Saturday, December 27, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Enjoying God
This is an excerpt from the book Enjoying God by S.J. Hill.
"The blemishes, scars, and extra pounds may weigh on your heart, but they don't weigh on His. God loves your freckles. He loves your funky-shaped toes. He loves you -- just as you are. He loves your uniqueness. He loves the smile that only your face can radiate. He loves you when you're awake, vibrant, and full of life. And He loves you when you're down, struggling, and lethargic.
He even loves you when you're sleeping. He gets excited when you wake up -- even with morning breath and 'sleep' tucked in the corners of your eyes. He can't wait to hear your voice. He looks forward to your first thoughts. He loves accompanying you throughout the day. He enjoys being with you at work. He isn't watching the clock or tapping His toe until five o'clock. Just being with you is enough. He loves talking with you, traveling with you, and being tender with you. He loves watching you enjoy His creation. He smiles when you look at the mountains, sea, or sky and think of Him. "
I'm currently reading this book but I'm definitely willing to ship it off to whoever wants to read it after. Just send me an email to kinder.nicole@gmail.com stating this!
What are your thoughts on this passage from the book?
"The blemishes, scars, and extra pounds may weigh on your heart, but they don't weigh on His. God loves your freckles. He loves your funky-shaped toes. He loves you -- just as you are. He loves your uniqueness. He loves the smile that only your face can radiate. He loves you when you're awake, vibrant, and full of life. And He loves you when you're down, struggling, and lethargic.
He even loves you when you're sleeping. He gets excited when you wake up -- even with morning breath and 'sleep' tucked in the corners of your eyes. He can't wait to hear your voice. He looks forward to your first thoughts. He loves accompanying you throughout the day. He enjoys being with you at work. He isn't watching the clock or tapping His toe until five o'clock. Just being with you is enough. He loves talking with you, traveling with you, and being tender with you. He loves watching you enjoy His creation. He smiles when you look at the mountains, sea, or sky and think of Him. "
I'm currently reading this book but I'm definitely willing to ship it off to whoever wants to read it after. Just send me an email to kinder.nicole@gmail.com stating this!
What are your thoughts on this passage from the book?
Saturday, December 20, 2008
No, thanks.
I'm always confused by the people who turn down prayer when you ask them if there is anything you can pray for them about. What is it about us that wants to just simply say "Not anything right now, thanks though." to prayer when offered? Is it our pride? Our problems? The people?
We simply need prayer, at all times. Let us not be taken by our pride or our need for prayer. Let us turn to one another at our highest times and at our lowest.
Are the times when we feel the best, the highest times in our lives, the time that we need prayer the most? To keep that upon us, so that when we fall we don't turn away from prayer and fellowship and above all, the love that Christ gives us. That unchanging, everlasting love!
"Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
Hebrews 10: 22-25 ESV
What are your thoughts on this? Ideas? Comments?
We simply need prayer, at all times. Let us not be taken by our pride or our need for prayer. Let us turn to one another at our highest times and at our lowest.
Are the times when we feel the best, the highest times in our lives, the time that we need prayer the most? To keep that upon us, so that when we fall we don't turn away from prayer and fellowship and above all, the love that Christ gives us. That unchanging, everlasting love!
"Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
Hebrews 10: 22-25 ESV
What are your thoughts on this? Ideas? Comments?
Sunday, December 14, 2008
I continue to be amazed at:
The way He loves us. He wants us.
How our tears mean so much to him, each and every one of them.
We're never alone, no matter how much we think we are, no matter how much we feel we are. Never.
Challenge: Create a drawing, painting, or some form of artwork. Take time on it. Make it beautiful. Make it something you love.
Now, destroy it.
Get the picture? God loves us so very, very much! Oh, how He loves us! We need to be set in our daily lives with Him. Not turning back every few days. I know I do and now I realize how much it hurts Him every time.
How our tears mean so much to him, each and every one of them.
We're never alone, no matter how much we think we are, no matter how much we feel we are. Never.
Challenge: Create a drawing, painting, or some form of artwork. Take time on it. Make it beautiful. Make it something you love.
Now, destroy it.
Get the picture? God loves us so very, very much! Oh, how He loves us! We need to be set in our daily lives with Him. Not turning back every few days. I know I do and now I realize how much it hurts Him every time.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Assumption
Do we just assume that the person we are talking to has heard the gospel and already made the choice to follow or to abandon. I, in a way, grew up knowing the gospel and so easily assume an individual knows the story of Christ. Maybe this comes from knowing that someone knows about God, and then we just leave it at that, thinking they lead a Christ-filled life. Where does this assumption stop, where do we start sharing what we believe? I've definitely been afraid to share, I think everyone has, but there is a joy in seeing someone accept Christ into their life for the first time. I want to hear stories, encouragement, prayers, anything to help encourage one another in this.
You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4: 20-24 NIV
You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4: 20-24 NIV
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Move along
It seems that many of us are at our absolute best when we run away from the things in our life that are bothering us the most. For me, God has moved me more times than I can count, I've never even lived in a house for this reason, and numerous times, I've been homeless. It's like it clears something in us, as humans, when we are someplace completely new. Somewhere with a future that is so clear to us. Now the question is how to start over properly. I have this past relationship, who has such a deep love for Christ, which fuels my love for him. Saturday will be my last day seeing him I've decided, not out of hate or hurt, but out of compassion. Someday I'll speak to him again, but I want to be free of everything, to be able to start off again as a sister to him. A friend just told me tonight that a sister is closer than friendship, you go through everything, absolutely everything, with your brothers and sisters. This is where I start over, telling my best of friends that I love them, and then spacing myself from them, going somewhere new, and having the love of Christ lead me somewhere adventurous.
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having out bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another -- and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10: 19-25
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having out bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another -- and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10: 19-25
Happiness is:
The phrase "morning beautiful"
A walk in the park with my dog
Sitting near a beautiful lake watching the ripples in the water
Someone laughing at their own strange joke that no one gets but them
Worshiping until I weep
Finding $5 in my jean's pocket
Holding my boyfriend's hand while he's driving the car
Riding my bike
Listening to U2 on my MP3 player
An embraced hug
A great cup of coffee
Reading a great fiction book
Bible study with Gwen – got to get back on track though
Waking up early and enjoying the quiet
Talking to my best of friends on the phone
The city of Chicago
A great “chick flick” that makes me cry and/or laugh
Times will always get tough in life and more than we want, they hit when we least expect it to, no matter how prepared we are for it. With each passing, sad moment of our lives, some good comes out of it. It makes you harder, stronger, and in the end, more caring. It teaches us that we can be vulnerable, and how to deal with others when they are. Throughout life we embrace certain elements that keep us smiling in the storms. The list above are just a few that make me smile when I read them. As you read each one, slowly remember the memories, and how you felt at the time. Each word can bring a little more joy. God did not forget you, in the times you want to laugh or cry, he is just one step away, always. Forever.
Challenge: Make your own list or add to this one. If you made your own list, post the link to your blog in the comments.
A walk in the park with my dog
Sitting near a beautiful lake watching the ripples in the water
Someone laughing at their own strange joke that no one gets but them
Worshiping until I weep
Finding $5 in my jean's pocket
Holding my boyfriend's hand while he's driving the car
Riding my bike
Listening to U2 on my MP3 player
An embraced hug
A great cup of coffee
Reading a great fiction book
Bible study with Gwen – got to get back on track though
Waking up early and enjoying the quiet
Talking to my best of friends on the phone
The city of Chicago
A great “chick flick” that makes me cry and/or laugh
Times will always get tough in life and more than we want, they hit when we least expect it to, no matter how prepared we are for it. With each passing, sad moment of our lives, some good comes out of it. It makes you harder, stronger, and in the end, more caring. It teaches us that we can be vulnerable, and how to deal with others when they are. Throughout life we embrace certain elements that keep us smiling in the storms. The list above are just a few that make me smile when I read them. As you read each one, slowly remember the memories, and how you felt at the time. Each word can bring a little more joy. God did not forget you, in the times you want to laugh or cry, he is just one step away, always. Forever.
Challenge: Make your own list or add to this one. If you made your own list, post the link to your blog in the comments.
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