To Bryan

"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints - I love thee with the breath
Smiles, tears, of all my life! - and, if God choose,
I shall love thee better after death."
-Poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning 1845 - 1847

Something in Your Teeth?

So you are eating at a restaurant with friends, or with a date, and you are having such a great time. You get home after a fun night, and go to the bathroom to brush your teeth, and low and behold, part of your dinner has been waiting for you between your two front teeth for WHO KNOWS how long?!



I'm sure I would get it out ASAP and wonder "how long has THAT been there?"

In James 1:22-25, the Bible is compared to a mirror that is used to reveal parts of our lives that might need to be cleaned out, or improved, for the glory of Jesus Christ. But how often do we see the flaws - whether it's selfishness, dishonesty, pride, etc., and then back away from the mirror and decide it's not worth fixing "right now". Instead of reacting with embarrassment or an eagerness to rid myself of these habits, I tell myself they really aren't THAT big a deal, and so many others do WAY worse things than I do.

But in God's eyes, the "little flaw" is a BIG BLACK SPECK that is wedged in my soul and needs to be brushed out! And I have noticed that Christ will use things and people and situations to continue bringing that "speck" to my attention. In order to honor my Creator and Savior, I must floss that old junk right out of my life and allow God's Word to transform me and make me a person who reflects the Love and Truth of God to the people around me.

James 1:22-25 "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does."

P.S. I have to give credit to my dear friend, Jamie White, for the above analogy.

Where to Be

A friend of mine said this today, and I liked it, so I wanted to share. I also feel like it pertains to where I am right now, spiritually and physically, and where I want to be.

"It is better to be in the center of God's will and be in a war, than outside of God's will and in a peaceful pasture."

Although the very opposite seems to be more comfortable and inviting, it is a trap for me that leads to complacency and stagnancy. The Word of God says that we are in the midst of a battle, and to think that I can ever just cruise along unscathed is a daydream. Jeremiah 29:11 says,

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

One Step...

This thought has been reoccurring lately: everything I do either directs me toward Christ or away from Him. The choices I make demonstrate where my focus is. Do I want to be nearer to Jesus at the end of the day? Then choose Him at every opportunity!

Psalm 86:11
Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.

King of Israel

This is a trailer for a short movie that my hubby is making for one of his classes. What do you think?

The King of Israel

Praise the Lord!

I need to make the decision to rejoice in the circumstances God has given me. I can decide to be negative, or I can remember the positive and praise Him and pray to Him.




Psalm 103 "Praise the Lord, Oh my soul; all my inmost being praise His name. Praise the Lord, oh my soul, and don't forget all His benefits. He forgives all of your sins and heals all your diseases. He redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion. He satisfies your desires with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."

Put a smile on my face and in my heart today. Jesus is Lord!

This Too Shall Be Made Right - Derek Webb

This probably won't show up on my Facebook page, but I wanted to post it anyway. When I saw this, it reminded me of how sad and tormented this world is. It truly breaks my heart, and I know it breaks the heart of Jesus Christ. He came to bring a river of peace and hope to all of our aching, thirsty souls. All that we see that isn't right will be righted in Him in the end. That's what He promises, and that's what I believe. In Christ we are healed, we are loved, and we are able to love others.