Father,
You are GOD! You are so much more than I deserve or can fathom. Make your ways my ways and your thoughts my thoughts so that I please you with my life that YOU gave me.
Today Lord, I am so tired of being average. I am tired of going about my life without meaning. I feel like sometimes my life IS meaningless, like in Ecclesiastes...
Lord, I pray that I would not continue in relationships that are not growing. That I would seek out others with whom I can have a relationship in which we mutually encourage each other in the Spirit. I want to continue growing in my knowledge of You and your Word and in relationship with You and Your people! I am tired of mundane things and of WORLDLY things...set my eyes and focus on Your Kingdom and the things You treasure and help me to treasure the same things!
Instead of conversations about other people and the latest fashion and worldly aspirations, let me have conversations filled with Your love for other people, how to use the resources I have for others and Spiritual aspirations!
I long for nothing more than to be filled with YOU! I long for a day where the things of this world will disappear and the only thing before us will be YOU in all your unmatched glory Lord!
In the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ I pray,
Amen
3.24.2009
3.21.2009
Washington DC
This is the tomb of the unknown soldier.
This is the Vietnam memorial wall with the Washington monument in the background. Every day there are items left for those who fell during the war. The biggest item is a Harley Davidson. Every item is collected and stored and will soon be placed in the Vietnam memorial museum!
This is me at the Lincoln Memorial...I love it...The HUGE white columns and the thought of Abraham Lincoln and the life and presidency he led are overwhelming.
This is a group of us that got to take a private tour of the Capital building. We got to go only because the two soldiers with us were sent home after being wounded in Afghanistan...To the direct left of me is Sergeant Kurtis Dellicker. He is one of my heroes!
3.20.2009
Yesterday I said something...I said, I have to be motivated to write something blog worthy...Well, today I simply want to praise Jesus...He is most certainly blog worthy and I LOVE him more than anything!!!
I praise You Father for being God. For being in control and for loving little ol me. I thank you for your creation, the beauty and intricate design held within, for sunshine, thunderstorms, snow, babies, older and wiser folks, and for the diversity we find in each other here on earth! Thank you for working ALL things together in ways beyond our comprehension and for using us in the process. I love you Father and pray that my life is pleasing to you!
In Jesus name,
Amen
I praise You Father for being God. For being in control and for loving little ol me. I thank you for your creation, the beauty and intricate design held within, for sunshine, thunderstorms, snow, babies, older and wiser folks, and for the diversity we find in each other here on earth! Thank you for working ALL things together in ways beyond our comprehension and for using us in the process. I love you Father and pray that my life is pleasing to you!
In Jesus name,
Amen
Today...
So, I have been wanting to blog for a while...but it takes a certain motivation or inspiration for me to feel like what I have to say is blog worthy.
I will tell you about today. A little background first...
There is a guy at work. He is a Christian, interested in doing mission work. He gets on my nerves a little bit but that is ok...I can deal with that because I have learned not everyone will be my best friend in life! HA!
So, that being said a non-Christian friend of mine told me today that this guy has been talking about me a lot. He apparently thinks I brag about being a "Christian" and apparently doesn't think I do a good enough job at being a Christian.
Now, I can handle being talked about. I don't like it and it hurts my feelings but I will get through it and move on. And I have several feelings about this. Initially I was thinking "Oh no! I hope that this isn't true, that people don't think I am overbearing as a Christian!" Then I thought "AWESOME! Someone is complaining about me being a Christian!" I would rather someone accuse me of that than anything! But then I got to thinking, "He is supposed to be a Christian brother!" And I was angry and confused as to why me bragging about my Christianity would be a problem.
Now, please understand, I honestly never go around saying, "I am a Christian." The ways that I might go about letting people know, is through talking about activities I am involved in and the fact that I want to move to Romania in September to live full-time as a missionary.
Simply put, I love Jesus, strive to serve him daily, and He is a part of my life, that thankfully overflows into work! Just like someone coming to work and talking about dating someone or their soccer team, or karate class, or birthday party, I talk about my ventures in Wee Jam and bunco with the girls, and Bible study with Beth Moore!
I pray that my brother would see that I am trying to love and live as Jesus wants me to! I pray that he would be humbled and realize it is a journey for all of us and that quarreling around unbelievers can confuse and turn them off to a relationship with Jesus.
I wrote him a letter, and if there is no response or change, I will then go and talk to him, if not then I will take another believer with me and then on from there...pray that God would work this out and that He would be glorified in our relationship and that our way of handling this situation would be pleasing to him.
I will tell you about today. A little background first...
There is a guy at work. He is a Christian, interested in doing mission work. He gets on my nerves a little bit but that is ok...I can deal with that because I have learned not everyone will be my best friend in life! HA!
So, that being said a non-Christian friend of mine told me today that this guy has been talking about me a lot. He apparently thinks I brag about being a "Christian" and apparently doesn't think I do a good enough job at being a Christian.
Now, I can handle being talked about. I don't like it and it hurts my feelings but I will get through it and move on. And I have several feelings about this. Initially I was thinking "Oh no! I hope that this isn't true, that people don't think I am overbearing as a Christian!" Then I thought "AWESOME! Someone is complaining about me being a Christian!" I would rather someone accuse me of that than anything! But then I got to thinking, "He is supposed to be a Christian brother!" And I was angry and confused as to why me bragging about my Christianity would be a problem.
Now, please understand, I honestly never go around saying, "I am a Christian." The ways that I might go about letting people know, is through talking about activities I am involved in and the fact that I want to move to Romania in September to live full-time as a missionary.
Simply put, I love Jesus, strive to serve him daily, and He is a part of my life, that thankfully overflows into work! Just like someone coming to work and talking about dating someone or their soccer team, or karate class, or birthday party, I talk about my ventures in Wee Jam and bunco with the girls, and Bible study with Beth Moore!
I pray that my brother would see that I am trying to love and live as Jesus wants me to! I pray that he would be humbled and realize it is a journey for all of us and that quarreling around unbelievers can confuse and turn them off to a relationship with Jesus.
I wrote him a letter, and if there is no response or change, I will then go and talk to him, if not then I will take another believer with me and then on from there...pray that God would work this out and that He would be glorified in our relationship and that our way of handling this situation would be pleasing to him.
2.21.2009
God is faithful.
It is so hard to remember when things are crashing down around us, but He is.
Among the devastation that the slump in the economy is causing, there have been so many around me falling ill. Not just a cold or flu, but like, leukemia, melanoma, brain tumors. In the past month I have known or been related to someone diagnosed with one of each of those illnesses. Praise the Lord one is cancer free! PRAISE THE LORD!!!
One time, I saw someone completely delivered from a brain tumor, the doctors saw it one week and the next week, after an all night prayer service and many many prayers being lifted, it was gone. Only to return and take her life not even two years later.
I have watched a family believe with everything that their son and brother would be delivered from his brain tumor and when he wasn't I wondered about their reaction, they held so tightly to God's promises that I cannot imagine the rewards they will have waiting in Heaven. They have touched so many lives and continue to do so through their living example of faith.
I see these examples and think about how amazing and faithful God is. And I wonder how I could ever doubt. Then I remember...
Moses. He lifted a staff and God parted the sea, he walked across the dry land.
Abraham. He was told he would have descendants he could not count. Then God told him to sacrifice his son and he was about to right when he was told to stop.
The disciples. Each one left EVERYTHING they knew, to follow Jesus. Homes, families, and jobs. They were able to witness miracles preformed by Jesus, right in front of their own eyes. People were raised from the dead, healed, water turned to wine, a few fish fed thousands.
The thing that hits me in each of these stories, and several others throughout Scripture, is that even though they witnessed things that seem so completely amazing and impossible, TRUE MIRACLES...They eventually doubted again.
They are like me in that I have witnessed God's hand working through miracles and yet I doubt Him when I come into difficult circumstances again.
I pray that I can grow in faith and know that "He is before all things and in Him all things hold together." (Colossians 1:17), "I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13), and that above ALL else, "neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:39)
No matter what, God is working and as long as I seek Him, I will not be separate from Him or his love. PRAISE THE LORD!!!
It is so hard to remember when things are crashing down around us, but He is.
Among the devastation that the slump in the economy is causing, there have been so many around me falling ill. Not just a cold or flu, but like, leukemia, melanoma, brain tumors. In the past month I have known or been related to someone diagnosed with one of each of those illnesses. Praise the Lord one is cancer free! PRAISE THE LORD!!!
One time, I saw someone completely delivered from a brain tumor, the doctors saw it one week and the next week, after an all night prayer service and many many prayers being lifted, it was gone. Only to return and take her life not even two years later.
I have watched a family believe with everything that their son and brother would be delivered from his brain tumor and when he wasn't I wondered about their reaction, they held so tightly to God's promises that I cannot imagine the rewards they will have waiting in Heaven. They have touched so many lives and continue to do so through their living example of faith.
I see these examples and think about how amazing and faithful God is. And I wonder how I could ever doubt. Then I remember...
Moses. He lifted a staff and God parted the sea, he walked across the dry land.
Abraham. He was told he would have descendants he could not count. Then God told him to sacrifice his son and he was about to right when he was told to stop.
The disciples. Each one left EVERYTHING they knew, to follow Jesus. Homes, families, and jobs. They were able to witness miracles preformed by Jesus, right in front of their own eyes. People were raised from the dead, healed, water turned to wine, a few fish fed thousands.
The thing that hits me in each of these stories, and several others throughout Scripture, is that even though they witnessed things that seem so completely amazing and impossible, TRUE MIRACLES...They eventually doubted again.
They are like me in that I have witnessed God's hand working through miracles and yet I doubt Him when I come into difficult circumstances again.
I pray that I can grow in faith and know that "He is before all things and in Him all things hold together." (Colossians 1:17), "I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13), and that above ALL else, "neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:39)
No matter what, God is working and as long as I seek Him, I will not be separate from Him or his love. PRAISE THE LORD!!!
2.14.2009
Humpty Dumpty
Psalm 71:5-8
5 For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD,
my confidence since my youth.
6 From birth I have relied on you;
you brought me forth from my mother's womb.
I will ever praise you.
7 I have become like a portent to many,
but you are my strong refuge.
8 My mouth is filled with your praise,
declaring your splendor all day long.
No matter what happens, He is our refuge!
I have recently been a little less than confident in some areas of my life and Thursday I was seeking guidance from the One who IS my confidence...He set the above Scripture in front of my eyes and ever since then I have been so thankful for it! I have been truly holding on to who I am in Him...No matter what the world throws at me or what pit I find myself in, I always return to the One who made me so He can put me back together again...Kinda like humpty dumpty...haha!
I just thought of that and thought it was silly but for real..."All the Kings horses and all the Kings men, couldn't put humpty together again..."
Only the KING is able to put me together...so it is Him I will seek when broken!
"Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed;
save me and I will be saved,
for you are the one I praise."
Jeremiah 17:14
5 For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD,
my confidence since my youth.
6 From birth I have relied on you;
you brought me forth from my mother's womb.
I will ever praise you.
7 I have become like a portent to many,
but you are my strong refuge.
8 My mouth is filled with your praise,
declaring your splendor all day long.
No matter what happens, He is our refuge!
I have recently been a little less than confident in some areas of my life and Thursday I was seeking guidance from the One who IS my confidence...He set the above Scripture in front of my eyes and ever since then I have been so thankful for it! I have been truly holding on to who I am in Him...No matter what the world throws at me or what pit I find myself in, I always return to the One who made me so He can put me back together again...Kinda like humpty dumpty...haha!
I just thought of that and thought it was silly but for real..."All the Kings horses and all the Kings men, couldn't put humpty together again..."
Only the KING is able to put me together...so it is Him I will seek when broken!
"Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed;
save me and I will be saved,
for you are the one I praise."
Jeremiah 17:14
2.03.2009
Winter doldrums
So friends...
I have been in a heck of a rut and from what I hear that has been going around...
The economy is not good in the least, there are so many people I know dealing with sickness and death and other crummy things that just suck in this world...
I have one friend with a brain tumor, not doing well, a couple I know have a daughter with Leukemia, friends are losing jobs, hours and funds are being cut back everywhere...
A friend and I were talking today about it and wondering, what is God's purpose or plan in this?
He may not have a specific plan in this for all of us, but I know for sure that we can CHOOSE to use it for Him...We can choose each day to trust in His promises and to put one foot in front of the other. Sometimes it is harder and our feet may get tired but as long as we move FORWARD for Him, we are glorifying Him...
Remember to TRUST Him above ALL!!! Keep Him on His throne where He belongs...go to Him in EVERYTHING and HE will direct you!
He is more than faithful and He will care for us as long as we allow Him...
It could be that He wants us to get back to the basics. LD was preaching about the gods of more...So often our mindset is "more of this and that will make us happy". Maybe it is time to let go of these THINGS and to hold firmly to the ONE THING that will never leave or forsake us...
I leave you with the Scripture I am currently working on memorizing!
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Colossians 1:15-20
I have been in a heck of a rut and from what I hear that has been going around...
The economy is not good in the least, there are so many people I know dealing with sickness and death and other crummy things that just suck in this world...
I have one friend with a brain tumor, not doing well, a couple I know have a daughter with Leukemia, friends are losing jobs, hours and funds are being cut back everywhere...
A friend and I were talking today about it and wondering, what is God's purpose or plan in this?
He may not have a specific plan in this for all of us, but I know for sure that we can CHOOSE to use it for Him...We can choose each day to trust in His promises and to put one foot in front of the other. Sometimes it is harder and our feet may get tired but as long as we move FORWARD for Him, we are glorifying Him...
Remember to TRUST Him above ALL!!! Keep Him on His throne where He belongs...go to Him in EVERYTHING and HE will direct you!
He is more than faithful and He will care for us as long as we allow Him...
It could be that He wants us to get back to the basics. LD was preaching about the gods of more...So often our mindset is "more of this and that will make us happy". Maybe it is time to let go of these THINGS and to hold firmly to the ONE THING that will never leave or forsake us...
I leave you with the Scripture I am currently working on memorizing!
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Colossians 1:15-20
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