New Month. New Song.

"O that men would praise the Lord for His goodness,
and for His wonderful works to the children of men."
—Psalm 107:8.







If we complained less, and praised more, we should be
happier, and God would be more glorified. Let us daily
praise God for {common mercies}—common as we
frequently call them, and yet so priceless, that when
deprived of them we are ready to perish.

Let us bless God for the eyes with which we behold the sun,



for the health and strength to walk abroad, for the bread
we eat, for the raiment we wear. Let us praise Him that
we are not cast out among the hopeless, or confined amongst
the guilty; let us thank Him for liberty, for friends, for family
associations and comforts; let us praise Him, in fact, for
everything which we receive from His bounteous hand, for we
deserve little, and yet are most plenteously endowed. But,
beloved, the sweetest and the loudest note in our songs of
praise should be of redeeming love.




God's redeeming acts towards His chosen are for ever the
favourite themes of their praise. If we know what
redemption means, let us not withhold our sonnets of
thanksgiving. We have been redeemed from the power
of our corruptions, uplifted from the depth of sin in
which we were naturally plunged. We have been led
to the cross of Christ—our shackles of guilt have been
broken off; we are no longer slaves, but children of the
living God, and can antedate the period when we shall
be presented before the throne without spot or wrinkle
or any such thing.

Even now by faith we wave the palm-branch and wrap
ourselves about with the fair linen which is to be our
everlasting array, and shall we not unceasingly give
thanks to the Lord our Redeemer? Child of God, canst
thou be silent? Awake, awake, ye heritors of glory, and
lead your captivity captive, as ye cry with David, "Bless
the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His
holy name."

[Let the new month begin with new songs.]

- Charles Spurgeon
Spurgeon's Daily Meditations
December 1st


________________________________________________
Today I appreciate: My roommates. Charles Spurgeon.
Silent, strengthening hugs. Beagle Bagel brewed coffee.
The boy. Scarfs. The [Reason] to believe. A dryer that
works.

Song of Solomon 7:10

Friends,

It has been awhile since I have written, but I am back with a full heart and mind of many lessons learned. (and still learning..)
--

I am my Beloved's,
and His desire is for me.

Over the past 30 years, I have prayed that passage (Song of Solomon 7:10) in soaring 747's, monasteries, caves, retreats, centers and deserted places. I believe His desire for you and me can be described as a furious longing. I hope you begin to pray that passage. When you take those words personally, I mean very personally, a number of beautiful things come to pass:

- the drumbeats of doom in your head will be replaced by a song in your heart, which could lead to a twinkle in your eye.
- you will not be dependent on the company of others to ease your loneliness, for He is Emmanuel - God with us.
- in a significant interior development, you will move from I should pray to I MUST pray.
- you will stop comparing yourself with others. In the same way, you will not trumpet your own importance, boast about your victories in the vineyard, or feel superior to anyone.
- you will read Zephaniah 3:17-18 and see God dancing for joy because of you.
- off and on throughout the day, you will just know that you are being seen by Jesus with a gaze of infinite tenderness.

- Brennan Manning

Source: The Furious Longing of God by Brennan Manning, pp. 21-23.

Weak, Humble, yet trusting....

Season 2009-2010,
here I come...



Weak



Humble



Yet trusting...



"Despair does not lie in being weary of suffering but in being weary of joy." - G. K. Chesterton


"When our plans are interrupted, his are not. His plans are proceeding exactly as scheduled, moving us always (including those minutes or hours or years which seem most useless or waster or endurable) 'toward the goal of true maturity." (Romans 12:1) - E. Elliot


"When you and I hurt deeply, what we really need is not an explanation from God but a revelation of God. We need to see HOW GREAT GOD IS; we need to recover our lost perspective of life. Things get out of proportion when we are suffering, and it takes a vision of something bigger than ourselves to get life's dimensions adjusted again." - W. Wiersbe


"The "why?" becomes unimportant when we believe that God can and will redeem the pain for our good and for His glory when I put the sovereignty of God beside his unfailing love, my heart can rest." - V. Davis


"If Christ calls me to suffer, He will strengthen me to suffer in such a way that God is glorified." - J. Burroughs


"In a way I wish I could take to heaven me old, tattered Everest and Jennings wheelchair. I would point to the empty seat and say, "Lord, for decades I was paralyzed in this chair. But it showed me how paralyzed you must have felt to be nailed to Your cross. My limitations taught me something about the limitations you endured when you laid aside your robes of state and put on the indignity of human flesh." At that point, with my strong and glorified body, I might sit in it, rub the arm rests with my hands, I look up at Jesus, and add, "The weaker I felt in this chair, the harder I leaned on You. And the harder I leaned, the more I discovered how strong You are. Thank you, Jesus for leaning obedience in your suffering...you gave me grace to learn obedience in mine." - Joni Eareckson Tada

I am satisfied in Thee

Be Satisfied With Me
Author Unknown

Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone…to have a deep soul relationship with another…to be loved thoroughly and exclusively. But, God, to a Christian says: No, not until you are satisfied, filled and content with being loved by Me alone with giving yourself totally and unreservedly to Me alone discovering that only in Me is your satisfaction to be found will you be capable of the perfect human relationship that I have planned for you.

You will never be united with one another until you are united with Me…exclusively for anyone or anything else, exclusively for any other desires or longings. I want you to stop wishing and allow Me to give you the most thrilling plan existing. One that you cannot imagine. I want you to have the best. Please allow Me to bring it to you. You must keep watching Me, expecting the greatest things. Keep experiencing the satisfaction that I am, keep learning the things that I want to tell you. You just wait, wait. That’s all.
Don’t be anxious. Don’t worry. Don’t look around at the things that others have gotten or that I have given them. Don’t look at the things you think you want.
You just keep looking off and away to Me, or you’ll miss what I want to show you, and when you are ready I will surprise you with a love more beautiful than you could dream of. You see, until you are ready and until the one I have for you is ready, you will never be able to experience the great love that is waiting for you (I am working even at this very moment to have both of you ready at the same time).
Until you are both satisfied with Me and the life I’ve prepared for you, you won’t be able to experience the love that exemplifies your relationship with Me, and this is the perfect love. And dear one, I want you to have the most wonderful love. I want you to see in the flesh a picture of your relationship with Me and enjoy materially and concretely the everlasting union of beauty, and perfection and love that I offer you with Myself.

Know that I love you utterly. I am God.Believe it and be satisfied.

"Be still and know that I am God" - Psalm 46:10

Felicity

No 'tis in vain to seek for bliss;
For bliss can never be found
'Till we arrive where Jesus is,
And tread on heavenly ground

There's nothing round these painted skies,
Or round this dusty clod;
Nothing, my soul, that's worth thy joys,
Or lovely as thy God.

'Tis Heaven on earth to taste his love,
To feel his quick'ning grace;
And all the Heaven I hope above,
Is but to see his face.

- Issac Watts (1674-1748)

A Few of My Favorite Things

(Just insert Julie Andrew's voice here..)

1. Mango. Anything and everything about it. I love the smell. I love the taste. I've been on a mango-kick the past couple of weeks and have been indulging myself in mango sorbet. If you havn't tried it, I implore you to drive in your car as fast as you can and grab a pint of this "defining-sense-of self."

2. Anthroplogie. I walk through that store just about every day... and it inspires me. I get hit everytime with a serious case of creative-wanderlust. I start itching to think of new things to do.. from crafts to making jewelry and painting old tin cans. Something about that store... really sparks my need to make something. (Of course, I leave that store empty handed everytime... except for yesterday - I could afford the $25 purple sunglasses that were calling my name. Yes, purple.)

3. Elisabeth Elliot. I'm also on an Elliot-kick.. where I find myself drinking chai tea lattes and aggressivly pouring into her books with such a wonder over her simple thinking and her knowledge of the Truth. It speaks to me. It's not just words. (I want to be able to write like this...)

4. Nikon D60. I'm learning more and more about my incredible yet complex camera. I want to take more pictures.... good pictures. So, I'm kind of working on learning all that I can.. and see where that takes me. My brother sends me assignments each week of projects and things to take pictures of. (He took a photography class in college) I never thought that a fire hydrant could be beautiful and appealing with some photoshop and editing.

5. My dog. Yes, I have a dog. An extremely cute one at that. His name is Freckles and is the laziest cocker-spaniel you will ever meet. I laugh at him quite often. He also managed to sit on an entire chocolate cake in the backseat of a stranger's car. Yes, this is my dog.

6. Psalm 145. Read it.

7. Anything that starts with an 's' these days seems quite wonderful. Here is my to do list: Sleeping. Swimming. Shopping. Sugar. Sweets. Swinging. Sunbathing. Sunset-chasing. It's my break.. so what else am I going to do?

8. My sister. And her capability to fly to europe with her 2 best friends and travel and site-see everything and anything within France, Switzerland, and Germany. How I ache to go to places such as these.

9. My middle school girls. They are the bomb and I love them. I wish we could hang out more.

10. Colombia! I am going again in August :) And cannot even contain the excitement!! God is good. Just.. this time, I need to know a little bit more spanish. Spanish! Add that to my list of 's'.

Change

Things change...
and things don't change...

and I wonder which one is better...

He's More

Beautiful Man

Beautiful God

You're more than worth my time

You're more than worth these longings of my heart...

Left unfulfilled

Just for a time

And I know You don't come as easy as some

But I will watch and pray

I will watch and pray

Take it all

Take it all

Just give me Jesus

Just give me Jesus

I don't want any other Lover

I don't want any other Lover

All of my devotion

Belongs to this man

Habakkuk 2

I've been driving with my windows down lately because it has been absolutely BEAUTIFUL outside! The smell of honeysuckles and fresh cut grass is a wonderful reminder that spring is here...

Write the vision; make it plain on tablets,
so he may run who reads it.
For still the vision awaits its appointed time;
it hastens to the end-
it will not lie.
If it seems slow, WAIT FOR IT;
it will surely come; it will not delay.
Habakkuk 2:2

Singleness of Intention

Fix your eyes upon this one point, and your whole soul shall be full of light! God will continually left up the light of his countenance upon you, his Holy Spirit shall dwell in you, and shine more and more unto that perfect day. He shall purify your hearts by faith fron every earthly thought and unholy affection; he shall establish your souls with so lively a hope of his favour, as already lays hold on the prize of your high calling; he shall fill you with peace, and joy, and love--love, the brightness of his glory, the express image of his person--love which never ceaseth, never faileth, but still extends its vivifying flame, still goeth on conquering and to conquer, till what was a weak, blind, wavering, sinful creature shall be filled with all the fullness of God, and worship in his presence when time shall be no more!

- Charles Wesley
First Frederica Sermon
"On Singleness of Intention"

Letting Go

I'm letting go of everything that I am
And I'm holding onto everything You are
I'm letting go of everything I once was
I'm all in
I'm falling into your arms again...

Slowing Down to Listen

Today was the first time in a long time that I've gotten to enjoy the

sunshine...





It has been pouring rain the last couple of days and to be
quite honest I've missed the sunshine. Never thought I
would say that. It's absolutely incredible how God changes
the weather for us... even if He chose to let it rain for 3 years..
I guess I would never complain. But, I DO know that I am
THANKFUL for the sunshine today...

..when usually, I just take it for granted.


When I was sixteen
I would escape in my little Toyota Avalon around 6:00 pm
to chase the sunsets and take pictures of them




I havn't done that in a long time...


I think I used to have a major appreciation for
everything outside my window. Actually, I think it
was deeper than appreciation. I remember journaling
about my God's creation and how BEAUTIFUL it was
and how much it CAPTURED my attention.

I believe it was the belly of my soul that would start
to feel overwhelmed in WONDER over a sunset...
or rain on the pond... or watching waves roll on the
ocean... or witnessing a shooting star in the canvas of the sky.

I think the Lord gave me a touch of second sight today..
which was a gift that allowed me to peek for a moment at
the world around me.. beyond ordinary space and time..
and was able to sit. And enjoy.

I havn't stopped.
I havn't stopped long enough...
I may have thought, wow, that's gorgeous......

but have I listened?



I can see the sun.

I can see the rain.

I can see the ocean.

I can see the stars.




But have I listened to what its all saying?

CREATION SPEAKS!




It's affirming and exclaiming the GLORY of God!




..so that from the rising of the sun
to the place of its setting
[men may know]
there is none besides me.
I am the Lord,
and there is no other..
(Isaiah 45:6)




To slow down.
And know that He is



And it's all here to remind us.
It's all here to bring glory to the One that it is due.

Slow me down, Lord
Cause me to listen

________________________________________________
Today I appreciate: Vanilla Lattes, getting out of rehearsal
early, memorization of 2 Corinthians 4, the sun on my face,
the book I bought yesterday that I was able to crack open
and read for 3 hours today, gratitude, affirmation, new mercy.

Gloriously Frightening..

It is a gloriously frightening realization..........

that I am doing what I have always wanted to do.

Some people wish that they will be something as a child...
or wish they could go somewhere and do
something beyond thrilling!
People make goals. Some reachable and
some unreachable.. but they
still take the risk and work hard at what they do.

I've definitely wished...
and I've definitely dreamed..
and I've definitely poured sweat and tears..

But it is JESUS alone that receives the glory
in everything that I do!

The growth doesn't stop here at a reached goal though.
I pray hard that it won't. No, it's only fuel for
this fire that is within me...

A fire that will not be burnt out...
He causes it to keep shining...
He is my glory and strength and sustainer in all things
It's not for me.
It's all for You.


Keep burning.
Keep yearning.
He is worthy!

It's Official

It's official, y'all.....


In August of 2009 I will be dancing at Ballet Magnificat as a full time alpha company member!


He blows my mind....
Seriously....


All the glory to Jesus!

Overview

Today I appreciate: God's forgiveness, socks, peanut m&m's, good friends, coffee to be shared, the pacific ocean, mountain views, embrace, tooth picks, psalm 27m, coca-cola, photos, the Lord's great goodness in my life, humility, in and out, John 1, bath robes, homemade chocolate chip cookies, books, prayer, warm blankets, chick-fil-a, children and the joy that they bring, creation, the fact that He knows the number of the stars and the grains of sand and every hair on my head, witnessing lives being changed from death to life, hope, peace, blow pops, fluffy pillows, internet connection, my home, parents, necklaces, old gene kelly movies, blossoms, icecream, coconut covered strawberries, korean snacks, safety while driving across the country

Precious Hands

I've been on tour for about 14 days now.. and I have about 11 days left! The west coast is just beautiful! I've really been enjoying our bus rides lately.... everything outside of my window is brand new to me... its a beautiful thing! The Lord is just showing me more and more of Himself in everything!



























just some bullets from the last couple of performances:

* I met a little girl named Madelin, in Mesa, Arizona after the program... I asked her if I could pray for her and she said, "yes, please pray that Jesus will come into my heart.." so that night... she received Jesus as her Lord and Savior!

* 5 people received Jesus as their Lord and Savior in Camarillo, California!




While we were in Camarillo... on the Sunday night performance.. during the ministry time.. a little girl named Lily approached me during one of the songs and asked me to pray for her hand... I said, "absolutely!" and asked her what was wrong with it. She held out her hand to me and said, "I want to pray that my fingers will grow back.." I looked down and saw that she only had a THUMB on her left hand!!!!!!!! My eyes started to water! She smiled with faith! I asked her if she believed that Jesus could do this and she said, "Yes!" I grabbed her precious little hand and held it tightly....I prayed over Lily and thanked the Lord for His creation and creating her specifically in the way that He did for His glory! I prayed over her hand that the Lord would have his way...and then I began crying! I was touched tremendously by the Holy Spirit! Even though her fingers didn't grow back immediately (even though the Lord's power is FULLY capable of doing that and MORE!) she did not waver in her faith. She smiled so assured that God would heal her hand.

Juarez, Mexico

+ February 6, 2009

We crossed the border and now we're in Mexico.





























It's like another world.



















The orphanage we visited was precious though...



















It's a Christian school/orphanage that was founded by a Christian American... who visited Juarex and his heart broke for the children running around in the streets. The Lord gave him a vision to start this school and teach them about Jesus...and give them a place to live and eat.



















My heart can do nothing but relate to this man. I see these kids...



















..and my heart swells.


We are about to lead these children in creative worship...and I am so eager to witness the POWER of the Holy Spirit. O please come, Jesus. Meet these kids- satisfy their needs and emptiness. Heal them.


+


The creative worship was unlike any other than we have done before! We did a skit where we had a word on our shirt (in spanish) saying a sin that we have committed or a sin committed towards us - and we acted it out. Jonathan (being Jesus) removed our word and replaced it with HIS word! (the opposite! ie.. fear/peace)

I had ABUSE

At first, I wanted to pick 'insecurity' because that's definitely one that I can relate to...but somehow, I forgot to pick up the sheet (yeah, somehow...) and the last one to pick was 'Abuse'. I had no relation for this one. But, I taped it onto myself and began praying. Then once we start.....this terrible feeling came over me - my eyes started watering - and I felt mistreated in a way. It's like the Lord allowed me to just TASTE what abuse had felt like (ofcourse, I know, it will never compare to the harsh reaity of it) but it engulfed me. I began to realize that I wasn't really acting anymore...but that- just for that while - those feelings of abuse.....we more real to me than anything. I could barely handle it.

Then Jonathan took my word and replaced it with

VALUED

After the skit we had the kids go to the person with the word on them that they are thankful for from God....or one that He has done for them! And all of them went to words like

hope...love....peace....etc.

I was standing alone for awhile at first.. so I began to pray. But then I made eye contact with a girl......and she slowly walked over to me. I gave her a big hug - but I could feel that there wasn't one in return. The music began playing and each of us lead all the kids in some arm movements to a worship song in their language.

I did a lot of movements where I could hug myself and twist side to side... like I was hugging my dad or something. Then I heard sniffles. My heart broke. The Lord was moving and loving on her and it was so beautiful. I got to talk with her a little bit...between my little knowledge of spanish and charrades... and her little knowledge of english... we talked!

Our God is SO much bigger than a language barrier!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She had been a Christian for 5 years...she came to the orphanage at 14 or 15... she's 17 going on 18 now. Her favorite Bible verse is Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. Its just her and her mom living at home - dad left 2 years ago. She loves to sing and dance. I really had a heart for

Anna..

God is so good to me to let me get to talk to her - pray for her!

After creative worsihp we hung out with the kids and played soccer with them :o)

I got to know a 9 year old boy,

Tia..


























He was so much fun! He played around with my camera a bit.. and took some pretty good shots!!!

And then I met..

Karen (ko-ren)


















She's deaf but you wouldn't know it.... she is the ULTIMATE sneaky tickle monster!



















She hung around me most of the time.. wanting to take pictures with me and sneaking up on me and surprising me with her amazing tickeling skills. ;o) It was so precious.

She even wrote her name on the inside of my arm before I left. I was overwhelmed. She didn't want me to forget her (I won't)






















"My people, I have put my praise on your lips, bring my praise into
every situation of your lives and I will show you the power of my
praise," says the Lord! "My people, turn away from evil, come to me.
Be in the world but not of it, honour my Son and I will give you
peace and contentment," says the Lord! "Even should a woman
forget the child she bore, I will not forget you. Your name is
written on the palm of my hand," says the Lord! "Give me your
sick and I will heal them, your worries, and I will dispel them, your
burdens and I will carry them, my people. I want to set you free,"
says the Lord.

Inner Transformation!

A Radical Inner Transformation
By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain...
(1 Corinthians 15:10)

If you believe that you are part light and part darkness, part saint and part sinner, you will live in a very mediocre manner with little to distinguish you from the non-Christian. You may confess your proneness to sin and strive to do better, but you will live a continually defeated life because you perceive yourself to be only a sinner saved by grace who is hanging on until the rapture. Satan knows he can do nothing about who you really are, but if he can get you to believe you are no different from the natural person, then you will behave no differently from the natural person.Why does this profile describe so many Christians? Because we are ignorant of our true identity in Christ.

God's work of atonement in changing sinners to saints is His greatest accomplishment on earth. The inner change, justification, is effected at the moment of salvation. The outer change in the believer's daily walk, sanctification, continues throughout life. But the progressive work of sanctification is only fully effective when the radical, inner transformation of justification is realized and appropriated by faith.

"But didn't I read somewhere that Paul referred to himself as the chief of sinners?" you may wonder. Yes, but he was referring to his nature before his conversion to Christ
(1 Timothy 1:12-16).

He made a similar statement of self-depreciation in 1 Corinthians 15:9, but continued by saying: "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain"
(verse 10)

Paul knew that who he was before Christ and who he became in Christ were two separate identities.If you claim to be just a sinner, what will you do?

You will sin!

You are professing that sin is at the core of your identity.
That's not what the Bible teaches.
Why don't we just believe God that Jesus is at the core of our
being and then begin to live like it by His Spirit?

Be Satisfied With Me.

Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone,

To have a deep soul relationship with another,

To be loved thoroughly and exclusively.

But God, to a Christian, says,

"No, not until you are satisfied, fulfilled and content

With being loved by Me alone,

With giving yourself totally and reservedly to Me,

With having an intensely personal and unique relationship

With Me alone.

Discovering that only in

Me is your satisfaction to be found,

Will you be capable of the perfect human relationship

That I have planned for you.

You will never be united with another until you are united

With Me alone,

Exclusive of anyone or anything else,

Exclusive of any other desires or longings.

I want you to stop planning,Stop wishing,

And allow Me to give you the most thrilling plan existing,

One that you cannot imagine.

Please allow Me to bring it to you.

You just keep watching Me, expecting the greatest things.

Keep experiencing the satisfaction that I Am.

Keep listening and learning the things I tell you.

You just wait.

That's all.

Don't be anxious.

Don't worry.

Don't look at the things you think you want;

You just keep looking off and away up to Me,

Or you'll miss what I want to show you.

And then when you are ready,

I'll surprise you with a love far more wonderful than any

You could dream of.

You see, until you are ready and until

The one I have for you is ready

(I am working even at this moment to have you both ready at the same time),

Until you are both satisfied exclusively with Me

And the life I prepared for you,

You won't be able to experience the love that
Exemplified your relationship with Me.
And this is the perfect love.
And dear one, I want you to have this most wonderful love,
I want you to see in the flesh a picture of your
Relationship with Me,
And to enjoy materially and concretely
The everlasting union of beauty, perfection and love
That I offer you with Myself.
Know that I love utterly.
I Am God.
Believe it and be satisfied.

~ St. Anthony of Padua



________________________________________________
Today I appreciate: Deas Vail, my parents, Romans 10, being active
in prayer against abortion clinics, friends who have funny laughs.

His glory. Our good.

"How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?" John 5:44





How do you measure importance?





Because this is!





It is absolutely important that we give glory and praise and honor to the King of All! He doesn't need it.....it's not like He is insecure of Himself. Infact, He is VERY secure! He is MAJESTY! I tell you.....He loves worship. He loves it when we worship Him because He knows what it will do for us. He INHABITS the praises of His people.....































His glory. OUR GOOD!



________________________________________________
Today I appreciate: Car rides with dad, Ale8, the cross, goals, hugs from Roxanne Renner, brand new day, brand new week.

Prosperous Plans

I have 2 very dear friends of mine who spent at least 2 hours talking with me on my bed today.. at 2 completely different times!
































































I am so refreshed.




These 2 have deeply encouraged me! And Christ who lives in them spilled His living water all over me this afternoon as I sat with them and talked with them about the Lord. Its times like these I am gratefully overwhelmed by Jesus:Himself.




I am simply amazed that He chooses to work through an imperfect character like me. It is HIS plans that HE carrys out through people like me.....who fail to love Him fully- even just for one day! (I boast in You! 1 Corinthians 1:31)

























His Word is so alive, y'all.
It is more real to me than ever before. :) :)



The road that is ahead is an exciting one! Of course the 3 of us do not know where we will be or what we will be doing or how. But our God is much bigger than our questions and the Unknown. I hear Him in His word.......plans to prosper you, to give you a HOPE and a FUTURE.......many are 'your plans'... but My Purpose prevails!



I heard an illustration once and I feel like I need to share it. (I'm not even sure if many people read this.. but the few that do.. I pray that this encourages you!!)




..the other day I took my imaginary pencil and slowly drew a tentative circle around myself. "Is it possible that I don't belong here, heading towards this future? What am I suppose to do here? Is this life that I am setting up the wrong for me and the right for somebody else?" He takes the pencil and erases the circle around me. You belong. You belong in this moment. Because this is where I have put you. He draws a circle around my worry, doubt, and fear. These do not belong when I AM in the picture. He reminds me, I cause EVERYTHING to work together for the good of those who love Me.. so TRUST Me. And stop using this pencil. (Because I died to erase that circle.)



The good of me.. the good of you..
is in whatever HE has planned, my friend. How comforting is His everlasting faithfulness!


________________________________________________
Today I appreciate: Talks on the bed, The Holy Spirit, laughing 'til it hurts, trust, Aleve, cookies&milk with momma, and Youtube.

Philemon

"I pray that you will be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ."(Philemon verse 6)

the word: sharing
is from the word "koinonia".
the "mutual sharing of all life" as brothers and sisters by faith.

Scriptures like these wake me up. They mean a lot to me. Because it's hard for me to be with people. I'm more of a one-on-one person. Or even a couple of people at a time. I can't really handle crowds. But Paul repeated himself over and over again when he wrote the epistles and letters to the churches... that he longed to be with them. He and his fellow prisoners always wrestled in prayer that the church may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and FULLY assured.







Do I wrestle in prayer for the church?






Do I long to be with my fellow believers?



Paul's longing does not come natural to me. And I don't think it came natural to him either. His heart was deep in love for people because God overtook his.




then verse 7.......

"..you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints."




Do you know people who refresh your heart?

I certainly do.
What does that entail? How does it happen?
I want to think about this more.




How can I inspire somebody's heart today?





I want you, God, to overtake my heart for your people. To actively share my faith not just have it. I know the best news. I have true life. I have freedom. I know Christ. He is mine. I am His.

I choose to serve you, Jesus.
I don't want to just say.... "I want to be obedient."
Lord, I CHOOSE TO BE! Make me obedient for the sake of the cross!




I am so small.
Humble me.




I desire to have a full understanding of every good thing that I have in Christ Jesus......





Hear my prayer, Jesus.


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Today I appreciate: The book of Philemon, "Lyssarina dates", Erin Beaver, Psalm 8, sweet potatoe fries, and chapstick