Grandma

My grandma went to be with Jesus last month, on April 17th, 2012. I haven't written about her, or blogged about anything else for that matter, because...well, because I haven't been so inclined. I've been more inclined to hermit. But when I think about grandma and miss her, I find I've been thinking more about things I've been taught and believe, but have never really thought about before. Things like the fact that my grandma isn't dead...she is alive. Her body was left behind, set aside like a coat taken off when you've come into a warm house from the cold, but SHE is alive and in the presence of Jesus. I can't see her or talk to her or sit and crochet with her anymore, but that doesn't mean that she isn't living and thinking and feeling and worshiping. And that brings tears, more than the fact that she is gone.

"Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die...'" 

John 11:25-26

"I see myself now at the end of my journey, my toilsome days are ended. I am going now to see that head that was crowned with thorns, and that face that was spit upon for me. I have formerly lived by hearsay and faith but now I go where I shall live by sight, and shall be with him in whose company I delight myself.” -- Pilgrim in Pilgrim’s Progress

From the trip journal...

1.14.12

"Well, here I am again...up in the air. :-) This time on my way to Melbourne, AU. :-) As I write this I'm almost there. Long hours of traveling, but it's gone by quickly. Still almost can't believe I'm about to spend the next month in Australia. Life with God IS an adventure. :-) I've been a bit apprehensive these last few weeks thinking about this trip and all it will entail. But I realized the other day I've had my focus squarely on myself. I've needed to get it off myself, my fears and abilities, and onto my God, whose love toward me is GREAT and whose faithfulness isn't going to fail or end.

//

At the Lau's house, with Laurie and Janny, IN AUSTRALIA. Really not at all sure why God's brought me here. Needing my heart to be quiet and ready to learn of Him. God, fill me up with You, with your love. Let that be what spills over."

Australia...

More on my trip coming soon...

Resolved in 2012 to LIVE LOVED

Here we are, a week into 2012 and I haven't blogged a thing. But, not having made any resolutions to say, blog more, I'm okay with that. :-) But I've been thinking things and it's been good. This year, I've enjoyed the turning of the year. It's been good to look back over the last four and a half years and realize again how much God has done in my life, in my mind and in my heart.

On my birthday, God gave me Psalm 117 and I think it's going to be my verse(s) for 2012 like Ephesians 3:19 was last year.

"Praise the Lord, all nations!
Extol him, all peoples!
For great is his steadfast love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord!"

And so this is my goal for 2012...to live loved. Because I am. Loved ridiculously by the Creator of the Universe, the Breather of stars and planets, the One Who holds all things. His steadfast love is great toward me.  "His Love is the only thing that changes any of us and living loved — wouldn’t this change everything?"

And so, another Christmas...

It's almost midnight here on Christmas night. I'm sitting here thankful and blessed by all that God has given. For another Christmas with grandma...maybe the last one.

But most of all for Jesus...

"Now thanks be to God for His Gift,
[precious] beyond telling
[His indescribable, 

inexpressible, 

free Gift]!"
(2 Cor. 9:15) AMP

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

So many blessings...

My heart is filled with thankfulness
To Him who bore my pain
Who plumbed the depths of my disgrace
And gave me life again
Who crushed my curse of sinfulness
And clothed me with His light
And wrote His law of righteousness
With power upon my heart

My heart is filled with thankfulness
To Him who walks beside
Who floods my weaknesses with strength
And causes fears to fly
Whose every promise is enough
For every step I take
Sustaining me with arms of love
And crowning me with grace

My heart is filled with thankfulness
To Him who reigns above
Whose wisdom is my perfect peace
Whose every thought is love
For every day I have on earth
Is given by the King
So I will give my life my all
To love and follow Him

Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Copyright 2003 Thankyou Music

Thankful

"I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. For great is your steadfast love toward me..." Psalm 86:12-13

 

Jesus is what MY soul needs

 
"Jesus is what we drink. “Come to me and drink” (John 7:37). Jesus doesn’t just have what our souls need; he is what our souls need. Recall John 6:35 “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” He is the bread of life. He is the living water. Our souls were made for Jesus. The ache in our hearts is at root an ache for Jesus. This is how the soul lives on God. It lives on Jesus." 

- John Piper "Out of Your Heart Will Flow Rivers of Living Water"  (Minneapolis, Minn.: Desiring God Ministries, February 19, 2011) 
HT: Of First Importance