that the Lord will see me through.
I pray on Christmas, He'll show me what to do.
I pray on Christmas, He'll help me understand.
And I pray on Christmas, He'll take me by the hand.
I pray on Christmas, that the sick will soon be strong.
I pray on Christmas, the Lord will hear my song.
I pray on Christmas, that God will lead the way.
And I pray on Christmas, He'll get me through another day.
I pray on Christmas, all our problems gonna be worked out.
I pray on Christmas, God'll show us what love's about.
I pray on Christmas, to do Your will each day.
And I pray on Christmas, that I'll be with You in heaven some day.
I pray on Christmas, He'll get me through another day.
I pray on Christmas, oh, the sick will soon be strong.
I pray on Christmas, the Lord will hear my song.
I pray on Christmas, that God will lead the way.
And I pray, I really pray on Christmas, He'll get me through another day...
-Dave Barnes
FAVORITE Christmas song this year, hands down. Great for morning dance parties with my Levi too :]
12.05.2011
11.17.2011
What does forgiveness look like?
If you're alive than you've been hurt by someone. The Bible says to forgive and normally forgiveness has come easily, almost naturally. After all everyone makes mistakes, right!?
BUT have you ever had to forgive someone who has hurt you more than you have ever hurt them.
ouch.
Suddenly forgiveness is no longer easy and it's far from natural. Honestly, I'd prefer to hold a grudge, give the cold shoulder, make the "sinner" feel guilty. I want to be bitter and stay angry. Ya know, tough love. Forgive and NEVER forget.
What do you do when you forgive and they continue on hurting you?
What about when they don't change like you thought they would?
What happens when there is nothing that can be said to make things better?
What about when they never even admit that they hurt you?
Do I still have to forgive!?
So what does forgiveness look like?
Can you forgive someone and choose to never talk to them again?
God didn't "forgive" me like that...
and aren't I supposed to strive to be like Him?
ouch.
2 Corinthians 2:5-11
Forgiveness for the Offender
5 If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent—not to put it too severely. 6 The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. 7 Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. 9 Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. 10 Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
ouch.
I want to be like Christ, I want to be a breath of fresh air in a dying world, I want to be salt and light, but it's hard. But God's still working on me. He's been talking and I've been learning to forgive, completely and totally as best I know how. Because God has forgiven me, completely and totally in the most perfect way possible.
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
The Ministry of Reconciliation
16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Amen.
BUT have you ever had to forgive someone who has hurt you more than you have ever hurt them.
ouch.
Suddenly forgiveness is no longer easy and it's far from natural. Honestly, I'd prefer to hold a grudge, give the cold shoulder, make the "sinner" feel guilty. I want to be bitter and stay angry. Ya know, tough love. Forgive and NEVER forget.
What do you do when you forgive and they continue on hurting you?
What about when they don't change like you thought they would?
What happens when there is nothing that can be said to make things better?
What about when they never even admit that they hurt you?
Do I still have to forgive!?
So what does forgiveness look like?
Can you forgive someone and choose to never talk to them again?
God didn't "forgive" me like that...
and aren't I supposed to strive to be like Him?
ouch.
2 Corinthians 2:5-11
Forgiveness for the Offender
5 If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent—not to put it too severely. 6 The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. 7 Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. 9 Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. 10 Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
ouch.
I want to be like Christ, I want to be a breath of fresh air in a dying world, I want to be salt and light, but it's hard. But God's still working on me. He's been talking and I've been learning to forgive, completely and totally as best I know how. Because God has forgiven me, completely and totally in the most perfect way possible.
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
The Ministry of Reconciliation
16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Amen.
10.26.2011
I don't deserve a single thing...
Commercials use this line all the time, "get the ______fill in the blank with anything_____ you deserve"
It's a lie.
Occupy Wall Street: they want the government to take money from the rich so they can have the things they deserve (health care, a college degree, a home, etc)... once again, no one deserves anything.
It's a lie.
#1 You don't deserve anything you haven't worked for yourself. [see 2 Thessalonians 3:10-15]
#2 Even if you have worked for it, it's still God's. Everything is God's. [see Psalm 24]
#3 If someone has GIVEN something to you that you didn't work for you should be insanely thankful & take great caution to use the "gift" wisely. You should thank God for that person who has taken on a characteristic of Jesus. Jesus gave us all that which we didn't deserve: forgiveness of sins and the free gift of salvation. [see John 3:16]
#4 The Bible clearly tells us not to covet & to be content. [see Exodus 20:17 & Philippians 4:11]
#5 The Bible clearly tells those with 2 to give 1 to someone in need. [see Luke 3:11]
#6 The Bible clearly tells Christians to take care of their family. Are YOU offering help to your family members in need? On the other side, are you too proud to take help from your family?
[see 1 Timothy 5:8]
#7 Do you love money more than God??! [see Matthew 6:24]
#8 If you are in need, GOD promises to provide. [see Philippians 4:19]
#9 It is the Lord who gives & takes away. [see Job 1:21]
#10 Learn to give with a happy heart, not out of obligation. God loves a cheerful giver! [see 2 Corinthians 9:7]
The conclusion of all this venting: This country is in the mess it is in because of us.
Some of us think we deserve all we have worked for and aren't willing to give to those in need and thus the government has taken over our "job" as Christians causing the insane debt and fueling the entitlement mentality of this society... what a shame.
Others of us think that we deserve things we have not worked for or are not willing to work enough for, we are covetous; We ignore God's promise to provide, abuse the help that the government, friends, or family offer, and always want more... what a shame.
Both being equally sinful, because-
"The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it."
Dear God, teach me to act on all these scriptures. I want to make you happy. You are all I need in this life. Amen.
It's a lie.
Occupy Wall Street: they want the government to take money from the rich so they can have the things they deserve (health care, a college degree, a home, etc)... once again, no one deserves anything.
It's a lie.
#1 You don't deserve anything you haven't worked for yourself. [see 2 Thessalonians 3:10-15]
#2 Even if you have worked for it, it's still God's. Everything is God's. [see Psalm 24]
#3 If someone has GIVEN something to you that you didn't work for you should be insanely thankful & take great caution to use the "gift" wisely. You should thank God for that person who has taken on a characteristic of Jesus. Jesus gave us all that which we didn't deserve: forgiveness of sins and the free gift of salvation. [see John 3:16]
#4 The Bible clearly tells us not to covet & to be content. [see Exodus 20:17 & Philippians 4:11]
#5 The Bible clearly tells those with 2 to give 1 to someone in need. [see Luke 3:11]
#6 The Bible clearly tells Christians to take care of their family. Are YOU offering help to your family members in need? On the other side, are you too proud to take help from your family?
[see 1 Timothy 5:8]
#7 Do you love money more than God??! [see Matthew 6:24]
#8 If you are in need, GOD promises to provide. [see Philippians 4:19]
#9 It is the Lord who gives & takes away. [see Job 1:21]
#10 Learn to give with a happy heart, not out of obligation. God loves a cheerful giver! [see 2 Corinthians 9:7]
The conclusion of all this venting: This country is in the mess it is in because of us.
Some of us think we deserve all we have worked for and aren't willing to give to those in need and thus the government has taken over our "job" as Christians causing the insane debt and fueling the entitlement mentality of this society... what a shame.
Others of us think that we deserve things we have not worked for or are not willing to work enough for, we are covetous; We ignore God's promise to provide, abuse the help that the government, friends, or family offer, and always want more... what a shame.
Both being equally sinful, because-
"The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it."
Dear God, teach me to act on all these scriptures. I want to make you happy. You are all I need in this life. Amen.
8.21.2011
The Thankfulness Song
"I thank God for this day,
For the sun in the sky,
For my mom and my dad,
For my piece of apple pie!
For our home on the ground,
For His love that's all around,
That's why I say thanks every day!
Because a thankful heart,
Is a happy heart!
I'm glad for what I have,
Thats an easy way to start!
For the love that He shares,
'Cause He listens to my prayers,
That's why I say thanks every day!"
This childrens song always makes me smile. Such a reminder that we shouldn't take the little things for granted. Say a prayer of only Thank You's to God. He deserves all the glory because He is the giver of all good things. <3
8.17.2011
Call me silly...
but some days I just want to cry cause my baby is growing sooo fast BUT instead of crying I get out the camera and capture the moments I never want to forget. Being a Mom is awesome.
8.13.2011
Low Cal Yumm
8oz seasoned chicken breast 220 cals
38 veggie straws 130 cals
& water.
I'll be eating this more often!!
8.02.2011
7.30.2011
I tried something new...
A Vietnamese grilled chicken sandwich from Pho Crystal. The best part... it was only $3.50. The worst part... apparently Vietnamese bread is the 'injure the roof of your mouth' super hard kind of bread. The sauce, the chicken, the cucumber, carrots & fresh basil was a great combination though, yummy!!! "Is it healthy?" You might be asking youself... well most Vietnamese people are thin, so I guess so. :]
7.27.2011
Things that make me SMILE.
my sweet levi.
my new pink shoes.
my mischevious levi.
this photo &
this photo, lol.
my sleepy levi.
God's creations.
energy in a bottle.
Life is still good, even when life is hard.
Thank you God.
7.01.2011
I'm back & the topic today is ...
PRAISING GOD.
I decided to read 2 Chronicles 7 last night.
2 Chronicles 7 is convicting.
The first half of the chapter is called "The Dedication of the Temple" [referring to the temple Solomon built]. And the chapter goes into great detail explaining how the children of God CELEBRATED His approval of their 'man made' temple.
Excerpt:
"8 So Solomon observed the festival at that time for seven days, and all Israel with him—a vast assembly, people from Lebo Hamath to the Wadi of Egypt. 9 On the eighth day they held an assembly, for they had celebrated the dedication of the altar for seven days and the festival for seven days more. 10 On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people to their homes, joyful and glad in heart for the good things the LORD had done for David and Solomon and for his people Israel."
The Israelites celebrated for 2 weeks!! & returned home full of joy :]
Everyday that I wake up I am God's child, He dwells in me & I am His temple...But I don't take the time to celebrate Him daily & I definitely do not have the same enthusiasm as the Israelites... & well, I should.
And then verse 14 offers hope...
If I humble myself & pray & turn from my ways, he forgives and restores.
Amen.
I decided to read 2 Chronicles 7 last night.
I am very familiar with the "famous" verse 2 chronicles 7:14 -
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
I love that verse. But what is the context of the verse?
2 Chronicles 7 is convicting.
The first half of the chapter is called "The Dedication of the Temple" [referring to the temple Solomon built]. And the chapter goes into great detail explaining how the children of God CELEBRATED His approval of their 'man made' temple.
Excerpt:
"8 So Solomon observed the festival at that time for seven days, and all Israel with him—a vast assembly, people from Lebo Hamath to the Wadi of Egypt. 9 On the eighth day they held an assembly, for they had celebrated the dedication of the altar for seven days and the festival for seven days more. 10 On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people to their homes, joyful and glad in heart for the good things the LORD had done for David and Solomon and for his people Israel."
The Israelites celebrated for 2 weeks!! & returned home full of joy :]
Everyday that I wake up I am God's child, He dwells in me & I am His temple...But I don't take the time to celebrate Him daily & I definitely do not have the same enthusiasm as the Israelites... & well, I should.
And then verse 14 offers hope...
If I humble myself & pray & turn from my ways, he forgives and restores.
Amen.
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