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Thursday, April 26, 2007
Our livingroom
Ok! I finally got rid of most of the purple. Our living room is no longer under construction;). Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think!
Trust!
I just wanted to say a few words about trust. Alex and I just went through a period in our lives were we could do nothing but trust God and pray.
God provided. Like he always does. Alot of people get confused about trust, their first thought is usually, "well, I can't just sit around and wait for something to happen, I have to go make it happen."
Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean NOT on your own understanding."
I take this verse to literally mean, trust even if it's not logical to YOU. There are so many people, friends and family, who right now, are worried about what is going to heppen to them, will they get that job, will they be fed, will they have gas money, will they be able to pay rent. It is so easy to get caught up into the worry storm. I read a great sign one day, "If you are worrying, you are not praying." So true, but even sometimes our prayers can be full of worry.
When we cry out to God for help, we are told to release our burdens to him, not just say, "Hey God, please help me, but I'm gonna hold
on to this just in case you can't do it." Now that is not trusting God.
I just want to share with you a few verses that really stood out to me regarding trust and God's will for us.
Deutoronomy 9:22 "You also made the LORD angry at Taberah, at Messah and Kibroth Hattaavah. And the Lord sent you out from Kadesh Branea, he said, "Go up and take possession of the land I have given you." But you rebelled against the command of the Lord your God. You did not TRUST him or obey him."
Now this passage to me, looking at the whole chapter and in context seems to suggest that because Israel did not trust God they disobeyed and there for they were not blessed as they might have been. I mean God gave them land to take possession of and they did not trust him enough to just go there and follow him. i.e. trust=blessings
2Kings 18:5 "Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses. And the Lord was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook."
Job 31:24 "If I have put my trust in gold or said to pure gold, 'You are my security,' if I have rejoiced over my great wealth, the fortune my hands had gained,..." (read the whole chapter, it'll rock your socks off!)
Psalm 9:9-11 "The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. Sing praises to the Lord, enthroned in zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done."
Praise God! We serve a wonderful Father who will never forsake us and is our provider.
Psalm 22:4 and 5 " In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed.
"Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all the joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
And this is my prayer for you, all of you who are having a difficult time with placing your trust in God. Be encouraged, place your trust in God, give him all your worries, your cares, and your burdens. He wants to carry them for you.
Side note: Don't be confused, this is not me saying don't care about what happens to, obviously action is involved but if you are not fully trusting the Lord, how are you expected to hear his instruction, don't be like the israelites.
God provided. Like he always does. Alot of people get confused about trust, their first thought is usually, "well, I can't just sit around and wait for something to happen, I have to go make it happen."
Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean NOT on your own understanding."
I take this verse to literally mean, trust even if it's not logical to YOU. There are so many people, friends and family, who right now, are worried about what is going to heppen to them, will they get that job, will they be fed, will they have gas money, will they be able to pay rent. It is so easy to get caught up into the worry storm. I read a great sign one day, "If you are worrying, you are not praying." So true, but even sometimes our prayers can be full of worry.
When we cry out to God for help, we are told to release our burdens to him, not just say, "Hey God, please help me, but I'm gonna hold
on to this just in case you can't do it." Now that is not trusting God.
I just want to share with you a few verses that really stood out to me regarding trust and God's will for us.
Deutoronomy 9:22 "You also made the LORD angry at Taberah, at Messah and Kibroth Hattaavah. And the Lord sent you out from Kadesh Branea, he said, "Go up and take possession of the land I have given you." But you rebelled against the command of the Lord your God. You did not TRUST him or obey him."
Now this passage to me, looking at the whole chapter and in context seems to suggest that because Israel did not trust God they disobeyed and there for they were not blessed as they might have been. I mean God gave them land to take possession of and they did not trust him enough to just go there and follow him. i.e. trust=blessings
2Kings 18:5 "Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses. And the Lord was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook."
Job 31:24 "If I have put my trust in gold or said to pure gold, 'You are my security,' if I have rejoiced over my great wealth, the fortune my hands had gained,..." (read the whole chapter, it'll rock your socks off!)
Psalm 9:9-11 "The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. Sing praises to the Lord, enthroned in zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done."
Praise God! We serve a wonderful Father who will never forsake us and is our provider.
Psalm 22:4 and 5 " In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed.
"Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all the joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
And this is my prayer for you, all of you who are having a difficult time with placing your trust in God. Be encouraged, place your trust in God, give him all your worries, your cares, and your burdens. He wants to carry them for you.
Side note: Don't be confused, this is not me saying don't care about what happens to, obviously action is involved but if you are not fully trusting the Lord, how are you expected to hear his instruction, don't be like the israelites.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Everything is meaningless; a chasing after the wind
So here I am, 2000 miles from my comforts. All the excitement and hustle and bustle of city are now a thing of the past. Now I am constantly driving to get anywhere interesting. Nothing is for certain, nothing is permanent. That is the reality of life. Jobs are meaningless, house is meaningless, stuff is meaningless, pleasures are meaningless, a chasing after the wind...Community formed right installs hope, encourages, affirms, and loves, without these things it is hard to survive. Without others to build you up and remind you of the path that you are on, you will surely stray.
Ecclesiastes 1:
"Meaningless! Meaningless!"
"Utterly meaningless!"
"Everything is meaningless"
What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?
Generations come and generations go but the earth remains forever.
The sun rises and the sun sets and hurries back to wear it rises.
The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes ever returning on it's course.
All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full
to the place where streams come from, there they return again.
All things are wearisome, more than one can say.
The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear it's fill of hearing.
What has been will be again, What has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.
Is there anything of which one can say "Look! This is something new!"
It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time.
There is no rememberence of men of old, and even those who are yet to come will not be followed by those who follow.
Ecclesiastes 1:
"Meaningless! Meaningless!"
"Utterly meaningless!"
"Everything is meaningless"
What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?
Generations come and generations go but the earth remains forever.
The sun rises and the sun sets and hurries back to wear it rises.
The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes ever returning on it's course.
All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full
to the place where streams come from, there they return again.
All things are wearisome, more than one can say.
The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear it's fill of hearing.
What has been will be again, What has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.
Is there anything of which one can say "Look! This is something new!"
It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time.
There is no rememberence of men of old, and even those who are yet to come will not be followed by those who follow.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
I've been tagged!
Ok, so Stephanie tagged me quite a while ago and I totally failed to read the part where she tagged me so, here is my delayed response...
5 things that you may not know about me...
1. I decided not to take the job at this particular florist. They've been pretty wishy washy and the owner is not a nice person (that was the nicest thing I could say about her). But I'm still looking, I'll keep you updated.
2. I want a puppy more than anything right now...
3. I miss Chicago/Evanston so much that it hurts...
4. I make cookies every week, it's an addiction, and it helps that people enjoy it.
5. I've been working out faithfully 5 days a week every week since we've moved here. To make up for the cookies...;)
That's about it. Now I tag Alex and Amanda D.
5 things that you may not know about me...
1. I decided not to take the job at this particular florist. They've been pretty wishy washy and the owner is not a nice person (that was the nicest thing I could say about her). But I'm still looking, I'll keep you updated.
2. I want a puppy more than anything right now...
3. I miss Chicago/Evanston so much that it hurts...
4. I make cookies every week, it's an addiction, and it helps that people enjoy it.
5. I've been working out faithfully 5 days a week every week since we've moved here. To make up for the cookies...;)
That's about it. Now I tag Alex and Amanda D.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
I'm a florist in training!
OK, So Yesterday I decided to go to a florist near our apartment and see if they had any pat time positions where I could learn floral design. I walked into and they were short handed so they were like, "You want to make an arrangement?". So I went in and made flower arrangements for the next three hours. Apparently the owner/only designer broke a limb and is unable to come in at all so they are short handed, especially in need of a designer. So, I'll find out today if I'm will be the new floral designer;). It would only be part time but we could definitely use the extra money.
Here is my first floral arrangement
Here is my first floral arrangement
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
My husband
Dear Lord, please help me see my marriage as a sacred thing. May I always understand that being married was not meant to just make me happy but make my character more holy. Help me remember being married is less about having the right partner and more about being the right partner. Shape me into the wife my husband needs and deserves. Help me to pause before I speak so I don’t react out of anger, frustration, or selfishness. Show me how to respect, love and give to this man in a way that honors You and brings joy to our home. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
things I like about my husband:
He's strong
He's motivated
He doesn't give up
I respect him
He's extremely lovable
He's smart
He's good with money
He's funny
He can turn my mood around in just a moment
He knows how to please me
He loves the Lord
He has wisdom
He is going to be a wonderful father
He is a great husband
He is willing to ask for help
He is the man God put in my life
things I like about my husband:
He's strong
He's motivated
He doesn't give up
I respect him
He's extremely lovable
He's smart
He's good with money
He's funny
He can turn my mood around in just a moment
He knows how to please me
He loves the Lord
He has wisdom
He is going to be a wonderful father
He is a great husband
He is willing to ask for help
He is the man God put in my life
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