I'm praying about some different things I have on my heart and thoughts that have popped into my head to do with this blog. I want so much to encourage all of you as you hunger and thirst after the only One who can truly satisfy you - the Lord Jesus Christ. But before I do anything, I am in much prayer about this and would appreciate your prayers as well.
I want everything I have and everything I do to represent Christ and Christ alone. I want nothing more than for the brilliance of His beauty to emanate through all He has given me. And I want to honor the "mission" He's given me for my life; which is the same mission for this blog.
So while I'm in this time of prayer, I thought it would be good to share a couple of personal journal entries with you, as this is the direction I am sensing the Lord leading me with regards to this blog. I know He wants me to get more personal, but what I don't know yet is how that will look and how it will all play out.
I want everything I have and everything I do to represent Christ and Christ alone. I want nothing more than for the brilliance of His beauty to emanate through all He has given me. And I want to honor the "mission" He's given me for my life; which is the same mission for this blog.
So while I'm in this time of prayer, I thought it would be good to share a couple of personal journal entries with you, as this is the direction I am sensing the Lord leading me with regards to this blog. I know He wants me to get more personal, but what I don't know yet is how that will look and how it will all play out.
June 3, 2000
To live a day without God,
To live a day without prayer,
Is truly a day not lived at all,
A day that 's meaningless and bare.
To live a day in God's will,
To live a day wrapped in prayer,
Is a day filled with miracles,
A day spent in God's merciful care.
Thank You Father for Your love! Thank You for Jesus. Thank You for teaching all of us, caring for us and disciplining us. I love You Father. I lift up my thoughts and prayers in the holy name of Christ Jesus. Amen.
I wrote the following entry after I read what Jesus said in John 15:10-11. In this passage, Jesus explains to us what His delight; His joy is - to keep the commandments of our Father God. And He shares how His desire is for us to have this same joy, this same delight. I then read Psalm 37:4 to confirm that Jesus' joy came from complete and total obedience to God the Father out of love and not out of duty. Then I came upon Psalm 40:8 which brought the first two passages together, as I continued to search God's word to help me live in the joy, the delight of my Master and Lord, Jesus the Christ.
As I read God's word, I was very disappointed to find out that my delight was not in obedience, but only in receiving blessings. From my broken heart, I wrote the following entry:
As I read God's word, I was very disappointed to find out that my delight was not in obedience, but only in receiving blessings. From my broken heart, I wrote the following entry:
October 8, 2000
So Father, when do I "delight" to do Your will? It seems it is only when Your will is easy for me. But when You challenge me, when You grow me, I feel stumped. I lose my footing and become totally unfocused. Why? Why does this happen to me?
Because I do not lean on Your understanding and Your ways, but my own, I become discouraged and confused; frustrated and floundering.
But You Father, my God Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth, You alone, make my paths straight. Teach me, lead me, make me the woman You have planned for me to be. Let me put off my old ways. Let me not dam up the stream of Your Living Water. Let me have no walls, obstacles or stumbling blocks that might impede the work You have set before me.
I want to "delight" in pleasing You. I want all my joy to be set on You. I want You to be the sole foundation, sole purpose of my being. I want every part of me, to be of You...and You alone.
Praise be to You Father. Oh sweet Abba Father in Heaven! Praise Your holy Name! Thank You for Jesus!
And what about you? Have you every only delighted in God when you were blessed and not when He challenged you to grow in your faith? What is your hearts cry to God right now? How do you want to live each day? And what do you want your days to be filled with?
I pray that somehow, God will use this to bless, encourage, and exhort you to be all that only Christ can form within you.
Because I do not lean on Your understanding and Your ways, but my own, I become discouraged and confused; frustrated and floundering.
But You Father, my God Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth, You alone, make my paths straight. Teach me, lead me, make me the woman You have planned for me to be. Let me put off my old ways. Let me not dam up the stream of Your Living Water. Let me have no walls, obstacles or stumbling blocks that might impede the work You have set before me.
I want to "delight" in pleasing You. I want all my joy to be set on You. I want You to be the sole foundation, sole purpose of my being. I want every part of me, to be of You...and You alone.
Praise be to You Father. Oh sweet Abba Father in Heaven! Praise Your holy Name! Thank You for Jesus!
And what about you? Have you every only delighted in God when you were blessed and not when He challenged you to grow in your faith? What is your hearts cry to God right now? How do you want to live each day? And what do you want your days to be filled with?
I pray that somehow, God will use this to bless, encourage, and exhort you to be all that only Christ can form within you.
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