Psalm 46:10
Be still and know that I am God...
With all the craziness that goes with the month of December, it's a hard month to 'be still.' To add to the craziness, this month I am buying a house, visiting my new niece, and having surgery. This verse in particular gave me peace as I was handling the inspection for the house while talking to the insurance company about my surgery and learning my sister was in labor, all in the same day! When it rains....
The Bible says God gives rest.
Rest for the weary.
Rest from our labors.
Rest from our worries.
Rest from our enemies.
Even God rested after he created the world.
Rest is good.
I recently saw a video of a cowboy who fell off a horse and went into a coma. He described where he went while they worked on his body. He said it was a place of peace...and there was no rush and no 'gotta dos,' as he says. And there was lots of love, more love than we can imagine (click here to see 'cowboy visits heaven'). I think heaven will be the ultimate place of rest. Which is why we say 'Rest in peace' I suppose...(Isaiah 57:2 For those who follow godly paths will rest in peace when they die).
This week as I have been recovering, I have had the opportunity to get lots of rest! I can't remember the last time I stayed in bed for three straight days without going anywhere! (Okay, wait, I think I do remember...I was really sick New Year's three year ago...). Anyway, with everyone helping to take care of me, I have had the chance to see what a wonderful family I have. I was able to sew, take naps, read, listen to music, and spend time with my family and my little dog. Even though I'm looking forward to feeling better and going back to my daily routine, it's been good for my soul, as well as my body, to rest.
Psalm 62:5
Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.
Matthew 11:28-29
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Sunday, December 9, 2012
I AM COMING SOON
Revelation is one of the most quoted books...here are a few of the beautiful passages found in this book.
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. (3:20)
Day and night they never stop saying: "'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come...You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” (4:8, 11)
Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. (7:16-17)
Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (5:12)
“I am making everything new!” (21:5)
SEVEN is the number of perfection (and six is the number representing imperfection...it's close to seven, but not quite). In Revelation 13:18 it talks about the number of a man will be 666. The number seven is repeated throughout this book. There are the seven stars that represent the angles of the seven churches, the seven lamps that represent the seven churhces, the seven seals, seven thunders, seven angels with seven plaques, seven bowls of God's wrath, and the beast with seven heads representing seven hills and the seven kings.
The seven churches mentioned in Revelation (2-3):
1. EPHESUS - 'You do not love me or others the way you did at first.'
Action: *Remember how you used to love me and turn back to me*
God's Promise: I will give you food from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Deut. 7:9 God keeps his covenant with those who love him.
2. SYMRNA - 'You are in poverty, yet you are rich.'
Action: *Fear not what you are about to suffer*
God's Promise: If you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you a crown of life.
James 2:5 God has chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith and they are the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him.
3. PERGAMOS - 'You live where Satan's throne is.'
Action: *Repent of your sins*
God's Promise: I will give you the hidden manna and a white stone with a new name written on it.
2 Corinthians 4:4 Satan is the god of this world and has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News and theydon’t understand this message about the glory of Christ.
4. THYATIRA - 'You tolerate immorality.'
Action: *Hold on till I come and obey me to the very end*
God's Promise: To him who overcomes I will give power over nations.
1 Corinthians 6:18 God says to run from sexual sin. No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.
5. SARDIS - 'I know your works but you are dead.'
Action: *Wake up and hold firmly to what you have heard and believed*
God's Promise: Those who are worthy will walk with me in white.
Romans 3:27 Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith.
6. Philadelphia - 'You have kept my word so I will keep you from the hour of testing.'
Action: *Hold on to what you have so that no one will take away your crown*
God's Promise: The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God.
John 17:15 I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.
7. LAODICEA - 'You are neither cold nor hot, but lukewarm.'
Action: *I correct and discipline everyone I love; be zealous and turn from your indifference*
God's Promise: To him who overcomes will sit with me on my throne.
Proverbs 3:12 Because the LORD disciplines those he loves...
"Yes, I am coming soon." (22:2)
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. (3:20)
Day and night they never stop saying: "'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come...You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” (4:8, 11)
Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. (7:16-17)
Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (5:12)
“I am making everything new!” (21:5)
SEVEN is the number of perfection (and six is the number representing imperfection...it's close to seven, but not quite). In Revelation 13:18 it talks about the number of a man will be 666. The number seven is repeated throughout this book. There are the seven stars that represent the angles of the seven churches, the seven lamps that represent the seven churhces, the seven seals, seven thunders, seven angels with seven plaques, seven bowls of God's wrath, and the beast with seven heads representing seven hills and the seven kings.
The seven churches mentioned in Revelation (2-3):
1. EPHESUS - 'You do not love me or others the way you did at first.'
Action: *Remember how you used to love me and turn back to me*
God's Promise: I will give you food from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Deut. 7:9 God keeps his covenant with those who love him.
2. SYMRNA - 'You are in poverty, yet you are rich.'
Action: *Fear not what you are about to suffer*
God's Promise: If you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you a crown of life.
James 2:5 God has chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith and they are the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him.
3. PERGAMOS - 'You live where Satan's throne is.'
Action: *Repent of your sins*
God's Promise: I will give you the hidden manna and a white stone with a new name written on it.
2 Corinthians 4:4 Satan is the god of this world and has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News and theydon’t understand this message about the glory of Christ.
4. THYATIRA - 'You tolerate immorality.'
Action: *Hold on till I come and obey me to the very end*
God's Promise: To him who overcomes I will give power over nations.
1 Corinthians 6:18 God says to run from sexual sin. No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.
5. SARDIS - 'I know your works but you are dead.'
Action: *Wake up and hold firmly to what you have heard and believed*
God's Promise: Those who are worthy will walk with me in white.
Romans 3:27 Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith.
6. Philadelphia - 'You have kept my word so I will keep you from the hour of testing.'
Action: *Hold on to what you have so that no one will take away your crown*
God's Promise: The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God.
John 17:15 I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.
7. LAODICEA - 'You are neither cold nor hot, but lukewarm.'
Action: *I correct and discipline everyone I love; be zealous and turn from your indifference*
God's Promise: To him who overcomes will sit with me on my throne.
Proverbs 3:12 Because the LORD disciplines those he loves...
"Yes, I am coming soon." (22:2)
Sunday, December 2, 2012
GROWING PAINS
Last week I showed up to my pilates class and I was the only person there...the class usually ranges from 5 to 20 people and I wasn't so sure I wanted to do this class alone. I was tempted to tell the instructor that I had to "get something out of my car" so I could escape but I wasn't quick enough...plus I kept thinking surely someone will show up late, right?! So we started and I did the 2 minutes of push-ups without taking breaks for the first time ever! (and these were real push-ups too!) As the class went on, I saw my body perform and do things I didn't think possible. I also thought my legs were going to fall off at one point as well. The next day I was so sore! A friend of mine who trains for triathlons was so excited for me and said she loved feeling sore afterwards because that means that her muscles are growing.
Her comment puzzled me at first...who loves feeling sore?! But I started to see what she was talking about when later that week I could tell a difference in my core. And I felt stronger. It reminded of this verse:
James 1:2-3
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
I saw how she considered it pure joy when her muscles were sore and her body was aching. And it was because she knew what the soreness meant...it meant she was stronger. So when we face trials we should see past the pain of the situation...and instead see that it will make us stronger as it will grow our faith. It also helped me see how asking God to take away our trials that it's like asking for bigger muscles but not wanting to workout. When we pray to love others more, God will send us someone hard to love. When we pray for patience, God will send us something that gets on our nerves.
I do want to grow bigger spiritual muscles, even though it's painful. I want faith that can move mountains. When we have faith, our doubts and fears go away. (PS. I also want bigger biceps...)
Matthew 17:20
He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Romans 5:3
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.
Her comment puzzled me at first...who loves feeling sore?! But I started to see what she was talking about when later that week I could tell a difference in my core. And I felt stronger. It reminded of this verse:
James 1:2-3
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
I saw how she considered it pure joy when her muscles were sore and her body was aching. And it was because she knew what the soreness meant...it meant she was stronger. So when we face trials we should see past the pain of the situation...and instead see that it will make us stronger as it will grow our faith. It also helped me see how asking God to take away our trials that it's like asking for bigger muscles but not wanting to workout. When we pray to love others more, God will send us someone hard to love. When we pray for patience, God will send us something that gets on our nerves.
I do want to grow bigger spiritual muscles, even though it's painful. I want faith that can move mountains. When we have faith, our doubts and fears go away. (PS. I also want bigger biceps...)
Matthew 17:20
He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Romans 5:3
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
LOVE
O Love that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.
O Light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.
O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.
O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.
(click here to listen)
This is one of my favorite songs. The author George Matheson wrote it in 5 minutes and felt divinely inspired as the words just fell onto the page. To me, this song sums up the message of Jesus, the Gospel: His Love will not let us go. There is nothing we can do to avoid God's love. No matter what we have done or how little we may deserve it. We cannot escape it.
LOVE...
God is Love.
We cannot escape His Love.
His Love compels us (2 Corinthians 5:14).
Whoever doesn't Love doesn't know God (1 John 4:8).
We are able to Love because He Loved us (John 4:19).
And He came to save us because of Love (John 3:16).
One of the most humbling passages to me is in 1 Corinthians. It says if I could speak all languages of the earth and of angels but did not love others, I would be like a noisy cymbal. If I have the gift of prophesy and can fathom mysteries and have all knowledge and faith that can move mountains but I do not have love, I am nothing. It says if I sell all my belongings but I haven't loved, then I gain nothing.
Love keeps no record of wrongs.
Love never loses faith.
Love endures through every circumstance.
Love rejoices when truth wins.
Love is patient and kind.
Love is not jealous, boastful, proud or rude.
Love always protects.
Love lasts forever.
LOVE...
This is really the only commandment we have to focus on. Jesus says the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5, Matthew 22:37). Then the second is that we are to love others as ourselves. There is no greater commandment above these (Mark 12:31).
Romans 8:38-39
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.
O Light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.
O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.
O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.
(click here to listen)
This is one of my favorite songs. The author George Matheson wrote it in 5 minutes and felt divinely inspired as the words just fell onto the page. To me, this song sums up the message of Jesus, the Gospel: His Love will not let us go. There is nothing we can do to avoid God's love. No matter what we have done or how little we may deserve it. We cannot escape it.
LOVE...
God is Love.
We cannot escape His Love.
His Love compels us (2 Corinthians 5:14).
Whoever doesn't Love doesn't know God (1 John 4:8).
We are able to Love because He Loved us (John 4:19).
And He came to save us because of Love (John 3:16).
One of the most humbling passages to me is in 1 Corinthians. It says if I could speak all languages of the earth and of angels but did not love others, I would be like a noisy cymbal. If I have the gift of prophesy and can fathom mysteries and have all knowledge and faith that can move mountains but I do not have love, I am nothing. It says if I sell all my belongings but I haven't loved, then I gain nothing.
Love keeps no record of wrongs.
Love never loses faith.
Love endures through every circumstance.
Love rejoices when truth wins.
Love is patient and kind.
Love is not jealous, boastful, proud or rude.
Love always protects.
Love lasts forever.
LOVE...
This is really the only commandment we have to focus on. Jesus says the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5, Matthew 22:37). Then the second is that we are to love others as ourselves. There is no greater commandment above these (Mark 12:31).
Romans 8:38-39
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
WAIT
Isaiah 40:31
But they that WAIT upon the LORD
shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they shall run, and not be weary;
and they shall walk, and not faint.
Lately, God has been showing me how impatient I am. I was driving back from visiting family a couple of weeks ago and there was lots of traffic on 45. I saw the right lane was moving so I try to move lanes and of course as soon as I finally got over, the left lane started to move. I did this two more times until I realized I must be the deciding factor in which lane would move....whichever one I was in stopped! So I decided to exit and take the feeder that looked like it was moving nicely. But after a little time of cruising on the feeder, it stopped moving. Of course then I saw how now the highway was the place to be. If I had only been more patient, I would be moving instead of sitting!
Wait...I say this word a lot, mainly to my dog. I tell him to wait when he tries to get me up when my alarm goes off in the morning and I want to snooze for five more minutes. Wait, I tell him to before eating his food or getting a treat. Or when we are crossing a street. Or before leaving the house.
So I have noticed God slowing me down and telling me to wait as well. I want answers right away, but God says wait. I want to know how is everything going to turn out, and God says wait.
I remember something my grandmother said to me a month before she died last year at 100 years old:
"When you have God, you have everything you need. Everything else is just a surprise."
As I am waiting for things in my life and find myself being impatient, these wise words give me perspective and help me slow down. God has blessed me with His peace and His presence and has given me a new life. If I can wait and hope in the Lord, then I will be able to hear and follow Him.
If I can live with anticipation instead of expectation, then I won't be disappointed or in a hurry.
Psalm 46:10
Be still and know that I am God.
But they that WAIT upon the LORD
shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they shall run, and not be weary;
and they shall walk, and not faint.
Lately, God has been showing me how impatient I am. I was driving back from visiting family a couple of weeks ago and there was lots of traffic on 45. I saw the right lane was moving so I try to move lanes and of course as soon as I finally got over, the left lane started to move. I did this two more times until I realized I must be the deciding factor in which lane would move....whichever one I was in stopped! So I decided to exit and take the feeder that looked like it was moving nicely. But after a little time of cruising on the feeder, it stopped moving. Of course then I saw how now the highway was the place to be. If I had only been more patient, I would be moving instead of sitting!
Wait...I say this word a lot, mainly to my dog. I tell him to wait when he tries to get me up when my alarm goes off in the morning and I want to snooze for five more minutes. Wait, I tell him to before eating his food or getting a treat. Or when we are crossing a street. Or before leaving the house.
So I have noticed God slowing me down and telling me to wait as well. I want answers right away, but God says wait. I want to know how is everything going to turn out, and God says wait.
I remember something my grandmother said to me a month before she died last year at 100 years old:
"When you have God, you have everything you need. Everything else is just a surprise."
As I am waiting for things in my life and find myself being impatient, these wise words give me perspective and help me slow down. God has blessed me with His peace and His presence and has given me a new life. If I can wait and hope in the Lord, then I will be able to hear and follow Him.
If I can live with anticipation instead of expectation, then I won't be disappointed or in a hurry.
Psalm 46:10
Be still and know that I am God.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
HE GIVES AND TAKES AWAY
Last November I wrote this story about what God was teaching me through my dog...and I'm so grateful that God healed him and that he is sitting by my side right now, one year later, in perfect health!
As I write this I am on a plane on my way to Omaha to visit my 5 month old niece, a trip I almost cancelled multiple times because my dog has been sick and it has put my life on hold. I had no idea how much I loved this 8 pound Maltese until I watched him start to slowly die; it just broke my heart. I asked God to either heal him or please take him, quickly. But He did neither. I had to face the unknown every day, and it was almost too much for me to handle as I struggled with the lack of control I had over the situation.
Day by day he got worse. After a bone marrow biopsy and a blood transfusion, he started to improve. But he wasn't quite the same and the effects of the strong medications he was on made him extremely hungry and thirsty. I was up all hours of the night some nights feeding him or taking him to the bathroom. I had a friend come let him out during the day because he started having accidents. I began to have extreme fatigue and often doubted that I even made the right decision to 'save' him. I remember crying in church one week as we sang the song "He gives and takes away...but I still choose to say, Oh, blessed be Your Name." And my eyes were opened to what God was trying to show me. I was hanging onto my sweet dog, and I knew I had to let him go and give him to God. He wasn't mine to keep forever.
Of course this opened the door to many conversations I started having with God about death and why we all die someday. I didn't like death very much and told him so. My heart was hurting so badly and I realized I hadn't cried this much since my divorce 5 years ago. Ironically, I had been protecting myself from relationships to avoid this exact pain! But God gently showed me that I can't hide from pain in this life, because then I would also miss out on love. And loving my dog was worth all the tears.
Jesus says there will be heartaches here on earth. We aren't in heaven yet. So there are still tears, There is sadness and suffering. There is death. There is pain. But Jesus has overcome all this! He brings peace in the midst of our struggles. He is there with us through the pain. I don't know how this part of my story will end, but I thanked God for blessing me with a little best friend these past four years. I told God I trusted Him and that He knew best. The most beautiful part of this painful experience is that God used my love of a sweet white fluffy dog to show me more of who He is and His amazing love for me.
Thank you, Lord when you give, and bless you even more when you take away, for that is when we see you more clearly than ever before. And where we learn that you are enough.
Job 1:21
Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
may the name of the Lord be praised.
As I write this I am on a plane on my way to Omaha to visit my 5 month old niece, a trip I almost cancelled multiple times because my dog has been sick and it has put my life on hold. I had no idea how much I loved this 8 pound Maltese until I watched him start to slowly die; it just broke my heart. I asked God to either heal him or please take him, quickly. But He did neither. I had to face the unknown every day, and it was almost too much for me to handle as I struggled with the lack of control I had over the situation.
Day by day he got worse. After a bone marrow biopsy and a blood transfusion, he started to improve. But he wasn't quite the same and the effects of the strong medications he was on made him extremely hungry and thirsty. I was up all hours of the night some nights feeding him or taking him to the bathroom. I had a friend come let him out during the day because he started having accidents. I began to have extreme fatigue and often doubted that I even made the right decision to 'save' him. I remember crying in church one week as we sang the song "He gives and takes away...but I still choose to say, Oh, blessed be Your Name." And my eyes were opened to what God was trying to show me. I was hanging onto my sweet dog, and I knew I had to let him go and give him to God. He wasn't mine to keep forever.
Of course this opened the door to many conversations I started having with God about death and why we all die someday. I didn't like death very much and told him so. My heart was hurting so badly and I realized I hadn't cried this much since my divorce 5 years ago. Ironically, I had been protecting myself from relationships to avoid this exact pain! But God gently showed me that I can't hide from pain in this life, because then I would also miss out on love. And loving my dog was worth all the tears.
Jesus says there will be heartaches here on earth. We aren't in heaven yet. So there are still tears, There is sadness and suffering. There is death. There is pain. But Jesus has overcome all this! He brings peace in the midst of our struggles. He is there with us through the pain. I don't know how this part of my story will end, but I thanked God for blessing me with a little best friend these past four years. I told God I trusted Him and that He knew best. The most beautiful part of this painful experience is that God used my love of a sweet white fluffy dog to show me more of who He is and His amazing love for me.
Thank you, Lord when you give, and bless you even more when you take away, for that is when we see you more clearly than ever before. And where we learn that you are enough.
Job 1:21
Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
may the name of the Lord be praised.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
TAKE MY HAND, NOT MY LIFE
WEEK 6 on the sidewalk:
As I look to the right as I'm standing on the sidewalk, this is the billboard that almost seems to stare down onto the planned parenthood building: "Take my hand, not my life."
Today marks the end of the my first 40 days for life. Across the country people have joined in prayer. Prayers to end abortion. Prayers for our doctors. Prayers for the clinic workers. Prayers for the mothers and fathers. Prayers for our nation. Prayers for healing and forgiveness. Prayer for mercy. Prayers for the souls of the unborn babies.
And these prayers have been heard! Many babies have been saved because of the prayers of intercession. It has been so inspiring to see others with the same passion God has placed on my heart.
I want to take a stand for life is because I realize how precious life is...how precious each life is to God. The God of the Universe knows me...He made me in my mother's womb. Just as he knows the day he created me, he also knows when my days here on Earth will be finished. My days may be numbered, but His thoughts about me cannot be numbered! I am grateful to know that my mistakes in life have been forgiven because I have faith in the saving power of Jesus. He is always with those who believe in Him.
One day we will all face our Creator, and every tongue will confess that He is God. If you don't know Abba, God our Father, I encourage you to ask Him to reveal Himself to you. He wants to know you. And knowing Him will change your life.
Psalm 139:13-18
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.
As I look to the right as I'm standing on the sidewalk, this is the billboard that almost seems to stare down onto the planned parenthood building: "Take my hand, not my life."
Today marks the end of the my first 40 days for life. Across the country people have joined in prayer. Prayers to end abortion. Prayers for our doctors. Prayers for the clinic workers. Prayers for the mothers and fathers. Prayers for our nation. Prayers for healing and forgiveness. Prayer for mercy. Prayers for the souls of the unborn babies.
And these prayers have been heard! Many babies have been saved because of the prayers of intercession. It has been so inspiring to see others with the same passion God has placed on my heart.
I want to take a stand for life is because I realize how precious life is...how precious each life is to God. The God of the Universe knows me...He made me in my mother's womb. Just as he knows the day he created me, he also knows when my days here on Earth will be finished. My days may be numbered, but His thoughts about me cannot be numbered! I am grateful to know that my mistakes in life have been forgiven because I have faith in the saving power of Jesus. He is always with those who believe in Him.
One day we will all face our Creator, and every tongue will confess that He is God. If you don't know Abba, God our Father, I encourage you to ask Him to reveal Himself to you. He wants to know you. And knowing Him will change your life.
Psalm 139:13-18
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.
How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
They cannot be numbered!
I can’t even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
you are still with me!
They cannot be numbered!
I can’t even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
you are still with me!
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