tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773593788244903702024-03-12T19:44:18.252-05:00CameratismoCameratismo [Fellowship]http://www.blogger.com/profile/06995130045419792457noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377359378824490370.post-37704172802092579512010-07-17T00:06:00.002-05:002010-07-17T00:08:13.879-05:00Affliction, Need, and His Grace . . .<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Friday, July 16, 2010 1:54pm</b></span><br />
<br />
You have led me to the sadness<br />
I have carried this pain<br />
on a back bruised, nearly broken<br />
I'm crying out to You<br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">I will sing of Your mercy</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">that leads me through valleys of sorrow</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">to rivers of joy</span></i><br />
<br />
When death, like a gypsy<br />
comes to steal what I love<br />
I will still look to the heavens<br />
I will still seek your face<br />
but I fear You aren't listening<br />
because there are no words<br />
just the stillness<br />
and the hunger<br />
for a faith that assures<br />
<br />
I will sing of Your mercy<br />
that leads me through valleys of sorrow<br />
to rivers of joy<br />
<br />
alleluia, alleluia<br />
alleluia, alleluia<br />
<br />
while we wait for rescue<br />
with our eyes tightly shut<br />
face to the ground using our hands<br />
to cover the fatal cut<br />
though the pain is an ocean<br />
tossing us around, around, around<br />
You have calmed greater waters<br />
higher mountains have come down<br />
[all of the above: jars of clay....the valley song]<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span> <br />
<br />
During this afternoon...I’ve realized this in part.<br />
It is only because of God’s amazing, wonderful, steadily-there Grace...<br />
That we don’t become a horrible animal of a human, ready to slash everyone to pieces and swear off the sun after healing from a wound. A loss. A tragedy. A great pain. Affliction.<br />
It’s only because of His grace.<br />
And oh, how thankful I am for Him. <br />
How grateful I am for His gift.<br />
It’s amazing.<br />
We would shrivel up like a scab over a wound if not for His grace.<br />
Because of His grace, we can, someday, look upon hard times and extreme pain as a life lesson of sorts..<br />
We will one day be able to look back and see a beautiful scar.<br />
A beautiful wound that hurt worse than anything . . . being the cause of us shoved over a cliff into His arms. Depending on only Him for staying alive.<br />
Because if pain killed, we’d all be dead.<br />
We can’t change on our own; we can’t clutch the broken, shattered, ugly pieces of our life and hurts to ourselves. We can’t keep them. We have to begin with giving Him something. <i>Something</i>. Otherwise, we’ll choke on it one day.<br />
And many of us have reached that ‘one day’ several times...<br />
I wonder how long and how many times it will take for some of us to get a hint? <br />
To get a clue that the mystery is not what matters, but how much we need to depend on Him?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-DMJs1MdpPnOrtPBoXjAn7k9P5w3Hxhl53EUPU0WHV9jfb8YXmpXt9EkSwDnSYTvy9WvlQ1uoADtn94bTaNvo5uYgmOZSYlG0Vxnel9g8ARY-t8lvitZTswGdS7WtBeYIxjev2GVOJE8F/s1600/ps+130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-DMJs1MdpPnOrtPBoXjAn7k9P5w3Hxhl53EUPU0WHV9jfb8YXmpXt9EkSwDnSYTvy9WvlQ1uoADtn94bTaNvo5uYgmOZSYlG0Vxnel9g8ARY-t8lvitZTswGdS7WtBeYIxjev2GVOJE8F/s320/ps+130.JPG" /></a></div>bekahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09648168191469472011noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377359378824490370.post-65982163005228872272010-07-08T10:24:00.000-05:002010-07-08T10:24:11.975-05:00A Conversation with God...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQ21cfBYghFH-fFkQEj7G1iqzAgMWJvTSFG6BDoP8SFgKu8u6sQ2yxGBmc0hYUWz-RfaOvCRhrCVljbtI8nWsGh7hMtvOwjE5px5bdHGUhUEVuq_aud6PduvPfhn-pxCF34T6CEdROMU4/s1600/400_F_6764395_wMetv5VHhxJz4DLpQTztlnOXS9Cz4KJr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQ21cfBYghFH-fFkQEj7G1iqzAgMWJvTSFG6BDoP8SFgKu8u6sQ2yxGBmc0hYUWz-RfaOvCRhrCVljbtI8nWsGh7hMtvOwjE5px5bdHGUhUEVuq_aud6PduvPfhn-pxCF34T6CEdROMU4/s320/400_F_6764395_wMetv5VHhxJz4DLpQTztlnOXS9Cz4KJr.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Moses said to the <span style="font-size: x-small;">LORD, </span><span style="font-size: small;">"See, you say to me, 'Bring up this people,' but <span style="font-size: large;">You have not let me <em>know</em></span> whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, 'I know you by name and you have also found favor in My sight.' Now therefore, if I have found favor in Your sight, please <span style="font-size: large;">show me now Your ways</span>, that I may <span style="font-size: large;"><em>know You</em></span>...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Consider too that this nation is Your people."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And He [the <span style="font-size: x-small;">LORD</span>] said, "My presence will go <em>with you</em>, and <em>I will give you rest</em>."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And he [Moses] said to Him, "If Your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? <span style="font-size: large;">Is it not in Your going with us</span>, so that we are <span style="font-size: large;"><em>distinct</em></span>, I and Your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And the <span style="font-size: x-small;">LORD</span> said to Moses, "This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in My sight, and I know you by name."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Moses said, "Please <em><span style="font-size: large;">show me Your glory</span></em>."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And He [the <span style="font-size: x-small;">LORD</span>] said, "I will make all My goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you My name 'The <span style="font-size: x-small;">LORD</span>'. And <em>I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious</em>, and I<em> will show mercy to whom I show mercy</em>. But," He said, "you cannot see My face, for man shall not see Me and live."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><strong><em>~Exodus 33:12-20</em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><strong><em>ESV</em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(photo courtesy of <a href="http://en.fotolia.com/id/6764395">Fotolia</a>)</span></div>Anglican Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07249115198113456073noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377359378824490370.post-59094491355232066562010-04-03T20:32:00.003-05:002010-04-03T20:38:11.194-05:00Behold The Lamb<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Ew7PttYuYfaxc32nSXw-Tq5ZyiUb4wc__JqYjFhtKMGcCLb4qLduEgDpGnX_WWfm1Gbj-kJWWzUVsdJJPjdZpewyGUvIOgWkRf6dPg9JRTgy0pW9pueNP8blyRV6agu-tk0xBchicgM/s1600/lamb2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Ew7PttYuYfaxc32nSXw-Tq5ZyiUb4wc__JqYjFhtKMGcCLb4qLduEgDpGnX_WWfm1Gbj-kJWWzUVsdJJPjdZpewyGUvIOgWkRf6dPg9JRTgy0pW9pueNP8blyRV6agu-tk0xBchicgM/s200/lamb2.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?" "Yes, my son?" Abraham replied. "The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering? Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son."</i> <b>Gen 22:7-8</b></div></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">From the very beginning, the first book of the Bible, the promise has been a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">lamb</span>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="font: 16.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">T<i>he next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the </i><i>Lamb</i><i> of God, who takes away the sin of the world!</i> <b>John 1:29</b></span></div></div><div style="font: 16.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div></div><div style="text-align: auto;"><div style="text-align: center;">Did you read that? <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Jesus Christ,</span> the Lamb, who takes away the <i>sin of the world</i>. </div></div><div style="text-align: auto;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: auto;"><div style="text-align: center;">That pertains to you and I. Today. Washed clean by His blood. </div></div><div style="text-align: auto;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0RYrhkBFfMtD5ywCdVt7LYEiI47LMwWmaVC1BrwWOc4zHiu8ZPpfY3uUxun1dH-7fnHjPreE-APe8b6A_hijCFOF6eGOm370jJwiL2eQZT4q1CjEWeW5OGoWkmwwvFJPG-D86FdOSHjs/s1600/lamb1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0RYrhkBFfMtD5ywCdVt7LYEiI47LMwWmaVC1BrwWOc4zHiu8ZPpfY3uUxun1dH-7fnHjPreE-APe8b6A_hijCFOF6eGOm370jJwiL2eQZT4q1CjEWeW5OGoWkmwwvFJPG-D86FdOSHjs/s320/lamb1.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: auto;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: auto;"><div style="text-align: center;">A pure.</div></div><div style="text-align: auto;"><div style="text-align: center;">Spotless. </div></div><div style="text-align: auto;"><div style="text-align: center;">Unadulterated lamb. </div></div><div style="text-align: auto;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div></div><div style="text-align: auto;"><div style="text-align: center;">Because we were unclean. </div></div><div style="text-align: auto;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: auto;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Were</span></i> unclean. </div></div><div style="text-align: auto;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: auto;"><div style="font: 16.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth.</i> <b>Acts 8:32</b></span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">He didn't even try to avoid <i>our</i> penalty. He went before the mass of those screaming <i>"Crucify!"</i> willingly. No cry of desperation, or plea for someone to let Him go.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The cross. Calvary. Nails.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-hTVXE8uNzV3vHiuIU83lZ5dx17SoHEX7jGo6pLp1ccDrz8atPGJ6dx_Z13cmJlHnpm_EN3GnuYgE20vVIXqc1cvKG5kfHoS9CiKPZdT90_s54ysj-ae6ttlH8wEz3hnstjdQHffrygU/s1600/lamb3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-hTVXE8uNzV3vHiuIU83lZ5dx17SoHEX7jGo6pLp1ccDrz8atPGJ6dx_Z13cmJlHnpm_EN3GnuYgE20vVIXqc1cvKG5kfHoS9CiKPZdT90_s54ysj-ae6ttlH8wEz3hnstjdQHffrygU/s320/lamb3.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-hTVXE8uNzV3vHiuIU83lZ5dx17SoHEX7jGo6pLp1ccDrz8atPGJ6dx_Z13cmJlHnpm_EN3GnuYgE20vVIXqc1cvKG5kfHoS9CiKPZdT90_s54ysj-ae6ttlH8wEz3hnstjdQHffrygU/s1600/lamb3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>For this? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>An innocent</i> <i>Lamb</i>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="font: 16.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.</i> <b>1 Corinthians 5:7</b></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">{What is this admonition? Get rid of the old yeast? Perhaps to remind us that we are a <i>new creation</i>, and because of that slain lamb we can <i>live</i> like a new creation. <b>Unleavened</b> and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><i>full of the Spirit</i></span>. }</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">They overcame him by the blood of the <b>Lamb</b> and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Revelation 12:11</span></div></div><div style="font: 16.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">There we find it. The answer. We overcome by the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><i>blood of the Lamb<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">.</span></i></span></span></div></div><div style="font: 16.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><i>Jesus Christ, </i>our passover lamb. Who died, then rose again. We would not have the ressurection had he not have been taken to the Cross first. Never discount the blood that was shed there. Never shrink back in horror at the death He bore so that we might have eternal life. </span></span></div></div><div style="font: 16.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Rejoice in Calvary. Weep at Calvary. Because it was there that your debt was paid. </span></span></div></div><div style="font: 16.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div></div><div style="font: 16.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The sin of the world required blood, and blood is not pretty. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">{If you have a hard time understanding why, as Christians, our penance had to be paid with such a price, I would encourage you to find a Bible and read Leviticus. It's not too difficult to understand, and you will see the history of the sacrifices and what was required for each sin. Our Jehovah God is merciful, yet requires much.} </span></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidpuxwJGJHVY678S3lUx9pFAYXX9lNPIMWCty4EwPWm2rhibYCj-fapPQXpUUN0VGn4pOWQ6o0AYR9KDWt_zs79LrpNnrl3c5B1Xqrr5qBcR7pASpeQ8ztIjvKscffQBBt_w3HY6xiuYA/s1600/lamb5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidpuxwJGJHVY678S3lUx9pFAYXX9lNPIMWCty4EwPWm2rhibYCj-fapPQXpUUN0VGn4pOWQ6o0AYR9KDWt_zs79LrpNnrl3c5B1Xqrr5qBcR7pASpeQ8ztIjvKscffQBBt_w3HY6xiuYA/s400/lamb5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><b><i></i></b></span></div><b><i></i></b><br />
<b><i><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Let the weak say, "I am strong"</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Let the poor say, "I am rich"</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Let the blind say, "I can see"</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">It's what the Lord has done in me</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hosanna, hosanna</span></i></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">To the Lamb that was slain</span></i></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hosanna, hosanna</span></i></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Jesus died and rose again</span></i></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Through the river I will wade</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">There my sins are washed away</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">From the heavens mercy streams</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Of the Savior's love for me</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I will rise from waters deep</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Into the saving arms of God</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I will sing salvation songs</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Jesus Christ has set me free</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hosanna, hosanna</span></i></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">To the Lamb that was slain</span></i></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hosanna, hosanna</span></i></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Jesus died and rose again</span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
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</i></span></div></span>As you reflect this Easter Sunday, and you think about all that our Savior, the Lamb, did for us. Rejoice in the resurrection, but don't forget to rejoice in the crucifixion also. As Believers in Christ, our victory is at the foot of the Cross. Our ability to overcome and not be defeated, is there. It's not in naming and claiming, nor is it in confessing, professing, or any other action we might try to do on our own.<br />
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It is simply in faith in the finished work of Christ. You cannot and absolutely will not overcome what has you held, until your faith is there. You will not be victorious through any work of your own kind. Oh, you can try.<br />
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More than likely you have, and probably have been disappointed by the short term results. It doesn't mean you're not saved! You might just be struggling with your very own self.<br />
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After such a sacrifice on His part, Let Jesus have you completely. Your failures and all.<br />
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I promise He knows what to do with them.<br />
<div style="font: 16.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; white-space: pre;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VLiyPd-j8z8&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VLiyPd-j8z8&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">{Photo credit goes to Melinda at <a href="http://aboundinginhope.com/">Abounding in Hope</a>. Many thanks to her for so graciously letting me use her pictures of their family farm's sweet baby lambs to portray the Innocence of our Jesus.} </span></span></div>LeAnnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360378882035668129noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377359378824490370.post-67133007435303878442010-03-17T13:24:00.006-05:002010-03-17T13:48:59.537-05:00I will praise You in the storm<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3qdGn9QYkqo3l6EOL4gz7oRlYEJ7ZTMRSwAScQD58bTAa3VbmfAnSvJ660U67Eogx1NURjCNY4WqMEVsmA0yGJGw_-MElUQGJEzdYSE3hHtpjRcsVC9pOrJI3ZGTSsuBJ0sYO2wQoDA/s1600-h/girlinrain2.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449676130106317346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3qdGn9QYkqo3l6EOL4gz7oRlYEJ7ZTMRSwAScQD58bTAa3VbmfAnSvJ660U67Eogx1NURjCNY4WqMEVsmA0yGJGw_-MElUQGJEzdYSE3hHtpjRcsVC9pOrJI3ZGTSsuBJ0sYO2wQoDA/s320/girlinrain2.jpg" /></a><br /><div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>by Heather E.</em><br /></span></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>"I was sure by now God You would have reached down and wiped our tears away, stepped in and saved the day."</em> </div><div></div><br /><div>How often have we thought this. Why isn't God rescuing me from this sorrow? Why is He silent? </div><div><br /><em>"Once again, I say Amen and it's still raining"</em> </div><div></div><br /><div>I love this line! Even when we don't understand and nothing makes sense. With tears in our eyes and sorrow in our heart, we can say Thy will be done. </div><br /><div><em>"As the thunder rolls, I barely hear You whisper through the rain, I'm with you. And as Yuor mercy falls. I'll raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away."</em><br /></div><div> </div><div> And in that surrender, God blesses us beyond all imagination--That is when He showers us with mercy and grace. And that is how Job could say after losing everything, " "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord." (Job 1:21b) </div><br /><div><em>"I will praise You in this storm. I will lift my hands. For You are Who You are, no matter where I am." </em></div><div></div><br /><div>God is good, faithful and He never changes. No matter what our circumstances are, His truth is always the same. </div><br /><div></div><div><em>"Every tear I've cried, You hold in Your hand, You never left my side and though my heart is torn. I will praise You in this storm."</em> </div><br /><div></div><div>The world wonders how we are able to keep our faith. It's because He never leaves our side. How could any of us continue if we didn't know that God was going to see us through it? </div><br /><div></div><div><em>"I remember when I stumbled in the wind, You heard my cry, You raised me up again. My strength is almost gone, how can I carry on? If I can't find You. "</em> </div><div></div><br /><div>How awesome is it that God picks us up again and again. I know I stumble so many times. God is always there to raise me up. </div><br /><div></div><div><em>"As the thunder rolls. I barely hear You whisper through the rain. I'm with you."</em> </div><div></div><br /><div>Sometimes it's hard to hear God when it's raining. You have to listen closer but He's there. Never believe Satan's lie that Christ doesn't care. The Bible says He cares for the sparrows, so how infinitely more He cares for you, His own precious child.</div><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX_UGCHNOZXTZrc-MYwYtAig-f3xEwYqAuJ-cloM37bDxqPCUxDP1xdRKl3uPqh9s3gny0Qf2oNDqAY2_D3E_j6BPlwu8iXZWHxewbRyvixvUUasTQlWYzdjWBZo-uMNM_1QPXJrA-dXk/s1600-h/girlinrain.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449674098389186914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX_UGCHNOZXTZrc-MYwYtAig-f3xEwYqAuJ-cloM37bDxqPCUxDP1xdRKl3uPqh9s3gny0Qf2oNDqAY2_D3E_j6BPlwu8iXZWHxewbRyvixvUUasTQlWYzdjWBZo-uMNM_1QPXJrA-dXk/s320/girlinrain.jpg" /></a></p><br /><div><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>pictures from google. </em></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Lyrics from Casting Crowns</em></span> </div></div>Cameratismo [Fellowship]http://www.blogger.com/profile/06995130045419792457noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377359378824490370.post-71532743319013348302010-02-25T18:32:00.005-06:002010-02-25T18:42:10.189-06:00Jump<div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I went for a walk this afternoon in the brilliant cold. I was feeling rather pointless. Very pointless. <span style="font-size:78%;">(because I had nothing I so wanted, even though I have so much to be thankful for already)</span><br />Jesus came with me.<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:78%;">“You walk with me through fire…” –Healer<br /></span>As I was walking, praying about this pointlessness.<br />A picture of me: standing on a precipice, a deep dark ravine is below me.<br />Jesus stands, arms open wide, waiting a mere frightening jump across the ravine to the opposing cliff side where He waits.<br />I can’t jump holding what I want. What <span style="font-size:78%;">(I think)</span> I need. <span style="font-size:78%;">To have purpose, to be so, so happy. </span><br />A husband.<br />A mission.<br />A baby.<br />A home.<br />A country.<br />An ideal.<br />Myself even.<br />All of it must fall into the endless cold darkness below. To die.<br />But Jesus waits and can I resist?</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"Trust Me." <span style="font-size:78%;">That wonderful word <em>again</em>, Lord?</span><br />A man, baby, missions, home of my own, adventures, change, and all such purposefulness are lovely, and would/will be very nice. But they will not satisfy. Only Jesus will. Is satisfying.<br /><span style="font-size:130%;">So I jump.</span><br />Tears wet my cheeks, having surrendered for the millionth time. Trusting again.<br />But now I’m free.<br /><span style="font-size:180%;">And Jesus holds me.</span><br />Oh, He loves me.<br />Oh I love Him.<br />I love Him.<br />This love makes it all worth it. </div></span><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442344359807048626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOuMA2YgMjyjAWnR5qdfMp4y4IXFW6X8nJi59zytJfi9TQDHXJ1A3q9n2gwtKc0aEYjfaAvoNWo-ExLbz6W5mLn3Kem3t8Eah58CCZ4PfpNGLGChGr4okzcObn9NAUIqWElzLh8lPNQ7Xk/s320/jesusholdingirl.jpg" />Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06970860706700716739noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377359378824490370.post-27755263240928349492010-02-04T18:18:00.003-06:002010-02-04T18:30:51.002-06:00Content in the Valley<div>by Heather E.<br /><br />When you're on top of a hill, it's very easy to see. The blue sky, the fresh air and sunlight are all visable. In a valley it's much harder. You know the sun must be there but sometimes you can't see the light. It's gets frustrating as you stumble along. It's very easy to get discontent. You want to see the sun and sky and breathe in the fresh air.<br />God wants us to be content in the valley. There are life lessons to be learned in the hard times. Things that you have to experience.<br /><em>You can't be refined without fire.</em><br />God has promised to be there. Psalm 23:4 says, <em>"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death: for thou art with me; thy rod and they staff they comfort me."</em><br />So if you're in a valley embrace it. Let God work and refine you.<br />When you get to the top of the mountain, it will be all the more <em>amazing</em> for having gone through the valley.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 184px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434550112803778594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmyiMBTT-1pDXlVeI4fMYIxzmCwXQaIVknjKgwhyphenhyphenFdZfPpiMaicgeTV1gjLDkZc_t2hJtyeuAxYWqunrtAeVE928QirFMIgOPQQOTbgKNc6bxPF5bIaQGzImsieh2f-3Ag-GE4gfeuKE4/s320/shadowofdeath.jpg" /></div>Cameratismo [Fellowship]http://www.blogger.com/profile/06995130045419792457noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377359378824490370.post-23687801163859376932010-01-13T22:17:00.000-06:002010-01-13T22:17:54.999-06:00Reader RecommendationA few weeks ago, I ran across<a href="http://marmeespantry.blogspot.com/"> Marmee's Pantry.</a> A blog written by a sweet lady named Kim. The first post of hers that I read was entitled <i>A Solid Foundation in a Shaky World</i> - in which she discussed our role as mothers in regards to our children's education. After reading it, I was so encouraged by her graceful presentation of the Word, I kept reading.<br />
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I haven't stopped! If you notice to the right I've added a button that says Marmee's Pantry, click on it to head on over to her site. Her profile reads as such:<br />
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<blockquote>I am a Christian wife & mom. We homeschooled for 16 great years, & even though my heart will always be in the homeschool community, I feel the need to expand & move on into another area that is close to my heart~frugal living...including, but not limited to, money-saving tips; homemade food, personal care, health care, home cleaning; working w/& growing herbs, etc. I am also a writer & speaker on homeschool & Christian women's issues & I would be glad to speak to your group or at your retreat! Atempting to honor the Lord in all I do. </blockquote>Her blog is always a pleasure to read, and after getting her permission, she agreed to let me link back to her here. We can all use encouragement, can we not? For all women, young and old, single or married, mothers or grandmothers - you know how fulfilling it is to be apart of a group of Sisters in Christ, who have one goal in mind; to honor the Lord in all we do.<br />
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So, head on over to <a href="http://marmeespantry.blogspot.com/">Marmee's Pantry</a>. Learn how to make y<a href="http://marmeespantry.blogspot.com/2010/01/homemade-liquid-and-foaming-dishhand.html">our own cleaning supplies</a>, or soak in her pictures and stories<a href="http://marmeespantry.blogspot.com/2010/01/inside-farm-stores.html"> about life in a German Baptist community</a>. Regardless of whether or not you are, or have been, or never were home schooled, I just know you'll appreciate this womans heart! <br />
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</span></span>LeAnnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360378882035668129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377359378824490370.post-72909550716037289672009-12-09T16:07:00.005-06:002009-12-09T16:29:31.979-06:00How He loves us<a href="http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/cameratismo/sad_girl2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 312px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/cameratismo/sad_girl2.jpg" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Here I am again. I have fallen. He has picked me up.<br />I have sinned.<br />Repented and<br />been forgiven<br />again-again-again<br />By Someone greater than I.<br />So much more than I deserve </span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><br /><div><br /><em>He is jealous for me</em><br /><br />He’s standing there. Arms open wide. Waiting for me to come running.<br />Jesus wants me all for Himself.<br />None but Christ.<br /><br /><strong>“For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God.”</strong> Exodus 20:5b </div><br /><div><br /><em>Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree</em><br /><br />I stand, drenched, soaked in His love. My arms thrown out, head back, tears streaming, my heart screaming in pain-joy-sorrow-awe in my Savior’s love for me. I cannot understand it, but I need it. Oh I need it. I need You.<br /><br /><strong>“By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, so that we might live through Him, in this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us.”</strong> 1 John 4:9-10a<br /></div><div><br /><em>Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy.</em><br /><br />I cannot stand here for long. I fall to my knees. broken-bleeding-needing Jesus. Only Jesus.<br /><br /><strong>"I am in deep distress. Let me fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is very great..."</strong> 1 Chronicles 21:13a<br /></div><div><br /><em>When all of a sudden,<br />I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory</em><br /><br />Here in this place of rain drenched pain and joy. He is. He is enough. More. Than I can ever express. My heart is empty yet full. Hungry yet satisfied. Tasting His presence, His love and mercy. My sorrows, my trials, my pains seem small, beside the greatness of His love. Small in the hollow of Your capable, beautiful anguish scarred hands. Pierced for me.<br /><br /><strong>"Who among the gods is like you, O LORD ? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?"</strong> Exodus 15:11<br /></div><div><br /><em>And I realize just how beautiful You are,<br /></em><br />So beautiful my Jesus. So beautiful. I cannot ever hope to express how beautiful You are. The salvation in your hands, the grace in Your touch, and love in Your eyes. You love me as a Father loves his child. As the Bridegroom adores His bride. As the Potter cares enough to smooth and refine the Clay. You love.<br /><br /><strong>“One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple."</strong> Psalm 27:4<br /></div><div><br /><em>And how great Your affections are for me.</em><br /><br />You are love. And You choose to give Yourself. Give love. Lavishly. You want me to call you Abba, and dance with You through the storms and peace. Cling to You as You carry me over mountains and through valleys. Dwell with You in Your presence forever. Abba, I want to stay here. Help me, in my human frailty and unfaithfulness. Teach me to love You. To stay. To Abide in You. In Your love and great affection for me. Help me understand. How great this love is.<br /><br /><strong>“Yet the LORD set his affection on your forefathers and loved them, and He chose you, their descendants, above all the nations, as it is today.”</strong> Deuteronomy 10:15<br /></div><div><br /><em>Oh, how He loves us so,<br />Oh how He loves us,<br />How He loves us all</em><br /><br /><strong>“For with the Lord there is lovingkindness, and with Him is abundant redemption.”</strong> Psalm 130:7<br /></div><div><br /><em>He loves us,<br />Oh how He loves us,<br />Oh how He loves us,<br />Oh how He loves.<br />He loves us,<br />Oh how He loves us,<br />Oh how He loves us,<br />Oh how He loves.</em><br /><br /><em>We are His portion and He is our prize,</em><br /><br />If it is forever to be just You and I. If I am to be always known as I am. If a loving husband and children are not in Your plan. (and even if they are, as I pray and hope it will be so.) Jesus, I want to be known as Yours. Yours completely. Wholly without restraint. I want You to be my prize. Not any earthly gift or treasure. You, Jesus, to be my prize, the goal I am running for, seeking in light and deep darkness. I want to find You and know You more.<br /><br /><strong>"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."</strong> Philippians 3:14<br /></div><div><br /><em>Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,</em><br /><br />My hands are full of earthly things, empty, hollow and unforgiving…my heart full of dross, but hungry for truth. My hands open, slowly, painfully, releasing the stones of my achievements, my worries, my pleasures, my sins, my wrongs, my dreams…I lay myself on the alter again, bind me there Shepherd…so these idols die, burn to ash…as I cry and beg to be released, my heart sees you there. Salvation and joy in your eyes. It is worth it. This purification, this sanctification….this crucifixion of my flesh. So that You may shine brighter in me. Shine, Jesus, Shine…<br /><br /><strong>“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.”</strong> Ephesians 1:7-8<br /></div><div><br /><em>If His grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.<br /></em><br />I want to drown here Jesus, drown in Your grace, Your love and Your truth. Your Word is life to my flesh and healing to my heart…I cannot survive, I cannot thrive without You. You alone are life and sustenance and breath. Drown me Jesus, in You. Till all I see, feel, know and am is surrounded by You.<br /><br /><strong>"The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.<br />Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst."</strong> 1 Timothy 1:14-15<br /></div><div><br /><em>So Heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss,<br />And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,<br /></em><br />Come Lord Jesus. Come. I cannot wait to stand before You, trembling in holy fear, my heart ripped to shreds with joy in being with You at last. To fall at Your feet and thank you over and over and over. For all You have done. For all You are. I love You Jesus. Come quickly. Come.<br /><br /><strong>“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God."</strong> Revelation 19:11-13<br /></div><div><br /><em>I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,<br />When I think about, the way…</em><br /><br /><strong>"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."</strong> Romans 8:38-39<br /></div><div><br /><em>He loves us, Oh how He loves us</em><br /><br />Jesus, I want to love like You<br />Teach me<br />Shine through me<br />That I would be Your hands and feet to the world<br />That those I touch would feel Your hands<br />Those I speak to would hear Your voice<br />And those I love know it is You that loves them<br />So very much<br />That I would know Your love intimately<br />And that I would be Your love to the world<br /><br /><strong>"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself." </strong>Luke 10:27<br /><br /><strong>“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”</strong> 1 Chronicles 16:34<br /><br /><em>Oh How He Loves us.</em><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Lyrics from the David Crowder Band “Oh How He loves”</span> </span></div>Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06970860706700716739noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377359378824490370.post-74298849275669612092009-11-26T08:32:00.005-06:002009-11-26T08:55:56.317-06:00Happy Thanksgiving<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7B85Y4hFSft4v8E8JryVHXtKpXB6pXI32n3_xeSAE3_4wBoM325HgbF6ylFcJF_kIen7usEsWZP2L3SqkD58uLL9FGV63UOWX6u3i42sqRj-mEd7ELIxAt-RdZm4CQyf5cnc6ONJL2bHE/s1600/PhotographyMay09+039.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408421759129644562" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7B85Y4hFSft4v8E8JryVHXtKpXB6pXI32n3_xeSAE3_4wBoM325HgbF6ylFcJF_kIen7usEsWZP2L3SqkD58uLL9FGV63UOWX6u3i42sqRj-mEd7ELIxAt-RdZm4CQyf5cnc6ONJL2bHE/s320/PhotographyMay09+039.jpg" border="0" /></a> Shout for <span style="font-size:180%;">joy to the Lord</span>, all the earth.<br />Worship the Lord with<em> <strong>gladness</strong></em>;<br />come before Him with joyful songs.<br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Know</span> that the <span style="font-size:180%;">Lord is God</span>.<br />It is <span style="font-size:180%;">He</span> who made us, and <span style="font-size:130%;">we are <em>His</em></span>;<br />we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.<br /><br /><strong><em>Enter His gates</em></strong> with <span style="font-size:180%;">thanksgiving</span><br />and His courts with praise;<br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Give thanks to Him and praise His name.</span><br />For the <strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Lord is good</span></strong> and <span style="font-size:130%;"><em>His love endures forever</em></span>;<br />His <span style="font-size:130%;">faithfulness continues</span> through all generations.<br /><br /><div align="right"><strong><em>~Psalm 100</em></strong></div>Anglican Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07249115198113456073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377359378824490370.post-52385393194608827802009-11-12T14:18:00.014-06:002009-11-12T22:05:13.713-06:00Teach Me to Worship<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8T6TiOaQ6wngPlgJT69WHo8iHh_vmsh2N5W9bAVP1ASFRLbOfF5Gs7PiaoulLRbvxmcngwEoxw4QDzAgXU1wbOgrd2Fe5IUuvgFmXsmwMuMOOwb_XDWER9084LWVA0qRsYrK3rFAr9m35/s1600-h/anna-alone-lake.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403430273969944930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 198px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8T6TiOaQ6wngPlgJT69WHo8iHh_vmsh2N5W9bAVP1ASFRLbOfF5Gs7PiaoulLRbvxmcngwEoxw4QDzAgXU1wbOgrd2Fe5IUuvgFmXsmwMuMOOwb_XDWER9084LWVA0qRsYrK3rFAr9m35/s320/anna-alone-lake.jpg" border="0" /></a> As I was praying, I was very conscious of my inablility to pray with words fitting my Maker. I prayed, "<em>Lord, teach me to worship You acceptably</em>." Much to my joy, He answered:<br /><br />When you accept whatever situation you are in without murmuring,<br /><div>you are worshipping Me.</div><div> </div><div><></div><div>When you can rejoice in Me in the midst of your infirmities, </div><div>you are worshipping Me.</div><div> </div><div><></div><div>When I have brought pressures to bear upon you to bring out </div><div>the gold of My nature and you bear them patiently--</div><div>blaming not Me, nor another person, nor yourself--</div><div>then you are truly worshipping Me.</div><div> </div><div><></div><div>When you can "forgive yourself" for your weaknesses and </div><div>failures and cease expecting your human nature to bring </div><div>forth perfection, you are worshipping Me.</div><div> </div><div><></div><div>When you have come to the place of recognizing and </div><div>acknowledging that "of myself I can do nothing", </div><div>then do I have praise of thee.</div><div> </div><div><></div><div>When you can look upon a wasted life and agree that </div><div>I can and will make this one every whit whole--</div><div>that this is My desire--then you have offered Me </div><div>true worship, for you have seen My true nature.</div><div> </div><div><></div><div>When you look upon My natural creation and the beauty of it </div><div>and magnify Me, than I am worshipped.</div><div> </div><div><></div><div>When you hear My word within you saying </div><div>"This is the way--walk ye in it", </div><div>and ye obey My word with rejoicing, I feel worship from thee.</div><div> </div><div><></div><div>When you look with compassion upon one who is afflicted, </div><div>tossed, and broken, then I am worshipped.</div><div> </div><div><><br />When you recognize My Body and honor them as My brethren, </div><div>this is true worship unto Me.</div><div> </div><div><><br />When thy lips are silent because of your pain, </div><div>and you lift your heart to Me, I feel your worship.</div><div> </div><div><></div><div>When you say, "I cannot--please help me!" </div><div>then I am worshipped.</div><div> </div><div><></div><div>Worship is a heart attitude in every place and situation in which you find yourselves. It acknowledges My Lordship, the righteousness of My nature, the truth of My Word, and the reality of my indwelling presence. You may offer true worship at all times and in every situation by keeping your heart right toward Me and toward your fellow-man.</div><div align="right"><em>Given to Elaine Cook,</em></div><div align="right"><em>May 1994</em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Bill & Elaine Cook publish "Gospel of the Kingdom", available at <a href="http://www.kingdomgospel.org/">www.kingdomgospel.org</a></span></em></div>Anglican Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07249115198113456073noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377359378824490370.post-84085465421275640872009-11-03T10:13:00.004-06:002009-11-03T10:30:30.163-06:00Pruned by Jeremiah<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJeodMXTPmOrhGPnrT4rPLyXwJ3F82hqkOk_CoB5SlrRUtMdJdmUt0SrGnbevYo9RITHuonCh0mN5q7enfbEgYDtals2Nl6K0JW4QMgQPfwNSgd538fcvEKrPc-JVoUP57lHOzhdFszA8s/s1600-h/bride_idol.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399912386865331218" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJeodMXTPmOrhGPnrT4rPLyXwJ3F82hqkOk_CoB5SlrRUtMdJdmUt0SrGnbevYo9RITHuonCh0mN5q7enfbEgYDtals2Nl6K0JW4QMgQPfwNSgd538fcvEKrPc-JVoUP57lHOzhdFszA8s/s320/bride_idol.jpg" border="0" /></a><em>While making my way through Jeremiah, different lines spoke to me about my ways of worshipping idols, much like rebellious Israel. Based on Scripture from Jeremiah, I wrote out this prayer...<br /></em><br /><div>My God, I return to You.</div><div>There is no God like You, who is mighty in everything You put Your hands to. Whose delight is in kindness, justice, righteousness, obedience and humility. You, the Maker of heaven and earth...You desire my whole heart. </div><div>My circumcised heart.</div><div>Let me not become worthless. Nor dig my cisterns of self-sufficiency.</div><div>I do not wish to return to You in mere pretense.</div><div>Please put Your fear in me, that I may always tremble in awe of You.</div><div>Circumcise me.</div><div>My gods are worthless, and so I become worthless. My attempts of anything good are worthless without You.</div><div>I do not have wisdom, strength, riches, or anything to boast about.</div><div>I am naked and unguarded. My foolishness and selfishness are exposed. </div><div>My God, clothe me in the the boast of knowing You. Just knowing and understanding You. </div><div>Cover me in Your wisdom, strength and riches.</div><div>I desire You, and every other pursuit falls to the ground in emptyness.</div><div>I desire you, Abba.</div><div>I desire you in truth. </div><div align="right">April 27, 2009</div><div><span style="font-size:85%;">(Jeremiah references: 10:6, 9:24b, 4:4, 2:5, 2:13, 3:10, 2:19, 9:26b, 9:23, 9:24b)</span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;">Photo: A bride, cradling idol of Krishna. Courtesy of foto search dot com.</span></div>Anglican Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07249115198113456073noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377359378824490370.post-91561385666340647512009-10-21T23:58:00.001-05:002009-10-22T00:01:57.092-05:00Entering His Rest - So That's How It's Done!I was reading Hebrews chapter 4 this morning, when the Holy Spirit made something incredibly clear to me. <i>(Don't you love it when you read God's Word and it comes alive?)</i> I normally read with an NIV Bible, but this morning I had my KJV out, and a huge difference just leapt off the pages. My NIV translation refers to this passage as a Believers Sabbath-rest, while my KJV introduced it as simply the Promise of Rest. Really that interesting of a difference? <b>Yes</b>, very!<br />
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I'm not going to insert the entirety of the chapter here, because I really would like to encourage you to read it for yourself (with NIV and KJV/NKJV in hand). Not to mention, if I get too wordy here, I'll lose ya. Why? Because when I get too wordy I lose my own train of thought and that just doesn't get you anywhere fast.<br />
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Before I say what I'm here (at this extremely late hour) to say, let me mention that for my entire Christian walk (most of my life, as I was raised in a God-fearing home) I've never, let me repeat, <b>NEVER</b> given heed to the differences of Biblical translations. I realize some people can become extremely legalistic about this issue, and I'm not even going to go there.<br />
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However, the older I've gotten, and the more I have grown in the Word, the more aware I have become that there <i><b>are</b></i> differences in translations. That is a totally different post for another time, but I will say that if your heart is yearning for the truth, and your spirit is surrendered, the Holy Spirit will show you the important differences. I promise you. It's literally like a member of the Godhead has whipped out a high-powered super bright flashlight and pierced the smallest sliver of a shadow you never knew was there.<br />
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Got your Bible? Good, start reading. Chapter 4. <i>Rest</i>. Got it. I'm going to keep this short and simple because I want you to check it out for yourselves. You're probably going to read this and say<i> "Huh?"</i> so I want you to chew on it for a bit.<br />
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<ul><li>At the end of 6 days worth of creating the universe, God, the Creator, rested. His work was finished.</li>
<li>The Old Testament law required a Sabbath rest as an act of obedience to God, as a way to <i>enter His rest</i>. (Keep in mind that everything that took place in the Old Testament was a type and shadow of Christ and what He was going to do in the coming days.)</li>
</ul><br />
<ul><li>Christ came, lived, and died. Fulfilling prophecy, saving mankind from the curse of sin, His finished work at the Cross. Completed. </li>
</ul>We enter His rest, how? (Check out verse 10) By ceasing our works, just as God did when he finished Creation, and (dun dun dunnn!) <i>entering His rest</i>.<br />
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Sabbath-rest is, in essence, <i>a work of the flesh</i>. Just as the entirety of the Old Testament laws were nothing more than acts of human effort trying to make up for imperfect man-offered sacrifices.<br />
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Rest, just simple <i>entering into God's rest</i> - requires we cease our works, which to me translates into FAITH. Faith in that finished work of Christ's atonement.<br />
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Do you see what I'm saying here?<br />
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*tap tap tap*<br />
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There is a HUGE difference between <i>Sabbath</i>-<b>rest</b> and entering the <i>Promise of Rest</i>. It's like Old Testament sacrifice versus THE sacrifice of a pure and spotless lamb Christ Jesus. That is a HUGE difference! HUGE!<br />
<ul><li>God finished his Creation, <i>ceased his work</i>, and entered into His rest. </li>
<li>Christ finished it ALL, <i>ceasing</i> all need for the Old Testament <i>law of works</i> so WE can enter into His rest. </li>
<li>We enter his rest when we <i>obey</i> the call to place our Faith wholly and completely in Christ Jesus and what He did on the Cross. When we look anywhere else for our rest (whether that be serving, self reliance, legalism, self righteousness, works, etc...) we're in disobedience and no longer are we resting in Him (verse 6) - wowzers! </li>
</ul>I told ya I was going to keep this short (for me, anyway!) because seriously, <b>you need to read this for yourselves</b>. I'm not arguing works vs faith, or even keeping a Sabbath day. I'm simply pointing out that God totally just gave me a revelation about my faith in the finished work of Christ and it ROCKED.MY.SOCKS.<br />
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It's not about what we do. When we do it. Where, or how. It's about truly, and I do mean truly putting our faith in Christ Jesus. Something as sacred to our Christianity as a Sabbath day really has no bearing in whether or not we are in the beautiful Rest of our Father. All He wants from us is our Faith.<br />
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And just so you know, simple Faith is easier said than done. No wonder our human nature relies so heavily on works. To do works is the easy way, but Faith requires submission. Surrender. Absolute, complete, total, one hundred percent genuine <i>surrender</i>.<br />
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But, man! The reward is so worth it.<br />
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Now, if you'll excuse me, it's nearly midnight and I'm going to go to bed with a smile on my face, because I'm <i><b>resting in Him. <span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">And it feels <b>GREAT</b>.</span></span> </b></i>LeAnnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360378882035668129noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377359378824490370.post-88734491607210503622009-10-14T17:02:00.001-05:002009-10-14T17:02:35.664-05:00He is there<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">When the sun goes down<br />Who is there<br />When the snow falls and I’m cold<br />Who is there<br />When the rain drowns out voices I once wanted to hear<br />Who is all around<br />When I want to curl up in a corner<br />Who is there<br />When the blue of the sky I don’t notice for the blur of my eyes<br />Who is there<br />When nothing makes sense, when all sense leaves<br />Who is there<br />When sense makes an appearance but circumstances soon drop it away<br />Who is there<br />When I’m so tired I need reality back or maybe I just need to forget it all<br />Who is there</span>bekahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09648168191469472011noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377359378824490370.post-15797414883426261112009-10-03T21:25:00.007-05:002009-10-04T00:20:15.367-05:00It's All About Relationship<a href="http://www.netministry.com/clientfiles/62443/ConnectWithGod.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 255px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 387px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.netministry.com/clientfiles/62443/ConnectWithGod.jpg" /></a>Here is one page out of a book that grabbed the attention of my heart.<br />More and more I am beginning to see not the value of<br /><ul><li>Reading the Bible More</li><li>Praying to Pray </li><li>Trying Harder</li><li>Doing More "Good"</li><li>Staying away from "Bad"</li></ul><p>But the reason I am alive. Why I was created and given all the faculties I have. To enjoy an ever increasing, glorious relationship with the Living God, and by this bring Him glory.</p><p>Of course Bible reading, prayer, etc are obviously essential, but are hollow if they are my end. Everything is only as valuable as its assistance in bringing me into the relationship for which I was created. All of these "Christian" things are only valid as a means to an end: Relationship. Everything I am and do is to flow from this amazing connection!</p><p>Enough said by me, the excerpt from the book Adoration I am posting highlights Mary of Bethany, Jesus' friend who sat at His feet and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">anointed</span> Him. She was known by her criticised lifestyle of "waste" and "laziness" in the eyes of others but was constantly defended by Jesus Himself. I long to live in the same recklessness of affection and passion for Jesus.</p><p>"A valid work awaits for us<br />A work of God's design<br />A labor calling for courage<br />A sweating toil that is our greatest adventure<br />Jesus answered the valid question of responsible men<br />"Tell us how to work the works of God."<br />"Work," He said, is this:<br />"To believe on the One God has sent..." John 6:29<br />And that is most practical<br />Believe that the Son of God is your very performance<br />Your duties, your strength to live<br />Another lives your life entirely<br />Does your work for you...instead of you<br />Another energy moves you<br />Another being completes your tasks<br />The work to attain this is the<span style="font-size:130%;"> <strong><span style="color:#660000;">investment in a relationship</span></strong><br /></span>Mary's <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">unacclaimed</span> labor: to build a <span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>relationship with the Son of God</strong></span><br />And from that deep kinship--to believe in Him, live by Him.<br />To build a union with the knowable Son is work.<br />Requiring all the energy and focus of any other toil.<br />It takes an exertion of the blank will to meet God face to face<br />Activity can shield you from it, spare you and protect you<br />From that awful gaze on your ugly nothingness<br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#660000;">Activity can mask an empty soul<br />And give you a fake costume of nobility<br /></span>But to face God when He calls your name takes more grit than mere toil<br />More sweat than projects<br />And to care for nothing except Him--no one but Him--is a reduction that<br />Means labor until the very death<br />Mary did it.<br />She worked to subdue her mind to His mind<br />Her life to His wishes, her time to His pleasure<br />Her heart to His love.<br />Mary's <strong>secret work</strong> by being <strong>hid<br /></strong>Gained no accolades from her peers<br />To listen to One outside of yourself, to hear a voice without an echo--<br />Because not audible--is the hardest work of mankind<br />So hard that few will do it.<br />It means waiting, it means risking<br />It takes the surrender of every device,<br />The loss of every independence<br />The normal work of humanity is increase<br />But the labor of Spiritual listening is only decrease."<br />(Martha <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kilpatrick</span>, Adoration, Copyright © 1999, <a href="http://www.shulamite.com/">http://www.shulamite.com/</a>)</p><p><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Selah</span>. (Pause, and calmly think on that)</p>Brooke B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03037703403384405190noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377359378824490370.post-47872690407044467072009-09-29T11:19:00.003-05:002009-09-29T11:24:33.745-05:00<div align="center"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>"O living flame of love<br />that tenderly wounds my soul.<br />In its deepest center! Since<br />Now you are not oppressive,<br />Now Consummate! If it be Your will:<br />Tear through the veil of this sweet encounter!<br />O sweet cautery,<br />O delightful wound!<br />O gentle hand! O delicate touch<br />That tastes of eternal life<br />and pays every debt!<br />In killing You changed death to life."</em><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">~St. John of the Cross</span> </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386925669507140178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-0B2ye6piKHXStrTxaZ8Ax2txtV-Ct-MPH0ngMvR5JabL9skTTeX5mVz_k_1eR1xjMwQ6zRDTs-HDnMYnuJVorD0ZgAMwZvTzDyd3EYjFO_ZnkbU6MxJjGy4WavWcROO_Fm6WWIU70f7/s320/beka-prostrateARb&w.jpg" /></span>Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06970860706700716739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377359378824490370.post-25106250708864780702009-09-22T14:16:00.004-05:002009-09-22T14:34:32.204-05:00A Shrub or a TREE<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWkKoHNvzbmkKkNXK606uZRQahbQtq2eGCWPUaklB2pbRN98Rl2WeXVWwLUZfv6l1UDKLLCWmkf_kYI_SZXnJFbZBHv5hPRQLByB0RVWxoqsXNyAcUAQvUPgYinHGGmpifonmCbRhthYp/s1600-h/brookiedesign.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 317px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384377036451497394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWkKoHNvzbmkKkNXK606uZRQahbQtq2eGCWPUaklB2pbRN98Rl2WeXVWwLUZfv6l1UDKLLCWmkf_kYI_SZXnJFbZBHv5hPRQLByB0RVWxoqsXNyAcUAQvUPgYinHGGmpifonmCbRhthYp/s320/brookiedesign.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XVTT1fAWkOwwBkDH315bvIQU5YyGzg8gXmL-02kd1dTEN6TLsV_jM27uBXqFKJn2xIuF-fWC6vUIJ_2ysG5-9FnXaQ_HS3_QY3Jm0f7c47t8OhJUsdf_YEq0loxClo1SucrJgFHM8uGx/s1600-h/brookiedesign.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 5px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 10px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384373225270976338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XVTT1fAWkOwwBkDH315bvIQU5YyGzg8gXmL-02kd1dTEN6TLsV_jM27uBXqFKJn2xIuF-fWC6vUIJ_2ysG5-9FnXaQ_HS3_QY3Jm0f7c47t8OhJUsdf_YEq0loxClo1SucrJgFHM8uGx/s320/brookiedesign.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>"Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord. He will be like a SHRUB in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes, he will dwell in the parched places of the desert, where no one lives." Jeremiah 17:5-6<br />I remember reading those verses for seemingly the first time during a miserable "dry" era of my life--during my mid-teens. I was shocked at how accurately this verse described my existence.<br />"Whoa! That’s me!" I wanted to shout. "I'm that shrub!" and it was clear why. My vitality was reduced to a shriveled, lonely, thirsty, stunted shrub because my heart was departing from the Lord. I was looking only to people, friends, excitement (I have always had serious "thrill issues" anyway), pleasure, and even myself. Grasping anywhere but Him for every longing of my heart. Praying to him? Yes. Reading His word? Yes. Oh, but the heart of my desire wasn't for Him. It was the classic shrub/wasteland experience.<br />Most of us have wasted days in that loathsome state and discover only thirst and loneliness as we claw for fulfillment and security in those barren things. It is an ironic loneliness though, for so many of us wasteland campers are in the same desert "where no one lives" together. Ah, but there is no fellowship (camertismo) in this desert because as we lean solely on each other and not on the Lord, we are barely alive and most assuredly have nothing to offer. We end up judging and blaming when our needs are not met, not to mention we become unwanted company--which drives us further into isolation!<br />As you would conclude, I did not wish to stay in this wilderness. With my cursed condition diagnosed and tears gathering, I eagerly read on; in search of the cure for my "shrubbiness". Just listen--this is beautiful!<br />"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is in the Lord. For he shall be like a TREE, planted by the waters, which spreads out his roots by the River, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green and it will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will it cease bearing fruit." As Anna would say, "Hallelujah!"<br />This lovely, strong tree has nothing to fear, nothing to lose from distressing surroundings, outside influence, or turmoil. Nothing will stop it from bearing fruit. I had previously taken little responsibility for feeling depressed, restless, having little enthusiasm for Jesus, and not bearing fruit. It was problems such as: "My church and family aren't on fire for God", "I have so little encouragement from people around me", "No one cares =-)”, "I am always around people who drain strength from me “, "There is so little excitement in my life", "So much is demanded of me," etc, etc.<br />When I realized my life could be vibrant regardless of my climate, my neighbors, etc.; my excuses--like a spark on a measly match--were extinguished. My trust and hope was hinged on futility and my heart had obviously departed from the Lord. Tears began to wash down as I confessed my idolatry and dropped my pointed fingers, acknowledging the guilt of my faithlessness. I felt the familiar current of that River of mercy wash over my crusty heart once again!<br />I would be delighted to inform you that ever since that revelation, my heart has never departed from the Lord or trusted in man for my strength. That day after blissful day, I have unwaveringly plowed my healthy roots deeper, resting in hope, trusting in the living God!<br />However, it is not so. It has been a journey of readjusting my trust everyday and in every instance. Quite naturally and without effort or fail, my heart will depart from looking to the Lord. Blessings or trials can send me into this wandering state, looking outside of the Life Giver for joy and strength. I have had to revisit these passages and ask painful questions over and over since then. However, His Spirit, without fail, brings me back to my place by "The Riv". Here the peace and vitality are indescribable, however, the outcome of this trust is so much more than personal satisfaction!<br />Isaiah 61 begins by telling us the Messiah is coming and the amazing restoration He will bring. Verse 3 continues to share that He will "...grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting; so they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified." That is the goal. All that He may be glorified! Jesus' teaching in John 15:8 confirms the relevance of this Old Testament truth. He says, "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples." There is more than our well being and reputation at stake here, saints: we have the privilege of exalting the Highest King!<br />At this time in my life, there are <strong>new</strong> and <em>exciting </em>ways to abide in and trust Him for the needs of my entire being. Lately it has meant trusting Him for infusions of strength and kindness toward my family after a long (or hard) day of painting, laundry, and teaching, or just work in general. It has meant laying my concern for finances and the future completely in His hand, and refusing to be anxious. It means leaving the scripting of my human love story to God's pen. It means refusing to believe the devil's lies about me, my family members, and my circumstances. It has meant using my time wisely so that I can spend more time with my True Lover, drawing closer to His heart. Rather than trying to produce fruit in others and myself, it has meant relying on Him in prayer and bringing my failings and others' needs to Him. Trusting; not striving. As my Mom pointed out to me the other day that a branch-tree doesn't "do" anything--on its own. Jesus said again in John 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." We are to receive from the Lord and abide in Him. Obviously obeying His commands, etc., is part of abiding; but again, not on our own. It is He that does that work in us. If we would but trust, cooperate and endure!<br />So, my dear sisters, if you ever find yourself in the midst of a shrub/wasteland experience, take heart. Your King has prepared a better place for you. Take the time to identify the false things you have been hoping in, and chasing after. Examine where your hope and desires have been placed in. Confess these to God and run your heart back to "the River", "the Source", the "Author and Finisher of Your Faith". I find it helpful to explicitly list those things to God that you have decided to trust Him for. Enjoy! Oh, and keep an eye out for the inevitable fruit! (Repeat as necessary--all throughout the day)<br />"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:3)<br />God blessings and sister love to you all,<br />Brooke</div></div>Brooke B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03037703403384405190noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377359378824490370.post-85305015178336738542009-09-20T13:06:00.002-05:002009-09-20T13:09:37.319-05:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZiFaJf7xamJm_bJK0EwniW02eyBsuXOJrebqLrUCaHCrhcmioUlTzfs6m1xfkNuDBJV7FT-g1CYgvtpDyX-t161MQxG5K2OwknuWKa3QhD0ZhkAtoex3la9ic1uX8onoagX5traaHj51-/s1600-h/surrender.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383613171429552978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZiFaJf7xamJm_bJK0EwniW02eyBsuXOJrebqLrUCaHCrhcmioUlTzfs6m1xfkNuDBJV7FT-g1CYgvtpDyX-t161MQxG5K2OwknuWKa3QhD0ZhkAtoex3la9ic1uX8onoagX5traaHj51-/s320/surrender.jpg" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;">John 12:24<br /><em>"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”</em></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;"><br />Surrender is mandatory for the Christ Follower. It Is good, it is beautiful, but it is painful. So painful.<br />I lay my dreams on the alter time and time again, only to watch them burn to ashes before my eyes, my lips moving in silent pleading prayer: “Your Will be done.” Even as my heart screams, no no, no, no, keep them, keep the precious darling dreams and maybe you can figure something out, maybe you can work it out, maybe you can make them happen.<br />I can’t. I know that, know that deep inside.<br />Would I want to anyhow? Even if I could wave a magic wand, and magic of magic’s there I would be on the mission field, with my darling husband and sweet babies? If I could love more, help more, and radiate Christ more, all on my very own effort?<br />God gives us these dreams, desires and hopes and then asks gently for them back. So He can have His way. So He can be glorified. More than if I conjured up something, more than if I pushed and prodded. With brokenness I hand Him every precious one until I can’t see them anymore.<br />I am left bereft, empty of all. A blank slate for Him to write on.<br />With nothing to hold to except Him.<br />Yet, isn’t that exactly where we should long to be? Exactly where I need to be? With Jesus and Jesus alone.<br />It is most hardest, this surrender thing, when I can see the barest hopeful glimmer of possibility. Even then, He asks for that possibility to be placed in His hands. With tearful pleading I place it there, again and again, and pray and hope, and contemplate, maybes and hows and whys…but He asks me to give up even those and just die. (Mark 8:35)<br />Surrender feels like death, but death can be a lovely thing when life awaits around the corner. Eternal, marvelous life in Jesus.<br />Trust in Me.<br />Wait on Me. Hope in Me.<br />These are all things Jesus is teaching me, showing me by His love and grace during this particular time of surrender. (‘cause surrender never ends ya know =-)<br />Perhaps one day these dreams will be resurrected, in a more breath-taking manner than I could have imagined. Perhaps they won’t. I don’t know. Only God knows. That is as it should be…<br />Not my will but Yours, Lord Jesus. Even as my dreams lay broken like shattered glass, the veil torn from my eyes and hope blazing in my heart. I will surrender again, again, again. Till all of me is Yours. </span></div>Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06970860706700716739noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377359378824490370.post-35122782090032397782009-09-17T11:21:00.005-05:002009-09-17T12:04:50.009-05:00<div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1k_0CpMHjum1AXnbGICFRHTxMBSPCdWGcVcB8-0fmxcyKW_j0IVarQafFFMhh4DPGnF6c4fSa5_7ukdqDK812KvR6Ey1PeA1XywyyMC0LVOwumzzdRPK4-AnclPcvsp-whDeTu6TUSUM/s1600-h/beka_millebournestitle.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382480937168586978" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 288px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1k_0CpMHjum1AXnbGICFRHTxMBSPCdWGcVcB8-0fmxcyKW_j0IVarQafFFMhh4DPGnF6c4fSa5_7ukdqDK812KvR6Ey1PeA1XywyyMC0LVOwumzzdRPK4-AnclPcvsp-whDeTu6TUSUM/s400/beka_millebournestitle.jpg" border="0" /></a> This year marks 50 years of serving my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I am reminded that I should be looking back at the milestones of my spiritual journey, so I can remember how much God has loved me throughout my life.<br />As I reflect upon some of the milestones of my life toward eternity, may you find encouragement at the milestone that you are currently making. I want to take you with me down “memory lane” of my walk with my Lord. (I will try not to fill in the daily milestones; as that would be 50 times 365 days!)<br />At the young age of eleven, God’s Spirit spoke to my heart. I was somewhat like Samuel; not really understanding God’s call (1 Sam. 3). My parents never talked to me about God, although they were good moral people. My extended family of grandparents, aunt and uncles were examples of Christians, whom I admired. I wanted the love that they showed to me.<br />I remember Papa Walker rejoicing in the Lord continually. He constantly had a fast moving Pentecostal melody of praise on his lips, to our Lord, going up for all the family to hear. A memory I will never forget was his excitement on Sunday morning of being so happy about going to church to worship with God’s people.<br />I remember Sunday School as a child. My Aunt Joy, who was my Sunday School teacher, taught me that God’s Word was of utmost importance. I learned how to use a Bible concordance, which helped me to find answers to questions that teenagers ask. Than as God sent me a boyfriend, Leonard, one of the first gifts he gave me was a Thompson Chain Bible. Looking back, I know this was God’s grace pointing me to the importance of His Word!<br />After marriage and the birth of our first child, God gave us the desire to move south from Chicago, Illinois. It was in Tennessee that milestones with my Lord continued. With the birth of our daughter Grace (our second child), I desired a house of our own. God granted me that request, but it came with a big lesson, as God began to teach me how very unimportant material houses can be.<br />My husband yielded to God’s call on his heart for pasturing. He pastured small country churches and then moved on to his first full time pastorate. It was there again that God said, “Come closer”. As we drew nearer to our Lord, we learned many principles of God’s Word that we not practiced by the organization of which we were a part.<br />Our second daughter, Renae was born during this time. This was another learning lesson along the way, as we knew God would have to perform a miracle to put Leonard back in the pastorate, without his former associates. God performed the miracle and sent us to Pinckneyville, Illinois, where he served as pastor for ten years. At the end of this period, we again witnessed that God would be with us wherever we went. It was time to go to the place on earth that seemed most like home to us.<br />Today we look back at the milestones along the way; thanking God for every one of them. He has kept his promise of always being with us, our Counselor and Guide, as well as Savior and Redeemer.<br /></div><div align="right">—From Mrs. Carolyn Glover, 3-24-2008 </div>Cameratismo [Fellowship]http://www.blogger.com/profile/06995130045419792457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377359378824490370.post-49312703756510095282009-09-13T14:01:00.013-05:002009-09-13T14:23:24.026-05:00beautiful people<a href="http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/cameratismo/HoldingHands.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 359px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 287px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/cameratismo/HoldingHands.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;"><br /></span><div><a href="http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/cameratismo/HoldingHands.jpg"></a><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;">We can be friends if you want to<br />There’s a friendship waiting to be<br />We can be friends if you want to<br />Take my hand, be friends with me<br />-Beautiful People; Jason Upton<br /><br />God is all about making the outcasts part of the family. </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;">He’s all about bringing the unwanted into the gathering of blood relatives. He took the Gentiles and accepted them along with His Chosen people. Jesus’ sacrifice made the walls fall. </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;">It’s us that is the problem—we hold on to the borders and lines and separators, no matter that we have a problem with segregation in church. We segregate our family, our friends, and everyone outside and inbetween. </span></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;"> God takes us side by side with the drug dealer-slash-human-seller who just dedicated his life to Jesus and His Way.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:78%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:78%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;">We love our families. God calls us to bring non-blood relatives into our circles of family, to take them in as He takes us in. He calls us to love, to show His Love, to embrace the outcasts and friends as He embraces us. </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:78%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:78%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;">The world loves its own. We love our own. Jesus’ Way calls us to Love without inhibitions, which is something the world does not do—love with no conditions on it. No reasons to love, but still loving. The world does not know how to do that. In fact, we will only know how to do that if we fully accept His Love for us, and read His word and talk to Him, and focus on Him and… live as He did. He lives through us. </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;">We live because of Him. </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;">How can we take that and run with it? Go deep into the dirty parts of humanity and the cities we live in and around but stay away from. </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:78%;"></span> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;">Love with no reasons. No chance of them giving anything back. That is Jesus’ Love. Clothe the naked. Feed the hungry. Give water to those who thirst. </span></div><div align="left"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;">Love with no reason, no condition other than that He loves us like that, so why not? It’s hard, but then… life’s hard, and we’re called to this. It’s hard but good. why not have good with the hard?</span></div></div>bekahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09648168191469472011noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377359378824490370.post-68606188417955050762009-08-20T17:21:00.003-05:002009-08-20T17:29:21.067-05:00Greetings!So glad you stopped by! Cameratismo is just about up and running. Over the next several weeks expect things to be tweaked here and there. We're no website gurus here, therefor everything will probably remain fairly simple, unless one of us all of the sudden gets real smart in the HTML department. :) <div><br /></div><div>Feel free to e-mail us at cameratismo at gmail dot com with any questions, comments, or if you have anything you'd like to share. We love hearing from you. </div><div><br /></div><div>Don't forget the labels at the bottom left of the blog. There you will find articles by author and/or their column name. </div><div><br /></div><div>We're looking forward to seeing what the Lord is going to do through Cameratismo in blog format. Pray with us, will you? That God would make Himself known to each and every person that visits this site, and that above all, King Jesus would receive ALL glory in both the praise and the pain that may be shared here. </div><div><br /></div><div>Blessings!</div><div>LeAnna</div><div>(The Soapbox) </div>LeAnnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360378882035668129noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377359378824490370.post-68433253503452924482009-07-14T12:36:00.003-05:002009-08-11T12:11:27.825-05:00Coming Soon...Cameratismo, in blog format!Cameratismo [Fellowship]http://www.blogger.com/profile/06995130045419792457noreply@blogger.com0