When I went to bed last night, I was lying there, and thinking, or not-so-much thinking, more just letting my mind wander, until it had wandered to a place which made me more alert, because it involved something I really wanted to work out. Instantly, ya know, I thought, well this is something I need to pray about, that if God wants it to work out, then He will work it out, because right now it's a little too complicated for my little brain. So I start to pray, ya know; I always start by thanking Him for the day and for whatever blessings I can remember, then move on to prayer requests, for friends and family, for church and missions etc, and personal ones. Maybe it was because I was really tired, but my mind just kept wandering. I kept trying to bring it back to praying but it was really a struggle.
But somehow through my tired-mind-wandering-state, I did come up with these coherent thoughts. I think that as Christians, as followers of Jesus, we should love to pray. We should love to pray like you love to have a good conversation with a great friend. It shouldn't just be 'duty' or 'obligation' or us wanting something that makes us pray (although I do think that sometimes those are helpful things for when we aren't feeling like we'd love to pray, but need to pray anyways), we should really love to talk to our LORD.
A few weeks ago, I really did feel like I was maybe sort of starting to love to pray. Most afternoons, right after lunch I will take the little girls out for a walk for them to have a nap. For a long time, I would always listen to music while I was walking, ya know, join the earphone people all walking down the street. Then one day I consciously made the decision to leave my iPod at home, and go walking without music. At first it was hard, so I decided that it might be a good time to get some prayer time in (note at this point I did not 'love to pray' but decided to use it to help me). So off I went, praying the little girls in the stroller, for my 'list' of prayer requests, for the people I passed on the street, and whatever came to mind. As time went on, I really began to enjoy my 'prayer-walks', and I think I began to 'love to pray'.
Then it started to not go so-well. I'm not sure what it was, but for some reason one day when I was walking, I didn't pray, I just let my mind wander. I was thinking about a bunch of things, I don't really remember what; and I didn't pray. Okay, whatever, you say, that was just one walk. And it was, but it turned into two, then three, then four. Then I would think about it, and it would occur to me that the girls always went to sleep faster when I was praying, so I would start to pray that God would give them peace, that He would help them to relax and settle and fall asleep. I would pray that they would come to know God's love for them as they grew each day. I would pray a bunch of things for them, but really my motives were to help them fall asleep.
I don't think that it is wrong for us to pray when we have something to as God for, but I believe that shouldn't be the ultimate reason we talk to Him for. Wouldn't you think it was a bit weird if every time your friend called you, it was just so she could ask you a favour? It says in Philippians 4:6 to ask God for all your requests (through prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, so that you will not be anxious). Many times throughout the Bible we are told to come with faith and ask God for what we need. But I don't think we should only pray when we have a prayer request, or something we want God to do for us. I believe those are very valid things to pray for, but that our 'end goal' should be that we love to pray. That we would love to talk to God.
And like I said, this is something that I most definitely need to work on myself.
Prayin for y'all today folks! ;)
Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. (Hebrews 13:20-21)
Emma
Tuesday 28 May 2013
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Enjoy it, Because it is a Gift!
The other day I was talking to a wise friend of mine (um, well actually it was Cassidy). She asked me how my day was, I said, 'tiring, but good; it was a good day.' I asked her how hers was, this is what she says; she says: 'It got better :) every single day is a day God has made and I am refusing His gift by not living right now enjoying it'.
Think about this now. Every single day is a day God has made and we refuse His gift by not living right now enjoying it. God made today, Wednesday, May 22, 2013. I will never never ever have the chance to re-live this day. I will never be able to watch the sun rise on this morning again, I can never go back and spend more time with my family, or watching the little kids do silly things.
God gave it to me, to you, to us all, as a gift. A gift needs to be used, and it needs to be enjoyed.
When I think about all the days I spend/have spent very unproductively, it makes me sad (now I'm not saying that we need to work all the time!) because God gave me the day and I squandered it. Each day He also gives us work to do, something to further His kingdom. To those who are ready for a little He gives a little and to those who are ready for much, He gives much. We, as humans, members of the fallen race, cannot, in this life, see how God works. It may be that the little conversation that you had with the dude beside you on the bus affected him, maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, or next month, or next year, but God used you to work in his heart, and years from now, he may not even remember the conversation but God used something you said, and it changed his life.
But God also gives us this gift of time, each day, to be enjoyed. There are a lot of things if only we just see them. Yesterday it rained here (and thundered!! yay!! ;)), and after supper some of the sibs wanted to go for a walk to do some puddle jumping, so I agreed to take them, I admit, a little begrudgingly. I'm not sure exactly what I wanted to do instead, but there must have been something, but I went, thinking to myself about the times when I had wanted to go puddle jumping and couldn't, when I was little. We had a marvelous time! I let go and decided to enjoy myself instead of wishing I was at home. We chicken-danced down the sidewalk (I hear this is a completely foreign idea in Redwood lol! In Ontario you are only slightly crazy if you dance down the street, and it's best if it's done in the rain! ;)), jumped in puddles. Livvy (8) and Bella-Boo (3) ran ahead while I walked slower with Eden (1 1/2), who was really cute trying to run and catch up with them. One of them had shorts that were a little too big on, and had to hold them up while they ran... it was sooo funny!!!
Sorry about that, I was just having a little too much fun reliving that. :)
My point here this morning, is pretty much just what Cassidy said. "Every single day is a day God has made and I am refusing His gift by not living right now enjoying it" So I challenge you today, to enjoy it! To find the little job that God has for you today and to do it, and to live in each moment, laugh long, loud, clear. With somebody. Each breath is a gift from God, don't take today for granted.
Psalm 118:24
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
May God bless you today!!
love Emma
 |
| not sure about the 'dearie'... I think I was feeling British at the time lol... |
God gave it to me, to you, to us all, as a gift. A gift needs to be used, and it needs to be enjoyed.
When I think about all the days I spend/have spent very unproductively, it makes me sad (now I'm not saying that we need to work all the time!) because God gave me the day and I squandered it. Each day He also gives us work to do, something to further His kingdom. To those who are ready for a little He gives a little and to those who are ready for much, He gives much. We, as humans, members of the fallen race, cannot, in this life, see how God works. It may be that the little conversation that you had with the dude beside you on the bus affected him, maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, or next month, or next year, but God used you to work in his heart, and years from now, he may not even remember the conversation but God used something you said, and it changed his life.
But God also gives us this gift of time, each day, to be enjoyed. There are a lot of things if only we just see them. Yesterday it rained here (and thundered!! yay!! ;)), and after supper some of the sibs wanted to go for a walk to do some puddle jumping, so I agreed to take them, I admit, a little begrudgingly. I'm not sure exactly what I wanted to do instead, but there must have been something, but I went, thinking to myself about the times when I had wanted to go puddle jumping and couldn't, when I was little. We had a marvelous time! I let go and decided to enjoy myself instead of wishing I was at home. We chicken-danced down the sidewalk (I hear this is a completely foreign idea in Redwood lol! In Ontario you are only slightly crazy if you dance down the street, and it's best if it's done in the rain! ;)), jumped in puddles. Livvy (8) and Bella-Boo (3) ran ahead while I walked slower with Eden (1 1/2), who was really cute trying to run and catch up with them. One of them had shorts that were a little too big on, and had to hold them up while they ran... it was sooo funny!!!
Sorry about that, I was just having a little too much fun reliving that. :)
My point here this morning, is pretty much just what Cassidy said. "Every single day is a day God has made and I am refusing His gift by not living right now enjoying it" So I challenge you today, to enjoy it! To find the little job that God has for you today and to do it, and to live in each moment, laugh long, loud, clear. With somebody. Each breath is a gift from God, don't take today for granted.
Psalm 118:24
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
May God bless you today!!
love Emma
Tuesday 21 May 2013
1 Peter 2
First off, your link for today:
How to Live Through the Really Hard Storms, from Ann Voskamp's blog, A Holy Experience. This is profound people!! Wow!
...and some quotes...
"And yet — is thanking God for everything… thanking Him for evil?"
"To thank God in all is to give God glory in all. Is this not our chief end?"
"Giving thanks is only this: making the canyon of pain into a megaphone to proclaim the ultimate goodness of God."
"But this is the hardest of all: That which I refuse to thank Christ for, I refuse to believe Christ can redeem."
wow. please read it. :)
And now, our continuation of 1 Peter. Last Tuesday I started with 1 Peter 1, which you can read here.
1 Peter 2
v. 1
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.
guess I've still got a long way to go. Thanks be that we don't need to have it all together on our own, that Jesus paid the price! Through His power, I can indeed do this!
v. 3
now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
amen!
v. 6 (which is also Isaiah 28:16)
For in Scripture it says:
when Satan speaks the lie that the sinful thing you desire won't really hurt anybody, God's word tells you that's a lie. Right here it says that they wage war against your soul. Makes ya think a little.
vs. 16-17
Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
Don't know if any of you have ever heard of the 'license to sin' saying, but it seems to me that v 16 talks about that... v. 17. yep.
vs. 23-24
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
Wow. This is what He did for me. What I am I doing for Him?
May God bless you and use you today!
love Emma
How to Live Through the Really Hard Storms, from Ann Voskamp's blog, A Holy Experience. This is profound people!! Wow!
...and some quotes...
"And yet — is thanking God for everything… thanking Him for evil?"
"To thank God in all is to give God glory in all. Is this not our chief end?"
"Giving thanks is only this: making the canyon of pain into a megaphone to proclaim the ultimate goodness of God."
"But this is the hardest of all: That which I refuse to thank Christ for, I refuse to believe Christ can redeem."
wow. please read it. :)
And now, our continuation of 1 Peter. Last Tuesday I started with 1 Peter 1, which you can read here.
1 Peter 2
v. 1
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.
guess I've still got a long way to go. Thanks be that we don't need to have it all together on our own, that Jesus paid the price! Through His power, I can indeed do this!
v. 3
now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
amen!
v. 6 (which is also Isaiah 28:16)
For in Scripture it says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame.”
a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame.”
The one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame. What a promise!! ...and then, I'm thinking about this now, and ya know, Jesus himself said, you will endure trouble, rejection, hatred, all because of me, the cornerstone... hmmm... I still like this verse, anybody have any idea how to interpret it?? Because, I think, we will be put to shame, but the first time (and probably the second and third too), I felt like saying amen, and it is a promise, and God always keeps His promises so it is true, it's just a question of 'how'. help, anybody??
v. 9
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.
If you ever have any doubt about your calling, what God wants you to do in your life, here it is: declare the praises of Him [...]. Whatever else you may be, doctor, lawyer, bricklayer, first and foremost your calling is to declare His praises!
v. 11
Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.
when Satan speaks the lie that the sinful thing you desire won't really hurt anybody, God's word tells you that's a lie. Right here it says that they wage war against your soul. Makes ya think a little.
vs. 16-17
Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
Don't know if any of you have ever heard of the 'license to sin' saying, but it seems to me that v 16 talks about that... v. 17. yep.
vs. 23-24
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
Wow. This is what He did for me. What I am I doing for Him?
May God bless you and use you today!
love Emma
Saturday 18 May 2013
For Your Weekend... He is with you!
May you feel His presence in a very real way this weekend. May every decision that you make rest upon the fact that He is with you. May every fear fall away as you dwell on His presence. May He be the One you depend upon when all others forsake you, because He won't. Nothing in this world or beyond it can separate us from Him. Cast your cares upon the One who is always with you, for He loves you. May you know this truth this weekend, from your head to your heart and everywhere in between. :)
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:8
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
Matthew 28:20b
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Romans 8:38-39
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any power, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.
John 14:16-17
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
love Emma :)
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:8
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
Matthew 28:20b
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Romans 8:38-39
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any power, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.
John 14:16-17
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
love Emma :)
Thursday 16 May 2013
Delight in the LORD folks! ;)
Psalm 37:4
Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
When I was younger, I always thought that this verse meant that if I delighted in the LORD then God would give me what I wanted, He would make all my dreams come true. I thought, I like this verse! It's like the key for making my life turn out the way I want it.
Fast forward.... now I am closer to God than ever, delighting in Him more than I ever have before (and I've still a long ways to go!), and I see that this verse has a different meaning. ...sort of.
It still means that you should delight in the LORD, it still means that He will give you the desires of your heart, but there is a little part that I was missing all those years. When you are really, truly, finding delight (I need a synonym here!) in the LORD, then what you desire will be what God wants for you. And I don't mean always, I mean, I can't speak for later in my life, or in yours, but for right now, I still have the desire to sin, and obviously that is not from the LORD. But what I desire in my heart when I am delighting in the LORD is to have His will fulfilled in my life because I know that it is a million times better than my dreams were anyways. And you never know - once you decide to give up your dreams (still dream them! but be open to where God would have you go) then perhaps God will give them right back to you - made over and better than you could have imagined!
And I think that is just so cool! :)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)
Emma
Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
When I was younger, I always thought that this verse meant that if I delighted in the LORD then God would give me what I wanted, He would make all my dreams come true. I thought, I like this verse! It's like the key for making my life turn out the way I want it.
Fast forward.... now I am closer to God than ever, delighting in Him more than I ever have before (and I've still a long ways to go!), and I see that this verse has a different meaning. ...sort of.
It still means that you should delight in the LORD, it still means that He will give you the desires of your heart, but there is a little part that I was missing all those years. When you are really, truly, finding delight (I need a synonym here!) in the LORD, then what you desire will be what God wants for you. And I don't mean always, I mean, I can't speak for later in my life, or in yours, but for right now, I still have the desire to sin, and obviously that is not from the LORD. But what I desire in my heart when I am delighting in the LORD is to have His will fulfilled in my life because I know that it is a million times better than my dreams were anyways. And you never know - once you decide to give up your dreams (still dream them! but be open to where God would have you go) then perhaps God will give them right back to you - made over and better than you could have imagined!
And I think that is just so cool! :)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)
Emma
Tuesday 14 May 2013
1 Peter 1
Yesterday I was trying to think of what to write and I couldn't really think of anything... This morning I was reading my Bible, in 1 Peter, which is one of my most favourite books of the Bible. I ended up deciding that I would just kinda talk about 1 Peter 1.
....So yah...
1 Peter 1
Just look at vs. 3-4
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,
Read it slowly. Soak it in. Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, through His conquering of death, God, in His great mercy has given us new birth and a living hope! How many of us are searching for new birth, somewhere to start over, to be made new, to have something else to live for? A living hope? Not just any hope people, but a living hope! If you need hope in your life, here is where to find it! And we haven't even finished the verses; we also have an inheritance that is kept in heaven, which can not; not will not, not might not, but can not ever perish, spoil or fade. What promises!!
vs. 6-7
In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
We ought to rejoice about this! And greatly! For those of us who have ever wondered why we go through hard times, through trials, well here is one answer. We have them so that our faith (which is worth more than gold!) may be proven genuine, and bring praise, glory, and honour to our Saviour when He is revealed. To me, that is worth suffering for.
v8
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.
How to get joy?
vs. 13-16
Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
Here is where we are supposed to set our hope - on the grace brought to us when Jesus Christ is revealed. Sometimes, ya know, I wish I didn't have as strong a conscience...but here we go... do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance (aka did not know the rules, the law, did not have a working conscience). alright then! But He calls us to be holy! How often do I choose to be angry, to stay in a funk because I feel like I deserve it? He calls us to be holy, holy in all we do. Today I challenge myself, and you all, to be holy. When you are faced with a decision, think about whether it is a holy choice you are making. It will not be easy but it will be worth it!
vs.18-19
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
Ponder this.
v. 21
Through him [Jesus] you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
Summary time.
vs. 22-23
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
Love one another deeply, from the heart. From the root of yourself, from the One who dwells within you, love one another deeply. Even when you don't feel like it. (except for the fact that this is a fallen world, and therefore world peace is currently (as in not until Jesus returns) not possible, I believe that real, unconditional, self-less love is the key.) Here we get to the re-birth thing, and it elaborates. We have not been born of just any seed, but imperishable seed through the living and enduring word of God. What hope!!
May you set your hope on what is above, being holy today. May you feel encouraged!
love emma
p.s. if y'all liked this I may continue all through 1 Peter? ...cause I really really like that book?
....So yah...
1 Peter 1
Just look at vs. 3-4
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,
Read it slowly. Soak it in. Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, through His conquering of death, God, in His great mercy has given us new birth and a living hope! How many of us are searching for new birth, somewhere to start over, to be made new, to have something else to live for? A living hope? Not just any hope people, but a living hope! If you need hope in your life, here is where to find it! And we haven't even finished the verses; we also have an inheritance that is kept in heaven, which can not; not will not, not might not, but can not ever perish, spoil or fade. What promises!!
vs. 6-7
In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
We ought to rejoice about this! And greatly! For those of us who have ever wondered why we go through hard times, through trials, well here is one answer. We have them so that our faith (which is worth more than gold!) may be proven genuine, and bring praise, glory, and honour to our Saviour when He is revealed. To me, that is worth suffering for.
v8
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.
How to get joy?
vs. 13-16
Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
Here is where we are supposed to set our hope - on the grace brought to us when Jesus Christ is revealed. Sometimes, ya know, I wish I didn't have as strong a conscience...but here we go... do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance (aka did not know the rules, the law, did not have a working conscience). alright then! But He calls us to be holy! How often do I choose to be angry, to stay in a funk because I feel like I deserve it? He calls us to be holy, holy in all we do. Today I challenge myself, and you all, to be holy. When you are faced with a decision, think about whether it is a holy choice you are making. It will not be easy but it will be worth it!
vs.18-19
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
Ponder this.
v. 21
Through him [Jesus] you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
Summary time.
vs. 22-23
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
Love one another deeply, from the heart. From the root of yourself, from the One who dwells within you, love one another deeply. Even when you don't feel like it. (except for the fact that this is a fallen world, and therefore world peace is currently (as in not until Jesus returns) not possible, I believe that real, unconditional, self-less love is the key.) Here we get to the re-birth thing, and it elaborates. We have not been born of just any seed, but imperishable seed through the living and enduring word of God. What hope!!
May you set your hope on what is above, being holy today. May you feel encouraged!
love emma
p.s. if y'all liked this I may continue all through 1 Peter? ...cause I really really like that book?
Saturday 11 May 2013
For Your Weekend...
May we live each moment fully alive, fully aware, fully thankful. May every thought, every word, every action reflect our Saviour.
The power of the cross is redemption. It is freedom. It is strength. It is forgiveness. It is love. It is justice. It is powerful. May we let everything we do this weekend rest on this power. May it affect everything about our lives, driving us to be radical in the name of Jesus!
God bless you today!
Emma
The power of the cross is redemption. It is freedom. It is strength. It is forgiveness. It is love. It is justice. It is powerful. May we let everything we do this weekend rest on this power. May it affect everything about our lives, driving us to be radical in the name of Jesus!
God bless you today!
Emma
Thursday 9 May 2013
Love & Serving
I always think it is just the coolest thing when God tells you a whole bunch of things that are all connected! This happened to me this weekend!
Over the weekend I read Ernest Gordon's 'Through the Valley of the Kwai'. (amazing book! I would highly recommend reading it! (warning, there are a few horrible parts.) in the middle it will make you cry because it is horrible and just past that it will make you cry because it is so beautiful!). At church on Sunday, we were learning about being a servant. Then, on Monday morning, I was just reading Julie's post, which is about love.
All throughout the Bible it talks about doing good. Taking care of people. Serving. Isaiah 58 talks about what sort of things God wants us to do. All throughout the Bible we are called to serve others. Even Jesus came to serve.
Mark 10:45
'For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
The two greatest commandments ever given to mankind were this: to love the LORD, and then to love our brother. 1 John 3 tells us how we can do that. All of the laws are summed up into this little verse, which tells us to treat each other as ourselves. Jesus says, whatever you do to the least of these, you do it for me.
1 John 5:3
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
2 John 1:6
And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.
Clearly loving others is loving God. Love is an action. Serving. In some ways I think that loving and serving should be synonyms. To show our love for God we need to do what He commands us to do. Yes, the 10 commandments but Jesus said that most importantly we are to love God and love others. When you love God, you will begin to see people through His eyes and loving them is just a natural expression of loving Him. When you love someone, it's not about what you can get out of it, it's not even so much about how you feel (because you will feel let down, you will feel frustrated, hurt, maybe even angry), but it's about what you can do for the other person, how we can build them up and love them - serve them.
Today I would challenge you to find one person, just one, and find some way to love/serve them. It doesn't have to be big, even little things show love, but find just some way to tell/show them that you love them. God will be smiling down at you :)
May we let Jesus shine through us today!
Emma
(I hope I didn't jump around too much here... and it all makes sense :P)
Over the weekend I read Ernest Gordon's 'Through the Valley of the Kwai'. (amazing book! I would highly recommend reading it! (warning, there are a few horrible parts.) in the middle it will make you cry because it is horrible and just past that it will make you cry because it is so beautiful!). At church on Sunday, we were learning about being a servant. Then, on Monday morning, I was just reading Julie's post, which is about love.
All throughout the Bible it talks about doing good. Taking care of people. Serving. Isaiah 58 talks about what sort of things God wants us to do. All throughout the Bible we are called to serve others. Even Jesus came to serve.
Mark 10:45
'For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
The two greatest commandments ever given to mankind were this: to love the LORD, and then to love our brother. 1 John 3 tells us how we can do that. All of the laws are summed up into this little verse, which tells us to treat each other as ourselves. Jesus says, whatever you do to the least of these, you do it for me.
1 John 5:3
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
2 John 1:6
And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.
Clearly loving others is loving God. Love is an action. Serving. In some ways I think that loving and serving should be synonyms. To show our love for God we need to do what He commands us to do. Yes, the 10 commandments but Jesus said that most importantly we are to love God and love others. When you love God, you will begin to see people through His eyes and loving them is just a natural expression of loving Him. When you love someone, it's not about what you can get out of it, it's not even so much about how you feel (because you will feel let down, you will feel frustrated, hurt, maybe even angry), but it's about what you can do for the other person, how we can build them up and love them - serve them.
Today I would challenge you to find one person, just one, and find some way to love/serve them. It doesn't have to be big, even little things show love, but find just some way to tell/show them that you love them. God will be smiling down at you :)
May we let Jesus shine through us today!
Emma
(I hope I didn't jump around too much here... and it all makes sense :P)
Tuesday 7 May 2013
Year in Review
Being that today is my birthday, and I am beginning a new year in my life, I decided that yesterday was a good day to kinda 'take stock' of the old one; look at what I've done, and what God has been teaching me.
When I look back at where I was last year, well, I'm not sure exactly what I think. I was just nearing the end of a rough year of homeschooling (I wanted to go to school so badly!). In general, my life was good, I just had bad days sometimes (I would get the Monday blues for the first time in my life... I had always loved Mondays!). I went to church and youth group and I did read my Bible, just not consistently.
The summer was both weird and great at the same time. Yep.
School started up again and in my longing I tried to make it as much like school as possible - which made me hate it even more. We were still looking for houses, living with half our stuff in a storage unit...
A few years ago I read Ann Voskamp's 1000 Gifts, and I follow her blog. She sent out this 100 Days thing to help you make good habits. On September 10, 2012 I started, my three habits to make being to read my Bible, count my gifts (see Ann's book), and to exercise. Life was good. I was still a little down. I started to rise out of it. I discovered that in my longing for school, I was trying to fit homeschooling into the same shape and it wasn't working. Once I decided to embrace homeschooling I started to enjoy it. If I were given the choice I think I might still go to school, but I am happy where God has me.
I think there are several things that God has been (trying to) teach(ing) me this year.
1. give thanks. all the time, and for all things. when was the last time you thanked God for the sound of birds chirping outside for window? (for more on the giving thanks thing, see Ann Voskamp's book, or her blog. life changing!)
2. don't fear. Like I said here, I have been looking at all the fear-nots in the Bible. what I am learning is just. so. cool.
3. trust God. this one is overlapping of both of the others and is so much more. we cannot fathom all that He is. all He does. just rest in Him.
I think this song really sums up where I am right now. Especially the bridge: 'I don't know, I don't know, what tomorrow may hold; but I know, but I know, that You're holding it all, so no matter what may come....'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjmZ2v0niCI
This song has also meant a lot to me this past year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXDGE_lRI0E
I was looking through my little notebook and found some verses/passages that I had written down as important to me, since September. (btw if I didn't put the passage there is a link)
Job 37
John 16:33
I have told you these things so that in me you will have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.
Isaiah 43:1-3
But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Jeremiah 32:27
2 Thessalonians 3:3
Isaiah 40:28-31
Jeremiah 17:7-8
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
Psalm 81:10
Jeremiah 29:11-13
Lamentations 3:21-25
When I look back at where I was last year, well, I'm not sure exactly what I think. I was just nearing the end of a rough year of homeschooling (I wanted to go to school so badly!). In general, my life was good, I just had bad days sometimes (I would get the Monday blues for the first time in my life... I had always loved Mondays!). I went to church and youth group and I did read my Bible, just not consistently.
The summer was both weird and great at the same time. Yep.
School started up again and in my longing I tried to make it as much like school as possible - which made me hate it even more. We were still looking for houses, living with half our stuff in a storage unit...
A few years ago I read Ann Voskamp's 1000 Gifts, and I follow her blog. She sent out this 100 Days thing to help you make good habits. On September 10, 2012 I started, my three habits to make being to read my Bible, count my gifts (see Ann's book), and to exercise. Life was good. I was still a little down. I started to rise out of it. I discovered that in my longing for school, I was trying to fit homeschooling into the same shape and it wasn't working. Once I decided to embrace homeschooling I started to enjoy it. If I were given the choice I think I might still go to school, but I am happy where God has me.
I think there are several things that God has been (trying to) teach(ing) me this year.
1. give thanks. all the time, and for all things. when was the last time you thanked God for the sound of birds chirping outside for window? (for more on the giving thanks thing, see Ann Voskamp's book, or her blog. life changing!)
2. don't fear. Like I said here, I have been looking at all the fear-nots in the Bible. what I am learning is just. so. cool.
3. trust God. this one is overlapping of both of the others and is so much more. we cannot fathom all that He is. all He does. just rest in Him.
I think this song really sums up where I am right now. Especially the bridge: 'I don't know, I don't know, what tomorrow may hold; but I know, but I know, that You're holding it all, so no matter what may come....'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjmZ2v0niCI
This song has also meant a lot to me this past year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXDGE_lRI0E
I was looking through my little notebook and found some verses/passages that I had written down as important to me, since September. (btw if I didn't put the passage there is a link)
Job 37
John 16:33
I have told you these things so that in me you will have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.
Isaiah 43:1-3
But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Jeremiah 32:27
2 Thessalonians 3:3
Isaiah 40:28-31
Jeremiah 17:7-8
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
Psalm 81:10
Jeremiah 29:11-13
Lamentations 3:21-25
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,for his compassions never fail.23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;therefore I will wait for him.” 25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.
Three amazing books I would recommend reading:
Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis (wow. what an inspiring story with amazing lessons to be discovered as you journey along with Katie. couldn't put it down.)
Heaven by Randy Alcorn (while learning about Heaven I learned so much more about God too. what an awesome Saviour we have people!)
1000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp (see the rest of this post. this is where my journey began and keeps going.)
If you are in tough spot, I would encourage you to hope. I would encourage you first and foremost to read your Bible, even in the days you don't feel like it, because it will be worth it. If you wait until a day when you feel better you will never start. If you start today you will feel better. Read Ann's book, make a gratitude list. Live in every moment. Trust God, be still, and soak in who He is. I just want to encourage you. I'm not trying to make last year look really bad, because to be honest, it wasn't all bad. But I do know that last year, I was in a bit of a low spot, and this year, I have risen out of it! With God's grace, you can too!
love Em
wow. that was long. ;)
Year in Review
Being that today is my birthday, and I am beginning a new year in my life, I decided that yesterday was a good day to kinda 'take stock' of the old one; look at what I've done, and what God has been teaching me.
When I look back at where I was last year, well, I'm not sure exactly what I think. I was just nearing the end of a rough year of homeschooling (I wanted to go to school so badly!). In general, my life was good, I just had bad days sometimes (I would get the Monday blues for the first time in my life... I had always loved Mondays!). I went to church and youth group and I did read my Bible, just not consistently.
The summer was both weird and great at the same time. Yep.
School started up again and in my longing I tried to make it as much like school as possible - which made me hate it even more. We were still looking for houses, living with half our stuff in a storage unit...
A few years ago I read Ann Voskamp's 1000 Gifts, and I follow her blog. She sent out this 100 Days thing to help you make good habits. On September 10, 2012 I started, my three habits to make being to read my Bible, count my gifts (see Ann's book), and to exercise. Life was good. I was still a little down. I started to rise out of it. I discovered that in my longing for school, I was trying to fit homeschooling into the same shape and it wasn't working. Once I decided to embrace homeschooling I started to enjoy it. If I were given the choice I think I might still go to school, but I am happy where God has me.
I think there are several things that God has been (trying to) teach(ing) me this year.
1. give thanks. all the time, and for all things. when was the last time you thanked God for the sound of birds chirping outside for window? (for more on the giving thanks thing, see Ann Voskamp's book, or her blog. life changing!)
2. don't fear. Like I said here, I have been looking at all the fear-nots in the Bible. what I am learning is just. so. cool.
3. trust God. this one is overlapping of both of the others and is so much more. we cannot fathom all that He is. all He does. just rest in Him.
I think this song really sums up where I am right now. Especially the bridge: 'I don't know, I don't know, what tomorrow may hold; but I know, but I know, that You're holding it all, so no matter what may come....'
This song has also meant a lot to me this past year.
I was looking through my little notebook and found some verses/passages that I had written down as important to me, since September. (btw if I didn't put the passage there is a link)
Job 37
John 16:33
I have told you these things so that in me you will have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.
Isaiah 43:1-3
But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Jeremiah 32:27
2 Thessalonians 3:3
Isaiah 40:28-31
Jeremiah 17:7-8
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
Psalm 81:10
Jeremiah 29:11-13
Lamentations 3:21-25
When I look back at where I was last year, well, I'm not sure exactly what I think. I was just nearing the end of a rough year of homeschooling (I wanted to go to school so badly!). In general, my life was good, I just had bad days sometimes (I would get the Monday blues for the first time in my life... I had always loved Mondays!). I went to church and youth group and I did read my Bible, just not consistently.
The summer was both weird and great at the same time. Yep.
School started up again and in my longing I tried to make it as much like school as possible - which made me hate it even more. We were still looking for houses, living with half our stuff in a storage unit...
A few years ago I read Ann Voskamp's 1000 Gifts, and I follow her blog. She sent out this 100 Days thing to help you make good habits. On September 10, 2012 I started, my three habits to make being to read my Bible, count my gifts (see Ann's book), and to exercise. Life was good. I was still a little down. I started to rise out of it. I discovered that in my longing for school, I was trying to fit homeschooling into the same shape and it wasn't working. Once I decided to embrace homeschooling I started to enjoy it. If I were given the choice I think I might still go to school, but I am happy where God has me.
I think there are several things that God has been (trying to) teach(ing) me this year.
1. give thanks. all the time, and for all things. when was the last time you thanked God for the sound of birds chirping outside for window? (for more on the giving thanks thing, see Ann Voskamp's book, or her blog. life changing!)
2. don't fear. Like I said here, I have been looking at all the fear-nots in the Bible. what I am learning is just. so. cool.
3. trust God. this one is overlapping of both of the others and is so much more. we cannot fathom all that He is. all He does. just rest in Him.
I think this song really sums up where I am right now. Especially the bridge: 'I don't know, I don't know, what tomorrow may hold; but I know, but I know, that You're holding it all, so no matter what may come....'
This song has also meant a lot to me this past year.
I was looking through my little notebook and found some verses/passages that I had written down as important to me, since September. (btw if I didn't put the passage there is a link)
Job 37
John 16:33
I have told you these things so that in me you will have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.
Isaiah 43:1-3
But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Jeremiah 32:27
2 Thessalonians 3:3
Isaiah 40:28-31
Jeremiah 17:7-8
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
Psalm 81:10
Jeremiah 29:11-13
Lamentations 3:21-25
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” 25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.
Three amazing books I would recommend reading:
Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis (wow. what an inspiring story with amazing lessons to be discovered as you journey along with Katie. couldn't put it down.)
Heaven by Randy Alcorn (while learning about Heaven I learned so much more about God too. what an awesome Saviour we have people!)
1000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp (see the rest of this post. this is where my journey began and keeps going.)
If you are in tough spot, I would encourage you to hope. I would encourage you first and foremost to read your Bible, even in the days you don't feel like it, because it will be worth it. If you wait until a day when you feel better you will never start. If you start today you will feel better. Read Ann's book, make a gratitude list. Live in every moment. Trust God, be still, and soak in who He is. I just want to encourage you. I'm not trying to make last year look really bad, because to be honest, it wasn't all bad. But I do know that last year, I was in a bit of a low spot, and this year, I have risen out of it! With God's grace, you can too!
love Emma
wow. that was long. ;)
Thursday 2 May 2013
Where Do you Get Your Strength?
I just love love love this song and the verse that is in it so much!
Isaiah 40:29-31
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Where does your strength come from? Are you trying to do it all on your own? Something that even I have found in the week or two is that being close to the LORD, or on a spiritual high (if you will), does not mean that you are not going to have a bad day, that things are going to run smoothly or that you are not going to feel crappy. It means that when you have those bad days that you know where to turn to find peace.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice always, pray continuously, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. "
I think that when this verse says 'pray continuously' (other translations say pray always without ceasing) it doesn't mean that you need to spend all day in a quiet place just talking to God with no distractions. I'm not saying we don't need that, because we most certainly do! But you can't really spend all day just praying like that. But what you can do is have a constant open ended conversation with God all throughout the day. You are driving somewhere and see a bad car accident, just pray for those involved, you see a beautiful sunrise/set, just pause for a minute and thank God. The kids are crying and screaming and the baby just won't go to sleep, you are trying to write and paper and the words just won't come. Turn to the LORD! Those little prayers count just as much, and they will keep you close to God all day. You will be putting your hope in Him and He will renew your strength!
May God bless you today!
love Emma
Isaiah 40:29-31
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Where does your strength come from? Are you trying to do it all on your own? Something that even I have found in the week or two is that being close to the LORD, or on a spiritual high (if you will), does not mean that you are not going to have a bad day, that things are going to run smoothly or that you are not going to feel crappy. It means that when you have those bad days that you know where to turn to find peace.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice always, pray continuously, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. "
I think that when this verse says 'pray continuously' (other translations say pray always without ceasing) it doesn't mean that you need to spend all day in a quiet place just talking to God with no distractions. I'm not saying we don't need that, because we most certainly do! But you can't really spend all day just praying like that. But what you can do is have a constant open ended conversation with God all throughout the day. You are driving somewhere and see a bad car accident, just pray for those involved, you see a beautiful sunrise/set, just pause for a minute and thank God. The kids are crying and screaming and the baby just won't go to sleep, you are trying to write and paper and the words just won't come. Turn to the LORD! Those little prayers count just as much, and they will keep you close to God all day. You will be putting your hope in Him and He will renew your strength!
May God bless you today!
love Emma
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)