Monday, November 3, 2008
thoughts on my heart
I have decided to revisit a very sweet book that ministered to me several years ago. The Beloved Disciple by Beth Moore. It was a source of inspiration and as always I believe the Lord draws us to certain works to pull out of us what He means to use in your next season of life. Today is no different for me. Before the last year of my life I was in an attitude of "again today" mindset. Head down, blinders on and lets just "do life". God has through miraculous means stripped me of sinful ways of thinking. He has brought Isaiah 32:1-2 in to my life and reminded me that with Him reigning in my life I can live more than just "again today" I can as the scriptures say become a refuge, a shelter, a stream of LIVING water and like the shade of a huge rock!
"Behold a king will reign righteously, and princes will rule justly. And each (you and me) will be like a refuge from the wind, and a shelter from the storm, like streams of water in a dry country, like the shade of a huge rock in a parched land." Isaiah 32:1-2
That like I said, I have been revisiting the book The Beloved Disciple and could not help but share with you hoping to encourage you today as it most definitely encouraged me.
"Oh, beloved, isn't that exactly like Him? Jesus walks right up, catches us in the act of being - again today - exactly who we were yesterday, and offers to turn our routine into adventure. Hallelujah! Have you allowed Christ to do that for you? IF you're bored with life and stuck in a rut of routine, you may have believed in Christ, but you may not yet have agreed to follow Him. Christ is a lot of things, but boring? Not on your life!~ You don't necessarily have to leave behind what you do if He proves your present course to be His will, but I assure you He will have you leave the boredom and routine of it behind. When Jesus Christ takes over our lives, things get exciting! Consider where you are in this present season of your life. Keep in mind that even our "spiritual" or religious practices can become very routine. Also keep in mind that living in what we'll call the Great Adventure doesn't mean you don't have challenges or even times of suffering, but it means that you can "see" and take part in the breathtaking work of Christ in your life."
What a great perspective. At times I am apt to toss my hands up and just let it go, you fill in the blank to what "it" is in the phrase let it go. We are called to live intentional lives of purpose. That Christ desires to see His children live to their full potential. I heard it put yesterday that Christ is heart broken to see His children sidelining themselves! I cannot imagine the heartache I would have if Cade or Ainsley, with every potential to be great, sidelined themselves to the blah attitude of again today-. Not for me and definitely not for you. Echoing Beth Moore's heart beloved we are made for more than that. I am encouraged to pray right now that Christ reign rightly over my heart and that I step in to my potential of being the refuge, shelter, streams of water, and shade for those that according to Christ's will He has placed around me.
I will leave you with a prayer from another book that I love and have quoted before, The Signature of Jesus by Brennan Manning.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, we pray that our faith experience of you keep pace with our credal statements about you. Grace us with the courage to pray. Annoint us with the spirit of compassion that we may be poor with those that are poor, mourn with those who mourn, enter into the struggle of our generation for social justice, treat others as we would like to be treated. We pray for the courage to risk everything on you. To be with you in faithfulness. Amen
Love to you today,
Cari
"Behold a king will reign righteously, and princes will rule justly. And each (you and me) will be like a refuge from the wind, and a shelter from the storm, like streams of water in a dry country, like the shade of a huge rock in a parched land." Isaiah 32:1-2
That like I said, I have been revisiting the book The Beloved Disciple and could not help but share with you hoping to encourage you today as it most definitely encouraged me.
"Oh, beloved, isn't that exactly like Him? Jesus walks right up, catches us in the act of being - again today - exactly who we were yesterday, and offers to turn our routine into adventure. Hallelujah! Have you allowed Christ to do that for you? IF you're bored with life and stuck in a rut of routine, you may have believed in Christ, but you may not yet have agreed to follow Him. Christ is a lot of things, but boring? Not on your life!~ You don't necessarily have to leave behind what you do if He proves your present course to be His will, but I assure you He will have you leave the boredom and routine of it behind. When Jesus Christ takes over our lives, things get exciting! Consider where you are in this present season of your life. Keep in mind that even our "spiritual" or religious practices can become very routine. Also keep in mind that living in what we'll call the Great Adventure doesn't mean you don't have challenges or even times of suffering, but it means that you can "see" and take part in the breathtaking work of Christ in your life."
What a great perspective. At times I am apt to toss my hands up and just let it go, you fill in the blank to what "it" is in the phrase let it go. We are called to live intentional lives of purpose. That Christ desires to see His children live to their full potential. I heard it put yesterday that Christ is heart broken to see His children sidelining themselves! I cannot imagine the heartache I would have if Cade or Ainsley, with every potential to be great, sidelined themselves to the blah attitude of again today-. Not for me and definitely not for you. Echoing Beth Moore's heart beloved we are made for more than that. I am encouraged to pray right now that Christ reign rightly over my heart and that I step in to my potential of being the refuge, shelter, streams of water, and shade for those that according to Christ's will He has placed around me.
I will leave you with a prayer from another book that I love and have quoted before, The Signature of Jesus by Brennan Manning.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, we pray that our faith experience of you keep pace with our credal statements about you. Grace us with the courage to pray. Annoint us with the spirit of compassion that we may be poor with those that are poor, mourn with those who mourn, enter into the struggle of our generation for social justice, treat others as we would like to be treated. We pray for the courage to risk everything on you. To be with you in faithfulness. Amen
Love to you today,
Cari
ORANGE....POWER!!!
It has taken me forever to upload some of the fun we have been up to in the last month, so today I am "updating" our lives! This is a fun pic from going to Oklahoma State Homecoming! We had an unbelievable time. I LOVE going back to Stillwater and visiting Amma and Pa and of course my beloved OSU!!! Homecoming did not disappoint this year and we hit all the hot spots...had a chili cheese coney at Coney Island, viewed some incredible house decs and walked through the always beautiful Kappa Delta house, took in the Homecoming Parade downtown, and grabbed a cup of coffee at my favorite coffee shop Aspen Coffee House, had a pizza from Hideaway Pizza on Library Lawn, and walked through the Alumni Center and learned the history behind Pistol Pete (very cool)! I have to brag on my Nu Chapter Kappa Dees, we won sweepstakes for Homecoming this year with the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity (a huge victory in the life of any Greek organization on campus on many levels - philanthropy, community involvement, and of course fun!). That makes me so proud to know that something I was a part of in college is still pursuing excellence! We also got to see the UNBELIEVABLE new stadium, beautiful. And how proud I am of our #9 Cowboys!!!
And of course we had a wonderful time with Amma and Pa. It was a sweet time as a family and something that I always enjoy, and especially now with Toby, Cade and Ainsley. It is so special to share that with my family now, it was a wonderful place to go to college and the most precious friends came out of that unique time in my life. Hope you enjoy the pics and taste of OSU Homecoming! Go Pokes!!!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
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