February 26, 2009
Wherever you are,
be all there.
Live to the hilt every situation that you believe to be the will of God!
-Jim Elliot
February 25, 2009
February 23, 2009
February 21, 2009
My friend Karen sent this to me. Oh so helpful!
February 19, 2009
"If we give the impression that the main effect of Christianity is to make us miserable, then it is not surprising that ninety per cent of the people are outside the Christian church. 'Miserable Christians,' they say, 'look at them!' And they add that they have life, they have joy, they have fullness. Shame on us Christian people! But it is not merely a question of saying shame on us. What a terrible responsibility is ours if we are so misrepresenting this 'glorious gospel of the blessed God' (1 Timothy 1:11). We are meant to be witnesses to all people that we are filled to overflowing. We are meant to show the truth of the psalmist's words: 'My cup runneth over!' (Psalm 23:5)." D. Martyn-Lloyd Jones
The more we enjoy of God, the more we are ravished with delight.
—Thomas Watson
Can you guess what the Lord is working on in my life? :)
Some of you know how BIG this is!! My friend Teri recently sent me a link to the Autism Foundation of the Carolina's website. They are offering a week long camp for kids with Autism or cognitive issues- with the sole purpose of training kids how to ride bikes. We have been working with Miri for years with no success so the camp sounded great! Since the camp isn't until the summer we thought... let's try it again now and Praise the Lord-it's a miracle! She is riding!! God is so good!
I'm feeling a bit under the weather today so stayed home and listened to John Piper's message -What is the Recession For. Reason #3 is where I needed to stay! Here are the highlights...
What is this recession for??
#3-The Lord intends to relocate the roots of our joy...
- in His grace and not in our goods
- in His mercy and not in our money
- in His worth and not in our wealth
God sends recessions to yank up the roots of our joy from the pleasures of the world and plant them in the glory of His grace. (Imagine all the roots in this picture being rooted in things of this world. Thank you Lord for the yanking!)
Piper shares this supporting scripture.
2 Corinthians 8:1-2
1We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
Did their joy come from their prosperity? No. Their recession was abounding as was their joy!!
Where did their joy come from? The grace of God! What does the grace of God look like? It looks like abundant joy in the midst of poverty, overflowing with a heart of generosity.
Are you stunned by the grace of God that He loves you, that He forgives you, that He stays by you, that He keeps holding onto you, that He promises to bring you home to glory and you can hardly imagine a God so kind that you want to give and give to people in need?
Where are the roots of our joy? In our finances? In earthly security? Thank the Lord for jerking up these roots in times such as these! We may find our security in the firm, solid, unshakable grace of God!
Colossians 2:6-7
And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness!
February 14, 2009
Wachovia/Wells Fargo gave free tickets to Discovery Place today so Bill, Miri and I along with Miri's dear friend Alina spent most of the day there! We had a wonderful time :).
February 14, 2009
February 13, 2009
February 10, 2009
February 9, 2009
Tomorrow is Bill's 51st birthday! Due to our schedules- we celebrated early.
We were all so excited about giving Bill his gift this year! For those of you who know my dear husband, he has a glorious sense of adventure. He would typically go and do anything for the Lord- BUT we most likely would take a 'Dad shortcut' on the way! Each of our kids have many, many stories to tell of these 'short (long) cuts'! Soooooo....when we received a gift certificate for Circuit City- we decided use it and pool our monies to purchase something that would be life changing... a GPS. It really is a gift to the boys :)... but Dad is a great sport and was really excited!!
Happy Birthday Honey!! We love you!
February 8, 2009
February 6, 2009
A miracle happened today! We were told it was next to impossible that our leak was within 5 feet from the water main. Because we really didn't want to pay the over $4,000 to replace our water line we asked the water company to look. Sure enough- the leak was a little over 4 feet from the water main! I yelled "Thank you Lord!" to which one of the drivers replied "Yes, praise you Jesus!-Isn't God a good provider?" Oh Amen and Amen!
Yes- I took pictures!
February 5, 2009
Have you ever had one of 'those' days? Yesterday began with a speeding ticket. I didn't pay attention that the speed limit reduced from 55 to 45. The day ended when my dear friend Libby told me that her mother is indeed dying of stage 4 cancer. She buried her father only 2 months ago.
In between were water main leak issues and strep throat.
In times like these I battle to keep my eyes on the Lord. Spurgeon helps...
"Look into the face of the Crucified. Perhaps you have sometimes wished that he were now visible, and in body accessible to you. That sympathizing One who has suffered so much for you! You have said, "Oh! that I might go and tell him my griefs, and get his help!" He is alive. He is here. He is not far from any one that seeketh him. Whosoever trusteth shall surely find Christ to be his very present help in time of trouble. Believe this, and thou shalt prove it true."
I believe!
February 4, 2009
February 1, 2009
