Precious

I'm thankful for friends and family and encouragement I have gotten lately just from different conversations. I love being able to talk with friends about life and how we see the Lords goodness and faithfulness in our own lives and others'. Today I'm specifically thankful for a text from a friend I got recently to read Isaiah 43... Let me preface the verses by telling you the definition of an important word in those verses: precious- defined by Webster as...
1.  : of great value or high price <precious jewels>

2

: highly esteemed or cherished precious

 friend>

3

: excessively refined : affected <precious manners>

4

: great, thoroughgoing precious

 scoundrel>

I love that the very first definition is if great value or high price. The reason I am thankful for these today is that I needed to be reminded of how Christ loves me and calls me His own and I am precious in his sight- which means I am of great value/high price/highly esteemed or cherished. I, a sinner, of no worth if left to my self, am called precious in the God of the universe, the king of kings' sight. Why does this affect me today? Because I am more and more aware of my brokenness and need of a Savior. I am weak in my faith and in my flesh, that left alone I can't go on. But The Lord has said- 

Fear not for I have redeemed you I have called you by name you are mine. When you pass through the waters I will be with you. And through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you. When you walk through fire you shall not be burned, the flame shall not consume you. For I am The Lord your God the holy one of Israel your savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and seba in exchange for you. Because you are PRECIOUS in my eyes and honored and I love you, I give men in return for you, ppl in exchange for your life. Fear not for I am with you. 

good verses

ps37- do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. the salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; He is their stronghold in times of trouble. the Lord helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him. ps13-how long must i wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorry in my heart? look on me and answer me o Lord my God. but i trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. i will sing to the Lord, for He has been good to me.

catching up

i think that should be my blog post title each time, due to the lack of posting i've been doing lately. tonight i find myself getting under the covers before 9:30, reading my Bible, and thumbing through OLD journal entries from my time as a counselor one summer at K-Colorado (camp KIVU), and reading some of my old blog entries. i am amazed at how much i write. i have always enjoyed writing, but there are some days from this blog and in my journals that i think- why did i write that? but i am glad i've recorded as much as a i have. it is awesome to look back and see God's faithfulness and plan and perfect timing unfold in my life.
my heart, as is with so many, is heavy over what happened friday morning in newtown,CT. all day yesterday and today i've had fox news on in my room at work. occasionally, i would change it to kelly/michael live or the food network- but i couldn't help thinking how the world continues to move on and the focus will slowly move away from that tiny town in connecticut that just experienced one of the worst school shootings in our nation's history which left 20 elem school children dead and families torn apart. my mind is blown away by what has happened. my hope and strength through the past few days has come through the Bible and the promises of the only hope and God capable of giving comfort and peace.

in my journal from camp i came across these 2 quotes which i found encouraging at that time:
"the things we fear (pain, failure, disgrace, rejection, limitations) are ultimately some of our finest teachers, educating us in compassion, grace, wisdom, and understanding."
"A calmer faith- that's the quiet place within us where we don't get whiplash everytime life tosses us a curve, when we don't revolt when HIS plan and ours conflict. where we relax in the midst of our answerless season. when we accept (and expect) deserts in our spiritual journey as surely as we do joy.
my most painful experiences have given me my greatest strength and fiber- what i most needed to mature...through them I was forced to rely on the LORD, deal with reality for what it was, defer reward- in short, quit griping and grow up. the very things i hated have been the making of me".

amazed

if you have not read this story, you need to. i am amazed by this woman's story and GOD's writing and orchestrating every single part of it and His faithfulness- and her recognition that it is GOD's story- He is the author of her life. : http://www.herpassionministries.com/story/.
one of her references from the Word comes from isaiah 61 which says-
"The spirit of GOD the Master is on me because GOD anointed me. He sent me to preach good news to the poor, heal the heartbroken, announce freedom to all captives, pardon all prisoners. God sent me to announce the year of his grace- a celebration of God's destruction of our enemies- and to comfort all who mourn...to care for the needs of all who mourn in ZION, give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes, messages of joy instead of news of doom, a praising heart instead of a languid spirit...your inheritance in the land will be doubled and your joy go on forever...
I will sing for joy in GOD, explode in praise from deep in my soul! HE dressed me up in a suit of salvation, He outfitted me in a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom who puts on a tuxedo and a bride a jeweled tiara. for as the earth bursts with spring wildflowers, and as a garden cascades with blossoms, so the Master, GOD, brings righteousness into full bloom and puts praise on display before the nations."
these verses are encouraging to me today- her story and ministry is encouraging to me. in the midst of pain and suffering, God promises beauty for ashes.
last thing- i love what she says in her story on her website "I have learned that God places us exactly where He wants us, to grow us and to share Him with the world!"