Learning to live for HIS glory

April 10~Give me courage to live in humility...the confidence to put others first!  Jesus, guard me from becoming so caught up in the everyday duties of life that I forget about the importance of the souls of those around me and around the world. 11~Continue to work contentedness deep in my soul.  Grant grace and grace with myself in the midst of the struggle...continue to enable me to love without expectation, and fill me with unshakable trust in You as the Giver of every good and perfect gift! 21~Lord, You know how I'm struggling right now with wanting to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I can trust these dear ones are saved...and then feeling guilty for even questioning that.  Would You speak peace to my heart?  Lord, I remember hearing them talk about what we should and shouldn't do, and encouraging me to memorize Scripture, but I don't remember hearing them talk much about Jesus.  And that's what concerns me.  So Lord, if they haven't trusted...

As I read back over my journals from this past year, I'm reminded of how much work the Lord has needed (and still needs) to do on me.  These words you read are just a small sampling of all that He and I work through on those pages, but may You find the threads of His faithfulness shining brightly in the midst of my weakness and imperfection.   1~ Help!  Work through me to teach these girls tomorrow, for I feel wholly inadequate, unfocused, and not strong enough!  Show me Jesus in this story so I may better show the girls. Later.... Thank You, Lord!  You brought this lesson together for me.  I can't take credit for it.  Thank You for penetrating my heart and showing me how I need to work on this in my life.  I'm humbled.  I need You as my Living Water just as much as the girls do.  Refresh me? 2~I'm sorry for turning to the gods of entertainment and other people's attention to fill and fulfill me.  Lord, forgive me for thinking...

Ever since I can remember, it has been a family tradition to write letters to Jesus on Christmas Eve or Christmas day.  We stopped doing it as a group activity quite a few years back, but it's a tradition I continue every year, and plan to continue for many years to come.  I love the reminder of Who this day is really about.  This year, I thought I'd share...may You spend today rejoicing in our Saviour, who is CHRIST the LORD! Happy Birthday Jesus!   Thank You for the backwards pattern of Your Kingdom.  You did not come on that day so long ago expecting to be served and given gifts, but prepared to serve as the greatest Gift.  Emmanuel, I delight in Your nearness today!  I am blessed, for You have done great things for me.  Thank You for Your Life, death, and great, great Love, Jesus!  Thank You that You live today.  You Live!  Inside of me . . . for that I praise Your name.   Love through me today, love of God.  ...

I discovered this in my computer as I was going through some files.  I wrote it about 2 years ago . . . its just a small piece of the story of my life, but it describes a really rough period of time, and the Lord's faithfulness to see me through.  Perhaps someday I'll write the other pieces of this story, but without further adieu: The cold whispers through my window pane as I sit here tonight. Black branches and trunks silhouette against a dark satin sky. Inside my heart there burns a story . . . a story begging to be told. Can I find the words? I hope so, I pray so. It’s crazy how fast years can fly by. Looking back I see how much has changed, how God has worked. I stand amazed. In awe of Him this silent night . . . how He has worked and is. A year and half a year or so, takes us back to springtime 2011, the beginning of a season when dreams began to shatter. Don’t you know? Often beauty and healing only come through pain. I didn’t understand. They di...

As I stated in my first "year in review" post, these lines come from my journals over the course of the past year.  May you see the glory and power of God at work as you witness our relationship pictured in words! February: 2~In the middle of this crazy night...Jesus, point eyes to You. Protect women and girls. Change hearts of men who are destroyers, break them with sin, and make protectors. 5~I want to be a woman of much prayer! And I realize that will probably often mean being misunderstood . . . but I know there's a battle raging and I want to fight by Your side! 10~Thank You just for joy found in the little things. Like the fact that I am 22 =) That just makes me smile! 12~ Jesus , What am I going to do? Trust You? That would be the best plan, wouldn't it? It's hard sometimes! 18~I pray, Lord, that You would receive glory from our lives corporately and individually. Be present among us, and use us to encourage each other.  ...

I've been reading through my journals from the past year...it's a wonderful habit that allows me to see more clearly all that the Lord has been working in my life through these last 12 months.  I wouldn't let you read my journal, but I want the Lord to receive glory for what He's been doing . . . so I invite you to catch a small glimpse of the relationship we share through the written word. "And  the Word  became flesh, and dwelt among us, and  we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of  grace and  truth." ~ John 1:14 January:    1~May this be a year in which I live with urgency, knowing that Your Kingdom is coming. I don't know how much time I have left on this earth, but Lord, I pray You would show me how to make what I do have left count! 3~I've decided I need to change my teaching tactic when it comes to boys. There's nothing I can do to make the girls stop thinking about them, and in ...