A Full Boat

     Is your boat full? Are you struggling to keep on top of things in life? Do you feel like you're drowning instead of floating?

     This is how I have felt all semester. They say junior year is the hardest. If you survive junior year, senior year will be a breeze. I was drowning in school, work and life in general until a few weeks ago when the Lord taught me a simple truth.

"Jesus Christ can float a full boat."

     Brother Russell Jones preached out of the latter part of Mark 4 at my church a few weeks ago. This was not the main point of his message but this is what God pointed out to me and has kept bringing back to mind. 

     

     Mark 4 is the account of Jesus in the boat with His disciples. While they were on the boat a great storm rose up. Verse 37 says: 

"And there arose a great storm of wind, 

and the waves beat into the ship, 

so that it was now full."

     The storm was so great that the waves were beating on the ship and the water was filling it. Can you imagine what the disciples must have been thinking? I know if I were one of them I would have been terrified and would have been thinking that I was gonna die! (Honestly, that's how I felt the first month and a half of this semester.) But...

"Jesus Christ can float a full boat." 

     To the disciples, their circumstance was probably overwhelming and terrifying but Jesus Christ floated their boat. 

     The next time you feel overwhelmed with life and you feel like you're drowning, cry out to God because He can float that full boat. 

     When your schoolwork is overwhelming and it seems like too much to do - Jesus Christ can float that full boat. 

     How about when your roommate calls and your apartment has ankle deep water in it? Yep, Jesus Christ can float that full boat too. (And that wet apartment.) 

     When you need groceries but there's no money in the bank? Yes, Jesus can float that boat also. 

     No matter what you're going through in life Jesus Christ can float your boat! No, we can't go through life and keep ourselves afloat but isn't it wonderful that we know the One who created, orders and now fills that boat? 

     

Scars

~ My scars are a constant and daily reminder that I cannot live this life on my own. ~ 

As we go through life, we each receive and endure scars whether they be physical, emotional or spiritual. Each of those scars represent an event or an injury along with a lesson learned along the way. God has a reason for each scar we have even though we may not know that reason. God still uses them for His glory, though.

If one were to look at my hands, arms and feet, they would see many scars. With these scars, you may even be able to make out a letter or a shape but it's still just scar tissue. To you it may be just scar tissue but to me, each of these scars represent a surgery and a lesson or two that God taught me through that time of surgery and recovery.

Here are some of the lessons I have learned from my scars:
     The scars on my hands - Those scars remind me that it is only by God's grace that I can play piano, hold a pen to write, crochet, knit or really do anything with my hands.
     The scars on my feet - These scars remind me to thank God everyday for allowing me to walk, drive and live independently. Throughout all the surgeries I have had on my feet, God has taught me that I just rely on Him for my every need.
     All the other scars on my body - These remind me that I must live everyday to the glory and honor of my Lord Jesus Christ. After all, it's only by His grace, love and care that I am able to walk, talk and function in normal society.

This list of lessons is no where near complete. God is still teaching me and reminding me of things from my scars and other medical things in my life.

As I have been meditating on this thought over the last few days, John 15:5 comes to mind: "...for without me ye can do nothing." I am very thankful for the daily reminder God has given me to live for Him. What daily reminders has He given you?

Summer 2018

Hello everyone! I just realized that I have not blogged in a vvvvveeeeerrrrrryyyyyy long time so I hope y'all are prepared for blog overload in the next couple of weeks. I had a wonderful summer jam packed full of adventure. From the end of May to the beginning of July, I worked in the office at Camp Chetek. Here are some pictures from camp. Enjoy!

 Fanny & I 

 I had the privilege of working with Courtney and Alyssa in the office. :)

Inviting kids to camp and giving out balloon swords with Katie and Court!  

 Darby & I

Redneck bowling!  

Us girls 

Mamma D & I  

 Erin stole Stephen's hat 

 Frozen custard after bowling!

 #PoolSquad

This is just a sneak peek into camp life from this summer. In the days ahead I plan on sharing more pictures from my fancy date night with Daddy, my last Shriners visit, the 4th of July and many pictures and stories from traveling out west so....stay tuned! 

~ Ruby James

God Provided for Ruth...He Will Provide for Me

I just love it when God smacks me upside the head with something that I have been studying! Don't you?

Last night I was thinking about finances for this school year and worrying about where the money is going to come from. As I was thinking about it, God smacked me upside the head because in my devotions I have been studying the book of Ruth. Just the other day I was reading and studying Ruth 2:8-9 which says:

"Then said Boaz unto Ruth, 

Hearest thou not, my daughter? 

Go not to glean in another field, 

neither go from hence, 

but abide here fast by my maidens: 

let thin eyes be on the field that they do reap, 

and go thou after them: 

have I not charged the young men 

that they shall not touch thee? 

and when thou art athirst; 

go unto the vessels, 

and drink of that which the young men have drawn."

God smacked me upside the head with the realization that the same God who provided for Ruth and Naomi's needs will provide for mine. He has brought me this far, He won't drop me like a hot potato now. 

Philippians 4:19

"But my God shall supply all your need

according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."