I was recently reading on Maria's blog and she was talking about her life verse being
Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." I love that verse.
This got me to thinking, what is my life verse? I answered very quickly. It is definitely Philippians 3:10a - I love the Amplified Bible's translation:
[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly],
That is my life's purpose and thus my life's verse.
What's yours?
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
Confidence
I stumbled across this quote in a book I'm reading called Empress find it here:
Heavenlight tells a young friend who is to be Emperor, "Confidence has a long apprenticeship. Like physical strength, it is accrued with experience and exercise."
I love that! My life experience definitely resonates with that idea. Confidence is expensive! It costs me something. For me, it doesn't come naturally.
I can think of many things where this is the case....when I first started leading worship I remember telling the band, "I only sing melody". HA! That didn't last long. Eight years later, and I'm finally feeling really confident about singing both harmony and melody.
May I continue to "exercise" to grow in confidence. And more importantly, may my confidence come from Jesus. Knowing who I am in Christ.
Heavenlight tells a young friend who is to be Emperor, "Confidence has a long apprenticeship. Like physical strength, it is accrued with experience and exercise."
I love that! My life experience definitely resonates with that idea. Confidence is expensive! It costs me something. For me, it doesn't come naturally.
I can think of many things where this is the case....when I first started leading worship I remember telling the band, "I only sing melody". HA! That didn't last long. Eight years later, and I'm finally feeling really confident about singing both harmony and melody.
May I continue to "exercise" to grow in confidence. And more importantly, may my confidence come from Jesus. Knowing who I am in Christ.
Another Birthday Approaches
I took a friend out to dinner tonight for her birthday and I realized that my birthday is only a few weeks away! Ack! This past year has been a tough one.
I came across an entry in my journal from Oct 4th, 2008 and it was very encouraging to me as I approach 41. How in the world did that happen????
I want to share it here....it's a bit stream of consciousness so bare with me...
10-4-2008 - My last day as a 30 something. 30's have been good years. I graduated from Den Sem, have had lots of training and opportunity to minister and grow as a counselor. I decided to stay in Colorado, bought my 1st condo and then my first home. I have made some really good friends, got my doggies, have had some amazing vacations.
I have released a lot of pain, drawn closer to You, Lord. I hope I have become more like You.
I have learned to have boundaries in relationships. I have learned to accept my calling as a therapist and a teacher and have found ways to overcome many fears related to those roles.
You have taught me to take responsibility for my part in relationships and allow others to be responsible for "their side of the street".
You have shown me new levels of my anxious heart and also given me new freedom in so many ways.
You have given me peace in terms of not being so concerned with how others feel about me. I love all that I have gotten to do and become at the Experience.
Thank You Lord for Your incredible tenderness, patience and mercy that You extend to me on a daily basis.
I came across an entry in my journal from Oct 4th, 2008 and it was very encouraging to me as I approach 41. How in the world did that happen????
I want to share it here....it's a bit stream of consciousness so bare with me...
10-4-2008 - My last day as a 30 something. 30's have been good years. I graduated from Den Sem, have had lots of training and opportunity to minister and grow as a counselor. I decided to stay in Colorado, bought my 1st condo and then my first home. I have made some really good friends, got my doggies, have had some amazing vacations.
I have released a lot of pain, drawn closer to You, Lord. I hope I have become more like You.
I have learned to have boundaries in relationships. I have learned to accept my calling as a therapist and a teacher and have found ways to overcome many fears related to those roles.
You have taught me to take responsibility for my part in relationships and allow others to be responsible for "their side of the street".
You have shown me new levels of my anxious heart and also given me new freedom in so many ways.
You have given me peace in terms of not being so concerned with how others feel about me. I love all that I have gotten to do and become at the Experience.
Thank You Lord for Your incredible tenderness, patience and mercy that You extend to me on a daily basis.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Shining Faces
Last weekend The Experience band led worship and the services at Concordia Lutheran Church in Steamboat Springs. It has become a much anticipated yearly event for all of us. It is a blessing to be away for the weekend as a band and ministry team. It has the capacity to re-energize us for continued ministry to the Experience community.
Anyhow, a woman - Marv's wife - I always mean to memorize her name and for some reason always end up remembering her this way instead :( approached me after the service to tell me that "your face shines with the love of Jesus". Wow! What a huge compliment! It made me think of the verses under my blog header - that we shine with the brightness of His face. That is exactly my heart's desire! I was thinking about gradually becoming more like Jesus and how it is sometimes easy for people to see Jesus in my life from a distance - when they see me leading worship or sharing during a service, but the real "test" of whether or not my life reflects Jesus is in the close up look - people who know me when I'm grouchy, tired, overwhelmed, just plain grumpy and wanting to be alone.
Lord, may my life gradually become brighter and more beautiful as You enter my life and I become like You!
Anyhow, a woman - Marv's wife - I always mean to memorize her name and for some reason always end up remembering her this way instead :( approached me after the service to tell me that "your face shines with the love of Jesus". Wow! What a huge compliment! It made me think of the verses under my blog header - that we shine with the brightness of His face. That is exactly my heart's desire! I was thinking about gradually becoming more like Jesus and how it is sometimes easy for people to see Jesus in my life from a distance - when they see me leading worship or sharing during a service, but the real "test" of whether or not my life reflects Jesus is in the close up look - people who know me when I'm grouchy, tired, overwhelmed, just plain grumpy and wanting to be alone.
Lord, may my life gradually become brighter and more beautiful as You enter my life and I become like You!
Saturday, September 5, 2009
God is Not Frantic
John Ortberg writes,
"God is not frantic. If you hear desperate thoughts, you can KNOW that it is NOT from God"
(emphasis, mine)
From: If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat page 184
"God is not frantic. If you hear desperate thoughts, you can KNOW that it is NOT from God"
(emphasis, mine)
From: If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat page 184
Do the Something You Can Do
Helen Keller said:
I am only one, but I am still one.
I cannot do everything, but still I can do something.
And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.
It's easy to become immobilized when one is overwhelmed. I like this quote, because it reminds me that while I may not be able to "do everything" there is always something that I can do.
I am only one, but I am still one.
I cannot do everything, but still I can do something.
And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.
It's easy to become immobilized when one is overwhelmed. I like this quote, because it reminds me that while I may not be able to "do everything" there is always something that I can do.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
