a Heart's Ramblings.

 If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world. (C.S. Lewis) How gives The Lord this rest? As my God lives, I’ll tell you, Sloth: he gives his rest Under a yoke—his sweet bequest, Blood-bought, and suited to the back Of every weary saint. The knack Of all our plowing: Jesus makes The weighty burden light, and takes The yoke-beams in his hand, and lifts and carries us. Our works are gifts. And Jesus is the giver. Grace Bought and powers every pace, And every enterprise. Sloth, we were made, and made again, to be Co-makers with the Maker of the world—to see the world above and then to make the world below More beautiful, to learn, to know, And then to make, to shape, adorn, compose, produce, and turn a thorn Into an etching tool—to write, to say What never has been said that way, To sing, to draw, to paint, to build, To stitch and weave until we’ve filled The world with truth. For this...

the simplest of notions can put my heart at so much peace as I think about it's truth.  Bekah told me: Just STOP. Live like you are the branch on a vine... not the vine itself, Anna.   That's not what you are. I'm just a branch.  There is only one life-giving vine, and it's trying to fill me and give me what I need to thrive. I can't thrive, much less breath   all on my own.  There is only one life-giving vine, and it's not me. praise you, Lord.  Precious Lord, YOU are my vine <3  Make my heart the soft, tender heart of a child to rest in YOUR life-giving!

 It’s the desert that dries up our infatuation with worldliness.  And it’s the desert that draws us to the well of the world to come. Jon Bloom

Productivity is effectively stewarding our gifts, talents, time, energy, and (yes... even...) enthusiasm for the good of others and the glory of God... You can do this in full view of others and you can do this when you are all alone.  Productivity is a lifelong pursuit that reaches into every area of who we are and what we do.  One key principle in making our time-management Christian is this: Let love for others be the driver of your disciplined, intentional planning. .. One way to make it practical is to schedule the time both for proactive good in the calling God has given us and reactive good that responds to the urgent needs of others. Without scheduling, we will falter at the proactive; without flexibility, we’ll be unavailable for the reactive. When the gospel floods our soul, and our schedules, and we know deeply that “Christ Jesus has made me his own,” then, in all our imperfections and indiscretions — but alive in faith, powered by the Spirit, and driven by...

The strong are not always vigorous, the wise not always ready, the brave not always courageous, and the joyous not always happy.  There maybe here and there men of iron, to whom wear and tear work no perceptible detriment, but surely the rust frets even these; and as for ordinary men, the Lord knows, and makes them to know, that they are but dust. Knowing by most painful experience what deep depression of spirit means, being visited therewith at seasons by no means few or far between, I thought it might be consolatory to some of my brethren if I gave my thoughts thereon, that younger men might not fancy that some strange thing had happened to them when they became for a season possessed by melancholy; and that sadder men might know that one upon whom the sun has shone right joyously did not always walk in the light. The lesson of wisdom is, be not dismayed by soul-trouble... cast not away your confidence, for it hath great recompense of reward. Even if the enemy's foot b...

Though you have not seen Him, you love Him;   and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him   and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,  for you are receiving the end result of your faith,  the SALVATION of your souls. (1 Peter 1:8-9) It's not an easy task to be in submission to something greater than yourself.  To know reality, understand choices and the consequences of ones that don't line up with the natural order of that reality, to play the rules of the game.  It's easy to know, but not easy to do. It's not an easy task to be in submission to someONE greater than yourself either.  To know He exists as a Creator without a shadow of a doubt from the evidence of the creation.  To know that following His way of "doing life" will ultimately keep you in a better, safer, and happier place throughout your days.  To be in "fear" of Him as you live in obedience to His calling.  But that doesn't ...

Savoring is what I'm trying to do lately.  What I can see, taste, feel... yes, even smell... and learning to be thankful for it all.  I'm an ungrateful person, but I want to learn to see God's goodness to us in every little corner of my life, my home, and the people of them.  Purpose and joy is what I feel I've been losing for some reason, and slowing down to breathe everything in seems to help put thing back into perspective.

"It is during such trough periods, much more than during the peak periods, that it is growing into the sort of creature He wants it to be.  Hence the prayers offered in the state of dryness are those which please Him best...  He wants them to learn to walk and must therefore take away His hand; and if only the will to walk is really there He is pleased even with their stumbles.  Do not be deceived, Wormwood.  Our cause is never more in danger than when a human, no longer desiring, but still intending, to do our Enemy's (God) will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to be vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys ." ( The Screwtape Letters , C.S. Lewis)

"And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."  2 Corinthians 3:18

Thank you.  For letting me know today that I don't have to come to you in strength.   That's why I need you, isn't it?  Because YOU are God... and I am not.  What need would I have for your strength if I could supply my own?  What need would I have for "acknowledging you in all my ways and not leaning on my own understanding" - if I could provide my own faith?  It all comes from you. If there's any part of my shaking heart to see this journey through...                                                                                                                                      ...it must be you. Not...

I need to dance in the kitchen more.  Do a jig with the yamaha piano demo in the living room.  Sing opera with the girls when (shh!) mom's not home.  Play pickaboo around the dining room table, and have a race around the kitchen island.  Do sock wars in the basement and dress up, complete with funny makeup and a cape.  Make smiley face pizzas and bagels.  Draw.  Write.  Read.  Just because the little ones aren't so little anymore doesn't mean much.  You usually just miss out on a liiiiittle more sunggle time, and get a few more tears from the newly-hormonal kiddos than any of the others. Life's just got a different name: it's called  different .  Different is always different, and it brings me to my knees.  It leads me to that place I need to be to rest in the hollow of God's hand and know that He is never different.  He is never-changing, and always-constant.  Thanks to different, I get to see Jesus in light of ...

Christianity is more than a private belief, more than personal salvation.  We must show it as a comprehensive life system that answers all humanity's age-old questions: where did I come from?  Why am I here?  Does life have any meaning and purpose?

Jesus, have mercy on America... and teach how to love, amidst it all. 1 Cor 13 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains,  but have not love, I am nothing.   If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,  but have not love,  I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.   It is not rude , it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs (it forgives ).   Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.   Love never fails... prophecies, will cease... tongues, they will be stilled... knowledge, it will pass away... and now these three re...

6.26.15, Same-Sex Marriage Verdict  "Save me, O God!  For the waters have come up to my neck.  I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me.  I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched.  My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God...  For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me... I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify Him with thanksgiving.  This will please the Lord more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs.  When the humble see it, they will be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive. For the Lord hears the needy and does not despise His own people who are prisoners.   Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and everything that moves in them.   For God will save Zion and build up the cities of Judah, and people shall dwell there and possess it; the offspring of His servan...

Prov 20:4 - A sluggard does not plow in season; so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing. Am I plowing in season?  What am I not doing (or doing, but as a hindrance to doing what I should be) right now in this season that will give me "something to find" when the harvest time rolls around?  How am I preparing for what God has told me "later, but not now"? Prov 20:5 - The purposes of a mans heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out. Am I drowning (wasting my life) in deep waters of purposes and "maybes" or "somedays" rather than wisely putting them into action by seeking Gods big-picture purpose, finding out the purposes that are from HIM, and seeking Him to help me carry them out?  Prov 19:21: "Many are the plans in a mans heart, but it is the LORDs purpose that prevails." Prov 20:24 - A mans steps are directed by The Lord.  How then can anyone understand his own way? It's actually ok, Solomon s...

Standing on the promises of God.  When confused, worried, discouraged.  He is a rock to those who find refuge in Him! Jer 29:11  For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Rom 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Rom 8:38 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,   39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Peter 4:10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. Ephesians 5:15-17 Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise,  making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.   Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Galatians 6:3-4 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.  4 But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. John 13:7 Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." Starting in Romans 9:20 On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it?  21 Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for ...

It is well, with my soul. "Say to the righteous, that it shall be well with them." (Is. 3:10) "...God's shalls must be understood always in their largest sense. From the beginning to the end of the year, from the first gathering of evening shadows until the daystar shines, in all conditions and under all circumstances, it will be well with the righteous. It is so well with him that we could not imagine it to be better, for he is well fed; he feeds upon the flesh and blood of Jesus. He is well clothed; he wears the imputed righteousness of Christ. He is well housed; he dwells in God. He is well married; his soul is joined in the bonds of marriage union to Christ; He is well provided for; the Lord is his Shepherd He is well endowed; heaven is his inheritance. It is well with the righteous - well upon divine authority.  The mouth of God speaks the comforting assurance.  Beloved, if God declares that all is well, ten thousand devils may declare it to be ...

"Record my lament; list my tears on your scroll -  are they not in your record? " Petra is yours, Father.  All that you will to be redeemed, you redeem.

Thoughts as Bekah and I talk about her KBR conference session... You , O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.  As for God, His way is perfect... and it is He who makes MY way perfect.  He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him, and gives me His shield of VICTORY as His right hand sustains me.  Our faith was meant to be held up as our shield, "with which we can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one". (Eph. 6:16) 2 Samuel 22:36 You make your saving help my shield; your help has made me great. Oh, how David understood faith!  The grace and saving help  that God gave to give us an eternal hope, and continues to give us each day of our journey.  The shield that He arms us with to stand against the devil's schemes and intent to pull us back into the mire of our own self-will.  The faith that He gave to bring LIGHT into our hearts, and the faith that can move mountains and throw them into the sea. ...