Thursday, March 29, 2012

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!

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

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

Saturday, March 24, 2012

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

Thursday, March 22, 2012

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

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

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

Sunday, March 18, 2012

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

Thursday, March 15, 2012

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

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

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