INTO THE PATIENT WAITING...

"Sin tastes sweet but turns bitter in our stomanchs. Holiness often tastes bitter but turns sweet in our stomachs." -Gary Thomas "Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and ... be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and ... put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4:22-24

Where do I begin to describe all that the LORD has been teaching my little heart about Himself? He is such a patient Shepherd and the past two weeks in Europe have given me an even deeper glimpse of how much I need Him and His guidance in every area of my life : ) That is a little tid-bit as to what I am Learning About Him - but perhaps you all would like to see a few pics of the adventures the LORD has put me on in order to bring me to a deeper realization of my need for Him and His help. Yes, I went all the way to Europe! For 2 weeks (and I still have one week left in Europe) I have been traveling all over. From little Zettlitz to the huge Berlin and then driving through the Alps to seeing beautiful Venezia (Venice), Italy. All of this was something the LORD has been bringing about for some time and I have had the priviledge of spending these journeys with a dear friend of mine, Tim Haugrud. Yep...a boy : ) It would take too long to tell the whole story, but all I can say is that the...

This evening in prayer meeting as we lifted up different people to the Lord, I started thinking about the CRY of my HEART and what I often cry out to the Lord for. Sometimes, unfortunately, my cries are about petty concerns or matters that I have previously brought to the Lord but think I have some right to go back and "fret" again over the matter. I won't make this a confessional, hahaha...so you can keep reading : ) But there are other things the Lord wants me to cry over...lost souls.the salvation of relatives.my home meeting.my brothers and sisters in Christ.the discernment of elders.my desire to shepherd young women.gospel outreaches.missionaries in the States and others in different countries. Overall in this mix - how can the Lord use this broken vessel that I am for His glory in order to further the gospel and proclaim the evidence that the fullness of grace and truth was embodied in Jesus Christ who walked on this earth, redeemed mankind through His blood becaus...

This morning I was driving around Edmond, running errands and getting ready for different classes...and I started thinking, "WoW - I am just so tired, LORD! I've been going, going, going...will I get a chance to rest a bit sometime soon?!?" As I sat in my car thinking about my tired heart and physical body, the next song track on my Indelible Grace V came on. Sometimes I forget to listen to words and simply hum the tune as I drive in the car, but today...I heard the word..." come ." That one word was so comforting. Comforting because God knew just what I needed at that direct minute in my life. Comforting because all I need to do is simply come . Just as I am, just as I was, just as I will be He loves me; He does. Comforting because He is my Shepherd and He leads His sheep beside still waters and simply asks me to come to Him . Comforting beacuse He so gently reprimanded me with the awareness that I tend to go to everyone else but Him for my strength, sustai...

More love to Thee, O Christ, More love to Thee! Hear Thou the prayer I make On bended knee. This is my earnest plea : More love , O Christ, to Thee; More love to Thee, More love to Thee! (Indelible Grace IV C-D - great version of this song) "Seek Me and live"..."Seek the LORD and live"..."Seek good and not evil, that you may live." Amos 5:4,6,14 O LORD, that my soul might follow close behind and hard after You - to give You more love! Psalm 63:8 This is my Earnest Plea.

Circumstances will not change...no matter how hard I wish them away or pray for them to go away. 21 hours of school and everything else in my life just won't go away that easily : ) And yet, in the midst of this - I honestly don't want my "circumstances" to just ~poof~ and go away! I need to learn from them and trust the Lord in the middle of them. Which is why I am asking the Lord to "give me a new idea." I was reading in Streams in the Desert the other day and was thoroughly refreshed by the poem that was shared. It reminded me that "if I see God in everything, He will calm and color everything I see!" My trouble won't easily go away, but He will "surround me with songs of deliverance" (ps. 32:7). Hmmm...one thought was shared that really stuck out to me that I want to "to see Him and to be sure that His widsom and power never fail and His love never changes, to know that even His most distressing dealings with me are for my d...

One my new favorite places to go in OKC is 'cuppiesnjoe' - a cute 1940's home in the Paseo District that has been renovated into a coffee house. I like it because they have cupcakes : ) I also like it because you get quality iced tea for only $1.50, which includes free "pour-yourself" refills : ) They let me take pictures there : ) And, I like it because I can tuck myself into a corner on a comfy sofa and spend some quiet time with my Savior : ) Something I can't seem to get enough of..." O GOD, You are my GOD; early will I see You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. " Psalm 63:1 ~ ~ "Lemony Snicket" Cupcake ~ I'm inviting you to come sit down and talk with me : ) The book of Daniel is where I found myself in the Word this morning..."But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine whi...

O God whose will conquers all, There is no comfort in anything apart from enjoying Thee and being engaged in Thy service; Thou art All in all, and all enjoyments are what to me Thou makest them, and no more. I am well pleased with Thy will, whatever it is, or should be in all respects, And if Thou bidst me decide for myself in any affair I would choose to refer all to Thee, for Thou art infinitely wise and cannot do amiss, as I am in danger of doing. I rejoice to think that all things are at Thy disposal, and it delights me to leave them there... I can of myself do nothing to glorify Thy blessed name, but I can through grace cheerfully surrender soul and body to Thee. --- --- The past week has found my heart needing to cling more and more to the plan my Lord has for my life, not what I think or want or desire. Our Lord is inifitely wise and He doesn't lead His children on the wrong path... no, He leads His children to green pastures and waters of quietness. And He simply asks me ...

Searcher of spirits, Try Thou my reins and heart; Cleanse Thou my inward part- Turn, overturn and turn. Wood, hay and stubble see Spread out before Thee; Burn, burn. - Worker in gardens, Dig round my hidden root, Let branch, leaf, bud and fruit Respond in quickened life. Seek out the canker there- Cut out and do not spare Thy knife. - Savior of sinners, Out of depths I cry, "Perfect me, patient One;" In Thy revealing light, I stand confessed-outright, Undone. - O to be holy! Thou wilt not say me nay Who movest me to pray: "Enable to endure." Spiritual cleansing Fire, Fulfill my heart's desire: Make pure. -Amy Carmichael "I am the true vine and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit." John 15:1-2 The purest place, that is where I long to be; and if that means pruning, then it means pruning... O, but Lord, will it hurt? Yes. It will ...

I have been talking to You since I was a little girl So many sweet memories of giving You my world You are wonderful - a Friend to the weary You have been so faithful - Your goodness follows me You are beautiful - Your love is neverending --- I was just wondering today how over all these years You've carried so many cares, calmed so many fear You are wonderful - a Friend to the weary You have been so faithful - Your goodness follows me You are beautiful - Your love is neverending... -Sara Groves It is good to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your lovingkindness in the morning and Your faithfulness every night. On an instrument of ten strings, on the lute, and on the harp, with harmonious sound. For You, LORD, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands. O LORD, how great are Your works! Your thoughts are very deep... -Psalm 92:1-5

Last week, we had a chili cook-off at the chapel for our New Year's Celebration. It was a blast and so encouraging. We had lots of food...lots of singing...praying...and reading/discussion from the Scripture. But one event, in particular, keeps being replayed in my mind: "#41 - please, Blessed Assurance." You might be wondering why that is such an important event...it's simply the words of a man from the meeting requesting a hymn to be sung. Well, it was the first times that the words of that hymn really stood out to me (especially in verse 3). Verse 3 "Perfect submission, all is at rest; I in my Savior am happy and blest, watching and waiting, looking above, filled with his goodness, lost in his love. This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior, all the day long; this is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior, all the day long." The very thing that jumped out to me were the words "LOST IN HIS LOVE." Lost in His love. It's a go...

Found this beautiful poem stuck on the back of the new Missions Magazine and just spent some time thinking about it this morning. Thought I would share it with each of you readers, might it encouraged your hearts and strengthen you in the inner man --- Gravely the priest in his arms takes the lamb, Ready to give a most thorough exam. Under its wool, in its mouth, and its ears, Probing to check it's as pure as appears. Finally he states the results of his quest: "This lamb no fault has I firmly attest." For only such could God's judgment restrain; Anything less would be offered in vain. Year after year the blood freely did flow, Yet still the debt for our sin we did owe. Only a perfect man's blood could erase, Our stain of sin so it's gone without trace. But there existed no man that'd suffice, And even so, who would pay such a price? - Then one day God sent His Son as a Man, Setting in motion His salvation plan. Keenly they watched Him from babe to adult, ...

I have typed, re-typed and re-re-typed this first paragraph. Finally, I just decided to *delete* it all and just lay my thoughts flat out on the table. No beating around the bush . --- Think about your answers to each question: These questions were written for me...but you can use them too ; ) --- How often do we come away from the Remembrance Meeting refreshed? If you are refreshed and encouraged, for what reason? What reason, I then ask, causes us to meet the way we do? What is the central focus of that Remembrance Meeting? And if we meet to remember Him that day, as a collective body of believers, how much more so should we, as individuals, be remembering Him on a daily basis? Are we remembering Him on a daily basis? And what is the central focus of our daily remembrance of Him? --- Last Sunday, we looked at this "thought-process" of questions in the Remembrance Meeting. That might sound a little funny. And of course, the men didn't bring about the questions this ...

Boy, do I hope no one is upset for my lack of writing here on my blog!!! I feel bad that I haven't written, but my summer was so busy and I am even busier now that I am back at home since it is my last year of school. Can you believe it? I have Senior Fever like you wouldn't know! ; ) Hmmm - where do I begin? Just over the past several weeks, the Lord has shown Himself to be sweeter and dearer to me as He has brought circumstances, verses and people into my life that have pointed and spurred me onto KNOWING Him more deeply. Having three campers come to Christ during Kids 6 of Turkey Hill was life-changing and life-challenging. God reminded me of His faithfulness that week...He has basically set that week in my life as a memorial to look back on. It was absolutely nothing I did! Which is what is so amazing - it was all about God, His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit working in the girls' lives. "...If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God sup...

Tell me about the Master! I am weary and worn tonight. The day lies behind me in shadows, And only the evening is light. Light with a radiant glory That lingers about the west, My poor heart is aweary, aweary, And longs like a child for rest. Tell me about the Master! Of the wrong He freely forgave, Of His love and tender compassion, Of His love that is mighty to save. For my heart is aweary, aweary, Of the woes and temptations of life, Of the error that stalks in the noonday, Of falsehoods and malice and strife. Yet, I know that whatever of sorrow, Or pain or temptation befall, The Infinite Master hath suffered, And knoweth and pitieth all. So tell me the old, old story That falls on each wound like a balm, And my heart that was burdened and broken Shall grow patient, and strong, and calm. -Author Unkown Made me think of this hymn: Turn your eyes upon JESUS; Look full in HIS wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of HIS glory and grace. Certainly,...

Psalm 111 Praise the Lord! I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation. The works of the Lord are great, studied by all who have pleasure in them. His work is honorable and glorious, and His righteousness endures forever. He has made His wonderful works to be rememered; the Lord is gracious and full of compassion. He has given food to those who fear Him; He will ever be mindful ot His covenant. He has declared to His people the power ot His works, in giving them the heritage of the nations. The works of His hands are verity and justice; All His precepts are sure. (isn't that beautiful!) They stand fast forever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness. He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever: Holy and awesome if His name. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdome; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.