faith...{certain of what we do not see}

i cross this bridge every day.  i look forward to the artistic display of God each morning as i drive across, and this is what i witnessed one day.

fog.  deep, thick, immense.  flooding my vision.

the bridge was not seen.  yet i kept driving.

why?

i drove because i have been here before.  i remember what is there.  and i am i certain that it is still there, holding me up.  even though i can not see.

i see runners coming across from the opposite direction.  with each footstep, they say, "go, it is there, you know that.  i've been there, too.  you will be ok...".

faith is like that fog.  we know that He is there.  we've been this path before.  friends remind us of our journeys, their journeys.  so why are we so hesitant?  why will i drive across that bridge, but so quickly fail to see my Lord in times of fog?

build my faith, Lord, that as i cross through the waters to you, i will not lose my vision...hebrews 11:1...

thoughts for the moment...

school is back.  fall is almost here.  summer was completely and utterly awesome.  a lot of {stuff} has been happening in our lives, some good and some sad...nothing bad.  i've been thinking and praying a lot, listening to God's Word and trying to discern.  here are some thoughts...

* God's plan will prevail, even through our foolishness.
* we may *think* we know what the purpose is for what we are doing in our lives, yet we can not see past time and space.  God can.  and He is way cool.
* God is the potter.  i am the clay.  being molded hurts.  as does pruning.  but the end result is magnificent because it brings glory.
* my favorite verse, luke 9:23-24, is about carrying a cross daily.  when we finally decide to lose our life and carry that cross, we'd better be ready. 
* the Word and prayer sure can heal...everything.  i crave them.

i remain confident of this: i will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  wait for the Lord; be strong, take heart, and wait for the Lord.  psalm 27: 13

my Lord God is near...

See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the Lord my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it.  Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people."  What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way our Lord God is near us whenever we pray to him?  And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today?  Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live.  Teach them to your children and to their children after them.  Deuteronomy 4:5-9

and then...

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.  Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires which war against your soul.  Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they may accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.  1Peter 2:9-12

**********
i read the deuteronomy passage twice this morning, in two totally different place/contexts {God obviously had something He wanted me to hear and see and learn this morning}.  so here are my thoughts...

* God is the same today as he was yesterday.  His word in Deuteronomy is his word in 1Peter is his word alive and working in me right now, today.
* I must live as a part of his nation, his people every day, because my decisions affect not only me but show others who he is.  I am responsible for others knowing that my God is an awesome God.
* I must guard my heart and soul and dwell in his word every moment of every day.  I can not forget.

I've been weary.  God is my strength, and He alone sustains me.  His word truly is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path....

happy hearts day {love someone today}...

the word love appears in the Bible over 500 times...

love is an action verb...

we are told that the two greatest commandments are to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind" and to "love your neighbor as yourself"...Matthew 2:37-39

"God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us"...Romans 5:8

hope your {hearts} day was a happy one!

not by human power...

in galatians, i noticed an underlying theme...not by human power. of course this runs through most of the bible, but it really stood out to me in the following verses...

"paul, an apostle- sent not with a human commission nor by human authority, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father..." ch. 1 vs. 1...not by human power.

" and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age..." ch. 1 vs. 3-4...not by human power.

"i want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel i preached is not of human origin. i did not receive it from any human source, nor was i taught it; rather, i received it by revelation from Jesus Christ." ch. 1 vs. 11-12...not by human power.

"but when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that i might preach him among the Gentiles..." ch. 1 vs. 15-16...not by human power.

"for God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles." ch. 2 vs. 8...not by human power.

"so we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified." ch.2 vs. 16... not by human power.

"i have been crucified with Christ and i no longer live but Christ lives in me." ch. 2 vs. 20...not by human power.

"after beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by human effort?" ch.3 vs.3...not by human power.

"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us..." ch.3 vs.13...not by human power.

"...for if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law." ch. 3 vs.22...not by human power.

"...for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." ch.3 vs. 27...not by human power.

"...God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts..." ch.4 vs. 6...not by human power.

"his son by the slave woman was born as a result of human effort, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise." ch.4 vs. 23...not by human power.

"...that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be no value to you at all." ch.5 vs. 2...not by human power.

"so i say walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature." ch.5 vs. 16...not by human power.

"since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." ch.5 vs. 25...not by human power.

"may i never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and i to the world." ch.5 vs. 14...not by human power.

wow.

it is very evident that...

i am weak and He is strong.
i need thee every hour.
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
i am mine no more.

help me, Lord, to let you reign and to let your Spirit work in me. for without you, i am nothing.

word of the year...

we have been studying peace in our life group. i decided to make it my focus for 2010. i have been purchasing ornaments to hang in my home as visual reminders.

there are so so many ways i do not show peace or feel peace. in my dealings with people...at work and at home. in my head thoughts...worried, anxious, fearful about illness, hurt, pain, death. place everything at christ eternal is the acronym i came up with for peace.

when i don't trust, i show a lack of faith. i show i that i want to be in control.

oh Lord, i know when you are in control, my life is what YOU want it to be, which is infinitely better than what i could ever come up with.

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me...Peace I leave you; my peace I give you." John 14:1 & 27

argh...

i can tell school is lurking around the corner, because i suddenly feel like i can't breathe.

i'm also not able to blog like i want to. but i am still here.

this verse was my daily devotional today.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you..." Jeremiah 29:11-14

it is SOOOO fitting.
God is THE BEST stress reliever!