Sunday, July 11, 2010
Gifts
"A gift is something you can hold in your hand and say, "Look, he was thinking of me," or "She remembered me." You must be thinking of someone to give him a gift. The gift itself is a symbol of that thought. It doesn't matter whether it costs money. What is important is that you thought of him. And it is not the thought implanted only in the mind that counts, but the thought expressed in actually securing the gift and giving it as the expression of love." (from The Five Love Languages)
Saturday, May 22, 2010
No Greater Thing
Knowing You, Jesus, Knowing You
There is no Greater Thing
You're My All, You're the Best
You're My Joy, My Righteousness,
And I Love You Lord!
Emboss that on my heart, God! I want to know you as my all. I want to truly believe there is nothing more satisfying, nothing that is better in life than being in close fellowship with you.
I break off the lie that people don't need you in this generation. That people are living content lives without you. You made us to know you. You came to give us abundant life...and if we don't know you but have a lot of cool friends, possessions, and education...we are missing it!
I resist your love no more, God. Come and rush over me. I get low and open my soul to receive this love that covers me like a warm blanket. I lay down my pride and "right" to live how I want to live with no regard to whether or not it pleases you. I also lay down my tendency to try to live for other people...to please people. It is your approval and affirmation I seek. Once I have that, I'm good! I can be more free to not care what others think if I have run it by you first. It's okay if people don't like me. It's ok. It really is. That's hard to really mean, but ultimately bringing you glory is more important, more lasting that someone's temporary praise.
Oh so thank you so much for all who donated to my Indo trip! I have raised the $3100. I am so thankful and blessed. I had a lot of fun making/selling jewelry for the trip too. It was super time consuming making it all, but of course, it's something I love doing. It was neat too that God spoke to me often about how I am hand-made, how he put in the time and effort to make me beautiful and unique. He fashioned me and said "She is good!" When I get my next chunk of free time, I am gonna put some of my jewelry that I still have on sale at etsy.com. I will update you when I do!
Peace!
There is no Greater Thing
You're My All, You're the Best
You're My Joy, My Righteousness,
And I Love You Lord!
Emboss that on my heart, God! I want to know you as my all. I want to truly believe there is nothing more satisfying, nothing that is better in life than being in close fellowship with you.
I break off the lie that people don't need you in this generation. That people are living content lives without you. You made us to know you. You came to give us abundant life...and if we don't know you but have a lot of cool friends, possessions, and education...we are missing it!
I resist your love no more, God. Come and rush over me. I get low and open my soul to receive this love that covers me like a warm blanket. I lay down my pride and "right" to live how I want to live with no regard to whether or not it pleases you. I also lay down my tendency to try to live for other people...to please people. It is your approval and affirmation I seek. Once I have that, I'm good! I can be more free to not care what others think if I have run it by you first. It's okay if people don't like me. It's ok. It really is. That's hard to really mean, but ultimately bringing you glory is more important, more lasting that someone's temporary praise.
Oh so thank you so much for all who donated to my Indo trip! I have raised the $3100. I am so thankful and blessed. I had a lot of fun making/selling jewelry for the trip too. It was super time consuming making it all, but of course, it's something I love doing. It was neat too that God spoke to me often about how I am hand-made, how he put in the time and effort to make me beautiful and unique. He fashioned me and said "She is good!" When I get my next chunk of free time, I am gonna put some of my jewelry that I still have on sale at etsy.com. I will update you when I do!
Peace!
Thursday, May 20, 2010
SWELL
Lord,
May you swell up,
May you well up inside me
Making me uncomfortable
Because growing is hard
But what's my alternative?
I don't want to be stunted
For the sake of the familiar
Enough of me, enough of me
You must increase,
I must decrease.
Help me sort it all out,
You are the one with all the answers.
May you swell up,
May you well up inside me
Making me uncomfortable
Because growing is hard
But what's my alternative?
I don't want to be stunted
For the sake of the familiar
Enough of me, enough of me
You must increase,
I must decrease.
Help me sort it all out,
You are the one with all the answers.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Wardrobe
“To give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” - Isaiah 61:3
Monday, April 12, 2010
Goodness Gracious!
Just wanted to record/share a word that my friend Allison had for me tonight:
1) I am a woman who will feast on the word of God/Bible and hide it in my heart. I will speak into others lives with a place of authority because the words I will speak will not be my own, but will be words that God has already spoken (so much more powerful!) And I will know his character based on what he's said in the past.
2) She also had a picture of me like a dove, representing the Holy Spirit. She said I will be one who brings the good news of God's promises. Just like the dove who brought the olive branch back to Noah, assuring him that the flood was decreasing and there was dry land, I will be entrusted with the promises of God, will see them on the horizon and gather people to tell them of God's faithfulness to what he has promised! She also said that wherever I go, I carry the Holy Spirit, and people will be drawn to the dove-like peace that I have.
I felt like especially the second word about the dove/Holy Spirit/promises really hit home. I don't experience the Holy Spirit's manifest presence as some people I am friends w/ and around do...however, I know that he lives in me and is working in my life because of the fruit I am bearing. And I do sense his presence, it's just not in a way that would make me twitch or speak in tongues, etc. And being in the body of believers I am in, that can be kinda frustrating just to be honest, when it doesn't look a certain way. I often have felt like, gosh am I missing something??
I'm not saying the Lord has completed his work in me. Ha, what a joke! But what I am saying is that God uses us where we are. He doesn't want us to compare our progress/status to others, but rather he just wants us to MOVE FORWARD. I don't want to get stuck. And as long as I am seeking, surrendering, and spending time connecting with God, I will not lack any good thing.
Matthew 7:11 says, "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
-and-
Ephesians 2:10: "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
-and-
Romans 8:28: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
That's something I felt God was trying to tell me tonight during worship is that I don't quite understand his GOODNESS. He wants to reveal to me that he's not just "good" in the bland sense of the word...like...that meal was good, but not great. Or...he's a good friend, but not a close/best friend. God is the re-defined essence of GOODNESS. And I wanna learn about that so I can resemble his goodness more!
His goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life! He is good and he has good plans in store for my life...and yours too! We have to believe that! Lord, help our unbelief.
1) I am a woman who will feast on the word of God/Bible and hide it in my heart. I will speak into others lives with a place of authority because the words I will speak will not be my own, but will be words that God has already spoken (so much more powerful!) And I will know his character based on what he's said in the past.
2) She also had a picture of me like a dove, representing the Holy Spirit. She said I will be one who brings the good news of God's promises. Just like the dove who brought the olive branch back to Noah, assuring him that the flood was decreasing and there was dry land, I will be entrusted with the promises of God, will see them on the horizon and gather people to tell them of God's faithfulness to what he has promised! She also said that wherever I go, I carry the Holy Spirit, and people will be drawn to the dove-like peace that I have.
I felt like especially the second word about the dove/Holy Spirit/promises really hit home. I don't experience the Holy Spirit's manifest presence as some people I am friends w/ and around do...however, I know that he lives in me and is working in my life because of the fruit I am bearing. And I do sense his presence, it's just not in a way that would make me twitch or speak in tongues, etc. And being in the body of believers I am in, that can be kinda frustrating just to be honest, when it doesn't look a certain way. I often have felt like, gosh am I missing something??
I'm not saying the Lord has completed his work in me. Ha, what a joke! But what I am saying is that God uses us where we are. He doesn't want us to compare our progress/status to others, but rather he just wants us to MOVE FORWARD. I don't want to get stuck. And as long as I am seeking, surrendering, and spending time connecting with God, I will not lack any good thing.
Matthew 7:11 says, "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
-and-
Ephesians 2:10: "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
-and-
Romans 8:28: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
That's something I felt God was trying to tell me tonight during worship is that I don't quite understand his GOODNESS. He wants to reveal to me that he's not just "good" in the bland sense of the word...like...that meal was good, but not great. Or...he's a good friend, but not a close/best friend. God is the re-defined essence of GOODNESS. And I wanna learn about that so I can resemble his goodness more!
His goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life! He is good and he has good plans in store for my life...and yours too! We have to believe that! Lord, help our unbelief.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Savior
Your cross became my shield
Your crown of thorns my helmet of righteousness
Your blood and tears became a river of living water
Your death brought me to life.
Were you slaughtered in vain, O spotless lamb?
Why did you have to endure it alone?
Even the Father turned his head at Golgotha
The heavenly chorus hushed their song.
Death and darkness, it is finished!
Hear redemption's voice cry out as it
Drowns out Mary's sorrow with resurrection joy.
Jesus is alive and he suffers no more!
His robes are white and I am made clean
His stripes paid all of my debt
Oh the everlasting love of Jesus!
Friend of sinners, Lord of All.
Your crown of thorns my helmet of righteousness
Your blood and tears became a river of living water
Your death brought me to life.
Were you slaughtered in vain, O spotless lamb?
Why did you have to endure it alone?
Even the Father turned his head at Golgotha
The heavenly chorus hushed their song.
Death and darkness, it is finished!
Hear redemption's voice cry out as it
Drowns out Mary's sorrow with resurrection joy.
Jesus is alive and he suffers no more!
His robes are white and I am made clean
His stripes paid all of my debt
Oh the everlasting love of Jesus!
Friend of sinners, Lord of All.
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