SUNDAY SONG

Matthew 21:21-22
Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.  If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Mark 11:22-24
“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered.  “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.  Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Well…I had intended on whining in this post. Nice thing to admit, huh? I am discouraged and disappointed about some things right now…things about myself. Part of it is that I had to quit the trainer. My knee caps were sliding and my shoulder was a mess, and after a while of not going to the gym at all I feel better; however, my clothes are getting really tight, and all of my hard work (and it was hard-fought, diligent work) is disappeaing into a giant blob of yuck.  I am considering throwing caution to the wind and going back to the trainer…hardcore…a month or two at a time to see how things go.

Can’t deny how I feel. Then…there is the addition of all the other stress I keep bringing up on this blog.

But, as I started choosing scripture, today, I ended up choosing what I wasn’t really looking to place with the song I’ve chosen. I am not entirely sure they relate that well, but the verses I chose ended up coming up in my search.

I needed them, today. They reminded me of what I am…a tiny human in the grand scheme of things. I am, however, a tiny human in God’s grand scheme of things. He loves me and cares about every minute detail of my life.

He knows I long to be active, healthy and thin (thin doesn’t necessarily mean healthy, after all). He knows my desire for relationships, family and love.  God knows I sincerely long for time that I don’t have to spend with others, helping others and for self-reflection and the studying of His Word…and prayer.

He especially knows that I struggle with believing that I am worthy of any of it.

The wonderful thing about all of it, though, is that God tells me I can ask Him to move mountains, move the relative earth with a bulldozer to create a path for the changes in my life I desire. He will move mountains. He will create opportunities when there seem to be none.  My Heavenly Father is able…to…do…anything…and…everything.

God is who He says he is…and nothing can top His power, His love or His provision.

just yammerin’

I have been wrapping up things at work to end the marking period. I usually get really stressed and loopy around this time: ending one marking period, beginning another, plus the planning, plus immediate grading, plus written and objective test mid-terms, and I am getting a student teacher ready to take over my classes ….which eats away my prep periods.

So, after school, today, I was finishing up essays, and I became so frustrated. I know the time I put into planning, teaching and properly assessing the skills of my kids…they work hard, too. However, I feel like there is a disconnect when I see the product of their efforts.

As I am sitting here winding down, I am thinking : how often does God invest His time and effort ….even the blood and sacrifice of His son, only to have me “perform” as if I have never been instructed. Just as I try to give my students the tools for success, God does the same for us. I am grateful that because of His grace, we do not receive a grade.

Sunday Song

Psalm 37:7-9
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!
Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.

Psalm 46:10
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

Exodus 14:14
The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

I was looking for songs for this Sunday, and I wasn’t really sure what to pick.

Usually, I’ll hear a song during the week that gives me some inspiration, but this wasn’t one of those weeks.

There were times this week that I felt a bit of anxiousness; however, whenever it got bad, I felt a wave of peace. I’ve experienced it before, but I can’t really explain it. It is like a switch is turned off and everything calms.

Being still was something I had to put into practice, but God’s peace enabled it.

So…this song seems to fit my week.

I hope your week reminded you of how God is present in our anxiousness, and that He is faithful to provide His peace…after all, He does want us to “be still,” so that we can focus on Him and know He is at work.

P.S.
If you all could pray about my energy level and ability to get my work done (in addition to getting my house together to sell), I would appreciate it.

Saturday Siiiiiigh….

Doing stuff for work seven days a week and all of the work-related stresses are getting very, very old.

Blessed to have a job, but being treated like a robot isn’t a nice feeling.

Exhausted, and trusting God will answer my prayers and provide for my requests.

Sunday Song

Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Lamentations 3:22-26
Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

I sincerely need this song right now.

That’s all I can say.

Checking in…

Hey…been a weird few weeks: I had a stubborn sinus thing and then my shoulder had some kind of weird strain/pulled muscle thing that took a week to get over…three weeks of yucky.  Sorry that posting has been so infrequent.  Even my planned Proverbs study kind of stopped at Proverbs 4.  Truth be told, work has been crazy.  The prospect of selling my house and moving is the only thing keeping me sane, to be honest.

I also haven’t felt like writing much, in fact, this is the first day in well over a week that I’ve even fired up the laptop.  Work has me coming home and vegging out.  Too many changes, mandates that make absolutely no educational sense…not planned out well, either, and well, winter hibernation, I guess.

Writing will begin again, soon.  It is the end of the marking period, and over the next three days, I need to grade 100 essays, 150 other regular assignments that require just about as much brain power as the essays.  Then, I can keep on top of things as the marking period ends in a week.

Hope you all are having a good week.  :)

Happy New Year

I hope 2012 is a great year for you!

I have resolved to accept that I will never be tiny and petite, won’t be perfect, and I resolve to just be patient with myself ….I am going to try to be better to myself.

This year, Lord willing, I will sell my house and move across to my favorite side of the country. Could use lots if prayers on that front.

It is my hope that 2012 is a blessed year for you. God is good, and I am grateful for another year of His love and blessings.

<3

Needed to hear this song, and thought I’d share.

*Sorry there wasn’t a Christmas post.  Not feeling well.

SUNDAY SONG

Ephesians 1:3-9
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ. . .

We could put so many labels on ourselves…many negative ones that would far outweigh the good ones we might attach to ourselves. There is one label that is most important…Child of God.

Blessed obedience

Sorry, I didn’t post a Sunday Song this past weekend.

Life…

Sunday evening, I went to a ladies’ Christmas tea at my church. During the service/lesson time, one of the ladies of the church sang the song I have posted. I’ve heard it a few times before, but the words stuck with me.

Mary was tired, weary and facing a task much bigger than she thought she could withstand. Her task…giving birth to the savior…required a lot of such a young girl. She needed a lot of inner-strength.

She looked to God. She obeyed and looked to God for her strength.

I know I have a lot to learn from this strong young woman.

Luke 1:35-38
And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

And then Mary shows her exhuberent belief and praise when she visited Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist, in Luke 1:46-55
And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their throne and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”