Christmas is the Holiday that gives

 

God just completely made my day!!

It’s good to be reminded, why you do what you do. At God’s Closet last weekend I got to talk to this lady whom I had  talked to before there, and she really opened up to me about all that is and has been going on in her and her husband’s lives with medical issues, and other circumstances, that when you sit and listen, just break your heart. This couple is going through a lot right now and are just trying to keep their heads up. This lady is a believer, it is clearly evident in the way she talks. and SHe is just holding onto to Christ right now. and this week I was asked by a friend who in the area could use some groceries…and this lady came to my mind. so i texted her to make sure she would be okay with people getting a hold of her and giving her groceries and so started a text conversation.

she is so extremely grateful. and the way God is providing for her right now and using me and allowing me to be able to listen and pray for this lady, is sooo encouraging. People like her, is why I do God’s Closet. I’ve entertained thoughts of giving up, in all honesty, but I truly believe that is not apart of what God has in store for God’s Closet. (He continues to blow me away!)

I’m amazed at God’s Sovereignty and how He knew there would be someone asking me who in the area could use some help, and he worked everything out for this lady to come to Gods Closet, because she wasnt able to in the beginning, but she did and that she shared with me! BLOWN AWAY!

Christmas is all about giving. It started with God giving us His son, as a baby boy. A man. only to die, and with that, giving us eternal life, forgiveness of sins…and He is constantly giving.
And we are to give to. We are to be imitators, and if we are imitators, then we will give. of ourselves, of our means, all of us.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17

God; the greatest gift giver

 

“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

Doing things a bit different today…starting out with a verse instead of ending with one!

So I’m really seeing how much of a gift giver God is. and its completely blowing me away. He never stops giving. He gave us eternal life, has clothed us in righteousness, has given us His Holy Spirit, love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, purity……and the list can go on. and thats not even a pinch of all He has given and continues to give.
These last couple of weeks I’ve been completely blown away by God. He gave me more help and such a peace than I could have ever imagined with God’s Closet this past weekend. and then He just gave me the car that I asked Him for..He made the impossible, POSSIBLE!!
and then just that He truly is LORD over my days and what they look like and what happens and what I do…blows me away too! We can have it all planned out, and just like that…He can switch things up on us! :) I love it!

God is exciting. God is amazing….and He is so much more than words can ever express. I’m just in awe. Grateful. Speechless with how I’m feeling. Overwhelmed. Amazed….

:) Seek God. Ask God. Depend on God. Believe God. Let Him Reign. Because He does Reign!

No one can compare to Him. No one is worthy like Him. Yet He came to us…Humility at its best. A Sovereign, Holy, Sinless God…living inside of us, sinful, selfish human beings, Jesus died for us, gave up His glory so we can be forgiven and clothed in righteousness and spend eternity with The Father! That’s pretty incredible!
Don’t compartmentalize God.

Just be in awe. Do all you can, so that you remain in Awe.

Faith

 

I’ve always admired people who have these really great faith stories of how they asked God for something specific, and they got just that!
Well, if your one of those people that want a story like that, you can have one.
Just approach the throne boldly. and Believe. It is amazing when you ask God for something and it’s in line with His will; how you can 100% believe that God will give it to you.

These past 4 months or so God has truly grown my faith which i am really thankful for. If it werent for some of the situations I was in and responsibilities God has given me, my faith would not be where it is today.

I can’t help but be overwhelmed with gratitude. As well with Awe and Amazement at how much God just gives to us. He truly is a Father who gives to His children. He honors faith. He honors boldness. He honors belief in His abilities. He honors patience. He honors our devotion to Him. He gives us things, simply because He loves us.
We have no reason to deserve all the blessings that He has given me, yes He never stops giving to us. It blows me away! Absolutely blows me away!

 

Give me a couple days and I’ll share with you my Faith story. :) It’s a miracle. So extremely blessed by my Heavenly Father! Our God is the God who gives.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.”
Psalm 45:1

little talks

 

Sometimes you just need people or a person to listen to you. And vice versa. Tonight I had a 3.5 hr chat about life and a couple things i’m trying to wrestle through mentally/emotionally and spiritually and just life and it was great. to sit and talk, and then to hear some godly advice and counsel. to listen to wisdom that I don’t have.

Sometimes we need those little talks.
I value those little talks.
They help me keep going. God gives them, when we need them most. and sometimes we need to seek them out.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”And those who know Your name put their trust in You, for You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.”
Psalm 9:10

 

P.S.
   I am reminded as I sit here in bed, listening to the pouring rain hit the house…that Rain is Grace. This is not a biblical truth. But it is a comforting thing to think about. God pours down His grace on us.

There is just something peaceful about the sound of water. :)

repetition

 

so many thoughts…but…

have you ever had those weeks where everything seems to be on repeat. there are so many things it seems that God is doing/saying and the same things keep coming up…that it just blows you away?!
Well…that is my week, and its really exciting. I havent had one of these in a while, and it just seems to be one thing after another that gets turned to repeat!

But i love these moments. I love these moments in life when things seem hectic, that you just need to take time out to spend with Christ and ask what in the world He is doing! That in the hectic times, God is so clearly there with you, letting you know that He is leading you, guiding you, and preparing you and preparing the way for you. That you are no alone, and that He is your support system and is providing for you.

Thankful that the LORD works in ways like these sometimes. Thankful for His steadfast love.
Thankful!

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that, they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 5:16

hope

 

I love how God renews hope, passions, love…
I love how when you are in the midst of what seems like an overwhelming mess…God brings hope.  God brings exactly what you need and you didn’t even know you needed it!
God brings you amazing friends, and encouraging conversations that involve heart and tears.

There is peace. There is hope.
This, I love.
Thank you God.

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in Him.”
Lamentations 3:24

Let the redeemed of the LORD say, Hallelujah!

 

The last couple of days I’ve been in conversations that have made me look at how I used to be 10 years ago…to even just a year or more ago.
This is such a humbling thing, as well as a really great thing!
It’s been cool to reflect and see how drastically God has completely molded and shaped and defined me over the years.
He took a completely broken, self-loathing, insecure, moody and mean little girl…and made her into a confident, set-apart, loving woman…

It’s amazing what the LORD can do with our lives and how He turns them, and us, upside down!

                        HALLELUJAH

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”And the Lord will guide you continually
and satisfy your desire in scorched places
and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water,
whose waters do not fail.”
Isaiah 58:11

cant think of a creative name

 

http://embracingalife.blogspot.com/
my newest post, and something that came out my date time with Jesus yesterday, that I really need to start putting into my schedule again.

I’m just learning a lot right now. Life is rich. Lessons are rich. I love where I’m at. I love the lessons. There may be some discontentment at times, but I wouldn’t change this season at all. I’m so grateful for it and all it’s done, is doing, and will continue to do.
God is so so good.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples. And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:31-32

Sovereign God

 

I love God’s timing.
We live in a world where you want something…you go and get it.
We need to be willing to wait on the Lord.
When we aren’t willing to wait…we waste time.
We miss out on precious gifts and blessings and lessons by not waiting and taking things into our own hands.
God’s timing is perfect.
I find tremendous peace in this!

 

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come.”
John 7:30

fulfillment

 

Jesus fulfills. He is the Bread of Life. Where are you receiving your fulfillment?!
your (day)dreams? your significant other? your family? friends? words? food? movies? ..etc

I absolutely LOVE that Jesus fulfills us. He fills what feels empty inside of us. He fills our deepest longings.

 

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

fresh air

 

I’m really realizing how valuable pairs are.
I’ve been quite sick this whole week….and in all honesty, I praise God that it came over the Thanksgiving Holiday and not a week later, because I was actually able to rest this week, which rarely happens. But I wasn’t alone…I’ve had Sara with me all week. to be sick with, to eat with, to watch movies with, to laugh with and even sleep with (been sleeping on the couches).
and I was thinking this morning, how if I were home alone this week sick…my attitude would be completely different than it is. We need company. God has placed people in our lives for a reason. We are not meant to live this life alone. and I know i seem to blog about PEOPLE often…but this year, it’s been a huge year for me, in learning that I really do love people, and learning that I really do need people and do want people in my life. People affect us, positively and negatively. But they affect us, and are meant to.

So i’m really grateful that I have had Sara with me all week.
I love how God orchestrates things! His timing is actually perfect.
and I’m actually thankful for being sick this week…because it made me slow down…made me rest and relax. which apparantly, I needed.

God is good!

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
John 4:24

laughter sparkles like a splash of water in the sunshine

 

One of the worst things for me, when being sick, is not being able to sleep at night…I typically have absolutely no problems sleeping…apart from when I get quite sick. hence why I am blogging at 3:30 am.

but I must say, yesterday was my first legit sabbath in months! and it was incredible. I had my quiet time in the morning, and just sat around and watched 3 movies with the girls all day and just chilled. didnt leave the house. just laid on the couch! it was bliss. ive needed that. and it was nice not to be alone. there were numerous times of laughter. which is always good medicine. :)

I’m thankful for a week that is going to be most restful than most, really looking forward to it. and I’m so thankful that God gives me laughter. I love how God works things out and knows just what we need and that we can go to Him for any little detail and He will help us figure this life out.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His Holy name!”
Psalm 103:1

show me your heart

 

i tend to be more pessimistic, than optimistic.
so in discipleship, a lot of times all I see is the brokenness, and character flaws, things people can work on…and tend to not to see the changes that are going on right in front of me.
so sometimes I need people to point out the positives to me. and when they do this, all of a sudden I start being blown away and encouraged greatly because I can see the change and start that I have been wanting to see and praying for….I just needed a new perspective. I need to see people’s hearts being molded into the likeness of their Savior. and I’m starting to see that now, and its beyond encouraging.

I need optimistic people. I need people to point me to the greatness of what is happening a lot of times. and to hold onto those things, and not forget them or let them go.

I’m thankful that God does give me those people and those conversations and moments, when I most need them. I don’t realize that i need them, until after they have happened! I love that God works like that. that He just shows us, what we need to see, when we need it. :)

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
1 Peter 2:10

conversation

 

Today has started out with really great conversation, and ended with really great conversation. and what I mean by really great conversation, is conversation that cares about the people in my life, conversations that have meaning and build relationships, conversations of concern, conversations of what we hope God does, conversations of observations, conversations of what we are praying for, conversations of what we think is right and wrong, conversations of honesty about real issues and things in life that are relevant, conversations that  are uplifting and building up of the church and her people, conversatoins of how we’ve seen people grow, of what is being processed, of how God is challenging us.…those kind of conversations.

They make me love people more, and realize how appreciative and blessed I truly am. And through that, they make me love Jesus more. and make me see how intentional Jesus was. how much of an example He truly was.

Thankful today that God gives me those conversations, and blesses me with people to be able to have them with!

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”For to this you have been called(suffering), because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.”
1 Peter 2:21

they say honesty is the best policy

 

honesty- truthfulness, sincerity, frankness

im realizing how much i really love and appreciate honesty. when things aren’t sugar coated, and people are not afraid to be honest with you and tell you honest things in their hearts, about themselves and even about you.

i respect honest people, because I know what I’m going to get, and i know that they are not trying to impress or please me or anyone else. and I love when I have the freedom to be honest. I love being honest, but I will not lie, it’s hard sometimes because a lot of people don’t receive honesty and/or truth very well. But i do love it very much.

and I’m just really blessed and appreciative when there is honesty in a relationship. God is honored in that. and I love Him for honesty, and allowing me to be honest and others to be honest with me.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
Romans 15:13

older, wiser, people.

 

I’m thankful for the people in my life who I can go to for advice. The one’s who have seen me through a couple years. The one’s who have my back. It’s really great to know that God has given me people to help me in this life, in every season, for every season.
God truly knows what we need, WHO we need! and I am becoming so extremely grateful for the people He has placed in my life.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”He who did not spare His own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”
Romans 8:32

When God smiles

 

What made my day today, you ask?!
    well..it was by far this morning’s last worship set at church.
what made that so special, you ask?
   well…i love being able to hear the congregation sing. and this was especially special, because the church, was almost louder than the worship team…which is a rare occurrence for my ears. and every part of me, wanted to sob, from sheer joy.

sometimes I can just feel the smile of God. I hope you can to, because it’s an incredible feeling. and a privilege to be apart of a moment like that, when you just know, without a shadow of a doubt that it is all for the Glory of God, and that He is well pleased!!

tis makes my heart smile. tis makes my heart fall in love.

 

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 quite you with His love and rejoice over you with singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17

people

 

I love great teachers. And being under someone who so loves the LORD and where I’ve been able to see God transform them, even in their older age in the few years I have known them. I love seeing how people react and handle to things, and how they seek after God and desire to learn and do learn and apply all that they learn and then to see that play out in how they disciple those God has given them.

It makes me love and appreciate these people more.

Sometimes, often, I fall more in love with Jesus by falling more in love with and appreciating the people in my life!

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other, as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”
Colossians 3:12-15

Double Whammy

I feel like updating about 2 things today…so because I can….I am.

 

I love purposeful people, and purposeful times. I was challenged by a lady who mentioned to me that their meal times are when everyone unleashes what’s going on in their life to each other. I love this. Because in America, we’ve gotten so caught up in technology and other things that it’s rare to sit around a table and eat together. Or you eat together and sit on the couch or in front of something or with music playing or something to distract you.
So I have just enjoyed last night and a little bit today, sitting together with the people I’m with at the table and enjoying conversation. Whether it’s serious, sharing life and deeper things, or just enjoying each other and talking about the day. Jesus is in it all. and that makes me happy. and makes my day so much better.

 

It’s always nice to know that you are not alone. That somewhere, there is someone who can relate to what you are going through. and when you find those people who understand, in the moment, it’s just so encouraging and so relieving as well. Because honestly, a lot of times, I feel completely alone in my struggles, then to be able to talk to a best friend and hear that they are going through some similar things/stages of life, and hearing another person say that they will always back you up and be there if you need them in a certain area….is just absolutely wonderful.
I love, how God just lets us know in little moments like that, that we are not alone. That He hears ours cries, and gives us people to walk through it with, gives us understanding, and that His peace that passes all understanding, is guarding our hearts and minds!!!!

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”
Psalm 51:17

He is my constant, even when I am not.

 

“Amazing love, how can it be that You my King would die for me. Amazing love I know it’s true, and it’s my joy to honor you. In all I do, I honor you.”

When writing in this blog, I need to remember the purpose of it…
”Falling in love with Jesus every day….”
What caused me to fall more in love with Jesus today….?
             well, that would be my church family singing with all they are to old hymns. The most joyous part of my day. Listening, and joining in with them, in one accord, lifting up our Savior.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”And he said, ‘My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Exodus 33:14

sitting at the feet of Jesus

 

I had the great privilege of being in Ringold, Oklahoma this week for 5 days (including travel). And it was exactly what I needed.

I really realized how wonderful it is to just sit at the feet of Jesus. To sit and just listen and just be with your teacher. and the whole week was focused on what it really means to be a disciple of Christ. it was so refreshing, so needed. I just want to sit at His feet.

and the other night I was at a worship concert and was reminded by watching little children, how they do exactly what they see the people around them doing. If they see someone raise their hands…they raise their hands. and that’s how we should be with Jesus. We should be doing all that He was doing. Being imitators of our Savior who humbled Himself and came to earth, and died on a cross, and served and taught.

And when things get tough(even when they arent tough), just sit at His feet. LISTEN, to what He is saying. Spend time with Him. Be a disciple.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things and the God of peace will be with you.”
Philippians 4:9

no such thing as chance when God’s in the picture, and guess what..He’s always in the picture.

 

it’s not just by chance that we get put in a certain job. in a certain role. it’s not just by chance that the people we are surrounded by now, are the people we are surrounded by, living life with…

God has a reason and purpose to every aspect of our lives. But we tend to not think about things that way…and I’m starting to believe that that is the reason that we tend to complain about where we’re at in life sometimes, what jobs we have, why we dont have a job, or complain about circumstances…we are in, where we are in, for a purpose and for a reason. we may not be able to see the whole purpose at the moment, but you can TRUST that God knows what He is doing and is not just up in Heaven twidling His thumbs thinking about His next move…He already knows it, and He already knows ours.

God just wants us to be obedient. This has been a lesson I’m re-learning this week. He just wants us. and He wants us to know and submit to His authority, and that NONE or NOTHING compares to His riches. and that He is greater.

I heard a wise lady say this week in talking about losing her husband and the grieving stage that she had to come to a point where she knew that Jesus’ blood was greater than the death of her husband and it covers it.

The blood of Christ, brethren, is much greater than all the things or people or situations going on in your life. Trust Him. Believe Him. Talk to Him. Obey Him.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”Him, we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.”
Colossians 1:28-39

conviction is a blessing

 

last night and today there has been quite a bit of conviction in my life. Ive been fighting what I know I should do, and what I want to do…my selfishness/flesh has been getting in the way.

but I am grateful for this conviction, because obviously there must be something that I am not giving God, that He clearly wants and desires. and as His beloved, His servant, His daughter…My heart’s desire is to please to Him, therefore, I need to be obedient.

 

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.”
Lamentations 3:22-23

People, People, People

 

you know, it amazes me to look back on who i was…and how people drove me nuts. and i wanted nothing to do with them. how selfish was i!

now…people still drive me nuts. but i want so much to do with them, for the most part! I find it a privelage to work with them, to be apart of their lives. i love them. and i find myself falling more in love with people each month. the more i get to know people, the more time i spend with them, the more i love them. i love how God works. and how He uses people in our lives.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.”
2 Timothy 2:13

Dependable God

 

One thing that I’m really learning to appreciate about my God, is that He is dependable.

This season of life that I am in, is not an easy one by any means. I’m seeing how dependent I truly have been on people my whole life. The past couple of years I believe have been this journey of God preparing to bring me out of hiding…and I feel currently like I am in the center of this journey. I am very grateful for this journey, because I clearly see the need for it and am excited for the outcome, its just the eye of the storm that never seems to be enjoyable, but there is joy and there is peace. It’s weird to say that I never thought it would be so hard to be wholly dependent upon God. and I don’t even know how to explain what this looks like. We rely on people to supply for our needs so much, which God definitely uses people in His provision for us, and even in our dependence upon Him I believe, but we must never forget that our ultimate submission and reliance is on Jesus Christ, and not on the people He has given to us.

So even when people fail, or people leave us…etc, God never fails us, He never leaves us. We truly can rely upon Him for every need we can ever think of and not think of! and I’m thankful for this truth of who God is!

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:7

God gave me You

 

So, it’s been a while. The last couple of weeks have just been kind of crazy, with new developments at work (church), and everything starting with the ministry and learning to be in community again. And that has been the key the last couple of weeks…community. God loves community, He is community. and I am extremely grateful for the community He continuously gives me with Off The Wall, and with my church, and my friends.

It is through community that I am falling more in love with Christ. Through being inspired of how other people love God and what He has done in their lives. Through being challenged by my disciplers and people speaking into my life. By discipling and seeing areas of growth in others, seeing gifts in others, and encouragement in all these things.

He has been supplying all my needs, through my community. Jehovah Jireh.

I’ve missed community. Not being surrounded by it for 3 months was more rough than I ever imagined. and now being back in it, I love it.
God is so good.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.”
James 3:17

He is Good.

 

My Father in Heaven is THEE best gift giver…ever. and forever will be. None can compare. He gives so many gifts…and answered prayer is one of my favorites.

But as well, He gives us gifts that we are to use to worship Him with. When this gift is hindered in anyway, it can be frustrating. You can worship in many ways, but when He’s given a gift unique to you, for Him, you want to use it. and it enhances your worship, i am realizing. and God is just good.

Use your gift from God. No matter what you feel like. Healthy, Sick, Tired, Fearful, Joyful…there is no greater joy than when you are using your God-given gifts to bring Him praise!

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”Be careful 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

Presence

 

sometimes, i just want to overflow in this. im super excited for OTW to be starting. im loving the conversations that have been happening in the girl’s house. I’m loving there being people around. I’m loving there being purpose (not that there wasnt before, but ya..)

BUT….

I think Friday mornings are my favorite time of the week. Rise up early, and let me just say, it is God who wakes me up every morning and gets me ready to go because a few weeks ago, I could not get up out of bed, and so I am super thankful for this, to be ready to get up in the mornings. So much more enjoyable than dreading it and just wanting to sleep. Anywho, I love the cool crisp air in the mornings, I love my chai tea Friday mornings, I love the girl’s I get together with to talk about the Bible and life and to pray. I love that it is a foggy, beautiful morning. I love being at work and the quiet. I love just reflection. I love listening to All Sons and Daughters.

Jesus is here. His presence is with us always. and this morning, my sweet, spastic Annabelle showed me something while I was just sitting on the ground watching her go crazy in the driveway. With her, just being in her presence, is all she seems to want to be happy. And it’s that way with so many people as well. Some people just want you to be there sitting with them. Just want to know your there, whether your talking or not. I know I’m like this, I love just being able to be with people and not have to talk. I like people to just BE with me. and then I had to think about Jesus. Jesus is ALWAYS present. He is sometimes quiet, but He is ALWAYS there.

Thankful for the presence of God!

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”His divine power has granted to us al things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence, by which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.”
2 Peter 1:3-4

Great Big Family

 

I love families. and not just my own, but other families as well. I love spending time with them, and seeing how they all interact with each other, and how they welcome others in and make them feel just as accepted as one of their own.

I also just love having fun and laughing. I feel like this is an area that has been not as happening as it has been in the past for me. which saddens me. so when I’m able to just have a good time, and laugh, especially with people I enjoy and just not take things so seriously and let loose, It is so refreshing!! I love it. I just want to laugh, a lot, again. :)

I also love reading the Bible with people and sharing hearts. because the focus is not ourselves, but on God and you get to see people’s hearts!

God is Good!!!

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.”
  1 Timothy 4:10

Just Listen

 

Do you take time to just listen?! We are told in the Psalms to Be Still…and know that God is God. Do you be still? What does it look like?!
I think listening, is a huge part of being still.

do you take time to listen to what people are saying? not just their words, but their actions, the words behind the words. are you listening to the whispers of the Holy Spirit in any moment of any day. Do you listen to creation? to the many beautiful sounds it makes? do you listen to the beauty of silence? Do you listen to the Word of God? To the words the song says?

I know I can always get better at listening, but I love listening. it just helps me fall more in love with people, more in love with God, more in love with His creation…its a beautiful thing. There is always something to listen to and listen for. and God is constantly making sound, in some way shape or form.

May we be listeners LORD. for Your glory.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day…”
Genesis 3:8a

Build one another up.

 

I woke up at 3am and could not sleep. I stayed up for a little over an hour. I wanted to blog, but I honestly couldn’t think of anything to blog, because I was just frustrated I couldn’t sleep, and felt like I had gotten run over.

But now,  I have the words! :) During the middle of the night, while I couldnt sleep, I started playing games on my phone to try and make myself tired. That didn’t last long, as I felt, ‘why play games, when maybe I’m up for a reason’, so I started to pray and asked God who to pray for. and as I did that, of course there were people on my mind, and I tend to like to encourage people if I have been praying for them and The Holy Spirit gives me clear words or scripture for them. So i text a couple people in the middle of the night!

Let me just say, no matter what your feeling physically, or emotionally, we are always to be respondent to Christ. We are always to be follower’s, we never get a break. Even on our death bed. We never have an excuse to take the Christian walk easy, to take our lives easy, to take relationships easy. We have a call and we need to live up to that. We need to live up to the standards that God has set for us. and that is obedience, at all costs. Whether we feel like it or not. Because the thing is, when we are obedient, whether we fight it or not, afterwards, we are thankful and blessed for our obedience, because there can be no selfishness in obedience to a Sovereign, Holy God.

 

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

PEACE

 

(Don’t you hate it when you write something, you save it and move on to something else because of another thought, then when you come back, it didn’t actually save and so its all gone. then it just frustrates you….that just happened with this blog.)

but alas, one must persevere. and still rejoice in the LORD!

I love my work. What God is allowing me to do with my life. I love quiet. I’m realizing that quiet just allows me to focus more on Christ, otherwise I get distracted. I love listening to people, because when we actually take time to listen and stop making assumptions and judging people, we can see what God sees. we can see the hurt, and see why people do what they do, and this is what I love! because I know it is not me, but the Holy Spirit alive, working inside of me to love these people. I also am always encouraged by the body of Christ.

I also love how God looks after me. He knows what bothers me, and He knows how to relieve me, and bring PEACE! I love His peace.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”"Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!"
Luke 12:24

I find comfort in knowing life is not about myself

 

I just love my precious alone times with Jesus. Whether it’s prayer, listening to music, His Word, playing music, silence, talking about the Word with dear friends…or all in one setting. Ive come to highly value these moments. There is nothing else in my day better. and I desperately need these times. We need to protect these times. God gives us these times, to encourage us, to empower us for what we will face in the day, to build us up, to challenge us.

My heart just longs to worship, and be with Him. I need Him to live. I need to be intimate. I need to be in love with Him.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time then vanishes.”
James 4:14

JESUS

 

Even when you think that you can’t seem to fall more in love with something or someone, you realize you are wrong and that yes, in fact, you can always fall more in love with something or someone.

the name of JESUS, is so wonderful. and I think the reason His name is so wonderful, is because of who He is. JESUS, the name, is so  great for me to hear, and to speak, and to sing because I know Him. I know who He is. I don’t just know what He has done for me, or about Him, but I know Him. Intimately. He is my most intimate friend. and that intimacy will never stop growing. and I am so grateful for that.

Just His name brings such a peace and such a contentment and love and joy and spring of life to my soul and my heart. I have so many things to be grateful for, so many…that I should always be Praising. and my prayer is that I am and that I do.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”For you make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence.”
Psalm 21:6

p.s.
i think what I love most about worship through music, is the humility that is needed in true worship. realizing worship has NOTHING to do with YOU but EVERYTHING about JESUS.

Beauty of Holiness

 

I love God’s Holiness. I love hearing about it, reading about it, seeing it, and being in the midst of it sometimes. Sometimes when worshipping, its almost like its wrapped around me, like what is described in Revelation with all the angels and the creatures i can’t even picture in my head! and I know that thats not even close to what worship is going to be like in heaven what I experience here on earth, therefore, I cannot wait until Heaven!

But, I love reflecting on God’s Holiness. I get fired up when it seems that people don’t understand His Holiness, and I’m sure that I don’t even understand it like I could, nor will I ever fully understand God’s Holiness. but God’s Holy, therefore, he can demand things from us, He can’t do anything that altars or dirties that Holiness. and because He is holy, we should be holy. To meet with Him, because He is Holy, we must cleanse ourselves, from ourselves, our sin, our flesh. (just erad the Old Testament…and you get an idea of His Holiness!) and with reading through the psalms, i love how in so many of them, the author starts off with some kind of emotional response to what life is throwing their way, and always ends the psalm with this incredible display of affection towards God, of Who He is and all He has done!

I love that God is Holy! and in that, He has bridged the gap through Jesus Christ to meet with us, and to make us holy!

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.”
  Psalm 29:2

Psalm 78

 

I am amazed at God’s faithfulness.

The Israelites, His chosen people are always going back and forth with Him, and yet He still shows them compassion. Yes, there are times when His anger does go down on them, and there are consequences for disobedience and not listening to the Sovereign Holy God, but ultimately, His faithfulness to His beloved people is completely astounding. This world has never seen faithfulness like it. In reality, God defines faithfulness.

I want to be more faithful. to my Father in heaven.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”Yet he, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath. He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes and comes not again.”
Psalm 78:38-39

My God is All-Powerful

 

We have been designed to be in community. We are not meant to be alone. and I love how God uses people to refresh us, to speak truth to us, to challenge us, to encourage us, to laugh with us, to cry with us, to pray for and with us, and to just be there with us. This summer I’m really learning the importance of people in my life and just in general, and learning to appreciate them more. and I am super thankful for that, considering my job that God has given me is to look after people!

Be grateful. Be appreciative. Don’t take anything given to you (which in fact, is everything) for granted.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”that they may know that you alone, whose name is the LORD, are the Most High over all the earth.”
Psalm 83:18

humility

 

Had dinner and chats with my mentor tonight. Always am super blessed to sit and talk and listen to her. I always leave encouraged, inspired and challenged. and i love how God just uses people in our lives, and how we are so designed to be in community and to be in relationship with people.

I still find this humorous coming from me..who growing up, just hated people and wanted nothing to do with them. and now, i love people so much. and one thing that I have definitely learned this summer, is that I actually need people in my life. We are not meant to do life alone. We need people, I need people!

Another thing from tonight that is just a good reminder, because I tend to get on a high-horse of myself at times, is that I really don’t know. I really don’t know what God is doing sometimes, I really don’t know all that I think I know, I’m not as wise as I think I am, I’m not as knowledgeable as I think I am…and so on. I’m always going to be growing. and I’m always going to be learning new things and realizing that I just really don’t know everything.
  It’s one thing to say that, and it’s another thing to live that and believe that in your head. Humility is such a need in the believer, for so many things and for so many different reasons. and is such an admirable trait, because it is such a rare trait. to be truly humble. one that should be most desired.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the LORD, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer;s; he makes me tread on my high places.”
Habakkuk 3:17-19

when our voices fail, our hearts keep going

 

I suppose I should start blogging again, and doing the purpose of this blog.

 

So this summer ive had this underlying fear of losing my voice. because its become really difficult to sing often. to where it physically hurts sometimes. i’m not sure what this is, i have my ideologies but nothing for certain. and today was definately one of those days where singing was just super difficult, and it makes it difficult when you are leading worship. but one thing I realized, and am extremely thankful for, is that to lead worship, you don’t actually have to sing. you can delegate (i love delegation).

and today with a song from this morning, and a song from tonight at church, a phrase has stuck out to me…
  “my heart will sing…”

this came up in 2 songs today. and i know is in multiple songs. and im not sure of the exact meaning for the writers of the songs, but for me, with struggling vocally, this is perfect. even when my voice fails me, my heart can still sing. even if i were ever to completely lose my voice, my heart will still sing praises to my King. I’m not sure what this physically looks like, but for me, i know when my heart is singing and its one of those sweet sweet precious moments with my Creator.

no matter what, my heart will sing. and it has been singing for years!

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!”
  Psalm 37:7

Lord, I’m amazed by You.

 

It’s so great when you get together with a good friend, and your both in kind of the same place in life. where God is doing so incredibly much, its uncontainable and beyond exciting!
  I love these times. I love when we can see God working, and alive. because He is always alive and working!!

Those times are so RICH to me.   :)

You can’t help but leave and be grateful and continue to say ‘Thank You God!"’

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.”
  Psalm 89:1

revived

 

Oh boy…its been a while. I think there’s a reason why…not just cuz ive been gone the last 2 weeks…but because the past couple months I have been in this rut.
I’m in a really weird/new place of life, where things I’m dealing with are super new and super bizarre to me, so I’ve been trying to figure out how to deal with these things or how to take them, and havent really been succeeding very well at that. but this past week…its like God has completely lifted me out of this muddy pit I was stuck in.  Granted, the weird/new place in life is still there, the struggles are still real, but my sense of Joy has returned. my viewpoints have changed from wondering what to do, to trusting God in it and just seeking Him and to just sit at His feet.

and right now, i can honestly say i can’t remember the last time I’ve been so excited about life. just with how God has been providing conversations, and how providing things that I’ve been asking for in prayer and desires of my heart when they are fixed on Him…im just amazed at how God is working and answering and pulling so many things together. and how He is encouraging me, and challenging me an giving me new things to think about and look into. I’m seeing how He has been preparing me for certain things, and how He is still possibly preparing me for more in the future. and it just gets me excited. excited for the fall, to have girls in the house again, to have someone to push me, to have people to talk to, to put all my energy that goes into thinking about certain things, into prayer and intercession and learning more about that and seeking God and what He has for me in that as a woman, as a support to people he puts in my life and lays on my heart. to the church. to Him. to all!

 

I’m just p-u-m-p-e-d. and i dont want this to end. i want to stay excited. i want to stay joyous. i want to stay devoted and motivated. i want to proclaim God’s goodness and faithfulness. I want to love. I want to encourage. I don’t want to waste my summer, but take hold of every moment God gives me. I want to fall in love! with my Creator! I want to claim things for Christ. I want to not fear. I want to worship in the beauty of Holiness. I want to grow. I want to sit at Jesus’ feet. I want to build up…I want to bring glory to my Father in heaven.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. when the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to your the things that are to come…”
John 16:12-13

I should be in bed

 

I should be packing right now, since im leaving in the morning to go to PA for the week. and I should be in bed, but im procrastinating packing.

But I just felt like sharing…cuz i havent in a while.

This has been a really great week. productive. in a lot of areas. but has also been a bit of a difficult week, emotionally and even spiritually, even tho spiritually my time with God has been great and more consistent than it has been in months. but reality is, i am struggling. i am learning a lot actually, which is great and maybe one day I’ll blog about it all. but I just have been finding myself oober frustrated recently, which…is just…well, frustrating.

but on a brighter note. i left the house tonight, and went and saw my friend’s band at a coffee shop in Canton. and hung out with friends i normally dont get to see, and saw people I dont see often and it was just splendid. I count it a great blessing whenever I get to see these people, because they are all so dear to me and are just refreshing. It is refreshing to catch up with people, to just hang out with  people. to go out. and just get into good conversations, and to laugh.

I like friends. I love my friends. I need them in my life more. and I am grateful to God for them, and for evenings like tonight.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.”
Psalm 103:1

Random

 

It’s good for us to be humbled. To find ourselves preaching to ourselves when we are trying to make a point to someone else.
         *We can’t pick and choose what experiences we go through. What we deal with and what we don’t deal with. We just need to take what comes our way.*

I love talking to dear joy givers about God and life. It just brings my heart so much gladness, and blessedness.

I just want to be a godly woman. Madly in love with Jesus.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” Proberbs 31:26

Driving is my relaxer

 

I love driving, because its time with Jesus and music. I like not talking when in a car, because I just like to think, or not think and just listen and watch. It’s like a hiding place almost for me.

I spent quite a bit of time in my car today, on the road. and towards the end of my driving time, i started thinking of something.

So, Biker’s have this certain wave they all do to each other. It’s just natural, whenever they pass each other, they wave. we all know its going to happen when we are following them, and then we see them do it.

Black people always acknowledge each other, whether they have met or not.

Certain things between people create a bond right up front. and it’s instant.

So what bout christians? the bible says that they will know we are christians by our love…do us Christians have a hello right away to each other? do we have a way to recognize right away that we are in the same family?

I know fine rightly there is a bond between brothers and sisters in Christ, because I have experienced it. It’s incredible, to meet a fellow believer and be able to have a bond right away, and be able to go deeper with someone within a few minutes of meeting them simply because you have Jesus in common.

But what about without talking? What about just looking and passing by? Can we tell one from another?

 

thats as far as i got on this.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”Do not say to your neighbor, ‘go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it.” – when you have it with you.”
Proverbs 3:28

It’s Spiritual.

 

I don’t know a lot about intercession, would love to study it a bit more. Just need to actually do that. but one thing I do know, is that it is praying on other people’s behalf. and I love it. It goes deeper than just your typical saying a prayer for someone.
Sometimes our hearts just hurt so badly for people that we just have to stop and pray for them, and even sometimes worship for them. I love these times of worship probably the most, even though they usually result in tears, and not as much actual singing and moving like usual, there just seems to be a deeper connection and after it just comes encouragement for the people our heart’s were breaking for as well as for us.
  We do not fight against flesh and blood, but against principalities…as Ephesians tells us. We need to be on our knees for people, we need to be fighting on behalf of others when they are to weak to do it themselves; that is what the body of Christ is. God gave us all each other, because we all need each other.
We are fighting a Spiritual Battle, where Christ is already Victorious but this world succeeds at making us believe we are defeated all to well.

“Epic warfare. It’s Spiritual. Where out of nowhere come the black cannon balls…No I’m never gonna miss a bit cuz brother I’m a soldier. No I’m never gonna miss a bit, because the LORD made me a soldier….”
  Soliders by The Rocket Summer ‘Life Will Write The Words”
http://youtu.be/DchbcRqfUAc

 

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”This is the day the LORD has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
  Psalm 118:24

I feel like I blog about people often

 

Sometimes all people need, is your time. If it means you giving up your chores for a day, somebody needs an ear to listen to. People’s lives matter more than the chores of life that cannot follow us to Heaven. People carry a lot of hurt, and just need the love of Christ. So are we going to take the time for them, even if we don’t want to?

I love hearing the heart’s of the one’s that people look past so often. God is always working, and can do wonderful things in anyone’s life.

 

God is just so ironic, and I love it. I love how He moves.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.”
           Luke 6:43-44

Family of Christ

 

Hello All,
  it has been a while. We are just finishing our Seize The Summer Tour tonight. It’s good to be home after 2 weeks or so of traveling. As much as I love traveling on the road and experiencing different places, it always does feel good to be home even if its just for a day (for me!) hah.

These past couple weeks have been extremely wonderful. Ive been feeling extremely blessed, we had an incredible group of people on the tour. And I couldn’t help but be so grateful for a family, for that is what we felt like. All the making fun of each other, and the laughing and then the good times of kind words, laughter once again and eating together and devotional time. I love family, and the family feel of things and I just find the family of God such a huge huge blessing in my life. And being around people 24/7 soemtimes it can get a bit rough, but that is how you get to know people the best and how bonds are built.

i have also been extremely blessed by the Psalms. especially psalm 121, about being KEPT by the LORD.

So the end of the tour is a bit bittersweet. but I’m looking forward to next year.

As well over the last couple of days especially, I really feel God has kinda been speaking to me personally on a few things, especially one area and blogs concerning that will come shortly I am sure. But I just ask for prayer, in the area of faith and complete dependence and security upon my God and nothing else!
No matter how good you think you are doing, or how ‘spiritual’ you think you may be, the enemy can always somehow creep in and steal something from you to try and disorient your relationship with Christ, so be aware, and remember that the testing of our faith is for our own good and be thankful in ALL circumstances!

 

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 ⁹ 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—”

Philippians 3:8-9

new favorite passage

 

I love my church. I know this is a day later than Sunday, but church isnt just sunday mornings. It’s the body of Christ. We are the church. and I love the church.

I do love my sunday morning church, especially recently it’s just been such an encouragement to me to see people worship together, and to see how far our church has come in the past 5 or so years. I’m so proud of my church, and i love everyone there so much and just want to continue to grow.

But I also love the church in general. I love being surrounded by a community who loves Jesus. I love being around people who build each other up and actually live and believe what the bible says. I would not be where I am today if it were not for God’s church and godly people following the leading of the Holy Spirit!

I love how much God uses people in our lives.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”Unless the LORD  builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.”
Psalm 127:1-2
   (a new favorite verse)

Undignified

 

Children for the most part, have this shamelessness about them. And I love it. We can learn from it.
They dance when they want, as much as they want whether people are looking or not (but they typically want you to look at them). They don’t care if they are the only ones. They just do.

All you do, don’t worry about your reputation, or what people will think. Our only opinion that should resonate with our hearts should be our Heavenly Father who loves us dearly. May we hold onto His words and not others. (This is why speaking TRUTH is so important.)

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”And he said, ‘My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’”
Exodus 33:14

Oh the places Ive been

 

People. Are SO important.

God uses people mightily in our lives. He uses them to teach us patience, forgiveness, humility, love, among many other things. He uses them to remind us of how we once were.  He uses them to bless us in many different ways. Etc..

If you would have known me 6 years ago, you would have never expected those words to even cross my mind. and yesterday, I was  reminded of where I used to be in life, and how without Christ I would be without hope and in a deep dark pit of despair. A place I used to be, with a terrible attitude on life, on myself, and especially on people. People burn us, yet I can really say, I’ve never really been that burned by people, but I have seen it happen enough times to people I care about that I know it to be true. Yet God uses them so mightily, and Jesus died for PEOPLE. Yet people are what make our life hard and seemingly unbearable majority of times.

But be encouraged, because I know from experience, People are a blessing. We just need to allow them to be, and we need to forgive and forget, just like Christ forgave us and placed our sins as far as the east is from the west, as well to be compassionate and patient toward one another. Just like Christ is with us.
  
So when you find people hard to deal with, just remember that you’re not the bee’s knees either, you probably make life hard for at least one other person too and we need to love just as Christ loves us.
But as well remember, that God uses people in your life mightily and they are of high value to God and should be to us to and we can learn greatly from each other and be blessed by one another.

People used to be a burden to me. Now, people are a blessing, in Christ!
It’s great to be reminded of where you used to be spiritually, and to see where you are now. All Glory to God!

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh…Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
2 Corinthians 5:16-17

Courage

 

I seriously love my church family. and am so completely blessed.
Like I told our worship team last night, worship team prayer time is like my confessional. It is so good for me. We need places we can confess, and I feel especially as well because I am a leader, I feel more free to confess, its weird, I don’t quite get it, but I just feel like I need to be more open and vulnerable in that setting and I most defiantely am. It’s good. It’s freeing. It’s a blessing.

Sunday our sermon mentioned Courage and was about Micaiah from 2 chronicles  18.  (i kinda wanna name my in the way future kid micaiah now)
But, i guess you could say that I have never actually applied Courage to myself.
But as a child of God, I am to be courageous. To step out in faith, with courage, trusting God. Having courage to do what may not be liked by people, to stand up, to be different from the world or people around us. To be true to God and to rely completely on Him. 

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”But Micaiah said, ‘As the LORD lives, what my God says, that I will speak.”
2 Chronicles 18:13

The Joy of the LORD is my strength

 

I guess you could say that recently, I have just really been realizing and living what it truly means to have the joy of the LORD be your strength! Now, I don’t really know how to explain it to someone, but just that you know when the joy of the LORD is your strength!

So often we think that things will make us happy…for instance…clothes. I’m terrible when I go shopping, even if I have the intention to not buy anything, I have to really practice the fruit of self-discipline. I just want everything I find, and there are times when I let myself get really upset that I can’t afford to buy new clothes, while I watch other people being able to. And it’s just n0t with clothes, but in numerous things. BUT, the joy of the LORD is my strength! because my identity, my joy, my happyness, is most definately not found in having the new trends, having more clothes than I can handle or a closet full of clothes that I may not even wear…etc.
I don’t need all these things in my life. All I need, is found in Jesus Christ! And i have Him! Therefore, I have all I need!

Never doubt that your Provider. Whether rich or poor, all you need is IN Jesus.

God knew not to give me money, and I’m grateful for that, and would defiantely not ever want to have a lot of money, as much as I may say ‘I wish I had money…” for certain things, I trust God. He knows me better than I know myself!

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ my LORD….”
Philippians 3:8

Stories

 

I love hearing people’s stories. God truly is glorified through our lives, no matter how much or how little we have been through. I've just been extremely blessed by people this week. through hearing their stories, through spending time with them, and through God speaking through them. It’s a nice reminder for me, that people are highly valuable to God, therefore they need to be highly valued by us.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”…And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:10b

Fired Up in a calmed down state

TWO THINGS:

1. In thinking and talking about Jesus’ return, and eternity with Him, and our glorified bodies and the end times…sometimes, its just so surreal to think of ETERNITY. My mind cannot grasp it! It’s so weird to try and grasp, life will never end. We will one day, be in the actual presence of Jesus Christ, our Savior. All will be made right…so crazy. My mind can’t even comprehend, and I can almost make my head spin thinking about it.
   #EXCITED

p.s.
teaching these past 2days have been really rich to me. Praise You God for that!

2. Love the ‘unloveables.’ Jesus died for people, therefore we need to love people. We need to remember that people are always more important than what we THINK we need to get done, or WANT to do. We need people. They keep us humble, they challenge us, they stretch us, God uses people mightily in our lives. All sorts of people. Some people, just need us to give them a chance. Some people have just had so much rejection and hurt in their life, that all they need is people to listen and give them the time of day. What’s so wrong with that? We just want the same thing from other’s at times, so how can we expect people to give us that if we don’t give that attention and love to others?
   Im sick of being that person who is to quick to judge and just write off people. I’m sick of seeing people do that to precious children of God who just need love. We are no better. Yet we get so fixed on our own selfishness. If we only just stop looking at ourselves, and take time to actually listen to what others are REALLY saying, we will find that God brings complete blessing in those moments, and we fall so much more in love with people, and with God.

Don’t miss those opportunities. please. Don’t be quick to judge. Don’t think your own life and stuff is more important than anyone. Always be willing to give of yourself, we are not here for ourselves, we are bondservants of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we do what our Master tells us to do. We are not slaves to money, or ourselves or to others, but to Jesus Christ alone.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.”
1 Corinthians 12:22-26

Sing It Out!

 

I love my church. Today, for some reason, everything was so Rich for me. Sunday School Class with Don, Pastor Larry’s Sermon, and worship!

I love the times in worship, when you hear  the rest of the church singing and it just feels like you are all singing out an anthem to God and about God!

WHEN WE ARRIVE AT ETERNITY’S SHORE
AND DEATH IS JUST A MEMORY AND TEARS ARE NO MORE
WE’LL ENTER IN AS THE WEDDING BELLS RING
YOUR BRIDE WILL COME TOGETHER AND WE’LL SING
YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL

MY HEART WILL SING NO OTHER NAME, JESUS

LET YOUR GLORY SHINE UNITING US

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God.”
Micah 6:8

Realizations Week

 

I forget that I live amongst a sinful world. All to often, I am in my own little Christian/Ministry bubble, with very little communication to the outside world. Then I talk with people amidst my christian bubble who interact with the world, and I am reminded of just how sinful this world really is, and how is just is progressively getting worse. It’s humbling in a sense, but mostly, its really sad.

I still am not sure how I feel about how little contact I have with unbelievers. Im starting to think and wish I had more….But I am also realizing, how we are called to Endurance.
Jesus told us that the world will hate us, but to remember that the world hated Him first. As well He has told us, that we are not of the world. We are different. Our morals are completely different. He also told us to not fear, because He Has Overcome The World!

Sin corrupts. And this world is deeply corrupted. Everywhere we look. There is so much desensitization to sin. Our lives seem to be filled with extremes, either in the world, or out of it, very few do well with a balance of Loving Jesus while still being in the world.

The World gives us perspective. Of just how lost people are, and jsut how blessed we are. And gives more of an urgency to us as believer’s to go out and share the Good News like we are told to do!

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”Let us know, let us press on to know the LORD; His going out is sure as the dawn; He will come to us as showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.”
Hosea 6:3

I am Blessed

 

I love where God has my life.
I love the people that He has placed in my life.
I love girl nights. Movies.
I love hearing what God has/is doing in people’s lives.

It’s great that even when you don’t feel like doing something, how God gives you the joy to do it!

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.”
Isaiah 43:2

Sometimes I feel like a Mom

 

Ive been staying up quite late this week. and Ive been really tired. Ive been forgetting a lot of things recently. Ive been a bit overwhelmed at moments, cuz life is expensive, being on your own and taking care of yourself and being responsible can be tough. Ministry can be tough.

But, no one can steal my joy. and God loves me, and nothing will ever change that. He is my Provider, and will provide for all of my needs.

I do feel challenged to be a lot more disciplined, and less distracted. I feel a bit down-heartened for allowing myself to get so distracted, but this is where action needs to come in. Good stewardship.

Im really appreciate for people. God has been giving me laughter these past 2 days, and its been so great. Like i said previously, I miss laughing.

God is so much greater than the issues at hand.

 

I love feeling like a Proud Parent. Seeing how God is working in the lives of those I care about and work with, or have worked with. It is a great thing.
I LOVE MY WORK.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”Let us know, let us press on to know the LORD; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.”
Hosea 6:3

Laughter

 

I love laughing so much. And not just like any laughter, I’m talking about legit laughter that gives your stomach a work out and where you have to try to remember to breathe and where it just feels sooooo good. the good, GUT LAUGHTER! :)

This may seem quite sad, but I had one of those moments tonight, a few, a lot of laughter tonight actually, and I realized…I miss it. I miss laughing like that, a lot. I used to laugh like that all the time. But not so much anymore.

But I am so grateful, for the times, and for the people who give me those kind of laughter every now and then. I appreciate those laughs, and the feeling of good laughter! You can’t help but be joyful in laughter!

 

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”
Hebrews 1:3

im not spoiled, im loved.

 

I remember the days when I used to think that nobody loved me. I couldn’t understand why anyone would love me, and I saw no evidence of people loving me. (this was not true though, i was lost in a world of self-deception amongst other things)
Now, I know without a shadow of a doubt that I am deeply loved. I have people in my life who will do absolutely anything for me, they will bend over backwards, they would risk their lives, and give me anything I needed if they could. I have people who just want to encourage me. I am truly loved, and I see it, and believe it, and know it.

and today, I was thinking about this, I like when the Holy Spirit brings to remembrance these things for me. Because it just brings joy to my heart to see the sanctification process I have been through. and to know just what God has done in my heart and mind and the healing and restoration that He has done!

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
” …And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:10

This reigns true in my life, where I’m truly finding that my strength for each day, is really found in the JOY OF THE LORD! it is such a beautiful thing!

i love weddings

 

I love watching people worship God.
I love worshipping.
I love slow dancing with Jesus to worship songs.
I love friends.
JOY.

It’s great to realize that you are controlled by the Spirit more than you used to. That sometimes you do things, that just seem so natural, that used to never be natural, and you just know that it is not you, but the Holy Spirit alive inside of you.

 

This evening, was everything I needed, and God knew it.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
^{James 5:16}

I, I feel so alive…

 

So, I think I’m realizing that if I’m not blogging, there is probably something wrong, because I typically will take the time to blog, but I’ve been really letting myself slip recently, and although I have been doing really well, I just have been lazy with this, and that is never a good sign from me, even if I’m well, because I fall into lazyness quite easily and unless caught, it becomes me, which is never healthy.

But, I feel rejuvenated. I feel extremely blessed. God is SO good!?
Was really blessed and challenged by our morning Bible Study this morning with the girls. I love wednesday mornings. and the hot topic this morning was how selfish we are. I love thinking and talking about the Persecuted Church because it makes me realize how incredible blessed I am, but also how incredible spoiled I am and self-centered. All we do is complain about our lives as westerner’s, when really our problems are minute in comparison to what people are dealing with daily, and compared to what Christ endured…Endurance has been a topic coming up in my mind often recently, and I find the definitino meaning, to just be fixed on God and His purpose and will. That is how Jesus modeled endurance, especially in the garden of Gethsemane before the crucifixion.

But yeah, I was just really blessed by today, especially on the spiritual aspect! Which I needed. and then tonight just topped it all off, with worship practice, and it was rocking and great. It made me excited for what I do, and I felt really blessed and honored to be a part of leading worship and worshipping God. :) was so great to feel that!

God is good.
The joy of the LORD is my strength.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”When anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.”
Galatians 6:3

i love sundays

 

I have been reading through Revelations this past week, and absolutely loving it. I love reading fiction books, and I get the same excitement with Revelations as I do with my fiction books. So it’s really exciting to me, only sometimes when I stop reading and think about what I just read, I get a bit overwhelmed and realize that THAT IS MY FUTURE! Seems so unreal, because it is all we read about, all the beasts and crazy looking creatures and insane things are to happen, its going to be real.
Makes me think of Narnia, only Narnia on steroids. :)

And I love all the worship that goes in Revelation. It’s just all about Jesus, as is the whole Bible, but I think you get my drift. and it just excites me!

 

Also this morning, I was just extremely blessed by my church. It’s so great to be apart of something incredible that God is doing in growing and molding our church. I’m excited to see where He takes us, and how He continues to unite us and grow us as His body of believer’s, His bride!

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life…”
Jude v.20-21

11:11

 

It’s amazing  that you can learn anything, in any moment. In a meeting that you least expect to get anything out of, in the hard times of life, in frustrations, in quiet times, in worship times, in busyness, any time.

God is everywhere. In everything.
  Sometimes I think we allow ourselves to complain to much about life. I fall victim of this all to often. but we have no right. for there is a lesson in everything. and God is so much bigger and so Worthy.

I also love that God honors those who stay obedient to Him.
and that Jesus endured suffering.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
Revelation 2:10

Down on The Farm

 

I have been slacking with blogging. and there are numerous things i could share to catch up with, but I originally wanted this blog to be a daily thing, so I’m going to stick with today’s.

This morning Tina and I went to breakfast with a friend of ours at Bob Evans, and beside us was a Father and Son. the son was real young, younger than 10 i would say. My heart broke, because the whole time in like 30-40 min, I maybe saw the father say about 2 sentences to his son. The rest of the time the father was either on his phone or reading the paper while they ate breakfast. and the kid just kept looking at us girls, and you could tell just wanted his dad to show an interest. It broke my heart, and frankly just really upset me, because how many kids are out there who just want their fathers to pay attention to them. To not just be with them physically, but to be with them in heart and in mind.

It made me just want to sit down with this kid and just talk to him about his likes and interests. it made me want to have my own kids and to spend quality time with them without letting them sit there in silence all through breakfast.

It makes me grateful, that my Heavenly Father is never to busy or to concerned with His own interests over me. His delight, is to have my obedience, my attention, and will do what needs to be done for me to have that, in a loving way this world cannot understand. It makes me grateful for an earthly Father who will take time and talk to me and listen to me.

There have seemed to be a lot of different themes coming up in my life recently. and one of them, is Gratitude. A heart of gratitude is a beautiful, wonderful place to be.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”Praise the LORD! Praise the name of the LORD, give praise, O servants of the LORD.”
Psalm 135:1

Party Rock Is In The House

 

I love laughing hysterically. I love fun times with friends.
I love re-appreciating people, seeing what God is doing in and through them
and getting excited about that.
I love singing loudly old childhood songs with friends in the car.
I love reliving my childhood of hand motions and clapping games!
I love time spent with Jesus.
I love my community.
I love what God is doing. and that He is able and Bigger than our problems and in control!
I love the Psalms. and the Joy of the LORD. and That He has done wonders in this age and the past ages and the ages to come.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”
Jude 24-25

hot blackcurrent at hand!

 

Today was not all that I had expected it to be, it was great.

We need to be okay with interruptions to our ‘schedule, or plans.’
We need to make sure that we have our time with Jesus.
We need to make sure that people are more important than our tasks.
We need to be willing to do whatever we need to, to honor/bless other people. (to be a Servant, no matter what it costs you (like having to face a fear))
We need to not take ourselves so seriously, and just be able to laugh at our mess ups and imperfections!

I can honestly say that for the last couple weeks, I have been extremely grateful for my life and thanking God for my life. This is a great, joyous place to be spiritually and emotionally!

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
(2 Corinthians keeps showing its face to me recently, and I absolutely love it.)
”So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
2 Corinthians 4:16-18

got some time on my hands

 

i love children. it amazes me how even at such a young age, how much they can understand.
Jude wanted a mention in my blog, whether she reads it or not, So i figured I would honor that request! :)

I have been living with the Frame’s for the past 3.5 weeks. They really are like my family. And they have a little girl, Lucie, who is about 18 months. and She is an absolute delight, a bit on the wild side typically only quiet when she’s sleeping, but she is a bundle of fun! And what amazed me, is even in thsoe 3 weeks, I saw how much more clever she got, and even physically I am sure that she had grown! (They grow so quick!) Today (or yesterday) before I left, Jude had been telling her how I was leaving, and when I saw her at dinner time, she just kept staring at me…and staring. Like she knew that I was leaving, an almost not sure what to do.

I think I love children, because God has created them to be a delight. It is so cool to see them grow up, to see them learn new things, to see them get excited, to hear them laugh… Absolute joys!

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.”
2 Corinthians 10:4

To Bangor.

To my beloved Bangorians,

Yous have a place in my heart that no one will ever be able to replace. Yous were the first people I really ever fell in love with. It’s funny how I have two homes. Its quite an odd thing actually, especially when you know you are called to only one of those places. But I count it a privilege, and a huge blessing to call you all family, and to continue to be a part of your lives. Thank you for that privelage.

This most recent trip has been a lot of reminiscing of the past and the present for me. It has been real relaxing, and one thing that keeps coming up that I feel sums up my time with yous, is that all my heart can do, is Praise God. To be extremely grateful, which I am, for the beautiful life my God has given me and blessed me with. Yous have blessed me tremendously. So I leave you with the words of Paul, and I pray that one day you can completely understand what he is talking about, because it is a surreal feeling and a great honor.

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace…For God is my witness how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus...”

And this is my prayer for yous:
”Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one Spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents….”

I encourage you all to read through the book of Philippians. It is one of my favorite books of the Bible. There are many other prayers in the Epistles that are quite fitting, and many other expressions I could share, I just want yous to know that yous have been a great blessing to me over the past 6 years and I am excited to see what God continues to do in and through yous! Thank you for loving me as well. Even through all the slabber (hehe), I can see the genuineness of care in your hearts! That is what has blessed me the most!

servanthood and blessings

 

today was a beautiful day. sun was shining. was pretty warm. had an Andrew Frame BBQ for dinner. hung out in the yard and porch all afternoon with some great people and Lucie for entertainment. :)

I’m really learning that servanthood is such a huge part of being a Christian. I heard someone the other day refer to Jesus as the Servant King. and that is who He was. a Servant, who is also our King.
and this trip, I’ve had it in mind to be a blessing to people. I was asked the other day if I feel like i have accomplished that task. and my answer was ‘yes.’ for some of the time. I feel like i have almost been more blessed myself by others, rather than being a blessing. Which I feel is how it usually goes.

Words cannot seem to express how extremely blessed I feel from this trip. Ive had good days and Ive had not so good days. Ive had lots of time with Jesus and Ive had not so much time with Jesus. Ive definately had time to relax and not have anything be demanded of me or expected of me, which has been absolutely incredible. My trips to NI usually are quite busy, planning meetings w people and filling up my days with coffee dates and/or day trips. and this trip has had those, but for some reason, it hasnt been near as busy as it usually is.

God knows exactly what we need, when we need it. and this trip has been exactly what I needed I believe. sigh.

 

I am blessed. Beyond words. May we serve one another, and have a heart and attitude of selflessness, and of servanthood like Jesus did. Be willing to just go with the flow, and do whatever is asked of you. Be a blessing.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”The greatest among you shall be your servant.”
Matthew 23:11

homesick brings a lot of thoughts

To my community;
I tend to take you all for granted sometimes. I get frustrated, annoyed, and just need to spend time away sometimes. But I realize, I cannot live life without you, and the often turmoil-is what makes you my community. You are the ones who build me up, who encourage me, who know me so intimately, who push me, who challenge me, who have lived life with me, who believe in me, who love me unconditionally. It is through living life together, that we become the people, who bring out the best in each other. That is love. That is trust. So know, that I actually miss yous. That my heart longs for yous. And that I appreciate yous and am grateful that you live life with me, and that you build me up the way you do and the way people should be built up. Thank you for being different from the world and for loving Jesus.
We are at our best when we are surrounded by those who believe in us, who invest in us, who build us up, and who love us unconditionally.
 
VERSE OF THE DAY:
” and let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which you were called in one body. And be thankful.”
Colossians 3:15

Memories

 

Today I took a walk by the beach. As i was walking across the motorway, and along the street, and then finally along the beach, with the wind blowing my hair every which way, and the sun shining and a clear sky where I could see Bangor and see Belfast from where I was….just wrapping around…so many memories flooded my mind.
Memories with people walking along the beach. Memories with people on the rocks by the marina. Memories eating panini’s at the marina. memories walking in crawfordsburn. memories of walking along the rocks by myself and getting caught in the rain. memories of eating a chippy by the boats. memories in coffee bar at the elim after a sunday night. memories at people’s houses. memories even of home, and campfires and summer time and the heat of the sun beating down.
  and there are so many more.

and all I could and can do, is just be extremely grateful. and worship, for the beautiful life my God has blessed me with.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart…”
Psalm 138:1

PrAiSe

 

 

I love how God is so different from the world. His ways are so much higher.
I love that in discipleship, the goal is to ultimately, replace yourself.
I love that God has a unique plan for every single one of us.
I love that God gives us such a heart for people.
I love that He has blessed us with so many riches IN HIM, and continues to bless.
I love that God does actually want to give us the desires of our hearts.
I love that God knows best. That He can see the future and is in fact, leading and guiding me each day to bring glory to Him.
I love that God is glorious.
I love that God gives us purpose.
I love that we have all the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Especially joy.
I love that we have every reason to celebrate life.
I love that this life is not about me. or us. or you. but HIM. (God)
I love that God is an amazing Creator and has such an imagination.
I love that His Word Is Living.
I love that God convicts.
………………….

feel free to comment things that you love about God!

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7

emotions go wild.

 

sometimes you just feel alone. loneliness is not a fun thing. and its funny how even amidst people you love and who love you, the feeling of loneliness can still linger. it baffles me. and it just tends to creep up on you, without you even realizing it.

its funny how you can miss things, whilst being right in the middle of them. or that you can miss people and their value, when their right in front of you.

 

We Need to Pray more. To find all we are in Christ and not in people. To realize that IN CHRIST we have all we need, we are rich, we are blessed, we are never alone, and we are validated by Him, and we are loved and remembered by HIM!
I want to fall more in love with Jesus.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14

Joy. Blessedness.

 

DISCLAIMER: This is by no means, is meant to be an offense to any of my Beloved Americans. So please don’t take offense if you are my American beloved’s. I love yous all deeply too.

It’s good to continuously fall in love with people. I find myself, every evening, just feeling extremely  blessed, and more in love with the people God has placed in my life. And certain people, just hold special places in one’s heart. I’m not sure what or why that is, but it just seems to be true. And my heart keeps latching on to those in Northern Ireland. God has used them immensely to teach me part of who I am, and about Him and His love, and I guess as well, they were some of the first people to really accept me for who I am. and to build me up in that. They brought my happiness. And i count it an absolutely privelage, to call them all my family, and to continuously be able to come back and visit, and see them all grow up in Christ, and how they have all grown leaps. It makes me so proud to call them my friends and family.

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all, making my prayer with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace…for God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”
Philippians 1:3-11

with my voice

 

This place is special to me. These people are special to me. My Home. My Family. (for i am blessed to have two…)

I came to NI with the hope to be an encouragement and blessing. and as believer’s, we are to encourage each other. to build each other up.

I was reading psalm 142 today and it stays off talking about ‘with my  voice'.’ and it made me think of all that we do WITH OUR VOICES…
   we build up, we tear down, we judge, we sing, we speak truth, we tell lies, we deceive, we say good things, we laugh, we cry out, we plead, we praise God…etc and the list can go on.
all good and bad we do with our voice…so im jsut challenged to think about each day, what I am doing with my voice….

 

I can’t believe my brother gets married tomorrow. I’m going to cry my eyes out!

 

VERSE OF THE DAY:
”With my voice I cry out to the LORD, with my voice i plead for mercy to the LORD.”
Psalm 142:1

found a plug!!

 

You know how for certains times in life, ONE WORD can seem to sum it all up. Right now that word for me is BLESSED. I can’t help but each day, feel so extremely blessed to be living the life I live, to know the people I know, to be where i am at each moment….

There is just joy. God is so good! I don’t even know if words can explain it, but I pray that God just shines through, through the joy and blessedness I feel in Him.
I get to experience what most people don’t get the privelage of, and that is literally having two homes and two families. I feel like crying tears of appreciation and joy because of this extreme honor. I have done nothing to deserve such bliss and love, and as I think back quite a few years of old thoughts and always wondering ‘why do people even like me?’ ‘what do people see in me?’ ‘what is there to love?’, and seeing now all the people who I know love me and knowing that it is all becasue of Christ and it is God just pouring His love and grace upon me, blows me away and just makes my heart extremely grateful.

and with a grateful heart, how can I NOT Praise my LORD, who has listened and heard my cry and made my dreams come true, who has delivered me from darkness and set me free from the bondage of lies and self-hurt (emotionally), and has called me to Himself and has set me apart and purified me and made me holy, for His glory. His honor. His name’s sake.

Blessed Be The Name Of The LORD

 

VERSE OF THE DAY
”Let everything that has breath, praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!”
Psalm 150:6