My heart is heavy tonight....I have heard of so many different situations over the past couple of days where people are just under attack and going through some really tough stuff! I am praying fervently for all of these situations and know that the Lord will show Himself faithful. My heart breaks to know that Satan's destruction is everywhere, he is so decieving, and he is so hard at work particularly right now!
I love Psalm 18: 28-29 which says, "You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall." I also love how Psalm 18 starts by saying, "The Lord is my rock." He is safe, secure, and immovable. "My fortress" a place of refuge and safety where the enemy cannot penetrate. "My deliverer" a living protector. "My shield" he is stepping between us and harm. "My horn of salvation" he has strength and victorious power to deliver and save us. "My stronghold" he lifts us above the dangers of life. Praise Him that His presence is never far from us as believers and that we can rely on Him to be these thing in our lives when the ground around seems to crumble.
Whether it be drug addiction, job loss, difficulties in marriage, persecution/slander, financial instability, you name it....we all know that He is bigger than it all. But, I also know what it feels like to be in the middle of a storm. It's horrible and hard! Especially when things are to remain unspoken. I'm praying that God would work through it all.
I am just so upset to hear about so many things going on in so many precious people's lives. For all who are hurting, my heart is crying out for Jesus to be your rock, fortress, deliverer, shield, horn of salvation, and stronghold during this time....
Monday, March 30, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Just Me
These two verses are two that I am striving to fully live out. They are challenging to me personally. I have been reading them for a while and praying that I could apply them more to my life. So often I find myself angry and bruised rather than blessed and rejoicing.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you falsely and say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” -Matthew 5:10-12
“To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” -2Cor. 12:7-10
Love this song....
Matt Redman - You Never Let Go
From the album Passion 06: Everything Glorious
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I’m caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won’t turn back I know You are near
And I will fear no evil For my God is with me And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?Whom then shall I fear?
Chorus:
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me
And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We’ll live to know You here on the earth
Chorus:
Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You
Chorus: (2x’s)
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you falsely and say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” -Matthew 5:10-12
“To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” -2Cor. 12:7-10
Love this song....
Matt Redman - You Never Let Go
From the album Passion 06: Everything Glorious
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I’m caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won’t turn back I know You are near
And I will fear no evil For my God is with me And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?Whom then shall I fear?
Chorus:
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me
And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We’ll live to know You here on the earth
Chorus:
Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You
Chorus: (2x’s)
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Why?
This is something that has been on my mind for a while, and it just keeps coming back to me....
Why do some children have to go through SO much especially when they are so young? My heart is broken for the situations that some children are living in every day. It is so sad what some children face. They are so small and innocent, but in many cases they have overcome more than I will in my entire lifetime. It just doesn't seem fair or right and it certainly is not something that I can comprehend.
My class this year has many unique cases, and God has used this group to heighten my awareness, and to give me compassion. It has also made me very frustrated with these parents that are not taking care of their children.....I hate the fact that there are children that live in fear every night of abuse within the home, children who go to sleep at night to the sound of gun shots in the neighborhood, children whose parents are addicted to drugs, children dealing with divorce, children who are not being taught right from wrong, children who are hungry, and children who don't know where they are going to sleep from one night to the next, children who have never felt stability, safety, and unconditional love. It totally breaks my heart! The thought of a poor child having to go through all of these things....and the saddest part of all is that they think it is normal. I just can't stand it!
I say all this to say, I know some foster children right now that really need our prayers. One of them is an 8 year old child who paces the floors at night in fear of having to go back to birth mom, it kills me! This is one of many, I know. Please join with me in prayer for them. Pray for their living situations, their future, pray for God to break in on their lives and do a mighty work in and through them to break this vicious cycle. Pray for rights to be terminated with the birth mother, God willing. Pray for guarded hearts and understanding. Pray that God would direct their path and lead them to the perfect place, Pray that they would not grow up to be angry at the situations that they are in, but that they would use it for God's glory.
God is greater than all of these situations and He certainly has the power to help these children overcome. There is no doubt in my mind that God has something amazing in store for them if they choose to follow. Pray for His grace to pour over them, and pray that I would be open to however and wherever God wants to use me to love these children as well...
Why do some children have to go through SO much especially when they are so young? My heart is broken for the situations that some children are living in every day. It is so sad what some children face. They are so small and innocent, but in many cases they have overcome more than I will in my entire lifetime. It just doesn't seem fair or right and it certainly is not something that I can comprehend.
My class this year has many unique cases, and God has used this group to heighten my awareness, and to give me compassion. It has also made me very frustrated with these parents that are not taking care of their children.....I hate the fact that there are children that live in fear every night of abuse within the home, children who go to sleep at night to the sound of gun shots in the neighborhood, children whose parents are addicted to drugs, children dealing with divorce, children who are not being taught right from wrong, children who are hungry, and children who don't know where they are going to sleep from one night to the next, children who have never felt stability, safety, and unconditional love. It totally breaks my heart! The thought of a poor child having to go through all of these things....and the saddest part of all is that they think it is normal. I just can't stand it!
I say all this to say, I know some foster children right now that really need our prayers. One of them is an 8 year old child who paces the floors at night in fear of having to go back to birth mom, it kills me! This is one of many, I know. Please join with me in prayer for them. Pray for their living situations, their future, pray for God to break in on their lives and do a mighty work in and through them to break this vicious cycle. Pray for rights to be terminated with the birth mother, God willing. Pray for guarded hearts and understanding. Pray that God would direct their path and lead them to the perfect place, Pray that they would not grow up to be angry at the situations that they are in, but that they would use it for God's glory.
God is greater than all of these situations and He certainly has the power to help these children overcome. There is no doubt in my mind that God has something amazing in store for them if they choose to follow. Pray for His grace to pour over them, and pray that I would be open to however and wherever God wants to use me to love these children as well...
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Just to Clear The Air.....
I didn't realize when I posted about being emotional that everyone would think I was pregnant. I had phone calls, comments on the blog, and on facebook. I've obviously never been pregnant and didn't even think that that was what others might think. Just wanted to make sure everyone knows that I'm 100% sure I'm NOT pregnant, just MOO-DEE! :) Ha! Ha!
Friday, January 23, 2009
E-MO-TION-AL!
Emotional....yup, that's me! I don't know what is wrong with me but my emotions have been on hightened alert this week. There is not anything specific that I am emotional about ...just crying to cry I guess...kind of wierd!
If you know me well, you know I'm not a very emotional person, especially in public. Well, yesterday I was out at recess having a good time talking to all my teacher friends, we were laughing and having a good time when suddenly, one of them said something that triggered whatever gets triggered and I just starting bawling, what?? I was so embarrassed! I quickly left and brought my class back inside.
I cried when the pork was undercooked Monday night, and when the garlic bread was burned last night. I know, those are really worth crying over....
I don't know if I want to admit this, but I also cried when I watched American Idol the other night. Explain that. There was a guy on there that had been taking care of his sick mother, yada, yada, yada.
I started laughing at myself when I realized I was crying....so funny.
As I was leaving school yesterday, I ran into a parent that I know pretty well and we started talking about her child...the conversation was one that broke my heart. We sat in the school parking lot and cried together, I cried all the way home, called Matthew and cried to him, cried this morning when I woke up....
Emotions are funny and regardless of how crazy they are at sometimes...
I am thankful that I really do not have anything to cry about, I am thankful that God used my emotions this week to bring compassion and love to someone who was hurting, I am thankful for teacher friends that don't think I'm crazy, I am thankful for life!
If you know me well, you know I'm not a very emotional person, especially in public. Well, yesterday I was out at recess having a good time talking to all my teacher friends, we were laughing and having a good time when suddenly, one of them said something that triggered whatever gets triggered and I just starting bawling, what?? I was so embarrassed! I quickly left and brought my class back inside.
I cried when the pork was undercooked Monday night, and when the garlic bread was burned last night. I know, those are really worth crying over....
I don't know if I want to admit this, but I also cried when I watched American Idol the other night. Explain that. There was a guy on there that had been taking care of his sick mother, yada, yada, yada.
I started laughing at myself when I realized I was crying....so funny.
As I was leaving school yesterday, I ran into a parent that I know pretty well and we started talking about her child...the conversation was one that broke my heart. We sat in the school parking lot and cried together, I cried all the way home, called Matthew and cried to him, cried this morning when I woke up....
Emotions are funny and regardless of how crazy they are at sometimes...
I am thankful that I really do not have anything to cry about, I am thankful that God used my emotions this week to bring compassion and love to someone who was hurting, I am thankful for teacher friends that don't think I'm crazy, I am thankful for life!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Peanut Butter Pie, Stomach Bug, School, & Forgiveness...They all go together right?
Well, I was up all night last night again with a stomach ache and feeling like I was going to get sick at any given moment. I can't figure out was is going on. My stomach has been upset all week, and I had this same thing two weeks ago. I'm trying to figure out if it could be the effects of PEANUT BUTTER pie (before I knew about the recall), or some sort of yucky bug. Whatever it is, I wish it would go away. I think I finally fell asleep around 3:00 last night, so when my alarm went off at 6:00 I was ready to die! As I got up and started my day, I started to feel better...just exhausted! It seems to come at night when I lay down...any ideas of what it could be?
Although I had a rough night and a very sleepy morning, I will say that I was happy to come to school today and not have a single parent note concerning their child's report card. Report cards went home yesterday...and for a teacher the day after report cards go home can sometimes be a day when you have to prove yourself and your student's grades (even though you have already sent them all home for the parents to sign and they are never returned!) I think God knew that today would not be a good day for that. I'm so thankful for my class. I wish they could stay with me again next year. I do not have very many parents that are involved, but my kids are just precious!
One more thought, God has been trying to teach me about forgiveness this year, it couldn't be more clear...He's given me many oppertunities to forgive. I'm going to be honest and say it has not always been easy...particularly right now. Would my prayer warriors out there please pray for God to teach me, change my heart, and help me in this area of my life....
Matthew 5:10-12
Although I had a rough night and a very sleepy morning, I will say that I was happy to come to school today and not have a single parent note concerning their child's report card. Report cards went home yesterday...and for a teacher the day after report cards go home can sometimes be a day when you have to prove yourself and your student's grades (even though you have already sent them all home for the parents to sign and they are never returned!) I think God knew that today would not be a good day for that. I'm so thankful for my class. I wish they could stay with me again next year. I do not have very many parents that are involved, but my kids are just precious!
One more thought, God has been trying to teach me about forgiveness this year, it couldn't be more clear...He's given me many oppertunities to forgive. I'm going to be honest and say it has not always been easy...particularly right now. Would my prayer warriors out there please pray for God to teach me, change my heart, and help me in this area of my life....
Matthew 5:10-12
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
