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"As we know Jesus better, His divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life.
He has called us to receive His own glory and goodness!" - 2 Peter 1:3 NLT ***** Read that verse. One more time. There are some truths that truly shed light --- on everything. Every aspect of life. This verse is one of those truths that I find speaks in such weight and to such depth that you cannot leave from reading it without a bigger understanding of God's amazing power in our lives..... if we allow that power to be at work in us. "Now glory be to God! By His mighty power at work within us, He is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. May He be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages. Amen." - Ephesians 3:20-21 NLT
This is where it's at. This is what matters. Allowing God's truth to work in us to cultivate our hearts to be full of life and then we will be effective. *** Yesterday was a day filled with reconciliation for me. I was able to meet with a couple of old friends who I never would have thought I could have spent good quality time with. The conversations were good... and I really feel as though maybe last year I wouldn't have been able to do that. God is working in my life to forgive and to show grace. It's so vital to life. Life... I am deciding to choose life and not death. Blessings and not cursings! "I can't really say why everybody wishes they were somewhere else, but in the end the only steps that matter are the ones you take all by yourself." - The Weepies
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Hey xanga. It's been a while. :) I guess I haven't written here for a while because I haven't felt the push of inspiration to the extent of extending my words into form online. But tonight, I believe I have reached that place. :) Life has been really really good lately. Everything seems to be coming right along for me. Maybe not to an outsider, but to me - it totally is. There has been so much healing for me in this past year.. I really cannot put it into words that justify the depth. A sincere joy has been reestablished in me... in the core of me. I look back and see the vast distance from where I was and where I am today.. here.. now.. presently. The job-front may not come across so hot to an outsider either - but I feel God has brought me to a place of trust that I can't really describe either. In the past five months (of losing my fulltime job at Cat), I have seen God's financial provision... in abundance. Seriously. It's amazing.. and encouraging. I'm reminding myself even now of that. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding..." (Prov. 3:5-6). I'm just really enjoying life again. Tonight was the finale 2-hour show of Grey's Anatomy. Anyone who is a fan of that show understands the depth of the messages sent through the episodes... but tonight was just a great wrap-up for me. In the end, it challenges you to tell the people you love that you love them. To cherish your today.. because you never know what may happen tomorrow. It's so true though. I was watching the show with my (not-so) little sis (who is probably more grownup than I right now).. and it kind of hit me -- to make sure that those who matter to me, know it. So, I guess I just wanted to pass that message along. :) I love the beauty of life. I'm reading a great book right now (called "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert) - my sister let me borrow it. In it, the writer shares her experiences in three very different places (Italy, India & Indonesia) - and her journey to find God and the deeper things of life. It's been pretty good. I'm one who loves the deeper things of life. Hopefully I can gain an ear to hear deeper truths as time goes by. And for now, I'm working on the ones I've discovered thus far. ;) | | |
| Restoration.. constant revelation.
"But forget all that - it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.
For I am about to do a brand-new thing.
See, I have already begun!
Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness for My people to come home.
I will create rivers for them in the desert!" - Isaiah 43:18 *RESTORATION | 1. | the act of restoring; renewal, revival, or reestablishment. |
| 2. | the state or fact of being restored. |
| 3. | a return of something to a former, original, normal, or unimpaired condition. |
| 4. | restitution of something taken away or lost. |
| 5. | something that is restored, as by renovating. |
| 6. | a reconstruction or reproduction of an ancient building, extinct animal, or the like, showing it in its original state. |
| 7. | a putting back into a former position, dignity, etc. |
.... I was reading in "Velvet Elvis" today and in the very last chapter Bell talks about restoration.
I couldn't help but give a little laugh. God has that amazing way of giving us confirmation... and I love it. I'm truly experiencing restoration... and I'm utterly thankful and grateful. Here are some lyrics from Brandon Heath ("Don't Get Comfortable")... good stuff. Comfortable, don’t get comfortable.
I am gonna’ move this mountain then I’m gonna move you in. Yesterday, this is not yesterday.
You were standing on my shoulders now; you’re standing on the edge.
You’ve been looking for a sign all this time. I am gonna show you what I mean
I am gonna love like you’ve never seen
You are gonna live like you used to dream
This is your new song So afraid but you don’t have to be afraid
Even if you make mistakes
You know that I’ll remain
You’ve been looking for a sign all this time.
If you seek you’ll find me every time.... | | |
| Restoration. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LcyQOLVS_U Please checkout this song on You Tube. Thank God that He is the God of restoration. | | |
| The future is now.
"You'll need to fight the thief that would steal your Lover's gifts to you outright." - John & Stacey Eldredge ("Captivating" - p. 125) *** I know I've posted this picture before. Possibly a few times, even.. but I love it. God desires the best for us. His desire is for us to have a strong, true, pure relationship with Him.
Knowing the depth of His love for us, being attentive to His voice and aware of His hand..
Seeking His heart, knowing His truth - the only Truth.
I just finished "Captivating" last week... and seriously am glad I picked it up (thanks, Haley, for being the first one to recommend it!). It has been so refreshing for my spirit. I can feel it. It was perfect timing too.
It seems like EVERYTHING has been in perfect timing lately. As I've been devoting more time to investing in the Word and in tools to help me spiritually, it's like God has been confirming all that He is doing in me. I'm definitely more aware of my deep need for God.
I feel like I've always known, since I was very young... but it's different.
It's like I know that without God, I am truly missing out on everything that matters.
I love how patient and tender God is with me.. and with all of us. I truly believe that there is so much truth that is staring us in the face... but it's only when our hearts are aware and hungry to come to that knowledge that we will come to understand it.
God is always speaking.. and my heart's true desire is to truly be aware of that and truly investing time into hearing what He is saying. I've been told I should write a book by several people (whom I respect)... and I think it's not such a bad idea.
I kind of always thought I would someday... but I feel something deep in me that is stirring and I really think I will!
Live is such an amazing journey.. and I'm honored to be sharing it with (all of) you. | | |
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