Today I received letter from a future Navy Seal. I am so proud of his vision, his heart to lead, to serve his country and foremost God.
Good news to hear he gets lead with a friend of mine in their training. I hope they will get to be friends.
I received a phone call from a sad friend last night. She believes her dating relationship is coming to an end possibly. I made a lasagna dinner with salad and garlic bread. I cried, prayed with her, and sat with her as we listened to music of encouragement to her soul. I was glad to help a friend and carry her burden for her. I wanted to obey God's command to "carry one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Gal. 6:2). I am thankful that God will receive my worship with human imperfections; it is an offering.
So I have been thinking about that dreaded character flaw, PRIDE (is found popping up in my life many times). I helped someone move a couple of weeks ago that I thought was proud . She was responding to me like nothing I or others did was good enough. I felt like she was on pins and needles over nothing that went wrong. She never thanked anyone for the help or the free lunch and drinks that was provided. She was self absorbed and inward focused. I don't know her well so it may be that she isn't like this at all.
Not only this, I had another moment of confrontation/reflection in my own heart. I thought about 2 friends of mine that expressed that they were sick. I offered to drop by and leave Lemon Ginger Yogi tea on the front porch of their house because it is soothing and I have taken it to friends in the past and they said it made them feel better. But I believe these friends are so used to not anyone taking too much care of them. I feel like there is self sufficiency and pride going on their own lives when they don't allow someone to help them or receive help wether they believe it would help or not (found repeatedly in my life in past). When my friends refused to accept my help I then saw how it also takes away the blessing in my "giving". It simply one way of storing up your treasures in heaven. Maybe God rewards the "wanting to give" as a way of storing up eternal treasures for His glory.
These were good lessons for me because I now see clearer what the whole cycle of PRIDE and how it results in one sense prevent receiving blessing and hurting others.
I sent the following verses to my sad friend who received my care for her heart. Not my words but the words that bring LIFE and are like a sword penetrating to the marrow of her bones. There is no truer word to fill her woeful voids of her heart but Jesus word's himself.
I Peter 1:13
"Therefore gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit , FIX your your hope completely on the grace tot be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ"
Job 38
"Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,
Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
Now gird up your loins like a man
And I will as you, and you instruct Me!
Where were you when I lad the foundation of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding
Who set its measurements since you know?
or who stretched the line on it?
On what were its bases sunk?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
When the morning stars sang together,
And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Or who enclosed the sea with doors,
When, bursting forth, it went out from the womb;
When I made a cloud its garment ,
and thick darkness its swaddling band,
And I placed boundaries on it,
And I set a bolt and doors,
And I said, Thus far you shall come, but no farther;
And here shall your proud waves
stop?"
"Have you ever in your life commanded the morning, and caused the dawn to know its place;
That it might take hold of the ends of the earth,
And the wicked be shaken out of it?
It is changed like clay under the seal;
And they stand forth like a garment
And from the wicked their light is withheld
and their uplifted arm is broken.
Have you entered into the springs of the sea?
Or have you walked int the recesses of the deep?
Have the gates of death been
revealed to you?
Or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?
Have you understood the expanse of the earth?
Tell Me, if you know all this
Where is the way to the dwelling of light?
And darkness, where is this place, That you may take it to its territory,
And that you may discern the paths to its home?
You know, for you were born then, And the number of your days is great!
Have you entered the storehouses of the snow
Or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,
Which I have reserved for the time of distress,
For the day of war and battle?
Where is the way that the light is divided
Or the east wind scattered on the earth?....."
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
No Time Like the Present
I put "journal" down for a while. But I am thinking I should pick it up again and write. One, for the encouragement of other souls out there. People are lonely, want truth and someone to sit at the table and talk honestly, here and now with them. Two, purpose of working through my thoughts and reflection of past, present, and future.
I want to leave a mark and maybe a legacy of Hope that is not void and fills completely.
Today I was thinking about a book that I loaned to my girlfriend, Chasing Daylight by Eugene O'Kelly, CEO of KPMG. It was a very good book, moving and forces anyone to take a second look at how your living all your days on earth. I sometimes get weary living as if everyday were a "vapor". But the the good thing is, God gives me all that I need to live for today and each day. If I don't accomplish all that I hoped...God will still use my weakness or my inadequacies. God want to use weak people for doing Great things. That is the kind of God that we have. We all start as weak anyhow being the nature of creatures we are in comparison the great Creator of the Universe. I was reading 31 days of praise by Ruth Meyers just now (mom and dad gave me). "CH. Spurgeon wrote, Our griefs cannot mar the melody of our praise: they are simply the bass notes of our life song, "to God be the glory".
Is. 43:4 "You are precious in My eyes, and honored and I love you." This is what Jesus thinks of me!
I want to leave a mark and maybe a legacy of Hope that is not void and fills completely.
Today I was thinking about a book that I loaned to my girlfriend, Chasing Daylight by Eugene O'Kelly, CEO of KPMG. It was a very good book, moving and forces anyone to take a second look at how your living all your days on earth. I sometimes get weary living as if everyday were a "vapor". But the the good thing is, God gives me all that I need to live for today and each day. If I don't accomplish all that I hoped...God will still use my weakness or my inadequacies. God want to use weak people for doing Great things. That is the kind of God that we have. We all start as weak anyhow being the nature of creatures we are in comparison the great Creator of the Universe. I was reading 31 days of praise by Ruth Meyers just now (mom and dad gave me). "CH. Spurgeon wrote, Our griefs cannot mar the melody of our praise: they are simply the bass notes of our life song, "to God be the glory".
Is. 43:4 "You are precious in My eyes, and honored and I love you." This is what Jesus thinks of me!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Earth day
March 24th, 2010
Woke up early to the morning rain. Ran 5k race in Downtown Greer. Perfect conditions and great course. I surprisingly won 1st place with a time of 22:30 (I even stopped to tie my shoe lace).
Helped a man who collapsed by the wayside in the 1/2 Marathon and comforted his wife as they EMS helped them to the ambulence. Then I went to one of my favorite Breakfast spots, Tommy's Ham House (off of Poinsett Highway). Studied for a Pediatric Certification Test. Had Brooke over to watch Lost (like a horror movie on an Island of Paradise).
Now, here I am winding down to the sound of the rain falling outside my window. I love the rain!! Has a been an enjoyable day in so many ways.
Church is tomorrow. I want to prepare my heart for whatever God has for me. "Speak Oh Lord..." We are studying I John 2:28 right now.
In Care group we studied What it means to be Born in God. It means it exhibits itself in Living like HIm, practicing righteousness, hoping in Him. God's seed lives in me. It is like spring when you see all your plants and trees go dormant over the cold winter months and thinking it impossible new growth will return. Each year it amazes me that God brings growth for new flowers and buds and more abundantly than years before. ie.i had to divide my daylilies.
I once opposed God in everyway. How great my Father loves me when he chooses to place all His righteousness on me, take me as His child, and claim me with overflowing, lavish love for eternity. Why would the Father choose to love me, who did not choose Him and I OPPOSED Him? I could never love God with any small ounce of myself. He broke through and shattered my darkness (as it seems like a song I heard) and He made a dead man/women Live!
This sermon reminds me of a time when I read the book of Hebrews. I felt my heart challenged...what I was reading was asking me questions and testing my faith in God....leaving somewhere around Chapter 8 with tears....I think I felt conviction. What life am I living in relationhip to God? How am i living in eternal sense? If I am going to live....why live it partial? Whey not live fully? Will I look back with regrets?
Also on another note I was reminded the other night as I was talking to my friend to remember to view life from day-to-day of what are the possibilities of living life outside the box. It does not have to be the same old daily grind but it can be fun and playful and hard work too.
Woke up early to the morning rain. Ran 5k race in Downtown Greer. Perfect conditions and great course. I surprisingly won 1st place with a time of 22:30 (I even stopped to tie my shoe lace).
Helped a man who collapsed by the wayside in the 1/2 Marathon and comforted his wife as they EMS helped them to the ambulence. Then I went to one of my favorite Breakfast spots, Tommy's Ham House (off of Poinsett Highway). Studied for a Pediatric Certification Test. Had Brooke over to watch Lost (like a horror movie on an Island of Paradise).
Now, here I am winding down to the sound of the rain falling outside my window. I love the rain!! Has a been an enjoyable day in so many ways.
Church is tomorrow. I want to prepare my heart for whatever God has for me. "Speak Oh Lord..." We are studying I John 2:28 right now.
In Care group we studied What it means to be Born in God. It means it exhibits itself in Living like HIm, practicing righteousness, hoping in Him. God's seed lives in me. It is like spring when you see all your plants and trees go dormant over the cold winter months and thinking it impossible new growth will return. Each year it amazes me that God brings growth for new flowers and buds and more abundantly than years before. ie.i had to divide my daylilies.
I once opposed God in everyway. How great my Father loves me when he chooses to place all His righteousness on me, take me as His child, and claim me with overflowing, lavish love for eternity. Why would the Father choose to love me, who did not choose Him and I OPPOSED Him? I could never love God with any small ounce of myself. He broke through and shattered my darkness (as it seems like a song I heard) and He made a dead man/women Live!
This sermon reminds me of a time when I read the book of Hebrews. I felt my heart challenged...what I was reading was asking me questions and testing my faith in God....leaving somewhere around Chapter 8 with tears....I think I felt conviction. What life am I living in relationhip to God? How am i living in eternal sense? If I am going to live....why live it partial? Whey not live fully? Will I look back with regrets?
Also on another note I was reminded the other night as I was talking to my friend to remember to view life from day-to-day of what are the possibilities of living life outside the box. It does not have to be the same old daily grind but it can be fun and playful and hard work too.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Meditations and C.S. Lewis Biography by John Piper
My Meditations
Colossians 3:1-5
"If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of the God. Set you mind on things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed which amounts to idolatry. "
I need to hear this.
Revelation 4
Scene of Heaven-John's Vision on the island as an old man about to die.
“The sweetest thing of all my life has been the longing . . . to find the place where all the beauty came from.” But when Lewis was born again to see the glory of God in Christ, he never said again that he didn’t know where the beauty came from. Now he knew where all the joy was pointing. On the last page of his autobiography, he explained the difference in his experience of Joy now and before.
I believe . . . that the old stab, the old bittersweet, has come to me as often and as sharply since my conversion as at any time of my life whatever. But I now know that the experience, considered as a state of my own mind, had never had the kind of importance I once gave it. It was valuable only as a pointer to something other and outer. While that other was in doubt, the pointer naturally loomed large in my thoughts. When we are lost in the woods the site of the signpost is a great matter. He who first sees it cries, ‘Look!’ The whole party gathers around and stares. But when we have found the road and are passing signposts every few miles, we shall not stop and stare. They will encourage us and we shall be grateful to the authority that set them up. But we shall not stop and stare, or not much; not on this road, though their pillars are of silver and their lettering of gold. ‘We would be at Jerusalem.’
Colossians 3:1-5
"If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of the God. Set you mind on things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed which amounts to idolatry. "
I need to hear this.
Revelation 4
Scene of Heaven-John's Vision on the island as an old man about to die.
“The sweetest thing of all my life has been the longing . . . to find the place where all the beauty came from.” But when Lewis was born again to see the glory of God in Christ, he never said again that he didn’t know where the beauty came from. Now he knew where all the joy was pointing. On the last page of his autobiography, he explained the difference in his experience of Joy now and before.
I believe . . . that the old stab, the old bittersweet, has come to me as often and as sharply since my conversion as at any time of my life whatever. But I now know that the experience, considered as a state of my own mind, had never had the kind of importance I once gave it. It was valuable only as a pointer to something other and outer. While that other was in doubt, the pointer naturally loomed large in my thoughts. When we are lost in the woods the site of the signpost is a great matter. He who first sees it cries, ‘Look!’ The whole party gathers around and stares. But when we have found the road and are passing signposts every few miles, we shall not stop and stare. They will encourage us and we shall be grateful to the authority that set them up. But we shall not stop and stare, or not much; not on this road, though their pillars are of silver and their lettering of gold. ‘We would be at Jerusalem.’
Saturday, February 27, 2010
No Good Does God keep from me
Today is such a Beautiful Day. Shortly I will go outside and enjoy this blue sky, warm sun, and dusting of clouds.
I woke up this morning, went to boot camp-did our challenging workout (crunches, running, pushups, running, climbers, running, flutter kicks, running, planks, running, and so on for a full hour) I know it is good for me. I am so thankful that Rick and Lucia offer to do this for free.
I don't have much time to write what is all on my mind....but for now all I can do is write in these words that I am Trusting the Lord to take all that I have into His loving Hands...the same hands that were nailed to the Cross. The same Heart that chose to love me first. He is my Father and I will never understand more than my Father. That is the design and order of life as God of all Heaven and Earth is Sovereign and is the Creator of all the Universe. I know His mind is far beyond any comprehension or understanding that my frail, small, peon speck of dust of matter will ever grasp in this life on earth.
I pray the following in the example of George Mueller as he also faced multiple crossroads of His life. "God I don't have Faith unless you give it to me now. I pray for Grace to Trust YOU, Oh Sovereign Father of my life. You are Trustworthy Lord. You are good in feast and famine. Will I only see your goodness when I think it is good that I see? Will you give me "_________" that it may Honor and give you Glory to your name for the rest of our days? As long as you have given us breath will you allow us to serve You with all our hearts, soul, and mind.... nothing less than full sacrifice of love for You, others, and our family. May your Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven!"
"a man plans his ways, but the Lord directs His paths." Words of encouragement given Yesterday by my dear Pastor and "Bro" Matt, whom God has chosen as one to Shepherd my heart.
I woke up this morning, went to boot camp-did our challenging workout (crunches, running, pushups, running, climbers, running, flutter kicks, running, planks, running, and so on for a full hour) I know it is good for me. I am so thankful that Rick and Lucia offer to do this for free.
I don't have much time to write what is all on my mind....but for now all I can do is write in these words that I am Trusting the Lord to take all that I have into His loving Hands...the same hands that were nailed to the Cross. The same Heart that chose to love me first. He is my Father and I will never understand more than my Father. That is the design and order of life as God of all Heaven and Earth is Sovereign and is the Creator of all the Universe. I know His mind is far beyond any comprehension or understanding that my frail, small, peon speck of dust of matter will ever grasp in this life on earth.
I pray the following in the example of George Mueller as he also faced multiple crossroads of His life. "God I don't have Faith unless you give it to me now. I pray for Grace to Trust YOU, Oh Sovereign Father of my life. You are Trustworthy Lord. You are good in feast and famine. Will I only see your goodness when I think it is good that I see? Will you give me "_________" that it may Honor and give you Glory to your name for the rest of our days? As long as you have given us breath will you allow us to serve You with all our hearts, soul, and mind.... nothing less than full sacrifice of love for You, others, and our family. May your Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven!"
"a man plans his ways, but the Lord directs His paths." Words of encouragement given Yesterday by my dear Pastor and "Bro" Matt, whom God has chosen as one to Shepherd my heart.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Love Note
Dear God...You loved me first with an everlasting love. I don't know why because I am just a little spek or dust mite compared to you. Thank you for everlasting life. The "New heaven and New earth". You will bring me into a perfect blissful state when I gaze forever on you face for eternity. You gave Your Son to me as a Full atoning sacrifice. A one time sacrifice. You perfectly unite me to you Lord. Spirit and Truth. Lord, I desire Truth in all parts. To live a glimmering resemblance of you. Will you be my husband all my life? I take you, I accept you.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
John Vision
Oh God, your Temple is here...you came as a Person in your fullness to earth and lived a perfect spotless life. Your Power to save me and all men now to the uttermost. Your Proclamation of the gospel raises the dead alive and forever. Your People gather as the remnant that remain.
I love this....Revelation 21:1&22
v.1 "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea."
v.22 "But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple."
meditation on Jim Britt's sermon.
I love this....Revelation 21:1&22
v.1 "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea."
v.22 "But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple."
meditation on Jim Britt's sermon.
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