I cry, Father, Father, forgive me
Monday, June 30, 2008
Musical Monday
I cry, Father, Father, forgive me
Posted by Brianna at 9:22 AM 5 comments
Labels: Forgiveness, God's truth, Love, Musical Monday, Trusting Him
Friday, June 27, 2008
Please check this out...
SEEK HIS FACE WITH ME!
LOVE~BRIANNA
Posted by Brianna at 10:57 AM 4 comments
Labels: Just for fun..., The Rebelution
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Loving Others...
One of the books I've been reading is called "Being a Girl Who Loves" by Shannon Kubiak Primicerio. This book has been very thought provoking for me personally. Today I was reading a chapter entitled "Every Hour of Every Day." The author described how challenging it is to continue in love, since "if you are anything like me, your attitudes of self-sacrifice and service are short-lived (pg 88)." She compares our "supply" of love to a car's fuel tank, and throughout this chapter, she talks about the need to go to Christ to refuel when our love has run dry. Below is a section which I found helpful.
Look at how John describes himself in John 21:20: "Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His breast at the supper, and said, 'Lord, who is the one who betrays you?'"
Verse 24 confirms that John is talking about himself here. But think about that for a moment. Instead of simply saying, "Peter turned and saw me" or "Peter turned and saw John," it says Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved, the one who had leaned on Jesus' breast. John was known as the disciple who loved....It was common for John to operate on a full love tank. After all, he was the "beloved disciple."
In 1 John 4:7-8 he tells us: "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born on God and knows God." He's also the one who told us in John 3:16 that "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life."
...John was a disciple who loved because he knew how much he was loved. Early on--commentators and theologians say when he was just a teenager, not older than fifteen or sixteen--John learned the art of leaning back on Jesus' breast. He learned the art of intimacy with Christ, always going straight to the Lord to fill his love tank. And when people asked him who he was, he answered, "I'm the disciple Jesus loves."
Knowing that--and basking in it--kept John's love tank full. And with a full love tank he was able to love others more effectively. Those who know how much they are loved love much. Do you know how much you are loved?
This was a challenge to me personally; too many times, I grow lazy in loving others. Sometimes I just don't try because it's too hard. Sometimes I rely on my own strength...and I KNOW that doesn't work! But if I choose to focus on how Christ loved/loves me, this will motivate me to respond in love, even when my natural reaction is to respond in irritation or frustration.
SEEK HIS FACE WITH ME!
LOVE~BRIANNA
Posted by Brianna at 9:22 AM 5 comments
Labels: Living for Him, Love, Serving, Trusting Him
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Thankful Thursday
Today I read Ps 138, and as I read, I noticed many things which I should be very grateful for.
Verses 1-3: "I will give You thanks with all my heart; I will sing Your praise before the heavenly beings. I will bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name FOR YOUR CONSTANT LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS. You have exalted Your name and Your promise above everything else."
Verse 3 is awesome: "On the day I called, You answered me; You increased strength within me."
Verses 4-6: "All the kings on earth will give You thanks, Lord, when they hear what You have promised. They will sing of the Lord's ways, for the Lord's glory is great. Though the Lord is exalted, He takes note of the humble; but He knows the haughty from afar."
I also see a challenge to humility in these verses. A haughty attitude distances me from a close relationship with God! But a humble attitude draws God's attention; He "takes note" of that kind of attitude.
Verses 7-8 conclude this Psalm:"If I walk in the thick of danger, You will preserve my life from the anger of my enemies. You will extend Your hand; Your right hand will save me. The Lord WILL FULFILL HIS PURPOSE FOR ME. Lord, Your love is eternal; do not abandon the work of Your hands."
That's a lot to be thankful for!
LOVE~BRIANNA
Posted by Brianna at 8:57 AM 6 comments
Labels: Thankful Thursday
Monday, June 16, 2008
Musical Monday
Beneath the Cross of Jesus
by Elizabeth C. Clephane, 1830-1869
I fain would take my stand,
the shadow of a mighty rock
within a weary land;
a home within the wilderness,
a rest upon the way,
from the burning of the noontide heat,
and the burden of the day.
Upon that cross of Jesus
mine eye at times can see
the very dying form of One
who suffered there for me;
and from my stricken heart with tears
two wonders I confess:
the wonders of redeeming love
and my unworthiness.
I take, O cross, thy shadow
for my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than
the sunshine of his face;
content to let the world go by,
to know no gain nor loss,
my sinful self my only shame,
my glory all the cross.
SEEK HIS FACE WITH ME!
LOVE~BRIANNA
Posted by Brianna at 10:32 AM 2 comments
Labels: Musical Monday
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Thankful Thursday
SEEK HIS FACE WITH ME!
LOVE~BRIANNA
Posted by Brianna at 11:29 AM 7 comments
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Trusting Him...
Sooo...lately I've started thinking about trusting God...and I read these really cool verses on the subject yesterday.
Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion. It cannot be shaken; it remains forever. Jerusalem--the mountains surround her. And the Lord surrounds His people, both now and forever.Isn't that so encouraging? If I trust God, I "cannot be shaken..." Ultimately, I cannot be defeated because God is on my side! In fact, He "surrounds" me! No matter what happens, if I trust in God, I can have peace and confidence, knowing that He is in control. He will not allow anything into my life that won't be for my ultimate good. Thank you Lord!
Psalm 125:1-2
BTW...here is link to a great article I read today on the Rebelution website:
A Lesson From the Vikings: Do Hard Things
LOVE~BRIANNA
Posted by Brianna at 9:04 AM 2 comments
Labels: Living for Him, Trusting Him
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Thankful Thursday
~18 years of life~
~18 years of being raised by two godly parents~
~15 years with a great brother~
~The many wonderful friends who helped me celebrate this past week~
~CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE CAKE!!!~
~13 years of sound education~
~13 years attending a sound, bible-teaching church~
So...this morning I am lying in my bed (my cat lounging besides me)...and I see my brother peeking through my door. Then my family bursts through my door, Caleb vigorously clanging a ceramic pot with a huge spoon (this thoroughly traumatizes our cat, who races as fast as he can out of my room! :-).
Then they all start to sing to me (of course, at every pause in the song, Caleb clangs the pot again). I opened my presents, and then headed out to the kitchen to eat my mom's chocolate chip pancakes. For lunch, we all went out to lunch with our friend Ms. Deena, and then we came home and ate the CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE CAKE that Ms. Deena brought...it was AMAZING!!!!
We finished up by watching Anne of Green Gables and then going to church that evening. Over all, it was a very special day!
Thank you God for birthdays, family, friends, and chocolate!!
SEEK HIS FACE WITH ME!
LOVE~BRIANNA
Posted by Brianna at 4:09 PM 13 comments
Labels: Thankful Thursday
Monday, June 2, 2008
Musical Monday
by Isaac Watts
Join all the glorious names
Of wisdom, love, and pow'r,
That ever mortals knew,
That angels ever bore:
All are too poor
to speak His worth,
Too poor to set my Savior forth.
Great Prophet of my God,
My tongue would bless Thy name:
By Thee the joyful news
Of our salvation came,
The joyful news
of sins forgiv'n,
Of hell subdued and peace with heav'n.
Jesus, my great High Priest,
Offered His blood and died;
My guilty conscience seeks
No sacrifice beside;
His pow'rful blood
did once atone
And now it pleads before the throne
Thou art my Counselor,
My Pattern, and my Guide,
And Thou my Shepherd art;
O keep me near Thy side:
Nor let my feet
e'er turn astray
To wander in the crooked way.
My Savior and my Lord,
My Conqu'ror and my King,
Thy scepter and Thy sword,
Thy reigning grace, I sing:
Thine is the pow'r;
behold I sit
In willing bonds beneath Thy feet.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wow, I've sung that hymn many times, but I've never thought about all the words! Writing them down makes you hear each line...and this hymn is definitely worth hearing! What a strong message! I love the part that says that all the glorious names are "too poor to set my Savior forth." I also love the line that says "His pow'rful blood did once atone/And now it pleads before the throne." Isn't that fact so amazing?? He pleads for US! The part that says that Christ is our "Pattern" and "Guide" is also challenging...I'm supposed to copy Him, just like someone would follow a pattern when sewing a dress. My mom loves the very last line of this hymn: "behold I sit in willing bonds beneath Thy feet." That is REALLY challenging to me! I need to willingly and TOTALLY submit myself to Him!! And after reading this hymn and seeing how awesome, gracious, and powerful He is, I realize that I owe Him my allegiance and service! Wow! Thanks for this reminder and lesson, God.
SEEK HIS FACE WITH ME!
LOVE~BRIANNA
Posted by Brianna at 3:59 PM 1 comments
Labels: Musical Monday