"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."
~ Psalm 23:4
Wrapped in Your Embrace
My heart cries out to be heard
My heart cries out for mercy
My heart cries out, in need of a Savior
You wrap me in Your embrace
Let my lips not speak idle words
But give You all praise and glory
My heart cries out, in need of a Savior
And You wrap me in Your embrace
I am undeserving
Yet You are so willing
Your love for me is amazing
You wrap me in Your embrace
You are faithful
You are Light
You hold me in the palm of Your hand
And You wrap me in Your embrace
My days have been numbered my You
You are the Holy God, my Father
You are my Provider
You wrap me in Your embrace
I am fallible
You are unchangeable
You still my heart and quiet my soul
And You wrap me in Your embrace
You are my comfort
I am Your daughter
You are my Rock and my Foundation and my Fortress
My Abba Father
You wrap me in Your 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! =)
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 whatI 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.
My prayer is that on this Thanksgiving day, we are reminded of the abundant blessings the Lord has provided us with!!
I pray that the Lord will give us opportunities to talk about Him, while we are with family and/or friends who might not be believers yet!!
I also pray that our time will be blessed with wonderful fellowship & praise to our Abba Father!!
There are so many verses that I wanted to write down about "thanksgiving," but here are my top four:
"Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms."
~Psalm 95:2
"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name."~ Psalm 100:4
"6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it[ with thanksgiving."~ Colossians 2:6-7
"2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of..." ~ Colossians 4:2-3
Au Revoir...Until next time.
Many Blessings! =)
Tiffani
P.S. I would LOVE to hear how you all celebrated Thanksgiving, so feel free to comment away!
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.
Am I going to do it? Yes, I am! When I am I going to start? On Sunday! Will you join me?
I am going to to start reading the Bible in a year. When I was about 10 yrs old my mom and I went through the whole Bible chronologically. But I'm very sad to say I haven't done it since...
I always seem to get stuck in the Gospels, the Psalms, Proverbs, Romans, Galatians, Revelation... BUT, I know how important the whole Bible is...so am going to change that!
So, why am I starting on Sunday & not today? Because, I wanted to invite all of you to join me...and I thought I'd give you a day to decide. I will be posting this weeks reading tomorrow, so be looking! =)
This is how its going to work... Every Saturday I'll be posting next weeks reading. That way we can all stay accountable to each other & focus on just the next week, instead of thinking, oh my! A year is sooooo long. =P We will be reading the Bible in a unique way. We'll be reading 2 books at a time. Either a New Testament book with an Old. Or an Old Testament book with Psalms.
I was going to read it chronologically again, but I thought this would spice things up a bit. And give us good breaks between some of the "slower" books.
It's my prayer that along the way you will be posting (if you have a blog) or commenting on mine (or even better, both) about the amazing things God reveals to you!
I am super excited (if you couldn't already tell). I know that the Lord's hand is upon us all.
Dear Precious Heavenly Father,
We come before Your throne of grace & ask that you give us the perseverance to read through the whole of Your Word! I ask that you bless each of us who are going to be embarking on this incredible journey. I pray Lord, that You would reveal to us, those things that You know we most need to hear right now Lord.
Abba Father, I am so excited & I pray that You would ignite us all even more as we get into Your Word. That You would allow us that time of quietness with You, so that we can listen more closely to what You are saying.
I ask this all 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.
(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
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!
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
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
Where love like a river flows, peace like you've never known
And joy never ending lives
And a place where faith can find, hope that will never die
Follow me there, come on, follow me there
Third Day ~ Follow Me There
Album: Move
I've been wanting to write about this for a while now, but I guess I just keep forgetting....
My mom & I were at the post office a couple weeks ago. There was a really long line, but we decided to wait, because my mom had to overnight a package. I don't remember how it happened, but my mom (who is usually social anyway) started talking with the lady behind us. And soon the lady behind her (who I was thinking had a "sour-puss" look on her face) started talking with the two of them as well.
I was thinking about Francis Chan's book, Forgotten God, about being emboldened by the Holy Spirit & just talking to people, being friendly, being a mirror of our Savior Jesus. THEN I started hearing what I was sure was Third Day playing softly over the speakers. I was kinda confused, but soooooooooo excited!!! Then when we finally got up to the counter I realized that it was Third Day, but that it wasn't playing over the speakers after all. Someone (who worked there) was playing a radio.
So even though the post office wasn't playing the music, it was still really cool to know that someone working there was a Christian & was allowed to & emboldened enough to play the Christian radio station!!
My dad plays the Christian music station in his office...it's so much fun when I go in to work (once a week), because I get to sing along with all the songs as I'm working.
I pray for the post office person who owned the radio...that he or she will continue to be bold & courageous to play God honoring music...even if he or she might suffer persecution for their faith. Amen!
Au Revoir...Until next time. =)
Many Blessings!
Tiffani
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!
Some very dear friends of mine graduated a couple days ago... It was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo exciting seeing them up onstage, knowing that soon all our lives will be changing with new seasons. It was such a blessing being part of the celebrations!!!!
It was a bitter-sweet moment. I don't know about you, but I sometimes feel like I wish things would just stay the same...it would be a lot easier. BUT, that's not God's plan for any of us, now is it. And then the more I think about it, it would be pretty sad & dull if everything stayed the same. I would never meet new people, do new things, never get married, never become a mommy...in the long run, things probably wouldn't be that much easier.
So CONGRATULATIONS to my graduated friends...you know who you are. =) I will be praying for as you continue to walk with the Lord's guidence. I can't wait to see what He has in store for you lives!!!!
"Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you." Philippians 3:13-15
One of my mom’s favorite songs is Nichole Nordeman's You Are My All In All. I was always amazed at how simple the words were, yet how much meaning, inspiration & truth were packed into them. The more I started thinking about the song, the more I felt called to study out the verses (of the song)...
So I'm going to do that and post my "ah-ha's" & epiphanies...here! My prayer is that the Lord will fill me with His Spirit, inspire me, & change me during this study.
I invite you to do this with me. You can post comments of what the Lord is showing you. I would LOVE for you to share, share, share!! =)
I'm sad that I haven't been able to write for so long (over a week)...I've been wanting to...really I have...but I'm sure you all know how busy schedules get...so...
Why does it always seem like I'm "busy", but never seem to get enough done during the day. My mom always says she can tell when she hasn't been spending her sit down quiet-time with the Lord. I'm getting to realize the same thing. I can tell when my flesh seems to be controling my emotions, thoughts &; actions. It's hard to describe...for me something inside me just doesn't feel right...&; it doesn't start to get better until I stop, pray, & ultimately surrender. I feel lost, uncertain, my head seems to be spinning in all different directions. No, its not a pleasent feeling...it gets even worse when I try to fix things on my own. Because I can do nothing apart from Christ. ("I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." John 15:5) Thankfully, our Father has given us the Helper...who is perfect at reminding us of this fact.
Au Revoir...until next time. =)
Many Blessings!
Tiffani
I didn't want the first post of this blog to be a welcome post...that's just me...I wanted to have the feeling that I'd already started & that I had been posting for a long time...but, again...that's just me.
So, welcome to my new blog...I've always wanted to have a blog like this, but I've told myself, if you can't keep your other blogs updated, how could you ever write on a blog like this on a regular basis. But this is the first time I've ever beenreally excited about a blog & I feel quite inspired. I hope you (whoever you are) enjoy it & are inspired too!! My prayer for this blog is that the Lord directs anything & everything that goes into it. That He will write the words &; that those who read them will be blessed beyond measure &; praise the Father in heaven! Amen!
Music is so inspiring! I think lots of Christian artists would agree that when they sit down to write a song, they are inspired by the Lord on what to write.
I believe music is a way God speaks to me. Either by whispering His "original" lyrics into my heart, that I scramble to write down on a piece of paper. OR by flowing more well known lyrics, that He's whispered to someone else heart into my heart. That's why at the beginning of each post I should have at least part of a song that will go along with what I'll be scrambling to write down. Because chances are, that it was that very song which started the inspiration for the post in the first place.
Au Revoir...until next time. =)
Many Blessings!
Tiffani
I recently heard the author Francis Chan give this great spiritual analogy that spoke to me so much, it inspired me to start this blog… (I will be paraphrasing it (adding some details that pop into my head), because I don’t have the video in front of me.)
So you’re at a football game (please keep reading even if you aren’t a sports fan…=) In my opinion, this is one of the greatest analogies I’ve ever heard!)
So you’re at a football game…you’re so excited! You’re there to root for your team & you’re sure they’re going to win. They’ve got the best coach, the best assistant coach, the best uniforms, the best equipment…how could they lose?
You wait with growing excitement as both teams huddle up & discuss their plays. You can tell even from where you are that your team is excited…they’re like horses chomping at the bit, pawing at the ground ready to go. They do their “On 3, go team” thing. Then the whistle blows…and instead of getting in their formation your team goes & sits on the bench. Naturally the other team is surprised, but they don’t miss the opportunity to score a touch-down.
Then comes time for the next huddle. You can tell that your team is really excited again, then the whistle blows...and again instead of facing off the other team they go off to the benches.
This goes on for so many points that soon it becomes time for your team to make a serious decision. They need to start playing the play their coach is calling or they’re going to lose. They need to be unified, listening to their coach & courageous…or they might as well not play at all…
I’m sure some of you’ve already seen the connection to our lives, but I’ll go ahead & explain…
We as the body of Christ are the team…we have the best coach (our Lord God, Abba Father), the best assistant coach (our prescious Savior Jesus Christ ), the best uniforms (we are clothed in God’s armor Ephesians 6:10-18, God’s), & the best equipment (the Holy Spirit is our Comforter & Helper). What more do we need???
We get in our huddle as we go to church & Bible studies, small groups. We get excited as we pray and feel the Lord’s presense with us. We make a plan or hear the Lord’s voice telling us to do something. BUT, then “the whistle blows”, it’s time for us to go out into the “real world” & actually do something. Challenging things that take strength, courage, boldness, we don’t. We take the easy way out…& sit on the bench. We who should be on fire! We who can do all things through Christ who gives us strength! (Philippians 4:13) We who house the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God!
The “other team” whether it’s a pre-believer who we’re being called to talk to or Satan, attacking our life straight on or anyone in our life who opposes our spiritual or moral beliefs; they will not wait for us to sum up the courage…we need to be ready.
How many times though do we as believers take that easy way out. Sit on the bench, because we’re scared.
The Lord is SO willing to give us the strength we need…all we need to do is ask for it!
We as believers need to realize the cross-roads ahead of us. We need to take the road less traveled, pray for the strength & play the play.
Please do not think that I claim to be perfect in this. I constantly find myself in times that I’m not surrendering…ugh!!!! I don’t expect to be perfect…BUT perfection is the what I’m striving for…
My mom & I have been reading a book by Andrew Murray called Absolute Surrender. It’s a great book so far & I know I’ll be quoting from it in the near future. Aaannnd…now that I’m flipping through it…I see a section that goes right along with this analogy:
“You know in daily life what absolute surrender is. You know that everything has to be given up to its special, definite object and service. I have a pen in my pocket. That pen is absolutely surrendered to the one work of writing, and that pen must be absolutely surrendered to my hand if I am to write properly with it. If another holds in partly, I cannot write properly….
“And now, do you expect that in your immortal being, in the divine nature that you have received by regeneration, God can work His work, every day and every hour, unless you are entirely given up to Him? God cannot. The Temple of Solomon was absolutely surrendered to God when it was dedicated to Him. And every one of us is a temple of God, in which God will dwell and work mightily on one condition—absolute surrender to Him. God claims it; God is worthy of it; and without it, God cannot work His blessed work in us.
“God not only claims it, but God will work it himself.” ~ Chapter 1
I will say farewell on this note…this section is a lot to think & pray over (I know it was for me…=) ); so I will let you…
Au Revior…until next time. =)
Many Blessings!
Tiffani
PS: I heard Francis Chan tell this analogy in the Study Guide DVD set for his book Forgotten God.
