P.S. I scheduled this post yesterday, but the really important one for today is below it, so be sure to check that out too, k? Thanks!
Sarah at Life in the Parsonage tagged EVERYONE with this meme a couple of weeks ago, and I keep meaning to do it... so now is the time! The rules? All of the answers must be just one word.
1. Where is your cell phone? Desk
2. Your significant other? Unidentified
3. Your hair? Self-willed
4. Your mother? Prayerful
5. Your father? Wise
6. Your favorite thing? Variety
7. Your dream last night? Redirecting
8. Your favorite drink? Water!
9. Your dream/goal? Glorification
10. The room you’re in? Office
11. Your church? Warm
12. Your fear? Mis-aiming
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Unknown
14. Where were you last night? Home
15. What you’re not? Empty
16. Muffins? Thunder-thighs?
17. One of your wish list items? Redemption
18. Where you grew up? Midwest
19. The last thing you did? Typed
20. What are you wearing? SMALLER!
21. Your TV? Off
22. Your pets? Non-existent
23. Your computer? Dead
24. Your life? Jesus
25. Your mood? Hopeful
26. Missing someone? Always
27. Your car? Given
28. Something you’re not wearing? Pantyhose
29. Favorite store? Free
30. Your summer? Eventful
31. Like (love) someone? Nope
32. Your favorite color? Red
33. Last time you laughed? Moments
34. Last time you cried? Earlier
35. Who will re post this? None
Any takers?
-J
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in EVERY good deed and WORD. -2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
How do you know?
I have a decision to make. A tough one. A really tough one. And I just don't know what God would will.
The good people in my life have offered many suggestions as to how to hear the voice of God. So I thought maybe I would post it here: How do you recognize God's leading? How do you know you're keeping in step with His Spirit, especially in the hard decisions?
But reply quickly. I must make my decision very soon.
Thanks,
-J
P.S. I have a pretty clear understanding of how God speaks into my life--and will share that in a follow-up post--but since I am currently stymied on this one, I thought I'd throw this one out for your insight!
The good people in my life have offered many suggestions as to how to hear the voice of God. So I thought maybe I would post it here: How do you recognize God's leading? How do you know you're keeping in step with His Spirit, especially in the hard decisions?
But reply quickly. I must make my decision very soon.
Thanks,
-J
P.S. I have a pretty clear understanding of how God speaks into my life--and will share that in a follow-up post--but since I am currently stymied on this one, I thought I'd throw this one out for your insight!
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Ten Things for Tuesday: Small Graces
There was a vocalist I ran across in college when he opened for a Michael Card concert, and though I don't remember hearing him on local stations and such, I sure loved him. His name was Bob Bennett, and though I haven't followed his career in recent years, I've never run across anything by him that I didn't love. His acoustic guitar is accessible and his words are real. (And it turns out that he's still around. Check out some of his music at his website.)
Anyway, the title track off his 1997 album was one of my favorites: Small Graces. It speaks of seeing God in every facet of our lives, even the small graces. So my Ten Things for Tuesday is focused on that, the small graces...which, frankly, are rather huge when you get down to it. :-)
1. Instant, immediate access to the one who knows me best and loves me more
2. The knowledge of the Holy One
3. The moments He embeds in our minds (i.e., the memories)
4. The doors He opens
5. The doors He closes
6. The way He speaks so quietly into the chaos of my heart
7. His assurance...and reassurance :-)
8. The way He draws me close, and then blesses me for being there
9. The pleasure of His presence
10. The unspeakable, indescribable peace that He gives
Hmmmm...can you tell where my mind/heart is today? It's funny how you don't always know these things until you go to write them down, huh?
May you find the 'small [read: giant] graces' in your life today. And may they simply reek of HIM! :-)
Blessed beyond measure,
-J
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. --James 4:7-10
Anyway, the title track off his 1997 album was one of my favorites: Small Graces. It speaks of seeing God in every facet of our lives, even the small graces. So my Ten Things for Tuesday is focused on that, the small graces...which, frankly, are rather huge when you get down to it. :-)
1. Instant, immediate access to the one who knows me best and loves me more
2. The knowledge of the Holy One
3. The moments He embeds in our minds (i.e., the memories)
4. The doors He opens
5. The doors He closes
6. The way He speaks so quietly into the chaos of my heart
7. His assurance...and reassurance :-)
8. The way He draws me close, and then blesses me for being there
9. The pleasure of His presence
10. The unspeakable, indescribable peace that He gives
Hmmmm...can you tell where my mind/heart is today? It's funny how you don't always know these things until you go to write them down, huh?
May you find the 'small [read: giant] graces' in your life today. And may they simply reek of HIM! :-)
Blessed beyond measure,
-J
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. --James 4:7-10
*Sigh*
Dear Friends,
Life has been exceedingly challenging for me these past few weeks, and thus my absence. I am in the crucible, so to speak. And it's not a bad place to be, this place of refining, but it is hard.
And since too much has been going on, it has simply been too much to write about. I can barely live it! *laugh* But today, even as the fire grows ever hotter, the Lord brought this sweet old hymn to memory. I hope you know it, and I hope it blesses you even as it did me.
Day By Day**
Day by day and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,
I've no cause for worry or for fear.
He whose heart is kind beyond all measure,
Give unto each day what He deems best;
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.
Ev'ry day the Lord Himself is near me
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me,
He whose name is Counselor and Pow'r.
The protection of His child and treasure,
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
"As your days, your strength shall be in measure,"
This the pledge to me He made.
Help me then in ev'ry tribulation,
So to trust Your promises, O Lord;
That I lose not faith's sweet consolation,
Offered me within Your holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E'er to take, as from a Father's hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till I reach the promised land.
Standing in His mercy; awaiting His grace,
-J
But if I go to the east, he is not there;
if I go to the west, I do not find him.
When he is at work in the north, I do not see him;
when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him.
But he knows the way that I take;
when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
My feet have closely followed his steps;
I have kept to his way without turning aside.
I have not departed from the commands of his lips;
I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.
-Job 23:8-10
** Words by Lina Sandell Berg, 1832-1903; Music by Oscar Ahnfelt, 1813-1882
Life has been exceedingly challenging for me these past few weeks, and thus my absence. I am in the crucible, so to speak. And it's not a bad place to be, this place of refining, but it is hard.
And since too much has been going on, it has simply been too much to write about. I can barely live it! *laugh* But today, even as the fire grows ever hotter, the Lord brought this sweet old hymn to memory. I hope you know it, and I hope it blesses you even as it did me.
Day By Day**
Day by day and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,
I've no cause for worry or for fear.
He whose heart is kind beyond all measure,
Give unto each day what He deems best;
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.
Ev'ry day the Lord Himself is near me
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me,
He whose name is Counselor and Pow'r.
The protection of His child and treasure,
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
"As your days, your strength shall be in measure,"
This the pledge to me He made.
Help me then in ev'ry tribulation,
So to trust Your promises, O Lord;
That I lose not faith's sweet consolation,
Offered me within Your holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E'er to take, as from a Father's hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till I reach the promised land.
Standing in His mercy; awaiting His grace,
-J
But if I go to the east, he is not there;
if I go to the west, I do not find him.
When he is at work in the north, I do not see him;
when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him.
But he knows the way that I take;
when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
My feet have closely followed his steps;
I have kept to his way without turning aside.
I have not departed from the commands of his lips;
I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.
-Job 23:8-10
** Words by Lina Sandell Berg, 1832-1903; Music by Oscar Ahnfelt, 1813-1882
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