The Love of God

“ The love of God is greater far ~ Than tongue or pen can ever tell~ It goes beyond the highest star~ And reaches to the lowest hell; The guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave his Son to win: His erring child He reconciled~ And pardoned from his sin.”
“Could we with ink the ocean fill~ And where the skies of parchment made, Were every stalk on earth a quill~ And every man a scribe by trade, To write trade, To write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry, Nor could the scroll contain the whole~ Tho stretched from sky to sky.”
“Oh love of God, How rich and pure! How measureless and strong! It shall forever more endure—The saints and angels’ song.
The beach has become one of my favorite places here in Jacksonville. Enjoying God’s creation reminds me of his greatness, faithfulness, power, mercy, grace, and love. It also is a reminder that way across that deep wide ocean there are missionaries and people who need Christ. The sand reminds me of the verse Psalm 139 that God knows and cares about me and my thoughts. He knows what is ahead of me and cares.
The ocean reminds me much of God’s love. If you read the words to the song above you will know why. This impacted my life my last year of college. I grew up knowing that God loved me. There were times that things would happen in my life and I would wonder “If God loved me why would He allow this to happen.”  But after singing this song in church it really touched my heart and life~ and brought tears to my eyes. Its wonderful to know that there is a God that loves me more than anyone in this world. His love for me would drain the ocean dry since it is so bountiful. It would be hard to write all about God’s love in the sky because God’s love in so wide and wonderful. It is wonderful to know that there is a God that loves me and not only me everyone!
2011: Valentine holiday made me want to start out with punching the teddy bears at wal-mart, gagging at all the mushy cards, and rolling my eyes at the flowers (at least I am honest). Then I had the attitude (and still do) that valentines day is just a commercialized holiday so the greeting card company can make more money...BUt then I began thinking about who my valentine  is...I mean I have my students who are adorable when handing out their Spiderman, barbie, and princess valentines and candy. I have my good friends....But then it hit me---I have the BEST VALENTINE of All!!!!! He has written me the best LOVE LETTER that beats anything I receive! Its a LOVE LETTER I want to read and He is a valentine I want to know more! Thant valentine is JESUS! So this valentines day I want to focus on the LOVE God has for ME and focus on LOVING HIM more.

Evidence Not Seen

Darlene Diebler Rose is an extraordinary missionary that despite any circumstance kept faith in God and never wavered. Darlene and her husband Russell gave their lives to the people in New Guinea. They said, “Here I am Lord” not knowing what would be ahead of them. After the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor the Japanese military began to invade different islands around them. The Japanese came and arrested the men (all except Dr. Jaffrey) and took them to prison. Soon after the missionary ladies were arrested. Darlene had no contact with Russell. Darlene kept her testimony during the years in the prisoner camp. She witnessed to all she came in contact with. She soon was taken to an interrogation room where the interrogators would beat them. She contracted dysentery, beriberi, and malaria—while having a limited diet of rice. She wore the same dress for a very long time. She faced the executioners sword and shared Christ with him!

Darlene Diebler Rose kept her faith in Christ and trusted Him. Darlene said that she would never go back to New Guinea, but the Lord gave her a love for the people and Darlene said “yes I will go”

Darlene went through so much while serving Christ. While reading Evidence Not Seen” the thought came to me…" Would I be willing to go through all Darlene did?” I thought many times I could not and would not want to. But then I think again and pray that I would be able to be willing and ready to be persecuted for my love for Christ.

I also look at the trials in my life are what God gives me to mold me and make me into what He wants me to be.

Read Evidence Not Seen it is a remarkable story and one that all should read!

My Dad

This past summer was a challenging and emotional summer for me. It seemed every time I turned around something was going on…my best friend left home, my finances were horrible, I could not find a job, I couldn’t go home. The hardest thing of the summer was when my father was diagnosed with sarcoma, cancer of the tissue. The day he had his surgery was the same day I moved from my house to my trailer. I was thankful to be busy, but it was still hard not being with my family. I have to admit, I asked God so many times “why” – why someone who has served the Lord for over 30 years could have cancer, why it had to be my dad, why I had to be here. It wasn’t until my pastor preached a message on trials. That the Lord gives them to us for a reason.

My dad went on chemotherapy. The first week was hard, I was worried, biting my nails, not being focused at work. I called home constantly making sure my dad was okay. The months past. I was wanting to see my family soon—so I didn’t have to drive. The Lord made the way for me to see them at Thanksgiving. My seeing my dad with no hair was hard.. but no mater what he is still the most handsome man ever.

 

This week my dad finishes his 5th round and Lord willing, his last round of treatments. After he completes this round of chemo he will have various tests and CT scans to make sure everything is negative (which I don’t get why they say negative when you want something to be good :) ). Thank you to those who have prayed for dad and my family.

God is good and faithful and He will never give me anything too big that I cannot handle on my own~

Christ Being the Picture of a Servant

One of my favorite Bible passages has become Philippians 2: 5-8, which says “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:Who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made  himself of no reputation and took upon himself the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

I think of Christ being a servant through the illustration of Christ washing the disciples feet. From what I have heard the roads were dusty, the people wore sandals, and the feet would become very dirty. Washing feet was probably  the “least liked”job. But, Christ washing the feet of His followers was not only a demonstration of love, but was also a demonstration of Christ being a servant.

Through the years I have learned that I should take upon the form of a servant in my life. There may be things that I may not enjoy doing, but when I do not do those things it will show pride. Pride is a sin. Pride is putting myself first before God or others. I need to show humbleness and have a willing heart to do even the most undesirable job.

Christ is the perfect example of on who took upon the form of a servant. I need to be like Christ and do the same. 

 

God’s Provision…a Chair

Some of my household furniture was given to me through friends. Some of the chairs to my kitchen table are old and time by time I guess through use the seat of the chairs are cracked. Well, needless to say I am down to one chair and even that is splitting. I was going to go look at Target® or Wal-Mart® for some kitchen chairs knowing that they would be expensive. I asked a friend at church of they knew of any place I could get some nice chairs for a good price. She offered to let me buy some chairs, that she has been trying to sell from her. It was amazing to see how the Lord provided because only yesterday I prayed for a way to get some new kitchen chairs~

Prayer

I have learned so much over the past seven months about the impact of prayer. There are some things I cannot share on this blog that has been on my heart. One issue has been going on the months now. I’ve stayed awake nights praying for something. The past months I have wanted to give up but the Lord somehow reminded me not to give up. He brought people in from the Bible to my mind to be godly examples~ Hannah wanted a son and prayed for what seemed along time~ God blessed her when she gave it to the Lord.

Job lost his possessions, his family, his wife of all people told him to “curse God and die". It seemed he wanted to give up even after his health was taken away, but he kept his eyes on the Lord—even though at times he may have asked “why.” I’ve been much like this is a situation asking “why Lord why…” But the Lord reminds me to keep my eyes on Him.

The lesson in the New Testament when the disciples where in the boat and Jesus was sleeping. The disciples asked “Lord don’t you care if we perish or not.” But yet, God showed his great love. He calmed the winds and the waves~ He was in complete and ultimate control of the situation. I may never me in control of the situations in my own life~ but GOD always is and always has a plan. He calms those waves in my heart and helps me see that He is the only one to give me complete and total peace.

Jeremiah and the potter’s house has shown me God is making a vessel through everything he presses upon my life and heart. He wants to mold me into what HE wants me to be~ and as the song says, “its a task full of pain and care I’m molding a masterpiece of great beauty.”

Through the months I’ve learned all this about prayer~ Here are some things for you to pray about for me~

• * Hannah-
• * My dad completing cancer treatments
• * summer employment
• * Aunt Cathi LaCounte: melanoma has spread to lung and liver—NEEDS TO BE SAVED
• *Aunt Phyllis: has quit cancer treatments for lung cancer

Prayer changes things~ Never give up!

 

A Thought…

I have questioned at times why God can love someone like me.  The times I do not trust God—I feel like I fail yet HE still loves me. I lose friends—yet He is always there. I go through hard times—but He has not given me anything too big I could not handle without His help. I am thankful for a God who loves and cares and who no matter what is always there when the world turns their back on me.

It is great to know that there is a God—ONE GOD~ who created me, who knows my thoughts, who knows my future, who is patient when at times I feel I fail, who is always there when at times I don’t always go to HIM for all things.

 

Just a bit of thoughts before bed time

Journey of a Lifetime

Throughout 2009 my church will be going through the Bible together—reading, memorizing, and learning about each book. This should be an exciting time. I am looking forward to it—although right now I am a little behind in my own studies in it (since I was sick the morning they handed everything out). 

I do have a feeling that this next year will be a journey for me personally—trials, testing, and lessons for me to learn to grow more like Christ.

Finally

I have finally figured out how to write my blogs more efficiently. I have downloaded Windows Live Write. It is a really neat computer program where you write your blogs on your PC (edit them and all) then publish them more efficiently.I only downloaded it today and so far I really like it. I am hoping to keep up more with my blog now…:0)