Elected by my Heavenly Father before the foundation of the world to eternal life with Himself, not through any foreseen free will faith but only by God's mercy. Jesus Christ the only begotten of the Father then redeemed me through His precious blood shed on the cross and the Holy Spirit made me alive in Christ, it was only then that i willfully ran to the mercy of God through His son Jesus Christ. Therefore i am but a piece of clay whom the Father had mercy on - and the Father now works in me to will and do of His good pleasure - all for the glory of Himself and His dear son Jesus. Heavenly Father has graciously given me a desire for Truth - and my aim is to share this Truth that the Lord Jesus has revealed to me to whoever He wills. For many are called but few are chosen.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Friday, December 9, 2011
purified
"and everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." 1 John 3:3
the cycle seems to be the same, in my life. and each time it purifies... after eleven years, i can look back and see the changes, the purifying effect of the trials, the holiness, the relationship.
like stages, i would often go through many different sinful reactions before utter surrender to the Lord and His Lordship of my life. how sweet it has been to watch (as if from the outside) these different reactions this time, during this trial. the same trial, it seems, only...not the same reaction.
so quickly did i run to His side, under His wing, to the shelter and security of His name. He is good and everything that He allows is good. it will be to His glory. He is the King. this is the time that He has ordained and i will praise Him.
this is not about me being a good wife, a good mother, doing the right thing, saying the right thing, going to church or any of the other self satisfying (yet obedient) actions that are apart of our lives. this is about Him. this is about uttering His holy name and calling on Him. this is about standing in your jammies in the morning and saying "your will, Lord, not mine." this is about standing before your children and saying "His will, not mine" this is about standing in front of your husband and saying the same.
this is about love. "LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, ALL YOUR SOUL AND ALL YOUR STRENGTH." Deuteronomy 6:5
i think about what we are about to live through and shudder in my flesh. i know, we all know what is coming. you can't stay behind the curtain forever. and as a mother, i cringe. i cry out to the LORD and pray for the eyes of the body to be opened from their comfortable slumber. time is short ... ARISE! Oh Church of God! and put your armour on! Shortly, we will battle as never before, are you ready?
when i choose to look beyond the fear of my flesh to the reality of God's perfect timing, i am in awe that He would count me worthy to live through these times. what must He know that i do not? i used to hear a soft whisper, but now i clearly hear the battle cry...
"BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE, DO NOT BE AFRAID, NOR BE DISMAYED, FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD WILL BE WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO!" Joshua 1:9
the cycle seems to be the same, in my life. and each time it purifies... after eleven years, i can look back and see the changes, the purifying effect of the trials, the holiness, the relationship.
like stages, i would often go through many different sinful reactions before utter surrender to the Lord and His Lordship of my life. how sweet it has been to watch (as if from the outside) these different reactions this time, during this trial. the same trial, it seems, only...not the same reaction.
so quickly did i run to His side, under His wing, to the shelter and security of His name. He is good and everything that He allows is good. it will be to His glory. He is the King. this is the time that He has ordained and i will praise Him.
this is not about me being a good wife, a good mother, doing the right thing, saying the right thing, going to church or any of the other self satisfying (yet obedient) actions that are apart of our lives. this is about Him. this is about uttering His holy name and calling on Him. this is about standing in your jammies in the morning and saying "your will, Lord, not mine." this is about standing before your children and saying "His will, not mine" this is about standing in front of your husband and saying the same.
this is about love. "LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, ALL YOUR SOUL AND ALL YOUR STRENGTH." Deuteronomy 6:5
i think about what we are about to live through and shudder in my flesh. i know, we all know what is coming. you can't stay behind the curtain forever. and as a mother, i cringe. i cry out to the LORD and pray for the eyes of the body to be opened from their comfortable slumber. time is short ... ARISE! Oh Church of God! and put your armour on! Shortly, we will battle as never before, are you ready?
when i choose to look beyond the fear of my flesh to the reality of God's perfect timing, i am in awe that He would count me worthy to live through these times. what must He know that i do not? i used to hear a soft whisper, but now i clearly hear the battle cry...
"BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE, DO NOT BE AFRAID, NOR BE DISMAYED, FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD WILL BE WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO!" Joshua 1:9
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
i want to be holy
As a musician, it pains me that there is excruciatingly little of value to listen to, especially "christian" music - most is filled with err and nonsense. However, I find the poignant articulation of Todd Agnew and his guttural cry for the Savior and his need for Him, his desire to be like him overwhelming and much like my own cry.
My Jesus - by Todd Agnew
Which Jesus do you follow?
Which Jesus do you serve?
If Ephesians says to imitate Christ
Then why do you look so much like the world?
Cause my Jesus bled and died
He spent His time with thieves and liars
He loved the poor and accosted the arrogant
So which one do you want to be?
Blessed are the poor in spirit
Or do we pray to be blessed with the wealth of this land
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness
Or do we ache for another taste of this world of shifting sand
Cause my Jesus bled and died for my sins
He spent His time with thieves and sluts and liars
He loved the poor and accosted the rich
So which one do you want to be?
Who is this that you follow
This picture of the American dream
If Jesus was here would you walk right by on the other side or fall down and worship at His holy feet
Pretty blue eyes and curly brown hair and a clear complexion
Is how you see Him as He dies for Your sins
But the Word says He was battered and scarred
Or did you miss that part
Sometimes I doubt we'd recognize Him
Cause my Jesus bled and died
He spent His time with thieves and the least of these
He loved the poor and accosted the comfortable
So which one do you want to be?
Cause my Jesus would never be accepted in my church
The blood and dirt on His feet might stain the carpet
But He reaches for the hurting and despises the proud
I think He'd prefer Beale St. to the stained glass crowd
And I know that He can hear me if I cry out loud
I want to be like my Jesus!
I want to be like my Jesus!
I want to be like my Jesus!
I want to be like my Jesus!
Not a posterchild for American prosperity, but like my Jesus
You see I'm tired of living for success and popularity
I want to be like my Jesus but I'm not sure what that means to be like You Jesus
Cause You said to live like You, love like You but then You died for me
Can I be like You Jesus?
I want to be like you Jesus!
I want to be like my Jesus!
My Jesus - by Todd Agnew
Which Jesus do you follow?
Which Jesus do you serve?
If Ephesians says to imitate Christ
Then why do you look so much like the world?
Cause my Jesus bled and died
He spent His time with thieves and liars
He loved the poor and accosted the arrogant
So which one do you want to be?
Blessed are the poor in spirit
Or do we pray to be blessed with the wealth of this land
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness
Or do we ache for another taste of this world of shifting sand
Cause my Jesus bled and died for my sins
He spent His time with thieves and sluts and liars
He loved the poor and accosted the rich
So which one do you want to be?
Who is this that you follow
This picture of the American dream
If Jesus was here would you walk right by on the other side or fall down and worship at His holy feet
Pretty blue eyes and curly brown hair and a clear complexion
Is how you see Him as He dies for Your sins
But the Word says He was battered and scarred
Or did you miss that part
Sometimes I doubt we'd recognize Him
Cause my Jesus bled and died
He spent His time with thieves and the least of these
He loved the poor and accosted the comfortable
So which one do you want to be?
Cause my Jesus would never be accepted in my church
The blood and dirt on His feet might stain the carpet
But He reaches for the hurting and despises the proud
I think He'd prefer Beale St. to the stained glass crowd
And I know that He can hear me if I cry out loud
I want to be like my Jesus!
I want to be like my Jesus!
I want to be like my Jesus!
I want to be like my Jesus!
Not a posterchild for American prosperity, but like my Jesus
You see I'm tired of living for success and popularity
I want to be like my Jesus but I'm not sure what that means to be like You Jesus
Cause You said to live like You, love like You but then You died for me
Can I be like You Jesus?
I want to be like you Jesus!
I want to be like my Jesus!
Friday, October 28, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
littlest one
this is what i call her most often, littlest one. we enjoy coffee together, as a treat. it is my most favorite time with her. she loves to sit and sip and talk in the cool of the morning. i love this time with her. we both enjoy the drink, but littlest one savors it. i savor her, the time i have been given with her.
"Behold, children [are] a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb [is] a reward." Psalm 127:3
beautiful
 |
| "I rise before the dawning of the morning, And cry for help; I hope in Your word." Psalm 119:147 |
Saturday, October 22, 2011
james 4:7-11
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse [your] hands, [ye] sinners; and purify [your] hearts, [ye] double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and [your] joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of [his] brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge." James 4:7-11
"resist the devil and he will flee from you." resist him? i have been making him coffee in the morning and holding his hand through the day. knowing that this is why when i pray i seem to be only uttering words - for my children. for appearances. near to Him? no, not near, but far far away.
forget submitting to God. not only have i not drawn near to Him, but have utterly avoided Him. why? in Him alone is forgiveness and peace. what can wash away my sins? nothing but the blood of Jesus. why can't i come before Him? i know He sees me? why can't i come boldly before the throne of grace. did you hear that? grace! He gives grace.
cleanse my hands, purify my heart? there is no affliction. she asks me when the last time i shed tears over this matter. i laughed. i laughed so i wouldn't cry. look at what the verse says: "let your laughter be turned to mourning." "humble yourself."
i couldn't sleep last night. that is not normal. i always sleep. it wasn't that chris wasn't in the bed, we haven't slept in the same room for a week. it's not that he is out of town. the night before i slept soundly. when i slept, my dreams tormented me. i was hot, uncomfortable all through the night.
the only peace i have is buried down deeply and i feel like i am using a child's shovel to dig it out. it is going painstakingly slow. the only comfort i have right now is knowing that because i am His, He will not allow me the comfort of staying right where i am. it is only by His love and His will that i have the smallest desire to change.
she said you are afraid and i cried. why? i don't know why or of what? what could be scarier than where i am now? i hate this flesh. i hate this sin. this heart of mine. i utterly despise it. the chains of this body, this mind. He said i would be new, He said i wouldn't be a slave. He said He would empower me to choose. I want to be free. Jesus said that He is the way the truth and the life and that we would know the truth and the truth would set me free. why then do i still seem so confounded by this life? why do i sit on the judgement seat seeking to be like-god in all that i think, say and do? why?
"Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin [is] always before me.
Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done [this] evil in Your sight--That You may be found just when You speak, [And] blameless when You judge.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.
Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden [part] You will make me to know wisdom.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me hear joy and gladness, [That] the bones You have broken may rejoice.
Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me [by Your] generous Spirit.
[Then] I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.
Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, [And] my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give [it]; You do not delight in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart--These, O God, You will not despise." Psalm 51:1-17
"resist the devil and he will flee from you." resist him? i have been making him coffee in the morning and holding his hand through the day. knowing that this is why when i pray i seem to be only uttering words - for my children. for appearances. near to Him? no, not near, but far far away.
forget submitting to God. not only have i not drawn near to Him, but have utterly avoided Him. why? in Him alone is forgiveness and peace. what can wash away my sins? nothing but the blood of Jesus. why can't i come before Him? i know He sees me? why can't i come boldly before the throne of grace. did you hear that? grace! He gives grace.
cleanse my hands, purify my heart? there is no affliction. she asks me when the last time i shed tears over this matter. i laughed. i laughed so i wouldn't cry. look at what the verse says: "let your laughter be turned to mourning." "humble yourself."
i couldn't sleep last night. that is not normal. i always sleep. it wasn't that chris wasn't in the bed, we haven't slept in the same room for a week. it's not that he is out of town. the night before i slept soundly. when i slept, my dreams tormented me. i was hot, uncomfortable all through the night.
the only peace i have is buried down deeply and i feel like i am using a child's shovel to dig it out. it is going painstakingly slow. the only comfort i have right now is knowing that because i am His, He will not allow me the comfort of staying right where i am. it is only by His love and His will that i have the smallest desire to change.
she said you are afraid and i cried. why? i don't know why or of what? what could be scarier than where i am now? i hate this flesh. i hate this sin. this heart of mine. i utterly despise it. the chains of this body, this mind. He said i would be new, He said i wouldn't be a slave. He said He would empower me to choose. I want to be free. Jesus said that He is the way the truth and the life and that we would know the truth and the truth would set me free. why then do i still seem so confounded by this life? why do i sit on the judgement seat seeking to be like-god in all that i think, say and do? why?
"Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin [is] always before me.
Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done [this] evil in Your sight--That You may be found just when You speak, [And] blameless when You judge.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.
Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden [part] You will make me to know wisdom.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me hear joy and gladness, [That] the bones You have broken may rejoice.
Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me [by Your] generous Spirit.
[Then] I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.
Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, [And] my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give [it]; You do not delight in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart--These, O God, You will not despise." Psalm 51:1-17
Friday, October 21, 2011
confessions of a sinner
can you imagine an exhausted, wounded and utterly surrounded warrior wanting to prolong the battle that he fights? absolutely not! peace - he struggles against oppression, for peace. he should decidedly rather be at home in the sweet comfort of those he loves.
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places]." Ephesians 6:12
what battle is this i have the audacity to say tires me? exhausts me? utterly overwhelms me? there are those running for their very lives this very moment - in china, in sudan, in iran, in afghanastan, uae, france. there are those who don't dare whisper the name above all names for fear of death. His words are desperately hidden from sight and memorized at length for fear that their book may be seen and taken. there are those who are starved, tortured, beaten, bruised and killed - counted worthy by Him who suffered the same.
no, i sit and battle my wretched pride that overtakes me at near every turn. how fast it grows when it is fed. it is fed here in this comfortable life of mine. no, not that for dinner, this. are you kidding me? no, don't straighten the living room like that, can't you see that the couch cover is crooked? seriously? can't you see that you are in my way of what i want, when i want it and how i want it?
my Christ died for me. before the foundation of the world, Christ chose me. while i was His enemy, Christ loved me.
"Woe to him who strives with his Maker! [Let] the potsherd [strive] with the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him who forms it, 'What are you making?' Or shall your handiwork [say], 'He has no hands'?" Isaiah 45:9
WOE - as opposed to blessed.
"God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." James 4:6
RESISTS - opposes
i confess, i am proud. i am filled with pride. it flows from me as easily as i breath. it is our curse. don't you remember? to be like-god. that liar, that cunning, evil liar who from old lied to our mother eve and continues to lie to us. and like sheep led to the slaughter, we follow.
LORD save us! LORD forgive us. LORD change us. LORD, be our LORD and Master.
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do [them]." Ezekiel 36:26-27
i must cling to this promise LORD. it is you who must accomplish your purposes within me. please LORD, i am drowning...
..."And immediately Jesus stretched out [His] hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" Matthew 14:31
catch me Jesus.
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places]." Ephesians 6:12
what battle is this i have the audacity to say tires me? exhausts me? utterly overwhelms me? there are those running for their very lives this very moment - in china, in sudan, in iran, in afghanastan, uae, france. there are those who don't dare whisper the name above all names for fear of death. His words are desperately hidden from sight and memorized at length for fear that their book may be seen and taken. there are those who are starved, tortured, beaten, bruised and killed - counted worthy by Him who suffered the same.
no, i sit and battle my wretched pride that overtakes me at near every turn. how fast it grows when it is fed. it is fed here in this comfortable life of mine. no, not that for dinner, this. are you kidding me? no, don't straighten the living room like that, can't you see that the couch cover is crooked? seriously? can't you see that you are in my way of what i want, when i want it and how i want it?
my Christ died for me. before the foundation of the world, Christ chose me. while i was His enemy, Christ loved me.
"Woe to him who strives with his Maker! [Let] the potsherd [strive] with the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him who forms it, 'What are you making?' Or shall your handiwork [say], 'He has no hands'?" Isaiah 45:9
WOE - as opposed to blessed.
"God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." James 4:6
RESISTS - opposes
i confess, i am proud. i am filled with pride. it flows from me as easily as i breath. it is our curse. don't you remember? to be like-god. that liar, that cunning, evil liar who from old lied to our mother eve and continues to lie to us. and like sheep led to the slaughter, we follow.
LORD save us! LORD forgive us. LORD change us. LORD, be our LORD and Master.
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do [them]." Ezekiel 36:26-27
i must cling to this promise LORD. it is you who must accomplish your purposes within me. please LORD, i am drowning...
..."And immediately Jesus stretched out [His] hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" Matthew 14:31
catch me Jesus.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Isaiah 48:13
"Indeed My hand has laid the foundation of the earth, And My right hand has stretched out the heavens; [When] I call to them, They stand up together."
rain has been falling here in south texas. what a blessing. last night there was a storm. south texas has thunderstorms. i thought that i knew what a thunderstorm was, but as they say, everything is bigger here in texas.
i woke to many waters and thunderous rolls that seemingly had no end. one and then another and another. i love them. it is in the midst of this, that i feel the nearness, the power and the presence of Almighty God.
"And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder." Revelation 14:2
when my daughter's sweet hands wrapped around me in gripped fear, and her face was pressed close. i whispered to her . . . this is how the Bible describes the very voice of God. listen child, listen to His power, listen to His strength. indeed, there is none like Him! she watches me in the light of the sky and i can see her wonder. i can see the questions that she does not ask as she studies my adoration of the King and revel in His glorious revelation of might!
. . . and so i prayed through my sleepless early morning, thanking the LORD for waking me to the sound of His blessings, the thoughts of Him, the peace He gives. . . and I held my child close, whispering my great love song to my Jesus. . . and when i woke later that morn, she was sleeping.
rain has been falling here in south texas. what a blessing. last night there was a storm. south texas has thunderstorms. i thought that i knew what a thunderstorm was, but as they say, everything is bigger here in texas.
i woke to many waters and thunderous rolls that seemingly had no end. one and then another and another. i love them. it is in the midst of this, that i feel the nearness, the power and the presence of Almighty God.
"And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder." Revelation 14:2
when my daughter's sweet hands wrapped around me in gripped fear, and her face was pressed close. i whispered to her . . . this is how the Bible describes the very voice of God. listen child, listen to His power, listen to His strength. indeed, there is none like Him! she watches me in the light of the sky and i can see her wonder. i can see the questions that she does not ask as she studies my adoration of the King and revel in His glorious revelation of might!
. . . and so i prayed through my sleepless early morning, thanking the LORD for waking me to the sound of His blessings, the thoughts of Him, the peace He gives. . . and I held my child close, whispering my great love song to my Jesus. . . and when i woke later that morn, she was sleeping.
Friday, October 7, 2011
obedience
we obey because He is holy and worthy of obedience. as i was instructing my child today, this phrase came out of my mouth. i was struck - i was struck. i repeated it for her, for me, three times.
i must obey Him because He is holy and worthy of my obedience. Shepherding my child's heart, ha - all the while, He is shepherding my heart.
i must obey Him because He is holy and worthy of my obedience. Shepherding my child's heart, ha - all the while, He is shepherding my heart.
Friday, September 30, 2011
what will i choose
Will i choose to say - my will be done - or thy will be done?
A choice.
It is always a choice. Never to far in to change your choice. Never to far gone to turn around, to repent.
LORD, uphold me with your hand and do not let my foot slip. Enable me to choose life, to choose you, to choose your will. Cast me not away from you, but renew my spirit, cleanse me and change me. Conform me and mold me. i am the clay, you are the Master. Dare i say to you, what have you done? Dare i?
Dare i?
i love you LORD. i lift up my prayers to you in the morning and all the day long. Hear my cries, hear my cries, hear my cries for you are HOLY, HOLY, HOLY and it is only to you that i dare turn.
A choice.
It is always a choice. Never to far in to change your choice. Never to far gone to turn around, to repent.
LORD, uphold me with your hand and do not let my foot slip. Enable me to choose life, to choose you, to choose your will. Cast me not away from you, but renew my spirit, cleanse me and change me. Conform me and mold me. i am the clay, you are the Master. Dare i say to you, what have you done? Dare i?
Dare i?
i love you LORD. i lift up my prayers to you in the morning and all the day long. Hear my cries, hear my cries, hear my cries for you are HOLY, HOLY, HOLY and it is only to you that i dare turn.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
oh, taste and see
"Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!" Psalm 34:8
Friday, September 23, 2011
psalm 91
"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God in Him I will trust."
Is it weird that there is Scripture taped to the back of toilet? Probably. I need them. I need HIM. I need His word to surround me. You see, this almost uselessly small lue in the middle of our living room instantly reminded me of this verse. It felt like a secret place.
Oh how I need Him. How I cling to Him. How things go terribly terribly wrong when I don't. Oh, if only I could stay bundled up in my small corner clinging to His feet in our secret place.
Is it weird that there is Scripture taped to the back of toilet? Probably. I need them. I need HIM. I need His word to surround me. You see, this almost uselessly small lue in the middle of our living room instantly reminded me of this verse. It felt like a secret place.
Oh how I need Him. How I cling to Him. How things go terribly terribly wrong when I don't. Oh, if only I could stay bundled up in my small corner clinging to His feet in our secret place.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
appearances matter
1 Thessalonians 5:22 commands us to "abstain from all appearance of evil."
abstain - to hold one's self off, refrain, abstain
from - separation
all - each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything
appearance - the external or outward appearance, form figure, shape
evil - evil wicked, bad
"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." v.23
"Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it." v.24
"Brethren, pray for us." v.25
abstain - to hold one's self off, refrain, abstain
from - separation
all - each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything
appearance - the external or outward appearance, form figure, shape
evil - evil wicked, bad
"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." v.23
"Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it." v.24
"Brethren, pray for us." v.25
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
in His hands are all things
My child sweetly rubbed my arm and climbed into our bed last night; awoken by the thunder and bright lightening. I love thunderstorms. Blessing the Lord through my sleepy thoughts, pondering His goodness to grant us rain. With every commanding thunder my child held onto me tighter..."do not be afraid, our God is in control of all things."
Unable to succumb to sleep, we watched with awe together - God's merciful glimpse into His might. I love to be in the middle of such a majestic display of power. He is the Almighty God from whom all blessing flow. What beauty. What power. What majesty.
"The voice of thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook." Psalm 77:18
Unable to succumb to sleep, we watched with awe together - God's merciful glimpse into His might. I love to be in the middle of such a majestic display of power. He is the Almighty God from whom all blessing flow. What beauty. What power. What majesty.
"The voice of thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook." Psalm 77:18
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Following Jesus
"Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow me." Mark 10:21
Why do we save what we cannot keep? Why don't we give all for what we can never lose?
Racked with shame for the faithless follower I seem to be, I cry out to you, O Lord, hear me! Conform me to your image.
"Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whome He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy, and gathered out of the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south." Psalm 107:1-3
Why do we save what we cannot keep? Why don't we give all for what we can never lose?
Racked with shame for the faithless follower I seem to be, I cry out to you, O Lord, hear me! Conform me to your image.
"Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whome He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy, and gathered out of the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south." Psalm 107:1-3
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