I was directed to Psalm 104 this morning and found myself on my knees, desiring to bow my heart in complete surrender to the Maker of heaven and earth. I hope it does the same for you.....

Psalm 104

O LORD My God, You Are Very Great

 Bless the LORD, O my soul!
   O LORD my God, you are very great!
 You are clothed with splendor and majesty,
 covering yourself with light as with a garment,
stretching out the heavens like a tent.
He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters;he makes the clouds his chariot;
   he rides on the wings of the wind;
he makes his messengers winds,
   his ministers a flaming fire.

 He set the earth on its foundations,
   so that it should never be moved.
You covered it with the deep as with a garment;
   the waters stood above the mountains.
At your rebuke they fled;
   at the sound of your thunder they took to flight.
The mountains rose, the valleys sank down
   to the place that you appointed for them.
You set a boundary that they may not pass,
   so that they might not again cover the earth.

 You make springs gush forth in the valleys;
   they flow between the hills;
they give drink to every beast of the field;
   the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell;
   they sing among the branches.
 From your lofty abode you water the mountains;
   the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.

 You cause the grass to grow for the livestock
   and plants for man to cultivate,
that he may bring forth food from the earth
 and wine to gladden the heart of man,
 oil to make his face shine
   and bread to strengthen man’s heart.

 The trees of the LORD are watered abundantly,
 the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
In them the birds build their nests;
   the stork has her home in the fir trees.
The high mountains are for the wild goats;
   the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.

 He made the moon to mark the seasons;
   the sun knows its time for setting.
 You make darkness, and it is night,
   when all the beasts of the forest creep about.
 The young lions roar for their prey,
   seeking their food from God.
When the sun rises, they steal away
   and lie down in their dens.
 Man goes out to his work
   and to his labor until the evening.

O LORD, how manifold are your works!
   In wisdom have you made them all;
   the earth is full of your creatures.
Here is the sea, great and wide,
 which teems with creatures innumerable,
   living things both small and great.
There go the ships,
   and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it.

These all look to you,
   to give them their food in due season.
When you give it to them, they gather it up;
   when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
When you hide your face, they are dismayed;
   when you take away their breath, they die
   and return to their dust.
When you send forth your Spirit, they are created,
   and you renew the face of the ground.

Msy the glory of the LORD endure forever;
   may the LORD rejoice in his works,
who looks on the earth and it trembles,
   who touches the mountains and they smoke!
I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;
   I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
May my meditation be pleasing to him,
   for I rejoice in the LORD.
Let sinners be consumed from the earth,
   and let the wicked be no more!
 Bless the LORD, O my soul! Praise the LORD!

Man alivin' it has been a LONG time since I have typed something out for a Xanga blog. I wasn't actually purposing on posting something this morning. However, when I was reading in Ephesians, my heart connections to my fingertips would not allow me NOT to post! :O) This is such a hopeful, encouraging, exciting message I believe the Lord wants to encourage fellow believers especially when the cloud of mundane seems too heavy to see a light.  Read and soak in the words of our fellow sojourner Paul from Ephesians 3:14-21 and be encouraged!

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think,according to the power at work within us,  to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

What a glorious hope and promise to cling to in the midst of our every day life!!! I know for myself, in the midst of the everyday life tasks I can allow thoughts of how futile, endless, and unproductive this is to rob my spirit of contentment and joy. However, it is in the mundane and in the simple that we are called to have a joyful spirit and THAT my brothers and sisters is what is going to speak volumes to nonbelievers as well as fellow Christians. When we call upon the Holy Spirit, and I pray...would  that we be reminded to do so every day...throughout the day.  Our heavenly Father will strengthen our souls with the power of CHRIST dwelling within US...how GLORIOUS of a promise and a gift has been given to us! May our prayer be to root ourselves in the Scriptures and cry out for our hearts to be more and more grounded in the love of Christ for ALL people...maybe the eyes of our hearts be opened to comprehend to deeper levels the breadth, length, the height and depth of the love of God in all that He has given to us! Yes it surpasses our knowledge but oh that we may strive to understand and see more and more that we may be FILLED with the fulness of God...the Maker of Heaven and Earth and all that is in them!!! Jesus Christ, the One who saved us and calls us to a life of glory is able to do more then we can even imagine...so may we ask...may we be BOLD...I pray our lives would be a walking testimony of the grace of God imparted to us that many would come to know HIM who is glorified in Heaven and reigns in our hearts. Jesus Christ, I pray our hearts would be reminded of this in every waking moment...that your joy would infuse our hearts...that your love would overflow into all of our relationships and people we come into contact with...may you use us as building blocks for YOUR purposes Lord...may our eyes not focus on our little lives but be lifted up to see YOU reigning...may our hearts be excited to see YOU glorified and YOUR name praised above all other names!!! Oh Lord only by your strength are we able to live a life pleasing to You...and so impart us with your strength Lord Jesus...may your name be alive in our hearts throughout the day whether exciting or mundane...fill us with the joy of revelling in your grace and your goodness that extends over all generations....to YOU be the glory for ever and ever!!!

I woke up this morning with NO exams to study for...ahhhh...so refreshing...I opened up to 1 Peter...an absolutely amazing book....we are called to SUCH a high standard of living...an IMPOSSIBLE way of living. I can't help but be oh so thankful that it is not up to my own strength to live this life...but rather to take the step into humility in the sight of my Creator...acknowledging that I AM inadequate...but HE is my enabler...my strengthener...my Creator...my Savior...the Faithful One! I pray that our hearts would be filled with a holy passion and desire to live and love life...so that our Almighty Creator may be glorified! Here are just a few of the passages that made my heart leap with excitement and joy for  both this life AND the life to come! We have SUCH hope as Christians...I pray that every moment of our days would be pointing to CHRIST, the reason for our hope and joy!

"Whoever desires to love life
   and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
   and his lips from speaking deceit;
let him turn away from evil and do good;
   let him seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
   and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil"

(1 Peter 3:10-12).

"The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen"

(1 Peter 4:7-11).

"If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.....Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good" (1 Peter 4:14,19)

I was directed to Psalm 104 this morning and found myself on my knees, desiring to bow my heart in complete surrender to the Maker of heaven and earth. I hope it does the same for you.....

Psalm 104

O LORD My God, You Are Very Great

 Bless the LORD, O my soul!
   O LORD my God, you are very great!
 You are clothed with splendor and majesty,
 covering yourself with light as with a garment,
stretching out the heavens like a tent.
He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters;he makes the clouds his chariot;
   he rides on the wings of the wind;
he makes his messengers winds,
   his ministers a flaming fire.

 He set the earth on its foundations,
   so that it should never be moved.
You covered it with the deep as with a garment;
   the waters stood above the mountains.
At your rebuke they fled;
   at the sound of your thunder they took to flight.
The mountains rose, the valleys sank down
   to the place that you appointed for them.
You set a boundary that they may not pass,
   so that they might not again cover the earth.

 You make springs gush forth in the valleys;
   they flow between the hills;
they give drink to every beast of the field;
   the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell;
   they sing among the branches.
 From your lofty abode you water the mountains;
   the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.

 You cause the grass to grow for the livestock
   and plants for man to cultivate,
that he may bring forth food from the earth
 and wine to gladden the heart of man,
 oil to make his face shine
   and bread to strengthen man’s heart.

 The trees of the LORD are watered abundantly,
 the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
In them the birds build their nests;
   the stork has her home in the fir trees.
The high mountains are for the wild goats;
   the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.

 He made the moon to mark the seasons;
   the sun knows its time for setting.
 You make darkness, and it is night,
   when all the beasts of the forest creep about.
 The young lions roar for their prey,
   seeking their food from God.
When the sun rises, they steal away
   and lie down in their dens.
 Man goes out to his work
   and to his labor until the evening.

O LORD, how manifold are your works!
   In wisdom have you made them all;
   the earth is full of your creatures.
Here is the sea, great and wide,
 which teems with creatures innumerable,
   living things both small and great.
There go the ships,
   and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it.

These all look to you,
   to give them their food in due season.
When you give it to them, they gather it up;
   when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
When you hide your face, they are dismayed;
   when you take away their breath, they die
   and return to their dust.
When you send forth your Spirit, they are created,
   and you renew the face of the ground.

Msy the glory of the LORD endure forever;
   may the LORD rejoice in his works,
who looks on the earth and it trembles,
   who touches the mountains and they smoke!
I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;
   I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
May my meditation be pleasing to him,
   for I rejoice in the LORD.
Let sinners be consumed from the earth,
   and let the wicked be no more!
 Bless the LORD, O my soul! Praise the LORD!

Man alivin' it has been a LONG time since I have typed something out for a Xanga blog. I wasn't actually purposing on posting something this morning. However, when I was reading in Ephesians, my heart connections to my fingertips would not allow me NOT to post! :O) This is such a hopeful, encouraging, exciting message I believe the Lord wants to encourage fellow believers especially when the cloud of mundane seems too heavy to see a light.  Read and soak in the words of our fellow sojourner Paul from Ephesians 3:14-21 and be encouraged!

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think,according to the power at work within us,  to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

What a glorious hope and promise to cling to in the midst of our every day life!!! I know for myself, in the midst of the everyday life tasks I can allow thoughts of how futile, endless, and unproductive this is to rob my spirit of contentment and joy. However, it is in the mundane and in the simple that we are called to have a joyful spirit and THAT my brothers and sisters is what is going to speak volumes to nonbelievers as well as fellow Christians. When we call upon the Holy Spirit, and I pray...would  that we be reminded to do so every day...throughout the day.  Our heavenly Father will strengthen our souls with the power of CHRIST dwelling within US...how GLORIOUS of a promise and a gift has been given to us! May our prayer be to root ourselves in the Scriptures and cry out for our hearts to be more and more grounded in the love of Christ for ALL people...maybe the eyes of our hearts be opened to comprehend to deeper levels the breadth, length, the height and depth of the love of God in all that He has given to us! Yes it surpasses our knowledge but oh that we may strive to understand and see more and more that we may be FILLED with the fulness of God...the Maker of Heaven and Earth and all that is in them!!! Jesus Christ, the One who saved us and calls us to a life of glory is able to do more then we can even imagine...so may we ask...may we be BOLD...I pray our lives would be a walking testimony of the grace of God imparted to us that many would come to know HIM who is glorified in Heaven and reigns in our hearts. Jesus Christ, I pray our hearts would be reminded of this in every waking moment...that your joy would infuse our hearts...that your love would overflow into all of our relationships and people we come into contact with...may you use us as building blocks for YOUR purposes Lord...may our eyes not focus on our little lives but be lifted up to see YOU reigning...may our hearts be excited to see YOU glorified and YOUR name praised above all other names!!! Oh Lord only by your strength are we able to live a life pleasing to You...and so impart us with your strength Lord Jesus...may your name be alive in our hearts throughout the day whether exciting or mundane...fill us with the joy of revelling in your grace and your goodness that extends over all generations....to YOU be the glory for ever and ever!!!

I woke up this morning with NO exams to study for...ahhhh...so refreshing...I opened up to 1 Peter...an absolutely amazing book....we are called to SUCH a high standard of living...an IMPOSSIBLE way of living. I can't help but be oh so thankful that it is not up to my own strength to live this life...but rather to take the step into humility in the sight of my Creator...acknowledging that I AM inadequate...but HE is my enabler...my strengthener...my Creator...my Savior...the Faithful One! I pray that our hearts would be filled with a holy passion and desire to live and love life...so that our Almighty Creator may be glorified! Here are just a few of the passages that made my heart leap with excitement and joy for  both this life AND the life to come! We have SUCH hope as Christians...I pray that every moment of our days would be pointing to CHRIST, the reason for our hope and joy!

"Whoever desires to love life
   and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
   and his lips from speaking deceit;
let him turn away from evil and do good;
   let him seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
   and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil"

(1 Peter 3:10-12).

"The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen"

(1 Peter 4:7-11).

"If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.....Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good" (1 Peter 4:14,19)