Hey gang
The Unseen guys and me are doing a concert this Sunday (25th) at RMC at 6:00 pm.
This is in celebration of the new EP, Songs for the Storm I did a while back. Matthew Fallentine, the producer friend of ours, will be joining us as well. We'll have some worship tunes as well as the songs off the EP. Then, at the end, we'll have some fun and share some familiar and new Unseen tunes.
Hope you can join us. Admission is free, so bring a friend who may need some encouragement.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
A Crazy Week
We are getting ready to leave for Peru next week and it has been crazy. We have had quite the week. I got sick with a migraine on Friday night - the night of prayer for our Peru trip - at my house! Then we spent the weekend getting gifts for our compassion children and their families. We got ready to go to bed on Sunday night when Jackson started throwing up and couldn't stop. At 3 am we ended up in er. Thankfully, the dr's got him hydrated and to stop throwing up. The stomach bug is slowly hitting each family member. I can't wait to see what God is going to do on this trip, the events leading up to it are making me think - HE is ready to move in a mighty way!
I am a bit anxious to get it all packed and ready to go. Here is what my verses were in my devotion this morning. Something tells me you could use them as much as I did! They are from Daily Light, January 22 ( I think that is today :) but I am not certain!)
"In the multitude of my anxieties within me, your comforts delight my soul. When my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. O Lord, I am oppressed; undertake for me! Cast your burden on the Lord and He shall sustain you. I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. If any of you lacks wisdom. let him ask of God . . . . and it will be given to him. Who is sufficient for these things? I know that in me (that is, my flesh) nothing good dwells. My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Son (daughter) be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven you . . . . Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness . . . When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches."
Ps.94:19,Ps.61:2. Isa.38:14,Ps. 55:22,I Kings 3:7, James 1:5, 2 Cor, 2:16, Rom. 7:18, 2 Cor. 13
2:9:Matt. 9:2,22:Ps. 63:5-6
I am a bit anxious to get it all packed and ready to go. Here is what my verses were in my devotion this morning. Something tells me you could use them as much as I did! They are from Daily Light, January 22 ( I think that is today :) but I am not certain!)
"In the multitude of my anxieties within me, your comforts delight my soul. When my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. O Lord, I am oppressed; undertake for me! Cast your burden on the Lord and He shall sustain you. I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. If any of you lacks wisdom. let him ask of God . . . . and it will be given to him. Who is sufficient for these things? I know that in me (that is, my flesh) nothing good dwells. My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Son (daughter) be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven you . . . . Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness . . . When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches."
Ps.94:19,Ps.61:2. Isa.38:14,Ps. 55:22,I Kings 3:7, James 1:5, 2 Cor, 2:16, Rom. 7:18, 2 Cor. 13
2:9:Matt. 9:2,22:Ps. 63:5-6
Friday, January 16, 2009
The Narrow Way
I was driving home tonight and my windshield was dirty so I sprayed it with the window cleaner so I could see. However, I didn't take into account that it was so cold outside that it was going to freeze immediately and make it impossible to see. I know, not one of my smarter moves! I was driving and really couldn't see. I know that I should have pulled over and waited for the defrost to clear the window but I was thinking about how hard it is to drive when you can't see and how I panicked briefly because I couldn't see. I could see a bit, the yellow lines showing me how to stay in the lines.
I am pretty sure that this was a perfect picture of the Christian life. I am not by any means suggesting it is a good way to drive, but it is the way to live. Christ tells not to walk by sight but by faith. Honestly, I would rather walk by sight. I like to know where I am going, why I am going there, and what I will do while I am there. Not being able to see what is ahead of me is not fun but it is what God calls us to do.
He asks us to walk by faith. Too often it means walking blindly through life along the road He has chosen for us - not stupid but blind. I think about how while driving home, I could see this one spot of the yellow line and if I just followed that line, I was going to be driving in the right "lane."
Matthew 7:13-14 says to "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." God has given us the "narrow" lane to follow and it is often difficult to follow because it is hard to see sometimes. But God has promised us that it is the way that leads to life and not destruction. I have walked too wide a path - the one that seems good and fun and it does lead to destruction. Anything against God ways will lead to destruction. The "narrow" lane is just that - narrow. It is difficult to walk and only by faith and His spirit can we do it. Wiersbe says that "the two ways refer to two types of life-style: the easy, comfortable, popular life, or the difficult way of self-denial. These ways are entered by two gates: a narrow gate of surrender or a broad gate of self-sufficiency. True righteousness leads to self-denial." True righteousness comes when we "deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him."
I am pretty sure that this was a perfect picture of the Christian life. I am not by any means suggesting it is a good way to drive, but it is the way to live. Christ tells not to walk by sight but by faith. Honestly, I would rather walk by sight. I like to know where I am going, why I am going there, and what I will do while I am there. Not being able to see what is ahead of me is not fun but it is what God calls us to do.
He asks us to walk by faith. Too often it means walking blindly through life along the road He has chosen for us - not stupid but blind. I think about how while driving home, I could see this one spot of the yellow line and if I just followed that line, I was going to be driving in the right "lane."
Matthew 7:13-14 says to "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." God has given us the "narrow" lane to follow and it is often difficult to follow because it is hard to see sometimes. But God has promised us that it is the way that leads to life and not destruction. I have walked too wide a path - the one that seems good and fun and it does lead to destruction. Anything against God ways will lead to destruction. The "narrow" lane is just that - narrow. It is difficult to walk and only by faith and His spirit can we do it. Wiersbe says that "the two ways refer to two types of life-style: the easy, comfortable, popular life, or the difficult way of self-denial. These ways are entered by two gates: a narrow gate of surrender or a broad gate of self-sufficiency. True righteousness leads to self-denial." True righteousness comes when we "deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him."
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Hope
Hope . . . is where stories begin!
A sweet friend gave me a plaque for my birthday last year that said this, "hope . . . is where stories begin." The more I look at it and think about it, the more true it becomes to me. Not too long ago I had a friend tell me that she just had no hope that her situation would change. My heart just broke for her. When we have lost hope that God can change us and our situation, we have lost faith. The Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God. If we can't please God, I am pretty sure we won't be pleased with ourselves. Why? It is in pleasing God we are most satisfied with ourselves.
Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary defines hope as "confident expectancy. In the Bible, the word "hope" stands for both the act of hoping (Rom. 4:18; 1 Cor. 9:10) and the thing hoped for (Col. 1:5; 1 Pet. 1:3). Hope does not arise from the individual's desires or wishes but from God, who is Himself the believer's hope: "My hope is in You" (Ps. 39:7). Genuine hope is not wishful thinking, but a firm assurance about things that are unseen and still in the future (Rom. 8:24–25; Heb. 11:1, 7).
Hope distinguishes the Christian from the unbeliever, who has no hope (Eph. 2:12; 1 Thess. 4:13). Indeed, a Christian is one in whom hope resides (1 Pet. 3:15; 1 John 3:3). In contrast to Old Testament hope, the Christian hope is superior (Heb. 7:19).
Christian hope comes from God (Rom. 15:13) and especially His calling (Eph. 1:18; 4:4), His grace (2 Thess. 2:16), His Word (Rom. 15:4) and His gospel (Col. 1:23). Hope is directed toward God (Acts 24:15; 1 Pet. 1:21) and Christ (1 Thess. 1:3; 1 Tim. 1:1). Its appropriate objects are eternal life (Titus 1:2; 3:7), salvation (1 Thess. 5:8), righteousness (Gal. 5:5), the glory of God (Rom. 5:2; Col. 1:27), the appearing of Christ (Titus 2:13) and the resurrection from the dead (Acts 23:6; 26:6–7)."
One of the greatest gifts God gave me when we lost Jake was hope. Walking through the death of a child gave me so much hope in JESUS that we could walk through anything. I can honestly look back at my life and say that there is not one thing that Jesus hasn't walked me through. I am so saddened by my friend that she had no hope in God that He could change her or change her situation. I went to sleep last night praising God that I could honestly say there has not been a time in my life when I couldn't hope in Him.
When I was in 6th grade my youth leader made me learn Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, plans for a hope and a future." I can't tell you how many times I have had to repeat that to myself over and over again. To remind myself what His plans were for me when they didn't feel so great. Most of our battles our fought in our heads so we must learn the scripture we need to combat our thoughts and feelings. Yes, there are times I have felt no hope but I knew that He was my HOPE.
I Peter 1:13 " Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed." When Jesus is revealed and we can see all the He is doing, working in and through us, we will rejoice. Until then we must trust that He is working for us and not against us.
Brad and I were watching Evan Almighty the other night and my favorite part of the movie is when his wife is about to leave him and he sees water hitting the window and he thinks the rain is starting to come. He runs outside only to see that it is just the sprinklers. His wife and kids get in the car and leave him standing in the driveway. He looks up towards heaven and says, "I know, it's because you love me" and then the sprinkler hits him right in face. He says, "can you love me a little less?" How often do I feel like that. I am hoping and waiting on God to show up - to reveal himself and I get excited and think this is it and it turns out not to be. It is like a sprinkler in your face. Finally the flood does come and God does reveal Himself, just not in our timing.
What do we do in the meantime? We wait (stinks, I know). Isaiah 40:28-31 "Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is an everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the Earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; BUT THEY THAT WAIT FOR THE LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
Finally, Habakkuk 2:3 says this "For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger ( or seems slow to us), WAIT FOR IT, it will certainly come and will not delay." The word for wait here is a commanding verb, meaning it is an action - we are to wait, to "lie in wait" like a soldier who waits for his enemy to come to pounce on him - an ambush. We "lie in wait" with confident expectancy that God is going to show up and do His thing!
A sweet friend gave me a plaque for my birthday last year that said this, "hope . . . is where stories begin." The more I look at it and think about it, the more true it becomes to me. Not too long ago I had a friend tell me that she just had no hope that her situation would change. My heart just broke for her. When we have lost hope that God can change us and our situation, we have lost faith. The Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God. If we can't please God, I am pretty sure we won't be pleased with ourselves. Why? It is in pleasing God we are most satisfied with ourselves.
Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary defines hope as "confident expectancy. In the Bible, the word "hope" stands for both the act of hoping (Rom. 4:18; 1 Cor. 9:10) and the thing hoped for (Col. 1:5; 1 Pet. 1:3). Hope does not arise from the individual's desires or wishes but from God, who is Himself the believer's hope: "My hope is in You" (Ps. 39:7). Genuine hope is not wishful thinking, but a firm assurance about things that are unseen and still in the future (Rom. 8:24–25; Heb. 11:1, 7).
Hope distinguishes the Christian from the unbeliever, who has no hope (Eph. 2:12; 1 Thess. 4:13). Indeed, a Christian is one in whom hope resides (1 Pet. 3:15; 1 John 3:3). In contrast to Old Testament hope, the Christian hope is superior (Heb. 7:19).
Christian hope comes from God (Rom. 15:13) and especially His calling (Eph. 1:18; 4:4), His grace (2 Thess. 2:16), His Word (Rom. 15:4) and His gospel (Col. 1:23). Hope is directed toward God (Acts 24:15; 1 Pet. 1:21) and Christ (1 Thess. 1:3; 1 Tim. 1:1). Its appropriate objects are eternal life (Titus 1:2; 3:7), salvation (1 Thess. 5:8), righteousness (Gal. 5:5), the glory of God (Rom. 5:2; Col. 1:27), the appearing of Christ (Titus 2:13) and the resurrection from the dead (Acts 23:6; 26:6–7)."
One of the greatest gifts God gave me when we lost Jake was hope. Walking through the death of a child gave me so much hope in JESUS that we could walk through anything. I can honestly look back at my life and say that there is not one thing that Jesus hasn't walked me through. I am so saddened by my friend that she had no hope in God that He could change her or change her situation. I went to sleep last night praising God that I could honestly say there has not been a time in my life when I couldn't hope in Him.
When I was in 6th grade my youth leader made me learn Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, plans for a hope and a future." I can't tell you how many times I have had to repeat that to myself over and over again. To remind myself what His plans were for me when they didn't feel so great. Most of our battles our fought in our heads so we must learn the scripture we need to combat our thoughts and feelings. Yes, there are times I have felt no hope but I knew that He was my HOPE.
I Peter 1:13 " Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed." When Jesus is revealed and we can see all the He is doing, working in and through us, we will rejoice. Until then we must trust that He is working for us and not against us.
Brad and I were watching Evan Almighty the other night and my favorite part of the movie is when his wife is about to leave him and he sees water hitting the window and he thinks the rain is starting to come. He runs outside only to see that it is just the sprinklers. His wife and kids get in the car and leave him standing in the driveway. He looks up towards heaven and says, "I know, it's because you love me" and then the sprinkler hits him right in face. He says, "can you love me a little less?" How often do I feel like that. I am hoping and waiting on God to show up - to reveal himself and I get excited and think this is it and it turns out not to be. It is like a sprinkler in your face. Finally the flood does come and God does reveal Himself, just not in our timing.
What do we do in the meantime? We wait (stinks, I know). Isaiah 40:28-31 "Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is an everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the Earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; BUT THEY THAT WAIT FOR THE LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
Finally, Habakkuk 2:3 says this "For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger ( or seems slow to us), WAIT FOR IT, it will certainly come and will not delay." The word for wait here is a commanding verb, meaning it is an action - we are to wait, to "lie in wait" like a soldier who waits for his enemy to come to pounce on him - an ambush. We "lie in wait" with confident expectancy that God is going to show up and do His thing!
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Thought I'd Share
Yes, I am the sharing type. Wish it would rub off on my kids!
This was devotion this morning from the book, "Jesus Calling" by Sharon Young
Think of this as Jesus talking to you:
"I want you to learn a new habit. Try saying,"I trust you, Jesus" in response to whatever happens to you. If there is time, think about who I AM in all My power and Glory; ponder also the depth and breadth of My love for you.
This simple practice will help you to see Me in every situation, acknowledging My sovereign control over the universe. When you view events from this perspective - through the LIght of My universal Presence - fear loses its grip on you. Adverse circumstances become growth opportunities when you affirm your trust in Me no matter what. You receive blessings gratefully, realizing they flow directly from My hand of grace. Your continual assertion of trusting ME will strengthen our relationship and keep you close to ME."
This was devotion this morning from the book, "Jesus Calling" by Sharon Young
Think of this as Jesus talking to you:
"I want you to learn a new habit. Try saying,"I trust you, Jesus" in response to whatever happens to you. If there is time, think about who I AM in all My power and Glory; ponder also the depth and breadth of My love for you.
This simple practice will help you to see Me in every situation, acknowledging My sovereign control over the universe. When you view events from this perspective - through the LIght of My universal Presence - fear loses its grip on you. Adverse circumstances become growth opportunities when you affirm your trust in Me no matter what. You receive blessings gratefully, realizing they flow directly from My hand of grace. Your continual assertion of trusting ME will strengthen our relationship and keep you close to ME."
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to you! I pray that each of you are having a great start to 2009. I can hardly believe how time flies. I remember Y2K and thinking that everything was going to shut down when 2000 hit and now we are in 2009. I am not big on resolutions but I do love a new start. I have messed up so many things in my life that the thought of a new start is precious to me.
I love that about our God. That He is the God of new beginnings. That God doesn't see us for what we were but what we are becoming. I love that when He sees us, He sees us as "blameless in the day of the Lord."( I Cor. 1:8)
I looked up blameless in my new logos bible software (my Merry Christmas present) and it is defined as "freedom from fault; innocency" Only Jesus Christ can give us this blamelessness. What he did on the cross is the sole reason we are free from fault. I loved the word "innocency" I lost my innocence a long time ago. We all did but only by His blood can we be seen by the God of the universe as innocent. How cool is that?. If any of you struggle with guilt and shame, here is what we need to latch onto. Through Jesus we have been made new - innocent. Pure!
When I was studying Hosea over the summer, I learned the coolest thing about God and His restoration. God is talking about how He will restore Israel after her unfaithfulness. There are so many things that God does for us but in chapter 2 of verse 19 and 20 He says, “I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, In lovingkindness and in compassion, And I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. Then you will know the Lord."
(These are my favorite verses right now and ones I am currently working on memorizing for those of you are joining the Beth Moore memory verse challenge on her blog - http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com)
One of my favorite parts is when He says and "then you will know the Lord."
John Piper says this about the word, "In the context of a broken marriage being renewed with the fresh vows of betrothal, must not the words, "and you shall know the Lord" (v. 20), mean, you shall enjoy an intimacy like that of the purest sexual intercourse. When the wife of harlotry returns to her husband, he will withhold nothing. He will not keep her at a distance. The fellowship and communion and profoundest union he will give to his prodigal wife when she comes home broken and empty."
Can I get an amen to that? "God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."
I love that about our God. That He is the God of new beginnings. That God doesn't see us for what we were but what we are becoming. I love that when He sees us, He sees us as "blameless in the day of the Lord."( I Cor. 1:8)
I looked up blameless in my new logos bible software (my Merry Christmas present) and it is defined as "freedom from fault; innocency" Only Jesus Christ can give us this blamelessness. What he did on the cross is the sole reason we are free from fault. I loved the word "innocency" I lost my innocence a long time ago. We all did but only by His blood can we be seen by the God of the universe as innocent. How cool is that?. If any of you struggle with guilt and shame, here is what we need to latch onto. Through Jesus we have been made new - innocent. Pure!
When I was studying Hosea over the summer, I learned the coolest thing about God and His restoration. God is talking about how He will restore Israel after her unfaithfulness. There are so many things that God does for us but in chapter 2 of verse 19 and 20 He says, “I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, In lovingkindness and in compassion, And I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. Then you will know the Lord."
(These are my favorite verses right now and ones I am currently working on memorizing for those of you are joining the Beth Moore memory verse challenge on her blog - http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com)
One of my favorite parts is when He says and "then you will know the Lord."
John Piper says this about the word, "In the context of a broken marriage being renewed with the fresh vows of betrothal, must not the words, "and you shall know the Lord" (v. 20), mean, you shall enjoy an intimacy like that of the purest sexual intercourse. When the wife of harlotry returns to her husband, he will withhold nothing. He will not keep her at a distance. The fellowship and communion and profoundest union he will give to his prodigal wife when she comes home broken and empty."
Can I get an amen to that? "God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."
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