His Grace is Astounding

Casting Crowns: East to West
Written by Mark Hall and Bernie Herms

Here I am, Lord, and I’m drowning in your sea of forgetfulness
The chains of yesterday surround me
I yearn for peace and rest
I don’t want to end up where You found me
And it echoes in my mind, keeps me awake tonight
I know You’ve cast my sin as far as the east is from the west
And I stand before You now as though I’ve never sinned
But today I feel like I’m just one mistake away from You leaving me this way

Jesus, can You show me just how far the east is from the west
‘Cause I can’t bear to see the man I’ve been come rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
‘Cause You know just how far the east is from the west
From one scarred hand to the other

I start the day, the war begins, endless reminding of my sin
Time and time again Your truth is drowned out by the storm I’m in
Today I feel like I’m just one mistake away from You leaving me this way

I know You’ve washed me white, turned my darkness into light
I need Your peace to get me through, to get me through this night
I can’t live by what I feel, but by the truth Your word reveals
I‘m not holding on to You, but You’re holding on to me
You’re holding on to me

Jesus, You know just how far the east is from the west
I don’t have to see the man I’ve been come rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
‘Cause You know just how far the east is from the west
From one scarred hand to the other
One scarred hand to the other
From one scarred hand to the other

Musings in my Boredom

Well, I should just go to bed...I am tired and it is plenty late...but as usual, I don't. Here are just some thoughts rolling around in my brain.

* I am really looking forward to the Love Languages sermon series starting next week. I can't wait for Troy to preach on physical touch because that is my romantic love language. I wonder what he will say... I think the whole series will be good. I liked the book and really buy what it says. Sometimes I can feel my love languages affecting me...like when I was sick and during the Christmas holidays when I didn't see people as much, I felt disconnected and since quality time is my primary (non-romantic) love language, it made sense.

* I have little to no idea what we will talk about tomorrow night in the Esther Bible study. This week was not my favorite. I guess that means I will be relying totally on Him...novel idea for a Bible study =o) I just don't like feeling so out of control. I do know that this is the best way to do it and trust Him completely. I am excited to see where He takes the discussion...I think.

* Do most of you have two separate love languages - one for your spouse or significant other and one for everyone else? I most crave physical affection from my husband...it is the easiest way he can show me he is thinking about me and loves me. But I am not a hugger in general. Maybe that just means I don't love many people...but I don't think so. With friends, the more time we spend together, the closer I feel to you...that just kind of makes sense, but I genuinely feel different if I don't see you for even a week or two. Does that make sense, quality timers?

* I am super excited about all 15 pieces of free or reduced jewelry that I will hopefully receive in about 2 weeks! Yay, Premier!

* I am getting fed up with looking for a job. I wonder what God is doing. I love volunteering at the church, but He knows I need work. I hope I am being obedient.

* I love that I am leading a Beth Bible study at the same time as my mom and Lynda. It is great to have other people who know exactly what I am going through praying for me. I love them both!

* I am struggling with Troy wanting to go to Lock Haven...even if it is for something as special as Josh's ordination. I want to go and protect him from the pain I know he will feel. He had nightmares just because he shared his testimony about that time for the women's retreat. Going back seems like a mistake...especially without me, but flying to PA would be expensive...maybe we could drive. Maybe God is asking him to go back. Why?

* I hate that Tampa is going to be overrun for the next few weeks. Between the Super Bowl and Gasparilla, it may be better not to leave the house. ugh. Maybe I will see someone famous in Target.

* I should have gone to bed 3 musings ago.

* I hate cats.

* I hope snack is yummy tomorrow night. Another area I have no control over...

Goodnight!

Scripture Memory Day!

So, let's see if I can remember my memory verse (if you blog, you know I can't see it - if you don't blog, I am on a completely different screen...I guess you will just have to trust that I am not looking at my index cards). Here we go:

John 1:14
"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who was sent from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Okay, let me look. Not bad. Not perfect. This is what it should be:

John 1:14
"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

So, very close. I will continue to work on it. Just a reminder...here is my verse to memorize for the next 15 days.

Jeremiah 15:16 (NIrV)
"When I received your words, I ate them. They filled me with joy. My heart took delight in them. Lord God who rules over all, I belong to you.

I also wanted to share something from Beth's blog about how Scripture memory is important and useful. The Word is living and active. This is an excerpt from an anonymous comment:

“Last night I had THE WORST anxiety attack that I have EVER had in my life. My sweet husband prayed over me and as I climbed in under the covers just quivering with fear, my verse that I am memorizing just came to me and I started to say it over and over out loud and such a peace and calm washed over me. Never has an anxiety attack stopped dead in its tracks as this one did-I am just in awe that in this short time I am already learning my scripture and realizing just how powerful this thing it! This works! Satan has NO authority over MY MIND to cause that kind of fear! I will wield my sword his way!”

I am so glad that I am doing this.

Food Pantry Update for 1.13.09

Good Morning Faithful Friends!

This week we were able to serve 39 people before we ran out of food at around 9:15. So, we are learning more about the people who are coming on Tuesday mornings. Some have arrest records, some are recently out of prison, some have drug problems and, I am sure, some are taking advantage of our obedience to God's Word. We get caught up with those things but they are irrelevant to God. 2 Peter 3:9b says "He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." He is jealous for us all. His grace is freely offered to even those we may not think deserve it...but none of us deserve the amazing grace of our Lord.

My thoughts on the Golden Globes

So, the Golden Globes are my favorite award show. Here are my thoughts on tonight's...

I don't love any one's dress so far.
I never saw John Adams but apparently it is fanstinkintastic.
Drew Barrymore's look is growing on me...I get it...old Hollywood bombshell.
Megan Fox dressed older than she is.
Tony Shalhoub and Kyra Sedgwick should have won.
Colin Farrell was fabulously sarcastic...love it!
Everytime I see David Duchovny talking to a woman, I think...wellll hhmmmm.
Don Cheadle called Brad Pitt dumb...love him!
Kate Beckinsale does not look good enough to be Jason's person tonight.
Angelina looks beautiful in an I-didn't-try-at-all way.
People with written speeches are goobers.
Someone just thanked everyone in India...all 1 billion of them.
David just referred to his wife, but I thought he was getting a divorce.
30 Rock must also be a show I should watch.
Ricky Gervais was hilarious! I'm not even sure who he is.
Tina Fey rocks.
Emma Thompson is DRUNK.
I think that Rumer Willis' hair matches her dress...I like it, though.
I like that Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio seem to actually like each other.
Blake Lively's dress does not fit properly.
Sandra Bullock and Cameron Diaz look beautiful.
Slumdog Millionaire is something else I guess I should see.
Yay! My new fav, Colin, won!
I do love Kyra's dress. She looks great.
Renee Zellweger looks weird. I don't hate it...no, maybe I do hate it.
J. Lo's dress...seriously?
Sigourney Weaver forgot to do her hair.
Kate Winslet is precious...she looks beautiful and is so sweet.

So that's it. Not a bad show...not great either. Oh and I remember my person...Jake Gyllenhaal.

Food Pantry Update for 1.6.09

Good Morning! This morning we were able to serve 45 people. I am thrilled by the way God is working. He has big plans, and He has invited us to work with Him. How exciting is that?!?! We had new and returning helpers this week which always makes it easier on the staff and also spreads the joy of serving. So if you need a boost of joy, call and see when you can help. Marie came this morning obviously pregnant. I wonder how her child will grow up. Will he or she ever hear about our Lord? Marie came late and very timid. My heart aches for those with hurts deeper than we can reach. We pray to a God who knows those hurts and has the power to heal them! Hallelujah!!!

First Impressions...

So, I have been pondering the idea of first impressions for awhile because of a conversation I had with a friend after an intense Bible study that revealed much about someone I don't know very well. Everybody has heard the saying "you never get a second chance to make a first impression" and I get that in some situations good first impressions are extremely important...BUT...if your first impression is a good one, don't you hope that that impression is also how people who know you well would describe you?
I will admit that I don't generally make good first impressions. I am shy and reserved. It is not my nature to be the first to say hello or start small talk with people I don't know well. If you have seen me doing it...I was probably uncomfortable. God has a sense of humor and had me marry a man whose life was going to be on display...so I am continually pushed to step outside of my comfort zone. So, maybe, if you know me well...the first impression is not the one you have now. But shy is not necessarily a bad thing.
So, after this Bible study (on marriage) I was surprised to learn some things about someone, and I was talking to a friend who was less surprised because she has spent more time with him. I thought he was a nice man, but people who know him better would disagree. That is too bad.
The more I think about it the more I hope that that isn't true of me. Would my husband or closest friends say the same thing about me as people who still just have those first few good impressions? I know we all have sin that the average acquaintance doesn't know about but does that sin define you to the people you know well. Does it define me? Or am I someone constantly trying to be like Christ...struggling with sin but moving forward in my walk as opposed to standing still or falling back? I don't want sin to define me. I want Christ to define me.

Scripture Memory

It won't shock anyone when I say I am a faithful "siesta" or reader of Beth Moore's blog. I love it! Beth has challenged the siestas to memorize Scripture with her this year and I am excited to do it. Sometimes you just need a push to do something that you know you should already be doing. So I am thankful for the push. The challenge is to memorize 2 verses a month...on the first and fifteenth of each month you log in with the Scripture that you want to memorize (we aren't all doing the same thing!). Today, I went on and wrote the passage I chose and had the chance to read all of the passages other seistas chose. I loved it. What a fabulous way to pour over Scripture! I even fell in love with a verse and chose it for the fifteenth. I am really already having fun with it. The whole point of doing it together is accountability. I am going to post my progress on this blog as well because it is much smaller and will account for more immediate accountability.

If you want to take the challenge, sign up here.
and then start here.

Since it is the 1st...I chose to start with the meaning of it all...

John 1:14
"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

and here is the gem I found for the 15th...

Jeremiah 15:16 (NIrV)
"When I received your words, I ate them. They filled me with joy. My heart took delight in them. Lord God who rules over all, I belong to you."

I hope you join us!