31 October 2011
27 October 2011
My grace is sufficient
It's not the trust that's hard..........it's the acceptance. I hate not feeling good enough, not able. But isn't His power made perfect in weakness? So often, I forget. I get frustrated, and just want to be done with it.
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
(2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
Okay.
But it's hard. It certainly isn't easy. We want to be whole, to be perfect, to be strong. Invincible, if you will. But then Paul says For when I am weak, then I am strong. When I am weak.........
I trust more.
I talk to Him more.
I realize how truly blessed I am.
My Friends, I hope that you come to realize, as I slowly am, that you are living the life He planned for you. He choose you to face your life, messed up as you are, because He knew you could do it. Every experience is refining you into the beautiful person you are.
He allowed you to face these storms. He knew you could stand against their winds. He cries with you, holding each tear in the palm of His hand. He is waiting with open arms to allow you to come cry on His chest, and when you do, He will hold you. And then he will take that burden that's about to pull you under, and put it upon Himself.
Acceptance. It's okay not to be perfect.
He is.
You aren't.
For the sake of Christ, then, I am content ....
I hope you are.
Love:)
R
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
(2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
Okay.
But it's hard. It certainly isn't easy. We want to be whole, to be perfect, to be strong. Invincible, if you will. But then Paul says For when I am weak, then I am strong. When I am weak.........
I trust more.
I talk to Him more.
I realize how truly blessed I am.
My Friends, I hope that you come to realize, as I slowly am, that you are living the life He planned for you. He choose you to face your life, messed up as you are, because He knew you could do it. Every experience is refining you into the beautiful person you are.
He allowed you to face these storms. He knew you could stand against their winds. He cries with you, holding each tear in the palm of His hand. He is waiting with open arms to allow you to come cry on His chest, and when you do, He will hold you. And then he will take that burden that's about to pull you under, and put it upon Himself.
Acceptance. It's okay not to be perfect.
He is.
You aren't.
For the sake of Christ, then, I am content ....
I hope you are.
Love:)
R
23 October 2011
Psalm 63
O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth; they shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals. But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped. (Psalm 63:1-11 ESV)
20 October 2011
Beauty: Redifined
The lie.
The lie is huge.
"You aren't beautiful. You are too fat, too skinny. Too tall, too short." On and on and on.The voices surround you........and you listen. I do. I do, and I shouldn't.
I'm not going to tell you that it doesn't matter. Because you won't listen. And, besides, it's not okay to tell you that it's okay that you're not good enough. Beacuse you are good enough!
Our culture has this idea of beauty. We define beauty in a certain way, and we have this mental checklist that we go through, trying to check it all off.
Here's the thing. You can't measure up. No matter how hard you try, as long as you're going through this checklist, you'll never make it. No one will.
Here's what I'm going to ask you to do.
Redefine your idea of beauty.
Because, see, beauty is relative. Our definition and ideas of beauty are dependent on outside ideas of culture and time and place.
Here's what I'm saying. God made you beautiful. Weather or not you fit your specific cultures definition of beauty, it doesn't matter to Him. His definition of beauty is way different than yours . He looks at you living a life honoring to Him, and sees beauty. He looks at the way you serve. Who you are.
How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings good news,
who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,
who publishes salvation,
who says to Zion, "Your God reigns." (Isaiah 52:7)
This person probably doesn't have pedicure-model feet. But their feet are beautiful because they are fulfilling the purpose the were made for. They are consistent with the design of their creator.
That is what makes them beautiful.
When you fulfill your purpose, that is beautiful.
Not only that- you are beautiful inside and out because you are created in the image of the Living God. You are created to be like Him- you are beautiful because you are His handiwork! No one denys the beauty of natural wonders such as the Grand Canyon, or Mount Everest- but you are far morr important to God! Far more Loved. You are so beautiful! You are the beautiful workmanship of your God.
When you're tempted to believe the lie this week, remember who you are.
Love:)
R
Ps: If you want more on this topictalk to me,or read Uncompromising, by Hannah Farver. She is an amazing young women who is truly in love with her Savior. Look it up! :) R
The lie is huge.
"You aren't beautiful. You are too fat, too skinny. Too tall, too short." On and on and on.The voices surround you........and you listen. I do. I do, and I shouldn't.
I'm not going to tell you that it doesn't matter. Because you won't listen. And, besides, it's not okay to tell you that it's okay that you're not good enough. Beacuse you are good enough!
Our culture has this idea of beauty. We define beauty in a certain way, and we have this mental checklist that we go through, trying to check it all off.
Here's the thing. You can't measure up. No matter how hard you try, as long as you're going through this checklist, you'll never make it. No one will.
Here's what I'm going to ask you to do.
Redefine your idea of beauty.
Because, see, beauty is relative. Our definition and ideas of beauty are dependent on outside ideas of culture and time and place.
Here's what I'm saying. God made you beautiful. Weather or not you fit your specific cultures definition of beauty, it doesn't matter to Him. His definition of beauty is way different than yours . He looks at you living a life honoring to Him, and sees beauty. He looks at the way you serve. Who you are.
How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings good news,
who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,
who publishes salvation,
who says to Zion, "Your God reigns." (Isaiah 52:7)
This person probably doesn't have pedicure-model feet. But their feet are beautiful because they are fulfilling the purpose the were made for. They are consistent with the design of their creator.
That is what makes them beautiful.
When you fulfill your purpose, that is beautiful.
Not only that- you are beautiful inside and out because you are created in the image of the Living God. You are created to be like Him- you are beautiful because you are His handiwork! No one denys the beauty of natural wonders such as the Grand Canyon, or Mount Everest- but you are far morr important to God! Far more Loved. You are so beautiful! You are the beautiful workmanship of your God.
When you're tempted to believe the lie this week, remember who you are.
Love:)
R
Ps: If you want more on this topictalk to me,or read Uncompromising, by Hannah Farver. She is an amazing young women who is truly in love with her Savior. Look it up! :) R
18 October 2011
Psalm 46
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
Selah
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
Selah
here is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
God will help her when morning dawns.The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Come, behold the works of the LORD,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!"
The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!"
The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah
16 October 2011
today....
Today........Know that I am praying for you all. And that I care. And If you ever need to talk to someone, just call me or e-mail me or something. It's not silly. I'd love to know how to better stand before our Wonderful, Glorious God for you. Please........... Trust me?
Love:)
R
Love:)
R
Ecclesiastes 3
1For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
2a time to be born, and a time to die;a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3a time to kill, and a time to heal;a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4a time to weep, and a time to laugh;a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6a time to seek, and a time to lose;a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7a time to tear, and a time to sew;a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8a time to love, and a time to hate;a time for war, and a time for peace. 9What gain has the worker from his toil? 10I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 11He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. 12I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; 13also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.
14I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. 15That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.[a]
16Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness. 17I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work. 18I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts. 19 For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity. 20All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return. 21Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth? 22So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him?
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