"But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved." Ephesians 2:4-5
This is long, but really good!
From Valley of Vision (A Puritan Prayer Book):
Everlasting Creator-Father, I have destroyed myself, my nature is defiled, the powers of my soul are degraded; I am vile, miserable, strengthless,
but my hope is in thee. If ever I am saved it will be by goodness undeserved and astonishing, not by mercy alone but by abundant mercy, not by
grace alone but exceeding riches of grace; and such thou hast revealed, promised, exemplified in thoughts of peace, not of evil. Thou hast
devised means to rescue me from sin’s perdition, to restore me to happiness, honour, safety. I bless thee for the everlasting covenant, for the
appointment of a Mediator. I rejoice that he failed not, nor was discouraged, but accomplished the work thou gavest him to do; and said on the
cross, ‘It is finished.’ I exult in the thought that thy justice is satisfied, thy truth established, thy law magnified, and a foundation is laid for my
hope. I look to a present and personal interest in Christ and say, Surely he has borne my griefs, carried my sorrows, won my peace, healed my
soul. Justified by his blood I am saved by his life, Glorying in his cross I bow to his sceptre, Having his Spirit I possess his mind. Lord, grant that
my religion may not be occasional and partial, but universal, influential, effective, and may I always continue in thy words as well as thy works,
so that I may reach my end in peace.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Eye Opening
So, I've got my cup of coffee, laptop, and Toby laying beside me. Just a relaxed Sunday morning. I love reading the news on Sunday morning on BBC.com and came across an eye opening article.
The article was about underaged girls in the Phillipines who are sold into prostitution. "Recruiters" in the industry approach families and use lies and deception in order to get possession of their young daughters. They send the girls to underground brothels. The article said there is suspected to be 100,000 young girls who are sold into this lifestyle. There are large networks of this industry that they call the "underground world."
What God says:
"He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners...to comfort all who mourn...to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." Isaiah 61:1-3 also spoken by Jesus in Luke 4.
"He uphold the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. He sets prisoners free." Psalm 146:7
"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Psalm 147:3
God desires justice for those who are oppressed. We can pray for these girls in confidence using these scriptures because we know we are praying God will and desire. Let's pray...
The article was about underaged girls in the Phillipines who are sold into prostitution. "Recruiters" in the industry approach families and use lies and deception in order to get possession of their young daughters. They send the girls to underground brothels. The article said there is suspected to be 100,000 young girls who are sold into this lifestyle. There are large networks of this industry that they call the "underground world."
What God says:
"He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners...to comfort all who mourn...to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." Isaiah 61:1-3 also spoken by Jesus in Luke 4.
"He uphold the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. He sets prisoners free." Psalm 146:7
"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Psalm 147:3
God desires justice for those who are oppressed. We can pray for these girls in confidence using these scriptures because we know we are praying God will and desire. Let's pray...
Friday, April 13, 2007
I've been listening to this song by Enter the Worship Circle a lot lately! Wow, the beauty of Jesus!
Crown Him
Listen all you unborn children, and those yet to be born again
A seed from the God of heaven… was planted here in the world of men
He grew up only to be broken, He grow up only to be buried
“Hold on,” I heard the prophet say, “hold on, that’s not the end.”
‘Cause when the cross went up, the curtain came down
And a hush ran across the stage, but when the stone was rolled back
All the angels came ‘round, and the earth stood up on its feet to say…
Crown Him Love, crown Him Alive and Well, Crown Him God of Our Salvation
Crown Him Lovely, crown Him Beautiful, He is God and we adore Him…
Creation began to speak, here come Jesus
In a purple robe, here come Jesus, like a lovely rose
Here come Jesus Back from the dead
Here come Jesus holding out His hand
Crown Him
Listen all you unborn children, and those yet to be born again
A seed from the God of heaven… was planted here in the world of men
He grew up only to be broken, He grow up only to be buried
“Hold on,” I heard the prophet say, “hold on, that’s not the end.”
‘Cause when the cross went up, the curtain came down
And a hush ran across the stage, but when the stone was rolled back
All the angels came ‘round, and the earth stood up on its feet to say…
Crown Him Love, crown Him Alive and Well, Crown Him God of Our Salvation
Crown Him Lovely, crown Him Beautiful, He is God and we adore Him…
Creation began to speak, here come Jesus
In a purple robe, here come Jesus, like a lovely rose
Here come Jesus Back from the dead
Here come Jesus holding out His hand
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Columbia
Yesterday and today are the days to pray for Columbia in the book Operation World. I read something amazing in the "Answers to Prayer" section of the book and had to share!
"God is reaching the lowest and most desperate. Bellavista Prison is a maximum security prison in Medellin that was often call 'hell on earth' where the murder rate often topped one per day. Through prayer and the bold witness of some anointed believers the prison has seen a remarkable turning of the most hardened criminals to Christ. Large numbers of the inmates are now believers, and round the clock prayer chains often function. The spirit of murder has all but disappeared, and the brutal conditions improved. Now, a Bible Institute has formed in the prison, training inmates for ministry once they are released."
God is good!
Did you know that Columbia exports 75% of the world's cocaine!?!
"God is reaching the lowest and most desperate. Bellavista Prison is a maximum security prison in Medellin that was often call 'hell on earth' where the murder rate often topped one per day. Through prayer and the bold witness of some anointed believers the prison has seen a remarkable turning of the most hardened criminals to Christ. Large numbers of the inmates are now believers, and round the clock prayer chains often function. The spirit of murder has all but disappeared, and the brutal conditions improved. Now, a Bible Institute has formed in the prison, training inmates for ministry once they are released."
God is good!
Did you know that Columbia exports 75% of the world's cocaine!?!
Monday, April 9, 2007
Beatiful Verse
I just stumbled across this verse last night and it's wonderful!
"From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'"
Acts 17: 26-28
I think I'm going to memorize it! Ask me later, if I've memorized it, okay? :)
"From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'"
Acts 17: 26-28
I think I'm going to memorize it! Ask me later, if I've memorized it, okay? :)
Sunday, April 1, 2007
I'm Back! :)
So I can be really bad about keeping up with blog stuff, if you can't tell! The thing that prevents me from doing it is that I can feel like I'm not spending my time wisely. I want every minute of my day to be purposeful and honestly I can spend too much time on thinking about what I should post. So I think I'm going to try and post consistently but not put too much thought and writing time into it. It's great to be able to write things that God is teaching you and have them recorded to look back upon and remember especially during those times that we forget! I can so easily forget things that I've learned from God in times past!
Amazing Quote:
"Nobody can force a single soul...to turn to Christ. All that [we]...can do, is to lift up Christ before the world, bring him into dingy corners and dark places of the earth where he is unknown, introduce him to strangers, talk about him to everyone, and live so closely with and in him that others may see that there really is such a person as Jesus."
Elizabeth "Betty" Stam
This is simply beautiful! "That others may see that there is really such a person as Jesus." He is a person! "Live so closely with and in him." Deep intimacy that is strongly evident. "lift up Christ before the world, bring him into dingy corners and dark places" Making His goodness known. Proclaiming it everywhere. God would you please do this in us, your Church and Bride. Produce deep intimacy and humility to where you are radiant and evident to the whole world.
Amazing Quote:
"Nobody can force a single soul...to turn to Christ. All that [we]...can do, is to lift up Christ before the world, bring him into dingy corners and dark places of the earth where he is unknown, introduce him to strangers, talk about him to everyone, and live so closely with and in him that others may see that there really is such a person as Jesus."
Elizabeth "Betty" Stam
This is simply beautiful! "That others may see that there is really such a person as Jesus." He is a person! "Live so closely with and in him." Deep intimacy that is strongly evident. "lift up Christ before the world, bring him into dingy corners and dark places" Making His goodness known. Proclaiming it everywhere. God would you please do this in us, your Church and Bride. Produce deep intimacy and humility to where you are radiant and evident to the whole world.
Sunday, February 4, 2007
Created for Family
God makes a home for the lonely Ps.68:6 NASB
God sets the lonely in families Ps.68:6 NIV
God's heart is for us to not be alone. He has created us and made us for family. He has really shown Himself to be true in this area of my life lately. I have an amazing family in Houston/Austin which consists of my mom, dad, and sister Lisa. They are THE BEST!!! :) Unfortunately they don't live five minutes away. God wants me to have a family here in College Station also.
He's been so great to provide me with it. He continues to give me peace about being at Living Hope. I've met some amazing people who are in love with God's word and walking in His ways. I'm thankful for Amanda, Bekah, Julie, Jenn, my new mentor, Hope Group, the Nicaragua team...it's crazy how in just a matter of weeks God has placed this lonely one (me!) in a new home.
I'm so thankful!
God sets the lonely in families Ps.68:6 NIV
God's heart is for us to not be alone. He has created us and made us for family. He has really shown Himself to be true in this area of my life lately. I have an amazing family in Houston/Austin which consists of my mom, dad, and sister Lisa. They are THE BEST!!! :) Unfortunately they don't live five minutes away. God wants me to have a family here in College Station also.
He's been so great to provide me with it. He continues to give me peace about being at Living Hope. I've met some amazing people who are in love with God's word and walking in His ways. I'm thankful for Amanda, Bekah, Julie, Jenn, my new mentor, Hope Group, the Nicaragua team...it's crazy how in just a matter of weeks God has placed this lonely one (me!) in a new home.
I'm so thankful!
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