Tragedy in Connecticut

>> Friday, December 14, 2012

Courtesy of elitedaily.com

No words can even begin to describe the myriad of feelings I experienced when I learned of the tragic shooting that occurred today. Part of my responsibilities as a teacher's assistant involves reading stories to children, helping them pick out books for them to read at home - children the same age as the little ones who whose lives were cut short this morning. How and why anyone could murder such dear ones is unfathomable to me.
"The majority of those who died today were children - beautiful little kids between the ages of 5 and 10 years old. They had their entire lives ahead of them - birthdays, graduations, weddings, kids of their own. Among the fallen were also teachers - men and women who devoted their lives to helping our children fulfill their dreams.
So our hearts are broken today - for the parents and grandparents, sisters and brothers of these little children, and for the families of the adults who were lost. Our hearts are broken for the parents of the survivors as well, for as blessed as they are to have their children home tonight, they know that their children’s innocence has been torn away from them too early, and there are no words that will ease their pain."                                                                                - President Obama
Why was such a terrible tragedy allowed to happen?

How could someone commit such a heinous crime?

 I won't even attempt to try making sense of this heartbreaking situation, because, in all honesty, it doesn't make sense to me. I don't know why it was allowed to happen. I don't know how (and why) anyone could bring themselves to gun down another human being made in the image of God, especially a child.Such acts of brutality rarely ever make sense to our finite, limited minds (humanly speaking). We may never know why a young man was permitted to take the lives of 20 innocent little bundles of joy, laughter and happiness and the lives of 6 of their teachers, this side of Heaven.

Parents, hug your children a little tighter tonight. Fellow teachers and child caretakers, be on the alert.

My thoughts and prayers are with all of those affected by this heartbreaking catastrophe. May God give you comfort and peace as you grieve the loss of those dear children and teachers.





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Don't Let the Song Go Out of Your Life

>> Wednesday, November 7, 2012




Don't let the song go out of your life
Though it chance sometimes to flow
In a minor strain; it will blend again
With the major tone you know.

What though shadows rise to obscure life's skies,
And hide for a time the sun,
The sooner they'll lift and reveal the rift,
If you let the melody run.

Don't let the song go out of your life;
Though the voice may have lost its trill,
Though the tremulous note may die in your throat,
Let it sing in your spirit still.

Don't let the song go out of your life;
Let it ring in the soul while here;
And when you go hence, 'twill follow you thence,
And live on in another sphere.

- from Streams in the Desert


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Just a Quick Note...

>> Sunday, October 14, 2012

Edited by Myrna Moore

 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.               {John 15:9}

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: {I John 3:1} 



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The Time I Almost Gave Up

>> Tuesday, October 2, 2012

I came across this video yesterday evening. It really gave me a lot to think about.





Jerry Bridges, a man God has used to further His Kingdom, almost gave up on God?

Jerry Bridges, one of the most prominent spiritual giants/theologians of today, almost let doubt (brought on by Satan) cause him to lose his faith?

It shocked me.

Then, after some thought, I realized that it shouldn't shock me when a fellow Christian - well-known theologian or not - admits struggling with doubt at some point in their life. It's part of the natural, or the "old man" that still likes to hang around after we accept Christ. Satan loves to use this "old man" to try to tear us away from our faith.

Some of us struggle more with doubt than others. It has to do with our God-given personality, our life experiences, our own unique viewpoints.

How, then, are we to fight doubt? How are we to fight Satan's blistering attacks on our relationship with God?

We fight it with truth.

This means immersing ourselves in the Scriptures, digging deep to find the truth found in its pages.

This means surrounding ourselves with people who want to know God's truth.

This means becoming part of a church that is committed to teaching the truths found in God's Word.

This means trusting what God says over what man has to say whenever there is a discrepancy or contradiction between the two. Remember that your "favorite" pastors and theologians can be wrong.

There is nothing wrong with seeking advice from your pastor or a spiritually mature Christian about a spiritual/biblical issue or question. Just remember that person you're seeking advice from is human, too, and is subsequently prone to error - unintentional or not.

Not sure what to think about a particular issue? Confused about a spiritual problem/question you have? Don't take [insert your pastor's name here]'s word for it. Take God's Word for it.

You may be seriously considering giving up on God. Let me ask you to resist the temptation to give in to doubt. Seek godly counsel (with a grain of salt). Most importantly, pore over Scripture to find the answers you seek. Ask God to help you find the answers you need in His Word. He'll do it. You just have to ask.


Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 
John 8:31-32 
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 
II Timothy 3:16-17 
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 
Hebrews 11:1  
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. 
I John 4:1-6 
“I believe that in the end the truth will conquer.” 
John Wycliffe


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Pray for Our Ally, Israel

>> Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Photo by wherejesuswalked.org
Today marks Yom Kippur, "the Day of Atonement," in the Jewish calendar. It is the holiest day of the year for the Jewish people. Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has articulated numerous times that his greatest desire is to see Israel wiped off the face of the earth, is scheduled to speak at the U.N. conference on this holiest of days for the Jews.

That is equal to Hilter speaking at the Holocaust Museum (had he lived). That is equal to Osama bin Laden speaking at the 9/11 Memorial (had he lived).

Outrageous, you say? Insensitive? Indecent?

That's just the beginning.

The current administration taking up residence in the White House has not made any effort to challenge Israel's neighboring enemies in the Middle East, most of which (if not all) are our enemies as well. What they have called a "bump in the road" has resulted in the loss of scores of American lives and countless Israeli/Jewish lives.

Israel and America's enemies in the Middle East have declared that our nations are seen as one entity in their eyes. If either nation takes military action, they will attack the other. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has tried many times to coordinate a conference with the current President of the United States, but the President has declined with an ever-growing list of excuses. Netanyahu has been told to "wait." "Wait?" he asks. "Wait for what?" His country is being bombed daily by her hostile neighbors. Iran is on the verge of nuclear capability.

Yet he is told to "wait."

And the leader of America, Israel's closest ally, will not even make time for a conference to discuss a plan of action, let alone extend any kind of support.

Outrageous, indeed.

America's greatness stems from her roots as a Christian nation. She was founded on the principles of Biblical truth. That includes acknowledging Israel's position as God's chosen people, as is laid out in Scripture. In other words, America should be the first to lend a hand when Israel is in trouble. Many former Presidents, even those who made no claim to the Christian faith, have assisted Israel when she needed it.

Well, Israel certainly needs our help now, and the current administration has made it clear that America will not support Israel as she has in the past.

We need to pray for:

  • the safety of the nation of Israel.
  • the salvation of Israelis/Jews who do not know the Messiah as their Savior.
  • the United States of America to remember her place in the world as a Christian nation, and her strategic role as Israel's greatest ally. 
The world is watching our nation - including those who are seeking to harm us and our ally, Israel. America's leaders would do well to remember that.

Please join me in praying for our country, the nation of Israel, and our Jewish/Israeli friends and neighbors who are in distress over these uncertain and tumultous times. 


Avinu Malkeinu, Chaneinu V'aneinu, 
ki ein banu ma'asim. 
Assei imanu ts'dakah vachesed, vehoshiyeinu.

(Hear our voice, Lord our God,
pity and be compassionate to us, and accept 
- with compassion and favour - our prayer.)



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Decisions, Decisions . . .

>> Sunday, September 16, 2012


"Life is full of decisions."

The older I get, the more I'm learning about the reality of that statement.

We make decisions every day. We make decisions about routine, day-to-day living activities: what time we will get up in the morning, what we will wear, what we will eat at meal time(s), where we will go, what we will do with the day ahead of us, etc.

Every day, we make choices and decisions about our relationships. We can decide to pursue certain relationships - romantic or otherwise - or to let them "fall by the wayside," so to speak. We choose to respond kindly or unkindly to that nagging coworker. We choose to be respectful or disrespectful to our parents and others in authority over us.

If you're of-age to pursue opportunities for higher education, you have to decide which college, university, or trade/tech school to attend, which major/training program to pursue, which classes to take, which extra-curricular activities to get involved with, etc.

For those of us who have completed college/occupational school, we have even more decisions before us. We must decide whether or not we should continue furthering our education at graduate school, where we should live, which field/career to pursue, which job(s)/position(s) to accept . . . the further I go down this "after-college path," the bigger my list grows.

If you're anything like me, making these decisions and choices can be daunting. You don't want to make a wrong decision. You don't want to make a mistake. You don't want to waste your life doing something other than what God wants you to do. This uncertainty can cause worry and anxiety to creep into our hearts.

I'm not one of those people who has "always known God wanted [them] to be [fill in the blank]." I was always the kid who had a different "I wanna be a [fill in the blank]" every time I was asked "what do you want to be when you grow up?"

Frankly, I'm still not sure what God wants me to be. Looking back on the 21 years God has graciously given me, I see some good decisions/choices, and I see plenty of bad decisions/choices of every kind. I see how all of those decisions/choices have affected those around me as well as myself. I also see how God has taken those decisions/choices - especially the bad ones - and worked them out for good.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 
Romans 8:28

That verse gives me a tremendous amount of comfort. No matter how badly I may mess up, God has promised that He will always work out everything - every wrong choice, every bad decision, everything - for my good and His glory.

When it comes to any decision - especially a "major" one, like a career path, a marriage partner, etc. -  many of us (myself included) are often anxious about making the wrong choice. I catch myself spending quite a big of time weighing the options in my head. "If I were to choose this career, this might happen. If I move to this place, this opportunity might present itself. But if I do this instead of that, I might miss this opportunity . . ." Sometimes I drive myself crazy thinking this way. I like to know how things are going to turn out. Part of me would love to know where I'm going to be in five years so I can know which "roads" to take, which decisions to make to get there. Sometimes I wish God would just give me an itinerary of my life so I know what to expect, which pitfalls to avoid, etc.

But then I stop myself, and am reminded of what the Scriptures say about this:

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. 
Psalm 37:4-5 
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. 
Psalm 37:23-24 
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 
Proverbs 3:5-6 
Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. 
Proverbs 16:3

 So many times, I let myself get so caught up in the "little picture"  that I lose sight of the "bigger picture" for which God created me: I was created to glorify God. That is my overarching purpose for being on this earth. According to Scripture, glorifying God means that I honor God by obeying His Word and by loving to my neighbor, those whom God places in my life. If I'm truly seeking to honor God, to delight myself in Him, to trust Him with my whole heart, to commit everything I am, everything I do, everything I have to bringing glory to Him, I am fulfilling my purpose in life. If I'm doing that, God will see to it that I'm in the right place at the right time as far as my secondary purpose (career/occupation, etc.) is concerned. It sounds easy in principle, but it's a hard thing for us to do in practice, given our sinful nature.

Don't misunderstand me: I'm not saying we shouldn't seek to find our secondary purpose in life. We should certainly want to find that out, but we shouldn't get worked up about it if we don't know what it is as soon as we would like. I often catch myself feeling anxious about this. I don't like surprises. I like knowing what's going to happen. Not knowing exactly what my career/occupation should be has been a test of my faith. God has been good and gracious to lead me one step at a time, just as He promised.

As I mentioned before, God has a way of taking our bad decisions and wrong choices and turning the mess that we make with those into something beautiful. Thinking on that truth reminds me of so many stories from my own life, others' lives, Bible stories, etc. One story in particular sticks out from the rest. If you'll permit me, I'd like to share it with you.

There's a scene in The Fellowship of the Ring (the first book/film of The Lord of the Rings trilogy) that really speaks to me on this subject. (**side note** If you aren't familiar with the story, please forgive me if this illustration is a bit confusing.)

In this scene, the Fellowship has been forced to take a detour and face the long dark of Moria in order to continue their journey to Mordor to destroy the Ring. Frodo, worn out and discouraged, opens his heart to Gandalf.


Courtesy of mckellen.com

Frodo: I wish the Ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened. 
Gandalf: So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces at work in this world, Frodo, besides the will of evil. Bilbo was meant to find the Ring, in which case you also were meant to have it. And that is an encouraging thought.

"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us . . . " That phrase really speaks to me. If we decide to glorify God, we have made a wise decision of what to do with the time that is given to us. No matter how bad we think we might mess up, if we choose to wholeheartedly delight ourselves in God and commit ourselves to bringing Him glory, we cannot go wrong. There are so many stories - in the Bible and elsewhere - that illustrate how God can take our sinful mistakes and turn them into something beautiful. Reverting back to The Lord of the Rings for a moment, there would be no story at all had Bilbo not "messed up" and brought the Ring to the Shire.

God knew the choices we would make (and will make) before the foundation of the world. Nothing takes Him by surprise. That truly is "an encouraging thought."

Perhaps, like me, your future is a bit uncertain. You aren't sure which path to take next. Instead of being anxious, let's choose to trust God with our future. He wants to best for our lives. He knows where He wants us. The best place for us to be is in the center of His will. His will is for us to glorify Him. If we're doing that, we are fulfilling His purpose for placing us on this earth.

Focus on that, my friend. Take comfort in God's promises for your future. He will never let you down.



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11 Years Later . . . We Will Never Forget

>> Tuesday, September 11, 2012








"How do I respond when I see that in some Islamic countries there is vitriolic hatred for America? I'll tell you how I respond: I'm amazed. I'm amazed that there is such misunderstanding of what our country is about, that people would hate us. I am, I am -- like most Americans, I just can't believe it. Because I know how good we are, and we've go to do a better job of making our case. We've got to do a better job of explaining to the people in the Middle East, for example, that we don't fight a war against Islam or Muslims. We don't hold any religion accountable. We're fighting evil. And these murderers have hijacked a great religion in order to justify their evil deeds. And we cannot let it stand." - President George W. Bush
































“Today, we gather to be reassured that God hears the lamenting and bitter weeping of Mother America because so many of her children are no more. Let us now seek that assurance in prayer for the healing of our grief stricken hearts, for the souls and sacred memory of those who have been lost. Let us also pray for divine wisdom as our leaders consider the necessary actions for national security, wisdom of the grace of God that as we act, we not become the evil we deplore.” - Rev. Nathan Baxter




































"The attacks of September 11th were intended to break our spirit. Instead we have emerged stronger and more unified. We feel renewed devotion to the principles of political, economic and religious freedom, the rule of law and respect for human life. We are more determined than ever to live our lives in freedom." - Mayor Rudolph Giuliani












"It will not be quick and it will not be easy. Our adversaries are not one or two terrorist leaders, or even a single terrorist organization or network. It's a broad network of individuals and organizations that are determined to terrorize and, in so doing, to deny us the very essence of what we are: free people. They don't live in Antarctica. They work, they train and they plan in countries. They're benefiting from the support of governments. They're benefiting from the support of non-governmental organizations that are either actively supporting them with money, intelligence and weapons or allowing them to function on their territory and tolerating if not encouraging their activities. In either case, it has to stop."  - Donald Rumsfeld






























“Time is passing. Yet, for the United States of America, there will be no forgetting September the 11th. We will remember every rescuer who died in honor. We will remember every family that lives in grief. We will remember the fire and ash, the last phone calls, the funerals of the children." - President George W. Bush



















"The planes were hijacked, the buildings fell, and thousands of lives were lost nearly a thousand miles from here. But the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were an attack on the heart of America. 

"And standing here in the heartland of America, we say in one voice: 

"We will not give in to terrorists; we will not rest until they are found and defeated; we will win this struggle, not for glory, nor wealth, nor power, but for justice, for freedom, and for peace; 

So help us God." - Tom Harkin


(Photos from AP, Getty, Reuters, and Tumbler)

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I'll Never Forsake You

>> Sunday, September 9, 2012






O soul, are you weary from wave upon wave

Of grief and affliction whom no man can save?

Has sickness surrounded, or unending night?

Uncertainty stolen your joy and your might?



O doubting, o fearful– remember His care,

The helpless and hopeless need never despair

For from your afflictions His glory shall spring–

The deeper your sorrow, the louder you’ll sing!

Remember your Father– His promise, His love:



“I’ll never forsake you, this pain will not break you,

For I will remake you for unending joy;

My promise is faithful though now it is painful;

No power can trample my covenant love.”



Remember your Savior– His grief and His pain,

The lonely affliction, unmerited shame.

Though you had betrayed Him, He died in your place;

The joy set before Him He offers by grace.

Remember your Father– His promise, His love:



“I’ll never forsake you, this pain will not break you,

For I will remake you for unending joy;

My promise is faithful though now it is painful;

No power can trample my covenant love.”

"I'll Never Forsake You" by David Ward




"I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
Hebrews 13:5



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A Cry from the Heart

>> Friday, September 7, 2012



Father in Heaven,


      I need to trust you more than ever . . .


                                                      . . .  to believe that you work all things out for my good.


And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 
Romans 8:28


                                                   
                                                        . . . to fight this battle I'm facing.


The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. 
Exodus 14:14



                                                     . . . to be my God who provides beyond my limitations. 


But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 
Philippians 4:19




                                                           . . . to be the light to my darkness.



For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. 
Psalm 18:28


Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. 
Psalm 119:105


Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. 
Isaiah 60:20


  . . . when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me. 
Micah 7:8


Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. 
John 8:12


And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. 
Revelation 22:5




                                           . . . to use these trials, these struggles, the hurt, the tears, the painful circumstances, to strengthen and purify me and to glorify You.


I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee . . . 
II Kings 20:5


 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 
Psalm 126:5


But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.
Lamentations 3:23-33


Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 
John 16:20


 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 
II Corinthians 4:17


And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes . . .
Revelation 7:17; 21:4




Help me take my eyes off my circumstances and the cares of life and keep them fixed on the Cross of Christ for as long as You choose to keep me on this earth. Only then will I be able to have a right view of myself, my circumstances, and Your will.


But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 
Galatians 6:14


 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 
Hebrews 12:2




My father's way may twist and turn, my heart may throb and ache,
But in my soul I'm glad to know He maketh no mistake.

My cherished plans may go astray, my hopes now fade away,
But still I'll trust my Lord to lead, for He doth know the way.

Though night be dark and it may seem that day will never break;
I'll pin my faith, my all in Him, He maketh no mistake.

There's so much now I cannot see, my eyesight's far too dim;
But come what may, I'll simply trust and leave it all to Him.

For by and by the mist will lift, and plain it all He'll make - 
Through all the way, though dark to me, He made not one mistake
                                                                                                    Amy Carmichael




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Filling the Gap: An Exhortation for Ladies of All Ages

>> Thursday, September 6, 2012


Alright, ladies . . . it's time for a sister-to-sister (in Christ), heart-to-heart chat!

Sorry, fellas . . . this post doesn't really apply to you. (Note: after final editing, I suppose some of the content of this post can be relevant to a guy's perspective too, but I've written it to be geared more toward a girl's perspective since I'm much more familiar with it.)

If you were anything like me growing up, you probably spent many hours playing "wedding" and "rescue the princess." Some of my fondest and funniest childhood memories involve one or both of those make-believe games. Getting into heated discussions with my sister and girl cousins over who was going to be the groom or the knight in shining armor after failing yet again to convince our male cousins to fill those roles, picking names for our future children, arguing over who was going to get married first . . . ah, yes, those were the days.

Middle school rolled around, and I started on a seemingly endless string of innocent crushes that never went anywhere, most of which were married men much older than me. I laugh when I remember those days - I was so clueless!

High school brought me my first boyfriend/girlfriend relationship. We were convinced that we were meant for each other. Why? Because we "just felt it" . . .

We were (VERY) young and (VERY) wrong. Our relationship was built on emotions and feelings. As we came down from the emotional high on which our relationship was based, the relationship fizzled out. I came out a bit emotionally bruised from the experience, but also a bit wiser too.

Freshman year of college brought a new environment, new friends, new responsibilities, new opportunities . . . and, yes, new boys.

The environment and culture at the college I attended was rather dating/couple-oriented. I don't say that in an attempt to bash my alma mater. I don't think it was purposely intended to be that way, it's just what ended up happening. It was routine for me to feel awkward, embarrassed, even ashamed of my singleness during Freshman and Sophomore year. It seemed like everyone but me was getting paired up, "seriously dating," getting engaged, etc.

After several "almost boyfriends" my first two years of college - guys who seemed interested, but eventually lost interest and moved on to other girls - I had had just about all I could take. I had allowed little bits and pieces of my heart to be given away to this guy and that, guys who had made no promise or commitment to me. I decided that enough was enough. I wasn't going to keep giving parts of my heart to guys who hadn't proven they were worthy (or even wanted) to win my heart in its entirety.

The last month of Sophomore year rolled around, and I began dating a guy friend I had become close to over the course of the school year. We spent the next three and a half months cultivating a long-distance relationship. In hindsight, those three and a half months of long-distance dating gave him the perfect opportunity to portray himself in the best way possible instead of how he really, truly was as a person.

We continued to date through the end of Junior year. The longer it went, the more he wanted to "push the envelope" physically to see how far I would let him go, how much I would let him get away with. To my shame, I let him get away with a lot more than I would like to admit. It felt good to be with a guy who (seemingly) loved me for myself, and I didn't want to rock the boat of our relationship.

The summer after my Junior year, some events (which I will be silent on for privacy reasons) caused me to see that our relationship needed to end. I didn't go about it in a Christ-like manner, and he didn't respond in a Christ-like manner. Our relationship ended in an extremely messy breakup.

I returned to school for my Senior year, disillusioned, lonely, and rather bitter over the broken relationship. I went through a few more "almost boyfriends" before making an emotionally-charged decision to give up on guys for good. Thankfully, the Lord brought some ladies into my life who helped me work through the baggage I was still carrying from the broken relationship, helped me get my heart back on track, and made me see just how much fun singleness can be when you have your heart in the right place.

A few weeks before graduation, I made a commitment before the Lord to save my heart and my body for my future husband, if it's His will for me to me to marry someday. I would be lying if I told you that I've never struggled with contentment since then, but God has certainly grown me a great deal in this area.

You're wondering why I shared almost everything about my "love life" history, aren't you? Hang in there . . . there is a point to all of this; trust me.

I know many, if not every girl struggles with contentment with being single in some form or another, at some point in their life. Even married women struggle with contentment. God made us with the desire to be loved, to be cherished. It's a sad truth that many of us have turned to men (or "boys" in a lot of cases) to fill that gap we have in our heart and have come out emotionally scarred and beaten down.

Let me share something with you, dear sister in Christ: a man can never fill the gap in your heart. It's like trying to make a square peg fit in a round hole. It just doesn't work. I learned that the hard way.

Isaiah 54:5 tells us who can fill the gap.
"For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called." 

The Lord, our Maker, our Redeemer, the Lover of our souls, the One who loves with a perfect love . . . Love Himself . . . can fill the gap in our heart, if we will let Him.



Don't allow any man to take the place of your First Love, no matter how good he might be (or you might think him to be). Remember, a man can never fill the gap in your heart, because God designed it in such a way that He is the only one who can fill it.


Maya Angelou was right when she said, “a woman's heart should be so lost in God that a man has to seek Him in order to find her.” I hope and pray that we will all strive for such deep love and intimacy with our First Love.

Our feelings come and go, but the Lover of our souls remains constant in His love.


This is my beloved, and this is my friend . . . 
Song of Solomon 5:16

The LORD thy God . . . will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. 
Zephaniah 3:17

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God . . . 
I John 3:1

We love him, because he first loved us. 
I John 4:19


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Blessings for Obedience

>> Monday, September 3, 2012

While all biblical character qualities are important, obedience - specifically, obedience to God's commands - is a foundational character trait of the Christian life. Many other character qualities stem from obedience.

If you grew up in a Christian home, you were probably taught to "obey quickly, sweetly, and completely," or you weren't really obeying  (a common cliché in Christian circles).

Someone has defined obedience as "complete submission to God's revealed will." I rather like that definition. It's been helpful to me as I seek to grow in this area of my life.

After God gave instruction to Moses about the Law (later called the Mosaic Law), Moses listed the blessings they would receive if they chose to fully obey God's Law.

And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: and all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.
Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.  
Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.  
Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.  
Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.  
The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.  
The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.  
The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways.  
And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee.  
And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee.  
The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.  
And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them: 
{Deuteronomy 28:1-13}


Job and Jeremiah also mention some of the blessings of obedience. 


If they obey and serve him [God], they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. 
{Job 36:11}


Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the LORD, which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live. 
{Jeremiah 38:20}


Theses verses certainly aren't an exhaustive list of the blessings God bestows on obedient Christians - I'm sure there are other verses/principles I've overlooked. The verses I've listed above make it clear that God blesses obedience - "complete submission to God's revealed will."

Even with all the blessings and "benefits" that result from obedience, we should obey simply because . . . God said to. That should be enough for us.

Are you obeying for the blessings and "benefits," or are you obeying simply because you want to please God and honor His command to obey?

Something to think about. 


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Wait on the Lord

>> Saturday, September 1, 2012



Our spiritual lives are a lot like the young tree in this picture. Someone had to take a great deal of time to tend it - water it, turn its soil, etc. - in order for it to grow into what you see here. Such care requires a great deal of patience. Trees don't grow overnight. Neither does our spiritual life. It must be tended with great care and patience, and growth will result. The young bud of our spiritual life might not be growing as rapidly as we would like, but, with the Lord's help, it will eventually blossom into a full-grown, mature testament to His work in our lives.

Perhaps the growth rate of your spiritual life isn't what's worrying you right now. You may be facing a trial or difficulty that, if you're honest, you want out of as quickly as possible. God has a reason for allowing that trial to come into your life. Your job is to patiently endure through the trial as long as God allows it to remain in your life and to learn as much as you can from it (much easier said than done, I know).

Trees are strengthened by storms. We are spiritually strengthened by trials.


"It may seem an easy thing to wait, but it is one of the postures which a Christian soldier learns not without years of teaching. Marching and quick-marching are much easier to God's warriors than standing still. There are hours of perplexity when the most willing spirit, anxiously desirous to serve the Lord, knows not what part to take. 

"Then what shall it do? Vex itself by despair? Fly back in cowardice, turn to the right hand in fear, or rush forward in presumption? 

"No, but simply wait. 

"Wait in prayer, however. Call upon God, and spread the case before Him; tell Him your difficulty, and plead His promise of aid. In dilemmas between one duty and another, it is sweet to be humble as a child, and wait with simplicity of soul upon the Lord. It is sure to be well with us when we feel and know our own folly, and are heartily willing to be guided by the will of God. But wait in faith. Express your unstaggering confidence in Him; for unfaithful, untrusting waiting, is but an insult to the Lord. Believe that if He keep you tarrying even till midnight, yet He will come at the right time; the vision shall come and shall not tarry. Wait in quiet patience, not rebelling because you are under the affliction, but blessing your God for it. 

"Never murmur against the second cause, as the children of Israel did against Moses; never wish you could go back to the world again, but accept the case as it is, and put it as it stands, simply and with your whole heart, without any self-will, into the hand of your covenant God, saying, 'Now, Lord, not my will, but Thine be done. I know not what to do; I am brought to extremities, but I will wait until Thou shalt cleave the floods, or drive back my foes. I will wait, if Thou keep me many a day, for my heart is fixed upon Thee alone, O God, and my spirit waiteth for Thee in the full conviction that Thou wilt yet be my joy and my salvation, my refuge and my strong tower.' "                                           
- C.H. Spurgeon



Let none that wait on thee be ashamed:
Psalm 25:3


Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Psalm 27:14


Those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
Psalm 37:9


I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints. 
Psalm 52:9


My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. 
Psalm 62:5


I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. 
Psalm 130:5


Wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
Proverbs 20:22


But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. 
Isaiah 40:31


The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. 
Lamentations 3:25-26


I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.
Micah 7:7



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Amidst the Chaos...

>> Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Edited by Myrna Moore


Happy mid-week!



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Swept Away

>> Tuesday, August 28, 2012



I recently started a chronological Bible reading program, where you read the Bible in the historical order of events. I've never tried this kind of approach before, so I thought I'd give it a go.

This week's reading plan has focused on the book of Job. It inspired me to write the following . . . poem? . . . song? . . . I'm not entirely sure how to categorize it. Whatever it is, I hope it will encourage you to look to the One Who has all the answers.


Swept Away
 Feels like I’m swimming upstream, I can’t catch my breath
Everything I was holding onto has been swept away
Why have You ignored my cries for help?
Why have I become a burden to You?
Why don’t You take my pain away?
Why do You answer my tears with silence? 

Where did I go wrong?
Don’t You see what’s happening to me?
Remember that my life is a breath
I’m swept away in the blink of an eye
For when a few years have come and gone
I’ll go to where I can’t return
Who will praise You then?

How long will You let them torment me
And tear me to pieces with heartless words?
Can’t You see what they’re doing to me?
Seems like I’m all alone in this battle
Why aren’t You here to protect me?
I can’t keep keeping on like this
It’s too much for me to take
My song has been silenced in the darkness of despair

I will question you, and you will answer Me
Where were you when I made the earth?
Have you commanded the morning since your birth?
Do you know the secret springs of the sea?
Have you walked in the deep places of the earth?
Have you seen the gates of Hell, or touched the windows of Heaven?
Tell me, if you know all this

Where is the way to the dwelling of light?
And where is the house of darkness?
Have you seen where the snow and hail are stored?
Can you send forth rain to nourish the earth?
Answer me, if you can

Do you give the horses their strength?
Is the wild ox your servant?
Do you provide the raven its prey to feed its young ones?
Have you caught Leviathan with a hook, or tamed Behemoth with a leash?
Will you contend with Yahweh, fault-finder?
Will you give an answer, you who argue with God?

I lay my hand on my mouth – how can I answer You? 
I know that You can do all things, and no will of Yours can be thwarted
I’ve spoken about what I don’t understand, things too wonderful for me to comprehend
Now I see You, and I repent in dust and ashes
I’m awe-struck, captivated, swept away by You
Blessed be Your Name!


"Blessed be the name of the LORD."
Job 1:21b


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