June 25, 2008

The Kingdom of God

(Exodus 19:6) Our obedience sets us apart as the Kingdom of God. God's deliverance is what brought us here and gave us the right to see the Kingdom built up around us.

(1 Chronicles 29:11) The Kingdom Experiences we have are gifts given to us to help us realize our place before God. They are given to us so that we can offer them back to God in praise.

(Psalm 45:6) The Kingdom of God is brought forth not only by our representation of God's grace and compassion, but by our representations of His justice and sacrifice, as well.

(Daniel 4:3) God's Kingdom is eternal and immaterial. We cannot measure it, we can only experience it.

The Kingdom of God is:
  • God's will being done
  • God's glory being proclaimed
  • God's character being displayed

[[ Still not finished! ]]

June 24, 2008

Visions

I think about the waves of time and how they roll across my shoulders.
Thinkin' no clock is gonna get the best of me.
Minutes threaten through the years to carve wrinkles with my tears,
Across the face with straining eyes to see.

They're looking for the peace that passes all understanding, in a world crazed with fear.
They say that I am much too demanding to want a better place than here.
So I'll go unto visions the prophets gave to me and
I'll dream of Heaven, the promise in which I believe.

Outside are dogs and scoffers, well they mock my very soul.
They try to steal the Joy of that promise I own.
But I will not be shaken from the rock that cleaves to me.
I've searched the world and found there's one thing I need.

It's the peace that passes all understanding, in a world crazed with fear.
They say that I am much too demanding to want a better place than here.
So I'll go unto visions the prophets gave to me and
I'll dream of Heaven, the promise in which I believe...

Was made by the Father,
sealed by the blood,
with the promise of Spirit
my victory is won.

Won't no lion catch me sleepin.
No, not on the darkest night.
Can I say the same for you?
Oh can you hear him creeping,
oh he's got you in his sights!
Oh, what are we to do?

Oh, the world is my Jordan.
Someday I'm gonna cross.
Ain't no one gonna look and say this soul is lost.
So I'll do my best, try to tell all the rest.
When the lion roars,
I'm gonna hide behind the cross,
because it's the...

Peace that passes all understanding, in a world crazed with fear.
They say that I am much too demanding to want a better place than here.
So I'll go unto visions the prophets gave to me and
I'll dream of Heaven, the promise in which I believe.
(Jennifer Knapp)

[[tomorrow, i think i might blog about the Kingdom of God and everything God's been speaking to me about it. for now, i'm going to go watch food network and HGTV...]]

June 17, 2008

Reluctantly Beloved : The Book

Here are some sample pages from the book I'm working on. I can't promise that they will look just like this when the book is finished, but you'll get the general idea.

June 16, 2008

"My eyes fear to close
This reckless letting go is hard to bare
On the edge of what I need,
Still I cling to what I see
And what have I there?
I bred my own disaster,
Who have I to blame?
All I need is waiting to be fanned to flame."
jennifer knapp

I hope Jesus knows how grateful I am that He has given me such an incredible mirror-image reminder of Him in human form. It is amazing to me how clearly a person can reflect the character of God when they are teachable and transparent.

As an aside-- I'm praying for a gentle, quiet spirit. I don't think I'm quite there yet, but I can feel God working on me.

Also, I am beginning a new book project. Since venturing into a new, purer form of ministry, God has impressed upon my heart the need for Spirit-led writing. I was actually becoming frustrated that He was not allowing me to write for so long, but today I think He released me and gave me a task bigger than I really would have liked. Be on the look out for it, I'll keep you updated. The tenative title is "Reluctantly Beloved", and I think it will probably include much more than just words (meaning graphic arts, photography, an maybe sketching... all things that I have not even thought about doing in a very, very long time.)

Let's hope God made me talented enough, not just driven enough. haha

June 13, 2008

A break from Music and Marriage talk

Over at the Shlog, Shaun Groves has got a good conversation going about the impact of the Millennial Generation on the Church. Go check it out!

June 12, 2008

Table for Two

I think I'm falling in love with this song, especially the last verse. For realz. With a "z".
Danny and I spent another late night over pancakes,
Talkin' 'bout soccer
And how every man's just the same
We made speculation
On the who's and the when's of our futures
And how everyone's lonely
But still we just couldn't complain
And how we just hate being alone
Could I have missed my only chance?
And now I'm just wasting my time
By looking around
But you know I know better
I'm not gonna worry 'bout nothing
Cause if the birds and the flowers survive
Then I'll make it okay
I'm given a chance and a rock
see which one breaks a window
See which one keeps me up all night and into the day
Because I'm so scared of being alone
That I forget what house I live in
But it's not my job to wait by the phone
for her to call
Well this day's been crazy
But everything's happened on schedule
from the rain and the cold
To the drink that I spilled on my shirt
'Cause You knew how You'd save me
before I fell dead in the garden
And You knew this day
long before You made me out of dirt
And You know the plans that You have for me
And You can't plan the end and not plan the means
And so I suppose I just need some peace
Just to get me to sleep.
caedmon's call

June 03, 2008

prayer + icecream = the way to The Jessicanator's heart.

"Who would have guessed what a few days would bring forth? How can God work His will in me if I am clogged with wishes of my own? Thy will be done.

I was certainly in a state! "Clogged with wishes." I was wishing that my wishes were what God wished, and if my wishes were not what God wished, I wished that I could wish that my own wishes would go away, but the wishes were still there." - Elisabeth Elliot, "Passion and Purity"

“Ima” (The Prodigal’s Mother)

 Birth is the only jubilant end To one life being shared with another. Not so joyous is the letting go that comes after. No one told me what...