I know what you're thinking, why am I going to write about falling in love?! Well I'm not talking about a romantic love, I'm talking about the love of our Savior.
After missing church this Sunday I got the notes and sat down at my computer to listened to the sermon online (so thankful for technology!) A quote that my pastor said was this "the Bible never talks about falling in and out of love". It got me thinking. The Bible never talks about God's love decreasing or going away, it talks about it increasing and abounding.
So much of our world today is about heartache and falling out of love with people. I've had my share of heartbreaks and the worldly love just fading away. But God's love is a different kind of love, His love never, ever, never, ever, never, ever.... infinity forever, never STOPS. It's always increasing! Through all the heartaches and disappointments of this world and through out my life God's love has always been there. He has written a book that speaks of his love for me and you.
"Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens," Psalm 36:5a
"I have loved you with an everlasting love;" Jeremiah 31:3
"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13
1.26.2012
1.14.2012
Knowledge Unattainable By Man
As of this moment there are 6,840,507,000 people in the world. Wow! that's a lot of people. And wrap your mind around this one, the One true God of this universe knows ALL things about each one of those people.
"O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are aquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you." Psalm 139: 1-6, 17-18
He knows all those things, every tiny detail about me and you. All this knowledge about every single person is to great for me to understand. My mind was not created to know everything about everyone. I would go stir crazy if I did know everything about everyone. Imagine how hard it would be to focus on one thing, yet our God, who is mighty, great, powerful and BIG can know such things.
He knows what I will do in 10 minutes, in 10 weeks and even in 10 years. How? I don't know... He is God and that's it. Because I don't now my future I don't have to worry about it, I shouldn't because He knows and I can just let him work it out, put his plan into motion. His plan is way better than mine, and his plan will always be accomplished.
"O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are aquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you." Psalm 139: 1-6, 17-18
He knows all those things, every tiny detail about me and you. All this knowledge about every single person is to great for me to understand. My mind was not created to know everything about everyone. I would go stir crazy if I did know everything about everyone. Imagine how hard it would be to focus on one thing, yet our God, who is mighty, great, powerful and BIG can know such things.
He knows what I will do in 10 minutes, in 10 weeks and even in 10 years. How? I don't know... He is God and that's it. Because I don't now my future I don't have to worry about it, I shouldn't because He knows and I can just let him work it out, put his plan into motion. His plan is way better than mine, and his plan will always be accomplished.
1.03.2012
Conquering Fear
Romans 8:37-39 "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Today was a day of victory and conquering a fear I've lived with, actually wrestled with, for a LONG time... way to long! It being a new year, leaving behind 2011 and beginning 2012, I have told myself that I am going to stop living under fear. I'm going to face it and conquer it. Well, actually, it wasn't hard in itself. It went rather smoothly and I know now that I am not longer under it's "control".
It wasn't going to seperate me from anything, take away anything that's mine, or even kill me. My mind had been believing lies and letting the fear control me. It even kept me from going to a specific place, but not anymore! I know I'm free from it and I'm way more powerful, because the Lord is on my side. Without the Holy Spirit in me I would not have been able to act on this, I would have continued to "huddle down into a ball" so to speak, and hide from facing it.
Praise Jesus for His mighty power!
Today was a day of victory and conquering a fear I've lived with, actually wrestled with, for a LONG time... way to long! It being a new year, leaving behind 2011 and beginning 2012, I have told myself that I am going to stop living under fear. I'm going to face it and conquer it. Well, actually, it wasn't hard in itself. It went rather smoothly and I know now that I am not longer under it's "control".
It wasn't going to seperate me from anything, take away anything that's mine, or even kill me. My mind had been believing lies and letting the fear control me. It even kept me from going to a specific place, but not anymore! I know I'm free from it and I'm way more powerful, because the Lord is on my side. Without the Holy Spirit in me I would not have been able to act on this, I would have continued to "huddle down into a ball" so to speak, and hide from facing it.
Praise Jesus for His mighty power!
1.01.2012
From 2011 to 2012
As my mind flashes over the last year I'm reminded of all the things the Lord has done, events full of excitement, events that caused me to grow tremendously, and events that we're extremely hard to face. Lets see if I can sum it up for you.
- January was a new beginning for a new life
- Winter Retreat with Overflo
- Study on Jonah with Brandi
- Baptism on Easter, I am a new creation in Christ!
- Made the Dean's List for the Spring semester
- My first vacation in June (all by myself) to Pennsylvania to see Tracy
- August brought some defining moments and growing opportunities
- Lots of fun events with the Overflo group
- November was another month of learning and growing
- Started & Finished a HUGE research project. Got an A!
- Presented with the opportunity to lead a Life group of teen girls
Now that you see the list here's a deeper look into what the Lord taught me through it all.
He is...
Faithful... to always be by my side
Gracious & Merciful... giving me things I don't deserve
Mighty... he gave me strength when I was oh so weak
Redeemer, Restorer, Sustainer, Healer.
He has restored and redeemed my heart. He sustains me when I feel like I can't move anymore. He is still healing my heart, taking His time to mend each piece together. A key passage for the year was Ephesians 6:10-20 - walking boldly with the armor of God and choosing to be obedient to what He says.
In 2011 I faced some extremely hard challenges but through it all I've grown, taken steps I never thought I could take, allowed the Lord to have control, and each day I tried to keep moving forward. Leaving 2011 behind, thank the Lord it's over. Bring on 2012!! I'm excited to see what the Lord will bring in 2012, He already has given me a glimpse of what's to come. Here we go God, I'm with you!
- January was a new beginning for a new life
- Winter Retreat with Overflo
- Study on Jonah with Brandi
- Baptism on Easter, I am a new creation in Christ!
- Made the Dean's List for the Spring semester
- My first vacation in June (all by myself) to Pennsylvania to see Tracy
- August brought some defining moments and growing opportunities
- Lots of fun events with the Overflo group
- November was another month of learning and growing
- Started & Finished a HUGE research project. Got an A!
- Presented with the opportunity to lead a Life group of teen girls
Now that you see the list here's a deeper look into what the Lord taught me through it all.
He is...
Faithful... to always be by my side
Gracious & Merciful... giving me things I don't deserve
Mighty... he gave me strength when I was oh so weak
Redeemer, Restorer, Sustainer, Healer.
He has restored and redeemed my heart. He sustains me when I feel like I can't move anymore. He is still healing my heart, taking His time to mend each piece together. A key passage for the year was Ephesians 6:10-20 - walking boldly with the armor of God and choosing to be obedient to what He says.
In 2011 I faced some extremely hard challenges but through it all I've grown, taken steps I never thought I could take, allowed the Lord to have control, and each day I tried to keep moving forward. Leaving 2011 behind, thank the Lord it's over. Bring on 2012!! I'm excited to see what the Lord will bring in 2012, He already has given me a glimpse of what's to come. Here we go God, I'm with you!
12.12.2011
The Same God
The Same God by NewSong
Back to the wall, scared you'll fall
What you going to do
Day and night,
Don't know why its like the worlds' against you
You're praying for a break through
There was a day
When your faith couldn't be held down
God was near enough to hear every word
But somehow you wish He heard you right now
Don't you know
The same God who was with you then is with you now
The same God who led you in will lead you out
So take all the fear and doubt
Go on and lay them down
The same God, the same God is with you now
Can't you see
Everything happens for a reason
There's a time, there's a place
For every season
He knows what's best for you
So don't be afraid
The same God who was with you then is with you now
The same God who led you in will lead you out
So take all the fear and doubt
Go on and lay them down
The same God, the same God is with you now
Just keep holding on
Oh keep holding on
The same God who was with you then is with you now
The same God who led you in will lead you out
So take all the fear and doubt
Go on and lay them down
The same God, the same God is with you now
Back to the wall, scared you'll fall
What you going to do
Day and night,
Don't know why its like the worlds' against you
You're praying for a break through
There was a day
When your faith couldn't be held down
God was near enough to hear every word
But somehow you wish He heard you right now
Don't you know
The same God who was with you then is with you now
The same God who led you in will lead you out
So take all the fear and doubt
Go on and lay them down
The same God, the same God is with you now
Can't you see
Everything happens for a reason
There's a time, there's a place
For every season
He knows what's best for you
So don't be afraid
The same God who was with you then is with you now
The same God who led you in will lead you out
So take all the fear and doubt
Go on and lay them down
The same God, the same God is with you now
Just keep holding on
Oh keep holding on
The same God who was with you then is with you now
The same God who led you in will lead you out
So take all the fear and doubt
Go on and lay them down
The same God, the same God is with you now
Less Like Scars
Less Like Scars by Sara Groves
It's been a hard year
But I'm climbing out of the rubble
These lessons are hard
Healing changes are subtle
But every day it's
Less like tearing, more like building
Less like captive, more like willing
Less like breakdown, more like surrender
Less like haunting, more like remember
And I feel you here
And you're picking up the pieces
Forever faithful
It seemed out of my hands, a bad situation
But you are able
And in your hands the pain and hurt
Look less like scars and more like
Character
Less like a prison, more like my room
It's less like a casket, more like a womb
Less like dying, more like transcending
Less like fear, less like an ending
And I feel you here
And you're picking up the pieces
Forever faithful
It seemed out of my hands, a bad situation
But you are able
And in your hands the pain and hurt
Look less like scars
Just a little while ago
I couldn't feel the power or the hope
I couldn't cope, I couldn't feel a thing
Just a little while back
I was desperate, broken, laid out, hoping
You would come
And I need you
And I want you here
And I feel you
And I know you're here
And you're picking up the pieces
Forever faithful
It seemed out of my hands, a bad, bad situation
But you are able
And in your hands the pain and hurt
Look less like scars
And more like
Character
It's been a hard year
But I'm climbing out of the rubble
These lessons are hard
Healing changes are subtle
But every day it's
Less like tearing, more like building
Less like captive, more like willing
Less like breakdown, more like surrender
Less like haunting, more like remember
And I feel you here
And you're picking up the pieces
Forever faithful
It seemed out of my hands, a bad situation
But you are able
And in your hands the pain and hurt
Look less like scars and more like
Character
Less like a prison, more like my room
It's less like a casket, more like a womb
Less like dying, more like transcending
Less like fear, less like an ending
And I feel you here
And you're picking up the pieces
Forever faithful
It seemed out of my hands, a bad situation
But you are able
And in your hands the pain and hurt
Look less like scars
Just a little while ago
I couldn't feel the power or the hope
I couldn't cope, I couldn't feel a thing
Just a little while back
I was desperate, broken, laid out, hoping
You would come
And I need you
And I want you here
And I feel you
And I know you're here
And you're picking up the pieces
Forever faithful
It seemed out of my hands, a bad, bad situation
But you are able
And in your hands the pain and hurt
Look less like scars
And more like
Character
12.03.2011
Real Quick...
Okay so this one's short. I heard this on the radio the other day.
A sign in front of a store that had some construction taking place said this...
"Please excuse the mess, we're growing"
It's so true right now for me. Well I'm sure it's true for many of us. Our lives can be messy, but that's because we are growing. Sometimes our growing causes a mess in our lives. But thats okay because in the end it will be all new. We are becoming new creations in Christ, He is shaping us into the people He had originally planned to be.
So please excuse my mess, I'm growing. The Lord is doing construction in my life.
A sign in front of a store that had some construction taking place said this...
"Please excuse the mess, we're growing"
It's so true right now for me. Well I'm sure it's true for many of us. Our lives can be messy, but that's because we are growing. Sometimes our growing causes a mess in our lives. But thats okay because in the end it will be all new. We are becoming new creations in Christ, He is shaping us into the people He had originally planned to be.
So please excuse my mess, I'm growing. The Lord is doing construction in my life.
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