Learning to live for HIS glory

(If you haven't read the beginning of the story, it starts here:  Our Love Story (Part 1) Distance relationships have interesting dynamics. Like that one time we didn't see each other for a month and a half, And I began to wonder if this was real?   But it was, and is, And the next time we saw each other was sweeter because of it. I remember the first time Carl told me he loved me.   It was the weekend I first met his family, They're huge. (9 siblings compared to 3...plus all the kiddos...and they weren't even all there!) But despite being overwhelmed, I was also warmly welcomed,  And driving away, I remember him telling me, You fit in well. We were hiking later that weekend, Before I headed home. And at the top of a ridge, Where he had prayed about dating me, He handed me some Black-eyed Susan's, And said, "I love you." Three simple, yet not simple words, And I couldn't say them back. Yet. But he told me I didn...

Inspired by a dear friend of mine who writes over at  http://purejoyandpoetry.blogspot.com/ ... I've been reading through my journals from the past year and pulling out bits and pieces . . . remembering what the Lord has taught and done, the blessings and the struggles! 1~Jesus, may this be a year in which I seek You wholeheartedly.  Give me eyes open wide to see Your glory…I am such a human, Lord! Holy Spirit would You come and fill this life more and more? You who live to pray, would You fill me with Your life? . . . And as I pray, would You guide my praying and use my feeble attempts for the advancement of Your kingdom? Instead of focusing on how inadequate I am, Lord teach me to focus on You, and how perfectly adequate You are. 2~Thank You that I can call You Father and come to You as a child . . . Lord, teach me how to live this day. 3~ Holy Spirit, would You in me train my emotions to line up with truth? Lord, burn away the mediocrity, and gi...

As I was reading back over this blog today, I was convicted of how much I really should be spending more time with God.  Somehow, I don't think I'll ever be spending enough time with Him!  It's interesting how that kind of ties into what I've been learning in my discipleship counseling class this week.  On the forums we were talking about how when we view God in the right way (and we're continually learning more and more how to do that) it helps us to view ourselves in the right way.  Isn't that a cool thought?  As we seek God, grow closer to Him, and give ourselves to Him as living sacrifices (Rom. 12:1), we discover more not just of who He is, but of who we are.  That's such a beautiful picture. It makes me think of a quote I love from C.S. Lewis , "The more we let God take us over, the more truly ourselves we become--because He made us.  He invented all the different people that you and I were intended to be . . . It is when I turn to Christ, when...

Last night I had a meeting about something I was considering pursuing this fall. I went to watch someone that I was thinking about shadowing in action. I fully expected that I would continue to pursue this area of work by being a shadow. My expectations weren't met. When the evening ended I clearly realized that this was not the area for me. It's not where my gifts and passions best fit. A little frustrating? At first . . . yes, but as I mulled it over I came to the realization that I'm thankful for God's direction in this way. Even though it means I have even less of an idea of what I want to do, it means He is directing. That's so exciting! So . . . that brings me to this verse, the title of my blog. "Your ears will hear a word behind you, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right or to the left" (Isaiah 30:21 NASB). No, I didn't hear an audible voice, but I could tell God was leading me--not into the way I ha...