tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79551959026871837202024-02-06T23:08:55.933-05:00perfect in weaknessUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger214125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7955195902687183720.post-45200149264635313712015-02-10T07:51:00.000-05:002015-02-10T08:02:03.263-05:00Sprinkled Cakes <span style="font-size: large;">To my sweet readers,</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I decided to take the plunge on a cake website and blog! I will be focusing on my writing there, so please check it out and follow . . .</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRViKB3PKEbapsAnvblPuplYSdjuzYS0s2ottuKx2RmyLteP5cLc-COoIfetYVtwY_zQa7Xdi8LBn6ZQzXuLCsEv5UXxQK2QUmtf9KSbfum7TnadM4JWvKvIKb8oCkLb1gBflogyrr6HF0/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-02-08+at+1.42.15+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRViKB3PKEbapsAnvblPuplYSdjuzYS0s2ottuKx2RmyLteP5cLc-COoIfetYVtwY_zQa7Xdi8LBn6ZQzXuLCsEv5UXxQK2QUmtf9KSbfum7TnadM4JWvKvIKb8oCkLb1gBflogyrr6HF0/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-02-08+at+1.42.15+PM.png" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here is the blog site: <a href="http://www.sprinkledcakes.com/blog/" target="_blank">Sprinkled Cakes Blog</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Please also visit <a href="http://www.sprinkledcakes.com/" target="_blank">Sprinkled Cakes.com</a> along with my new <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sprinkledcakesraleigh" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you all for reading - it means so much.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">love,</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sarah P</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7955195902687183720.post-12295971700685337382015-01-02T11:28:00.000-05:002015-01-02T11:28:54.831-05:00the struggle is realHello, 2015 . . . and hello to the blogosphere, after a long hiatus.<div>
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Last summer I started baking more and decorating cakes, which has consumed most of my free time - and this blog took a hit. I honestly don't know what direction to take this in . . . it's fun to think of having a baking blog, or to post cake pictures here too. But again - the time issue. </div>
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Every now and then I feel the urge to write, so I'm just going with it. </div>
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It is so refreshing to hear someone share a struggle, to be honest and transparent.</div>
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Social media is very deceptive, in the sense that we only post our highlights. It's easy to compare your "real" moments with everyone's instagram and facebook feeds (as they call it, "highlight reels"). Sure, anyone's life can look perfect on the outside. But the older I get, the more I realize that everyone is going through something.</div>
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As the cliche saying goes, "the struggle is real."</div>
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Whether or not they are willing to share, that is something else altogether. </div>
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I have a few friends that have been wrestling with circumstances lately. Unexpected setbacks, not having it all together, not knowing where life is headed. But let's be real . . . which one of us <i>actually</i> has it all figured out?</div>
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If we're honest, no one does. And it's life-giving to know that we're not alone.</div>
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One of my friends recently said that she was hesitant to be honest with people, because she didn't want their pity. I totally get that. There is a difference between pity and empathy. There is something about "doing life" together, coming alongside a fellow traveler and choosing to walk with them. To encourage them, know how to pray for them, and help carry a burden. </div>
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When we are honest, we give others the opportunity to bless, to speak truth, to encourage. And to let a watching world know that we don't have it all together, <i>and that's OK</i>. In fact, that's normal. It's being human. There is freedom there.</div>
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To all of my friends who are struggling, you are not alone. To those of you who have chosen vulnerability, <i>thank you</i>. To those of you who share stories, keep going. To those of you who are listening, respond in gentleness and kindness. You don't know what battle that person is facing, and this world could use more grace.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7955195902687183720.post-64394967872791189752014-12-30T12:05:00.000-05:002014-12-30T12:07:16.090-05:00peace . . . in any season<br />
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It's a little late to write a post about Christmas, but as I was sitting and reflecting on the season, I couldn't help but write.</div>
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It's easy to be disillusioned at Christmas, isn't it? We watch hallmark movies and have warm fuzzy memories and want everything to be <i>just</i> right . . . as if every dysfunction and broken dream will become mended on December 25th.</div>
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I don't know about you, but it's freeing when you realize that Christmas doesn't mean perfection.</div>
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We dream of harmonious family gatherings, giving or receiving the perfect gift, and the anticipation builds. </div>
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And these are good things! Don't get me wrong. Togetherness and fun gifts and all of the events and "things" (i.e. baking too many cookies) that come along with the holidays are great and I love them.</div>
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But let us not make those things the "ultimate" thing or the focal point. That they wouldn't make or break our Christmas. I think all of would agree that there is some degree of dysfunction in our lives - with or without the holiday season. Christmas just heightens your awareness of family weirdness, unmet longings, and unfulfilled dreams.</div>
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The greatest thing about Christmas is the news that God came to be with us. Broken humanity. He sees us, loves us, and has drawn near. He has made a way for us to know Him.</div>
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It's true - Emmanuel - <i>God with us</i>.</div>
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As one pastor said during our Christmas service, suffering and pain doesn't mean God has forgotten us. The good news is that God will never leave or forsake us . . . and He walks with us through brokenness, disappointment and shattered dreams.</div>
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He sees us through difficult seasons, all year long. He is the reason we can have peace, regardless of our circumstances. </div>
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I pray that you know Him . . . and that you will press deeper into the gospel and comfort His presence brings any time of year.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7955195902687183720.post-70794449065864778432014-09-22T08:30:00.001-04:002014-09-22T08:30:55.081-04:00Psalm 25<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I was reading Psalm 25 this morning, as part of the <a href="http://shereadstruth.com/" target="_blank">She Reads Truth</a> devotional (it's awesome, if you haven't checked it out!) and this verse stood out to me:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.<br />- Psalm 25:6</span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">There is something disarming and comforting about the fact that God's mercy and love are <i>"from of old." </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It reminds me of Ephesians 1:4-5, which states: "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Eph-1-4" id="en-ESV-29194" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">he <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29194I" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29194I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup>chose us in him <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29194J" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29194J" title="See cross-reference J">J</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup>before the foundation of the world, that we should be <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29194K" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29194K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup>holy and blameless before him. In love</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Eph-1-5" id="en-ESV-29195" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </sup><sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29195L" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29195L" title="See cross-reference L">L</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup>he predestined us for <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29195M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29195M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup>adoption as sons through Jesus Christ . . ."</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Eph-1-5" id="en-ESV-29195" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Eph-1-5" id="en-ESV-29195" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">If this really is true, that means that God was determined to love us even before we entered this world. Before our parents even entered the world. Before everything. </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Eph-1-5" id="en-ESV-29195" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">That means there is nothing we can do to outrun God's love, nothing we can do to remove His mercy and grace - even in our darkest of days. If He determined to set His love on us before creation, why do we think that we somehow hold enough power to remove or change that love?</span></span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7955195902687183720.post-40549068117659656582014-09-19T08:46:00.000-04:002014-09-19T08:46:24.335-04:00The mystery of grace<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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This post is long overdue . . . last month I decided to delve into the world of cake baking and decorating, which has been a whirlwind - and this blog fell to the wayside (oops). </div>
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I wanted to share about this awesome book that my bestie has let me borrow -<i> Extravagant Grace</i> by Barbara R. Duguid. </div>
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It's hard to wrap your brain around grace. I find it difficult mostly because I am hard-wired for works and performance . . . when I think I'm nice and productive and doing well spiritually, I feel like everything is great. When I fall into a pattern of sin, see the ugliness in my heart and am too rushed to have a real quiet time, I feel not so great . . . as if I need to pick myself up by my bootstraps and try harder. I feel like a "bad christian" - as if my performance is what keeps me in good standing with the Lord.</div>
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I thought for a long time that falling into a pattern of sin or having habitual sins meant that something was devastatingly wrong with me. As if I needed to be victorious over my own sins and just get over that bad habit on my own. How could I be a leader if I wasn't perfect? How could other people look to me when I struggled? How could I be a Christian and still battle these sin patterns?</div>
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In this book, Barbara explains that there are certain sins that the Lord - in His grace - allows us to struggle with for years, maybe even this lifetime. We never can quite gain victory over them. In those struggles, we see that we are never beyond needing His grace. Even the apostle Paul wrestled with sinning against the Lord and not being able to do what he knew was right (Romans 7). </div>
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The beauty of this is, the more I see my sin and my inability to pick myself out of it, the greater Christ becomes to me. I see that He knew humanity's sin and our wickedness, yet He still moves towards us to love. He is not surprised by our sins and our struggles. He loves us despite those things and even counted it joy that He would call us His own after suffering in our place (Hebrews 12:2).</div>
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The fact that Christ loves me, adopted me and will never let me go (John 10:28-29) . . . all while knowing how much and how far I would fall is nothing short of miraculous. I am surprised by the selfishness and pridefulness of my heart, but He is not. If you are in Christ, He has called you into covenant, lasting relationship and nothing can change His love for you. Even when you commit sins that you never thought were possible, His feelings toward you do not change. </div>
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I was listening to <a href="https://marshill.com/media/best-sermon-ever-2014/bryan-chapells-sermon" target="_blank">this</a> sermon by Dr. Byran Chapell where he is talking about God's grace and His grasp on us . . . and I will leave you with some nuggets of wisdom:</div>
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He says,</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And we know we can fall, and we know that we fail, and we know we are faithless at times, but God says, though we are faithless, he abides faithful. “My grasp isn’t enough to hold you, God,” but his grasp holds us. It’s the double grasp of the Father and the Son by which he says, “I not only have the ability to save you, but to keep you.”<br /><br />Charles Spurgeon, the great 19th century preacher said it this way. He said, “As a believer, you may fall on the ship of faith, but by Jesus Christ you do not fall off the ship of faith.” We are held by him.<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 30px;">Fault does not change relationship. And what God is saying through his Son is that when we have heard his voice and we, by hearing who Jesus is and having believed that, are made one with him, we are grasped by the Father and the Son. We’re part of the eternal family. And we may fail, but that doesn’t change the relationship. He holds us.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 30px;"><br /></span><br />And the reason that you and I have to hear that and receive that is too much can happen in life, our failures, the failures of others, the abuse that we experience, the trials that we go through, the hurt that we can’t get rid of. We have to hear through all of that cacophony of the noise of this world the words of Jesus that say, “You are mine. I gave myself for you because you are precious to the Father and I will not let you go.” And that’s what gives us home. It allows us to be sustained in a world where the heartache can sometimes be so great and beyond our ability to cling.<br /><br /></span></blockquote>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7955195902687183720.post-54831226160342632902014-08-07T08:29:00.001-04:002014-08-07T08:29:28.913-04:00not a piece of cake<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I love my job. I love my co-workers. I even love to bake them cakes ;)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The place that tests my patience more than anywhere else in my life is at work.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">If you work at a teaching hospital, you know what I mean.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I was particularly struggling this week . . . with new med students, new interns and a new fellow in the unit. Take a busy day in the ICU, add a bunch of new and different personalities, plus other stressors . . . and things start to get complicated. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Anywho, I caught myself becoming impatient, irritated and frustrated. In the moment, I tried to dissect these feelings and get to the bottom of it all - <i>why am I feeling this way? </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">There were a lot of stressors, but what I really needed was some perspective. Who am I working for? Do I truly care that this person is looking at me like I'm an idiot? Whose opinion of me truly matters?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I had to remind myself of a couple truths.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1. God extended grace and patience to me when I was His enemy. Does this move me to extend love to difficult people?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">For if </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-28042A" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28042A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">while we were enemies </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-28042B" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28042B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son . . . </span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>- Romans 5:10</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="text Eph-2-4" id="en-ESV-29217" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">But</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">God, being </span><sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29217I" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29217I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)"></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">rich in mercy, </span><sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29217J" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29217J" title="See cross-reference J">J</a>)"></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">because of the great love with which he loved us,</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text Eph-2-5" id="en-ESV-29218" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </sup>even <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29218K" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29218K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)"></sup>when we were dead in our trespasses, <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29218L" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29218L" title="See cross-reference L">L</a>)"></sup>made us alive together with Christ—<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29218M" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29218M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)"></sup>by grace you have been saved . . .</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Eph-2-5" id="en-ESV-29218" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>- Ephesians 2:4-5</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">2. Who am I working for? I am not working for the approval of man, no matter how many letters are behind their name. I am working for God, and His approval is what truly matters . . . which, because of the gospel, is based in grace, not on my performance. So even when I am grumpy, have a bad day and don't treat people the way I should, His feelings towards me have not changed. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Whatever you do, <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">work</span> heartily, as <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">for</span> the Lord and not <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">for </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">men . . .</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>- Colossians 3:23</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="text Eph-2-8" id="en-ESV-29221" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">For <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29221Q" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29221Q" title="See cross-reference Q">Q</a>)"></sup>by grace you have been saved <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29221R" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29221R" title="See cross-reference R">R</a>)"></sup>through faith. And this is <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29221S" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29221S" title="See cross-reference S">S</a>)"></sup>not your own doing; <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29221T" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29221T" title="See cross-reference T">T</a>)"></sup>it is the gift of God,</span><span class="text Eph-2-9" id="en-ESV-29222" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </sup><sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29222U" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29222U" title="See cross-reference U">U</a>)"></sup>not a result of works, <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29222V" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29222V" title="See cross-reference V">V</a>)"></sup>so that no one may boast.</span> </i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>- Ephesians 2:8-9</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I still struggled, but having a tiny glimpse of perspective helped me to push through. I have to remind myself daily to keep falling on His mercy and grace! Isn't it funny how, when we ask God to give us patience (or any other good character for that matter), He usually puts us through a trial . . . but it's all to change us and grow us.</span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7955195902687183720.post-37960350983302764652014-07-21T11:31:00.000-04:002014-07-21T11:31:13.125-04:00trusting God . . . daily<blockquote class="tr_bq">
He said to them, "When you pray, say: . . . '<i>Give us each day our daily bread</i>.'"<br />Luke 11:2-3 (emphasis mine)</blockquote>
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I have been reading through Luke as of late, and this morning I came across Luke 11, which focuses on prayer.<br />
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Something that jumped out at me was this instruction from Jesus to pray for daily bread.<br />
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What does this look like for us as Christians? He is pointing out that we are to live in a state of continual dependence on God. That God is our daily provider. <i>Day by day</i>. Sometimes moment by moment.<br />
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It is so easy for me to forget that everything I have comes from the hand of the Father. If you stop and think about it . . . what do you have that He has not given to you? Even the ability to wake up in the morning . . . down to the air in my lungs, it's all from Him.<br />
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How quickly do I forget and start to live as though I'm self-sufficient and in control of my days?<br />
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This manifests itself the most in the form of anxiety and fear.<br />
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Just last night, my mind started to wander and those "What if" questions started to populate my thoughts. <i>What if I have to find another roommate? What if all my friends get married and the only people I can hang out with are ten years younger than me and I can't relate to them? What if I have nothing to do and no one to see on the weekends?</i><br />
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How quickly I can run away with my imagination! I know that other women struggle with this. I was listening to a sermon last week on fear, and Veronica Greear was talking about how we do this - we imagine the worst possible situation and then freak out over it.<br />
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We have to reign our emotions and our imaginations back in. What is reality? If I stop, I can see that God is taking care of me<i> right now</i>. Today. He has not called me to go through a time of having no friends, or having to look for a new roommate. He has provided so abundantly and He is upholding me right now. He always has. Even when I did not know how to provide for myself, He knows.<br />
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Veronica also pointed out that when we go to these places in our minds, God's grace and power is not available to us. Only when we are called to go through trials does He give us exactly what we need, only when we need it. Of course you don't feel equipped to handle it now - He's not calling you to go through it.<br />
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I have to trust that God is going to provide for me daily. So if I do have to go through a time of wilderness or aloneness, I can know that He will be with me, He will carry me, and He will sustain me. It's not my job to figure it all out now - that's not where He has me right now.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7955195902687183720.post-34989861429505506182014-07-18T10:08:00.000-04:002014-07-18T10:08:03.537-04:00Florida recap<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-QzIB_pO4zhf8GGvoVHjhISWoz-5IJbOOsN7_53mI1kXSiQMxOrSVcXcIfuFj2AC2De4wDcPlSwuJEQXP9tKEe8iF1hhup-BjnjdNRfatqnEmC6YUW2eG6RJT9lRp8axsYoaM6aDEZmkj/s640/blogger-image--1886093012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-QzIB_pO4zhf8GGvoVHjhISWoz-5IJbOOsN7_53mI1kXSiQMxOrSVcXcIfuFj2AC2De4wDcPlSwuJEQXP9tKEe8iF1hhup-BjnjdNRfatqnEmC6YUW2eG6RJT9lRp8axsYoaM6aDEZmkj/s1600/blogger-image--1886093012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-QzIB_pO4zhf8GGvoVHjhISWoz-5IJbOOsN7_53mI1kXSiQMxOrSVcXcIfuFj2AC2De4wDcPlSwuJEQXP9tKEe8iF1hhup-BjnjdNRfatqnEmC6YUW2eG6RJT9lRp8axsYoaM6aDEZmkj/s640/blogger-image--1886093012.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the real reason I flew: free biscoff!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2apdwSWPVEBY_JBQ3mcuezQEAj0vcY1gThL1dtcXvg5GMuDi5tKgb1WGBFVmYYcA0V89AqKkd7g4Fsf92UZfcf9h_4hcAh2lTySySnBkDutnxVwndHo9CUPC9EXqyqIlmSen6wAQNn1YW/s640/blogger-image-2077585738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2apdwSWPVEBY_JBQ3mcuezQEAj0vcY1gThL1dtcXvg5GMuDi5tKgb1WGBFVmYYcA0V89AqKkd7g4Fsf92UZfcf9h_4hcAh2lTySySnBkDutnxVwndHo9CUPC9EXqyqIlmSen6wAQNn1YW/s640/blogger-image-2077585738.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">golf cart joyride</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8eR9i5oY3IHGCaI1A5f9sA8e3k2RpQFsCWwz0WlRzidta1LxlL_MeEdfOrU4j_5cf4QjmbqabL0BZvvU3RCLWrFqnBioKSCE6qAw_XlW1bIqAs5J5cm8P07HiI6XYkrnI0CdE8E6LXiH/s640/blogger-image-1444795522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8eR9i5oY3IHGCaI1A5f9sA8e3k2RpQFsCWwz0WlRzidta1LxlL_MeEdfOrU4j_5cf4QjmbqabL0BZvvU3RCLWrFqnBioKSCE6qAw_XlW1bIqAs5J5cm8P07HiI6XYkrnI0CdE8E6LXiH/s640/blogger-image-1444795522.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the manly bonding</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1U6Uwchnk19Frsn85p646Qr09RszlIvMxvRG8EIhg-O8hyphenhyphenivIBAq-pydLuKCSvScVu_WNT2NAt7qG40pWEnpTWeQa01d1imVHBqlpLaG4PgNrEyLNGTnrTYqSa-S24x_TlSF7msNJoqb/s640/blogger-image-316047070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1U6Uwchnk19Frsn85p646Qr09RszlIvMxvRG8EIhg-O8hyphenhyphenivIBAq-pydLuKCSvScVu_WNT2NAt7qG40pWEnpTWeQa01d1imVHBqlpLaG4PgNrEyLNGTnrTYqSa-S24x_TlSF7msNJoqb/s640/blogger-image-316047070.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">beautiful cupcakes by my mom :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZC1GtN851xEqkAB2K1WpA6Kx1b8BFnFmKI8wW332lS6obfK58dY9KOubMQe6FVyoYrGO6R_eZ_AEaHc-Xk9h3uaxbrqHeeJ1a920e4kEEGZkga8g6xA_v6uyJG_t45izoi06oTYLnBvLo/s640/blogger-image--956509406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZC1GtN851xEqkAB2K1WpA6Kx1b8BFnFmKI8wW332lS6obfK58dY9KOubMQe6FVyoYrGO6R_eZ_AEaHc-Xk9h3uaxbrqHeeJ1a920e4kEEGZkga8g6xA_v6uyJG_t45izoi06oTYLnBvLo/s640/blogger-image--956509406.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Birthday G'ma!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEyZ82_52niqGXN1koqZP_zbSolNLsxOrI1LjTZC0zEN-d7abI8POAuTKF7OSxaoG4NDiVJMAIoY7Y6xVWQa4Pzjq2gpfuOYEVk1zlCC_qcs91732Cxdm1a7T7JgzxOJtgDVwxb-yyVR9I/s640/blogger-image-1304200040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEyZ82_52niqGXN1koqZP_zbSolNLsxOrI1LjTZC0zEN-d7abI8POAuTKF7OSxaoG4NDiVJMAIoY7Y6xVWQa4Pzjq2gpfuOYEVk1zlCC_qcs91732Cxdm1a7T7JgzxOJtgDVwxb-yyVR9I/s640/blogger-image-1304200040.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I hope I look this good when I'm 80</td></tr>
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Last Friday I flew to Florida to celebrate my grandma's 80th birthday.</div>
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It was a super short trip - Friday morning until Sunday morning. It was fun to be reunited with family that I haven't seen in almost 2 years. </div>
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A few of my favorite things from the trip . . . watching my dad and cousin enjoy each other and bond, going to 4 different grocery stores in one day (no joke - we kept forgetting things), my grandma being with her 3 kids all together, and seeing her get rowdy during a game of dominos where she kept harassing my dad. Quite entertaining. </div>
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Just when I start to think that I'm a fairly calm person, God puts me on a plane . . . and it all goes out the window. The funny part is, I was listening to a sermon - <i><b>on fear </b>(and why we don't need to fear)</i> - when the plane was descending to RDU. We hit an air pocket or something and I thought,<i> this is it! we're going down!</i> my palms were sweaty and my heart rate shot up. Juuuust kidding guys - being on a plane can bring out the worst in someone. :)</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7955195902687183720.post-18346581759142237642014-07-01T17:12:00.000-04:002014-07-01T17:12:24.931-04:00when you're in the waitingAs a follow-up on yesterday's post . . . <div>
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Sometimes, you are called to a season of waiting. What are some reasons for waiting, and how can we practice this season <i>well</i>?</div>
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I never have any original thoughts, so I would love to just share some resources I've found to be helpful on this topic. </div>
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First, <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/article/5-reasons-why-god-calls-us-to-wait/" target="_blank">"5 Reasons Why God Calls Us to Wait"</a> - Paul Tripp</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"In ministry you will be both called to wait and also find waiting personally and corporately difficult. So it is important to recognize that there are lots of good reasons why waiting is not merely inescapable but necessary and helpful."</i></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.paultripp.com/articles/posts/tired-of-waiting-1" target="_blank">"Tired of Waiting" Part 1</a> and <a href="http://www.paultripp.com/articles/posts/tired-of-waiting-2" target="_blank">Part 2</a> - Paul Tripp</div>
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<a href="http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/practical-faith/5-ways-wait-god-well" target="_blank">5 Ways to Wait on God Well</a> - Relevant Magazine</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"We need to take a step back and take a look at the bigger picture. It's not about what we think will satisfy us now, but what God wants to do in us, for us and through us later. When we remember that immediate gratification is not the goal and God has our greater interests at heart, we can faithfully continue to wait and trust Him."</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
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A few months ago, J.D. gave this message: <a href="http://www.summitrdu.com/messages/?enmse=1&enmse_mid=355" target="_blank">The Insanity of God</a>. In it, he speaks about how it's a pattern in the Bible to see God give people a calling, and then immediately places them in a waiting time. J.D. encourages us not to waste this time of waiting - it's where God teaches us patience, where God shapes our character.</div>
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And lastly, a quote from Blackaby in <i>Experiencing God:</i></div>
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You may think of waiting as a passive, inactive time. Waiting on the Lord is anything but inactivity. While you wait on Him, pray with a passion to know Him, His purposes, and His ways. Watch circumstances and ask God to interpret them by revealing His perspective to you. . . By waiting, you shift the responsibility of the outcome to God, where it belongs. </blockquote>
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Waiting on Him is always worth the effort. His timing and His ways are always right. Depend on Him to guide you in His way and in His timing to accomplish His purpose.</blockquote>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7955195902687183720.post-7411335299454864652014-06-30T15:15:00.000-04:002014-06-30T15:15:00.064-04:00when it hurts to hope<br />
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One of the dangers of having an afternoon to yourself is the temptation to bake a cake for no reason . . . and that was me today. However, I resisted the urge . . . and instead ate my weight in watermelon. Because if you're going to have 10 servings of something, it's better that it's a fruit and not baked goods, right? Right.</div>
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Do you ever have dreams that just don't seem to be working out? </div>
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That door that seems to stay closed, no matter how persistent your prayers. Unmet desires that just won't be subdued.</div>
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Are you ever tempted to just let those dreams die, because it just <i>hurts too much to keep hoping?</i></div>
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I have been wrestling with this lately. I have tried to suppress my heart's longings, but it only causes me to become bitter. I have tried to play tricks on my mind in order to make those desires disappear, to fool myself into not wanting things. Somehow, it doesn't work (surprise).</div>
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So what now?</div>
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A friend of mine challenged me on this. She asked me, "Did God ask you to let that go?"</div>
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I had to admit - no, He didn't. It's just too painful to hope, to dream, to have unmet desires. So I want to just give up.</div>
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It is a good exercise to stop and ask ourselves:</div>
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- Is this desire selfish?</div>
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- Is it an idol in my life? (has it become an "ultimate" thing? - something I could't imagine life being happy or joyful without?)</div>
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- Has God told me to let it go?</div>
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- Is He instead asking me to trust Him deeper, including to trust in His timing?</div>
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In her book (which I've referenced before - it's that good) <i>Better Than My Dreams,</i> Paula Rinehart states:</div>
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<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It takes such courage to stay awake to a possibility - to keep bringing a hungry heart back to God, over and over, until he says it's time to let go. It takes faith to believe that if God says no to a good dream . . . it means God is up to something that will, eventually, have his glory written all over it. I find that trusting God with my life often leads to a place that's exhilirating and yet oddly painful at times. Indeed, it can hurt to hope . . . The paradox here is that while it may hurt to hope, the dangers of not hoping are far worse. </span></blockquote>
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She goes on to write about how we should not live with low expectations or let these dreams die, but instead keep running to God. To process life <i>with</i> Him, even in our disappointments. To be real with God, to struggle through these things with Him. That your life is part of a bigger story, even bigger than the dreams and plans that you have.</div>
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It can be tempting to just work these things out on our own, or to run away with our emotions . . . but as Tim Keller has said, <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Every single emotion that you have should be processed in prayer."</span></b></div>
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It's so much easier said than done . . . but let's keep hoping, keep running, keep struggling, keep trusting that God is good - even in disappointment.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7955195902687183720.post-66131473121766767762014-06-23T21:30:00.001-04:002014-06-23T21:30:59.755-04:00bold and confident<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGRQd3JveqUfP_8iZYhVKqNd-FXmnnUml3oBHNUSM9NYBYRaD-XJTlOieXjpNKQfagmouqdAg3vlym7ahnyr_Ru5y4wFwPXW_WfyRH-BQi7U5NrXodhBNnNmp_EQj7queAj9tmRt_TaX3/s640/blogger-image--1804450791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGRQd3JveqUfP_8iZYhVKqNd-FXmnnUml3oBHNUSM9NYBYRaD-XJTlOieXjpNKQfagmouqdAg3vlym7ahnyr_Ru5y4wFwPXW_WfyRH-BQi7U5NrXodhBNnNmp_EQj7queAj9tmRt_TaX3/s640/blogger-image--1804450791.jpg" /></a></div>
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I have been meditating on a few of God's promises lately . . .</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry,<i style="box-sizing: border-box;">“<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Abba</span>,</i> <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Father</span>.”</span> </span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- Romans 8:15</span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Let us then </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">with</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">confidence</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> draw near to the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">throne</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.</span>- Hebrews 4:16 </span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Eph-2-8" id="en-ESV-29221" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">For <sup class="crossref" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29221Q" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29221Q" title="See cross-reference Q">Q</a>)"></sup>by grace you have been saved <sup class="crossref" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29221R" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29221R" title="See cross-reference R">R</a>)"></sup>through faith. And this is <sup class="crossref" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29221S" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29221S" title="See cross-reference S">S</a>)"></sup>not your own doing; <sup class="crossref" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29221T" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29221T" title="See cross-reference T">T</a>)"></sup>it is the gift of God,</span> <span class="text Eph-2-9" id="en-ESV-29222" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">not a result of works, <sup class="crossref" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29222V" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29222V" title="See cross-reference V">V</a>)"></sup>so that no one may boast.</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">- Ephesians 2:8-9</span> </span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Eph-2-13" id="en-ESV-29226" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">But now in Christ Jesus you who once were <sup class="crossref" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29226E" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29226E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"></sup>far off have been brought near <sup class="crossref" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29226F" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29226F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)"></sup>by the blood of Christ.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Eph-2-14" id="en-ESV-29227" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">For <sup class="crossref" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29227G" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29227G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)"></sup>he himself is our peace . . . </span></span>- Ephesians 2:13-14</span> </blockquote>
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It is such a simple . . . yet astonishing and miraculous truth, to know that we have full access to the Father. That we can have a personal relationship with the one who created the universe.</div>
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Because Jesus did everything necessary in our place, we now have all the benefits of being God's adopted children. We are told that we have been brought near to God, and that we can cry out to Him as our Father. </div>
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We don't have to clean ourselves up, get our act together, or get that one stubborn habit under control first. </div>
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He invites us as we are - <i>as we are!</i> - to just come. </div>
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We don't have to follow a ten-step program, be in a certain building, be "good enough," or go through someone to get to God. Jesus has done everything necessary to bridge the gap. </div>
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On the cross, He declared <i>It is finished! </i>(John 19:30). That means there's nothing you or I could add or take away from salvation, from grace, from His invitation to come into relationship with Him.</div>
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I cannot express how much this truth has changed my life. How comforting and relieving it is to know that you are welcomed, fully known and fully loved - despite all of my sin, my flaws, my daily struggles. </div>
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Reflecting on this helps me to see more of what Paul meant when he said,<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">Indeed, I count everything as </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">loss</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><i> because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord</i>. (Philippians 3:8)</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Yes, Jesus is the greatest treasure.</span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7955195902687183720.post-2362763042588324402014-06-13T12:59:00.001-04:002014-06-13T12:59:11.688-04:00calling to mindIf there's one thing I'm taking away from the book "One Thousand Gifts," it's the power that a little perspective change and gratitude can have.<br />
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The author kept a log of what she was thankful for . . . even in the daily, mundane, ordinary. Little signs of God's hand in her life, blessings.<br />
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It calls to mind how God is involved in the smallest details of our lives.<br />
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I also read a book on prayer a few years ago that suggested writing prayer cards for different areas of your life . . . with a few specific prayer requests that you're presenting to God at the time. I kept a handful of those cards and pulled one out the other day. This card is almost two years old, and God answered every prayer that I had written down. It was amazing and encouraging to see how God has worked in such tangible ways. To call to mind those things as well.<br />
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I was inspired to start doing this again . . . to keep a journal of specific prayer requests, as well as the little things that I am thankful for on a regular basis. That way my eyes are opened to the hand of God even in the most "dull" moments . . . and I can look back and see how He has carried me and answered specific prayers.<br />
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I will share a glimpse of my "thankful" list . . .<br />
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- scent of gardenias and honeysuckle<br />
- summer thunderstorms<br />
- airplane noise<br />
- the smell of laundry as I pass through a neighborhood on a jog<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7955195902687183720.post-1365659049896950702014-06-09T08:58:00.000-04:002014-06-09T08:58:38.995-04:00remembering, thanking, trusting<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifBxbRUi8ECynI0PNjZf57Qiqvr0GKfEYdWtlmjfWOeYhmjO6_SHkYZhlvtsHyw-KN4HQvNO-eu19bUHH0mVj09BcbwFmlu3TA5Q8Ysm94INv6LmkBIN0MW_0xL3FjhigEglCa8-LyGnsI/s640/blogger-image-1038121780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifBxbRUi8ECynI0PNjZf57Qiqvr0GKfEYdWtlmjfWOeYhmjO6_SHkYZhlvtsHyw-KN4HQvNO-eu19bUHH0mVj09BcbwFmlu3TA5Q8Ysm94INv6LmkBIN0MW_0xL3FjhigEglCa8-LyGnsI/s640/blogger-image-1038121780.jpg" /></a></div>
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I finished reading <i>One Thousand Gifts</i> by Ann Voskamp yesterday. Chapter eight particularly stuck out to me.</div>
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The whole premise of the book is to see God's gifts, presence and grace in the daily, in the mundane, and even in the trials and sufferings in this life. To be thankful, to have a changed perspective.</div>
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She writes about battling anxiety by surrendering it in prayer, remembering God's goodness, being thankful and trusting God with the future.</div>
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Here are a few nuggets:</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And trust is that: work. The work of trusting love. Intentional and focused. Sometimes, too often, I don't want to muster the energy. Stress and anxiety seem easier. Easier to let a mind run wild with the worry than to exercise discipline, to reign her in, slip the blinders on and train her to walk steady in certain assurance, not spooked by the specters looming ahead. Are stress and worry evidences of a soul too lazy, too undisciplined, to keep gaze fixed on God? To stay in love?</span> </blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thanks is what builds trust.</span> </blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Every time fear freezes and worry writhes, every time I surrender to stress, aren't I advertising the unreliability of God? That I really don't believe? But if I'm grateful to the Bridge Builder for the crossing of a million strong bridges, thankful for a million faithful moments, my life speaks my beliefs and I trust Him again.</span> </blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Trust is the bridge from yesterday to tomorrow, built with planks of thanks. Remembering frames up gratitude. Gratitude lays our the planks of trust. I can walk the planks - from known to unknown - and know: He holds. <i>I could walk unafraid.</i></span> </blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i><i>remembering with thanks is what causes us to trust - to really believe.</i></span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If</span> I stop and reflect on all the ways that God has carried me, all the ways that He has provided for me, I am reminded of how trustworthy He is. I am reminded of His character and His provision. That gives me momentum for the future . . . while it is unknown, I am reassured that I am safe in His care. </div>
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How has God blessed you and provided for you? Stop and reflect on this . . . how does it help you to move forward?</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7955195902687183720.post-79877531803063158952014-06-02T10:43:00.000-04:002014-06-02T10:43:23.842-04:00Walking by faith and having a crisis of belief<br />
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This book. Super good. Our small group is going through it right now, and I am going to be really sad when it's over. I feel like everyone in group is learning a lot, the study is not burdensome and I honestly look forward to going through each week.</div>
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This past week focuses on walking by faith and having a crisis of belief. </div>
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Christians are called to walk with God . . . and having an ongoing relationship with Him requires us to trust Him, even when (or especially when) we cannot see what He is doing.</div>
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When circumstances start to become difficult, will we trust God and seek after Him? Will we exercise faith, believing that He is who He says He is? Will we continue to go to Him for direction and provision, even when we can't see? Or will we go our own way, trusting ourselves, our resources and our perspective instead?</div>
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No matter what stage of life you're in or what difficulties you are facing, you can apply this to your life.</div>
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Here are some nuggets from this week's study:</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Faith is confidence that what God promised or said will come to pass. Sight is the opposite of faith. If you can clearly see how something can be accomplished, more than likely, faith is not required. </span></b></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We forget that when God speaks, He always reveals what He is going to do - not what He wants us to do for Him. We join Him so He can do His work through us. We don't have to be able to accomplish the task with our limited ability or resources. With faith we can confidently proceed to obey Him because we know He is going to bring to pass what He purposes. Jesus indicated that what is impossible with man is possible with God (see Mark 10:27). The scriptures continually bear witness that this is true. </span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>What you do reveals what you believe about God, regardless of what you say.</b> When God reveals what He is purposing to do, you face a crisis - a decision time. God and the world can tell from your response what you really believe about God. Your trust in God will determine what you do and how you live. </span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A crisis of belief is not a calamity in your life but a turning point where you must make a decision. You must decide what you truly believe about God. </span><br /></blockquote>
There are times in my life where I have faced this crisis of belief . . . did I trust that God would provide, or would I turn the other direction and miss out on what He had for me? Things that only He could provide, like when I had to raise support for a mission trip to Nicaragua. I was in a position where I had to trust God . . . I was forced to depend on Him more fully.<br />
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Where have you faced this turning point in your life? It's not a one-time experience, God will continually bring us to places where we are humbled and must rely on Him. When God comes through in the way that only He can, it strengthens our faith and our relationship with Him.<br />
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I recently went on a trip for memorial day with a ton of other singles. When I came back from the trip, I was struggling with discontentment and fearing that online dating is the only way I will ever find someone.<br />
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I believe God used this study to speak to me in that discontentment. I had to stop and realize . . . these thoughts and my anxiety are showing me what I believe about God. I am believing that He won't provide, or that He needs my help (and the internet's help) in this area of my life.<br />
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The way I live reveals what I believe about God. Once again, He is calling me to trust Him when I cannot see how He will provide. In every season, God is calling us to walk by faith and come to that crucial point . . . will we rely on our resources and abilities, or will we turn to Him with open hands?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7955195902687183720.post-72624119417571849592014-05-23T10:33:00.001-04:002014-05-23T10:36:39.479-04:00on being a nurse: when it hurts<br />
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During my commute to work, I pray that God would use me to bless the people I will come in contact with, namely my patients and co-workers. I don't always know what that will look like until God puts me in certain situations (<i>and sometimes I don't even know if I am being a blessing - just being honest!</i>).</div>
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Being a nurse will put you in unique settings and circumstances . . . it allows you the opportunity to walk with people as they face suffering and grief head on. </div>
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Facing the loss of a loved one, the loss of hopes and dreams and what could've been. Facing the losses that death, disease and trauma bring.</div>
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I have been a nurse for six years and these situations are never easy. Honestly, I typically do not feel well-equipped in these moments. In these times, I am forced to rely more on God - which I am thankful for. I know I cannot do my job unless He is working in and through me.</div>
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I faced such a situation earlier this week. I started off my day wondering - what if I fall apart in front of my patient, when she needs me to be strong? What if the family sees me cry or get choked up when I try to speak? What do I even say? What can I say?</div>
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I knew that nothing I did or said could change their circumstances. But how could I offer support? What <i>could</i> I actually do to benefit them in some way?</div>
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I will tell you that I truly believe that it is an honor and a privilege to be a nurse. It is an honor to walk with people in the midst of deep heartache and pain. To share tears, to listen, to be present.</div>
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It is sweet of God to give me patients who are believers. I know I can offer them something more in these moments of grief. </div>
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I can encourage them to hold onto God and His Word, which never fails. The Word of God is living, His presence and promises are the only thing that will not crumble under the weight of suffering and the trials of this life.</div>
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This very firm foundation will carry them through the deepest pain of their life. When I can give people scripture and words of encouragement, I feel like I can actually offer something. Something that will last, something that can give hope in the midst of loss. </div>
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There are many other things we can offer in these moments . . . the comfort of having support from family, pastoral staff, a cool cloth or a fresh pillow (as simple as that may sound) . . . if I can offer anything that might bring the slightest bit of relief, if it can make a difference, then I am so thankful.</div>
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The journey of grief and loss is one that our patients and families take . . . and it is one that is not without challenge when you are the nurse caring for them. It hurts to have your heart open, but I am so thankful for the opportunities that God has given me to care for people during these times.</div>
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The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit<br />
Psalm 34:18 </blockquote>
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The Lord is near to all who call on Him<br />
Psalm 145:18 </blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Isa-43-2" id="en-ESV-18508" style="position: relative;">When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;</span></span></span> </blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span></span></span><span class="text Isa-43-2" style="position: relative;">and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;</span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Isa-43-2" style="position: relative;">when you walk through fire <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-18508C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup>you shall not be burned,</span></span></span> </blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Isa-43-2" style="position: relative;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span></span></span><span class="text Isa-43-2" style="position: relative;">and the flame shall not consume you.</span></span> </blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Isa-43-2" style="position: relative;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Isa-43-2" style="position: relative;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Isaiah 43:2</span></span></span></span></blockquote>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7955195902687183720.post-74452389662913886832014-05-18T07:34:00.000-04:002014-05-18T07:37:20.432-04:00Sweet weddingsDid I ever tell you that I love weddings? Because I do. :)<br />
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Yesterday my sweet friends Amy and Jeremy got married and it was beautiful. And fun. A perfect mix of both.<br />
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I loved getting to be a part of this! It was also so sweet to be reunited with old friends and to spend time with them over the past few days leading up to the wedding.<br />
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I was honored to be involved in baking cupcakes for the reception, as well as just getting to see how everything came together.<br />
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Thursday I went over to Amy's apartment to help decorate/assemble the cupcakes. Her family and friends tackled 260 cupcakes in 2 1/2 hours. I would say that's an accomplishment.<br />
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Another thing I loved about her wedding is that they did it all themselves with the help of family and friends. The decorations, setting up/tearing down, flowers, music, cupcakes and SO many other things that I'm sure I'm missing.<br />
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It was beautiful to watch friends and family rally around this couple to support them, to work together to do the preparations and decorations and so many things surrounding the wedding. I just kept admiring this and being thankful that I got to see something so harmonious.<br />
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I also kept admiring Amy's poise. Every time I saw her, she seemed so calm and went with the flow. It was also priceless to see the excitement she and Jeremy had to be with one another.<br />
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Yay weddings :) Yay friends, yay family, yay homemade and beautiful things.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7955195902687183720.post-4299144849662096222014-05-16T15:50:00.000-04:002014-05-16T15:50:04.157-04:00reflections lately<br />
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If you haven't listened to this album yet, you should. It is beautiful and full of Gospel truth and God has used it to melt my heart.</div>
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I was listening to <i>Brokenness Aside</i> and <i>Your Glory / Nothing But the Blood </i>this week and it reminded me of Isaiah 6 and Tim Keller's sermon titled, "The Gospel and Your Self."</div>
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The prophet Isaiah has an encounter with God that leaves Him undeniably changed. Tim Keller talks about moving from seeing God as a concept to God as a reality in your life, as Isaiah did. </div>
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He says:</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What is the difference between concept and reality? It’s a
matter of glory (weightiness). </span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">God as a concept is lighter than you. When you bring God as a
concept into your life, you shape it. It fits in around your existing patterns.
It doesn’t move you around. It doesn’t “quake” you. </span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you believe in God and
it just hasn’t changed you very much, it’s just a concept.<br />A God concept can’t change your beliefs around. It just fits
in with your existing beliefs. </span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Basically, we don’t believe in God in such a way
that He comes down and re-arranges our beliefs. </span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When the real God comes into your life, when you get into
the presence of the real God, things give way in your life to His glory. Things
that you’ve always believed and you believe very deeply are changed by His
word, because God has more glory than your beliefs. He can change things that
you think. And also, instead of God fitting into your agenda, God becomes your
new agenda. He radically changes our priorities.<br /><br />Your agenda, my agenda, apart from God, is to have a very
safe, tidy little life. And to watch your back and to be careful and to hedge
your bets and to look out for number one. God says bravery, self-sacrifice,
sacrifice your individual needs because I’m more real than your individual
needs, I have glory. </span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When God the reality comes into your life, all that stuff
starts to change. Every single person who’s really met God is aware of a time
when God went from being a concept to being a reality. Has that happened to
you? Do you know when that was?</span><br /> </blockquote>
Isaiah 6 is such a beautiful passage that points to the Gospel in a powerful way. Seeing how God draws us near, humbles us, shows His glory to be so beautiful . . . and atones for our sin when we had no merit, no way to earn His favor.<br />
<br />
<i>My life is yours</i><br />
<i>My hope is in you only</i><br />
<i>My heart you hold</i><br />
<i>'Cause you made this sinner holy</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Your glory is so beautiful</i><br />
<i>I fall onto my knees in awe</i><br />
<i>And the heartbeat of my life</i><br />
<i>Is to worship in your light</i><br />
<i>'Cause your glory is so beautiful</i><br />
<br />
<i>"Your Glory" - All Sons & Daughters</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7955195902687183720.post-39066233906281136672014-05-08T11:13:00.000-04:002014-05-08T11:17:01.456-04:00what contentment is notSeveral weeks ago, someone made a comment to me about my singleness that slowly evolved into mild anxiety about where I am in life. <i>Am I doing enough? Am I going to suddenly wake up at the age of 50 still single and it's all my fault because I didn't try hard enough or go to every single social event?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
A few days later, I met with a sweet friend who spoke truth and encouragement to me about this. If I really believe that God is sovereign, than I can rest instead of worry that I'm somehow missing out in life. It's all about His purposes and His plans, not my personal agenda or timeline, anyway. I can also rest, knowing that He is a kind and loving Father, and He will provide for all of my needs. I don't always know what that will look like, but I can trust that He is going to carry me through life and that His ways are better than my own.<br />
<br />
Anyways, when I was questioning my whereabouts and direction in life (<i>i.e. do I need to rearrange my life in order to be chasing men</i>), my friend asked me - what would you change about your life?<br />
<br />
I honestly answered her - I would change nothing.<br />
<br />
I really truly enjoy my life. So I'm not dating anyone and there are no prospects right now. I'm OK with that. Is that completely weird and alien? I have a wonderful job, a wonderful roommate, friends, volunteer work and other hobbies that keep me busy . . . I know that God is calling me to know Him more and the most important thing is my relationship with Him, not a particular status, relationship, position or achievement level.<br />
<br />
It reminds me of a sermon that I've mentioned at least once before - "<a href="http://www.thevillagechurch.net/sermon/learning-contentment/" target="_blank">Learning Contentment</a>" by Beau Hughes. At one point, he says:<br />
<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; color: #616161; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">What are you afraid to be content about because you believe God will leave you there if you grew content?</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; color: #616161; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">So many singles I talked to at the singles conference were actually afraid to nurture a heart of contentment in regards to their singleness because they were afraid that God would just leave them there if they became content in singleness.</span></blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; color: #616161; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span>
We are afraid that if we are content, then God will leave us in our same circumstances. It seems so silly, doesn't it? Yet, I would be lying if I told you I never had this thought.<br />
<br />
It's OK to be content with where God has you, and it doesn't mean that God will just leave you in your current stage of life. God is always teaching us to depend on Him and trust Him in a deeper way . . . whether that's in a season of waiting or a season of transition and new circumstances.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #616161; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7955195902687183720.post-11212525870359222022014-05-05T09:22:00.002-04:002014-05-08T11:17:31.609-04:00a simple exercise in preaching truth to yourself<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I am thankful for a faith that requires me to engage my mind and my thoughts . . . and practically apply truth in day-to-day life.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Sometimes, I just want to float through the day . . . to live based on my feelings or emotions (which is super dangerous if you are a woman :) ).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">But that is no way to live, since our emotions are fickle and my mood can change in the twinkling of an eye, for no apparent reason. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">You and I must make a choice . . . a choice to either listen to our anxious thoughts and feelings, or a choice to speak the truth to ourselves. We have to be proactive and take action, not just float through the motions. We must engage with the truth of the Gospel.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">As Paul David Tripp says, "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">No one is more influential in your life than you are. Because no one talks to you more than you do."</em></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></em></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">There is a <a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/preach-the-gospel-to-yourself" target="_blank">post </a>at desiring God on this topic, and the author states:</span></em></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px;"></span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3a3c3f;">In our sin, we constantly find our responses to life in our fallen world to be disconnected from the theology that we confess. Anger, fear, panic, discouragement stalk our hearts and whisper in our ears a false gospel that will lure our lives away from what we say we believe.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3a3c3f;">The battleground, says Tripp, is </span><a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/warm-yourself-at-the-fires-of-meditation" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 16px; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">meditation</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3a3c3f;">. What is it that is capturing your idle thoughts? What fear or frustration is filling your spare moments?</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3a3c3f;">Will you just listen to yourself, or will you start talking? No, preaching — not letting your concerns shape you, but forming your concerns by the gospel.</span></span></blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px;">Tullian Tchividjian also writes (link <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tullian/2011/03/26/what-to-preach-to-yourself-everyday/" target="_blank">here</a>):</span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #40464b; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Because we are so naturally prone to look at ourselves and our performance more than we do to Christ and his performance, we need constant reminders of the gospel.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #40464b; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Day by day, what we must do <em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">practically</em> can be experienced only as we come to a deeper understanding of what we are <em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">positionally</em>—a deeper understanding of what’s already ours in Christ.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #40464b; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #40464b; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">The hard work of Christian growth, therefore, is to think less of me and my performance and more of Jesus and his performance for me. Ironically, when we focus mostly on our need to get better we actually get worse. We become neurotic and self-absorbed. Preoccupation with my effort over God’s effort for me makes me increasingly self-centered and morbidly introspective.</span></span></blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We can daily press deeper into the cross and apply Gospel truth to the untouched areas of our lives. To combat lies and feelings with the objective truths found in scripture. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">A friend challenged me with an exercise that has benefitted me greatly over the years. She asked me to think through and write down - "What lies are you believing right now?" Followed up by, "What scripture disproves this?" It is a practical way to confront the lies that can so easily sneak up and interject themselves into our lives.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></em></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7955195902687183720.post-43048185002328403542014-05-01T14:06:00.001-04:002014-05-08T11:17:51.900-04:00open hands<br />
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<i>From </i>Him and <i>through</i> Him and <i>for</i> Him are all things . . .</div>
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- Romans 11:36</div>
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Ohhh, it has been too long.</div>
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But I am back :)</div>
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For now, at least.</div>
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Anyway . . . a friend of mine recently talked about living with open hands. Living in a way where you are fully yielded to God, not withholding anything from Him. Your hands are not clenched tightly around any area of your life, because nothing is off limits for God. He can take and give freely.</div>
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If I fully believe that God created me, has drawn me to Himself and is the one who sustains, guides and fulfills me . . . then how can anything be off limits for Him?</div>
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Scripture says that all things were created <i>by</i> God and <i>for</i> God. </div>
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That causes me to ask . . . what am I living for?</div>
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Am I living for the one who created me and saved me? Am I fully available to Him? Am I finding my fulfillment and purpose in Him? </div>
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It frees me from living for my own agenda or timeline. It changes my perspective.</div>
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My small group is going through a study called "Experiencing God." I read something this morning that goes along with living this way:</div>
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God will start to make Himself known to you simply as He would to a child. As you respond to Him in childlike trust, a whole new way of looking at life will begin to unfold for you. <b>Your life will be fulfilling. You will never sense an emptiness or a lack of purpose in your life.</b> God always fills your life with Himself. </blockquote>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7955195902687183720.post-65965784015934350152014-04-17T20:35:00.001-04:002014-05-08T11:18:17.835-04:00never alone<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Then all the disciples left him and fled.<br />Matthew 26: 56</span></b></blockquote>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">for the joy that was set before him endured the cross . . .<br />Hebrews 12:2 </span></b></blockquote>
<br />
I don't know if it was the awesome <a href="http://shereadstruth.com/2014/04/17/denial/" target="_blank">#SheReadsTruth</a> devotional I read this morning . . . JD's sermon from the weekend on Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, or Tim Keller sermons about the events leading up to Jesus' death . . . but it all just hit me tonight.<br />
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When I feel alone . . . when I am lonely because of my circumstances, God gently reminds me that I am not <b>truly</b> alone.<br />
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Jesus faced ultimate rejection, ultimate separation from His Father . . . and even His best friends and disciples abandoned Him in His hour of need.<br />
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Jesus was more alone and forsaken than I will ever know . . . all so that I would never have to be.<br />
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Even if friends reject me, people betray me . . . even if I remain single for this lifetime, I am not alone.<br />
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God gives us such a beautiful promise . . . that He will never leave or forsake us if we are His (Hebrews 13:5). That is more precious than <i>anything</i> this world can give us or death can take away.<br />
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I feel like my words are not eloquent in this area, so bear with me ;) but it is in God's Word that we find restoration for our souls, so I would encourage you to dwell there.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When Jesus started to cry out, he didn't say, "My friends, my friends!" "My head, my head!" "My hands, my hands!" He said, "My God, my God." On the cross, Jesus was forsaken by God. He said, "My God." That's the language of intimacy. To call anyone "my Susan" or "my John" is affectionate. And biblically, "my God" is covenantal address. It was the way God said someone could address him if he or she had a personal relationship with him. <i>"You shall be my people, and I shall be your God." </i></span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"My God, you have forsaken me." . . . this forsakenness, this loss, was between the Father and the Son, who had loved each other from all eternity. This love was infinitely long, absolutely perfect, and Jesus was losing it. </span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jesus, the maker of the world, was being unmade. Why? Jesus was experiencing our judgement day. "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" It wasn't a rhetorical question. And the answer is: For you, for me, for us. Jesus was forsaken by God so that we would never have to be. The judgement that should have fallen on us fell instead on Jesus. </span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">At the moment Jesus Christ died, this massive curtain (in the temple, separating the holy of holies) was ripped open. The tear was from top to bottom, just to make clear who did it. This was God's way of saying, "This is the sacrifice that ends all sacrifices, the way is now open to approach me." Now that Jesus has died, anybody who believes in him can see God, connect to God. The barrier is gone for good. </span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you see Jesus losing the infinite love of his Father out of his infinite love for you, it will melt your hardness. No matter who you are, it will open your eyes and shatter your darkness. You will at long last be able to turn away from all those other things that are dominating your life, addicting you, drawing you away from God. </span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- Tim Keller</span></blockquote>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7955195902687183720.post-80587417298367950902014-04-16T15:57:00.002-04:002014-04-16T16:02:22.802-04:00spring workout mix<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVe3n5Xi6gycCII7rkVi9wBCD8f2X56uJFW9UMbnUa8bqNKGmrugE_M-tYhgOq8DkNEQ2N0DkVg-0yg_xiCx2g6DWrBxR3Yiz7BT2iOqkygNjo2J9w0lEd9kAEvrt8N07eucv5ZLeCjF-P/s640/blogger-image-1843907527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVe3n5Xi6gycCII7rkVi9wBCD8f2X56uJFW9UMbnUa8bqNKGmrugE_M-tYhgOq8DkNEQ2N0DkVg-0yg_xiCx2g6DWrBxR3Yiz7BT2iOqkygNjo2J9w0lEd9kAEvrt8N07eucv5ZLeCjF-P/s640/blogger-image-1843907527.jpg" /></a></div>
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Nothing gets me more excited for the gym than a good workout mix :)</div>
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I finally got some new music and threw something together that got me pumped to work it at the gym today . . . hope you enjoy!</div>
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<b>1. "Beating Heart" - Ellie Goulding</b></div>
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<b>2. "I Want It All" - Karmin</b></div>
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<b>3. "Love Runs Out" - OneRepublic</b></div>
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<b>4. "Magic" - Coldplay</b></div>
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<b>5. "Turn Down For What" - DJ Snake & Lil Jon</b></div>
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<b>6. "Work Work" - Britney</b></div>
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<b>7. "What Now" - Rihanna</b></div>
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<b>8. "Take Me Home" - Cash Cash</b></div>
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<b>9. "I'm Still Hot" - Luciana</b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(I gotta just say . . . this song is so silly. I heard it during a sync cycle class and had to have it. Apparently there is a remix featuring Betty White. Just sayin.)</span></div>
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<b>10. "Heartbeat" - Enrique</b></div>
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<b>11. "Fall In Love" - Phantogram</b></div>
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<b>12. "Pumpin Blood" - NONONO</b></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7955195902687183720.post-27163759723960315162014-04-08T15:26:00.000-04:002014-04-08T15:26:07.978-04:00grace<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus<br />Romans 8:1</span></blockquote>
<br />
Can I be honest?<br />
<br />
My heart and my mind struggle to grasp this truth.<br />
<br />
Why? Because every day, I am faced with my own depravity . . . I see how I fall short, I see my sinfulness and struggles.<br />
<br />
I start to think . . . <i>once I clean my act up, once I quit struggling with this sin pattern, then I will be OK before God. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
That totally defeats the purpose of grace, doesn't it? If we had the ability to get ourselves right before God on our own, then Jesus died for nothing.<br />
<br />
Scripture tells us over and over again that Jesus lived a perfect life in our place and took all of God's wrath that we deserved, so that we would not only be declared forgiven but righteous, justified . . . perfect in the sight of God. Like they say at my church, the gospel is <i>Jesus in my place.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Jesus was completely and utterly forsaken so that we would never have to be.<br />
<i><br /></i>
Or as Tim Keller says, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><i>“The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.”</i></span><br />
<br />
As I was reading the above scripture this morning, I felt like that guy in the gospels who says to Jesus, <i>"I believe; help my unbelief!"</i> (Mark 9:24, emphasis mine)<br />
<br />
I feel that the struggle to completely and <i>fully</i> unpack and understand grace is one that I will continue to face on this side of heaven.<br />
<br />
Elyse Fitzpatrick has a wonderful devotional called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Comforts-Romans-Celebrating-Gospel-Time/dp/1433533197" target="_blank"><i>Comforts From Romans</i></a> that unpacks Romans 8:1 beautifully.<br />
<br />
She writes,<br />
<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jesus Christ is our propitiation. What <i>propitiation </i>means is to make an atoning sacrifice for another. Jesus is our wrath bearer. In his person he received the entire weight of <i>all</i> God's wrath for <i>all</i> our sin. In three hours he received <i>all </i>the wrath we would have known had we spent an eternity in hell. <i>All</i> of God's wrath for <i>all</i> of our sin - not just the sin that we committed before we came to Christ, not just the sin that we have committed since our conversion, or not even just the sins we've committed today. He received God's wrath for the sins we will commit tomorrow and through all of our tomorrows until we finally die. He paid for <i>all</i> our sin. We will never be recipients of God's wrath and condemnation because he's already borne it all.</span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If Jesus bore all of God's wrath for all of your sin,<br />how much wrath does God have left for you? </span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The answer is none. Go ahead and believe that. Say it out loud: "God has no wrath left for me!" Believe it. Jesus Christ has fully, irrevocably, unequivocally, and freely granted you freedom from all the wrath you deserve.</span></blockquote>
Throughout our lifetime, we will face struggles and will wrestle with sin - even though we are in Christ. But this does not mean that our salvation or our standing before God is in question. His word never comes back empty, and He promises that there is no condemnation for us.<br />
<br />
I don't know about you, but I need this reminder every single day. I need to return over and over to the truth of the gospel. To the truth of God's word. Every. single. day.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7955195902687183720.post-72617052388184499492014-04-07T15:59:00.000-04:002014-04-07T15:59:24.776-04:00photo recap of CharlestonThere is just something wonderful about sleeping in your own bed after being out of town for a weekend, right? I forget how hard it can be to sleep in a bed that isn't your own. I also forgot how I never get good sleep before race day (or, how I never really sleep at all).<br />
<br />
The weather on Friday and Saturday was probably the best we've had, in the five years that the Bridge Run weekend has been in existence.<br />
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It was wonderful.<br />
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I never know what I love more . . . all of the food and fun restaurants, or the race itself.<br />
<br />
At one point during the weekend, someone said, "If you had kids, you wouldn't take so many pictures of your food."<br />
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truth.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxGXkQjF5enOZk2jGEU9wl1H15QKz_lldDKgqAvkz37E4bx1RofNsOmtbEkhI20ipPpGwt-lxntvju1j1HYzp90lmsjny1PzBbItYlFZuUO307v24cq95SLXsuouOmVwAliFDFMCWVIzzi/s640/blogger-image--1114789186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxGXkQjF5enOZk2jGEU9wl1H15QKz_lldDKgqAvkz37E4bx1RofNsOmtbEkhI20ipPpGwt-lxntvju1j1HYzp90lmsjny1PzBbItYlFZuUO307v24cq95SLXsuouOmVwAliFDFMCWVIzzi/s640/blogger-image--1114789186.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">at Five Loaves</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7V8LcLpow2v2ge9aQIJO_AEwOtgfTEClN7OsjAw7m-mMm3zSty2t2PX52CkVYL1G3d8Gv_HG5tTRo2-nQa7hRe5lTAM6OEqk8KN7NyN9O87LbGBIGXwW0uPv55oAH3idSjMVw62QwK-Bo/s640/blogger-image-225782634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7V8LcLpow2v2ge9aQIJO_AEwOtgfTEClN7OsjAw7m-mMm3zSty2t2PX52CkVYL1G3d8Gv_HG5tTRo2-nQa7hRe5lTAM6OEqk8KN7NyN9O87LbGBIGXwW0uPv55oAH3idSjMVw62QwK-Bo/s640/blogger-image-225782634.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">two half-salads . . . one with eggplant fritters, the other with caramelized pearl onions and polenta croutons . . . and sweet basil/honey dressing WHAT :)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNKZlYrXRQ4X1wImlnZd5G5yKWSJ2-a6Nml2sy_-tGLunwLAftlS8vmrrjNBqjTi0Ms1SguGqYPJEQ-qrN0Kto04G98cN-_WSEf2wyKpKPqPMxFiy9B8lJ2OplUVPYQugRGVyH8vNlfYBi/s640/blogger-image-325446331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNKZlYrXRQ4X1wImlnZd5G5yKWSJ2-a6Nml2sy_-tGLunwLAftlS8vmrrjNBqjTi0Ms1SguGqYPJEQ-qrN0Kto04G98cN-_WSEf2wyKpKPqPMxFiy9B8lJ2OplUVPYQugRGVyH8vNlfYBi/s640/blogger-image-325446331.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">making friends at the race expo</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBbuD7qzCBp6bJpj-wvARDWJkf4QLq9zvedpCHKBwn2A8OvdonMrGavWfVTaUBvtGxhvDxM90V_XH1J-Q3hv25X8pIp5_1_TI5RXelY0kXVrHJ7QmrMZtDue2mcUIcCRIPPo9VgPOczsv/s640/blogger-image--958679505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBbuD7qzCBp6bJpj-wvARDWJkf4QLq9zvedpCHKBwn2A8OvdonMrGavWfVTaUBvtGxhvDxM90V_XH1J-Q3hv25X8pIp5_1_TI5RXelY0kXVrHJ7QmrMZtDue2mcUIcCRIPPo9VgPOczsv/s640/blogger-image--958679505.jpg" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitKFfXbQsjBqx_g7o3rQteNv7la1BLmvOmDz09jW0RyNpEz1cmXTZhOAjnMX3WgjOGmhVkB8M8F5T0lN9freNEZiHs09-o0c1r_SLpVSg8VqdO-1c_fnGBb3rrKC8KuGfV4_qxDcUFCUSh/s640/blogger-image-1955334636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitKFfXbQsjBqx_g7o3rQteNv7la1BLmvOmDz09jW0RyNpEz1cmXTZhOAjnMX3WgjOGmhVkB8M8F5T0lN9freNEZiHs09-o0c1r_SLpVSg8VqdO-1c_fnGBb3rrKC8KuGfV4_qxDcUFCUSh/s640/blogger-image-1955334636.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">we look pretty good for being up since before 5am, right?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2_WHvB6sbrAnp-Pc-9BSlfaAZ2sM_pNl59FBGaUCbJts701ggrEl1u5GHPTsgx-Khyphenhyphen_2FvfvJP23KahyK0S5nY9thsuymLQuaoGX3xn-HHtGdE56XTSNdJAGMD9PcbE0bSVQyUM9zwiu6/s640/blogger-image-827442782.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2_WHvB6sbrAnp-Pc-9BSlfaAZ2sM_pNl59FBGaUCbJts701ggrEl1u5GHPTsgx-Khyphenhyphen_2FvfvJP23KahyK0S5nY9thsuymLQuaoGX3xn-HHtGdE56XTSNdJAGMD9PcbE0bSVQyUM9zwiu6/s640/blogger-image-827442782.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">after the race</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXFC9-oB2gLgkoVUaM9KIR2AA3iubR9nFt3Xx98kGDx6K6jOI0GF0jEhudDfglzqQw3IctQjQy8IqtlIcaWDVjHRiqVyoOR7Mi2BVVoRh3gak8Zq58qekFwiwmR5VbwgakIanepfw3TIg/s640/blogger-image-1864600877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXFC9-oB2gLgkoVUaM9KIR2AA3iubR9nFt3Xx98kGDx6K6jOI0GF0jEhudDfglzqQw3IctQjQy8IqtlIcaWDVjHRiqVyoOR7Mi2BVVoRh3gak8Zq58qekFwiwmR5VbwgakIanepfw3TIg/s640/blogger-image-1864600877.jpg" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTEvR-B5Yl6l1wBfJagZdwNIuavm75NP_o_EF_kmn9SDi6nDDqqJ9_2oP4jbh-rdrTvZnYIwMtx34gkLjgH7CfNdKJvC-UU1dfFD2bA-rXbT6izRqDFK8fw2vOQEGLc99E58xI0g4LMKsO/s640/blogger-image--659430558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTEvR-B5Yl6l1wBfJagZdwNIuavm75NP_o_EF_kmn9SDi6nDDqqJ9_2oP4jbh-rdrTvZnYIwMtx34gkLjgH7CfNdKJvC-UU1dfFD2bA-rXbT6izRqDFK8fw2vOQEGLc99E58xI0g4LMKsO/s640/blogger-image--659430558.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">no trip is complete without getting dessert at Kaminsky's</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7955195902687183720.post-37824483251428306092014-03-31T11:45:00.000-04:002014-03-31T11:46:07.186-04:00when my faith feels small<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5_P-Vj75DbX2mdVvYCf7NytWSNL-RnXxdqxE6S1CJxkeZNbHltwvSSom7iV0zMx9-Ijw916QbHy1Im22CfDx4RwOBMfhzQueupfzgkkAxlvh_F_bj6FlxmfYZUdiqsuKmmuJ6NpCNWtm/s640/blogger-image-1626160082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5_P-Vj75DbX2mdVvYCf7NytWSNL-RnXxdqxE6S1CJxkeZNbHltwvSSom7iV0zMx9-Ijw916QbHy1Im22CfDx4RwOBMfhzQueupfzgkkAxlvh_F_bj6FlxmfYZUdiqsuKmmuJ6NpCNWtm/s640/blogger-image-1626160082.jpg" /></a></div>
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Yesterday morning I had one of those moments where my faith felt small, weak, feeble.</div>
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I always remember a quote from Tim Keller -<i> it's not the strength of your faith that saves you, but the object of your faith. </i></div>
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All that I could focus on was my own shortcomings, my sin, my struggles.</div>
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It's in those moments that God draws us back to His promises and we can find assurance in the only rock, the only firm foundation.</div>
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I read <a href="http://solidjoys.desiringgod.org/en/devotionals/he-will-keep-us-safe" target="_blank">this</a> devotional by John Piper, titled, "He Will Keep Us Safe."</div>
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This passage/excerpt stuck out to me:</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #525252; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The Lord will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:8–9)</i></span></span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Does the perseverance of our faith rest on the reliability of our own resolve? Or does it rest on the work of God to “keep us trusting”?<br />It is a great and wonderful truth of Scripture that God is faithful, and will keep forever those whom he has called. Our confidence that we are eternally secure is a confidence that God will “keep us trusting”!</span></blockquote>
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I was reminded once again that it's not my doing, not in my ability to trust . . . or anything within me that keeps me within His hand.</div>
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God is not distant or impersonal . . . He is near and relational, which is a great comfort.</div>
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He promises to never leave or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6, Hebrews 13:5), He promises that no one can snatch us out of His hand (John 10:28-29), what He began in us, <i>He </i>will bring to completion (Philippians 1:6) and that <i>He</i> is the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). </div>
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We can rest, knowing that the One who holds the universe together is holding us. Though we stray, feel weak, or have fickle emotions, He is the same throughout time. He is faithful, even when we are not (2 Timothy 2:13). </div>
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He is the one who sustains us, guides us, and leads us. Scripture also says we are to, "<i>draw near to God and He will draw near to you"</i> (James 4:8). Will we do that today, and know more of the security we have in Him?</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0