Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Jesus sets us free!
I just saw a video on Susan's blog and it is soooo powerful!
Watch the whole thing, you will be cheering by the end!
It is her Sunday, June 24th post titled "Everything...".
Watch the whole thing, you will be cheering by the end!
It is her Sunday, June 24th post titled "Everything...".
Monday, June 25, 2007
Symptoms of Inner Peace
(Hello! I've been out of town for a while and am trying to dig my way out of laundry today! Here is a little something I read that I thought was pretty cool. Hope you enjoy it too!)
Symptoms of Inner Peace
by Saskia Davis
Be on the lookout for symptoms of inner peace!
The hearts of a great many have already been expose to inner peace and it is possible that people everywhere could come down with it in epidemic proportions.
This could pose a serious threat to what has, up to now, been a fairly stable condition of conflict in the world.
Some signs and symptoms of inner peace:
· A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears based on past experiences.
· An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.
· A loss of interest in judging other people.
· A loss of interest in judging self.
· A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.
· A loss of interest in conflict.
· A loss of the ability to worry. (This is a very serious symptom.)
· Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation.
· Contented feelings of connectedness with others and nature.
· Frequent attacks of smiling.
· An increasing tendency to let things happen rather than (try to) make them happen.
· An increased susceptibility to the love extended by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it.
WARNING:
If you have some or all of the above symptoms, please be advised that your condition of inner peace may be so far advanced as to not be curable. If you are exposed to anyone exhibiting any of these symptoms, remain exposed only at your own risk.
Symptoms of Inner Peace
by Saskia Davis
Be on the lookout for symptoms of inner peace!
The hearts of a great many have already been expose to inner peace and it is possible that people everywhere could come down with it in epidemic proportions.
This could pose a serious threat to what has, up to now, been a fairly stable condition of conflict in the world.
Some signs and symptoms of inner peace:
· A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears based on past experiences.
· An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.
· A loss of interest in judging other people.
· A loss of interest in judging self.
· A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.
· A loss of interest in conflict.
· A loss of the ability to worry. (This is a very serious symptom.)
· Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation.
· Contented feelings of connectedness with others and nature.
· Frequent attacks of smiling.
· An increasing tendency to let things happen rather than (try to) make them happen.
· An increased susceptibility to the love extended by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it.
WARNING:
If you have some or all of the above symptoms, please be advised that your condition of inner peace may be so far advanced as to not be curable. If you are exposed to anyone exhibiting any of these symptoms, remain exposed only at your own risk.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
O Praise Him!!
You are going to love this!!
By the end of it I promise you that your heart will be overflowing with praise to Him.
I laughed out loud when I first saw this, you'll see what I mean.
It makes you smile! (And then it makes me cry... in a good way.)
Take a few minutes out of your crazy day, enjoy this video and join in worshipping our Wonderful Holy God!
By the end of it I promise you that your heart will be overflowing with praise to Him.
I laughed out loud when I first saw this, you'll see what I mean.
It makes you smile! (And then it makes me cry... in a good way.)
Take a few minutes out of your crazy day, enjoy this video and join in worshipping our Wonderful Holy God!
Monday, June 18, 2007
Joy
Hello!
Personal updates:
Thanks so much for your love and prayers for us and for the family at church. The funeral was Saturday. It was a heartfelt remembrance of a beautiful young lady.
Lauren is healing up wonderfully since her surgery!
We’ve had one phone call from Matt. He’s homesick, but doing well. Today starts his 3rd full week of basic training.
We’ve talked about love and peace and I thought that it was just fitting that we discuss JOY today.
Psalms 30:5
Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.
NKJV
First I want to clarify that joy is not the same word as happy.
Personal updates:
Thanks so much for your love and prayers for us and for the family at church. The funeral was Saturday. It was a heartfelt remembrance of a beautiful young lady.
Lauren is healing up wonderfully since her surgery!
We’ve had one phone call from Matt. He’s homesick, but doing well. Today starts his 3rd full week of basic training.
We’ve talked about love and peace and I thought that it was just fitting that we discuss JOY today.
Psalms 30:5
Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.
NKJV
First I want to clarify that joy is not the same word as happy.
Happiness is an emotion that is based on external circumstances.
Happiness is temporary.
Happiness can come and go with the ups and downs of life and our feelings.
JOY on the other hand is based on the internal state of our heart. It’s who and what you KNOW at the very core of your being.
It is the steady, constant assurance of the love and truth of our God.
Joy doesn’t come and go with changing times.
Joy is not based on our feelings!
Here’s one definition:
Joy is a delight of the mind arising from the consideration of a present or assured possession of a future good.
(from The New Unger's Bible Dictionary. Originally published by Moody Press of Chicago, Illinois. Copyright (c) 1988.)
Acts 2:28
28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
You will fill me with joy in Your presence.
NIV
I would say it like this;
I know my God, I know He’s faithful, He’s always with me and He fills me with HIM, which brings joy.
How else could we swallow a verse like James 1:2?
James 1:2
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds
NIV
Joy comes when we know our God and walk with Him.
Even in the darkest times, we can have joy because we trust that our God is working things out. That His Word is true and does not lie.
Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
NIV
Joy can affect my feelings, but it is not determined by them.
Joy goes much deeper than happiness.
Nehemiah 8:10
This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
NIV
The word strength can be defined in the Greek as:
A fortified place and a defense
How awesome is that?!
Not only does He give us joy in the midst of trial and tragedy, but it also becomes our place of safety and strength!
Our God is so good to us! I love Him so much don’t you?!
This verse sums it all up:
John 15:9-11
9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.
11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
NIV
There it is! We can have joy because He loves us!
Lord, I ask You to make Your love so real to us that it changes us! Let us remain in Your love and experience the joy that only YOU can give!
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Taylor, we will never forget you
Yesterday was a tough one. We were awakened with a phone call that the teenage daughter of friends and members of our church family had been killed the night before in a car accident.
We spent time with the family yesterday and my heart is still just breaking for them. Words can’t express the pain and grief they are feeling. I can not imagine walking through that personally and I will tell you, I have praised God non-stop that I have not had to walk through such pain. As it is, Mark and I have not been able to stop breaking into tears about it.
This young girl was a gem. She was the real deal. She was pure and innocent and loving. She loved her Savior and the hope we hold on to is that we know she is dancing with Him now. Thankfully, the whole family is serving the Lord and they will get through this with the awesome, mighty hand of our Lord guiding them each step of the way. Taylor, we will never forget you.
Another (not so) momentous occasion yesterday was that I turned 40. Talk about putting life into perspective! It does not bother me at all to reach this decade, and after yesterday it seems even more insignificant.
I am so thankful for all the Lord has done for me these 40 years. I feel like I am finally figuring out what I want to be when I grow up!
I want my life to be lost in Him.
I want my family to know how much I love them.
I want to live out the rest of my days without regret, unashamedly worshipping my God.
I want to make true of myself, the statement that John Piper states in his book Desiring God:
“God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied in Him.”
We spent time with the family yesterday and my heart is still just breaking for them. Words can’t express the pain and grief they are feeling. I can not imagine walking through that personally and I will tell you, I have praised God non-stop that I have not had to walk through such pain. As it is, Mark and I have not been able to stop breaking into tears about it.
This young girl was a gem. She was the real deal. She was pure and innocent and loving. She loved her Savior and the hope we hold on to is that we know she is dancing with Him now. Thankfully, the whole family is serving the Lord and they will get through this with the awesome, mighty hand of our Lord guiding them each step of the way. Taylor, we will never forget you.
Another (not so) momentous occasion yesterday was that I turned 40. Talk about putting life into perspective! It does not bother me at all to reach this decade, and after yesterday it seems even more insignificant.
I am so thankful for all the Lord has done for me these 40 years. I feel like I am finally figuring out what I want to be when I grow up!
I want my life to be lost in Him.
I want my family to know how much I love them.
I want to live out the rest of my days without regret, unashamedly worshipping my God.
I want to make true of myself, the statement that John Piper states in his book Desiring God:
“God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied in Him.”
I am going to edit this to add this video.
I've seen it before and loved it, but considering yesterday, it is even more relevant to me today.
This is John Piper:
Monday, June 11, 2007
Peace In Our Homes
Isaiah 9:6-7
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
NIV
Prince of Peace- the rule of Christ is the rule of Christ.
If I’m going to have peace, it is going to be because I am submitted to the authority of Christ in my life.
Peace is always associated with authority.
Peace is not about peaceful circumstances, it is about the applied authority of Christ.
Colossians 3:15
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.
NIV
He IS the KING, but do we bow to Him as OUR King?
Is He King over my life in my marriage?
Is He King over my life as I parent?
Is He King over my life at my workplace?
Our sinful nature resists peace.
Here are some verses on peace that give us insight as how to have it in our homes:
Proverbs 17:1
Better a dry crust with peace and quiet
than a house full of feasting, with strife.
NIV
When there is strife ( some definitions: controversy, complain, debate) there will not be peace.
When the proper authority in a home is not in place, it is a home in chaos and discord…no peace.
Ephesians 5:22-24
22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.
24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
NIV
Submission is a place of peace for a woman if she does it as unto the Lord.
You can still make decisions together, it is not a dictatorship.
But we as women can get into a pattern of mothering our husbands. We treat them like one of the kids.
Most of the time, we don’t even realize we are doing it.
Sometimes our husbands just fall right into place and act like one of the kids.
It is a dangerous path for a marriage to take.
Proverbs 29:17
17 Discipline your son, and he will give you peace;
he will bring delight to your soul.
NIV
A lack of peace in your home could be a lack of discipline or disciple-ing your children.
A lack of proper authority. When the kids are in authority, there is no peace.
Isaiah 26:3
3 You will keep in perfect peace
him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
NIV
Is my mind and thought life under the authority of Christ?
Isaiah 48:22
22 "There is no peace," says the LORD, "for the wicked."
NIV
Peace is reserved for the Godly- let’s enjoy it!
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
NIV
Prince of Peace- the rule of Christ is the rule of Christ.
If I’m going to have peace, it is going to be because I am submitted to the authority of Christ in my life.
Peace is always associated with authority.
Peace is not about peaceful circumstances, it is about the applied authority of Christ.
Colossians 3:15
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.
NIV
He IS the KING, but do we bow to Him as OUR King?
Is He King over my life in my marriage?
Is He King over my life as I parent?
Is He King over my life at my workplace?
Our sinful nature resists peace.
Here are some verses on peace that give us insight as how to have it in our homes:
Proverbs 17:1
Better a dry crust with peace and quiet
than a house full of feasting, with strife.
NIV
When there is strife ( some definitions: controversy, complain, debate) there will not be peace.
When the proper authority in a home is not in place, it is a home in chaos and discord…no peace.
Ephesians 5:22-24
22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.
24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
NIV
Submission is a place of peace for a woman if she does it as unto the Lord.
You can still make decisions together, it is not a dictatorship.
But we as women can get into a pattern of mothering our husbands. We treat them like one of the kids.
Most of the time, we don’t even realize we are doing it.
Sometimes our husbands just fall right into place and act like one of the kids.
It is a dangerous path for a marriage to take.
Proverbs 29:17
17 Discipline your son, and he will give you peace;
he will bring delight to your soul.
NIV
A lack of peace in your home could be a lack of discipline or disciple-ing your children.
A lack of proper authority. When the kids are in authority, there is no peace.
Isaiah 26:3
3 You will keep in perfect peace
him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
NIV
Is my mind and thought life under the authority of Christ?
Isaiah 48:22
22 "There is no peace," says the LORD, "for the wicked."
NIV
Peace is reserved for the Godly- let’s enjoy it!
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