What am I holding back?

11-8-13

Jesus wants everything.  I cannot count the costs and say, "well...I'll just keep this one thing for my life."  NO! What am I holding back?

You shall love the Lord 

your God with all

your heart and with 

all your soul

and with all your mind

If I let go of everything for him, he'll naturally become my obsession.  

At the same time, he commands me to love others.  This is a ridiculous task..if I'm living a life of self.

I prayed that God would show me what he wants me to do today.  I think he wants me to avoid petty arguing and to look after those being unjustly treated.  I don't know how to treat the other guys when they pick on __________.  I need the Lord's wisdom for that.   

Mark and Ben's "Everything" by Lighthouse 

God's Smile

1-11-13 part 2

--I will behold your face.  When I live how you've shown me, when I act out of the love we have, you rejoice.  And I will feel your wonderful smile!  In the midst of darkness, of painful trials, I will be tempted to succumb to hopelessness, to bitterness.  But if I have even an inkling of faith towards you, I will feel your joy; I will feel you smiling over me.  That can sustain me through anything.  There is nothing greater than knowing you rejoice over me and you are proud of me.  The more I abandon myself to you, the more I will see your smile.  

Winds of Testing

11-11-13

Psalm 11
--You are my refuge
--Because you are my solace, evil cannot touch my soul
--You, the all-powerful God, are my protector; therefore, I can be joyful forever

--You test me.  Trials will come that you will not simply take away.  But, "You know the way that I take; when you have tried me, I shall come out as gold." (Job 23:10) I need to be faithful.  Under testing, don't let me forget who you are and what you've done for me.  For if I endure, if I hold to you, I will emerge from the test as gold.  Refined, strong, sound in my understanding of You.  Oh come winds of testing, that I may fall more in love with God.  

Silent

May 6, 2014

Evening

I realized tonight when I'm deliberately silent and deliberately listening, I learn to love.  When someone's speaking and I care about them and their story and I'm not trying to come up with a joke or anecdote then I begin to love them.  Because then I value them above myself. 

The World is a Love Song

5-5-14

It adds so much color to life to be in love with God.  I've written before that our feelings about a gift completely change depending on who gave it to us.  It's the same with God.  The sun filtering through the trees outside my window right now is beautiful, yes, but to know that the Lord made that beauty out of love for me blows my mind.  

Suddenly, the world is a love song, and I realize that the Lord knows exactly how to blow my mind, what it takes.  And when I look around and see that beauty, I realize just how close God is :)

"You have captivated my heart with one glance of your eyes..." Song of Songs 4:9

The Best Life Possible

May 14, 2014

The fact that I can trust God with my life is such a beautiful thing.  On the beach last night, I was bummed...And then the faith hit, and I was reminded that God will use the points in my life to which my circumstances have brought me as tools to give me the best life possible.  And that's a wonderful thing. 

In him you also are 

being built together

into a dwelling place for God

by the Spirit

Eph. 2:22

Serious Faith

4-28-14

Sometimes, loving Jesus is easy.  The days are beautiful, people are getting along, I'm hearing a ton of good news.  But sometimes, loving Him takes some serious faith.  It becomes not a state of bliss, but a determined pursuit that's just as rewarding.  Sometimes it's a struggle, but He'll never deny me His love.