I have been thinking a lot about that word lately. The thoughts that have been going through my head about this word are thoughts about how this word relates to my everyday life. It is overwhelming to think that as I daily spend time with God he fills me with the Truth of who He is. As this happens daily I am filled to the point that I can no longer contain it, and the love and truth that Christ fills me with overflow out of me. The cool thing here is that these things don't just flow out of me and into only one small part of my life, they flow out into every part of my life. If I pour water into a glass until it cannot contain any more water, the water overflows onto the table. When that happens, the water does not get one thing on the table wet and then snake around other things on the table so that they stay dry. This is not how it works! The water flows. It flows out in every direction and soaks everything around it....my life should look like this! The love of Christ that fills me to the overflow point should flow out of me and soak everyone around me...not just the people it is easy to soak with the love of Christ, but everyone that is around me!
Lord, help my life to reflect the truth of who You are by allowing the love you fill me with to overflow onto everyone around me! Let this be the case when it is easy to share your love, and even when it isn't to share your love. Use the overflow of Your love in my life to bring You glory!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Good News!
So today is a day my family has been waiting for the last year! My dad is finally finished with chemo, went back last week for his 6 wk scans, and today we got the results of the scans. Praise God that his scans were clear! It made me think back on when I first found out about the cancer. I looked to find a post I wrote close to that time because God had taught me such an amazing lesson through the life of David. Here it is:
God specifically chose David. He established David as the King of Israel. The word established means that he was set firmly in place. The point is that God has established us in the very places we are right now! The things that happen in our lives never surprise God! He set us firmly in place where we are! There is something He desires to show us through our situation, or someone He desires to reach through our situation.
I have been reading the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan and the chapter I was reading this morning was talking about God's overwhelming love for us. Overwhelming in the sense that He is so vast yet, so intimate and desires a relationship with us. Chan makes this statement in this chapter..."God knew who He was creating and He designed me for a specific work." This is a reminder to me that God had this all planned. Hopefully, people have seen God in my life and the life of my family through this situation and been encouraged to follow after Him. If nothing else, God has used this to remind me over and over again that He is love, and He is sufficient.
God specifically chose David. He established David as the King of Israel. The word established means that he was set firmly in place. The point is that God has established us in the very places we are right now! The things that happen in our lives never surprise God! He set us firmly in place where we are! There is something He desires to show us through our situation, or someone He desires to reach through our situation.
I have been reading the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan and the chapter I was reading this morning was talking about God's overwhelming love for us. Overwhelming in the sense that He is so vast yet, so intimate and desires a relationship with us. Chan makes this statement in this chapter..."God knew who He was creating and He designed me for a specific work." This is a reminder to me that God had this all planned. Hopefully, people have seen God in my life and the life of my family through this situation and been encouraged to follow after Him. If nothing else, God has used this to remind me over and over again that He is love, and He is sufficient.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Generosity and The Kingdom of God!
This past Sunday night, Zeke had the privilege of preaching for the first time at our new church. As he was preparing, we were both praying that God would reveal to him, what he was to share with the body. The concepts of generosity and the Kingdom of God were ones that kept coming back and have been on our hearts. So Sunday night, Zeke shared a message on the Generous Kingdom - the thought that as believers, we use the resources God has given us to further His Kingdom. We are not just content to sit on what we have and watch as those around us suffer when we could help. That we are living with the knowledge that the things we have are the things (time, resources, etc.) that God has entrusted us with. But He has not simply entrusted us with these things so that we are blessed, but rather to be a blessing to others.
For me, understanding this has really and truly changed the way I look at the resources I have. Generosity is a way of life, not just a nice character trait.
So as Zeke was studying last week and I was finishing reading through 1Corinthians and moving into 2 Corinthians, these thoughts of generosity and a heart for the Kingdom of God have been in my mind and on my heart. I read a verse in 1 Corinthians that broke my heart...15:34 "Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame." Paul was writing to the Corinthians, but that verse applies to us just as much! Some have no knowledge of God - those words have been running through my head since I read them. No knowledge of the Grace that has been bestowed on the children of God, no knowledge of a God who forgives, no knowledge of a God who lavishes love on His children, no knowledge of Him at all! As I read that verse, these questions came to my mind..."Am I stirred into action as I read this verse? Knowing that there are those around me that have no knowledge of God? Does it break my heart for the many people around the world that have no knowledge of God - some of those in my own community?"
Then I went on in 2 Corinthians to read "But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing," (2 Cor 2:14-15) Our lives give off the scent of Christ as we go through our daily routines. To some of those around us, the scent brings life, but others it is death.
As we go out and walk through life surrendered to the leading of the Holy Spirit of God in our lives, those around us notice. When we live surrendered to the Holy Spirit's movement in our lives, we are no longer a people gathering up the resources God has given us and keeping them to ourselves, but we are a people willingly offering the resources we have to make a difference in the lives of those around us!
This is a song that really challenges me and encourages me in this area, so I will end with it! :)
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Update :)
In February, Zeke was offered and accepted a position as the Minister of Worship and Students at First Baptist Church Carthage. We are so excited about this opportunity! :) So for the last few weeks we have been traveling back and forth between Shelbyville and Carthage, and will continue to do so until the school year is over (May 27th - not that I have that date memorized or anything!).
Along with the excitement of moving comes the excitement of purchasing our first home! We are super excited about that! I have bee out running around Carthage today getting all the utilities set! We get the keys this Saturday! Here is a picture of our new house! :) I will post some of the inside later!
We are looking forward to all that God is going to do in and through our lives during this time, and all that He is going to do in the lives of those in Carthage, Smith County, Tennessee, and ultimately around the world as FBC Carthage follows after Him! :) I am still teaching first grade, but on Spring Break this week - yay! :) I am really enjoying my time with these students! Here is a funny story I have to share with you about my little first graders: The other week, they were all excited to tell me about their Easter plans. So I heard stories about egg hunts and family dinners, and one little boy told me that He was getting baptized on Easter. One of the other students heard him and asked "What's that - Baptized?" Before I could answer, another student, who in the past has presented some interesting views about church tells the one who asked "It's when you get saved and the Holy Ghost comes all up in you." to which the one asking the question responds "Oh, my momma got that. There's no ghost!" I was trying my best not to laugh at that moment, but inside I was laughing so hard! I am definitely going to miss my time with these precious first graders! :)
I am going to post again in a little while, but that is all for now! :)
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Above all else...
So my dad posted a question on facebook today and it got quite a few comments and some of them started me thinking about different scriptures and God just laid this on my heart. I did not want to post it as a response to my dad's status because it began to veer off the topic. So I figured I would just post it on here. Here goes...
Above all else our call is to know God and this occurs as we daily spend time with Him. As we spend time with Him and come to know Him more, what is on His heart will be on our hearts. And His heart is for the nations. "Go therefore and Make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit..." Matt 28:19 This is something that we can do only as we daily lay ourselves down before Christ and surrender to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our lives. "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.." Romans 12:1 As we surrender to the guidance of the Holy Spirit He empowers us to share the love of Christ with those around us. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth..." Acts 1:8 As witnesses to those around us we are called to share the hope that we have in Christ with gentleness and respect. Understanding that God is the one who brings about conviction and reveals Himself to those we share with. "But in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame." 1Peter 3:15
I think that the problem is not necessarily ignorance of God's Word, but ignorance of the God of the word. There are many people who have a great knowledge of God's Word, but do not truly know God through and intimate personal relationship. As you grow in that relationship, through spending time with Him, you come to know Him more. The more you know Him, the more you love Him. The more you love Him the more you want to know Him. The more you want to know Him, the more you spend time with Him.
Above all else our call is to know God and this occurs as we daily spend time with Him. As we spend time with Him and come to know Him more, what is on His heart will be on our hearts. And His heart is for the nations. "Go therefore and Make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit..." Matt 28:19 This is something that we can do only as we daily lay ourselves down before Christ and surrender to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our lives. "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.." Romans 12:1 As we surrender to the guidance of the Holy Spirit He empowers us to share the love of Christ with those around us. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth..." Acts 1:8 As witnesses to those around us we are called to share the hope that we have in Christ with gentleness and respect. Understanding that God is the one who brings about conviction and reveals Himself to those we share with. "But in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame." 1Peter 3:15
I think that the problem is not necessarily ignorance of God's Word, but ignorance of the God of the word. There are many people who have a great knowledge of God's Word, but do not truly know God through and intimate personal relationship. As you grow in that relationship, through spending time with Him, you come to know Him more. The more you know Him, the more you love Him. The more you love Him the more you want to know Him. The more you want to know Him, the more you spend time with Him.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
My Funny First Graders!
Ok, so i haven't blogged in a while! First grade has kept me busy! But today one of them told me something that was so funny I realized I should share some of the funnier moments of first grade here on my blog in an effort to remember them myself and maybe share a little bit of the joy these precious kids bring into my room each morning!
So one of the first funny moments I had this school year was sitting in the gym for a talent show. The students were asked to bring in $1 for "admission" to the talent show as a fundraiser for the music department. We were about halfway through the talent show (having heard Miley Cyrus's Hoedown Throwdown about 5 times by this point!) and the little boy sitting beside me looks up at me and asks "Is this what I paid $1 for?" I just smiled and said "It sure is." :)
The other day I was sorting through some papers and came across a project we had worked on for the 100th day of school. the students were given a piece of paper that said "When I am 100 Years old I think I will look like..." and there was a space below where they could draw a picture. We had lots of projects going on that day and I had not had a chance to look at every student's drawing, so I was taking this chance to look through them. They were all really cute and were pretty much just pictures of people walking with canes. But then I saw it...one of my students had drawn a picture of a hill and colored it completely black and there were dark gray clouds in the sky with lightening bolts coming down from them and then I took a closer look and saw that he had written the word "cemetary" - well, his version of the word - across the top of the page! So when asked what he will look like when he is 10 years old, this first grader had drawn a graveyard! LOL!
We were having some issues with students being quiet in the bathroom so I decided we needed bathroom monitors. One of my students was so excited about us having bathroom monitors that he would ask me a question about them everytime we took a bathroom break. The only thing was he did not quite understand the name "bathroom monitors" he kept asking me questions about the "thermometers"! I tried to tell him "yes they are the bathroom monitors," but he still called them thermometers! :)
Today, one of the girls in my class was getting her backpack all packed up and she had a new purse that she was showing me and telling me about, then she said "and my mom got me a new video game yesterday!" and she pulled something halfway out of her bag to show me. I was looking through some papers so I only caught a glimpse of what she pulled out. It took me a second to register what it actually was that she had pulled out of her bag. When I realized, I asked her to show it to me again. She pulled it out and I almost dies laughing! It was a digital thermostat! She had it in her purse and she thought it was the neatest video game! She said she played it last night before bed! :)And that the screen lit up all green and you have to find the right numbers! :) So precious!
That's all I can think of right now! I hope you enjoyed those! :) I am sure I will have more later! :)
So one of the first funny moments I had this school year was sitting in the gym for a talent show. The students were asked to bring in $1 for "admission" to the talent show as a fundraiser for the music department. We were about halfway through the talent show (having heard Miley Cyrus's Hoedown Throwdown about 5 times by this point!) and the little boy sitting beside me looks up at me and asks "Is this what I paid $1 for?" I just smiled and said "It sure is." :)
The other day I was sorting through some papers and came across a project we had worked on for the 100th day of school. the students were given a piece of paper that said "When I am 100 Years old I think I will look like..." and there was a space below where they could draw a picture. We had lots of projects going on that day and I had not had a chance to look at every student's drawing, so I was taking this chance to look through them. They were all really cute and were pretty much just pictures of people walking with canes. But then I saw it...one of my students had drawn a picture of a hill and colored it completely black and there were dark gray clouds in the sky with lightening bolts coming down from them and then I took a closer look and saw that he had written the word "cemetary" - well, his version of the word - across the top of the page! So when asked what he will look like when he is 10 years old, this first grader had drawn a graveyard! LOL!
We were having some issues with students being quiet in the bathroom so I decided we needed bathroom monitors. One of my students was so excited about us having bathroom monitors that he would ask me a question about them everytime we took a bathroom break. The only thing was he did not quite understand the name "bathroom monitors" he kept asking me questions about the "thermometers"! I tried to tell him "yes they are the bathroom monitors," but he still called them thermometers! :)
Today, one of the girls in my class was getting her backpack all packed up and she had a new purse that she was showing me and telling me about, then she said "and my mom got me a new video game yesterday!" and she pulled something halfway out of her bag to show me. I was looking through some papers so I only caught a glimpse of what she pulled out. It took me a second to register what it actually was that she had pulled out of her bag. When I realized, I asked her to show it to me again. She pulled it out and I almost dies laughing! It was a digital thermostat! She had it in her purse and she thought it was the neatest video game! She said she played it last night before bed! :)And that the screen lit up all green and you have to find the right numbers! :) So precious!
That's all I can think of right now! I hope you enjoyed those! :) I am sure I will have more later! :)
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Latest on My Parents
So we finally got the test results from my mom's stress test yesterday and they saw what they think might be some blockage, so they are going to do an arteriagram (not sure if that spelling is correct) this afternoon. If there is a blockage they will balloon it or do a stint while they are in there. I will be over there with her with in the next half hour. She is at Vanderbilt Hospital.
I am currently at Centennial Hospital with daddy and Mr. Marty. (Watching the Price is Right - Daddy's normal routine!) Daddy is doing great. He has already been up walking and right now is sitting up in the chair and has been on the computer this morning already. He has not had much sleep thanks to the morphine drip machine. It is set to beep when his heart rate gets above or below a certain number and as soon as he gets to the point where he can sleep his heart rate gets below that number and the machine goes off on him! but he is well taken care of here at Centennial and as far as we know things are still on for him to go home tomorrow. We should know more after we hear from the doctor - he has not come by yet.
So, we are doing good just a little scattered at the moment! :) Please continue to pray that Momma and Daddy will continue to heal and be able to go home soon! :) Well, I am gonna leave it at that so I can head over to be with Momma. If you want or need to get in touch with us you can call my cell, 702-672-4833, or call Zeke @ the house and he can get you to us!
Thanks so much for your prayers! :)
I am currently at Centennial Hospital with daddy and Mr. Marty. (Watching the Price is Right - Daddy's normal routine!) Daddy is doing great. He has already been up walking and right now is sitting up in the chair and has been on the computer this morning already. He has not had much sleep thanks to the morphine drip machine. It is set to beep when his heart rate gets above or below a certain number and as soon as he gets to the point where he can sleep his heart rate gets below that number and the machine goes off on him! but he is well taken care of here at Centennial and as far as we know things are still on for him to go home tomorrow. We should know more after we hear from the doctor - he has not come by yet.
So, we are doing good just a little scattered at the moment! :) Please continue to pray that Momma and Daddy will continue to heal and be able to go home soon! :) Well, I am gonna leave it at that so I can head over to be with Momma. If you want or need to get in touch with us you can call my cell, 702-672-4833, or call Zeke @ the house and he can get you to us!
Thanks so much for your prayers! :)
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