I've been longing for heaven so much lately. Ready to depart from this world that's so full of pain, struggle, disappointment, questions, doubt, uncertainty, weariness, etc. Ready to be in the presence of my Savior, who restores all things to perfection. I can't wait for that day. To behold His glory, to see His face, to worship at His feet.
This past Sunday Todd wrapped up the Big 12 series with a message about the second Christmas- the second coming of Christ. As believers, this is our ultimate hope- the reason we're able to persevere in this life. This life is as bad as it gets for us. Praise Jesus! He is returning to make all things right. Though we have been saved from the penalty of sin if we have trusted in Christ, there will come a day, soon and very soon, when He is coming to rescue us from the presence of sin. Hallelujah!
We sang this song, Soon and Very Soon, that night. I LOVE it. Yes, Lord, soon and very soon...
Soon and very soon
My King is coming
Robed in righteousness
And crowned with love
When I see him
I shall be made like him
Soon and very soon
Soon and very soon
I'll be going
To the place he has prepared for me
There my sin erased
My shame forgotten
Soon and very soon
I will be with the one I love
With unveiled face I'll see him
There my soul will be satisfied
Soon and very soon
Soon and very soon
See the procession
The angels and the elders
Round the throne
At his feet i lay
My crowns, my worship
Soon and very soon
I will be with the one I love
With unveiled face i'll see him
There my soul will be satisfied
Soon and very soon
Though I have not seen him
My heart knows him well
Jesus Christ the lamb
The lord of heaven
I will be with one I love
With unveiled face I'll see him
There my soul will be satisfied
Soon and very soon...
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
'Tis the Season for Christmas Parties!
This past Thursday we had our student ministry leaders' Christmas party. Always a good time, especially when David and Bode are showing off their chiseled chests. Right? Umm....we'll save that debate for later. :)
I shamelessly stole some pictures from the website. I'll do it again if Sarah ever posts hers. Enjoy!
Our amazing staff (left to right): David Marvin (intern), Mike (senior high), Braun (over all of student ministry), SarahBeth (admin), David Penuel (junior high), Bode (programs), Mel (women's staff), and Jarrod (worship). I am SO blessed to serve under the leadership of these amazing men and women!
They asked about 20 or so junior high and senior high students to be our servers for the evening. So sweet! After we were finished eating they came around and shared what their leaders mean to them and the impact they've had on their lives.
We got our picture snapped right when we walked in.
Our table (left to right): Lisa (new friend I met that night..she's so fun!), me, Sarah, Jen, Sarah, Laura, Stacy.
Robyn and Sarah are in my community group. I ADORE these girls.
The group. And believe it or not, quite a few leaders were actually missing from the party that night.
I love that the Lord is allowing me to serve alongside other believers who are passionate about seeing the hearts and lives of young people transformed by the grace of Jesus Christ. Words cannot begin to express how blessed I am. :)
I shamelessly stole some pictures from the website. I'll do it again if Sarah ever posts hers. Enjoy!
Our amazing staff (left to right): David Marvin (intern), Mike (senior high), Braun (over all of student ministry), SarahBeth (admin), David Penuel (junior high), Bode (programs), Mel (women's staff), and Jarrod (worship). I am SO blessed to serve under the leadership of these amazing men and women!
They asked about 20 or so junior high and senior high students to be our servers for the evening. So sweet! After we were finished eating they came around and shared what their leaders mean to them and the impact they've had on their lives.
We got our picture snapped right when we walked in.
Our table (left to right): Lisa (new friend I met that night..she's so fun!), me, Sarah, Jen, Sarah, Laura, Stacy.
Robyn and Sarah are in my community group. I ADORE these girls.
The group. And believe it or not, quite a few leaders were actually missing from the party that night.
I love that the Lord is allowing me to serve alongside other believers who are passionate about seeing the hearts and lives of young people transformed by the grace of Jesus Christ. Words cannot begin to express how blessed I am. :)
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Grasping & Clinging
Here, in no particular order, are just a few of the verses/passages of Scripture the Lord has been using to speak sweet truth, encouragement, and/or conviction into my heart lately. I've been grasping and clinging to these words more than any other time in my life.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith - more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire - may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. -1 Peter 1:3-9
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised for those who love him. -James 1:12
Thus says the Lord: "Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it; and find rest for your souls..." -Jeremiah 6:16
Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another. -Isaiah 48:10-11
But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned - every one - to his own way; and the Lord has laid upon him the iniquity of us all. -Isaiah 53:5-6
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose... What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? -Romans 8:28, 31-32
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed... For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. -2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 17
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all of their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. -Psalm 34:17-18
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. -Isaiah 43:2
And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them. -Isaiah 42:16
You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. -Psalm 32:7
For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. -Romans 3:20, 23-25
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. -Isaiah 26:3-4
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. -Romans 12:2
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I still trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. -Galatians 1:10
For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. -Hebrews 12:11
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. -Proverbs 3:5-6
I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might displace his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. -1 Timothy 1:12-17
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith - more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire - may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. -1 Peter 1:3-9
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised for those who love him. -James 1:12
Thus says the Lord: "Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it; and find rest for your souls..." -Jeremiah 6:16
Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another. -Isaiah 48:10-11
But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned - every one - to his own way; and the Lord has laid upon him the iniquity of us all. -Isaiah 53:5-6
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose... What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? -Romans 8:28, 31-32
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed... For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. -2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 17
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all of their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. -Psalm 34:17-18
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. -Isaiah 43:2
And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them. -Isaiah 42:16
You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. -Psalm 32:7
For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. -Romans 3:20, 23-25
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. -Isaiah 26:3-4
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. -Romans 12:2
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I still trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. -Galatians 1:10
For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. -Hebrews 12:11
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. -Proverbs 3:5-6
I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might displace his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. -1 Timothy 1:12-17
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Sucked In
I admit it: I've been sucked in.
I'm an avid reader. I'd rather read than do just about anything else. I've always been this way. BUT I'm rather picky about what I read. Always have been. This past summer I started seeing previews for the movie My Sister's Keeper and thought it looked really good, but I decided I wanted to read the book first (FYI: the book is always better than the movie...especially in this case, because they totally butchered the ending of the movie). So I picked up Jodi Picoult's novel and began reading. Totally sucked me in. Couldn't put it down. I can't say that about many books. After that, I picked up another of her books. And then another. And then another. I'm totally hooked. I love how she chooses to write about the things that are controversial in our culture today, and totally draws you into the characters' stories. By the time you're done reading, you may not see things as black-and-white as you did before (at least from a purely secular standpoint). I'm looking forward to continuing on with her other books. Here are the ones I've read so far:
My Sister's Keeper: One sister is conceived and genetically engineered to save her other sister's life. What happens when she no longer wants the job?
Nineteen Minutes: School shooting. Who's to blame, the shooter or the kids who spent years bullying him?
Handle with Care: A child is born with a condition that could have been discovered early enough in the pregnancy for her parents to consider terminating. Can you consider it a wrongful birth when that child is alive and part of your life?
Perfect Match: Prosecutor learns her son has been sexually abused and murders her son's alleged abuser, their priest. What happens when she learns the priest was innocent? Will justice be served?
I recommend all of these books, although they've all been difficult to read at some points. Not for the faint of heart. But thought-provoking, nonetheless!
I'm an avid reader. I'd rather read than do just about anything else. I've always been this way. BUT I'm rather picky about what I read. Always have been. This past summer I started seeing previews for the movie My Sister's Keeper and thought it looked really good, but I decided I wanted to read the book first (FYI: the book is always better than the movie...especially in this case, because they totally butchered the ending of the movie). So I picked up Jodi Picoult's novel and began reading. Totally sucked me in. Couldn't put it down. I can't say that about many books. After that, I picked up another of her books. And then another. And then another. I'm totally hooked. I love how she chooses to write about the things that are controversial in our culture today, and totally draws you into the characters' stories. By the time you're done reading, you may not see things as black-and-white as you did before (at least from a purely secular standpoint). I'm looking forward to continuing on with her other books. Here are the ones I've read so far:
My Sister's Keeper: One sister is conceived and genetically engineered to save her other sister's life. What happens when she no longer wants the job?
Nineteen Minutes: School shooting. Who's to blame, the shooter or the kids who spent years bullying him?
Handle with Care: A child is born with a condition that could have been discovered early enough in the pregnancy for her parents to consider terminating. Can you consider it a wrongful birth when that child is alive and part of your life?
Perfect Match: Prosecutor learns her son has been sexually abused and murders her son's alleged abuser, their priest. What happens when she learns the priest was innocent? Will justice be served?
I recommend all of these books, although they've all been difficult to read at some points. Not for the faint of heart. But thought-provoking, nonetheless!
Christmas Tunes
I'm finally getting into the spirit of Christmas and listening to Christmas music. Don't know why it's taken me so long, but it has. These two albums are probably my all-time favorites:
Behold the Lamb of God: The True Tall Tale of the Coming of Christ by Andrew Peterson
I could write up a review of this one, but I'm sending you over to Heather Hendrick's blog (here) to read hers. Because she makes me laugh. And I respect her immensely.
Next up:
Rose of Bethlehem by Selah
I LOVE Selah. Anything they release is pure gold in my book, including this album.
Off you go to the iTunes store to download! :)
Behold the Lamb of God: The True Tall Tale of the Coming of Christ by Andrew Peterson
I could write up a review of this one, but I'm sending you over to Heather Hendrick's blog (here) to read hers. Because she makes me laugh. And I respect her immensely.
Next up:
Rose of Bethlehem by Selah
I LOVE Selah. Anything they release is pure gold in my book, including this album.
Off you go to the iTunes store to download! :)
Monday, December 07, 2009
Chi-Town '09
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Things that give me warm fuzzies...
I'm stealing this idea from Sarah. Don't worry, she won't mind. I promise. :)
Things that have been making me happy lately...
• Shane and Shane's new album, "Everything is Different." I've already done a blog post on this, but I've fallen even more in love with this album since then. If you haven't downloaded it yet, we're no longer friends. Just saying.
• Elf. Because it kicks off the Christmas season for me. I'm pretty sure I've watched it at least six or seven times in the last two weeks.
• Cold weather! Given that we get it for such a short time here in Texas every year, I relish it when it comes. I'm still convinced God wants me to live in Colorado someday. Maybe it'll be sooner rather than later. Been contemplating that one a lot lately.
• Bones re-runs. There are a few shows I can watch over and over and over again and never get tired of, and Bones is one of them. I've been enjoying re-watching seasons 3-4 lately. FYI: other shows I can never get tired of include House, Gilmore Girls, and Alias.
• Sophie. She's been uber cuddly lately and I LOVE it. :)
• Community. I'll be honest- I have a love/hate relationship with this whole "being known" thing, but I've been so thankful lately for the friends the Lord has brought into my life and the way He encourages me and challenges me through them.
• Speaking of friends, getting to hang out and laugh with friends. So refreshing.
So what about you? What's making you happy these days?
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Anticipation
I am eagerly anticipating the release of this book in May:
"I Will Carry You: The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy" by Angie Smith
You can click the "I'm a Sunday/Bring the Rain" button over on the right to go to Angie's blog and read her story. It's amazing. She and her husband Todd (singer in the group Selah, one of my favorites) found out when they were expecting their fourth daughter, Audrey, that she had conditions making her incompatible with life. Opting against doctors' suggestions to abort, they chose to trust the Lord with their daughter's life. Audrey lived for two and a half hours after she was born. Angie has blogged their entire journey- from learning of Audrey's diagnosis, through the pregnancy, her death, grieving, and now sharing in the experience of expecting another child. And she has given much glory to Jesus Christ in all of it. The Father has indeed redeemed a dark and seemingly hopeless situation by drawing many to Himself through Audrey's story.
You can pre-order the book here.
"I Will Carry You: The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy" by Angie Smith
You can click the "I'm a Sunday/Bring the Rain" button over on the right to go to Angie's blog and read her story. It's amazing. She and her husband Todd (singer in the group Selah, one of my favorites) found out when they were expecting their fourth daughter, Audrey, that she had conditions making her incompatible with life. Opting against doctors' suggestions to abort, they chose to trust the Lord with their daughter's life. Audrey lived for two and a half hours after she was born. Angie has blogged their entire journey- from learning of Audrey's diagnosis, through the pregnancy, her death, grieving, and now sharing in the experience of expecting another child. And she has given much glory to Jesus Christ in all of it. The Father has indeed redeemed a dark and seemingly hopeless situation by drawing many to Himself through Audrey's story.
You can pre-order the book here.
Also, just for fun, if you scroll down to the bottom to my music playlist you can listen to "I Will Carry You," the song they wrote for Audrey and that is featured on Selah's latest album.
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