He's Alive!

I'm singing this song in church today. So powerful.

HAPPY RESURRECTION SUNDAY!

It's kind of funny...

How God works.

Picture this: I had a list of things I wanted to accomplish this evening, then realized my computer would not connect to the internet...again.

"Just great!" I huffed, while throwing my hands up.

I decide to restart the computer. While it's loading I pick up my Jesus Calling devotional by Sarah Young. Irritated, that once again, this old laptop can't just do its' job, I open up to November 3rd and this is what it reads:

"Everytime something thwarts your plans or desires, use that as a reminder to communicate with Me. This practice has several benefits. The first is obvious: Talking with Me blesses you and strengthens our relationship. Another benefit is that disappointments, instead of dragging you down, are transformed into opportunities for good. This transformation removes the sting from difficult circumstances, making it possible to be joyful in the midst of adversity.

Begin by practicing this discipline in all the little disappointments of daily life. It is often these minor setbacks that draw you away from My Presence. When you reframe setbacks at opportunities, you find that you gain much more than you have lost. It is only after much training that you can accept major losses in this positive way. But it is possible to attain the perspectice of the apostle Paul, who wrote: Compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus, I consider everything I once treasured to be as insignificant as rubbish."

 What an awesome opportunity to turn losses into gains when everytime something frustrates or irritates us we can sit back and connect with God. It could be with a prayer or even a quick "Thank you, Jesus."

What a great reminder.

I am Second

To God, that is.

"It’s funny how God can take what we think is a mess and turn it into a message."

-Bradie James, player for the Dallas Cowboys.

"I am Second is a movement meant to inspire people of all kinds to live for God and for others. Actors. Athletes. Musicians. Business leaders. Drug addicts. Your next-door neighbor. People like you. The authentic stories on iamsecond.com provide insight into dealing with typical struggles of everyday living. These are stories that give hope to the lonely and the hurting, help from destructive lifestyles, and inspiration to the unfulfilled. You’ll discover people who’ve tried to go it alone and have failed. Find the hope, peace, and fulfillment they found. Be Second."

My pastor mentioned Bradie James in one of his messages a while back and I decided to look up the I am Second website. Check out more HERE if you're interested.

Happy Sunday!

rest.

"Come to me and rest. I am all about you, to bless and restore. Breathe Me in with each breath. The way just ahead of you is very steep. Slow down and cling tightly to My hand. I am teaching you a difficult lesson, learned only by hardship.

Lift up empty hands of faith to receive My precious Presence. Light, Life, Joy, and Peace flow freely through this gift. When your focus turns away from Me, you grasp for other things. You drop the glowing gift of My presence as you reach for lifeless ashes. Return to Me; regain My Presence."

-Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

I really needed to read this tonight. Light, Life, Joy, and Peace that  come from none other than my God. I receive it.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

-Matt 11:28 NIV



future glory

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."

Romans 8:18

How comforting is it to know that no matter what we are currently enduring here on this earth, it will never even compare to the future we will have with the Lord? I can rest tonight knowing that the troubles of this life are like the snap of a finger in comparison to our future glory.

"Now if we are children, then we are heirs- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. If indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory."

Romans 8:17

More like Him

I wanted to share some notes I took away from a sermon a few weeks ago. The message was on Living Like Christ.

Anyone who says he is a christian should live like Christ did.

Here are 4 key qualities we must incorporate into our lives in order to mimic Jesus:

1. Discernment: 75% of Americans claim to be christians, yet only 4% make decisions based on Jesus' teachings.

2. Integrity: What you see is what you get. If you mess up, you fess up!

3. Humility: Is not false modesty. It is total dependence on God.

4. Simplicity: Measure wealth in terms of relationships, not stuff.

Work on posessing these important qualities, so someday when you get to heaven and God asks "What did you do with my son?" You'll have a good answer:)

On Earth As It Is In Heaven

"James says that 'pure and undefiled religion is to love the orphans and the widow in their distress and keep ourselves from being tarnished by the ways of THIS WORLD'. Jesus says that anyone who welcomes a little child such in His name welcomes Him. He also says that at the end of time when He comes back, He is going to separate the sheep from the goats. He says He will put the sheep on His right and He will say to them 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in. I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' Notice he doesn't say to them 'Good job. You've lived a life without sin.' He already knows we aren't perfect. Notice he doesn't say to them 'Good job. You were intelligent, successful, made lots of money, and had lots of things.' He already told us to store up our treasures in Heaven. He said, 'I tell you the TRUTH, whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did unto me'."

These words were written by Katie, a 20-some-yr old mom of 13 Ugandan girls. I've been enthralled by her blog for the past 2 hours. I've smiled, and I've shed tears through the miraculous, and also heartbreaking, stories of following God's call on her life. His call on all our lives.

Today I'm thinking about forgiveness

We are all called to forgive, no matter who you are, what you've done, or what's been done to you. Jesus forgave us and we must follow in His footsteps. It is important to understand that forgiveness does not always mean reconciliation. Just because you have forgiven someone does not mean you are excusing their hurtful behavior, and it also doesn't always mean the two of you will remain in relationship. Here is an excerpt from "Boundaries" (my new fave book!)

"People must choose to own up to their sin and repent, then God will open himself to them. Reconciliation involves two. Do not think that because you have forgiven that you have to reconcile. You can offer reconciliation, but it must be contingent upon the other person owning his or her behavior and bringing forth trustworthy fruits."

Jesus is the Reason for the Season

"For unto us a child is born...

And He will be called Mighty Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

-Isaiah 9:6

I'm thankful

I truly believe the Lord allows us to endure hard times, blistery weather, and everything-is-not-going-my-way-moods so we can really appreciate the blessings. Not only the blessings, but the chance to turn to God when you're at "the end of your rope" and desperate for another line. Some of the greatest blessings arrive post stormy nights (or weeks). With that being said, don't give up hope that the sun will shine again and dry your tears, because it will. And He might even throw you a rainbow to bring a smile to your face. So, I'm thankful. Thankful for a loving, living God, a great husband, my incredible parents, my 2 favorite brothers, my furry daughter, extended family, close girlfriends, belly laughs, dancing shoes, newborn babies, white chocolate mochas, puppies, and worship.

Count it all joy

"Everyone goes through hard times. It's nothing to be ashamed of. Sometimes our prayers help us to avoid them. Sometimes not. It's the attitude we have when we go through them that matters most. If we are filled with anger and bitterness, or insist on complaining and blaming God, things tend to turn out badly. If we go through them with thankfulness and praise to God, He promises to bring good things despite them." -Stormie Omartian

I'll be taking a little break from Peanut's Gallerie to focus my attention on other things, but always remember:

"Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience."
-James 1:2-3

Victory

"If you desire victory over your problems, if you truly want to live the resurrection life, you must have a backbone and not just a wishbone! You must be determined to have victory and refuse to settle for anything less than the best that God has for you."

-Colossians 3 Paraphrase- Everyday Life Bible.

Suffering

"He never said it would be easy, He just said it would be worth it."

A line I've heard many times throughout my young life, and I believe it to be true. No life is without suffering of some sort, whether it's the loss of a child, a broken marriage, a relationship of abuse, we all have our crosses to bear. How we handle them is what ultimately is going to count in the long run. Despite the difficulties I go through, I want to remain faithful to the One through whom all blessings flow.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort."

(2 Corinthians 1:3-7)



You Give Love

"You give love

Love I'm not worthy of

Love

Always more than enough

Love, You give love.

With no conditions

And no restraints

I am in Your grace

This will never change

You give love"

-House of Praise circa. 1995

Despite our shortcomings, our unbelief, our stubborness, and our sinful nature, He gives love. I love worship that takes me back to the nineties. Back to the days we sang on stage with bright colored foam microphone covers, and I danced and sang in front of the livingroom mirror pretending to be Darlene Zschech leading my Sydney congregation into worship. "You Give Love" is on repeat as we speak.

Powerless Part II

During a lonely time in my life I borrowed a CD from one of my roommates, and 4 years later, I still have it. (Sorry, Kristi!) It's Cherie Adam's The Sweet Life. She was once part of the Christian group, Avalon. Well, her and I went to the same church in Nashville and I was really curious what her album sounded like. There are several songs I love, but Powerless is probably my personal anthem, and I will sing it one of these days.

Powerless

VERSE 1

I have spent much of my life

Proving I am strong

Trying to hide my weaker side

As if weakness was something wrong

But I can't pretend to be something I'm not

And I learn through my frailty how much You are God

So teach me to see

Lord, help me to be...

CHORUS

Powerless

Totally dependent on Your faithfulness

I am powerless

Living in Your perfect will and nothing less

On my knees is where true strength begins

'Cause Lord I've learned you are strongest when I'm powerless

VERSE 2

Why do I feel such a need to be in control?

So into me I only see the parts and not the whole

Maybe it's just I don't trust you enough

To let all my resistance freefall into love

Take hold of me 'cause I want to be..

REPEAT CHORUS

BRIDGE

You know I can't save myself

I can't even try

You know better than I do

Just how much I'm powerless

Listen to a clip HERE



Powerless

Isn't it amazing how in the worst of times we decide to finally rely on God? As if He were a last resort, rather than a first. I'm guilty of this. Just when I think I have everything together- things are going well financially, physically, and relationally- then BAM! Something falls apart, I'm brought back down to earth and I remember once again, to lean on the Lord. I read this in my devotional the other day and it has really stuck with me:

"Relax in my everylasting arms. Your weakness is an opportunity to grow strong in awareness of My Almighty Presence. When your energy fails you, do not look inward and lament the lack you find there. Look to Me and My sufficiency; rejoice in My radiant riches that are abundantly available to help you.

Go gently through this day, leaning on Me and enjoying My Presence. Thank Me for your neediness, which is building trustbonds between us. If you look back on your journey thus far, you can see that days of extreme weakness have been some of your most precious times. Memories of these days are richly interwoven with golden strands of My intimate Presence."

(Jesus Calling by Sarah Young)

There have been times in my life where I have been lonely, or heartbroken, or very sick, and I felt like I would crumble if it weren't for my faith in God; in His goodness, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and unconditional love. So, I learned to rely on Him. Now I'm on a lifelong journey to making this a part of my everyday life, even when the sun is shining, everyones healthy and I feel I have the world at my fingertips, because that could all change in a heartbeat. And on our own, we are simply....... powerless.

wounds

I really loved the section, "Out of our wounds, comes our glory" in Wild at Heart. Everyone has wounds, hurts, failures, pieces of a broken heart. It's only when we face those things and except that we need the Lord in our life, that we can finally overcome them. This is especially true for "strong, secure" men.

"Until we are broken, our life will be self-centered, self-reliant, our strength will be our own. So long as you think you are really something in and of yourself, what will you need God for? I don't trust a man who hasn't suffered; I don't let a man get close to me who hasn't faced his wound."

In my own life, the lowest times are the times that God becomes real and powerful to me. If everything was rainbows and lollipops all the time, God would never get the close, intimate relationship with us that he so desires, because we would believe our own strength is enough.

"To do for yourself the best that you have it in you to do-- to grit your teeth and clench your fists in order to survive the world at his harshest and worst-- is, by that very act, to be unable to let something be done for you and in you that is more wonderful still. The trouble with steeling yourself against the harshness of reality is that the same steel that secures your life against being destroyed secures your life also against being opened up and transformed." (The sacred Journey)

Check it-

Power Quote

 "Simply because you can't put your hands around something doesn't mean it's not there. In fact, the things that are most precious to us are the things that are invisible, aren't they? Love, tenderness, happiness, air, feelings, emotions- those things we cannot touch, but they are very real. And so it is with God's power: It may not be touchable, but it's real and it's obtainable." Walking with the Savior- Max Lucado

Do you know Him?

Yesterday, Jake and I watched "The Passion of the Christ." I hadn't seen it in years, and he never had, so it was quite an experience, once again. I got just as emotional the second time around. It's so weird how movies and music can really drum up all kinds of emotions. I mostly felt grateful.

In celebration of tomorrow's special day:

Happy Easter!