tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41059510597372419252024-03-13T10:40:30.223+05:30Pound's PilgrimageWalking the Path set before us...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger306125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105951059737241925.post-9827434189420809812016-10-10T08:18:00.001+05:302016-10-10T08:59:49.845+05:30It's all about the bedrock....When I was a little girl my mom often challenged me to a game. If we'd come across someone in our day who looked a bit unhappy or stressed, like a shopkeeper or neighbor, we'd do our best to leave that person just a bit happier or more encouraged than the condition we met them in. What a good thing to teach a child---to be aware of the needs of others! Since then I've learned the side lesson that it's not my 'job' to make everyone around me happy all the time (important one for me!) but the lesson of considering what might be going on in the life of everyone that I meet and offering them grace has impacted my whole life.<br />
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I'm not sure who first said it but I love the quote:<br />
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<i><b>"Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind always."</b></i> </div>
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There have been times in my life that I've desperately needed and been on the receiving end of significant kindness. How could I not pass that on to others?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">My acrobatic son Adam jumping for joy. :-) Photo Credit: Solomon Waterhouse</td></tr>
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Working in India taught me a lot about kindness as well. I witnessed those in extreme poverty sharing with those around them in sacrificial ways. They knew through experience that they actually needed each other, and kindness was given and kindness was received. That doesn't mean that a lot of fighting and angst didn't occur as well, after all hurt people tend to hurt people, but at the core when they had a bit more than they needed they would share. A little rice, a vegetable, a spare piece of clothing, tending each other's children, sharing good clean water....<br />
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.....what a challenge to those of us that have way too much.<br />
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But I have a confession. I have to admit that even after a life of being wired towards kindness (thanks, Mom and other great examples!), I realized the other day that I am a hypocrite.<br />
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Big time.<br />
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You see, if you are clearly hurting I will expect to give you grace. If you're in need I will do my best to share. If you are nasty I will wonder why and try to be kind anyway. If you are sad I will want to offer you sanctuary. If you are lonely I will try give you my time. But if I, in my vast knowledge and omnipotent wisdom (ha!) cannot discern pain that would then inspire my grace, and if someone is continually and intently choosing to see and point out the negative in others, I will struggle with them. I tend to put them in the 'undeserving' box and shut the lid of my heart. I am judge and jury all rolled into one and someone constantly focusing on the negative is the particular thing I find hard to find grace for.<br />
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Oooops, what happened to,<span style="text-align: center;">"Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind always"? I tend to forget that t</span><span style="text-align: center;">hose who cut down others are usually compensating for feeling lack in themselves. Therefore, hidden hurt. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Sheesh, I realized that I had prided myself in my love of others and had thought I was doing pretty well, but I'm a hypocrite indeed. Good thing <i>I'm</i> not the Judge of the universe.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">I'm sure glad that God has a different perspective on us than we do of ourselves and of others. He consistently in Scripture brings us back to trust in <i>Him</i> and not in ourselves or our ability to be good enough or do enough good. Because no matter how good, how kind, how loving, how generous, how honest we may be----we fail at some point.</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Paul addresses this very thing in Romans 9:31-33</span><br />
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<b><i>"But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded. Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law instead of by trusting in him. They stumbled over the great rock in their path. God warned them of this in the Scriptures when he said, </i></b></div>
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<b><i>'I am placing a stone in Jerusalem that makes people stumble, </i></b></div>
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<b><i>a rock that makes them fall.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>But anyone who trust in him will never be disgraced.'"</i></b></div>
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Do you ever feel a strong sense of shame when confronted by the Holiness of God? When you thought you were doing so well but then realize a gap in your armor, a place where you've failed? I did when I realized my blind spot in loving kindness. Whoops, I failed <i>again</i>. </div>
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The somewhat painful question to ask ourselves at this point is, "What are we trusting in?" Our self, what we're capable of, what we've done----or God himself plain and simple? Trusting in ourselves is so seductive, because when we do well <i>we</i><b> </b>receive the glory. But trusting in ourselves is ultimately painful because we were never designed to do it all on our own and we WILL fail.</div>
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Paul said this next about the people of Israel, but if we're honest isn't it often easy to apply this to ourselves as Believers today?</div>
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<i><b>"For they don't understand God's way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God's way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law </b></i></div>
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<i>(or do good stuff).</i></div>
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<i> Rom. 10:3</i></div>
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We know in our heads that Christ has already made a way for us to succeed and be right with God and therefore we can do good as well, (vs.4) but practically we live as if it's what <i>we </i>do that matters. And set ourselves up for failure in the process. But there's an answer:</div>
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<i><b>"Anyone who trust in him </b>(God) <b>will never be disgraced."</b></i></div>
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<i>Rom. 10:11</i></div>
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It's all about focus. When our focus is actually in the One who has already paid the penalty for all of our failures, we may sometimes look like fools but will never actually be disgraced, because all He asks of us is to trust in Him. Follow Him and let <i>Him</i> worry about the rest. </div>
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His ways confound us but they are ultimately wise. They surprise because to us they can seem simplistic or idealistic but they are full of truth and make our paths straight. They may seem difficult but they bring us to the place of realizing that we <i>cannot </i>do it on our own and that He has already provided an answer so full of love that how can we knowingly refuse?</div>
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Simply and powerfully trust and you will never be disgraced. And for goodness sake, stop disappointing yourself by trying to be good on your own! And be free......<br />
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489824745842288730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105951059737241925.post-42743590805741972842016-04-29T03:14:00.001+05:302016-04-29T04:18:14.135+05:30Little drops of water.....About six months after my first husband died I decided that it was time to figure out what to do next. The kids and I had left Fiji where they had lived their whole lives and moved to the USA to be near family. We'd settled into our own house but we hadn't really found our feet there yet. And after 13 years somewhere else, even I was in intense culture shock. Enough time had passed, however, that I felt like I needed a plan forward. I know, sounds a bit rushed now, but it had been a long six months!<br />
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I thought and prayed and thought some more, but had no idea what to do long-term after the abrupt turn around in life events. I had opportunities to go back and keep doing mission work myself in Fiji, but had no idea how I'd be able to juggle that with looking after four hurting kids by myself. Not that I was doing that terribly well at that point anyway. </div>
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I had no workable ideas and although we had been absolutely totally and miraculously looked after until then, I felt like on that particular point that God was being unnecessarily silent. I guess I forgot the miracle of what already <i>was </i>and I worked even harder at nagging God for an immediate answer. Kind of like Jacob wrestling all night with the man who turned out to be God. (Gen. 22:22-32) Even though I <i>knew </i>the provision that was there in God's hand, somehow my internal theology was that I was required to 'be strong' and storm the gates of Heaven for a reply. Now I see that my answer from God at that point was, "Wait," but I pushed myself to the point of a nervous breakdown before I realized that I literally couldn't struggle anymore. And I found the mercy in letting go and letting God be in charge even if it left me in the dark.</div>
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It's often at the times when we're wrestled out and we realize that we can't go on that we find God Himself in the midst of it---and that's really all the answer we need. And I needed to do some rethinking about what I believed it meant to 'seek' God.<br />
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Some of my favorites in the Bible about seeking God are these:</div>
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<i>"Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him."</i> ~I Chron. 16:11</div>
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<i>"The one thing I ask of the Lord--the thing I most seek--is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord's perfections and meditating in his Temple."</i> ~Ps.27: 4</div>
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<i>"<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart</span></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">.</span>"</i> ~Jer. 29:13</div>
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These verses speak of being wholehearted for God, of using the very best of our time and energy to seek His face. And I'd always taken them to be verses of strong action.</div>
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But what about when you're in a place where you've got nothing more to give? When you can barely lift your head--let alone find forward momentum? <br />
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Sometimes all we can manage is to cry out to God that we need him, and that's enough. Often 'seeking' is simply the act of asking for His help, for Him to sort out our tangled minds and help us regain our focus and then moving steadily and intentionally in that improved direction. Because no matter how depleted we feel our focus is still actively on <i>something.....</i></div>
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We are seldom actually passive, we are creatures of motion. That 'something' that has our focus may be worry, frustration, anger, disappointment, or despondency. It may be infatuated distraction with something we want. We may feel like there's a dull buzz in our head clouding our thoughts, but something's always going on in our head and heart</div>
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I can spend hours looking at jewelry online. I know, bizarre right? It's not that I want it all, I just like looking at it. To me it's creativity and art, and since I have a jewelry business I actually do need to look sometimes. But passively spending too much time trolling jewelry sites isn't good for me. Even through it's 'fun' it can eat up my time and energy and wind up being something that depletes me, partly because of the time it steals from more proactive activity.<br />
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I heard an analogy recently (and I can't for the life of me remember where or I'd give them credit!) of our lives as a stream of water. Streams are made up are a lot of drops of water. Things we encounter, and experience are the drops of water and some of them are unavoidable. But what we focus on are also drops of water and it's up to us to decide what of those drops we're going to allow in our 'stream.' Are the drops things that feed us or deplete us? Things that are part of seeking God or mindless (or not so mindless) entertainment? Things that build us up or things that pull us in the wrong direction even if we think they're not influencing us? Discovering lies that we don't even know that we believe through dialog with a wise person or even with a journal and actively replacing them with truth can provide a veritable current of pure water into our streams. And, of course, spending time with the Well-that-never-runs-dry and filling up on the life giving Words that He's given us are invaluable.<br />
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I said in my last blog that we're having ongoing health issues with one of our children and I've found myself on edge and spiritually depleted. When I heard this analogy of a stream I was in a cycle of knowing I needed strength from my Father, but since I was tired I was lazily allowing myself too much time in mindless distraction that wasn't actually helping. I wasn't 'feeling' much when I read my Bible or tried to spend time with God, so I was treating it like a chore. The thought of drops of water feeding my stream, however, inspired me to see things differently. OK, I may not walk away from time in the Word today feeling like everything's better, but I've fed my stream a few drops of good, clear water and that's got to help. <br />
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And it has! My situation hasn't changed and this will probably be a lesson that I need to put on repeat, but my heart has woken up again to His Presence. It reminds me of Jesus' words:<br />
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<i><b>"Anyone </b></i>[any seeker] <i><b>who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.' "</b></i></div>
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(John 8:37-38)<br />
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Yes, Lord, we're thirsty!</div>
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Our streams can be fed by His river of living water straight from the Heart of God. All we need to do is save the best of our 'seeking' to find more of Him.</div>
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<i><b>"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else."</b></i></div>
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<b style="font-style: italic;"> </b>(Matt. 6:33)</div>
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All else. It's worth avoiding the drops that deplete our stream. There's freedom and peace in this life even if that doesn't seem possible in our present circumstances. Remember these words that are a promise straight from the mouth of Jesus:</div>
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<b><i>"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." </i></b></div>
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(John 4:27)</div>
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And that's a promise you can take straight to the bank.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Heidi Cook</td></tr>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489824745842288730noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105951059737241925.post-8283993384962374342016-04-21T02:04:00.002+05:302016-04-21T02:55:06.017+05:30Looking for the Miracle A few months back we got a bird. Not just a bird that sits in it's cage and tweets, but an Australian Galah (parrot) with a disability where he couldn't perch in the wild. George arrived full of personality, was very interactive, and had a decent vocabulary of English words.<br />
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That larger than life personality would have been exactly what we wanted had he decided to spread his relationships throughout the household, but possibly because George came from a home with only two people in it, he narrowed his world in our busy home and decided that I was the only one for him. Flattering, but.....!<br />
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Had I lived alone, had I had nothing else that I wanted to do other then hang out with a parrot all day that might have been OK, but the rest of house got tired of his screeching when I wasn't there as well as his sharp bites when he intermittently decided he needed to 'protect' me from them. And it was taking a large chunk of my time and energy to give him the attention that he needed. Sadly, even though he was wonderfully cute otherwise (really, he was!), we had to find him a new home. And, yes, I shed a few tears.<br />
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Sometimes the things that we think we want don't turn out to be what we need.<br />
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The children of Israel frequently had this problem, too. When they were hungry in the wilderness God did something amazing: He made food literally fall from the sky! They didn't have to plant it, water it, hunt it, or even harvest it. They just had to go out, pick it up off of the ground six days a week and make food that tasted like 'honey' (Ex. 16: 31) and 'cakes baked with oil.' (Num. 11:8) Yum! As a gluten intolerant person who often has to miss out on cake, that sounds really, really, super good! It also sounds great to anyone on a low carb diet. Here, have some manna cakes! Since it was food from God's hand, not only was it tasty, but you can be sure it was quite nutritious, too.<br />
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After a time, however, the Children of Israel grew tired of manna from heaven, a sad but true insight into the heart of mankind in general, and demanded something else, nearly driving Moses off the deep end in the process. God, who knew that that wasn't actually what was good for them, sent them quail to eat. <br />
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A lot of quail. Piles and piles of quail around the edge of the camp up to 90 centimeters high. Once again, they didn't even have to do much to get it except take a hike and pick it up. But besides it not being what God knew was best for them at that time, it had been demanded with a really bad attitude and many got sick and even died. "...There they buried the people that had the craving." (Num. 11: 34)<br />
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<b>They followed their cravings and forgot that what they already had was a MIRACLE.</b><br />
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The fact that it was a miracle is obvious to those of us who have never tasted manna, but what about the things that <i>we</i> take for granted every day? A comfortable home, food in our bellies, a bit in the bank, the security of a locked door, opportunity and options; all absolute miracles to multitudes in the world today.<br />
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For those in the wilderness eating manna every day felt like a trial. What about things that we consider trials as well?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by the talented Harrie Thayre</td></tr>
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I don't handle stress as well as I did ten years ago. I used to have high endurance levels for all kinds of stress, the bad kind and the good, but now my body sends clear warning signals that if ignored over a period of time will result in sudden loss of physical health that <i>forces</i> me to dial down, take stock of my heart, and rest. And I've hated it! <br />
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Recently, however, I realized the unwrapped gift in the trial. I used to be able to go for months, even years at a time shouldering things that I was never meant to carry. Impossible things that I unthinkingly took on as my responsibility (like the happiness of people around me), anxieties that I kept 'under control' but let stay alive in my heart, fears that I ignored or even excused and allowed to grow, etc, etc. I felt like I was growing weak, but the truth is that I always wasn't enough on my own.<br />
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The gift is that now I <i>must </i>keep shorter accounts in my heart, with others, and with my God. I can't carry a hefty dose of anxiety for too long without it getting too heavy to bear----and why would I want to anyway? That motivation is a gift, it produces freedom in my own mind and heart, and anything that brings me closer to my Father is <i>good.</i> Maybe that trial will change in the future for me and maybe it won't, but the best case scenario is that I won't need to find out because I've learned to do it right regardless.<br />
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Strength comes by choosing to embrace what we think of as a trial because of it's God-allowed purpose in our lives. If we lean <i>into</i> the trial then we embrace His purpose. We demonstrate trust and find His strength along the way. And we also don't create our own 'solutions' that, like the quail in the wilderness, might be a short-term distraction, but are not positive in the long run.<br />
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For the past several months one of our kids has been sick. A mystery illness that we're shuffle-stepping our way through trying this and that to figure out what's going on. It's kept him from studies and work, left him with limited capacity most days and in pain every single one. As we've walked beside him through this I've found my prayers changing from, "God please change this," to "God, I sure don't understand why, but please make this <i>count</i>. Don't waste his suffering. Use this to make him more into the person that you've created him to be. Show him who you are in ways that I can't understand. Let what he's learning now lead on to who he is for eternity."<br />
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Are we praying for our son's complete healing? Absolutely. But whether God's answer to our prayers is 'yes,' 'no,' or 'wait a while,' He will <i>still</i> work all things together somehow for good. (Rom. 8:28)<br />
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<b>"For the foolishness of God is wiser than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men." </b></div>
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(1 Cor. 1:25) </div>
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Leaning into the trial is looking for the miracle. What we want is not always what we need. And let's not take for granted who He is and the miracle of what He's already done!<br />
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He is the potter and we are the clay. (Is. 64:8) And He's making something <b>beautiful.....</b><br />
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<b>Have a bit more time? Ponder HIS craftsmanship while you watch <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aib4HAXbuXc&feature=youtu.be">THIS</a></b></div>
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<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489824745842288730noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105951059737241925.post-5193753016293823802016-04-08T10:42:00.000+05:302016-04-08T10:47:35.192+05:30Remembering Grace...<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"The Father sent the son to be the savior of the world." </b> </div>
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~1 Jn. 4:14</div>
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God is about compassion. In the Old Testament God doled out justice, because God is just and justice is important--without justice there's no mercy--, but it obviously wasn't what He <i>desired</i> above all. He desired mercy and undeserved reconciliation because, <b>"God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." </b>(John 3:17) He'd already had the opportunity to judge, and show us our need for a Savior. He wanted to extend mercy---so He sent Jesus.<br />
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When I was younger and hadn't really experienced much of life yet, I had a friend who had. While I accepted God's grace, this person was <i>staggered</i> by it. They often said, "Sometimes you have to know what it is you're being saved <i>from </i>to really appreciate it." They were right. The longer I live, the more experiences I've had, the more I realize the capability for darkness that exists in my own heart and soul triggered by the pain of rubbing shoulders with the world around me, the more I am confounded and exceedingly awed by Grace.<br />
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It's not, as many assume, that God has a tally sheet in Heaven where He ticks off all the bad things vs. all the good in our lifetime, it's that God responds to the way things already are since the Garden of Eden, when a person (and every person since) succumbed to evil over relationship with God and good. Evil had won until God intervened.<br />
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"So why doesn't God just stop evil?" is one of the biggest questions of all time. Possibly the best explanation of this I've ever heard is by rap artist Lecrae in his song 'Truth':<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"Some people say that God ain't real 'cause they don't see how a good God can exist with all this evil in the world. If God is real then He should stop all this evil, 'cause He's all-powerful right? What is evil though man? It's anything that's against God. It's anything morally bad or wrong. It's murder, rape, stealing, lying, cheating. But if we want God to stop evil, do we want Him to stop it all or just a little bit of it? If He stops us from doing evil things, what about lying, or what about our evil thoughts? I mean, where do you stop, the murder level, the lying level, or the thinking level? If we want Him to stop evil, we gotta be consistent, we can't just pick and choose. That means you and I would be eliminated right? Because we think evil stuff. If that's true, we should be eliminated! But thanks be to God that Jesus stepped in to save us from our sin! Christ died for all evilness!" </b></span></span><br />
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God's response to evil is this, He left His Heavenly throne with all of His power, glory and might, and came as a helpless baby to a cesspool of sin, a world filled with destruction and hate counteracted by only the tiny bit of good that mankind was able to create on their own. Goodness that on a tally sheet would never make up for the bad. To this He willingly came and lived in the mortal body of a human, experiencing all of the sinful triggers of this life that people experience. He came to respond to the way that things already <i>were,</i> not to judge, but a continuation. </div>
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<b>"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God <i>remains</i></b><i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>[state of what already was]<b> in him." </b></div>
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~John 3:36</div>
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So He made Himself, the only One who doesn't deserve ANY judgement to take the ultimate, eternal punishment for us. [That doesn't mean that we don't often experience the short-term, limited consequences of the things that we do wrong here on Earth, but we <i>don't </i>experience them forever.] We have absolution. We regain perfection. </div>
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Matchless Grace.<br />
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We need to stop blaming God for the evil that mankind creates ourselves. To stop being an example of unholy judgement to the world around us when that's not the Father's heart. He set the example of coming in love, in forgiveness, in compassion and grace. </div>
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Jesus came to bring freedom in more ways than we can imagine. Freedom from our inclinations, from our responses, from our thoughts and actions. There's not a rule book that says we need to do one-thousand-good-deeds for every time we murder or maim someone in our hearts. That's really good news! Instead we can walk in freedom. "Gosh, I failed today, God, I'm so sorry." Nek minute*, all things new. </div>
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We have freedom to walk into the next minute and then the next as a fresh start, not bound by heavy chains of the past, but NEW. </div>
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Let us never forget to be <i>staggered</i> by that Grace. Compassionate grace that we receive and then get to pay forward with joyful abandon because we're so infinitely grateful ourselves.<br />
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*Urban Dictionary: (Kiwi'ism) <span style="color: #2c353c; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">'Next minute' said with an accent. Used to express a sudden dramatic turn of events. </span></span><span style="color: #2c353c; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; line-height: 22.4px;">Left my scooter outside the dairy. Nek Minute... *destroyed scooter lying on the ground*</span></div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489824745842288730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105951059737241925.post-25358691853274379182015-12-07T11:09:00.001+05:302015-12-08T03:26:50.383+05:30Thoughts while we wait for Christmas....I sat in church yesterday morning with a heavy heart. There have been things on my mind lately that I struggle to process. A lot of moments where I understand WHY people feel what they feel, but I also don't understand at all. But how do I express that? And as a lover of peace and hater of conflict, is it worth it to even try?<br />
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Our pastor read a passage and lit the second candle of Advent. And I looked at the candle and remembered, Love came down for us. Love came down for all of us.</div>
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I realized that perhaps I <i>should</i> speak because I've been entrusted with a unique gift received through a lot that hasn't been at all easy; the gift of perspective because I have spent a lot of time living alongside of people who are different than I am.</div>
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Calcutta is an interesting melting pot of philosophies and religious expressions. While there are many diverse directions of belief that people adhere very closely to, the city lives pretty much at peace with each other. In other parts of India there are fights and killings, but in Calcutta there is mostly peace between religions. I once saw the fierce passion of a parade of thousands of Sikhs. I witnessed their pride and thought what a fearsome force they would be to reckon with in battle. I've watched animal blood pool on the streets during Islamic Eid not far from a Hindu temple where the killing of animals is abhorrent. I've slipped through the massive crowds of a Hindu puja into a Christian church and sat without fear of reprisal. </div>
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I discovered two possible reasons for this tolerance. One was the teachings of acceptance by Ramikrishna, a revered guru who lived in the area, and the other the legacy of Mother Teresa who believed in expressing the love of Christ in the most counter-cultural and radical ways: being the self-sacrificial hands and feet of Jesus to anyone and everyone in need. A beautiful example indeed where when people think of Christians, they think of love.</div>
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Because Love came down for us, for all of us.</div>
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It reminds me of the words that David Wilkerson reportedly spoke to gangster Nicky Cruz when Nicky told him he'd kill him for talking about Jesus. David said, "Yeah, you could do that. You could cut me up into a thousand pieces and lay them in the street, and every piece will still love you." </div>
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Think this sort of radical response isn't asked of us? </div>
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And I looked at the candle and remembered, Love came down for us. For ALL of us.</div>
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My life has been immeasurably privileged by the lottery won through where I was born. I am so grateful for a fully belly, for education, for opportunity, for a passport that opens doors. What did I do for this? Absolutely nothing. Do I 'deserve' the peace, prosperity, and sense of security I've had in my lifetime? Nope. Do I at times want to hang onto this unearned privilege with teeth and claws? You bet. Does great privilege then require great responsibility? You'd better believe it. </div>
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And how much more so for those of us who understand that Love came down for us.</div>
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I've lived in five different countries and soon I will have been living outside of my passport country more years then in it. I have friends literally all over the world and while quite a few of them are Christians, I have friends who are extremely wary of Christians as well. As things have heated up around the world, you know what sort of thing has found it's way more and more across my social media? All the ugly that Christians have to offer. And I don't like being considered part of abortion clinic bombers, haters because of skin color or ideology, ugly protests.</div>
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I've also been observing lots of fear. Things that are driven by fear--but fear can come across as hate. Fear of Muslims in general. Fear that at any moment they may turn on you. But here's the flip side, Christians, do you realize that lots and lots and lots of people are afraid that you will turn on THEM? That they don't trust you or YOUR motives? What kind of impressions are we giving to the world?</div>
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Yet, Love came down for all of us.</div>
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My pastor reminded us yesterday when Love came down as a babe that the very first to see God's glory were those on the bottom rung of society. When Love had grown, He ate with sinners and had no patience with the religious leaders of the day who circled their wagons to protect themselves. Any anger displayed by Christ at people while here on Earth was aimed at those who didn't hear his message because of legalism or pride.</div>
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Real love, true love came down for us.</div>
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I know someone who came into this country as a refugee who happened to be a Muslim. Her family was graciously supported by and loved on for years by a Christian church. She's now grown with children of her own and is a committed believer in Jesus herself. </div>
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I'd love to see more of this! Acceptance and love simply because someone is a human being created in His image. But what if her family had met fear, distrust or downright hatred? Probably an entirely different outcome indeed.</div>
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Islamic countries are some of the most difficult to enter into to have a conversation with people about the love of Jesus, but what if a Muslim family moved into YOUR neighborhood? Where you could take them banana bread to welcome them, help them learn how to navigate the area, help them understand the ways of a strange land, invite them over on a holiday, love on their children? It wouldn't necessarily be easy but what an absolute dream scenario (and an adventure!) really! Perhaps this will be the new mission field of the 21st century?</div>
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If we believe God is who He says He is, if we believe that what He says is true, then we have absolutely nothing to fear from those who believe differently. After all it's the Holy Spirit's job to change hearts, but it's our job to love. "The greatest of these is love,"</div>
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It's yet to be decided how our generation will be remembered historically based on our response. But Love came down for ALL of us.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27TMAHUYE6A_fP-j1rGlRKb-b_S1zOFV7O9XoLAS1WpBPTqX9p9jDFu6leqOhN12syJKJ-lk9rUFab7RcMotT3eVxb1DHg3fy6gCEjU6L5MtVWSKRHuh1l0vrnPk9MbO-eOzSxWjgenUt/s1600/candles+lots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27TMAHUYE6A_fP-j1rGlRKb-b_S1zOFV7O9XoLAS1WpBPTqX9p9jDFu6leqOhN12syJKJ-lk9rUFab7RcMotT3eVxb1DHg3fy6gCEjU6L5MtVWSKRHuh1l0vrnPk9MbO-eOzSxWjgenUt/s1600/candles+lots.jpg" /></a></div>
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I keep hearing Matthew 10:16 mentioned 'as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.' This verse, however, isn't the slightest bit about hiding behind closed doors or rejecting others because something bad might happen. It doesn't say not to go out into the world, but just the opposite. It's about how to live while in the world and that, yes, bad things <i>will </i>happen. But the passage leads onto this in vs. 28, "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul."</div>
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I understand that there are no easy answers. I am oh so grateful that it's not required of me to make life and death policy decisions for my passport country or for the place where I live. But I do know this: our ATTITUDE matters. How we personally respond matters. How much of a mirror we are to reflect the love of Jesus matters-----because the world at large and the people next door are <i>watching</i>. The world is actually a very small place.</div>
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And LOVE in the form of a helpless baby, left His thone for the least of these, and came down for all of us.</div>
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Peace on Earth, good will to all men.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-N3vIfXeFP2IWgnsiKxbZJ5YoJFWIW-ptUHATQS2nLdeU-wqvj1HJx1fo8aoOG_12BBvh2zAPh3lUBkvT_Y8k_LbK-m7lCNOIc2ie03W5Tg7_BH_TG-MnC5yDOkk4uCuRqdZ-qkd-Lpd/s1600/Candle+Christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-N3vIfXeFP2IWgnsiKxbZJ5YoJFWIW-ptUHATQS2nLdeU-wqvj1HJx1fo8aoOG_12BBvh2zAPh3lUBkvT_Y8k_LbK-m7lCNOIc2ie03W5Tg7_BH_TG-MnC5yDOkk4uCuRqdZ-qkd-Lpd/s1600/Candle+Christmas.jpg" /></a></div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489824745842288730noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105951059737241925.post-8544917609974878062015-10-20T02:50:00.001+05:302015-10-20T09:07:14.444+05:30Why doesn't He do something?<div>
If you've seen the impossible angles of starving children on filthy streets you will understand what I mean. Or perhaps seen an elderly person lying prostrate on the path too weak or too hopeless to bother with the flies swarming their skin. Or maybe you've looked into the empty eyes of a refugee who has lost all except for the air that they breathe, heard the desperate cries a victim of abuse or exploitation, held someone tight who inexplicibly lost their child, brought meals to a soul not far from Heaven--but far enough to suffer. Things like these can make you question the goodness of God and wonder what in the world He could possibility be thinking?</div>
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If He's all-powerful then why doesn't He DO something? If He's all-knowing then how did this happen? If He's all-loving enough to know when even a sparrow falls then why does He let things like this occur? If we're honest we've all had thoughts like these. I've had this sort of conversation with him too many times to count and it's something that at times has consumed my thoughts.</div>
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And yet, as I told someone just the other day, it's in the asking of these questions that I've become even more sure of His perfect goodness. He's all goodness, all the time. <br />
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When we struggle with these questions what we're really wanting is justice. Justice to come and wipe away every form of neglect, abuse, inhumanity, unfairness, pain and strife. We want God to come and make all that is broken right again. With that in mind, this passage jumped off the page for me recently.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIWPhIRBqR2dx2w1rWM1dFINiMfxPBNkqY1Py5KhqgymBYuJ49-1T-5ah5CfNRlU7czd4LMOYU7-6DFvIfDTbwWEq9Jtk0obL2e_s_WoS149Q-4U6vYC_sXwi68ZJbZZ0sE1Tex3nk8cO_/s1600/Anita+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIWPhIRBqR2dx2w1rWM1dFINiMfxPBNkqY1Py5KhqgymBYuJ49-1T-5ah5CfNRlU7czd4LMOYU7-6DFvIfDTbwWEq9Jtk0obL2e_s_WoS149Q-4U6vYC_sXwi68ZJbZZ0sE1Tex3nk8cO_/s320/Anita+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><i><b>"Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord! </b></i></i><br />
<i><b>Why would you have the day of the Lord?</b></i></div>
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<i><b>It is darkness, and not light,</b></i></div>
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<i><b>as if a man fled from a lion,</b></i></div>
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<i><b>and a bear met him, or went into the house and leaned his hand against the wall,</b></i></div>
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<i><b>and a serpant bit him,</b></i></div>
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<i><b>Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light,</b></i></div>
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<i><b>and gloom with no brightness in it?" </b>(Amos 5:18-20)</i></div>
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The 'day of the Lord' is "<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 21.4286px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">the time when God will intervene decisively for judgment and/or salvation (</span></span></span>Bakers Evangelical Dictionary)<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 21.4286px;">." Basically the day when God will judge mankind. The day when all will be made right again, but the flip side is that judgement will <i>also</i> occur. Judgement dark and terrifying for those that receive it. And without the grace of God that means you and me. The only difference being that perhaps we've acknowledged the mercy of a God who gave Himself in our place. But what about those that haven't? For them it will be a dark day indeed and God's desire is that no one would be left for Him to judge.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>"The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent."</i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>2 Peter 3:9</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It's His mercy, not His lack of concern for those that suffer, that delays His returning and making all things new. And those who also trust in Him have a few things to learn as well. The Amos passage goes on to say:</span></span></div>
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<b><i>"I hate, I despise your feasts, </i></b></div>
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<b><i>and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>I will not accept them;</i></b></div>
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<b><i>and the peace offerings of your fattened animals,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>I will not look upon them.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Take away from me the noise of your songs;</i></b></div>
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<b><i>to the melody of your harps I will not listen."</i></b></div>
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(vs. 21-23)</div>
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God hates religiosity. He hates the attitude that we have it all together, the satisfaction that we are ready for His return---because others are not. And with little of our time and energy being put into action other than to make our 'worship' bigger and better, offering 'sacrifices' that He doesn't even want. Fat Christians growing fatter by the day.</div>
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THIS is what He wants:</div>
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<i><b>"But let justice roll down like waters,</b></i></div>
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<i><b>and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream."</b></i></div>
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<i>(vs.24)</i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtoKshUQKD96m_YIFzNjtAu7t79xWslx8H5IGQ1Stq_4FJf1PH3nw2B5O0RP_r2CEFwr-IwdUxLfFGoryMIfdxFScAbwHaR8oZUULwNPK0c5oUJBU9XJ_uXlDA6OQeZcPbugSeT2I1J3U/s1600/Anita+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtoKshUQKD96m_YIFzNjtAu7t79xWslx8H5IGQ1Stq_4FJf1PH3nw2B5O0RP_r2CEFwr-IwdUxLfFGoryMIfdxFScAbwHaR8oZUULwNPK0c5oUJBU9XJ_uXlDA6OQeZcPbugSeT2I1J3U/s320/Anita+10.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photos by Anita VanderMespel</td></tr>
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Real worship isn't ceremony and is certainly not just letting the days pass by, it challenges and changes the heart. A call to act justly and fairly between mankind so that His justice and rightousness invades the Earth like a flow of cleansing water, like a mightly tsunami that can't be deterred. HIS justice, not ours. HIS flow of water, not our traditions motivated by an expedient, tidy end. And with HIS expression of holy, perfect love. Not with an attitude of superiority, because Christians clearly AREN'T superior. We simply humbly and without deserving serve a superior God. A God of justice who compassionatly delays His hand because He sees what we cannot; lives that will be redeemed by His blood on the day of the Lord. Until then our focus must be to show the world a God who loves, a God who cares, and a God who infinitely put us before Himself. </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-left;">My life is Yours </span><br style="margin: 0px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-left;">My hope is in You only </span><br style="margin: 0px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-left;">And my heart You hold</span><br style="margin: 0px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-left;">Cause You made this sinner holy </span><br style="margin: 0px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-left;">Holy holy </span><br style="margin: 0px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><br style="margin: 0px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-left;">Your glory is so beautiful </span><br style="margin: 0px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-left;">I fall onto my knees in awe</span><br style="margin: 0px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-left;">And the heartbeat of my life </span><br style="margin: 0px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-left;">Is to worship in Your light </span><br style="margin: 0px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-left;">Cause Your glory is so beautiful </span><br style="margin: 0px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-left;">Your glory is so beautiful </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: -webkit-left;">What can wash away my sin?</span><br style="color: #333333; margin: 0px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: -webkit-left;">Nothing but the blood of Jesus</span><br style="color: #333333; margin: 0px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: -webkit-left;">What can make me whole again? </span><br style="color: #333333; margin: 0px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: -webkit-left;">Nothing but the blood of Jesus </span><br style="color: #333333; margin: 0px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><br style="color: #333333; margin: 0px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: -webkit-left;">Oh! Precious is the flow </span><br style="color: #333333; margin: 0px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: -webkit-left;">That makes me white as snow </span><br style="color: #333333; margin: 0px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: -webkit-left;">No other fount I know</span><br style="color: #333333; margin: 0px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: -webkit-left;">Nothing but the blood of Jesus </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: -webkit-left;">Glory, glory, hallelujah Jesus You are good!</span></i></span></div>
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<i>*Your GloryNothing But the Blood as performed by All the Sons and Daughters*</i></div>
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This is what our world needs to hear. He is good. He is the only path to healing, peace and justice. Let it flow like an ever-flowing stream! And let this be what consumes US.</div>
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*Listen to the song <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQssA0HKYxE">HERE</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_CFmdlrVeaoJk2gKAGeC4417qcUU9QoTVgR_3L_tLkiTlXfK1Au_eDqNFFdMXIq35XdSuPE1UTfkq17S-N-fmaOXb_bC8VcB8SIrqBlH-kmfCJMrelh-gjYDm_j-mgfrh5gkcGtdGnI7/s1600/Anita+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_CFmdlrVeaoJk2gKAGeC4417qcUU9QoTVgR_3L_tLkiTlXfK1Au_eDqNFFdMXIq35XdSuPE1UTfkq17S-N-fmaOXb_bC8VcB8SIrqBlH-kmfCJMrelh-gjYDm_j-mgfrh5gkcGtdGnI7/s320/Anita+16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489824745842288730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105951059737241925.post-65529177845777927602015-08-04T04:01:00.002+05:302015-08-04T17:01:00.547+05:30When you need to hold on to something......Because of the unpredictability of New Zealand weather patterns, there's a very good possibility of getting suddenly wet in the winter if there are <i>any</i> clouds in the sky. I know this, yet since we've been having some lovely days I tempted fate and went for a walk sans rain jacket or umbrella. About as far as I could get away from my car and other places of real shelter along the path--you know where I'm going with this-- the sun disappeared, a piercing wind picked up and rain pelted. All within about thirty seconds. I huddled, <i>somewhat </i>effectively, under the branches of a small tree and waited.<br />
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Those minutes huddled under a tree became a gift. As the rain sheeted, the tree-space became a little bubble of peace. I recognized the beauty around me, smelled the cleansing scent of the rain, felt the invigorating wind---and was reminded of the One who calmed the wind and the waves.</div>
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There's a peace and purpose that can be found just through being sheltered in the midst of a storm. </div>
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<i><b>"God's purpose is for me to depend on Him and on His power now. If I can stay calm, faithful, and unconfused while in the middle of the turmoil of life, the purpose of God is being accomplished in me. What He desires for me is that I see 'Him walking on the sea' with no shore, no success, nor goal in sight, but simply having that absolute certainty that everything is all right because I see 'Him walking on the sea.' It is the process, not the outcome, that is glorifying to God. God's purpose is to enable me to see that He can walk on the storms of my life right now."</b></i></div>
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<i>~Oswald Chambers</i></div>
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We often have it backwards. We see 'victory' and 'success' as the goal when in God's eyes it's the process. If there were no storms, we wouldn't recognize the power of His hand. If there were no battles, our level of trust would never be tested. </div>
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I don't mind trusting people for some things even if they don't come through, if I know that their intentions are good. But that's no place to put our trust of the 'life and death' on. God is the <i>only</i> one whose intentions <i>can </i>be trusted because He is unfailingly capable to follow through to the result. Every time. So when God means something 'for the good,' you can count your life on the fact that it is good---even if it's hard to see that in the middle of the storm. </div>
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<b><i>"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling."</i></b></div>
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<i>~Psalms 46:1-2</i></div>
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Or as Sarah Young so eloquently put it:</div>
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<i><b>"The only thing you can grasp without damaging your soul is my hand."</b></i></div>
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In Psalms 55 David talks about trembling, horrors, terror of death, the betrayal of a friend. He compares the place that he is in to a place full of oppression, fraud, raging wind and tempest. These are intensely awful things, yet things that we, as part of humanity, can relate to. But then David said this:</div>
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<b><i>"Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you;</i></b></div>
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<b><i>he will never permit the righteous to be moved."</i></b></div>
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<i>~Psalms 55:22</i></div>
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And then in Psalms 56:9</div>
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<b><i>"This I know, that God is for me........"</i></b></div>
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God, infinitely powerful, exceedingly wise, knower of all things past and to come God----- is for ME. He's for YOU. He's for US. And <i style="font-weight: bold;">"If God is for us who can be against us?" </i>(Rom. 8:31) What a thing to grasp hold of. My God is 'for me.' He's on my side. He's my biggest fan. His intentions and execution of those are always for the good. Always. He's got it. </div>
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He's there in the storm holding out His hand, the only thing worth grasping. Even if we're not sure what's ahead we can find shelter and peace in the midst of the storm. </div>
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We need to stop making the end of the storm the exclusive goal and find Him in the process. And there's peace and grace for TODAY that we wouldn't have found otherwise. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Photos by Anita van der Mespel </td></tr>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489824745842288730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105951059737241925.post-50603070651648103682015-07-09T05:21:00.000+05:302015-07-09T09:43:00.487+05:30The power of the insignificatly great.....When the sorcerers of Egypt couldn't duplicate the power of the plague they said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God." (Ex. 8:19) Almost every translation uses the word 'finger,' meaning it was quite specific. Now I wouldn't call a huge swarm of gnats a minor sign, it's the impossible made possible, but I love the picture here of the use of something that sounds small, God's 'finger'. <br />
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A plague of gnats with his finger. Creation with His voice. Think about the possibilities of what God can then do with His whole Being.....<br />
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It seems, however, that God often chooses to work through subtle, small things like words, choices and minor steps of faith and obedience. And that's how great things begin. <br />
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Growth begins subtle and small:<br />
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<b><i>"Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."</i></b></div>
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<i>~Romans 12:2</i></div>
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Being 'conformed' to this world' doesn't have to start big. It simply requires a focus on it, a leaning into it----like a pillow leaving marks on your face. It doesn't require active action, passive will do. It's a consistent choice in the small stuff, a nod to the life of the road most traveled, taking the easy way out.<br />
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Transformation to become more like Christ also isn't necessarily strongly active in application, except for our focus. Transformation can happen just by consistently leaning <i>away</i> from the world and towards the Father---and in the quiet space left, God renews.<br />
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So many voices shout and cloud our minds making His will hard to discern. But when the mind is renewed the other voices become silent and we can hear His 'still, small voice' speak---and that is no small thing.<br />
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I read the other day some similes told by Jesus that illustrate the power of transformation kind of stuck in between parables, so simple that it's easy to just breeze on by:<br />
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<b><i>"He said therefore, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches." </i></b></div>
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<b><i>And again he said, "To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened." "</i></b></div>
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<i>~Luke 13:18-21</i></div>
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The small, hidden, private things can become great in the Kingdom despite seeming insignificance or outside appearances. Seeds WILL grow. Yeast WILL permeate the surrounding dough. Things 'of the kingdom' will impact and infiltrate and multiply the seemingly insignificant things that surround it. Part of transformation is planting that simple seed, adding the yeast of His Word, allowing His Presence to be planted in our hearts to grow.<br />
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My cat adores me. Not because of any great achievement of mine, I'm sure, but because I'm the hand that feeds her. Right now she's sitting on a railing about a meter away whirring and purring for no other reason than because she's near me. When it's her idea (cat owners will understand!) to sit on my lap she expects not only to curl up there, but she wants my hand to rest on her as well, hemming her in secure, protected, and comforted.<br />
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<b><i>"You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me."</i></b></div>
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<i>~Psalm 139:5</i></div>
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Our 'master,' our Source is holding us each moment as well. Like a cat we may or may not choose to acknowledge Him----but He's there all the same. Hemming us in, leaving the loving imprint of His hand (or even His finger!). Transforming, renewing, planting seeds, adding yeast. So lean right on in.<br />
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Feel like nothing's happening in your world? Seeds are growing.<br />
Think you have nothing to give? Yeast is quietly rising.<br />
Disappointed in yourself right now? The imprint of the Maker is transforming---just give it time.<br />
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Frustrated with someone in your life? Give them time as well. You have no idea what's been planted and what seemingly average material in their lives may be destined to gloriously rise. Love them where they are NOW and give quiet transformation a chance. <br />
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Small, insignificant things grow with purpose to become great. <b style="font-style: italic;">"Do not despise these small beginnings...," </b>(<i>Zechariah 4:10) </i>in our own lives----OR in the lives of others.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">More photos by Anita van der Mespel because they're so amazing! </td></tr>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489824745842288730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105951059737241925.post-19906341359704171642015-07-02T03:46:00.002+05:302015-07-02T07:40:26.547+05:30When healing comes slow.....We moved to India in time to celebrate a major event in the community that we became part of, the one year celebration of sobriety for one of the women. It was a huge victory in the life of this particular woman and included congratulations, prayer and cake for 150. But only a few months later pain overwhelmed again and one night we heard her drunken voice causing a scene, signaling another period of time of relapse before more healing occured and she began her sobriety clock once again.<br />
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Freedom usually isn't instant. It's a process. <br />
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This morning I read about Abraham's children finding their freedom from a life of oppression in Egypt. While God could have instantly caused Pharoah to set them free, it was a process instead. A process that showed His awesome and mighty power. A process where the Children of Israel got to see first hand just what He was capable of and experience His care for them. They had to learn persistance in the process and when they finally left Egypt, the journey had really only just begun.<br />
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It can be hard to watch people that we love struggle, it can be hard to struggle ourselves. We want a quick and easy 'fix,' but the process of developing a holy persistance isn't one to be avoided or rushed.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"> "</i><span class="text Luke-11-5" id="en-ESV-25402" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;">And he said to them, <span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">“Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves,</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text Luke-11-6" id="en-ESV-25403" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’;</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text Luke-11-7" id="en-ESV-25404" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’?</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text Luke-11-8" id="en-ESV-25405" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;">I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything </span><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-25405A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-25405A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></i><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;">because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence</span><span style="line-height: 22px;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>(other versions say 'shamless persistance, importunity, audacity)<b>, </b></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;"> he will rise and give him whatever he needs.</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text Luke-11-9" id="en-ESV-25406" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">And I tell you, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-25406B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-25406B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>ask, and <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-25406C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-25406C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>it will be given to you; <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-25406D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-25406D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>seek, and you will find; <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-25406E" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-25406E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>knock, and it will be opened to you.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text Luke-11-10" id="en-ESV-25407" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened." ~Luke 11:5-10</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b><span class="text Luke-11-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span></b></i></span></div>
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<span class="text Luke-11-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There's something powerful about a faith that just won't quit. It takes a backbone, it takes action, it takes the courage in the words of Winston Churchill to, "Ne-vah, ne-vah, ne-vah give up." God <i>invites </i>us to approach Him with this kind of 'audacity.' While earthly parents grow weary of a nagging child, God <i>wants</i> us to tenaciously cling to and ask of Him---because He's where our real strength, endurance and answers lie. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><b><i>"Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually."</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><b><i>~Psalms 105:4</i></b></span></div>
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There's someone heavy on my heart today who is on a journey towards freedom. I want complete freedom so much for them, healing from deep, unjust wounds. God in His mercy is bringing healing, but it's not been an instant process. It's still miraculous in that wholeness is coming--but it's been a journey of up's and down's along the way. I know He's been working in their life but I realize now that He's building perseverance in ME through the process as well. Holy persistance to not give up, to not give into despair, to keep knocking at the door of Heaven today and tomorrow and the day after because deep, enduring healing is coming. </div>
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<b><i>"...for we walk by faith, not by sight"</i></b></div>
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<b><i>~2 Cor. 5:7</i></b></div>
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And along the way we all get to grow through seeing Him bring victories in the process. We get to develop audacity and endurance. Maybe the victory wouldn't mean as much in the long run if it had been instant. And we certainly wouldn't have had the opportunity to more deeply develop the habit to run to Him, to cling to our vine, and grow more firmly secure in the place where complete wholeness lies.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zZhtUEtUU7RlETNldgl-Pxn0dpgybZZbRzFb-k4ywnLLu3TifHdszlAZqG-sGX0gRLHU9mnI5oK1enpOAEiAETCXKSUAHD9f9-VG3ooQM1015i9ouPr9r0VTN7VqUz-0gGP9DzRhX2D-/s1600/Anita.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zZhtUEtUU7RlETNldgl-Pxn0dpgybZZbRzFb-k4ywnLLu3TifHdszlAZqG-sGX0gRLHU9mnI5oK1enpOAEiAETCXKSUAHD9f9-VG3ooQM1015i9ouPr9r0VTN7VqUz-0gGP9DzRhX2D-/s320/Anita.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photos today by Anita van der Mespel on her recent trip to Ireland.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489824745842288730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105951059737241925.post-30554047208667850172015-05-16T03:36:00.002+05:302015-05-16T03:46:21.789+05:30Finding what's between the sound......I ran to shut the window but the sudden rainstorm slanted in the other direction. Instead I just stood, widow open, and breathed in the freshness in the Autumn rain, felt the peace of that moment and <i>lingered</i>. I thought about how my life is actually less complicated now than it's been for years, yet how our humanity still finds the busy in it all. So often we just need to stop like I did right then and <i>breathe</i>....<br />
<br />
I've been practicing the discipline of silence lately because my small group is reading a book that gave us that assignment, five minutes at a time. It's been refreshingly good. I set the timer on my phone to get me started, because who <i>really</i> can't spare just five minutes in a day? Especially if you know that an alarm will sound that will keep you from going over. <br />
<br />
The first time I settled on the floor of my living room to multi-task and rest my sore shoulders (a sign that I needed it right there!) while our busy household was empty, and quieted the chatter of my mind. It took a bit for my ever-busy brain to stop firing, but I eventually began to listen. I heard the songs of the birds outside, something that I love but hadn't really done for some time, and I began to commune, really commune, with the God that made them. Sometimes my form of communtion smacks of talking AT Him, yet any understanding of the word 'relationship' tells me that that's not what He has in mind.<br />
<br />
Five minutes was longer than I thought it would be, but once silence was discovered it wasn't long enough. I set the timer again and stood up after far more refreshed and at peace for the rest of my day.<br />
<br />
I'm still using the timer once a day to start a habit, but found that I've been allowing myself other times of focus and peace now too---and I'm still getting done everything that I need to each day. Personally, I know that when I'm stressed I actually <i>waste</i> time with unclear thought patterns even if my body appears active. Taking moments of silence that connect me to my Creator is far better all around.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5tq1OU8bmuHONv8XXmjcMVl6MP-7298UpUHajrtYcVCKhJ0LWTa-fMcF70Le7LzoFBSAULvsJkvKyTstQNMRDuOPQ4HR9Jb35iYRGM0zHaWrhZFIw3by2JlmAzlwlMz_ZmOz_rnVD3or/s1600/Heidi+flowers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5tq1OU8bmuHONv8XXmjcMVl6MP-7298UpUHajrtYcVCKhJ0LWTa-fMcF70Le7LzoFBSAULvsJkvKyTstQNMRDuOPQ4HR9Jb35iYRGM0zHaWrhZFIw3by2JlmAzlwlMz_ZmOz_rnVD3or/s320/Heidi+flowers.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Heidi Cook</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Practicing meditative silence is nothing new or exclusive to Chritianity. I used to wait at my children's school every day in India, bringing my oldest since her classes were in the afternoon, but waiting 30 minutes or so for the younger ones to finish their morning lessons. During that time I'd sit in the waiting room with other mums and enjoy their chatter. I often noted because of their religion that there would frequently be someone oooh'ing and aaah'ing about how she'd been enjoying practicing meditation. While I didn't believe in the same sort of meditation that they did--my thoughts organically go to the Creator God, while their goal was to totally empty themselves leaving them open to whatever--it was clearly an experience that brought them peace just in the silence of it and is something that their belief system has been practicing for thousands of years. <br />
<br />
There are many references in Scripture about meditating on our Lord and it's long been hailed as an essencial spiritual discipline. Yet it's one that we mistakenly often strive after rather than letting the communion bring us the restoration intended.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">"I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><b style="font-style: italic;">Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings." </b>Psalms 63:6-7</span></span></div>
<br />
My husband's parents are some of the most proactive people that I know. They've been extremely disciplined all their lives handling work, family, and ministry all at once. As they've gotten older, their lives have simplified, but their patterns of life remain. One thing you can count on when visiting them are tea/coffee breaks. Morning Tea and Afternoon Tea are daily rituals besides meals; times when work stops, feet are put up and conversation shared. Their very productive rhythm of life has always included rest and time spent alone with Him.<br />
<br />
When did we start thinking that we were more productive without it?<br />
<br />
I live on a coastline of incredible natural beauty. One of the things I enjoy besides the view are benches that dot the paths by the sea. It's long been a holiday spot and the benches say things like, "In memory of (insert name) who loved this spot," or things like that. These locations are places that people used to like to sit, but while those benches are used they're not as enjoyed as you'd think. And that makes me think that even though there were far fewer people in the area back then, that they used to stop and just sit more.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Yn6kUoRqNsIQ0Bba_ELEJLZYfhkWGBiJerPNMwHai3876VXIqX_J0tIFQH_yrqyCJJNm_pvgFfSD4-xR4zUKMO52WF7mT05HCY86UPulQPWgU-8NYdAGtHhxKpbLiiaYlC5gQhEA2lr3/s1600/photo+(36).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Yn6kUoRqNsIQ0Bba_ELEJLZYfhkWGBiJerPNMwHai3876VXIqX_J0tIFQH_yrqyCJJNm_pvgFfSD4-xR4zUKMO52WF7mT05HCY86UPulQPWgU-8NYdAGtHhxKpbLiiaYlC5gQhEA2lr3/s320/photo+(36).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Beth Waterman</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Jesus said, <span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">"</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><b style="font-style: italic;">Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." </b>Matt. 11:28-29 Rest is offered, it's there for the taking, but first we must <i>come</i>. After all we were created to <i>need </i>rest; body, mind and spirit and the denying of that isn't long-term healthy for any of us. God the Father Himself rested on the Seventh Day and He told us to do the same. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #001320;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; line-height: 20px;">Our times of silent rest help us to focus on Him and we need to come to Him this way often.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #001320;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you." ~Augustine</span></i></span></div>
<br />
His Presence, His Peace, His Love; all there all the time but sometimes our love of the busy distracts us from the best. Let's take that time to dial down, to find Him instead of just talking at Him, and discover the differenct that that simple practice makes.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">"A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else!" </i>Psalm 84:10</span></span></div>
<br />
<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489824745842288730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105951059737241925.post-33057810227610723062015-05-01T03:41:00.000+05:302015-05-01T04:26:18.053+05:30Reflections on the Love of God......<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>Compilation of thoughts written for a devotional blog:</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSj6I4fBwEECWxdvMXkAHHrSlJ1R8cWEpYJDZxkx6rAUTa_QPJEzOYPGaST704nsZcw9TkqxlnMrbDvPtolKxQ4ww19dmnkAoGM_S9YWd3D3bBVWtYcZiktYY6zYY2PQ9eYqkIq5FhUks/s1600/God's%2Blove%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSj6I4fBwEECWxdvMXkAHHrSlJ1R8cWEpYJDZxkx6rAUTa_QPJEzOYPGaST704nsZcw9TkqxlnMrbDvPtolKxQ4ww19dmnkAoGM_S9YWd3D3bBVWtYcZiktYY6zYY2PQ9eYqkIq5FhUks/s1600/God's%2Blove%2B2.jpg" height="139" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><b><span style="font-family: Corbel, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><b><span style="font-family: Corbel, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">1</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">. We <i>need</i> God’s love</span></b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">“I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and
will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and
destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good
shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">John 10:9-11</span></i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Cost (author
unknown)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="color: #444444; line-height: 14.4pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So this
was the cost</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">the price you had to pay for me</i></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
<i></i></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">to be with me</i></i></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>
</i></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">to save me</i></i></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>
</i></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">to redeem me</i></i></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>
<o:p></o:p></i></span></span>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="color: #444444; line-height: 14.4pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You laid
down here for me</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">Hung here for me</i></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
<i></i></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">Died here for me</i></i></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>
</i></span></span>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="color: #444444; line-height: 14.4pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You laid
down here for me</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">As they laughed at you</i></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
<i></i></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">And said who’s hitting you</i></i></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>
</i></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">You laid down here for me</i></i></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>
</i></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">As they nailed you</i></i></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>
</i></span></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">Impaled you</i></i></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">You laid here as nails cut you, pierced you, </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">You laid down here for me</i></div>
<o:p></o:p></i></span></span><br />
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 14.4pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="color: #444444; line-height: 14.4pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You hung
here for me as they mocked you</span></i></div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; line-height: 14.4pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">Jew King, here’s your crown so come down and be king</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 14.4pt;">You hung here for me as your breath </span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">wouldn't</span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 14.4pt;"> come</span></span></i></i></div>
<i>
</i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 14.4pt;">And the blood </span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">wouldn't</span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 14.4pt;"> stop</span></span></i></i></div>
<i>
</i>
<br />
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; line-height: 14.4pt; text-align: center;">
<i><i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">and nails or no nails you still are God</i></i></div>
<i>
</i>
<br />
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; line-height: 14.4pt; text-align: center;">
<i><i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">and could have come down</i></i></div>
<i>
</i>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; line-height: 14.4pt; text-align: center;">
<i><i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">and made the pain stop and made the laughs stop</i></i></div>
<i>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; line-height: 14.4pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">but you hung here for me</i></div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 14.4pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i><br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="color: #444444; line-height: 14.4pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You died
here for me</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">As you said</i></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
<i></i></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">it is finished</i></i></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>
</i></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">And now there is nothing left,</i></i></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>
</i></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">But the horror of this place</i></i></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>
</i></span></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">And I want to turn away, to walk away, to run away</i></i></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">To just forget without regret</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">All the horror of this place</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">Of the blood on your face</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">And the pain of the nails and the hole in your side</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">But I can’t turn away cause I need to be saved</i></div>
<o:p></o:p></i></span></span><br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="color: #444444; line-height: 14.4pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And if
this is what it takes for me to know you</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">To be with you</i></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
<i></i></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">to find you</i></i></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>
</i></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">if this is what it takes for you to save me</i></i></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>
</i></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">Then I can’t look away</i></i></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>
</i></span></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">Cause I need you to save</i></i></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">this soul that cries out for you,</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">dies for you,</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">reaches for you</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">If this is what it takes then I all I can say is</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">Crucify! Crucify! Crucify!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">Cause I need to be saved</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">And I, </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="line-height: 14.4pt;">I can’t pay the cost</i></div>
</i></span></span><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><o:p><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>2. God’s love cannot be
removed</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall
tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger,
or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day
long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we
are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither
death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come,
nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be
able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Romans 8: 35-39</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Recently I saw an illustration of water in a
clear plastic bottle. The bottle was
turned sideways, upside down, each and every direction and the water inside
adjusted and stayed relatively calm despite what was happening to the bottle on
the outside.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The bottle was compared to difficulties and
unexpected things in this world. The
water was the peace of God in our hearts when we are connected to His Holy
Spirit and remain steadfastly sure of His love for us. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I can’t think of anything else more important to
address in our hearts than comprehending, accepting, reveling in, and allowing
ourselves to be filled with His love.
It’s the unit of wholeness and the measure of sacrifice by which all
else of life ebbs and flow. It’s the
blood in our veins, the strength in our bones, the bringer of joy in our
hearts. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We are, we exist,
through His love. Nothing, but us, has
the power to tear that away. And even if
we try to walk away, He loves us still.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxluqj4chHWKHlRF13p5y0Ev7AQx3MPMc0KYFNhxIzdRlRQ58nXG3LbWCHUbKoBcDmVRRWuLJks9298cSr4SEWcKm_E0Zc49MflOpaP_zARkpHiOa-HdJ3tEPqYFnzFv_v4R42h3aU7Jt5/s1600/God's%2Blove%2B15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxluqj4chHWKHlRF13p5y0Ev7AQx3MPMc0KYFNhxIzdRlRQ58nXG3LbWCHUbKoBcDmVRRWuLJks9298cSr4SEWcKm_E0Zc49MflOpaP_zARkpHiOa-HdJ3tEPqYFnzFv_v4R42h3aU7Jt5/s1600/God's%2Blove%2B15.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>3. God’s love is more
vast than we can imagine</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.4pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Where can I go from Your love?</span></i></span></b></div>
<b></b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><b><span style="background: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Or where can I flee from Your love?</span></i></span></b></b></div>
<b>
</b>
<br />
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<b><span style="background: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">If I ascent into heaven, Your love is there.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">If I make my bed in hell, behold, Your love is there.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">If I take the wings of the morning,<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Even there Your love shall lead me,<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">And Your love shall hold me.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,”<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Even the night shall be light about me;<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Indeed the darkness shall not hide me from Your love.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Ps. 139:7-12</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Love of God<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">By Fredrick Lehman<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">The love of God is greater far<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">than tongue or pen can ever tall;<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">It goes beyond the highest star<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">and reaches to the lowest hell.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Could we with ink the ocean fill,<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">and were the skies of parchment made,<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">were every stone on earth a quill,<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">and every man a scribe by trade,<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">to write the love of God above<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">would drain the ocean dry.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nor could the scroll contain the whole,<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Though stretched from sky to sky.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The last stanza was inspired by a message
scratched in the wall of an insane asylum discovered after the author had been
buried. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sometimes the lowest points of our lives leave us
struggling to comprehend God’s love.
Does He really care after all?
How much? These thoughts can
drive us a bit mad at times but at other times the knowledge of His love are
all that we have left to cling to. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Trying our best to grasp His love is essential to
the internal theology that guides us. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He is there.
His love is more vast than we can imagine.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background: white;">4. </span></b><span style="background: white;"><b>God’s love is undeserved</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">“In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he
loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>I John 4: 10</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Events of life have challenged an unconscious
theology as a long-term follower of Jesus that went something like this: “I
will serve You and am willing to sacrifice for You---but in doing that I expect
that You will look after me and those I love and make sure that nothing tooooo
bad happens.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Oh, I would have never consciously or rationally
have said that, but that’s what I've often unconsciously assumed. Then I've been surprised, and hurt, and
sometimes angry when God doesn't keep His part of that particular, ridiculous,
one-sided bargain. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That internal thought process is flawed in so
many ways. A major way is the assumption
in that that somehow I <i>deserve</i> good
things. That my good works and service
could possibly be enough to make up for all that I am not.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nope, I’m a sinner. I’m a pretty ‘good’ person by the standard of
the world, but I have murdered in my heart.
I've done lots and lots of ‘good’ but I've been unkind, impatient, and
have thought badly of others. I’m mostly
accepting of differences but can suddenly be highly prejudiced too. I think that I’m in the right more than I
should. I've held anger in my
heart. I've been bitter. I've been untrustworthy. Proud.
I’m flawed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m flawed.
I don’t deserve good because of what I do. I need to be saved. And it’s only by His love that I am.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What unconscious internal theology might be
giving YOU a skewed view of God’s love today?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqp5JTaJhXia7eXjKhw7NcOLTQlHcUs85hjXT7tGHyR-zMmS-Xx8F69wsZRBN5t2Ze6tKQJZoGrQavZNVVZOYSKO3wAaecHVfzM0TT1PrCUvqzHDr0TQVLNd5uNMBcb8g9ApjtuBWiARiJ/s1600/10981917_939581762741258_8833777812808216122_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqp5JTaJhXia7eXjKhw7NcOLTQlHcUs85hjXT7tGHyR-zMmS-Xx8F69wsZRBN5t2Ze6tKQJZoGrQavZNVVZOYSKO3wAaecHVfzM0TT1PrCUvqzHDr0TQVLNd5uNMBcb8g9ApjtuBWiARiJ/s1600/10981917_939581762741258_8833777812808216122_n.jpg" height="238" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Note: In looking for stock images for this blog I was surprised to find numerous ones that said, "You deserve God's love." Whaaaaaaaaa? Is that the outcome of an entitlement society? Interesting. We ARE valuable and worth love because we are created in His image, but as far as 'deserve'...........<br />
<br /></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>5. He has already proven His love.</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Blessed be the Lord, for he has wondrously shown his
steadfast love to me.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Psalm 31:21<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Catching up with old friends is lots of fun;
finding out the new and reminiscing over the old. There’s something refreshingly precious about
reconnecting with someone who’s known us for a long time. It never takes long until the ‘remember
when’s’ start. “Remember when……..,”
bringing laughter and the joy of shared experience.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Brothers and sisters in Him remind us of more
than that. They can help us see past
today and remember what love God has already shown to us, through us, and around
us. Things that we hadn't thought of for
ages on our own.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Bible is God’s historical love letter to us
as well telling us over and over; “Remember when I…….,” stories of His
indescribable love. They remind us just
WHO our Great Lover is, what great lengths He will go to for us, how
excessively worthy of awe that He is, how baffling the concept is but how great
is His love for us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Whether it’s from His Word or examples from our
own lives, when we remember that He’s still the same God that He was back then,
it reinforces His love for us in the present.
He was with us, He’s still for us, He loves us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Doubting His loving care today? Look back, remember when, and be encouraged
and actively, <i><b>“Abide in my (His) love.”</b> </i> (John 15:9)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background: white;">Response: </span></b><span style="background: white;"><i>God, I’m sorry for the times that I doubt your love. Like the Israelites in the wilderness how
quickly I forget the great things that You've already done. Help me to walk through the unseen of today
secure in the fact that Your love hasn't changed---and that it never will.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>6. God’s love is our Source.</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><i><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing
that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and
character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love
has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to
us.” <o:p></o:p></span></b></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Romans 5:3-5</b></i><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I've always had an inner sarcastic chuckle about
the word ‘rejoice’ when connected to suffering.
I can rejoice <i>now</i> about past
suffering because I can see what it’s taught me and where it’s brought me---but
rejoicing isn’t exactly my initial response.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Maybe that’s because my understanding of God’s
love is so limited. Because I don’t
instantly trust the good of the outcome or the positive aspects of the journey
itself. Because I don’t totally,
completely, and irresolutely trust <i>Him</i>
as much as I’d like.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But the last part of this passage <i>does</i> make me rejoice. I love the visual image that ‘pour’
brings. A huge frosted jug pouring
thirst quenching liquid into a parched and desperate vessel. A never-ending Source of love. When I remember that suffering hollows me out
so that I can receive more of that love---then I’m desperate for it. I can rejoice in it when His love is the
focus and not the suffering. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white;">It makes me think of this C.S. Lewis quote, </span><i><span style="background: white; color: #181818;">“Imagine yourself as a
living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can
understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the
leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you
are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way
that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He
up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the
one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor
there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made
into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come
and live in it Himself.”<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He’s remaking us to contain more of His love, His
love is our Source through all that life throws at us, and He’s pouring it out
for us today.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background: white;">Response: </span></b><span style="background: white;"><i>Lord, empty our hearts of the things that only steal, kill,
and destroy. Fill us up with You. We’re desperate for Your love to be our
Source today. Make us a conduit that
then pours out Your love for others.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETLYAco20yxPJKMgIOMQzbtslF4GQ52r8OZ7wRf-5JQ2FCkhOXNt9ZE6Y66LuyLhIJ9a6ovayWk0gzF8KtfvWhiXGk5-QeXhorHhJkC1WmjnCw42SZ3g0xdNvLn4B0ZztSLr8vEZ0NzEX/s1600/God's%2Blove%2B9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETLYAco20yxPJKMgIOMQzbtslF4GQ52r8OZ7wRf-5JQ2FCkhOXNt9ZE6Y66LuyLhIJ9a6ovayWk0gzF8KtfvWhiXGk5-QeXhorHhJkC1WmjnCw42SZ3g0xdNvLn4B0ZztSLr8vEZ0NzEX/s1600/God's%2Blove%2B9.jpg" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="background: white;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>7. God’s love is our strength.</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">“So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that
you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with
all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know
the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all
the fullness of God.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Eph. 3:17-19</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the mysteries of God is that in
continuation of relationship with Him we discover more and more of WHO He is
than we could previously understand, and we can then comprehend more and more
of His love for us. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This verse states that we first need to be
grounded in His love, to have enough strength to then comprehend His love, and
that then we will be filled with the ‘fullness of God.’ <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It makes me think of layers of an onion, the
infinity symbol, or ripples in a pond; things dependent on each other that then
continue together. Or the age old
question of which came first, the chicken or the egg? (I saw on Facebook the
other day a post saying that someone had ordered a chicken and an egg on Ebay
and was waiting to see which one came first!) But the point is that we need
God’s love to have the strength to understand His love, to further understand
more of His love. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Basically it keeps us looking to Him because His
love surpasses our limited knowledge.
And through His love we find the strength to find more love......and on
and on.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background: white;">Response: </span></b><span style="background: white;"><i>God, thank you that you are an unfathomable well of strength
for us. Thank you that as we embrace You
and Your love for us that you brace us for the battles that today may
bring. Please continue to show us more
and more of your love, so that we can know you more and serve you better.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background: white;"><o:p> 8. </o:p></span></b><b>God’s love empowers us.</b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">“This is my
commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that
someone lay down his life for his friends.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>John 15: 12-13</i><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Many
of us want to be self-sacrificial. We
probably wouldn't be reading this particular blog if we weren't wired that
way! But our ‘self’ is so limited. When we give and give of our own strength, we
quite quickly give away all that we have.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s
such a simple concept, knowing that it’s only through HIS love that we can
continue to give, but such an easy one to lose a grip on in the busy business
of giving. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We
must first receive. It’s His love after
all, not our own. That is crucial and
the weak link in the process for many:
being refreshed along the way, diving deep into His love<i> first</i> before we overflow to
others. The understood part of this
verse is that we are already receivers of His love, not just in concept but in
personal revelation, otherwise we will live in constant deficit and eventually
be no good to anyone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But
receiving only is like storing up more mangoes than you can eat yourself; they
quickly become rotten and are also good for no one. Love is meant to be given away. Sacrificially, through His example.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>“God is love. Therefore love. Without distinction, without
calculation, without procrastination, love.</em><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;">”</span></span><span style="background: white;"> </span>~ Henry Drummond<strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Love with HIS
love. That’s where the power to live and
love sacrificially lies</span></strong><strong>.
</strong><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Response: </strong><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"> <i>Lord, we need Your love
today. We acknowledge that we can do
nothing without You. It’s Your love and
only Your love that empowers us to follow the example of Jesus on the cross and
lay down our lives for others.</i></span></strong></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgyGsCCWseY3yJTGr3qhQIQWDSNXPV6yhS6b9qegDVpw3YhZlYYu418iMahiBNhgZOFk5qoWar2N9FzTg1fDFxuruT-z6dezyM_xQCCR7BydJw_JNCVeSBNtFCxXqzd3n9N7yKd0G1tzB/s1600/God's%2Blove%2B14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgyGsCCWseY3yJTGr3qhQIQWDSNXPV6yhS6b9qegDVpw3YhZlYYu418iMahiBNhgZOFk5qoWar2N9FzTg1fDFxuruT-z6dezyM_xQCCR7BydJw_JNCVeSBNtFCxXqzd3n9N7yKd0G1tzB/s1600/God's%2Blove%2B14.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>9. His love redeems us as sons and daughters.</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text"><b><span style="background: white;">“See what great love</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background: white;"> </span></b></span><span class="text"><b><span style="background: white;">the Father has lavished on us, that we should be
called children of God!</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background: white;"> </span></b></span><span class="text"><b><span style="background: white;">And that is
what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background: white;"> </span></b></span><span class="text"><b><span style="background: white;">Dear friends,</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background: white;"> </span></b></span><span class="text"><b><span style="background: white;">now we are children of God,</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background: white;"> </span></b></span><span class="text"><b><span style="background: white;">and what we will be has not yet been made known.
But we know that when Christ appears,</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background: white;"> </span></b></span><span class="text"><b><span style="background: white;">we shall be like him,</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background: white;"> </span></b></span><span class="text"><b><span style="background: white;">for we shall see him as he is.</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background: white;">”<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> I John
3:1-2</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></span></div>
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<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Children of God, sons and
daughters, through His love! What a
mystery that we can come into His presence and become like Christ. The lyrics below express the wonder of the
privilege, through His love, of approaching His throne as accepted as His very
own. We will be perfect like Him then,
but His Presence is already there for us now.</span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Boldly I Approach, by The
Rend Collective<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 18pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">By grace alone somehow I stand</span></span></i></div>
<div style="line-height: 18pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Where even angels fear to tread</span></i></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
<i></i></span></span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 18pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Invited by redeeming love</span></i></i></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>
</i></span></span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 18pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Before the throne of God above</span></i></i></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 18pt;"></span></i></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 18pt;"><i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">He pulls me close with nail-scarred hands</span></i></span></i></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 18pt;">
</span>
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 18pt;"></span></i></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 18pt;"><i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Into His everlasting arms</span></i></span></i></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 18pt;">
</span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 18pt;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 18pt;">When condemnation grips my heart</span></i></div>
</span>
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 18pt;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 18pt;">And Satan tempts me to despair</span></i></div>
</span>
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 18pt;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 18pt;">I hear the voice that scatters fear</span></i></div>
</span>
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 18pt;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 18pt;">The Great I Am the Lord is here</span></i></div>
</span>
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 18pt;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 18pt;">Oh praise the One who fights for me</span></i></div>
</span>
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 18pt;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 18pt;">And shields my soul eternally</span></i><br />
<i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 18pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
</span></i></span></span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Behold the bright and risen Son</span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">More beauty than this world has known</span></i></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
<i></i></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">I'm face to face with Love Himself</span></i></i></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>
</i></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">His perfect spotless righteousness</span></i></i></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"></span></i></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">A thousand years, a thousand tongues</span></i></span></i></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
</span>
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"></span></i></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Are not enough to sing His praise</span></i></span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><br /></span></i></span></i></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
</span></i></span></span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Boldly I approach Your throne</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Blameless now I'm running home</span></span></i><br />
<i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">By Your blood I come</span></i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">
<i></i></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Welcomed as Your own</span></i></i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>
</i></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><i style="line-height: 18pt;">Into the arms of majesty</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><i style="line-height: 18pt;"><br /></i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
</span></span>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Listen
to the song here: </span></b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QDnVD7gu5Y"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QDnVD7gu5Y</span></b></a><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Response: </span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><i>Great, mighty, merciful God; thank you for making
us sons and daughters through Your love.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">10. God is love.</span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has
for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides
in him. </span></b><b>This is how love is made complete among us so that we will
have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like
Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out
fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not
made perfect in love.<o:p></o:p></b></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">We love because he first
loved us.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">I John 4:16-19<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Since we know that ‘God is love,’ our vision of
who God is can become quite skewed by our misunderstanding of love itself. The outworking of the love of humanity is so
obviously flawed that it makes the concept of Perfect Love beyond our
imagination. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We often look at it backwards. We try to understand God based on our own
misconceptions of love, when we should be looking at the Source to determine
what love is to start with.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444;"><i>“God is Love. And because God is Love, He gets
to define Love:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><strong>Love is not always agreement with someone, but
it is always sacrifice for someone.</strong></i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em>Love is always for us. God is always good and we are always loved.</em><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><em>That defines everything. Everything.” </em> ~Ann
Voskamp</span><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let’s hold fast to discovering Him, more and more
of Him, and let<i> that </i>understanding
show us what love really is------and be amazed!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background: white;">Response:<i> </i></span></b><span style="background: white;"><i>God, we are so
small. We think we are wise, but there is so much that we don’t
understand. Please, show us YOUR love so
that we can be a conduit in this world that is dying without You. Open our eyes, clarify our thoughts and make
us more like You.</i></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQxmvq4JKC8nmF1mZ9HdwZj0929_ACsLHq4cksKLlHfTLuNxIS32Qphhc7Q97pwqxGDFsLHHY93A5QyuP7Ua0ifH0H3xFX7AnO1Pi3GrEWprP6qjwutI0MsvE0qNwj-yLsL9tfs262j9j/s1600/God's%2Blove%2B12.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQxmvq4JKC8nmF1mZ9HdwZj0929_ACsLHq4cksKLlHfTLuNxIS32Qphhc7Q97pwqxGDFsLHHY93A5QyuP7Ua0ifH0H3xFX7AnO1Pi3GrEWprP6qjwutI0MsvE0qNwj-yLsL9tfs262j9j/s1600/God's%2Blove%2B12.jpeg" height="209" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">11. </span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b>God’s
love deserves an honest response.</b><span class="text"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"> “</span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><b><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">Jesus
answered,</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b></span><span class="woj"><b><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">“Very
truly I tell you, you are looking for me,</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b></span><span class="woj"><b><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">not
because you saw the signs</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b></span><span class="woj"><b><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">I
performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.</span></b></span><span class="woj"><b><sup><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">
</span></sup></b></span><span class="woj"><b><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that
endures</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b></span><span class="woj"><b><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">to eternal
life, which the Son of Man</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b></span><span class="woj"><b><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">will
give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b></span><span class="woj"><b><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">of
approval………..<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></i></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text"><b><sup> ......</sup></b></span><span class="text"><b>From this time many of his disciples</b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b> </b></span><span class="text"><b>turned back and no longer
followed him.</b></span><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></i></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="woj"><b>“You do not want to leave too, do you?”</b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b> </b></span><span class="text"><b>Jesus asked the Twelve.</b></span><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></i></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span class="text"><b>Simon Peter answered him,</b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b> </b></span></i><span class="text"><b><i>“Lord, to whom shall we go? You
have the words of eternal life.”
John 6:26-27, 66-68</i></b></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; text-align: center;">
<span class="text"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you ever try to pretend with God? Sometimes we try to convince ourselves that
what we are doing or thinking is OK when we really know otherwise. Our prayers can be full of untruths as we try
to justify ourselves to the All-Knowing One.
But the Holy Spirit is there to cut through our defense and denial and
speak life-changing truth into our world.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18pt;">It’s not that the twelve were never
unfaithful, that they </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 18pt;"> struggle to understand what He was teaching them,
that they </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">weren't</span><span style="line-height: 18pt;"> selfish or fought among themselves; but what they </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 18pt;"> do
was </span><i style="line-height: 18pt;">turn away</i><span style="line-height: 18pt;">. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18pt;">God already knows our hearts. He knows when our motives are impure and when
what we actually want is something from Him.
Yet, His heart is still to love, forgive, and accept us just the way
that we are. He loved us first and after </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">we've</span><span style="line-height: 18pt;"> tasted and come to understand even a fraction of that love we can only turn
towards Him and say like Peter,<i>” Lord, to whom shall we go?”</i></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;">
<span style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="author"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Response:</b> <i>Lord, we are
humbled by and thankful for Your steadfast love. Even when we repeatedly fail You, You
love. Let us turn towards you with
honest hearts today and change in the ways we need to, so we can embrace Your
heart of love for us.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="author"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">11. <b>God’s love prompts a response of devotion to
Him.</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“I love the</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></b></span><span class="small-caps"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></b></span><span class="text"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">,</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></b></span><span class="text"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">for he heard my voice;</span></b></span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span class="indent-1-breaks"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></b></span><span class="text"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">he heard my cry</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></b></span><span class="text"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">for mercy.</span></b></span></i></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">
<span class="text"></span></span></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text"><i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Because he
turned his ear</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></b></span><span class="text"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">to me,</span></b></span></i></span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text">
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"></span></span></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="indent-1-breaks"><i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span class="indent-1-breaks"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></b></span><span class="text"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">I will call on
him as long as I live…….</span></b></span></i></span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="indent-1-breaks">
</span></span></i>
<br />
<div class="line" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">…. </span></b></span><span class="text"><b>What shall I return to the</b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b> </b></span><span class="small-caps"><b><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></b></span></span></i></div>
<i></i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="indent-1-breaks"><b> </b></span><span class="text"><b>for all his goodness</b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b> </b></span><span class="text"><b>to me?</b></span></span></i></i></div>
<i>
</i>
<br />
<div class="line" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">I will
lift up the cup of salvation</span></b></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span class="indent-1-breaks"><b> </b></span><span class="text"><b>and call on the name</b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b> </b></span><span class="text"><b>of the</b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b> </b></span><span class="small-caps"><b><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></b></span><span class="text"><b>.</b></span></i></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">
<b></b></span></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i style="line-height: 18pt;"><b><span class="text">I will fulfill my vows</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="text">to the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span></b></i></b></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>
</b><span class="indent-1-breaks"></span></span></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="indent-1-breaks"><i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span class="indent-1-breaks"><b> </b></span><span class="text"><b>in the presence of all his
people.</b></span></i></span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="indent-1-breaks">
</span></span></i>
<br />
<div class="line" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text"><b>Precious
in the sight</b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b> </b></span><span class="text"><b>of the</b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b> </b></span><span class="small-caps"><b><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></b></span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span class="indent-1-breaks"><b> </b></span><span class="text"><b>is the death of his faithful
servants.</b></span></i></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">
<b></b></span></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i style="line-height: 18pt;"><b><span class="text">Truly I am your servant,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="text">;</span></b></i></b></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>
</b><span class="indent-1-breaks"></span></span></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="indent-1-breaks"><i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span class="indent-1-breaks"><b> </b></span><span class="text"><b>I serve you just as my mother
did;</b></span></i></span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="indent-1-breaks">
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"></span></span></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="indent-1-breaks"><i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span class="indent-1-breaks"><b> </b></span><span class="text"><b>you have freed me from my
chains.</b></span></i></span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="indent-1-breaks">
</span></span></i>
<div class="line" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text"><b>I will
sacrifice a thank offering</b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b> </b></span><span class="text"><b>to you</b></span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span class="indent-1-breaks"><b> </b></span><span class="text"><b>and call on the name of the</b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b> </b></span><span class="small-caps"><b><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></b></span><span class="text"><b>.</b></span></i></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">
<b></b></span></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i style="line-height: 18pt;"><b><span class="text">I will fulfill my vows</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="text">to the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span></b></i></b></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>
</b><span class="indent-1-breaks"></span></span></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="indent-1-breaks"><i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span class="indent-1-breaks"><b> </b></span><span class="text"><b>in the presence of all his
people,</b></span></i></span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="indent-1-breaks">
</span><b></b></span></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i style="line-height: 18pt;"><b><span class="text">in the courts</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="text">of the house of the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="text">—</span></b></i></b></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>
</b><span class="indent-1-breaks"></span></span></i>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="indent-1-breaks"><i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span class="indent-1-breaks"><b> </b></span><span class="text"><b>in your midst, Jerusalem.</b></span></i></span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="indent-1-breaks">
</span></span></i><br />
<div class="line" style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text"><b>Praise
the</b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b> </b></span><span class="small-caps"><b><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></b></span><span class="text"><b>.</b></span><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></i></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>-</b><span class="text"><b> </b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b> </b></span></i><b><i>Psalm
116.1-2,12-19</i><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18pt;">As </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">we've</span><span style="line-height: 18pt;"> reflected on the Love of God perhaps </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">we've </span><span style="line-height: 18pt;">been reminded of an
aspect of Him that we </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">hadn't</span><span style="line-height: 18pt;"> considered for a while. Or maybe something that </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">we've</span><span style="line-height: 18pt;"> noticed for the first time. Whatever we may or may not
have noticed, one thing is certain; our hearts were made to respond to Divine
love. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Perhaps one of the
most beautiful reflections of God’s love of all time was written by Isaac
Watts:</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 18pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“When I survey the wondrous cross</span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></i><br />
<div style="line-height: 18pt; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">On which the Prince of glory died,</span></span></i></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></i>
<br />
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 18pt; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">My richest gain I count but loss,</span></i></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; line-height: 18pt;"></span></span></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; line-height: 18pt;"><i style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">And pour contempt on all my pride.</span></i></span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; line-height: 18pt;">
</span>
</span></i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; line-height: 18pt;"></span></span></i>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; line-height: 18pt;"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 18pt;">Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,</span></i></span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; line-height: 18pt;">
</span>
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; line-height: 18pt;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 18pt;">Save in the death of Christ my God;</span></i></div>
</span>
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; line-height: 18pt;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 18pt;">All the vain things that charm me most--</span></i></div>
</span>
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; line-height: 18pt;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 18pt;">I sacrifice them to His blood.</span></i></div>
</span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; line-height: 18pt;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 18pt;">See, from His head, His hands, His feet,</span></i></div>
</span>
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; line-height: 18pt;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 18pt;">Sorrow and love flow mingled down;</span></i></div>
</span>
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; line-height: 18pt;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 18pt;">Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,</span></i></div>
</span>
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; line-height: 18pt;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 18pt;">Or thorns compose so rich a crown?</span></i></div>
</span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; line-height: 18pt;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 18pt;">Were the whole realm of nature mine,</span></i></div>
</span>
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; line-height: 18pt;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 18pt;">That were a present far too small:</span></i></div>
</span>
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; line-height: 18pt;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 18pt;">Love so amazing, so Divine,</span></i></div>
</span>
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; line-height: 18pt;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 18pt;">Demands my soul, my life, my all.”</span></i></div>
<o:p></o:p></span></span></i><br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: #333333;"><br />
</span></i><b>Response: </b><i>Jesus,
Your love is more than we could ever fathom.
Please let it fill our hearts and fill our minds until there is nothing
left besides You. Our souls, our lives,
our all. Yours.</i></span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489824745842288730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105951059737241925.post-29468077168159814952015-03-10T04:20:00.000+05:302015-03-10T04:34:43.469+05:30When we've got nuthin'.........We had just finished a long trail on our bikes. The hardiest of the group were biking up a mountain just then, but I stayed behind to sit under a tree. <br />
<br />
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<br />
Sometimes I laugh at myself because if I weren't a follower of Jesus I'd probably be sort of New Age or of the tree hugger camp. Creation really resonates with me, but I know that when I let Creation whisper to my soul that I'm really communing with Him. <br />
<br />
I looked at the lacy leaves of THIS year but leaned back against the trunk and felt wind vibrations in something that had weathered many years of storms. The past, the present. It spoke to me of consistency. This tree was a bringer of shade, a source of beauty, a place for birds to nest for years and years. Constant. <br />
<br />
How much more constant is our King.<br />
<br />
The guesthouse was a former nunnery, so I bet that I was not the first Seeker to sit under this tree. Not the first to commune with the Maker under its branches. Not the first to lean against its trunk and find peace.<br />
<br />
Consistency.<br />
His care, constant.<br />
His love, constant.<br />
His faithfulness, constant.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>"And he said, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Ex. 33:14</i></b></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
Even before we reached home, turmoil. The pain of someone that I dearly love's world folding into mine. I took comfort in the reminder that He is constant and that nothing had changed, but how did I get that from my brain back into my heart as well? </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
His constancy is a steady, sturdy cord through the ages there for us to grasp. It is the brawny bond that catches us when we fail, that holds us and comforts us when all else fails. It is the gentle silken strand that wraps is in an embrace and brings peace when there should be none.......................................................................</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
I wrote the above weeks ago but my keyboard's been silent since. Putting sentences together has been hard, but the message above has carried me through. Mid-life health issues exhausted but HE is constant. There are periods of time where the trials seem greater than the joys, but HE never changes. <br />
<br />
On Sunday our pastor had everyone consider the multitudes like Jesus did and write down what we have to offer. What God-given talents, abilities, resources, etc, were we willing to be generous with on behalf of others? <br />
<br />
A great exercise to help us think outside the box and think about giving, but right now I feel like all I have to give is Jesus and His love. That's it. But that's actually not a bad place to be because His "power works best in weakness" and 'when I am weak, He is strong." (2 Cor. 12: 9-11)<br />
<br />
And HE is constant.<br />
<br />
The times where we were able to most grasp His love------His love is STILL the same, unchanged.<br />
When the peace that passes understanding eludes us------the unending Source is still there. <br />
When we think we're being utterly faithless------HE is still constant, every second of every day.<br />
When we feel like what we do determines who we are------HIS value of us never fluctuates.<br />
<br />
As for today, I still got nuthin'. Not much to say, not much to give and I'm terribly inconsistent. <br />
<br />
But that's OK in this season because I abide 'in Him' and HE is constant. And if you are in that place with me right now, that place of hiatus, remember that you are still totally, absolutely and 100% completely loved, too.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="font-weight: bold;">"Abide in my love." </i>(John 15:9)</div>
</div>
</div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489824745842288730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105951059737241925.post-14921927423612853662015-01-06T05:39:00.001+05:302015-01-06T05:39:40.757+05:30New day, every day......It started Christmas Day, this unsettled feeling of something just not quite right and I ignored it as best as I could. But it was still there a week later while my Bible lay collecting dust on my nightstand, a sure sign of running from something. <br />
<br />
Backtracking, thinking, praying. Ah ha. It started with a photo. A photo on Facebook of a family I love more than most having their Christmas in my old Indian living room without us (Golly, it was tiny. How did we ever fit in all the people that we did?). I miss them, I miss that time, I miss that home. I miss the feeling of purpose and the shared up's and down's. I miss.<br />
<br />
But the miss quickly turned into 'devil static' in my head. That ol' grating whisper of "not enough." But I was never enough. It was all Him when living there worked well. If He was still giving us all the grace then we'd still be in the place. <br />
<br />
Why do we we listen to the static accusations of expectations that we were never meant to fulfill?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>"For the mind set on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace."</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> (Rom. 8:6)</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
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<br /></div>
One of the kids asked yesterday why people make New Year's resolutions. I answered that it's because people like a fresh start, a new slate, the chance to begin again, to leave the past behind and focus on the new.<br />
<br />
Why do we forget that every minute is new? Take a breath, start again this minute and the next. Forget what lies behind. Focus on what's ahead. Freedom.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>"But one thing I do; forgetting what lies behind and straining FORWARD to what lies ahead...I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." </i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Phil. 3:13-14)<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Each second is a fresh start. As I read Ann Voskamp recently, "Fall forward." Fall forward for His arms to catch you. Fall forward into that new start today. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
A letter from a friend. She reminded me that I am the 'apple of His eye.' That He loves me entirely, completely, and I'm in the palm of His hand. How easily we forget. How easily we get clouded in thinking that what we DO is who we are when who we ARE is simply us and Him. Basics.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Time to take a walk and see His creation. Time to breathe Him in. Time to silence the 'devil static' bringing guilt and unrest and recognize it for what it is. Time to pick up that dusty Bible and let it wash like streams of living water. In the simple yet powerful vernacular of the Newsboys:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Back and forth like a daytime drama</i></div>
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<i>Up and down like a yo-yo mama</i></div>
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<i>Say there's gonna be days like this </i></div>
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<i>'Cause light and dark don't coexist</i></div>
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<i>How you gonna see through the fog?</i></div>
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<i>How you gonna get back on course?</i></div>
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<i>You ain't never gonna feel the force</i></div>
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<i>If you don't connect to the power source</i></div>
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The source. Our only place of real power to fuel our lives. </div>
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<b><i>"He will tend his flock like a shepherd;</i></b></div>
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<b><i>he will gather the lambs in his arms;</i></b></div>
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<b><i>he will carry them in his bosom,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>and gently lead those that are with young.</i></b></div>
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Is. 40:11</div>
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Gentle Source of all power, fill our lives today.</div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489824745842288730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105951059737241925.post-503896937031438202014-12-10T06:13:00.001+05:302014-12-11T00:58:29.587+05:30Like unexpected spider webs.......Ai ya! Wei lei! Uuff baba! Phrases in general usage like 'Oh my goodness!' that have come second nature during parts of my life in different places. Things you say when something completely takes you by surprise.<br />
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Once a day I go to the mail box, gather advertisement circulars, pick up rubbish that's floated into the yard and head to our rubbish and recycle bins. As I walk through the open doorway under my front porch, pffftttt, I walk through a spider's web. <br />
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I haven't seen this spider yet, my son Aaron tells me that I don't really want to (!), but it sure is a persistent creature. Every day I destroy part of it's web and do a frantic dance of spitting and wiping my hands through my hair, and every day it rebuilds. And every day I keep looking down at my hands preoccupied and forget that it's there.</div>
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Last week I spent a delightful few hours with a visiting friend and former co-worker. She caught me up on all the happenings of mutual friends around the freedom business in Kolkata where we used to share our daily lives together. The conversation became more personal and we talked about how important it is to process the things that hurt us while living there. Things like incredible pain that others experience through being sold into the sex trade and all that follows which, while nothing like theirs, becomes second-hand pain to us when we hear about it, live around it, and love the people in it.<br />
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We talked about what it's like to be a woman in that environment. How we tended to try to brush off our own more minor then theirs experiences of molestation and harassment because it's 'normal' there and that's what you tend to do just to cope. But how ignoring our own pain wasn't healthy for us in the long run.<br />
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Uuff baba. Unexpected spider's web in the face. I was surprised how my gut still physically clenched in the present as my mind went back there. Yet for the next couple of days I felt compelled to wear my Indian coin earrings just to have them near me because of the love that I have for the place as well. Profound love and intense pain intertwined, uncomfortable to say the least.<br />
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But to avoid the pain also means that we don't feel the love. Numbing one also numbs the other. We often need to go where we don't want to in our hearts so we can let healing take place. And to let love remain.<br />
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If you're reading this you may be thinking, "Golly, I've never been sexually harassed living in a foreign red light district," and discount your own pain, whatever that may be, as well. Don't.<br />
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What's important isn't what's caused pain, but what we do with it when, wei lei, it catches us by surprise once again. Do we retreat? Do we insulate? Or do we make ourselves go where we really would like to retreat from in our hearts? Do we allow Light and Truth to shine into our darkness to let healing begin?<br />
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I read a beautiful verse of hope the other day: <br />
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">"For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart." </i>(Ecclesiastes 5:20)</div>
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Oh, to live like that! So focused on him that the world around 'grows strangely dim." Where we're 'occupied with joy.' Where we've let His light permeate the darkness of our journey so only the love remains. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: Anita van der Mespel</td></tr>
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Here's the start, <i style="font-weight: bold;">"Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God." </i>(Ps. 31:5) Our spirit, the very essence of who we are. The eternal part of us, committed into His care, the One who is faithful. <i style="font-weight: bold;">"My times are in your hand." </i>(Ps. 31:14)</div>
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It's real. It's possible. It's a life-long journey of learning to trust. Of subconsciously taking the reins back over and over, but through practice leaving them ever more firmly in His hands. </div>
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So today, "Out in the same old life you go today as ever, but down underneath you can be nourished, by the everlasting streams of God." (L.B. Cowman)</div>
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And when, ai ya, we're surprised by that web that brings pain yet again, we can remember that He is the God that can make, <i style="font-weight: bold;">"the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy." </i>And in this Advent season we can especially remember that the Father sent His son into just such a world as this to experience pain, and loss, and despair-----so that LOVE would remain. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: Heidi Cook</td></tr>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489824745842288730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105951059737241925.post-30897930026623596982014-11-21T05:53:00.000+05:302014-11-21T05:53:01.784+05:30Bearing His Image....I noticed some new lines on my face recently as I look slack-faced into the mirror. They're by my mouth and I'm certain weren't there a couple of years ago. I've had my fair share of towards-middle-aged body angst in the past few years and I think I've come out the other side. It's OK to look in the mirror and see this. But still it's strange to see changes, to not quite recognize your own face.<br />
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I wondered why these particular lines and moved my face around a bit. What I discovered surprised me! They're not worry lines, frown lines, lines of discontent. They're lines put there by lots and lots of SMILES. </div>
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People tell me that I tend to smile a lot, but living inside my own skin the past ten years there were lots of days I sure didn't feel like it. I feel a bit like I've compounded what was a relatively easy life until that point and had most of a lifetime of experiences since. It's been exhausting at times.</div>
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So to look at my face and see smiles lines was a huge testimony to my own heart. A testimony of the faithfulness of my Father and to HIS joy that just doesn't make sense--but is authentic all the same. <br />
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We all have those times where we feel like we're choking on dust, unable to breathe. Dust of trials, troubles, despair. Days of feeling like we just can't take any more. Days when we're tired of witnessing pain. Days when we feel bloody and flayed. Days when our own image surprises us because we look so normal, because it's just not a reflection at all of how we feel inside. </div>
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I Corinthians 15:49 says, <b><i>"Just as we have born the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven." </i></b></div>
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Hope! The breath of heaven is coming. Strength in our bones, joy in our hearts, no more decay. Come, Lord Jesus. </div>
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<b><i>"Earth has no sorrow that heaven can't heal......"</i></b></div>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>~David Crowder</div>
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One day we'll never breathe dust again. Until then we still have a hope, a compass, a focus. We can 'fix our eyes' on Him. (Heb. 12:2) In fact, that's the only security that will last! </div>
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I saw one of those articles about how amazingly big the universe is yesterday. Really blew my mind once again! (<a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/the-universe-is-scary">The Universe is Scary</a>) It's hard to imagine anything so gigantic while we are so absolutely insignificantly small. And yet the Creator is unfathomably bigger still. (Ahhh, breathe in a bit of that Heavenly air.)</div>
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<b><i>"May this be our prayer, "I do not want to turn my eyes from you, O God. There I want them to stay and not move no matter what happens to me, within and without."</i></b></div>
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~Saint Catherine of Genoa</div>
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Focused unwavering because, <i style="font-weight: bold;">"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." </i>(Is. 26:3) <i style="font-weight: bold;">"The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts." </i>(Ps. 28:7) <i style="font-weight: bold;">"The Lord sits enthroned over the flood." </i>(Ps. 29:10) </div>
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So we can bring Him our dusty hearts today just exactly as we are. We can be filled with His incomprehensible joy. We can be blessed by His acceptance and embrace His peace even if we never understand it this side of Heaven. <br />
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We can began to 'bear His image' more and more now and live a life that is nothing short of a miracle.<br />
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Here's a song that will surely help us on the way today!!! You'll want to heart this: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjgioXrnEME">Come As You Are</a><br />
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489824745842288730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105951059737241925.post-45897940305611855932014-11-12T06:26:00.000+05:302014-11-12T06:35:41.702+05:30The God of Glory, Our Friend<div>
<i>Not really an article but a reflection to be read slowly and thoughtfully considered:</i></div>
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Sometimes life seems like we're going from one battle to the next. Trials happen, hurt and sorrow happen. It's easy to be consumed with the present.<br />
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But vision only comes when we take a step back, when we focus less myopically on the trials of today. When we see the road already traveled and the victories along the way that bring encouragement. And that helps us remember WHO He is.</div>
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<b><i>"And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together." </i></b></div>
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-I Col. 1:17</div>
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God brings order. He is the glue, the One who brings rhythm, the conductor. Before all, in all, through all. He is. He is the I AM. He is the One who has already won not only the battle---but the war. And this is what He says:</div>
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<i><b>"The Lord will fight for you, and you only have to be silent </b>(</i>some translations<i> <b>'be still'</b>)<b>."</b></i></div>
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-Exodus 14:14</div>
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"But, God,.....?" "Be silent, my child. Be silent and trust me. Be still and know that I AM."</div>
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"Ahhh, right, God, I forgot that for a moment." Or a few days, a month, whatever. <i style="font-weight: bold;">"When my heart is faint (overwhelmed). Lead me to the rock that is higher than I." </i>(Ps. 61:2)</div>
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He is our Father, our Victor, our Champion. And amazingly He is our friend.</div>
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<b><i>"No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you." </i></b></div>
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-John 15:15</div>
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Friends with GOD. </div>
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Selah.</div>
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Don't feel like He's there today? Listen a bit more closely. Shut out the noise, take time to contemplate and LISTEN. </div>
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<b><i>"Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord..."</i></b></div>
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-Jer. 29: 12-14</div>
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It's often not an instant fix, it's a process, but His Presence is worth it. How much value do we place on that?</div>
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<b><i>"But He will not reveal Himself openly and communicate His glories and bestow His treasures save on those who He knows greatly desire Him, for these are His true friends."</i></b></div>
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-Teresa of Avila</div>
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Our side of the friendship: seeking Him. Showing Him that we want Him, need Him, care. And ultimately blessing us far more in return.</div>
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The God of Glory, our friend. </div>
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Pause and reflect.</div>
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A wee smile before you go!</div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489824745842288730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105951059737241925.post-7221354742653166632014-10-27T08:39:00.001+05:302014-10-27T09:08:16.950+05:30The very best love song......I have the most amazing sea view out my window. And that's something pretty special for someone who grew up in the middle of the USA and remembers seeing the ocean for the first time at age 19. People in New Zealand just can't believe that, but it's true!<br />
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The sea gives me perspective. It speaks of something ancient and timeless. It reminds me of power greater than my own and that there are things much bigger than me. It brings me peace.</div>
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But I think I just looked, really looked at the ocean the other day for the first time in a while. There are fruit trees distracting me by blooming in my backyard. Lovely, lacy things that attract my eyes. I love the colors, the freshness, the life. They make me smile.</div>
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Now the fruit trees aren't bad, but it's the sea that brings me peace. And I've been forgetting from my second story window to stop just looking down but to look past and UP. God's been singing His particular love song the way that I best hear it the whole time, but I haven't been paying attention. I've been distracted by the immediate and have forgotten to look at the timeless.</div>
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The Timeless One reminds us, </div>
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<b><i>"Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? </i></b></div>
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<b><i>He who brings out their host by number,</i></b></div>
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<b><i> calling them all by name, </i></b></div>
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<b><i>by the greatness of his might, </i></b></div>
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<b><i>and because he is strong in power no one is missing."</i></b></div>
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Is. 40:25-26</div>
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He knows us by name. 'No one is missing.'<br />
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I wrote this verse down recently,</div>
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<b><i>"I am my beloved's, </i></b><b><i>and his desire is for me."</i></b><br />
Song of Sol. 7:10<br />
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There He goes again singing us a love song. The Song of Songs is a beautiful example of marital love but widely accepted also as an example of a song of love from our Creator to us. So imagine, the God of the Universe's desire is for YOU! He loves you. He wants to fellowship with you. </div>
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"His desire is for me."</div>
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The first time I got asked out by a boy I was far too young to date, but he called me at home and asked to meet at a roller skating rink. Sound cute? It wasn't at the time. It was a boy that I had absolutely no interest in, and it made the immature me recoil (poor guy!). I got off that phone as fast as I could! I've matured a bit since then, but for the idea of someone's desire to be for us to be something more than passing flattery, it needs to be reciprocated on our side as well. </div>
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For God's desire to be for us to matter much, He needs to be our 'beloved.' The object of our affection, dear to our heart. Then the doorway is opened for the most beautiful of all love songs to be sung by the One! Otherwise the song is merely somewhat flattering. Or worthless.</div>
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To hear His song better we must silence the other voices in our ears, voices that cry out, "Worthless! Damaged! Despicable!" or even, "I don't need Him. I can do it myself." All lies that block the purity of the song.</div>
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We need to do what it takes to stop and hear His love song today, silence the voices or the white noise that makes it hard to hear. Tune our ears to hear the song. It doesn't matter if we haven't done this well for a while. Today, right now, we can start anew. In THIS moment. In THIS place. We can experience His Presence and find His peace. Breathe in, breathe out.<br />
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It's the love song that will never change, never grow old, never end. When He says, "I would die for you," He already did. </div>
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"I am my beloved's and his desire is for me." Let the song play loud!</div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489824745842288730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105951059737241925.post-14095237844221669412014-10-12T06:40:00.001+05:302014-10-12T12:56:25.104+05:30Ripples of faith.....Peter saw a figure walking across the water and was afraid. Yep, I think that would make my heart beat a wee bit faster, too! When he realized it was Jesus, however, he became super-charged. He asked Jesus that if it was really him for him to call him. "Come!" Jesus said. (Matt. 14: 22-31) And Peter didn't hesitate. He lept out of that boat.<br />
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Often when we see an amazing display of the power of God and are convinced that what's in front of us is part of what He's doing, it can be easy to leap. Easy to say, "Yes!" and jump. Brave and certainly displaying a God-honoring level of faith, but not as difficult as later.<br />
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What's hard is when we see the wind and the waves. When we're out on the lake with nothing firm under our feet and at the mercy of the elements. We <i>thought </i>that that first jump was the test of our faith, but it wasn't. It's the walking after that shapes us. <br />
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I've lept before. I jumped on a plan when I was 19 and headed to Asia by myself at His call. I did it again at 25 with my three month old baby in my arms and moved to Fiji. I did it at 38 when I boarded a plan back to the USA which was nearly 'foreign' to me by then. And again at 41 moving to India with 4 kids in tow. Each time took a measure of faith but it was the AFTER that changed and shaped me. That taught me to truly trust when the rubber met the road.<br />
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When Peter saw the wind and waves and wavered, Jesus didn't condemn. He didn't berate, didn't let Peter fall. He 'immediately' reached out His hand and held Peter up. And gently asked him why he'd doubted. Something like, "Child, why did you worry? Why did you doubt? Did you forget that I am the One who told you to come? Don't you trust me? Do you doubt my power? Do you doubt my care for you?" <br />
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Recently I jumped again. My life-long love of jewelry as an art form crystallized with the realization that there are businesses providing employment for women at risk and for women trapped in the sex trade, and that representing them was underutilized in New Zealand. I knew that doing something as part of promoting them was right up my alley. I prayed. Ideas flooded my head------and I lept off the boat.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can find Holding Hope Collection on Facebook!</td></tr>
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But now, although leaping is familiar territory to me, I've looked at the waves a few times. I've sold jewelry as a job before LONG ago, but doubt my ability to do it now. I wonder if I'll have wasted my precious, limited start up funds? Can I really do this? What if my ideas dry up? What if I can't relay the passion for the project that I feel to others?<br />
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What if I'm a big, fat flop?<br />
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After Peter's fantastic leap of faith his mistake was that took his eyes off of Jesus. He looked at the wind and the waves. He must have thought, "WHAT in the world am I doing? This isn't possible! I can't do this! I'm gonna drown!" Until that hand 'immediately' reached for him and held him tight. Until that voice soothed away his fears and challenged him to trust. <br />
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And real faith kicked in. <br />
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It's not that Peter never doubted again, but he knew where his focus should be. The only other real documented time of doubt was right before Jesus was crucified and Peter didn't know where to look. But Jesus himself called Peter 'the rock,' a firm foundation of faith that carried Peter through martyrdom later with a whole lot of steps of faith in between. <br />
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Sometimes when the waves roll and winds blow and we're doing our best to keep our eyes on the face of Christ, we need to remember that the journey of faith is still one step at a time. Eyes on him, take a step. And another. And another. And like ripples in a pond our faith grows, one step at a time. <br />
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I've been wearing a visual reminder myself lately. It's a ring I got this week from someone who works in the Philippines focusing on education to prevent trafficking (I have one more if someone wants it!). In the middle of my own, "I can't believe that I jumped off the boat!" time it reminds me of the ripple effect. It's a visual of ripples from a pebble dropped and reminds me that small things become big things affecting and impacting beyond what we even know. <br />
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All we need to do is keep our eyes on Him and take that next little step before us, or drop our little pebble for Him and watch the ripples grow. So simple, yet so challenging and life changing as well. <br />
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And it allows us, like Peter defying physics through the power of God, to be part of a miracle!<br />
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489824745842288730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105951059737241925.post-71435169520916509702014-10-02T08:03:00.001+05:302014-10-02T14:27:58.004+05:30That elusive deep down trust......An old man lay restless and awake in the dark, dreading the morning light. But at the first peep of dawn, just light enough to see the trail, he arose and woke his son,"We're going to make a sacrifice."<br />
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The story of Abraham being asked to offer up his son Isaac never ceases to move me. Abraham's immediate obedience, his willingness to put God first over something and someone he'd waited his whole life for. It's a huge 'behind the scenes' story where there is so much left unsaid, but you can imagine.........! Every time I read it something new stands out. This morning it was the words, <i><b>"God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son."</b></i> (Gen. 22:8) I read it several times.<br />
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I have always thought of this as a distraction for Isaac. "Don't worry son, we'll pick up a lamb along the way," so Isaac didn't fret or figure out what was actually going on. But what if it was spurred on by a deep understanding that God somehow WOULD provide, because of the promise He had already made; that Isaac would be the father of countless many? That deep inside he just KNEW.<br />
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Abraham certainly didn't understand why, he didn't know how the day would turn out, but by that point in his life he had an unshakable faith in WHO God was, what He was capable of, and in the fact that even at the deepest point of testing, that God's provision can unquestionably be trusted. Even if it looks like we're being asked to give up something that's been our lifelong dream.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Karen Eland</td></tr>
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I'm far too often guilty of being among the group that says, "But God, you said (insert whatever)!" when something happens that I don't understand. Whining at God to remind Him of what He's already promised, grasping at what I <i>thought</i> would happen, questioning His sovereignty and without even thinking about it, doubting His character. <br />
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Trials, triumphs, victory, despair: things that shape us and build the foundations of who we are. And unfortunately you can't have the good without the difficult.<br />
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Psalm 11:3 says, <i style="font-weight: bold;">"if the foundation is destroyed, what can the righteous do?" </i>Trials and things that we don't understand<i> will</i> come. Our foundations <i>will</i> be rocked, they <i>will</i> need to resist erosion, they <i>will</i> be tested. The same psalm goes on to say, <i style="font-weight: bold;">"The Lord tests the righteous," </i>and <i style="font-weight: bold;">"The upright shall behold his face." </i>(vs. 5,7) Our foundation is Him. Nothing else will stand. God, in His mercy, tests those foundations for <i>our</i> sake, so our foundations will be firm and ultimately we will be ready to 'behold' him face to face.<br />
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I want to get to the point where my FIRST response is trust. Where I don't have to work through thoughts and emotions of, "But God?" but I doubt if I ever totally will. And maybe that's part of the plan. If we didn't have the doubt, then we wouldn't have the victory. I very much think that despite the example of faith that we see in Abraham in this story, that he had a rough night beforehand.<br />
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But far better the continued struggle than this:<br />
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<b><i>"You will indeed hear but never understand</i></b></div>
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<b><i>and you will indeed see but never perceive.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>For this people's heart has grown dull,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>and with their ears they can barely hear,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>and their eyes have closed,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>lest they should see with their eyes </i></b></div>
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<b><i>and hear with their ears</i></b></div>
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<b><i>and understand with their heart</i></b></div>
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<b><i>and turn, and I would heal them." </i></b></div>
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(Matt. 13:15-17)</div>
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I hear God's anguish in the 'lest.' If only, my child. If only, I would heal you. If only.</div>
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We will be tested, but it's for our benefit. There will be trials, temptations, even deaths of our dreams; but if not we would never know that there is a 'ram', a provision, a way of escape, a future plan. We would never truly see Him, hear Him, understand Him, know that the victory is really His, see His face and receive the healing.</div>
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And trust, like Abraham, that no matter how things may look at the moment, that God will provide.</div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489824745842288730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105951059737241925.post-77069496494997663042014-09-21T06:46:00.000+05:302014-09-21T09:17:03.996+05:30The myth of hiding.......<div style="text-align: left;">
I had oral surgery this week. There are far worse things to endure, for sure, but this surprised me in the extent it's after effects. Can you say, 'Chipmunk?' Bruising and lots of pain killers. There was a bone graft involved so that's apparently where the worst of it was from.</div>
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But on the upside, the infected abscess that's apparently been there since a root canal in India 3 1/2 years ago is gone, nada, shesh, finished. I'm looking forward to seeing how that feels!</div>
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It's a painful experience to endure but wonderful in the aftermath when sin is cut out of our lives as well.</div>
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I've been reading Genesis this week. It's such a book of mystery with many unexplained things that I'm going to chat to God about one day. Something that hit me this week was noticing that when people lived 600-900 years that they didn't have kids until they were at least 80. I wonder if that means that they actually matured more slowly? Does that mean the teen years lasted for 50? I digress (painkillers talking?)...........!</div>
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When Adam and Eve sinned this is what they did, they, <span style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">"....hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God." </i>(Gen. 3:8) They hid from the One that gave them life and breath. They hid in shame.</span></div>
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We still do today. We may not go out and commit murder, but sometimes we eat of the fruit of a little white lie. Sometimes we munch on a little worry and anxiety, let the juice of discontent and disappointment dribble down our chin, take another bite of unforgiveness and before we know it bitterness fills our stomachs.</div>
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And then, at least for a time, we can try to close ourselves off from God.</div>
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Why do we still hide when the way has been paved by Jesus? God through His Word sings us an eternal song of love. His forgiveness is sure, He mercies never end. He's constantly reaching out to restore. We're the ones that try to hide. </div>
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But:</div>
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<b><i>"Where shall I go from your Spirit?</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Or where shall I flee from your presence?</i></b></div>
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<b><i>If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!</i></b></div>
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<b><i>If I take the wings of the morning</i></b></div>
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<b><i>and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>even there your hand shall lead me, </i></b></div>
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<b><i>and your right hand shall hold me.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>and the light about me be night,"</i></b></div>
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<b><i>even the darkness is not dark to you;</i></b></div>
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<b><i>the night is bright as the day,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>for darkness is as light with you."</i></b></div>
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<i> Ps. 139: 7-12</i></div>
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Even when we feel like our bed is in Hell itself, He's there. When things seem the very blackest night, He is the Light. </div>
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Last year during a particularly dark time in my life something strange kept happening that's never happened before or since. For a period of a couple of weeks at random times I keep smelling the most delicious smell. The closest thing I can compare it to was something even better than the Frangipani flower. One time I smelled it floating through the house, one time in the parking garage under my supermarket, one time sitting on a beach. And with the few minutes that the smell lasted came an intense sense of His presence and peace. A gift and a reminder.</div>
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Why on earth would we ever want to leave His presence? </div>
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<b><i>"But as for me, I will look to the Lord;</i></b></div>
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<b><i>I will wait for the God of my salvation;</i></b></div>
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<b><i>my God will hear me."</i></b></div>
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<i> Micah 7:7</i></div>
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We can cry out! We don't need to hide. He will hear. Sometimes we may hide because we don't want to hear what He has to say. But NOTHING is worth the lack of His presence.</div>
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I'm currently reading an ESV Bible for the first time and loving it, but written just inside the cover I wrote this verse that I love in the NLT.</div>
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<b><i>"My heart has heard you say,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>'Come and talk with me.'</i></b></div>
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<b><i>And my heart responds, 'Lord, </i></b></div>
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<b><i>I am coming.'"</i></b></div>
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<i> Ps. 27:8</i></div>
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Why would we ever hide today? He's calling.</div>
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Let's come.</div>
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<i><b>I've been working on a project that I'm really excited about! If you're on Facebook you can see it here: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/holdinghopecollection">Holding Hope Collection</a> Website to come soon.</b></i></div>
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<i><b>I've been longing for something I can do to still be involved 'over there' in Asia and the developing world while living in New Zealand. I've loved jewelry since I worked for an artisan jeweler in the USA before Hannah was born, and I also deeply love woman in poverty and at risk. Holding Hope Collection allows two of my passions to work together by gathering jewelry from social enterprises assisting women and promoting it in New Zealand. </b></i></div>
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<i><b>The first shipment arrives tomorrow!</b></i></div>
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<b>*I was honored to write for a couple of weeks for a blog designed to encourage the FS staff in India that's running currently. The first post is <a href="http://freesetdailyprayer.blogspot.co.nz/2014/09/monday-september-15th.html">HERE</a>*</b></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489824745842288730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105951059737241925.post-11790185575724636102014-09-13T04:51:00.001+05:302014-09-15T02:18:22.809+05:30Breath of life.....<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>"For the Spirit of God has made me, </i></b></div>
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<b><i>and the breath of the Almighty gives me life."</i></b></div>
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<i> Job 33:4</i></div>
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Breathe in, breathe out. Life. Given by the Almighty. All around us, flowing through us. In our bloodstream, in our lungs.</div>
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Feel like you're drowning today? Breathe Him in.</div>
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Full of anxiety and stress? Breathe it out so that only His air remains.</div>
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Questioning your worth? Breathe Him in and find identity.</div>
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Overwhelmed by pain around you? Breathe out His life-giving air into the world.</div>
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Feel empty and tired? Breathe Him in.</div>
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Feel inadequate? Remember that HIS breath,not your own ability, is the Source of life.</div>
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Breathe in that Life and find strength.</div>
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Breathe in and out and find peace.</div>
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Be joyful because His life is in YOU.</div>
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Every breath we take.....Him.</div>
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Let His breath like air fill all the cracks and crevices.*</div>
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<b><i>"For the Lord is the Spirit,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."</i></b></div>
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<i> 2 Cor. 3:17</i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring is coming to NZ! All photos on my phone just down the road from our house this week.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9330WYe88mP74P19cE_2G1R_lXh6eLSIU7bUclkCaX5K57ozsPSlLjW7wyFj02rraI6DQPQjt89OX0Z_az_yef4aFyjR2hgkM7-8cgUK5WOrrODeBvzt31BQxf2ps05q4LlMZDBEmputG/s1600/daffidills+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9330WYe88mP74P19cE_2G1R_lXh6eLSIU7bUclkCaX5K57ozsPSlLjW7wyFj02rraI6DQPQjt89OX0Z_az_yef4aFyjR2hgkM7-8cgUK5WOrrODeBvzt31BQxf2ps05q4LlMZDBEmputG/s1600/daffidills+2.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><i>*I didn't blog last week and short this week because I've been working on a couple of weeks of this: <a href="http://www.freesetdailyprayer.blogspot.com/">FS Daily Prayer Blog</a> </i></b></div>
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<b><i>Mine published starting on the 15th.</i></b></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489824745842288730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105951059737241925.post-3424828299357715502014-08-27T03:14:00.003+05:302014-08-27T03:39:06.522+05:30Call from across the waves.....Storms. Sometimes they seem pretty constant. Right now I'm between big waves in a moment of relative peace in the storms of my own life. Lovely. <br />
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But storms are a vital part of the journey. As Corrie ten Boom said, <i>"In order to realize the worth of the anchor we need to feel the stress of the storm."</i> Sometimes they're also a big reveal in showing us what we're actually holding on to as our personal anchor........<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This photo and the next what Sybille Stahlberg saw outside her window in Germany this week.</td></tr>
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The song I can't get out of my head lately says,<i> "And I will call upon Your name, and keep my eyes above the waves."</i> (Oceans, Hillsong United) Peter jumped out of the boat and walked on the water as long as he kept his eyes 'above the waves' and on Jesus. (Matt. 14:28-31)<br />
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What is our anchor and where do we have our eyes focused today?<br />
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My son recently turned 16. He was soooo excited to go for his Learners license before he was 16, but now that he is he's taking his time. And that's fine by me! We'll just let him do that when he's good and ready. As part of the process we'll teach him one of the first rules of driving well; not to put his focus on what's directly in front of him, but to keep his eyes on what's ahead. Or to look at where you're going, not where you are currently at.<br />
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We can keep our eyes focused on Jesus because we've looked ahead and know what's coming: the end of life's storms and our destination of Heaven with Him. We also need to remember exactly Who it is that we're fixing our eyes on.<br />
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Who He was:<br />
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">You have not come to a physical mountain, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai. For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking. They staggered back under God's command: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death." Moses himself was so frightened that he said, "I am terrified and trembling." "</i>(Heb. 12:18-21)</div>
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Who He is:</div>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">"No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. You have come to the assembly of God's firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel." </i>(vs.22-24)</div>
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Who He always will be:</div>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">"Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire." </i>(vs.28-29)</div>
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<b>"Our God is a devouring fire."</b> Selah. Oh yeah, definitely time to pause and reflect.</div>
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When the storms of life rage all around us, when the world that we live in continues to fall apart, we need to listen to the gentle voice that calls to us from across the waves,<i><b> "Peter, suddenly bold, said, “Master, if it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come ahead.” "</b></i> (Matt. 14:28-30 MSG)<br />
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Peter didn't hesitate. He knew Who Jesus was and that He could be trusted. He didn't hope that Jesus would call on someone else. He, like that kid in school who always knew the answers, waved his hand up high and said, "Pick me, pick me!"</div>
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We need to remember Who He is. We need to remember Whom we serve. We need to respond to His call based on Who He is not on our own strength and ability. We need to fix our eyes on Him and remember that when He calls us, "Come!" from across the waves that it's not a duty or a burden------it's a PRIVILEGE. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What my friend and neighbor Lexi Waterhouse looked out the window into her paddock and saw this week!</td></tr>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489824745842288730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105951059737241925.post-74144434124621284882014-08-20T05:56:00.000+05:302014-08-20T06:32:05.130+05:30Avoiding Destruction......<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-style: italic;">"Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall." </b>-Prov. 16:18</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Words that I have certainly come to believe. You know that person that walks into lamp posts and stubs their toe on door frames? Who can somehow fall off of shoes that don't even have heels in public and spills from their drinking cup down their front at least a couple of times per week? Yeah, I'm that person. It certainly helps keep one humble........</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My kids love stories that involve me and this sort of thing. Where my mind is somewhere else when it should be focused on basic motor skills. </span></span><br />
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Just walking around was more challenging when we lived in India with uneven pavement and steps of inconsistent height. The Metro subway in Kolkata has never flooded even after forty years of torrential monsoons because of cleverly built steps up before you descend. </div>
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One day my daughter and I were headed home loaded down with food shopping bags and I wasn't paying enough attention to my feet. Yep, I managed to fall UP the steps, arms flailing and bags flying. In a society where it's normally inappropriate for men to touch women in public, all formality is thrown out the window when there is fear that someone is hurt. The nearby security guards yelled and grabbed. They anxiously wouldn't let go until I demonstrated, with the kind of yanking assistance that would have paralyzed me had I truly been injured, that all of my limbs did in fact still work properly. Then they chattered somewhat accusingly at my clumsiness as I gathered my bags and slunk away.</div>
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Yeah, I've always had reason in my world to avoid pride. Because I'm too good at falling.<br />
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Recently, I've had the opportunity to use some of my natural gifts again that have lain dormant for a long time. There's something deeply satisfying about glorifying God through the very way that He's made us. Very much a deep soul satisfaction of <a href="http://poundspilgrimage.blogspot.co.nz/2014/01/appreciating-giver.html">offering back to Him</a> what He gave us.<br />
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I so admire those quiet saints who serve faithfully for years, those 'behind the scenes' people who don't ask for any sort of glory. It must be hard for them at times if no one notices. Some of my very best gifts, however, are things that do gain the notice and praise of others. And a few times lately I've found myself wondering if I've enjoyed compliments a bit too much.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08n-L3JQFxkZ8Iz4j99QYH8URo_nhB54begJgZt1VNfZHdAiWT9RrXk2iKFk9mstl9MiKhuDGM5070zUdnziy04-hJ20ASXtIMJKyK7nqLMXhWlIhn4PkpXKPZMbcD0LIWQEAMOLcFXZZ/s1600/35194_1372764162397_3129079_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08n-L3JQFxkZ8Iz4j99QYH8URo_nhB54begJgZt1VNfZHdAiWT9RrXk2iKFk9mstl9MiKhuDGM5070zUdnziy04-hJ20ASXtIMJKyK7nqLMXhWlIhn4PkpXKPZMbcD0LIWQEAMOLcFXZZ/s1600/35194_1372764162397_3129079_n.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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Pride. It's a tricky issue to circumnavigate. It's a fine line between enjoying being part of what God is doing through the way that He's made you---and just feeling good about yourself. And how do you know the difference?<br />
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So many things in life make us keep short accounts with God. To cry out often,<span style="background-color: white;"> "</span><span style="color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><i>Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me</i>.</b>" (Ps. 51:10)</span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff;"> Pride is definitely one of those. Imagine the multitude of troubles around the world that would suddenly cease if selfish pride just died! Certainly the root of all kinds of evil.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">"There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, "Thy will be done, and those to who God says, 'All right, then, have it your way.'" -</i>C.S. Lewis</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">My way usually ends up walking into a lamppost in front of someone that I admire or completely forgetting a piano piece that I'd memorized and practiced for months in a public </span></span><span style="line-height: 20px;">recital</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"> (True stories!).</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">I actually value those little lessons in pride because it's sure better to fail now and then and remember to choose His good, perfect, and so-much-better-than-my-own will than to walk away. (However, you can be sure that I won't be running for public office where I would constantly be in the public eye any time soon!) </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">And in those times when despite our best intentions we think we might be </span></span><span style="line-height: 20px;">erring</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"> on the side of our own pride? Well our Father is amazingly just a repentant thought away. You can be sure He, who knows what's truly best for us, wants to help us fine tune our hearts so we can walk more in step with Him. </span></span></span></span></div>
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As we repent we need to remember, "<i style="font-weight: bold;">To be repentant means to be committed to doing whatever is necessary to keep from falling back into sin......Genuine repentance is utterly vulnerable." </i>(Randy Alcorn) </div>
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Yep, kind of the opposite of pride.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRrFmbv-Q0OZ7IRIfSJXXCc0Im-hJgf7h014DjmRbwvJdKg-uh_tTlRnlySfeUjr2s_GSv0hUtR4Zom2BF0dW6hiiRpbo2t5_ZADgOyy1JyPx0i6GOHxbfIfsBtAfRptWhjFB9-DWN7ro-/s1600/10603483_10202545754308345_2307914634316570778_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRrFmbv-Q0OZ7IRIfSJXXCc0Im-hJgf7h014DjmRbwvJdKg-uh_tTlRnlySfeUjr2s_GSv0hUtR4Zom2BF0dW6hiiRpbo2t5_ZADgOyy1JyPx0i6GOHxbfIfsBtAfRptWhjFB9-DWN7ro-/s1600/10603483_10202545754308345_2307914634316570778_n.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All photos today by Sybille Stahlberg<br />
This one is now the screen saver on my laptop because it makes me smile.</td></tr>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489824745842288730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105951059737241925.post-74170323834743316772014-08-14T10:13:00.000+05:302014-08-15T06:10:54.980+05:30Pricking our hearts.......I've struggled with writing this week. There's something I started last week that I can't quite finish mostly because it doesn't seem the right time to post something introspective. There's just too much going on in the world at large this week. In reality there is always suffering, but the last couple of weeks through social media it's been especially in our faces. <br />
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There's an interesting power in social media because in the past if we didn't want to know we could just turn off the newscast or put down the newspaper. Now, however, we see things just connecting with family and friends. I usually appreciate this because as I'm settling down for now in a first world nation, I don't want to forget what I've learned and how to globally love. The world is smaller than we think and we ARE responsible to care and to respond beyond our own comfort zones.</div>
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<b>"You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know." </b></div>
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-William Wilberforce</div>
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But this week I'm not liking the empathy I feel with developing nation faces, with the suffering of real live people who dress differently and may look a bit different than I do. I've had friends like them, ate with them, held their children.......<br />
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There's a photo on my Facebook feed of dead children and smiling militants that makes me feel like I've been punched in the gut. Every time I see it. I'm sure it would/does you, too.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEici0xtttV6vgNI04VqcA4QnEzQfd5Jxqn_6_tGwHNk0vW3LBfk3tuMLufcGzC7W7qgqIDpIBpiR1Tw4Phjr4Hxm3dz3FVbiGtWjEP4ddMHi-Df7H53-ok2AoZoLC32b_kMtdIIBqEXD_Tj/s1600/10593055_825835817440005_3884918859273371419_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEici0xtttV6vgNI04VqcA4QnEzQfd5Jxqn_6_tGwHNk0vW3LBfk3tuMLufcGzC7W7qgqIDpIBpiR1Tw4Phjr4Hxm3dz3FVbiGtWjEP4ddMHi-Df7H53-ok2AoZoLC32b_kMtdIIBqEXD_Tj/s1600/10593055_825835817440005_3884918859273371419_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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In my first year of overseas life I was based in Hong Kong and had just spent a couple of months in China when Tiananmen Square hit the news. It was the first time for me where events in far off places had a face. Most of my English interaction in China had been on 'English corners' where students went to practice their skills. And then real people just like them were being killed. For the first time, current events brought real, human faces to mind. And I wept.</div>
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Yesterday the world reacted to the death of Robin Williams. A man who made us laugh and who more importantly let us hear the laughter of our children. Because of that we feel like on some level that we knew him and can't believe that a true genius of wit would become low enough to end his own life. And perhaps during a week of terrible news stories we're especially grateful for the lifetime of laughter he gave us.</div>
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Some of the social media reaction I saw was along the line of 'let's stop making a fuss over someone just because he's famous and get back to remembering those who have no voice.' Part of me agrees, but the life of one man is precious---and no less so just because he's famous. Maybe others with depression won't go unnoticed because someone near them is learning through the life and death of Robin. </div>
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And after all that's what real compassion is all about----the life of one. And then one. And one more.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89VWeJjxSppP5Ctx8dPD4kPC9Q7EdoXYuRa_t6FA8K6yuRrKTrk0j4t1pxcvGLywHtTyG2fOVUIBiS72GHFKIZJ5xKcRxWevAJ4oHD4mNXdlmGU7IzotC_WW32fYDvHsN8gV2wAI0gnkW/s1600/10570409_825836014106652_1695760579620057885_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89VWeJjxSppP5Ctx8dPD4kPC9Q7EdoXYuRa_t6FA8K6yuRrKTrk0j4t1pxcvGLywHtTyG2fOVUIBiS72GHFKIZJ5xKcRxWevAJ4oHD4mNXdlmGU7IzotC_WW32fYDvHsN8gV2wAI0gnkW/s1600/10570409_825836014106652_1695760579620057885_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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A danger of our modern glut of instant news is something I've heard referred to as "knee jerk compassion." An emotional response to an event that pricks our hearts, makes us momentarily bleed and quickly respond (partly to make us feel better), but then quickly scabs over and we move on without it turning into something that evokes real compassion. </div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Let us not underestimate how hard it is to be compassionate.
Compassion is hard because it requires the inner disposition to go with others
to place where they are weak, vulnerable, lonely, and broken. But this is not
our spontaneous response to suffering. What we desire most is to do away with
suffering by fleeing from it or finding a quick cure for it.” <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">―Henri J.M. Nouwen</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Real compassion is not easy. But real compassion is the example we have in Christ. We need to let compassion become action and affect lives, one person at a time.</div>
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It's not easy letting the pain of others prick our hearts. </div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-style: italic;">I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."</b> (Jn.16:33) </span></span></div>
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There will always be sorrows here----but there will always be Him. And while pain may have it's way for a little longer, we can walk encouraged that He has already won the battle. As we let our hearts be broken into action for the sake of others, we'll come closer to what His heart has been all along. </div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-style: italic;">When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. </b>(Matt. 9:38)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-style: italic;">"Jesus wept." </b>(Jn. 11:35)</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSszTuugqSGQovjxJyvgBa5_iZIoraH93QNHssFGJJNBUwISXPrug1mzQMYGmTJdDHHIt4zCIV_RxYAYJtVggcySYTG4PMdfVS95gPKeA5tkP9n4X16XzITJg4vUaLc4rXVKa77z7A_uj8/s1600/10383562_825836050773315_2204764647021828499_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSszTuugqSGQovjxJyvgBa5_iZIoraH93QNHssFGJJNBUwISXPrug1mzQMYGmTJdDHHIt4zCIV_RxYAYJtVggcySYTG4PMdfVS95gPKeA5tkP9n4X16XzITJg4vUaLc4rXVKa77z7A_uj8/s1600/10383562_825836050773315_2204764647021828499_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All photos today by my sister-in-love Megan Lindsay.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/2014/08/what-the-church-christians-need-to-know-about-suicide-mental-health/">(Brilliant blog about understanding depression)</a></div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489824745842288730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105951059737241925.post-90315828735155652432014-08-04T09:11:00.001+05:302014-08-04T09:11:27.034+05:30Glimpsing Glory<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-style: italic;">"This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all." </b>I Jn. 1:5</span></span></div>
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This week a friend put up a thank-you to people who were working on her local road. She included with it a photo where she was sitting in delayed traffic at the time. I immediately 'got' it. She and I have both lived in places with not-so-good roads. And when you then get great local services, you notice and appreciate it! In fact, our main road has been delayed for weeks now because of a new water pipe being put in alongside it. And I don't mind a bit!</div>
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The other day we met a man with terminal cancer. He's doing well right now but if he lives for too much longer, he'll beat unbelievable odds (something like a 3% survival rate). We didn't meet him before the cancer, but meeting him after, well, it was pure privilege. He spoke of the faithfulness of his Savior, and how much the internal part of him has changed for the better through the trial. How he's become passionate about the One that he loves.</div>
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Little nuances of how we perceive life experiences make all the differences in how we live. Whether we see things in a hopeful light or are immersed in the negative. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzpb7QCb7qsym8N_D3A2O63P5JPoZ5uxyOUotIDECrbcfeWp3FEagrEwp1HQYnfPVUQ5fC4OsfGmnIdxJC9vEZyYpKphCp7H7GdgomQ0rbxn-dkVl8OU7iy_TuEbxpFECk5c0CWaY7ZXx/s1600/photo+(64).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzpb7QCb7qsym8N_D3A2O63P5JPoZ5uxyOUotIDECrbcfeWp3FEagrEwp1HQYnfPVUQ5fC4OsfGmnIdxJC9vEZyYpKphCp7H7GdgomQ0rbxn-dkVl8OU7iy_TuEbxpFECk5c0CWaY7ZXx/s1600/photo+(64).JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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This morning I drank coffee with my lovely girl for whom life has not been easy, and who has been spending this year finding healing for those scars. And I listened enthralled as wisdom poured out of her mouth. Words of discovery: healing, wholeness and Him. Especially Him, and how her whole paradigm has shifted, moving through the pain to be infused with the belief of His innate goodness and love. Her hand unconsciously flitted to words etched on her collarbone, "There is always hope." Words put on her skin when hope was just a seed, but now sprouted and growing. Same girl but with the perspective that light and healing can bring.</div>
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Recently Ann Voskamp pointed out in her blog the two great questions agonized over by the philosopher Augustine. The first one is, "If there is a God, why is there so much evil?" And the second, "If there is no God, why is there so much good?"</div>
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The first question can bring you to your knees. But the second will keep you there in reverent awe. One is despair and the other the essence that is true worship.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxb-Ec1sh4AXpsOYGyEaU-nVnaQUJfcy7q0cMpOreidsm9F2c3dm6dzKV7JgXR_iAs5Prsid6M1VQQLLwhMG6fsaJoWaSw4Mea1c0S2uoLhUeZKWHQRAilCvy3v2dufhPaxLD98Ea8dSUF/s1600/photo+(68).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxb-Ec1sh4AXpsOYGyEaU-nVnaQUJfcy7q0cMpOreidsm9F2c3dm6dzKV7JgXR_iAs5Prsid6M1VQQLLwhMG6fsaJoWaSw4Mea1c0S2uoLhUeZKWHQRAilCvy3v2dufhPaxLD98Ea8dSUF/s1600/photo+(68).JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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One of the things discussed with my girl was the concept that while Creation 'was good,' the appearance of evil has made this place into something we're not designed for. It's left us with unfulfilled longings and made us homesick for a better place. The deep understanding that we're actually <a href="http://poundspilgrimage.blogspot.co.nz/2014/07/were-not-all-right.html">not all right</a>.<br />
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But in the midst of that is the <i>reminder</i>. The certain knowledge of something better with little glimpses of Heaven along the way. Reminders of what He's preparing for us. Glimpses of Him.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5cjPajMIbDIePHmi0BZHFRqed-vmnExXwfmGWH6BsIieKsVF5oXFVTMNSI0q9kS1AldXw45IzawL6YM1bet4UBff9p37sfzjqiKT8a3JBUqNZ86o6sO897Dbr_Eov6ghuYQVVE8KM03jt/s1600/photo+(65).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5cjPajMIbDIePHmi0BZHFRqed-vmnExXwfmGWH6BsIieKsVF5oXFVTMNSI0q9kS1AldXw45IzawL6YM1bet4UBff9p37sfzjqiKT8a3JBUqNZ86o6sO897Dbr_Eov6ghuYQVVE8KM03jt/s1600/photo+(65).JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Days like today seeing hope in the eyes of someone I love more than life. When the winter storms cease and the sun warms your skin. When you go to sleep with peace in your heart or wake with the certainly of a smile. When you walk on the beach and marvel at the power of the waves. When wrapped in the embrace of a loved one or in the thoughtfulness of a friend. (And sunflowers!)</div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwGzqPYqqjY7b6_DY9k-novcKj3IwQ6Sd9jBrXqW5_552t0iUo2zrvMMbf8gTiqHL6jiNUQz-q80ZK5e0e6ogj5vonr6icNT7bQc4W7pMU0qSbiJKe-b0frFrE_FHkx-rylHxWZDWvJB4/s1600/photo+(66).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwGzqPYqqjY7b6_DY9k-novcKj3IwQ6Sd9jBrXqW5_552t0iUo2zrvMMbf8gTiqHL6jiNUQz-q80ZK5e0e6ogj5vonr6icNT7bQc4W7pMU0qSbiJKe-b0frFrE_FHkx-rylHxWZDWvJB4/s1600/photo+(66).JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">All photos today by the brilliant Cathi Geisler</td></tr>
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Both of Augustine's questions are worth taking the time to ponder. But we should never get stuck on the one without the balance of the other. Light dispels darkness, goodness is the absence of evil, and evil isn't unbeatable----it's just the absence of Him.</div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><i><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">"In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind."</span></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jn. 1:4</span></span></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489824745842288730noreply@blogger.com2