A Relationship…

The last two weeks my heart has been awakened once again – am I desiring to spend time with one of my friends.  You see I should be desirig to spend time with him almost daily but I don’t — I get distracted (TV, sports, the internet, etc).  I realized that I really desired to spend time with him – you see to me it is a Relationship and spending time with Him is not about Knowledge but getting to know his heart and his character.  Who is this person?  God.  I know that my heart loves him and I can’t stay away for very long – he brings me to himself —I tell him I won’t wonder but I will and I will run into him arms again.  You see the beauty of the Christian life is the ability to begin again (no matter what others say or do to you).  His mercies are new every morning.  I am so thankful for his love.

I think of the hymn…Come thou Fount and I included the lyrics here:

Come Thou fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace
Streams of mercy never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above
I’ll praise the mount I’m fixed upon it
Mount of Thy redeeming love

Here I raise my Ebenezer
Hither by Thy help I come
And I hope by Thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home
Jesus sought me when a stranger
Wondering from the fold of God
He, to rescue me from danger
Interposed His precious blood

O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee
Prone to wander Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love
Here’s my heart Lord, take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above

Lord, thank you for being patient with me even when my heart wonders…

Sticks and Stones May…

We have all heard the saying – sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me – I can say that is biggest lie out there.  I have grown the last two or three years and a lot of the things I had to work through was some things that kids said to me in the past and I had no idea how much they impacted me – they impacted my relationships, my attitudes,   I had a couple people come along side me – a counselor (now a friend) and a good friend that loved on me even when I did some stupid stuff.  Words sting and the do sting still today – I sometimes am oversenstitive to what is said to me because of the verbal attacks and never being understood by my peers – call me challenged in this area and am aware of it and am growing each and every day and I have God’s strength behind me.  I remember this verse – The LORD is my refuge and strength and very present help in time of trouble…I also have a God who sees my heart and each situation I find myself in.

Politics 2010

I hate to bring this up especially in light of the current climate.  What is the most important issue to you never mind congress, democrats, republicans…What issue should they address this year?  If the Presidential election would be today – would you re-elect Obama?  Here is a heavier issue what role should Christ followers play in Politics?

Cute Animal Video

Found this on You Tube..

Very cute video

Give “It” Away

We started our December series called Give It Away and we are talking about giving our money away, giving our salvation away and giving our legacy away.  We sang this Robbie Seay song and I love it…it is called Rise and it fits nicely into this series.  This is the season of giving and not getting.  For God so loved that he gave…let’s remember this during the Christmas season!

Slow down, be still
Let go, we will
Be here, be now
Slow down, be still
Breathe in, refill
Be here, be now

If you choose to love
To know that the call
Is to give all you are
To give love away, away
Rise, rise, people of love rise
People of love rise, give yourself away
Rise, rise, people of love rise
People of love rise, give yourself away
Give yourself away, give yourself away

Slow down, just breathe
Be still, believe
Be here, be now
Slow down and see
It’s all you need
Be loved and free

And to hear the call, is to give your love away
And to hear the call, is to give your love away
And to hear the call, is to give your life away
Is to give your life away

We’re not safe, we’re not safe
But we will rise

Meeting God in an Authentic Way

As I have been going to church the last few weeks – worship has become more important to me not the sound but the words and the attitude of my heart.  The worship is important because that where we meet God or one of the ways.  I heard it said once in college if you can’t sing from your heart don’t sing.  I was getting more and more convicted of this and saw that I was not connecting with God in worship at the campus I was worshipping at.  It’s not a matter of getting feed or the exciting songs but am I meeting God.  I changed where I worshipped and I love it – I can meet God and sing songs from my heart and that is the first time in more than six months.  I thank God for this move because that allowed me to worship from my heart.  He is a mighty God and he is waiting for his bride to come to him with an open heart and trusting heart.  Thank you for loving me!  Thank you for healing me! Thank you for saving me! 

This post comes from an overflowing heart tonight!

A New Old Conviction

This week God again reminded me of the need for me to disciple someone but until tonight I got discouraged because I was counting on my church having a minitstry and yet tonight I was reminded that it is MY responsibility and I can do discipleship or mentoring without having a program – all I need is someone who I see potential and ask them.  It is my responisibility.  God teach me and let me hunger for you.

What is God teaching you?

For such a Time as This…

As we approach this fall there is a new round of studies but the study last spring is still in my heart and mind…

Giant-Sized Obstacles: Esther and Her People

 Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
Esther 4:14

 In the introduction of the book Thirteen Days, former Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara wrote of the pressure felt inside the White House during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. He called it “a period of the most intense strain I have ever operated under.”

 Queen Esther could have said the same during the royal crisis that jeopardized her life and the lives of Jewish people everywhere during the days of the Persian Empire. Out of nowhere, a giant crisis emerged that put her under the most intense strain she had ever operated under. Her one assurance, relayed to her by Mordecai, was that God had anticipated this giant in advance; and, in His providence, had placed her on the throne to deal with it.

 Sometimes we find ourselves in a period of intense strain. It’s important to remember that God has anticipated it, and He has prepared us “for such a time as this.” He will give strength for the strain and wisdom for the crisis.

 When God can do what He will with a man, the man may do what he will with the world.
George MacDonald

 Recommended Reading: Esther 4:13-17

* This came from Turning Point Magazine – David Jeremiah

My First Place

I bought my first place and I have been hard at work since then I have learned how to paint groves and how to edge with an edger.  I am learning and my parents are helping so much.  I have taken some pictures of before and after.  Here is the basement – I have painted it and I will be having carpet installed in a week and so excited to have a room done.  I love my new  home and look forward to being in it full time!  I am looking forward to opening it up and having my friends over and opening up my family room to them.

New Video

I saw this on Anderson Cooper 360 – the waving goat.  It is great!  Another animal video – gotta love those animal videos!