These made me think.

Unmerited Favor.

God has humbled me with His grace.

I Desire...

- to be fixed or directed on something,
- to rely,
- to be based or founded,
- to be quiet or still,
- have tranquillity or peace.


[Rest.]


I desire to rest in my Lord, whom I call Father.
I want my eyes to be ever fixed on Him. His will. His character. His work.
I want to rely: trust that my life is not placed in the control of myself, but in the hands of my Creator - forever, perfectly, and His will is better than mine.
I want to be based/founded [known by] on His life-giving, all-satisfying word.
I want to be quiet/still. Stop talking so much. Stop trying to figure everything out. I want to learn how to be a prayer warrior: wholly leaning on the all-powerful, providence of God.
I want to have tranquillity/peace. to slow down. to steer away from the normal routine. to follow wherever my Lord leads me. to be open. all His, all the time.


You are wonderful, Lord.

Those Days.

It's just one of those days.
When I wake up and just have this overwhelming feeling of failure.
such a burden to carry around all day.
full of self-hatred & jealousy.


Lord,
i give this burden to you.
i lay it at your merciful feet.


help me see myself through your eyes.
as a gorgeous bride. holy. lovely.


i love you Jesus.

The Little Things.

I'm thankful for this morning:


.fans
.onerepublic
.alarm clocks
.encouraging friends
.writing letters
.sunshine
.unpainted finger nails
.prayer
.waterbottles
.servant hearts
.creativity
.taking pictures
.duct tape rings
.hair straighteners
.blank CDs
.homemade gifts
.healing words
.modesty
.laughter
.loving family
.emma's art
.senior pictures
.freshly washed clothes
.fruit
.colorful lamps


but most of all...
this morning i'm thankful to freely commune with the lover of my soul,
Jesus.

Truth.

What I read today for my devotions.
Found in Luke 6:27-38.


"But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
  "If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 
[But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.]
  "Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."

You know me better than i know myself, God
but thank you that you still listen when i speak.
you care for me.
in a way that i'll never understand or be able to grasp.
i want to care for people like you care for people.
perfectly.
break my heart, Oh Father.
i am tied down by pride. by selfishness. 
i think i know what's best for me.
but.
i don't.
break these chains.
set me free.
remove this heart of stone and replace it with a heart of flesh.
thank you for your promises.
for Moses:
revealing to him your covenant self. - your faithfulness to each and every promise. your power.
he was a picture of our one true mediator.
Jesus.
Thank you that you intercede for us.
that we are seen as holy. righteous. perfect. in the sight of God. not because of anything we did.
nothing in my hands i bring,
only to your cross i cling.
may i learn to hide your word in my heart.
treasure it.
speak it.
live it.


i love you Lord.

A Couple Cool Cats.

Nathan "Hank" DeRuischer.

                                       Lemma Clason.










...we're best friends.
:)

Oh, Thanks.

for true love.

for letting us partake in this mystery.

for making us your bride.

[brides are most beautiful on their wedding day.

...i'm looking forward to the day we meet face to face, Jesus.]

may we learn to treasure this gift.

One Lord, One Body.

I was challenged today.
I've been digging through my bible. Conversing with my father. Writing frantically. Searching the web.
"Why do we go to church?"
Such a simple question. 
But.
I wanted a good answer. a convincing answer. a well prepared, thought out answer.
And that's exactly what God gave me. 
only...better.
He gave me an interest. A passion. A desire to understand why the Church of God is so very important.


I'm thankful.
For the verses and ideas God has put before me.
I'm passionate about the Body of Christ.
Praise God!
May He continue to grow this passion. I want to serve Him, glorify Him with this passion.

Late Night Thoughts.

Read through a few Psalms this evening.

Such a blessing. Time and time again.

Some thoughts.

May I kneel at Your presence,

cry out in prayer-

expectant.

Lift up songs of praise-

thankful.

Take this load, sin

and place at Your feet:

humbled.

repentant.

joyful.

Because You hear me

when I call upon Your

wonderful name,

ABBA Father.

Emily Jo.

Jesus,
Thanks a lot for Emily.
She's the greatest kindred spirit there is.
What a blessing.
She pours out selfless love on, and has encouraged so many people.
Use her in wonderful ways to further your Kingdom.
Shine through her.
Teach me to honor her. love her. bless her. serve her.

Quality.

I read a book called "The Enemy Within" by Kris Lundgaard, a couple years ago. It's a fantastic, powerful book.

God used the words on those pages to transform the way I see my own sin and not only the bondage it can have over our lives, but also the incredible freedom from sin we have in Jesus.

You should read it.
Anyway,
Here are a couple of my favorite quotes...




"God won't accept mere outward worship from us.
When we deal with Him, He demands our whole heart and soul and mind and strength - not just our bodies, but our thoughts, our longings, our dreams, our everything.

To approach Him without fear is to approach Him without thinking about who He is:

The God of the universe, who holds the nations in His hands, who can create and destroy."

"Jesus is the Pearl of Great Price.
The treasure hidden in a field.
Our Defender and Advocate.
The Power of God.

The Wisdom of God.

The Desired of the Nations.
The friend for sinners.
The lover of our souls.
The rising sun.
The star of the morning.
The Radiance of Gods glory,
who kneels before the Father to pray for us."

Real.

"I have loved you with an everlasting love."
[Jeremiah 31:3]


Oh Lord,
Thank you for your love. Lavishing it on us.
A love so:


Pure. True. Kind. Hopeful. Honest. Patient. Healing. Open. Satisfying. Everlasting. Perfect. Consuming. Far-reaching. Mysterious. Perfect. Freeing. Uplifting. Boundless. Nourishing. Unmeasurable. Passionate. Deep.


Thank you for this promise.


May we learn to live every part of our lives in light of Your love.

Give me eyes to see.

"The King is enthralled by your beauty."
[Psalm 45.11]

Jesus,

Make me believe this.

Pound this truth, this simple but powerful promise into this self-conscious head of mine.

I want to see me through your eyes.

I am your daughter. A princess. Your Beloved.

I am unworthy; You are merciful.

rejoicing in you this day, Oh Lord.

He puts an end to our longing souls.

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled."

[Matt. 5.6]

God,

Make us hunger and thirst after you.

For you are the all satisfying, never-ending fountain of life.

For as we seek after you,

our cups will never run dry.

Fill us till we overflow, Father.

May we never lose sight of the glory which is to be revealed.

Attributes of God: Faithful.

"I will never leave you nor forsake you."

He is the good and faithful shepherd.

Good://

genuine.

excellent.

honorable.

Faithful:// 

steady in allegiance or affection.

loyal.

constant.

reliable, trusted, or believed.
 

Shepherd://

a person who herds, tends, and guards sheep. [we are his flock, his children, his beloved.]

a person who protects, guides, or watches over a person or group of people.

[Twenty One Days.]

• nothing but fruits. vegetables. whole grains. water.
• consistent running [hopefully this stress fracture complies.]
• days filled with: prayer.
• journals.
• reading/meditating on scripture.

in hopes of purifying, cleasing.

body, mind, and soul.

because...i've fallen into routine.

i want something out of the ordinary.

i need to be awakened.

Lord,

Speak to me these next 21 days.

Show me your will.

Keep my eyes forever fixed on you.

ps. i heard it takes 21 days to break habits//21 days to start new ones.

Can't keep this joy inside.

Jesus,

From the depths of my heart,

I thank you:

-Your law. The word of life. Our guide. Precious. A Treasure. Continue to reveal yourself [your will] to us.

Oh Lord, we want to know You. You are alive, active in our lives.

Thank you.

-Tangible ways in which you speak, move, work. 

You do not hide your face from us. 

Thank you. 

Give us the eyes to see. Broken hearts for you to hold, perfectly piece together. Mouths to proclaim, rejoice, worship, encourage, love.

- Deep rooted relationships.

Fragile, intimate, pure, personal, powerful, solid.

Family ties, friendships, BFFs, kindred spirits, acquaintances, strangers.

You place these blessings in our lives: for some purposes unknown to us.

Thank you.
 
-The Good News.
Jesus.
Redemption. Restoration. Hope. Forgiveness. LIFE.
Unmerited favor.
We are so unworthy.


"Jesus paid it all,
ALL to him i owe."


Thank you.

Gimme' some of that sweet sweet love.

"But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 

"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" 

And he said to him, 

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. 

And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 

On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."

[Matthew 22:34-40]

God,

Overwhelm us with this love.

selfless,

boastless,

pure,

righteous,

perfect,

and all-powerful. 

Everything we do, Lord.

In thought and in deed, Magnify yourself in us.

For we are your people,

have your way.

Enter His Gates With Thanksgiving.

Lord,

Prepare us for worship.

As we enter your house tomorrow,

may our words be to you as sweet as honey.

Fill us till we overflow, Father.

For you satisfy our thirsty souls.