This morning and the past few days, I got so overwhelmed thinking and not understanding how people don't believe or feel loved by the Maker, Lord of all! I was listening to hillsong: From the inside out, and reading through hebrews 12. and just thinking we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. God treats us as his sons and daughters. God cares for our holiness more than our happiness. He just wants us close to
Him, thats it! its says
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run (RUN!!!!!) with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured on the cross, scorning shame, and then sat down at the right hand of the thrown of God. .." Hebrews 12:1-2
How loving, how great, He wants to perfect our faith! He already laid down his life! He has a plan for us! He gives us a gift of joy! He is waiting for us and coming back for us!
How great! and how sad the people who don't believe and see the Love of my LOVER! my cries go out to them. but, take heart... for the Lord is gracious on them.
I pray yall will look into hebrews 12, read it for yourself. Let the Spirit overcome you with His love.
May grace and peace abide
Friday, December 2, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Vulnerability...
So, I was in class the other day and herd a talk on Vulnerability. It was so weird and it had nothing to do with religion but sociology. And as I was watching, I couldn't help but relate it to us as Christians. We always hear about guarding our heart and rarely do we EVER hear about being vulnerable. I watched on.. And as i did, she talked about how we have a tenancy to numb feelings. And i was like.. thats me! And as I think through my relationships with friends, family, and others, I thought about what vulnerability was in those relationships, not much. Then I thought about what it is... fear, trust, shame, insecurities. We are fearful of letting people see the real face, the real us. Im sorry for saying we, I should really only speak for myself but think this relates to all so ill use I. I am fearful. I do not trust. I have insecurities and shame. I am afraid to let any show in fear of many things, not being accepted, not being cared about, thought less of.. and the list can go on. The lady went on to say when we stay in our bubble, when i numb things.. I numb everything. When I don't take the risk of being vulnerable, I don't in then receive the joy of happiness, gratitude, caring, trust...ect. I stay in my safe cage. Stuck where I control things. I put certainty to the uncertainty. Instead of letting my heart lead, I let my mind take control and put a seal on it. This leads me unwilling to receive from the Lord, and from anyone. When im not vulnerable with the Lord or with people, I don't give room for faith or reliance. I don't give people the opp. to use their spiritual gifts, I don't allow the Lord, the lover of all, to lead me, take me through uncertainty.
As I let my mind soak on this and flow through these ideas, it brought me to the parable of the adulterous lady about to get stoned. (John 8:1-11) I was overwhelmed. I put my imagination there. I was there watching the lady and ready to stone her along with all the others. And there she was, alone exposed for all to see. She was forced to be vulnerable. Then, was Jesus. The leaders asked Him of what they should do and Jesus bent down and started writing in the sand. The attention was taken off of her on on Him and what He was writing. He stood up and said " If any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her "(v. 7 NIV). Then one by one people started walking away. Jesus went up to her and asked her where all the people went, has no one condemned you? and she said No, sir. And with His loving and gracious words said "Then neither do I condemn you, go and leave your life of sin."
How much was she blessed to have her life after she was vulnerable.. Jesus blessed her. I don't know if this is a wrong way to look at it, but hey, I did and I am. I am moved by His love and graciousness and how she was vulnerable and He saved the day.
So, im not finished thinking about what vulnerability means or what it is, but I do know it affects my life and others around me. I have an opp. for courage and trust and faith to build... and however that looks, I want more, so i'm opening my heart and running hands open, wanting more of what He is.
May this bless yall..
Peace and hope abide..
As I let my mind soak on this and flow through these ideas, it brought me to the parable of the adulterous lady about to get stoned. (John 8:1-11) I was overwhelmed. I put my imagination there. I was there watching the lady and ready to stone her along with all the others. And there she was, alone exposed for all to see. She was forced to be vulnerable. Then, was Jesus. The leaders asked Him of what they should do and Jesus bent down and started writing in the sand. The attention was taken off of her on on Him and what He was writing. He stood up and said " If any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her "(v. 7 NIV). Then one by one people started walking away. Jesus went up to her and asked her where all the people went, has no one condemned you? and she said No, sir. And with His loving and gracious words said "Then neither do I condemn you, go and leave your life of sin."
How much was she blessed to have her life after she was vulnerable.. Jesus blessed her. I don't know if this is a wrong way to look at it, but hey, I did and I am. I am moved by His love and graciousness and how she was vulnerable and He saved the day.
So, im not finished thinking about what vulnerability means or what it is, but I do know it affects my life and others around me. I have an opp. for courage and trust and faith to build... and however that looks, I want more, so i'm opening my heart and running hands open, wanting more of what He is.
May this bless yall..
Peace and hope abide..
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Intentional
To be intentional- done on purpose, deliberate.
I want to be intentional, just like God did with us. He was intentional with us from the beginning.
"Before I formed you in your mothers womb I knew you.." Jer. 1:5
He had a heart for each and every one of us. He had a desire for us. All the way from every person generation to generation. All the way, all the time. He sent His one and only son, Jesus, to die on a cross for us so WE could have a relationship with HIM! He desires us. He was intentional and is still intentional with us.
"I will give them a heart to know me, to know that I am the Lord.They will be my people and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart." Jer. 24:7
As much as I feel so loved and so cared and wonder why He could ever be so intentional with me. How that makes me feel so cared about. I just want to learn and reap those fruits. I want to be intentional with everything. O, Father teach me. I want to learn how to be intentional with people, my actions, feelings, my own heart, everything. I don't want to waste time. I want to do things with my heart behind it.
So, as i'm learning how to be intentional, what intentional really is? How deep is, how do I become intentional? I pray this to my Father, and I pray this will inspire yall to think about how intentional He is with you. To know all your plans and ways, to know your hearts desires and fears. To know you! And with this, how can we share His love by being a bit intentional?
Thank you Jesus for loving us! Thank you for saving us, opening us up, inviting us, giving us a heart to love. Thank you Father! Please forgive that times I fall, where I don't put you first, when I don't see you, when I don't obey. I lean not on my own understanding. Lord I desire to be close.
I want to be intentional, just like God did with us. He was intentional with us from the beginning.
"Before I formed you in your mothers womb I knew you.." Jer. 1:5
He had a heart for each and every one of us. He had a desire for us. All the way from every person generation to generation. All the way, all the time. He sent His one and only son, Jesus, to die on a cross for us so WE could have a relationship with HIM! He desires us. He was intentional and is still intentional with us.
"I will give them a heart to know me, to know that I am the Lord.They will be my people and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart." Jer. 24:7
As much as I feel so loved and so cared and wonder why He could ever be so intentional with me. How that makes me feel so cared about. I just want to learn and reap those fruits. I want to be intentional with everything. O, Father teach me. I want to learn how to be intentional with people, my actions, feelings, my own heart, everything. I don't want to waste time. I want to do things with my heart behind it.
So, as i'm learning how to be intentional, what intentional really is? How deep is, how do I become intentional? I pray this to my Father, and I pray this will inspire yall to think about how intentional He is with you. To know all your plans and ways, to know your hearts desires and fears. To know you! And with this, how can we share His love by being a bit intentional?
Thank you Jesus for loving us! Thank you for saving us, opening us up, inviting us, giving us a heart to love. Thank you Father! Please forgive that times I fall, where I don't put you first, when I don't see you, when I don't obey. I lean not on my own understanding. Lord I desire to be close.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Being Patient
I am excited to hear God's voice and I'm praying and expectant for it, or so I am wanting and trying to be.
"Those who do not believe God speaks specifically will simply ignore or explain away all the times when God does communicate with them. However, those who spend each day in a profound awareness that God does speak are in a wonderful position to receive His word." - A.W. Tozer
I want the Lord to show up, I want to be sure He hears my prayers. I'm excited to see what He will show me.
"Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart and soul be enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord." Psalm 27:14 (amp)
I hope all of you will be expectant and pray blessings on you. The Lord wants to bless you and be near with you.
"Those who do not believe God speaks specifically will simply ignore or explain away all the times when God does communicate with them. However, those who spend each day in a profound awareness that God does speak are in a wonderful position to receive His word." - A.W. Tozer
I want the Lord to show up, I want to be sure He hears my prayers. I'm excited to see what He will show me.
"Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart and soul be enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord." Psalm 27:14 (amp)
I hope all of you will be expectant and pray blessings on you. The Lord wants to bless you and be near with you.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
His Beloved!
This past weekend I went on a retreat and it was great. We went up to the Blue Ridge mountains and I was so content. I loved it. I was so amazed by these few verses that our leader gave us for our time..
"You will live in joy and peace. The mountains will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands." Isaiah 55:12
" But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green and they never stop producing fruit."
Jeremiah 17:7-8
"As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go stand before Him?"
Psalm 42:1-2
They hit and overwhelmed me. First, I was talking to my roommate just earlier how my walk with the Lord has been changing and how I get so content and confident in prayer now, that I used to be like that with scripture. And I still am just now, I turn more to prayer and reliance on that before I look for scriptures to uplift me. (Both are necessary dont get me wrong). So when I read these I was like WOAH! yeh. They screamed to me. Lately, I have been nervous/ anxious about my future. I am about to graduate and have no clue what I should do, or where to go. I do have passions that I know the Lord will use but no like for sure path to start pushing towards. And as I read Jeremiah, I was encouraged to have confidence in the Lord in Me! the LORD IN ME! That if I keep seeking the Lord, thirsting for Him (psalm 42) then I will experience peace and joy (isaiah) and how I should have CONFIDENCE that the LIVING GOd is living in Me. That I am apart of His dwelling space. Dang! ME, O God? I know I have confidence in Him, who can do All things, work ALL things out but me who is a mess up and falls short? He called me Beloved and reassured me that He shines through me. That no matter where I go with a job, without, with my passions being used or not, that He will use me, and I will still be His, I can still reap fruit and be apart of His plan. I can still bring Him glory in the months of drought when I feel useless.
That is so great! I probably sat there overlooking the water and the mountains for hours, enjoying the time with my Father, my Lover. I was in a state of solitude, fulfillment, worship, praise, prayer. I feel so loved that He loves me in a indescribable way. After moments of alone-ness, retreat-ness. I thought I should go back to the group and fellowship.
And let me tell ya, the fellowship was great, and answered prayer! I love who the Lord shines through all of His people! Praise Jesus that He loves us and has a plan for us! He calls us His beloved!
"You will live in joy and peace. The mountains will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands." Isaiah 55:12
" But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green and they never stop producing fruit."
Jeremiah 17:7-8
"As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go stand before Him?"
Psalm 42:1-2
They hit and overwhelmed me. First, I was talking to my roommate just earlier how my walk with the Lord has been changing and how I get so content and confident in prayer now, that I used to be like that with scripture. And I still am just now, I turn more to prayer and reliance on that before I look for scriptures to uplift me. (Both are necessary dont get me wrong). So when I read these I was like WOAH! yeh. They screamed to me. Lately, I have been nervous/ anxious about my future. I am about to graduate and have no clue what I should do, or where to go. I do have passions that I know the Lord will use but no like for sure path to start pushing towards. And as I read Jeremiah, I was encouraged to have confidence in the Lord in Me! the LORD IN ME! That if I keep seeking the Lord, thirsting for Him (psalm 42) then I will experience peace and joy (isaiah) and how I should have CONFIDENCE that the LIVING GOd is living in Me. That I am apart of His dwelling space. Dang! ME, O God? I know I have confidence in Him, who can do All things, work ALL things out but me who is a mess up and falls short? He called me Beloved and reassured me that He shines through me. That no matter where I go with a job, without, with my passions being used or not, that He will use me, and I will still be His, I can still reap fruit and be apart of His plan. I can still bring Him glory in the months of drought when I feel useless.
That is so great! I probably sat there overlooking the water and the mountains for hours, enjoying the time with my Father, my Lover. I was in a state of solitude, fulfillment, worship, praise, prayer. I feel so loved that He loves me in a indescribable way. After moments of alone-ness, retreat-ness. I thought I should go back to the group and fellowship.
And let me tell ya, the fellowship was great, and answered prayer! I love who the Lord shines through all of His people! Praise Jesus that He loves us and has a plan for us! He calls us His beloved!
Bringing Restoration :)
So. Over the past few days my time with the Lord has seem like its been quick and not a lot of meat time if ya know what I mean. But this morning as I reflect on the last few days, I see how the Lord was at work STILL all along. In my hebrew class we talked about memories and how every memory clings to something. How memories bring feelings and connections. The other day we talked about Ruth and Naomi. And how Ruth clung to her and how she says that speech about never leaving her side, is like the same one said at weddings... And how a bond can be between a man and a woman and a daughter-in-law with a mother-in-law and a friend and a friend. A bond/ friendship/ connection that will not break.. that sounds wonderful to me.
Well I know this is getting pretty bouncy, but.. all these to say that these little conversations over the last few days have been such a blessing to me.
Well I know this is getting pretty bouncy, but.. all these to say that these little conversations over the last few days have been such a blessing to me.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
So good!
So this morning, after having a great conversation with fellow ladies last night. I was awaken with such joy! I mean woke up before my alarm clock with joy. I was so excited to know that the Lord is alive and moving; that prayers are getting answered and He listens! A prayer I have been praying for over a year now I would say, finally got answered! Praise Jesus. Now I am in this great overwhelming excitement of joy to think of what MORE and BIGGER the Lord has in plan, and what GREATNESS He will bring to the situation, and I'm so humbled to be apart of it and encourage all the way.
The Lord has us. He has us, at every moment of every day, no matter where we are. He loves us so tenderly to understand and care for us. He uses ALL things for His glory. Its so big, my wimpy brain can not comprehend. It makes me feel nervous and so loved. I'm finally understanding/agreeing with who the Lord is making me out to be and it is exciting to know that He was at work all along to get me here. The scriptures has been so good to me and the power of prayer has blown me away. "For the word of God, is LIVING and ACTIVE. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him whom we must give account." Hebrews 4:12-13. That is the truth of the awakening of my life right now. Praise Jesus for who He is making me, for what He is using me for, for what He is doing, and for what He will be doing! What a lover!
The Lord has us. He has us, at every moment of every day, no matter where we are. He loves us so tenderly to understand and care for us. He uses ALL things for His glory. Its so big, my wimpy brain can not comprehend. It makes me feel nervous and so loved. I'm finally understanding/agreeing with who the Lord is making me out to be and it is exciting to know that He was at work all along to get me here. The scriptures has been so good to me and the power of prayer has blown me away. "For the word of God, is LIVING and ACTIVE. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him whom we must give account." Hebrews 4:12-13. That is the truth of the awakening of my life right now. Praise Jesus for who He is making me, for what He is using me for, for what He is doing, and for what He will be doing! What a lover!
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