Freedom in His Embrace!

When He calls, I must listen

Where He leads, I must follow

Who He is, I strive to be

He has rescued me

God is so good!  I am crying with joy right now, just, because...I can feel His presence.  

It is such an amazing feeling to know that He is with you!

To know that He is here...right now...at this very moment!

There are times when I feel like I could just burst with joy. 

You know the feeling where you want to just start singing "for no reason".  Ahh, but we do have a reason.  We always have a reason to feel joyful!  We have His love, His peace, His hope...and His joy inside of us!

I feel like I could just go dancing around, but I'm sure the people below us {I live in an apartment} would prefer I did not...

There is nothing that compares to the overwhelming sense of joy and peace as when you've just come out of a trying time spiritually.

I realized a couple days ago, that my life had been sorely lacking in prayer...  I started feeling moody, and dare I say...purposeless.  Ahh, but He is so faithful.  Even through that, I knew He didn't leave me.  No, He carried me!  He ministered to me in ways that only He can.

It is so wonderful to know that we have freedom in Him!  Freedom that lifts us above the chains of this world and lets us soar above.

Freedom that give us the ability to run to His arms whenever we feel weary. 

That was my problem.  I was feeling weary and instead of running to Him, I tried to be a "big girl" and take care of myself.  I know better...you'd think I'd learn my lesson...  Maybe one of these days I will.

But that is the past.  And the present is me running full speed ahead, toward {not away from} my Abba Father's outstretched arms.

There I will stay, surrendered, tucked under His wing, in the palm of His hand.  Resting, trusting, listening, praying...in His embrace.

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 using any part of this post or any pictures.  Merci!  =)

He Orchestrates...

{This is one of my favorite songs!  It always makes me cry as I remember the extreme sacrifice Jesus made for me.  I made this video especially for this version of the song.}

Touch of the Master's Hand ~ Danny Gans
Album: Brand New Dream

One of my favorite things to say about God is that He orchestrates things.  {As a side note, I am NOT trying to start a debate over pre-destination and free will}

When I hear orchestrate, I think of a compose and conductor of an orchestra.  He's written the symphony out and He knows exactly how the notes should be played, what the tempo is, and what key signature the piece should be played in.  He's up front, and as long as the musicians look to Him, He is guiding them as they play.  The musicians are His 'tools', and He is able to use them to create something beautiful.

During rehearsals, those musicians might make terrible mistakes, over and over and over...and over again.  Then throw in those cumbersome and tedious arpeggios or the big dramatic crescendos.  BUT He is patient, because He knows what the end result will be, and He is willing to wait for us...I mean the musicians of course.  ;)
Some of the musicians are able to help each other get better, but ultimately they look to the composer.  He's the One who keeps them on the rhythm, motivated and encouraged.  He's listens to the the complaints and the whining, about sore fingers, aching backs and parched lips.  He understands, because He's gone through the exact same thing.

They also learn to work together as one.  They learn that the piano alone is beautiful, but when played with the harp it sounds so much better.  Then add in the violins and the flutes.  Only with all the instruments playing together can the make an orchestra.  And have you ever heard of an orchestra without a conductor, let alone a composer?
Then on that glorious performance day, we will all be perfect and everybody will applaud and praise the conductor for His great work. 
They Lord has been showing me daily that He is in control, and I definitely am not.  I can rely on Him alone, and He never fails! 

He forgives my mistakes, complaints, and my eagerness to hog the spotlight.  He promises to finish the good work that He has started in me.  And that can't be easy.  But I guess...I know that since He created me, and knows me better than I even know myself, He will be faithful like He always is.

Dear Precious Heavenly Father,

Please search my heart and root out any sin and fleshly behavior that is still trying to hang on to me.  Please Father, show me when I'm feeling discontent or too comfortable, because there is always something I should be working on in my spiritual life. 

God, I pray for those who are reading this post right now.  That they would be blessed and You would use Your Words to give them peace and comfort for whatever struggles they are facing at this very moment.

Your Word tells us that those who believe in You and have received Your Son's gift of salvation are like a body.  We must all work together and that none of us are more worthy or important than any other.  Please Father, remind me of that whenever I start to become prideful or try to judge anyone else.

I pray that You would use me in Your symphony and that I will daily become more and more like You and my Savior.

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

Amen!

Au Revoir...Until next time!

Many Blessings!  =)

Tiffani

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

Our Christmas Day

Here is my second favorite Christmas song! =)

²¹ And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”
²² So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: ²³ “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, “God with us.”   ~ Matthew 1:21-23

On Christmas Day we went to my grandparents house on my mom's side.

Here are some pictures...  All the dishes were done, my grandma pointed out that as usual we hadn't taken any pictures of the food...  =P

But I got plenty of pictures of all of my grandma's nutcrackers!  =)

See all the nutcrackers in the background?  You'll be seeing more
of those soon...

My Grandma has over 130 nutcrackers!  They take live in a
walk-in closet when they're not being displayed at Christmas.

My Mom and a new teddy bear my Grandma got recently  =)
They match...and they didn't even call each other to coordinate.  =P

My Mom and Daddy

My Grandma and Grandpa

I had such a good time!  I always love spending time with family!

Usually I'm shooed out of the kitchen when it comes time to do the dishes (I'm serious), but this time I was able to help my grandma do the dishes while my parents talked with my Grandpa.

It was special to be able to spend that time with her...even if we were just doing dishes.

But God is with us all the time, and any time spent with family whether opening presents, talking, or doing dishes is special.  And I'm so grateful for all the blessings He's given me this year!!!  And I thank Him every day for the greatest gift of all...His Son and my Savior Christ Jesus.

I hope you all had a wonderfully blessed time with your family and were able to find peace in His arms while celebrating His gift.

Au Revoir...Until next time!

Many Blessings!  =)

Tiffani

P.S.  I would love to hear what you did for Christmas!!



Everything in this post is Copyright Tiffani-Joi.  Please email me at TiffaniJoi143@gmail.com to ask permission before using 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