sometimes the best thing, is just to talk to God. especially when there is a lot on your mind. not blogging, not speaking, just talking to God. He knows all, and is in control of all, so why not just talk to Him. and believe in His power.
Only God.
“For the Kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.”
1 Corinthians 4:20
I love stories. Our stories reveal God’s power to overcome. They reveal His glory.
I love that everyone’s story is unique and that we can be inspired by them.
I love moments where you just feel as if you are going to explode because you feel so in love! Moments like when your driving, with beautiful worship music, and a lake right beside you and Jesus right with you.
I love that God’s ways of revealing himself are unlimited. Love. Love. Love.
VERSE OF THE DAY:
”Just as we have born the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.”
1 Corinthians 15:49
i cant help but continue to stand in awe of God. seriously, the same things keep coming up. God seems to keep confirming and affirming things in my life. and i LOVE IT. it makes me love Him so much more. and I am seeing growth in people, which is so encouraging for me, more than people probably realize. Because sometimes I just get so frustrated because it seems like people are not getting what we as the church need to be getting and understanding with what Christ commands and deserves from us, but then I see little moments of little growth, which little growth, is huge for some people! Little growth are actually big steps! and I love it!
sigh. :)
God is sooooo good.
I love community. I love encouraging people. I love growth. I love challenges. I love fellowship with older women. I love that the same Power that lived and moved in Jesus is alive in Me! oh man!….
VERSE OF THE DAY:
”His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to his own glory and excellence…”
2 Peter 1:3
I love learning about the Holy Spirit. and seeing how much of a vital role, and active He is in our lives, but mostly seeing how active and vital He was in Jesus’ life on this earth. it blows my mind! and i cannot help but be completely amazed at God through learning about a part of the Trinity, and more of who He is, and being able to see all the work the Holy Spirit did in the life of Jesus. and not just that, but then being completely astounded as well, by the fact that Jesus really did become God in the form of man. He limited Himself. and He needed the Spirit. He was completely dependent upon the Spirit.
I feel like things that I feel God has spoken and brought to my attention last week, are being spoken of and brought up publicly this week thus far. and it makes me excited! I love when that happens!
VERSE OF THE DAY:
”If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”
Romans 8:11
I have a lot on my heart. This has been an incredible week for me. Spiritually.
but all I am going to share for right now is this;
i love my church. Sometimes, I feel like I half live there because I am there so often. But I love it. Church feels like home to me. I love being able to go there whenever I need to or want to, even apart from church activities. and I love that my church is growing. and that we have honest people in the church who are willing to be transparent, and admit their faults. That is what the church should be. A safe place. A loving place. A community, who builds each other up. not just a building.
I think i love my church so much, not just because I find the place comfortable and warming to my heart, but because of what it stands for, who it stands for, and who is apart of it, and the encouragement and truth I receive from it.
it breaks my heart to hear and to see people who do not have that in church.
but God is greater. and GOD IS ABLE. (seems to the theme of my week actually, believing in the truth that He is! I love when God keeps bringing things up that you have been challenged by and thinking about.)
VERSE OF THE DAY:
”Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Ephesians 3:20-21
I love the Chronicles of Narnia!!!
Prince caspian: “ I do not think I am ready.”
Aslan: “It is for that very reason you are ready.”
When we think we are not ready for something, God is in fact preparing us. He will not call us to something He does not think we cant do. He will equip us. He will guide us.
I love that about God. I love that He can use movies and use Authors to bring out His beauty and truth. LOVE IT!
VERSE OF THE DAY:
”for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power, and love and self-control.”
2 Timothy 1:7
“You will seek me, and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13
When you take the time and devotion to seek God, He will not let you down. I have been absolutely blown away by God so far this week. He knows exactly what I have been needing to hear, and the confirmation Ive been needing becasue I have been relying on myself to long and letting fears and responsibilities overwhelm me. But what is becoming so real to me, is really and genuinely how I cannot do anything apart from Christ. I cannot even get up and walk without the power of the Holy Spirit leading me.
I am weak. I will forever be weak. and I am okay with that. My strength, needs to be found in God and not in myself. I need to believe in God’s power and ability to do in and through me, all that He has told me to do.
I don’t even know how to put into words all that God has shown me this weak, or how to convey my amazement. I wish I could get this across better, but I just don’t know how. it is one of those things that we all i think just need to experience for ourselves. The LORD needs to be your absolute everything. You need to believe 110% in His ability and power in you. You need not doubt, nor fear, but walk by/in The Spirit.
Take time to hear from God. Seek Him. Be devoted.
I want to learn what it truly means to give ALL of me. this is something I feel I have not learned yet, to give every ounce of my being. I want to believe God at His word, I want to believe that with God and by Him, I could run against a troop, and i could leap over a wall. I want that kind of faith, that nothing can stop me from doing what God has called me to do. Whether I stand alone or not. God is able. God is greater. He is my Shepherd. My strength. My support. My Provider.
I want to be 110% committed. All in. And when doubt, fear, insecurity comes, I want to kill it by the power of God’s Word alive in me, because I believe God is able to use me, to equip me, to sustain me.
I love that God hears us, and answers.
VERSE OF THE DAY:
”Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example, in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”
1 Timothy 4:12
Music is a universal language. It seems to be the one thing that will touch everyone’s soul. It just amazes me that God has created such a thing, that can bring such soothing, and peace, to the soul and that everyone can create conversation about. I’m not quite sure how to get out in words what my heart wants to say concerning this topic, but I was just in amazement tonight at God and His creativity and His skill and even desire to create music. and to give the skill of music to people as well, and that it is something we can learn.
For worship, and for refreshment.
VERSE OF THE DAY:
”And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him.”
1 Samuel 16:23
its the little things that bring us joy, and God knows exactly what to use.
Sometimes life just seems to be too much to handle. Change affects people more than most of us ever let on. it can become overwhelming, as well as putting on top of that change, a to-do list, stress, more responsibility. It is an open shot, for the enemy to come in and feed our fears, to feed our selfishness, to feed our insecurities, feed lies about expectations, about one’s self, about the future... It’s also hard for burden bearers, who tend to take on the people’s around them stuff too.
But what I am thankful for, is for the Comfort of the Holy Spirit. He knows just when to brighten your day, what kind of encouragement you need at just the right time you need it.
God is greater.
“You are God, of all else I’m letting go.”
Praising God, always helps a downhearted soul.
VERSE OF THE DAY:
”And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment…”
Philippians 1:9
It’s great to see how people have grown after not having talked to them for a long time. To see their willingness to be bold and encourage and show support. Old faces are refreshing. Encouragement is refreshing.
We allow ourselves to become so overwhelmed with life, and so overcome, when we are not overcome at all. We are victors. We need to open our eyes to see all that God has in each day for us, in each moment. To see the encouragement, that He is always providing. To see the blessings that people are to us. To see that challenges and trials are really blessings as well and we can still be joyful in them. That we are truly supported, because the LORD is our support.
We are contagious. This is a blessing and a curse. What are you contagious with?!
With encouragement and joy and fruit from the Holy Spirit, or are you contagious with drama, complaints, down-heartedness. What will people know you as?! someone they can trust and know will be praying if you ask, someone they can talk to, a servant?, or someone’s who not willing to do anything that God asks of them whether in their comfort zone or not, or someone who is just consumed with themselves?
Loving God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength is not an easy task. But neither was becoming human, and loving sinful man so much that you would die for them…
God is continually blessing us. and I love this about Him. We are completely undeserving of all of His provision, from the smallest to the greatest. He really does want to be good to us, and to prosper us and has plans for us. Believe. and Surrender. God is gracious. merciful. and ABOUNDING in love.
I love that God is so incomprehensible. It makes Him exciting. It makes me love Him so much more, because I can’t full grasp His wonders, but I just know Him to be true, and that is all that matters. FAITH. is a beautiful thing.
VERSE OF THE DAY:
”The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.”
Psalm 145:9
“I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies…In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears…He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support. He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me. The LORD dwelt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD; and have not wickedly departed from my God…With the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless you show yourself blameless; with the purified you show yourself pure; and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous. For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down. For it is you who light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness. For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. This God—his way is perfect, the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shielf for all those who take refuge in him. For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except out God? the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great. You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip. I pursued my enemies and overtook them, and did not turn back till they were consumed. I thrust them through, so that they were not able to rise; they fell under my feet. For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me….The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation—the God who gave me vengeance and subdued peoples under me, who delivered me from my enemies; yes, you exalted me above those who rose against me; you rescued me from the man of violence. For this I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations and sing to your name…”
*My enemies are Satan and his minions, sin, lies…and in Christ, I have victory of them all.
*The LORD is my support.
*He prepares and He provides, so that I will not fall, but succeed IN Him.
*He hears, listens and answers.
*He delights in me.
*He enables me and is my strength.
*He is a refuge and shield.
*He is God.
*I will sing to His name and give praise.
VERSE OF THE DAY:
”From the same mouth come blessings and cursings, my brothers, these things ought not to be so.”
James 3:10
I love Jesus.
I love times when it’s just Him and I.
I love prayer times, for other people and just speaking what my heart is feeling. It is therapy, and I really only do it with God.
I love that He is there to listen to me, and to encourage me in the best way He see’s fit.
I love that He shows He cares and is looking out and providing for me in the littlest ways. (i.e; time spent with your best friend)
I love that I can be as emotional as a girl can be with Him and can cry, a lot.
I love that God just takes me as I am, fears and all, and chooses to use me and to sanctify me, and purify me.
VERSE OF THE DAY:
”But as for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living, but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king and that you may know the thoughts of your mind.”
Daniel 2:30
Tonight I couldn’t help but think and be grateful for the healing God has done in my life and especially my mind. and the lives of other’s around me.
VERSE OF THE DAY:
”Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
1 Peter 1:8-9
What is super encouraging to me, is catching up and not even that, but talking about how great God is, and how He has answered prayer and what He is doing in the lives of people with a dear friend whom you are very fond of.
Hearing about God and esp conversing about God and His wondrousness, makes me love Him so much more! :)
VERSE OF THE DAY:
”Noah did this, he did all that the LORD commanded him.”
Genesis 6:22
may we be like Noah, and be a radical, obedient people to our God.
certain songs, certain music just has the power to calm, and to make you stop everything. I like it.
I have als0 been thinking often in the last couple of days how in songs, especially worship music, there are so many rich and deep words/phrases. and when we sing them, do we really realize what we are saying, what we are committing ourselves to, what we are singing about, and who we are singing to. We are never just singing in worship. It goes so much deeper.
I love being able to encourage people, and when verses really stick out to me for people. That is the Spirit. I like great conversations about life and God with people. God is everywhere.
God is good. and Is always trying to get our attention.
VERSE OF THE DAY:
”I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
Romans 12:1
I like seeing growth in people. I like feeling like a proud parent. I like community, and worship times. I like lovely people. I like the truth and belief of knowing and accepting that I am deeply loved, not just by God, but by people too.
appreciate people. remember what you’re fond of, in them. people are truly gifts and blessings from God. because as much as we may have believed that we would never need people, God gives us people for a reason. and sometimes, the people you least expect, or the one’s who are totally opposite of you, are some of the best people for you! So Don’t write people off please. We are all hard to love, we are all ugly, we are all beautiful, we are all messed up and in need of a Savior.
:)
I just love Jesus!
VERSE OF THE DAY:
”I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together.”
Psalm 34:1-3
I love when we mess up. Especially when it comes to worship and when we are in front of people. for numerous reasons…1…its keeps you humble. 2…it reminds you not to take yourself to seriously….3…God can be glorified in anything, and we can only do things in and through the the power of the Holy Spirit!
Tis a great lesson to learn, and to continually experience! :)
I love that God will always make sure that His name is glorified!
Don’t take yourself to seriously! at all. mess ups can be fun! and there is always a lesson to learn!
VERSE OF THE DAY:
”…for I have opened my mouth to the LORD and I cannot take back my vow.”
Judges 11:35b
i like words, and their meanings.
tonight in Bible Study the word ‘fondly’ was used, and there are thee moments when i just find i really like a word. and i really like this word!
”lovingly or affectionately”
I find myself being fond (cherished with strong or unreasoning feeling; having a liking or affection for…) of things and people. like worship and music and the people near and dear to my heart. I miss writing music, I miss just sitting at the piano and playing for hours. I am fond of those moments and memories.
and God is fond of us. and I definately am fond of Him. :)
VERSE OF THE DAY:
”You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of themw hen you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
Deuteronomy 6:5-9
Do we realize our need for the Holy Spirit?! also, do we realize how active He really is in our everyday life?!
I have been thinking the last couple days about the standard of living. you will find in my other blog, that it may kind of go along with this entry. but we are called to be Holy. and God has placed a general call, and a specific call on each of our lives. He has prepared good works for us to go out, and do, for His glory and His name’s sake.
This means that we have a standard to live by. We can’t just go about our lives, doing what we want to do, saying what we want to say, thinking what we want to think. We have a standard, that has been set by God that we need to abide by, and live by. and that standard is Holiness and Godliness.
This is not something men place on us, but something that God has placed on us.
I have been meditating on this, and I pray we all do. Because when we allow the reality of the truth of what it means for us to be holy as Christ is holy, those are huge standards and all to often, we don’t live by them, and we mess up, a lot.
But what I love about God, and the Holy Spirit, is that there is mercy and grace. and the Holy Spirit just picks us right back up, and enables us to live a holy life and reminds us of all we need to be reminded of, when we are willing.
VERSE OF THE DAY:
”Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may how know you ought to answer each person.”
Colossians 4:6
