One Whose Strength Becomes My Strength

God is not a belief to which you give your assent. 

God becomes a reality whom you know intimately, 

meet everyday, 

one whose strength becomes your strength, 

whose love, your love.  

Live this life of the presence of God long enough 

and when someone asks you, “Do you believe there is a God?” 

you may find yourself answering, 

“No I do not believe there is a God. I know there is a God.” 

~Ernest Boyer, Jr.

 Lately, I find this quote ringing so true in my life.  I can do nothing on my own.  I cannot truly love anyone.  I cannot be unselfish with my desires.  I cannot do for others without wanting it to have a return.  I cannot stop wanting to have value in this world.  But this doesn't stop me from trying, from daily crying out to God that I'll die to myself and let Him reign in me.  Then I am able to see His love, be willing to trust in His plan, to see others as He sees them, to serve knowing that He blesses me, and to keep my eyes peeled on the One who truly knows my value.

 

Multitude Mondays

554.  warmer weather

555.  time to read the Word with my kids....giving life to them and me...shaping us all as we run the race to Him
556.  piano keys tinkling and hearing creativity flowing from both Jake & Madeline
557.  time with Weldons this last weekend....catching up, just SEEing one another
558.  honesty in prayer....I'm so thankful that God wants to hear my heart and doesn't get upset with me when I ask for Him to change circumstances....and then thankful for my acceptance in the end...how freeing it is to be heard and then to leave the decision up to Him
599.  time with my sister on Friday...hanging out...it's the best!
600.  Tuesdays because it brings drum lessons, pizza, and friends
601.  signs of spring....it amazes me how it makes my chest feel close to bursting

602.  the opportunity to care for another little one - baby Gorrell - may God use me in her life
603.  devotion time with the worship team
604.  pets....they bring so much laughter into our lives....looking at these pictures one would question who rules around here anyway

605.  baseball...going into this season I've been filled with dread for what it will mean to our family and the pace of life we'll be leading, but I'm so thankful that God seems to have given me a peace in the chaos now and I see daily how He is using baseball to grow me and the boys in our walks - God is sooo cool

606.  God-given friends....enjoying our last Thursday at their home on Rolfe Rd.... tears and hearts shared, but joy and fun too

607.  tough little pansy that grows back this spring, even though it's not meant to...makes me wonder if I have that kind of perseverance in my life when God calls me to something

608.  peace that only comes from Him....these past few weeks there has been numerous times when I've felt fearful of losing friendships, of health issues, of my shortcomings, of the future....but each time so far I've been able to cling to the knowledge that God is sovereign....nothing, NOTHING happens that He has not foreseen and He loves me, so there is nothing, NOTHING to fear.

Gratitude for the Cross

Let us turn from the story of the crucifixion, every time we read it, with hearts full of praise. 

Let us praise God for the confidence it gives us, as to the ground of our hope of pardon. 

Our sins may be many and great, but the payment made by our Great Substitute far outweighs them all. Let us praise God for the view it given us of the love of our Father in heaven. 

He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, 

will surely with Him give us all things. 

Not least, let us praise God for the view it gives us of the sympathy of Jesus with all His believing people. 

He can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities. 

He knows what suffering is. 

Jesus is just the Savior that an infirm body, with a weak heart, in an evil world, requires.

~ J.C. Ryle

Today I've been struck with a mental replay of what Christ endured for me, for the most unworthy.  What a paradox that is brings me to tears, yet leaves me with joy!