My dear friend is getting married today. I have thinking about the preparations she has to go through; every detail leading up to this day where her and her groom prepare make the covenant to be man and wife forever.
Marriage is huge. I use to think I was so ready for marriage(yes, these were thoughts of mine in high school). I was sure it was just going to be a blissful breeze and that I would have a fairy tale "happily-ever-after". Oh, how I know my marriage is going to be wonderful, how I know that God is preparing me to be that bride even right now, and it's that very process that is making me realize what a huge responsibility marriage is.
I want to see my relationship with Jesus in the same light. Though I can't see my Groom, He is real and I'm really being prepared to meet Him face to face. What am I doing to prepare? Am I taking short cuts? Am I neglecting my beauty appointments, my spa treatments, my guest list, my decorations, all in a spiritual application? Does my dress fit? Are the alters made? Is my jewelry matching and sparkling? What about my bridesmaids? Am I communicating with them all the details they need to know about the wedding day?
All these thoughts have been swirling around my mind; it's my mind is a giant canvas and the thoughts are the colors; the picture is left unfinished, but I know it's going to turn out beautifully.
"Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me days without number." (Jeremiah 2:32)
I want to be a prepared bride, not neglecting, not forgetting my Groom and the glorious day of our uniting in perfection.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Edify
Every day I receive a "word for the day" through merriam-webster.com. My dad was one that showed me this vocabulary expanding tool and I'm thankful he did. Some of the words have been wonderfully funny, like "bludge" "Callithump" "Molly-Coddle" or "embonpoint" (pronounced the french way), but sometimes (knowing our God is a God of no happenstance)the word completely matches up with what I need to hear or what God is speaking to my heart.
Edify. Today's word.
I'm reading through Ezra. The people have returned to Jerusalem, under commands of King Cyrus, to build the temple that had been laying in ruins because all of Israel and Judah had been taken into captivity. After offering up the burnt sacrifices and reestablishing the feasts, the people laid the foundation of the temple and proclaimed with singing, praise, and shouting, "For He is good, for His mercy endures forever toward Israel".
What happened next? COMPLETE ATTACK! First, through trickery and deceit; the surrounding adversaries said to the heads of the Jews, "Let us build with you" but they said, "You may do nothing with us". The enemy then told the king of Persia that the Jews were building a rebellious and evil city; that they won't pay taxes, tribute, or customs to the king. The king was convinced by the lies and the work of the house of God ceased.
Edify.
I guess we all come to points in our lives where we see ruins all around us. We see relationships that have crumbled, communication that has been long cut off, love that has grown cold, and we hear the command from our King to build. We set off, offer ourselves as living sacrifices, and start building and lay the foundation. Then, just as we step back to wipe the sweat from our brow and take a look at the progress, we hear the words of attack; the bitter, sharp, cutting, destructive words. Is it time to stop? Is it time to quit? Do we listen?
Edify, to build up.
Could my failure to continue to edify actually cause others to be defeated and the foundations of their lives be turned into ruins again? That is a sobering question. I know God doesn't need us, He will raise up those that edify others, but He wants to use us.
"But let us who are of th day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing." 1 Thes. 5:8-11.
When it's the hardest, edify. When attacks come, edify. When love waxes cold, edify. When sorrow is the only emotion felt, edify. When you feel like you can't labor anymore, edify. And as you are edifying, pray for help, because the Helper, our Comforter, the Shepherd of our souls, is near.
These words are good reminders to me... I need them now more than ever.
Edify. Today's word.
I'm reading through Ezra. The people have returned to Jerusalem, under commands of King Cyrus, to build the temple that had been laying in ruins because all of Israel and Judah had been taken into captivity. After offering up the burnt sacrifices and reestablishing the feasts, the people laid the foundation of the temple and proclaimed with singing, praise, and shouting, "For He is good, for His mercy endures forever toward Israel".
What happened next? COMPLETE ATTACK! First, through trickery and deceit; the surrounding adversaries said to the heads of the Jews, "Let us build with you" but they said, "You may do nothing with us". The enemy then told the king of Persia that the Jews were building a rebellious and evil city; that they won't pay taxes, tribute, or customs to the king. The king was convinced by the lies and the work of the house of God ceased.
Edify.
I guess we all come to points in our lives where we see ruins all around us. We see relationships that have crumbled, communication that has been long cut off, love that has grown cold, and we hear the command from our King to build. We set off, offer ourselves as living sacrifices, and start building and lay the foundation. Then, just as we step back to wipe the sweat from our brow and take a look at the progress, we hear the words of attack; the bitter, sharp, cutting, destructive words. Is it time to stop? Is it time to quit? Do we listen?
Edify, to build up.
Could my failure to continue to edify actually cause others to be defeated and the foundations of their lives be turned into ruins again? That is a sobering question. I know God doesn't need us, He will raise up those that edify others, but He wants to use us.
"But let us who are of th day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing." 1 Thes. 5:8-11.
When it's the hardest, edify. When attacks come, edify. When love waxes cold, edify. When sorrow is the only emotion felt, edify. When you feel like you can't labor anymore, edify. And as you are edifying, pray for help, because the Helper, our Comforter, the Shepherd of our souls, is near.
These words are good reminders to me... I need them now more than ever.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Rent
"And the LORD God of their father sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, till there was no remedy." 2 Chronicles 36:15 & 16
What a sobering passage to read.
Has God sent me warnings that I have mocked, despised and scoffed at? Have I so deafened my ear that I have gone to places of sin where I am suffering from it?
"So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and he relents from doing harm. Who knows if He will turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind Him- a grain offering and a drink offering for the LORD your God?" Joel 2:13 & 14.
My heart I rend and to You God, I turn. Thank you for your mercy, kindness, forgiveness, and that you let me acknowledge my sin, confess it, and give me the grace to walk past it and leave it behind forever.
I am rent.
What a sobering passage to read.
Has God sent me warnings that I have mocked, despised and scoffed at? Have I so deafened my ear that I have gone to places of sin where I am suffering from it?
"So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and he relents from doing harm. Who knows if He will turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind Him- a grain offering and a drink offering for the LORD your God?" Joel 2:13 & 14.
My heart I rend and to You God, I turn. Thank you for your mercy, kindness, forgiveness, and that you let me acknowledge my sin, confess it, and give me the grace to walk past it and leave it behind forever.
I am rent.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
In the Valley Again
It's been a while since I have past sat down to write. My intention when I started this blog was to continually be posting, allowing this to be an outlet of what I was learning, experience, wondering, walking through; revealing God's heart to you as He was revealing it to me. I often find my thoughts so scattered that I don't want to scatter other's with them; that would be doing us both a discredit, so that is why I haven't posted as much as I would like. Then I thought of this blog as being more of my viewable journal, which is probably another very bad idea. So what should this be? What should I post?
Answer if you feel wish, or leave the questions open ended if that would be better... eventually God will show me, I know it. I know He still wants me to show other's His heart, so I will continue in that and trust that He will direct the words I type.
So, as this whole blog thing develops, and I get a concrete vision of what it should contain, I will fill the rest of this entry with an update on the happenings of my life right now.
I am in Napa Valley once again, living with the Kim family (my sister, brother-in-law, and three wonderful nephews, not to forget the one niece or nephew expected in December). I graduated from the SOW on May 21st, 2010 and now, I'm going where God is taking me. New season, as the last post contained, new areas of trust, newness all around. Being back in Napa has been a treat, like a decadently frosted giant chocolate cupcake. I love the people here. I love my friends. I love my family. I love the beauty of the landscape. I love the sunsets. I love the marshlands. Yes, one giant cupcake.
I've accumulated a lot of stuff this past year- or- erase that... I've gotten a lot of my old stuff sent to me in packages and when my family drove down from SD to visit last summer and now, I just want to get rid of it. Have you ever completely wanted to rid yourself of your whole wardrobe, accessories, trinkets, baskets, ect.? Right now I just want to keep the essentials and give the rest away. I have a tiny uncling in the back of my brain that I would end up regretting such a drastic detachment. But I know God would provide. And didn't Jesus tell the disciples not to take an extra tunic or money bag when He sent them out to tell others the gospel? I'm sure these men had houses, probably wives and children, and kept their belongings there, but they were assured by Jesus that taking nothing would mean He would provide everything.
So, where should my stuff stay? Where should all my belongings rest? Some of them are here, in the valley, others are in SD. Maybe it's ok to have them in both places.
Luke 9= so good. It contains the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand with the two fish and five loaves, or is it five fish and two loaves... it's the first. Jesus blessed it, He distributed it, and Jesus did the miracle. I know He will always provide.
My time for writing is over now. God's timing is always good.
Until the next time.... next though, next insight into God's heart....
Answer if you feel wish, or leave the questions open ended if that would be better... eventually God will show me, I know it. I know He still wants me to show other's His heart, so I will continue in that and trust that He will direct the words I type.
So, as this whole blog thing develops, and I get a concrete vision of what it should contain, I will fill the rest of this entry with an update on the happenings of my life right now.
I am in Napa Valley once again, living with the Kim family (my sister, brother-in-law, and three wonderful nephews, not to forget the one niece or nephew expected in December). I graduated from the SOW on May 21st, 2010 and now, I'm going where God is taking me. New season, as the last post contained, new areas of trust, newness all around. Being back in Napa has been a treat, like a decadently frosted giant chocolate cupcake. I love the people here. I love my friends. I love my family. I love the beauty of the landscape. I love the sunsets. I love the marshlands. Yes, one giant cupcake.
I've accumulated a lot of stuff this past year- or- erase that... I've gotten a lot of my old stuff sent to me in packages and when my family drove down from SD to visit last summer and now, I just want to get rid of it. Have you ever completely wanted to rid yourself of your whole wardrobe, accessories, trinkets, baskets, ect.? Right now I just want to keep the essentials and give the rest away. I have a tiny uncling in the back of my brain that I would end up regretting such a drastic detachment. But I know God would provide. And didn't Jesus tell the disciples not to take an extra tunic or money bag when He sent them out to tell others the gospel? I'm sure these men had houses, probably wives and children, and kept their belongings there, but they were assured by Jesus that taking nothing would mean He would provide everything.
So, where should my stuff stay? Where should all my belongings rest? Some of them are here, in the valley, others are in SD. Maybe it's ok to have them in both places.
Luke 9= so good. It contains the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand with the two fish and five loaves, or is it five fish and two loaves... it's the first. Jesus blessed it, He distributed it, and Jesus did the miracle. I know He will always provide.
My time for writing is over now. God's timing is always good.
Until the next time.... next though, next insight into God's heart....
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