I had to share this...

One of my favorite bloggers is Ann V. over at Holy Experience. She never ceases to amaze me with the beautiful way she writes about the things of the Lord.

I thought Ann's blog entry for today was especially worth sharing (although almost anything she writes is...I'd encourage you to read through her archives).

"When the Artist captivates, beauty rousing us from lumbering, slumbering ways, we spontaneously desire to emulate His brushstrokes—to walk and create and live like He does. We kindle, wanting to be like the Artist. To co-create beauty and holiness with Him. When the love that exudes, drips, floods from all His work wakes us up, we too fill with a love that is His. What law cannot wring out, gazing at Creator's beauty ignites. Esteeming God as Creator, knowing Him as Painter, Weaver, Poet, the Color-Saturated, Singing, Dancing, Joy-Soaked One, transforms us in the ways we yearn for."

Click here to read the entire entry... (Some soft piano music will come on, so be aware of your speaker volume!)

I don't know Ann personally, but her words minister to me. What an amazing thing that we can use this medium of blogging to touch hearts and lives, pointing them to the One who gave us the gift of language and, more importantly, the gift of His Son.

It's a beautiful, sunny day here in my home city, and I am thankful to be alive and to belong to Christ!

Lake Tahoe and a letter from God...

I just got back from our church's annual Women's Prayer Encounter. A prayer encounter (or prayer summit, as they are often called) is when a group of believers goes away for a few days to seek the Lord and His will for their lives, to worship Him, to draw close to Him in a way that's hard to do back home surrounded by the noise of our daily lives. There's no speaker, just a leadership team of facilitators who meet before each session to pray about how the Spirit will lead our times together. There's lots of worship through song, lots of Scripture, lots of tears, lots of joy! The bond of love that is formed and strengthened with our sisters in Christ is something the world could never hope to understand. Truly a blessing!

So I, along with about 90 other women, went up on Friday to a beautiful conference center right on Lake Tahoe, on the Nevada side, and we couldn't have asked for more beautiful weather or gorgeous scenery. God's creation is stunning!

As part of the day yesterday, we had what's called a "Code of Silence," where we go out for an hour or so and are not to talk to anyone else -- just get alone with God somewhere and see what He wants to say to us. I sat on some steps overlooking the beauty of Lake Tahoe...sparkling blue waters, with the stately pines surrounding it and the majestic mountains off in the distance. It was an amazing backdrop to my time with the Lord...

Speaking of time with the Lord, that is something that I've really neglected lately. I mean, I think of Him throughout the day, and read His Word when I find the time...but had really gotten spiritually lazy and out of the habit of spending focused time with Him and in His Word, just being with Him and listening to Him. I was feeling really convicted about that, and during my quiet time yesterday afternoon, I remembered what I'd recently heard a speaker recommend. She said that often when she's alone with God on a personal retreat, she'll take out her journal and a pen and just ask God to write her a letter, praying that she'll be open to hearing what He wants to say to her. I decided I'd like to try that, so I got my pen out and just prayed that God would show me what He would say to me if He wrote a personal letter just to me.

Before I knew it, the words just started to flow. It wasn't "divine inspiration" or anything mystical like that...just His Spirit prompting me with words from His heart to mine. I know what He wants from me...I just needed to hear it from His perspective! He reminded me of how much I miss out on when I don't spend time with Him each day, and how much He loves me and wants to just "hang out" with me, so I can get to know Him better. After I finished writing, I really felt that I needed to share it with Alice, our lead facilitator, so after last night's session I sought her out and read the letter to her. She felt strongly that it was something that would benefit the other ladies in attendance, and asked me if I would read it at our final session. I had sensed she would ask me to do that, and I was prepared if that's what God wanted me to do!

So today at our final session, Alice asked me to stand and share the letter that God gave me. I wanted it to be an encouragement to all of my sisters there that God desires the same thing from them, and loves them just as much. I was only a little nervous...a few times I noticed my hands starting to shake a little, then I thought about the Spirit just kind of surrounding me like a hug and wasn't nervous anymore. I found out later that my sweet roomie, Cathy, was praying for me while I shared -- I had a suspicion that might have been the case! :-)

Anyway, after the session, so many ladies came up and told me how much they appreciated me sharing the letter, and that God had used it to convict or encourage them. Several ladies asked for copies, so I decided to post the letter here on my blog so that they could come and re-read it and maybe print it out if they want to. I pray that it is an encouragement to you, and that we will all be drawn to desire to spend time with Him more and more, and not to keep Him waiting while we go about our daily lives. He deserves so much more than being put on the back burner, and I pray that I will give Him the position and priority He deserves in my life! Thank you for praying for me in this!

So here's my letter from God. Of course, my version says "Dear Sarah," but I've made it generic so it can apply to any woman who reads it!

God's peace and joy to you,

Sarah <><

______________________________________________________

My Dear One,

You are beautiful to Me. More beautiful than gorgeous lake Tahoe or the majestic pines surrounding it or the snow-dusted mountains in the distance. You are special -- you are Mine, and I make no mistakes. I made no mistakes when I created you, and I am making no mistakes in how I'm allowing the circumstances of your life to play out. I do all things well.

I love you -- so, so much, my darling girl. I know you feel defeated in those areas of your life that seem so hard to change, those habits that are so ingrained in you, those ruts that seem so hard to get out of. But be encouraged, my dear -- I am available. I am here. I want you to come to Me for the strength and motivation you need. I want to help you. But first, you need to come to Me.

Head knowledge alone isn't going to help you change. Neither can you rely on the fumes of past experience with Me. My mercies are new every morning. Each morning that you fail to spend time with Me, you miss out on the "something new" I had for you that day. Make Me a priority, dear one. I am worth it. And when you begin to do this, all the other things will fall into place. You'll have the energy and motivation to do all that I've called you to do. You'll be less inclined to fill your mind with things that crowd My Spirit out. You'll rediscover the joy of your salvation. Just come to Me -- every day; make Me a priority.

It's really as simple as that. Don't try to complicate it with feeling like your time with Me has to be spent a certain way. My Spirit will guide and direct our times together. You only need to come. I long to develop our relationship -- it's what I died for, this privilege of fellowship with you. Yes, you will know Me fully in eternity. But don't miss out on the joy of choosing to know Me better here and now. As the song says, this world is empty, pale, and poor compared to knowing Me.

Don't dwell so much on your failures -- dwell on Me instead, and all those things will fade in the light of Who I am. I love you so much. I long to bless you beyond your wildest dreams with true spiritual blessings in Christ. All I have is yours. I stand ready to give you so much good stuff -- eternally good. All you have to do is ask. Come to Me -- I'm waiting. Don't keep me waiting for long.

Your Faithful God

Jesus is alive!

Happy Resurrection Day, everyone! May your heart be filled with joy as you ponder anew that because Christ died and rose from the grave, we have the awesome gift of forgiveness and eternal life with Him! May your celebrations with family and friends tomorrow be blessed!

And our future will be more wonderful than we can even begin to imagine!

The Love of God

As a writer, I love this last verse of the hymn "The Love of God" --


Could we with ink the ocean fill,












And were the skies of parchment made,












Were every stalk on earth a quill,












And every man a scribe by trade,


















To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.

A moment of grace...

I am not prone to clumsiness. I don't usually drop things, run into things, trip over things, etc. Today, however, I had quite the ungraceful moment!

I'm currently working in our church library on Monday afternoons. Western Seminary from Portland has their Sacramento campus on our church campus, so there are usually several students in the library on Mondays when I come in.

Before I went to the library, I stopped to get a Jamba Juice. A nice, big, fruity smoothie! I was looking forward to drinking it as I worked throughout the afternoon (it's been hot here lately). I came in through the back door of the library, walked through the back room, and up the three little steps into the library itself. It was at this point that something went wrong.

I don't know how it happened, exactly, but as I stepped into the library I fell. It felt like slow motion...and next thing I knew, I was on my knees with my broken Jamba cup in front of me, all the icy, sweet contents in a pile on the carpet. The two students in the library were perfect gentlemen, going to get paper towels to help clean up the mess, and then later, offering to go to Jamba Juice and buy me another drink (how sweet of them).

I was able to laugh about it -- which encouraged me, because if something like that had happened to me in high school, or even college, I would have been mortified! I was only mildly embarrassed, and soon got over it...which shows me how much I've matured since then. I guess there are perks to getting "old" after all!

But the thing that stuck out to me the most was how the two students bought me another drink, even though they don't know me that well and it was no fault of theirs that I had tripped and dropped my drink. It was a moment of grace...something undeserved. It made me think of how many things God has given me, in His grace, that I don't at all deserve. I'm so glad we serve a gracious God!

Keep your eyes open for a moment of grace in your day today!

Chronicles of Narnia...

Andrew and I are planning to see the Narnia movie, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, this Saturday with our friends Michael and Allison. I'm so excited to see this book brought to life on the big screen! I know it's going to be a wonderful movie...

Pastor Bob loved the Chronicles of Narnia series, and read through it annually. After he died, I thought of the passage from the end of the last book, after the main characters have died and are entering heaven. So cool to know that Pastor Bob is living this out now:

"All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on for ever: in which every chapter is better than the one before."

God is so good. How do people get through life without Him?

I love life!

I'm so thankful to the Lord for the gift of life! How wonderful to be able to enjoy this world that He's created, and to have fellowship with sisters and brothers in Christ. I have so much to be grateful for, and I am! Here's just a sampling of all the reasons I have to smile each day. I have...

...the privilege of being God's daughter, of having my sins forgiven and the assurance of a home in Heaven, where I'll be with Him forever!

...an amazing gift of a husband -- Andrew and I have been blessed with a loving, serene relationship. We get along so well...I can't imagine my life without him! I am so grateful for the lack of stress and tension in our home!

...two of the most beautiful cats on the planet, who provide lots of snuggles and opportunities for amusement!

...the chance to own lots of books and have my own mini-library. For a bibliophile like me, that's a definite reason to smile!

...all of my basic needs (food, clothing, shelter) more than amply provided for. Thank you, God!

...opportunities to serve God and others using the gifts and talents He's given me. There's nothing more satisfying than doing something productive that you know will bring God glory!

...the privilege of living in a world where such things as flowers, trees, oceans, and sunsets exist.

...the ability to laugh and have fun with family and friends.

You know, I could go on and on... What makes me smile the most, though, is knowing that God is in control of my life, that everything that happens is part of His perfect plan to make me more like Jesus, and that He makes no mistakes. His will for me is perfect, and who can argue with perfection?

God is so awesome! I don't even care if I come across as too positive, or like I have my head in the clouds...I know evil exists in the world, and that life isn't without its problems, but these things are merely passing shadows. I choose to set my mind on things above (Colossians 3:1-3; Philippians 4:8)!

May your love for life and your joy in living it be ever increasing! :-)

Wait

I'm sure most of us have prayer requests that God has yet to answer with a clear "yes" or "no." This poem has been an encouragement to me, and I have found it to be true in my life that, as the poem talks about, there are wonderful blessings to be found in the waiting!

"Wait"

by Russell Kelfer

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;
quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate...
and the Master so gently said,"Wait."

"Wait? You say wait?" my indignant reply.
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming your Word.

My future and all to which I relate
hangs in the balance and you tell me to wait?
I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign.
Or even a 'no,' to which I'll resign.

You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe,
we need but to ask, and we shall receive.
Lord, I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply."

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate
as my Master replied again, "Wait."
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,
and grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting...for what?"

He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine...
and He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.

I could give all you seek and pleased you would be.
You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me.
You'd not know the depth of My love for each saint.
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint.

You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair;
you'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there.
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me
when darkness and silence are all you can see.

You'd never experience the fullness of love
when the peace of My Spirit descends like a dove.
You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,
but you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

The glow of My comfort late into the night,
the faith that I give when you walk without sight.
The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask
from an infinite God who makes what you have last.

You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,
what it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.
Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,
but oh, the loss, if you lost what I'm doing in you.

So be silent, My child, and in time you will see
that the greatest of gifts is to truly know Me.
And though oft My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still "WAIT".

God is good...

...all the time!

That is a truth that never changes, no matter our circumstances...

I'm so glad we have a good God!

Praising Him today for the gift of life (both physical and spiritual)...and thanking Him that He gives us hope for the future!

Feeling Grateful Today

As I've been going about my day today, I've realized that I tend to take so much routine stuff for granted, things that I just always assume will be there. But today, in light of what's going on in Lousiana and other states, I've been silently thanking the Lord for things like:

• A roof over my head, clothes to wear, and an abundance of food to eat
• Clean water for drinking and bathing
• A reliable postal system
• Being able to go to the bank and make a deposit
• Being able to fill my car with gas (even if it was $2.89 a gallon)
• Reliable electricity
• Having the means to care for and feed my cats

I can't imagine having all this and more yanked out from under me like those people have...I know God would provide and meet our needs, but it would still be traumatic. I wish there was more we could do for those left homeless by this storm.

As the old hymn reminds us, we should "count our blessings, name them one by one." Truly, we don't deserve all the good things God has given us so graciously. This storm also reminds us that earthly possessions are temporary, and helps us fix our eyes on eternity, where we have "an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for us." (1 Peter 1:4) Thank You, Lord!