May 19

Tornados in T-Town

Link to Sports Illustrated article

May 18

Where’s my tiara?

I seem to have misplaced my princess dress! from Stephanie at Seeds and Sheaves

May 09

Human Trafficking? Resource links

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not For Sale

International Justice Mission

Human Trafficking

Polaris Project

A sample of the latest trafficking conviction

May 03

Who am I?

I am a forgiven child of God. (Romans 3:24)

I am a set-free child of God. (Romans 8:1 – 2)

I am an accepted child of God. (1 Corinthians 1:2)

I am a holy child of God. (1 Corinthians 1:30)

I am a made-new child of God. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

I am a loved child of God. (Ephesians 1:4)

I am a close child of God. (Ephesians 2:13)

I am a confident child of God. (Ephesians 3:12)

I am a victorious child of God (Romans 8:37)

Apr 24

Empty Tomb… He is Risen!

He is Risen!(from http://www.gritandglory.com/2011/04/)

The empty tomb that isn’t really empty. Because it’s filled with hope.

Promise.

Undeserved freedom.

Scandalous grace.

The empty tomb is actually bursting at the seams, overflowing with unexpected second chances.

What seems like the end isn’t really the end.

When it’s over, lost, gone, broken beyond repair… that’s when things have really just begun.

Life after death is so much more extraordinary than life before it.

Wholeness comes from brokenness.

Beauty is birthed in ashes.

The new life of spring actually begins with the slow death of autumn.

And that, to me, is the joy of Easter. Found right here in the empty-yet-abundantly-full tomb…

Apr 05

adding this book to my reading waiting list – “Weird” by Craig Groeschel

(This book launches TODAY!)

WEIRD: Because Normal Isn’t Working

Do you want to be normal? In our culture today, ‘normal’ looks like this: debt, addiction, busyness, stress… If you’re abnormal or weird, what does that mean? Here are some quotes from the book.

  • Time
    “If you want a normal life, do what normal people do. If you want to know God intimately, walk with Him daily, and please Him in every way, you’re going to have to do what few do. Absolutely nothing. If you’re addicted to your schedule and accomplishments, it’s time to do something drastic to break out.”
  • Money
    “Giving generously changes you. It frees you up, undermines the power that money and possessions can have over you, and it makes you more like Him.”
  • Relationships
    “If you ride the biggest roller coaster in the world, the kid’s ride at the county fair won’t scare you. If you live through a hurricane and a tornado, a spring rain won’t intimidate you. And when you truly know the God of the universe, people’s opinions will no longer hold you hostage.”
  • Values
    “God’s blessings aren’t always bigger, better, and beautiful. In fact, I truly believe that God gifts His chosen leaders with a very unusual blessing. You might even call it a weird blessing because most of the time we call it… a burden.”

Mar 31

Thursday Thought: STOP from Mary Beth Whalen

reposting from http://www.marybethwhalen.com

I received this little acronym as part of a Lenten thought that was sent out via a mother’s group I used to be part of. As the author, Margie Eades, said, it’s something to keep in mind during Lent, but also during the rest of the year. It’s really a code to live your life by, boiled down to four simple thoughts but rippling into every aspect of your walk:

My Daily Pledge to STOP this Lent

Seeking God first in my life to do His will
Trust with courage and to not be afraid
Open my heart with humility and obedience
Pray for the Lord’s guidance and wisdom

I want to STOP more often. Press pause in the rush and noise of life. Seek, trust, open my heart and pray with intention.

What about you? Are you willing to STOP?

 

Mar 30

Why we sing… by Bob Kauflin

Christians sing together during corporate worship gatherings. Colossians 3:16-17 helps us understand why. Paul tells us that worshiping God together in song is meant to deepen the relationships we enjoy through the gospel. This happens in three ways (or three R’s):

1. Singing helps us remember God’s Word.
Paul says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in your richly…singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.” The “word of Christ” mostly likely means the word about Christ, or the gospel. Songs whose lyrics expound on the person, work, and glory of Christ tend to stay with us long after we’ve forgotten the main points of the sermon.

2. Singing helps us respond to God’s grace.
While no one is exactly sure what “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” refers to, we can at least infer some kind of variety in our singing. No singular musical style captures either the manifold glories of God or the appropriate responses from his people.

We’re also told to sing with “thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Singing is meant to be a whole-hearted activity. Emotionless singing is an oxymoron. God gave us singing to combine objective truth with thankfulness, doctrine with devotion, and intellect with emotion.

3. Singing helps us reflect God’s glory.
Doing “everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,” implies bringing God glory. Worshiping God together in song glorifies God for at least three reasons. First, it expresses the unity Christ died to bring us. Second, because all three persons of the Trinity sing (Zeph. 3:17; Heb. 2:12; Eph. 5:18-19). Finally, it anticipates the song of heaven when we’ll have unlimited time to sing, clearer minds to perceive God’s perfections, and glorified bodies that don’t grow weary.

Worshiping God in song isn’t simply a nice idea or only for musically gifted people. The question is not, “Has God given me a voice?” but “Has God given me a song?”

If you trust in the finished work of Christ, the answer is clear: Yes!

So remember His Word, respond to His grace, and reflect on His glory.

Bob Kauflin is a pastor, songwriter, worship leader, and author of Worship Matters. Bob serves as the Director of Worship Development for Sovereign Grace Ministries and blogs at www.worshipmatters.com. He and his wife, Julie, have 6 children and an ever growing number of grandchildren.

Feb 10

a whip or a shepherd’s staff?

Here’s a great blog post about God as our Father – how He ‘parents’…

http://arabah.wordpress.com/2011/02/10/egypts-whip-and-the-shepherds-staff/

Jan 01

10 Positive (Certain) Predictions for the New Year

10. God will still be on the throne. Psalm 47:8
9. His grace will still abound. Romans 5:20
8. His mercies will still be new every morning. Lamentations 3:22
7. His promises will still be true. 2 Corinthians 1:20
6. He will still be faithful. Isaiah 49:7
5. He will still be working out His plan. Ephesians 1:11
4. He will still provide. Philippians 4:19
3. He will still bless you with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3
2. His blood will still have the power to cleanse from all sin. I John 1:7
1. He will still love you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3

Until He Comes! Revelation 22:20