Understanding you are loved!

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine." Isaiah 43:1 (b)

How many times have you questioned your life? Your importance? I remember having a lot of these questions and concerns when I was in middle school and after I moved to a new high school. I didn't know a person and I didn't believe there was anything special about me. I still question this sometimes when I am down and feeling lonely... But... This verse explains that I should know better!!! Slowly reread the verse above.
This Bible verse proves that we are special because we are chosen!!! WE ARE HIS!!! How awesome is that! God chose you and me. We are special and honored. What a privilege it is to know that He picked us. He knew us before we were born and He loves us no matter how often we fall short of His glory and Holiness.
Later on in the 43rd chapter of Isaiah it says that "When we pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God.... verse 4- states "Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you" I am shocked that the God of this Universe that created everything around me says that I am precious... honored... and He loves me... WOW!!! What an amazing experience having that in my life.
I know as a Christian, we are not told that life will be perfect. The Bible verse says that "When you" have these hardships. Life is hard, especially with the economy, the world issues, the local issues!!! We have a close friend who is suffering from an unknown kind of cancer. He just got married and the doctors don't know how to treat him. My husband was concerned for him and his salvation. Bryan didn't sleep for three nights because he needed to talk to this man. I hate to admit it, but I was more concerned about my issues. I felt horrible when God opened my eyes. Nothing should be more important in our lives than telling the World of His great love for us. We need to be fishers of men and women. Remember when you question your worthiness that HE has redeemed us, summoned us and YOU ARE HIS, if you put your trust in Him! Rejoice and spread the good news! We are loved. Never forget your importance in Him!

The House that Built Me

By wisdom a House is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. Proverbs 24:3-4

Well as you guys can see I am a little late on my blog. This week has been insane crazy! I hope the scripture speaks to you like it does me. I have started this 2 times and have had things come up where I would have to stop and then when I would come back to it I would delete the whole blog. Well this is my 3rd time starting it maybe it will be completed.
The House that Built Me is a song by Miranda Lambert that I heard many months ago and wanted to blog on it then, but I guess I didn't have the confidence to say what I wanted. (You know its like one of those times that you feel like you are the only person in the world this probably means anything to.)Well I hope its not one of those times! I want to encourage you to please listen to the song, and you might relate more than you think.
Growing up I was very lucky. I grew up in the same house with my parents who believed and taught the word of God. My dad worked and my mom stayed at home. We ate supper together(like real homemade food) everynight around the table with no phone and no tv. As a teenager I can remember that interrupting my social life but my mom did not care I still had to do it. When I got married that was the first time I had moved. Leaving that house was so hard. I suggested to Jason that when we get back from our honeymoon we should just go there and live but that didn't quit go over so well. I felt comfort and support there and love that was never ending and always encouraging. Now don't get me wrong it was not the perfect little family by no means and I am sure there are many times that were really tough but the good times far out weigh the bad times. Now that I am older and do have a house of my own I remember those times around the table and I know that they are times that by wisdom a House was being built. Since my mom died I have had a constant pull at my old house where I grew up and spent all those years. My dad still is in that house and alot of things have changed about the house but I still have constant memories of my home. I go there and leave with memories everytime. I know now that my mom & dad teaching me the ways of the Lord are the treasures that I have built up in the rooms there filled with love and support and an understanding of the love the Lord has for me.
Since this song has come to me I have posed a very important question. "How is the house being built for my family?" Am I building a house with God's Wisdom, by Gods knowledge am I filling the rooms with beautiful treasures? How about the House that is bulding your family? Is it with wisdom and knowledge of God? I pray this blog helps us to see the Houses that we are building, I pray that we are Thankful for the ones that helped build us and I pray that we build strong firm houses that can withstand any storm.

Amy

"Brothers, I do not consider yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Philipians 3: 13-14



It seems I have used this verse so many times recently, including in my own life. I thought it might be an appropriate addition to the blog. It's so encouraging to know that this came from the mouth of a man who most would consider having a crippling sinful past---Paul, the former Christian killer.



I was hiking Crowder's Mountain this week and was talking with someone close to me. She shared with me the intense hate she has for her mother due to various things that have occurred in her life. The hate and resentment she holds is so intense that forgiveness seemed an impossibility. During our conversation this verse came to me. After sharing the verse it seemed like a layer of anger and hurt peeled away. She even said that she was more ready to forgive and heal than she had been before. Wow! What an incredible, gracious God we have! So often we let our past dictate who we are, instead of letting Christ mold us into who we are to become. How can we look ahead toward Heaven when we are always looking at our past? Whether it is sin that we have committed ourselves or sin that has been done to us, we must remember that God never intends for us to wallow in it. He wants us to deal with it, learn from it, and move on stronger in Him. Although I've not mastered this, it has certainly been an encouragement for me in times when I get stuck reliving history. I pray it does the same for you!

Isaiah 26:3-4

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock."

I don't think my friend knew how badly I needed to hear this verse when she shared it with me years ago. I was in a new place, feeling very much alone, battling anxiety, and very discouraged. There were times during that season of my life that I would find myself almost chanting this verse. And I learned then that He is absolutely an Everlasting Rock!!

I love this passage because it doesn't matter where we are in life, it applies. If it doesn't today it probably will tomorrow. I want my mind, no matter what I'm doing, to be fixed on Him, because it's only then that I experience His true peace...."peace that passes understanding". And trust me, in my crazy life, I can always use peace.:0)

Love you ladies!!!

Keri

MEMORIZING AND FORGETTING.... MEMORIZING AND FORGETTING.......

I want to share a portion from a blog I read, Desiring God, which is John Piper's blog. Are you forgetting the scriptures you've memorized weeks before? Don't be discouraged.... read on....

How Do You Remember the Scripture You've Memorized?

(Author: Tyler Kenney)

John Piper answers this question in today's Ask Pastor John. Scroll down to read a transcript.

The following is an edited transcript of the audio.

How do you keep from forgetting Scripture after you've memorized it?

I don't. But practically, what can you do to keep it as long as you can? There is only one word. Review.

Review, review, review. There is no way to memorize Scripture that keeps you from losing it. Some people don't lose anything. Some people have traps in their head that just hang on to it. But only 1 in 10,000 people can do that. Average folks like me have to work real hard to memorize the first time, and then recurrently review to keep it. So I memorize verses every day, and I forget them every day.

This morning I re-memorized a verse. I finished Deuteronomy and ran across a verse that I memorized years ago. Maybe I memorize it once a year, because I read the whole Bible once every year.

The verse is Deuteronomy 33:26. "There is none like God, O Jeshurun, who rides through the heavens to your help, and through the skies in his majesty." So, I've got it memorized. I probably will forget it in a week. That verse is hard for me to remember.

I've memorized that verse probably five times in five years. I forget it because I don't use it as often as some verses. So, I jot it down on a little piece of paper and carry it in my pocket, pulling it out during the day once or twice. If I try to nail it so that it is useful for me over the long haul, I keep it and review it.

A practical thing I would suggest for people to do, is decide what cluster of text they want to always be at their disposal. For me I could name Psalm 46, Psalm 23, Psalm 1, Romans 8, 2 Corinthians 5:21, a cluster of texts surrounding justification, 1 Peter 4:11—"let him who serves serve in the strength that God supplies, that in everything God may get the glory through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the dominion forever." This is the most quoted verse as we move into worship at Bethlehem.

So for my soul, for the warfare of my life, and for ministry in hospitals and counseling sessions, I want a cluster of texts at my disposal. Decide what those are, put them on a piece of paper, and review them until you have them down. I'll give you a little story.

My first or second year of pastoring I was called to the hospital—quickly. I went without my Bible. Rollin Erickson's wife just had a heart attack. I walk into a room of probably 20 family members that didn't know if she was alive or dead—as she is in surgery. Rollin gave me a big hug and said, "John, give us a Word from the Lord." Now, if I had my Bible I would have opened it to a Psalm or something. I didn't have my Bible, and for whatever reason at age 35 my mind went blank.

I felt so humiliated. It was horrible. Here are 20 people, and the husband of a dying woman says, "Give us a Word from the Lord." I can't even remember what I said. I probably said, "Let's pray," and tried to paraphrase some Scripture. I went home and got on my knees that afternoon. I said, "Lord Jesus, that will never happen again." I opened to Psalm 46—"God is our refuge and strength." I have been able to quote Psalm 46 verbatim for the last 28 years. I decided that Psalm 46 is going to be in my head because it is so useful all the time.

The answer is, review. But don't try to do that with every verse you learn. You should be learning hundreds of Bible verses by heart, and forgetting 90% of them. But then you get to them again and relearn them, and they are still with you because you learned them once. Somehow they will function to get out into your life.

But really nail down a cluster of soul strengthening words.

John Piper's blog can be found at www.desiringgod.org/Blog/

In Christ Alone,

Jane

Verse 5/Plus a Little Story

John 2:19 Jesus answered them saying, "Tear down this temple and in three days, I will raise it up again!" Take that!!!! This verse isn't one of the famous ones, many people overlook it, but as I was studying through John with friends and family, this was one we chose to memorize. It stuck. Whenever I doubt the power of God, whenever I think that things are impossible, whenever I doubt that God even knows what exactly is going on, He brings this verse to the front of my mind. It's not a poetic ringer but I just love it, it's like Jesus is saying, "You can run, but you can't hide," from my power, "I will ultimately come out on top," "Do your best but VICTORY IS MINE!" I had such a peace when He told me this was the verse I was to share with you. Not coincidently, it is the eve of my daughter's 16th birthday, He is victorious through her and has used my weakness to remain strong. I love the vision of my Lord as a manly man, I can just hear Him telling those Sanhedrin what for. He loved those parables, and I love Him. Enjoy the verse, I pray it becomes to you what it is to me.
Karen

Be Still

I don't know about you... But I like things done on my schedule and I worry when it doesn't seem to be possible to get it complete! So... What does God tell me? He gave me words of wisdom this week during my devotions. I journaled this week and here is some of the promises! Most of this is from my devotions- Tapestry... "Every once in a while God puts a desire in you that's really specific... God may seem to be slow in fulfilling some of your desires, so be prepared to wait if you need to. He may allow obstacles and hardships in order to weed out the weak desires, to strengthen your resolve, to produce endurance, and to TEST YOUR FAITH!!" "As we walk with Him, giving Him permission to shape our dreams, trusting Him with them, HE CAN BLOW THE TOP OFF OUR EXPECTATIONS!!!"
Ephesians 3:20- Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to His power that is at work within us. (v21)To HIM BE GLORY! So... lesson- Walk Faithfully. "Obey God's commands, be in constant conversation with Him, rest in His good heart and in his absolute power and control over everything. Spend less time worrying about the details. Be more in awe of the awesome God who wants to do incredible things with you and through you..." And a special Bible verse to remind me to wait patiently and listen for His plans is from Psalms- "Like a weaned child, like a weaned child to his mother, I have stilled and quieted my soul." Now... If I just listen to what I know... Believe... and Have Faith in!!!