(Great song of celebration below)
My best friend and I watched "Passion of the Christ," we both sat in silence with tears rolling down our faces. There are so many people that can't stand to watch it, it's too horrifying, too gruesome, too hard to see. But do we realize what he went through for us? Do we truly realize? He was beaten and beaten and beaten and beaten over and over and never complained. As he was placed on the cross, nails driven through his hands and feet, he still muttered the words "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34) I sat and thought, "If that were me, I would have complained, and then I probably would have asked God to punish them for what they have done!" (I'm just being honest....) But Jesus asks God to forgive...forgive!?! Can you fathom? Can you really? As I sit here and write this and read the scriptures of Jesus' character through all of this, I have become so completely overwhelmed. I am filled with tears of pain and appreciation for his suffering, I realized how much he loves. HOW MUCH HE LOVES.
I was reflecting today about the women who went to the tomb with their spices and perfumes. The tomb is is a place where as humans, when we leave this Earth, our bodies stay there. Jesus vanished from the tomb! He rose from the grave, just as he said! Do we realize what a true miracle this is? Do we know what this means? He didn't die, for He is living, He is the one and only King!
I have been thinking of this today and I am completely overwhelmed. Easter is not a time to just spend with family and watch the little ones hunt for eggs. While all of this is great and fun, this is a true time for gratitude, recognition, joy, and celebration! What an overwhelming sacrifice. And he did it for me. This entire season makes me appreciate my salvation. . . all Glory be to our King.
"Come and see, come and see where they laid him. He is not here, no he is not here, HE IS LIVING!!"
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Give me wisdom, You know just what to do
This one is a bit longer then what I usually write but I KNOW that I was supposed to write it. So, read on if you'd like. (ps-click on the song below and listen while you read....so good.)
"The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue." 2 Samuel 23:2
I am not kidding when I say it has been a WHILE since I felt like the Lord spoke to me. A LONG while....and that's extremely frustrating to me. I took a "time out" from all of the "stuff" in my life to rest and relax. Whenever the Lord is quiet, I usually tell myself it's because I'm too busy to listen, or I haven't been asking. But, I learned so much from being quiet and letting the Holy Spirit just speak. The Lord was very clear on a few things in my life.
I give it a little time and wait for His promise to come to pass. So when it doesn't happen immediately, I begin to question. Now... I'm the type of person to always trying to figure things out. Always. And I have found that this turns to worry (yes people who know me well, I am admitting it). Worrying if I heard wrong, worrying what I should do, worrying when, worrying how. . . .well #1, if God has not corrected me and I have asked, then I need to move forward and stand on his promise. And #2, I HAVE to be obedient in my time of waiting.
I find myself saying "God, I have done what I was supposed to do. Why aren't they doing what they're supposed to do!?" ......I had to smile as I was listening to Joyce Meyer tell a story. Her story went like this... "I just felt like I was supposed to ask this woman to go to lunch with me. God had put it on my heart for a while....So, I asked her to go to lunch. She responded by saying 'Thank you for the invitation but I can't.' So I then went back to God and said 'See! She didn't even go!' and God responded by saying 'I told you to ask her, I didn't tell you she'd go.' Maybe that woman just needed an invitation, for someone to show her love. I don't know, and it doesn't even matter. All that matters is that I did what God said to do." ....
....when am I going to realize that it's not how or when my obedience will get me to the promise...just that I need to be obedient to every and all steps God tells me to make.
Why is it that when God speaks, I have such a hard time believing it? It is because I don't see it happening in the natural. Recently, I have realized that having a child like faith and hearing the Lord go hand in hand. If God says it will be, it WILL be. No need to worry, no need to question. God's proven true to this time and time again as I look back on my past. Things that I wanted to badly. I would spend so much time worrying about them and getting upset when they didn't come to pass. But just as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow, God had a plan. There was a reason it didn't work out the way I wanted. . . and I am so so thankful for it. OR those times when God told me not to do something. Well, I thought my plan was better than his so I went ahead and did it anyway. Every single time, I find myself saying "You were right." I'm sure He is up in heaven saying "Yes, I know."
God is our Father. So just as our earthly father tells us what is right and wrong and corrects us, so does the Lord. The Lord is all knowing. He knows what our futures hold, why would we not listen to his guidance? It is not in God's character to mislead or misguide. The only thing I have control over in this life is my obedience. I do what I can do... and TRUST that the Lord will work it out for my good.
"At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children." Matthew 11:25
"The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue." 2 Samuel 23:2
I am not kidding when I say it has been a WHILE since I felt like the Lord spoke to me. A LONG while....and that's extremely frustrating to me. I took a "time out" from all of the "stuff" in my life to rest and relax. Whenever the Lord is quiet, I usually tell myself it's because I'm too busy to listen, or I haven't been asking. But, I learned so much from being quiet and letting the Holy Spirit just speak. The Lord was very clear on a few things in my life.
I give it a little time and wait for His promise to come to pass. So when it doesn't happen immediately, I begin to question. Now... I'm the type of person to always trying to figure things out. Always. And I have found that this turns to worry (yes people who know me well, I am admitting it). Worrying if I heard wrong, worrying what I should do, worrying when, worrying how. . . .well #1, if God has not corrected me and I have asked, then I need to move forward and stand on his promise. And #2, I HAVE to be obedient in my time of waiting.
I find myself saying "God, I have done what I was supposed to do. Why aren't they doing what they're supposed to do!?" ......I had to smile as I was listening to Joyce Meyer tell a story. Her story went like this... "I just felt like I was supposed to ask this woman to go to lunch with me. God had put it on my heart for a while....So, I asked her to go to lunch. She responded by saying 'Thank you for the invitation but I can't.' So I then went back to God and said 'See! She didn't even go!' and God responded by saying 'I told you to ask her, I didn't tell you she'd go.' Maybe that woman just needed an invitation, for someone to show her love. I don't know, and it doesn't even matter. All that matters is that I did what God said to do." ....
....when am I going to realize that it's not how or when my obedience will get me to the promise...just that I need to be obedient to every and all steps God tells me to make.
Why is it that when God speaks, I have such a hard time believing it? It is because I don't see it happening in the natural. Recently, I have realized that having a child like faith and hearing the Lord go hand in hand. If God says it will be, it WILL be. No need to worry, no need to question. God's proven true to this time and time again as I look back on my past. Things that I wanted to badly. I would spend so much time worrying about them and getting upset when they didn't come to pass. But just as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow, God had a plan. There was a reason it didn't work out the way I wanted. . . and I am so so thankful for it. OR those times when God told me not to do something. Well, I thought my plan was better than his so I went ahead and did it anyway. Every single time, I find myself saying "You were right." I'm sure He is up in heaven saying "Yes, I know."
God is our Father. So just as our earthly father tells us what is right and wrong and corrects us, so does the Lord. The Lord is all knowing. He knows what our futures hold, why would we not listen to his guidance? It is not in God's character to mislead or misguide. The only thing I have control over in this life is my obedience. I do what I can do... and TRUST that the Lord will work it out for my good.
"At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children." Matthew 11:25
Sunday, March 20, 2011
What do You see, that's worth looking our way?
Excellent song at the bottom :)
"For I am the Lord, I do not change." Malachi 3:6
"Sleepy time prayers"...the ones that can be the sweetest to me. The ones where you're just waking up and start praying.... I find that God really reveals things to me that way sometimes. I was seeking God's wisdom and guidance not only in my life, but I was asking him to speak wisdom into lives of a few close friends. It was then, laying in my cozy bed, that I realized that though my everydays lately seem to be confusing, chaotic, out of control and anxiety filled...things and people are going every which way. With all the stuff in my life, I am so incredibly thankful to have God...Who IS consistent, never changing, always always the same. He is always there, He is not a confusing God. He can not lie and He will not change His mind (Numbers 23:19). He is the one thing in life that is constant, and I can't even express how my thinking changed today....
What's even more hard to comprehend is the fact that I don't even deserve this kind of love, but yet God graciously gives anyway. Maybe I'm crazy for finding such comfort in His consistency, but I have the feeling that maybe I'm not :) I can only imagine that 99.all% of us need that in our lives. As it sat on my heart all day, I realized the importance of my consistency as well. Just as I need it from our unchanging God, people need it in their everyday relationships. It's just something that I really appreciate it in other people, and I know they are seeking it from me as well. Not that I can in any way compare to the consistency of God, but I will do my best to be a constant and loving friend and sister. I'm not able to express how much I appreciate God's constant love, guidance, wisdom and grace. It's such a comfort to know that no matter what..no matter how big the storm...God is always here...with unconditional, continual and unchanging love for me.
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. " James 1:17
"For I am the Lord, I do not change." Malachi 3:6
"Sleepy time prayers"...the ones that can be the sweetest to me. The ones where you're just waking up and start praying.... I find that God really reveals things to me that way sometimes. I was seeking God's wisdom and guidance not only in my life, but I was asking him to speak wisdom into lives of a few close friends. It was then, laying in my cozy bed, that I realized that though my everydays lately seem to be confusing, chaotic, out of control and anxiety filled...things and people are going every which way. With all the stuff in my life, I am so incredibly thankful to have God...Who IS consistent, never changing, always always the same. He is always there, He is not a confusing God. He can not lie and He will not change His mind (Numbers 23:19). He is the one thing in life that is constant, and I can't even express how my thinking changed today....
What's even more hard to comprehend is the fact that I don't even deserve this kind of love, but yet God graciously gives anyway. Maybe I'm crazy for finding such comfort in His consistency, but I have the feeling that maybe I'm not :) I can only imagine that 99.all% of us need that in our lives. As it sat on my heart all day, I realized the importance of my consistency as well. Just as I need it from our unchanging God, people need it in their everyday relationships. It's just something that I really appreciate it in other people, and I know they are seeking it from me as well. Not that I can in any way compare to the consistency of God, but I will do my best to be a constant and loving friend and sister. I'm not able to express how much I appreciate God's constant love, guidance, wisdom and grace. It's such a comfort to know that no matter what..no matter how big the storm...God is always here...with unconditional, continual and unchanging love for me.
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. " James 1:17
Sunday, January 2, 2011
there is no other name, like Your name. so I will wait....on You
Such a beautiful song below. ".....I will be still and know that You are God." (Scroll down and click play. . .listen while you read).
"Okay God, what do you want me to do next? Please Dear Lord, lead my steps, direct my paths, guide me. I am yours Lord, I will do, go, say whatever you want me to....please show me the path you want me to take."
These have been my prayers lately. The Lord's answer to me? "Wait."
Oh that's reaaaaal great. What does that even mean?! I have really struggled with this. I honestly used to look at waiting as a time of trial, because waiting is is so hard, it is so unsettling, I couldn't figure out what the purpose of this was. Well, as I dive into God's word, I find that it doesn't matter if I completely understand why I'm waiting because God does. (As you read these verses, really soak them up. They are posted in my house as daily reminders of God's promise.)
Testing of my faith? Wow, harsh! But.......true. Am I really able to put complete faith in God that He knows what He is doing? Is there really a plan to this waiting?
God is Faithful
Lyndsey
"Okay God, what do you want me to do next? Please Dear Lord, lead my steps, direct my paths, guide me. I am yours Lord, I will do, go, say whatever you want me to....please show me the path you want me to take."
These have been my prayers lately. The Lord's answer to me? "Wait."
Oh that's reaaaaal great. What does that even mean?! I have really struggled with this. I honestly used to look at waiting as a time of trial, because waiting is is so hard, it is so unsettling, I couldn't figure out what the purpose of this was. Well, as I dive into God's word, I find that it doesn't matter if I completely understand why I'm waiting because God does. (As you read these verses, really soak them up. They are posted in my house as daily reminders of God's promise.)
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him" James 1:1-5 (NIV)
Testing of my faith? Wow, harsh! But.......true. Am I really able to put complete faith in God that He knows what He is doing? Is there really a plan to this waiting?
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
"Trust in the LORD with all your heartI have come to realize that there is a reason for my waiting. To build my character, to strengthen and focus my relationship with God. That is what is of importance right now. I have learned that this season of waiting is a beautiful time. I WILL NOT fill my life with things that the Lord does not have planned for me. I refuse to spend my time on such things just to avoid loneliness, or boredom. I will take this season as a blessing and spend this time one on one with the Lord. I am no longer anxious in needing to know why I'm waiting. Just that I am supposed to wait...patiently.
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight" Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
I will NOT move UNTIL God tells me to. I will NOT move UNLESS God tells me to.
God is Faithful
Lyndsey
Sunday, December 19, 2010
but You came like a winter snow.
I encourage you to scroll down and play this song while you read. Usually I would give you an option but this one is a good one...so you have no options :) Trust me....go down, click play and then come back up for a look into what is on my heart during this season... (thank you Megs for playing this in the car yesterday. I have been listening to it ever since....so beautiful)
Things have changed since I was little. I am now able to sleep on Christmas Eve, there is no rush or lack of patience to unwrap presents, that excited feeling is not the same. This year, more than years before, there is more. . . and let me tell you that feeling is even better than when I was little. . .
I hope we can all look past the distractions this season and focus on the perfect love that was given to us as a gift. Don't get me wrong, the look on my nephews faces while they open their gifts is something I am looking forward to. To see their little smiles as they unwrap things brings happiness to my heart. All of the gifts, fellowship and time with family is so good, and we are so blessed to be able to do that. But I can honestly tell you all that the only gift I want this season, I already have. I have never imagined that something intangible could give me such pure and honest joy. I hope that with every prayer we pray, that it be of thanks and love to God. I hope that with every gift we give and receive, we think of the real, true reason we are celebrating such a wonderful time of the year. More than anything, I am thankful to our perfect and loving God. Have a blessed and Merry Christmas!
God is Faithful.
Lyndsey
Things have changed since I was little. I am now able to sleep on Christmas Eve, there is no rush or lack of patience to unwrap presents, that excited feeling is not the same. This year, more than years before, there is more. . . and let me tell you that feeling is even better than when I was little. . .
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. " John 3:16 (NIV)So, as I sit and think about all of us who run around, trying to make things perfect for Christmas. . . focusing our time and energy on the things we haven't yet bought, the money we have or have not spent, or the food we need to prepare. I am able to look past all of those distractions and lay my eyes upon our amazing God who unselfishly sent His perfect Son to Earth, knowing that Jesus would then die on the cross for our sins. . . what a love. Such a love, that I can not even begin to fathom.
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)I close my eyes and think of baby Jesus in that manger. So innocent, so pure and sweet. To think of the things that were to come in His lifetime. I sit here amazed. All of this for us.
I hope we can all look past the distractions this season and focus on the perfect love that was given to us as a gift. Don't get me wrong, the look on my nephews faces while they open their gifts is something I am looking forward to. To see their little smiles as they unwrap things brings happiness to my heart. All of the gifts, fellowship and time with family is so good, and we are so blessed to be able to do that. But I can honestly tell you all that the only gift I want this season, I already have. I have never imagined that something intangible could give me such pure and honest joy. I hope that with every prayer we pray, that it be of thanks and love to God. I hope that with every gift we give and receive, we think of the real, true reason we are celebrating such a wonderful time of the year. More than anything, I am thankful to our perfect and loving God. Have a blessed and Merry Christmas!
God is Faithful.
Lyndsey
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
You're all I want, all need, Everything.....
(Okay, since this is the first post I will give you the gist... There will always be some sort of music at the bottom of the blog. I would advise you to listen while reading (a little background music if you will). Or you can listen to it at the end..or not listen to it at all. That's your choice. It's your right to listen, or not listen. :) Anyway....this blog is about things that God has put on my heart. I hope you enjoy...here we go. (now like I said...go to the bottom and click play......) :)
So often, we search for a love we can not find. We look for love from people, we search for happiness from tangible things, these things are where we find our temporary happiness. We desire to be needed, loved, cared for....
Depression sets in when the one we love does not meet our standards. They so frequently let us down and we fall back into the rut. Often thinking "If I only had this, I would be happy..." to find, when we get our hands on it, we long for something more. Something, someone, a love even, that will last forever. I need something to fill me.
I used to be there. Looking, longing, searching. Highs, lows, unstable, used, unfilled.I can not begin to describe how my life has been transformed from that dark, empty, broken place. . . to this. . .
There is a love that I can not even begin to describe. Something so sweet, so true. Unfailing. Something, that even when things (or people) in life are disappointing, I can run back to and know that love that we all long for. This one thing is our Savior, our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Stick with me for a few minutes. I know what some of you are thinking. Right..this chic is crazy. . . just another Christian telling me to turn to God and it will all be alright. Trust me, I get it. I used to be there. There is not one single thing that anyone could have said or done to make me turn my life around. Not by guilting me into going to church, not by guilting me about going out with my friends, nothing. When people would talk about the love of Christ, it was like a foreign language to me.
It wasn't until I realized how empty my life was. The temporary happiness was not enough for me. Not only this, but I was feeling something strange in my heart. What in the world is this feeling that my life is not right? . .
"Well Hello Holy Spirit." That's what that was. . .God speaking to my heart. Convicting my heart. Once I asked God to come into my heart and into my life, everything changed. Things looked different, people looked different. This feeling, this love, is not something you can make up! This is the real deal. So, how do we know God loves us? How do we know he even cares? Well, one is the Bible, and because it says so.
And two .... well, you have to know HIM to know IT. "IT" being love,the kind of love I'm speaking of. Like I said, it is indescribable, the love that I feel from Jesus. And you don't know it until you have it.
I love you all and I want to share with you that there is love past the temporary things. I too was looking for love in all the wrong places. I hope that we all can wake up and realize that we are not going to find unconditional love in people or material things. Those things will disappoint us time and time again. But the love of Jesus Christ will fill us.
So, is everything rainbows and sugar plums in my life? No. Everyone and every life has troubles...but I DO find strength in God's unfailing love for me. It is possible to find flowers in the snow.....
God Is Faithful
Lyndsey
So often, we search for a love we can not find. We look for love from people, we search for happiness from tangible things, these things are where we find our temporary happiness. We desire to be needed, loved, cared for....
Depression sets in when the one we love does not meet our standards. They so frequently let us down and we fall back into the rut. Often thinking "If I only had this, I would be happy..." to find, when we get our hands on it, we long for something more. Something, someone, a love even, that will last forever. I need something to fill me.
I used to be there. Looking, longing, searching. Highs, lows, unstable, used, unfilled.I can not begin to describe how my life has been transformed from that dark, empty, broken place. . . to this. . .
There is a love that I can not even begin to describe. Something so sweet, so true. Unfailing. Something, that even when things (or people) in life are disappointing, I can run back to and know that love that we all long for. This one thing is our Savior, our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Stick with me for a few minutes. I know what some of you are thinking. Right..this chic is crazy. . . just another Christian telling me to turn to God and it will all be alright. Trust me, I get it. I used to be there. There is not one single thing that anyone could have said or done to make me turn my life around. Not by guilting me into going to church, not by guilting me about going out with my friends, nothing. When people would talk about the love of Christ, it was like a foreign language to me.
It wasn't until I realized how empty my life was. The temporary happiness was not enough for me. Not only this, but I was feeling something strange in my heart. What in the world is this feeling that my life is not right? . .
"Well Hello Holy Spirit." That's what that was. . .God speaking to my heart. Convicting my heart. Once I asked God to come into my heart and into my life, everything changed. Things looked different, people looked different. This feeling, this love, is not something you can make up! This is the real deal. So, how do we know God loves us? How do we know he even cares? Well, one is the Bible, and because it says so.
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 (NIV)That verse has meaning!Go ahead, read it again. How could anyone read that and still have doubts that God loves them? He sent his only son for us! And He died on the cross for us.
And two .... well, you have to know HIM to know IT. "IT" being love,the kind of love I'm speaking of. Like I said, it is indescribable, the love that I feel from Jesus. And you don't know it until you have it.
I love you all and I want to share with you that there is love past the temporary things. I too was looking for love in all the wrong places. I hope that we all can wake up and realize that we are not going to find unconditional love in people or material things. Those things will disappoint us time and time again. But the love of Jesus Christ will fill us.
So, is everything rainbows and sugar plums in my life? No. Everyone and every life has troubles...but I DO find strength in God's unfailing love for me. It is possible to find flowers in the snow.....
God Is Faithful
Lyndsey
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)