Make Today Different

What if we make today different?  It's Leap Day, an extra day, like a gift.

What if instead of putting out our usual chatter on Twitter, we took it by storm and sent messages all around the world about Jesus?


What if we join the hashtag #JesusRocks and share about Him all day long?

What if today could be different FOR HIM, instead of just an extra day.

Will you join me?

Rebuilding Mitumba in Nairobi, Kenya

November 19, 2011 was a horrific day for those 30,000 people living in the Mitumba slum of Nairobi, Kenya. Everything they had was bulldozed to the ground by the government that day. What little they had, was now gone.


The Demolition of Mitumba - Eastviews Response Video from GOYA Ministries on Vimeo.

Amongst the ruins lay the remains of a Christian school, orphanage, and clinic.  Pastor Shadrack  and his wife Violet were devastated.  Their years and years of work were gone in an instant.  The families and children were scattered to the wind.  After several weeks of searching and very little sleep, they were able to find all of the children and brought them into their own home, 30 sweet souls without parents.

Just months before this tragedy, the ministry of GOYA teamed up with Eastview Christian Church to support the work that Pastor Shadrack was doing in Mitumba. A visit to the United States was planned, to visit the GOYA offices and the new church partnership with Eastview.

Last weekend Pastor Shadrack and Violet came to visit Eastview, my home church.  Our Senior Pastor asked for a special offering to be taken that could buy some land to rebuild the school, orphanage and clinic.  We had high hopes of trying to raise $40,000.  That Sunday evening they gave a presentation updating us on how things stand now in Mitumba.  Our Pastor of Outreach stood to give an update on the special offering taken that morning.  We didn't get the $40,000 we were hoping.  Instead we gave $206,000!!!  The place erupted with laughter, applause, crying and overwhelming praise for what God can do!

All of the glory belongs to God alone, as he stirred the hearts of his church to give.  The doors are wide open for the school to be rebuilt and expanded to include high school!  A much larger church can now be built to accommodate all those who have been coming.  God has big plans in mind for Mitumba and it was an honor for this church to be a part of that movement!!


Mitumba Response-Vimeo from Eastview Christian Church on Vimeo.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

No Matter What - OUR GOD REIGNS

OUR GOD REIGNS

nation wars against nation

OUR GOD REIGNS

famine wars against innocence

OUR GOD REIGNS

disease wars against flesh

OUR GOD REIGNS

Satan wars against souls

OUR GOD REIGNS

children war against parents

OUR GOD REIGNS

peoples war against governments

OUR GOD REIGNS

evil wars against good

OUR GOD REIGNS


"God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne."
Psalm 47:8

 

Are You Confused about God's Jealousy?

I was never an Oprah Winfrey fan.  I did not watch her show, but would catch occasional glimpses of her through other media.  Just the other day a video was being shared around Facebook of Oprah denouncing Jesus.

I felt it was a sad day.  Unfortunately, I had believed all along that Jesus was not her Savior, but this really was the final confirmation. Often times she would mention things in passing that were vague and left all of us wondering. Well now we know.

But what I found most disturbing about this video was the fact that she said when she was a young adult she heard a sermon that stated that God was a jealous God, and she decided right then that she couldn't believe in Him if he were jealous of her.

jealous of her


I grieve the fact that she totally misunderstood how God is jealous.  If this is something that you don't understand, I encourage you to look deeper.

God has never stated that he is jealous of us.  God is jealous for us.  There is a big difference.

"Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God."

Exodus 34:14

Because of His great love for us, He hates when we put other things before Him.  When something else becomes an idol, or as in the Old Testament, when the people were worshipping other gods, He became very jealous because our affection is misplaced. As Creator of the Universe, He deserves our undying devotion and attention.

He is also saddened when His power has made something happen, and human beings take the credit.  His glory has been stolen right out from under Him.  All praise and honor belongs to the Lord, not to us.

The Bible is certainly a complex, and sometimes frustrating book!  But God has provided many scholarly individuals who can help us understand those things that don't quite make sense to us.  Please, if there is something you don't understand, talk to someone about it.  Don't let it shape your faith, or worse, turn you away from faith.

In the meantime, praise God that he loves YOU so much that he wants ALL of you!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Don't forget our online book study of "James: Mercy Triumphs" by Beth Moore begins next Wednesday, February 1st right here!  Check out this post for more info!

Life as an Uphill Battle

Do you ever feel like the life you are living is a daily uphill battle?  Nothing comes easy and every decision is hard?

I think sometimes we slowly wander away from God's direction in our life.  When we are no longer walking in the Spirit, life becomes hard.  It happens before we know it, and suddenly we are struggling to squeeze any joy out of life.

If you are a bible believer, and I sure hope that you are, we know that the bible is a complete story from beginning to end.  We've lived much of it and are waiting for the remainder to happen.  Do you realize that your life is within that story?  Your life is happening right now between the books of the bible preceeding Revelation.  We know that part of history has not happened yet.

And so I wonder......

If we looked at this story, your story a little differently, would it reshape our thinking?  Because before you were born, God knew you.  He also knew where you fit into HIS story.  Before you were born He had plans all laid out for you.  Is life a battle because we have abandoned those plans that God has already prescribed?  We, you and I, have been chosen to do something important that God is doing within the story.

God is saving, rescuing and blessing.
He is providing, judging and healing.

A war is in progress;

evil vs good
unhappiness vs joy
pain vs healing
ignorance vs wisdom
life vs death
hope vs despair
heaven vs hell

Which side of the story will you choose?  We either choose God's side or we defect from it. 

Life is a battlefield, and unless we choose to play on the winning side, it will be an uphill battle of frustration, pain, and heartache.

God chose you for HIS side.  Come back and join Him on the winning team!  The Battle is the Lord's!

An Interview With Buck Denver from What's In The Bible!

I have a very special guest visiting here today! It is my great pleasure to introduce you to Mr. Buck Denver, a prominent newscaster over at JellyTelly Labs!

Hi Buck, thank you for joining us today! 

Buck: Thank you for that warm welcome, Cherie. It is a pleasure to be here!

I've heard there is a lot of excitement about a new Christmas video you've put together. Can you tell us about this new What's In The Bible DVD bundle?

Buck: I'm very excited about it!  I brought along a video that tells you all about the DVDs AND our new Christmas release!  Watch!






That was fantastic!  You mean for just $39.95 I can order all 5 DVDs and also get the new Christmas DVD?

Buck:  Yessirree!!  Phil Vischer, he's our creator you know, wants all the kiddos out there to have the chance to own this great series that teaches them all about bible history and cool bible stories.

My kids love your videos, Buck.  We own all of them and the whole family enjoys watching you and your friends.  Clive and Ian are pretty funny fellows!

Buck:  I'm so glad you like our videos!  We've worked  very hard to bring you lots of bible facts in a fun and entertaining way.

Well, you've done a great job!  Buck, thank you so much for stopping by the blog today and sharing this great deal with us!

Buck: Oh I was happy to be here.  And don't forget, this is the BEST EVER Christmas gift for kids of all ages!!  Bye!


Wasn't that nice of Buck to stop in to visit with us today?  What a great deal those What's In The Bible folks are offering, huh?  Not only do they offer this great series, but their website is full of all kinds of printables, games, videos and even church curriculum!

Want in on the savings?  Just click the banner below and you can order this specially priced set for your family!  Because where else can you find a pirate teaching you about church history?

 

{Please know that this interview was entirely made up in my own mind.  Buck was booked for the day}

If you choose to purchase through my link, I will receive a small commission. Thank you!

A OneVerse Movement for Every Language On Earth

weave:  to form by combining various elements or details into a connected whole: 

to weave a tale; to weave a plan.

God, in his infinite wisdom, weaves

usually we are unaware of His handiwork

then, slowly a picture starts to emerge

we catch a glimpse of color,

of people we've never met who need our help.

we stop short, squint to see the whole

previously unaware, we become transfixed 

on the new

fresh

idea.

He begins weaving once-strangers together 

whispering a calling

one voice

one vision

one task:

Translate My Word, THE word into every tongue for every nation.

***************************************

A movement of  OneVerse bloggers has begun, and my heart screams YES!  

YES Lord, use us, mold us, stir us to make a difference for YOU!

Will you join me?

It doesn't get any more real than this!

We all can make a difference, even if it is only one verse at a time! 

We are in a unique time in history - for the first time the number of languages that need Scripture are decreasing. Every language will have some portion of Scripture started in translation in this generation.”
~ Roy Peterson, President, The Seed Company

Will you join us?

Please Don't Just Walk Away

What do you see?

Children of the Most High King

the least of these

desperate for love

an angel in disguise?

desperate for respect

Before you turn and walk away, won't you offer some words of encouragement?  a warm meal?  a prayer of comfort?  Because for many living the American "dream", we all could be two paychecks away from the same fate.

When God Says No to Our Dreams

Only a few days after I made the announcement to some friends that I was looking for a part-time job I received an email that an Administrative Assistant position was going to be open in the Outreach department of my church.  I quickly emailed the Director of the department to let him know I was interested.

Over a month, and three interviews later, I was contacted and told that they had chosen someone else for the position.  My heart was broken.

I had prayed

I had fasted

Many friends had prayed

Others had spoken on my behalf

.....but God said no.

Tears were immediate after the phone call, the disappointment running deep.  My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions that I couldn't put words to, even for my husband.  He knows the disappointment, and he's patiently waiting for the words to come from within.

Yesterday was a day of reflection, an inventory of my emotions.  

How do we react when God says no to our dreams?  

I've wanted to work for my church for a long time now.  It is an amazing place with God sized dreams.  The Holy Spirit is alive within and I want to be a part of that movement!  Do I allow myself to be mad at God?  Do I build up resentment for those I interviewed with?  Do I quit going to that church?  Do I hide whenever I encounter the staff that know I had interviewed for the position?

What would it say of my faith if I rebelled

against my God

because 

He. 

said. 

no.?

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. Isaiah 55:8

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21

I don't know God's reasons, but I do know that I must trust Him with the answer, even when it is no.   Faith isn't grown only from the yes's and the blessings God bestows, but is also grown from the pain and disappointment in the denials.  

So today

I praise HIM

Because He is the I AM

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. 

Jeremiah 29:11

Are You Living the Best Version of You?

I love sleep.  I mean I REALLY love sleep.  It is almost one of my favorite things to do!  My bed is extra comfy.  My pillows are stacked just right.  My snuggly soft yellow blanket travels with me wherever I go in my suitcase and  I have a cute little bear that I have slept with for over 15 years. (long story)

 {Don't be shy, say hello to our guests, Mr. Brambles!}

When I was a teenager I often slept until noon.  Can anyone relate?  So by now you're thinking, "yeah, so what, you love sleep".

Recently God has revealed to me a major weakness in my life.  SLEEP!  I know I've confessed to y'all before about liking my sleep.  I think I've even explored the idea that my addiction to sleep is a sin for me.  Did you know that addiction is just a fancy, easier to swallow name for idol?

IDOL:  any person or thing regarded with blind admiration, adoration, or devotion.

 

My devotion and adoration of sleep has kept me from devotion to other more important things.  It has kept me from being the best version of me.  For example, if I head back to bed each day this week after my kids go to school (don't laugh--it happens), I've lost over 7-8 hours of productive work time for my home and family.  Even worse, if my house is in order, I've stolen time away from God as well....time I could have been in communion with him in study or service.

 

"We must identify and understand that which threatens our ability to flourish, and only sin can keep us from becoming the person God wants us to become." 

John Ortberg, The Me I Want To Be 

 

I've battled this beast for a long time now.  I've always known that sleep wasn't the best use of my time, but never did I see it as a roadblock for God making me into the best person I can be. 

To make matters worse, Satan can't keep his stinkin' nose out of it.  He'll whisper in my ear every morning how nice and comfy warm my bed is, how it's only an hour, how I have the rest of the day to be productive, how I didn't sleep well during the night and I deserve it.  THEN...when I get up from my comfy nap...He makes fun of me!  He accuses me of being lazy, points out all that I have to get done, and laughs at my weakness.

Have you been in this battle?  It might not be against sleep.  It may be against something far more serious; alcohol, p0rn0graphy, shopping, eating, gambling, gossip.....the list could go on forever.  Is there something in your life that needs to be tackled head on so that you can be the BEST version of YOU that God intended?

He doesn't love you any less for where you are right now.  His love for you never changes.  But He has great things in store for you.

Will you join me in this SEARCH AND DESTROY mission?  Find what keeps you from thriving.  If it isn't obvious to you, pray about it.  God will show you.  Once you know what is keeping you from flourishing, team up with God to knock down that stronghold!!

Would you be transparent with us today?  What keeps you from being the BEST version of YOU?

 

Relevant '11 Here I Come!

I'm really, really going!

Many of my blog friends were very aware that I desperately wanted to go to Relevant again this year, but our family just couldn't swing it financially.  I left it in God's hands, different friends were praying with me, and I was resolved that I would not be able to attend.

Out of the blue last week a friend of mine contacted me on twitter and said that she had won a ticket but was not going to be able to go.  She offered me her ticket......FREE!  I was blown away by her generosity, knowing that not being able to attend was a big disappointment to her too.

But finding a ticket was only part of the equation.  Since our family already knew this was out of our reach financially, we knew to make this happen I needed a sponsor for my travel expenses.  Have you met my sponsor?!!

I am absolutely thrilled to be partnering with Family Matters! You may remember this summer I did a series on the book "Why Christian Kids Rebel".  This was a great book written by Dr. Tim Kimmel of Family Matters.  They have a library stocked with awesome titles and amazing family helps.  I am honored to be working with them for the coming months to bring you more great resources for your family!

But let me be very clear here......GOD gets all the glory!!  I left this trip in HIS hands -- He has blessed me with a resounding "yes" and has provided the way.  Hallelujah Lord Jesus!

I can't wait to see all my bloggy friends!

Can a Modern Woman Practice Spiritual Disciplines?

As I venture into part two of this discovery, be sure to go to yesterday's post to catch up on our discussion!

I think many would say that their view of the Spiritual Disciplines might line up with thinking of a monk's life in a monastery!  Do you think of a silent lifestyle, praying 10 hours a day and eating only vegetables?  Is it really for me, an every day ordinary, modern christian woman?

YES!

As my faith walk has grown, and I'm sure yours as well, we are ready for bigger and better pieces of a life with Christ. 

• 1 Corinthians 3:2 NIV

  I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.

• Hebrews 5:12 NIV

  In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!

• Hebrews 5:14 NIV

  But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

So if you have been walking with Christ for a while, you should be eating solid food! While reading this book, Intimate Faith. A Woman's Guide to the Spiritual Disciplines, I discovered that as my faith walk has grown over the years, I was already practicing many of these disciplines in my life!  Let's look at them.

• submission
• humility
• study
• simplicity 
• sacrifice
• fasting
• chastity
• secrecy
• solitude
• silence
• prayer
• meditation
• service
• fellowship
• confession
• worship
• celebration

If you are a new believer in Christ, this list may look intimidating and difficult.  Be encouraged!  As your life in Christ matures, many of these items will naturally find a place in your daily life.  If you are a seasoned believer in Christ, you can probably look at this list and see where your faith and obedience has grown.

The disciplines are not meant as a list to check off like a to-do list.  Instead I have discovered that through the practicing of each of these gifts, I grow closer to God.  I can't help be lean into Him, celebrating, worshiping, praying and meditating on who He is in my life.  If we're living a biblical life, these things come naturally.

I'd like to encourage you to research the Spiritual Disciplines and find the peace and hope that resides inside each one. Allow them to bring you closer and closer to the heart of  God.   If you've read through the new testament, you'll notice that each of these were practices of Jesus.  Now that is an example that I want to follow!

The Glory of the Lord

Do you ever wake up with a song in your head and you have no idea where it came from?  Maybe I'm weird, but that happens to me ALL.THE.TIME.  And it isn't even a song I've heard recently or sung at church.

Anyway, today this is what I woke up to in my head.  I'd sing it for you, but....you know.

"My eyes have seen the glory of the Lord"

As the words kept swimming through my head I had to stop and examine them.  I looked up the phrase in the bible (a handly online version) just out of curiosity.  I'd forgotten that this was the term used throughout the Old Testament when they were talking about the physical cloud of fire that represented God's presence as they traveled and within the temple.

At the close of the Old Testament did that mean that the glory of the Lord was done?  Vanished?  Look what the angels are singing in Isaiah:

"And they were calling to one another: 

"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;  

the whole earth is full of his glory." Isaiah 6:3

The Glory of the Lord is all around us.  We tend to forget as we go about our lives that we are surrounded by it, that it permeates our lives.

"The most significant use of the ideas of glory and majesty is their application to God. In this regard, it is sometimes stated that God's glory is the external manifestation of his being. God's glory is something that appears ( Exod 16:10 ), is revealed ( Isa 40:5 ), or can be seen ( Num 14:22 )." (crosswalk.com)

Look around you today.  Watch with waiting eyes to see the Glory of the Lord.  It is all around and within you.

Interpreting God's Word

If you are a believer in Christ, you probably came to that decision because you believe what the Bible says as truth.  If you've read anything here at my blog, you should certainly get a clear indication that this is what I believe. 

In my discussion on yesterday's post about hell I quoted various scripture that indicate hell is a real place, just as I believer that heaven is a real place. (John 14:3)

But what I want to discuss today is a point brought up in a comment yesterday about interpretation.  Let's look at what the word actually means:

Interpret

1. to give or provide the meaning of; explain; explicate; elucidate: to interpret the hidden meaning of a parable.
2. to construe or understand in a particular way: to interpret a reply as favorable.  
3. to bring out the meaning of (a dramatic work, music, etc.) by performance or execution. 

Thousands of volumes have been written by biblical scholars with the mission of fulfilling #1 in the definition above.  Their passion as been to tear apart every single word down to the root meanings in every language that the bible was original written to give us a clear and concise English version.


But what we need to be careful of is the meaning in #2 above.  Notice that it uses the word 'construe' or to 
'interpret favorably'.  This is where many of us can be misled.


We were talking about Rob Bell yesterday, but this applies to any author who is discussing a biblical subject.  If anyone is taking a passage of scripture and explaining it in a way that makes them or us feel better about it, we have probably changed the meaning to suit our own desires.  Just because the subject and idea of hell is very uncomfortable for many of us and we don't understand it, doesn't mean that we can choose to just not believe it.  Nor does it mean that we can make up our own definition of hell.  This is true of any subject in the bible, not just hell.


If you are a new believer and you struggle to wrap your mind around some of the difficult concepts in the Bible, you are not alone.  We all wrestle to understand the ways of God, but we must be careful to not try to put God in our box of understanding.  

Faith is all about accepting what we do not understand, knowing that one day in heaven God will reveal it all. 

A Strong Opinion About Rob Bell's Message

I'm not always up on all the news and latest and greatest out there in the world.  I prefer to remain optimistic and I tire easily of the constant coverage of bad news. That means I may be slow here in responding to the recent controversy surrounding pastor and author Rob Bell.

I must confess I just went out to Youtube to find the controversial video recently produced by Rob Bell introducing his new book about hell.  Can I tell you that I am deeply disturbed and irritated with what I just watched?

From what I can tell he is proclaiming that there is no hell.  He is insinuating that because God is a loving God, that he would not condemn people to hell.  Rob Bell couldn't be more wrong.

No one can take what they like about scripture and leave what they don't like.  Scripture is clear, and over and over again Jesus himself talks about hell, and that the only way to God is through him.  God is love, but He is also just.  We see countless examples in the Old Testament of God exacting His justice on many who were disobedient.  Those who did not obey the commands of the Lord were put to death.

"So Joshua subdued the whole region, including the hill country, the Negev, the western foothills and the mountain slopes, together with all their kings. He left no survivors. He totally destroyed all who breathed, just as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded." Joshua 10:40

If what Rob Bell suggests were true, there would have been no reason for Jesus to die.  If God didn't demand payment for our sins as our way into heaven, then Jesus didn't need to die for us.

"For the wages of sin is death, 

but the gift of God is eternal life 

in Christ Jesus our Lord." 

Romans 6:23

The word "hell" is mentioned 14 times in the New Testament, and many of those were spoken by Jesus himself.  Was Jesus just making that up?  Why would he mention a place that wasn't real?

I invite you to study the scriptures for yourself.  It is very clear.  You don't need to be a scholar to understand it.

• Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6
• "You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?" Matthew 23:33
• But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Luke 12:5
• Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.Mark 16:16
• Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." John 3:36
• If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:15

Many are called and gifted by God to spread His message of salvation in and through the church.  But when someone suddenly goes in the wrong direction, don't follow.  Investigate.  Ask questions.  Pray.  Read your Bible.  Study.

All Scripture is God-breathed and truth.  Not just part of it.... ALL OF IT.

A Skewed Vision of God

Has your view of God ever been challenged?  Do you think you see Him and know Him clearly?   If you are a believer in Christ, you've been taught the power and love of God.  You've been taught that he is full of goodness and a deliverer of justice, but forgiver of sins.  All of that is true and a beautiful picture of the attributes of God.

"He who did not spare his own Son, 

but gave him up for us all-

-how will he not also, 

along with him, 

graciously give us all things?"

Romans 8:32 

God gave us the ultimate gift, the life of Jesus Christ, to forgive our sin so that we may enter the Kingdom of Heaven with Him. What else could we possible ask of Him?  He owes us nothing; we owe Him everything.

But yet, we expect God to answer every prayer to our liking, heal every sickness, provide every whim of our heart. We put conditions on our faithfulness and understanding of God.  We may refuse to surrender every area of our lives because we don't think He will take care of our needs. 

Because in our weakness, we think it is all about us!  We forget that God has a plan and a purpose for each of our lives to the benefit of His glory.  That plan may include heartache, doubt, frustration, bankruptcy, death, cancer, or something else equally horrible.  Does He love us any less?  NO!

We are never going to understand the ways of God, and we were never meant to!!  Isaiah 55:8 reminds us "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD."  I've been through some tremendous pain in my life, and I have come to have peace with the unknown.  I'm never going to understand why God allowed some of those circumstances into my life, but I remain faithful in trusting the God who made me..the God who loves me.

Can you do the same?  Can you remain faithful to Him regardless of your circumstances?  Perhaps memorizing the following verse will help you remember all the goodness that the Lord wishes to lavish on you!

"The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.  The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made." Psalm 145:8-9

My Quest to Capture the Beauty Maker

Aim. Click. Focus. Click. Adjust. Click. Zoom. Click.

"Any created thing of which I am amazed, it is the glimpse of His face to which I bow down.  Do I have eyes to see it's Him and not the thing?  ~Ann Voskamp

I am completely mesmerized by the ocean.  I live in an ocean of corn fields, not of water.  Some may find it crazy that I yearn for the ocean and will drive 20 hours to see it, walk in it, soak it in.  I cannot meet the ocean waves without quoting Job 38:8-11 in my head,

"Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb,  when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness,  when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place,when I said, 'This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt'?"

And therefore, I stand at the waves with their boundaries on the shore, totally in AWE of my God. 

His grandeur

His unlimitless size

His grace

His creativity

His forgiveness

His provision

His Beauty, He is Beauty

His love

I've realized my yearning for the ocean is my yearning for God.  The Beauty is God.  Ann says again, "Is the longing for the Beauty the happiest place of all?  Longing to gaze upon the Beauty of the Lord and to seek Him, the place where all the joy spills from."

With my camera, I shoot and shoot, trying to get that exact replica that I see with my eye to register on film.  It rarely happens, but I continue my quest to capture it.  This has become part of me.  It is a part that God created.  

Author Gary Thomas describes Sacred Pathways....paths we take to experience the presence of God.  God created me to be a Naturalist, to find him in nature, to see Him in his handiwork.  Through nature I worship God for who He is and what He has done for me.  It is here that I feel His closeness.

So I continue to focus, click, adjust, click, zoom, & click, always watching for the Beauty around me so I can worship the Beauty who created me.

~~~~~~~

I have two places where I post my photos, so if you care to share with me in my hunt for the Beauty Maker, click on over to my photo blog, Capturing Beautiful, or my Flickr account, which I just opened.

How Bold is Your Witness?

While traveling last week for Spring Break, we pulled into a gas station and saw this car.  I couldn't believe my eyes.  It has to be one of the boldest ways of witnessing that I have ever seen.

It really got me thinking about my life as a witness.  How about you?

Friday Fun - Cool Bible Trivia

The most interesting things show up in my email.  Thought you would enjoy this one!

Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter in the bible

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the bible

Psalm 118 is the center of the bible

There are 594 chapters before Psalm 118

and 594 chapters after Psalm 118.

594 + 594 = 1188

The center verse of the bible:  Psalm 118:8

What does that verse say?
That's no accident either...
go look it up!

I absolutely love this!  God is  in control with amazing power and detail.  Even in the little things!

When God Speaks

"If we do not keep our heart in love with Jesus,

our disobedience when God speaks
could affect the lives of others.

When God speaks it is always
out of the context of eternity.

We don't have to know all the implications

of what He is asking.  NOW is always the

acceptable time to respond

to the Lord."

~Henry Blackaby

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Don't forget tomorrow begins the Inspiring Women Series.  Write a post about someone inspiring in your life and link up here!