Finding the Message in Everyday

The Lord works in mysterious ways. 

Most mornings, I can be found driving my oldest to Driver's Ed (hush, I don't want to talk about it.). If you've ever been in the car with us, music is a constant. Heck, music is a constant in my life period.

Music also brings about some of the strongest emotions for me. I like when I can sing along, so I am constantly switching stations. 

But, let us talk about this morning with a brief mention of yesterday's sermon. Yesterday's sermon was all about living a Christ-centered life, not just a Christian life. Today, during my drive back to my office, I heard Rascal Flatts "Love You Out Loud" and MAN did the lyrics hit me in the feels. 

All the GOOD feels. The feels that remind me God has put me here for HIS PURPOSE. 

Lately, I have been feeling a call to something bigger than me. I'm still not sure what the end result is, but when I have these moments of "Ah Ha!", I'm not ignoring them. So let us break down some of this song as it pertains to the message I heard and what I feel I need to share. 

I have always been a little shy


I've always been the quiet type till now


And I never let my feelings show
I never let anybody know
Just how much I was so deep in love

I am not know for being extremely vocal about my faith. I tend to try to not stand out as I have anxiety that is fueled partially by social situations. I live in fear at times that people don't like me, that I'm saying stupid things, that in general I don't measure up to some invisible bar.  I have been working SO HARD lately on quieting that voice, of accepting MYSELF as I AM. God made me this way for a reason. I recently started attending a new church for convenience reasons. It is less than 5 miles from my house, the service times work for my schedule, and the music speaks to me. I find myself wanting to raise my hands in worship to His holy name because I am not worthy of the love and sacrifice that was made for a poor sinner like me. But MAN, is it amazing how loving and forgiving our Lord is. 

You keep bringing out the free in me 


What you do to my heart just makes me melt 


And I don't think I can resist




I am finding a new freedom as I embrace my faith more and more. By keeping the focus on God, I have been able to leave behind some of the luggage that weighs me down on a day to day. Experiencing God's love and opening my heart to the fullness that I have found there is awe-inspiring. So often, I have found that I try to resist what God is trying to do in my life. It is in the moments that I give up the driver's seat where I am able to find peace. I'm tired of fighting a fight that is USELESS. One of my daily prayers has been for God to help me make the right decisions to stay and/or find the path HE wants me on. Not the path I'm trying to forge for myself. By giving up this fight, while I know it won't always be easy, it will definitely be more rewarding and peaceful.


I'm gonna stand on a rooftop, climb up a mountaintop 


Baby, scream and shout 


I wanna sing it on the radio, show it on a video 


Baby, leave no doubt 
I want the whole world to know just what I'm all about


I love to love you out loud 


Which leads us to where the message rang SOO LOUD for me. A message in everyday life. A country song that isn't new. I do want to scream and shout my love for Jesus. My gratitude and thankfulness for a life that is full of love and wonderment. I want to love God out loud and share His holy name and his good works.


So that is what I'm doing this morning with this post. A piece of Internet history. 
Thank you Lord for putting me on this earth, for blessing me beyond my wildest imagination with a love that knows no bounds. Thank you for leading me to do Your work. Thanks for loving an imperfect me and allowing me to know that I am perfectly made in Your eyes.