for T ~ this song make me think of us...

She is Love - Parachute

I've been beaten down,
I've been kicked around,
But she takes it all for me.
And I lost my faith,
In my darkest days,
But she makes me want to believe.

They call her love, love, love, love, love.
They call her love, love, love, love, love.
She is love, and she is all I need.

Well I had my ways,
They were all in vain,
And she waited patiently.
It was all the same,
All my pride and shame,
And she put me on my feet.

They call her love, love, love, love, love.
They call her love, love, love, love, love.
They call her love, love, love, love, love.
She is love, and she is all I need.

And when that world slows down, dear,
And when those stars burn out, here,
Oh she'll be here.
Yes she'll be here.

They call her love, love, love, love, love.
They call her love, love, love, love, love.
They call her love, love, love, love, love.
They call her love, love, love, love, love.
She is love, and she is all I need.
She is love, and she is all I need.
She is love, and she is all I need.

She's all I need.

Testimony

I heard a younger woman say she hated her testimony, and I smiled. That used to be me. I wished my testimony was flashier...more exciting...or at least interesting. Now I know better. I've known Jesus since I was very young...known Him well and have pursued a relationship with Him all my life. My testimony is simple. I was born to parents who know and love the Lord. They have been wonderful examples and teachers of the Word to both my brother and myself. We were raised in the church...not a specific one but the body and bride of Christ. I've always known of Him and at 7, chose to make Him mine. My mom remembers yelling at me that day because I got my church dress dirty playing on the swings...I don't remember much about that Sunday at all. I've grown-up in the Lord as I've grown-up in life. I have continued to pursue Him, and He has pursued me when I have strayed. I have been the wayward child and the faithful follower. He is my portion...my very great reward. My testimony is one of faithfulness...God's faithfulness. I will share it with anyone that asks.

My testimony of God's faithfulness has given me a firm foundation on which to stand when life comes down like a storm all around me. It has taught me where to hide my heart from the prowling lion of this world. I know that the right answer in every situation can be found in the Word of God and through seeking to KNOW Him in every situation. Rebellion is tempered by His sweet grace. Fear is covered by His abudant love. My testimony isn't flashy or grand, but it is true. And I know now, I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Confessions of an Heiress...

• God has made me an heir.
• I am a real, live heir of God and co-heir of Jesus Christ.
• Because I am a woman, technically I'm an heiress.
• The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; Indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
• As an heiress of God, my life is never left to chance.
• As a member of the New Testament priesthood of believers and as an heiress of God, He is my portion...and I am His.
• I am inheriting a kingdom.
• My inheritance will never perish, spoil or fade.  It's being kept in heaven for me.

Taken from The Inheritance a message series by Beth Moore.

Facebook Status...a Weapon?

The facebook status is a crazy thing.  It is fun to update people on life's happenings and makes informing lots of people at once really easy.  Sometimes we use them to share something we are learning or encourage someone specific.  Unfortunately, so many people have begun using the status as a way to send a hurtful message to someone specific.  Sometimes thinly veiled...sometimes thick with mystery.  We are creating a passive aggressive way to attack people.  God has really been teaching me how dangerous it is...how it can damage relationships.  For the one person the message was meant, there are hundreds it wasn't...but they don't know that.  If you don't have anything nice to say...

Temptation

SO, tonight's Fireproof study was all about temptation. Basically, we have two options as Christians. We can resist temptation or we can run from it. I wonder...which is more spiritually mature? Run or resist...resist or run... First, I think it is worth noting that if you are giving in to temptation the easy answer to this question is that both are more spiritually mature than what you are doing. Going beyond that, though...does it show more faith/discipline/maturity/wisdom to make sure you are so removed from the situation that tempts you that you cannot give in or to be in the situation and be able to say no. I think that there is wisdom in avoiding situations that are tempting...alcoholics shouldn't hang out in bars, people dating shouldn't hang out alone, shopaholics shouldn't have 6 credit cards they can't pay. BUT I think it shows victory to be in a tempting situation and not sin. With the gift of free will, God constantly asks us to choose. He wants us to choose Him over everything else. If we always run from the choice, how can we ever say I choose You over every other love. You are my one desire, Lord. We can't...taking away the option does not mean victory over the sin. Facing temptation head on and saying "Lord, I choose You. I love You more." is victory.

Who's Your Daddy?

He is the First the Last, the Beginning and the End.
He’s the Keeper of creation and the Creator of all.
He is the Architect of the universe and the Manager of all time.
He always was, always is, always will be. . . unmoved, unchanged, undefeated and never undone.
He was bruised, but brought healing;
He was pierced, but eased pain;
He was persecuted, but brought freedom;
He was dead, and brings life. He is risen to bring power and He reigns to bring peace.
The world can’t understand Him, armies can’t defeat Him, schools can’t explain Him and leaders - they can’t ignore Him.
Herod couldn’t kill Him; Nero couldn’t crush Him.
The New Age cannot replace Him and Oprah cannot explain Him away.
You can remind yourself that: He is life, He is love, He is longevity, and He is the Lord.
He is goodness and kindness and faithfulness and He is God.
He is holy and righteous and powerful and pure.
His ways are right, His Word eternal, His will unchanging and His mind is on us.
He’s our Savior, our Guide, our Peace, our Joy, our Comfort, our Lord, and He rules our lives.
I serve Him because:
His bond is love, His yoke is easy
His burden is light, and His goal for us is abundant life.
I follow Him because:
He’s the wisdom of the wise, the power of the powerful, the Ancient of Days
the Ruler of rulers, the Leader of all leaders.
His goal is a relationship with me.
He’ll never leave you, never forsake you, never mislead you, never forget you, never overlook you, and never cancel your appointment in His appointment book. . . .never.
When you fall, He’ll lift you up. When you fail, He’ll forgive you.
When you’re weak, He’s strong. When you’re lost, He is your Way.
When you’re afraid, He’s your courage. When you stumble, He will steady you.
When you’re hurt He Is going to heal you. When your broken He will mend you.
When you’re blind, He will lead you. When your hungry, He will feed you.
When you face trials, He Is with you. When I face persecution, He shields me.
When I face problems, He will comfort me. When I face loss, He will provide for me.
And when we face death, He will carry us all home to meet Him.
He is everything for everybody, everywhere, every time, and in every way.
He is your God.
And that sisters is Who you belong to.

Fits and Starts

So, I blog like I do most things...in fits and starts. I want to blog. I like to blog. I just don't do it very often. Part of my problem is that so much of what I have to say the world just doesn't need to know. It is the instant publiction of things that maybe need editing. But I appreciate the journaling nature of the blog. So here's to a new start...hmmm, I wonder where it will lead.