I'm remembering a verse given to me a few weeks ago, thinking about how God has drawn me towards orphaned, abandoned, rejected & displaced...here is a great verse from Isaiah 54:2-3, which says, "Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities."
As a family in Christ, let's open our tents, stretch the curtains wide, welcoming in all those who have no family, no inheritance, no future or hope of one. Let's together see how we can become brothers and sisters to these beautiful children,....through our heavenly Father!
.....pray for our health, travel safety, wisdom & common sense! Argh. AND....pray that our knowledge of the foreign language will come back readily to our minds! Thanks! --Tyler & Alissa
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Prayer journaling 2/4
I haven't been feeling great this week, and am all out of great writing....temporarily at least. But here are some verses I'm praying through this week. Feel free to comment your thoughts on these or other verses that you've been praying through also! :)
Ephesians 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Psalm 32:5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Ephesians 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Psalm 32:5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 ...give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Matthew 7:7-11 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
Dressed in Striped Pajamas
Tonight I was sick....slightly, but feeling not quite myself just the same. I knew I wanted to blog tonight, since much has been floating around my mind, but it wasn't until just this moment that I really knew what I wanted to say.
This month I'm going on a journey of prayer journaling....and before I began writing tonight, I wanted to "relax" and watch a movie. Well I chose the movie "Boy in Striped Pajama's". If you've seen it, you know that it leaves you feeling very sad, sad for the world, for the boy, for the times when we just don't know any better.... and it makes me want to pray.
"Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge." (Psalm 62:8) If you know anything about the holocaust, you know that there were many, many people who cried out to God, seeking His help, protection, wisdom & mercy. God wants us to do this, to pour out our hearts to him when we are scared, ashamed, unsure & hurting. He will protect us, though sometimes He protects our hearts & souls over our earthly bodies.
This month I'm going on a journey of prayer journaling....and before I began writing tonight, I wanted to "relax" and watch a movie. Well I chose the movie "Boy in Striped Pajama's". If you've seen it, you know that it leaves you feeling very sad, sad for the world, for the boy, for the times when we just don't know any better.... and it makes me want to pray.
"Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge." (Psalm 62:8) If you know anything about the holocaust, you know that there were many, many people who cried out to God, seeking His help, protection, wisdom & mercy. God wants us to do this, to pour out our hearts to him when we are scared, ashamed, unsure & hurting. He will protect us, though sometimes He protects our hearts & souls over our earthly bodies.
We know this is true, that God desires to hold us in his Hands, and that He will answer us and come to us because of what Christ testified by his mouth..."'Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”'
And yet, sometimes we have to walk through horrendous situations. The people of the holocaust were thrust into something they had little to no control over, they were tortured, beaten, starved, mocked and killed for just daring to live as people that Christ created them to be. Many of them lost hope, feeling abandoned....but still there were some, like Corrie Ten Boom who saw her situation in the prison camps, as a time that she could tell others about God & his mercy. She understood what is written about in 2 Corinthians 2:14 where it says "But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ's triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere." She, being lead as a captive into a place shrouded by death, held to her faith and overcame the smell of flesh with the fragrance of everlasting life. ..... A faith like that deserves pause. ..... A faith like that, is one to make you wonder about the God who calls a witness like her out...He is a mighty God, a faithful God, an everlasting God.
Finally, as we seek him, praise him, confess our fears and hopes to him, we will see...maybe not today, but one day we will see...what His glorious plans for our lives will be. It is then and on our journey to that end, that we can joyfully sing with David through Psalms 30:11-12, "You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise you forever." Amen.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Prayer Journaling in March!!
So I'm going to do something new this month, and would love any of you to join me! For the next four weeks of March(starting next Wednesday), I will be choosing one verse from each of the sections below and using those verses to help me in my prayers. Then I'll write here which verses I chose, and if I had any thoughts or prayer requests or answered prayers! SO....why don't you join me? Let's do this together. Choose verses from the list below or ones you can find on your own, and then post your thoughts as comments! (and if you want to start posting now, let me know that you're going to do this, and if there are prayer requests!) Yay! I'm excited to pray with you!
ADORATION: Hebrews 13:15, Psalm 22:27, 1 Chronicles 16:25, Psalm 30:11-12, Psalm 75:5-6,14, Ephesians 1:3
CONFESSION: Romans 3:23, James 5:16, Psalm 51:1, 1 John 1:9, Psalm 62:8, Psalm 32:5
THANKSGIVING: 1 Chronicles 16:34-36, Daniel 2:23, 1 Timothy 1:12, 1 Timothy 4:4, Psalm 75:1, Psalm 106:1, 1 Corinthians 15:57, 2 Corinthians 2:14, 1 Thessalonians 5:18
SUPPLICATION: Jeremiah 17:14, Luke 11:5-13, Matthew 17:14-20, Matthew 26:39, Matthew 7:7-11, Jeremiah 29:13, Matthew 15:22-28
ADORATION: Hebrews 13:15, Psalm 22:27, 1 Chronicles 16:25, Psalm 30:11-12, Psalm 75:5-6,14, Ephesians 1:3
CONFESSION: Romans 3:23, James 5:16, Psalm 51:1, 1 John 1:9, Psalm 62:8, Psalm 32:5
THANKSGIVING: 1 Chronicles 16:34-36, Daniel 2:23, 1 Timothy 1:12, 1 Timothy 4:4, Psalm 75:1, Psalm 106:1, 1 Corinthians 15:57, 2 Corinthians 2:14, 1 Thessalonians 5:18
SUPPLICATION: Jeremiah 17:14, Luke 11:5-13, Matthew 17:14-20, Matthew 26:39, Matthew 7:7-11, Jeremiah 29:13, Matthew 15:22-28
Saturday, January 29, 2011
It's on it's way!!
I ordered my book today! It should be here mid-February, but that shouldn't stop you from checking it out ahead of time! Feel free to browse the preview, and order one for yourself if you feel so led! :) I can't wait! It's so exciting to share this with you!
Friday, January 21, 2011
Sunrise to Sunset
 | |
| I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, 6 so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other. --Isaiah 45:5-6 |
This morning, as I do many mornings, I watched the sunrise develop into something exquisite over the frozen lake. It shone bright orange, purple & blue streaks which each contrasted with the others so vibrantly. I'm not sure why, but watching a sunrise or sunset like the one this morning always reminds me of God's faithfulness. It's like he's there, trying to remind us that from beginning to end, He is there. He will be faithful. Though the day might bring hardship, toil & pain, He remains. He draws us towards him, to find beauty within his creation, to find beauty within the day He has created for us. He wants us to know that He is bigger than whatever is out there, whatever we go through, whatever we face....He is with us. He is in the dark, in the light, in the wind and in the calm. He is there and will always be pursuing us to bring us towards His loving arms. The colors of this sunset are like the many facets of God's character. He is both loving, just, compassionate, holy, gentle & yet we should fear Him. Oh how all those facets and colors come together to form such a wonderful picture of who God is, and that we can be reminded of it every morning and every evening....that God is faithful.
Friday, January 14, 2011
New Year, New Day
Well here we find ourselves in a new year, a new day, thinking about what it will bring and what last year left behind. The new year is a time of new beginnings, and sometimes bitter ends.
I think about this time last year, and how I had so many hopes for the year, so much ambition. Many of those things came to fruition, and many of those slipped silently into the forgotten places of life. There were a lot of things last year that happened unexpectedly. No matter how I might have planned for the year, I wouldn't have guessed certain things, both good & bad. I put together some resolutions, and stuck with them for the most part....but this year I've come to a new "resolution" of sorts.
I'm not going to make a resolution, since most of them get broken anyway. What I do want to do though, is to live each day. That's it. Simply try to be present to each moment that presents itself. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." (Philippians 4:6) I'm going to try not to be anxious about what is up ahead.
"...As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Joshua 1:5b) I will try to remember that God is with me, even when it seems like I'm alone.
"You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me." (Psalm 139:2-5) I will try to rest in the knowledge that each moment is held by my Father above.
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace." (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8) I will try to understand that everything will come in time.
This year above all, I need to learn to rest in Him. Take each and every day in itself, seeking how I can best serve God, seeking ways that I can honor Him and make choices to lead others closer to knowing Him. As I try to grow closer in that relationship this year, I want to keep His words close to my heart. Hudson Taylor said it well...read this & remember that while we continue to walk this life, do not forget to rest. For it is by Christ's power that we will survive this year....."But how to get faith strengthened? Not by striving after faith, but by resting on the Faithful one: As i read, I saw it all! 'If we believe not, he abideth faithful!' I looked to Jesus and saw (and when I saw, oh, how joy flowed!) that He has said, 'I will never leave Thee!' 'Ah, there is rest!' I thought. I have striven in vain to rest in Him. I'll strive no more. For has not He promised to abide with me--never to leave me, never to fail me?"
I think about this time last year, and how I had so many hopes for the year, so much ambition. Many of those things came to fruition, and many of those slipped silently into the forgotten places of life. There were a lot of things last year that happened unexpectedly. No matter how I might have planned for the year, I wouldn't have guessed certain things, both good & bad. I put together some resolutions, and stuck with them for the most part....but this year I've come to a new "resolution" of sorts.
I'm not going to make a resolution, since most of them get broken anyway. What I do want to do though, is to live each day. That's it. Simply try to be present to each moment that presents itself. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." (Philippians 4:6) I'm going to try not to be anxious about what is up ahead.
"...As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Joshua 1:5b) I will try to remember that God is with me, even when it seems like I'm alone.
"You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me." (Psalm 139:2-5) I will try to rest in the knowledge that each moment is held by my Father above.
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace." (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8) I will try to understand that everything will come in time.
This year above all, I need to learn to rest in Him. Take each and every day in itself, seeking how I can best serve God, seeking ways that I can honor Him and make choices to lead others closer to knowing Him. As I try to grow closer in that relationship this year, I want to keep His words close to my heart. Hudson Taylor said it well...read this & remember that while we continue to walk this life, do not forget to rest. For it is by Christ's power that we will survive this year....."But how to get faith strengthened? Not by striving after faith, but by resting on the Faithful one: As i read, I saw it all! 'If we believe not, he abideth faithful!' I looked to Jesus and saw (and when I saw, oh, how joy flowed!) that He has said, 'I will never leave Thee!' 'Ah, there is rest!' I thought. I have striven in vain to rest in Him. I'll strive no more. For has not He promised to abide with me--never to leave me, never to fail me?"
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