“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.

until you came along || jj heller

I tried to live this life on my own
But emptiness was beating down the door
Yeah it rose up like a flood
Until my dying days were done
They are no more

Nothing makes sense without you
It's like waking up in the dark
I didn't have a song
Until you came along

Falling in love with you was easy
You were always meant to have my heart
I was broken all to pieces
You were there to be the missing part

Nothing makes sense without you
It's like waking up in the dark
I didn't have a song
Until you came...

And I never wanna go back
To the way things were beforeYou saved me and you made me yours

Now nothing makes sense without you
It's like waking up in the dark
I didn't have a song
Until you came along

Now nothing makes sense without you
It's like waking up in the dark
I didn't have a song
Until you came along

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.

testimony

this was a testimony shared by someone from my church several months ago... but i finally found a video online so i can look back at it later. this guy has such an amazing and God-glorifying story!

http://www.joshharris.com/2011/02/gods_providence_in_salvation.php

"Rest you in this; that your faith may be shaken, but it cannot be destroyed if you are resting upon Christ. Your little temporary foundations that may have overlain Christ may move, but the rock of Christ Jesus never can."

charles spurgeon

“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. :)

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!

empty my hands - tenth avenue north

I've got voices in my head

And they are so strong
And I'm getting sick of this

Oh Lord, how long
Will I be haunted by this fear that I believe?
My hands like locks on cages
Of these dreams I can't set free

But if I let these dreams die
If I lay down all my wounded pride
If I let these dreams die
Will I find that letting go,

let's me come alive?

So empty my hands
Fill up my heart
Capture my mind with You
Oh empty my hands
Fill up my heart
Capture my mind with You
With You, with You Lord

These voices speak instead

What's right is wrong
And I'm giving into them

Please Lord, how long

Will I be held captive

By the lies that I believe?
My heart's in constant chaos

And it keeps me so deceived

But if I let these dreams die
If I could just lay down my dark desire
If I let these dreams die
Will I find you brought me back to life?

So empty my hands
Fill up my heart
Capture my mind with You
Oh Lord, empty my hands
Fill up my heart
Capture my mind with You

Cause my mind is like a building burning down
I need Your grace to keep me, keep me from the ground
And my heart is just a prisoner of war
A slave to what it wants,

And to what I'm fighting for

So won't you empty my hands
Fill up my heart
Capture my mind with You
Oh empty my hands
Fill up my heart
Capture my mind with You

With You, with You
I need You, I need you my Lord
With You, with You
I need you now Lord

faith & doubting

When you can't trace God's hand, you must trust in his heart.

There is sufficient certainty to sustain us in mystery.

"The heart that hath never doubted has not yet learned to believe... the heart that cannot produce a doubt has not yet understood the meaning of believing." - c.h.s

by faith - keith and kristyn getty

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QgdyllyM-s

saving grace - the afters

falling into you
i'm safe and sound
you open up my eyes
i see you now

you're my saving grace
you're my saving grace
i run to my hiding place
my saving grace

carry me now
on your shoulders
i won't look down
pull me closer

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.

invisible love [ jj heller ]

if my arms could reach around you
i would never move
and if my eyes could see you
i'd have no faith left to prove
the wonder of invisible love

this is how it has to be
with you and me
the wonder of invisible love

when i fall i feel you arms
before i reach the ground
lord, i know your whisper
though i've never heard the sound
the wonder of invisible love

this is how it has to be
with you and me
the wonder of invisible love

someday there will be no time to mind
i will be your long-awaited bride
we will dance away the night

his love knows best

"Fixing my heart on the blessed fact that what the Lord does is right and best, simply because he does it, I feel the anchor hold in the depths of his love - and no tempest is powerful enough to drive faith's barque from these moorings."
~Susannah Spurgeon

something to say - starfield

and faith might mean there won't be answers
and hope might mean enduring through the night
help me not forget in darkness

the things that i believed in light

faith & christmas

You did not wait for me
To draw near to you
But you wrapped yourself with frail humanity
You did not wait for me
To call out to you
But you let me hear your voice calling me

And I'm forever grateful to you
I'm forever grateful for the cross
I'm forever grateful to you
That you came to seek and save the lost

http://therohwering20s.blogspot.com/2010/12/blog-post.html

praying for amy

[ http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/amycalderone/journal ]

So I will trust in You,

So I will trust in You.

When fears are great,

And comforts few,

We hope in mercies ever new.

We trust in You.

//

Into the darkness You shine

Our of the ashes we rise

There's no one like you,

None like you

Our God is greater,

Our God is stronger,

God you are higher than any other,

Our God is healer,

Awesome in power,

Our God, Our God.

sailing into glory - charles h. spurgeon

"Suppose, dear friend, the thought of departing from this world to the glory-world should ever startle you.[...] Your vessel is in the pool, as it were, or in the dock; she is going out on her voyage; oh, but you will not go alone, nor have to track your course through paths unnavigated or unknown before![...] The Atlantic that severs us from Canaan is white with the sails of the vessels that are on voyage thither. Fear not, they have not been wrecked; we hear good news of their arrival - there is good hope for you. There are no icebergs on the road, no mists, no counter currents, and no sunken vessels or quicksands; you have but to cut your moorings, and with Christ on board you shall be at your desired haven at once."

I absolutely love this quote. Our voyage takes trust - "cut your moorings" - but it will always be completed, because God is a perfect and gentle captain. We have nothing to fear.

[have your way - brittnicole]

Feels like I've been here forever,
Why can't you just intervene?
Do you see the tears keep falling?
And I'm falling apart at the seams.
But you never said the road would be easy,
But you said that you would never leave.
And you never promised that this life wasn't hard,
But you promised you'd take care of me.

So I'll stop searching for the answers,
I'll stop praying for an escape,
And I'll trust you,God, with where I am,
And believe that you will have your way.
Just have your way.

Remind me that you take broken things
And turn them into beautiful.

Even if my dreams have died,
And even if I don't survive,
I'll still worship you with all my life.

And I'll stop searching for the answers,
I'll stop praying for an escape,
And I'll trust you, God, with where I am,
And believe that you will have your way.
Just have your way.
Just have your way.

I know you will.
I won't forget.
You love me.
Have your way.

I Hear the Words of Love - Horatius Bonar

I hear the words of love,
I gaze upon the blood,
I see the mighty sacrifice,
And I have peace with God.

’Tis everlasting peace,
Sure as Jehovah’s Name;
’Tis stable as His steadfast throne,
For evermore the same.

The clouds may go and come,
And storms may sweep my sky;
This blood-sealed friendship changes not,
The cross is ever nigh.

I change—He changes not;
The Christ can never die;
His love, not mine, the resting-place;
His truth, not mine, the tie.

My love is oftimes low,
My joy still ebbs and flows;
But peace with Him remains the same,
No change Jehovah knows.