He Who Has The Son Has Life

The last few weeks I have been SO BLESSED to be, in these days leading up to Resurrection Day, taking a deeper, longer look at the Risen Christ. I'm searching the Scriptures on the LIFE, enjoying slowly working through The Incomparable Christ by J. Oswald Sanders, along with Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ by John Piper. It has been so rich this far, and I look forward to several more weeks.
Revive Our Hearts, a wonderful radio broadcast for women, published a special edition of Sanders' book and is working through complementary teachings to go with each of the 37 chapters. It's not too late to jump in and listen! It's quick and easy to download the podcasts from http://www.reviveourhearts.org/ to an MP-3 player. It is so worth it! Not to mention all the other wonderful series they go through! I am constantly digging back into the archives and listening to all the previous series. I can't begin to tell you what a blessing this has been to me, being taught the God's Word and how it applies to specific areas in women's lives. Just listening to these women rejoice in what God has taught them and how faithful He is and how He wants to equip us and make us victorious in Him makes me so hungry for more of Christ.
If you are a woman who needs a little encouragement and inspiration to move onward and upward the the Life, I would highly recommend this to you. Be blessed!

"And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only True God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." John 17:3

"This is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." 1 John 5:11

"It's Me"

A few days ago I heard this Sara Groves song for the first time. I'm not even married, and yet before the song could finish I was sobbing so hard that I had to run in the bathroom and cry on the floor. I knelt there confessing to my precious Lord all the times I've been so hard and calloused, so cold to His touch. It's me that is so wrong. It's me who puts the distance between us. So often I've been like Israel in the book of Jeremiah, forgetting Him for days without number.(Jer. 2:32)
Throughout so many books of the Bible, the Lord speaks as a jilted, forgotten, heart-broken lover---yet ALWAYS A LOVER. This truth of His character has amazed and broken me time and time again. The fact that no matter how cold I become, He always welcomes me back with open arms and more tenderness that I could ever dream.

Have you ever grown cold or hard toward someone whom you have committed your life to and who loves you? Is there someone whom you need to be reconciled with today? Just those two words, "It's me".... could be the hardest and yet most precious words you could say to them.
May the Lord grant you grace this day to join with Him in one of the most beautiful aspects of His nature.... RECONCILIATION.


"It's me, oh baby it's me...how in the world could tenderness be gone?"

"If we cut off their tongues and forbid the Christians speech, they love with their hands, with their feet, and with their eyes, they love always and everywhere until their last respiration. Does anybody know how to take out the power of love from these stupid Christians?"

-Romanian prison guard who found both his fulfillment and frustration in torturing Christians

I Want To Know That Man

If there's a man with a vison to recognize beauty in places and faces the rest have passed by

If there's a man who could meet with the queen

and stay warm with a beggar the very same night

A man who would pour himself out for a stranger for years for no kind of pay

Let me know his name

I want to know that man

I want to know that man

I want to know that man

If there's a man without a wallet or looks to explain

why these masses of people wanna follow him around

If there is something compelling

if he's saying something they know they've gotta know more about

A man who could love like a mother and die for a world instead of saving himself

I want to know his name

I want to know that man

I want to know that man

I want to know that man

Oh I'd be fool to go on acting like it's unimportant

It might take a little more faith to imagine him away

to walk the other way...

If he came if he lived if he came if he lived

If he died if he lived if he IS if he IS

If there's a God who would enter humanity to capture the love of a rebel like me

I want to know his name

(I want to know his name)

I want to know that man

I want to know that man

(I want to know that man)

I wan to know that man

I want to know that man

by Christa Wells

Download selections (including this song) from her album Frame the Clouds here at her website!

Pretties

When this sweet lil' feller jumped up on my arm, we were instantly friends. :)

Daddy bought me an orchid! Isn't it absolutely gorgeous!?
I'm learning about how to take good care of it.

My cheerful phalaenopsis.

Staring contests.

This little guy came to visit on the back porch. Isn't he amazingly created?

Guidance

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye."
Psalm 32:8

I will guide you with My eye.

Those who are most beloved to me follow my gaze, and I theirs. It is only natural that when you love someone you want to know what they look upon, what captures their attention and brings light to their eyes. What excites them? What saddens them? What makes them beam with pleasure?

This, I believe, is what our precious Lord means when He says He will guide us with His eye.
THOSE WHO LOVE HIM FOLLOW HIS GAZE.
They watch to see what makes Him smile...
and find themselves smiling also.
They watch to see what He looks upon that makes Him cry...
and tears fill their eyes.
They find Him laughing and laugh with Him.

And as they follow His gaze, their eyes are opened.
They are not rebellious, nor do they turn away.

They always keep following...

ALWAYS

Seek My Face

*be sure to pause the music at the bottom of the page*

If You Love the LORD

If you love the Lord, you will love His will for you

Instead of questions why, there'll be praise for all He brings you through

If you love the Lord, you will love His holy commands

Delight yourself in them, and everything you do will surely stand

We are His workmanship created for good works in Christ

He calls us to offer up ourselves a living sacrifice

Well, if you love the Lord, His discipline you won't despise

Cause it will prove to you, that you're a Child in His eyes

And if you love the Lord, you'll seek His face with all your heart

And even when you're old, from His holy place you won't depart

We are His workmanship created for good works in Christ

He calls us to offer up ourselves a living sacrifice

We are His workmanship created for good works in Christ

He calls us to offer up ourselves a living sacrifice

If You Love the Lord, by Keith Green

These words have been running through my mind for days! I love this message. I want to shout it to all the world! To all the church!

"Instead of questions why, there'll be praise for all He brings you through."

"His discipline you won't despise 'cause it will prove to you that you're a child in His eyes."

So good. So true.

Nevada

Hot, dry desert land. Crisp, clear water.

Beautiful sunset. And a sky full of stars.

Walker River Resort was nice.

Nana liked the farm country up against the Sierras so much that we teased her about becoming a mail-order bride and living on a big Nevada ranch.

I told her I would come visit. :)

Springtime Tidepool Fun

Boredom

I firmly believe the word is not to come from any true believer's mouth, much less be an attitude of his heart and mind. It grieves me to hear young people, even young adults whining, "I'm bored..."What does God say about it?
"Rejoice always, Pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. " 1 Thess. 5:16-18
Does this leave ANY space for boredom?
Do you sometimes wonder what the Lord's will is for you? This verse states it clearly. This is the beginning of His will for you; pursue these things!



Elisabeth Elliot, in her book Discipline, writes:
"I once heard a formula guaranteed to prevent boredom.
It is to have

1. Something to do
2. Someone to love
3. Something to look forward to

"The Christian has all these things in Christ: work, a Master, a hope.
How easily we forget this. One of the results of the Fall is that we lose sight of the meaning of things and begin to see the world as dull and opaque, instead of charged with glory."



In the light of our Lord and His salvation, even the smallest tasks take on a glorious meaning. Again and again God's Word makes it clear that everything is worthwhile if done as unto the Lord. "Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

Also, we are told that God has prepared good works for us, which we should walk in. Just like the Israelites entering the promise land, He tells us, "Here is My great plan for you, full of milk and honey and all manner of sweetness, walled cities and giants to conquer (It is I who fight for you; do not be afraid), therefore GO! Every bit of soil that you place you foot upon is yours, take it all! Be strong and of good courage; I have given you this land which I swore to give you."

So we enter in and begin to walk; we keep walking and never stop.

"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

May every day be sweeter as you pursue our precious King Jesus.

A Challenge and a Question (For the Women)

"Girls, your beauty should come not from time spent in front of the mirror, but rather from time spent in front of the mirror of the Word of God."

-alistair begg

And in light of God's Word, and specifically what He requires of women, here is a question:

What are the eight things that God requires of a woman, which if she does not obey she is guilty of blaspheming the word of God?

do it again

"Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, "Do it again"; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again" to the sun; and every evening, "Do it again" to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we."

-G.K. Chesterton

don't forget to pause the music at the bottom of the page. :)

poured forth

“Measure thy life by loss and not by gain

Not by wine drunk but by wine poured forth;

For love’s strength standeth in love’s sacrifice,

And he who suffereth most hath most to give.”
-Ugo Bassi

The Goal

"Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is.

Missions exists because worship doesn't."

- John Piper

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I had not quite thought of it that way before, but it's true. God created us to worship Him.

This is our purpose.

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"But you are a chosen generation,

a royal priesthood,

a holy nation,

His own special people,

that you may proclaim the praises of Him

who called you out of darkness

into His marvelous light;

who once were not a people

but now are the people of God,

who had not obtained mercy

but now have obtained mercy."

-1 Peter 2:9-10

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However, as we worship the One who has called us out of darkness,

we come to realize that

there is a place where He is not worshipped.

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"the principle of the Gospel is this:

the Gospel always brings life to the receiver,

and death to the giver."

-jackie pullenger

ouch

"Christians don't tell lies;

they just go to church and sing them."

- A.W. Tozer

Shema

"Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one."
-Deut. 6:4

"This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!"
-Matthew 17:5

"He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

"Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given;
and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him."
-Luke 8:18

"Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you;
and to you who hear, more will be given. For whoever has, to him more will be given;
but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him."
-Mark 4-24-25

"See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven. "
-Hebrews 12:25

"...the sheep hear His voice; and He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. And when He brings out His sheep, He goes before them; and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice."
-John 10:3-4

"Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
So then. my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear..."
-James 1:18-19

"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
-Romans 18:17

"Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.
For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation...?"
-Hebrews 2:1-3

"He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned.
The Lord GOD has opened My ear; and I was not rebellious, nor did I turn away."
-Isaiah 50:4b-5

"Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts."
-Hebrews 4:7

what must I do

Carolyn, what must I do to win,

what must I do to win,

What must I do to win your love

Carolyn, how do I begin, to tell you what you mean

And how I want to be your friend

If I bring you flowers, sunshine after the showers

If I gave you the springtime,

On a card in a heart-filled line

Oh....Carolyn, what must I do to win,

what must I do to win

What must I do to win your love

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If I gave you the morning, the sound of the rivers roaring

If I gave the sky to you, it's always delightful and new

Oh....Carolyn, what must I do to win, what must I do to win

What must I do to win your love

Carolyn, how do I begin, to tell you what you mean

And how I want to be your friend

---------------------------

If I gave my Son for you, would you see my love is true

If I called you by name and took you in and washed away your sin

Oh...Carolyn, what must I do to win, what must I do to win

What must I do to win your love

Carolyn, oh how, how do I begin

to tell you what you mean

and how I want to be your Friend

- "Carolyn" by Wes King

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Today I was singing this song, thinking of God's love. He always uses the little things to steal my heart- tiny
flowers, sunsets, whispers and songs.

Even when I am cold, hard and brittle to His touch, He is ever so tender, so ready to use whatever it takes to draw me to Himself. His love still amazes me.

love songs

I've grown up hearing plenty of love songs (that would be my daddy:), and when I first heard Eric and Leslie's music, I was amazed! Their songs are so Christ-centered and inspiring; not sad, meaningless or discouraging like so much other stuff out there.

I love it when my brother sits down and plays their songs and we sing together. It is so sweet; I wish he would do it every day. (was that a hint?:)

This particular one my sister has played beautifully on the piano, but I had never actually heard the whole song/lyrics before today. It is great; I especially love Leslie's background vocals.

~Be sure to turn off the music at the bottom of the page before you play the song~

You can find more of their songs here.

You Are My Stronghold

Lord, You are my light and my salvation

Whom shall I fear if You are near?

Lord, You are my peace when there is war all around me

And even here inside me I will have no fear

Oh Lord, You're my protection from my enemies

You set me high upon a rock and You defend my soul

And when their ways advance against me I am confident

that they cannot make me less, for You have made me whole

O Lord, You are my stronghold

You are my stronghold

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Lord You are my strength so let my head be lifted up

That I may glory in the ways You've overcome

Lord You are my home because You've created in me,

a heart that lives the victory that You've already won

Oh Lord, You're my protection from my enemies

You set me high upon a rock and You defend my soul

And when their ways advance against me I am confident

that they cannot make me less, for You have made me whole

O Lord, You are my stronghold

You are my stronghold