sarah! i am so glad we are starting this back. thank you so much for posting the first post for the summer. i am going to try to keep up with this better, simply because i have more time this summer than i did during the semester with school.
well let me tell you lately what i've been thinking and how different verses and things have encouraged me. a friend wrote me a letter the other day and shared with me some verses in acts chp 17: 24-29ish. they are so good. i want to type out some of them because they are so great. "The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would SEEK GOD, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His children'..."
these verses seem sortof trivial at first when you read them. Paul is preaching to people on Mars Hill and is sharing this with them about God and His sovereign rule. the thing that stands out the most to me about these verses, that my friend also pointed out, is that God had appointed His people those boundaries in which He knew they would seek Him and that He knew best for them. with that said, how convicting and humbling and peaceful that we can rest in that! my mind has been restless and my heart has been wandering during all of this wedding season stuff going on with my friends. i have definitely been discontent in ways i didn't know i could be, just because i see so many married couples who are so happy with one another and i long for that so badly. but the amazing thing about these verses that then draws me to my knees in AWE is that God loves us so much that He has placed us where we are in order for us to truly seek Him and He knows in those situations and in our lives that He has sovereign rule over, we would "grope for Him" even though He is NOT FAR OFF FROM EACH OF US! anyway, i thought this was a great depiction of His love and the delight He takes in our lives and His direction for us. i just thought i would share this. i love when i get quotes and verses like this from friends and am able to share them with others. i feel like that is definitely a part of community and the Church.
i'm going to end with a tim keller quote (doesn't exactly relate to my little spill, but nonetheless, it is good!) can't wait for the next post!
"If you know what He has done at infinite cost to himself—He’s put you into a relationship so that you’ll never be rejected by Him—then your motivation when you sin is to go get Him. You want fellowship with Him. When the thing that most assures you is the thing that most convicts you, you’ll be okay because when you’re convicted of sin in a gospel way it drives you toward God. Without the gospel we hate ourselves instead of our sin. Without the gospel we’re motivated through all sorts of awful fear and pride to change and it doesn’t really change our hearts; it just restrains our hearts." — Timothy Keller
Friday, June 12, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Blog Suggestion
Yesterday, I decided to post my reading list for the summer on my blog. Well, this morning, when I went to my blog I had one response. It was from the author of one of the books I had on my list! I don't know how she came across my blog, but I thought that was pretty cool. She had her own blog listed underneath her comment, so I went to check it out. Its called Flying Solo. Its a blog for single girls. I haven't read a ton yet, so I don't know how great it is. She has mentioned that she's divorced. Obviously, that sends up warning signs, but I don't know her story, so I don't know for sure that she was completely in the wrong for getting divorced. Anyways, just something to check out. http://denisehildreth.typepad.com/flying_solo/.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Hey Guys!
So, do ya'll get the emails saying that someone has commented on our blog? I might be the only one since I started the blog, I'm not sure. But someone other than people who are a part of the blog commented. How cool is that? We know that our blog has been an encouragement to at least one person. And Danielle, since our blog is your comment thing on your facebook page, I'm guessing more people than that visit our little blog. Therefore, we need to keep this going. We need to keep it going, not only for ourselves, but for the few people who might have been encouraged by what we were saying. I really enjoyed this blog, and I want to get it started back. For real this time. I also want to follow through with what I say, and not just say something but not follow through.
So where do I begin? I don't have a devotional, a song, or even a Bible verse. But, I have the lie that I've been believing lately, and the truth that God is revealing to me. So, this isn't anything new, I've been struggling with it for a while. I'm an art major. An art major doesn't lead to a specific job. I hope I can get a job at an art gallery in Charleston, but that's not guaranteed. Other than that, it feels like you have to go to grad school to get a job with an art major. I've been looking for jobs on-line, and it seems like I'm not even prepared for a secretary job. Here's the beginning of the lie I'm believing, that I'm a smart girl, but because I chose to be an art major, I have nothing that I am capable of doing. This lie leads me to think about the job that I'm sure I'm prepared for, the job that I am convinced I was created for: being a mother. Then I think about my age, 23. For as long as I can remember, okay, maybe that's an exageration, but since eighth or ninth grade, I've thought okay, I have this many years to wait until Ann became a wife, and this many years to wait until Mom became a wife. I'm now two years past the year that Ann became a wife, and maybe a year away from when she had her first child. I'm still five years away from when Mom became a wife, and seven away from when she became a mother. And here's what I begin to think. Mom says to this day that she wishes she could have had more children. But she didn't get started until she was 29 or 30 because she didn't get married until she was 28. I want 4 to 6 children. So I start to think, I'm running out of time. I need to have a year to date, then I need to have a year to be engaged. Then I need two years at least, just to be married. Okay, so if I meet my husband tomorrow, well then I'll be at least 28 before I can have a child. I'm running out of time!!!
So those are the thoughts, the lies, that are running through my head. I struggle with them on a daily basis. I guess I'm just putting it out there. And as I write it, I'm sorry I like to begin sentences with and, I begin to believe it more, and I begin to panic.
But, I also like to begin sentences with but, I also know what God has been reminding me of lately. The desire to be a mother, the desire to have children, and to create a family, is a desire that glorifies God. Its a desire that God created. When I begin to make it more important than him however, when I think that it isn't going to work out, I believe that God doesn't have control, then it becomes an idol. However, when I believe that it is a desire that comes from God, then I know I don't have to worry about it. I know that He will work it out in His timing and His way. The wondeful thing is, that if I leave it up to Him to fulfill, well then two children are just as great as six, and its okay if that's all I have. Its a desire that comes from Him, so I don't have to worry about it. He'll glorify Himself. He doesn't need my help. That doesn't mean I'm going to meet a guy tomorrow, it means that its okay if I don't.
So I started it back. Your turn :)
So where do I begin? I don't have a devotional, a song, or even a Bible verse. But, I have the lie that I've been believing lately, and the truth that God is revealing to me. So, this isn't anything new, I've been struggling with it for a while. I'm an art major. An art major doesn't lead to a specific job. I hope I can get a job at an art gallery in Charleston, but that's not guaranteed. Other than that, it feels like you have to go to grad school to get a job with an art major. I've been looking for jobs on-line, and it seems like I'm not even prepared for a secretary job. Here's the beginning of the lie I'm believing, that I'm a smart girl, but because I chose to be an art major, I have nothing that I am capable of doing. This lie leads me to think about the job that I'm sure I'm prepared for, the job that I am convinced I was created for: being a mother. Then I think about my age, 23. For as long as I can remember, okay, maybe that's an exageration, but since eighth or ninth grade, I've thought okay, I have this many years to wait until Ann became a wife, and this many years to wait until Mom became a wife. I'm now two years past the year that Ann became a wife, and maybe a year away from when she had her first child. I'm still five years away from when Mom became a wife, and seven away from when she became a mother. And here's what I begin to think. Mom says to this day that she wishes she could have had more children. But she didn't get started until she was 29 or 30 because she didn't get married until she was 28. I want 4 to 6 children. So I start to think, I'm running out of time. I need to have a year to date, then I need to have a year to be engaged. Then I need two years at least, just to be married. Okay, so if I meet my husband tomorrow, well then I'll be at least 28 before I can have a child. I'm running out of time!!!
So those are the thoughts, the lies, that are running through my head. I struggle with them on a daily basis. I guess I'm just putting it out there. And as I write it, I'm sorry I like to begin sentences with and, I begin to believe it more, and I begin to panic.
But, I also like to begin sentences with but, I also know what God has been reminding me of lately. The desire to be a mother, the desire to have children, and to create a family, is a desire that glorifies God. Its a desire that God created. When I begin to make it more important than him however, when I think that it isn't going to work out, I believe that God doesn't have control, then it becomes an idol. However, when I believe that it is a desire that comes from God, then I know I don't have to worry about it. I know that He will work it out in His timing and His way. The wondeful thing is, that if I leave it up to Him to fulfill, well then two children are just as great as six, and its okay if that's all I have. Its a desire that comes from Him, so I don't have to worry about it. He'll glorify Himself. He doesn't need my help. That doesn't mean I'm going to meet a guy tomorrow, it means that its okay if I don't.
So I started it back. Your turn :)
Monday, April 13, 2009
Just wanted to say...
That I miss our blog :( I pretty much blew it, it was my turn to write and I didn't. But I miss ya'll, well I miss you Danielle, I see Kate, but I miss our blogging. What do you think? Should we pick it back up?
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
it's been a while...
hi friends,
i'm glad to be back into the swing of school and the blog. probably from middle school on, i have kept some kind of either "diary" or prayer journal. and every once in a while i like looking back at those and not only laughing hysterically, but thinking how gracious and faithful my Heavenly Father is and has been. although i haven't experienced immense trials and hardships, i have been through those little "dramas" and uncertainties in life, and feelings of loneliness and all sorts of emotions (anger, bitterness, etc.). it's great to look back at those days and kindof ponder on them and laugh about them all at the same time...but mostly i like pondering over them and seeing how the Lord has been leading me the whole way. as kate said, i focus so much on the today that i forget the bigger picture...of purpose, of desiring the will of Him who has created me and brought me through life so far, and i get so zoned in on myself that it's easy to forget the Lord is constantly whispering "I am here, guiding you...I've been here the whole time". the past few weeks have been so incredibly busy, where it's been so easy to settle into that busy-ness and forget about delighting in the Lord and just sitting down and spending time getting to know Him more. i love those days at starbucks or even sitting in my bed, where i can completely focus on the Word...when i'm intentional about seeking Him. it made me almost jealous thinking you were at cambridge doing just that, kate! i constantly battle with trusting the Lord and opening up all parts of my life to Him, and letting Him become my King in reigning over every single problem, relationship, friendship, action, word, etc. i see also every day that i need Him...i want to know Him, i want to know more of Him and have HIM fill me and acknowledge that He is the only One that CAN fill my longings and desires. it's tough when there is that constant battle of submitting but wanting what we want...and then i remember He's done everything needed for us to be right with Him, we simply need to go to Him and believe that. as i think of more thoughts to share, i'll add them to the blog! i think this is all for now...leaving ya'll with some quotes/verses.
"all my lifelong i had panted for a drink from some cool spring, that i hoped would quench the burning of the thirst i felt within. hallelujah! He has found me, the One my soul so long has craved! Jesus satisfies all my longings, through His blood i now am saved.
feeding on the filth around me, till' my strength was almost gone, longed my soul for something better, only still to hunger on. poor i was and sought for riches something that would satisfy; but the dust i gathered round me, only mocked my soul's sad cry. Hallelujah! He has found me, the One my soul so long has craved! Jesus satisfies all my longings, through His blood i now am saved. well of water, ever springing, Bread of Life so rich and free, untold wealth that never faileth, my Redeemer is to me! hallelujah! He has found me, the One my soul so long has craved! Jesus satisfies all my longings, through His blood i now am saved." - satisfied
"by faith we see, as in a mirror dimly, the reflected image of His unbounded treasures, but when we actually see the heavenly things themselves, with our own eyes, how deep will be the stream of fellowship in which our soul shall bathe! until then, our loudest songs shall be reserved for our loving benefactor, Jesus Christ our Lord, whose love to us is wonderful, surpassing the love of a man for a woman". - spurgeon "morning and evening"
i'm glad to be back into the swing of school and the blog. probably from middle school on, i have kept some kind of either "diary" or prayer journal. and every once in a while i like looking back at those and not only laughing hysterically, but thinking how gracious and faithful my Heavenly Father is and has been. although i haven't experienced immense trials and hardships, i have been through those little "dramas" and uncertainties in life, and feelings of loneliness and all sorts of emotions (anger, bitterness, etc.). it's great to look back at those days and kindof ponder on them and laugh about them all at the same time...but mostly i like pondering over them and seeing how the Lord has been leading me the whole way. as kate said, i focus so much on the today that i forget the bigger picture...of purpose, of desiring the will of Him who has created me and brought me through life so far, and i get so zoned in on myself that it's easy to forget the Lord is constantly whispering "I am here, guiding you...I've been here the whole time". the past few weeks have been so incredibly busy, where it's been so easy to settle into that busy-ness and forget about delighting in the Lord and just sitting down and spending time getting to know Him more. i love those days at starbucks or even sitting in my bed, where i can completely focus on the Word...when i'm intentional about seeking Him. it made me almost jealous thinking you were at cambridge doing just that, kate! i constantly battle with trusting the Lord and opening up all parts of my life to Him, and letting Him become my King in reigning over every single problem, relationship, friendship, action, word, etc. i see also every day that i need Him...i want to know Him, i want to know more of Him and have HIM fill me and acknowledge that He is the only One that CAN fill my longings and desires. it's tough when there is that constant battle of submitting but wanting what we want...and then i remember He's done everything needed for us to be right with Him, we simply need to go to Him and believe that. as i think of more thoughts to share, i'll add them to the blog! i think this is all for now...leaving ya'll with some quotes/verses.
"all my lifelong i had panted for a drink from some cool spring, that i hoped would quench the burning of the thirst i felt within. hallelujah! He has found me, the One my soul so long has craved! Jesus satisfies all my longings, through His blood i now am saved.
feeding on the filth around me, till' my strength was almost gone, longed my soul for something better, only still to hunger on. poor i was and sought for riches something that would satisfy; but the dust i gathered round me, only mocked my soul's sad cry. Hallelujah! He has found me, the One my soul so long has craved! Jesus satisfies all my longings, through His blood i now am saved. well of water, ever springing, Bread of Life so rich and free, untold wealth that never faileth, my Redeemer is to me! hallelujah! He has found me, the One my soul so long has craved! Jesus satisfies all my longings, through His blood i now am saved." - satisfied
"by faith we see, as in a mirror dimly, the reflected image of His unbounded treasures, but when we actually see the heavenly things themselves, with our own eyes, how deep will be the stream of fellowship in which our soul shall bathe! until then, our loudest songs shall be reserved for our loving benefactor, Jesus Christ our Lord, whose love to us is wonderful, surpassing the love of a man for a woman". - spurgeon "morning and evening"
tough day pt.2
first of all, read the post below this one first!
just so you know, as i write this, there are 2 boys meeting and discussing the word directly in front of me and reading a book by JC Ryle. 2 more from the previous post and 2 behind me. it must be "every cute boy meet and discuss the Word at cambridge" day. hmm. just my luck.
so, i just had a revelation. i am reading Spurgeon's morning. he says...
"There is a fullness of triumph in His ascension, for 'when He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and received gifts for men'... Come, believer, and receive largely, for this 'fullness' is inexhaustible, and is treasured up where all the needy may reach it, even in Jesus, Immanuel - God with us."
ok, so i am going to try to word this correctly. what's going through my mind. the devotion comes from the verse, "and of His fullness have all we received." - john 1:16. so, as i see all of these guys who are seeking His Word... i think, these boys are seeking Him. i am impressed with them and want to be with them (partially) because they are seeking Him. they don't have what i want. the Lord hopefully will use them in the lives of women to point women to Him. and hopefully there will be a man one day to do that for me... to guide me and to lead me and to be my partner. but it is all for Christ. and these guys, by sitting and searching the Word are saying, i need Him. i need who He is and what He has to offer. so, i sit here and am thinking... i need Him. i don't need these guys and they don't have what i want. they can't give me this longing that is going on inside of me. that comes from the Lord. He is fullness of all that i need or could ask for or could desire. and my prayer this morning is that i would believe that. that my eyes would not be so focused on what is today... on what may occur on this earth but on my Heavenly Father and how He wants me to point others to Him. praise God for revealing that to me... i will continue to search for His truth.
“God is the ultimate musician. His music transforms your life. The notes of redemption rearrange your heart and restore your life. His songs of forgiveness, grace, reconciliation, truth, hope, sovereignty, and love give you back your humanity and restore your identity.” - paul tripp
“God did not create us to get the cosmic, infinite joy of mutual love and glorification, but to share it. We were to join in the dance. If we center our lives on him, serving him not out of self-interest, but for the sake of who he is, for the sake of his beauty and glory, we will enter the dance and share in the joy and love he lives in. We were designed, then, not just for belief in God in some general way, nor for a vague kind of inspiration or spirituality. We were made to center our lives upon him, to make the purpose and passion of our lives knowing, serving, delighting, and resembling him. This growth in happiness will go on eternally, increasing unimaginably (1 Corinthians 2:7-10).”
- Timothy Keller, The Reason For God
"I don't want to talk about You like You're not in the room
I want to look right at You I want to sing right to You
I believe that You are listening
I believe that You move at the sound of my voice
Give me dove's eyes
Give me undistracted devotion for only You"
- dove's eyes, misty edwards
just so you know, as i write this, there are 2 boys meeting and discussing the word directly in front of me and reading a book by JC Ryle. 2 more from the previous post and 2 behind me. it must be "every cute boy meet and discuss the Word at cambridge" day. hmm. just my luck.
so, i just had a revelation. i am reading Spurgeon's morning. he says...
"There is a fullness of triumph in His ascension, for 'when He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and received gifts for men'... Come, believer, and receive largely, for this 'fullness' is inexhaustible, and is treasured up where all the needy may reach it, even in Jesus, Immanuel - God with us."
ok, so i am going to try to word this correctly. what's going through my mind. the devotion comes from the verse, "and of His fullness have all we received." - john 1:16. so, as i see all of these guys who are seeking His Word... i think, these boys are seeking Him. i am impressed with them and want to be with them (partially) because they are seeking Him. they don't have what i want. the Lord hopefully will use them in the lives of women to point women to Him. and hopefully there will be a man one day to do that for me... to guide me and to lead me and to be my partner. but it is all for Christ. and these guys, by sitting and searching the Word are saying, i need Him. i need who He is and what He has to offer. so, i sit here and am thinking... i need Him. i don't need these guys and they don't have what i want. they can't give me this longing that is going on inside of me. that comes from the Lord. He is fullness of all that i need or could ask for or could desire. and my prayer this morning is that i would believe that. that my eyes would not be so focused on what is today... on what may occur on this earth but on my Heavenly Father and how He wants me to point others to Him. praise God for revealing that to me... i will continue to search for His truth.
“God is the ultimate musician. His music transforms your life. The notes of redemption rearrange your heart and restore your life. His songs of forgiveness, grace, reconciliation, truth, hope, sovereignty, and love give you back your humanity and restore your identity.” - paul tripp
“God did not create us to get the cosmic, infinite joy of mutual love and glorification, but to share it. We were to join in the dance. If we center our lives on him, serving him not out of self-interest, but for the sake of who he is, for the sake of his beauty and glory, we will enter the dance and share in the joy and love he lives in. We were designed, then, not just for belief in God in some general way, nor for a vague kind of inspiration or spirituality. We were made to center our lives upon him, to make the purpose and passion of our lives knowing, serving, delighting, and resembling him. This growth in happiness will go on eternally, increasing unimaginably (1 Corinthians 2:7-10).”
- Timothy Keller, The Reason For God
"I don't want to talk about You like You're not in the room
I want to look right at You I want to sing right to You
I believe that You are listening
I believe that You move at the sound of my voice
Give me dove's eyes
Give me undistracted devotion for only You"
- dove's eyes, misty edwards
tough day pt. 1
hey guys. so, i really do not know if i have much to say. but, this morning i am sitting at cambridge coffee. do you ever have those nights where you just really long for a guy so bad? last night, i literally could not sleep because i wanted someone there so bad, and i knew that the next day would not bring someone. some days i am completely fine and content and just resting in where the Lord has me right now. and some days, i just want a boyfriend so bad. so, i tossed and turned wanting to go ahead and be in daylight. yes, morning always helps. it is always so much better... things are put into perspective and my mind is clear to speak to God and to hear from Him and His Word. so, i went to cambridge coffee. i even skip class, because i couldn't sleep well and have no desire to go, whatsoever, and i have several free misses. so, i'm in cambridge. what do you know, i walk into about 10 boys sitting around the couch having bible study. i believe it is a fraternity bible study and everything this leader guy is saying is very solid. and i'm sitting behind two other individual boys, of siginifigant cuteness, and they're just hanging out, studying their bible. so, the leader gets up and they all disperse and the leader looks older, wiser, and so handsome and he is definitely carrying the book, Prodigal God. i am like, really? really? i practically wanted to leap on one of them... but do not worry i constrained myself. so, this morning, i am going to try to spend some intimate time with Christ. i am going to really dig deep into who He is and find out the fullness of what He has to offer apart from any cute boy who may be a Keller fan. i will let you know what comes of my time.
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