I Want to Live Like That

"Jesus,
May we live like it's our last day everyday. Not holding back because of fear of what others think or say, or fear of failure; or just thinking of ourselves and our desires, wants before others needs. Jesus, show me/us how to love those no one else will! Show me/us how to reach to those no one else will touch! Show me/us how to love those that You have placed in our lives. You have lavished us with so much grace, God, how can we not give it away!?!?!

"May I/we be quick to lend a hand, and not judge; may I/we run to help others and not criticize; may I/we lavish and readily give your grace, forgiveness and love to others as You have given to us freely. Jesus, the same radical living You called Your disciples to many years ago, (Check out the Gospel(s) of Matthew, John, Acts)  is the same radical living You have called us to today! May we embrace it! fully and completely giving ourselves to You, Jesus-wholly, utterly and completely abandon to You and Your will!"

 "Jesus, may every breath I/we breath be for Your glory!"

Singing Stars and Wales-How Great is Our God!

My sister showed me this video and I wanted to share it with you... Friends, even creation is praising our God, the Creator of the universe!

So, what did you think? Is this just amazing or what?!?! What an awesome God we serve!

I have Chosen Thee

Pain's furnace heat within me quivers,

God's breath upon the flame does blow;

And all my heart in anguish shivers

And trembles at the fiery glow;

And I whisper, “As God will!”

And in the hottest fire hold still.

He comes and lays my heart all heated,

On the anvil, minded so

Into His own fair shape to beat it

With His great hammer blow on blow;

And yet I whisper, “As God will!”

And at the heaviest blows hold still.

He takes my softened heart and beats it;

The sparks fly off at every blow;

He turns it o'er, o'er and heats it,

And lets it cool, and makes it glow;

And yet I whisper, “As God will!”

And in His mighty hand hold still.

Why should I complain? for the sorrow

Then only longer-lived would be;

The end may come, and will tomorrow,

When God has done His work in me;

So I say trusting, “As God will!”

And, trusting to the end, hold still.

                          ~Julius Sturm 

This is one of my favorite poems. I love the vivid picture it paints using this analogy. Maybe you are finding yourself in a fiery furnace right now. I'm sorry you have to go through this pain!! Please know that I am not trying to fix anything because I don't have all the answers, but I hope and pray this is encouraging to you! 

Here is something a new friend of mine [Jen Barrick] told/emailed me tonight: "God never wastes a pain, a tear, or a trial. He is faithful to find the most creative, purposeful means to bring beauty from the ashes, strength from our weakness... it is only a matter of timing!"

'No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind can conceive what God has planned for those who love Him' 1 Corinthians 2:9

My friend, you are a precious and priceless treasure!

Easy or Hard?

"Would you rather have an easy life, and not produce much fruit, or have a harder life, but produce more fruit?"                    
                          
The other day I heard a gentleman say that God asked him this question. It made me stop and ask the question of myself. What do I really desire? How do I live my life? Do I want an easy life, or one that is harder, but bears more fruit for Christ?!?!

Well, friend, I will be honest and say that I don't really love trials and suffering, it hurts! I don't like things that hurt! But, I do want to bear fruit in my life and I do want to live in obedience to Christ. I want live in such a way that those who do not know Jesus, will see Him in me. And in order to do that, I need to be like Jesus. 

Jesus was perfect and last time I looked in the mirror and looked at my life, I did not see someone who was perfectly like Christ. Hmmmm, yep, last time I checked I had a ways to go to be just like Jesus in every area of my life. 

So friend, what do you say? May I encourage and challenge you to think about this question? If God was/is asking you this question right now, what would/are you going to decide? 

"God, I pray that we would so desire for Your Name be glorified, proclaimed and lifted high, that even through the suffering and pain involved in our life, we would embrace it-looking to You for strength and grace, knowing that there is a bigger picture. May we patiently walk the path, following You every step of the way. Jesus, I do want to bear fruit for You! Sometimes though, I get scared and look at my circumstances and what looms before me instead of looking to You. Help me to keep my eyes fixed upon You always.  God, if trials is what it takes to bring You the most glory and proclaim Your Name, then Jesus, may we say, 'bring the rain'."