Shut the door and open your Bible

*can't take credit for the title - found it in my notes from PCC's college gathering this past Monday night...it's not that hard to be alone with God - simply shut the door and open your Bible!*

Something I just realized, that "have I not commanded you?"
happens to rhyme with, "do you KNOW who you are talking to?!" (maybe God doesn't say it with quite that much emphasis, but that's the way I've heard Him lately.)


GOD is FOR. ME.
The MAKER of heaven and earth.
hallelujah.
I'm feeling so very put in my place. (which must mean that I had been out of my own place...)

"Because of who He is
if I'm worthy dying for,
yes this God is worth
living for because of who
He is He makes me want to
give Him more and more, so
I take my body and use it
for the glory of God
that's why I pray every day,
gotta pick up my cross, search
for the lost, no matter the cost..." --> Who He IS, Trip Lee

(is following Christ costing me anything? it should.)


mmm, Isaiah 12, ESV style~

The LORD Is My Strength and My Song

¹You 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.

²"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."

³ With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. ⁴ 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.

⁵ "Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously;
let this be made known in all the earth.
⁶Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel."

:) the latest journal I filled up (just last week, actually...those 4 months flew by!) had Psalm 118:14 on everyyy single page~ "The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation." He IS! and He has! Glory to God.

Found out last week that we're all *fountains*! Now, what type of fountain am I going to be? (I've read Proverbs enough times to know what a fountain of His Life ought to act/look like)

Proverbs 10:11
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.

Proverbs 13:14
The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.

Proverbs 14:27
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.

Proverbs 16:22
Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it, but folly brings punishment to fools.

Proverbs 18:4
The words of a man's mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

(also, Psalms)

Psalm 36:9
For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.

Sooo, a fountain of life flows because of:

• a righteous mouth
• the teaching of the wise
• the fear of the Lord
• understanding

It looks like:

• a bubbling brook (flows like)

Comes from:

• His Light, God's Presence

Reading all of this, and being surrounded by people that already apply it - I can no longer claim any ignorance. (foolishness, yes; ignorance, no.) I'm humbled that God would choose to reveal such weighty insights to me, but I also have to remember that it's an honor - that His yolk is easy and His burden is light, because it all starts from and leads to sitting at His feet (ultimately).

Another good ignorance eliminator: God's Armor Bearer. (did not expect this book to impact me on so many levels!!) It was so helpful in analyzing how I order my priorities, compared to what God's priorities are...how to be an armor bearer (at the core, I think it boils down to having a genuine, servant's heart)...the importance of unity when it comes to working with/serving anyone with excellence...the need to die to my own purposes and dreams and submit them to God...haa, let me know if you want a full book report. 4 pages full of notes. so so so good.

*Significant point that I took away for my current season of life - "Run with the vision I have given her/him, and I'll (God) see to it that yours will be fulfilled."
As I'm still pursuing school and not exactly sure of what I intend to do with my degree, it's the perfect time to serve those that do know (specifically) what God has called them to do. Whether I'm working at the church, serving my pastor(s) & co-workers...at home, cleaning the kitchen to bring order & peace to my mother's life...with Refuge, pursuing one of our many projects :)...I have multiple, daily opportunities to die to myself and pour into the lives of others. I don't know if I'm supposed to have a more specific, clearer vision right now or not...I just know where & what God has called me to, today.

⁵And you shall love the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with your entire being and with all your might.

⁶And these words which I am commanding you this day shall be [first] in your [own] minds and hearts; [then]

⁷You shall whet and sharpen them so as to make them penetrate, and teach and impress them diligently upon the [minds and] hearts of your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up.
(Deuteronomy 6)

"If you do not exercise faith in life to reach a goal or vision, you will never achieve it. You are going to have to get up and work toward your goal. God blesses what you do."

Still seeking (God first).

Still trusting (God alone).

Still walking (by His side).