100%

2006-10-17T19:46:00.000-07:00

Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.
~Gil Bailie

Courage

2006-10-12T19:03:00.000-07:00

"Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of a readiness to die. ‘He that will lose his life, the same shall save it,’ is not a piece of mysticism for saints and heroes. It is a piece of everyday advice for sailors or mountaineers. It might be printed in an Alpine guide or a drill book. This paradox is the whole principle of courage; even quite earthly or quite brutal courage. A man cut off by the sea may save his life if he will risk it on the precipice. He can only get away from death by continually stepping within an inch of it. A soldier surrounded by enemies, if he is to cut his way out, needs to combine a strong desire for living with a strange carelessness about dying. He must not merely cling to life, for then he will be a coward, and will not escape. He must not merely wait for death, for then he will be a suicide, and will not escape. He must seek life in a spirit of furious indifference to it; he must desire life like water and yet drink death like wine…"

~G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy

Psalm 23

2006-06-20T11:25:00.000-07:00

Wisdom from Proverbs

2006-06-16T11:51:00.001-07:00

Ok so it has been quite a while since I have posted anything and I am sure that many people have given up on me but don't worry, I am still alive and kickin'. My days have been filled with menu planning and dress fittings. It is hard for me to take the time to sit and write, especially when we have been having such beautiful sunny days! I am learning more each day about the importance of keeping our priorities straight, time flies and I have to make sure that I get some quality devotion time in and that doesnt always happen unfortunately. So my meditations have been short, but it has been a blessing in disguise becasuse I get more out of the small stuff. The other day I was reading in Proverbs and it said:

Proverbs 27:23
Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks and look well to thy herds.

I used to always think that this was talking to the leaders, but this goes for all people. I have to remember that God gave me all that I have, and I need to take care of it.

This is the one

2006-04-21T21:12:00.000-07:00

James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Cowboy take me away

Fly this girl as high as you can

Into the wild blue

Set me free oh I pray

Closer to heaven above and

Closer to you closer to you

I have been greatly blessed by our almighty Father~ He is truly a good God!

Smiles

2006-03-27T08:37:00.000-08:00

Monday I was pulled over because my license plates have been expired since September. I cried, but not because I wanted to get out of the ticket, I just can't stop the tears sometimes. Anyway tears did me no good, he still gave me the ticket. Then yesterday I was taking a friend home from work and I passed a cop sitting on the side of the road, I knew I was in trouble. He pulled me over (Which is, by the way, why I was so late to Cold Stone). Anyway they say you are supposed to learn something from every experience so here are some of the things that I learned about police:

1. They have to have a certain number of citations and warnings that they hand out each month.

2. That being said, the nice ones are always the ones that pull me over. this is because they let the whole towns of Bloomington, and Normal speed for an entire month, without issuing one ticket. So by the end of the month they are scraping the bottom of the barrel.

3. They dont read your mail and cannot tell you if the State of Illinois has told you to go renew your plates.

4. Crying doesn't cut it (not even for the nice ones).

5. Neither will thanking them when they hand you your ticket. It is already done and over with. They cannot reverse the ticket.

6. They have radios, but they cannot use them to tell their police buddies that you have already been stopped twice in one week, and will renew your plates as soon as you get the chance.

What I dont know is if my plates expired in September, why didnt they pull me over before? Oh well, some things aren't for us to know. Needless to say, Monday up and kicked me in the butt, and Tuesday really wasnt all that much better, but I got this e-mail from my cousin and it cheered me up. I hope it makes you smile, even if your day has already gone completely rotten by 9 in the morning~ it worked for me anyway.

****

Reasons why the English language is so hard to learn:
*
1) The bandage was wound around the wound
2) The farm was used to produce produce.
3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
4) We must polish the Polish furniture.
5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.
6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert
7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum
9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
10) I did not object to the object.
11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
13) They were too close to the door to close it.
14) The buck does funny things when the does are present
15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow
17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
18) After a number of injections my jaw got number.
19) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
20) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
*
There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France. Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat.
*
Quicksand works slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig. And why is it that writers write, but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham?
*
If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese?
*
If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it? Is it an odd, or an end?
*
If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?
*
In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital? Ship by truck and send cargo by ship?
*
Have noses that run and feet that smell?
*
How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?
*
You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out, and in which, an alarm goes off by going on.
*
English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all. That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.
*
P.S. - Why doesn't "Buick" rhyme with "quick"?

Another reason for me to smile is the fun times we had in Mexico. I love friends and I really love life, but more than all that I love my Saivior Jesus. So I hope you all have blessed days, and are able to rest in the fact that God is holding us, even when it feels like we have been dropped on our butts. Remember the good times and find the funny things in life. Laugh a little!

Mercy

2006-03-25T19:48:00.000-08:00

Psalms 103:8-13
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. 9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. 10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. 13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

****************************

I was laying in my bed just now with my head down on my Bible praying, and my eyes fell on these verses. I have been going through a time in my life that I have felt like I really need God's forgiveness and mercy; it got to the point that I was crying out to God for His touch, just to feel his presence. I needed His mercy and I knew I did not deserve it. It impressed me that God just loves us; I dont understand why. If I were Him I would say "hang 'em, they ain't worth it." But He didn't Love stepped in and said, "These are my precious Children who I love so dearly." He wants to show us mercy, he wants to give us grace, He wants to love us. And you know what, He does not have to, we do not deserve it in the least, but He gives it. Not, only does he give it but he gives it in abundance. "He is plenteous in mercy." "For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy towards them that fear him."

****************************

So our job~ Fear Him. Fall before Him and plead for his mercy. Remember that He is God. Say that again, "He is God." He does not owe us a thing except damnation but He chooses to give us love instead.

****************************

Later on in the chapter it says that the "Mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlansting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; to such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them." After recieving such mercy, doesn't it make you want to serve and stay in his loving commands? Pray for hearts that are filled with Godly fear.

****************************

This chapter was my great great grandpa Joe's favorite chapter in the Bible. He knew it by heart, and I am beginning to understand why. I love you all.

Hangin on

2006-03-23T08:46:00.000-08:00

Ok so I haven't posted anything in a while... Truthfully this post intimidates me because I just got back from Mexico and I feel that I should have something to say about that, but there were so many wonderful things that I can't think to put them into words. Yeah I could put pictures up, but they can only paint a thousand words and I am afraid it would take a great many more words than that. On the trip it seemed that God was so close, but now I do not feel quite as close, but that is where trust comes in. Right?
~
So for now, I am learning to be ok with the fact that God is silent sometimes. In fact I am learning to enjoy it (well kind of, I am enjoying the faith put into action part, but not so much the not feeling God's presence). God knows when I need to hear his voice, and He will talk to me when He wants to (I have to remember I am on His time not mine). Until then, my job is to just trust that He is still there. When I feel like all I have in my hands is a tiny thread of truth, I know that God has the other end and He is leading me through the fog. Point of Grace sings a song and one of the lines goes like this:

I believe though God is out of sight
He's working in the middle of all things

My mom always says, "the Bible tells us that 'It came to pass' it didn't come to stay." I love you!

2006-03-10T10:43:00.000-08:00

Love Will Always Win -Garth Brooks

---------------------------

Hold on like there's no tomorrow.

There can be no sorrow,

Right here where we stand.

And living only for this moment

All we've ever wanted,

Is right here in our hands.

And some will say that we're sure to fall,

Try and build their walls between us.

--------------------

No way over it, no way around it.

If we want it, we have to go through it.

Fight for a love and the world tries to break us down.

But the world will bend,

An' the fight will end.

Love will always win.

--------------------

Hold on till we see tomorrow,

There is time to borrow,

Till we own our own.

Walk on and our hearts will lead us.

But our hearts will need us,

To be steady and strong.

So we can stand and face the fire.

Burning higher and higher.

--------------------

No: we know that a rainbow ends,

Beyond dark skies.

--------------------

No way over it, no way around it.
If we want it, we have to go through it.
Fight for a love and the world tries to break us down.
But the world will bend,
An' the fight will end.
Love will always win.

--------------------

Sometimes songs can speak more than words alone. So if you havent yet heard this one by Garth, then you should- it is a good one.

2006-03-08T20:40:00.000-08:00

For All You've Done
Clint Lagerberg

Oh cleanser of the mess I’ve made
Upon the hill our places trade
Stretched on a cross Your body crushed
By human hands You formed from dust

Chorus
How wonderful Your mercy is
How awesome are Your ways
I come, I come
To worship You
For all You’ve done

Oh cleanser of the mess I’ve made
Your boundless love for me portrayed
With patience for my learning curve
By holding back what I deserve

Chorus

Oh cleanser of the mess I’ve made
With everything at Your feet laid
I watch as all my cares erode
And from my soul these words explode

How wonderful Your mercy is
How awesome are Your ways
I come, I come
To worship You
For all You’ve done

Persistent Prayer

2006-02-23T06:58:00.000-08:00

As I was doing my devotions this morning, I was impressed with the power of persistent prayer. In Luke Chapter 18 I found three very convicting accounts on this subject. Here they are (italics added):

1 Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, 2 saying, "In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. 3 "There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, `Give me legal protection from my opponent.' 4 "For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, `Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.' " 6 And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge said; 7 now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? 8 "I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?"

Here God reminds us that He is infinitely more caring than any earthly official. God rules with power, but also with love. His power stirs in us a holy fear, but His love is what draws us to His arms. Human as we are, we can never forget: He is holding us, He hears us, and He answers us.

9 And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: 10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 "The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: `God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 `I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.' 13 "But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, `God, be merciful to me, the sinner!' 14 "I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

This is definitely one of the more familiar parables, Christ reminds us here how we must be, in order to come to Him. We have to be broken, realizing that our sin is so great that the price of our redemption is blood. Christ paid for our sin on the cross, displaying his great mercy (and again love) towards the penitent heart.

35 As Jesus was approaching Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. 36 Now hearing a crowd going by, he began to inquire what this was. 37 They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 38 And he called out, saying, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 39 Those who led the way were sternly telling him to be quiet; but he kept crying out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"40 And Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him; and when he came near, He questioned him, 41 "What do you want Me to do for you?" And he said, "Lord, I want to regain my sight!" 42 And Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well." 43 Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him, glorifying God; and when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God.

Lastly, I felt like this passage screamed, "Don't give up!!" I am so convicted by this blind man, who, even when his friends told him to give up, didn't. He just kept on asking, no begging God for sight. I have to ask myself, how badly do I want what I am asking for? Do I really want to see, what my Savior sees?

I Thess 5:17 "Pray without ceasing"

May the love of God bless you all richly!

I've learned...

2006-02-21T06:32:00.000-08:00

that life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

that we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.

that money doesn't buy class.

that it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

that under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

that the Lord didn't do it all in one day. What makes me think I can?

that to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

that the less time I have to work, the more things I get done.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Remember, we cannot see tomorrow, but we are being held by the One who can.

I love you all!!

To all my Brothers and Sisters in Christ~

2006-02-16T10:38:00.000-08:00

Tonight look up at the stars and think to yourself: I have got the Sovereign KING of this Universe right here in my heart. Then close your eyes and think of the troubles that you may have, and mentally fly yourself somewhere in outer space, and look back at those worries. We serve a BIG GOD!!! He can handle our small problems. What amazes me is that he wants to help such little people like us. Praise Him for His unfailing love.

Perfection

2006-02-15T05:26:00.000-08:00

This was in my daily devotional yesterday and it really hit me hard. It does not give us licence to sin, but when we sin, it gives us freedom. Which is what I needed to hear yesterday. So I hope you are blessed today! I love you all!

Perfect in Christ Jesus

What a Wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God- through Christ our Lord! Romans 7:24-25

Mourning Christian, dry up your tears. Are you weeping on account of sin? Why do you weep? Weep because of your sin, but weep not through any fear of punishment. Has the evil one told you that you shall be condemned? Tell him to his face that he lies. Ah, poor distressed believer, are you mourning over your own corruptions? Look to your perfect Lord, and remember, you are complete in Him; you are in God's sight as perfect as if you had never sinned; nay, more than that, the Lord our righteousness has put a divine garment upon you, so that you have more than the righteousness of man- you have the righteousness of God. Oh, you who are mourning by reason of inbred sin and depravity, remember, none of your sins can condemn you. You have learned to hate sin, but have you learned to know that sin is not yours- it is put on Christ's head. Come be of good cheer; your standing is not in yourself- it is in Christ; your acceptance is not in yourself, but in your Lord. With all your sin, you are as much accepted today as in your sanctification; you are as much accepted of God today with all your iniquities, as you will be when you stand before His throne, rendered free from all corruption. Oh, I beseech you, lay hold on this precious thought, perfection in Christ! For you are perfect in Christ Jesus. Be of good cheer; do not fear to die; death has nothing terrible in it for you; Christ has extracted all the gall from the sting of death.

~Charles Spurgeon

Wow God!

2006-02-08T08:18:00.000-08:00

Ok I'm back. Sorry I have not been a faithful blogger these days. I know I need to get my rear in gear but it has been crazy busy for me lately (which is kinda weird because I don’t have a job right now). Anyway I am here blogging today and that is what counts.

Yesterday, I had a very uplifting and encouraging devotion. I pray that it uplifts you as well and brings glory to our Heavenly Father!

First off I started the day reading Exodus (I've been trying to read the Bible in a year so pray for me guys. Some days are diamonds... you get the idea). So, I was reading in Exodus and I noticed that it said that the Lord hardened pharaoh’s heart after each plague was lifted. I didn’t understand this because we all know it was the God's will to have His people out of the land of Egypt, so why would He harden Pharaohs heart? Later it goes on to say in chapter 11 verse 9:

And the Lord said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.

After reading this, the thought struck me: God does things just so that all creation can look at Him and say "Wow God!! You are AWESOME!" Those of you who went to the Chris Tomlin concert Monday remember that from Louie Giglio's talk. He talked about how God put the stars and galaxies in the heavens for the purpose of giving glory to His Name.

Psalm 19:1
The Heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork.

Sometimes God will put something in our life that doesn’t make sense. We say, "Why God? Why did you give me this? I thought that you wanted me to get out of this mess?" But when we really look at it in perspective, who are we to question the work of God? He sees EVERYTHING and is guiding our lives. A few weeks back I was listening to a sermon on the radio, and the speaker (I wish I could remember who) said something like this "God looks at you with all of your faults and sees you exactly how you are and says to you, 'I KNOW what I am doing!'" I was touched by the mighty grace, power, and love of our Saivior Jesus Christ.

Romans 11:33-36
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counselor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Psalms 8:3-4
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

*read the rest of Psalm 8 for yourselves, its a good one.

I love you all!

Go Steelers!

2006-01-27T14:05:00.000-08:00

Are you ready for some football? Ok, ok so as some of you might know I really get into football. It runs in the family I guess, starting with KFL every sunday afternoon (that's Kaupp Football League for those of you who are unfamiliar, if you want to come play be at my place at 2:00 next sunday, that is if you think you can take us). Anyhoo the big game is coming up and I was wondering who is going for who? Personally I would like to see the Steelers win because Bill Cower has not yet won a super bowl, and he is just cool and should win a super bowl. Besides the fact that they have a phenomenal coach, I usually go for the team that is not picked to win (It is for this reason that my picks never win. I go for the underdogs what can I say, but it is usually a good time). Food, Family, and Football, what a great combo. Happy Game Watching!

Success isn't permanent, and failure isn't fatal.
~Mike Ditka

Thirsty?

2006-01-25T12:41:00.000-08:00

"Nothing will supply the needs, and satisfy the desires of a soul, but water out of this rock Jesus Christ, this fountain opened. The pleasures of sense are puddle-water; spiritual delights are rock water, so pure, so clear, and so refreshing -- rivers of pleasure" ~Matthew Henry

Think of a time when you could feel your body crave water. This is how our souls thirst for Jesus. If you are like me, we try and quench this thirst by satisfying the immediate desires of our flesh. This is much like trying to satisfy our phisical thirst with motor oil; it just doesnt cut it.

We as Christians need to be in tune with what our souls are craving. What is it that fills our innermost longing? Jesus said, "Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:13-14) Re-read the promise. We will never thirst again. Isn't this what we really want? Christ is our only source of true satisfaction.

Our phisical bodies will not last three days without water. So what makes us think that our souls are going to last without daily nourishment from God? Think about cool refreshing life giving water running over our souls and quenching that inner spiritual thirst. So are ya thirsty?

John 7:37-39
"If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."

He said, "I thirst" yet He made the rivers
He said, "I thirst" yet He made the sea
"I thirst" cried the King of the ages
In His great thirst He brought water to me.

Brotherly Love

2006-01-23T07:23:00.000-08:00

I have been overwhelmed with a sense of love from our brotherhood lately. We are called to love one another and sometimes I fall short of that calling, but seeing it being followed faithfully by my brothers and sisters in Christ is encouraging

I was going through some hard times a while back. I had really lost sight of God's work in my life. I am ashamed to say that I did not get much out of Bible studies and going to Church seemed empty. Then, I had a brother come up to me out of the blue and say that he was praying for me. I was touched. It was as if God used that to melt my heart of stone. I was warmed with the thought that God is working mightily through His people.

Heb 13:1
Let brotherly love continue.

The Least of These

2006-01-20T17:03:00.000-08:00

Mt 18:4
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Danny-man 1

Danny-man 2

Today I was wondering, what makes children so special to God? So the more I thought about it, the more I realized that it is not because they are so well behaved, because we all know kids can be pretty rotten at times (I sure was anyway). I think that it is because they are the picture of humility. When they are disciplined, they are broken. That contrite spirit is what God craves in us; He wants us as His children to run to Him when He chastises us and cry out for affirmation. I love the image I get when I think of God loving me as a child. Praise the Lord!!

Mr 10:15
Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

Thank God for kids there's magic for a while
A special kind of sunshine in a smile
Did you ever stop and think I wonder why
The nearest thing to Heaven is a child
~The Oak Ridge Boys

The "Just"

2006-01-17T09:09:00.000-08:00

Ga 3:11
But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

Yesterday I watched Narnia, and was intrigued by the character Edmund. When the movie began I was revolted at his weakness and lack of integrity. He gave into the White Witch's ploy and betrayed his brothers and sisters on several occasions. I got so angry with him, but soon realized I was really angry with myself. Looking even at my most recent past, I have let many down. I have betrayed my King, my brothers, and my sisters in Christ, by sinning against God.

Edmund repented of his sin and Aslan was killed in his place. At the end Edmund was given the title "King Edmund the Just."

Just: a (1) : acting or being in conformity with what is morally upright or good

By definition, Edmund on his own would not fit this definition. Only by Aslan's death could Edmund claim his title. God first gives us forgiveness which we do not deserve and then calls us "just." That title can do nothing but reveal Jesus' mercy, in our lives. Jesus not only gives us redemption through his shed blood but He gives us a name that reflects His enduring mercy. How awesome a gift I have received. How awesome a God we serve. Amen?

Ro 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Tit 3:5-7 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

I Stand Redeemed

2006-01-16T15:58:00.000-08:00

Christina Degazio/Kelly Garner/Belinda Smith

When I think of all my faults and my failures
When I consider all the times I let God down
I'm humbled by the grace He has extended
I'm amazed at the mercy I have found
I could never earn this love on my own
Yet every time I come before His throne

I stand redeemed
By the blood of the Lamb
I stand redeemed
Before the Great I Am
When He looks at me
he sees the nail scarred hands
That bought my liberty
I stand redeemed

Even at my best I am unworthy
I have nothing precious I can give
A broken heart is all I have to offer
And yet it is a priceless gift to Him
The bitter mark of sin will never fade away
But I can come before Him unashamed

I stand redeemed
By the blood of the Lamb
I stand redeemed
Before the Great I Am
When He looks at me
he sees the nail scarred hands
That bought my liberty
I stand redeemed

God IS good!

2006-01-14T06:27:00.000-08:00

Psalm 119:68
God is good, and everything He does is good.

Yesterday I was asked, "Do you trust that the heart of God is good towards you?" Like a robot, I said "yes." But as I think about it now, my actions at times do not reflect this truth. Many times I feel upset, hopeless, and in despair. These are all feelings I should feel if I were alone, and unloved. But the truth is I am not alone, and I am not unloved. God is my help and He is good.

Hannah Whitall Smith once said,

A great many things in God's divine providences do not look to the
eye like goodness. But faith sits down before mysteries such as these, and says, "The Lord is good, therefore all that He does must be good no matter how it looks. I can wait for his explanations"

You see, God's goodness is not the problem, our faith is. Even if it does not seem to be true, God is still good. We cannot escape His goodness. It is not something that we earn. God’s goodness is simply a reflection of His character, and to believe that we can earn this is pride. So the question we need to ask ourselves is not, "Is the heart of God Good?" but rather, "Do we believe in the goodness of our Almighty Father?"

Psalms 34:8
O taste and see that the Lord is good:
blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

Pray

2006-01-13T15:26:00.000-08:00

This is a clip from the devotional At the Master's Feet by Charles Spurgeon:

James 5:16
The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Never cease your prayers. No time is ill for prayer. The glare of daylight should not tempt you to cease, and the gloom of midnight should not make you stop your cries. I know it is one of Satan's chief objects to make the Christian cease praying, for if he could but once put up the weapon of all-prayer, he would easily vanquish us and take us for his prey. But so long as we continue to cry to the Most High, Satan knows he cannot devour the very weakest lamb of the flock. Prayer, mighty prayer will yet prevail if it hath but time.

And while you never cease from your trust, nor from your prayer, grow more earnest in both. Let your faith be still more resolved to give up all dependence anywhere but upon God, and let your cry grow more and more vehement. It is not every knock at mercy's gate that will open it; he who will prevail must handle the knocker well, and dash it down again, and again, and again. As the old Puritan saying goes, "Cold prayers ask for a denial, but it is red-hot prayers which prevail." Bring your prayers as some ancient battering ram against the gate of heaven, and force it open with sacred violence, "for the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by storm." He who would prevail with God must take care that all his strength be thrust into his prayers.

Heb 14:6 says:

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Trust

2006-01-12T06:36:00.000-08:00

Isa 23:6
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Yesterday we had a Bible study on trust, and this is one of the verses that was quoted. I remembered the tough times that God brought me through, and you would think that, because of these times, it would be easier to trust God in the little things, but I am sorry to say that Satan is still alive and well.

So often I have a death grip on my burdens that I don't even realize is there. If you were to ask me if I trusted in God I would have said "Of Course!" Last night's Bible study forced me to take a closer look. I am thankful to say that now by the grace and mercy of God, I am able to give it all to Him.

Ps 57:1
Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.