Friday, November 30, 2012

A Little Nugget from Mr. Chambers


“By the Grace of God I Am What I Am”

“By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain…”

1 Corinthians 15:10

The way we continually talk about our own inabilities is an insult to our Creator. To complain over our incompetence is to accuse God falsely of having overlooked us. Get into the habit of examining from God’s perspective those things that sound so humble to men. You will be amazed at how unbelievably inappropriate and disrespectful they are to Him. We say things such as, “Oh, I shouldn’t claim to be sanctified; I’m not a saint.” But to say that before God means “No Lord, it is impossible for you to save and sanctify me; there are opportunities I have not had and so many imperfections in my brain and body; no, Lord, it isn’t possible.” That may sound wonderfully humble to others, but before God it is an attitude of defiance.

Conversely, the things that sound humble before God may sound exactly the opposite before people. To say, “Thank God, I know I am saved and sanctified,” is in God’s eyes the purest expression of humility. It means you have so completely surrendered yourself to God that you know He is true. Never worry about whether what you say sounds humble before others or not. But always be humble before God, and allow Him to be your all in all.

There is only one relationship that really matters, and that is your personal relationship to your personal Redeemer and Lord. If you maintain that at all costs, letting everything else go, God will fulfill His purpose through your life. One individual life may be of priceless value to God’s purposes, and yours may be that life.

November 30th

 

Chambers, Oswald. My Utmost for His Highest. Discovery House Publishers, 1995. Print.

 

 

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Take What You Need

Monday, November 26, 2012

An Unfeminist Feminine Point of View


"A woman is a warrior too. But she is meant to be a warrior in a uniquely feminine way. Sometime before the sorrows of life did their best to kill it in us, most young women wanted to be a part of something grand, something important."

- Stasi Eldredge
 
I love being a girl. I love pursuing the true, deep purpose and form I was created for. I especially love the God who made no mistakes when He first thought of the woman and then proceeded to make her; I love how He is the healer of the broken, the dryer of tears, the changer of ashes, the forgiver of sins, and the giver of abundant, purposeful life.

I love how He is not partial and wants all men to be saved.

Friday, November 23, 2012

Travels o'er Thanksgiving

             This Thanksgiving week has been full of joy, land, and laughter. Last August my sister joined a class which, upon graduation, would produce certified National Park rangers. After many hard hours, some disappointments, and lots of pt time, she and her classmates graduated. How proud I am to see her work so hard and finish this class; she passed difficult tests, proved to be in the 95thpercentile for shooting, and learned how to do 180 turns in a police car. Congratulations, Allie!!! May the LORD lead you in your new career!

 
              In order to see my sister, my family and I drove from our little town in Missouri to the rugged land of Arizona. It has been such a great trip--we started off later in the evening (something we won’t do again J) and drove the 20 hours almost non-stop. Oi, were we ever tired! But I loved traveling with my family, bugging my brother, guessing Disney songs with Dad, and making bologna sandwiches (that’s another post for another time!).

Of course there were those unavoidable but perfectly human moments which occur in every trip. Fatigue. McDonalds overload. Listening to Mom’s favorite 80’s love songs. My favorite quote of the trip?

“I don’t know why I am cranky!” --Dad

But how I loved traveling through New Mexico and spotting my first cactuses. J I loved seeing the red rocks of Sedona and observing the many cultures within this area.

Today, we journeyed to the Grand Canyon. What a ruggedly, beautiful land. How I admire the peoples who inhabited this dry environment.

Quotes heard while walking:

Little Boy: "WHY do we have to take SO MANY PICTURES??!!" (spoken in a raging, naughty six year-old voice)

Little Girl: While sitting in a random log along the path: "Why do you think they put it there?"

Mother: "I think they put it right there for you."   
 







 
 
 
 
 
A lovely, blessed trip!
 

 

Thursday, November 22, 2012

"Look at this one, Frannie!"


 
CAPTION:
Those wonderful moments full of color, laughter, and love.
A jaunt around Arizona territory--more pictures  to come.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Comforting Words

"I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.
Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.

The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon meL I found trouble and sorrow.

Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.

Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.

The LORD preserveth the  simple; I was brought low, and he helped me. "

Psalm 116:1-6

♥ ♥ ♥

Sometimes, when life seems dry and fruitless, I find reading God's Word and agreeing with it exactly what I need. It washes over me reminding me of sins needing to be confessed and filling me with hope and remembrances of God's goodness. It steadies the frazzled spirit and restarts the over-worked mind.

Today, Psalms 116 spoke into my heart and became alive.

What has encouraged you, lately?

With love!

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Turning to Thanks


 
 
Good morning, Lord,

          Oh. It’s been hard lately. Not because of You; no, it’s me . . . again. I’m so discouraged. I look at my life and see failures and weaknesses and rebellions. I see anger and a lack of love. And it hurts me so much.

          But I thank You. Thank You for loving me in spite of myself. Thank You for giving me family who live with me and my faults and love me still. Thank You for friends who offer encouragement and fellowship. Thank You for classmates and teachers who are helpful and kind.

Thank You, dear Father, even for my faults; for my obvious need for You. Thank You for making a way for my salvation and for making freedom from fear and guilt possible. Thank You for working all things for good for those who love You and are called according to Your purposes and Thank You for having plans and thoughts higher than mine. Thank You for wanting a relationship with me.

Thank You for life: for the crazy relatives who teach me to love and for the classes which teach me diligence. Thank You for my clothes, for my home, for my bedroom, and crafting supplies. Thank You for the interests I have and even for the embarrassing quirks too.

Thank You for the lovely sunshine glittering off the morning frost. Thank You for gentle music, the smell of good food, and for the hotness of black coffee.

Oh, Father, thank You for listening to me and for loving me . . . even when I don’t feel it.

I am so blessed.

Monday, November 12, 2012

What I've Been Learning


“Discernment is God’s call to intercession, never to fault finding.”

                                                                    --Oswald Chambers

Friday, November 9, 2012

Wintry Dreams


 
Already planning my winter weekends.
Bliss.
     ♥      

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Exhorted to Pray



“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”

          I Timothy 2: 1-6

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Beautiful Theory


I theorize that beauty, like the rose, often appears in full brilliancy only after it has endured the frosts, the hard rains, and the clouded skies.

Then, at an unexpected moment, it blossoms and begins to bless all who see it.
 
Wishing you could see our November roses.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Sureness


I am sure my life is so much more meaningful than how comfortable I can make it, how homey my home is, how much money I make, who I know, and what I wear.  

I mean, I guess I could be wrong seeing that my belief is contrary to the other successful, happy people in this word. The majority who so often seem to say what is what.

Maybe, now that I comprehend the vast amount of humanity I am turning against, my life wouldn’t be very valuable if I spent it for God.  I mean, spending my moments really doing what Christ desires: pouring my life out, not loving this world, spending my moments in true, eternity-effecting responsibilities. I guess dying to self really isn’t all that profitable, is it? and that gaining the rewards of said death (walking and working in fellowship with the God, gaining victory over sin, and gaining life) isn’t really all that worthwhile . . .

Lately, God has been knocking on my heart and asking me if I really, truly want life. And I say that I do; “Yes, Lord, of course I want that.” Then He says to follow Him. Follow. Him. As in do as He says, trust in His Person, walk in His ways.

While I honestly am afraid of such surrender, of such impact with my Lord, I’ve piddled around enough to know that life outside of Christ is no life at all; that there is no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey.

And really, honestly, I count it as a privilege. For God to reach out to us humans and say, “I love you. I’ve paid the price for you. I have a heart of good-will to you” is amazing. To be counted as an heir with Christ, to have my identity in Him is truly worthwhile. To know that He rewards the faithful and lifts the weak . . . well, that really is worth all the pain and un-comfortableness at the moment.

I am sure. Sure that life is so much more than I often make it.

            Frannie

Friday, November 2, 2012

I'm Dreaming


What else goes so perfectly with slippered feet and hot, black coffee?
A little Christmas of course.
 
 
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...