Tomorrow's quote...
September 30th:
"God is not going to allow us to be harmed in such a way as to destroy our eternal souls. He will deliver us from all that can damage our relationship to Him."
"This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day." (John 6:39)
Praise the Lord! =)
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Surrendering Wholeheartedly & Gladly
September 28th:
"God's will is our peace. The sooner we learn to love Him and to love His will and to surrender ourselves wholeheartedly and gladly into those everlasting arms, the sooner we will find our peace."
"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." (Colossians 3:15)
"God's will is our peace. The sooner we learn to love Him and to love His will and to surrender ourselves wholeheartedly and gladly into those everlasting arms, the sooner we will find our peace."
"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." (Colossians 3:15)
Friday, September 28, 2012
GREAT is Thy Faithfulness
Praise God that He loves us and is faithful towards us despite of our lack of faithfulness!
Great is Thy Faithfulness by Thomas Chisholm
Great is Thy faithfulness, oh God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
to Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Here's another version: Great is Thy Faithfulness by Fernando Ortega
Great is Thy Faithfulness by Thomas Chisholm
Great is Thy faithfulness, oh God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
to Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Here's another version: Great is Thy Faithfulness by Fernando Ortega
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
How We Respond
Here's tomorrow's quote in case I forget to put it up. =)
September 26th:
"We cannot control events, but we can control how we respond to them. When things happen that dismay or appall, we ought to remember that God is not taken by surprise nor can His purposes be thwarted in the end."
"I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done." (Isaiah 46:9, 10)
September 26th:
"We cannot control events, but we can control how we respond to them. When things happen that dismay or appall, we ought to remember that God is not taken by surprise nor can His purposes be thwarted in the end."
"I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done." (Isaiah 46:9, 10)
Much More Glorious Than You Imagined
September 9th:
"Be prepared for the will of God to be very different from what you imagined. I guarantee that ultimately it will be much more glorious than what you imagined."
"That you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God." (Colossians 4:12)
"Be prepared for the will of God to be very different from what you imagined. I guarantee that ultimately it will be much more glorious than what you imagined."
"That you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God." (Colossians 4:12)
Nowhere to Turn
As I was looking back through the Elisabeth Elliot quote calendar (yes, there's a TON of days that I've missed in the last month), yesterday's was really encouraging.
September 24th:
"When there is nowhere to turn but to God, the Spirit opens the understanding of those who turn to Him in their helplessness."
"The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple." (Psalm 119:130)
September 24th:
"When there is nowhere to turn but to God, the Spirit opens the understanding of those who turn to Him in their helplessness."
"The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple." (Psalm 119:130)
Jesus Paid It All
I really love the version of this song besides the fact that I LOVE this song. =)
Jesus Paid It All by the Shelly Moore Band
Jesus Paid It All by the Shelly Moore Band
He's Always Been Faithful
Love this song...especially verse 2...I pray I would
always be able to sing it with all sincerity.
He's Always Been Faithful by Sara Groves
Morning by morning I wake up to find
The power and comfort of God's hand in mine.
Season by season I watch Him amazed,
The power and comfort of God's hand in mine.
Season by season I watch Him amazed,
In awe of the mystery of His perfect ways
Chorus:
All I have need of his hand will provide.
He's always been faithful to me.
All I have need of his hand will provide.
He's always been faithful to me.
I can't remember a trial or a pain he did
Not recycle to bring me gain.
Not recycle to bring me gain.
I can't remember one single regret in serving
God only and trusting his hand
God only and trusting his hand
Chorus:
All I have need of his hand will provide.
He's always been faithful to me.
He's always been faithful to me.
This is my anthem, this is my song,
The theme of the stories I've heard for so long.
God has been faithful, he will be again.
His loving compassion, it knows no end.
God has been faithful, he will be again.
His loving compassion, it knows no end.
Chorus:
All I have need of his hand will provide.
He's always been faithful to me.
He's always been faithful to me.
Everlasting Joy
September 25th:
"To be able to do the thing that we were made to do--to glorify and please God--will give us everlasting joy."
"I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High." (Psalm 9:2)
"To be able to do the thing that we were made to do--to glorify and please God--will give us everlasting joy."
"I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High." (Psalm 9:2)
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Use Me Here
I was reminded of this song several days ago...it used to be one of my favorites and is becoming that again. =)
Use Me Here by Everybodyduck
Chorus:
Use Me Here, Where I am, I'm not gonna pray anymore that You'll change Your plans.
Despite my fear, I place my life in Your hands. The future can wait, tomorrow might be too late,
So Jesus use me here.
I lay my hearts desires at your feet, o Lord. Take all the plans I've made and all my dreams.
Blinded by triumphs of tomorrow, I've let sin control today.
So many drowning within reach. Father, it's time You heard me say...
Chorus:
Use Me Here, Where I am, I'm not gonna pray anymore that You'll change Your plans.
Despite my fear, I place my life in Your hands. The future can wait, tomorrow might be too late,
So Jesus use me here.
I tell myself I want to know Your will, O Lord. Still I confess I've had plans of my own.
But from now on I plan to listen to Your will and to obey.
No matter what the future holds, I'm gonna live for You today.
Use Me Here, Where I am, I'm not gonna pray anymore that You'll change Your plans.
Despite my fear, I place my life in Your hands. The future can wait, tomorrow might be too late,
So Jesus use me here. Use me here.
Use Me Here by Everybodyduck
Chorus:
Use Me Here, Where I am, I'm not gonna pray anymore that You'll change Your plans.
Despite my fear, I place my life in Your hands. The future can wait, tomorrow might be too late,
So Jesus use me here.
I lay my hearts desires at your feet, o Lord. Take all the plans I've made and all my dreams.
Blinded by triumphs of tomorrow, I've let sin control today.
So many drowning within reach. Father, it's time You heard me say...
Chorus:
Use Me Here, Where I am, I'm not gonna pray anymore that You'll change Your plans.
Despite my fear, I place my life in Your hands. The future can wait, tomorrow might be too late,
So Jesus use me here.
I tell myself I want to know Your will, O Lord. Still I confess I've had plans of my own.
But from now on I plan to listen to Your will and to obey.
No matter what the future holds, I'm gonna live for You today.
Use Me Here, Where I am, I'm not gonna pray anymore that You'll change Your plans.
Despite my fear, I place my life in Your hands. The future can wait, tomorrow might be too late,
So Jesus use me here. Use me here.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Are You a Hannah or a Rachel?
Last night began our first night as a Shepherding Group in our study on the book of 1 Samuel. I am so very excited to be apart of this group not only because of the solid teaching we will have each week but also because of the fellowship with my dear church family that will be experienced weekly. Since graduating from college in May, I have definitely come to love the times at Bible study because it is sweet fellowship. Living in the dorms at Master's is an amazing experience but it is also not realistic in how the rest of life functions. And that is totally an okay thing...it just makes me all the more thankful that I had the opportunity to attend Master's and live in the dorms all 4 years!!! God truly blessed me greatly in allowing that to happen! =)
Anyways...back to what I was going to blog about...
Last night we discussed 1 Samuel 1 and how Hannah cries out to the Lord for a son. We find out in this first chapter that Hannah barren. This reality has driven her to deep sorrow not only because she cannot have children but also because her husband's 2nd wife irritates and, most likely, makes fun of her for being barren. Our leader pointed out that this probably had gone on for many years (1:7a) and it seems that Hannah is so broken and driven to despair with the desire that she have a son that she willingly prays that God give her a son so she can give him back to serve the Lord. That which she held so dear--the prospect of having children--she was willing to give back to God. In verse 11 she says, "O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head." (1:11) Yes, she probably prayed this prayer with a bit of desperation but it was with sincerity too because we see that she does indeed take Samuel to where the High Priests lived.
As we were talking about Hannah, I was struck with the contrast of Hannah's attitude towards being barren to that of Rachel's in Genesis 30. Genesis 30 says that Rachel was envious of her sister Leah and so she says to Jacob, "Give me children, or I shall die!" (Genesis 30:1) Now, in the text we see at this moment Rachel is not praying specifically to God when she says this, but ultimately she is shaking her fist at God and demanding children. She thinks she cannot be happy or keep on living if God does not grant her children. Ironically, the very thing she held so dearly to--children--eventually did lead to her death as she died in child birth with Benjamin. (Genesis 35:16-21)
It got me thinking...what kind of attitude do we as Christians have towards the things that we desire most? Do we ask for those things in faith and, at the same time, are we willing to hold them with an open hand and give them back to God? Do we prize our desires, hopes, and dreams more than God Himself? Are we willing to ask for things but trust that God will do what He sees as best with the things we ask for?
Or, on the flip side, do we demand things from God and tell Him, "If you don't give me 'x, y, or z,' I will die!" Or, maybe in somewhat less dramatic terms, do we tell God that we will never be happy if He does not give us what we desire? Do we tell Him that we cannot effectively serve Him without the things we want?
Hopefully, the Holy Spirit brings us to a point in our lives when we can truly have a Hannah-like attitude. Ultimately, she had a similar attitude to Christ's as He faced death on the cross. He implored that God would accomplish His will some other way and yet He knew there was no other way. And, because of that knowledge and because He knew that God's way was BEST and because He trust God's plan, He submitted His will and died for us. He willingly said, "Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." (Luke 22:42) And obviously Christ was able to do this because He was God, but, at the same time, He did experience real pain, real anguish, and real desires because He was fully human as well as fully God. And it is because of this that He can relate to us in our humanness. (Hebrews 4:14-16) Because of His choice to submit His will to God as fully human, we too can have this same attitude and mindset.
So what kind of attitude do we choose to have?
Are we like Rachel who shook her fist at God and said she would die if He did not give her what she wanted? Are we only content when we "get what we want"?
Or are we like Hannah who was willing to give her son back to God for all the days of his life? Are we willing to find joy and contentment in God alone regardless of our circumstances and regardless of what we do or do not get?
Are we like Christ who subjected His will to the Father and laid down His own desires for the sake of others and the glory of God?
Are you a Hannah or a Rachel?
Anyways...back to what I was going to blog about...
Last night we discussed 1 Samuel 1 and how Hannah cries out to the Lord for a son. We find out in this first chapter that Hannah barren. This reality has driven her to deep sorrow not only because she cannot have children but also because her husband's 2nd wife irritates and, most likely, makes fun of her for being barren. Our leader pointed out that this probably had gone on for many years (1:7a) and it seems that Hannah is so broken and driven to despair with the desire that she have a son that she willingly prays that God give her a son so she can give him back to serve the Lord. That which she held so dear--the prospect of having children--she was willing to give back to God. In verse 11 she says, "O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head." (1:11) Yes, she probably prayed this prayer with a bit of desperation but it was with sincerity too because we see that she does indeed take Samuel to where the High Priests lived.
As we were talking about Hannah, I was struck with the contrast of Hannah's attitude towards being barren to that of Rachel's in Genesis 30. Genesis 30 says that Rachel was envious of her sister Leah and so she says to Jacob, "Give me children, or I shall die!" (Genesis 30:1) Now, in the text we see at this moment Rachel is not praying specifically to God when she says this, but ultimately she is shaking her fist at God and demanding children. She thinks she cannot be happy or keep on living if God does not grant her children. Ironically, the very thing she held so dearly to--children--eventually did lead to her death as she died in child birth with Benjamin. (Genesis 35:16-21)
It got me thinking...what kind of attitude do we as Christians have towards the things that we desire most? Do we ask for those things in faith and, at the same time, are we willing to hold them with an open hand and give them back to God? Do we prize our desires, hopes, and dreams more than God Himself? Are we willing to ask for things but trust that God will do what He sees as best with the things we ask for?
Or, on the flip side, do we demand things from God and tell Him, "If you don't give me 'x, y, or z,' I will die!" Or, maybe in somewhat less dramatic terms, do we tell God that we will never be happy if He does not give us what we desire? Do we tell Him that we cannot effectively serve Him without the things we want?
Hopefully, the Holy Spirit brings us to a point in our lives when we can truly have a Hannah-like attitude. Ultimately, she had a similar attitude to Christ's as He faced death on the cross. He implored that God would accomplish His will some other way and yet He knew there was no other way. And, because of that knowledge and because He knew that God's way was BEST and because He trust God's plan, He submitted His will and died for us. He willingly said, "Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." (Luke 22:42) And obviously Christ was able to do this because He was God, but, at the same time, He did experience real pain, real anguish, and real desires because He was fully human as well as fully God. And it is because of this that He can relate to us in our humanness. (Hebrews 4:14-16) Because of His choice to submit His will to God as fully human, we too can have this same attitude and mindset.
So what kind of attitude do we choose to have?
Are we like Rachel who shook her fist at God and said she would die if He did not give her what she wanted? Are we only content when we "get what we want"?
Or are we like Hannah who was willing to give her son back to God for all the days of his life? Are we willing to find joy and contentment in God alone regardless of our circumstances and regardless of what we do or do not get?
Are we like Christ who subjected His will to the Father and laid down His own desires for the sake of others and the glory of God?
Are you a Hannah or a Rachel?
Thursday, September 6, 2012
My Highest Privilege
September 6th:
"Prayer is my highest privilege; and serving God through the medium of plain, ordinary, hard work--physical or mental--is my second highest privilege."
"'Aspire to lead a quiet life,...and to work with your own hands." (1 Thessalonians 4:11)
"Prayer is my highest privilege; and serving God through the medium of plain, ordinary, hard work--physical or mental--is my second highest privilege."
"'Aspire to lead a quiet life,...and to work with your own hands." (1 Thessalonians 4:11)
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Your Gift
September 5th:
"Thank you, Lord, for the work You have assigned me. I take it as Your gift; I offer it back to You. With Your help I will do it gladly, faithfully,"
"Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men." (Colossians 3:23)
"Thank you, Lord, for the work You have assigned me. I take it as Your gift; I offer it back to You. With Your help I will do it gladly, faithfully,"
"Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men." (Colossians 3:23)
For Our Heavenly Father
This quote definitely sums up some thoughts I had the other day regarding my work. Working at an insurance company, there are some agents who get really upset when they can't get a hold of the person they want to talk to, when application processing takes longer than it should, etc. There have been a few times when I want to tell people calm down because life insurance is not going to do them a bit of good if they aren't going to heaven. But I know I can't say that and I try to reply as politely as possible and be as helpful as I can. =) In trying to refocus my attitude I have become thankful that God commands us to do everything for His glory...it makes work worth doing when viewed in that light. =)
September 4th:
"The best motivation for doing a job and doing it well is the knowledge that it is not just for our earthly master but for our heavenly one."
"Whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord." (Ephesians 6:7, 8)
September 4th:
"The best motivation for doing a job and doing it well is the knowledge that it is not just for our earthly master but for our heavenly one."
"Whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord." (Ephesians 6:7, 8)
Do Not Despise Work
VERY convicting to me!!!
September 3rd:
"Don't ever despise work. Make it an offering unto God. Learn to love your work. If you can't do what you like, then like what you do."
"When God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work--this is a gift of God." (Ecclesiastes 5:19)
September 3rd:
"Don't ever despise work. Make it an offering unto God. Learn to love your work. If you can't do what you like, then like what you do."
"When God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work--this is a gift of God." (Ecclesiastes 5:19)
Work Is a Blessing
September 2nd:
"Work is a blessing. God has so arranged the world that work is necessary, and He gives us hands and strength to do it."
"There is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot." (Ecclesiastes 3:22)
"Work is a blessing. God has so arranged the world that work is necessary, and He gives us hands and strength to do it."
"There is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot." (Ecclesiastes 3:22)
When Nobody's Looking
Defining true integrity...
September 1st:
"It's what a man does when he thinks nobody's looking that reveals his true character."
"Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God." (Colossians 3:22)
September 1st:
"It's what a man does when he thinks nobody's looking that reveals his true character."
"Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God." (Colossians 3:22)
With Deliberate Speed
Sooo encouraging to be reminded about my own life and in the lives of others. =)
August 31st:
"Holiness progresses very slowly in most of us--and yet it is with deliberate speed and according to the pace of God. In patience we have to accept the progress that we do make."
"Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith." (1 Timothy 6:11, 12)
August 31st:
"Holiness progresses very slowly in most of us--and yet it is with deliberate speed and according to the pace of God. In patience we have to accept the progress that we do make."
"Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith." (1 Timothy 6:11, 12)
Faith Stands
August 30th:
"When we see Stephen we see not the fury of the religious Jews, not the rain of stones falling on his head, but a man beholding the Lord. Faith stands in the midst of suffering and sees glory."
"'You are my witnesses,' says the Lord, 'and My servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He.'" (Isaiah 43:10)
"When we see Stephen we see not the fury of the religious Jews, not the rain of stones falling on his head, but a man beholding the Lord. Faith stands in the midst of suffering and sees glory."
"'You are my witnesses,' says the Lord, 'and My servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He.'" (Isaiah 43:10)
Kept In a Spiritual Playpen
August 29th:
"Love is the way to maturity. Selfishness stunts growth and keeps us in a spiritual playpen."
"May the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all." (1 Thessalonians 3:12)
"Love is the way to maturity. Selfishness stunts growth and keeps us in a spiritual playpen."
"May the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all." (1 Thessalonians 3:12)
Blind to the Meaning
I got a bit behind... =)
August 28th:
"If you don't see the hand of God in even the smallest setbacks and inconveniences, you will be blind to the meaning that God wants you to find your deeper sufferings."
"We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance." (Romans 5:3)
August 28th:
"If you don't see the hand of God in even the smallest setbacks and inconveniences, you will be blind to the meaning that God wants you to find your deeper sufferings."
"We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance." (Romans 5:3)
Monday, September 3, 2012
Romans 12:12
Love this verse:
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." (Romans 12:12)
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." (Romans 12:12)
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