a Heart's Ramblings.

" I maintain that a biblically balanced Christian has both a full head and full heart, radiating both… "

In a culture that constantly tells me that I should be doing more... The Bible tells me that this is enough. It’s enough to slow down and forget about keeping up with the Joneses. It’s enough to let the gospel sink deeply and firmly into my soul. It’s enough to teach that gospel to my children, to live it out with my husband, to serve humbly and live quietly and love faithfully. It’s enough, because HE IS ENOUGH. I can use up my life trying to prove my worth, or I can spend my life talking about how worthy He is. In my home, in my writing, and in my relationships. Small and faithful. Because no accomplishment, no dollar amount, no list with all the boxes checked off, will ever fill me the way that Christ does. And so, I’ll believe what He says over any of the rest of it, and I’ll find rest in refusing to indulge the comparison that kills our souls and steals our focus from where it should be. On Him first, and then those loved ones He’s graciously given to us. ...

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. Dear children, let US not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth .  This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence whenever our hearts condemn us.  For God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from Him anything we ask, because we obey His commands and do what pleases Him.  And THIS is His command: to believe in the name of His son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as He commanded us.  Those who obey His commands live in Him, and He in them.  And this is how we know that He lives in us: We know by the Spirit he gave us. 1 John 3:16, 18-20 How do we set our hearts at rest in His presence, even when our hearts seem to condemn us?  Love one another.  Not with words or tongue, but wit...

from Matt 5 - You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. to be balanced out with... chp 6 -  Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them... So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men.  I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.  But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret.  Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you... When you pray, go into your room, close the door and p...

"Ignorance of t he providence of God is the cause of all impatience"  John Calvin

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=1219152351340 Wisdom - knowing God's Words, and intentionally applying it to your life. <- this is how you walk in wisdom.  We must put filter our lives through the Word and put our shoulder to the plow rather than squandering our opportunities.  Try to understand what the will of the LORD is for YOU.  Not just "Lord, Lord!", but he who does what God wills will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  You can't enter the narrow gate and walk the broad path.  "How you walk" is in the Bible, because it DOES matter how you walk. There's a difference between time and opportunities; I may have more time, but I will not have this opportunity. TODAY is the day the Lord has made - let us rejoice and be glad in IT. What can I do be doing/starting that employs the talents and time I've been given to glorify Him or benefit and bring attention to the importance of the people around me? My time is not my own, Jesu...

There is true beauty in singleness. God knows you’re single.  He has placed you in this position for a  purpose .  And God does not ever do anything out of spite. Every intention is out of a pure heart. Take this time to become the woman that the Lord intends for you to be for Him and for your husband. Read  Proverbs 31 .   A beautiful heart and soul will never fade like beauty does. (http://thelegacyladies.com/2014/02/09/dance-with-him/)

God didn't ask for us to be "His Philosophers". No, He asked that we simply be "His Witnesses", witnessing first-account to that which makes it clear that "Christ lives in you", the living Truth in our own lives that He redeems, He gives grace, He grows and brings life, He saves.

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. Let the oppressed see it and be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive! What are God's demands? What does an all-sufficient God, who owns and controls all things, demand from the creature he has made? His demand is great, but it is  not  that we be great, but that we cease to be great in our own eyes and become small that he might appear great. "The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." "It is not the well who need a physician but those who are sick." Jesus has nothing to do for those who insist they are well. He demands something great: that we admit we are not great. This is bad news to the arrogant, but words of honey to the oppressed who have given up their charade of self-sufficiency and are seeking God. For by such he will...

“Stop complaining and start studying what a true man looks like.  Figure out what a God designed guy is and then encourage, challenge and inspire the boys in your life to become Men.”