My Precious!!!!

I love her so much!! There is a special place in my heart for this little one!!! ~LYRIC~ The second love of my life!

Grandbama!!!

So, my grandmother is an avid anti-obama fan! Let's just say her love for Obama is very minuet. She is the most conservative, opionated, right-winged little broad that ever was! She is the cutest little woman you have even seen, and she is so feisty! I love her so much! So, in honor of her "love" for Obama, my brother and I are giving her a special Christmas gift that I believe she will enjoy very much!!! This picture will be put in a frame for her little eyes on Christmas morning! It will be great!

Side note: The opinions of my grandmother do not reflect my opinions. I respect my president and believe God holds the kings heart in his hand; like a watercourse, he directs it wherever he pleases!!

I will cling to the Cross

Where shall I stop my heart from spinning on a thousand different course? When shall the direction of my heart align with my Lord's?

Stay here awhile my friend as I peacefully protest against my heart; raise up your banner with me as we proclaim Christ and his Cross. Glory to God in the highest!

"My heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Who can know it?" This is the definition of my life these past months. As I sulk desperately in sin, wondering aimlessly through this desert trying to manifest some sort of dignity of self, this battle I realize is a war against my flesh and my spirit!

It is not dignity of self at all that I need, for if I could gain something from myself, it would be the "hideous doctrine" appointed for me. But, Christ has conquered! He has restored my soul! He has given me a new heart.

I have this constant struggle, lately. My selfish pride and vanity war against me. Now, more than ever I must fight! Fight for Christ! Fight for righteousness! This war has been my ever present friend! And, I must admit, I don't always "choose life!" But, God is sustaining and teaching me! He is refining and patiently molding me! He is gently disciplining me!

If I could only come to you, my friend, and say I have won! Oh what a joy that would be! Yes we have won the battle of all battles! But to win over flesh in the moment! To have victory in my season right now would seem utterly impossible! But, wait, there is something more!!! I know there will be a day when I can say, "Lord, you have turned my morning into dancing! Weeping has tarried in the night, but you have given me joy in the morning!"

Until that day comes and after that day has passed, I will cling to the cross, for in the cross there is fullness of joy! And in the cross, I have victory!!!

"He, being in very nature, God, did not consider equality to be grasped, but made himself nothing. Taking the very form of a servant, being made in human likeness, being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God exalted him to highest place and gave him a name that was above every name. That at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the father!

Oh, my dear friend Alicia has started a blog... And the whole world rejoices!!!

View it here

Thanks Katie:

Giveaway

Now all I know is grace!

I just simply feel like writing, so here you go, my friend:

We have been doing a study of Psalms in church, and in our Quiet Time as well! It has been totally refining, and absolutely refreshing! Our Pastor said at the beginning of this study, "We study Psalms to study the Cross!" What sweet words, to know that the Psalter is so much more than a soft-hearted, sentimental piece that helps align your heart before worship (which it is, but it is more than that as well!)

I must admit, this season of my life has been challenging and ever bearing of my complaints and grievances. Many questions and pleas for God to take my cup away from me! Oh how my God must love me, to keep me in this time of revelation of my sin!

But, I must say that I have learned through Psalms, he is doing more than keeping me, he is refining me! God says in his word, "A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart."

The gold and silver must go through the heat to be refined and made pure! Then he says, the Lord is the one who tests the heart, God's testing will result in my refining!

My season has been hard and sinful, but God is molding me into his image! I am constantly being reminded in the Psalms study that God's steadfast love and faithfulness are poured on me because of Christ's death on the cross! Thank Christ for his "obedience to death, even death on a cross." Like that song goes, "Now all I know is grace... Hallelujah."

"But I have trusted in your steadfast love, my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord for he has dealt bountifully with me." -Ps 13

"All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness." Ps 25

"He leads me in paths of righteousness" -Ps 23

"For the king trusts in the Lord, and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved." Ps 21

"For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness." Ps 26

"Let the thank the Lord for his steadfast love."Ps 107

Here is my poll today... Which one should I do?

Should I go long...

Or should I go short?

Love that Ole poem!

To my Dear and Loving Husband by Anne Bradstreet If ever two were one, then surely we. If ever man were loved by wife, then thee; If ever wife was happy in a man, Compare with me, ye woman,if you can. I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold, Or all the riches that the east doth hold. My love is such that rivers cannot quench, Nor aught but love from thee, give recompense. Thy love is such I can no way repay, The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray. Then while we live, in love let's so persevere That when we live no more, we may live ever.

For Every Woman:

Just some good questions I found to ask yourself when shopping for your wardrobe this holiday season:

What is the intent of my heart in purchasing these clothes:
Is my intent to show the grace and beauty of womanhood?
Is it to reveal a humble heart devoted to worshiping God?
Or is it to call attention to myself, and flaunt my beauty?
Or worse, to attempt to allure men sexually?
Does a humble heart and a servant’s heart dictate my wardrobe and appearance?
Is my shopping informed and governed by modesty and restraint?
Or is your dress motivated by a desire for attention and approval from others?
Does my style reflect a lack of self-control?

"A woman who focuses on worshiping God will consider carefully how she is dressed, because her heart will dictate her wardrobe and appearance."

Read more: here

For Stay at Home Wives:

So, I am recognizing a little flea pestering me, and I need to take a bath! I need to be washed in the waters of Christ!

As wives we are called to manage our homes, to be our husband's helper. And for me right now, I am a stay at home wife, with not a lot of responsibilities. We have no kids; we live with David's parents, and there are some things I just can't do at his parents house. And, some things tire me working in their house. So, my life consists of working out, doing the dishes, doing laundry, cooking, getting ready and reading. That is not a lot when I look at a friend on facebook who has basically been superwoman today and cleaned her whole house, managed kids, and done 6 loads of laundry! What a woman.

I have been facing a, shall I say, superfluous lie that creeps in on a regular basis. A lie that says I have to work to get favor, to earn grace! If I spend my whole day and just do the dishes and read, I fear a loss of favor from God and from my husband, and people around, I might add. If I miss a week of working out, condemnation sets in, and I feel ruined.

So, I am merely just opening up the computer and preaching to myself as I journal my thoughts. I read yesterday in Psalms 19 that the law of the Lord is perfect and it is in this law my soul is revived! So my prayer is that as I lay hold of God's promises, my soul might be refreshed and grace by faith will be ever poured anew, and that you might be encouraged as well!

God says:
"It is the gift of God not by works, so that no man shall boast."
"But now, He has reconciled you, by Christ's physical body, through death, to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation."
"so that IN HIM we may become that righteousness of God."
"For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their Hope in God made themselves beautiful."
"So we fix our eyes, not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
"he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy."

It is simply this.. The Gospel... Christ died for sins... I so often start living apart from this
measure. Even when I have had a great day, my husband will come home and I will tell him all the things I have done right, as to earn favor with him. But what he tells me then is that regardless of my deeds, whether accomplished or unaccomplished, favor with God and therefore favor with my him is still ever-present and ever-complete.

So, it is my hope that as you and I both consider the wondrous work of the cross and the joy that God's favor is not earned, but so graciously given in spite of our inabilities or disabilities, that we, dear friend would walk in freedom. Not to become lazy and satisfied, but let us eagerly expect this hope to spark a deep love for growing our capacity of helping our husbands, in whatever season, and even when we can't do all of the things we want, that God would remind us of his grace!

Side Note: Helping our husbands doesn't just mean doing things (laundry, dishes etc...). I strongly believe that my role as a helper is to help my husband fight the good fight! Part of that is making our house a place where our husbands can be refreshed, but, more than that, if my soul is not being revived, I can not help David. But if it is, then and only then can I help him. If being refreshed means to go away for an entire day, or to read a book for three hours, (and always spending time with God) then I think that is ok! Today for example, I have not done much around the house, but I am clinging to the cross, the grace that Christ my Savior will not lose favor with me! I am being challenged today to believe that I have not done enough and need to get through a list, but God is also penetrating my heart and giving me courage to go forward with my daily chores, not as if I need to see checks on my list, but as one walking in her calling, as a helper, and also to know Christ more! Bask in that!!!

By 1000 Generations!!!

This has encouraged my heart so much!!!

Failure doesn't phase you.
Worry doesn't win.
Lost doesn't leave you afraid to start again.
Our sin doesn't shock you.
Our shame doesn't shame you at all.
Mistakes do not move you.
Terror doesn't tame.
Death doesn't doom you to life in the grave.
Our suffering doesn't scare you.
Our secrets won't surprise you at all.
At all.

There is nothing above you.
There is nothing beyond you.
There is nothing that you can't do.
Whatever will come, we'll rise above.
You fail us not, You fail us not.
No matter the war, our hope is secure.
You fail us not, You fail us not.
You fail us not.

Hatred doesn't hide you.
Evil doesn't ail.
Despair can't disguise you and tell you that you fail.
Our doubt doesn't daunt you.
Our darkness won't defeat you at all.
At all.

There is nothing above you.
There is nothing beyond you.
There is nothing that you can't do.
Whatever will come, we'll rise above.
You fail us not, You fail us not.
No matter the war, our hope is secure.
You fail us not, You fail us not.
Whatever will come, we'll rise above.
You fail us not, You fail us not.
No, You fail us not.
You fail us not.

You're bigger than the battle,

You are bigger than the battle,

You are bigger than the battle has ever been!!