Hello, 2015

Hello, 2015.


Here's to a year of more joy, and less fear;

more forgiveness, and less resentment;

more smiling, and less complaining;

more humility, and less pride;

more action, and less talk;

more loving others, and less self-centerdness;

more time with Jesus, and less time on social media;

more kindness, and less judging;

more serving, and less wanting;

more believing God's truth, and less falling for the enemies lies;

more desire to grow in God, and less desire to grow followers;

more making God known, and less wanting to be known;

more of Him, and less of me.


But He must become greater, and I must become less. -John 3:30 

xo

Tear Me Apart

Give Me your weakness 

The past you can't hide

Lend Me the strings

That hold up your pride

You fear that 

By letting go

People will see

People will know

Oh child, let them gaze

At your raw imperfection

Let them witness 

My Healing affection

For when you allow

Me to tear you apart

It is then that I

Give you a fresh start

Seek the Promises

Fear and worry drive us.

We can't go a day without it. Sure, we "bring" our fears and worries to God, but then what does that really do? Give us peace until we worry about the next thing?

Over and over and over again God gives us His promises. He promises blessings to those who fear Him, victory to the oppressed, comfort for the lonely. He is here, promising promising, "Child, just come to ME." and yet we leave Him for things we think will keep us safe.

Stop. Listen to the promises! Quit worrying for one second and study what he is telling us!

"Come to ME and I will give you rest."
{Matthew 11:28}

"Trust in ME and you will be kept in perfect peace!"
{Isaiah 26:3}

"I will FIGHT for you, you need only to be STILL."
{Exodus 14:14}

"I will SATISFY your desires with good things!"
{Psalm 103:5}


"Because you LOVE Me, I will RESCUE you!"
{Psalm 91:14}

"I will be YOUR hiding place, I will deliver you!"
{Psalm 32:7}

"I will turn your WAILING into DANCING."
{Psalm 30:11}

Stop.
Today.
Look at His promises.

xo

Silent Praises

The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
{Psalm 19:1-4a}

I was reading through this the other day, and I realized something. Numerous times the Bible mentions creation praising the Creator. Even the heavens and sky as mentioned above! I've known this for a long time, but something I didn't really catch was the fact that David specifically mentions in those verses that these creations have no speech, no sound. They can not verbally praise their Master, yet their voices still travel throughout the entire universe. Why would David write that? We all know that the stars can't talk. No one has ever heard a cloud say "Thank you, Lord!" So what's the purpose in stating the obvious?

His reason is this: We as humans are the only ones gifted with speech. God created us specially for speaking, and we have the privilege to verbally praise his name. This blew my tiny little mind. What a gift! What an incredible opportunity! To be the ONLY creation that can form words and ideas from our lips.

But do we use this for praising our Master? Or do we take this extraordinary gift for granted? Do we glorify God with our lips? Or do we use our words to build ourselves up?

"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God's likeness." -James 3:9

We have no excuse. The sky can praise the Lord, and it can't even talk. We can talk, but do we praise the Lord?

How will I use this gift?
How will you?

"Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples." -Psalm 96:1-3

"Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands." -Psalm 63:3-4

"May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." -Psalm 19:14


xo

Winter Promises

"As the rain and snow 

come down from heaven,

and do not return to it

without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

so that it yields seed for the sower and 

bread for the eater,

so is my word that goes from my mouth:

It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

and achieve the purpose for which I

sent it."

{Isaiah 55:10-11}

It was snowing big fluffy flakes this morning when I awoke. I have always loved snow, but for some reason it made me especially joyful this morning. Then I thought of this passage of scripture. Oh what comfort!! What peace it brings to my feeble little heart to know that ALL the things that leave the Lords mouth will not return to him without victoriously achieving its purpose! We serve such a thoughtful, intentional God!

I am so very thankful for his promises that rain down on us beautifully like the snow.

xo 

70 x 7

Forgive: 

transitive verb

1

a :  to give up resentment of or claim to requital for<forgive an insult>

b :  to grant relief from payment of <forgive a debt>

2

:  to cease to feel resentment against (an offender) : pardon <forgive one's enemies>

Wow.

I can honestly say that I've never read the actual definition of 'forgive'. To all of those people that I've "forgiven", I've never once thought "I am no longer holding a grudge." If I were more honest, I would really be saying "I'm a Christian and this is what Christians are supposed to do." And because of that I feel so selfish.

When Christ says "forgive others as I have forgiven you," he uses the word  in the most literal way. He wipes away all resentment and forgets about it. 

The slate is clean. We're given a new beginning. A second chance. 

Is that what we do to the people that hurt us? I know I certainly don't. Most of the time it's a quick "I forgive you" proceeded by my venting to another friend the next day about how I had been hurt. 

The truth is, that is so wrong. It's sick. When I forgive someone, it needs to be from the heart. 

A clean slate. A new beginning. A second chance. 

And to anyone who I have verbally "forgiven" and still feels resentment from me, I want to honestly, wholeheartedly apologize to you and forgive you. I want to forgive you the way my Lord Jesus has forgiven me. 

Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. -Matthew 18:21, 22

xo

Monday Morning Lessons from Jesus

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with on another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

- Romans 12:9-18


This is another thing that God has been trying to teach me. Even on yucky Monday mornings love is possible.

Love is messy.
Love isn't always fun.
Do it anyway.

Lets make an effort to sincerely love without boundaries, just like Christ loves us.


xo