God My Stronghold

I don't know about you, but I feel like our culture has worked overtime in order to outdo each other in deception. We've seen it all in the past 7 days:

Conspiracies. Hoaxes. Lies.

I'm really writing this note to myself, because I wanted to read something that wasn't a hoax, a conspiracy or a lie. If you too are weary of that, please read on.

During my devo time, the Lord brought to mind this old worship song:

"And Lord you are my hope
Because you've created in me
A heart that lives the victory
That you've already won.

"Oh Lord you're my protection from my enemies,
You've set me high upon a rock and you defend my soul.
And when their ways advance against me, I am confident
That they cannot make me less, for you have made me whole."

This is the news story that God want his children to always turn their hearts toward. I can't tell you how this song blessed me this morning.

He is perfect protection.
He is Truth.
He is hope to all who will have Him.

I knew this and I believed this, but my "knower" I guess had to be reminded.

Maybe you don't buy into all this. I would ask you if you aren't tired as well of all the lies. Wouldn't you like for just once something to be true? For something to work out in your favor?

"Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed." 

Lamentations 3:22

I think it's obvious that left to our own devices, devoid of God, we consume each other. 

From Psalm 73, NLT version:

"These fat cats have everything their hearts could wish for!

They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others.

They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth.

And so the people are dismayed and confused,

drinking in all their words.

'What does God know?' they ask.

'Does the Most High even know what's happening?'

Yes, He does. 

"Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.

Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside...

Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand.

Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth.

My health may fail, and my spirit grow weak,

but GOD remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever."

Be encouraged, friends. God is still on the throne.

I don't know about you, but that's the best news I've read all week. 

A Noteworthy Year: Twenty Twelve

A blinking cursor.

A big white square. That's what's facing me right now as I grasp for words to outline the past 12 months.

But blankness is certainly not what lies behind:

Lunch at Vast

Among many other things...
College graduation.
Best friend's engagement.
My engagement.
Best friend's wedding.
First devotions published
My wedding.
Also throw in a honeymoon, church change, new house, and new part-time job at TriCorps.

Fullness. Newness. Growth. Dreams reaching maturity and blossoming in my hands.

Numerous words have already been spoken on each of these amazing milestones; I am only left with a humble and grateful heart.

I am married to the most incredible man (for his end of the year blog post, click here) and blessed beyond belief to be his wife. My jobs right now are awesome, fulfilling and challenging- and very different from each other!

I have a beautiful home I get to decorate and fix up with my husband.

We both have excellent families that we get to live life with. I could go on...

Tear off that calendar page

What now? What is God speaking to me to focus on for 2013?

The words that keeps resonating in my spirit are: hungry, learn, grow.

Hungry for more of God.
Thirsty to learn.
Eager to grow.

I've been filled to the brim and even overflowing this year, but in an odd way, that makes me realize I do need God more and more every day so I can constantly learn, I can constantly grow, and I constantly bless and influence those around me. That gives me an appetite for God he promises to satisfy. (Matt. 5:6)

What words are echoing in your soul as you close your eyes on 2012 and open them to 2013?

"For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things." Psalm 107:9

Happy New Year!

5 Worship Songs that Never Leave My iPod

In my quiet time this morning, I started thinking about some of my favorite worship songs and I realized that there are only a handful that have stayed on my iPod (and now iPhone) since I got my first Apple product on my 16th birthday.

Here are the 5 songs that never leave my iPod and my favorite lines/scriptures that match up with them.

5) Take My Life (And Let it Be)

 Take my intellect, and use every power as you choose.
Take my will, and make it Thine, it shall be no longer mine;
Take my heart, it is Thine own, it shall be Thy royal throne.
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart

and with all your soul and with all your mind."

Matthew 22:37

4) Praise to the Lord the Almighty

 Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath
Come now with praises before Him.

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!"

Psalm 103:1

                                            3) It is Well With My Soul

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, it is well, it is well, with my soul.

"Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you."

2) Lord, You're Holy

Wonderful, glorious, holy and righteous, victorious conqueror, triumphant and mighty.
Healer, deliverer, shield and defense, strong tower and my best friend.
Omnipotent, Omnipresent, soon coming King, Alpha, Omega, Lord of everything;
holy, holy, holy is Your name.

"For I am God, and there is no other; I am God and there is none like me."

Isaiah 46:9

1) Medley: In Christ Alone/Solid Rock
No guilt in life, no fear in death, this is the power of Christ in me,
From life's first cry, to final breath. Jesus commands my destiny.

This is another thought that has occured to me: In a way, this technology has enhanced my relationship with God. Here's why: sometimes you have to have church by yourself.

There have been many late nights or other random times where I have needed to put on some worship music and put myself before the throne of God. And having my music in this format allows me to have a worship service ready to go in my pocket, and it won't disturb anyone else! Haha!

Happy Sunday everyone :)

7-19-11

One year ago today, I asked God for something rather specific.

This request is written on a piece of wood and is from a sermon that our church does every year. It represents "staking your claim" in God's promises and is a visual representation of what you have asked God for in faith. (Another story behind this...ask me some other time!)

So here I was. I was getting ready to start my senior year. I was going back to teaching. I was in a very good place in my relationship with the Lord. I was really happy with where I was in life. But I wanted to ask God this one thing...

There was no one I was interested in at the time and I was looking at finishing school in just nine short months. In my mind, it was a reasonable request that I at least meet the man who I would marry and begin to build a friendship that would eventually turn into something more. If that still wasn't in God's timing for this year, then ok. At least I'd asked. And of course I had been praying about who I would marry for years, thinking about qualities that I desired, and actually praying FOR whoever that man would be.

But this time, it just felt different.

Anyway, back to 7-19-11....

About two weeks from that day, my friend Claire Myers told me about "this guy" from her church. (Also another crazy story in and of itself!)

Then on 8-18-11, I met Kurtis Hanni for the first time at the Starbucks by dance.

Then one month from that first meeting, we were dating.

Then nine months later, we got engaged.

So here I am a year later, planning a wedding and preparing to become a wife to the most loving, intelligent, God-fearing, funny, handsome man I have EVER met.  

I am thrilled beyond words.

Yet I managed to find a few for this post :)

I share this because I am always encouraged when I hear or read about God answering prayers and working in the lives of fellow believers. My story...our story!... isn't a formula or a blueprint, but yet another piece of unique evidence of a faithful God.

And He is so very faithful...goodness...I can hardly articulate it.

"...no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him."

1 Cor. 2:9