Greater

Went to a ladies' MS support group for the 3rd time this evening...mostly to keep spreading the word about Refuge's Dance for MS class, and put some faces with the group of people that I'm learning to embrace. I love that they're (almost) all there with the hope of perhaps not building each other up, but at least gaining some helpful insights & information to help them in their own lifestyles.
But we don't need special medicine or drugs or exercise or diets or insurance or medicare or disability pay or pity.

We need Jesus.

I know (that I know, that I know!) that God works all things together for good, because I love Him and I'm called according to His purpose...and not all of these ladies know this for themselves. =/ It breaks my heart to see this mental battle, how some disease is able to trap, twist and control someone's mind. As I'm listening to these ladies share various stories and struggles - it should be so easy to get discouraged. But the entire time I could feel the Spirit whispering, "I Am GREATER."

oh Lord, You are!

I want to be bold, but with gentleness & respect. Father, please teach me.

Romans 12...

Love

⁹Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹²Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

¹⁴Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

I have to be careful, because I'm not too prone to mourn with those who mourn (why not jump straight to rejoicing?!). Seems that the answer is to focus all of my fervor and zeal towards serving the Lord and allow Him to funnel my words/actions...hallelujah for the grace to remain joyful, patient and faithful.

Todo lo puedo en Cristo que me fortalece!

ps - I have orientation for the next 3 days at Life University! =D Getting excited and organized...and reminding myself that I asked for this, haha. Glory to God. :)

Caught up

(that's not "caught up" in a beneficial way - like I was behind, but now I'm caught up - rather, "caught up" in thinking/stressing about circumstances or future events that I have little to no control over. awesome.)

I didn't think September has been an especially busy month - until I realized there are only 7 days left, yikes. BUT, because God is so merciful, I realized where I've been getting hung up - I haven't been taking life one. day. at. a. time. It's been more like I've looked at the entire week ahead of me and decided to plunge right into it...all the while counting down & planning for other events that are at least a month away. No wonder I've been feeling stressed out...I'm all for calendars and planning ahead, but this morning's new mercies are meant for September 23rd - not October 23rd. (You know? Like I've got grace for today's to-do list...not next month's.)
What makes me tremble, is that being too forward-focused has caused me to miss out on opportunities God had for me to bless someone else. But now, there's no time and no need to wallow in self-deprecation and regret...because my Father has a better way!

Psalm 138

Of David.

¹ I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;
before the "gods" I will sing your praise.

² I will bow down toward your holy temple
and will praise your name
for your love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things
your name and your word.

³ When I called, you answered me;
you made me bold and stouthearted.

⁴ May all the kings of the earth praise you, O LORD,
when they hear the words of your mouth.

⁵ May they sing of the ways of the LORD,
for the glory of the LORD is great.

⁶ Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly,
but the proud he knows from afar.

⁷ Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes,
with your right hand you save me.

⁸ The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your love, O LORD, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands.

praise the Lord...thankful that the people aren't perfect, but His plan is!
AND, still chewing on Revelation 2:5 (from our Beth Moore study yesterday)~ *spoiler alert: these are some pg20 fill-in-the-blanks* ;)

Revelation 2:5 (NIV)
Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

Remember --> Repent --> Return to those first things

Thank you Jesus for the process of Your plans. As I walk in patient, joyful, perseverance - open my eyes, ears and heart to grasp Your larger picture, and how You desire to love others through me....keep me flexible according to Your Word! (haha, and thank you for the evident reminders that I just asked for that!)
Another timely word - found this morning on a friend's blog, regarding God's desire for us to "un-clutter" our lives.

"Now is the time to push back the clutter and distractions of life that are occupying your time and space and draining away your energy. God is asking His people to unclutter their lives where His Spirit can set down and do extraordinary things. Remove the clutter and distractions and welcome the coming of the Lord."
- Garris Elkins

Not weak....and, thankfulness re-mixes perspectives

<sup>*September 16th*
Yikes. It's been a minute since I've shared.
Actually started to post a week ago with this...

*September 9th*
19</sup>He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. ²⁰No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, ²¹fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. (Romans 4)

Refuge had our 2nd Dance for MS class last night, and this passage is hitting me hard/significantly today. What serves as a more constant (and possibly discouraging) reminder than our own bodies? A piece of glass cannot be the only mirror we're looking into on a daily basis...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*back to September 16th*
I'm tired...and I know it stems from not taking sufficient time to be still in His Presence - because it's when we're still, that we know He is God.
One of those days/weeks/seasons. lots going on, but I don't feel like I've been doing that much. Like I'm wayyy too focused on future events. *example: I nearly threw out a coupon yesterday because I thought it had already expired...the expiration date said 10/02/10. ((yikes))
and it's just little things that I've allowed to bug me!!
---3 days of orientation
---3 days of missing work/no pay
---guy I used to like trying to get back in touch, ew. =/
---guy that I still like but can't really talk to - Facebook pics popping up everywhere. cool.

THERE MUST BE MORE NOW, JESUS!

TOO MANY other GOOD things:
-Ginster having a breaking moment :)
-Jess feeling pursued
-Lady at church we've been praying for is no longer a lesbian!!!!!!!!!!
-gumbo
-flashmob
-ebb & flow
-my coworkers, family, friends
-Jamestown trip
-PD Atl!
-goody bags
-laughter, hugs, love
-Passion 2011 Live Link
-3 days of orientation & not having to worry about work, but blessed enough to focus on this new season of school...gain more clarity and excitement and purpose for my next few years of life at Life. :-)
-what a blessing to respond in love to dude I used to like...love my mom's initial comment, "Hm, it's amazing what a little bit of light can do for someone that's been walking in darkness."
-continuing to pray for my friend. God is so gracious to have his pictures keep popping up...just lifting up what my Father drops down.

thank you Jesus...start thanking & praising - see the complaints turn into opportunities and blessed, divine appointments by the grace of God. =)
hallelujah.
time to RE-set my mind on the things above, and not on earthly things. GREATER is HE that is in me. Pinkberry with my momma tomorrow. :) her first time! too fun. praise the Lord.

ASK

hm. I hesitate entirely too much.

"but when I lost it all, that's when my life truly began
and I found myself secure in the palm of Your hand"
(my mom KEEPS bringing this up - I'm in the palm of HIS hand. never left there, actually...)

asking is bold.
it's taking a risk.
because I already know what I think I want the answer to be.
will I still be joyful/confident/secure if the answer is opposite of what I thought?
yes.
in Jesus' Name, I will be. I am. Because HE is the I AM.
=)
hallelujah.
I'm feeling so delightfully unattached from everything else...when I'm resting in the knowledge that my soul clings to Him as His right hand upholds me (psalm 63).
hallelujah x2.

Call For You – The Side Project....

....

Whenever I’m sad and lonely

I’ll call for you

Whenever I’m sad and lonely

I know just what to do

....

Cuz’ we don’t need

A rocket scientist

Just your love

Is all I’ll ever need

I said your love

Is all I’ll ever need

....

So throw in the towel

And just release

Well my heart it bends

And it bleeds

And forget about

What society believes

Cuz’ this is about

Just you and me

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(song that Whitney used at her Ebb & Flow class last week - first time I was able to go!)