How you love me

"Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
     blot out my transgressions. 

 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
    and cleanse me from my sin!

...

 Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a right spirit in me."

- Psalms 51:1-2, 10 ESV

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     I've been thinking guys, you know, about how much God loves me.  I desperately wish that I could praise and honor You God in a manner worthy of Your glory.  But, I can't.  All I can do is give You all that I am.  Take it all God; let me hold nothing back from You.  These words are not nearly enough. Thank You, for it all, I'm so glad to be Your son. (Oh Joy unspeakable!)

(Titles are links to the songs)

Your Love is Strong-Jon Foreman

Heavenly Father
You always amaze me
Let your kingdom come
In my world and in my life
You give me the food I need
To live through the day
And forgive me as I forgive
The people that wronged me
Lead me far from temptation
Deliver me from the evil one

I look out the window
The birds are composing
Not a note is out of tune
Or out of place
I look at the meadow
And stare at the flowers
Better dressed than any girl
On her wedding day

So why do I worry?
Why do I freak out?
God knows what I need
You know what I need

Your love is
Your love is
Your love is strong

The kingdom of the heavens
Is now advancing
Invade my heart
Invade this broken town
The kingdom of the heavens
Is buried treasure
Will you sell yourself
To buy the one you've found?

Two things you told me
That you are strong
And you love me
Yes, you love me

Our God in heaven
Hallowed be
Thy name above all names
Your kingdom come
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven
Give us today our daily bread
Forgive us wicked sinners
Lead us far away from our vices
And deliver us from these prisons

House of God Forever -Jon Foreman

God is my shepherd
I won't be wanting
I won't be wanting
He makes me rest
In fields of green
With quite streams
Even though I walk
Through the valley
Of death and dying
I will not fear
'Cause you are with me
You are with me

Your shepherd staff
Comforts me
You are my feast
In the presence of enemy
Surely goodness
Follow me
Follow me
In the house of God, forever

God is my shepherd
I won't be wanting
I won't be wanting
He makes me rest
In fields of green
Like quiet streams
Even while I'm walking
Through the valley
Of death and dying
I will not fear
'Cause you are with me
You're always with me

Your shepherd staff
Comforts me
You are my feast
In the presence of enemy
Surely goodness
Follow me
Follow me
In the house of God, forever
In the house of God, forever
In the house of God, forever

 I Need Words-David Crowder

I need words

As wide as sky

And I need a language large as

This longing inside

And I need a voice

Bigger than mine

And I need a song to sing You

that I've yet to find

I need You

Oh I need You

I need You

Oh I need You

To be here now

To hear me now

Any one who reads this: pray for this ministry:VOM

I.....I... I have no....words.   My heart weeps for these people and the White family.

http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDkz&ministory_ID=NjY%3d&clickfrom=bWluaXN0b3JpZXM%3d

 RIP, Tom White.

This was a man who truly loved God!  So, I don't know why this happened...but:  "God works all things for the good of those who love Him."(Romans 8:28) Frankly my friends, this is beyond me. Oh. There's so much I don't understand.

But I still have hope: Jesus Christ died, for us.  He is right next to me, crying, holding me, washing my feet; loving me.  That is more than enough for me.

Edit: Also, please pray for those of the Kinkade family and the Colson family.  RIP Thomas and Chuck, you will be missed.

Sheesh, Satan attacking much?  Good thing we know How The Story Ends.

Some time to laugh/CAAAALVIN!

HaHaaaa!  "What a glorious day, what a wonderful day, today"-dcb
 Here's something I've learned from my Father: "Sometimes [when life hits you hard,] if you don't laugh, you cry." I believe in choosing to laugh, to laugh at my mistakes--for I make so many of them!--and even my pain.  I'd rather laugh about something than fight about it.

You want a good way to test how mature you are? See how well you can laugh at yourself.(from Brad Stine)

Anyway, I was at a homeschool convention, where I miraculously came upon A CALVIN AND HOBBES Collection!!!!!  I've never owned one before!  So I thought I'd share some awesome C&H comics.

FYI, C&H was a comic strip created by Bill Watterson.  It features a genius first grader(?) named Calvin who can't help being naughty.  He also has a horribly out of control (and out of this world) imagination. It's one of my favorites because it's not just downright funny, it's true.  You can learn from these comics. Ha!

Anyway, here's a semi-tribute to them(sorry there's so many! So good! I tried to keep them as readable as possible, usually zooming in will help):

 

Song for the Week

"Have Your Way"
-Britt Nicole

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9_caMq_iYc
 

"Feels like I've been here forever,
Why can't you just intervene,
Do you see the tears keep falling?
And I'm falling apart at the seams,
But you never said the road would be easy,
But you said that you would never leave.
And you never promised that this life wasn't hard,
But you promised you'd take care of me,
So I'll stop searching for the answers,
I'll stop praying for an escape
And I'll trust you God with where I am
And believe you will have your way,
Just have your way,
Just have your way,
My friends and my family have left me
I feel so ashamed and so cold,
And I feel so ashamed and so cold
Remind me you take broken things and turn them into beautiful
So I'll stop searching for the answers,
I'll stop praying for an escape
I'll trust you God with where I am,
And believe you will have your way,
Just have your way,
Just have your way,
Even if my dreams have died,
Even if I don't survive,
I'll still worship you with all my life,
My life, yeah,
Whoa, oh, oh, oh
Whoa, oh, oh, oh
Whoa, oh, oh
Whoa, oh
And I'll stop searching for the answers,
I'll stop praying for an escape
And I'll trust you God with where I am,
And believe you will have your way,
Just have your way,
Just have your way, yeah
I know you will,
I won't forget
Whoa, oh, oh
You love me,
Have your way,"

God, You know my heart, my dreams, hopes, and fears.  

But I have nothing to worry about when You are near.

"It's just You and me here now.

And I will worship You Lord, Only You."

Thank You so much God, my best friend and love. Keep me close to You.

"I want my life to come down to two words: I'm Yours"

Beauty?

"It is all a fake, of course; the figures in popular art are falsely drawn; the real women in bathing suits or tights are actually pinched in and propped up to make them appear firmer and more slender…than nature allows…” — P.92 -The Screwtape Letters

This is Taylor Swift.  

A charming young woman, whom many girls look up to.  And for much good reason: she is much cleaner and purer than most of our society's female role models. Observe: she has a coy smile, an almost playful expression, and seems to be playing with her hair. What girl wouldn't want to look like her?  In our world's eyes, she is beautiful.  

Why do I say this?  Well, I came upon Yubelina's story the other day.  She is an Indonesian Christian woman, who was brutally scarred by a Muslim attack upon her village. 

Here is a Mrs. Roberts' description of her face*:

Her skin is splotchy & ranges in color from light brown to red to white. Much of it is leathery. Her nose is disfigured. She has a purplish-colored patch of skin in between her bottom lip & the bottom of her chin. Her upper lip is peeling. Her left eye is white & red; her pupil is clearly no longer able to see.

But she is smiling. A huge smile. Joy radiates from her. Why?? She must receive stares. Children are probably afraid of her. The world would call her damaged. Ugly.

Yubelina has figured out where her identity lies. She is a treasured child of the King. She has traded “a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning” (Isa. 61:3). Her smile reveals Jesus.

Yubelina is beautiful. I guarantee she has a joy, a contentment, that no name-brand, trendy clothing; no perfect haircut & makeup; no flawless skin or toned body can bring.

Warning, this may be hard to look at:

Here she is:

  

When I first saw her, I grimaced.  But I looked again, and....I saw Christ.  This woman has true beauty, look in her eyes: see the hope, the joy there?  That's not in Taylor's picture.   1 Peter 3:3-4 says

^"3  Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— ⁴ but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious." 

I see so many girls worry about how they look.  That's exactly what Satan wants: to keep you from making your heart pure and precious in God's sight.  When you see a painting, the most important part of the painting, is the painting itself.  The painting's frame should exemplify and serve the painting, not overshadow it. Same with our bodies.  Nothing is wrong with wanting to look beautiful, but it shouldn't overcome the best part of a person: the heart.  Yubelina is truly beautiful.

I dearly love Voice of the Martyrs, a multi-denominational Christian non-for-profit dedicated to spreading the gospel and the word about Christian persecution, and I highly recommend their free newsletter.  I also recommend supporting them.

*Source: http://www.persecutionblog.com/2011/01/true-beauty.html

In the Light

The Word of Life

1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— ²  the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— ³  that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. ⁴ And we are writing these things so that our^[a] joy may be complete.

Walking in the Light

⁵  This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. ⁶  If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. ⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. ⁸  If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

<In The Light>

 
I keep trying to find a life
On my own, apart from You
I am the king of excuses
I've got one for every selfish thing I do

What's going on inside of me?
I despise my own behavior
This only serves to confirm my suspicions
That I'm still a man in need of a Savior

[chorus]
I wanna be in the Light
As You are in the Light
I wanna shine like the stars in the heavens
Oh, Lord be my Light and be my salvation
Cause all I want is to be in the Light
All I want is to be in the Light

The disease of self runs through my blood
It's a cancer fatal to my soul
Every attempt on my behalf has failed
To bring this sickness under control

Tell me, what's going on inside of me?
I despise my own behavior
This only serves to confirm my suspicions
That I'm still a man in need of a Savior

[repeat chorus]

Honesty becomes me
(There's nothing left to lose)
The secrets that did run me
(In Your presence are defused)
Pride has no position
(And riches have no worth)
The fame that once did cover me
(Has been sentenced to this Earth)
Has been sentenced to this Earth

Tell me, what's going on inside of me?
I despise my own behavior
This only serves to confirm my suspicions
That I'm still a man in need of a Savior

[repeat chorus 2x]

(There's no other place that I want to be)
(No other place that I can see)
(A place to be that's just right)
(Someday I'm gonna be in the Light)
(You are in the Light)
(That's where I need to be)
(That's right where I need to be)