The Lord Is My Strength and Song
You will say in that day:
"I will give thanks to you, O Lord,
for though you were angry with me,
your anger turned away,
that you might comfort me.
Behold, God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid;
for the Lord God is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation.
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
And you will say in that day:
Give thanks to the Lord,
call upon his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples,
proclaim that his name is exalted.
Sing praises to the Lord,
for he has done gloriously;
let this be made known in all the earth,
Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.
~Isaiah 12:1-4
Reading this last night, I realized that what he is saying is very true. God was angry with me! My sin angers him, and it should. But that isn't the final statement. He knows how sinful I am and he looked on me and changed that anger into comfort. Jesus is the propitiation, the reconciliation between myself and the Almighty God. Because of Jesus, I am able to have a relationship with the one who created this insanely beautiful earth and who created each of us. It truly is unbelievable! Jesus is my strength and my song... without trusting in him I become an anxious, fearful, scared little girl. But through him I can be a trusting, victorious, liberated WOMAN! Because of this, I have to make known his deeds, I have to thank him for what he has done, and I have to exalt his name to the people.
1) He has been drawing my dad nearer to himself. Jesus is THE only hope for turning that & all life around.
2)He has drawn Chris and I closer to himself and each other. We are ready for crazy, adventurous life through Jesus. Every day we have been given another little glimpse into it. It's so sweet!
3)I have joy going into my classroom now... HALLELUJAH!
4)We are about 5 days from being members at Mars Hill Church, where the bible is preached & my heart is being utterly transformed!
5)We have awesome community through our church. It is an incredible gift to live life with these people... you know who you are!
6)We are healthy... I completely take for granted the fact that my husband, family, and I are for the most part completely healthy in all ways. I am reminded of this when I look at these two people... who are either victoriously praising Christ through their battle or have a family that is...
www.prayforkate.com
http://fm.thevillagechurch.net/blog/pastors/
I praise you Jesus.
january
Monday, January 25, 2010
I love these people, these places, and these amazing blessings from the Lord. You can see my cat turns into a tiger at times, my new family is energetically bringing in the New Year, my husband is delving into every book he can find on theology, doctrine, and pastoring, and we are having fun hanging out with our friends (missing pictures of the Lantings though... we see them so much we haven't broken out the camera). What a crazy beginning to a year... and what crazy things are going to happen ;)
This is YOUR day
Saturday, January 23, 2010
It's 8:05 on Saturday morning, and to tell you the truth the only real reason I am awake is because my lovely husband is going to attend a men's training event. He has drive this morning, I don't really. So I was thinking about my day and I started thinking about how I introduce the calendar to my six year olds. Today is Saturday, January 23rd, 2010. Today is Saturday, January 23rd, 2010. Over and over we say this simple phrase to help prepare them to understand the world through a calendar. Some of them totally get it already but some aren't ready to say it on their own yet. Lately I've been realizing how much the calendar affects my life. I always want the next event, the next weekend, the next stage or season in my life. It has been sort of debilitating towards allowing me to fully experience life. Each day is such a gift and I bring it down to mere events and things to check off my list. One thing I need to continue to ask Jesus, what is YOUR plan for this day. Where do I need to be more careful to listen to your voice, take opportunities to show you to others, or even be more passionate in what I do. It's a hard thing to do, but how much more could my life impact others for Jesus, my days be more enlivened, and my heart be more secure in my Father in Heaven.
I AM free, happy, and liberated.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Jesus,
Thank you for hope. Thank you for pursuing my Dad even when I feel like it is hopeless. You are the hope Lord, you are sovereign. Thank you for using Pastor Mark's words to impact my family's lives. Thank you for using death, bad, and ugliness in the world to bring ultimate life to people, grace, hope, and healing. I pray that you would continue to do amazing things... things we would never be able to imagine.
amen
Today's sermon was INSANE. I have been quietly, subconsciously waiting for the day that Mark would preach on Jesus being tempted by the devil (whose name does not deserve capitalization). I was curious how it would pan out and what I would learn. This past year has been one of the hardest I have ever had and I couldn't wait to really think and dwell upon the way that Jesus perfectly responded to the devil's lies. I feel like I learned so much this morning. I know that I can read scripture and that the Holy Spirit can reveal things to me. But today, I am especially thankful for those that Jesus teaches with exactly the right words to reach into my soul and twist and turn until I really and truly understand certain concepts that are really prevalent in my heart.
The sermon came out of Luke 4:1-13; Jesus without sin.
Satan is the ultimate liar, deceiver, and tempter. We do not have a God who cannot sympathize with our tempation, he was tempted for 40 days in the wilderness! How amazing is that... In these 13 verses the main thing that Satan does is attack Jesus' identity. He uses phrases like IF you are the son of God... etc. The most helpful part for me in this time is knowing that Jesus was tempted to believe satan's lies just like I am. However, he never once gave in and I have millions of times. I hear those attacks on my identity and begin to dwell and let myself suffer in those thoughts. This is what I say: ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so sick of his dirty, dishonest, sickening lies that creap into my each and every day. I have a new identity in Christ... and I do not need to dwell upon these anymore.
1. Satan is a real enemy.
2. Satan will H.I.T. you (Hungry, Isolated, Tired)
3. Jesus Christ is your victorious Warrior King
4. The Holy Spirit is your power
5. Biblical truth is your counterpunch
6. Christ is your Identity
7. Escape is always possible
8. Satan eventually taps out
9. Repent when you tap out and fight another round
10. Life is a battle with many rounds.The hope: Knowing, TRULY knowing scripture; it is our only true spritual authority on satan. So, I need to prepare myself for war & that is what I am going to do. Know the Word, Know Jesus, Know how to defeat the enemy for the glory of my Father in Heaven.
I AM free, happy, and liberated.
Thank you for hope. Thank you for pursuing my Dad even when I feel like it is hopeless. You are the hope Lord, you are sovereign. Thank you for using Pastor Mark's words to impact my family's lives. Thank you for using death, bad, and ugliness in the world to bring ultimate life to people, grace, hope, and healing. I pray that you would continue to do amazing things... things we would never be able to imagine.
amen
Today's sermon was INSANE. I have been quietly, subconsciously waiting for the day that Mark would preach on Jesus being tempted by the devil (whose name does not deserve capitalization). I was curious how it would pan out and what I would learn. This past year has been one of the hardest I have ever had and I couldn't wait to really think and dwell upon the way that Jesus perfectly responded to the devil's lies. I feel like I learned so much this morning. I know that I can read scripture and that the Holy Spirit can reveal things to me. But today, I am especially thankful for those that Jesus teaches with exactly the right words to reach into my soul and twist and turn until I really and truly understand certain concepts that are really prevalent in my heart.
The sermon came out of Luke 4:1-13; Jesus without sin.
Satan is the ultimate liar, deceiver, and tempter. We do not have a God who cannot sympathize with our tempation, he was tempted for 40 days in the wilderness! How amazing is that... In these 13 verses the main thing that Satan does is attack Jesus' identity. He uses phrases like IF you are the son of God... etc. The most helpful part for me in this time is knowing that Jesus was tempted to believe satan's lies just like I am. However, he never once gave in and I have millions of times. I hear those attacks on my identity and begin to dwell and let myself suffer in those thoughts. This is what I say: ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so sick of his dirty, dishonest, sickening lies that creap into my each and every day. I have a new identity in Christ... and I do not need to dwell upon these anymore.
1. Satan is a real enemy.
2. Satan will H.I.T. you (Hungry, Isolated, Tired)
3. Jesus Christ is your victorious Warrior King
4. The Holy Spirit is your power
5. Biblical truth is your counterpunch
6. Christ is your Identity
7. Escape is always possible
8. Satan eventually taps out
9. Repent when you tap out and fight another round
10. Life is a battle with many rounds.The hope: Knowing, TRULY knowing scripture; it is our only true spritual authority on satan. So, I need to prepare myself for war & that is what I am going to do. Know the Word, Know Jesus, Know how to defeat the enemy for the glory of my Father in Heaven.
I AM free, happy, and liberated.
a PRAYER for faith
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Jesus,
You are my ultimate provider. I am so blessed for so many many things: to be living where I am, having a closet full of clothes to wear, a pantry full of food, hot water, heat, my family is alive, a job, amazing friends, a healthy body, and a country that is plush and posh. Ugh. That is what I feel at this moment Jesus. I pray that the Holy Spirit would be interpreting my internal groanings and making it known to you, the condition of my heart and soul in this time of immense suffering. I am so troubled and distraught by the condition of our world- the enormous grief going on inside Haiti. It makes me sick. Jesus, help those babies that I desperately want to grab, pray for, love, and hold on tight to. I pray that you would someday bring my prayers to fruition, help me to be able to nurture and love an orphaned child someday Jesus. Please give those babies hope, love, and nourishment. I pray for Pastor Mark and Pastor James as they go to Haiti to try to love on the people, bring supplies, and bring relief to the church. I pray for their funds, their transportation, their ministry. I pray for the Christians in Haiti, that they would be bold with the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus. I pray for my own heart, that I wouldn't be overcome with wordliness as I see new jeans and materialism, as I am so easily sucked in to that way of life. Please help me Jesus. Help me to be a prayer warrior for the people. Please help those people to stay alive as they are trapped underneath piles of rubble. Show the rescuers where they are and help them locate those precious lives. I pray for the stability of the buildings Lord, show the people when they need to leave and get out of unsafe situations. Lord Jesus, be the center of the relief work and aid in their country. I pray that hundreds of thousands come to know you because of this. Help people to be moved to put forth money and time to help the country and the people to become stablized. I pray for my Dad's heart. So incredibly affected by sweet Molly Hightowers life and death, that he was put to tears yesterday. I pray that when we go to church tomorrow that his life would be radically altered for the Gospel. He needs you as his savior, please Lord, run smack dab into that stubborn man. He needs change and he needs you. I pray Lord for all the people around the world who are feeling like I am; hopeless and deeply despaired for the people of the country and the loss of lives that we have experienced. Please help us to be joyful even in trial. You command us to that; help us to live it out. Help us to be bold with sharing you with others. Please help us to put YOU at the center of our lives.
photos: www.time.com
You are my ultimate provider. I am so blessed for so many many things: to be living where I am, having a closet full of clothes to wear, a pantry full of food, hot water, heat, my family is alive, a job, amazing friends, a healthy body, and a country that is plush and posh. Ugh. That is what I feel at this moment Jesus. I pray that the Holy Spirit would be interpreting my internal groanings and making it known to you, the condition of my heart and soul in this time of immense suffering. I am so troubled and distraught by the condition of our world- the enormous grief going on inside Haiti. It makes me sick. Jesus, help those babies that I desperately want to grab, pray for, love, and hold on tight to. I pray that you would someday bring my prayers to fruition, help me to be able to nurture and love an orphaned child someday Jesus. Please give those babies hope, love, and nourishment. I pray for Pastor Mark and Pastor James as they go to Haiti to try to love on the people, bring supplies, and bring relief to the church. I pray for their funds, their transportation, their ministry. I pray for the Christians in Haiti, that they would be bold with the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus. I pray for my own heart, that I wouldn't be overcome with wordliness as I see new jeans and materialism, as I am so easily sucked in to that way of life. Please help me Jesus. Help me to be a prayer warrior for the people. Please help those people to stay alive as they are trapped underneath piles of rubble. Show the rescuers where they are and help them locate those precious lives. I pray for the stability of the buildings Lord, show the people when they need to leave and get out of unsafe situations. Lord Jesus, be the center of the relief work and aid in their country. I pray that hundreds of thousands come to know you because of this. Help people to be moved to put forth money and time to help the country and the people to become stablized. I pray for my Dad's heart. So incredibly affected by sweet Molly Hightowers life and death, that he was put to tears yesterday. I pray that when we go to church tomorrow that his life would be radically altered for the Gospel. He needs you as his savior, please Lord, run smack dab into that stubborn man. He needs change and he needs you. I pray Lord for all the people around the world who are feeling like I am; hopeless and deeply despaired for the people of the country and the loss of lives that we have experienced. Please help us to be joyful even in trial. You command us to that; help us to live it out. Help us to be bold with sharing you with others. Please help us to put YOU at the center of our lives.
photos: www.time.com
Coming back to the blogger :)
The Lord has truly blessed us over the last few months. He is using our relationship to grow us closer to himself, to know what love is, and to create in us better communicators, better friends, and better spouses. Our wedding was an amazing day, the honeymoon was great- full of interesting stories we would love to share!, and our apartment is a great place of rest and peace, it really feels like home. A month into the school year I was hired in the Federal Way School District to teach first grade. It has been an intense challenge but I absolutely love my job and the children that I can be a positive influence on and a quiet but prayerful and bright light for Christ. We have definitely experienced trials in the last three months, and will continue to as Jesus did, but we are trying to walk each step with our Lord and Savior and watch as he leads us. He has also given us an amazing church - the body has been such a blessing in our lives as individuals and as a couple. We both had such strong community at WSU that we really felt a deep hole when we first moved back to the west side. He has filled that hole with amazing friends that have prayed for us, been there for us in times of need, and served along side us in different areas. It has been a great time of watching the Lord work and we are excited to be able to share as he continues to take us on an amazing journey together!
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