Summer School?!?!

So, about two weeks into summer, and I decided my boys both my boys and I will not make it all summer with no routine or schedule.  So after some encouragement in revamping our chore charts, and being very firm with daily reading requirements...I decided we are going to accomplish two things...first we will have family devotions every morning just like we did while in school.  What the boys don't realize is teaching the Bible is my passion so this always took an hour during the school year, and it may end up taking more during the summer! Second, we will have some adventure every day that makes them laugh, learn and appreciate what the Lord has given us!

I do not use a bible curriculum...not yet, I think as they get older I may do something more structured...but what I do it daily as I study in my personal quiet time, I ask the Lord each day before I start reading to teach me great and unsearchable things I do not know (Jer. 33:3) then I write up a lesson for my boys for that day.  Sometimes, as I teach through it I'll notice they need to stay in a specific verse for the week...sometimes just a day.  Whatever their need is...I try to meet it with God's word.

Specifically I was in John 17 this morning and I came to verse 17 and was stuck again.  I really really LOVE this verse!!!  "Sanctify them in truth, your word it truth!"  John 17:17

I could go on and on and on some more about why I love this verse, but mostly because it is a gentle reminder that God's word is powerful, absolute truth, active in our lives and relevant for our needs.

So, I created this short lesson for the boys this morning, I've got an extra boy, one of my precious nephews gets to 'tag along' this morning...my plan is:

1.  Read John 17:17
2.  Discuss what Sanctify means (dedicate to God, cleanse internally, to purify by renewing the soul)
3.  Ask, "How can I as a believer proclaim Christ and His gospel if I am not in the word myself?"
4.  Ask, "What is devotion?"  "Why is devoting time to the study of God's word important?"
5.  Discuss what the Word does (although not exhaustive...this is where I'm pointing them: Sanctifies, encourages, strengthens, and purifies).

Then, we will read through 1 Thessalonians 4:18 (encouragement),   Psalm 10:17 (Strengthen), Titus 2:14 (Purify) and Reread John 17:17 (sanctify).

Then I found a free crossword puzzle maker online and made one for the boys to complete, obviously my 4 year old will need some assistance...but I'm praying this will be fun, engaging and that the Word will accomplish that which He sent it out to accomplish (Isaiah 55:11)!

Here is a copy of the answer sheet...you can print both I just thought the answer sheet showed how cool that tool really is!

Happy Summer All!!!!

Quitting just isn't an option

A few days ago I read a wonderful devotion, that had been in my inbox for several days before I actually got a chance to read.   Honestly it was so great because it was exactly what I needed on the day I finally read it.

Homeschooling is fun.....hard!   I seriously can't even count anymore on my hands how many times I've heard "I just don't know how you do it!"   Honestly...I really don't know any formula for successful homeschooling, I don't follow a particular model.  I just wake up everyday and follow my lesson plan for that day. 

I wish I could say I deal seamlessly with interruptions, and I am teacher of the year in the eyes of my children.  But neither of those statements would be true.  In fact....as "hard" as year one of homeschool was with a 1st grader, a K4 an a newborn....that was easy in comparison to the present.

I'll be honest it seems as though each year has new challenges an each year has it's own struggles.  Somethings get insanely more difficult...while other things become a dependable routine...and are easy. 

I've been thinking a lot lately how the Lord brings us to something, sometimes He moves us where we aren't even sure we want to be.  Sometimes He calls us to a season that if we were in charge...would not last nearly as long as He has for us.   I've had a few moments in life where the grass seemed much greener on the other side.

I remember surrendering to the call to homeschool.  I honestly thought maybe a year or two at the most.  This past weekend, I began planning year FOUR!!

The amazing part is, the Lord just keeps bringing me full circle.  Back to His word.  That's all.  I mean...I struggle...this isn't easy...and yes, I choose to homeschool....but if you know the Lord, when He calls you to do something, you've got to do it!  I mean I suppose you can not do it, but honestly....as hard as homeschooling is....I can not even begin to tell all the stories of God's redeeming grace, His faithful sanctification of my heart, His constant pursuit of my mind for His glory.  That on top of being able to not only watch my children learn to read but to teach them to read...because their ability to read means, Lord willing, that one day through the pages of Scripture my sweet Jesus will come alive and capture their hearts and save their souls...as He has done for me.


So as tough as it's been lately....and the struggles we've got, the Lord, as I said, has brought me full circle in His word and prayer, fervently crying out as David did, "Create in my a pure heart O God an renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalm 51:10 and "Forgive me my hidden faults O Lord and keep Thy Servant from willful sins.."  Psalm 19:12....and certainly best of all when being responsible for my kids' education..."Lord grant me wisdom to teach them according to their need"  as He tells us to ask Him in James 1:5.  This one is constantly on the tip of my tongue....especially when I want to quit.

When the Lord gave me those verses and wrote them upon my heart over 13 years ago, I wasn't even married, I didn't have kids...nor was that even a thought on my radar....and yet all these years later...the Word of the Lord stands...and powerfully changes and daily ministers to the depths of my soul in so many ways.

Dear friend....if you aren't...get in the word!  If you are...I'd encourage you to do three things....journal it, memorize it (a verse at a time...however He speaks to you) and pray it back to Him!  Our Lord is faithful and amazing!!!

The blessings of Parenting

I was reading this morning through 1 Timothy, and this verse just overwhelmed with God's provision and mercy!!!  1 Timothy 2:15 "Yet she will be saved through childbearing--if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control."

The concordance I use shows "being saved through childbearing: to have to following possible uses:
1) to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction...(from injury or peril)
1) to save a suffering one (from perishing), i.e. one suffering from disease, to make well, heal, restore to health
1) to preserve one who is in danger of destruction, to save or rescue


I think it is very cool that the Lord speaks to mothers so frequently in parenting.  I can't number the times I've heard the soft loving whisper of the Lord as I've corrected my children.

Countless times as I've asked "why don't you just obey?".... "how many times do I have to tell you?".... "we have that rule for your own good and protection"

I am almost instantaneously reminded by God, He feels the same way toward my heart....but PERFECTLY.  Never out of selfish ambition, sinful pride, or any other human characteristic that negatively impacts my parenting.

God corrects and restores me.  I know the Lord doesn't mean that childbirth will actually save women. Only Christ can save lives!!! I do believe thy this verse is a tremendous portrait of God's mercy and grace towards  women as they parent.  I also believe He uses parenting in such a strong way to draw us to Himself as followers of Christ.  I remember reading the story of Mary after I had my first son, the feelings of sympathy were so much greater, having gone through pregnancy and childbirth.

I think that In my life I have seen the Lord use my children in the preserving way.  The definition says: "to preserve one who is in danger of destruction, to save or rescue"

I am in danger not from losing my salvation, but rather from being distracted and not living for Christ by falling into sinful worry, apathy, selfishness, or really any other sin.  Yet the Lord  has graciously given me these three boys and it constantly keeps my heart so tightly focused on Him.  I can't parent, teach, correct or serve these boys apart from Christ. The task is too great!  I have three unique lives with unique needs before me each day.  His grace keeps me focused and His abundant mercy triumphs over all my sins!

God is so good!  The longer I am a mother, I feel like the Lord brings to life in new ways the depths of Psalm 127:3, "behold children are a gift from God...". Sometimes we think the child itself is the gift, but I am learning more and more, God can and will use anything or anyone to reach the hearts of His children.  He certainly didn't give me my boys because I deserve it or am the perfect parent, but rather because of each one's unique being....He teaches me of his love and grace.  My prayer in my parenting is that I can lovingly bless the boys with what His word says and what He teaches me so my boys are impacted for eternity...for God's glory!

Finding Encouragement

My husband and I are very blessed to have an amazing friend, who just so happens to also be a pastor.  His love for God's word is inspiring.  I can honestly say I have no idea how old he is, to guess...I'd say upper seventies.  Yet, this man still passionately preaches God's word....loves and lives it. 


He actually did marriage counseling for us after we had gotten married, and his counsel was the best we ever received.  One thing that stuck in my mind all these years later, was him saying, "if you are ever discouraged...turn to Psalm 37 and 73....wonderful passages to encourage believers."

As he told me that, I tucked it away in my heart...appreciating his wisdom...and his passion to share it.  A few months into my journey of parenting two boys I remember going through some down times...so I pulled it out, I counted on it...I would run to those passages and often be so encouraged...revived and refocused.

Today, on this new bible reading plan, I got to read Ephesians 1 and 2.  As I was breathing in every word, I felt so encouraged and I thought.....this is such an immense encouragement...I have to share.

I know that God is perfect, sovereign and amazing....I love His word and the depth of it.  Each time I read it, it penetrates my heart and I learn something new.  I see Jesus with so much more gratitude the older I get. 

I know a lot of people that are walking through crazy circumstances.  They need love, grace and support from friends and family...let's be honest, crazy circumstances or not...we all need the support and encouragement of friends and family.  I think one of Satan's biggest tools is isolation.  My prayer for my family is that we would look to Christ for our identity and find great peace in that, I pray that my boys passionately pursue Christ in the pages of scripture.  I pray that whoever reads this, and read His word...is so richly blessed by the truth of who you are IN Christ!!!

So as I was reading through Ephesians today, I just kept thanking God for salvation, and I felt led to post it on here.  Here is  just a taste, grab your Bible, iphone...ipad...whatever and dig in, His word is alive!!!


"In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.  In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,  who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."  Eph 1:11-14

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—  and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,  not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."  Eph. 2:4-10

"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ"  Eph 2:13

Amen!!!  Our God is so praiseworthy!!!  His grace is truly immeasurable!!

Filtering the Noise

I was reading through Isaiah this morning and am still absolutely just stuck on these verses:

“Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; how blessed are all those who long for Him. O people in Zion, inhabitant in Jerusalem, you will weep no longer. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you. Although the Lord has given you bread of privation and water of oppression, He, your Teacher will no longer hide Himself, but your eyes will behold your Teacher. Your ears will hear a word behind you, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right or to the left.” Isaiah 30:18-21

 I wonder sometimes....do I allow all the "noise" of the world to muffle God's voice..so that it is a a very faint whisper?  I have to listen carefully.  If one of my children talks to me from behind me, it is harder to hear them than if they are in front of me.  Why?  Well, first I'm usually focused on the task directly in FRONT of me.  Then because I am not looking at them and I'm a visual learner, it helps me to see what is going on to process it. So when they are behind me, I have to make myself be more focused on their words than if I were looking them right in the eye as they speak. So when I think about trying to hear direction from the Lord from behind me, I just keep thinking how focused I must be to hear His direction.

I love how the beginning of this passage (v. 18) we read, "but the LORD longs to be gracious to you."  His love is so perfect and He longs to be gracious to us.  Wow.  Honestly there are days I wake up and I am not longing to be gracious to the kids, my spouse or anyone outside of my four walls.  I'm tired or irritable  or some other emotion that can easily bring out the 'best' of my sinful nature.   For example, the other day when I was up all night because one of my sweet boys was up sick all night.  I was very tired...not feeling like being super gracious.  But God calls me to love my kids as He loves me.  So being a loving and gracious teacher was a challenge.  But in that challenge...the Lord was so gracious, leading my heart and mind to graciously parent these boys.

Often I am distracted with the 'noise' and fail to hear the direction.  Or sometimes I hastily act...without prayer...trying to self navigate.  I'm not called to lead, but rather follow.  Sometimes that's a tough pill to swallow.  But I think the older I get the more I realize, no better place to be than following where the Lord wants me to be.  I do NOT need to lead...I don't make the best decisions.  It seems the fight we face is often for our focus.  Our position is secure....if you are a follower of Christ and have believed in Him for salvation, that is settled.  But....keeping our hearts focused on the Lord...that's a lot of the battle in this life.

I wish I had a remote to mute the noise.  But it's not that easy, so instead, I must continue to fight for a steadfast focus. One that is rooted in the word and prayer so that as the Lord gives direction...I'll hear it...even if I can't 'see' it.  Just like Ezra who went before us:  "For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel."  Ezra 7:10.  He was determined to have a steadfast heart...steadfast on studying the Word, doing the Word and teaching the Word.

The more I'm in the word and the more consistent my prayer life, the easier it is to decipher between noise that needs my attention and noise that does not.  All the 'noise' in life is not bad....it's the grip we allow it to have on us.  I want to keep my filter clean and ready to go!

...establish our hearts...

“You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.” James 5:8-9

I was reading through James this morning, and just kept thinking about the amazing grace of God. He draws us to Himself through His word. He uses His word to refine our hearts, He comforts us with His word, He restores us with His word. Dear friend, the Bible is ever so relevant!!! I am amazed, His word is fresh, and as Hebrews 4:12 says, “living and active”

I love His promises in Jeremiah 29:12-14, “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the LORD...” He promises us when we seek Him with all our heart He will be found by us!!!

I kept thinking, how do we establish our hearts? When we say establish, we tend to think beginning or start up. Often you can walk through your town and see the year it was “established” But in this scripture establish means to: “to make stable, place firmly, set fast. To render constant.”

To me this is so convicting. How can we keep our hearts constant? There is so much we get distracted by, and I say that as one who stays home and homeschools. Our world is full of distractions, things vying for not just our attention, because we have to give our attention to things in order to live a productive life...but I believe there is a lot in the world that not only grabs our attention but takes our minds captive, which can easily render us ineffective for the Lord, and shake our resolve to keep our hearts established in the Lord.

So as I was studying in James about what it means to establish my heart, one of the cross references in Scripture where this word is used also is in Romans 16:25, “Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages...”

It is the Lord who strengthens and establishes our hearts. I believe though we must have an active faith....meaning as in James 4:3, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” Sometimes we ask God to develop godly character, but it isn't for the right reasons. It may be to gain a good reputation, it may be to attain a leadership position within the church or at work.
I think when we come to the Lord broken and needy, just asking Him to show Himself in and through our lives..just for His namesake...we will see Him do a magnificent work.


I believe when the Spirit of the Living God indwells our hearts, our lives will reflect that....not in one specific way that we would all be the same...but rather, each according to the gifts God has given. I praise the Lord daily for how He designs us each individually. I look at my boys, and as I teach them...I can see already at the ages of 3, 5 and 7 that the Lord has made them all so different...with strengths, weaknesses and tendencies. Oh, how I fervently pray the Lord draws them to Himself to use their gifts for His glory as they grow.

I believe it is our job to ask. We must ask God for a firm faith, an established heart. I believe with all my heart, we should pray His word back to Him. Some of my favorites to present to Him in prayer for a firm heart are:

“Create within me a pure heart and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 and

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14

and when I'm asking the Lord to give me a steadfast heart to study His word:

“For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.” Ezra 7:10

and

“Call to Me and I will answer you and teach you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3


I just want a hungry established heart that seeks and honors God. I want that for my children so much!!
Sometimes the want is not enough though, I have to continue to ask God fervently for the want to turn into action...the action of actively petitioning the Lord for that. I have to trust that God will establish my heart in His word, He will draw me to Himself and He will draw my children to Him.

praising my Savior!!

Yesterday was June 5th. It was my only Aunt's birthday, a Sunday...and a pretty hot day here in the south. But to me it was a very special day. Sixteen years ago, the Lord drew me to Himself through the truth of the gospel, and after attending the Harvest Crusade at Anaheim Stadium, I went home, and in the quietness of my room, not knowing much other than what Jesus did on the Cross, for me...I asked Him to save me. Without even reading through Romans 10, I was crying out the words to Him. Confessing with my mouth, believing in my heart that Jesus was the Son of God, had been born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and died a death on the cross, that...I myself...a wretch, a sinner really deserved....a Savior Who defeated death, and was resurrected and now lives!!

I kept reminiscing about how amazing the Lord is. I think, oh the mistakes I've made....the idiot I have been. Then I keep resting in the confidence that there is NOTHING impossible for Him!! God has taken my life, my messed up self and transformed my messes for His glory. He has led me through things so that I am able to testify of His goodness and grace!! I'm not perfect...I just happen to know the Savior Who is!! I've learned in my sixteen years as His child, that I'm going to mess up....it's inevitable. My life isn't guaranteed to be easy...but I do know that when all is said and done, my life is in His hands. He can be trusted, He will be there for me, He loves me more than I understand or could ever fathom.

I don't have to have all the answers, I just have to live trusting that He is Who He says He is, and He will do what He says He will do.

Who is this God? The One who loves me unconditionally, saves my from not only sin and death, but from myself? This is the One and Only Living God. This is the true God..this is the Prince of Peace who wraps His loving arms around His children. Who thinks of us before we even know Him....

"For you formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Psalm 139:13-14.

Do you know Him? Sweet friend, do you know my Jesus? This is the Jesus who died on that cross for you! This is the God of the universe... "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

This is the God who calls us, who woos us, who relentlessly pursues our hearts because of His great love..."The Lord preserves the simplehearted, when I was in great need, He saved me." Psalm 116:6

“But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:8-13


Dear friends, if you have not...run to Jesus!!! "Never will He leave you, nor will He forsake you!" Hebrews 13:5

O Lord, we need You!!!

"Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come"  1 Timothy 4:7-8, ESV

Lately, I can't seem to get away from this verse.  It's everywhere, in my bible study I am in at church, in my mind constantly because I am longing for a good physical workout but can not get one into my schedule lately.  It's in my heart as I just passionately want believers to see the utmost importance of being in God's word daily. 

I want to suggest something that may sound a bit radical to many of you, depending on your background.  I am suggesting that God created us with a NEED for Him, and that need He alone can satisfy with His word.  "In the beginning was the Word, and the word was with God, and the Word was God....the Word became flesh and dwelt among us."  John 1:1, 14a  Jesus Christ is the Word.  The word is living and active, and God uses His word to draw us to Himself.  Among many other things.

Some of us may have grown up in a legalistic type environment where daily devotions were merely a checklist. So as an adult the idea seems somewhat ancient or irrelevant because of the negativity you associate with having a daily quiet time.  I want to suggest to you that a daily quiet time and devotion are not merely a "good idea" or for those more disciplined than yourself, but rather, a part of our dependant responsibility (as Jerry Bridges terms it).  We are responsible to God to seek Him, while completely dependant upon Him for the grace to do so.  We must beg God for the hunger and thirst for His rightesousness (Mt. 6:33)

You may ask how often are we to seek Him?  Well if were keenly aware of the sinfulness of our own hearts, we would recognize that we must in fact seek Him moment by moment so that we can live our lives for His glory.  Instead..all too often we get caught up in "things" sometimes good things, sometimes bad.  The point is before we know it we are often halfway through our day without a thought to being before the Lord in prayer and in bible study.

I am not suggesting we pursue God in His word daily because it makes us feel good, look good or sets a good example to our children.  While being an example and cultivating  a godly legacy within your family is important.  We should rather be concerned with the state of our hearts before the Lord.  How are we to have clean hearts before God if we are not in His word to know what a clean heart is?  How are we to have steadfast spirits if we are not in prayer asking God to give us a steadfast spirit.
How are we to know God and His word to share with others who NEED Jesus as savior if we are not in the word.  Let's face it, sharing the Gospel is not merely about asking people where they think they will go when they die. I think as a society people are more and more apathetic and not so concerned with eternal life as opposed to the earlthy realm that is right before their eyes.  You can not scare someone into accepting the truth of Christ.  You can however love someone so much that they see Christ's love (b/c love comes from God alone).  You can "win" a hardened heart with the softening love of Christ.  The love that surpasses all understanding and reaches across all boundaries to just shamelessly display Christ to others.  We have nothing to lose in loving people for the glory of God!  We have everything to lose if we don't pursue Christ in His word! 

You may ask, are you saying that someone can lose his salvation?  NO.  Based on God's word alone I believe that once you accept Christ as your personal Savior, you are a child of God.  You are then kept by the grace of God.  However, I believe that...at times we are rendered ineffective believers because we fail to pursue God's word and then are caught up in the circumstances of daily life with little or no regard to the LORD.  We, in the words in 1 Timothy, fail to train ourselves for godliness.  When we are training ourselves for godliness, we are pursuing a relationship with God as our first priority so that we can live our lives for His glory.  We can not live our lives for God if we think nothing of God.  If we go about our daily business and try to "fit" God in where we can, and when we want to or when it is convenient, then we will be a mess.  God designed us so intricately that we need Him in EVERYTHING.  We NEED God in the mundane every day details of life. 

I need to be in God's word so I know how I ought to live.  I need God's word hidden in the depths of my heart so that I can be a mother who goes after her children's hearts for God's glory.  I need God's word before my eyes continally because I am a sinner who is prone to wander, prone to selfishness and prone to pride.  I need the Word of God so  that, "You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.  But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ."  2 Peter 3:17-18

I need to discipline myself (tempered with grace) so that out of a loving and reverant heart for WHO GOD IS, I am daily seeking Him in His word and prayer..so that I continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ..so that,  I am "always ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence."  1 Peter 3:15

Let us join in prayer for ourselves and for one another that God Himself would "Create within us pure hearts and renew a steadfast (immovable) spirit." as David cried out to God in Psalm 51:10.

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." Matthew 5:6

Hallelujah, He Sent out His Word!!!

I've been meditating on how the Lord's truth rescues me. I don't want to get past His word and the importance of it in my life. This morning during worship at our church, there was this Word on our screens:

"He sent out His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction." Psalm 107:20

I just felt my heart leap, this is it!! This is how His truth rescues me! As believers we must embrace the utmost importance of delving into the word of God. Oh how I love this verse, He sent! Sent, in the original text can be translated, "to let loose" or "to shoot forth" Hallelujah!!! God in His infinite mercy allows us to have His WRITTEN word!! The power of God's word is unfathomable, the depths of the riches of Christ are "contained" in it!! (I use that loosely as we know that Christ Himself can not be contained)

How does He heal us with His word? He heals my sin with His word. He uses His word to be my "mirror," my standard by which I am to live and as I am continually in His word I find that I am far more sinful than I ever could have imagined and His holiness surpasses even the deepest realm of my finite comprehension. All the while I am enveloped by His love, which knows NO limit! ("Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13). God wants to heal me from my sin, I know that I am not perfect and never will be this side of heaven, and I know that just because I resolve to not sin does not mean I will live a sinless life. We can not be perfect on this earth. However we can trust that God will use His word in our hearts and lives to draw out sin, to show us the biblical response to that sin (repentance) and He will show us what a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17) looks like. He will show us in and through His word how we are "to put aside our old self and its' evil practices and put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created us." Col. 3:9-10

"As for you, O LORD, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me." Psalm 40:11

As we follow Christ together, I urge you, if you do not have a plan for reading through God's word on a daily basis, start one today!!! I will share this one with you, so simple and I take no credit for it. I heard about it from one of our elders at church. Read the Psalm of the day (like today is the 10th, so Psalm 10) and then add 30, until you read 5. Today you would read, Psalms 10, 40, 70, 100 and 130. Then add the proverb of the day, if that's not too overwhelming. This simple plan will take you through the entire book of Psalm in one month. But what you will find even more than reading through a complete book in one month, is that the Lord will captivate your heart and soul with Who He IS! He will draw you closer to Himself and will teach you great and unsearchable things you do not know (Jeremiah 33:3). God will transform your heart as you pursue Him in His word.

"You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13 Let us ask God to have a heart to seek Him continually!

"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God ! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!" Romans 11:33 Let us pray together for one another to be transformed by His truth!!

At the foot of the Cross

Recently a friend of mine on face book had an awesome status, "I have failed so much today, may my boast be only in Christ and His Cross." I added my little two cents of "liking" her status, and just thought this is my life too! I feel as though I fail so much daily, that I am in a rut of failure, as Paul described in Romans 7. I am that woman lately and I HATE it. I despise my sin! I have to say I mostly fail in my speech and I know it's a lack of submission on my behalf. I know that God never changes and He will give me the self control I need to speak what I should. This morning as I was reading through Psalms, the Lord so sweetly took me back to the basics, I absolutely LOVE this verse and have many times cried out to the Lord to make this a reality in my life because I know myself and I know the sins I am inclined to. Hear God's precious words, "Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips, do not incline my heart to any evil thing." Psalm 141:3-4a. I love this, and as this sweet sister in Christ confessed how she failed so much, I thought what a blessing she was to me, and how she was using her words to honor God. We need that in one another, especially amongst believers, we need to be using our words to edify each other in the faith, because it is all too easy to be torn down by the culture we live in. And when we fail, because we all do, we need to bask in the forgiveness of the cross, and let our failures be resolved to His glory, for His glory!!

Lately it seems my life (spiritually speaking) is coming full circle...like the Lord is graciously bringing me back to the days I had at the beginning of my walk with Him. I remember the fervency that He gave me passionately pursuing him in His word all hours of the day and night, I remember the intense desire to allow His Spirit to lead me and guide me. I can honestly say, the Lord in His infinite grace still gives that to me, but in my own sinfulness I have succumbed to the busyness of raising three children and running a small business and failed....fallen flat on my face in the closet of my bedroom before God. I am just there, at His feet...crying out to Him and waiting, waiting for the Lord to renew in me a steadfast spirit, and create in me a pure heart. I am so enjoying the journey! God has placed my husband and I at an amazing church, and this morning the message was just perfect. God's word always is. As I'm in this rut of failure, the Lord sweetly allowed me to sit in church today and learn of the rich young ruler in Luke 18. What a blessing. I have heard this word so many times, and today as God spoke to me through His word, it was a constant reminder that my dependency must be on Christ alone, and that my trust must only lie in the FACT that I am only worthy of acceptance by God the Father, because of Christ. No matter my "righteousness" it is all filthy rags before God, and Christ alone is my righteousness. I was overwhelmed with God's goodness, and overwhelmed at my sinfulness, in my failure to submit. In the midst of this failure I am seeing Christ in a whole new way. I am seeing that freedom that comes from Christ. I am seeing the sanctification of Christ with new eyes and receiving it with a new passion!! Praise be to God! I've been feeling lately like life is tough, and it is, but I feel so relieved to be grasping the completeness of Christ.

There is absolutely nothing I can do, I can only throw myself at the foot of the cross, and pray for the mercy of God to lead and direct me each day! I can only pursue Him in His word and beg that because of His great mercy and compassion, not because of anything I have done (Daniel 9:18-19) that the Lord Himself would hear my prayers and change me and mold me into His image for His glory! It sounds so simple ladies, but I think so many times...daily...we fall into the busyness of the world and fail to realize that it really all comes down to this: Christ alone!!

Let us sit at the foot of the Cross, and whatever our failures may be, let us leave them there, knowing that it is in Christ that we are accepted by the Father, and that it is in Christ that we have the freedom to love, to repent, to restore, to be changed for His greater glory!!