“He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

- Hebrews 1:3

he holds the universe.
wow.

i love how it says "he sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high."
it's like he's SO in control. he's so able.
he's not standing or pacing around heaven nervously wondering what our lives will be like.
he's just... sitting. haha.
he's got our future. he's got it all figured out.
no need to be anxious about anything.

there are so many options, ideas, dreams, and plans.
but God knows them all and he knows what is BEST.

i'm so thankful.

thankful [2011]

today i'm thankful for...

* family
parents who always want the best for me, and the most amazingly crazy siblings in the world.

* friends
honestly, i am convinced i have the best friends in the world, who point me to God constantly.

* health
so thankful that almost all the signs of mono have left my body.

* warm houses
hahaha, imagine if we had to sleep outside?!

* my puppy
can't believe i'm saying this, but a cuddly dog just makes life better. it's true!

* sunshine
iiii could not live without it...

* music
 what is it about music that warms you up, or energizes you, or provides the perfect background for midnight studying?

* the season of life i'm in right now
i'm trying to really relax and focus on how blessed i am in this current season of life. i'm living at home with my family right now, and just trying to really slow down and enjoy them.

* the excitement of what's to come
at the same time, realllly starting to get excited for what's coming next as i start college and embrace all the new and unknown.

* the Bible
God's word is sooo refreshing, how it reaches out and speaks to me. every. time. so amazing!

* my Savior
the fact that he came down to earth and gave himself up for me, so i could enjoy him forever continues to grow more precious to me every year. he is my friend, my comforter, he loves me, he died for me, shedding his blood on the cross to save me.

“For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. Oh the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments…” ~Romans 11:32&33

wow. these verse just fill me with wonder of God. to think that he would have us remain in sin, and make sure we get to the point of hopelessness because of our disobedience… so that he could have mercy on us, and blow our minds with grace. it’s amazing! it’s unlike anything we could imagine. he is so much more wise than us. why don’t i trust him more? his ways are so much better than my ways.

just wondering at the grace of God once again, and being drawn to praise my wonderful Savior. :)

growth

The real issue is Where are we focusing our attention?

Are we working hard to perform?

Or are we working hard to rest in Christ's performance for us?

- Tullian Tchividian

"Work our your own salvation with fear and trembling [there's hard work on our part, but what are we fighting for?]... for it is God who works in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure." -Philippians 2:13

Jesus has accomplished for us all of the things that we need to do and to be.

He was perfect, he was stainless, he was kind, he was loving, he was selfless.

He trusted, he prayed, he served, he worked, he bled, he did everything...

peace & joy

perfect peace

is filling my mind

and drawing my heart

to praise you again.

~every.day

[sov.grace.music]

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

~Phil.4:6&7

God seems to be wanting to teach me about peace.

last year through my sickness and depression,

he revealed soosoosooo much to me in this area.

i've in no ways attained perfection in this area (haaaaaaaa),

but lately i have been SO blessed by peace from God.

he has given me so much peace and joy in him,

it has been un-believably amazing!

really "surpassed my understanding..." like Philippians says.

i don't deserve his grace, but he gives it.

i have squandered it, but he gives more grace.

here are some things he's been helping me learn.

(but again, i still have sooo much more growth to attain in this area).

hopefully this will encourage you all!

- he gives peace as a gift

- joy comes through obedience (although God's gift is by NO means limited to my obedience... praise the Lord!)

- the Gospel guarantees me the ultimate peace- peace with God in his holiness

- i find peace when i cast my cares on God, because he cares for me (1Peter4:7)

i have romans 5:1-5 memorized, and part of it keeps coming to mind... (one of the reasons its SO good to hide scripture away in your heart! it pops up when you need it!)

"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God."

~Rom.5:1-2

his grace through peace and joy does draw my heart to praise him.

how wonderfully he gives gifts to his undeserving children!

psalm 16

The other day I was reading Psalm 16, and its deff up there in my favorites.
I was really encouraged by these verses:

"[2] I say to the Lord, 'You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.'
[4] The sorrows of those who run after another God shall multiply...
[5] The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot
[8] I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand I shall not be shaken. [9] Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure...
[11]You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy..."


We can find it hard to not put other things before God, and seek after other things for our joy.
But we can find satisfaction and peace for everything in Him alone.
Seeking after things of this world will only end in despair and hunger.
Praise the Lord that he has supplied us access to himself through the Gospel!

exodus 14

i was reading in my quiet time this morning from exodus.

the israelites have finally gotten out of egypt after the ten plagues.

they escape to the red sea, and God tells moses:

"I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them [the Israelites],

and I will get the glory over Pharaoh and all his host,

and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord."

[vs.4]

i was so struck by how passionate God is about his glory in this sentence.

he PLANNED for the egyptians to pursue his people.

the israelites panic when they see that they are being followed,

but GOD already KNEW. he is so worthy of trust.

he allows the people to cross through the parted red sea on dry ground,

and then when the egyptians go through, he sends the waves crashing down.

his purpose in changing pharaoh's mind was to be able to magnify his glory.

"I will get the glory OVER pharaoh" is really scary.

i was really struck by how passionate and furious this phrase sounds.

God will stop at nothing to bring himself glory.

but he is kind and loves his people.

he is the only being worthy of receiving all the glory,

and that's why its right for him to plan things for his own glory.

his people find joy when he is praised and magnified.

therefore it is kind of God to glorify himself.

psalm 71

[14] but i will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more. [15] my mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge... [19] your righteous, o God, reaches the high heavens. you who have done great things, oh God who is like you? [23] my lips shout for joy, when i sing praises to you, my soul also, which you have redeemed.

The Daily Spurgeon

i'm subscribed to the daily spurgeon and let me tell you, it's amazing.

almost every day i get an email with a quote from morning & evening or one of spurgeon's other works.

the one i got yesterday met me RIGHT. exactly. where i was. like totally.

praise the Lord that he knows what we are going through at every single moment.

even when we haven't told others about what struggles we're facing (which is a huge help by the way. so do it!)... he still knows.

and let's face it... even when we haven't been praying for his help in a particular area, but we've been having a hard time...

he still knows. and he reveals truth to us.

"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." -Romans 8:28

wow.

even through my guilty feelings & lack of prayer, he is drawing me to him!!

how great, how awesome, how unlike this world is our God!

here's the quote...

O you who feel your unworthiness this morning, who have been seeking salvation earnestly, and suffering the weight of sin, Jesus will freely give to you what you cannot earn or purchase, he will give it as an act of his own free, rich, sovereign mercy; and he is prepared, if you come to him, to give it to you now, for so has he promised, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

just a great, amazing reminder that it is Jesus who PROMISES to sanctify us.
and when we are painfully aware of our sin, this is actually a good thing.
before the Holy Spirit gave us this awareness, we would have dismissed our sin as no big deal.
Christ is working in us!
we needn't be discouraged, because our hope is not in ourselves! which is awesome. for me at least! :)


and i would suggest that everyone subscribe to the daily spurgeon.
you can do that by clicking "subscribe by email" on the right panel (duh!).
:)

Comforts from the Cross

...Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be hold and without blemish. || Ephesians 5:25-27.

" He has clothed you in a 'robe of righteousness' (Isaiah 61:10)... When he looks at you, he smiles with contentment and deep affection. He has cleansed you completely so that you are radiant, without any stain or shadow of guilt or impurity. Your wedding dress is as it should be: glistening, white, pure... think: He won't fail to present me to himself 'in splendor' (Ephesians 5:26) because it has, in fact, already been accomplished. "

-Elyse Fitzpatrick, Comforts from the Cross