grateful

i realized yesterday that i'm feeling really grateful these days...not that everything is perfect, but the Lord has provided a lot of sweet things in this season. a WONDERFUL husband, incredible friends, loving and encouraging family, ministry partners that are generous and in the mission with us...places to stay as we travel...appointments with people that make my heart joyful...sweet times with the Lord and beautiful creation all around.

that's all....i'm grateful.

whew...

so we're sweating out the humidity and traveling around minnesota to meet with potential ministry partners. its been really encouraging! and busy.... but i loved what david, one of our potential ministry partners, shared with us tonight that he's learned recently about jesus life. as he read about jesus speaking to the crowds, providing food, speaking again, healing, trying to leave by boat only to find more people on the other side, plus wanting to mourn john's death, he was SUPER busy. but he always paused for the people that sought him out. he was always busy, but never in a hurry.

always busy, but never in a hurry.

i'm not always busy...just sometimes. but i'm often in a hurry. i don't like pausing for things that aren't directly in line with my current goal or destination. just a little reality check and some food for thought.

Wherever you are...

be ALL there.

that's the quote the Lord put on my heart this morning. i think its jim elliot. i'm in a place where i know my heart is not all here. i want it to be.

delight in the Lord

'delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.' (psalm 37:4)

this is what the Lord reinforced to me today...and i will trust him.

why am i here?

i asked myself that question tonight as i tried to get myself geared up for a 3 hour planning meeting with our student leaders.... the Lord gave me a several reasons...none of which i would've stumbled upon on my own and ALL of which were so valid. crazy how wise He is...

here are a few (all from Paul)...

2 Cor. 2:15-17 - God wants to spread the fragrance of Christ everywhere and we are the aroma of Him.
2 Cor 5:20-21 - we are ambassadors for Christ...God making his appeal through us.
Eph 2:4-6 - i was saved by grace and seated with Christ in the heavenlies
Eph 2:11-13 - i was a stranger to the promise and now i have hope. there are still ppl who don't have hope.
Phil 1:21 - to live is Christ and to die is gain. simple enough, right?
phil 3:8-11 - everything is rubbish compared to the surpassing gain of knowing Christ.
1 Tim 1:15-16 - Jesus Christ came to save sinners...and i'm a sinner who received His mercy..may my life bring Him glory

so...needless to say, that was incentive enough for me to end my pity party and rejoice in the fact that, by God's mercy, i get to be a part of this ministry...my head may be tired, but my heart is full.

from the Word

these verses have brought me a lot of comfort the past few days...

'we know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.' (1 john 5:18)

'in peace i will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.' (psalm 4:8)

and i've been pondering these verses...

'have you believed because you have seen me? blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.' (john 20:29)

'let us draw near [to God] with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.' (heb 10:22)

there you have it. blessings in the Lord.

new beginnings....

i realized recently that i haven't written in my old xanga blog for almost a year, so i decided it was time for new beginnings. i hope to write more often, as i always enjoyed blogging...so we'll see what comes of this one.....