Saturday, January 30, 2010
a stirring.
There is so much going on around me~ some I am very aware of and some I am not. The Lord has been speaking to me about my purposeful existence and what that means for me. My spirit has been wrestling with this concept all week, fighting for self, when that is the opposite of my purpose.I can no longer do it on my own. Jim Cymbala,says in his book, Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, "the devil in not terribly frightened of our human efforts and credentials. But he knows his kingdom will be damaged when we begin to lift our hearts to God." He likes to whisper to me, "don't call, don't ask, don't depend on God to do great things- you'll get along just fine if you just rely on your own cleverness and energy. Well guess what...I'm all out. I don't want to do things on my own. I want my Fathers leading, I want to experience God's closeness, I want to focus vertically rather than horizontally, reaching to Him rather than reaching out on my own. I have been brought to my knees and forced to look into the mirror at my futile attempts to do the work of the Holy Spirit. My heart has been ignited with a fresh fire to experience God's mercy, power, and love as though for the first time!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
The Last Drop
Do you ever notice perfume in the air? The waft that lingers after a friend leaves the room? Or, a promise of spring coming from the lilac candle in the living room? Pass by a stranger, and if she’s wearing your mother’s old scent, you’re immediately transported to another place and another time.
Three of the four gospels record a tender moment between the Lord Jesus and his friend, Mary of Bethany, a short time before Christ’ death. While He’s at dinner, Mary arrives and proceeds to pour an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume on his head. This is a rather unexpected turn of events, to say the least. The gospel of John adds that she also poured the perfume on his feet, then wiped them with her, apparently, unbound hair.
I’ve been thinking about that moment, trying to play it out in my mind. I wonder where Mary got the perfume; how long had she had it? I wonder what she did the first time the thought came to her to pour her perfume out over Jesus’ feet. Did she push it aside, thinking it would be crazy? Did she busy herself with something—anything—else to make the thought go away? What went through her mind as she resolved to follow through? I have to imagine that the walk from where the perfume was kept to the point at which she fell at Jesus’ feet felt, regardless of the distance, as if it were an endless journey. I even wonder how long the fragrance lingered in the home following that evening as a reminder of what she had done.
She did what she could, when she should, with all that she had…regardless of what those around her murmured. And her Savior read her heart. Turning to those around them, He prophesies, “I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
The Scriptures tell us that God prepares us in advance for good works in Christ. He gives us the design, the desire, the resources and His results. May we follow Marys' example, pouring out our all for Him. May we, in fact, be “to God the aroma of Christ” and the fragrance of life to those around us.
Three of the four gospels record a tender moment between the Lord Jesus and his friend, Mary of Bethany, a short time before Christ’ death. While He’s at dinner, Mary arrives and proceeds to pour an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume on his head. This is a rather unexpected turn of events, to say the least. The gospel of John adds that she also poured the perfume on his feet, then wiped them with her, apparently, unbound hair.
I’ve been thinking about that moment, trying to play it out in my mind. I wonder where Mary got the perfume; how long had she had it? I wonder what she did the first time the thought came to her to pour her perfume out over Jesus’ feet. Did she push it aside, thinking it would be crazy? Did she busy herself with something—anything—else to make the thought go away? What went through her mind as she resolved to follow through? I have to imagine that the walk from where the perfume was kept to the point at which she fell at Jesus’ feet felt, regardless of the distance, as if it were an endless journey. I even wonder how long the fragrance lingered in the home following that evening as a reminder of what she had done.
She did what she could, when she should, with all that she had…regardless of what those around her murmured. And her Savior read her heart. Turning to those around them, He prophesies, “I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
The Scriptures tell us that God prepares us in advance for good works in Christ. He gives us the design, the desire, the resources and His results. May we follow Marys' example, pouring out our all for Him. May we, in fact, be “to God the aroma of Christ” and the fragrance of life to those around us.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Shedding
I don't have much time right now to sit down and fill you in on all the emotions and thoughts I have had over the last 12 days, so I will just stick with the basics until I can return to gather my thoughts.
I lost 6 pounds int he first week!
I am still shedding the pounds!
I feel good!
My clothes are fitting loose!
And....
Only 4 days left until I weigh in again and start phase 2!
Love to all!
I lost 6 pounds int he first week!
I am still shedding the pounds!
I feel good!
My clothes are fitting loose!
And....
Only 4 days left until I weigh in again and start phase 2!
Love to all!
Sunday, January 3, 2010
The New Year is Here!
Ready or not...here it is...2010! I don't know about you but I am SO ready! Bring it on! I read this devotional the other day and I thought it was well worth sharing. I found it to be refreshing especially as we lift up our bold prayer requests to God for the coming year.
Even though we assume you are very familiar with 1 Corinthians 13, we recommend a different, perhaps novel, approach to this wonderful passage: rather than looking at it as a series of commands, consider looking at it first as a sneak preview of what we'll see when we finally gaze upon [Jesus] "face to face" (1 Cor. 13:12). Rather than automatically asking, "What does this passage tell me to do?" let's ask, "What do these verses tell me about God's love for me through Christ?" We have taken the liberty to paraphrase the passage with that emphasis to help you see what we mean:
As the author of language and as God's Living Word, Jesus can speak in the tongues of men and angels, and yet he condescends to speak simple words that nourish, soothe, and delight our souls. He knows the past and the future, understands all mysteries and knowledge; has all faith and reigns as Ruler over all; and yet, his love caused him to humble himself and remove our mountain of sin. Because of his love, we who are nothing have become "beloved." He gave away what was rightfully his, humbled himself, and delivered up his body to be burned in the scorching furnace of the wrath of his Father.
Jesus is patient and kind; he doesn't envy and boast. When faced with Satan's temptation to prove his Godhead in the wilderness and on the cross, he never showed off his power. He was utterly humble. He wasn't arrogant or rude, railing on the disciples, deserting them because of their selfish ambition. He isn't arrogant or rude with us either. When standing before his accusers he didn't insist that they treat him with respect, nor did he proudly demand their accolades. He was silent, like a lamb before her shearers. The humble King of heaven wore a crown of thorns and a purple cloak. He is never irritable or resentful, picking away at every little foible he sees. In love, his blood covers our multitudinous sins.
He doesn't gleefully rejoice when you sin, glad to finally have an opportunity to give you your comeuppance. He rejoices when you believe the truth, not simply the truth about you--that you are sinful and flawed--but also the truth about him--that he loves and welcomes you. Out of love for you, he bears all things. He has unflinching faith and hope in your transformation because he knows the power of his love. He knows that one day he will bring you to be with himself. He has endured and continues to endure all things out of love for you. His love never ends. Never.
Ten zillion years from now, when he has had time to really see what sort of person you are, his love won't have worn out. In fact, he knows you through and through right now and loves you all the same. Your shameful secrets cannot shock or repel him. His love never ends. One day we will see him face-to-face and then we will fully understand, for the first time, what real love looks like.
Even though we assume you are very familiar with 1 Corinthians 13, we recommend a different, perhaps novel, approach to this wonderful passage: rather than looking at it as a series of commands, consider looking at it first as a sneak preview of what we'll see when we finally gaze upon [Jesus] "face to face" (1 Cor. 13:12). Rather than automatically asking, "What does this passage tell me to do?" let's ask, "What do these verses tell me about God's love for me through Christ?" We have taken the liberty to paraphrase the passage with that emphasis to help you see what we mean:
As the author of language and as God's Living Word, Jesus can speak in the tongues of men and angels, and yet he condescends to speak simple words that nourish, soothe, and delight our souls. He knows the past and the future, understands all mysteries and knowledge; has all faith and reigns as Ruler over all; and yet, his love caused him to humble himself and remove our mountain of sin. Because of his love, we who are nothing have become "beloved." He gave away what was rightfully his, humbled himself, and delivered up his body to be burned in the scorching furnace of the wrath of his Father.
Jesus is patient and kind; he doesn't envy and boast. When faced with Satan's temptation to prove his Godhead in the wilderness and on the cross, he never showed off his power. He was utterly humble. He wasn't arrogant or rude, railing on the disciples, deserting them because of their selfish ambition. He isn't arrogant or rude with us either. When standing before his accusers he didn't insist that they treat him with respect, nor did he proudly demand their accolades. He was silent, like a lamb before her shearers. The humble King of heaven wore a crown of thorns and a purple cloak. He is never irritable or resentful, picking away at every little foible he sees. In love, his blood covers our multitudinous sins.
He doesn't gleefully rejoice when you sin, glad to finally have an opportunity to give you your comeuppance. He rejoices when you believe the truth, not simply the truth about you--that you are sinful and flawed--but also the truth about him--that he loves and welcomes you. Out of love for you, he bears all things. He has unflinching faith and hope in your transformation because he knows the power of his love. He knows that one day he will bring you to be with himself. He has endured and continues to endure all things out of love for you. His love never ends. Never.
Ten zillion years from now, when he has had time to really see what sort of person you are, his love won't have worn out. In fact, he knows you through and through right now and loves you all the same. Your shameful secrets cannot shock or repel him. His love never ends. One day we will see him face-to-face and then we will fully understand, for the first time, what real love looks like.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Victory
I am continuing to have success, praise the Lord! I have not weighed in again-I am trying to hold off until Monday so the number lost will seem a little bigger to me. I can tell though that my clothes are fitting different. I feel different too! It's amazing how just a few pounds can make such a big difference.
We went to a friends house last night to play cards/games and of course eat and neither Chris or myself slipped on our eating plan. We stuck to it and it wasn't that difficult-we felt victorious!
Looking forward to Monday...
Love to all!
We went to a friends house last night to play cards/games and of course eat and neither Chris or myself slipped on our eating plan. We stuck to it and it wasn't that difficult-we felt victorious!
Looking forward to Monday...
Love to all!
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