happiness

 

This may sound funny, but I know people who would agree.
    There are certain outfits or clothes that just make you feel better. You become more confident, and just feel better about yourself.
I had that today. and I like those moments. Those items.

I know that we can’t take anything in this world with us to heaven, and I really don’t want to. and I also know that  ‘things’ should not be the source of our happiness. But today, I spent the day with my mother, and we did a little shopping and went to a movie and ate. It was lovely. I had been looking forward to it all week actually. Becasue I guess recently you could just say I’ve had numerous moments of sadness. So the other day I was praying for happiness. Because I have joy, we choose joy, but I guess I just don’t feel happy very often anymore. And I don’t mean this blog entry to sound depressing, because it’s not, and I’m not, I love where my life is at, I love my hardships because I know God is using them to mold me for His purpose in my life and in His kingdom and I truly, from the dephs of my heart am excited for all of the change and transition that is happening and will continue to happen the next couple years. I’ve just been noticing i don’t laugh like I used to, and I’m not near as happy as I used to be, so I asked God to be happy. and today, with my mom and through a new purchase and an old shirt/outfit, I felt confident. I felt good. I was happy. Spending time with my mother. Just being a girl, with no weight of the world for a few hours.

So I have to thank my God, my Father for today. For those hours. For every hour, no matter my attitude and emotion. He is good. and I am in love with Him. And ready to follow Him wherever, whenever, I long to be obedient (mom and I were talking about that today!), and I long to please Him, and He is my source of happiness, joy, excitement, confidence….

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”I therefore, a prisoner for the LORD, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Ephesians 4:1-3

not alone.

 

One thing  I love about God is that He will never leave you. You can rely 200% on Him. He is and supplies all you need. You can trust Him with your life and know that you are loved and in good hands.

Mornings spent, let me rephrase, anytime spent in worship and fellowship and reading with Jesus, are times well spent.
   Why don’t we do it more?

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”Therefore we said, ‘Let us now build an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice, but to be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we do perform the service of the LORD in his presence with our burnt offerings and sacrifices and peace offerings, so your children will not say to our children in time to come, ‘You have no portion with the LORD'.’”
   Joshua 22:26-27

God is always working on us.

 

You know I actually like being productive and knowing that I have accomplished something and am able to take it off of a ‘to-do’ list.
This doesn’t actually happen very often. I am a very unorganized person. But with age and more defined roles in life, more responsibility is required and I like it. I just need to sometimes have deadlines for things, or just learn to be disciplined myself and just to do it.

I like where God has me. I like what God is constantly teaching me.
It’s not always fun nor easy, but I know it’s good for me, and I trust Him.

do the things you absolutely love. don’t get tired of them, don’t quit on them. make time. do the things you find hard. it’s good for you. and you learn things about yourself that you never realized, and it’s good.

From the depths of my heart I love You LORD. and Your Word. and All You are….

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”My eyes are ever toward the LORD…”
Psalm 25:15

God is All.

 

“ The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

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.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.^{”
Psalm 23}

^{Your attitude is not greater than God.}

 

^{VERSE OF THE DAY:
”}Lift up your heads, O gates!
And lift them up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of hosts,
he is the King of glory! “
Psalm 24:9-10

sacrifice

 

Christmas time has come to be known as a time of giving. Typically a time of giving presents.

This morning after we were done with our presents and after breakfast, we were just talking about Jesus. and I couldn’t help but keep thinking of how much Jesus sacrificed, just by becoming a child. He not only gave up His life for our sake…but He gave up His glory. He will have his human form for the rest of eternity. I’m not sure where it mentions this in the bible (i should probably find out), but it’s been mentioned in my classes and from men I really respect biblically.
   Jesus gave up His glory in Heaven, to become a man…a baby…so that He could die and be the atoning sacrifice for our sins…and when I think of how He sacrificed His glory just to become ‘man’, I love Him so much more and cannot help but say Thank You.

And in thinking about that, and the absolutely astounding love of Christ and how sacrifice is a part of that love, I can’t help but sacrifice my own selfish desires for the sake of His honor and glory.

Our King is beyond worthy.

O COME LET US ADORE HIM….

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us). “
Matthew 1:22-23

Father’s Love

 

So I havent posted for a couple days. I apologize
 
Father’s will do anything for their children.
Some people may call me spoiled….but I can sit in front of my dad and he knows just what I want. A massage. My dad has carpal tunnel surgery a couple years ago as well, and it still bothers him, but today he gave me a massage for an hour. And the other day we were watching a movie where a father does a silly charachter called mr.napkin head, and its quite funny. and God, as our Father, will do anything for us as well. He will work everything in our lives out just perfectly so that He can be glorified and so that we can honor Him. and I am so grateful for this. Grateful for a family that loves. Grateful for the favor of God. Grateful for the simple pleasures in life. Grateful for Jesus, coming to earth in the form of a baby, and grew up as a man, and died for my sin on the cross and rose again victorious!

A Father’s love, is a beautiful thing. Family bonds, blood or spiritual, is a beautiful thing.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
” If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”
Matthew 7:11

It’s okay to ask.

faith like a child

 

I read this today in preparation and at our Girl’s Bible Study about prayer. and I just thought it was super cute. and it as well reminded me that we are to have childlike faith. so I just felt like sharing!

“One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die, so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth. He doesn't make grown-ups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way He doesn't have to take up His valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers."

"God's second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times beside bedtime. God doesn't have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this. Because He hears everything, there must be a terrible lot of noise in His ears, unless He has thought of a way to turn it off."

"God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn't go wasting His time by going over your Mom and Dad's head asking for something they said you couldn't have."

"Atheists are people who don't believe in God. I don't think there are any in Chula Vista. At least there aren't any who come to our church."

"Jesus is God's Son. He used to do all the hard work like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn't want to learn about God. They finally got tired of Him preaching to them and they crucified Him. But He was good and kind, like His Father and He told His Father that they didn't know what they were doing and to forgive them and God said O.K."

"His Dad (God) appreciated everything that He had done and all His hard work on earth so He told Him He didn't have to go out on the road anymore. He could stay in heaven. So He did. And now He helps His Dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which ones He can take care of Himself without having to bother God. Like a secretary, only more important."

"You can pray anytime you want and they are sure to help you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the time."

"You should always go to church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's God. Don't skip church or do something you think will be more fun like going to the beach. This is wrong. And besides the sun doesn't come out at the beach until noon anyway."

"If you don't believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can't go everywhere with you, like to camp, but God can. It is good to know He's around you when you're scared in the dark or when you can't swim and you get thrown into real deep water by big kids."

"But...you shouldn't just always think of what God can do for you. I figure God put me here and He can take me back anytime He pleases. And...that's why I believe in God."

Danny Dutton, 8 yr old from California.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”Some trust in chariots and some trust in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”
Psalm 20:7

Holy Word Of God

 

What better way to fall more in love with Christ than through His living Word?!

in Daniel 9 daniel is praying to God and confessing sin and saying how the Israelites have committed treason against Him, and His laws and how disobedient they have been and how merciful and forgiving God is and has been. And I was just kind of blown away, once again, by the mercy and forgiveness of God.

do we really take our sin seriously before a Holy God? Do we really meditate on how merciful God is to us?

God giving the Israelites the law, was a very merciful thing to do.

God is Holy. God is Merciful. God is forgiving. God loves us, and we should meditate on these things. Store them in our hearts.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
    PSALM 19 (read it all)

“…the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.” v.9b-10

girl’s night

 

I love just hanging out with the girls. Old traditions for some, New traditions for others. I love laughing. I love lounging and watching movies. I love chatting it up with the girls.

Today was a good day. Relationships were built deeper. and I love God more, because He gives us moments of enjoyment. things and people to enjoy. As well as He uses us, and gifts us, and challenges us, and we should be very grateful for that!

Reflect on your day. On your past. On all God is and all God has done. and you will Praise Him.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”FOR THIS I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations, and sing to your name.”
Psalm 18:49

tis the season

 

I love Christmas songs. they just bring such joy and comfort and peace.
I love church, and studying the Bible with the body of Christ, and alone.
I love thinking about Christ.
I love looking back on past struggles and being able to see God’s hand and seeing how much of a deeper love and relationship…I have.
I love godliness.
I love God, of course. and that His ways are higher than my ways and that He can do whatever He pleases!

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.”
Luke 2:19

super dooper blessed

 

It’s amazing what the words “Merry Christmas” can do for someone. The other week we had the discussion on how the term Happy Holidays has kind of replaced Merry Christmas…and how Christ is basicaly being taken out of Christmas these days. so to say merry Christmas you are remembering Christ more…and so today, since I work at a christmas store, i felt obliged to tell people Merry Christmas at certain times and every person who I told, their faces seemed to light up. and that kinda made my day.

Also at work, us girls by the end of the day, were just goin a bit crazy. giggling at everything. was just one of thsoe days i guess. but i love ‘outside’ contact. i dont get it often, and i don’t realize how much I miss it, until I’m in it and enjoying it! Sometimes I think we can get stuck to much with just the people we live with or work with or are around all the time, and granted, i absolutely love those people with all my heart, but we need breaks. we need ‘outsiders’ in our lives, and to get out and communicate with others. whether that be old friends, new friends, work friends…etc. we need it.

i guess today, I just was remembering at times just how blessed I am and how much I really enjoy my life. I think I needed that. God knew I obviously did. :)

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”"You are my LORD. I have no good apart from You."
Psalm 16:2

missing you.

 

I don’t quite know what exactly to write tonight.  I’m missing a lot of things and a lot of people at the moment a lot of different thoughts and emotions going on right now it seems. But one thing I do know…God is faithful, and everything in our lives will always be for His glory and honor and fame.

Just really been loving reading Daniel and even my fiction book by Ted Deker. and I’m just constantly being reminded that God always is victorious, and will always come through and it’s all for His name’s sake! and I find joy in this!

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”Then the presidents and satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him.”
Daniel 6:4

finding love in struggles.

 

Seeing people in their struggles and being transparent, learning to deal with issues in life, and God just breaking them….makes me fall more in love with people.

I like realness. When we as sinful people, admit that we have issues and are willing to deal with them, realize them and allow God to work on us.

God uses the brokenness in people, to help me fall more in love.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”I will sing to the LORD because he has dealt bountifully with me.”
Psalm 13:6

thinking

 

Have you ever just been sitting somewhere and all of a sudden in a moment, think of what all couple possibly be happening at that exact same moment?!
   All the deaths, the hunger, the tears, the joy, the celebrations, the parties, the accidents, the people crossing the street, the sleeping, the fights, the walking, the preaching, the worshipping, the wailing, the surgeries….

just thinking of that kinda blows your mind. but the thinking’s not done..because then you realize, GOD SEE’S ALL OF IT and knows all that is happening intricately. He is all-knowing. He is everywhere.

I had honestly never thought about this before, at least that I can remember, cuz I feel like this is something I would remember. I’ve known that God is all-knowing and everywhere at once, but to actually sit and think about it and all that couple possibly be happening, which I probably can’t even come close to imagining, God actually see’s it all! That is pretty astounding to me!

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”For the LORD is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.”
Psalm 11:7

Daniel

 

So dreams and their meaning have been a thing i’ve been thinking about recently and praying about. and so I decided to start reading Daniel, becasue well, Daniel interpreted dreams. And while reading today, I was pretty excited and in awe with God!
  In short, I only read the first 2 chapters, but basically what blew my away was when Daniel went to King Nebuchadnezzar and told him his dream and basically, from what I understand, Neb (for short) was basically dreaming of the ‘latter days’, or what I believe would be the end times. In verse 44 it says “And in the days of those kinds the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever….” and there is more. but we were talking about the end times the other night to and how Daniel is full of prophecy and I just find it absolutely amazing that God gave Neb a dream about the end days and that Daniel even told him the dream without him giving him a hint of what he actually dreamed, and he was just confident in God and sought God on the matter and God revealed and of all things, He was revealing the end.             Kind of makes me wonder why then, why Neb!? But I know there is a purpose in it, maybe I’ll find more in reading, or maybe I’ll never know. either way, its okay! :) I just love God more!

 

It’s also  pretty cool how when you love and care for someone, you can cry tears of happyness for them when you think about them and their future and all God has done in their life.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”…No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days…” Daniel 2:27-28

what to choose

 

You know, its very easy to go through your day, and not really think of Christ.
   But as I look back on my day, I see good and i see bad in my thought processes. Like any normal day of a sinful human being. Praise the Lord for His grace and sanctification. and especially recently, my mind just seems to be all over the place, and ive been forgetting things more, i think i’ve been stressed and spiritually attacked. and I think that we forget all to often. A lot of things. but especially, we forget to think about Christ. We forget that there is an invisible war going on, that we are not just fighting against flesh and blood as Ephesians 6 tells us, but against spiritual forces in the heavenly places…Our lives are serious. Jesus coming back is serious.

Tonight we were talking about the return of Christ…and at one point, I got super excited. Knowing that one day Jesus will reign on earth, and one day, there will be a new heaven and a new earth and Satan will be cast out forever and we will all spend eternity with the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost. This stuff is real. Do we really believe that?! When you sit and actually think about it, it kinda blows you away. We forget that there is a spiritual realm, that someday will be our reality. And I must say, I am excited. because I know that God wins.

So I am grateful, that even in the midst of forgetfulness due to numerous things this life grants us…that God still loves me and does remind me when I need reminded and hears my prayer, because my desire is to remember Jesus every second. And I still can’t wrap a lot of things around my head, but I know it to be true, that I have favor with God and He loves me so deeply, and He will never let me go. I am grateful.

May we, His children, not be able to help but be on our faces before our Heavenly Merciful Holy Father. He is greater than this world and all other power’s.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart: I will recount all of your wonderful deeds…And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you….For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not persih forever…Put them in fear, O LORD! Let the nations know that they are but men.”
  Psalm 9:1, 10, 18, 20

good lessons in 2 days.

 

I skipped yesterday. so tonight, is a double whammy!

Yesterday:
     Who knew you could learn awesome lessons from 3 yr olds?! I love it. My heart was extremely blessed and even challenged yesterday when during worship with Polen, during the song “Always”, little Raine was seriously singing at the top of his lungs. with all he got. He didn’t care if ppl were laughing, looking, smiling…he didnt care. he just did it. cuz i believe he loves Jesus and he loves music.
  As well, we do what we see people around us do.
This is huge, because you look at children. They repeat what you say, what you do…can be kind of scary. but they do it. and we do that with our friends and people we are around often, we all of a sudden notice that we start talking or acting like the people we are around all the time. We have a high influence rate on people, whether we realize it or not.
   But my lesson last night in all of this was…if a kid, who see’s his daddy sing with every ounce of him and doesn’t care if the people around him care because he’s just worshipping, can sing that way….why can’t i? Why do I let fear grab hold of me?! WHo is man…that I should be fearful of him?! God is totally worth it! So why, so often, do i live in shame…hindering a gift, a privilege.

I think this is partly why God tells us to be like children. They just do what they see their Father doing (for the most part) when really young. Cuz when we grow up…we lose that. But if we 1. have good Fathers and 2. look to God as our Father, i pray that we don’t lose that, and i wish we wouldn’t lose it.

 

Today:      APPRECIATE: to value or regard highly…
       I really don’t know if we actually know what it means to TRULY appreciate people, or anything. Unless we witness and come in contact with really appreciate people.
I love the poor. My heart breaks for them. Esp poor children. I have had an opportunity to serve in Romania for 2 weeks with kids and honestly, one of the greatest things. And i would love to do it again. And I sponsor a girl from Tanzania, and it just seems to keep coming up…the poor and compassion international…and my heart just cries because I want to go so bad to see her. To see her conditions. because i read, and i hear stories and i have witnessed of how these kids will save their food to share with their families. Nothing get’s thrown away. Of a teenager who loves Jesus and leads her mother to Christ, and who just tells everyone she can about Christ…there is an urgency..(which I lack way to often). They appreciate the letter’s and money you send. People in need who appreciate even the smallest thing. Appreciate…

I want to truly appreciate people. To know what they actually looks and feels like for me in my life. Because I feel like I haven’t even touched on what it really is.

 

VERSE OF  THE DAY:
”Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack.”
Psalm 34:9

believe

 

I just like Jesus. He is cool. Time spent with Him praying and reading His word is precious time. And challenging.

Endure and Believe. are 2 words that keep coming up to me. I can only find these things in HIM, and i must allow Him to work and be my strength and not try in my own strength. I must be willing.
Willingness plays a vital role in our relationship with Christ, in our lives.

Ask yourself if your willing, to do anything for Christ, to risk anything for Christ, to give up everything for Christ, and to endure and persevere for Christ, and to believe Christ.

He Is Worth It.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”I will not be afraid of many thousands of people
who have set themselves against me all around.”
Psalm 3:6

How often do I fear but one person….David had thousands of people hating him at times…yet He found refuge and strength in the LORD. Surely I can do the same.

You are Good

 

I love finding out fun little things about the Bible. Like what exactly a cupbearer does and how important of a role each person has in the Kingdom and how God prepares the way for them and answers the prayers of those who fear Him and are faithful and love Him and the one He has chosen.

I also like secrets because im terrible at keeping them so i need help to keep them, esp when people try to get them out of me. i give too many hints away. so its rather fun to laugh hysterically with friends during these times because we all get so riled up! :)

God is good! :) Time spent with Him, is well spent time. Jesus is the source of all good in my life. :)

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places”
Ephesians 1:3

Nehemiah

 

“They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them. Even when they had made for themselves a golden calf and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up our of Egpyt,’ and had committed great blasphemies, you in your great mercies did not forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud to lead them in the way did not depart from them by day, not the pillar of fire by night to light for them the way by which they should go. You gave your good Spirit to instruct them and did not withhold your manna from their mouth and gave them water for their thirst. Forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell.
And you gave them kingdoms and peoples and allotted to them every corner. So they took possession of the land of Sihon king of Heshbon and the land of Og king of Bashan. You multiplied their children as the stars of heaven, and you brought them into the land that you had told their fathers to enter and possess. So the descendants went in and possessed the land, and you subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Caananites, and gave them into their hand, with their kings and the peoples of the land, that they might do with them as they would.  And they captured fortified cities and a rich land, and took possession of houses full of all good things, cisterns already hewn, vineyards, olive orchards and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled and became fat and delighted themselves in your great goodness.
Nevertheless, they were disobedient and rebelled against you and cast your law behind their back and killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you, and they committed great blasphemies. Therefore you gave them into the hand of their enemies, who made them suffer. And in the time of their suffering they cried out to you and you heard them from heaven, and according to your great mercies you gave them saviors who saved them from the hand of their enemies. But after they had rest they did evil again before you, and you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies, so that they had dominion over them. Yet when they turned and cried to you, you heard from heaven, and many times you delivered them according to your mercies. And you warned them in order to turn them back to your law. Yet they acted presumptuously and did not obey your commandments, but sinned against your rules, which if a person does them, he shall live by them, and they turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck and would not obey. Many years you bore with them and warned them by your Spirit through your prophets. Yet they would not give ear. Therefore you gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands. Nevertheless, in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.”
Nehemiah 9:17-31

 

There is a theme. God’s mercy. and His faithfulness. As Holy, and Just, and Perfect as God is, and how much He despises sin…He is still merciful and extremely faithful. He is the definition of all these words. We mess up. We get overwhelmed and overcome by this world. We are fearful. We fall. but God is always there. with His mercy.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing,  because they had understood the words that were declared to them.”
Nehemiah 8:12

its about perspectives

 

Reminiscing, updating, talking about life, catching up with friends.
Praying for your hurting brother.
Laughing with friends while working out.
Being encouraged by someone else’s encouragement.
Community.
Seeing growth.
The Word.
Thoughts of Northern Ireland.
Yelling in a deep voice.
Talking.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”I sought the LORD and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.”
Psalm 34:4
”

i’d rather have Jesus

 

“I walked out to the hill just now. It is exalting, delicious, to stand embraced by the shadows of a friendly tree with the wind tugging at your coattail and the heavens hailing your heart, to gaze and glory and give oneself again to God—what more could a man ask? Oh, the fullness, pleasure, and sheer excitement of knowing God on earth! I care not if I never raise my voice again for Him, if only I may love Him, please Him.

Perhaps in mercy He shall give me a host of children that I may lead them through the vast star fields to explore His delicacies whose finger ends set them to burning. But if not, if only I may see Him, touch His garments, and smile into His eyes—ah, then, not stars not children shall matter, only Himself…”
Jim Elliot

I read this, and in my heart, I longed to have this same perspective, this same heart. A heart that is so longing of God, to love Him and to please Him, that nothing else matters, no matter what. Not my selfish desires, not my pain, not my turmoil, not the people around me, not the situations i may be involved in…not even the good in my life should matter, in comparison to just having Jesus.

My perspective and my remembrance has been very off recently. Quite frustrating actually. My devotedness has been off. I’ve just been off. But God never leaves me, nor forsakes me, Praises to Him. He is Faithful. and He knows my heart, and my heart truly is to seek Him with everything inside of me, and to love Him and honor Him with every ounce of my being. I just need to make sure I am daily being in awe of Him and fixing my eyes on Christ and asking the Spirit to lead me, and spending time with God, and that all I want is Him.
 

“All of You is more than enough…”

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! Selah”
Psalm 84:4

it’s all good.

 

Today I had the privilege of working at Ms. Gadgets! I have missed those ladies, and that place. it just lifts my heart! We were doing ginger bread house decorating for little kids today at the store, and we had over 100 kids come thru. and i absolutely loved it. there was esp one little girl who just sticks out to me. she was the sweetest thing and just so joyful. and was asking me questions on how we knew how to put the gingerbread houses together and if God showed them how. She was just precious.

Children just have a way to lift your heart. God definitely has given children a gift.

Also, it really is all okay. We just need to take time to spend with Jesus. Be disciplined. :) and Love the Lord Your God!

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”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 and rejoice over you with singing.”
  Zephaniah 3:17

worth it all

 

I love animals. They have personalities. Tonight Ashley, Christa and I had the privilage of being angels for a local live nativity. and there were real live animals, and it was freezing cold. but we were all well entertained by the camel, Carl…whom we named ourselves. We thought he was going to knock us off our haybales a couple times.

I just love how God created animals. of all shapes and sizes and personalities. i had a donkey try to nibble at my outfit.
and I love how He made people, to enjoy the simple things of life. Was pretty cool to watch hundreds upon hundreds people just look at the nativity and reflect. and to see the animals. and my favorite part, was seeing the Amish Men with their children. There is just something about father’s with young children in general, but it just touched my heart!

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.”
Psalm 19:14

stretching

 

I love to stretch. It just makes me feel better and somehow just brings rest and peace. even with the slight pain of stretching, it still just feels good. I like it a lot.

God brings me peace. It’s pretty cool to look back and see how He has moved in my life, and how I have grown in being able to speak truth to people and speak with boldness and not care if they will be upset with me or not.

“Pour out your love on us LORD give us your heart, let us unite to serve the broken and lost. We give our lives to you no matter the cost….”

“…my refuge and strength….i will not fear His promise is true, My God will come through, Always.”

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yieldsthe peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
Hebrews 12:11

power ballad

 

I love music. I love precious time spent worshipping just me and the piano. I love writing music, which I never seem to do anymore. And sometimes, when I read scripture, it’s juts so powerful, that I want it to be a power ballad! Because that is what God’s love is. A Power Ballad! :)
    makes me happy!

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”"Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength...they who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
Isaiah 40:28-31

perspective

We forget how important our time alone spent with Jesus is. We forget the important of being in His word daily, and of prayer. We lose perspective, way to quickly and way to easily. It is rather frustrating.

Tuesday are probably my favorite day of the week. I can guarantee, I will have great Jesus time in the mornings, and that I will be stretched.
  We need to remember that our strength is found in Christ. That our life is not our own. And that Jesus suffered more than we can even ever imagine.

                       It is a privelage to live and suffer for the sake of Christ.

VERSE OF THE DAY:
"Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—  that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead."
  Philippians 3:8-10

grateful during a storm

I find it amazing how in the midst of people and community, you can still feel lonely. This isn't the first time for me. I feel like it is a season I am currently in, and have been in. But I am also extremely grateful to God.
   For His grace, and His strength to keep me stable and pressing on.
For my community, and the one's who can tell when something is wrong and what it is without you even saying anything. For my brother's. For my sister's. For prayer and encouragement. For His word. For people who fight for you and with you. For the comfort of the Holy Spirit. For rest. For joygivers. For growth. For God's goodness and Holiness. That I am in fact, never actually alone.

I need people. and God has given me the right people, for this time in my life, to help me through whatever season of life I am in. He has answered my prayers. and I just love God.


VERSE OF THE DAY:
"For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Jesus
Matthew 11:30

church family

I love church. and I love how much encouragement God gives me through being at church and the people there. and I love how God shows favor to His children and honor's their honesty even amidst discipline. and our sin.
   God is Awesome.



VERSE OF THE DAY:
"Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not resisted to the point of shedding your blood...My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives."
    Hebrews 12:3-6

Jesus loves me this i know.

God always provides. and shows me that He is always with me and will never leave me, nor forsake me, and always comes through and does not delay.

He provides all of my needs. he provides side jobs to help financially, as well as emotionally! he provides people, who bring encouragement and joy even in a work day! he provides rest, when i just feel worn out in many ways. and food for when i am hungry. and those are just a few things.

I am just trying to remember Jesus. it's hard because of my selfishness. but i am trying.

VERSE OF THE DAY:
"O Lord, you have searched me and known me."
Psalm 139:1

selfish

I'm selfish. Plain and simple. Which is the root of so many things in my life...
       BUT...

God still loves me. More than I could ever even comprehend.



VERSE OF THE DAY:
"Such knowledge is to wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it."
  Psalm 139:6

P.S.
   Sometimes, I feel like my job is to just smile at people. and i really like this.

Happy Thanksgiving

I love my family. I love spending time with them. This week has been kind of a rough one for me, mentally and emotionally and even spiritually. and even physically (my legs dont wanna work cuz they are sore from nike training! hah)
   I am completely blessed with an incredible, incredible family. and while yes, I am talking about my blood family. Father, Mother, Brother, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins...I am also talking about my spiritual family. I think that I forget often how blessed I am with the people God has placed in my life. The one's who challenge me, the one's who pray for me constantly, the one's who bring joy to my heart, the one's who make me laugh, the one's who always make me feel better, the one's i can just enjoy their company...

Family.


VERSE OF THE DAY:
"Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush Him. He has put him to grief. When his soul shall make an offering of guilt he shall see his offspring, and shall prolong his days. The will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand."
Isaiah 53:10

Faithfulness

Even in our unfaithfulness, God is faithful! This I am thankful for! He does not change.



VERSE of the day:
"The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
   his mercies never come to an end;
 they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
  "The LORD is my portion," says my soul,
    "therefore I will hope in him."
Lamentations 3:22-24

i need God.

I need God. desperately, always...and forever...
    and all i want to do is cry. for joy. for gratitude. for my own shame and disheartening. for my doubt. for my fears.
I need God. desperately, always....forever....
I am in dire need of my Savior. My God. My Father. My Truth Giver. My Comforter. My Disciplinarian. My Lover. My Grace Giver. My Healer. My Fortress. My Provider. My Jesus...



"You keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock."
  Isaiah 26:3-4

Keep my mind stayed on YOU.

Jehovah Jireh.

Today was an interesting, draining day.
  I guess you could say that recently I've had little doubts of God's Provision, and have been thinking about it more often in the last couple of days. You would think I would have learned this, since a huge part of my testimony is how God consistently has provided for me. But a part of God's Provision, is not always financial....although it plays a huge part of it in my life...
   my car needed new tires, so i went in and got new tires put on, in the midst of that they found 3 other problems....and overall, it is God's provision that i spent all afternoon at the tire shop and that they kept finding these problems, becasue if not, it is very likely that a very bad accident could have happened in the near future, which would only make things worse.
   God is always providing for us. in every way possible. He knows exactly what we need, when we need it.  Jehovah Jireh.
  But i am learning, that we need to be responsible, with the provision God provides and roles he places us in. We can't just wait expectantly, but we need to be active and be good stewards of what's been given us. (Parable of the Talents)


Also, i don't have truth spoken to me enough. and tonight, apparantly I needed it, unexpectantly. And I appreciate that.

God's Provision. one thing that always make me love God so much more. because I cannot provide for myself in anyway possible.


VERSE OF THE DAY:
"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:19

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
 "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."
Matthew 6:25-34

anthems

I have always been that girl who in songs, has not liked the "oooh's," or the "whoa's", or anything like that....thought they were lame. cuz i was like, what is the point of them?! can people not come up with words?!

BUT...........in worship, i am now starting to love them. you have songs like With Everything and God Be Praised. where you have the "whoa's" and it is jsut like a shout of praise. an anthem.
There are times when in worship, you just have no words to say....but sounds...and simple words....that sometimes 'whoa's' are just perfect.

Sometimes, an anthem of 'whoa's is just what you soul needs to express your gratitude and praise to God.

VERSE OF THE DAY:
"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words."
Romans 8:26

Tears of Joy

I love retreats. My favorite part, is seeing the kids worship and 'GET IT' and fall more in love with Christ and make it about Him rather than themselves.
  It actually brings me to tears, because when you see a room of about 100 jr.high and highschoolers, most of them with their arms raised and just lifting their voices to God...your heart wants to explode.

I feel like in those times, God gives me glimpses of how much He is receiving the Praise we are giving, and how proud of His children that He is in those moments and how pleased He is with us giving ourselves to Him. and this is what brings me to tears, that God allows me to feel even just a tiny piece of that.
 I once had a vision of worship...where as a groupf of people were worshipping, our  hands were raised upward, and it was like we were actually holding Jesus up as He was sitting on the throne. Is what I saw. So often, with arms raised, I envision this again. and it just brings a smile to my face.

I am privelaged that God would allow me to be apart of His movement. To be a 'proud parent,' so to speak, with Him. because it is what I feel like (or what I think it would feel like!).

"...break down our pride and all the walls we've built up inside. our earthly crowns and all our desires, we lay at your feet...Every eye will see JESUS our God. Great and mighty to be praised....WITH EVERYTHING WE WILL SHOUT FORTH YOUR PRAISE..."

"Across the earth we see, worshipers believe. Hear our song, Praise to our God, Praise to our God."

"MY HEART WILL SING, NO OTHER NAME, JESUS"



VERSE OF THE DAY:
"And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I⁽ am making all things new."
Revelation 21:5

things about today.

I like friends who you can just say anything to.
I like dreaming of the future. and coming up with ideas and getting excited about these ideas.
i like being reminded of Biblical mysteries and truth.
i like realizing something isnt as hard as i expected.
i like worshipping my Savior. a lot.
i like hearing people share on the word of God.
i like the idea of being a slave to God.
i like that God is incomprehensible, yet loves us do compassinoately and gracefully and deeply.
i like being smiled at.
i like when people use my name.


VERSE OF THE DAY:
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself; unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me." John 15:4

short and sweet!

You know, somedays your day just turns out completely not what you were expecting it to be. And sometimes, that is just wonderful! I enjoy this!
God is in control!



VERSE OF THE DAY:
"Commit your way to the LORD;
   trust in him, and he will act."
Psalm 37:5

something ive never thought of before

Disclaimer:
So this may make a few people uncomfortable, but this is honestly how I fell in love with Christ today.
 

I love how for women, God completely uses our hormones. for some reason, this is something i've never actually payed attention to, that God uses. Naturally, at a certain time of the month women are just more sensitive. And I think that it's during these times, that God really tries to mold women. With their weaknesses, because weaknesses and frustrations always arise during this time because you are edgy as well, so you realize how weak and selfish you are as well as to speak to us where we hear and can go on a rampant on how we need to be loving Jesus better....and He uses it to completely grab our hearts as well, for what grabs his and just to mold us really...

 i find this amazing and awesome. it's like a new revelation, and yet i feel like 'well duh, God uses everything...of course He would use women's hormones." are we taking the time to hear?! to act?! to listen?! to be molded?!

Thank you God, for using what most of us dread.


VERSE of the day:
"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me."
John 14:1

journaling

I sometimes forget how much I love journaling. It gets me thinking, which is actually good for me now. It's funny how thinking can become such an unhealthy thing for you, then you learn how to control it and give your thoughts over to God and then you just kind of forget how to think or to remind yourself to think. it's odd how that happens. but it does. at least it has to me.

But I was journaling today, and usually when I start journaling, its really hard for me to stop, and distracts me from everything else around me. I forget how much I love it and enjoy it, and how much it helps me process and think things through and get things off of my chest that I didn't even realize were there half the time.


VERSE of the day:
"Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? Buit for this purpose I ahve come to this hour." Jesus
John 12:27

Family

I love watching families and just hanging out with them. It makes me excited to have a family of my own. And families make such a huge impact on people without us really knowing it. So I love families.
   :)

and once again, laughter. :)


VERSE of the day:
" My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me,is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand."
John 10:27-29

rediscovering joys of life

I have been rediscovering some joys of my life.


1. I love just spending time at the piano playing and messing around and singing. Sometimes, I wish I could sit there for a whole weekend straight.

2. I love coffee dates with people, they are a real encouragement.

3. I love going out (to eat) in the evenings.

4. I absolutely love laughing so much.

5. I like being warm.

All these things help me love Jesus more!


VERSE of the day:
"For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."
John 1:17

Laughter

I like to think that I am a very 'laughy' person; meaning, I laugh a lot. I love to laugh. I've heard that it like, releases endorphines...i don't actually know what this means, I just felt like sharing.

Anywho, for someone who laughs a lot, sometimes when I get to laughing really hard, for some reason I feel like I have no laughed in a really long time...I almost feel like I don't laugh like I used to, but I don't know if that's a true statement or not.
But the main point of this blog today is, Laughter makes me love Jesus more! and I am very thankful for laughter, and people who just make me laugh because I really do love laughing, and wish I laughed more. And when i say laughter, I mean like, something is hysterical and it hurts your stomach your laughing so much, and your eyes are watering. I love these laughs. God uses these laughs and the people who make me laugh like this so much joy, that I don't want to stop laughing.


VERSE of the day:
  "The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood."
John 7:18

children

Children, are joyous creatures. They  can wear you out, yet their laughs can just brighten a room!
And I often wonder for the one's just learning to talk, who make loads of noises...if they could actually talk, what would they actually be saying?! It's just amazing watching them, how they learn, how they laugh and smile, what makes them laugh and smile. how they try to communicate, how they understand. It's all quite intrigueing.

I also really love seeing people grow (not physically, but spiritually) God transforms people right before our eyes; are we noticing and Praising Him for that?!


VERSE of the day:
"Jesus answered them, 'Truly, truly I say to you, you are seeking me not because you saw signs, but becasue you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not labor for the food that perishes but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal." John 6:26-27

weird how in our weaknesses there is strength. we kind of shine.

i like my title. just saying.

So, I am 'teaching' worship style piano to 4 girls now. and i love it. granted, there are times when i am highly intimidated, esp when a couple of the girls know more about piano than i do...but what I am finding...I absolutely love it.
  I think the times when we think we can't do something, or we feel weak in an area...the more we do it, and once we are in the midst of it, you learn a lot about yourself and you grow a lot as well. "when i'm weak, He is strong."

I also notice, this makes me play music more, which is something I need to a lot more disciplined in. but last night, I just spent quite an amount of time just playing music and singing my heart out for a little bit and I haven't done that in way to long, and i think my heart misses it. because for me, there is a connection when it's just me on the piano and God. and i've forsaken that for too long.
     and just music in general, i just love. being able to play. for as long as i want or can. so thank you for that gift Father, and the ability and the enjoyment and worship that comes out of those times!


VERSE of the day:
"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. For the sake of Christ then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
2 Corinthians 12:9-10

friendships

"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow..." (Ecclesiastes)

Sometimes in ministry, you get so caught up in ministry and in discpling even though through discipling you are building relationships still, it's still work...which every relationship is work. But i guess what I am trying to get at, is that sometimes it's just refreshing just to have those times with friends, where it's not 'work' related, but you just sharing your heart and what's been going on and venting....
   i actually miss these times quite often, of just being friends, with my friends and catching up and just sitting and talking for a couple hours, one on one. and I was very blessed to have these moments the other night. I miss a lot of my friends in my life, because I don't see or talk to very many of them at all, really ever. and when I sit and think about it, it makes my heart sad. BUT, God gives me those refreshign times to just sit and catch up and talk to people, and I pray for more of these times.

We need friends, in the midst of ministry, in the midst of our trials, in the midst of our lives period.
And i am so thankful for the love of friends, and for friends, for old friends who just warm my heart, and for the excitement of new friends who will eventually turn into old reliable, warm friends! :)

VERSE of the day:
"But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand."

Isaiah 64:8

I just love Jesus

I am blown away by God. and I love just worshipping.
  and I keep being blown away by His love, and just the fact that I have favor with God...and he honors me, when i am so completely undeserving. and my prayer, is that my life will be giving God glory and honor and that I can live to please Him and Him alone becasue HE is worthy! and in our worship, in every day life, to give it all back to Him, and to stop taking myself so seriously and caring or worrying about other people so much and just living for Jesus, because that is what it is all about!

i find it frustrating when words cannot express exactly what I am feeling and thinking, but yet i am glad for it because only God can do such a thing! :)


VERSE of the day:
"But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. "
John 4:22

honor

So I slacked last night, so I am updating this morning for last night! :)

I am blown away by God. I am completely undeserving of the love and honor that He lavishes me with. It often seems to be, that sometimes, the things that get my heart down and that I get annoyed or frustrated with...and when i express those to Him just cuz my heart is heavy, that soon after, He shows me that He has heard me. He provides what my heart was downtrodden for. and this blows me away. becasue like i said, I am so undeserving. yet His love is honoring...

which is a weird thought to me. God honoring us...his children. It feels like an oxymoron to me and is hard to wrap my mind around. because we should be the ones honoring God. yet He does honor us, exalt us,  because He loves us with a love that this world cannot understand and that sometimes, we just can't understand either but we know it to be true!
James says that if we humble ourselves before the LORD that He will exalt us.
  weird concept. but the Bible says it, so I know it is true. it is humbling...

God's love really does change lives.


VERSE of the day:
"And he did not do mighty works there before of their unbelief."
Matthew 13:58

BELIEVE in your God.

community

I am learning an interesting piece of advice about myself...my love language is becoming more quality time than I ever thought i would be...

God has used community immensely in my life, and I think that is what has changed my love language...

It is community that has helped me love Christ more. It is community that has taught me so much about myself, and who I am in Christ. It is community who has taught me what acceptance actually looks like, what true Christ-like love actually looks like, what discipline looks like, and how to love people. It is community that has challenged me when I needed it most, it is community that has taught me to be honest with myself and with others and with my feelings and thoughts. It is community that has taught me more about God biblically than I could have ever done on my own.

and often i let the enemy make me believe that I am left out of this community, or not wanted or cared for, but I know this to be a complete lie. Without saying actual words, I know fine rightly that my community would do anything for me. and Love me with a love that can only come from above.

I pray that we all know what biblical community is.


VERSE of the day:
"So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple."
Luke 14:33

Simplicity

A picture, is quite the simple thing. Last week, somehow the conversation came up about old pictures, and how embarrassing some of them can be...ya know...when ur a kid and u have a mullet...embarrassing right?! Well, it got me in the mood to dig out all my older pictures from my mom's house. so today after lunch with her, i went to the house and got them and the rest of the day have been reminiscing!

the best one's are the one's from the past 5 years. So many memories. and so many life-stretching moments and incredible relationships. Then amidst that, I was able to skype with 2 peopel very dear and near to my heart, AT THE SAME TIME! and just laugh, and here a bit of what's going on in their lives. it's great that as people grow older, they also still keep their crazy selves! this makes me happy!

I guess today, I am just thankful for the simple things in life. Pictures to remember great people and great and challenging times. Times of worship where you just enjoy and not a whole lot is required of you. Watching people learn. Seeing a husband be attentive to his wife. Conversations. Simple pleasures.

God is good!


VERSE of the day:
"For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; 'I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.'"
Isaiah 57:15

Grandparents

Sometimes, my grandparents break my heart. My grandpa is currently contemplating a big decision on whether to move out of the house they have been in for over 50 years I believe. and my Grandma, is in the beginning stages of alzheimers, and today when I was over, she kept speaking to me in dutch thinking I could understand her...and repeating different phrases.

I love my grandparents. and now that I'm old enough for help them out more whenever I can, and to sit and talk to them, i see more of my grandpa's heart, as he is the caretaker of my grandma, and i just love him more.


VERSE of the day:
"...for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty andhunger, abundance and need."
Philippians 4:11-12

discipleship and relationships

A lot of learning how to disciple, comes from being discipled, but also, through watching discipleship right before your eyes.

Sometimes, I really dislike discipleship. Other times, I just love God more through it, and absolutely love it! Seeing people being molded, and challenged and get frustrated and broken is a beautiful thing for the sake of Christ! and knowing that you are an instrument in that, is pretty incredible!

My heart is just overflowing with excitement and love for God and what He is doing in people and how He is sanctifying them and all of us! and the building of relationships with people, i'm just loving them more and more the more I am getting to know and be apart of their lives!


VERSE of the day:
"I tell you, something greater than the temple is here."
Matthew 12:6

Music

The last couple of days God has really been using music to soothe and comfort my soul. And I absolutely love worshipping via music. and sometimes, I feel like I am slow dancing with God and other times, I feel like He is holding my hand when I am playing piano. And I can't help but love Him, and just smile and feel more beautiful than ever,  and be amazed that He takes the time to continuously woo me and let me know that He loves me.

And I guess at this stage in my life, it's something I am really in need of. God always knows what we need, and he prepares us and provides for all we need, emotionally, spiritually and physically.

I love Jesus. becasue He first loves me.


VERSE of the day:
",,,you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind."
 Matthew 22:37

worship

I love my family. Sometimes I don't think I spend enough time with them.
I love my friends who take care of me and love me, just the way I am.
I love my God, who provides for my every need, and loves me no matter what.


VERSE of the day:
"Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped."
Job 1:20

"Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied..."
Isaiah 53:11

In anguish, do we see joy, do we see the light of the Lord, do we still worship?!

people.

People.
    I used to be one of those people who really disliked people. I used to be a complete loner. Preferred to be left alone. Didn't like anyone, thought no one liked me. Got really annoyed ALL THE TIME with people.

People.
    Now, I still get annoyed at times. I still have my moments where I just want to be left alone. BUT, I love people. I am blessed by people that God has placed in my life. I see them as a gift. and there are times, when my heart just has the biggest smile on, because of the people in my life and the love God has given me for them and through them. :)


VERSE of the day:
"Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him, he has put him to grief. when his soul makes offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring and prolong his days. The will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand."
Isaiah 53:10

oh, to be like You Jesus!

So i have slacked the past 2 days...

but let's just say, I am super blessed by my community. I love community times, of sharing life and stories and having funny/semi-uncomfortable conversations that are necessary sometimes to help us understand each other better.

But in the midst of it all, I see God, molding me and the people around me. We all have so much to work on, and I am so thankful to God for His process of santification. and I cannot wait until Jesus returns for it all to be over and to have a new body, a perfect body and no more sin. sigh. what bliss it will be to be with Jesus and have no more sin!


"May I learn what You want me to learn. May I embrace whatever is placed before me. May I love those in my life. May I take responsibility for all you've handed me. May i give back, all the Praise due You. And May I fall deeper in love with You."


VERSE of the day:
"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, He may give it to you."
John 15:16

basking- to enjoy a pleasant situation

I love basking in the presence of the LORD, in worship. It makes me realize my wretchedness, my helplessness, my bad attitude, my selfishness, His grace, His mercy, and just leads me to sometimes tears that just will not stop. and I love God all the more for these moments, and in these moments.

"You are the King of all Kings. You are the LORD of all LORDS and yet You still love me. I want to love You more."


VERSE of the day:
"Be still, and know that I am God.
 I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!"
Psalm 46:10

P.S.
I really, really, really, enjoy my new toy (ukulele)

birthday blessings

today is my 24th birthday. and i know that birthday's are a way that we celebrate people. the day really is supposed to be all about them. and i started today, asking God that everything would go back to Him, and would actually not be about me at all, because I see so much selfishness in myself and others, and I hate it.
  but i was overly blessed...i got my ukulele i have wanted for a logn time, which i actually was not expecting to get believe it or not...and let' just say, iw as oober excited. and i got a lot of other awesome awesome things, things i wanted, and things i didnt expect. but mostly, I was blessed by the people in my life. That people really do care and love me deeply and will do anything for me, to make me smile, laugh, and be happy in this life. I am spoiled. Spiritually, Physically. I am rich. and This is all becasue of God. and the only reason I have awesome people who love me in my life, is becasue God loves me. and the great thing is, no one will ever love me near as much of Jesus does!
  All I have is all becasue of God. and I am so thankful.


VERSE of the day:
"My soul makes its boast in the LORD, let the humble hear and rejoice."
Psalm 34:2

joy, joy, unending joy

   you know how when your in conversation with people, and if specific people are even mentioned, or show up...the person you are talking to or with lights up, and they just become happier and in a better mood.

ive been catching myself lately with this. i notice that when i start talking about specific people, or am around specific people, it's almost like i am in a much better mood instantly.
  We call those people joygivers. And they are usually, very dear and near to our hearts, and they are that way for a reason. :)

I like listening to people talk about their joy givers, and seeing them with them. I like talking about my joy givers, and being with them.
   Thank You God for joygivers. and for Your unending joy! and how we always have reason to be joyful in You...may we never forget this.


VERSE of the day:
"But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquity; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed."
Isaiah 53:5

always

some days are just harder than others, due to emotions, due to weather, due to circumstances, due to our own selfish selves. today was an off day for me. im very grateful, for the constant reminder that I am and always will be IN NEED OF GOD. every second of my life.

i was blessed by my mother the other day with some new music, for my birthday pressie. and so today, in the midst of my offness, and when I just wanted some more Jesus and definately needed more of Jesus, I listened to some of tihs new music. and sometimes for me, just to sit and listen to new music that honors Jesus and makes me think about Him and focus on Him, is complete and utter bliss. Nothing seems greater in that moment than just basking in His awesomeness and listening to His children glorifying Him. sigh. :) so even in off days, no matter what we are feeling, what we are thinking, what we want or don't want, God is greater. and is completely Worthy of our attention. and we can ALWAYS fall more in love with Jesus. and we are ALWAYS in need of Him, Jesus Christ. and He is ALWAYS here. with us.


VERSE of the day:
"He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs."
Hebrews 1:3-4

walking in who you were made to be

I like when other people are full of joy. When people are full of the joy of the LORD and walking in the personality that God has given them, it brings me much joy and happiness! :)



VERSE of the day:
"Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity."
1 Timothy 4:12

deep sighs

even when we are saddened, upset, or annoyed, or frustrated with little petty things, or just full of different emotions all at once....we can take a breath....and know that God is greater.
      I rest in, and remind myself, that God is greater.



VERSE of the day:
"...rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come."
1 Timothy 4:7-8

I love God, because He is God!

 

God places people in your path at a specific time for a reason.
   Are our eyes open to seeing the people He gives us daily?!

The people we have become aware of, or who have been on our minds, or who we’ve been praying for, then all of a sudden you see them….how do you respond to those moments?! Do you embrace them, or do you just ignore them and find them coincidence?!

God is working in every part of our life. And there is opportunity to reach out to people, all the time in our lives. Nothing is coincidence.

 

VERSE of the day:
”Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.”
Psalm 1:1-2

Family

 

I love my family. Physical and Spiritual.

I had lunch with my mother today, and I was super encouraged and blessed and fell more in love with Christ through her sharing how she was led to write letters to members of our family who don’t know Jesus Christ as their Savior and LORD. I was also very proud of my mom.

Also, a couple years ago I remember praying for brothers. And it’s just really encouraging now, to see that God has answered that prayer. 1…he has begun to restore a relationship with my blood brother. and 2…he has given me plenty of other brothers who are all becoming very dear to my heart, thanks to Off The Wall Ministry and Church.

So today, through family (blood line and not blood line), I fell in love with Jesus more!

 

VERSE of the day:
"But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner.'!...for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
Luke 18:13-14

power of prayer

 

Praying for people, leads to encouraging people. <—this is what I am finding out. and i am completely loving it.

i love fighting for people, via prayer. and I am so grateful to God right now for the place He has me in my own life right now, where I am able to see and to be there, for people, to just pray for them and with them. I find myself constantly praying these days. and constantly wanting to encourage those who need the encouragment and who are on my heart at the time.

so be thankful for where God has you, no matter what part of life you are at. He is watching over you, and is your refuge and your strength.

 

VERSE of the day:
”For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Hebrews 4:15-16

Autumn Leaves

 

So this afternoon I decided to go on a walk. It was the perfect day for it. Warm, and its fall time so the leaves are changing colors and falling! One a couple of times, there were lots of leaves under my feet, and at the same time leaves falling over my head from the tree, going every which way. It was stunning!

“He is jealous for me, loves like a hurricane I am a tree bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy.”

 

VERSE of the day:
(i keep coming back to this verse)
”All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned-every one- to his own way and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
Isaiah 53:6

we can never be reminded to much of the sacrifice Jesus made.

for His name's sake

 

I totally just erased what i had written and decided to do something different, cuz i was reminded of something, and am completely blown away…and this is a reoccuring thing, this being blown away.

So, going back to God giving you the desires of your heart, when we delight in Him. well, apparantly I am in a good place, and am delighting in Him more than i ever have, or God is just still in this whole romancing stage for me, im not even sure anymore. But, I notice that its the little things, that i sometimes don’t even pray for, that God does for me…and there is no reason that He should do these things for me.

So, tonight I was in the nursery, watching children, you know, as you do in an ursery. and i was telling ashley how I just want to hold a baby, in a rocking chair and the baby to just be content!well, it ended up without me even thinking about it, i ended up holding a 3 yr old for a little bit cuz they were tired, and just sat there while i rocked him, and then later on in the evening i ended up holding a like 1 1/2 yr old for quite a while cuz he had been fussy and just wanted to touch things on the walls and listen to music. it was splendid.

this may seem like little petty stuff…and to me…it is. but im realizing, its these little petty things that God is doing for me…and i only know that it is FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE. and has nothing to do with me. His love for me, is for His name’s sake, everything He does for me, His wooing me, His servanthood, His grace and mercy is all for His name’s sake.

but it makes me fall more in love with Christ!  :)

 

VERSE of the day:
”He restores my soul, He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
Psalm 23:3

He romances me

 

Sigh. It’s hard to imagine Jesus as a servant, let alone serving you. Tonight I was reminded by a simple act from someone, of 2 things.

1. the servant hood of Jesus.

2. how He really is my romancer.

All that happened, was I was sitting by a fire and the guy who’s house we were at took a big brick that had been by the fire and put it at my feet, so i had some place to rest my feet.
This made me think of Jesus washing the disciples feet, and how He came to serve. Then I imagined Jesus being the one to put that brick at my feet….and I had a hard time with it. it is hard to imagine Jesus serving us, yet how often are there things in our lives that He has given us….its a matter of how we respond to Him…are we grateful?! Do we serve Him back?!
   It’s humbling. and makes me remember that I am completely unworthy of receiving anything, yet because He loves me more than I can even comprehend, and cuz of His grace and mercy…these things i receive from Him.

As well, I’m really realizing how Jesus is romancing me. I feel like He is showing me, esp recently, how I am to be treated. It’s different, and it’s quite nice. When I think no one really cares or pays attention, Jesus is there with some kind of act to let me know He is thinking about me, and let me tell you, it makes my heart smile big time. And I am just noticing little things like that so much recently, and being overwhelmed by the fact that He is, in fact, IN LOVE with me, and woo’ing me.

 

VERSE of the day:
”He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief, as one whom men hide their faces, he was despised, and we esteemed Him not.”
Isaiah 53:3

talking with friends

 

 

   I love catching up with friends. and in catching up with friends, there will always be reminiscing of past times, which makes you miss those times…a lot…BUT…it also makes you really grateful for those times.

Gratefulness is a wonderful way to find God when we take the time to really be grateful.

 

 

VERSE of the day:
”We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.”
2 Thessalonians 1:3

never-ending

 

So I have been a slacker the last couple of days…due to some late night’s. Because I was enjoying people close to my heart. :) Now, my body is tired, and just wants sleep! so yay for morning when you can sleep in a bit longer! Thank You Jesus!

So, been reading Isaiah 53 and just really amazed with my Jesus.
the last verse says “…yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.”

Jesus’ act of grace and mercy for us, did not just end at the cross. He proceeds to sit at the right hand of God interceding for us. Which this is so comforting and encouraging to me! Just like some parents spoil their children, we are actually spoiled by God. We have been blessed with every spiritual blessing, all we need, the Holy Spirit, eternal life,  our ransom for our sins has been paid, Jesus has made us righteous….and more! Just blows me away! God spoils us. and yet how often do we give back to Him?! and it seems when we give back to Him, and are grateful and offering our lives, He just blesses more, not just physically, but more spiritually and emotionally, which is even better than anything physical!

Bless the Lord O My Soul and all that is within me. Praise His Holy Name!

 

VERSE of the day:
”Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
Psalm 37:4

joyful in affliction

 

I feel like recently, my posts may all be quite similar, but you will have that at times.

Something is going in my heart. I almost feel like my heart is sad, but I know that it is not. I do know, that God is working on my heart, and that it is starting to break like it never has before for people, there is compassion like never before, there is sympathy like never before, there is a heart for the oppressed like never before, there is pain for those in pain, there is a reflectiveness i guess like never before….there is a desire to spend time in prayer and alone with Jesus like never before, a desire to be with people who encourage me to love Jesus more like never before…

Sigh, It’s not that my heart is downtrodden, it is joyful, but also breaking at the exact same time. And as weird as it seems as times, I am really enjoying this season and what is happening.

I just want Jesus, and whatever season He has me in. I want His love, His romance, His passion, His desires, His brokenness.
   forget the pettyness and selfishness of life. Just give me Jesus.

 

VERSE of the day:
”And we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned-every one- to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
Isaiah 53:6

He woo’s

 

sometimes I feel like my heart is breaking. for the oppressed and persecuted, for the church….and sometimes i just let myself get really upset for those reasons, but as well as for selfish reasons, because i get hit with doubt and frustration.

But today’s theme, has been that everything God does, is for His name’s sake. I cannot do anything without Him, I need Him desperately, in every second of my life. And this morning at church, I don’t even know what spurred it on, but i was just reminded that God is romancing me. I don’t deserve to be pursued, but every girl wants to be pursued. and I like being pursued by Jesus! And today, I just needed the reminder that God is wooing me. I am totally unworthy, yet by His grace, so thankful!

 

VERSE of the day:
”He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.”
Psalm 23:3

i am not perfect

 

we all have faults. things we need to work on. things that bother us.
but ya know what, God still loves us. just the way we are. and we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works. And we are being sanctified, and are set-apart.

“Life is to short to get offended.”
         There is gonna be people hurting you, and you hurting others. but i heard someone say this quote this evening, and i loved it, because it is true. Living in bibilical community, I have learned that confrontation is good, and is totally okay, and is not scary anymore. It is good to work things out, to be honest with people you care about and who care about you. and who cares if you get offended, you have offended someone, guarantee you. but don’t worry bout it! life is to short to get offended. don’t make this life about you, but about the Kingdom and Glory of God.

 

VERSE of the day:
”For God gave us a power not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
2 Timothy 1:7

God likes cheesy!

 

This could be a bit cheesy, but I’ll let you in on a secret of mine….but you can’t tell anyone. I gotta keep my reputation (i guess).
           I am a romantic at heart.

I was watching and really enjoying old people dancing some Polka this afternoon at the Swiss Festival in town. And they were all having the time of their lives, you could tell. and us girls were talking, bout how for the older people, that was their date nights…going out and dancing! so these polka dances, may remind them of their younger days. and watching these people dance and having a great time, just made me think about Love. Relationship love, marriage love, committed love, that lasts a lifetime on this earth, and an eternity with our Savior.

Also, today is my parents 33 year anniversary! and when mom told me how many years, i was like ‘wow’ i can’t even imagine! 33 yrs is a long time to be with one person…course could be cuz im only 23 and can’t imagine that many years. hah. but, thinking about them,  and their relationship, and Love, just made me so thankful that they are still deeply in love with each other and completely committed to one another. So thankful.

 

So,
Seeing couples in love and enjoying each other, just makes me think of God! :)

VERSE of the day:
”We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.”
1 Thessalonians 5:12-24

good communicators

 

God has gifted some really incredible teachers/communicators of His word. and I love listening to these people bring the word and share the gospel, because somehow they can just put in perspective for you, in ways that you wonder, ‘wow, they make it sound so easy…or hey, this makes perfect sense!…or…..yaaaaah!’

and you can see the passion and heart in these teachers/communicators. and i love that. it helps me love Jesus more, and of course learn more and see things in a different way, or be reminded of the simple truths of God’s Word and Jesus’ love!

Thank You God!

 

VERSE of the day:
”Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”
Ephesians 5:15-16

joy givers

 

There’s just some people who just bring such joy to my heart. And by talking to them, spending time with them, I just love them more. and through seeing how God is working in their lives, and the joy He gives me through them, helps me to love Him more!

short and sweet! i hope you appreciate the joy givers in your life, and Praise God for them! they are gems.

 

VERSE of the day:
”For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
2 Corinthians 12:10

when the body is willing

 

Today, I am reminded of what love is. No matter what the circumstances are, people need love and support. And love, is a choice, but love when in it’s finest and when true, is genuine.

People need to be loved. and when I say love, i mean God’s love. genuineness. and a love that loves no matter what, a persons past or history, no matter what is going on in the moment, no matter what kind of fear there may be, no matter what….

and i am also blessed by the willingness of believer’s to help and to lift up in prayer their fellow brothers and sisters. i think that we forget how much of a blessing and encouragement it is when we are and when we receive willingness from each other. To stay the night, just for protection and comfort, to go with a friend to a hard place, to do a hard thing, to take a friend out when they need it most, and to be a shoulder to lean on or to cry on.

I beg you, fellow brother or sister, to be willing to serve the people around you and the people you care for in anyway possible. Be willing, to be used by God. don’t be selfish. this life is not about you, but about sharing Jesus with this world. and sometimes, the people who need it most, are the people you are with constantly.

So thank you God, for the body of Christ. for willing people. and for Your love, and protection and that we can trust in You and that You are able! :)

 

VERSE of the day:
”You are a hiding place for me;
you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with shouts of deliverance.
Selah”
Psalm 32:7

overwhelmed

 

Sometimes, God overwhelms me. In the best way possible.

We seek things from other people….realize that we are seeking things from other people…ask ourselves why it matters so much…..then ask ourselves if God really is enough for us….ask for forgiveness…..then all of a sudden, what you sought or desired from people…is what God is giving you. All within a matter of 10-15 minutes.

Tonight, I was overwhelmed by God’s astounding love for me. He knows the desires of my heart, and even when I realize that my desires are not always with the  right motives,  God gives me those desires when I ask forgiveness and make my heart right. And yeah…I don’t even know what to say. but just thank you to God. and just knowing that He takes delight in me and being my joy and will do anything for me, and for my betterment and joy and to let me know and remember that He is always with me, looking out for me, fighting for me, and loving me.

sigh. I love You Lord.

 

VERSE of the day:
”The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I will hope in him.”
Lamentations 3:22-24

we have it good

 

This morning at church we had missionaries from Mexico sharing with us at lunch time. (we had a carry in. love those!) And I was just reminded of how blessed we are in America, at least in the area I live in. We have no idea what it’s like to not live in a safe area, no idea what it’s like to be persecuted, or to fear for your life…etc.

We are privileged. And I sometimes wish that there were times when we would be more persecuted, or least experience what it would be like to be a missionary in a third world, dangerous country for at least a day, to realize what some missionaries really go through, and the faith that they have. because often I read stories and find myself wanting more faith like theirs.

Our troubles lead us to stronger faith, to a stronger relationship with God, to stronger fruit of the Spirit in our life.

So today, i am thankful for the life I live. thankful that I am not persecuted. but I also want to experience a third world country, poverty at some point in my life. But Praise God. and may we who have it good, learn from those who are persecuted, and remember to be grateful to God and to pray for those who are persecuted.

 

VERSE of the day:
”For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”
2 Corinthians 8:9