Well, my weekend plans have changed a bit, thanks to Picaboo having a major sale on their photo books! :) I've printed my blogs in book form every year, which I love, but I haven't made an actual picture scrapbook since early 2009, so there's A LOT of ground to cover!! But it's worth covering... I LOVE looking back through different seasons and fun events and remembering all "the best of times" with friends and family! So I'm spending the majority of tomorrow, Sunday, and Monday creating two photo books that hopefully cover the highlights of the last five years of my life... Get excited!! (And wish me luck! I'll really have to let go of my perfectionist tendencies to finish them that quickly, but I'd rather have two brand new scrapbooks with a lot of life documented than work on it little by little and drag it out for another year or more!)
Tonight, I'm having fun friends over for a pizza & movie night, so I'm pretty excited for that too! =)
On a deeper note, I've been listening to some new CDs by John Eldredge called The Work of Christ. (I absolutely adore him - I can't ever say that enough!) He talks about how the cross has become the key symbol of modern Christianity, yet it was not that way for the first several centuries of the church - they focused on the resurrection and the miracles! "They had seen hundreds and thousands of people crucified, but only one came back! The indestructible life was what blew them away - that was what they wanted!" **He says that the cross and suffering and dying to sin and self -- those are the minor theme of the Bible. The major theme, he says, is the resurrection, restoration, and LIFE we have in God through Christ!! He says that our time on earth is a battle between life and death, Satan always trying to bring death and destruction in every possible way... God continually offering us life and healing and hope. Yes, life is hard and there is much suffering and difficulty. But everyone knows that. In the church's effort to "be real" and relate to people, we have put our focus on the minor theme of human suffering, rather than possessing and offering to others the abundant life God offers to us! Not sure if it's translating here, but that made so much sense to me.
Paraphrase of a quote by George MacDonald (Full Sermon HERE):
When our souls feel crushed and overwhelmed, we believe ourselves to be tired of life; but it is death, not life, that wearies us. In all our troubles, let us remember that what we lack is life – what we need is more life, more of God’s powerful presence in us that makes us more alive and whole! When we feel broken and tired of life, let us recognize that it is actually the presence of death in this world that we are tired of. When we feel most inclined to give up, let us rouse ourselves to live. Of all things, let us avoid the false refuge of a weary collapse, a hopeless yielding to things as they are. The dissatisfied ache we experience is caused by the life of God in us is crying out for more life (more beauty, freedom, restoration, love, and healing). We are victorious when, in the midst of our pain and weakness, we cry out -- not for death or numbness – but for the strength to fight; for more power, more understanding, more of God in us!
Yeah! How profound and how true - and something I desperately need to remember when I'm at my worst. It's going in the "Survival Kit." :)
Okay, friends, happy Friday! Have a lovely weekend, and remember that the LIFE we have in Christ is "the major theme!"
A blog I read recently recommended putting together a "survival kit" collection of quotes, verses, songs, etc. that have spoken to you personally and helped you through your worst times. Something that you can look back on for a much-needed dose of hope and encouragement when the next storm hits. I loved that idea, so I've started one here:
“One of the most poisonous of all Satan’s whispers is simply, 'Things will never change.' That lie kills expectation, trapping our heart forever in the present... We must renew our vision for what lies ahead. Things will not always be like this. Jesus has promised to 'make all things new.' Eye has not seen, ear has not heard all that God has in store... which does not mean 'we have no clue so don’t even try to imagine,' but rather, you cannot outdream God!” ~John Eldredge
"God is light, and there is no darkness in Him at all." ~1 John 1:5
"When our souls feel crushed and overwhelmed, we believe ourselves to be tired of life; but it is death, not life, that wearies us. In all our troubles, let us remember that what we lack is life – what we need is more life, more of God’s powerful presence in us that makes us more alive and whole! When we feel broken and tired of life, let us recognize that it is actually the presence of death in this world that we are tired of. When we feel most inclined to give up, let us rouse ourselves to live. Of all things, let us avoid the false refuge of a weary collapse, a hopeless yielding to things as they are. The dissatisfied ache we experience is caused by the life of God in us is crying out for more life (more beauty, freedom, restoration, love, and healing). We are victorious when, in the midst of our pain and weakness, we cry out -- not for death or numbness – but for the strength to fight; for more power, more understanding, more of God in us!" ~George MacDonald (paraphrased)
"Darkness cannot remain where you take the light. The light of the Word of God will destroy the darkness of your mind and your emotions, the darkness of your past, the darkness in your relationships... There is help and healing and hope and life and change available to you in the Word of God. Try it!"
"Please remember that hurting people hurt people."
"Let emotions subside, and then decide."
"It is NOT the truth about someone else that will set you free." ~Joyce
"But as for me, I will look to the Lord, and confident in Him I will keep watch; I will wait with hope and expectancy for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light!"~Micah 7:8
"You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first." ~Revelation 2:4-5
“We cannot avoid fiery trials, but we can refuse to be refined by them.”-Beth Moore
“We can choose to let suffering soften us or harden us... We can choose whether we will love Jesus in it or resent Him for it! Only one set of choices will make us more beautiful." -Stasi Eldredge
"You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, because the Lord's coming is near." ~James 5:8
"We who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure!" ~Hebrews 6:18-19
“Christianity is not a promise to enjoy a life without pain, nor to be given a shortcut through it. It is a promise that pain, sorrow, sin – ours and others – will not swallow us, destroy us, define us, or have the final word. Jesus has won the victory. And in Him, so have we!”~Stasi Eldredge
“New life will spring from this same ground. This season will end, and something entirely new will follow it… I believe that God is making all things new. I believe that Christ overcame death, and that pattern is apparent all through life and history: life from death, water from a stone, redemption from failure, connection from alienation. I believe that suffering is part of the narrative, and that nothing really good gets built when everything's easy. I believe that loss and emptiness and confusion often give way to new fullness and wisdom. But for a long season, I forgot all those things... Looking back now, I can see that it was more than anything a failure to believe in the story of who God is and what He is doing in the world." ~Shauna Niequist
“I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.” ~Lamentations 3:20-23 "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us... But even if He doesn't, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up." ~Daniel 3:17-18 "But the Lord God helps me; therefore, I have not been disgraced... He who vindicates me is near." ~Isaiah 50:7-8
"In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it!" ~John 1:4,5
"I forgot what it feels to be desperate for a Savior – not to get me out of this – but just to get me through this day. I forgot what it feels like to cling to Him – not as a back up plan – but as my only hope. I forgot how much, in grief, the Bible becomes an anchor to the soul. His Word is the only thing that keeps me from just floating away and evaporating into a world of lies. In these moments it is so obvious to me that digging into the Scriptures, memorizing them – these disciplines – are NOT things we do so that we can get a gold star from God. They are preparation for a very real and very dangerous war. They matter more than you could ever dream. In these moments, in this battle, my familiarity and expertise with the sword in my hand has very real implications. I forgot what it means that Jesus is my friend. I forgot what a comfort that is: to have a Person who can walk through every detail of this with me, who will never leave me, who doesn’t need me to explain to Him what I’m feeling, because He has felt it all. A Person who doesn’t ask me to tell Him what I need. He knows I have absolutely no idea, but that’s okay because He intercedes for me, which He can do because He knows my mind better than I do... I’m remembering now." ~Fabs Harford "God wants us to be happy. But He knows that we cannot be truly happy until we are completely His and until He is our all. And the weaning process is HARD… As long as our happiness is tied to the things we can lose, we are vulnerable." ~John Eldredge
"God knows our situation; He will not judge us as if we had no difficulties to overcome. What matters is the sincerity and perseverance of our will to overcome them." ~C.S. Lewis
"Loneliness is something we all share with him... to be missed, or misunderstood. To be judged unfairly. To be wanted for what you can do, rather than who you are. To go on for years unappreciated, even unknown by those closest to you... Imagine living your entire life in a world where the people closest to you don't get you. Oh... you do live in that world. And Jesus understands." ~John Eldredge
"For thousands of years, God has given people the choice between living lives of ruin or possessing what He has secured for them. And it has always involved battles. We have to fight for our healing." ~Cloud & Townsend, Boundaries
"Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised." ~Hebrews 10:35-36
"It is a good thing to have all the props pulled out from under us occasionally. It gives us some sense of what is rock under our feet and what is sand." ~Madeleine L'Engle
"When our hearts begin to fall and our stability grows weak, Jesus meets our needs, if we only believe... Where there is faith, there is a voice calling, 'Keep walking. You’re not alone in this world.' Where there is faith, there is a peace like a child sleeping, and hope everlasting in He who is able to bear every burden, to heal every hurt in my heart. It is a wonderful, powerful place - where there is faith." ~Where There is Faith
"Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” ~2 Corinthians 4:16-18
"At the end of the day, you can either focus on what's tearing you apart or the God holding you together!"
"Death ends a life, not a relationship." ~Tuesdays with Morrie
"For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin – real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. THEN life would begin. At last, it dawned on me that these 'obstacles' were my life. So treasure every moment that you have... and remember that time waits for no one. Decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy.” ~Alfred D Souza
"When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace. When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.
On Christ the solid rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand!" "Today, I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose LIFE, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying Him, and committing yourself firmly to Him. This is the key to your life." ~Deuteronomy 30:10-20
"In just a short time, He will restore us so that we may live in His presence. Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us PRESS ON to know Him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring." ~Hosea 6:2-3
Click to listen to this sermon! "Don't be afraid, for you are very precious to God. PEACE! Be encouraged! Be strong!" ~Daniel 10:18
1. Loyal, lovable, constant companionship - it's hard to feel lonely or sad with two happy, tail-wagging puppies by your side!! They love you as much as their little hearts know how, they're thrilled with your attention and time (and typically require your supervision), and they want to follow you wherever you go! :)
(They even love your clothes and shoes. lol It's more endearing than you'd think.)
2. They're perfectly tiny and they make great traveling buddies! :)
(A baby play fence gives them room to play if you don't have a secure backyard fence for them.)
3. They're so playful and energetic that they need a lot of sleep! So they're usually nice and quiet at night, and they're adorable when they sleep. :)
Ahh, I just love them!
4. They naturally encourage exercise, keep you in the moment, and reduce worry and stress! :)
Happy, happy, happy!
5. Learning about their personalities as you go is fun and often hilarious! :)
6. They're a real but not overwhelming amount of responsibility! It's nice to be needed, to establish a better schedule, and to care for something that depends on you for food, water, shelter, and love! :)
7. They help you lighten up on yourself and take life less seriously. :) (Example - If you make a weird noise or talk in a funny voice, you can get this adorable puppy head-tilt!!)
(Example #2 - I think it's funny that my friends imitate my "puppy voice," and I don't mind at all that I look silly playing with my oven mitts on! lol)
8. They are naturally very protective of you, and that's as cute as it gets!
Sam-Sue taking a nap right up by my neck :)
9. They're so lightweight and FLUFFY that you can't help but be happy when you hold them! :)
10. Unexpected adventures and funny moments! =)
*Also, one Pom puppy is good, but two are better! They have a lot of fun together, they sleep better at night, and they always have a companion when you're gone for a few hours. (Since they're so little, the cleanup is minimal either way.)
