Hidden In Him

Mary's Heart

2011-02-07T10:45:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I was in my Sunday morning class and Cheri quoted this verse from Luke. It was Mary's heart after the angel of the Lord told her she would carry God's Son in her womb.

Luke 1:38 (ESV)
And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

What willingness! What complete and utter trust in the Lord! May I have a heart like Mary did and fully trust in the Lord's plans for my life.

Lord, I am your servant. Let it be to me according to your word.

Worship

2011-01-30T23:49:00.000-06:00

A person who is worshiped is thought about constantly, spoken of continually, with every attribute examined and praised toward deeper understanding and the closest possible relationship. Worship of even the finest human being, of course, will ultimately bring disappointment, because every human being has every faculty undermined by sin-and only the Creator God, good and perfect in every characteristic, must be worshiped.

(excerpt from my BSF notes)

Winter Wonderland

2010-11-13T13:17:00.000-06:00

Here in MinneSNOWta I woke up to this Winter Wonderland. It was beautiful out but also bittersweet because it means that it is an end to my favorite season . . . Fall. :) There were a couple trees still holding on to their golden leaves!

It really is beautiful out!

View outside my window. It's so pretty to see the snow resting on the empty branches.

The three trees holding on to their orange golden leaves.

Hold on to your golden leaves you beautiful Fall leaves!!!

The snow piling on the porch.

Pic of the rain gauge. How much "rain" do you think we got?

Anyone want to sit on the porch for coffee? Nothing like a little snow to get in the way.

It was a perfect morning to make a homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte to sit by the window to watch the snow come down while reading from Romans! What a perfect morning. :)

Take My Life

2010-11-08T14:04:00.000-06:00

Here is a video with the song Take My Life by Chris Tomlin. This song has been stirring in my heart this last week. The lyrics depict such a beautiful and sweet surrender to letting God have all of you.

"Here am I. All of me. Take my life. It's all for Thee." Lord hear my prayer.

Beloved

2010-11-04T10:55:00.001-06:00

Psalm 42

Why Are You Cast Down, O My Soul?

To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah.

¹As a deer pants for flowing streams,
   so pants my soul for you, O God.²My soul thirsts for God,
   for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God? ³My tears have been my food
   day and night,
while they say to me all the day long,
   "Where is your God?"⁴These things I remember,
   as I pour out my soul:
how I would go with the throng
   and lead them in procession to the house of God
with glad shouts and songs of praise,
   a multitude keeping festival.

⁵Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation

⁶and my God.

   My soul is cast down within me;
   therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
   from Mount Mizar.⁷Deep calls to deep
   at the roar of your waterfalls;
all your breakers and your waves
   have gone over me.⁸By day the LORD commands his steadfast love,
   and at night his song is with me,
   a prayer to the God of my life.⁹I say to God, my rock:
   "Why have you forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning
   because of the oppression of the enemy?"¹⁰As with a deadly wound in my bones,
   my adversaries taunt me,
while they say to me all the day long,
   "Where is your God?"

¹¹Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.

2 Chronicles 7:14-15

¹⁴if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. ¹⁵Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.

These verses are written in a fictional book peppered with scriptural truths that I'm reading now called Israel, My Beloved by Kay Arthur. This story is about a nation, a nation chosen by God, for God. In this story a woman named Sarah is representing the nation Israel. In Ezekial 16, the prophet Ezekiel depicts a little baby abandoned in a field "abhorred" then to be taken as the adorned wife of God only to give that up to become an adulterer and harlot with many lovers. The character Sarah portrays this young baby.

In chapter 13 these particular verses were mentioned. in this chapter, Sarah is reflecting on why she is in captivity at this particular time and how she did not heed the warnings of her husband and the prophet Jeremiah. She is frustrated with herself and some friends coax her off of the couch to come to the synagogue to worship. A friend Nadab talks about their new place to worship in the foreign land of Babylon, "You know, I believe the synagogue will become the center of our lives. It will be a place that reminds us no matter where we are, we are still the chosen people of the Almighty. I believe it will keep us from being absorbed by the culture in the land of our dispersion (page 74)." It's at the synagogue she hears the passage from Psalm 42. It rings so true to her at that time because her soul has been downcast, she has encountered people falling by the sword due to the captivity of her city Jerusalem. She has been confronted with her idolatry which has led her into the captivity she is facing at the present time. She is reflecting on what she had with her husband. After she leaves the synagogue and spends time walking and mediating on the truth she just heard from Psalm 42 she remembers "the promise her husband gave to Solomon on the day Solomon's temple was dedicated. It was a promise give for such a time as this--when they found themselves captives in a foreign land: 'If...My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heavem will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Now My eyes shall be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place.' (page 75)." After this reminder, "Sarah sets her face toward home. . . Maybe her prayers would be heard. Maybe her land would be healed. And maybe she would be healed as well. Maybe someday she would not have a care in the world. Maybe someday life would be without discordant notes, like the melody of the birds who sang so joyfully each morning and awakened her with their delight over another day---a day without concern because they lived in total dependence on their Creator (page 75)."

The author continues on page 76:

"Indeed, Sarah's prayers would be answered and in the fullness of time she would be healed as would her land. But not before she walked through a fiery oven burning with incomprehensible horror, the last and worst of several more yet to come. And not before her heart of stone cracked and she was given a new heart --a heart of flesh, which she so desperately needed

Sarah slept less and less. Instead she walked and thought about her affliction and wondering--the bitter pain of it all. And as she did, she recalled that her husband's lovingkindnesses never ceases. Her soul would not be cast down any longer, she would hope in him and the promise that his compassions never fail and his mercies are new every morning. She remembered that his gifts and calling of her were irrevocable. After all, he even engraved my name on the palms of his hands.

A cleansing and nourishing took place. Each day as his words became her very bread of life, Sarah found a new strength, new vigor...and with it came a new beauty (page 76)."

This is absolutely beautiful. I'm excited to continue reading this book! Here are the passages from Ezekial where this story got it's inspiration.

Ezekial 16:1-8

¹Again the word of the LORD came to me: ² "Son of man, make known to Jerusalem her abominations, ³and say, Thus says the Lord GOD to Jerusalem: Your origin and your birth are of the land of the Canaanites; your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. ⁴And as for your birth, on the day you were born your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to cleanse you, nor rubbed with salt, nor wrapped in swaddling cloths. ⁵No eye pitied you, to do any of these things to you out of compassion for you, but you were cast out on the open field, for you were abhorred, on the day that you were born.

⁶"And when I passed by you and saw you wallowing in your blood, I said to you in your blood, 'Live!' I said to you in your blood, 'Live!' ⁷ I made you flourish like a plant of the field. And you grew up and became tall and arrived at full adornment. Your breasts were formed, and your hair had grown; yet you were naked and bare.

⁸"When I passed by you again and saw you, behold, you were at the age for love, and I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness; I made my vow to you and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Lord GOD, and you became mine.

Ezekial 16:10-17

¹⁰ I clothed you also with embroidered cloth and shod you with fine leather. I wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk. ¹¹ And I adorned you with ornaments and put bracelets on your wrists and a chain on your neck. ¹²And I put a ring on your nose and earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. ¹³Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen and silk and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour and honey and oil. You grew exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty. ¹⁴And your renown went forth among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through the splendor that I had bestowed on you, declares the Lord GOD.

¹⁵ "But you trusted in your beauty and played the whore because of your renown and lavished your whorings on any passerby; your beauty became his. ¹⁶You took some of your garments and made for yourself colorful shrines, and on them played the whore. The like has never been, nor ever shall be. ¹⁷You also took your beautiful jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself images of men, and with them played the whore.

Ezekial 16:25

²⁵At the head of every street you built your lofty place and made your beauty an abomination, offering yourself to any passerby and multiplying your whoring.

Ezekial 16:30-32

³⁰"How sick is your heart, declares the Lord GOD, because you did all these things, the deeds of a brazen prostitute, ³¹building your vaulted chamber at the head of every street, and making your lofty place in every square. Yet you were not like a prostitute, because you scorned payment.³²Adulterous wife, who receives strangers instead of her husband!

The Discipline of Grace (Chapter 3)

2010-11-03T13:27:00.001-06:00

Here are some great excerpts from the book The Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges for the third chapter. This book has been so great for me and I highly recommend it!

"To be justified is to be absolved from any charge of guilt and to be declared absolutely righteous. We are not only discharged from all liability to God's wrath because of our guilt; we are personally accepted by God because of Christ. Justification is like the two sides of a coin. On the one side we are declared "not guilty" before God, and on the other we are positively declared to be righteous through Christ. That is, we are counted in God's sight as having perfectly obeyed the law of God."

"We must keep in mind that our justification by God is based solely on the meritorious work of Christ and our union with Him. That is, God sees us legally as so connected with Christ that what He did, we did. When He lived a life of perfect obedience, it is as if we had lived a life of perfect obedience. When He died on the cross to stisfy the just demands of God's Law, it is just as if we had died on that cross. Christ stood in our place as our representative, both in His sinless life and His sin-bearing death. That is what Paul referred to when he said, "I have been crucified with Christ" (Galatians 2:20)."

"To live by the gospel, then, means that we firmly grasp the fact that Christ's life and death are ours by virtue of our union with Him. What He did, we did. This is the only sense in which we can understand Paul's bold statements in Romans 8."

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (verse 1); "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (verse 31); and "Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies" (verse 33). These statements by Paul are objective truths; that is, they are true whether we grasp them or not. So often, however, we find it difficult to believe them. Because of our frequent failures before God, we do feel under condemnation, we do not feel God is for us but rather must surely be against us, we do think He is bringing charges against us. At such times we must preach the gospel to ourselves. We must review what God has declared to be true about our justification in Christ."

(emphasis added, pages 53-54)

LOVE this. These verses are so huge for me and reading this I have been able to see it in a different light. I think I'm finally starting to grasp what it means to be justified along with the importance of preaching the gospel to myself, especially during those times when I feel like I've failed, under condemnation, and feel like I need to perform or earn His love. This correlates nicely with my previous entry about Fear of Man and these verses have been helpful for me to fight with against the idolatry I've struggled with. It's so important to preach the gospel to myself (ourselves). Fighter verses are huge in combating the lies we face.

Fear of Man

2010-11-02T14:01:00.001-06:00

Father,

As I look back at this journal and review all my previous entries. I'm frustrated with myself for my repeated behavior/patterns and for my realization of idolatry in my life. When will I learn? I'm tired of repeating the some offenses. I don't want any part of it. I'm sick of it and I'm humbled by your patience with me.

Repeated patterns:

* shame (of past failures)

* feeling like I've failed...this has been in regards to failing others & holding their opinion of me higher than God's opinion of me.

* people pleasing, which is idolatry

* allowing condemnation of me by others and including condemnation of myself

* fear of man (idolatry)

* trying to find satisfaction in things of the flesh-won't satisfy and it leaves me unfulfilled

Idols take a good thing turn it into a God thing which becomes a bad thing.
Idolatry gives you identity. It defines you. And you are not rooted in Christ with that identity.
Idols lie by telling you, you are righteous. If we worship them we will become more righteous. Become proud & smug.
Build your life on your identity in Christ! Colossians 3:3-4
What do I treasure? Luke 12:34
How do you uncover your idols?
Where does your time go?
Where does your money go?
What do you make emotional sacrifices for?
Idolatry destroys people we love the most. Idolatry dishonors God. It destroys people we love the most because they will crumble at not being able to live up.
If something is an idol we demonize all else that would go against our idol.
Idolatry starts at the heart before it touches the hands or seen by the eyes. It's a matter of the heart.

Ezekial 14:1-7

¹ Some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat down in front of me. ² Then the word of the LORD came to me: ³ "Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all? ⁴ Therefore speak to them and tell them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: When any Israelite sets up idols in his heart and puts a wicked stumbling block before his face and then goes to a prophet, I the LORD will answer him myself in keeping with his great idolatry. ⁵ I will do this to recapture the hearts of the people of Israel, who have all deserted me for their idols.'

⁶ "Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!

⁷ " 'When any Israelite or any alien living in Israel separates himself from me and sets up idols in his heart and puts a wicked stumbling block before his face and then goes to a prophet to inquire of me, I the LORD will answer him myself.

Proverbs 1:7

⁷ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

* Fear of God

Proverbs 29:25

²⁵ Fear of man will prove to be a snare,
but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.

* Fear of man

People are paralyzed by the fear of man. Holds person in awe. Being controlled & mastered by people! Needing people. Can't really love them. Replace God for people.
If you idolize something you have to demonize it.

What the text says:

REPENT!

Not what we preach but we first practice. Anyone who doesn't repent is a heretic.

What are you choosing to worship other than God?
What are your idols?
Are you willing to repent and admit what those are idols in your life are?

Depend on the Lord. Worship Him only. Really examine your own heart to see what you are holding higher than the Lord.

Mary Beth Chapman: Choosing To See

2010-10-26T14:33:00.001-05:00

Here is a video from Mary Beth Chapman talking about her upcoming book Choosing to See. The book is now in print and I'm looking forward to reading it. When Mary Beth spoke at the Women of Faith Conference she said many of these things in this video I'm posting. I wanted to share with you this link. I especially connected with her statement during the conference about adopting her first child, Stevey Joy, as she was reaching out to take Steven Joy into her arms in the orphanage hallway she felt God touch her by putting on her heart, "You're giving her a name, You're giving her a hope, You're giving her an inheritance...Exactly what I have done for you through Jesus Christ." Beautiful! Hope you enjoy the video.

Names

2010-10-25T22:55:00.001-05:00

Isaiah 9:6

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

BSF had me work through this verse asking me to explain in my own words the meaning of the names of Isaiah 9:6:

Wonderful Counselor: The One who I will receive True sound counsel.

Mighty God: He is stronger than anything or anyone. He is mighty to hold me, to carry my burdens, to lift me up out of the slimy pit to save me.

Everlasting Father: Never will He leave me nor forsake me, he loves me unconditionally forever.

Prince of Peace: Provider of hope, calm, steadfastness in Him, when I drink in Him, I will/do find my rest and peace in Him. Stillness, no matter what the circumstances I face.

How do these names give me hope instead of fear for today and for the future?

No matter what I face, the Lord is my counselor. He provides true counsel through His Word. He lifts me up out of the slimy pit to save me and carry my burdens. He never leaves me and loves me unconditionally. He offers complete rest in Him no matter what I may be facing.

A Day to Remember

2010-10-23T23:22:00.004-05:00

This weekend I attended the Women of Faith conference in St. Paul. I really enjoyed my time at the conference and was moved to tears multiple times of which I'll share in various blog posts. One of those moments was when I picked up the card of a boy named Ervis at the World Vision table. On Friday night at the conference I watched a video that talked about World Vision and how people are able to sponsor a child in a different country who don't have the means to be able to pay for clean water, doctor visits, proper nutrition and quality education. I knew then this was the time for me to sponsor a young child. So, this morning when I arrived at the conference I immediately went to one of the tables of World Vision where hundreds of cards of children in need laid out on the table. So many children in need. My heart breaks for these children. I browsed around the table looking at various cards but I kept being pulled back to this young boy named Ervis. I saw a post-it tagged to his card that stated, "Last Chance Kids".

After seeing that on his card I asked the woman behind the table what that meant. She told me that after a child turns 13 they are no longer eligible to be sponsored. There was a stack of young children underneath Ervis who were also classified as "Last Chance Kids". With tears in my eyes after hearing that I knew I wanted to sponsor him. I am still moved to tears as I look at his photo and am humbled that I can now be a part of his life and the lives of his family to help in such a small way. It is exciting to know the little that I contribute to sponsor him will be able to help him in a big way. It also is exciting to know that he now has a sponsor and he doesn't know yet! I wish I could be there when he finds out!!! I don't know what his specific needs are or his families but I pray that God may meet whatever they need even in this moment. When I got back to my seat I was so proud to show his picture to those around me with tears in my eyes. I feel like this is my boy and I so desire to see him succeed in life, to live a full life and for him to know and have an active relationship with God. I am looking forward to getting to know Ervis and sharing with you about our journey together. I'm proud to be able to sponsor this young boy and "adopt" him for a season.

Father,

I'm so excited to be able to be a part of Ervis's life and the lives of his family. May he know Your love You have for him. May he have an active relationship with You and trust in You alone. May his hope be found in You! Thank you for drawing my attention to Ervis. I'm so excited to be able to be in a place where I am able to sponsor him, to be a part of his life and share in his journey. As he looks out at the mountains around him in Albania and sees the tall trees in the forest along with the beautiful lakes, may he enjoy what You have created. May he stop and worship You. I pray for his mother and his father who are working so hard to meet their families needs thank You for the work that they are doing. I thank you for what they are providing for Ervis and his two brothers. Thank you that Ervis is in satisfactory health right now and may he grow up to be a strong, healthy man who loves You and desires to serve You all the days of his life. I ask that You will use me as You desire. May I bring You glory through this and may Your Name be praised through this sponsorship. Thank You for this opportunity.

Amen

If you are interested in learning more about sponsoring a child you can visit the website for World Vision at: www.worldvision.org

Objectifying

2010-10-14T20:30:00.003-05:00

This is a tough topic for women. As I've been looking on different social networking sites I've seen a lot of profile pictures where women (and men) are portraying themselves in a way for others to "oogle" or admire them. My heart is grieved by this because I too have desired this at one point not just with pictures but with how I have handled myself. I have objectified myself and considered my worth in what others (specifically men) have thought of me. This is unfulfilling and ultimately leaves you in emotional brokenness after being objectified. Sure it feels good for a moment to find value in your attractiveness, when others flatter you with words and puff up your self-esteem with temporal affection. It's momentary. It's fleeting.

What's the point in objectifying? (It doesn't last. Don't you really want someone to love you for you? To know you for who you are? Not only to love your beauty but for someone to know your heart and adore that? Hang on to that....don't settle for anything less than that. It's worth the wait. What do you feel when someone rejects you? People will fail you but only God will never fail you. How do you handle yourself when people disappoint you? )

What's the root of desiring to be an object?

Pride. (ugh. what a nasty little word that packs a horrible punch.)

We desire to have our value be in what others think of us. Even if it lasts for a short moment.

I can attest that it gives some sort of a high for a moment but ultimately it doesn't last. You are then plagued with so many thoughts and lies about who you are with this objectifying thinking. You begin to compare yourself with others around you and how they look in comparison to you. You may start to think you aren't worth much if others don't notice you. You may put value in what people see you are doing in life and if you aren't in a place where you think you should be status wise based on others think. Who are you living your life for then?

Only you (and God) know your real motives behind:

what you wear,

what you post,

how your portray yourself,

what you buy,

how you act,

who you are friends with,

how you talk and

ultimately how you conduct yourself.

Proverbs 16:18
¹⁸ Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall.

1 Corinthians 1:30-31

³⁰It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. ³¹Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

Instead may I encourage you to find your value in how God views you. Only this satisfies. Only this lasts. Humble yourself before Him today and admit where your thinking has been. Admitting allows healing to begin. There is freedom in Him from objectifying thinking. This is an area that is a weakness in my life and if I don't continue to remind myself how God views me it's easy for me to slip back into the thinking of finding my worth in how others view me and thus acting upon this kind of captivating thinking.

How does God view you (you may be asking)?

Colossians 3:1-17

¹Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. ²Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ³For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. ⁵Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. ⁷You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. ⁸But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. ⁹Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices ¹⁰and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. ¹¹Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
¹²Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
¹⁵Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. ¹⁷And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Zephaniah 3:17
¹⁷ The LORD your God is with you,
       he is mighty to save.
       He will take great delight in you,
       he will quiet you with his love,
       he will rejoice over you with singing."

Proverbs 31:30
³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
       but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Isaiah 43: 1-13 (to clarify this passage: this was written to the Israelites at a specific time for a specific purpose but we can take truths from this even today and it holds much relevance):
¹ But now, this is what the LORD says—
       he who created you, O Jacob,
       he who formed you, O Israel:
       "Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
       I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
² When you pass through the waters,
       I will be with you;
       and when you pass through the rivers,
       they will not sweep over you.
       When you walk through the fire,
       you will not be burned;
       the flames will not set you ablaze.
³ For I am the LORD, your God,
       the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
       I give Egypt for your ransom,
       Cush and Seba in your stead.
⁴ Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
       and because I love you,
       I will give men in exchange for you,
       and people in exchange for your life.
⁵ Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
       I will bring your children from the east
       and gather you from the west.
⁶ I will say to the north, 'Give them up!'
       and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.'
       Bring my sons from afar
       and my daughters from the ends of the earth-
⁷ everyone who is called by my name,
       whom I created for my glory,
       whom I formed and made."
⁸ Lead out those who have eyes but are blind,
       who have ears but are deaf.
⁹ All the nations gather together
       and the peoples assemble.
       Which of them foretold this
       and proclaimed to us the former things?
       Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right,
       so that others may hear and say, "It is true."
¹⁰ "You are my witnesses," declares the LORD,
       "and my servant whom I have chosen,
       so that you may know and believe me
       and understand that I am he.
       Before me no god was formed,
       nor will there be one after me.
¹¹ I, even I, am the LORD,
       and apart from me there is no savior.
¹² I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—
       I, and not some foreign god among you.
       You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "that I am God.
¹³ Yes, and from ancient days I am he.
       No one can deliver out of my hand.
       When I act, who can reverse it?"

Psalm 139
¹ O LORD, you have searched me
       and you know me.
² You know when I sit and when I rise;
       you perceive my thoughts from afar.
³ You discern my going out and my lying down;
       you are familiar with all my ways.
⁴ Before a word is on my tongue
       you know it completely, O LORD.
⁵ You hem me in—behind and before;
       you have laid your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
       too lofty for me to attain.
⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?
       Where can I flee from your presence?
⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
       if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
       if I settle on the far side of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
       your right hand will hold me fast.
¹¹ If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
       and the light become night around me,"
¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you;
       the night will shine like the day,
       for darkness is as light to you.
¹³ For you created my inmost being;
       you knit me together in my mother's womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
       your works are wonderful,
       I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
       when I was made in the secret place.
       When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
¹⁶ your eyes saw my unformed body.
       All the days ordained for me
       were written in your book
       before one of them came to be.
¹⁷ How precious to ^[b] me are your thoughts, O God!
       How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ Were I to count them,
       they would outnumber the grains of sand.
       When I awake,
       I am still with you.
¹⁹ If only you would slay the wicked, O God!
       Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
²⁰ They speak of you with evil intent;
       your adversaries misuse your name.
²¹ Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD,
       and abhor those who rise up against you?
²² I have nothing but hatred for them;
       I count them my enemies.
²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart;
       test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me,
       and lead me in the way everlasting.

Bask in His love for you. He loves you. Your identity does not come from what you have done but it comes from what God has done for you. Your identity does not come from what people say about you but it comes from what God says about you. Don't believe the lie that your behavior tells you what to believe about yourself but rather your belief about yourself determines your behavior.

Know this: (for those who are believers)
You are God's child (John 1:12),
You have been justified (Romans 5:1),
You are united with the Lord (1 Corinthians 6:17)
You have been adopted as God's child (Ephesians 1:5)
You have been redeemed and forgiven (Colossians 1:14)
You are complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10)
You are free forever from condemnation (Romans 8:1-2)
You are free from any charge against you (Romans 8:31-34)
You cannot be separated from the love of God (Romans 8:35-39)
You are hidden in Christ (Colossians 3:3)
You have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16)
You are God's temple (1 Corinthians 3:16)
You are sealed with Christ in the heavenly realm (Ephesians 2:6)
You may approach God with freedom and confidence (Ephesians 3:12)
You can do all things thru Christ who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13)

Food for Thought

2010-10-10T23:00:00.000-05:00

A true profession of faith is always backed up by a life that produces godly living.

Titus 1:16
¹⁶They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.

James 3:18
¹⁸Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

1 John 3:10
¹⁰This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

1 John 4:20
²⁰If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.

The Discipline of Grace (Chapter 2)

2010-10-05T14:50:00.001-05:00

Here are some of my favorite excerpts from Chapter 2 in the book The Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges. This chapter particularly resonated with me because I could relate with the examples of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector both by how I've acted/reacted and how I've been treated by others. This chapter is certainly one to make you think.

Luke 18:9-14
⁹To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: ¹⁰"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. ¹²I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
¹³"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
¹⁴"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

"The Pharisee was orthodox in his beliefs and very committed in his religious practices. He was self-righteous and through Jesus' parable, has become the classic example of religious pride and self-satisfication." (page 31)
"Unlike the Pharisee, the tax collector was painfully aware of his sinfulness. He didn't just ask for forgiveness of certain sins; he pleaded for mercy as a sinner. In the original language, the text reads, "God be merciful to me the sinner." Not only did he not compare himself favorably with others as the Pharisee did; he didn't compare himself at all. He was not concerned with how he measured up with respect to other people. He was concerned with how he measure up before a holy and righteous God. He knew he stood alone before God with his sin, so he pleaded for mercy." (page 31)
"Jesus said the tax collector went home justified, or declared righteous, before God. He freely and rather desperately acknowledged that he had no righteousness of his own, so he received his as a gift from God." (page 32)
"Jesus told the parable to those who were confident of their own righteousness, that is, to those who felt good about their own performance. As long as we compare ourselves with society around us and with other believers who are not as committed as we are, we also are apt to become confident of our own righteousness--not a righteousness unto salvation, but at least a righteousness that will make God pleased with our performance. The sin of the Pharisee, then, can become the sin of the most orthodox and committed Christian." (page 32)
"Most often our sin problem is in the area I call "refined" sins. These are the sins of nice people, sins that we can regularly commit and still retain our positions as elders, deacons, Sunday school teachers, Bible study leaders, and yes, even full-time Christian workers." (page 33)
"What are some of these "refined" sins? As I looked at my own life, one of the first that came to mind was the tendency to judge others and to speak critically of them to other people." (page 33)
"We need to take seriously Jesus' warning about a critical spirit in Matthew 7:3: 'Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?' We need to learn to back off from judging others and leave that to God, as the apostle Paul instructed us when he said, 'Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand' (Romans 14:4). A judgmental spirit is too often a vice or committed Christians. We need to recognize it as the sin it really is. A judgmental spirit usually reflects itself in speech that is critical of others." (page 33)

Psalm 141:3

Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.

"Closely akin to judgmental speech is gossip, that endless recounting and passing on of the sins and misfortunes of others." (page 34)

Ephesians 4:29

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

"The word unwholesome covers any type of speech that tends to tear down another person, either spoken to or about that person." (page 34)
"Even criticism addressed to someone should be given only with the goal of benefiting that person." (page 35)
"Only honest criticism given from a heart of love in a spirit of humility can qualify as that which builds up the other person." (page 35)
"The real problem, however, is not our tongues but our hearts. Jesus said, 'For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks' (Matthew 12:34)." (page 35)
"What are some other "refined" sins that we can commit and still be respectable among our Christian friends" Some of the more common ones are in the area of interpersonal relationships. These would include resentment, bitterness, an unforgiving spirit, impatience, and irritability. It is very instructive that it is in the context of interpersonal relationships that Paul wrote his warning, 'And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God' (Ephesians 4:30). Now, all sin grieves God, and Paul could have inserted that warning in the context of sexual immorality (Ephesians 5:3-5) or lying and stealing (Ephesians 4:25,28). But he places it in the context of sins we commit with hardly any sense of shame or guilt. The message should be clear. God is grieved over our "refined" sins just as He is grieved over sexual immorality or dishonesty." (page 35-36)
"As we continue to probe the sinfulness of our hearts, we come to self-centeredness; selfish ambition; the love of position, power, or praise; an independent spirit; and the tendency to manipulate events or other people for our own ends. Then there is indifference to the eternal or temporal welfare of those around us, and finally the cancerous sin of materialism." (page 37)
"We will own up to almost any other sin, but not the sin of self-righteousness. When we have this attitude, though, we deprive ourselves of the joy of living in the grace of God. Because, you see, grace is only for sinners." (page 40)
"Are we willing to say, 'God be merciful to me the sinner?' or 'I am no longer worthy to be called your son'? Are we willing to acknowledge that even our righteous acts are no more than filthy rags in the sight of God (Isaiah 64:6)?" (page 43)

Father, I desire to build others up. I don't desire to judge those in my life. Right now I release my judgments of those in my life to you. I confess as I read this chapter that I judged others in my life as Pharisee types and just plain judged others! Forgive me for my sinfulness. Lord, have mercy on me the sinner. Lord, help me to heal when there have been critical things spoken of me and to me that were not done in an act of love or with humility but out of judgment. I pray for grace and forgiveness in my heart for them. Thank you for your protection of me in those times and how I am your girl. I belong to you. Whatever is said to me in anger, rage, bitterness may it just by pass me because I know who I am in you! Lord, I desire to hear criticism when it is given from a heart of love in a spirit of humility, so it may build me up. May I not listen to any other criticism. Oh Lord, will you cleanse my heart? My heart is chalked for of resentment, bitterness, irritability, gossip and much more. I thank you that I am a new creation in Christ. Thank you for your Holy Spirit that is dwelling within me so that I am freed from the dominion of sin. May I choose to live a life that will bring you honor all the days of my life and may you keep my heart tender toward all sin in my life, including the "refined" sins.

Abortion Survivor Gianna Jessen

2010-09-29T14:40:00.001-05:00

I was watching this video this afternoon. The testimony of this woman is so powerful and inspirational. She is a woman whom God has chosen. She is confident in who she is in Christ and takes the time to share her story of what God has done for her. It is a great reminder for me to do the same.

Will you be so bold to share what Christ has done for you?

Where does your confidence come from?

"There are only things that you will learn by the weakest among us." (around 8:20 in the video)

"I don't belong to you, I belong to Christ. I'm His girl. And I'm a princess. So no matter what you say in all your anger and brokenness and rage. It's not mine to keep. It's not mine to carry. And I won't." (around 11:30 in the video and in reference to her meeting her birth mother).

This quote was so powerful! How the words of anger, brokenness and rage didn't phase her. Her identity and worth are in Christ and how He views her! Absolutely beautiful! Absolutely powerful and all praise and glory be given to God!

Thank you, Lord, for Gianna and how you have saved her. Thank you for her obedience to sharing her story and ultimately Your story through her. Father, I pray that I may be as bold and confident as her and that only comes through finding my strength and identity in You and You alone. Praise be to Your Name for what you are doing through this woman.

Oh Identity...

2010-09-29T14:05:00.000-05:00

Here is an article that I read today that I found rather distressing.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=jc-seekinghelp092610

It's sad to see lives taken because their identity or self-worth is in something other than God. The article shares about the most recent football player who committed suicide after scarcely playing due to a knee injury.

A quote from this article, “So much of what we try to do is about developing an identity outside of being a football player,” said Williams, who sought counseling during his rookie season with the New Orleans Saints. “If your identity [is] wrapped up in you being a football player and you’re in a sport where so many guys are replaceable, what’s going to happen when you don’t have football?”

Another quote from this article says, “You’re talking about people who are told that they can overcome anything, do anything, if they work at it,” said Pittman, whose partner, Craig Domann, represented Underwood. “It’s not just in athletes. You see the same thing in lots of people: doctors, lawyers, bankers. Athletes think they’re stronger than anyone else. Doctors think they’re smarter.”

May we not find our identity in our performances, job, people, status or money. May we be humble in order to seek help when needed. May we love others and share Christ with them so that they may have hope and a purpose for living! Only He will fulfill and satisfy us. Only in Him will we find our true identity.

The Discipline of Grace (Chapter 1)

2010-09-28T14:29:00.003-05:00

I've been reading the book, The Discipline of Grace, by Jerry Bridges. It is a wonderful book that I just can't put down. Here are some of the excerpts that I have highlighted in my book thus far and I'm only on the first chapter! Thought I would share them with you.

The gospel is meaningful for us only to the extent that we realize and acknowledge that we are still sinful. Although we are new creations in Christ, we still sin every day in thought, word, and deed, and perhaps even more important, in motives. To benefit from the gospel every day, then, we must acknowledge that we are still sinners. (pg 22)
Without a continual reminder of the good news of the gospel, we can easily fall into one of two errors. The first is to focus on our external performance and become proud like the Pharisees. We may then begin to look down our spiritual noses at others who are not as disciplined, obedient, and committed as we are and in a very subtle way begin to feel spiritually superior to them. (pg 22)
The second error is the exact opposite of the first. It is the feeling of guilt. We have been exposed to the disciplines of the Christian life, to obedience, and to service, and in our hearts we have responded to those challenges. We haven't, however, been as successful as others around us appear to be. (pg 22)
Both have forgotten the meaning of grace because they have moved away from the gospel and have slipped into a performance relationship with God. (pg 22)
We have moved away from the gospel of God's grace and have begun to try to relate to God directly on the basis of our performance rather than through Christ. (pg 23)
Our own performance is never good enough to be acceptable to Him. The only way we can relate to God is through the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ. It is only the blood of Jesus that will cleanse us from a guilty conscience and give us the confidence to enter into the presence of God (Hebrews 10:19-21). (pg 23)
The gospel applied to our hearts every day, frees us to be brutally honest with ourselves and with God. (pg 23)
We can call sin exactly what it is, regardless of how ugly and shameful it may be, because we know that Jesus bore that sin in His body on the cross. (pg 23)
Preaching the gospel to ourselves every day address both the self-righteous PHarisee and the guilt-laden sinner that dwell in our hearts. Because the gospel is only for sinners, preaching it to ourselves every day reminds us that we are indeed sinners in need of God's grace. It causes us to say to God, in the words of an old hymn, "Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to thy cross I cling." (pg 26)
"Sin grieves God. We must not down-play the seriousness of it in the life of a believer. But we must come to terms with the fact that God's Grace is GREATER THAN ALL OUR SINS. Repentance is one of the Christian's highest privileges. A repentant Christian focuses on God's mercy and God's grace. Any moment in our lives when we bask in God's mercy and grace is our highest moment. Higher than when we feel smug in our decent performance and cannot think of anything we need to confess." - Mutua Mahiaini (pg 27)

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Galatians 6:14

In the words of Charles Spurgeon...."God be merciful to me a sinner."

That is my prayer.

Isaiah 1

2010-09-22T14:57:00.002-05:00

As I am studying the book of Isaiah, here have been some of my thoughts/notes on what I have been processing from Isaiah 1.

The rebellion of God's children broke God's heart. The people of Judah walked out on the covenant that they made with God on Mount Sinai. The people of Judah preformed the rituals to make it seem as if they were right with God but in actuality they were far from him.

Are there ways where on the outside it looks like your heart is right with God but on the inside your heart is not in it?

Isaiah did not have a series of visions but he had one vision over the course of sixty years.

In Isaiah 1 we see God these 3 ways:

1) Broken Hearted Parent: (vs 2-3)
* God was the Father to Judah. Judah was neither grateful nor obedient. They wanted to go their own way. They didn't even recognize the hand that fed them.

2) Prosecutor bringing the case against His people: (vs 4 -23)
* God transitions from parent to prosecutor. Not as a stern prosecutor. But as a lamenting, grieved prosecutor for His people.

3) Righteous and Merciful Judge: (vs 24-31)
* In these verses we see God use His Names when addressing Judah. This is His case with Judah. His anger is righteous. He isn't loosing His temper in these passages. He is dealing with them justly. Judah did not respond to grace and did not heed His warning. He then proceeds to get their attention and bring Judah to a boiling point. Much like the case when you heat precious metal such as silver to burn away all the impurities (dross: vs 22).

Next we can see 3 things that are happening in the text.

1) Rebellion 1:1-15

* Conviction of sin, is the first step back to God.

   - Sin is rebellion over God's authority over us. Sin is a wrecked relationship with God, with people, and with the whole creation. Sin wrecked everything. Sin is death. Sin is going against the express purpose of God's Word. It's self-centeredness and keeps God at a distance. Sin defiles us and our environment (at home, office, communities...).
Verses 5 & 6 demonstrate a life in sin. It's a mess, getting beaten up. It shows how it affects the whole man. Sin is like an open wound. God is the only One who can heal the wounds of sin. In order to heal from our sin, we need to acknowledge it and go to Him who is able to heal. If we persist in sin we will continue to get beat up again and again.

   - Conviction is a call to change! In order to receive God's comfort we must first face our conviction.

   - A life of rebellion is a life that is utterly irrational.

The lance of the divine surgeon pierces to allow the infection out! I've been pondering on the word lance and looked it up in the dictionary...
Lance:
medicine
-prick or cut open with a lancet or other sharp instrument: abscesses should not be lanced until there is a soft spot in the center / figurative the governor made it one of his priorities to lance the boil of corruption.

Think about that for a minute. Should not be lanced until there is a soft spot in the center.... I don't mean to be gross but think about that as a matter of sin and our hearts prone to sin. If we are in rebellion and are hearts our callous to God's conviction we may not be ready to be "lanced" quite yet. Our hearts are not tender. But if we are tender to God's conviction in our lives and our hearts are sensitive to that call we may be more ready to be "lanced" to allow the gunk (the boil of corruption) come out of our hearts.

What is it that you want more than God?
What are you pursuing instead of God?
Are you willing to allow God to lance you of the sin in your life?

Don't go deeper into sin. Humble yourself. We have a moral obligation to God, our Creator. As such, He gets to set the standards. He has ownership over us.

Are you all formality in your worship of God or do you have heart engagement as you worship?
Are you giving God a lot of bull?
Do your activities truly honor God?
Are you going to allow your heart to become hard and callous by continuing in rebellion or will you allow the call for conviction of sin in your life to soften your heart in order to get the junk out of your life?

2) Repentance 1:16-20

* God's invitation to repent is reasonable and personal.

   - Heed warnings to Judah to repent!

   - Stop heading in the wrong direction and start doing the right thing.

1) Conviction: Done by the Holy Spirit
2) Sorrow for Sin: Broken and Contrite heart before God (Psalm 51:17)
3) Conversion: This is the turning point. Choosing and desiring to turn from sin.

vs. 18
"Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord.
Come: is the invitation
now: is the timing.

"Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; 20 but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword. " For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

God will clean you up and get you on the right road!

3) Redemption 1:21-31

* Gods hand against us is for the purpose of redemption not destruction.

   - Correction is meant to bring us back. It's redemption. God is not only just, He is merciful. He woos a person back to Himself.

   - Dictionary definition of Redemption:
   the action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil: God's plans for the redemption of His world.

Why do we need redemption?

Well, we can trace this one back to Genesis to our parents, Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve were created by God (Gen 1:27) and were made in His image. Adam and Eve were in fellowship with God. Nothing separated them from God. God gave them rule over what He had created and gave them one command (Gen 2:16-17), not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die. This command was not to deprive them. It was not to withhold from them. It was to protect them. Eating of the tree would cause death. Death not just in the physical sense but spiritual sense. They would be separated from God. The story goes on and tells us that Adam and Eve chose to disobey God's command and they ate from the tree (Gen 3). After eating from the tree they felt shame, guilt and hid from God. Because of their sin of disobedience there were consequences for that sin and they were and those who do not know God, are separated from God. But because God loved them and us, He created a way to redeem His people. He sent His Son, Jesus, who is Our Creator, to be our atonement (the reconciliation of God and humankind through Jesus Christ) because we as humans are unable to save ourselves. There is nothing we can do. It is by grace we are saved.

Romans 5:17-21

¹⁷For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
¹⁸Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. ¹⁹For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
²⁰The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, ²¹so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

   - God's justice was satisfied on the cross.

   - Jesus Christ is our redemption. Praise the Lord for that! Death no longer has mastery over us. Sin no longer has mastery over us. No longer separated from God. All this is for those who are in Christ Jesus. Those who are in a right relationship with Jesus. For those choosing to obey God not because you are trying to hold all the rules but because you understand that God knows what is best for you and out of obedience (LOVE) for God, you desire to live a life worthy of Him.

Jesus Christ has redeemed my life and I praise Him for that! I desire to live a life out of obedience to Him because He knows what is best for me and I obey Him because I LOVE Him. I desire to worship my Creator and He has ownership over me so He gets to set the standards. He doesn't command things of me because He desires to withhold or deprive me. He commands of me because He loves me and He knows what is best as only a Holy and Righteous Father knows. Trust Him. It doesn't mean that I live a perfect life but I strive to work out my sanctification (set apart and freed from sin) each and every day.

I pray that you may stop your way of rebellion today and receive the healing gift of grace that God has for you. Whether you are in a relationship with God and have been in a period of rebellion or are dealing with sins or you may have never experienced a relationship with God, I pray that you may experience God today.

Celebrating Grandpa's Life

2010-09-21T22:03:00.000-05:00

In an earlier post I shared that my Grandpa had passed away. A couple of weekends ago we spent time as a family remembering my Grandpa for who he was and the life he lived. It was a bitter sweet time with fond memories of my Grandpa and the sadness that follows knowing that we will not have these memories again on this earth. Then a period of joy would come knowing that he is in heaven worshipping Jesus. During the weekend we spent a lot of time loving on one another. It was great to see so many family members but tough under the circumstances. A memory that a lot of folks have of my Grandpa was him wearing his suspenders. It was really fun to see all different people show up wearing suspenders to remember my Grandpa. All his grandkids wear able to have a pair of his suspenders and wear it as we were his pallbearers. It was a joy to wear something he wore throughout his life. During the prayer service the night before his funeral, the pastor showed up in a flannel shirt, jeans and suspenders. He came not only as a pastor but a friend, who dearly loved my Grandpa. It was so special. During the funeral, he shared that he went to go visit my Grandpa the day before he passed and asked him if he needed anything. My Grandpa simply stated, "Thank you for being my mentor and my friend." The pastor told us at the funeral that he felt he was the one being mentored by him. What a great reminder to thank those in our lives who have impacted us.

Here are some of the photos from the weekend of my family and us celebrating my Grandpa's life. Something my Grandpa loved was driving a John Deer tractor. He always kept the tractors he drove in pristine condition. He would mow lawns for the city and a neighboring city would always want to receive the tractor Maynard drove because he kept it like new. A special way to remember my Grandpa during the weekend was by carrying him on a wagon that was pulled by a John Deer tractor.

I'm Free

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free

I'm following the path God laid for me.

I took His hand when I heard him call

I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day

To laugh, to love, to work or play.

Tasks left undone, must stay that way.

I found that place at the close of the day.

If my parting has left a void

Then fill it with remembered joy.

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss.

Ah yes, these things, I too, shall miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow.

I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.

My life's been full, I savored much.

Good friends, good times,

a loved ones touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief;

Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.

Lift up your heart and share with me

God wanted me now,

He set me free.

Author Unknown

Changes

2010-09-21T15:03:00.000-05:00

This seems to be the season for changes. It seems that Fall is always a great time for change and fresh new starts. Some of the more recent changes have been my hair color and re-arranging my room! Both have been drastic changes but definitely for the better. Here are some photos from my new hair do! I will post the room re-arrangement at a later time. I have to check to see if I have a photo from how it looked before but I highly doubt it. Another change but on a more smaller scale has been trying skinny jeans. I couldn't knock the skinny jean before I tried it and I must say I was pleasantly surprised that I actually don't mind the skinny jean, with the right pair of shoes.

Decided to go dark and a lot shorter. I love it! My hair stylist is amazing. :)

Hanging out with the sisters later that night.

Bear Hugs

2010-09-02T15:29:00.000-05:00

Today my heart is especially heavy. My Grandpa passed away. He passed peacefully and I'm thankful that he is at rest now with Jesus. My Grandma, my Dad and my Aunts were able to be with him when he took his last breath and Grandpa was at peace ready to go home. My Grandpa was a good man, who loved the Lord, his family and friends. He served others selflessly with a upbeat attitude. My Grandpa loved my Grandma so much and demonstrated Christ to her daily over many years they have been together. On September 14th it would have been their 64th wedding anniversary. They never had much but they were content and happy with what the Lord had given to them. My Grandpa was a hard worker who provided for his family. He filled the room with joy with his quiet and gentle character. He will be deeply missed. I had a special bond with my Grandpa and will cherish the time that I had with him. He gave me the biggest and best hugs that we called "Bear Hugs." We would send them through the phone when we were apart. I will never forget you Grandpa with your handsome face, dashing suspenders, beautiful smile and special hugs. I look forward to seeing you soon.

My heart is heavy with grief. When I drove to work this morning knowing that my Grandpa wasn't doing well I cried out to the Lord, "I can't do this. I can't take any more grief. I'm not strong enough. Lord, You are strong enough and I need Your strength to get me through this." I'm resting in His strength. He is strong enough.

Romans 8
¹⁸I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. ¹⁹The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. ²⁰For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope ²¹that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
²²We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. ²³Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? ²⁵But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
²⁶In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. ²⁷And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

2 Corinthians 12
⁹But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. ¹⁰That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

James 1
¹²Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Psalm 23
¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
² He makes me lie down in green pastures,
       he leads me beside quiet waters,
³ he restores my soul.
       He guides me in paths of righteousness
       for his name's sake.
⁴ Even though I walk
       through the valley of the shadow of death,
       I will fear no evil,
       for you are with me;
       your rod and your staff,
       they comfort me.
⁵ You prepare a table before me
       in the presence of my enemies.
       You anoint my head with oil;
       my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely goodness and love will follow me
       all the days of my life,
       and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
       forever.

Mist

2010-08-29T20:04:00.000-05:00

This weekend I had the opportunity to spend some time with my incredible Grandma and Grandpa who are also very frail right now. It was so good to see them but there were a few times I needed to wipe my eyes because I ache for them. Their health is deteriorating and with visits to the hospital becoming more regular, the day they meet Jesus may come soon. The night before I saw them my Grandma had fallen out of bed. Thankfully she did not break anything but she has fallen numerous times breaking ribs, hips and other various bones. She had to have an MRI because she did hit her head when she fell. My Grandpa, whom I LOVE to get my bear hugs from, has congestive heart failure and the medicine he takes to decrease the fluid in his body causes a secondary symptom, acute kidney failure. Earlier this week he was in the hospital to drain fluid from around his heart and when I saw him he looked so pale. I'm so thankful for being able to see them and recognize this may be the last time I see them here on earth. I praise God for them and the time that I have with them.

My Grandparents and I

The entry way into their place. Decorated with fall decor...LOVE it. :)

They have quite the spoon collection. These are spoons from all over the world.

Here is my Grandma's craft table where she puts her necklaces together. It's so cute to see her have a table like this. My mom has her own craft space and I have had my own space to craft my creations as well. It runs in the family.

During my visit, my Grandma taught me how to make beads out of church bulletins. My Grandma has been making necklaces out of church bulletins for years and it amazes me how even now she is still keeping her hands busy by crafting necklaces out of church bulletins. What a special time that was and I will cherish that memory.

Grandma showing me how to cut up the bulletins to be able to make them into beads.

Rolling the church bulletins to turn them into beads.

Loved spending time with the family this weekend and cherishing the moments with them. As I reflect on my time with them and my experiences at the place where they live, I'm reminded at how fragile life is. It can be gone in an instant. How are we going to live our lives? How am I going to live my life? I desire to live a life that brings God glory in all circumstances and that when I reflect back on how I lived my life, that it would be one the brings God honor and points others to Him. That's what truly matters.

Colossians 3:16-17
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:23-24
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Colossians 4: 5-6
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Colossians 3:13-14
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Psalm 19:14
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

James 4:14
Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

Psalm 39:5
You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath.

Psalm 102:3
For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn life glowing embers.

Psalm 144:4
Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow.

May my time on this earth bring You glory and honor, sweet Lord. I desire to make the most of every opportunity. May I love like you have loved me. May I serve like you. May I bear and forgive as you have forgiven me. May my words and my meditation be pleasing in your sight. May my mist of a life point others to you as I trust your will for my life.

Hillsong Live - Forever Reign

2010-08-29T13:25:00.000-05:00

There is something about singing worship songs to Jesus. It's a release for me. I find a freedom in being totally completely abandoned in my singing, dancing and crying out before God. I love it. Words are unable to describe what I feel as I sing and dance before the Lord. The song that resonated with me especially today is Forever Reign by Hillsong Live. As I came home from church today this song began to play on my ipod. I sat in my car and just listened to the words and meditated on who God is. When I came in the house I played the song over and over to spend time in worship with my King. What a beautiful time without any distractions. Unhindered. Completely and utterly Yours Lord. Oh, You, Lord are good.

Forever Reign Lyrics

Hillsong Live: Beautiful Exchange

You are good, You are good
When there's nothing good in me
You are love, You are love
On display for all to see
You are light, You are light
When the darkness closes in
You are hope, You are hope
You have covered all my sin

You are peace, You are peace
When my fear is crippling
You are true, You are true
Even in my wandering
You are joy, You are joy
You're the reason that I sing
You are life, You are life,
In You death has lost it's sting

Oh, I’m running to Your arms,
I’m running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign

You are more, You are more
Than my words will ever say
You are Lord, You are Lord
All creation will proclaim
You are here, You are here
In Your presence I'm made whole
You are God, You are God
Of all else I'm letting go

Oh, I’m running to Your arms
I’m running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign

My heart will sing
no other Name
Jesus, Jesus

Oh, I’m running to Your arms
I’m running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign

"Where Oh Where Are You Tonight"

2010-08-27T23:46:00.001-05:00

Here is the first song that I taught myself ten years ago, "Where Oh Where Are You Tonight." So far, I've spent time over the past three days reviewing my cords, transitions between cords, finger picking and practicing this song. I still have it! Still working on my transitions though. Hope you enjoy! :)

Hello Calluses

2010-08-25T21:25:00.002-05:00

I should say Hello Raw Swollen Finger Pads. That may be more suited. Tonight was a big night for me. I went to my local guitar store and put new strings on my guitar. It has been a goal of mine to teach myself the guitar. I started this process 10 years ago and despite that I haven't picked it up in awhile it came back to me rather quickly. It's been fun reviewing the cords and I'm looking forward to spending time playing and singing worship songs.

As I was in the guitar store I saw this elderly man sitting and waiting. After a little while his wife came out of a room with a guitar in hand. She had just had a guitar lesson at 70 something! It was one of the sweetest things to see her husband support her in her endeavor. He paid for her lesson and then set up a time for her to come next week. She used to play when they first were married but after her husband was sent overseas for the service she wasn't able to bring it with her so she stopped playing.

It just goes to show a person that no matter what the age as long as you are willing to learn, you can be taught. I'm willing to learn. Lord, grant me the patience, discipline and memory to keep plucking away so that I may spend time worshiping you with my strings and my voice. :)

Storms

2010-08-23T22:03:00.000-05:00

At church yesterday there was a video clip of the tornado that had left it's destruction in Wadena, MN. As I reflected on the damage that this tornado had left I spent time pondering about the destruction emotional storms can leave in your life. With physical storms you can see the damage and the upheaval they leave behind but with storms that happen internally you are unable to see that upheaval and destruction. Storms don't typically last long but the rebuilding and restoration of the storms can take quite some time. As the singer talked about the tornado that hit his parent's home it was his attitude that struck me. It was a complete trust in the Lord. The physically destruction was replaceable however the people in his life were not. He was thankful that they had a relationship with the Lord and knew that if something had happened to his family he would see them again in heaven because of their relationship with the Lord. The song he had sung was about praising God through the storm. Whether it's a physical storm or an emotional storm you may be experiencing we can choose to praise God through those storms. He is in control and He is the master rebuilder. I've experienced many different storms in my life. Through those storms in my life I choose to trust in His work. Only God can fully heal, rebuild and restore the destruction left from the emotional storms that come into my life. I've experienced first hand not relinquishing my trust fully over to Him and it's then when I continue to stumble and trip up on the debris left from the upheaval of the storms. I don't know what your storms are in your life today but I urge you to trust in Him who is capable to clean up the mess of your storms. Allow Him to heal and choose to praise Him during the storms and the rebuilding process. God knows what is best for your life and He will use your storms to refine you to reflect more of Him. To God be the glory. It's our relationship with God that truly matters in the long run. Physical storms ruin replaceable stuff and can create huge losses in our life by the people who are lost in the storm. Emotional storms can paralyze you from the debris left behind and leave you captive to bondage for moving ahead for what God has in store for you. Both types of storms require us to fully trust in Him and for us to choose to praise Him during those storms. Trusting in Him doesn't take away the hurt but it allows you the ability to keep pressing forward.

What are our storms?

Do we trust God during the storms? Do we trust God to rebuild after the storms?

Psalm 40: 1-5, 8
I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord. Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare. I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.

Psalm 62:1-2, 5-6, 11-12
My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard: that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done.

Psalm 27: 1, 5, 8, 14
The Lord is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid.
For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.
My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, Lord, I will seek.
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Psalm 90:2
I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.

How is our attitude amidst the "storms" we face in life?

Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Philippians 2:5
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

James 1: 2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Psalm 19:14
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock, and my Redeemer.

Psalm 25: 4-5
Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant.

Psalm 27:4
One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.

Are we praising God during the storms of our life?

Psalm 66: 8-12, 16-20
Praise our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard; He has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping. For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.
Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. I cried out to him with my mouth his praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!

Psalm 90: 12-17
Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Relent, O Lord! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants. Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble. May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children. May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us--yes, establish the work of our hands.

Psalm 95:1-3
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.

Psalm 103:1-5
Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits--who forgives all your sings and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you will love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Father,
I choose to praise you during this storm. Refine me to be more like you. Rid me of myself I belong to you. I thank you for your protection of me and I ask that you help me to keep my eyes focused on you. I don't desire to be paralyzed by the debris left behind. I choose to walk ahead with my eyes on you and trusting you, the Master Healer. I praise you for the storms in life because it's through those times I am being refined and it is developing my perseverance . I praise you for your refining of me and may I bring you glory during this storm. My purpose in life is to reflect you and bring you honor and glory all the days of my life. May my life be a reflection of you so that I may point others to you. Father, I love you and thank you for sending your Son as a propitiation for my sin and giving me the gift of eternal life!

Your Ways

2010-08-18T08:04:00.000-05:00

Isaiah 55:8-9
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Philippians 2:5
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.

Matthew 11:29
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

Isaiah 53:6
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Psalm 95:10
For forty years I was angry with that generation; I said, "They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known my ways.

Father,
Thank you that your way is best. That your thoughts more than what I can think. May my attitude be the same as that of Christ Jesus today, Lord. May I learn to be gentle and humble in heart and that my soul will find rest in you. May I think of what is true, what is noble, what is right, what is pure, what is lovely, what is admirable and anything that is excellent or praiseworthy. I desire to think these things today. Lord, I do not desire to go astray and go my own way. I desire to cling to your way for my life. I confess that there are so many times I think I know what is best or want my desires to reign. Forgive me. May my heart not go astray and may I seek hard and fast after you all the days of my life. Thank you for the times of uncertainty that you are certain. Thank you that you ways are higher than my ways. I trust in You alone, Jesus. Thank you for your guidance for my life. Thank you that I know your way. May I live for you and glorify your Name all the days of my life.
Amen

Today

2010-08-16T23:33:00.000-05:00

Started with praising God for who He is. And my day will end with praising God for who He is.

1.) THE ONLY GOD. God, I praise You because, "You are 'the Lord'. and there is no other; apart from You there is no God." Isaiah 45:5

2.) GOD THE CREATOR. Creator God, I praise You because, "You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything and the multitudes of heaven worship you." Nehemiah 9:6

3.) THE ALMIGHTY GOD. "O Lord God Almighty, who is like You? You are mighty, O Lord, and your faithfulness surrounds You." Psalm 89:8

4.) THE EVERLASTING FATHER, THE ANCIENT OF DAYS. I praise You, Lord, as the "Ancient of Days" (Daniel 7:9), the "Everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6), who lives forever and ever."

5.) A LOVING GOD. I praise You because, "You are a loving God, whose very nature is love." John 4:16

6.) A GOD OF JUSTICE. "Lord, I praise You and magnify You, who are just, and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus." Romans 3:26

7.) A FAITHFUL GOD. Heavenly Father, I give You my praise and adoration, because, "You are a faithful God, keeping Your covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love You and keep Your commands." Deuteronomy 7:9

8.) A MERCIFUL GOD. "You are a gracious and merciful God", and I praise You for Your great mercy! Nehemiah 9:31

9.) GOD, MY REFUGE, MY FORTRESS. I praise You Lord, "For You are my rock, my refuge." Psalm 62:7

10.) A PATIENT, PERSEVERING GOD. Father, I praise You because, "You are patient toward us, not wanting for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9. Thank You for Your patience with me.

11.) GOD, MY PEACE. " I will praise You will all my heart, Lord, because, "You are my Jehovah Shalom (The Lord Our Peace), 'the God of peace' who will soon crush Satan under my feet." Romans 16:20

12.) THE GOD WHO HEALS. Father, I praise You because, "You are the Lord who heals me." Exodus 15:26

Today, I've reflected on my weekend and my time at the prayer summit. It was such an incredible time of healing and a precious time with my Lord. I loved seeking His face. My prayer and my heart from that weekend and for my time with the Lord was:

Lord, have Your way in me. Refine me Father. This is my desire. My desire is to honor You. With all my heart I desire to honor You. Lord, have Your way in me. Father, I seek You with all of my heart. I yield my heart to You. I give You my heart and my soul. Move in my heart. I want to live for You alone. Rid me of myself. I belong to You. My desire is to honor You.

During that time with the Lord, I was overwhelmed by my sins. I was rejoicing in my forgiveness from the Lord and clinging to His Truths for my life. Here are some verses that washed over me from Saturday.

Psalm 65:3 & 4

When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgression.

Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple.

Psalm 66: 1-4

Shout with joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious! Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you. All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing praise to your name.

Psalm 63: 7-8

Because you are my help I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

Psalm 81:9-10

You shall have no foreign god among you; you shall not bow down to an alien god. I am the Lord your God who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.

Psalm 84:1-2, 10-11

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honr; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.

Psalm 85: 2-4

You forgave the inquity of your people and covered all their sins. You set aside all your wrath and turned from your fierce anger. Restor us again, O God our Savior, and put away your displeasure toward us.

Psalm 86: 2-7, 11-13

Guard my life for I am devoted to you. You are my God; save your servant who trust in you. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to you all day long. Bring joy to your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. You are forgiving and good, O Lord; love to all who call to you. Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my cry for mercy. In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me.

Teach me your way, O Lord and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. For great is your love toward me, you have delivered me from the depths of the grave.

Psalm 40: 1-8

I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire, he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord. Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you have planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare. Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. Then I said, "Here I am, I have come--it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart."

Psalm 73: 24-28

You guide me with your council, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. But as for me, it is good to be near God, I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.

The Lord also put on my heart the word patient. Through His Scriptures and Kari Jobe's song Be Still this word was evident for me this weekend.

Psalm 40:1

I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.

Romans 8:5, 26-28

But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. And we know that in all things God words for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Be Still: Kari Jobe

Be still, my soul, be still

Wait patiently upon the Lord

Be still, my soul, be still.

Wait patiently upon the Lord

Be still and know He is God. He is here.

As I've marinated in these Scriptures and many others that I read throughout the weekend, I have felt an overwhelming peace from God and healing. I'm thankful for the people he has brought into my life. The facilitator of the weekend Prayer Summit was Alice Moss. She is an incredible woman of God and a testimony of a life fully seeking after Christ. I've so appreciated meeting her and having time to pray with her. I loved the woman I was able to spend time with and who I was able to meet from this weekend. This weekend was a weekend of vulnerability, repentance, forgiveness and healing. Praising God for His provision.

Alice and I

Today, I've spent time reflecting on the people I've met and had in my life who have impacted it greatly. I'm praising God for my time with those people. It has also been a time of grieving the loss of people in my life. I've been able to reflect on what it feels like when there are people in your life who have impacted you so greatly and suddenly they are gone. I was reading an article by She Worships and this woman referred to it as a "death." It is a time of great suffering. It is through those great sufferings that we are given the opportunity to draw closer to God. It is a time to be refined by fire. Verses to reflect on during those times of loss and suffering are:

But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. – Psalm 5:11

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. -Psalm 18:2
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. – Rom. 8:18
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. – 2 Cor. 4:16-18

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. – James 1:2-3

Lord, I thank you for the time I've had with people in my life. I pray your hand of protection for those you have given to me as a gift for a short time. I pray a blessing over their life and that they would follow you all the days of their life! I pray that you would bring peace and direction for their steps. And God, I ask that you would reveal your will during these uncertain times. I thank you for the opportunity to love others how you have loved me. I thank you for the opportunity to serve others how you have served me. May their life be a reflection of you all the days of their life and may glory be given to your name by the life they live. Father, I ask that you would bring into their life a person where they can make a difference for you together. I ask for your blessings to pour out on them. I release this to you, Lord. May you provide comfort during this time of grieving and I thank you that your will stands firm. Thank you for this refining time and may we both reflect you through this process.

Isaiah 55: 6, 8-11

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth. It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Lord, soften my heart. Thank you that you have a purpose for this Word. So today I choose to end it praising your Holy and Great Name. Despite the ups and downs, you are worthy to be praised. To you be the glory. May my life reflect you during joy and grief.

Smells

2010-08-11T15:20:00.001-05:00

I recently read an article about how smells can trigger feelings and memories whether those are pleasant memories or ones that are not so pleasant. One smell that triggers memories for me is......coffee. When I smell coffee I'm reminded of some wonderful memories I've experienced. First off, it reminds me of warm and comforting homes that I have visited. There is just a peace and calm to some of the homes that I have entered. A place where you feel welcome and just want to curl up to sit for awhile to read and meditate on Scripture. A few of those places have included the delicious aroma of coffee.

One of the places that has impacted me was a home where a Prayer Retreat was held. I participated with incredible women who I knew from a school I previously taught Kindergarten. At this home they had this beautiful little house on the property that they use as a place to go and spend time with the Lord. It was so peaceful and serene with the lush, green landscape around this little house. It was an absolutely wonderful weekend where the Lord taught me more about myself and my adoption. I had struggled with feelings of abandonment and fear of my birth parents not wanting to meet me. After I chose to be obedient to staying at the retreat, the Lord opened my heart to an incredible woman who had given up a child for adoption. We shared stories and I learned that she had never thought her child would be afraid to find her or worried that she wouldn't want to meet that child. It also opened my eyes up to the incredible sacrifice it was to give up a child knowing that she was unable to give that child the life that child needed. She selflessly chose to sacrifice her own desires to keep her baby and give her baby to a couple who would be able to raise that child. How selfless! What love! Deep down I knew that about my birth parents but the Lord used that weekend to really speak truth into my life. It was beautiful. I spent time praising God and weeping tears of joy for the healing He was bringing into my life. It was a great step in the healing process but I still know I have much growth in a few areas! :) During the Prayer Retreat we piled memory stones to symbolize the memories we had made from our time with the Lord throughout the weekend. It was a time of great healing and I praise God for that time. That weekend I was also introduced to Kari Jobe's music. I spent time listening to her song "The More I Seek You." It was a precious weekend. One I will never forget.

Beautiful Little House

Memory Stones

Verse from that Weekend

Hebrew 13:5 & 6

"God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.' So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?'"

My Prayer from that Weekend

May I melt in your peace.

May I go where you lead.

May I be obedient to your call.

May I walk with you.

May I revere you Lord.

May I humble myself before you.

May I wait for your timing.

May I feel your heartbeat.

May I love you more.

May I sit at your feet and find you as I seek you.

May I have your perspective.

May I surrender all to you.

May I allow you to heal me.

May I be teachable.

May I not have expectations.

May I choose your joy.

May I meditate on your Truth.

May I desire you.

May my validation come solely from you.

May I be open to you Lord.

Thank you for your Holy Spirit prompting me to stay here. I've been able to enjoy your presence and sit before you. To experience your provision, love, tenderness, selflessness, Truth, healing! Thank you that you listen to my pleas that can be so selfish, that you desire to hear from me, I who am so not worthy to be in your presence but because of your selflessness I can enter. Thank you Lord for your demonstration of love.

May I love like you.

Help me to practice that.

May I not compare or listen to lies.

Help me overcome the lies with your Truth.

May your Truth ooze from me.

Help me with my unbelief Lord. I don't desire to doubt.

May I hope, Lord.

Oh Lord, this is still my prayer. May I love and honor you all the days of my life. May I be made more like you and less of myself so that I may reflect you to others.

Thinking of the Prayer Retreat I went on a few years ago has started to excite me even more for this upcoming weekend I get to spend at another Prayer Retreat. I cannot wait to spend that time with other women seeking the face of God. This year has been a time of grieving and healing for me and the Lord has opened my eyes and heart to some of the next steps for my life recently. I'm excited to move forward with those steps and trust in his provision. I'll keep you posted from that weekend!

Evening Prayer

2010-08-09T22:28:00.001-05:00

Evening Prayer

O lover of Thy people, Thou hast placed my whole being in the hands of Jesus, my redeemer, commander, husband, friend, and carest for me in Him. Keep me holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners; may I not know the voice of strangers, but go to Him where He is, and follow where He leads. Thou hast bathed me once for all in the sin-removing fountain, cleanse me now from this day's defilement, from its faults, deficiencies of virtue, harmful extremes, that I may exhibit a perfect character in Jesus. O Master, who didst wash the disciples' feet, be very patient with me, be very condescending to my faults, go on with me till Thy great work in me is completed. I desire to conquer self in every respect, to overcome the body with its affections and lusts, to keep under my flesh, to guard my manhood from all grosser sins, to check the refined power of my natural mind, to live entirely to Thy glory, to be deaf to unmerited censure and the praise of men. Nothing can hurt my new-born inner man, it cannot be smitten or die; nothing can mar the dominion of Thy Spirit within me; it is enough to have Thy approbation and that of my conscience. Keep me humble, dependent, supremely joyful, as calm and quiet as a sucking child, yet earnest and active. I wish not so much to do as to be, and I long to be like Jesus; if Thou dost make me right I shall be right; Lord, I belong to Thee, make me worthy of Thyself.

Taken from The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions, edited by Arthur Bennett

Confession and Petition

2010-08-09T07:29:00.003-05:00

Confession and Petition

Holy Lord, I have sinned times without number, and been guilty of pride and unbelief, of failure to find Thy mind in Thy Word, of neglect to seek Thee in my daily life. My transgressions and short-comings present me with a list of accusations, but I bless Thee that they will not stand against me, for all have been laid on Christ. Go on to subdue my corruptions, and grant me grace to live above them. Let not the passions of the flesh nor lustings of the mind bring my spirit into subjection, but do Thou rule over me in liberty and power.
I thank Thee that many of my prayers have been refused. I have asked amiss and do not have, I have prayed from lusts and been rejected, I have longed for Egypt and been given a wilderness. Go on with Thy patient work, answering 'no' to my wrongful prayers, and fitting me to accept it. Purge me from every false desire, every base aspiration, everything contrary to Thy rule. I thank Thee for Thy wisdom and Thy love, for all the acts of discipline to which I am subject, for sometimes putting me into the furnace to refine my gold and remove my dross.
No trial is so hard to bear as a sense of sin. If Thou shouldst give me choice to live in pleasure and keep my sins, or to have them burnt away with trial, give me sanctified affliction. Deliver me from every evil habit, every accretion of former sins, everything that dims the brightness of Thy grace in me, everything that prevents me taking delight in Thee. Then I shall bless Thee, God of jeshurun, for helping me to be upright.

Taken from The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions, edited by Arthur Bennett

Longings after God

2010-08-08T22:24:00.003-05:00

Longings after God

My dear Lord, I can but tell Thee that Thou knowest I long for nothing but Thyself, nothing but holiness, nothing but union with Thy will. Thou hast given me these desires, and thou alone canst give me the thing desired. My soul longs for communion with Thee, for mortification of indwelling corruption, especially spiritual pride. How precious it is to have a tender sense and clear apprehension of the mystery of godliness, of true holiness! What a blessedness to be like Thee as much as it is possible for a creature to be like its creator! Lord, give me more of Thy likeness; enlarge my soul to contain fullness of holiness; engage me to live more for Thee. Help me to be less pleased with my spiritual experiences, and when I feel at ease after sweet communings, teach me it is far too little I know and do. Blessed Lord, let me climb up near to Thee, and love, and long, and plead, and wrestle with Thee, and pant for deliverance from the body of sin, for my heart is wandering and lifeless, and my soul mourns to think it should ever lose sight of its beloved. Wrap my life in divine love, and keep me ever desiring Thee, always humble and resigned to Thy will, more fixed on Thyself, that I may be more fitted for doing and-suffering.

Taken from The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions, edited by Arthur Bennett

Kari Jobe - You Are For Me ( Live )

2010-08-05T18:33:00.000-05:00

Tonight I've been sitting here at home listening to different songs by Kari Jobe. The lyrics to this song are so powerful. I'm meditating in Hebrews 13 while listening to this beautiful song. Hope you enjoy!

Morning Needs

2010-08-04T07:27:00.001-05:00

Morning Needs

O God the author of all good, I come to Thee for the grace another day will require for its duties and events. I step out into a wicked world; I carry about with me an evil heart. I know that without Thee I can do nothing, that everything with which I shall be concerned, however harmless in itself, may prove an occasion of sin or folly, unless I am kept by Thy power. Hold Thou me up and I shall be safe.
Preserve my understanding from subtilty of error, my affections from love of idols, my character from stain of vice, my profession from every form of evil. May I engage in nothing in which I cannot implore Thy blessing, and in which I cannot invite Thy inspection. Prosper me in all lawful undertakings, or prepare me for disappointments. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with food convenient for me, lest I be full and deny Thee and say, Who is the Lord? or be poor, and steal, and take Thy name in vain.
May every creature be made good to me by prayer and Thy will. Teach me how to use the world and not abuse it, to improve my talents, to redeem my time, to walk in wisdom toward those without, and in kindness to those within, to do good to all men, and especially to my fellow Christians. And to Thee be the glory.

Taken from The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions, edited by Arthur Bennett

Morning Dedication

2010-08-03T07:45:00.003-05:00

Morning Dedication

Almighty God, as I cross the threshold of this day I commit myself, soul, body, affairs, friends, to Thy care. Watch over, keep, guide, direct, sanctify, bless me. Incline my heart to thy ways. Mould me wholly into the image of Jesus, as a potter forms clay. May my lips be a well-tuned harp to sound Thy praise. Let those around see me living by Thy Spirit, trampling the world underfoot, unconformed to lying vanities, transformed by a renewed mind, clad in the entire armour of God, shining as a never-dimmed light, showing holiness in all my doings. Let no evil this day soil my thoughts, words, hands. May I travel miry paths with a life pure from spot or stain. In needful transactions let my affection be in heaven, and my love soar upwards in flames of fire, my gaze fixed on unseen things, my eyes open to the emptiness, fragility, mockery of earth and its vanities. May I view all things in the mirror of eternity, waiting for the coming of my Lord, listening for the last trumpet call, hastening unto the new heaven and earth. Order this day all my communications according to Thy wisdom, and to the gain of mutual good. Forbid that I should not be profited or made profitable. May I speak each word as if my last word, and walk each step as my final one. If my life should end today, let this be my best day.

Taken from The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions, edited by Arthur Bennett

Music Man Performance

2010-08-02T13:48:00.002-05:00

Over the weekend I went to the Music Man performance that my sister had the starring role in. Ashley did an incredible job and it was so neat to watch her in another performance. It was also Rachel's birthday that night so it was fun to be able to spend time with her! Unfortunately my camera has been acting up and a bunch of my photos are turning out blurry. Looks like Canon doesn't make cameras like they used to make them...

Ryan, Rachel, Patrick and I ready for it to start!

Yes, I know it is blurry but how could I pass on posting this fabulous shot. :)

Birthday girl and I

Posing with the leading lady!

Mom and Dad with the star!

Patrick and Ryan after the show. Ryan is very happy to have his wife back! :)

Jazz Fest

2010-08-02T13:36:00.001-05:00

A night out at Jazz Fest! The concert was pretty good but we ended up chatting more than we listened to the concert. We all enjoyed catching up. We'll have to have another get together really soon!

Melanie, Jessica, Rachel and I sitting at the concert.

Jess trying out the fries.

Patrick and Eric relaxing at the Jazz Fest.

Rae and I

Ashley and the Cob...Ashley won.

Eric and Melanie

Jessica, Mel and I

SISTERS :)

A quick pic before the downpour started.

Weekend with Khloe

2010-08-02T13:17:00.001-05:00

I had a great time for the 4th of July spending it will Khloe! I enjoyed dog sitting while Marcus and Aanna were away at a cabin. During the weekend I kept Khloe very busy. I took Khloe to her first trip to Lake Calhoun. She had a blast! The following day was the 4th and I was able to spend some time with Jackie and Nathan! Khloe loved meeting the other puppies at the party! I think she had a fun weekend with us and was definitely tired after her packed play weekend.

Khloe all set for her trip to Lake Calhoun. This was her first trip in my car!

Khloe and I relaxing at the lake.

Khloe relaxing next to Patrick.

Cute as a button!

She loved playing with Patrick!

We enjoyed spending our 4th with Jackie and Nathan!

Twins Time

2010-08-02T13:01:00.000-05:00

Back in June we had a fun outing to the Twins Game to celebrate Patrick's birthday! We enjoyed Target Field and spending time with Marcus and Aanna! Here are some snapshots of our fun night out.

First time at Target Field!

Thanks for the awesome seats Marcus and Aanna! :)

It was a gorgeous night for an outdoor Twins game!

Morning

2010-08-02T08:00:00.001-05:00

Morning

Compassionate Lord, Thy mercies have brought me to the dawn of another day. Vain will be its gift unless I grow in grace, increase in knowledge, ripen for spiritual harvest. Let me this day know Thee as Thou art, love Thee supremely, serve Thee wholly, admire Thee fully. Through grace let my will respond to Thee, knowing that power to obey is not in me, but that Thy free love alone enables me to serve Thee. Here then is my empty heart, overflow it with Thy choicest gifts; here is my blind understanding, chase away its mists of ignorance.
O ever watchful Shepherd, lead, guide, tend me this day; without Thy restraining rod I err and stray. Hedge up my path lest I wander into unwholesome pleasure, and drink its poisonous streams; direct my feet that I be not entangled in Satan's secret snares, nor fall into his hidden traps. Defend me from assailing foes, from evil circumstances, from myself. My adversaries are part and parcel of my nature; they cling to me as my very skin; I cannot escape their contact. In my rising up and sitting down they barnacle me; they entice with constant baits; my enemy is within the citadel. Come with almighty power and cast him out, pierce him to death, and abolish in me every particle of carnal life this day.

Taken from The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions, edited by Arthur Bennett

Yesterday Morning

2010-07-23T13:59:00.002-05:00

I absolutely love walking up with a praise song on my lips! Yesterday morning was one of those mornings. : ) It actually happened two mornings in a row for me this week. Waking up with a joyful spirit is so much fun! I just laid in bed praising God for the day and the joy he put in my heart. What a way to prepare for the day! The song I woke up to was Sing Along by Sixteen Cities. I like the song so much that I am going to share the lyrics with you! Hope you enjoy.

Sing Along

When I look into the painted sky

I see so many colors

They're all a part of your design

It's such a brilliant display

Chorus:

I love the way the stars shine for you

And every single mountain bows down

I love the way the universe is singing your song

So I'll try to sing along

Looking up into the dark blue night

I'm in awe of your power

The way the moon pulls the ocean's tide

You are never contained

Chorus:

I love the way the stars shine for you

And every single mountain bows down

I love the way the universe is singing your song

So I'll try to sing along

All the world is singing your song

I raise my voice and sing along

I love the way the stars shine...for you

Chorus:

I love the way the stars shine for you

And every single mountain bows down

I love the way the universe is singing your song

Chorus:

I love the way the stars shine for you

And every single mountain bows down

I love the way the universe is singing your song

So I'll try to sing along

Intentional Training

2010-06-29T08:27:00.000-05:00

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

How are we to run the race?

Run in such a way as to get the prize.

Running hard after God is a disciplined life for God. This is not a casual relationship. Think about discipline what is it? It's intentional, hard to do, requires training and self control. I looked up the term for discipline here are a couple definitions:

Training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement.
Controlled behavior resulting from disciplinary training; self-control.
(definitions taken from www.dictionary.com)

I've been meditating about how to be disciplined in my life. I desire to develop my relationship with God through discipline:

Discipline of prayer.
Disciple of reading God's Word.
Discipline of my time management.
Discipline of memorization of God's Word.
Discipline in confessing of sin.
Discipline of my Bible study.

"Without discipline, there is no intentional learning. Without learning, there is little understanding of our great God. And without understanding, we will not grow as God intends, but will flounder as week Christians. God has given us the means to know him, and the word is that primary means (quote taken from my Doctrine study written by Cheri Dobbs)."

Two main disciplines for going hard after God are: His Word and Prayer. Cheri has given the example in her study that these two disciplines are our Core. I've learned the importance in having a strong core in my human body so that I am able to be stronger and more stable. It's the same with being disciplined with my life with the Lord, which is my Core. I do not desire to be a weak vessel in this area by any means and desire to develop my disciplines in my time with the Lord. Only through developing my disciplines will I be able to serve God and bring God glory in my life. This takes training, self control, hard work and intentionality to develop my character and patterns of behavior in my relationship with the Lord.

"Going hard after God is specific and unusually intentional. It’s rightly dividing the word, intentionally being on mission, refusing to forget the poor, mentoring others in faith and exercising unto godliness (Cheri Dobbs)."

Father, may I be disciplined so that I may be used more fully for your Kingdom. It’s not about my own gain other than gaining knowledge of who you are and who I am in you. I desire to set aside times with you for the purpose of reflecting, organizing and evaluating. I desire to allow time to evaluate my inner life. Am I doing what I truly want to do? Is my obedience level on par with my knowledge level? Have I simplified my life by organizing my thoughts and desires. Have I silenced all the competing voices in my life by setting aside time to reflect? Is this time set aside informed by your revealed word? I desire to hear your voice Lord. I will only hear your voice through your Word. I need this time with you for perspective and to help put my back on course. I desire to stay on the path of systematic study. Lord, help me turn toward the goal of You. I recognize that I need this time to keep me from being overwhelmed, or at least from being impeded with the flood of emotions and what could be habits. I desire to think with pen in hand. May you give me vision for my life. May I spend time evaluating, meditating and praying through your Word. Only through this discipline will I be effective for your Kingdom. Only through this discipline will my life live out the purpose you have for it. Only through this discipline will I have confidence in who I am because I know who I am in you. Only through this discipline will I be able to fight and battle each and every day. Only through this discipline will I be able to struggle in prayer for others in my life. Only through this discipline will I be able to become the woman you have designed me to be and have you impact others lives through me. May I love others like you have loved me. May I remain teachable to your Truth and may I have a humble heart to receive correction through others and through the teaching of your Word. May I live a life in full obedience to you as a slave of righteousness. Thank you Lord for this time of reflection. May I grow more each day to be effective for your glory and your name’s sake. Amen

Purpose in Life

2010-06-28T15:14:00.000-05:00

I have been reviewing some of my notes from a Doctrine study that my mentor Cheri Dobbs wrote. Here is her outline and the notes I have made regarding the study.

Godward living is moving, facing, or being directed toward God. It is a life deliberately and purposefully aimed toward God. He is the means and the end; he is the way and the final destination. In the Westminster Confession of Faith it is stated that the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever---this is Godward living (Cheri).

How is God your chief end?

Romans 11:36

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen

(Source) From him: Gift of Life

(Means) through him: living on earth

(End) to him are all things: in our death

To him be the glory

Romans 14:7-8

For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

Man is not his own end.

Isaiah 43:21

The people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.

He formed us himself so that we may proclaim his praise.

Isaiah 48:9-11

For my own name’s sake I delay my wrath; for the sake of my praise I hold it back from you, so as not to cut you off. See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this. How can I let myself be defamed? I will not yield my glory to another.

Not yield his glory to another. It’s for his name’s sake. For the sake of his praise.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Not your own -- I’m God’s

Bought at a price -- Jesus sacrificed

Honor God with your body -- His temple

Isaiah 26:8

Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.

Focus on the Lord.

What does God teach us about glorifying himself?

1 Corinthians 6:20

you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Use my body for His Glory, not my own. Respect my body, it’s His temple.

Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Isaiah 43:21

The people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.

Our creator deserves all the praise.

Isaiah 48:9-11

For my own name’s sake I delay my wrath; for the sake of my praise I hold it back from you, so as not to cut you off. See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this. How can I let myself be defamed? I will not yield my glory to another.

Holds back wrath for His name sake. Praise Him. Do not give glory to anyone but God.

John 15:8

This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Bear much fruit. What does this look like? Demonstrate being His disciple.

1 Corinthians 10:31

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Whatever I do, do for the glory of God.

Revelation 4:11

You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.

By God’s will we were created and have our being. He is worthy to receive glory, honor, and power.

What do the Scriptures teach us about enjoying God?

Psalm 1

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Enjoy him by delighting in His Law. Meditate on His Law day and night. Seek His Law. Pursue His Law.

Psalm 16:11

You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

You fill me with joy in your presence. I am formed for His Glory.

Isaiah 26:3-4

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.

Focus on him.

Psalm 19:7-11

The law of the Lord is perfect reviving the soul. The statues of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

Law of the Lord

Perfect
Revives the soul
Makes wise the simple
Gives joy to the heart
Gives light to the eyes
Fear of the Lord is pure
Sure & altogether righteous
Precious & Sweet
Keeping them is great reward

How utterly wonderful is that! See the parallels with the next verses in Psalm.

Psalm 119:97-104

Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts. I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word. I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.

Law of the Lord

Love of the law
Meditation on the law all day long
Obedience of precepts
Commands make me wiser
Attain more insight
Attain more understanding
Keeps feet from every evil path
The Lord is my teacher
Hatred of every wrong path

Psalm 63:1-8

O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

Soul satisfied
Thirsts for you
Praise flowing from my lips
Body longs for you
You are my help
Satisfied soul: fulfillment
You love is better than life.
Relationship is not affectionless
Filled with love
Complete enjoyment

Romans 11:36

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

All of Creation

2010-03-17T23:23:00.000-06:00

Some thing I love to do is listen to music. Lately a song that has been on my mind has been All of Creation by Mercy Me. When I really like a song, I will continue to play it on repeat over and over. Sometimes I just love the beat or instrumental and sometimes I love just listening to the lyrics to allow myself time to worship God and mediate on what is being said through the Praise and Worship song. This song has been one that has penetrated my heart and has allowed a sweet time of worship! Lately, I've been playing KTIS at work, which has been a blessing to listen to worship throughout the day. This song came on today and I just took a little moment to smile and worship! I had just read through Psalm 19 in the morning and as I listened to the lyrics saying, "All of Creation sing with me now," I was brought to an eagerness to sing with all of creation Praise to my Glorious Creator! I was separated, a sinner and my guilt has been pardoned for! I have much to praise my King!!! I am moved to tears just writing this. . .I just wanted to share with you the lyrics of this song and give you the opportunity to let these words sink in and imagine all of creation singing and every knee bowing before our King. If you are able to listen to it, it would be well worth it!!!

All of Creation
By: Mercy Me

Separated until the veil was torn
The moment that hope was born
and guilt was pardoned once and for all

Captivated but no longer bound by chains
left at an empty grave
the sinner and the sacred resolved

[chorus:]
And all of creation sing with me now
Lift up your voice and lay your burden down
And all of creation sing with me now
Fill up the heavens let his glory resound

Time has faded and we see him face to face
every doubt erased forever we will worhip the king

[repeat chorus]

ohh ah ohhh...ohh ah ohhh

The reason we breathe is to sing of his glory
And for all he has done praise the father praise the son and the spirit in one

[repeat chorus 2x]

And every knee will bow oh and every tongue praise the Father praise the Son and the Spirit in one

Celebrating Mel's Birthday

2010-03-17T23:08:00.001-06:00

Last night I was able to hang out with my dear friends to celebrate Mel's birthday! I am so blessed to have each of these beautiful ladies in my life and really enjoy each of them. We spent our evening at Outback Steakhouse, enjoying yummy steak and talking. Here are some pictures from our birthday festivities!

Here is the beautiful birthday girl and I! Lindsey brought a great hat for her to wear!

Oh the many sweet potatoes we received throughout the night! Haha. :)

Mel, Jen and I with her special birthday treat.

All the lovely ladies! Thanks Aaron for snapping the photo! :) We missed out on getting a group shot with Jeni and Josh but they were there too! It was such a fun night to see everyone.

Happy Birthday Mel!

WPM

2010-03-14T19:14:00.000-06:00

I've been practicing my Words Per Minute just for fun these past couple of days. This has been a fun challenge for me to try to beat myself. So far my best score has been 80 WPM with 0 errors! We'll see if I can continue this streak. If you want to check out your own score you can test yourself at this site! Have fun and let me know how you do!

Shabby Chic Workshop

2010-02-27T20:52:00.002-06:00

I had the opportunity to check out the Shabby Chic Card Workshop at Archiver's this weekend and have posted some photos on the cute cards on my Creations by Christina blog! Feel free to check them out if you are interested. I must say I highly recommend the class. It was so simple to follow along in and I loved the design of the cards.

Have a terrific Sunday!

What's For Dinner Tonight

2010-02-22T14:15:00.001-06:00

Well...not actually tonight. I'm just finally posting what I made for dinner last Friday night for my sister Rachel. We also enjoyed some Valentine chocolate for dessert! It was a great evening and I always enjoy my time with her and Ashley! For dinner I made Baked Pork Chops and Corn Casserole. I was able to get the recipe for Baked Pork Chops from my mom, who is the expert in the Baked Chop Department, since it is a much requested dish by my brother. For the Corn Casserole recipe, I was able to acquire from Patrick's family! I used gluten free corn muffin mix and it still turned out puffed up and golden! Yea! Everything turned out picture perfect...I just had to snap a photo of both of these dishes! Thanks to the incredible ladies in my life. Enjoy!

Baked Pork Chops and Corn Casserole

Our yummy chocolate dessert! What a treat.

Chosen

2010-02-13T13:48:00.001-06:00

Here is a video that really touched my heart as I watched it last night. I'm not quite sure how to upload a video from youtube on this blog so I will just attach the link to the site on the bottom of this blog. This video talks about Adoption. Adoption is something near and dear to my heart because I was adopted. I've known I was adopted from my family ever since I was little. It has been a special thing to be "chosen" by my parents, who wanted a little girl and to be given away for a better life by my birth parents because they were unable to raise me. I think of how hard that must have been for my birth mother to give me away and to part with her new born daughter. She had 6 weeks to change her mind but stuck with her decision acting in selflessness to give me a better life. I am truly grateful for her gift of life and choosing to follow through with the pregnancy. I know that must have been tough at age 15. One day I would like to thank her in person and to see who I look like. I would love to hear her story and what her experiences were like. I desire to have the part of my life which has been unknown to be known...one day.

The last week I've been meditating on the verses in Ephesians 1:4-6 and these verses have penetrated my heart with how the Lord has "chosen" and "adopted" me. I just wanted to share with you these verses and I desire for His words to penetrate your heart today. He has chosen you. He has predestined you to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:4-6

4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love
5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will ---
6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

Because of Christ we can be adopted into His family. Our identity and confidence is in Him. I was an orphan. It is by ADOPTION that I call God....FATHER. You may have a tough family life and experienced heartache due to family issues. Know that you, who believe in the redemption through Jesus Christ's blood, are CHOSEN and ADOPTED as His sons through Jesus Christ. Praise God for His grace that He has lavished on us. Praise God for His glorious grace that he has FREELY given us.

As you watch this video think of what He has done for you and what you can do for those in your life who are orphaned.

God's Heart: Adoption

Precious Kate

2010-02-12T14:23:00.000-06:00

I am moved to tears this afternoon as I have read a blog my friend, Stephanie, posted about a precious little 6 year old named Kate. Kate is going through a battle that I can't imagine going through. She has a massive tumor on her brain. Currently she is going through a year of chemo over the course of 6 days. Her little body having to undergo that...I'm speechless. You can read about this sweet child and learn what she is going through on her caring bridge website. What is incredible is that as a body of believers we can join together with her family in this fight through prayer. I do not know this family but they are part of the family of Christ and because of that we are family. I have joined with them in this fight through lifting them up in prayer. If you feel led, please pray for Kate as she undergoes this treatment. Pray for her kidneys to steadily improve. For her to feel the love of her Maker as she goes through this treatment. Pray for her good cells to stay strong and for all the cancerous ones to be destroyed. Pray for her parents, Holly and Aaron as they battle through this on the front lines. Pray for her siblings, Olivia and Will as they are affected by this as well. Pray for her Aunt Steph, as she helps to be a third parent amidst this battle.

Metal Mouth

2010-02-06T08:17:00.002-06:00

Ever wake up with the taste of metal in your mouth? I sure did the other morning. As far as I know I didn't have metal chips in my toothpaste when I brushed my teeth. And my diet the day before did not consist of anything metal as far as I can tell. Since I didn't have any teeth marks in my bed post, which is made of wood anyways, I didn't munch on anything metal when I slept. It's a mystery. Call Sherlock Holmes. And the Hardy Boys on this one! It could quite possibly be because I have a cold. I did hear that when you have a cold the way it gets out of your system is sometimes through your mouth. Not sure on that one...

Psalm 111

2010-02-02T14:18:00.000-06:00

Psalm 111

¹ Praise the LORD.
       I will extol the LORD with all my heart
       in the council of the upright and in the assembly.
² Great are the works of the LORD;
       they are pondered by all who delight in them.
³ Glorious and majestic are his deeds,
       and his righteousness endures forever.
⁴ He has caused his wonders to be remembered;
       the LORD is gracious and compassionate.
⁵ He provides food for those who fear him;
       he remembers his covenant forever.
⁶ He has shown his people the power of his works,
       giving them the lands of other nations.
⁷ The works of his hands are faithful and just;
       all his precepts are trustworthy.
⁸ They are steadfast for ever and ever,
       done in faithfulness and uprightness.
⁹ He provided redemption for his people;
       he ordained his covenant forever—
       holy and awesome is his name.
¹⁰ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
       all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
       To him belongs eternal praise.

These were the verses that I was able to meditate on this morning and it filled my heart with such praise for our King! Praise the Lord. I will extol the Lord with all my heart! What does it mean to extol? When I looked up the word extol in the dictionary it meant to praise enthusiastically. I desire to praise enthusiastically with all my heart before the Lord. As I look at these verses I'm seeing a common theme: He, Him, His and not just that but He provides, He remembers, His deeds, His covenant, His precepts, His works, His hands, His people, To HIM belongs eternal praise. This passage is about HIM.

Ponder on the great works He has done. Think about how glorious and majestic are His deeds. Meditate on His righteousness which endures forever!!! Pause on how He has caused His wonders to be remembered. Bask in how He is gracious and compassionate. Trust that He provides for those who fear Him and that He remembers His covenant forever. Be thankful He has shown His people the power of His works giving them the lands of the other nations. Trust the works of His hands are faithful and just; all His precepts are trustworthy. Trust that they are steadfast for ever and ever, done in faithfulness and uprightness. Know He provided redemption for His people; He ordained His covenant forever--holy and awesome is His name! Understand that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, all who follow His precepts have good understanding. To HIM belongs eternal praise. Give HIM all the praise.

Psalm 115

¹ Not to us, O LORD, not to us
       but to your name be the glory,
       because of your love and faithfulness.

Father,
To your Holy and Awesome name be glory!!!! Not to me, not to me but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. Oh sweet Lord, how majestic are your works. How incredible are your precepts. They are steadfast and trustworthy. I desire to follow your precepts and to know you more. May I trust you completely. Thank you that you are gracious and compassionate. Thank you for your provision. Thank you for this time of meditating on how great you are! May I bring you glory this day and all the days of my life. Amen

Happy Groundhog's Day

2010-02-02T13:45:00.000-06:00

Happy February 2nd on this snowy, cloudy Groundhog's Day! As I drove in to work today I heard the radio announcer asking the caller what day he would do over if he could since it is Groundhog's Day today. I didn't tune in right away but I'm thinking that this is probably in reference to the movie Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray, which is a comical movie about a man who keeps waking up to the same day which happens to be February 2, Groundhog's Day. The caller proceeded to talk about the day he thought he would have liked to do over but ended his story with how he wouldn't actually like to do the day over because those tough circumstances and consequences from that day lead to his unshakable faith and he wouldn't change that for anything. As I was listening to the story there were a few days that I would like to redo but as I thought about it further. I'm also thankful for the tough times because it's through those tough times and circumstances that my faith has really grown. My relationship with the Lord has been strengthened and my love for Him has grown. I'm so grateful for that! It's unfortunate that sometimes it takes the really tough days to realize that. It's a great reminder to head the Lord's instruction in His Word so that I can avoid learning things the difficult way. I'm finding that on this day rather than focus on the thoughts of what would I do over, it is a great day to offer praise to our Holy Creator who brings us through good and bad circumstances for the purpose of refining us to be more like Him.

FYI: The groundhog saw his shadow today so that unfortunately means 6 more weeks of winter...Now I know it's not scientific and it especially doesn't make sense how he saw his shadow on this cloudy day, so we'll just have to see what actually happens come spring!

Hidden In Him

Mary's Heart

Worship

Winter Wonderland

Take My Life

Beloved

Psalm 42

Why Are You Cast Down, O My Soul?

To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah.

2 Chronicles 7:14-15

The Discipline of Grace (Chapter 3)

Fear of Man

Mary Beth Chapman: Choosing To See

Names

A Day to Remember

Objectifying

Proverbs 16:18 18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 16:18

1 Corinthians 1:30-31

30It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

Food for Thought

The Discipline of Grace (Chapter 2)

Abortion Survivor Gianna Jessen

Oh Identity...

The Discipline of Grace (Chapter 1)

Isaiah 1

Celebrating Grandpa's Life

Changes

Bear Hugs

Mist

Hillsong Live - Forever Reign

"Where Oh Where Are You Tonight"

Hello Calluses

Storms

Your Ways

Today

Smells

Evening Prayer

Confession and Petition

Longings after God

Kari Jobe - You Are For Me ( Live )

Morning Needs

Morning Dedication

Music Man Performance

Jazz Fest

Weekend with Khloe

Twins Time

Morning

Yesterday Morning

Intentional Training

Purpose in Life

All of Creation

Celebrating Mel's Birthday

WPM

Shabby Chic Workshop

What's For Dinner Tonight

Chosen

Precious Kate

Metal Mouth

Psalm 111

Psalm 111

Happy Groundhog's Day

Proverbs 16:18
¹⁸ Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall.

³⁰It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. ³¹Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."