I'm grateful for Jesus dying on the cross, to set us free from the chains of this world. I'm grateful that He has given us a way out. I'm grateful that we don't have to go through the "motions" of this world... My friend ADS told me to check this song out, and it moves me... I'm tired of going through "the motions". I'm grateful for second chances to break away from the ways of this world.
Jesus, I don't want to go through the motions of this world. Jesus I'm tired of the ways of this world. I know it will not be easy, I know I will have to totally rely on You, but Jesus something has to change. Do whatever it takes in me, to change me. I don't want to have any regrets. Jesus, help my heart to defeat my mind. Take me all the way, Daddy. No more motions. Here's my life, again, dear Jesus. I love You. Amen.
The Motions, by Matthew West
This might hurt
It’s not safe
But I know that I’ve gotta make a change
I don’t care
If I break
At least I’ll be feeling something
‘Cause just ok
Is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of life
I don’t wanna go through the motions
I don’t wanna go one more day
Without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don’t wanna spend my whole life asking
What if I had given everything?
Instead of going through the motions
No regrets
Not this time
I’m gonna let my heart defeat my mind
Let Your love
Make me whole
I think I’m finally feeling something
Take me all the way
Take me all the way
Take me all the way
Here's the link for the video!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Pondering Questions
I'm grateful for "Pondering Questions"... I love them, and I love what they can do in my heart! As many of you know, I teach 2nd grade Sunday School at our church, in a program called UpStreet. Our "director" had posed us with a question this week... she said, "If you could pick 3 things that you want every child to leave UpStreet knowing, what would they be?" And I pondered it... and I think I have my answer!
1. God loves them more than they could ever imagine. He will never let them down, and they can trust Him no matter what. He loves them so much, that He sent His Son to die for them and their sins, so that they can live for eternity with Him.
2. Their citizenship is in Heaven, not on Earth. We are here for the time that He has given us, to glorify Him. It doesn't matter what this Earth thinks of us, only God's opinion counts. We should store our treasures in Heaven, not on Earth.
3. I love them so very much. My love for them is overflowing. I think of them as my brothers and sisters in Christ. They are family to me. I truly care about each and every one of them, I care about what they have to say, I care about what it is on their hearts, I care about their futures, and I am so excited about their relationships with Jesus. I love 'em.
1. God loves them more than they could ever imagine. He will never let them down, and they can trust Him no matter what. He loves them so much, that He sent His Son to die for them and their sins, so that they can live for eternity with Him.
2. Their citizenship is in Heaven, not on Earth. We are here for the time that He has given us, to glorify Him. It doesn't matter what this Earth thinks of us, only God's opinion counts. We should store our treasures in Heaven, not on Earth.
3. I love them so very much. My love for them is overflowing. I think of them as my brothers and sisters in Christ. They are family to me. I truly care about each and every one of them, I care about what they have to say, I care about what it is on their hearts, I care about their futures, and I am so excited about their relationships with Jesus. I love 'em.
Rest
I'm grateful for rest! I'm enjoying my snow day! I truly think it was an answer to my prayer from last night... I had a horrible meltdown last night, after driving class, around 9:00. I started thinking (never a good idea) about everything... and I got in way over my head. On that note, I am so grateful for the amazing support system Jesus has blessed me with, as my friends truly kept me afloat last night. I love you guys! But this morning, when I woke up at about 10am, I couldn't help but praise God. I was in such desperate need of rest. And He gave me an opportunity to rest today.
Today I am enjoying and being grateful for the gift of rest. And for the times that Jesus breaks us down, and makes us rely on our brothers and sisters, and Him and His Grace and Love.
Today I am enjoying and being grateful for the gift of rest. And for the times that Jesus breaks us down, and makes us rely on our brothers and sisters, and Him and His Grace and Love.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Gastropoda
The word snail is a common name for almost all members of the molluscan class Gastropoda that have coiled shells in the adult stage. I was researching snail mail, and this is what Wikipedia gave me! But then I went back, and searched for snail mail, and Wikipedia did indeed have an entry on it!
I love snail mail! But I'm a big e-mailer... it's probably one of the quickest ways to get ahold of me. However, no matter how convenient or easy emailing is, I will always love snail mail. I'm not sure about you, but for me, it is so much more exciting to look in the mailbox and see a hand-written letter from a friend, than it is to log onto your email and see a message in your Inbox. Although emails are great... and quick... they just do not compare, for me, to snail mail. I think a hand-written note, that you took the time to write, seal, stamp, address, and put in your mailbox is so much more fun to receive.
One of my goals in showing gratitude was to write more handwritten letters... to show that I really value my relationships, more than a short email may show. In breaking that goal down into smaller (more manageable!) parts, my goal for this weekend is to hand-write and mail 3 letters and to mail 1 painting with scripture on the back. I have some recipients in mind! I'm going to try to continue that every weekend for a few weeks... and see where that leads me!
Praying for discipline... and the inspiration to be disciplined! And the heart and eyes to see what Jesus does through my obedience.
I love snail mail! But I'm a big e-mailer... it's probably one of the quickest ways to get ahold of me. However, no matter how convenient or easy emailing is, I will always love snail mail. I'm not sure about you, but for me, it is so much more exciting to look in the mailbox and see a hand-written letter from a friend, than it is to log onto your email and see a message in your Inbox. Although emails are great... and quick... they just do not compare, for me, to snail mail. I think a hand-written note, that you took the time to write, seal, stamp, address, and put in your mailbox is so much more fun to receive.
One of my goals in showing gratitude was to write more handwritten letters... to show that I really value my relationships, more than a short email may show. In breaking that goal down into smaller (more manageable!) parts, my goal for this weekend is to hand-write and mail 3 letters and to mail 1 painting with scripture on the back. I have some recipients in mind! I'm going to try to continue that every weekend for a few weeks... and see where that leads me!
Praying for discipline... and the inspiration to be disciplined! And the heart and eyes to see what Jesus does through my obedience.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Grateful for...
I was thinking... a good way to help with my gratitude, might be to make a list of the things I'm grateful for... and this will definitely be a work in progress... because I could probably go on for eternity!
i'm grateful for...
-the cross
-my salvation and jesus christ
-my relationship with god
-the holy spirit
-the light... our high school prayer group.
-veritas... my church's high school youth group.
-lifegroup... our church's city-based youth group.
-upstreet... the children's ministry i volunteer in.
-my family. my parents and sister. their love.
-my home. it's safe. it's beautiful. it's warm in the winter, cool in the summer. it's shelter.
-water. its purity. its ability to fulfill my thirst. its ability to keep me healthy. the running water i have been provided.
-food. the energy provides. the abundance i have been blessed with.
-my school. the wonderful place i have to go to learn. the future it helps me to build. the faculty and staff. the fellow students and friends. the activities and sports. the opportunities. the mission field.
-my friends. my support system.
-the cleveland clinic. and the ways that jesus has used it to give me hope.
-the Church (with a capital C!). my true family.
More very soon. I am so blessed. Thank you, Jesus. I'm so so thankful... and yet, know that I am no where near true gratitude. Jesus I want to be grateful. I want to be humble and genuinely thankful. Make in me a grateful heart...
i'm grateful for...
-the cross
-my salvation and jesus christ
-my relationship with god
-the holy spirit
-the light... our high school prayer group.
-veritas... my church's high school youth group.
-lifegroup... our church's city-based youth group.
-upstreet... the children's ministry i volunteer in.
-my family. my parents and sister. their love.
-my home. it's safe. it's beautiful. it's warm in the winter, cool in the summer. it's shelter.
-water. its purity. its ability to fulfill my thirst. its ability to keep me healthy. the running water i have been provided.
-food. the energy provides. the abundance i have been blessed with.
-my school. the wonderful place i have to go to learn. the future it helps me to build. the faculty and staff. the fellow students and friends. the activities and sports. the opportunities. the mission field.
-my friends. my support system.
-the cleveland clinic. and the ways that jesus has used it to give me hope.
-the Church (with a capital C!). my true family.
More very soon. I am so blessed. Thank you, Jesus. I'm so so thankful... and yet, know that I am no where near true gratitude. Jesus I want to be grateful. I want to be humble and genuinely thankful. Make in me a grateful heart...
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Ungratefulizing?
So... honest thoughts? There are so many things that easy "de-gratefulize" me! I give in so quickly to the ways of this world. The ways of thinking that I deserve (where does that thought come from... deserve) better, that I deserve pleasant days, that I should feel good, that my body shouldn't always have some kind of problem... all those thoughts. Those thoughts aren't from God, they aren't from His Word... they are from this world. How quickly I conform. I find myself so far from gratitude so quickly, that it is sometimes just mortifying!
Gratitude... Jesus, make in me a grateful heart. Lord I don't want my gratitude to be based on circumstances or to be quickly lost. I don't want to give in to the ways of this world and to conform to the ideas it can place in my head. I confess that I gave in today. I confess that I lost sight of You, and became distracted. My eyes got caught in earthly things, instead of Heavenly treasures. Jesus we know that we can do all things through You, and so I pray that through You, my heart would be molded into one of sincere gratitude. I pray that I would be changed, to be more like You. I want to be just like You, Daddy. I love You. Amen!
This is going to take some serious discipline, serious boldness, serious faith, serious love and grace, and serious prayer.
For some serious gratitude.
Gratitude... Jesus, make in me a grateful heart. Lord I don't want my gratitude to be based on circumstances or to be quickly lost. I don't want to give in to the ways of this world and to conform to the ideas it can place in my head. I confess that I gave in today. I confess that I lost sight of You, and became distracted. My eyes got caught in earthly things, instead of Heavenly treasures. Jesus we know that we can do all things through You, and so I pray that through You, my heart would be molded into one of sincere gratitude. I pray that I would be changed, to be more like You. I want to be just like You, Daddy. I love You. Amen!
This is going to take some serious discipline, serious boldness, serious faith, serious love and grace, and serious prayer.
For some serious gratitude.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
The Journey
My Ideas to:
SHOW GRATITUDE
"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us."
-Albert Schweitzer
SHOW GRATITUDE
- mail out paintings, with encouraging scripture on the back
- writing encouraging letters
- write thank you's, for the little things
- write letters to old friends
- help snail-mail make a comeback
- simply say thank you more, to friends, parents, teachers, etc.
- leave random thoughtful presents, with notes attached
- let others know I am praying for them, and make sure I follow through
- share my resources
- show that I value friendships: listen more, talk less; text less, call more.
- truly value the Cross.
"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us."
-Albert Schweitzer
Thursday, January 1, 2009
GRATITUDE
Gratitude... according to dictionary.com, gratitude is the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful. As I've begun to get excited about this year ahead of me, 2009, and my virtue... I've begun to realize that all things can stem from gratitude, if you have love. Love is first and foremost. But I feel as though, love is what has led me on this journey. And now, I want to see where love leads me, with gratitude.
If you stop and think about it, behind love, all things come from gratitude. If you truly appreciate and are grateful for someone, you will respect them. You will love them, be honest with them, show them you care, encourage them, help them, I could go on and on. If you are truly grateful for the amazing set of gifts that God has blessed you with, you will work hard, be resourceful, be open to learning, put your best effort into all you do... If you are truly grateful for an opportunity, you will want to see God use you and the situation to its fullest potential... you will be enthusiastic, passionate, prayerful, you will study, you will do your best, and trust God to do the rest. Any other virtue, can stem from gratitude, if mixed with love.
Honesty... if you truly value and are thankful for someone, you will be honest with them. Resourcefulness... if you are truly grateful for what you have been given, you will use your resources for God's Glory. Kindness... if you are truly appreciative of God's grace and love towards you, you will love your brothers and sisters with a kind heart. I could go on forever. A thankful and humble heart is the essence of true worship. And isn't that what our lives are? Worship. To our Father.
2009... is my year of gratitude.
Jesus, I give You this year. Lord I want to thank You, for the virtue of gratitude that You have laid on my heart. I ask that You would do whatever it takes, to change and mold me, so that my heart would be one of gratitude and love. I pray that I would learn to truly be grateful, for every gift, blessing, item, person, opportunity, and obstacle that You place before me. Your Word tells us that in all things, You work for the good of those who love You, and that is a promise we can rely on. I ask that this year, would be an amazing time of learning for me, Lord. I pray that those around me, would always know, from my words and actions, that I am thankful for them. That I am grateful for everything they do for me, whether they receive recognition or not. Lord I thank You for the ways You are working in me, even behind the curtains. Jesus I pray that I would become aware of the ways that I am so fortunate, and that You would break my heart, so that I would desire to share my blessings with my brothers and sisters in You. I thank You for my gifts... I ask that You will use them for Your Glory and Your Will. They are no longer mine. Nothing is mine. You are the Creator, who gave them to me, and I am simply returning them. The resounding prayer of my heart is that You will use me, do whatever You need to do, and make my heart one of gratitude and love. I give You this year. Lead me, dear Jesus. Give me faith and boldness, as You lead me out of my comfort zone. Take me to places that I would never imagine. Open doors. Give me words. Let the meditations of my heart, my words, and my actions be pure and pleasing. I desire for You, Your Word, Your Love, and gratitude to lead me. I trust You. I praise You. You are amazing. Amen!
GRATITUDE... lead on!
If you stop and think about it, behind love, all things come from gratitude. If you truly appreciate and are grateful for someone, you will respect them. You will love them, be honest with them, show them you care, encourage them, help them, I could go on and on. If you are truly grateful for the amazing set of gifts that God has blessed you with, you will work hard, be resourceful, be open to learning, put your best effort into all you do... If you are truly grateful for an opportunity, you will want to see God use you and the situation to its fullest potential... you will be enthusiastic, passionate, prayerful, you will study, you will do your best, and trust God to do the rest. Any other virtue, can stem from gratitude, if mixed with love.
Honesty... if you truly value and are thankful for someone, you will be honest with them. Resourcefulness... if you are truly grateful for what you have been given, you will use your resources for God's Glory. Kindness... if you are truly appreciative of God's grace and love towards you, you will love your brothers and sisters with a kind heart. I could go on forever. A thankful and humble heart is the essence of true worship. And isn't that what our lives are? Worship. To our Father.
2009... is my year of gratitude.
Jesus, I give You this year. Lord I want to thank You, for the virtue of gratitude that You have laid on my heart. I ask that You would do whatever it takes, to change and mold me, so that my heart would be one of gratitude and love. I pray that I would learn to truly be grateful, for every gift, blessing, item, person, opportunity, and obstacle that You place before me. Your Word tells us that in all things, You work for the good of those who love You, and that is a promise we can rely on. I ask that this year, would be an amazing time of learning for me, Lord. I pray that those around me, would always know, from my words and actions, that I am thankful for them. That I am grateful for everything they do for me, whether they receive recognition or not. Lord I thank You for the ways You are working in me, even behind the curtains. Jesus I pray that I would become aware of the ways that I am so fortunate, and that You would break my heart, so that I would desire to share my blessings with my brothers and sisters in You. I thank You for my gifts... I ask that You will use them for Your Glory and Your Will. They are no longer mine. Nothing is mine. You are the Creator, who gave them to me, and I am simply returning them. The resounding prayer of my heart is that You will use me, do whatever You need to do, and make my heart one of gratitude and love. I give You this year. Lead me, dear Jesus. Give me faith and boldness, as You lead me out of my comfort zone. Take me to places that I would never imagine. Open doors. Give me words. Let the meditations of my heart, my words, and my actions be pure and pleasing. I desire for You, Your Word, Your Love, and gratitude to lead me. I trust You. I praise You. You are amazing. Amen!
GRATITUDE... lead on!
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