Feeling overwhelmed

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. -Matthew 11:28

JESUS,

I've been feeling overwhelmed lately. It almost feels like a cloud of doubt surrounding me and I can't seem to shake it off. I feel stuck...as if I were paralyzed. Thank You for this verse this morning. I turn to You. I call out to You. I cast all my cares at Your feet. Please take this heavy burden. I do need Your rest. 

Thirsty

GOD-who-gives-water-to-the-thirsty-soul,

Sustain me and give me the grace I need to continue to bear fruit...even during times of drought or when I feel like I'm in the desert. 

Endless Ocean

God-who-is-an-endless-ocean-and-a-bottomless-sea,
      Thank You, for the reminder that there is no end to the afection that You have for me.



NP: Endness Ocean

by Jonathan David & Melissa Hesler

Digital Age - Overcome

Overcome

http://youtu.be/daYggMDBeMg

The True Joy Giver

I was worshiping and dancing before the LORD in my room tonight when I noticed a small bottle of bodyspray that I've had for about a year or two but never really used. I then sprayed it into the air and twirled in the mist as it came down. Though I've never cared for the scent before, it truly was a refreshing moment! As I put the bottle back, I noticed that the name on the bodyspray was JOYFUL (by Bodycology). No other word would have better described that sweet moment as I was completely filled with JOY while worshipping.

About half an hour later, I was writing the word JOY on my whiteboard when at that very moment the word JOY was mentioned in the song that was playing in the background.

NOTE: As I was writing this, I pulled out the bottle again and read the back of it. I smiled. It said, "For a splash of fragrance and energy, spritz lightly on wrists, neck and shoulders - or , for all-over freshness, spray into the air and let the fine mist gently surround you." 

That was exactly what I had done in the natural world. And as the mist fell on me, it was like the gentle presence of the LORD was indeed surrounding me and I couldn't help but feel refreshed!!! :)
___

 Acts 2:28

You have made known to me the ways of life;

You will make me full of joy in Your presence.

She Speaks Conference update

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to attend the She Speaks Conference with two amazing women. I must say, what an incredible experience that was for me! Imagine: 650 women, completely in love with God--who have a passion for telling others about their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, through their writing and speaking--coming together to build each other up and be equipped to minister in the unique way that God wired them.

This story started several months ago...back to when I was online one night reading a blog when I should have been reviewing for an exam I had the following day. The truth was, I was overwhelmed! I was at such a point where I honestly didn't care if I failed the next day's test. I was tired and exhausted. My brain was on information overload. It had been such a stressful semester--probably the absolute worst in my 10yrs of college classes. The tension level at work had elevated to all-time high. My times with the Lord felt practically non-existent. Prayer became tears, deep breaths, or a clenched jaw as I went about my day. And worst of all, I was starting to drown again in the sin that once held me in bondage.

I needed a break from the stressors, but most of all I needed my relationship with Christ restored. I needed HIM. That's when I saw the post. A post that was actually written for the previous year's conference. I pulled up the link and read all about She Speaks. I read how it was a conference put on by Proverbs 31 Ministries for Christian women writers and speakers--or wanna-be writers and speakers. I knew then that I had to go...because somewhere deep within was a faint flame that burned inside of me. A fire that needed to be kindled. My spirit yearned for my Savior and the passion that He gave me for WORDS written on a page.

I read and read and started to feel hope rise up within me. I didn't register that night, but had decided that I wanted to go. There were a few details that I needed to sort out first: getting the days off from work, the cost of the conference, the trip up to North Carolina, the hotel room, and someone to go with. Since I couldn't figure all that out that night, I resigned to studying and promised myself that I would register as soon as finals were over.

By the time I did go to register, it said that the conference was already full and that I was put on the waiting list. Number 131. That was me. I knew that the chances were slim, but I also knew that it was a God thing. I requested the days off from work, and was hopeful. But as the weeks went by with no word from them, I began to question if I really was supposed to go. Since it didn't seem like it was going to work out for this year, I felt like I was disqualified from being able to go. I prayed and prayed. And when I still didn't hear back, I was heart broken--because I truly felt like it was something that I needed and it was this particular season that I needed it most. It just didn't seem right that this year is when I would find out about it only to not be able to go until next year. Finally, I surrendered it to the Lord.

Not too long after that, I received an e-mail saying that my number was up and I had 3 days to register or it would go to the next person on the waiting list. I was ecstatic, but strangely, I did not feel at ease about going. There was still the issue of not just the cost of the conference, but ALL the expenses of the entire trip. I felt like I just couldn't justify spending that amount of money on myself. I didn't mind spending it on others, but spending it on a conference for myself felt wasteful. (After all, the money in my savings was already allotted for the offer I made on a house...and I needed every penny of it to qualify for the mortgage.) Also, some of the breakout sessions for the conference were already completely full and I didn't want to pay full price if I wouldn't be able to participate in only half of it. So I prayed. Day 1, nothing. Day 2, nothing. Day 3, nothing still. Finally, the evening before I needed to send a response, I got the release in my spirit that I needed. And for the first time since my number was called, I was excited again. I asked God for one more confirmation and said that I would need to know that He was my provider. I woke up the next morning and opened the devotional email that I receive each morning. It always has a prayer and thought for the day.

The Title for that day: My God Shall Provide.

The Question: "Have you ever gone through a time of complete dependence on God for your material needs?"

The Verse: "And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

The Challenge: "Acknowledge the Lord as the provider of every need you have today. He is a faithful provider."

The Prayer:

"Dear God, I may not have excellent speech or be as educated or wise as some people, but this one thing I know, that Jesus Christ gave Himself as a sacrifice for my sin and has risen to sit at Your right hand, so that I may receive Your forgiveness, a new life, and eternal life with You. Though I may be weak and fearful at times, I can be strong through the power of Your Spirit. God, please speak through me and live through me that I might touch the lives and hearts of the people I come in contact with each day. May You be glorified. In Jesus' name, amen."

It was all EXACTLY what I needed.

A few hours and emails later and I was registered, had a flight booked, a room to sleep in, and friends to go with.

There were a few hiccups along the way, but we got there.

I learned great tips that weekend on writing and speaking, but the most impactful of all, was the sweet time I had alone with the Lord in the Prayer Room and what He spoke to my heart as I surrendered my all and poured my heart and devotion and worship before Him at the foot of the cross. That weekend I said Yes to Him. Yes to following Him wherever He takes me. Yes to laying down my pride and allowing the story of redemption to be known. Yes to opening my mouth and allowing Him to fill it.

During the first 2 days of the conference, my daily devotional e-mail was about how good it is to have mentors. (One of the ladies I was with was our church's Women's Ministry director whom I look up to as a mentor. The other was a close friend's mom who I completely enjoyed getting to spend time with and got to know more closely.) On the last day of the conference, the devotional was about how Satan is a thief and how we must be on our guard, especially after a great victory. It mentioned that even Jesus -- (after His baptism and the heavens opening up, the Holy Spirit descending upon him, and a voice from heaven saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.") -- was led away to the desert by the Spirit and tempted by Satan. The night prior I had a horrible dream and when I had woken up that morning felt like Satan was tormenting me with my past and tempting me, and condemning me. The e-mail was right on target. I finished getting ready to go down stairs for last session, but still felt uneasy.

As God would have it, the last session was titled "Welcome to Your Inauguration and was about how Jesus, after being baptized, was tempted in the desert by Satan. The speaker encouraged us to get suited up for war, because battle is imminent.

She said that we are to put on the Belt of Truth, the Breastplate of Righteousness, have our feet fitted with the Gospel of Peace, and take up the Shield of Faith, the Helmet of Salvation, and the Sword of The Spirit.

We are called to be dressed for battle so that we CAN stand, and having done all, to STAND FIRM and watch as God works. 

Ephesians 6:13-17  New International Version (NIV)

13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Oh and about the house...my mortgage application was processed and approved in record time and with great ease. I closed on the house yesterday!!! :) Truly, the Lord provides.

I choose to live

March 24, 2012


I choose to live!
On any given day, on the ride that takes me from home to work, to errands during lunch, the rush to school, the library to study, and back home again, I'm guessing I see between 100-150 people at least! (And that's a conservative estimate.) But how many people do I actually notice? Well, I guess there was the lady at the drive-thru window with the half-smile, and the man on the street corner by wal-mart holding the sign, (his hair more grown out & his face more blank than last time), the woman at the store with the crying kids, and the person in the car-one lane over-screaming into her phone. Each one is a human being. Each one has a story to tell. Each one has a desire to be loved.


As I write this, I'm on my way to watch a movie about choosing life, but I am recalling a time several years back when I had lost the desire to live. A time when I felt that it was all too much and completely useless. A time when I told God that if this is all that life was-living with masks, struggling and feeling powerless over sin-then I didn't want it. Nay, I couldn't stand one more minute or second of it. I hated it. I hated the nice-nice while everyone in the church was struggling to breathe-suffocating in sin and deceit. I needed to know truth and love and how to win. I needed a conqueror...a redeemer! I just didn't know it.


Fast forward a few months later and in comes...HIM!


This man they call Jesus. The man whom I had asked into my heart many years back, but didn't yet know. Come to find out, He was the One I was referring to when my soul cried out for a rescuer. A relationship is what I was longing for as I wrote in my journal about wanting it to be my turn to experience the realness of God. I didn't see it everywhere, but every now & then I'd catch a glimpse of it and know that I wanted it too.

I am HIS Beloved and HE is mine! His banner over me is LOVE. :-)

A Lesson From An [almost] 4 yr old

"What's that awful smell?" I thought I heard said from a little voice in the den.

"What'd you say, Jonah?"

My nephew repeated, "What's that awful smell I smell?"

I called him into the kitchen where I was--partly because I didn't know he even knew the word awful, and secondly, because I had a hunch he was referring to the strange odor that comes from the dishwasher when it's on its drying cycle.

He came closer, took one sniff, and definitively said, "Yes! That is the awful smell I smell!"

He proceeded to ask me why it smelled awful and then asked me what the word awful meant. I can't remember what my answer was as to why it stank, but it must have satisfied him for he was no sooner back to playing with his Lincoln Logs.

Later that night as he was being tucked into bed I recalled his question and couldn't help but chuckle.

But then I felt like God was teaching me something through it. I thought about the fragrance or stench of our lives. As people are with us, or in proximity of us, what would they say about us? Do we leave a sweet aroma OR are people just waiting for us to leave the territory? Are we building people up with our words OR tearing people down with our hatred and gossip?

My family has an inside joke about the calamansi in the bottom drawer of the refrigerator. All of us knew it was there. We each could see it...rotting, yet none of us did anything about it. For if we mentioned it, that would mean that we were aware that it was there and acknowledged that it needed to be tended to yet decided to walk away.

When there is sin in our lives or character traits about us that are not so "loving," it starts to smell. In fact, I'd like to submit that bitterness starts to eat away at us and makes us rot...leaving an "awful" smell when we talk.

So then I had to ask, are there areas in my life that I have not tended to?

How long has it been since we prayed, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."?

I have to admit that I don't remember the last time.

So tonight, LORD, I pray as David prayed, "Test me and try me, examine my heart and my mind; [reveal to me any area that needs to be tended to,] for Your love is ever before me, and I [want to] walk continually in Your truth."

when God speaks...

What I read last night:
"When the young prophet Samuel heard the voice of God calling to him in the night, he had the councel from his priestly mentor, Eli, to tell him how to respond. Even so, it took them three times to realize that it was God calling. Rather than ignoring the voice, or rebuking it, Samuel finally listened."   (excerpt from The Sacred Romance)

The message at church today:
How to hear the voice of God.

The scriptural context:
1 Samuel 3 (The Lord calls Samuel)

:)

The Armor of God

Ephesians 6:10-13 (NIV)

The Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Notes to myself...
from today's message by Dr. Tony Evans.
The Armor of God (part 1)
http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/the-alternative/
1.) "The battle in the unseen is responsible for the battle in the seen."
2.) "If you want to fix the visible and physical, you must address the invisible and spiritual."
3.) "The only power that Satan and his demons have is the power that people grant them."
****We must realize that Satan has already been defeated!!!****

If I could...

If I could...
I would draw of Your beauty
I would paint of Your love with colors for all to see
I would play my instrument before You and watch as You danced over me

But I can hum a melody
Yes I will dance 'cause You've set me free
Oh I will speak and write of This Greatest Mystery
It's the story of Your Love for humanity

a love note

I love You, LORD.

Forever Yours,
-hannah

Deitrick Haddon - The Greatest

JESUS, YOU ARE THE GREATEST
The greatest LOVE OF ALL

May my life resound with YOUR GREAT LOVE.




JESUS,

You are my strength, my shield, my hope , my light, my joy, my peace, my comfort, my song, my dance, my poem, my river of life, my LOVE!!!

Casting out the spirit of fear

23.

23. I saw the 23 in today's calendar and immediately remembered Michael Jordan. He bore the number 23. He was known for many things, but I think most of all, he was known for his excellence and success in basketball. What are you known for? What is your identity? In whom does your identity lie?

Jesus, I want my identity to be found in YOU! :)

Jesus, "I will glorify Your name forever, for great is Your LOVE toward me." Psalm 86:12-13

...but God!

Jesus, I pour my vial of worship over You. Thank You for taking my sins upon Yourself and paying my penalty. You said, "It is finished." I receive that forgiveness which You offer over my past, my present, and even my future sins.

Father,
     Finish what You've started in me, I pray.
     Purify my heart and my mind.
     Bind my heart to Yours.
     Put to death this lustful nature of my flesh.
     I desire to walk in the spirit.
     Let my mind be controlled by the Spirit
          for I know that this brings life and peace.
     I belong to Christ. My obligation is to Him.

OneThing

Are You a Threat?
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1,
by Os Hillman
06-10-2012
"One day the evil spirit answered them, 'Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?'" - Acts 19:15
Are you a threat to the kingdom of darkness? If satan and his demons had a board meeting and your name came before the board, what would they say? Would they say that you are one of their most feared enemies and they needed to keep many demons harassing and opposing you? Or would they say, "Gentlemen, this person poses no threat to our activities. Leave him alone. He needs no help from us." There are millions of church-going believers sitting in pews Sunday after Sunday who pose little threat to the kingdom of darkness. If we truly believe that we war against rulers and principalities that cannot be seen, then we must realize that their mandate is to hinder any believer who is seeking to walk in the fullness of God. However, "greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world" (1 Jn. 4:4b KJV). If you are seeking to fully follow the Lord, you can expect harassment from the enemy. God permits temptation because it drives us deeper into the soil of God. These times reveal God's power to keep us and walk us through the temptations. Our message becomes fruitful when it is born out of obedience and suffering for His name. Do not consider it strange if you find yourself fighting major battles the more obedient you become to the Master. God desires each of us to become a feared enemy of hell in order to affect satan's domain. When you begin to feel harassed, chances are you are beginning to affect the kingdom of darkness, and satan doesn't like this. So, how many demons do you think are assigned to you?
Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message,
Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders.

Forgiving Ourselves

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just

and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

- 1 John 1:9

Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message,

Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders.

The Perfect LOVE of GOD

Boldness

"...Lord, why do I fear opening my mouth? Please help me to be bold, the speak Your words of truth and life to those I love, my family and friends, before time runs out. Help me to be a living testimony for You. Stir up the Holy Spirit within me and the gifts You have given me to minister to others, to reach a dying world, to share Your love and Your hope for the future. Thank You in the name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior. Amen"

love like Izzy - because he loved like Jesus

...crying

because a guy I never knew
dared to LOVE.
He loved with a LOVE so loud, so bold, so strong.
Loved with the LOVE of CHRIST.
It impacted all who knew him
and their lives...
are forever changed!!!

Thank you, Izzy...for I too have now been touched by your LOVE for GOD and how you loved OTHERS like JESUS did.


http://www.thirdoptionmen.org/blog/ultimate-sacrifice/

http://lesrowe.wordpress.com/tag/lovelikeizzy/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqnLp7i3--A&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wh_l7wpdDb8

https://www.facebook.com/#!/izzy.yoder?sk=wall

Today's your day :)

Song: "Tomorrow" by The Winans
Couldn't stop replaying this song in my head.
I remembered how we did a human video to it when I was a part of Master's Commission years back. I found this on YouTube and it made me cry all over again.

journal page

journal page



"All praise be to the One who made it all and finds it beautiful."

I heard a comment last Thursday that I didn't agree with, but kept silent about. That night it burned on my heart and I couldn't stop thinking about it. What came to my mind was the old song "People Need the Lord"

I will rejoice.

Deut 11:2
              ....His majesty  
        His mighty hand        
             His outstretched arm 

This caught my eye last night
and I remembered a teaching on how Jesus is
Bridegroom, King, and Judge

majesty ---- King
mighty hand ----- Judge
outstretched arm ---- Bridegroom

...sitting outside in a brown recliner watching the rain fall and being refreshed by the Holy Spirit as I listen to music by Gungor. His presence...so sweet!

The song on my heart this morning

Lord I offer my life to You
Everything I've been through
Use it for Your glory
Lord I offer my days to You
Lifting my praise to You
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer You my life

Promo for my brother's CD :)

Father, give me eyes to see and ears to hear...

It is FINISHED.

It is DONE.
A debt I could not pay. A debt He did not owe.
My debt...paid in full--by the Blood of Christ Jesus.

Thank You

Jesus, thank You for what You endured for me. The immense pain, the humiliation, the torture, the beatings, the flogging, the thorns going through Your scalp, having to carry the heavy cross through the streets, being spat at, having stones hurled at You, the nails being driven through Your wrists and feet, the pain on the cross just to be able to breathe, the spear through Your side, the weight of the world's sins upon Your shoulders. You did this for me. It is my sins that condemn me to eternal separation from the fellowship that You and the Father share. Yet, because of what You did, because You paid that costly price, because of Your atoning blood...I am made righteous by taking on Your righteousness. Thank You, Jesus for all that You've done for me. I love You.

God, break my heart for the things that break Yours.

The First Requirement of Ministry
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1, by Os Hillman
03-14-2012
"The priests are in mourning, those who minister before the Lord." - Joel 1:9b

The first requirement for being used by God in the life of others is to mourn on their behalf. We must identify with their pain and suffering. Each of us must be broken for others first.

In order to be fully used by God in the workplace, we need to understand what breaks God's heart. When we understand what breaks God's heart, we are able to mourn on behalf of a grieving person, or a nation we are called to serve. What breaks God's heart? When we begin to answer this question, we begin the first step to becoming instruments of change for those things that are important to God. Perhaps it is an overemphasis in our own talent and abilities, or lack of complete trust in Jesus. Perhaps it is the lack of respect for human life that leads to the killing of innocent babies. Perhaps it is the deceit and pride that often rule the workplace of commerce. Or perhaps it is the strife and divisions among His own Body that grieve Him most. When we begin to mourn over our own sins in these areas, God begins to use us as instruments of righteousness to affect these things. It was only when God let me see my own sins in the workplace and how they broke His heart that I began to be an instrument for His purposes.

Today, ask God to show you what things in your world are breaking His heart. Then see how He might want you to be the priest to affect for Him. The first step is identification with what breaks God's heart.

Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders.

The Lion of Judah

Taking my online quizzes for Nutrition while listening to Jason Upton's Lion of Judah.
SMILE :) I get excited about Jesus!!! He came first as The Lamb; now we await Him coming as The Lion!!!! TOTALLY EXCITED!!!! :D

Hear the sound of the Lion of Judah
See the fire and the fear in the enemy's camp
From the sound of the Lion of Judah roaring again

There's a new generation arising

A nameless, faceless, placeless tribe

All they fear is the fear of the Lord

All they hear is the Lion of Judah

bitterness vs forgiveness

today's devotional reminded me about the lesson God taught me about SCABS. :)(CLICK ON LINK AFTER READING DEVOTIONAL)

http://hannahleah19.blogspot.com/2009/01/amazing-grace.html

Forgiveness Ensures Freedom
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1, by Os Hillman
03-03-2012
"See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." - Hebrews 12:15

In business and life the opportunity to harbor bitterness for a wrong suffered is great. We are given plenty of opportunities to grow bitter from relationships that bring hurt and pain. The writer of the Hebrews passage above admonishes us not to miss the grace of God so that we won't take up bitterness as a response to life's pain. He cautions us against this because he knows that a bitter root grows and grows until it eventually defiles many others through a wake of bitterness. If bitterness is allowed to take root, we become imprisoned to it. God's grace will no longer have as great an effect in our lives. We become ineffective, insensitive, and spiritually dead. We can even become physically ill from it. God does not live in bitterness. He lives in grace. He has provided grace for every person to walk in.

One day I was challenged to deal with an individual who hurt me terribly. I was faced with a decision. Would I choose bitterness, or would I choose grace? Oh, how my natural tendency was to choose bitterness. But God provided the courage to choose grace. With that grace came freedom - a freedom to love and even accept the person who was the source of such pain.

This is the real place where Christ's power is most revealed. We cannot live without His supernatural grace. Are you in need of grace today? It is there for the receiving. It will take courage to accept it and walk in it. This will be your step to freedom.

Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders

Your LOVE

Burdened and overwhelmed,
But being refreshed by the song Picture of Your Love
(by Luke Wood)

Batter My Heart, O God!

Batter my heart, three person'd God (Holy Sonnet 14)  
by John Donne

Batter my heart, three-personed God, for you
As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend;
That I may rise, and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend
Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new.
I, like an usurped town, to another due,
Labour to admit you, but Oh, to no end.
Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend,
But is captived, and proves weak or untrue.
Yet dearly I love you, and would be loved fain,
But am betrothed unto your enemy:
Divorce me, untie or break that knot again,
Take me to you, imprison me, for I,
Except you enthrall me, never shall be free,
Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.

my heart's desire

Jesus,
I want to pour my love out on You. I want to worship and give You praise.

today's prayer :)

Bloom wherever you are planted

              1/22/12

I was conversing with friends over breakfast this morning about how conferences sometimes make me confused. I explained that being with a group of believers--who came together specifically for worshiping and praying--makes me feel like this is what I was created for and long for. It makes me wonder if I still have the passion for dentistry and question why I continue to pursue it. [9yrs of college without an actual degree to show for it can get discouraging at times.]

I have always felt like God had called me to the marketplace. Infact, I often tell people that I feel that it was God who put this desire inside of me for the dental field. And yet, sometimes I feel like I should be doing something better, something greater, since life is so short and time is running out. I've looked into Bible school a few times and even thought about pursuing writing, but I always come back to dentistry as a career and writing as the spirit within me compels me.

It is true that we were created to worship, and that God placed eternity in our hearts, but He also placed giftings, skills, and passions uniquely inside of us to equip us for our life here on earth for the area which he called us to and the sphere of people around us.

I got home from the conference today and found this e-mail (see below). Thank You, Lord, for always bringing clarity. You are not a god of confusion, but of sound mind, understanding and confirmation.

[sidenote] I do still think that Bible school would be a good thing for me because of my inquisitive mind and desire to know Him more...but all in due time :)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Masquerading as a Dentist

TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman

01-22-2012

"For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory" (Col 3:2-4).

Hello, my name is Dr. Bengel. "I am a Christian, masquerading as a dentist. What is your name?" I laughed as I met this man for the very first time. He was boldly proclaiming that He wanted to be known by who he was in Christ instead of who he was in his occupation.

If Christ is Lord over all of life, then He must be Lord over work, too. Our identity must be wrapped up in who we are, not just what we do. "Whatever we do for work, we should do it in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Col 3:17), that is, with a concern for His approval and in a manner that honors Him.

The Spirit empowers us to live and work with Christ-likeness. Christ gives the Holy Spirit to help us live in a way that pleases Him that has enormous implications for how we do our jobs.

God values our work even when the product has no spiritual value. A common measure of the significance of a job is its perceived value from the eternal perspective. Will the work "last"? Will it "really count" for eternity? The assumption is that God values work for eternity, but not work for the here and now. This is not a biblical truth, but heresy. Keep in mind the following when you are tempted to deem secular work as second-class Christianity.

-God Himself has created a world which is time-bound and temporary (2 Pet. 3:10-11).

-God promises rewards to people in everyday jobs, based on their attitude and conduct (Eph. 6:7, 9; Col. 3:23, 4:1).

-God cares about the everyday needs of people as well as their spiritual needs. He cares whether people have food, clothing, shelter, and so forth.

-God cares about people, who will enter eternity. To the extent that a job serves the needs of people, He values it because He values people.*

Your work does matter to God. You are called to first to be a Christian, but masquerading as a doctor,

 lawyer, construction worker, secretary, or whatever.

 

*Adapted from Study notes from the Word In Life Study Bible, copyright 1993, 1996, by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission. The study notes from the Word In Life Study Bible appearing at this web site are for personal use only.

Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders.

You see every tear

Dear Lord,
Thank You. Thank you for what You did this morning. You saw the depth of hurt and pain I've been feeling these last two days. You felt the heaviness of the burden that I woke up with. You saw the scenes that kept replaying in my mind, and heard the words that I had wished I had said. You saw the anger brewing inside of me as I was getting ready. I realize now that I had once again allowed bitterness and resentment to take root in my heart. I thought I was done learning to let go of the past. I thought I finally understood what it meant to forgive, but it looks like I was still holding on to the offenses. I am so so sorry. I was completely wrong. I disrespected and offended her as well. Thank you for interveneing in that situation after I surrendered it to You today. God, You knew exactly what I needed at that moment. Thank You for hearing the cry that was on my heart.

My God knows me :)

So, while at the Goodwill Bookstore today, I found a second copy of a book I had wanted to finish reading...but had lent out. This is the same book that I saw a year ago at a conference, but couldn't bring myself to spend full price on. What's the story of my first copy: the familiar cover and title caught my eye while shopping at the other Goodwill Bookstore. Finding both copies have made me smile--for I know that God sees every BIG and small desire of my heart. He knows me full well. :)

A God Moment

...just had a God and Hannah moment. :) I've been watching the Onething conference streaming live for the last few days. Well, this morning as I was watching, I decided to open up my e-mail. As I'm reading a message from Prime Time With God (something I subscribed to), which focused on Revelation 19:11-16, all of a sudden I am hearing phrases from those same verses I just read being sung as a song on the Onething website playing in the background from the other tab.

I love how God desires a relationship with us. He interacts and draws closer to us as we draw closer to Him. O how I love You, LORD. :)

"...a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True..."
"He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God."
"Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword..."
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS

God, I am Yours

Dear Lord,
Though I desire to be married and long already for my future husband and family, though I love and miss them dearly, without even knowing them, I know that even this will not satisfy me. For, the deepest longing in my heart is for You-for more and more and more of You. Only You can satisfy me. For I was made for You.

Let me, in this precious season of singleness, be completely devoted to You and all that You are doing inside of me. I know that You are preparing us all. I want to stand before You,



Signed,
Yours

the power of our tongue

What's said is said; what's done is done.
We can't unsay what we've said
or undo what we've done

Another deed, another act
may make up for our lack of tact
But it doesn't erase the guilty act

So be careful about what you say
And be careful about what you do
For what's said is said; what's done is done



---- we can choose to tear down or build up with our words and hands ---
Life and death are in the power of the tongue.
God, I pray that we would choose to speak LIFE over others and ourselves.

Grace

The mystery of the gift of grace:
it shows up just when you need it.
Not a moment too soon, but not a moment too late.
—Sheila Walsh

Romans 8:38-39
"For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

I thirst.

Father God,
I thirst for more of You. Come and fill me. Fill me with You. I yearn for a drink from Your fountain that never runs dry. You offer me Yourself. I know You as Living Water. Won't You come, come to meet with me again-here at the well-where I first met You.

His LOVE for me is boundless

If That's What It Takes Lyrics

Clay Crosse

You say you fell out of love, with no place to stand

You say your heart's on the mend, from a broken romance

You say you don't want to trust, because it hurts too much

And you think I'd never understand

Tell me what have I got to do, to make a believer of you

CHORUS:

Do I have turn water into wine, turn some stones into bread

Do I have to paint my heart across the sky, in a blazing shade of red

Do I have to push the sun into the sea, to make you fall in love with me

OH, If that's what it takes, then let it be

You say you don't need my love, but I know it's a lie

You say I shouldn't even try

Tell me what have I got to lose, to make a believer of you

CHORUS

Let it be

You need me to turn the tide of your ocean

Let me set your heart back into motion

 OOH yeah

CHORUS

Let it be yeah

Do I have to turn water into wine

If that's what it takes, if that's what it takes

Swim the deepest ocean, climb the highest mountain

If that's what it takes, if that's what it takes

OHH ohh

If that's what it takes, if that's what it takes

Ohh yeah

If that's what it takes, if that's what it takes

Father God, I know that Your Holy Spirit is stirring something up inside of me.

I found this from April 8th and it made me smile. :)


"Want to know what happened today? Well, God kind of told me that He was God. :) haha. Ok, there's more to it than that. You see, it's been kind of rough at work. I love my job & everything; I just don't feel that I'm the right one for this job anymore. I've felt so uneasy lately. God has been stirring something in my heart. I've got that restless, anxious, anticipation-feeling that I had before we left the Philippines. Like the "it's time" thing. I'm just not sure what for. For the last two days, my mind had been so...loud....chaotic...just replaying conversations & scenarios & trying to come up with better solutions, etc. So today, I just sat in my car for over an hour watching the squirrels, listening to the birds, and seeing the tree branches sway. It was beautiful, but I still wasn't able to relax. Then, I remembered something from a teaching:

"Be still & know that I am God.
It's not in the being still, but in the knowing that I am GOD."

So I asked that He would reveal himself & His character to me. I pulled out my Bible and starting reading in Job 38-41 how GOD actually revealed Himself to Job. Wow! His splendor is MATCHLESS! :) "

JOY

Today's lesson...joy.  :)

As I was out and about driving around town today, the Holy Spirit filled me with immense joy as I was overwhelmed by God's favor and LOVE for me. A smile...so huge...started on the inside and came bursting forth. I could not contain it. I was in complete awe of Him.

The devotional I read was about hope and the promise of spring. (NOTE: Today was the first cool, breezy day since Fall officially started last week.) It was about how focusing on our circumstances squelches our hope because it questions the character of God. In contrast, focusing on God puts our circumstances into proper perspective.

As I started reading Philippians tonight (as I was urged to do through a sermon earlier this week), the introduction bore the title, "BE HAPPY" and said the key words in Philippians are "joy" and "rejoice." It also points out that this letter by Paul was written while he was in prison. It concludes that Paul knew the secret to inner joy.

While watching the IHOP Weekend service online, they talked about Paul witting to the church at Philippi as he and Silas were imprisoned. They talked about how these men were filled with joy and worshiped while imprisoned.




O God, where are the mighty men and women in our colleges and universities?!!! ...Those who seek Your face and carry the anointing of Your Holy Spirit. Where are those who walk in purity of heart and righteousness? Where are those who will pray and weep and cry out to You for our nation? ...Those who get on their knees to repent for our nation and then come boldly before Your throne to ask for Your HOLY PRESENCE to come upon our generation and the generations to come. Where are those who will declare Your NAME to the next generation? ...Those who will contend (strive/struggle in opposition or against difficulties) for the loosening/breaking of bonds of Satan for the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Let the call go forth and be heard, O God. Open the blind eyes. Unlock the deaf ears. Let the call be answered with a mighty roar from the from the people of God. 






"Let Your fire fall. Let Your wind blow. Let Your glory come down."


Blow the trumpet, warriors.
Sound the alarm, you gatekeeper.
Awaken the town!!!


Let our worship be as incense rising up to your throneroom


Only one thing do we desire: You, O God!

 h                            f                                                                                                                            
                                 a                                                                                                                        
   e                             l                                                                                                                        
                 r                  l                                                                                                                    
     a                            i                                                                                                                            
                    a               n                                                                                                                    
      l                              g                                                                                                                            
                      i                                                                                                                                  
        i                                                                                                                                                
                        n                   o                                                                                                      
        n                                     n                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                     
          g                                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
                               m     y                                                                                                                      
                      F                     E
                             A       C
                                                                    
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Dear Lord, 
     You never cease to AMAZE me.
               I am left in wonder
                         and filled with JOY. 


 J  J  J  J  J  J             (",)   (",)                    Y                      Y  
           J                  (",)             (",)                   Y               Y     
           J               (",)                   (",)                    Y       Y         
           J              (",)                      (",)                       Y              
J         J                (",)                   (",)                         Y             
 J        J                    (",)           (",)                             Y             
  J   J                             (",)   (",)                                Y             

Ancient Skies- Michael Gungor (with lyrics)

I was walking up my driveway singing...

"YOUR'RE amazing!!! Creation cries; so will I...You're AMAZING!!!"

I got distracted by rustling and a tapping in the tree above me.

I followed it to find a beautiful brown or black bird with a red head. (a wood pecker?)

I walked closer to watch him as he walked around the tree's circumference.

All of a sudden I realized that I was completely surrounded by all these birds in the trees all around me. There were different kinds of small birds: solid red, brown, brown with a red head. They flew from tree to tree, swooped down to the ground, then took flight again. They shook the branches above and caused leaves to shower down beside me. Their song was beautiful.

IT was AMAZING!!!

I stood there in awe for what may have been several minutes as I looked up at the trees, the birds, and the squirrels.

It was such a beautiful symphony.

I asked God what He saw as He looked down at me.

I felt like He said: BEAUTY, PURPOSE, AND PASSION. :)

It wasn't 'til I walked to the front door that I realized that I was just singing:

"Creation cries; so will I...You're AMAZING!!!"