Sarah, Jeremiah and Solomon

A beautiful siren once confessed, "Everything changes / Everything falls apart / Can't stop to feel myself losing control / But deep in my senses I know / How stupid could I be / A simpleton could see / that you're no good for me..."


A suffering prophet once observed, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9)


A wise king once commanded, "Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well." (Proverbs 5:15)


The grass is never greener. Our hearts will lie to us, tempting us to find satisfaction in the forbidden ones. Drink deeply from your own well, your own husband or wife. Do not be led astray; you'll only be left to die of thirst. 

Epiphany in the Car

The Toot and I were driving this afternoon and listening to his Seeds Family Worship CD, Seeds of Faith. The song Faith was playing, and the lyrics are Hebrews 11:1 and 6 (NIrV). 


"v.1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for
And certain of what we do not see...
v.6 Without faith it is impossible to please God
Because anyone who comes to him must believe

That he exists and that he rewards

Those who earnestly seek him."

Here's my stream of thought as I sang along with verse 6. 


"Hmm, 'He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.' 
John Piper would say He rewards us with Himself, and I believe that. 
God is Who satisfies our souls most. 
Prosperity preachers would say that God rewards us with stuff, with things--money, happiness, health.
But if I were in a place and couldn't find my Hubby, so I searched and searched and sought after him, the greatest reward wouldn't be a gift from him. 
It would be himself. 
If I earnestly sought my hubby, the greatest reward would be to find him and have him."


Well, Pastor John {and whole counsel of God's Word}, I do believe you are right. The reward of earnestly seeking God is Himself. Anything else will never be as satisfying.

And Samuel said,

"Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as in obeying the voice of the LORD?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, 
and to listen than the fat of rams." (1 Samuel 15:22)

Well, I don't have a fiery altar or ram fat, but I do have Bible reading and prayer. They don't sound nearly so exciting, but they're the little "sacrifices" of Christians, the spiritual disciplines around which our lives revolve.

My Christian Spiritual Disciplines:

• read the Bible every day (or close to it)
• pray for myself and others
• write in my flowery little journal from Rite Aid
• listen to sermons, Christian books and worship music
• go to church...every Sunday

Like King Saul, I find myself more consumed with completing a long list of spiritual duties than simply obeying God, doing the things He's commanded me to do. (I'm so thankful that God left us the Bible. Makes knowing God's will a lot easier.)

I'm a Christian, a believer and lover of Jesus. That means I'm a child of God. I'm His little girl, and He expects His children to obey Him, not out of fear but out of love. He loves me and knows what's absolutely best for me. When I obey Him, life just seems to "go better," even when it's falling apart.

So here's to obeying my Heavenly Daddy, trusting that what He says is best and always proves good for me and glorifying to Him.

P.S. Obeying God isn't out of fear, but it's a response to the love He has for us. Also, obedience doesn't gain Christians favor with God. We already have His favor by Jesus' death. Again, our obedience is saying, "You've loved me! I love you, and I trust you."

Joyful Diligence?

So this is me. In my natural state. I would sit and rot my life away with a book or sleeping or eating. I do not kid myself that I'm inherently diligent or self-motivating or any such nonsense.

Also, I spend most of my time feeling guilty and beating myself up. Not a fun ride.

Sit. Read. Sit some more. Nap. Feel fat. Need to get up. No, I don't feel like getting up. Sit some more. Feel worse. I'll try again tomorrow.

Wake up. New day! Well, I'm always lazy, so why even try. Thus begins the cycle. Again.

This is life for me. Allow me to confess some sins to you: I'm excruciating lazy and selfish and feel quite entitled to do whatever I want. (Being a SAHM makes for a comfortable breeding ground for these sins.)

But God is a good Dad. He doesn't just sit by and let His children live in the filth they've always known. God is love, and that is not loving.

After some "coincidences" recently, I'm convinced that God wants me to step up and fight to be diligent in all areas of my life. (Yes, this is something that should be a given. For me, it hasn't been. Now, stop judging me.)

So here they are: my goals for 2012. They're big, but I've spent some time writing down how to practically live them out. (Those details would be different for everyone, so I won't give them.)

• Personal: Eat healthy, sleep responsibly and exercise daily.
• Walk with God: Seek satisfaction in God alone and fight for joy.
• Family: Love and serve my family with joy.
• Home: Work diligently, as for the Lord and not my hubby.
• Ministry: Joyfully pour my life out for the women and children I serve. 

Yes. They sound like your average Christian To-do List, but none of these things are easy for me. I have to fight to do them. I want to do them, but I just don't.

Here's to a new year and a hope in God's sufficient grace that produces change.

P.S. Please note that I'm seeking to all of this with joy, another attribute that doesn't come naturally. Like, at all. 

Yes, It May Seem Tedious Right Now...

but have patience.

Intimacy doesn't happen overnight and building a close relationship takes much time. When you first become a Christian, it may seem tedious and difficult. Read my Bible every day? Write down my thoughts and questions? Pray?! How do I even begin? Memorize passages and verses? It sounds more like homework than a relationship!


The beginning of any relationship has its easiness and its difficulty. The newness and excitement of marriage is wonderful, but you also must wash dishes and pick up dirty clothes. It is in the washing of dishes and clothes, the mundane activities of daily life together, where intimacy and deep love grow.

The same is true for spiritual disciplines.

Relationships take time, effort, grace and patience. Remember this as you begin to walk with the Lord.

Spending time learning more about Him and what He desires of you grows a desire for Him. Talking to Him through prayer cultivates trust in Him. Listening to His "still, small voice" in your heart reminds you that He's always near. Meditating on and memorizing His Truth, gives you a sword to fight with when temptations come calling.

Jesus loves you dearly and knows that a close relationship with Him brings joy and freedom and happiness like you've never known before.

"You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." 
(David, Psalm 16:11 ESV)


"If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full."
(Jesus, John 15:10-11 ESV)

Things I Love Thursday--Seeds Family Worship

My hubby and I both love music. He plays the guitar, sings and leads worship at our church. I make a joyful noise in the congregation.

Each night we sing together as a family, though. Joining together my noise and his talent. It's wonderful! Doesn't always sound perfect, but it's worship and togetherness, so it's beautiful.

Here are a few reasons Seeds is amazing:

• The songs are straight from Scripture. They're Bible verses set to music. My hubby and I have memorized so much Scripture since we discovered Seeds.
• The music is great! Oftentimes, Christian music is unfortunately cheesy. However, the musicians and composers of these albums are relevant and talented. 
• You get to share! If you purchase an CD album, you're given two! This way, you can share the extra album with a friend. It even has a perforated edge, so they receive a CD case, as well.
• The site is user-friendly. It's easy to navigate through and has tons of free stuff and stuff you may purchase--chords, T-shirts, activities and more! You may even listen to the songs online before purchasing anything.

Hope your family enjoys Seeds Family Worship as much as we do!

This post is linked up to The Diaper Diaries: Things I Love Thursdays. 

Top Ten Tuesday--Worthy Organizations

Want to change the world but don't know where to begin? Here are a few places to get your heart praying and your mind thinking.

1. World Vision Sponsor or give to children from around the globe.
2. Invisible Children Help keep children from becoming soldiers.
3. Show Hope Adopt an orphan!
4. Samaritan's Purse Give to children and families throughout the world.
5. Compassion International Sponsor more children from around the globe!
6. Blood Water Mission Give clean water to people who don't have any.
7. Acts 29 Network Help plant churches in the US and abroad.
8. Desiring God International Help translate DG resources into all different languages.
9. Not For Sale Campaign Help end human trafficking.
10. ReachLife Help take the gospel to the ghetto. 

What organization would you add to the list?

“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house, when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?"
(Isaiah 58:6-7)

This post is linked up to Top Ten Tuesday at OhAmanda!

Diversity--Things I Love Thursday

I'm young, married, female, middle class and white; I don't have any culturally interesting labels. I have interesting qualities, I'm sure, but when I fill out paperwork, I check the less-than-exciting boxes.

The little ekklesia to which I belong is a beautiful one. It resembles heaven far more than it used to, and I'd love to see more color and age and SES.

Diversity is pretty to me. That may sound cheesy, but it is. Here's why:

• I like lots of colors.
• I like learning from people older and younger than me.
• Heaven will be really colorful.
• I love to learn different languages.
• Believers in humble economic states have much to teach the rest of us about humility.
• The church is filled with gifts that I don't have but need in others.
• Believers in high economic states have much to teach the rest of us about humility. 
• Older believers are wise.
• Young believers are free.

I love diversity. I really do!

I'm linked up to Diaper Diaries.

I don't take notes in church.

I used to. I think I have since I became a Christian. I've carried my cutesy, usually floral journal or notebook to church with my pen and Bible. (Lately, I've even carried my pencil pouch in. Now, that's serious business.) Brownie points, right?

Well, last week I read a blog entry from Ray Ortlund about taking notes in church, and I was taken aback. "I have often discouraged the taking of notes while I am preaching..." What?! Why not? Shouldn't we be writing down all the main points and nifty quotes and anything else we deem worthy of our paper and pen? 

I read on, "The first and primary object of preaching is not only to give information....While you are writing your notes, you may be missing something of the impact of the Spirit." 

Wow, I had never thought that through. While I'm taking notes as though I'm seated in a lecture hall, the Spirit of the Living God may be speaking to my heart. I may be too busy being studious to hear His voice. 

Today, I read this quote from Jonathan Edwards on another blog: "The main benefit that is obtained by preaching is by impression made upon the mind in the time of it, and not by the effect that arises afterwards by a remembrance of what was delivered." 

All this to say, I no longer take notes in church. I'm learning to sit under the preaching of the Word and let it soak into my heart. I jot down thoughts or impressions in the margins of my Bible or on my hand. (Sometimes I know I should pray or journal through something later and must remember it.) 

I'm now seeing God's Word as a means to greater intimacy with the Lord, rather than a way to just know more stuff about Him. Besides, here's a confession: I rarely...ahem...don't ever go back and look through sermon notes. 

“This is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” ~Jesus, from John 17:3

and I've heard it a hundred times.

I've read this story. I've heard it pulled apart in sermons. I've been saddened by it before, but today this account just broke my heart.
  
...And a great crowd followed [Jesus] and thronged about him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.”


And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’”


And he looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
(Mark 5:24b-34 ESV, paragraph separation mine)

A Small Form of Worship

"And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, 'Truly you are the Son of God.' (Matthew 14:32-33, ESV, emphasis mine)

Jesus and Peter climb into the boat together, and the winds stop. Jesus' disciples then worship Him by simply acknowledging Who He is and then saying it out loud.

How simple. Seeing Jesus for Who He really is and then confessing it aloud to Him and to others is worship.