Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all...

Sometimes all I can think about is how much this hurts and how I'll ever get through this. It seems impossible, but I know the Lord is the strength of my heart forever. My sacrifices are nothing when I think about Christ giving His life for me and for the whole world.

Joy that lasts

My family, my friend Karen and me all went out to eat this year for Thanksgiving at Golden Corral. Not knowing what to expect at this Thanksgiving, every thing that happened throughout the day was a true blessing. We all set our coats and things down at a table and braved the crowds at the various buffet stations throughout the restaurant.

Walking up to get my traditional slice of turkey, I waited in line until it was my turn to tell the nice man if I preferred ham or turkey. I looked right at the man serving everyone, smiled at him, and asked for a slice of turkey. He just stared at me for a second with a slightly baffled look, and asked, "Well, why are you so happy today?" I hadn't even noticed the joy on my face, but I simply replied, "God is just so good!" I wasn't afraid to tell a complete stranger the honest truth! The man didn't say anything back, but I just walked away feeling amazed at the level of peaceful joy I've been experiencing in the last week. It's like a joy I've never known before, in the midst of hardship. I love my Creator so much, and I guess I can't help but show it on my face because of everything He has done for me. I can't get over His goodness, I can't get over how much He loves me, as broken and sinful as I am. He is beautiful.

The Day of Thanks

"For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."
-2 Corinthians 5:21

That alone, we should be thankful for! God knows all of our suffering and pain, but He loves us so much and wants us to live a life of knowing Him. I am thankful that I know Him, and that He saved me, and now I can spend the rest of my life on this earth serving Him, and spend eternity bowing at His feet.

When we turn our hearts to just be thankful about everything, we will have a different outlook on life. Suddenly, we wouldn't say, "Woe is me. Why are You doing this to me, God??" But when we truly cultivate a thankful spirit, we can thank Him for even the trials in our life because they bring us closer to Him.

Today, we are having an unexpected guest, a surprise and blessing that the Lord granted at our table this year. I'm excited to see how He will use this.

I love Tricia's post today. I have some really great friends in my life, who are mad to live, and mad to live for Jesus. I am thankful for each one of them, exactly the way God has made them. I am thankful (times a million!) for these friends who care and love so much, who each one of them displays Christ in different ways. We are all little Christ's to each other, everywhere we go. Not just because it's Thanksgiving, but be thankful. Be thankful everyday for all the things that God places in your life. Each one of them has a purpose. And He's got a master plan.

mmmkay

Just for a change of pace, here's a really shallow post, and you can ignore this if you want, but I just want to say.....

that Redken is seriously the best shampoo. Bam. I said it.



I ran out of it a couple weeks ago, and yes it is slightly pricey. So I had been using another kind which made my hair really dry, yet oily at the same time. So while shopping today, I broke down and bought some when I saw that there was a really good sale for the shampoo purchased with the conditioner. My hair feels amazing today.

Just had to say. :)

My Foundation

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

-Isaiah 40: 28-31

I am showing my love for Him by obeying Him, even if what He asks us to do seems difficult and mind-boggling. I love Him.

God, You are so, so faithful. Help me to trust You, be my Rock, show Yourself to me. I want to gaze at Your indescribable beauty forever!

Memory verses

These are the verses I'm working on memorizing this week. If you think of it, please ask me how it's going! :)

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
-Philippians 4:8

"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."
-Ephesians 4:29

Waters rose as my doubts reigned
My sand-castle faith, it slipped away
Found myself standing on your grace
It'd been there all the time

I've been listening to Caedmon's Call the last couple days non-stop, and have been really blessed by these words. I'm working on turning my heart more towards the Lord, and I want to fill my mind and heart with His words. I can't believe how much He loves a sick sinner like me!