Share it with Me

As a single young adult I often find myself desiring to share the overflow of my heart with someone, someone where it seems that there is a heart and deep spiritual connection because that is edifying to the spirit. Don't get me wrong- I'm not bashing the single season nor do I want to rush God's hand onto the next season but that is one of the  things I notice that I long for. I've been telling God that recently as I've noticed that longing intensifying and this morning He simply whispered to my spirit "Share it with Me". Why I didn't think of that sooner is beyond me but how fitting His whisper was. Of course He wants me to share my overflow with Him, to share the deepest things in my heart, desires, burdens, dreams, etc. with Him. He created us for relationship with Him, He longs for that deep communion with us.  Just like when someone you are dating begins to open up and share matters of the heart, it brings you joy that they chose to share it with you. I believe that God is elated when we choose to spend time communing with Him and sharing the deep parts of our hearts with Him, even the simple things too. It's what He has always wanted, and I want to be sure that I give that to Him today. There is no man out there that I would have more of a heart and deep spiritual connection with than I do with Jesus. The One that created my heart and my spirit, the One who breathes life into it. I still believe that God said two are better than one, and that it's not good for man to be alone. I also know the specific desires God has put in my heart to be a supporting wife and join my husband in being a dynamic team for the Kingdom. And I believe at the right time He will bring all that to pass and I will have a second person to share my overflow with :) But until then....I will no longer fret about that longing because God invited me to share it with Him.

"The Lord directs the steps of the godly, He delights in every detail of their lives." Psalm 37:23

Pulled Over

Not too long ago I was pulled over by a cop that was quite rude. He marched up to my window with a domineering attitude, talked down to me like I was no good, questioned everything I said, etc. I don’t know if he was having a rough day or maybe he was just on a power trip but regardless, I didn’t feel it was necessary to be treated the way he treated me. Even though this experience upset me- God used it to remind me just how loving He is. God is the Highest Authority, the King above all kings, the Lord above all lords, the name at which every knee will bow and tongue confess that He is Lord, the Righteous Judge, He is the authority over that cop, the authority that is over all authority we have here, etc.  I could go on but I think we understand He is the top!

You see, He is the Highest Authority and yet God is not on a power trip, He doesn’t dictate over His people. He doesn’t find joy in ‘cracking the whip’ so to speak. When we mess up He doesn’t march up to us with a big ego and condemnation, He doesn’t throw His authority in our face to make us cower. Instead it’s quite the contrary. He disciplines in LOVE, He responds with mercy and grace. He confronts us not because He wants to use His authority to belittle us, but because He loves us so much He wants to help us be better. He knows that whatever we did that wasn’t pleasing to Him was something that was hindering us. Not only that but it was something that put space in between us and Him and that’s the last thing that this Loving Father wants. I’m so thankful that the Highest Authority we serve is not domineering or dictative….but Loving. And that’s exactly what He is-Love….even when we exceed the speed limit J

^“For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God's discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in His holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark our a straight path for your feet so that those so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong."

Hebrews 12:10-13

And Lord, may we treat others the way you treat us, in our everyday life and when we are in an authority position. Thank You for being the perfect Loving example!

“Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example.”

1 Peter 5:3 NLT

“Not domineering [as arrogant, dictatorial, and overbearing persons] over those in your charge, but being examples (patterns and models of Christian living) to the flock (the congregation).”

1 Peter 5:3 Amplified

 

 

Life is good :)

Anyone else feel like Grandma's house is one of the most comfy places to be? It's always warm, it always smells good, there's always someone to listen and talk to and the candy jar is ALWAYS full! The other day I went to my Grandma's house and before I knew it I was knee deep in stories, tears and candy wrappers. We began pouring our hearts out, about feelings that the holidays coming upon us bring, tears we let no one else see, a different intimacy with Jesus that we have from being single, joys, laughs, etc. I was suprised at the parallel of our emotions. Two different women in completely different seasons yet facing almost the exact same things. While Grandma and I were sharing our hearts and tears streaming down our faces I was opening yet another ;) Dove chocolate and couldn't help but notice the message on the inside of the wrappper "Life is good". Just like God to remind us in a time of heaviness that life is good. Life is good because God is good :) We really are full and complete in His love. As I have been dealing with a certain heaviness on my heart and mind I've been hearing in my spirit "rejoice your way through the pain" Which seeemed apropriate. Then this morning I read Psalm 13 and couldn't help but smile at how it related to my heavy heart. Verse 2 says "How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day?" verse 3b "Restore the sparkle in my eye..." and then verse 5 :) "But I trust in Your unfailing Love. I will rejoice because You have rescued me. I will sing to the LORD because He is good to me." I love that!

I just want to encourage you that if there is anything weighing on your heart, to rejoice through the pain. Sing because God is good to you! Not only will healing come but the devil can't stand it! And remember.... Life is good! :)

" Rejoice always,  pray without ceasing,   in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Beulah!

Beulah. May be a word you've never heard before, or a word that has no meaning in our English language, or a word that you may not understand,  but it is that very word that captivates me this morning. Beulah means 'married'. And the marriage I'm talking about this morniing is a marriage that never fades, a marriage that stands forever and a marriage that is based on the purest Love. You see, last night I was at a church event and at the end, the woman speaking gave an invitation for salvation, she asked if anyone in the room had never received Christ as the their Savior and would like to, to lift up their hand. Then she took it a step further and asked them to come to the altar, a part that is often uncomfortable for those receiving the invitation. She proceeded to tell them to come to the altar because that's how she married her husband, she walked up to an altar and said 'I do' and took on her husbands name. Then she related that to what Jesus wants to do with them right now. He wants to marry them, He wants to be commited, Jesus will never walk away on them, will never separate and will never divorce. He wants to be one with them, just like a husband and wife. He wants to give them His name. Death won't even separate them. She then held out her left hand in a fist to show her wedding ring and she said "this is what Jesus wants, and this is what you get, He's commited to you, He just wants your heart." She ended with "anybody else need to come up here or are you just shacking with Jesus? Cuz Jesus doesn't shack, He wants commitment." I loved the whole message. To me this was the most powerful invitation to salvation I had ever heard. It hit me hard and I wasn't even the one getting saved! It was one of those times that make you fall in love with Jesus all over again! Jesus, the King of kings, the Lord of lords wants to take my hand in marriage. He pursued me, married me and calls me His bride, and He is fully commited to me, never backing out or giving up. He's COMMITED. I love that word because it's used so lightly in our society, people make commitments and break them often. But Jesus...will never break a commitment He makes. And what I love is that He wants me, He sought me out (and you too) and wants to commit to me. To me.... a human that messes up, misses it and makes mistakes. But He's commited. He doesn't see me as the mess up, He sees me as His bride. Powerful. I hope this encourages you as much as it did me. It is the reason for the pep in my step this morning :) Just think about how giddy we get when that someone special texts us or calls us, why? becasue we are excited to hear from them. Well your husband has wrote you a love letter, He has poured His heart out in it and it is for YOU, open up His Word with anticpation and excitement because our someone special has something to say! Let's be giddy about our first Love. Excited...wanting to tell everyone about Him, and that they can have this Love story too. Walk in the light and Truth of who God says you are today, you are Hephzibah (God's delight) and Beulah (married)!

"You’ll get a brand-new name
straight from the mouth of God.
You’ll be a stunning crown in the palm of God’s hand,
a jeweled gold cup held high in the hand of your God.
No more will anyone call you Rejected,
and your country will no more be called Ruined.
You’ll be called Hephzibah (My Delight),
and your land Beulah (Married),
Because God delights in you
and your land will be like a wedding celebration.
For as a young man marries his virgin bride,
so your builder marries you,
And as a bridegroom is happy in his bride,
so your God is happy with you."
Isaiah 62:2-5

And the Love keeps on coming!

My last post shared all of the hearts that God shows me from time to time, and they keep on coming! It's always at just the right time too!

 

Bell Pepper 



 

Chip

 

 

Butter

 

 

Sunlight through window

 

 

Rock/pavement

 

 

Tear on tissue

 

 

"You keep track of all my sorrows.

    You have collected all my tears in your bottle.

You have recorded each one in your book."

Psalm 56:8

 

If you find yourself going through anything today, maybe you feel alone, lost or confused. Maybe you have a broken heart or are just plain down, rest in the fact that you are greatly loved by a perfect God. His love remains.....always!

 

 

 

 

 

 



Oh, How He Loves Us :)

From time to time God shows me random hearts that remind me of His Love for me, I try to take pictures of them when I can so I would like to share those with you :) You are greatly loved by a perfect God!

                                                                  

Tortilla Chip

                                                                     

Leaf

Stain on the sidewalk

Cherry

Leaf

Rock (I drew on this one to define the lines)

Banana chip

Leaf

Cherry pie filling (we fixed this one a little :) )

Rocks- This one is my favorite, God showed it to me when I was broken, and to me it looks like a broken heart put back together :)

"Praise the LORD, for He has shown me the wonders of His unfailing love."

Psalm 31:21

Brokenness can't tag along!

The other day I was face to face with some old brokenness rearing it's old nasty head back at me. This was frustrating me because it's something I know I've been set free from, so I want to continue walking in that freedom. After my encounter with that hurt that morning I was flipping through my Bible as I was working on an assignment for my internship, and felt led to look down at something I had underlined in Galatians. The Scripture was one I had read many times before but that day, it took on a whole new meaning, here is that Scripture.... "My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthy body by trusting in the Son of God, who loves me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20 I usually always think of my old sin being crucified with Christ when I read that passage which is true but that day God showed me that my old brokenness has been crucified with Christ as well. And I am new so my old hurts and brokenness can't tag along! Now I live by trusting Jesus who loves me and gave Himself for me. People in my past may have given me up but Jesus loves me so abundantly that He gave Himself to keep me! He gave Himself to keep me! I can't get over that revelation, what an amazing radical love we have to embrace! So in closing, I just want to encourage you all if you are facing any old hurts or brokenness to remind yourself that it has been crucified with Christ, you are new and that means that stuff can't come along anymore, and if it attempts to- you remind it who you are and you are no longer broken! You are so loved and valued, and friend, YOU ARE WORTH IT! God's got crazy good plans for you and He will NEVER let you go....ever! So cling to your sustaining love that died so He could keep you. He won't let ya down! :)

God tends to show me random hearts in things around me, this is one He showed me as I was walking at the resevoir in Tulsa. He showed it at the perfect time, as He was mending my brokenness :) He really does heal all the way folks!