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Thursday, April 24, 2014

Unchanging God

 
Consider how I love thy precepts:
quicken me, O Lord, according to thy loving-kindness.
Thy word is true from the beginning:
and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
-Psalm 119:159-160
 
Today, the 4 year old I watch every day, did something that he knows he is not allowed to do. I happened to see that he was jumping on the couch and he knows that the rule of the house is not to jump on the couch. I asked him why he jumped on the couch when he knows he is not supposed to do that. He didn't really give me a reason and I then informed him that the rule of not jumping on the couch hasn't changed. After I said that, it got me to thinking about the unchanging God we serve.  Also it reminded me of the many times I tend to do what I want, regardless of what I know God's Word tells me to do and what I told the 4 year old today, applies to me as well.  God does not change in either His being or His will. The fact that His nature or being and His consistency remain unchanged, is our confidence in our changing circumstances. Even if our circumstances turn for the worst, He will remain with us, unchanged. Not only does God not change in His character but also remains unchanged in His design and purpose.

By God not changing, it assures us of the trustworthiness of His many promises towards us. So let us keep our hearts strong and resolve to serve Him with our all no matter where we are! Serving such an unchanging God who is perfect in holiness, wisdom, grace, and power is a wonderful privilege and honor that Christians have! I am thankful I serve an unchanging God and that He will remind me when I am straying from what I know is right!

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
-Hebrews 13:8
 
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
-John 1:1

Monday, April 21, 2014

It's About The Cross

 
Hallelujah, He is risen!!!! Thank you, Lord, for what you have done for me!!!

It's about the cross
It's about my sin
It's about how Jesus came to be born once
So that we could be born again


It's about God's love
Nailed to a tree
It's about every drop of blood that flowed from Him when it should have been me


It's about the stone
That was rolled away
So that you and I could have real life someday
Its about the cross

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nwwwOW8eyj0

 
This song has been running through my mind the last few days and it was perfect for Easter weekend as well as every other day of the year. The verse above is what really hit me,"It's about God's love nailed to a tree, It's about every drop of blood that flowed from Him when it should have been me". Once again, I am so thankful for what Christ has done for me and that by His dying on the Cross and rising again, I may have new life in Him!!! I was challenged on Sunday, do I live my life as though Christ is still in the grave or as though He has risen again? Am I living each day for Christ or am I living for self? If I am living my life as though Christ is risen again, each and every day I should be trying to live my life for Him Then through living my life for Christ, those around me will be able to see evidence of Him working in my life. I have been blessed to see God working in my life as well as the lives of those around me! He is an amazing God and Father and I am so thankful He saw fit to send His Son to die and rise again to save a sinner such as I!

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
-Isaiah 53:5-6

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Dreams/Desires/Plans and Waiting

 
I took this picture on Monday, when it was rainy here. I am reading Elizabeth Elliot's book, Passion and Purity and it has the following quote in it which got me to thinking about some things.
 
Waiting is not an occasional nor a hurried thing. It means steadfastness, that is holding on; patience, that is holding back; expectancy, that is holding the face up to see; obedience, that is holding one's self in readiness to go or do; it means listening, that is holding quiet and still so as to hear.
-S.D. Gordon
 
I have been thinking of waiting on the Lord because of some of the decisions I have been making lately. The Lord has shown me more than once in my life, that if I am willing to let Him have His way in my life, He will make my hopes/dreams (if they are in accordance to His plan for my life) become possible, far above and beyond what I had ever hoped for. Though often, that means sacrificing what you have or desire. I believe it is His way of refining and molding us into what He wants for our lives.
 
One very real way God showed this to me, was through my horses. God allowed horses to come into my life for a multitude of reasons. He has used them in a mighty way in my life but that is a story for another post. My very first horse was an older (20 something) gelding, named Navajo.
 
Navajo with one of our cats
 
I had him for about a year when I began to really think of what I wanted to do as far as horses. I had been able to learn a lot about communicating and training horses from Navajo, but my dream was to train a younger horse and someday raise a horse from birth till the first ride. For a horse, that is a two year commitment, since you only can (should) ride a horse once they turn two. In April of 2010, I was looking at buying another horse but the horse I was interested in, didn't work out. So I kept praying about wanting to train horses more to get experience so when I finally had the privilege to start a foal, I would have the knowledge, but didn't think much more of selling my horse. Well in July of that year, my cousin's asked me if I would train their 2 yr. old horse to ride. I asked my dad if I was allowed to train their horse for them. His answer was, "You can either train the horse and sell Navajo, or keep Navajo and not train the horse." At that time I didn't feel his thinking was very fair. I badly wanted to keep Navajo but I also badly wanted to train their horse. I knew it was step in the direction I wanted to go. I prayed about it and felt God leading me to give Navajo up. So I went through the process of finding a home for Navajo. Through that process, I met my friend Sharon, who helped me start my cousin's horse under saddle. I loved how God worked it all out, because though I had to rehome Navajo (who went to live for another year and a half at the next people's place; they had to put him down and I was able to be there when they did that), I was able to still be involved with horses for the next two months even though I didn't have my own horse. I didn't get the chance to buy a horse till October of 2010. Sharon was keeping a friend's horse to get ready to sell and she asked me if I was interested in buying it. She thought the horse would be what I wanted because I wanted a horse that knew the basics but that still needed lots of training. That horse was Daisy (my horse now). I asked my parents and they agreed that I could buy her. Half a year after I had Daisy, I bred her. A year later (2 years ago, this April 25th), she had a colt (male) and I named him Freedom. I still own him and this month I will be able to start riding him. I always dreamed of starting a horse I raised and I have tremendously enjoyed the process thus far!
 
Daisy 
Freedom
 
So long story short (well somewhat), through my giving Navajo to another home, being able to train my cousin's horse (along with quite a few others at Sharon's place while I had my horse there), and buying Daisy, I was able to do something I always wanted to do, which was start a foal from little on up. Not in my timing, or the way I would have ever thought but I must say it was worth it. God's plan was far above and beyond what I ever dreamed or even asked for! So though it meant sacrifice, I knew that what God had in store was not only for my best interest, it always is way better than what I could plan or dream of for myself. He is an amazing Father and he loves to bless those who live their lives to serve Him! This was just one example that I could think of, but God has shown me time and time again :) I have been doing a lot of reflecting on the way God has brought me to where I am now. He is an amazing God!
 
So I said all this to encourage you, that if God is asking you to wait for something or if you have things you want or dream of doing, GIVE those dreams and desires to God and ask Him if this is what He wants for your life. Most likely it will mean sacrificing some things and maybe it will mean changing your dreams/desires/plans but I can promise this much. IT IS WORTH IT! Not only does God have your best in mind, He loves to bless His children and what He has for you is above and beyond what you could ever dream or hope for!
 
Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. -Psalm 27:14

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less


My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

Refrain
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
 
When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

Refrain
 
His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

Refrain
 
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

Refrain
 
This song has been running through my head this week. I have definitely come to appreciate this song in a new way lately! I was doing a lot of reflecting this past week, on the past year and looking at the different things that have brought me to where I am right now. I can see God's hand in my life and Him patiently walking alongside me and drawing me closer to Him. It is amazing, when we come to the point of realization that all we need is Christ and all that matters is living for HIM. If our hope is built on Him alone, no matter what comes our way, we will be able to rest in His unchanging grace. There is something awesome about when everything around you gives way, being able to rest in Christ and Him being your only hope! I can say I have experienced it and it truly is the most amazing thing ever! I am just blessed by how God lead and guides us. We serve such a wonderful God! So my challenge to you, even if what is in front of you is really hard, if you allow God to guide you, what He has in store for you, will be way better than what you ever had in mind for yourself!
 
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
-Isaiah 40:31