"Not many of us are living at our best. We linger in the lowlands because we are afraid to climb the mountains. The steepness and ruggedness dismay us, and so we stay in the misty valleys and do not learn the mystery of the hills. We do not know what we lose in our self-indulgence, what glory awaits us if only we had courage for the mountain climb, what blessing we should find if only we would move to the uplands of God."
J.R.M.

The Power of a Day

     One of my favorite things to do is watch the sunrise. My window faces east, so as I get ready for the day I get to watch the sunrise.

(Taken by my Daddy at the beach this last summer)

    There is such a stillness about the morning. Little ones are still in bed, you receive his new mercies, and as you take in the beauty of the sunrise, your ears are open and ready to hear the words of God.

"In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."

Psalm 5:3

     It is usually in the morning when the Lord lays a song on my heart.

"It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp."

Psalm 92:1-3

     There is this song that my Dad and I used to always sing (and still remind each other of) in the morning. These are the words:

     This is the day! This is the day! That the LORD has made! That the LORD has made! I will REJOICE! I will REJOICE! And be glad IN it. And be glad IN it. This is the day that the LORD has made! I will REJOICE and be glad in it! This is the day! This is the day that the LORD has made!

     As you probably noticed, this song is from Psalm 118:24

"This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it."

     With the sunrise, you are given a gift: A new day.

    When I went to the "FLOOD" conference this last September, one of the men who taught has a seven year old daughter. He said that one night he was tucking her in to bed and she said "Today is the best day ever." He asked her why. Her answer was "Because Jesus lives in my heart." We call some days bad and some days good and sometimes we say that we had the best day ever or the worst day ever. But what makes a good day? Maybe unexpected kindness, good grades, free time, joy, love from the ones we hold dearest to our hearts. What makes a bad day? Bad grades, a snooty remark, pain, overwhelming work...The list could go on and on. But is that seeing with our physical eyes, or our spiritual eyes?...What makes the best day ever? Jesus in my heart. Such a simple statement, but that simple statement has a very extraordinary meaning. So, if Jesus lives in your heart, shouldn't every day be the best day ever? But what about the bad grades, or the snooty remark, or the pain you are feeling in your heart? Well, then my question to you (and myself) is are you living from Jesus in your heart? Not living from your heart because the heart is deceptive above all things (see Jeremiah 17:9). If you live from your heart you will have the worst day ever....let me tell ya. But what if you lived every day from Jesus in your heart? To do that, you have to give him the steering wheel. That means you have to crucify your flesh, which is nothing easy. But it is always, every single time you do it, so very worth it. So, what would the results be if you lived every day from Jesus in your heart? Well, the answer to the snooty remark would be better:

"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."

Proverbs 15:1

     That overwhelming work might not be so overwhelming because you serve Jehovah Shalom, the God of Peace. In fact, you can even choose to enjoy that work:

"So I saw that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?"

Ecclesiastes 3:22 (emphasis added)

     And for your emotional pain, or perhaps physical pain. Joy. It may see impossible but...

"For with God nothing will be impossible."

Luke 1:37

"...for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

Nehemiah 8:10 (B)

     These are just a few examples, and they are very simple. I personally think you have the best day ever when you live from Jesus in you.You get to see God working with his power in your weaknesses, his joy overcoming your pain, his hand and words guiding you, and SO much more! So, why don't you try it? Why don't we try it. Try it for one week and see what happens. I am sure you will find it turning into weeks, then months, then years, and then the rest of your life. Why let a day go by wasted? Every day is a gift, and every day is the best day ever. Why shouldn't it be? He made it, and he made you in it.

     There is something in every day he doesn't want us to miss: HIM.

     Come be the rhythm of our hearts today Jesus, be our eyes when we can't see. Fill us. Show us your wisdom, your truth. Guide us. Be our vision. We trust in you.

Thankful Thursday

This Thursday I am so thankful for.......

1. Sunny days
2. Running shoes
3. The window in my room: I get to watch the sun rise
4. Red birds
5. Jehovah Shalom-The Lord is Peace
6. Making music with my sister
7. THIS SONG: My Lighthouse (click on the title to go to the link)
8. My Daddy and who he is
9. My Mom's wise words
10. His creative spirit in me

What are YOU thankful for this Thursday?........

"Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them. You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance."

Psalm 32:6-7

Christmas now past, New Year's parties done, we step into a new year. First off hit with sickness that nearly all are fighting against: the flu. But not deterred; our God is bigger than it. Sometimes I wonder how time goes by so fast, at others I wonder how it could go so slow. Christmas break done, we are getting back into the swing of it all. Getting ready to face our coldest months, little ones crossing their fingers for snow. And still, I wonder. You can have the best snow ball fight, and laugh and cry at the same time because your fingers are numb and your feet are wet but you just can't stop because you're having so much fun. And still, time slips through our fingertips like water in a cracked bowl. We just don't have the power to hold it in our hands for very long. I serve the God who created time. He has the power to start it and to stop it at any time he likes. He is the beginning and the end. The Alpha and Omega. And He is constant. Never changing, never ending, never failing. Do you trust that tomorrow will come, or that Jesus is coming any time the father decides? Are you ready?

How Many Kings

STAND

          No one would ever go into battle without his armor on, yet normal Christianity walks into their schools and work places without any armor on and walks out wondering why they couldn't stand. A man that goes into battle without armor and weapons is as good as dead-- he puts himself into the hands of evil, merciless men. No one in his right mind would do that, yet everyday they are.
         Scripture gives us ways to stand in this battle that is raging. In the next few months I will be doing a series about how scripture tells us to STAND.

My Lighthouse

"It is impossible to win the race unless you venture to run, impossible to win the victory unless you dare to battle."

-Richard M. DeVos

Dishes

My Dad is a really great dad. He plays with us, loves us, listens to us, helps around the house, takes care of the yard & pool and more. One job that he does not like to do is washing the dishes, but you would never guess this. If it needs to be done, he does it. Never complaining, never hinting that he doesn't like it. How many of us are willing to do the "dishes" is our life? The job we dread, the thing we really do not want to do. How many of us, while we are doing the job, never complain or hint that we absolutely despise it? Not many. How many of us roll up our sleeves, get our hands dirty, and scrub? Spiritually, do we do the dishes? Clean off our plate (heart & life) with leftover food (sin) and wash till it's clean? Let's pray a prayer and roll up our sleeves, get our hands dirty, and scrub.

a moment to reflect...

It is November, the month of turkey, chilly weather, and Christmas shopping. At the end of the month we get out our thankful lists, maybe add a few items, and then put them back at the bottom of our dresser drawer until next year. It is the month of colorful leaves and warm scarves. It is an excuse to go to Starbucks more often with a friend and hang out. Knitting needles are taken back out and we are motivated to read more. It is all fun, but let me take you back to the second sentence: At the end of the month we get out our thankful lists, maybe add a few items, and then put them back at the bottom of our dresser drawer until next year. Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks, a time to eat good food and get together with friends and family. But is this the only time we give thanks? Let me say that again: Is Thanksgiving the only time we give thanks? Mostly. While churches and revivalists are focused on the "big" things in Christianity, many things are lost through the gaps. Why? Because people don't read the bible for themselves. It is very sad actually. When a girl receives a love letter, she reads it over and over and over again. It is still very special every time. She knows it by heart before very much time has passed. And then we have the world, so desperate for love, so broken, so hurting, and God has written this love letter to us, and we never even look to see who it is addressed to. God used Paul to write a big section of the NewTestament, Paul was really big on thanksgiving. David, the Psalm writer, was a worshiper. He wrote many many Psalms about thanksgiving and praise. These are two men of the bible, they knew what strength there is in thanksgiving. They had lived it. To name a few: thanksgiving renews your mind. It speaks truth to the lies of the enemy. Where there is thanksgiving, there cannot be resentment. To be truly thankful is to be satisfied. There was a girl who could have everything in the whole world except for one thing, and she wan't satisfied. That girl was Eve. And look at what happened out of her response to her dissatisfaction. You think we would have gotten it by now! Thankfulness, true thankfulness is humble and not selfish and prideful. Out of that humble heart we give.

"In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive!"

So, if thanksgiving reaps so many good things, why do we only do it once a year, and even then, not fully? Let me change that: If thanksgiving reaps so many good things, why do you only do it once a year?...

"Be joyful always; pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
Philippians 4:6

"Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always."
Psalm 105:1-4

"Praise the LORD
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever."
Psalm 106:1

I encourage to to take a few minutes to reflect on thanksgiving, I encourage you to go and read other scriptures about it yourself, and then talk to the Lord about it.

He is good!

Precious Words...

"Katy, come up on the trampoline and fly with me."
-Ana

(and you know I couldn't resist)

The Artist

The Picture

My four year old sister, Ana, is an artist. She loves to paint and color. If she loses the special picture that she made for a special someone who is coming over for dinner, there is much distress. She is very creative with tape and is good with the scissors too. One of the things that she loves to do is to keep her picture a secret to all in the house until it is finished. If one of the many family members happens to not hear her voice shout through the house, "No one look at my picture", and happens to look over the artists shoulder...well, we won't go into detail about how she reacts, but she's 4, remember :). Now, think about the amazing artist who paints the sunsets and creates the butterfly's wings. I have a friend who is an artist, and she says when she gets to heaven she is going to get some art lessons from God! Beside the point, think how God made Adam...Adam was an original. No one had ever made man before. Think of how our bodies work, the amazing skill and design it took. I stand in awe. Now think of how He creates our lives. He is Omniscience, all knowing. He is the creator of our lives, though we are free to choose the way we will walk. I can just imagine Him, up in his workshop in heaven (not even sure if there is one, but work with me here) creating, writing, dreaming. He's painting this beautiful picture. That picture is your life, and it's not done yet. He's saying to the angels, "Don't look yet! It's not done!" And the angles are getting really excited and are saying, "God, can you please just give us a little hint. Maybe just show us some of the colors you are using?" He smiles, his hands the hands of an artist at work. He considers, "Let me finish this little part, and then you can have a peek." The angles are jumping up and down now. They just cannot wait for that little part to be done. "Is she gonna be an evangelist, a worshiper? Are you giving her the gift of healing? Who are you going to use her to minister to today?" He smiles, patient but concentrating on his work. "Nope, she's an original." He slowly turns the canvas around, covering up all but a small part so the angels can see. They stare, and stare, and stare, then start jumping up and down again, then they start squealing and shouting, and I am pretty sure one faints. And they have only seen a little part of the picture! Same with us, maybe not so dramatic, but we are seeking, seeking, and seeking with all our heart. God takes us somewhere, and you ask, "God, what is the plan you have for my life?" He gives you a glimpse, and you are overwhelmed. But sometimes, when you ask Him for more of the picture, He doesn't show you. I think it's a matter of you trusting and obeying God, but also, can't you see Him up there saying, "Don't look, I'm not done with my picture yet!" You are getting excited, God is getting excited, He gives you another glimpse after some time has passed, and then He might say again, "Don't look yet! I'm not done!" And God is not done with you yet. His hands are those of an artist. They have paint and ink and little balls of clay stuck to them. His hands are also those of a Daddy. Always ready to love and to kiss the hurts that life brings. He is also our Savoir, our Ransom, Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit being the same. He broke our chains. He is our friend, our best friend. Always there to listen and do whatever He can do to help you. He is the lover of our souls. Sending us "spiritual flowers" to make our day, the closest person to us, one who truly loves us. He is our King. He's the unshakable King over an unshakable kingdom. He has all power and all authority, the victory is already won. Remember, he is unshakable. And He's painting...

"...he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Philippians 1:6(B)

"God has a very unique way of scooping up the shattered fragments of our hopes and dreams and molding them into a plan of His own---a plan vastly different from ours, but far more wonderful."

Anita Dittman

...God's plan for your life is so amazing. It is beautiful! Our minds cannot even comprehend it. Lay your plans and dreams down. God's plans and dreams are always better than our own. Yes, God did give us certain gifts and talents and put dreams in our hearts, but if He gives you that dream and you lay it down, don't you still think He will make it come true? And if it's not from Him, then you lay it down, it's finished, and you will discover God's dream for your life. Don't believe me? Well, why don't you just find out for yourself. And remember, He's painting...

"Don't look! I'm not done yet!"

This song is "Second Chance" by Rend Collective Experiment. Really pay attention to the lyrics of this song. I have put them under the video and have put some of the lyrics in italics and bold because those are the words I really want you to focus on. I pray God ministers to you through this song!

My future hangs on this
You make preciousness from dust
Please don't stop creating me

Your blood offers the chance
To rewind to innocence
Reborn, perfect as a child

CHORUS:
Oh Your cross, it changes everything
There my world begins again with You
Oh Your cross, it's where my hope restarts
A second chance is Heaven's heart

When sin and ugliness
Collide with redemption's kiss
Beauty awakens by romance

Always inside this mess
I have found forgiveness
Mercy as infinite as You

(Chorus)

BRIDGE:
Countless second chances
We've been given at the cross
Countless second chances
We've been given at the cross

Fragments of brokenness
Salvaged by the art of grace
You craft life from our mistakes

Black skies of my regrets
Outshone by this kindness
New life dawns over my soul

(Chorus)
(Chorus)
(Bridge)

And remember, you're an artist too. Create this week! And remember create does not necessarily mean to draw or paint. Write, garden, sew, build, use your imagination, design, draw, paint, do pottery, cook, respond to a situation using the creativity God has given you! And they are MANY more creative things that I have not listed. I would love to hear about your ideas in the comments :).

1. cre·ate

   krēˈāt/

   verb

   1. 1.

      bring (something) into existence.

      "he created a thirty-acre lake"

      synonyms:

      produce, generate, bring into being, make, fabricate, fashion, build,construct; More

   

   
   

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Great is the LORD

   "Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;

his greatness not one can fathom."

Psalm 145:3                     

I'm not great. I fail in every way possible every single day. My hands are empty, and my strength doesn't take me very far. In fact, the only place it takes me is down the wrong path. I am gifted, yes. But I forget about those gifts when I don't rely on Him. I have an amazing identity, yes. But when I put hope in my flesh, the world gives me labels. I can be up on a platform or in the back of the line, no matter where, if my heart is not right, I am no where. Pride takes a bite, slowly at first, but then consumes after the first guard is let down. Humility is a treasure, rare as the most precious diamond. Who puts their life, the life of their family, and the life of everything they have ever known on the line to trust in something that they haven't discovered is trustworthy yet? Not many. But for the ones who do, who trust God with their lives, they have found what is great. Not them, not what they did, but the one they trusted in. God. Only He is great, and only he can make something out of little you. Not something great or popular, shiny or amazing. Just something, someone, that he loves. He'll put your life together, make something come out of it, but for his glory. You will experience joy and peace and you will find true satisfaction. If you let him, you will see, that the best thing that you can be is you loving God and seeking him with your whole heart. The only thing that is great is God. Don't try to be great, don't try to make a mark in a history book, just love Him and serve him, that is the greatest thing you can do, because you do it for the greatest thing that ever was, ever is, and ever will be in the entire universe.

Special things...

...about our home and home life...

An old brick house
Names written in the concrete on our front porch
Creaky floors
Attic rooms
Laughing at the dinner table
Good smells coming from the kitchen
Music
Family
Playing pretend
Pictures on the fridge
Clapping after we say amen
Bible reading together
Mom's windowsill
Hearts dedicated to the Lord

...are just a few                        

Beautiful Things

Beautiful Things

By Gungor

All this pain
I wonder if I’ll ever find my way
I wonder if my life could really change at all
All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found
Could a garden come up from this ground at all

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

All around
Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found in You

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

You make me new, You are making me new
You make me new, You are making me new

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

Thankful Thursday

This Thursday I am thankful for...

1. Fun times with friends
2. Cooler weather
3. Sister whispering
4. God's protection everywhere we go
5. People who care about me

What are you thankful for this Thursday?...

Caleb Josiah turned two a couple of days ago, on September 28. He is such a big boy, and such a big blessing! This last week we went to the ocean for several days. The first couple of days he played and played and played in the sand and just enjoyed getting dirty! Then he discovered the waves and had a blast! At the end though, we found him in the sand...getting dirty again :).













Happy Birthday! I love you bro.
                              -Katy

"One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple."

Psalm 27:4

 

One thing, just one out of a million other things, David asks that he could dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of his life. Why?

 

1. To gaze upon the beauty of the Lord.

 

To gaze. Just gaze upon the beauty of our wonderful Lord and King.

 

Gaze: To look intently or with fixed attention. A steady fixed look.

 

And to gaze all the days of his life...

 

Beauty: A pleasing quality associated with harmony of form or color, excellence of craftsmanship, truthfulness, originality, or another, often unspecifiable property.

 

Unspecifiable property... How great is our God!

 

2. To seek him in his temple.

 

Seek: To try to locate or discover; search for.

 

Discover our God. I don't know if this is completely possible, but as we discover more about Him (by searching for Him), we fall more in love with Him. We intently look, we gaze, we search, we discover that unspecified property and fall in love with Him all over again. How many people in our world today need to just fix their gaze on the beauty of the Lord? How many need to earnestly seek Him? And if they did, what do you think the result would be? And more importantly, do you need to fix your gaze, seek, and discover that beauty? What would happen if you did it on a regular basis? How about you stop reading this and try. I guarantee that you will be completely changed, you will fall in love, and you will never be sorry you did.