Isolation in Jesus

July 9, 2009 at 10:17 am (Olivia's Posts)

Nothing strengthens us so much as isolation and transplantation…it may not be necessary for us to withdraw from home and friends; but we shall have to withdraw from our heart’s deepest dependence from all earthly props and supports, if ever we are to learn what it is to trust simply and absolutely on the eternal God.
(Taken from “By Searching” by Isobel Kuhn)

Sometimes we may feel isolated from everything and everyone.  It’s as if we are all alone, even if we are surrounded by people.  But this sort of isolation isn’t necessarily a bad thing–you can use it to deepend your relationship with Jesus.  When we are able to give up the things that make us comfortable in this world, we will begin to realize just what it is like to really have to depend on our Savior for everything–companionship, provision, wisdom…everything.  Jesus is the Ultimate Provider, Best Friend, Loving Father, All-knowing God that we need to get through this life.  Allow Him to take control of your life by giving up the little comforts to Him and letting Him fill in those spaces instead.

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A Servant of the Lord

July 8, 2009 at 5:06 pm (Amy's Posts)

“And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,” ~ 2 Timothy 2:24

I read this verse this morning for my Bible study with HannahBeth, and it just was such a good reminder to me! As a servant of the Lord, I MUST not quarrel – and that means with my siblings too!! And I must be gentle and patient to ALL!

So, who is it that “pushes your buttons” the most? Your sister? Brother? Friend? Cousin? Mom? When you are tempted to “fight back”, remember, you are a servant of the King! No quarreling allowed! :-)

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Give Me Jesus

July 7, 2009 at 6:27 am (Sam's Posts)

 

Give Me Jesus

by Sara Watkins

I heard my mother say
I heard my mother say
I heard my mother say
Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world
But give me Jesus

Dark midnight was my cry
Dark midnight was my cry
Dark midnight was my cry
Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world
But give me Jesus

In the morning when I rise
In the morning when I rise
In the morning when I rise
Give me Jesus

And when I’ve come to die
When I’ve come to die
Oh when I’ve come to die
Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world
But give me Jesus

You can have all this world
But give me Jesus

~*~

I don’t want to ever take something else over Jesus…I don’t want to put something before Jesus in my life.  I don’t want popularity, fame, honor, or recognition to be my life-long goal to achieve! I want to seek after Jesus.  So when I am offered the world, I want my reply to be “I want Jesus instead.” Which do you want? The world or Jesus? Do you say, “Give me the world.” or “Give me Jesus” ?

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One more week!

July 6, 2009 at 12:26 pm (Uncategorized)

Just a reminder that we start our week of giving up our “idols” on July 12 (to the 19).  You can give up as few or as many things that you like!  The goal of this week is to give up things that you don’t necessarily put before Jesus, but things that you treasure or value more than you ought to.  For example, the internet, a certain book, certain food, movies, etc. etc.

Feel free to post comments to this post and tell what you are going to be giving up.  :)

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God Bless America!

July 3, 2009 at 7:43 am (Sam's Posts)

 

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
The Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776

Have a wonderful Independence Day tomorrow everyone! Remember how this country started! Remember how blessed you are to live in a free country! And remember the brave soldiers who keep this country safe for us!! God bless America!!!!

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Lord I Lift Your Name on High

July 2, 2009 at 3:00 pm (Olivia's Posts)

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The Peace of God

July 1, 2009 at 8:09 am (Amy's Posts)

Photobucket

It is Well With My Soul

By Horatio G. Spafford (1873)

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

Refrain

My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought—
My sin—not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

Refrain

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

Refrain

But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!

Refrain

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
“Even so”—it is well with my soul.

Refrain

This beautiful song was written by a man after four of his children drown in a shipwreck.  This man truly knew what it was to have “peace like a river” in spite of the horrible sorrow and tragedy he, his wife, and one remaining daughter went through.

God will give His peace to His children, no matter what they are going through – He will help them and comfort them in times of trouble – Praise the Lord O My Soul!

A quote I read that I really liked was this – “Prayer girds human weakness with divine strength, turns human folly into heavenly wisdom, and gives to troubled mortals the peace of God. We know not what prayer can do.” ~ Charles Spugeon

If you are troubled in your heart, pray to God, and He will give you His peace.

God bless!

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“Be my guide, my pilot.”

June 30, 2009 at 5:56 am (Sam's Posts)

“Beware of letting your care degenerate into anxiety and unrest, tossed as you are amid the winds and waves of sundry troubles. Keep your eyes fixed on the Lord, and say, ‘Oh, my God, I look to You alone. Be my guide, my pilot,’ and then be comforted. When the shore is gained, who will heed the toil and the storm? And we will steer safely through every storm, as long as our heart is right, our intention fervent, our courage steadfast, and our trust fixed on God. If at times we are somewhat stunned by the tempest, never fear. Let us take a breath and go on afresh. Do not be disconcerted by the fits of vexation and uneasiness that are sometimes produced by the multiplicity of your domestic worries. No indeed, dearest child, all these are but opportunities of strengthening yourself in the loving, forbearing graces that our dear Lord sets before us.”

~ Francis de Sales

(Taken from “Daily Strength for Daily Needs” compiled by Mary Tileston)

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Giving God the pen…

June 29, 2009 at 1:52 pm (Hannah Beth's Posts)

Recently I finished reading through When God Writes Your Love Story by Eric and Leslie Ludy. Last night as I read over the final chapters, I felt led to share some of the passages that spoke to me. I highly recommend their book, although there are a few things I wish they’d left out. Overall, though, it’s an excellent book, one that has greatly helped me! :)

“The beauty of a God-written love story [and LIFE story] is not something reserved for the perfect and pious; its for the sinners like you and like me. Thats what God’s love is all about. We are so unworthy of His grace and forgiveness-and yet He offers it to us freely.” ~Leslie on page 226

“…He knows every sin we have ever committed from the day we were born. It is foolish to try to keep our sins hidden from Him. Yet when we come to Him, bleeding and broken, filled with pain and regret, afraid of His anger, and look into His eyes, He smiles tenderly. He lifts our chin with His nail-scarred hand. And He gently says, ‘I don’t condemn you. Now go, and stop sinning.’
When we come face-to-face with this perfect love, it takes our breath away. We deserve to die for what we have done. We should be stoned by an angry mob. But not only does Jesus save our life with His own blood, He washes us completely clean. When He looks at us, He doesn’t see our failures and mistakes, He sees a new creation-a child of God.
When we repent and accept His forgiveness, He can take the sin that our enemy meant to use to destroy us, and use it for His glory. He can take a shattered heart and life and script a beautiful tale of His perfect love.“
~Leslie on page 228

“Wet eyes are watching you. The moist eyes of Jesus, tenderly longing for you to let go of your life and hold fast to Him. His eyes are gentle as they see you stumble and scrape your knee in sin once again. He doesn’t kick you when you’re down, but rather He carefully stabilizes you with His mercy and grace and helps you to your feet. He is so patient when you falter and is ever faithful to forgive you.
His eyes are smiling as they find you longing to please Him.
His eyes are also full of pride as they observe you trusting Him. He, more than anyone, knows how difficult it is to stand against the tide. He simply wants an ordinary person to trust His nature and character, and to test His perfect faithfulness.”

Have you ever thought of that? That God smiles when we try to please Him? That it makes Him glad when we try to live our lives in such a way that they bring glory to Him? That He is proud when we trust in His faithfulness, rather than our own ideas and plans?

On the flip side, have you thought of the pain He feels when we ignore Him, and try to live life our own way? How He longs for us to let go of our life and give Him the pen?

“Wet eyes are watching you. The caring eyes of heaven have spent too many years burning with tears of pain over your life and mine. Let us choose today to bless God’s heart with the gift of loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Let’s make those wet eyes proud!” ~Eric on pages 240 and 241

“Be assured, if you walk with Him and look to Him and expect help from Him, He will never fail you.” ~George Mueller, quoted on page 242, emphasis mine

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Putting Christ’s Death Into Perspective

June 28, 2009 at 3:52 pm (Olivia's Posts)

So sometimes I think that I am the rottenest, worst person on Earth.  It seems like my confession time of prayer takes longer than any other prayers I have.  And I often wonder to myself, how could Jesus love ME so much as to die for me on the cross?  But do I REALLY believe that He died for ME on that cross.  Sometimes I think I’m caught up in the idea that He really only actually died for humans as a majority.  Since there were enough of us throughout the course of time that would accept His wonderful gift, He decided to come die for us.  But I often think that maybe if I had been the only person on Earth to ever accept His wonderful gift, He wouldn’t have done it.  He wouldn’t have died for JUST ME on the cross.

Wrong.  When people say, “Jesus died for me on the cross,” they are simply confirming that He actually did. If you had been the only human ALIVE, He still would have died for you.  He loves us that much.  It’s a humbling thought, and sometimes just too amazing for me to believe.  But I think that that is one of the beautiful things about God.  We don’t have to make rhyme or reason out of what He does for us.  If we just accept it all and live out lives with a passion for spreading this good news, we weill live some of the most enriching lives ever.  So start reminding yourself throughout your day that Jesus died FOR YOU, He really does love YOU that much.

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