able to share this with the people that I love. Right before Everlasting God, I knew I was going to talk here and right when we got to the part before this song, I looked at Parker and said I got nothing. His reassurance was the confidence I needed at that point, and so it came time. Just as promised, in God’s timing, I do feel like he gives us wisdom and words to say. I really don’t even know what I said on Sunday to be honest, but I know what happened in my spirit.

Most of my life, I have struggled with being transparent. Not because of anything specifically, but I feel like so many times as Christian’s we have this idea that we have to be “perfect” and if we aren’t then it is not acceptable to come just as we are, when the Bible tells us God uses the weak people to do great things. I remember feeling an overwhelming peace at this point and just wanting to be real. Regardless if I stumbled over my words, or cried.
You see, I have had some bumps along the way but who hasn’t? If I’m not real about my journey and what God has been to me then how can I help someone who might be in shoes that I’ve worn before?

As hard as it might be to admit that I have shortcomings, I’ve been disobedient, I struggle with stubbornness, anger and feelings of bitterness, and feel like I have scars that Satan is constantly trying to re open as new wounds, and just the choice to take the wrong road and do things my own way, I realize that God wants to use all of that for His glory. At one point in my life, I needed to hear that God loved me. That simple. Something I had heard so many times, it just became words without meaning, but I needed to know it. Regardless of the things I had been taught, and the good intentions that my parents had bringing me up, I had to hit rock bottom in my own life to learn what Grace really is. It looks different for all of us but the beauty in that is that it covers all of us. It has no limits and its power is fathomless. It saved my life and how can I not thank God for that? How can I not share that good news?
So if anything, in all of this writing, I want it to be known to my Parents, my Church Family, Friends, and the group that I travel with every weekend, how grateful I am to have you in my life

To my parents- I wouldn’t be the person I am without you. Your love, encouragement, and belief in who I am and the things that God has set before me is incredible. I could never pay you back for all that you have done and sacrificed for me, and I am so blessed to have two great role models who are the real thing everyday. Thank you for making this weekend possible!

To my Church Family & Friends- You have been such a special part of my life. I have been blessed to be in one location since I was 5 years old. All of your love, support, and prayers mean more to me than you would ever know. The friendships and relationships that I have made because of our church is something that I will forever be grateful for. Thank you for treating me as your own and for loving me as God has been unfolding his plans in my life! I am so glad I got to come home and share with you what God’s doing in my life.

EverPraise- Thank you, each of you for being a part of my life during this season. God has blessed me with 7 wonderful friends. We have made lots of memories, and God is creating all of our stories as we speak, but I am thankful that God let all of our paths cross. Thank you all for letting God use you to challenge me to be a better person, friend, and to grow everyday. Bringing you home with me was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. Thank you for being such a special part of my life! I am blessed because of you!

The reason I picked the verse at the beginning of this blog is simple. Regardless of my mistakes, the things I had set out for myself and the way I thought I wanted things to go, God has been faithful to me. When I stopped trying to do things my way, and I decided to let God have my life and make out of it what he has planned, he truly has given me the desires of my heart and his plan is still unfolding daily. It may not be perfect, but he has been so good to me and I just wanted to let those that I care about know how THANKFUL I am. I felt so undeserving on Sunday to be where I was, but all the Glory to God for the things he is doing in and around me. I wouldn’t be here without each of you, so from the bottom of my heart, Thank You.

With love and Gratitude-
Bethany

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