Abundant Life

Debra speaks on "Radical Obedience". Thanks Debra, what great encouragement!

Man's unfaithful God's perfectly faithful. That is what I am learning through reading the OT Prophets such as Jeremiah and Hosea. It is amazing all of the parallels that we can make to our situations as Christians today to what God told Israel of old. We struggle with problems so similar yet more hidable...in that they are heart problems not so much outward idolatries as heart ones...even more subtle yet all the same as dangerous. My pastor just this Sunday referenced this saying that we in a similar way to the Israelites will proclaim loudly our loyalty to God while at the same time holding tight a secret idol inside our souls...thinking we are the only ones wiser...that God does not care about the idol(s) inside.
These books of prophecy however ~as well as the entire Bible for that matter-its all a love story between God and His people~have this heart issue at the forefront...Here are some quotes that will illistrate what I keep seeing repeated as a theme in God's call to His people ~come out from them and be set apart for Me...I will be your God and you will be My own~!

Jeremiah 3:12b`15
"Return, faithless Israel,' declares the LORD; 'I will not look upon you in anger. For I am gracious,' declares the LORD; 'I will not be angry forever. 'Only acknowledge your iniquity, That you have transgressed against the LORD your God And have scattered your favors to the strangers under every green tree, And you have not obeyed My voice,' declares the LORD. 'Return, O faithless sons,' declares the LORD; 'For I am a master to you, And I will take you one from a city and two from a family, And I will bring you to Zion.' "Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding."

Jeremiah 3:20-25

"Surely, as a woman treacherously departs from her lover, So you have dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel," declares the LORD. A voice is heard on the bare heights, The weeping {and} the supplications of the sons of Israel; Because they have perverted their way, They have forgotten the LORD their God. "Return, O faithless sons, I will heal your faithlessness." "Behold, we come to You; For You are the LORD our God. "Surely, the hills are a deception, A tumult {on} the mountains. Surely in the LORD our God Is the salvation of Israel. "But the shameful thing has consumed the labor of our fathers since our youth, their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters. "Let us lie down in our shame, and let our humiliation cover us; for we have sinned against the LORD our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even to this day. And we have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God."

Hosea 11:1-12
"When Israel was a child, I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son. As they called them, So they went from them; They sacrificed to the Baals, And burned incense to carved images. "I taught Ephraim to walk, Taking them by their arms; But they did not know that I healed them. I drew them with gentle cords, With bands of love, And I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. I stooped and fed them. "He shall not return to the land of Egypt; But the Assyrian shall be his king, Because they refused to repent. And the sword shall slash in his cities, Devour his districts, And consume them, Because of their own counsels. My people are bent on backsliding from Me. Though they call to the Most High, None at all exalt Him.

"How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I set you like Zeboiim? My heart churns within Me; My sympathy is stirred. I will not execute the fierceness of My anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim. For I am God, and not man, The Holy One in your midst; And I will not come with terror. "They shall walk after the Lord. He will roar like a lion. When He roars, Then His sons shall come trembling from the west; They shall come trembling like a bird from Egypt, Like a dove from the land of Assyria. And I will let them dwell in their houses," Says the Lord. "Ephraim has encircled Me with lies, And the house of Israel with deceit; But Judah still walks with God, Even with the Holy One who is faithful. "

God's faithfulness...may it always amaze and encourage us!

Today at Fresh Market a girl was having a tantrum fit. If such things annoy you. You may or may not want to read more.

She was shrieking...."I want it! Give it to mmeeee!!!" Her exasperated parents tried in vain to comfort the wailing child telling her you can't have your drink cause its glass and you could break it in the store..."NOO! Give me ittt!!" She would cry back. I was not surprised at her refusal to listen to her parents good judgement. Somehow it reminded me of my own lil girl heart. How quickly I fail to hear what my Father tells me in love. How often I think I know better! As How silly. I waited at my register for the couple and their red faced incensed girl saw the 4 year olds red face and was reminded of how similar it is to my own cries to God sometimes...or just inward thougts about things I think I "need" or really want right now. I someimes..ok oftentimes can long for things that will never satisfy me truly. God in His mercy tells me "thats not what you want...really...if you had that and put your happiness in it it would destroy you. I Am what your heart can only be satisfied with. I Am the Living Water which leave one's thirst quenched!" Then I realize again that the poeple I see every day where I work who obviously have their hearts set upon the things of this world...its lusts, desires, riches and pleasures are squandering their precious souls on that which cannot satisfy a heart meant for God. It can only leave them cut, broken deluded and empty in the long run...running from the very One who offers them Life abundant and free in Himself...His wounds that heal eternally. Love that frees one from the bonds of that which only entangles us and destroys if loved above God. Why is it that God's creation is so abused that it is loved above the CREATOR? Sin and Satan have warped things so much...now our very natures militate against that which blesses and heals us. Thankfully in Christ we are being renewed into His glorious image and therefore are no longer in chains to those same "old shrieks and tantrums" which the rest of the world is in bondage to. Now we have eyes to see the truth and preciousness of Christ and God and how He is the only true satisfaction for the human heart. Him alone. His love is incomparable. Heaven will reveal more of it...we are only recieving a taste here...but it is so sweet and filling. Through seeing that howling and foolishly non trusting lil girl I saw more of my own tendency to mistrust the very God who made me and holds me in life and gives me all things....He truly knows what satisfies our hearts...its not these earthly things or blessings its only a soul satisfaction in Him as our "best portion"!

I love this memory of feeding the deer by hand. It amazed me how gentle they are! I visited friends in Germany in 1998.I will never forget the trip. It was life changing.

...too many favorites! See for yourself! The slideshow and pictures are downloaded from people who belong to flikr...

More pictures here

They were quite entertaining this evening! They adored all the water and sun. Megan would stand directly in front of the sprinkler. Michael would only run by it. Megan is quite daring obviously.

Michael and Megan spent the afternoon at our house while Hilary set up for a garage sale. We laughed alot in the backyard as we watched their antics. They loved the water and the sunshine. One of the one liners that was used alot tonight was "don't bite your sister" and "don't bite your brother". It is obviously the hottest new trend in 1 and 2 year olds. Yeah right!

They are precious. Then they were whisked of for baths and to watch Winnie the Pooh...absolutely exhausted. Currently Michael is crying "Mommie" in the background...as we wait for him to drift of to sleep. Hopefully soon! There spending the night here tonight.
Eventful day. Maybe he'll quiet down soon. He needs sleep badly!!

Hammy
Originally uploaded by Lanc.

"I am weak, He is strong." Ok, those words from the old familiar "Jesus Loves me" just took on new significance to me. I came home sobered and well a lil beat down. I made two mistakes on my cashier drawer. And lets just say I feel HORRIBLE about it. 1. A lady told me she gave me $10.00 (I thought only $5 bill)she insisted it was $10...I gave her a $5 back blushing. Then at the end of the day I found out that I had really been given only 5...and so I gave her back too much and was under. The worst mistake was that someone walked off without paying for $37 worth of groceries! I feel to blame for the mix up...because I did not notice until several minutes later. The entier ordeal shook me up so much. I feel like a whole bunch of things...that I can't express. I hate letting the store down. I feel such loyalty to my managers and the staff. I don't want to mess up anything. My managers were really nice about it. Although one of them scared me at first, but later he said he was only joking. Despite the fact I am shaken and sad about it. But I know that God is so going to use this in my life. It is humbling to say the least.

The whole thing has made me realize how God has to throw cold water in my face to make me see things in my life...He has to like shake me up. I know He is doing it out of love...ultimately..but sometimes it dosn't feel like it in the process. Sometimes I feel like a child being put in time. But I know I should never dispise the discipline of the Lord because God chastens those He loves and accepts. I wouldn't be being made holy without it. The process of sanctification includes lots of discipline and trials~God knows we need them. What baffles me is that Jesus underwent them also. The Bible says He underwent "hardship as a son". Jesus was perfect but yet "learned obedience as a son" also. Wow...how much more do I need to learn obedience.

So there it is, a big blogger sigh/groan. Because sometimes as God's children on this side of Heaven all we can do is groan and sigh as we realize the seriousness of life and the hardship of discipline.. because we need it...and God loves us enough to give it. And the Spirit faithfully continues to minister His goodness to us throughout all seanons, both valley and mountain peak.

If we were perfect, how would we know what God's grace is?

I was reading Isaiah 66 and it made me think of how we are separated from God by our sins yet the relationship is healed by Christ's death...and that is God's grace giving us what we unutterably do not deserve. God lavishes love on the undeserving and calls us to do the same! Grace is a beautiful thing that comes in contact with the most ugly things and makes them beautiful.

Dos Pesos taking a bath
Originally uploaded by Stewart.

This made me laugh!

It is fascinating to see how people's lives are changed throughout the course of thier journey. This interview with singer Nichole Nordeman is a great example of how her life is not the same "afterwards".

"Duty looks more repelling at a distance than when fairly faced and met" (84).

"Having been pardoned by your God and Savior, the next thing you have to do is to show your gratitude for this infinite favor by consecrating your self entirely to Him, body, soul and Spirit. This is the least you can do. He has bought you with a price and you are no longer your own" (86).

"Remember that it is His will that you be sanctified and that the work of making you holy is His not yours. At the same time you are not to sit with folded hands, waiting for this blessing. You are to exercise faith in Him as just and able as willing to give you sanctification as He wants to give you redemption" (88).

"There is one thing that I can do, and that is pray that Jesus would do for me what He did for the blind man-put His hands yet again upon my eyes and make me see clearly. And I will" (90).

And my absolute favorite....so far at least....

1. "Be desirous of doing the will of another, rather than thine own."
2. "Choose always to have less, rather than more."
3. "Seek always the lowest place, and to be inferior to every one."
4. "Wish always and pray that the will of God may be wholly fulfilled in thee" (169).

I think that those 4 directions are of course quite challenging but also wonderful, in that, when they are followed a person is filled with joy. Focusing on self is a sure way to be miserable! Focus on God and others and joy begins to be abundant+!

Stepping Heavenward is by Elizabeth Prentiss

I'm back! I had an good break. It was nice to have a few extra free moments each day. Yet, they became occupied quickly also. I am finding that my priorities are the things that get done....period...no excuses. I have time for the things I make time for. Thats it and its simple...why do I seem to forget it so often?! Silly me.


Anyways I have been rereading a few favorite books while away. One of which is entitled "Stepping Heavenward" By Elizabeth Prentiss. My roomie Amelia is reading it this summer and spurred me to reread it. The last time I read it I was in High School...and at the time did not "get" as much out of the book as I am now. Interestingly, I am finding that books belong to different chapters of our lives. This book belongs to the chapter I am in currently and therefore is SUCH an encouragement to my walk this summer esp.! But it is fun to go back and see what I underlined 5 years ago. It is different from the stuff I underline now. How we change. How our understanding of life changes too. It sure is a good thing though. We need to grow and God is so into making us do just that. When we ask to grow...we are probably asking for trials. God knows what we need. Don't be scared though (I tell myself this) cause the end is worth the struggle it takes to get there!

So I am glad to be back and hope to publish soon a few meaty quotes from "Stepping Heavenward". The author Elizabeth Prentis wrote the mainly fictional book in a journal entry style as if she were the girl she writes about. It is an excelent read. Highly reccomened for my women audience.

And its time for a blogging break. New posts should return by July.
See ya in a few weeks!

I am realizing more how awesome my friends and family are. Sometimes you have to be away from them to realize how much you miss and love someone. That is what I am finding. Now I miss my awesome friends from school. And when I am at school I miss my home church family much from. Funny how you don't realize how wonderful and special people are to the extent you do when your away. For example, now I know in a deeper way that my home church is just filled with the amazing godly women and men for that matter. Mainly because while away I felt their absence so strongly...no one could replace their presence in my life and heart. I MISSED them not what they do but who they are in their entirety :::smile...Each of them are such awesome people! They reflect God in a unique and beautiful way. I have several women whom I look up to and see inward beauty that far outshines their external even though they are beautiful most are externally also. They are so encouraing to be around.

I so appreciate my blogger friends also, new and old each has taught and revealed things to my heart and enlarged my thoughts in so many unique ways. I am thankful for the opportunity to learn and grow through reading your posts and interacting with each of you. It is a privilege to know each of you...and you are a gift from God to my life!

I couldn't leave my family out on this...all I can say is that the two people in the world that I love the most are my parents. :~) smile..those we love the most often know us best...like God. He is the perfect example. He is amazing!

So God is soo good to us to give us just the right people to love and learn from and grow with! Where would we be without them?

This concept makes me think of how while on earth we will always be missing someone, but soon we will never miss again our dearest friends because they will be with us with God in Heaven in a mysterious way deeper than ever before...I think that we will even know eachother's thoughts perfectly in Heaven...who knows now...but anyways it will be perfect fellowship and harmony!

Let us long for that place and live each day remembering its reality and to pray for many others that they might come to know Jesus the only one who is worth living for!

I also visited the website that shows the previews for "The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe" movie coming out Dec. 9th...yay! The website's very interesting so here is a lil more free advertising for it...

The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe

picture
Originally uploaded by hsuyo.

Warning these are random thoughts from a nine hour work day...so read at your own risk...

It has been a beautiful spring here in Ohio. But~ oh~ the beach does sound so enviting! Especially on hot days like the past two...the kind of days that beg for water to jump into!

Back to reality work is going fine. Yesterday and today several strange things happened. The first thing was that guy in his thirties, I suspect, called me "mam" nearly before and after every sentence and then some! He then told me that he was losing his voice and was highly sick...when evidently his voice was not being lost...by the way he was constantly saying mam thank you mam, no mam, mam thank you mam, here mam, mam, mam, mam! I was like woah! I had to stop myself from laughing outloud~! Then at the end he did what I absolutely abhor and find very annoying he called me sweetie, honey, dear mam! Ahhh! I am certainly none of the above to him! Anyways I decided that he either has a twistedly annoying sense of humor, or was not right upstairs.

The second thing that happened today the lights went out in the store for about an hour so I just talked to the other cashier and wandered around waiting for the return of light and customers! :~) Oh, yes a side note...it is a challenge to ring up other people's dinners when your stomach is growling from missing dinner...I am finding. But maybe I will grow stronger through this testing :~) We will se!

On a more serious note, I am again reminded to pray for my precious coworkers...There disrespect for God, is heartbreaking...But I know for certain that but for the grace of God there I would be to taking His name in vain and not knowing Him. He is the One who awakens us to His goodness and beauty...so in a renewed sense I have been realizing how much i MUST depend on Him to change their hearts and convert them to love and know Christ.

May He use us in all the circumstances we live in to be lights to this world!

God is orchestrating something here spiritually can you sense a pattern??....

1. I have been reading a book by Christopher Love...just a side note here: don't try to find the author at your local Christian bookstore you'll be sadly dissapointed as he is an excellent 16th century Puritan author. Why, contemporary Christian bookstores generally fail to stock the old authors makes little sense in my mind. I mean seriously there were some highly inteligent and gracious Christian people living then also. The book is entitled "The mortified Christian" and is dealing with the topic of putting sin to death.

2. My pastor is doing a series on putting to death sin in our lives. (Colossians 3:5 and Romans 6:8) It has been exciting to be reminded that I am free to do righteousness and am able in Christ to die to sin! It is an ongoing process but it is happening...and that is just plain wonderful.

3. Then, to boot, I was reading today in CH Spurgeon's devotion (Morining and Evening) a quote that just grabbed my attention. The message goes with this months theme for my own spiritual growth...I have a slight hunch that God is sending a message, through His providence :-)

So here is an exerpt...
"That henceforth we should not serve sin" Romans 6:6

"Christian, what hast thou to do with sin? Hath it not cost thee enough already? Burnt child, wilt thou play with the fire? What! When thou hast already been between the jaws of the lion, wilt thou step a second time into his den? Hast thou had enough of the old serpent? Did he not poison all thy veins once....O be not so mad! So foolish! Did sin ever yeild thee real pleasure? Didst thou find satisfaction in it? If so go back to thine old drudgery, and wear the chain again, if it delight thee. But in as much as sin did never give thee what it promised to bestow, but deluded thee with lies, be not a second time snared by the old fowler-be free and let the remembrance of thy ancient bondage forbid thee to enter the net again! It is contrary to the designs of eternal love, which have an eye to thy purity and holiness...."

Here's the clincher..."Christians can never sin cheaply; they pay a heavy price for iniquity. Transgression destroys peace of mind, obscures fellowship with Jesus, hinders prayer, brings darkness over the soul..."

This just reminded me again of the reasons why we should put sin to death and remember that while we still have remaining corruption in us until we are gone from this earth, we must go straight to Christ for fresh forgivness and strength to fight these daily battles with our indwelling corruption.

Has anyone ever read Chris Lundgaard's book "The Enemy Within"? It deals with this very topic and is excelient!! It is a modern book, and is a quite accessable as far as reading rewrite of John Owen's treatise on this topic. My family read it together some in the car when traveling and everyone was spell bound...not often does a family get spell bound listening to books on indwelling sin...but Chris Lundgaard is a GOOD writer! :~)

However I had problems connecting to the system. Micah from Resolution 57 check my link section) tagged me to audio blog a chapter of the Bible I picked Psalm 36 because I love this chapter's focus on the character of God...His lovingkindness and goodness. Hope you are encouraged by it as I have been.

Psalm 36
For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD.
1 An oracle is within my heart
concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: [a]
There is no fear of God
before his eyes.
2 For in his own eyes he flatters himself
too much to detect or hate his sin.

3 The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful;
he has ceased to be wise and to do good.

4 Even on his bed he plots evil;
he commits himself to a sinful course
and does not reject what is wrong.

5 Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.

6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your justice like the great deep.
O LORD, you preserve both man and beast.

7 How priceless is your unfailing love!
Both high and low among men
find [b] refuge in the shadow of your wings.

8 They feast on the abundance of your house;
you give them drink from your river of delights.

9 For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.

10 Continue your love to those who know you,
your righteousness to the upright in heart.

11 May the foot of the proud not come against me,
nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.

12 See how the evildoers lie fallen—
thrown down, not able to rise!

Himmel mit Wolken
Originally uploaded by apreussler.

reprieve
Originally uploaded by Dabbler.

blue rain
Originally uploaded by Dabbler.

I have been so burdened of late with the souls of my coworkers at the place I work (Fresh Market). These people need to know Christ and I so desire them to come to this knowledge.

It is the most awesome privledge to know Christ...better than ANYTHING else in the entire world. Everything else I would and could give up...but God is eternal and of incomprehensible value.

Sometimes I do not remember to meditate on how absolutely blessed we are as His children...to be His...I certainly should never take it for granted!!

"There is nothing so strong as gentleness; and nothing so gentle as true strength."

~a quote from a friend who mentioned it when I related how much I love this quality in people. I think I love it so much because in many ways it reflects the character of Christ in that He was lowly and gentle...while also the epitomy of strength and righteousness...He is so perfect in His character. So loving and gentle yet so strong and mighty! What a wonderful Lord and Savior we have! Whom we can fly to at every moment and bury our hearts in His loving presence!

Picture was originally uploaded by Richard's Pics

I got this from my wonderful aunt and one of my "real friends" :~) I thought it was very true.

"A simple friend, when visiting, acts like a guest. A real friend opens your refrigerator and helps himself.

A simple friend has never seen you cry. A real friend has shoulders soggy from your tears.

A simple friend doesn't know your parents' first names. A real friend has their phone numbers in his address book.

A simple friend brings a bottle of wine to your party. A real friend comes early to help you cook and stays late to help you clean.

A simple friend hates it when you call after he has gone to bed. A real friend asks you why you took so long to call.

A simple friend seeks to talk with you about your problems. A real friend seeks to help you with your problems.

A simple friend wonders about your romantic history. A real friend could blackmail you with it.

A simple friend thinks the friendship is over when you have an argument. A real friend calls you after you had a fight.

A simple friend expects you to always be there for them. A real friend expects to always be there for you!"