Learning to live for HIS glory

I'd like to share with you something I wrote 6 years ago.  It still holds true today...though I may be a tad bit rusty on Psalm 16. It's funny...we were hosting kiddos in our home at the time, and although I had none of my own, wasn't even married yet, I felt like I was getting a taste of what motherhood would look like.  And in that, I recognized the incredible value of God's Word and my need for it.  And particularly my need to memorize it! Life for most of us looks vastly different these days.  And again, I can't tell you how thankful I am for the verses I have stored away in my mind!  Because they are there, God can bring them up when I'm struggling.  He uses them to minister peace to my soul, and to challenge my heart!  Some days I get a few moments to hold my Bible open before my face, some days its longer...but oh how I need those words! As we've been walking through this time of uncertainty in our world, I've been feeling the need for mor...

Sometimes my soul craves words: Good words. True words. Creative words. Life-giving words. And sometimes, My soul craves the ability to express itself in words: Good, True, Creative, Life-giving ones. And often, Where those two cravings mesh, I feel inadequate. Hungry, yet not satisfied. Searching, yet unable to create in the abundant, life-giving way I desire. Still, I try. I reach out my hands, And try to grasp the sky. For in those moments, I am craving the Creator, And craving a way in which I can be His image-bearer- Not fully, no, But in some little way in my own little corner of the world, I can be a reflection of His majesty, And I can learn to know Him more fully. And truly, Friends, That's what life's about. My feelings of inadequacy are good, When they send me running to Christ. For in Him I find the adequacy I'm searching for. "But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who...

Rain, Icy rain. Warmth evades ...and even my soul feels                                     cold. Because going through the motions ...doesn't mean a thing, I'm lost in the meaningless,                                nothingness,                                    daily striving after                                          ............................. In the middle of it all, Hungry, I'm yearning for words,                                good words,                         ...

There's this song I've been playing and singing a lot lately with a line in it that I absolutely love... "Our praises, filling up the spaces, In between our frailty, and everything You are"                  ~Audrey Assad, " Restless " I know it sounds cliche...but I really do have so much to be grateful for, so much to praise God about.  My life is so frail, and He is so BIG, so strong.  Yet in the midst of my frailty, as I live a life of praise, I can know His all-consuming, empowering presence in my day-to-day.  This time of year it's easy to remember...but I know I need this always.  For as I name the graces He's poured out on me, I'm drawn ever closer to the Lover of my soul.  Thankfulness encourages love. Today, I am thankful.  I praise Your name, Jesus for things like these: Smiles. Snow. Words. Family.  Life. Love. Music. Pianos...especially in tune. Sunshine. Rainbows. Cove...

She sends me a short text today: "Psalm 16" So perfect . . . See, those words bring other words to mind. Words etched on my brain in indelible ink: "Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You. I said to the Lord, 'You are my Lord; I have no good besides You.' As for the saints who are in the earth, They are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight. The sorrows of those who have bartered for another god will be multiplied; I shall not pour out their drink offerings of blood, Nor will I take their names upon my lips. The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You support my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me. I will bless the Lord who has counseled me; Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night. I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh ...

7~ “We channel God’s grace in disagreements—not primarily by being nice, but by making much of Jesus Christ who freely Bought us with His own blood (Rev 1:7).   If Jesus, or the advance of His gospel is at stake, that’s worth disagreeing about.   Not much else is.” –Pastor Keith Make these pages a catalyst to remembering and standing on who my God is and how He works! (In the beginning of a new journal) 10~Your creation is beautiful, and yet I know it must be just a little glimpse at Your beauty!  Wow, Lord!  I can’t wait to see Your face.  And yet, I fear it at the same time…will I be found worthy?  I praise You, Lord, that it is not dependent on my worthiness, this living in Your presence. Lord Jesus, my beloved friend, Oh!  You know me so well.  Sometimes when You open my eyes to something in my life I didn’t really see before, its overwhelming.  But You knew…even before I did.  Lord soak these verses deep down in my soul...

A few thoughts from June . . .  5~Lord, I’ve thought my way is the best way, and I’m sorry.  It really isn’t!  Yours is!  Thank You for always having a plan and bringing the work You begin to completion, Lord!  Thank You for Your grace extended to me! 6~ “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ .” ~Philippians 3:20 One day my Savior, my perfect Prince will come. . . . 7~Enable me, I pray, to live a life saturated in trust and free of worry.  8~3 questions Amy Carmichael would ask before she spoke: ·          Is it kind? ·          Is it true? ·          Is it necessary? 16~Christ in me…the hope of glory…what an awesome, mind-boggling thought that is, Lord! 25~Immortal, invisible, only wise God, Your name be praised forever!  You spoke t...