Ask...Listen...Follow...

Where You go, I'll go

Where You stay, I'll stay

When You move, I'll move

I will follow You

Who You love, I'll love

How You serve I'll serve

If this life I lose, I will follow You

I will follow You

I Will Follow ~ Chris Tomlin

Tee hee...I'm laughing at how silly my thoughts are at the moment.  I'm nervous about writing my first post for 2012...  =P   That's why I've been putting it off. 

My Abba Father has been showing me so much in these past few months, weeks, days, hours even. 

I'm beginning to fully realize...realize even more that our God is always ready and willing to show us new things about Him.  He's always ready to wrap us in His warm and comforting embrace.  He's always ready to listen and interrupt us if necessary.  He's always there to wipe away the tears that we let escape.

I'm the one holding everything back.  I'm a girl, standing in front of a bridge--a narrow bridge.  There's no way to 'go around it.'  Jesus one step ahead of me, reaching out His hand, encouraging me, beckoning, calling out to me to join Him, follow Him step by step.  I've followed Him this far on our journey and this is just another bridge I need to cross.  But it's not "just another bridge."  This bridge, just like all those in the past, will be a new experience for me.  I will grow in and through Him.  I will learn more about Him and myself.  And I'm standing there...waiting for Him to do something...  To "give me a sign" to move in a certain direction...

He is always ready to speak to me.

All I have to do is ask.

Why don't I ask more often???  Why don't I listen more often??? 

Maybe you ask the same questions...  All I can say is that I can't change what I haven't done in the past, but I can change what I will do in the future.  It's a New Year's Resolution, so to speak...  =) 

So no matter how many "forks" in the road there are, no matter how I look at it, there is only one direction to take...  The one that my Savior is standing in front of.  And it's my fault for being the one who's closed her eyes, expecting to 'stumble' onto the right path or eventually find it on my own.

So to be honest...I don't exactly know where that path is going to lead me...and when those "forks" come along, I most likely won't know which one leads where.  But whichever path He is in front of, is where I want to go.
I just got a flash on the animated Disney Peter Pan movie.  When all the "Lost Boy's" are following John (with his top hat and umbrella) singing "We're following the leader, the leader, the leader.  We're following the leader wherever he may go."  Along the way they go through tall grass (the tops of heads and that umbrella bobbing up and down), over a hippopotamus (I think)...  *giggle*      *sigh*
That's how I want to be, following Jesus (not oblivious to my surroundings  =P).  Joyful, worshipping, willing, determined, without any doubts or reservations.

I long to see my Shepard face to face...  To feel His touch...   To hear His encouragement...  To sing His praises...  To dance in the warmth of His light...  To be still in Him...

My dad just said something the other day...  He didn't make it up...and I'm not who the first person to say it was...

If there were no problems, there could be no miracles.

Feel free to read that a couple times...I did  =)

I pray for there to be an abundance of blessings in your life!  I also pray that through those trials that you're facing, that our Abba Father would perform miracles for you.  That you will grow in and strengthen your relationship with Him. 

"Praise the LORD! Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever." ~ Psalm 106:1

Au Revoir...Until next time!
Many Blessings  =)
Tiffani


Everything in this post is Copyright Tiffani-Joi.  Pleas email me at TiffaniJoi143@gmail.com to ask permission before using any part of post or any pictures.

Courageous

While I was getting ready this morning, these lyrics kept playing through my mind.  What's really funny is that I don't have all the words memorized {I don't have this song on my iPod...} I really just know the tune.  I couldn't tell you any other lyrics...but these words will not leave my head.
I don't think they need much of a commentary...I just wanted to share with you what the Lord has shown me this morning.  =)

The only way we'll ever stand
Is on our knees with lifted hands
Make us courageous
Lord, make us courageous

 

 

Courageous ~ Casting Crowns

Album: Come to the Well

Au Revoir...Until next time!

Many Blessings!  =)

Tiffani

Everything in this post is Copyright Tiffani-Joi.  Please email me at TiffaniJoi143@gmail.com to ask permission before you use any part of this post or any pictures.

Our Provider!

Jehovah Jireh, my Provider

His grace is sufficient for me, for me

Jehovah Jireh, my Provider

His grace is sufficient for me, for me

My God shall supply all my needs

According to His riches in glory

He will give His angels, charge over me

Jehovah Jireh cares for me, for me, for me

Jehovah Jireh cares for me

Jehovah Jireh

(Jehovah Jireh is Hebrew.  Translated it literally means The Lord Who Sees or The Lord Who Sees To It.  It means He is our Provider.)



My parents & I just recently watched the movie Evan Almighty. 
(Please note: I am not trying to make a recommendation.  It is always best to review a movie before watching it, especially when younger siblings are around.  I will say that it is one of the very few movies that is not labeled as "Christian" & that has come out into the theaters; scripture is quoted & not misused, God is portrayed as Someone who can call us to certain actions, we can speak with & have a personal relationship with, is there for us, & sees the 'bigger picture'.)

And one of the dialogues that really hit me was the following:

God: Let me ask you something.  If someone prays for patience, do you think God gives them patience?  Or does He give them the opportunity to be patient? 
If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage?  Or does He give him opportunities to be courageous? 
If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings?  Or does He give them opportunities to love each other?

That really got me thinking...  God knows exactly what we need & what is best for us.  It makes sense that when we pray for patience, it just seems like more situations pop up when we need patience. 

"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." ~ Philippians 4:19

Sure it would be a lot easier if God just 'zapped' us with whatever qualities we asked Him to grow us in...  But we wouldn't learn anything.  We wouldn't learn patience or perseverance, self-control, faith, trust etc...

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls." ~ Hebrews 12:1-3

I pray that we are all abundantly blessed this week, with opportunities of all kinds.  Those to practice our Fruit of the Spirit.  And also time to spend at His feet.  Talking with & worshiping Him who loves us enough to be our Jehovah Jireh; our Provider.

Au Revoir...Until next time.
Many Blessings!  =)
Tiffani



Girly Christianity?

Chorus: Bless the Lord, O my soul

O my soul

Worship His holy name

Sing like never before

O my soul

I'll worship Your holy name

10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) ~ Matt Redman

This is one of the songs we sang on the workshop night.

A couple nights ago I went to a girls workshop at the church my family & I just started attending.  It was called GI Jane: Getting Aggressive About God.

It was a great night; the High School pastor's wife was the one speaking.  This is one of the points she made, that I elaborated on in my mind.

We are girls...we love the happy endings, the emotions, the feelings, we're hopeless romantics, we are feminine, we are girly etc...  And that's how we're made.  But sometimes that transfers into our Christianity.  We only see the blessings, we sometimes forget that Jesus isn't just the baby in the manger or our Friend & Savior.  He is also the Conquering King who will be coming back to battle in the end days.  Christianity:  Is it the best thing that's ever happened to us?  Yes!  Is is the easiest way to live?  No!  Which is why we need to be dependent on the Lord for strength.

Galatians 3:26-28 says, "26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
Now obviously I'm still a female, and I'm still girly, God is saying that is His eyes when it comes to our faith, we are supposed to be the same.  The traits that separate men & women life shouldn't apply to our Christianity. 

For example, men are usually tougher, more aggressive, they're usually stronger than women.  They are the protectors of their wives.  That's how God made them.  But when it comes to Christianity, men & women are equal. 
Girls shouldn't be weaker in their faith; we need to be just as strong, because there is spiritual warfare going on all around us.  We need to be right there in it.  And we can, because of Jesus.  He erased those boundaries in our faith, because it isn't physical strength that's necessary, but spiritual strength.  "8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come." ~ 1 Timothy 3:8

The message I heard has inspired me to get more aggressive about my studying in the Word, & continue to grow stronger in my relationship with my Savior Jesus.  1 Timothy 4:10, "For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe."

Au Revoir...Until next time.
Many Blessings!  =)
Tiffani

Everything in this post is Copyright Tiffani-Joi.  You must ask permission before you use any part of this post or any pictures.

What Are My Talents?

Not because of who I am, but because of what You've done

Not because of what I've done, but because of who You are

Who Am I ~ Casting Crowns

I have been thinking (I do that a lot)...  And I asked myself..."What are my talents?  What am I good at doing?"

Talent: A natural aptitude or skill.

My prideful self of course took off with all the different things that someone during the course of my life has complemented me on... 

Then the Holy Spirit reeled me back in & told me to ask the question again...and really think about it this time.  So I did...  I wasn't really proud of myself after I got my second answer. 

I am great at being prideful...
I'm get those waves of ungratefulness...
I'm just great at being cowardly...
I'm pretty good at being stubborn as well...
I'm also very good at procrastinating...putting things off...
I'm not always the kindest person...
I'm not always meekest person...
To be perfectly honest I'm always working on all the Fruit of the Sprit...


I could go on, and on...and on...  But then suddenly my thoughts like that stopped.  And the Lord reminded me that He doesn't want me to dwell on my faults...  That's not going to make me improve.  Every now and then, we need to be reminded of what we were without Christ.  We need to be reminded that we're not perfect.  We need to be reminded that without Him who created us...we are nothing...but with Him we are sons and daughters of the King.  Children of the most high God.  Who loves us despite our many, many...many imperfections.

I can now say that I am talented, because God made me (special, and He loves me very much...Bye! (Sorry!  Had to throw VeggieTales in there...I couldn't resist!  =P )) 
I'm good at being His child.  And not because of anything I did, but because of the love, grace & mercy of our Abba Father.

Au Revoir...Until next time.
Many Blessings!  =)
Tiffani

Prayer...Immediately

All those people goin' somewhere

Why have I never cared?

Chorus:  Give me Your eyes for just one second

Give me Your eyes so I can see

Everything that I keep missing

Give me Your love for humanity

Give me Your arms for the broken-hearted

The ones that are far beyond my reach

Give me Your heart for the ones forgotten

Give me Your eyes so I can see

Give Me Your Eyes ~ Brandon Heath

Am I in a rut?  Am I just going through the motions?  Do I take for granted that I'm saved through the grace of God & the sacrifice of my Savior Jesus alone?

Every so often these thoughts fly through my head...  And I have to dwell on the question for a little while...  I have to pray, ponder....and then what?  How many times do I think about these things, but then just move on with my day...promising myself & God..."Oh, I'll pray about that later when I have more time..."  God, You mean you don't have time for ME?  "Oh, no Father," I weakly protest, "that's not what I mean at all..."  Silence.  "Well, I know that's the way is sounds, but You know my heart...You know there's nothing I would rather do than just spend time worshipping You all day long...but I can't".  Silence.  "Really, I can't..."  You can do nothing apart from ME.  I AM the One who gave you today, & you don't have time to pray about something very important I've placed on your heart?  "Well, when You put it that way..." I reply getting weaker...  Silence.  I am broken...I know that the Lord is right...as always!  And broken is what wants...  He wants me to completely surrender to Him, so that He can mold me & show me & lead me, exactly where I need to go... 
There's no beating-around-the-bush with God, there's no playing phone tag...there's no voicemail...  If we don't answer when God calls us the first time, He will keep calling...and calling...AND calling...  Until finally we "find the time" to answer...  Sometimes if we wait too long, the Holy Spirit will stop us in our tracks (in our rut, while we're going through the motions) & put that theoretical "phone" right in our face...so that we can't ignore, not hear, or walk by it again...

But I can avoid all of this if I would take action when the Lord shows me something I need to work on in my life!  If I just surrender to Him daily it would make my life a lot easier...  If I would pray about those fleshly tendencies when they are first shown to me.  If I didn't try to make excuses for myself...

That's why out of all the songs I could've chose for this topic, I chose Give Me Your Eyes.
Because that's the example that's being set in the song.  There is a problem that is made aware...and there is a prayer...  A prayer first & foremost asking for forgiveness...then immediately afterwards is the a prayer of longing...  A prayer of wanting to be more Christ like, than we are.

And I know that being completely honest with myself, that's not always going to happen.  The Enemy is very good at dangling "little emergency's" in front of us.  Those that are just important enough for us get distracted at least temporarily from the One who truly matters.

Dear Precious Heavenly Father,

I come broken before your throne of grace.  Broken with shame that I so often put You aside.  Make You wait.  And I praise Your name & thank you from every crevice of my soul that You are a God of forgiveness.  A God of patience.  A God of mercy. 

Lord, please mold me, make my heart more mindful of when You have something to tell me!  Teach me to go through my days totally on fire for You alone!  Where the only thoughts that fly around in my mind are pleasing in Your sight.  The only words I speak point back to You.

Thank you Abba Father for loving me even though I will never be able to deserve it!!

I ask this all in Your precious Son Jesus' name. 

Amen!

I pray that the Lord blesses you abundantly today & that you will feel His embrace forever!

Au Revoir...Until next time.

Many Blessings!  =)

Tiffani

Praying For Compassion...

What boundless love,

What fathomless grace

You have shown us, O God of compassion!

Each day we live

An offering of praise

As we show to the world Your compassion

 

Keith & Kristyn Getty ~ Compassion Hymn

Album: Awaken the Dawn

 
I was logging out of my email a couple days ago...and on the homepage, they were displaying an article about a 20-million ape skull that had just been discovered.  Of course, I was curious what possible "evidence", they could be providing for such a ludicrous claim, so I clicked on the link.  Surprise, surprise...there was no evidence...no scientific formula as to how in the world they arrived at such a claim....NOTHING.  Which they can't of course, but they didn't even try to explain.  They take it for granted that our society will believe anything the media tells them.  The only intelligent--rather the only anything--an official scientist was quoted to have said was something about this being a great discovery....  I was absolutely disgusted!! 

I know I shouldn't read the comments...people say the most ignorant things sometimes...which makes me get riled up...  And these comments were no different.  One (the one that really got me) said, "I guess this proves that the world really isn't 6,000 years old, like some religious people like to believe." 

WELL!  I was this close to writing my own comment, something about those scientists showing me their actual proof of the age, and then I'd be able to have a conversation...or something 'smart' like that....  And besides the Holy Spirit, the only other thing that stopped me from writing just that in the heat of the moment, was reading another comment (a couple comments down below), that said almost that exact same thing.   Reading even farther down, I noticed at least 10 more comments from that same girl.  She was right on in everything she was saying, but no matter how logical her statements were....other people just kept challenging her.  Not just about science, but religion too.  I noticed about three different "conversations" going on. 

I was so close to anger about things that some people were saying about my Abba Father & my Savior.    (Psalm 14:1, "The fool has said in his heart, ''there is no God'...")  My heart was pounding, my eyes most likely in little slits, my brows furrowed...

She ended up stopping writing anything more after a different man wrote that he agreed with everything this lady was saying, but said that this is what these people are believing at this moment, & nothing we personally can do, will change their minds. 

That was so wise...because no matter what "right" words we speak, we are not the ones who will change a persons heart.  The Lord allows people to have a veil over their eyes at times.  And He alone can remove that veil. 
2 Corinthians 3:16-18, "16Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."


That is not to say that, we shouldn't tell people the truth, & be a witness for Him...we must remember that no matter what we say, in the end it is only Him who created that can reveal the truth.  The Lord reminded me that I'm not the judge of those people.  (Matthew 7: 1-5) They still have a chance to repent.  That I'm not supposed to agree with them, but I'm also not supposed to ridicule them for their ignorance.  That He will still forgive them for what they said, when they repent. 

At that moment, I no longer felt anger, but sorrow for those people.  Because I know whenever they do repent they too will feel the guilt of what they spoke/wrote against Him.  I cannot even imagine the guilt I personally would feel...I don't want to!

Father, I pray for those who do not know You yet.  Who haven't experienced Your love.  I'm so sorry that I judged them....because I'm certainly not perfect and I have no right!  I praise You for the day when You do remove the veil from their eyes...  I rejoice in the day that will come when they will turn their hearts to You and You alone.  Please Holy Spirit, remind me the next time I start to judge someone else for not knowing the truth.  Pray through me for their salvation & let me have only love and compassion for them.  Jesus, teach me to mirror You, so that I can grow in You each an every day.  Father I ask this all in Your Son Jesus' name, Amen!

I hope you all are feeling His love & comfort as this week is coming to an end.  May the Lord bless you and keep you.

Au Revoir...Until next time.
Many Blessings!  =)
Tiffani

Children of God...

Chorus: Children of God, sing your song and rejoice

For the love that He has given us all

Children of God, by the blood of His Son

We have been redeemed and we can be called

Children of God

Children of God

Bridge: We are the saints

We are the children

We've been redeemed

We've been forgiven

We are the sons and daughters of our God

Third Day ~ Children of God

Album: Move

Why is it that we as humans are so focused on ourselves all the time.  Maybe not all the time...but most of the time...  I find myself thinking about me, so often.  My problems, my dreams, my life.... 
NO!!!  It's NOT about me....  I live solely, because of my God, my Savior Christ Jesus, & my Helper who lives within me.  I called Him, mine, just now.... But that's is not how it is....  I live for Him, I am His alone, He is all that matters.  No matter how "big" my "problems" are, they are NOTHING compared to what the biggest problem is...my sin.  No matter how "big" I think my "sacrifices"are, they are NOTHING compared to the greatest sacrifice of all.  No matter how "important" I think my opportunities are...NOTHING is more important than living for my Savior. 

But why is it that we as humans are so forgetful of those facts?  Sin.  Our flesh. 

It makes me sad to realize that sometimes I need such a large wake-up call to realize when I'm starting to think about me too much.  I know I'm never going to be perfect, but I want to be.  I want to live like Jesus lived.  I strive to be like Him.  And when I fall short...I'm disappointed in myself.  Until I realize why I fell short....  I thought I could do things on my own.  Not consciously, but the result is still the same... 

Yet, the Lord is merciful.  He has given us the Helper.   He gives us subtle & not  so subtle reminders about Who is really important.  He gives us second chances again & again & again.  Sometimes I wonder, Why in the world does my Abba Father love me so much? 

But then I receive an answer.  Amazing & miraculous as it is!  Because I am His child first...& then He is my Abba Father...my Daddy.  The BEST Daddy! (John 1:12) With unconditional love that cannot even be described.   Mercy that abounds & follows me all the days of my life.  Love...God loves me!  He loves you!  He encourages us, He's our biggest cheerleader! 

Psalm 95:6-7, "Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. 7 For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand." 

I am His sheep, & He is my Shepard.  I am to follow Him, for He knows the Way.  (John 14:6)

Daddy, I wish there was a better word than 'thank you'!!  Thank you doesn't come close to being enough.  Even if I praised You constantly, 24/7 for the rest of my life, You would still be worthy of infinity times more!! 
Please, Father, help me to daily surrender to You!  To let You lead me, without any "help" from me.  Please make it exceedingly clear when I'm speaking too much or not listening enough! 
Help me to always trust You, especially when the road gets rocky & I can't see the 'big picture'. 
Father I pray for those who are reading this right now.  That You will bless them abundantly!! That You will fill them with Your overwhelming peace, joy, & love. 
Father, You know our hearts...You know how much we long to serve You faithfully. 
Continue, please to teach us Your ways & how to better serve You & Your children. 
I ask this all in Your Son, Jesus' name. Amen!

You've just had a peek inside my mind.  My thoughts are all over the place.  And they move so fast...  I'm a girl...so that explains it.  =) 

I really do hope you are blessed by this.  The Lord has had this "topic" pressing on my heart for a while, & I think tonight...or rather this morning....He has let it all pour right out. 

One last thing before I go.  I love 1 John 3:1-3, "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!  Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure."

Au Revoir...Until next time.
Many Blessings!  =)
Tiffani

The "Glad Game"

There's so much I don't understand

That I'd change if I wrote the story

How pain could heal and death bring life

How defeat could bring such glory

You didn't hold back one breath

You even gave Your last one, so I'd live

Chorus:

It's beautiful to me

Your holy mystery

I'm standing here in awe

Of how You make everything

So beautiful to me

And someday I will see

How You hold this wounded heart

And make it perfect & complete

And it's beautiful to me

Beautiful to me

I don't deserve Your suffering

I should be the one who's bleeding

But Your broken body gives

This broken spirit what it's needing

You reached through time with Your sacrifice

Your wounded hands, holding this fragile life

Chorus

This ache, this longing

This heart that I've been searching

This moment while I'm praying...show me

Your plan, Your promise

A pain that has a purpose

Well, I let you in to use it

And just like Your hands built heaven's halls

You're making me so beautiful

Beautiful

It's beautiful to me

Every mystery

I'm standing here in awe

Of how You make everything

So beautiful to me

So perfect and complete

You warm this wounded heart

Someday I will see

And it's beautiful to me

Beautiful to me

Beautiful, beautiful

Beautiful to me 2x

Kerrie Roberts ~ Beautiful To Me

Album: Kerrie Roberts

Ok, so this song is just too beautiful to break up.  The main part that I want to talk about though is the first two lines of the song.  So simple, but if you think about it...so true.  If I had control, (not just the illusion of control), control every single thing that happened in my life, & I was able to redo things that went wrong in my life...would I?

Honestly, there are probably some things I would want to change.  I would probably make sure I kept my balance, & didn't fall into the big fountain we had in our front yard; the one that gave me a big, ugly fat lip & black & blue eye so swollen I could hardly open it.  Yes, I think I'd like to change that...  

BUT, now that I think of it...I was so blessed by my friends during that time, who (even though we were young...& I probably looked pretty weird) showed me such kindness, by telling me I looked beautiful, still asking me over to their houses for "play-dates", didn't stare, but didn't keep their distance.  That might not sound it should be a big deal...friends should do that anyway.  But for me it was a big deal.  I was about 8 years old, & I wasn't a pretty sight...honestly I wouldn't have blamed my friends if they wanted to keep their distance until I was better.  But instead, I was extremely blessed, & can now truly sympathize with people who have something deform their face (whether temporarily like mine, or permanently.)

Ok, so...I'd probably still let that happen to me...

But those times where I said or did something to hurt one of my friends.  I'd change those times!  BUT, if I did, I wouldn't be able to feel the forgiveness I received after apologizing...  Forgiveness that reminded me of what my Savior did for me.  Reminding me that I'm not going to be perfect, but that I can't use that as an excuse for sinning.

Ok, so...I'd probably keep those times as well...

I guess I'd say the same thing for the times that I wasn't respectful to my parents.  I've learned from those mistakes I made...& am getting better & better at keeping my frustration from getting the upper-hand.  I also know the importance of parenting, & am storing all this knowledge for when I become a mommy.

So...my list of "Things In My Past I'd Like To Change If I Could"...is getting smaller by the second as I think about it...

The only thing, I still think I'd change was...feeling way under the weather on my 16th birthday...that's just wrong...isn't it?  BUT...(you knew this was coming =) )  I guess that did show me that it doesn't matter about growing with age...what really matters is how you grow in the Spirit.  Instead of depending on worldly things to give me joy, I should be looking to Him to give me joy.  And reminding me not to take for granted the health & especially the life that I have, because there are some children who are sick on almost all their birthdays, with cancers, & tumors.  Some children don't even reach their 16th birthday.  I really have nothing to complain about, because I have the only thing that matters! A personal relationship with my Abba Father.

I'm not sure how many of you've read that book Pollyanna by Eleanor Porter.  But this sound very much like the "Glad Game".  Looking for the good out of not-so-good situations...

I know that I won't always see the big picture.  But my prayer is that when I do feel discouraged, that I lean on Him who gives me strength.  He who does see the big picture & knows exactly whats best for me.  I pray that we all trust Him druing these times.  Because He will allow us to go through struggles, but--as I've realized--even though we might not be able to see them at first...later we can see the amazing joys & blessings that came from those trials.

I LOVE hearing stories of how the Lord worked something that you thought couldn't get any worse, turn into something great.  If you have any stories like this...about yourself or others please share!!

Au Revoir...Until next time.  =)

Many Blessings!

Tiffani

I Refuse, Not To Move!

Sometimes I

I just want to close my eyes

And act like everyone's alright

When I know they're not

This world needs God

But it's easier to stand and watch

I could say a prayer and just move on

Like nothing's wrong

But I refuse

'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care

I don't want to say another empty prayer

Oh, I refuse

To sit around and wait for someone else

To do what God has called me to do myself

Oh, I could choose

Not to move but I refuse

I can hear the least of these

Crying out so desperately

And I know we are the hands and feet

Of You, oh God

So, if You say move

It's time for me to follow through

And do what I was made to do

Show them who You are

'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care

I don't want to say another empty prayer

Oh, I refuse

To sit around and wait for someone else

To do what God has called me to do myself

Oh, I could choose

Not to move but I refuse

To stand and watch the weary and lost

Cry out for help

I refuse to turn my back

And try and act like all is well

I refuse to stay unchanged

To wait another day, to die to myself

I refuse to make one more excuse

'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care

I don't want to say another empty prayer

Oh, I refuse

To sit around and wait for someone else

To do what God has called me to do myself

Oh, I could choose

Not to move but I refuse

I refuse

I refuse

Josh Wilson ~ I Refuse

Album: See You

So....yesterday was a pretty exciting day for me & my family... I GOT MY DRIVERS LICENSE!!!!!
I'm just a little excited!!!
My mom & I met my dad at a restaurant to celebrate & my dad told me that I could drive home by myself!!!

So here are a couple pics my mom took of me...driving...without anyone else in the car... =)



Moi, driving out of the parking lot...by myself.





Becaue you can't tell...that's moi in the white car...





Moi...driving...with no one else in the car.



So as I was driving home (by myself =) ) I turned on the Christian radio station... (It's called The Fish...isn't that cute!!)  Anyhoo, I was listening to some people talking about "adopting" orphans in Africa by donating money.  Then the above song started playing.  I was so moved by the song...I had to share it all, with all of you.  

This song really made me think about my life as I continue to grow, physically & spiritually... Because now that I can drive, in my mind it kinda makes me think ahead, to more possible opportunities to be a witness for my Savior.  And I don't want to be a chicken & not talk to someone, when I know the Lord is calling me to do so.

I was in a Theology Book Club for about 2 years...I just had to stop recently.  =(  Well, one of the books we read was Forgotten God by Francis Chan.  It's about the Holy Spirit...  One of the points that fascinated me, was that the Holy Spirit is the one who whispers for us to go & talk to someone. 

One of leaders in the CBS ((Community Bible Study) that my mom & I go to) had an experienced a little while ago that reminds me of this song.  She was running (on a hiking trail) & she saw this teenage girl sitting up a-ways on the hill to the side of her...she kinda waved to the girl & kept running.  But then she felt the Holy Spirit telling her to go back & talk to that girl.  She admits that she tried to get out of it...she was going to look so silly running back & then trying to clamber up the hill.  Besides the girl might not even be there when she went back.  Someone else would probably come along & talk to her.  BUT this lady is a woman of God, strong in her faith & in the end she decided to go back & talk to this girl.

She talked to the girl for a little while, nothing "miraculous" happened, the girl didn't ask to become a Christian....BUT!!  the Lord can use many different people in one persons life.  Maybe another person did end up coming by & talk to that girl & because a seed was already planted about our Savior, the girl asked to know more.  I can think of many more scenarios that could have happened.  But the main thing is, this lady was emboldened by the Holy Spirit & she refused, not to move.  Afterwards, even though she probably did look silly, she felt spiritually satisfied, because she knew she heard the Holy Spirit, listened to the Holy Spirit & acted on what He told her to do.

I pray that the same thing will happen to me.  That when the Holy Spirit whispers...or shouts for me to do something; that I will do exactly what He asks of me!

Au Revoir...until next time.  =)

Many Blessings!

Tiffani