tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27678468315634985132024-03-06T00:32:31.558-05:00Broken and RedeemedSharing Truth, Transforming Heartskhusebyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09158512293355186164noreply@blogger.comBlogger210125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767846831563498513.post-75101680512670143062020-03-23T08:30:00.000-04:002020-03-23T08:30:05.476-04:00A Parable for Perilous Times<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4_0hzRsHFqgKJJ-IhSr5Cr7uWfZWyr6SrezsiFjQY5xFsjdyitLoJidWmPnxI39nWxnS-5k5Q1pXNqoljNRk9v2DiLD2KVTUt9pY9SVR3AKQYnNTJ6ApKJo5ycf0BlgzKAKfijxdNF1s/s1600/tree-3822149_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4_0hzRsHFqgKJJ-IhSr5Cr7uWfZWyr6SrezsiFjQY5xFsjdyitLoJidWmPnxI39nWxnS-5k5Q1pXNqoljNRk9v2DiLD2KVTUt9pY9SVR3AKQYnNTJ6ApKJo5ycf0BlgzKAKfijxdNF1s/s320/tree-3822149_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The trees were happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They were content; they had beautiful green leaves for most of the year
and fruit in the fall. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They loved to
praise one another for their splendor. Birds built nests and children climbed high
up into their branches to pick the fruit. The trees loved to hear their
laughter as it echoed throughout the forest. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a peaceful and serene place and the
trees stood tall and proud in their beauty.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Although they didn’t know it, disaster was just around the
corner.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It started small.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just a few weeks without any rainfall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The trees told one another that it couldn’t last but a few weeks turned
into months and months turned into years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The birds stopped building nests and children no longer came to climb in
their branches.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0XkXm-GPW7eYBTLJVZW6Vya4qwX1F9wI4XaX5Ex6rLCgm5OtK7POMgyeEGSQK4qLBCzgqBMUSkWQVO_7NGmZAVaqNpxuq2XGbaKPcEEWYE0AREL6U2REH2XixrZKtR4clcbtMIoiWi2J/s1600/desert-1305049_1280.jpg+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="1280" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0XkXm-GPW7eYBTLJVZW6Vya4qwX1F9wI4XaX5Ex6rLCgm5OtK7POMgyeEGSQK4qLBCzgqBMUSkWQVO_7NGmZAVaqNpxuq2XGbaKPcEEWYE0AREL6U2REH2XixrZKtR4clcbtMIoiWi2J/s320/desert-1305049_1280.jpg+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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They became only shadows of their previous selves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their leaves turned brown and died and they
couldn’t even remember when the last time was that they had produced even one
tiny piece of fruit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their branches
began to shrivel, and they knew all it would take to topple them would be a
tiny gust of wind.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon whispers began
to spread among the trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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There was one tree in the forest that was not like all the
other dying trees. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Word was, this tree
had beautiful green leaves and continued to produce fruit, not just in the fall
but all year round.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How could this be? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trees wondered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How could this tree be so different from them,
after all it was experiencing the same drought as they were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What secret did it possess?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trees reasoned that if this tree could flourish
in the middle of the hardest drought they had ever known, than maybe they could
too. So the trees in the forest began to pressure the surrounding trees to discover the flourishing tree's secret.<o:p></o:p></div>
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One of the trees close by, finally got up the courage to ask
the thriving tree what his secret was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Why were his leaves so green?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How
could he produce fruit ALL THE TIME?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQGr2skwkM5GugjH6hUlhUeVCRaJ6aB6YgE-UZCjCXdxXaSM9dU_7ViSV_p2TwEmk7WOcS1kqSvi7YM9HFv-aMg9pR_As3SkqQ1MH9ZDMDNbYWugskyu8MHqzcRioO5D3B0S1KCGtB7oq-/s1600/oranges-1117628_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQGr2skwkM5GugjH6hUlhUeVCRaJ6aB6YgE-UZCjCXdxXaSM9dU_7ViSV_p2TwEmk7WOcS1kqSvi7YM9HFv-aMg9pR_As3SkqQ1MH9ZDMDNbYWugskyu8MHqzcRioO5D3B0S1KCGtB7oq-/s320/oranges-1117628_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The tree replied, “It isn’t a secret. My roots just run down deep into the
water. The hidden water which you can’t
see but runs deep below the forest floor.
This water runs pure and clean even in drought and it satisfies my
thirst and produces continual fruit in me." <br />
<br />
"But let me just tell," the tree continued. "If you want this too, it won’t be easy,
letting your roots run down deep, takes perseverance, focus and plain hard
work. It’s so much easier to settle for
the easy rainwater on the surface. But I’ve
discovered something, the hard work of letting my roots run deep into the
living water, is where I’ve found life and hope and peace. And when the drought comes and the long
months of heat linger on, I have nothing to fear.” </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zoJ2ZBxVV9yQoGRi85IFSMcob2bXukdlqjJgg5XzJwco33PC2-VHwDFL5aUot_jFp9nosXQ5YckVrSvIXABMis2GkP05_gIFEDtoTcxAwtg-cIHPH_U2zWKrNBWZW0LFczvbiC1i7tuy/s1600/valley-4929332_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zoJ2ZBxVV9yQoGRi85IFSMcob2bXukdlqjJgg5XzJwco33PC2-VHwDFL5aUot_jFp9nosXQ5YckVrSvIXABMis2GkP05_gIFEDtoTcxAwtg-cIHPH_U2zWKrNBWZW0LFczvbiC1i7tuy/s320/valley-4929332_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>This is what the Lord says: “Cursed are those who put
their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts
away from the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are like
stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will live in the barren wilderness, in an
uninhabited salty land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But blessed are
those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and
confidence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are like trees planted
along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such trees are not bothered by the heat or
worried by long months of drought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their
leaves stay green and they never stop producing fruit.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jeremiah 17.5-8<o:p></o:p></div>
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Spilling His Grace,</div>
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<br /></div>
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kristi</div>
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khusebyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09158512293355186164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767846831563498513.post-77052021806053957022017-08-13T19:33:00.002-04:002017-08-13T19:33:21.317-04:00Roller Coaster Journey<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Gadugi",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made
the Lord their hope and confidence.</span></i></b><i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Gadugi",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"> They are like
trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.</span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Gadugi",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"> Jeremiah
17.7-8</span><span style="font-family: "Gadugi",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQzUy8Nbu-KaFXZqIgcsdJjP0fU77qDu88qhIpkIdxBHzZXf9CvQBnsWaRUBK8HDo7yJWm0xLLeJG2gL1E6nUQWKArabGBZ0LL7SCEIG9omufm7W3UAcW4fVssgN2ivAgSgotbHFGM9BCZ/s1600/rollercoaster-801833_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQzUy8Nbu-KaFXZqIgcsdJjP0fU77qDu88qhIpkIdxBHzZXf9CvQBnsWaRUBK8HDo7yJWm0xLLeJG2gL1E6nUQWKArabGBZ0LL7SCEIG9omufm7W3UAcW4fVssgN2ivAgSgotbHFGM9BCZ/s400/rollercoaster-801833_640.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Gadugi",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">I’m right
smack dab in the middle of fundraising so I can travel the world and share the
love of Jesus with women from all different walks of life and empower them with
the gospel.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Gadugi",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">It has been
one of the hardest and most rewarding seasons of my life!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Gadugi",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">I have never
felt more like I’m on a rollercoaster ride than now (and that’s saying
something since we had four teenagers!). One day I’m UP because I have had a
friend I haven’t seen in a long time commit to partnering with me and the next
I’m DOWN in the dumps because another friend who I’ve poured my life into has
opted out. One minute, I’ve experienced God throwing open wide the doors and
the next minute it seems like they’re all closed. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Gadugi",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Sometimes, I feel like I’m
just going AROUND and AROUND– trying to set up appointments and rescheduling
cancelations. UP and DOWN, AROUND and AROUND, never knowing what might happen
next. I’ve seen huge answers to prayer and then experienced the silence of God.
I have wrestled with disappointment and been amazed by His works! It’s exciting
and yet completely terrifying!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMJdlxLtL5XZfUMwtY2yQy4hEwIV36m8qOec2hgvzXmF0L_qik7Im02pfomn_wq1sLO09vMah2wT6Vw7Okl5aOLcQanDFSuY5JVxHB1fhHo1D8zCAdgwFBwKM67-BjX-TGmLXOgA2Jv_5/s1600/IMG_4844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="861" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMJdlxLtL5XZfUMwtY2yQy4hEwIV36m8qOec2hgvzXmF0L_qik7Im02pfomn_wq1sLO09vMah2wT6Vw7Okl5aOLcQanDFSuY5JVxHB1fhHo1D8zCAdgwFBwKM67-BjX-TGmLXOgA2Jv_5/s400/IMG_4844.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Gadugi",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">But in the
middle of it all, I can feel God deepening my faith like never before. I
can feel my roots growing deep into the water, finding life and love and joy!
I’m discovering He is ALL I need. I find my heart rejoicing in the middle of my
struggle. Words like fortitude, tenaciousness and strength have become my
prayer as I ask God to do His work in me. I feel Him preparing me for what is
to come. Chiseling me into His masterpiece. I’m realizing I need
Him like I need air to breathe. I’m learning what it means to place my
complete trust in God and I want Him to be my hope and confidence! He is who I
look to, He is who I depend on and He is where I put my hope – a hope that,
Paul says in Romans, DOESN’T DISAPPOINT! (Romans 5.5 NLT)</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Gadugi",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">I want to be
this tree, Jeremiah speaks of . . . to be planted by the river of LIFE, so my
roots will grow down deep into the water. I long to be healthy and fruit
producing regardless of my rollercoaster journey.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Gadugi",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">This is what I
want!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Gadugi",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">So when someone
sees my life, they don’t say, “Wow, look at Kristi.” They say, “Wow, look at
her God and what He can do with a life!”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Gadugi",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">May it be so.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Gadugi",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Spilling His Grace,</span></div>
<h4 style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="color: #38761d;">k</span></i><i><span style="color: #38761d;">risti</span></i><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit;"><i></i></span></span></h4>
<h4 style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: left;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><i><span style="color: #0b0129;"><br /></span></i></span></h4>
<h4 style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: left;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><i><span style="color: #0b0129;">If you want to see learn more about my journey, go to </span></i></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><a href="http://www.gracespilledover.com/">Grace Spilled Over</a></span></h4>
<br /></div>
khusebyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09158512293355186164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767846831563498513.post-1165024995538223722017-08-12T16:58:00.004-04:002017-08-12T16:58:46.872-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Check out my new blog at Word Press, <a href="http://www.gracespilledover.com/">Grace Spilled Over</a></div>
khusebyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09158512293355186164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767846831563498513.post-43356122730706818562017-07-03T15:20:00.001-04:002017-07-03T15:20:34.796-04:00The Difficult Road<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">“The person
who expects nothing will never be disappointed.” (Alexander Pope)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PkQ6a1GrKF1urHpM0Hi7X9AwbUvBgRWERcYwCp2IyIKETC7lOl72TFng7gJoq3VstxOLlbYrInVtVTHT0pB_7ptnUjRhCbMgT2TkDeg0gIuhzq5Gg9mnu3HGwlXd45C3UBVzGtPSSD64/s1600/catalina-island-1588654_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="640" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PkQ6a1GrKF1urHpM0Hi7X9AwbUvBgRWERcYwCp2IyIKETC7lOl72TFng7gJoq3VstxOLlbYrInVtVTHT0pB_7ptnUjRhCbMgT2TkDeg0gIuhzq5Gg9mnu3HGwlXd45C3UBVzGtPSSD64/s400/catalina-island-1588654_640.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">This new
journey of faith walking feels more like a narrow winding up and down, black
diamond hike than a meandering smooth easy path.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>One day I’m ecstatic over the answers to prayer
I’m witnessing and the next I’m in the depths of despair, disappointed and
discouraged.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It’s why I resonated so
deeply with this quote when I saw it.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>I’m expecting God to move in big and small ways to make this ministry
happen.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But “His ways are not my ways
and His thoughts are not my thoughts,” (Isaiah 55.8) and I might add, His
timing is not my timing.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I expect great
things from God and He doesn’t let me down, He just doesn’t do things in the
way I think He should or in the time I think they should be done!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PkQ6a1GrKF1urHpM0Hi7X9AwbUvBgRWERcYwCp2IyIKETC7lOl72TFng7gJoq3VstxOLlbYrInVtVTHT0pB_7ptnUjRhCbMgT2TkDeg0gIuhzq5Gg9mnu3HGwlXd45C3UBVzGtPSSD64/s1600/catalina-island-1588654_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">The other
day I wrote in my journal, “I feel discouragement knocking at my door.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>BUT I refuse to open it!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I REFUSE TO BE DISCOURAGED.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I REFUSE TO BACK DOWN.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I REFUSE TO QUIT.”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Jesus said
in Matthew 7:13, “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow
gate.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The highway to hell is broad, and
its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">gateway
to life is very narrow and the</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">road
is difficult and only a few ever find it.”</b> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">As I tread
this difficult road I feel it making me stronger. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Deepening my faith.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Teaching me dependence. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Stripping away the peripheral.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Narrowing my focus.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Grounding me in truth. Forging a stalwart heart.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tZN7Wn0czzHkGk-ZLLLV51JXH5z5sutVDEioZb6MuEWUQpjq2qROHo1kVozFELwp8TTCYgtHXQlHT-ysO3Uz0BGsAQcZQiCHSmXvuwgcJuokUpiN8u0WzwyPGPOCq09FZzVzE0iDZlqM/s1600/adventure-1851262_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tZN7Wn0czzHkGk-ZLLLV51JXH5z5sutVDEioZb6MuEWUQpjq2qROHo1kVozFELwp8TTCYgtHXQlHT-ysO3Uz0BGsAQcZQiCHSmXvuwgcJuokUpiN8u0WzwyPGPOCq09FZzVzE0iDZlqM/s400/adventure-1851262_640.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">So today,
once again, I choose the difficult road.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>I choose to follow His way.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I
choose to put my hand in the Hand of the one who laid down His life for
me.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I choose to follow wherever this
difficult road takes me.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">I know I’m
not the only one choosing the difficult road.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>My road may look different from yours but our roads are difficult just
the same.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Hang in there.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Never give up and don’t back down.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Refuse to open the door to
discouragement.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Turn to your Savior, He gave His life so you might have LIFE, true and abundant life!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Remember, if
you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>You won’t struggle with disappointment but you won’t accomplish anything
of value either.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Spilling His Grace,</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 28pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Kristi</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
khusebyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09158512293355186164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767846831563498513.post-82244237155141684792017-04-11T06:28:00.000-04:002017-04-11T06:28:01.249-04:00One Boot at a Time<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmFLWwwBOV-NmsDj10BLeV-XGIOc12xmJu1tE2416Trf2dRpBT_1G5KnVb7GMiiPjC29BjYsvkEjlAg-C-9siKd1hCEuLejzqVGj0WF59d8dah7Nf6n0MhwBG_E8Gr6s66vNFnTd122gE/s1600/mountain-315296_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmFLWwwBOV-NmsDj10BLeV-XGIOc12xmJu1tE2416Trf2dRpBT_1G5KnVb7GMiiPjC29BjYsvkEjlAg-C-9siKd1hCEuLejzqVGj0WF59d8dah7Nf6n0MhwBG_E8Gr6s66vNFnTd122gE/s400/mountain-315296_640.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<em><span style="color: #3d596d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">".
. . Jesus told them. I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small
as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there',
and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.</span></em><span style="color: #3d596d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"> Matthew 17.20-21</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="color: #3d596d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">What’s your mountain?
You know, the thing that’s standing in your path that feels
insurmountable! </span></div>
<span style="color: #3d596d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">A Master’s
Program you need to begin? Finding a new job in a new town? A
pregnancy? Writing a book? Caring for a needy loved one?
An autistic child? A financial crisis? A health issue?
Forgiveness? Drug addicted teen? Loving unconditionally.
Giving up control?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3d596d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">As you stand at
its base and gaze upward, its presence is overwhelming and you wonder, “How
will I ever get over this monstrosity? Do I have the energy and the
fortitude to even try? What if I fail? What if it’s too
difficult? What if . . .</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3d596d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">I have a
mountain! Some days (very few I must admit), my mountain seems
“manageable” but most days it is my “impossible prayer”. I have observed
something . . . when I focus on the mountain I’m easily overwhelmed by the
enormity of it. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3d596d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">One weekend, I
stood gazing at this gargantuan thing standing in my
way and thought, I can’t do this. What was I thinking? This is
insanity! I was in the “depths of despair” as Anne of Green Gables would
say and I just couldn’t seem to pull myself out of the pit.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3d596d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">A few days later,
I was having a conversation with my sister and she shared with me what her son
told her while he’s been climbing his own mountain – Army Basic Training. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3d596d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">“Most people are
just hanging on until this is over. But I’m not looking at it that
way. I ask myself, can I just get through this one hour? If I can’t
get through this one hour than can I just get through this one minute and if I
can’t get through this one minute, can I get through this one boot?”</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d596d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1A-nlSEUxyih-I8ag0r0XEGZVQG1GzyV9EGZ2uauNesiuY0yCbJoSWWsfYDnJ6XXIABBiC9QTtR2oiXJI8vc9xmjtwgP2xDILUVerqs4TbuAcwZOZCNLrm_5MNdyoSsBTVrZ1GBTYyO7/s1600/hiking-792800_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1A-nlSEUxyih-I8ag0r0XEGZVQG1GzyV9EGZ2uauNesiuY0yCbJoSWWsfYDnJ6XXIABBiC9QTtR2oiXJI8vc9xmjtwgP2xDILUVerqs4TbuAcwZOZCNLrm_5MNdyoSsBTVrZ1GBTYyO7/s400/hiking-792800_640.jpg" width="266" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #3d596d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"></span><span style="color: #3d596d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">How do you climb
a mountain? </span><br />
<span style="color: #3d596d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #3d596d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">One.
Boot. At. A. Time.</span></strong> </span><br />
<span style="color: #3d596d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #3d596d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">So, simple, yet
so profound.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3d596d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">This resonated
with me. I had been doing it all wrong. I was focused on my
mountain, instead of focusing on my God. I had been thinking I could
climb this mountain in one gigantic impossible leap, instead of one boot at a
time. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3d596d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">I don’t have to
worry about failing, falling, or fainting because God is with me. He’s
got this mountain! I still must climb it but my perspective has
changed. I see God, not my mountain and I walk one boot at a time.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3d596d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Mark Batterson
asks (<em><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Circle Maker), “Is your
dream too big for you? Well it better be! Because that’s when
you will pray circles around it. And when you pray circles around it
that’s when you begin to see your impossible prayer is nothing for an Almighty
God!” </span></em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3d596d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">What’s your
mountain?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3d596d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Fix your eyes on
Jesus. Pray circles around your “mountain”. And climb one boot at a
time.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="color: #70ad47; font-family: "Freestyle Script"; font-size: 36pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Kristi</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
khusebyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09158512293355186164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767846831563498513.post-68974190659401535132017-02-18T08:40:00.000-05:002017-02-18T08:40:32.561-05:00Witholding Nothing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4wf360HHta35LJfWnqDm97GEqR6mSo6lGS9Qs2n_HvbfOC6Z3giTl9xIeGJJTbxtS7UEagBqXZVjvy903FEoihz2WLZWTlKq-KqWeyoF7yKXAIopytMCM9rt8sPCkrCBO66IbXslAZV7/s1600/studying-ahead-1421056-639x424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4wf360HHta35LJfWnqDm97GEqR6mSo6lGS9Qs2n_HvbfOC6Z3giTl9xIeGJJTbxtS7UEagBqXZVjvy903FEoihz2WLZWTlKq-KqWeyoF7yKXAIopytMCM9rt8sPCkrCBO66IbXslAZV7/s320/studying-ahead-1421056-639x424.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">http://www.freeimages.com/photo/studying-ahead-1421056</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">How do you feel about tests? I know there's a few people out there who like tests but I'm not one of them. <span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">My palms get sweaty; my heart races a mile a minute and then the panic sets
in.<span style="margin: 0px;"> Have I studied enough? Did I study the right stuff? Will I remember what I studied?</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">Life often can be a series of tests, written and otherwise: driver's tests, college exams, medical tests, aptitude tests and even God tests us.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Abraham was one
of many that God would put to the test.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Abraham had a
dream.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A promise from God that He would
make Abraham’s descendants as numerous as the stars in the heaven.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Abraham waited and waited for this dream to
be fulfilled.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Days and years and decades
passed but it wasn’t until his old age that God finally satisfied this dream in
the gift of Isaac, his son. And then one day God asked Abraham to give up the
very thing he loved most in this world.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">It was a test. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This test wasn’t in written form but it was a
test all the same.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">When they arrived at the place where God
had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on
the altar on top of the wood. And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son
as a sacrifice.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>At that moment the angel
of the LORD called to him from heaven, “Abraham!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Abraham!”</span></i></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">“Yes,”<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Abraham replied.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“Here I am!”</span></i></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">“Don’t lay a hand on the boy!” the angel
said.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“Do not hurt him in any way, <b>for
now I know that you truly fear God.</b><span style="margin: 0px;"><b> </b></span><b>You
have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.”</b> </span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">(Genesis 22.9-12)</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">God is a
jealous God.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He desires full, complete,
and total surrender from those who follow Him.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Each of us who claim to follow will have an “Abraham moment” at
some point in our life.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Where God will
ask us to lay on the altar the thing we hold most dear.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God wants to see if what we say, is what we really
believe. Are we true followers or just fans.<span style="margin: 0px;"> Do we love Him more than anything else?
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">God created an
Abraham moment for me with a dream I had held close to my heart for years. One day
He asked me, “Kristi, will you follow me if I never let you go to the mission field?”</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">There was no
middle ground with God.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He is an all or
nothing God and He wanted all of me.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">His way seemed
so hard and my dream felt honorable and right. How could He ask me to give it up? But I felt much like Peter did when Jesus asked him if he would leave
like all the others, <b>“Lord, to whom would I go? You have the words that give
eternal life.”</b> (John 6.68) How could I do anything less than surrender my dream
to Him. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">What happens so
often, with these tests, is that often God is just waiting for us to surrender it.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And then He returns our dreams and
hopes back to us in ways we never would have imagined or even hoped.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>These new dreams are
bigger, brighter and more beautiful.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">There is fear
in letting go, giving up, and surrendering to God’s ways but that didn’t stop
Abraham from being obedient and neither should it stop us!</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Are you a true
follower or just a fan?<span style="margin: 0px;"> If you claim to follow Him, </span>God will someday
put you to the test.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>What will your
answer be?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="color: #548235; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Kristi</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
</div>
</span><div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
khusebyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09158512293355186164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767846831563498513.post-79699695222636079122017-01-01T13:25:00.001-05:002017-01-20T16:06:22.709-05:00One Word<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozgeywnJ_5iHgk5tylA1V-HDyqMt4L32NDbiygQAnHVJPPiCyCSTZCN1QCZdEbo379BgeeNlwTtbvA1SCzsDXLwER0zaWFFQkv8rxbH5niqsIcHiPTDW_6i_x8JiO1g3-MdJn0EabxKCe/s1600/IMG_1684.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozgeywnJ_5iHgk5tylA1V-HDyqMt4L32NDbiygQAnHVJPPiCyCSTZCN1QCZdEbo379BgeeNlwTtbvA1SCzsDXLwER0zaWFFQkv8rxbH5niqsIcHiPTDW_6i_x8JiO1g3-MdJn0EabxKCe/s320/IMG_1684.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">A
few years ago, I gave up making New Year’s resolutions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was sick of the guilt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, I chose to pick one word to focus on
and allow God to develop in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s been one of the best things I’ve ever done and it has literally
changed my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Who new one word could be so powerful?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">This
past year my word was DARE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">I’ve
never been a daring person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fear, for
much of my life, has been the driving force.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Fear of failure. Fear of what people might think of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fear of the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fear of what God would ask me to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fear for my children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fear of the unknown. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On and on it goes about anything and everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">Sometimes
fear lies in wait below the surface of my life and I taste its rancid lingering
effects but other times it screams its way onto center stage; lurking around
every corner, waiting for me in every room and stalking me in the middle of the
night.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">So
picking this word DARE in January, was a big step for me and I confess the old
familiar fear sent shock waves through my body as I wondered what God would ask
me to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">But
the amazing thing was the fear did not stay, instead it was immediately
followed with an excitement as I began to wonder, “What would God ask me to do
and where would I go?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And somehow I
knew without a shadow of a doubt my life would be completely different come
January 2017.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had no idea what or how
but I knew my life was radically going to change and the miracle?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t afraid!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">My
daily prayer became, “Lord, I dare to go where you want me to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I dare to do what you ask me to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I dare to say what you want me to say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I dare to be who you want me to be.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">From
the moment I started praying that prayer God began to reveal His plan for
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He used a pastor in the Dominican
Republic who didn’t speak my language and knew nothing about me, to give me a
message, “God has had you in the background but He’s moving you to the
front.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has big plans for you!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">He
had a friend from elementary school reach out to me and invite me to go to
India with him to help train women in discipleship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had numerous friends confirm the joy and
passion they saw in my life for those around the world and opened wide the
doors of ministry for me to travel this year to encourage and speak truth into
the lives of women around the globe.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8GzzjGnvFU8Poxowsp8Fp0_IwL2ztGcF9ZJjZrcUVB4Eq1ePFvHkzYtf368FrCGrcFN61V1YD1RhpBPDQGlopKLYs5pfwYld1Qf4MTI91PxPFA2ljWeJYXSsqQSS2nV4LOx6o1dxZ9Bs/s1600/IMG_7043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8GzzjGnvFU8Poxowsp8Fp0_IwL2ztGcF9ZJjZrcUVB4Eq1ePFvHkzYtf368FrCGrcFN61V1YD1RhpBPDQGlopKLYs5pfwYld1Qf4MTI91PxPFA2ljWeJYXSsqQSS2nV4LOx6o1dxZ9Bs/s320/IMG_7043.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">As
the year progressed God made it clear He was calling me to expand my ministry
to women worldwide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I have been
doing for years in my church community has been a training ground for what He
is now calling me to do around the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">I
have recently been accepted with EFCA Reach Global as a missionary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In February, I am resigning my position as
women’s ministry director of the Knapp Street Campus of Ada Bible Church (after
almost 10 years) and moving into a ministry that will enable me to disciple
women- teaching them how to share the gospel, study the Bible and lead others
to Christ in countries all over the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is no doubt that this is what God has been preparing me for all
along.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">I
confess, this change feels a lot like standing on the edge of a cliff. There
are times when I wonder, “What am I doing?? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>– I’m leaving a good paying job that I love,
where God is using me and stepping out into who knows what??”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I am no longer allowing fear rule my
life!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I truly believe . . . <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span class="text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The </i></b></span><span class="small-caps"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></i></b></span><span class="text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> is for me, so I will have no fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What can mere people do to me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></b></span>Psalm
118.6</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">So
here’s my challenge for you:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s the word God wants to develop in your
life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take some time to think and pray,
choose your word and then step out in faith and watch what God does!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll
never be the same again. I'd love to know your word of the year! Please reply to this blog and let me know.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">If
you are interested in partnering with me, I would love to have a conversation
with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please feel free to email me
at </span><a href="mailto:kristi.huseby@efca.org"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0563c1;">kristi.huseby@efca.org</span></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">. <span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #548235; font-family: "bromello"; font-size: 36pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kristi</span></div>
</span><br />
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<o:p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
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<span style="color: #548235; font-family: "bromello"; font-size: 36pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
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</o:p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
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khusebyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09158512293355186164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767846831563498513.post-17333312989039305642016-12-05T10:47:00.000-05:002016-12-05T10:47:07.922-05:00The Boomerang Effect of Generosity<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Give, and you will receive. Your gift
will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more,
running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the
amount you get back.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luke 6.38 (NLT)</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKDTwkSGzP7ebUY5ACtZyQLYS6R5ANDffQE8aS9PqWcO63AJP_Ul7yj2Wg2PVecASvIbi52XYtr6bTJVRak_pJKCJ50mbKR0-UPD4Wp9PabmlCm6E7HR2UaqoFQ-KQeYflRt0629P3QqE0/s1600/regali-2-1223820-640x652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKDTwkSGzP7ebUY5ACtZyQLYS6R5ANDffQE8aS9PqWcO63AJP_Ul7yj2Wg2PVecASvIbi52XYtr6bTJVRak_pJKCJ50mbKR0-UPD4Wp9PabmlCm6E7HR2UaqoFQ-KQeYflRt0629P3QqE0/s320/regali-2-1223820-640x652.jpg" width="313" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.freeimages.com/photo/regali-2-1223820">http://www.freeimages.com/photo/regali-2-1223820</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">Generosity
does not come naturally to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
stingy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to be generous but find
myself to be tightfisted. Hoarding the gifts God has given me. </span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">Knowing
I needed a change of heart, I made a simple promise: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>if God would point out a need, I would give.</span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">It
wasn’t but a few days later when God gave me an opportunity to keep my
promise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was standing in line at the
grocery store and a woman in front of me was struggling to use her bridge
card.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">I
felt God prompting me to buy her groceries and I’m ashamed to admit what ensued.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stood in line and did battle with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The argument seemed to stretch on for hours
but in actuality was only a minute until I finally decided to obey.</span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">As
I turned to walk out, the joy I felt took my breath away! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My gift came back to me pressed down, shaken
together and running over . . .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">How
selfish our hearts can be and what joys we’ve missed out on when we allow stinginess
to invade our souls. Why do we quibble over a few measly dollars when our
Heavenly Father has given us a gift that all the words in the world cannot
describe?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">Jesus
says our gifts of generosity have a way of boomeranging back on us. The return
on our investment is directly related to how much we give. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Give lavishly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Receive lavishly. <strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For every
follower of Jesus, generosity is meant to be a way of life, not a seasonal practice! </strong></span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p><strong> </strong></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">The
miracle of generosity is that we get so much more than we give! </span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">Lord,
we confess we are a tight-fisted, stingy people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your love was meant to be shared but instead we
hoard it and refuse to share.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
our hearts grow smaller because of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
want your love filling our lives and spilling over into others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We want to be Your generous people. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can’t do this on our own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Show us how.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
khusebyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09158512293355186164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767846831563498513.post-8932220052169168012016-10-18T12:10:00.000-04:002016-10-19T09:44:30.135-04:00The Island of "What If?"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAhcxFE5leX8ugXcfxLCschP8jbJIBdsKX48LLoN86VySxPvB2qqaKuzGaGlHgzAizN-SXfHxPsWasgKN9ee7PEtuAyZdc8l_6i4j1K5MziJw8nwomQRtrXle97UOL_xJ2CtnahffZwUtH/s1600/UsedCar_1+jpg3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAhcxFE5leX8ugXcfxLCschP8jbJIBdsKX48LLoN86VySxPvB2qqaKuzGaGlHgzAizN-SXfHxPsWasgKN9ee7PEtuAyZdc8l_6i4j1K5MziJw8nwomQRtrXle97UOL_xJ2CtnahffZwUtH/s320/UsedCar_1+jpg3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Islands seem so romantic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The gentle sea breezes and the soothing sound
of the waves crashing on shore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
breathtaking sunrises and sunsets. The peace-no hustle and bustle of the mainland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And yet, an island can also hold us
captive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we have no way of getting off,
we might not be in a 5’x5’ cell but we’re prisoners just the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stuck, going round and round but never accomplishing
anything. When the storms come, we’re sitting ducks with no place to run.
Isolated and alone.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Recently, I had the opportunity to
travel to an Island.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t the kind
with gentle breezes and the soothing sound of waves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh no, this Island was one of my own
making.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the Island of “What If?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you ever been there?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if I don’t get that job?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if my children grow up to be drug
addicts and alcoholics?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if I’m
forgotten?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if it’s cancer?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if they don’t like me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if I fail?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if God fails me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Round and round we go on the Island of “What If’?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Held captive, not in a 5’x5’ cell but a
prisoner just the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When we allow the “What If’s” to
rule our lives, we run round and round never accomplishing anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re stuck and we wonder why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> (Yep, I've been there.)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>“What If’s?” allow fear to run rampant in our
lives and keep us from trusting the One who holds us in the palm of
His hand. (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Our lives are in His hands and
He keeps our feet from stumbling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>Psalm
66.9)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>“What If’s?” isolate us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>“What If’s?” keep the focus on us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What If’s?” hinder us from knowing our God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">But
those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">know me</b> and understand that I am the
Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness
to the earth, and that I delight in these things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I, the Lord, have spoken!</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jeremiah 9.24)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“What If’s?” hold us captive and hamper
us from embracing the beautiful plan God has for us. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“For I
know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and
a hope.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>Jeremiah 29.11)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But there is HOPE! We no longer have to live on the
Island of “What If?”; this Island of shifting sand and endless anxiety!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God wants to lift us up out of this muck and
mire and place our feet on solid ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I waited patiently for the Lord
to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out
of the mud and mire and He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I
walked along</i>. Psalm 40.1-2)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Today is the day to leave the Island
of “What If?”! Call out to Him, put Your hand in the hand of the One who loves
you (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">. . . Those who remain in Me, and I
in them, will produce much fruit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
apart from Me you can do nothing.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>John 15.5) and experience FREEDOM, it’s what Jesus gave his life for!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;"><em><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Kristi</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></em></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
khusebyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09158512293355186164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767846831563498513.post-63758626604942219962016-10-09T20:32:00.000-04:002016-10-09T20:32:53.694-04:00A Personal Psalm<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">I thought a fitting way for me to follow up my previous blog is to share with you a practice I recently learned that has been a wonderful addition to my time spent with God in the chair. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">While
I was copying down the Psalms, I found a study (She Reads Truth) that
encouraged me to write out my own Psalms to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I absolutely love the practice!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">The
idea is to take the first couple of words from a Psalm and then finish it with
your own thoughts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">I
encourage you to try it out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a
beautiful way to express your thoughts to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">Here’s
one of my attempts at penning my own Psalm to God.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"></span> </div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">Lord I seek . . . </span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Wisdom as I continue to pursue
this new path you are leading me on.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As I meet with individuals and
point them to you.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As I interact with cherished
family members.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">Rescue and deliver me . . . </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">For
You are a great God, your power is Sovereign.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You know all things even the things I have yet to think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are not limited by time and space or by
the behavior and choices of others or of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You are good all the time and Your ways are perfect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">For you have . . . </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Proven Your faithfulness to me
time and time again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">Shown
me that Your timing is perfect.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">Given
me faith to trust even when I can’t see.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">Deliver me . . . </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">From
doubts that I am not up for the task that you are calling me to and that in
some way you will hang me out on a limb and not come through for me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">From
my fears of inadequacy and self-doubt. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">From
worrying about what others might think.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">Forgive me . . . </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>For letting my fears become
bigger than You.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>For doubting Your plan.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>For being self-centered.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>For not living in Awe of You and
for choosing to live in Awe of what You have created.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>For making You little.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>For questioning Your ways.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>For doubting You are good.</span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">Nevertheless . . . </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I will trust You.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I will step out in faith.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I will walk to the end of the
limb.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I will be bold and confident in Your
Word</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I will choose to give my anxiety
to You.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I will not worry.</span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">You are . . . </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My Rock that will not be shaken
no matter what may come my way. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My Fortress where I can take
refuge and live unafraid.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My Redeemer who has bought me
back and I no longer have to live as a fearful slave.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My Steadfast Hope that remains
strong and true and doesn’t disappoint.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My Light as I journey through the
darkness of this world.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My Lover and I rest within the
safety of Your arms.</span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">Save me . . . </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">From
myself!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My heart is dark, my sin
subtle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">I’m
blind to my own failings and short-comings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">I’m
self-focused and self-absorbed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">I
love Your ways and then go my own way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">I’m
forgetful of Your grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">I
hold onto things I need to let go of and let go of things I should be holding
onto.</span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">For You rescued . . . </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Israelites from their enemies.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Peter from jail and set him free.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Time and time again you have
rescued Your children.</span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">But I will . . . </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Rest in Your perfect ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Knowing . . . it is Your time, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">Your plan and Your will I
want most of all!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Wait for You.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Remain steadfast in You, refusing
to run ahead or lag behind.</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">I will proclaim . . . </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Your good deeds in my life!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Your miraculous ways.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Your faithful character.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Your abiding love.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> "</span>O love that will
not let me go</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>I rest my weary
soul in Thee."</span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">I will sing praise because .
. . </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>You are good ALL THE TIME.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>You are my Creator.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>You hear my cries.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>You love me with an everlasting
love.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>You rejoice over me with
singing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">As
long as I have breath I will praise YOU!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<o:p><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #70ad47; font-family: Mistral; font-size: 48pt; mso-themecolor: accent6;">Kristi<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
</o:p><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
</span><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
khusebyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09158512293355186164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767846831563498513.post-52914802552591191492016-09-27T11:29:00.000-04:002016-09-27T11:29:30.173-04:00Holy Sacred Moments with God<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtC9sl3eEZtVB9Vha8_QlFxuAgKJ35kETDJc_ewCG_DGzdoUjGhHgGYI7fDB8VD32_8VXgcwxn64Wi06PUXNsxkzEGp7mxr4Z4Es0AidHGyogT3twKje-FW5S1HcES4HpL7W3vJHdiNPLI/s1600/IMG_0851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtC9sl3eEZtVB9Vha8_QlFxuAgKJ35kETDJc_ewCG_DGzdoUjGhHgGYI7fDB8VD32_8VXgcwxn64Wi06PUXNsxkzEGp7mxr4Z4Es0AidHGyogT3twKje-FW5S1HcES4HpL7W3vJHdiNPLI/s320/IMG_0851.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Palace Script MT"; font-size: 48pt; line-height: 107%;">Praise the Lord!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">I
did it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can hardly believe this three
year project has come to a close.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At
first it seemed a little daunting, I wasn’t sure I was ever going to complete
it and now that I’ve finished it, I find myself wishing the journey would never end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">I
have just completed copying down the whole book of Psalms and what an amazing
experience it’s been!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">This
journey through the Psalms has been filled with sweet holy sacred moments with
God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Palace Script MT"; font-size: 36pt; line-height: 107%;">Moments</span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">
of . . . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Palace Script MT"; font-size: 36pt; line-height: 107%;">Praise</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">as I have seen God’s
love for His people, spilling off the pages.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Palace Script MT"; font-size: 36pt; line-height: 107%;">Sorrow
</span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">when God has
shot his arrows into my heart and pointed out the sin in my life.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Palace Script MT"; font-size: 36pt; line-height: 107%;">Awe</span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">, as I’ve witnessed His
greatness and glory so artistically described in these songs.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Palace Script MT"; font-size: 36pt; line-height: 107%;">Weeping</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">when a truth about God has
intersected with my life.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Palace Script MT"; font-size: 36pt; line-height: 107%;">Joy</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">as I’ve glimpsed God’s
deep, overwhelming love for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Palace Script MT"; font-size: 36pt; line-height: 107%;">Inspiration</span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"> as I’ve learned to write out
my own Psalm to God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">What
a privilege and honor it has been to copy down God’s truth, to have Him speak
deep into my soul through His Word, to witness His absolute power and might
over all creation and to experience His deep love for me, His child.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">In
the last four chapters of the Psalms, each one begins and ends the very same
way. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no other fitting way to begin
and end my writing here than to do the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All glory and honor goes to Him!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Palace Script MT"; font-size: 48pt; line-height: 107%;">Praise the Lord!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
khusebyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09158512293355186164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767846831563498513.post-85025214807606929272016-09-14T20:37:00.000-04:002016-09-14T20:50:31.495-04:00Shining Stars<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZLe-eh6dNQIBJ-MhN4Ts6o6j6oNPiCQ7f47mMrzd5M30kxboLnERynCkgjsgH80fh6D3oVxJ3rVMC4sdzP3ZKbT2jpVIJg6Ev__dx21Z1mGCqb8lcEeob3t5Dvx76bhw-KIfN7Sf5pvg/s1600/IMG_9530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZLe-eh6dNQIBJ-MhN4Ts6o6j6oNPiCQ7f47mMrzd5M30kxboLnERynCkgjsgH80fh6D3oVxJ3rVMC4sdzP3ZKbT2jpVIJg6Ev__dx21Z1mGCqb8lcEeob3t5Dvx76bhw-KIfN7Sf5pvg/s320/IMG_9530.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">I
felt a drop of sweat roll down my back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The air was stifling but it mattered little as I watched these beautiful
Indian women in their vibrant clothing, heads bent over small whiteboards
practicing the illustration I had just demonstrated for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SBNqNvbY5F1G6Cojl8yLxdiYePuQjO2-uZnm_ljup3Lte61gs_1Y6hm48-kjClb-4InrJ5Y9yKuudzEuk4TvAOk93gWNbxqNkDB1cd06rrW6G1dVN3oT4pSwFeK38ZYMHCnSziUig4zZ/s1600/IMG_9535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SBNqNvbY5F1G6Cojl8yLxdiYePuQjO2-uZnm_ljup3Lte61gs_1Y6hm48-kjClb-4InrJ5Y9yKuudzEuk4TvAOk93gWNbxqNkDB1cd06rrW6G1dVN3oT4pSwFeK38ZYMHCnSziUig4zZ/s200/IMG_9535.JPG" width="150" /></a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Children leaning over their mothers to see
what they were doing and grabbing the pen to help draw out the pictures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tears rolled freely down my cheeks as I
bore witness to their hunger to learn how to share the Good News of Jesus with
others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could I find anything better
than this to do with my life? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">It had
been 18 hours in the air (not counting layover times).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Time spent in Delhi catching our breath,
another hour flight and a six hour car ride to get to Udhampur in Kashmir,
India.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had landed in a country so
foreign from my home town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything
assaulted my senses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Myriad Pro Light;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Myriad Pro Light;">Auto rickshaws driving every which way on the roads. Children begging in the streets. Bathrooms that made a Port-a-Jon look like a palace. Car rides that took my breath away.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIK8-nh9Nu20MGEogwHQHFDuFF7HcG2LZFYR3wrYVkUBKlCmL9snAta9CCAbe-PSCmra8KPhGSjM_Zj6-4vnvqCzkUtCS6Vr2JQ2MDQXABxSZt9yiFWYeBgRTeAhxh4zReWkARwZo1KIzh/s1600/IMG_8421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIK8-nh9Nu20MGEogwHQHFDuFF7HcG2LZFYR3wrYVkUBKlCmL9snAta9CCAbe-PSCmra8KPhGSjM_Zj6-4vnvqCzkUtCS6Vr2JQ2MDQXABxSZt9yiFWYeBgRTeAhxh4zReWkARwZo1KIzh/s200/IMG_8421.JPG" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiygpY8CmwPWM0KZidVHg7Hyb2cyr4dy9mDBBMUc94hyphenhyphen_8LknRizXDMVF0PvtiBVpXNBbiTTBgcP1uQhGjgPPP4Et5SF52nF0pB615Tx5vMec145fUCuDi-r8jMZGZjh4uxwao0vf3ZhPQn/s1600/IMG_8434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiygpY8CmwPWM0KZidVHg7Hyb2cyr4dy9mDBBMUc94hyphenhyphen_8LknRizXDMVF0PvtiBVpXNBbiTTBgcP1uQhGjgPPP4Et5SF52nF0pB615Tx5vMec145fUCuDi-r8jMZGZjh4uxwao0vf3ZhPQn/s200/IMG_8434.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">A dirty little girl, giving a dirty little boy a hair cut in the median of a chaotic street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span> </span>Kenny G playing in the elevator of our
hotel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Garbage everywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Piles of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU57RJPeFPWyxJ9Mit9nt1nl0z1HyjfxjMpUqLQDAE32Tw9jWLiMKm4YV3jX40UcxKQzJNzRKyHsfjYFLUJz5MI35fV2lWiWBr3vd8yCRRjPPPRKW8nMSGeQOShK1Vhl3201XDdf44xVvC/s1600/IMG_9049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU57RJPeFPWyxJ9Mit9nt1nl0z1HyjfxjMpUqLQDAE32Tw9jWLiMKm4YV3jX40UcxKQzJNzRKyHsfjYFLUJz5MI35fV2lWiWBr3vd8yCRRjPPPRKW8nMSGeQOShK1Vhl3201XDdf44xVvC/s200/IMG_9049.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Cows meandering down busy streets with a bird on their back, eating whatever took their
fancy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People sleeping on concrete
dividers in the middle of busy streets with no blanket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Wonderful, flavorful, spicy Indian food. </span>A worn out mother sitting against a wall with
her child’s head in her lap picking lice from his hair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Chai tea. </span>The smell of unwashed bodies, men ironing
clothes in a little booth late into the night, and a parade of people burning
incense on their way to worship their millions of gods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a beautiful and broken land and I had
fallen in love with its people!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Myriad Pro Light;"></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGmnlrxi9KYaGwJpcPBFuEqp7e6gbMnE9VwGCZ23AhsM0Yo2Mb9dWHS2KJMS-yYeo-YkppUkKIkoZt28kloJrrsrXRmJD8jy_wObh0viDlBE6sYT4lGlQhr2RPAQoH9U_DEXAh1v1b1Zq/s1600/IMG_9237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGmnlrxi9KYaGwJpcPBFuEqp7e6gbMnE9VwGCZ23AhsM0Yo2Mb9dWHS2KJMS-yYeo-YkppUkKIkoZt28kloJrrsrXRmJD8jy_wObh0viDlBE6sYT4lGlQhr2RPAQoH9U_DEXAh1v1b1Zq/s200/IMG_9237.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">I
had journeyed with six other people to this town, to hold a conference for
women that would empower them to have intentional conversations that would lead to an opportunity for them to share the Good News
of Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My main job of the conference
was to teach them how to share the gospel simply and clearly.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKdz_Jf7sk0U3dn7agAVUFyozS_IuhEzcdhiW235eW1GgZDghFF-hqso-kzoFA5aV5eYCmE4eDdQxh0nxjjZqxXlYa6-_e-QTDPPZ_2GNAFksFldLJg8HxVNcNM9nqKOp2DGRQoQVkhzp/s1600/IMG_9538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKdz_Jf7sk0U3dn7agAVUFyozS_IuhEzcdhiW235eW1GgZDghFF-hqso-kzoFA5aV5eYCmE4eDdQxh0nxjjZqxXlYa6-_e-QTDPPZ_2GNAFksFldLJg8HxVNcNM9nqKOp2DGRQoQVkhzp/s200/IMG_9538.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">As I
watched these sixty plus women, so hungry to learn how to share the gospel . .
. I thought, I’ll go anywhere, put up with anything to help women like this be
empowered with taking the Good News of Jesus to the world!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I was humbled to be in their
presence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their devotion to God,
commitment to sharing His truth and passion to learn how, challenged me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">Was I that devoted to God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would I travel miles and miles just to learn
how to share the gospel more effectively.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What would I be willing to sacrifice?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">So
many of them face persecution in their homes; are beaten by their husbands or
mother-in-laws and yet they are willing to do whatever it takes to share Jesus
with those around them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">Experiences
like this, have a way of changing you . . . <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see the world, my circumstances,
and my choices through a different lens now.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">But you don’t have to go to a different country for God to change your
heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To have Him instill a passion in
you to share Jesus with those around you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But you do have to have a willing heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A heart that knows what it means to be rescued by God’s grace and
surrendered to whatever He might call you to do.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">I
love this verse in Daniel that says <em>“ . . . <span class="text">those who lead
many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever.</span>”</em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Daniel 12.3)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMnfxP66dJd1Y4CsXlJkgB0GtJumORx4M7ihNvVz9zPY_jYdJgAwi8XidiM4oFoJChnDXUf6KBQy_zVrksLRJYQ32GroSvGUiUdLGIJ7j88ACEGy0THYGNaQIqLtbpiPc-kaaRJb8VG2W/s1600/IMG_9918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMnfxP66dJd1Y4CsXlJkgB0GtJumORx4M7ihNvVz9zPY_jYdJgAwi8XidiM4oFoJChnDXUf6KBQy_zVrksLRJYQ32GroSvGUiUdLGIJ7j88ACEGy0THYGNaQIqLtbpiPc-kaaRJb8VG2W/s320/IMG_9918.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">These
Indian women shine like stars in the universe when they carry the gospel to
their neighbors and you and I shine like stars in the universe when we share the Good
News of Jesus with those around us too!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Myriad Pro Light;"></span><br />
<em><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Kristi</span> </em></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
khusebyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09158512293355186164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767846831563498513.post-83716770137835565002016-06-30T08:32:00.002-04:002016-06-30T08:32:36.229-04:00Shelter-Living<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">C.A.N.C.E.R. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">This six letter word has
the power to strike terror into the heart of the most indomitable of spirits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This fear (real or imagined) stalks us in the
middle of the night and sends our neat little worlds into a tailspin. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Myriad Pro Light;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">It seems like everyone around me is
getting cancer. My heart is overwhelmed with sadness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why Lord?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Why this disease?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why good people?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why the people I love? And I feel my heart
skip a beat when I wonder . . . who will be next?</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Then I read these words . . . <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Those
who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the
Almighty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">He will cover you with His feathers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He will shelter you with His wings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His faithful promises are your armor and protection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night
nor the arrow that flies in the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do
not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at
midday</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Psalm 91.1,4-5</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">We
won’t find rest if we’re living somewhere else</span></b><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We won’t find safety or security in
anything this world claims.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We won’t
know peace if we’re trusting in ourselves, in our circumstances or in our
feelings. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">We must camp out, set down roots, remain,
reside, and persist in the presence of our Savior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can’t expect to find rest unless we do. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our lives will be plagued by fear and
worry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our situation, whatever it is,
will overwhelm us and we will hand over power to our circumstances to dictate,
how we feel and the way we live.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">So how do we do this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do we do this in the midst of life here
on earth?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do we take shelter in a
God we can’t see or touch?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do we find
our refuge in Him?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Granted this is where it gets
tough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s where the “fan” falls away
and only the true follower persists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This choice of life, this shelter-living doesn’t happen
accidentally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It takes intentionality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spending time with our Savior, pouring over
His words, quietly sitting in His presence, quieting our hearts long enough to
hear His gentle whispers and seeking His way not ours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Falling on our knees in repentance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mourning our sin and refusing to make excuses
for it. Surrendering our hearts, our choices, and our will to Him. All of this
is so contrary to the world around us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><strong>But this</strong> is how we live in the shelter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is where we find rest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
is where protection is found.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having our
hearts fixed on nothing else but Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is where we will find peace in the storm.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">When we live in the shelter of our Abba
Father . . . we no longer need to be afraid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Worry will become a thing of the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Trust will be our daily companion. He alone will be our place of refuge
and we will KNOW a peace the world will never comprehend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
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khusebyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09158512293355186164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767846831563498513.post-63328215198400914242016-05-14T11:40:00.000-04:002016-05-14T11:44:02.596-04:00Astonishing Love<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light";"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">Recently,
I stood out under the beautiful African night sky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No light pollution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing to hinder the brilliance of the
stars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It took my breath away!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could I stand on tiptoe and touch a star?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So close. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So brilliant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So vast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw the Southern
Cross, Orion’s Belt, and the Milky Way. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">I
thought of the verse in Psalm 147.4<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">, He
counts the stars and calls them all by name! (Exclamation mark added by me.)</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">It’s at moments like this when I’m
overwhelmed by the cosmic greatness of my God and His love for me .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> . . </span>If He
cares about a star, how much more does He care about me, His very own child?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If He sees each star individually, uniquely,
does He not see me individually and uniquely too?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">God’s<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>love for His children is more than we
can comprehend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s shocking. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Awe-inspiring. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All-consuming. God doesn’t dole out a measly trickle
of love instead it’s a waterfall gushing over us; overwhelming, overpowering,
and irresistible. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light";"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">Sheridan
Voysey, in her book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Resilient</i> writes
this:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">Picture a </span><span style="font-family: "arial black" , sans-serif;">grain of sand</span><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"> placed next to a </span><span style="font-family: "vivaldi"; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">skyscraper.</span><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">Compare a </span><span style="font-family: "arial black" , sans-serif;">single microbe </span><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">to our largest planet, </span><span style="font-family: "vivaldi"; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">Jupiter.</span><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">Picture the </span><span style="font-family: "arial black" , sans-serif;">tiniest trickle</span><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"> alongside the </span><span style="font-family: "vivaldi"; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">mightiest </span><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">of rivers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">Imagine the </span><span style="font-family: "arial black" , sans-serif;">faintest scent</span><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"> against the strongest </span><span style="font-family: "vivaldi"; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">perfume.</span><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">The </span><span style="font-family: "arial black" , sans-serif;">quietest bird call </span><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">against the loudest </span><span style="font-family: "vivaldi"; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">thunder clap</span><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">Compare a </span><span style="font-family: "arial black" , sans-serif;">tiny water drop</span><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"> to the </span><span style="font-family: "vivaldi"; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">Pacific Ocean.</span><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">The </span><span style="font-family: "arial black" , sans-serif;">flicker of a candle </span><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">to the </span><span style="font-family: "vivaldi"; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">blaze of the sun.</span><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">A </span><span style="font-family: "arial black" , sans-serif;">single leaf</span><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"> to a</span><span style="font-family: "vivaldi"; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"> forest</span><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"> of trees . . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">That’s how </span><span style="font-family: "arial black" , sans-serif;">tiny human love</span><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"> is compared to the </span><span style="font-family: "vivaldi"; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">great love God
has</span><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"> for you!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">I
love this! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">My
prayer for you is the same prayer Paul prayed for the Ephesians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“May
you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">how wide, how long, how high and how deep
His love is</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May you experience the
love of Christ, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">though it is too great to
understand fully</b>.”</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Ephesians
3.18-19)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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khusebyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09158512293355186164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767846831563498513.post-3773188198143630462016-04-24T11:33:00.001-04:002016-04-24T11:33:42.338-04:00Out of Africa<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #1f4e79;"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light";">There is so much brokenness in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Broken homes, broken lives and broken
hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm becoming more and more aware
of this as I travel around the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Brokenness is real. It's so evident in other countries but it’s also here at
home as well.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #1f4e79;"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light";"><strong>It just feels more broken outside the boundaries of my
familiarity.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><o:p><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "myriad pro light";"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #1f4e79;"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light";">I recently journeyed, for the first time, to Africa with
a team of people from our church to help at the CURE Hospital in Zambia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brokenness was all around us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Handicapped children, hurting mothers,
extreme poverty and desperate fathers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>CURE hospital is a beacon of hope and light in this broken place.</span></span><o:p><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "myriad pro light";"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #1f4e79;"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light";">It is hard to see the desperation, desolation and dire
circumstances of so many people. Hard to know the place I come from, the
luxuries I enjoy, the hospital care I can receive and see the lack here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hard to listen to stories of mothers carrying
their crippled child on their back for miles to reach a bus and of the long
journey on the bus to finally reach the hospital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hard to see a baby with a head the size of its
body, the horrible effects of no prenatal care for the mother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hard to watch crippled children struggling to
walk on the sides of their feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hard to
see the fear and hurt in a mother's eyes.</span></span><o:p><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "myriad pro light";"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #1f4e79;"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light";">Brokenness is everywhere in this place and yet brokenness
is where I live as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where I come
from brokenness looks different but its brokenness just the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's hard to see families torn apart by
divorce and children devastated by the fracture. Hard to see entitlement
residing in a heart and hard to witness adult children refusing to care for
their aging parents. Hard to see a lack of gratitude for all we enjoy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hard to hear a friend's story of sexual
abuse.</span></span><o:p><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "myriad pro light";"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #1f4e79;"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light";">It's evident we live on a broken planet.</span></span><o:p><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "myriad pro light";"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #1f4e79;"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light";">But in the midst of the brokenness, I see hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see beauty. I see joy.</span></span><o:p><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "myriad pro light";"> </span></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #1f4e79;"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light";">I see God's healing hand and the love of Jesus in the
hearts of His people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hear stories of
light overcoming the darkness and beauty breaking through the brokenness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see God at work bringing severed families
back together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Healing children who have
been devastated by a disability.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see
hope in a parent's eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see God's
redeeming love in the heart of someone who forgives an enemy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see a children’s hospital (CURE) with a
passion to heal the broken, body and soul. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><o:p><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "myriad pro light";"> </span></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #1f4e79;"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light";">I see a God who understands brokenness because He became
that for us!</span></span><o:p><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "myriad pro light";"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #1f4e79;"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light";"><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">But
he was pierced for our rebellion,</i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> crushed for our sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was beaten so we could be whole.</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> <span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">He was whipped so we could be healed.</span></i><span class="text"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isaiah 53.5</span></span></span><span class="text"><o:p><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "myriad pro light";"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text"><span style="color: #1f4e79;"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light";">He was broken so we could be healed. </span></span></span><span class="text"><o:p><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "myriad pro light";"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #1f4e79;"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light";"><span class="text">Yes we live on a broken planet but we
have a </span>God who is in the business of turning brokenness into beauty and
that is worth celebrating!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1f4e79;"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light";"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
</div>
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khusebyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09158512293355186164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767846831563498513.post-2260465944323974632016-03-28T08:32:00.000-04:002016-04-01T07:51:30.266-04:00Paradise Lost . . . Eternity Gained!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">It was a beautiful day in paradise, the sun was
shining, the birds were singing and all was right in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The man and woman had no imperfections, no
regrets, nothing to feel ashamed of, and nothing to be afraid of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were perfect. Their world was
perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">They knew nothing of fear, self-protection or
insecurity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Nothing of brokenness, sorrow, or disappointment. </span>What must it have been
like, this fairy-tale existence? Knowing complete joy, peace, security and companionship with the One who had created
them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">But very soon it would all change. Their fairy-tale world would turn into a nightmare and the garden they were placed in to enjoy and cherish would vanish like a vapor in the wind.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">While they were walking in this paradise
land, gazing at the intricate design of the leaves on the trees, watching the
animals frolicking in the meadow, listening to the birds chatter back and forth,
a serpent spoke to the woman. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">He sensed her vulnerability, so it was no
accident that he directed his question to her. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You see, he had been watching. Waiting for
the perfect time to begin the plan, he had so carefully been constructing, to defeat his Maker. What better way was there than to attack His children? He had thought through every detail, every word said, every possible response. Now was the time to drive a stake through the very heart of God.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">With one question, he placed
a seed of doubt in the heart of the woman, called Eve, regarding her Creator. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><em>“Did God <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">really</b>
tell you, you couldn’t eat from any of the trees in this beautiful
garden?”</em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The question drips with sarcasm
and shame. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Questions left unsaid, march
unbidden through her mind. Aren’t you better than this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t you deserve more? Is your Creator
really holding out on you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">She quickly clears up the serpent’s mistake but
the seed of doubt has been planted and it is in fertile soil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The missile has hit its mark.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><em>“Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in
the garden,” the woman replied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s
only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not
allowed to eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God said, ‘You must not
eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”</em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Genesis 3.2-3 NLT)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Then
Satan begins his full on assault . . . while the man listens but never speaks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><em>“You
won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you
will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”</em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Genesis 3.5-6 NLT)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">It doesn’t take but a little watering
for this seed of doubt to grow and flourish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She is easily convinced her Maker is holding out on her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">She walks with the serpent and her man
to the forbidden tree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fruit
glistens in the morning sun, her mouth begins to water as she contemplates what
a bite into this fruit will be like. The juice runs down her chin and she
quickly offers one to her husband. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">He once again says nothing, and takes a
bite of his own fruit.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">In that moment fear and shame are born.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><em>The woman was convinced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She saw that the tree was beautiful and its
fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So she took some of the fruit and ate
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then she gave some to her husband,
who was with her, and het ate it too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><strong>At
that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their
nakedness.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So they sewed fig leaves
together to cover themselves.</em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Genesis
3.6-7 NLT)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The whole human race would pay the price for
their rash decision. From then on sin would be passed down from one generation
to another. Satan was the victor, or so he thought.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">But God . . would have the last word. He would be the final victor. But it would cost Him dearly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This one act set in motion God's beautiful
redemption plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> This impulsive decision did not catch God by surprise. It was not unforeseen. Satan's "grand plan" was only a little cog in the wheel of God's great rescue mission and at the heart of this beautiful restoration plan was love. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Selfless. Unconditional. Sacrificial. LOVE.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light";"><em>But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.</em> (Romans 5.8 NLT)</span> </div>
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khusebyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09158512293355186164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767846831563498513.post-39879823984604007222016-02-21T15:49:00.000-05:002016-02-21T15:49:04.351-05:00The Great Divide<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihbCvjkUMroSAUNoRaVu_P0BX1iir6LfSh8xFd2W9NrrSzdXdjfXVP-CwUl42bazYjF6zxIueL-70eVmeGb7piKOqzn0ldB8xYCaiSrsv-teEfqA-FC92gtOtERTocWmLnC1mjCp9Z2R85/s1600/grand-canyon-arizona-1193562-640x480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihbCvjkUMroSAUNoRaVu_P0BX1iir6LfSh8xFd2W9NrrSzdXdjfXVP-CwUl42bazYjF6zxIueL-70eVmeGb7piKOqzn0ldB8xYCaiSrsv-teEfqA-FC92gtOtERTocWmLnC1mjCp9Z2R85/s320/grand-canyon-arizona-1193562-640x480.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.freeimages.com/photo/grand-canyon-arizona-1193562">http://www.freeimages.com/photo/grand-canyon-arizona-1193562</a></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Is it
easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’?</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">(Matthew
9:5)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">Jesus
asked this question of the religious leaders who were outraged that He would
say to the paralyzed man his sins were forgiven.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">These
“spiritual” gurus had watched Jesus grow from a little boy into a man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To them he was a snot-nosed, skinned-up-knees
boy, born from a mother who had cheated on her husband and now was as an adult
claiming to be God!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How dare this kid
from Nazareth say, “Your sins are forgiven!” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the words of Vizzini from Princess Bride,
“Inconceivable!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">It
was a simple question, with a simple answer but one they refused to acknowledge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> T</span>he religious leaders
rejection of Jesus’ authority, created a chasm in their hearts between who
Jesus was and who they wanted Him to be.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">And
we are not much different than they, if we’re willing to admit it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often, the divide is long and wide between who
Jesus really is and who <strong>we want</strong> Him to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">We
want the love of Jesus, not His justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We want a comfortable Jesus, not one who pushes us into the unknown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We want to trust God with our eternal
destination, but refuse to allow His “interference” in our everyday living. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">The
simple fact remains, Jesus is God; able to heal the sick and forgive sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><strong>True followers of Jesus refuse to let their
own desires define Him and allow Him to be the Jesus He is!</strong> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">Lord, I confess my propensity
to create You in my own image, rather than allowing You to be the God You
are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Open my eyes to Your truth, teach
me Your ways and help me to follow You with a pure heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
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khusebyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09158512293355186164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767846831563498513.post-34385888960705867912016-01-30T14:01:00.000-05:002016-01-31T08:50:22.762-05:00Slippage<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.freeimages.com/photo/beware-of-ice-1444808">http://www.freeimages.com/photo/beware-of-ice-1444808</a></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">So you must live as God’s
obedient children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Don’t slip back into your old ways of living</b> to satisfy your own
desires . . .</span></i><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1 Peter 1.14<span class="text"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">Slipping
happens in a New York minute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">I’m
reminded of this especially this time of year because I live in the icy, snowy state of Michigan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I'm
not careful, if I'm distracted or in a hurry before I know it I'm flat
on my back on an icy driveway. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Myriad Pro Light;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Traversing
icy walkways takes focus and concentration and this life with Jesus is no
different! </span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">It
takes intentionality, determination and single-mindedness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The call of our old life is strong. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">But
God has gifted us with the Holy Spirit, God himself living inside of us, who fills
us with His desires and empowers us to live as obedient children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t have to do this on our own, in our
own strength.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul reminds us in
Ephesians 4.30 (MSG), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“. . . His Holy
Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life,
making you fit for Himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t take
such a gift for granted.”</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">We
don’t have to attempt to live this life by ourselves but we do have to
surrender to the Holy Spirit’s leadership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus said it best when He declared, “No one can serve two masters.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There can only be one master in our life, it’s
either us or its God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can’t have
both.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must let His Holy Spirit reign
in our lives in order to experience victory.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">However,
<strong>it’s in the re-asserting of ourselves onto the throne when slippage
happens.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">When
we lose focus, become distracted with life, allow fear to dictate our choices, before
we know it, we find ourselves flat on our back in the muck of our old life, our
old habits, and our old way of living.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And we lay they’re wondering how this could’ve happened AGAIN.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"><strong>We
will never drift into this life of surrendered-living.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just like it takes focus and intentionality
to walk on the ice without slipping, it takes purpose, effort, and tenacity
to live a life surrendered to the power of the Holy Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It takes work to keep from re-asserting
ourselves onto the throne.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It takes fortitude
and perseverance to keep from going back to our old way of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>It takes a heart that desires God more than
anything else!</span></span><br />
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
</div>
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khusebyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09158512293355186164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767846831563498513.post-7814760345396157922016-01-15T20:24:00.001-05:002016-01-15T20:24:12.668-05:00Living Stones<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">May God, who gives this
patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other,
as fitting for followers of Christ Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and
glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Romans 15.5</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">In
music harmony adds dimension and fullness to the melody.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The beauty of harmony is its different parts
working together to enhance the song; adding flavor and depth.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">The
same is true of the family of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
not all the individuals doing and saying the same thing but all of them working
together, each using their unique gifts and abilities to bring depth and
dimension to the ONE purpose.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">And
there’s the rub.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">Working
together brings friction, conflict and tension.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">We
all are familiar with this chafing but often we fail to see the beauty that
comes from this abrasiveness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><strong>It is in
the friction where beauty is born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">Working
together with other people who are broken and imperfect like us, is God’s
beautiful design.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are like rocks in a
stream; bouncing, rubbing and polishing off each other’s rough edges.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">So
we welcome the tension, open the door to conflict allowing it to refine and
perfect us.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">If
you find yourself in conflict with another follower of Jesus, don’t be
surprised.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember, we’re ALL still in
the process of being perfected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peter
tells us, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“And you are living stones that
God is building into his spiritual temple . . . “ </i>1 Peter 2.5 (NLT)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">Know
this; God wants to use this friction in your life to polish you into a
beautiful living stone for all the world to see!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><em>Heavenly
Father, I know you designed family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
part of your plan but I confess there are times when I don’t like the pain that
comes with it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to run and
hide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to escape the hurt, throw
it to the winds and be done with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
teach me to STAY.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To embrace the pain
and see the beauty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
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khusebyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09158512293355186164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767846831563498513.post-19718523385935028632016-01-01T14:01:00.000-05:002016-01-07T19:09:00.604-05:00Word for the Year<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7sWFk0tNEc-Kz_ecwZ27QZfintQTEAyXUG-3eEY-ksNk7PgK8PD0SgI-IfkUw5uz4zrTAdyadcn76kexfDLSeagQqsb0eeyiCaZ442jwtdo-vWlnl3P5xGuxwhAeQkpH7sLm1KS-JCf60/s1600/IMG_4141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7sWFk0tNEc-Kz_ecwZ27QZfintQTEAyXUG-3eEY-ksNk7PgK8PD0SgI-IfkUw5uz4zrTAdyadcn76kexfDLSeagQqsb0eeyiCaZ442jwtdo-vWlnl3P5xGuxwhAeQkpH7sLm1KS-JCf60/s1600/IMG_4141.JPG" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Last
year around this time I wrote a blog post entitled, <a href="http://brokenandredeemed-kristi.blogspot.com/2015/01/one-word.html">One Word</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had been challenged to let go of New Year’s
resolutions and focus on one word I sensed God wanting me to focus on in my
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I chose, UNDIVIDED.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The verse I chose that centered around this
theme was Psalm 86.11, </span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; </i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">
</span><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">give
me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">When
I chose this word, I never dreamed how powerful it would be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How God would constantly remind me of my
heart’s desire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How He would shape and
form me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Weeding out those places of
impurity and dividedness in my heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How
my heart’s cry every day became . . . “Give me an undivided heart.”</span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The
reason I chose this word, was because I could see myself so divided in my
genuineness towards other people and God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How jealous I was when someone would get what I had been longing for and
how angry I would be that God wasn’t giving me what I wanted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I
craved a pure heart . . . one that would genuinely rejoice over someone else’s
success, without bitterness or jealousy raising its ugly face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">And
God did that and so much more!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He took
me to places in my heart I never knew were divided.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Culminating in a confrontation by a friend
that I was harboring bitterness towards someone who had hurt me long ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It led
me to meeting with this person who had hurt me so deeply and sharing my hurt
and struggle. Through that obedience God set me free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s been a beautiful year, of soul
searching, pain over my sin and joy at God’s gentle prodding and pruning. God
has done an incredible work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m ready
to step out in boldness, looking expectantly at what God will do in my heart
this New Year with my new word . . . </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPDSCBXA6V0tKYmXxvVg2K6IN_Rn1g6Ea1yS7zUzPmjyRqM43VzoHcs8cW7P-Uhc6UT4OFVi5u89tEXofZcP1pKiHcsLqLTd5cToFmVs69BNVbkijGTmU_6zYERuI2h60KmTkrVMQpPbH/s1600/IMG_4200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPDSCBXA6V0tKYmXxvVg2K6IN_Rn1g6Ea1yS7zUzPmjyRqM43VzoHcs8cW7P-Uhc6UT4OFVi5u89tEXofZcP1pKiHcsLqLTd5cToFmVs69BNVbkijGTmU_6zYERuI2h60KmTkrVMQpPbH/s1600/IMG_4200.JPG" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Psalm 118.6<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><em>The LORD is for me, so I will have no
fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What can mere people do to me?</em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Romans 8:31 <em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If God is for me, who can ever be against me?</em> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Daring
to follow wherever He leads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Daring to
take Him at His Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Daring to go where
He wants me to go and do what He is wants me to do, no matter the cost. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Daring to share truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Daring to pray audacious prayers. Daring to
trust. . . </span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">What
will God do in my life with this word?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Only He knows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I confess there is
a part of me that wonders will I be brave enough for this word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can feel the fear knocking on my back door
but I’m refusing to answer and I choose to walk in faith knowing God never
calls me to anything that He won’t provide.</span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">What
has God done in your life this past year?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What does He want to do in your life this year?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d love to hear about it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you have One Word this year that you’re
choosing to focus on?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d love to hear
what it is and why you chose it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span><br /></div>
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khusebyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09158512293355186164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767846831563498513.post-88031607610116020122015-12-22T19:55:00.000-05:002015-12-22T19:55:35.479-05:00Forgotten Miracles<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Our
ancestors in Egypt</i></span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></span><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">were not impressed by the </i></span><span class="small-caps"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></i></span><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">’s miraculous deeds. <strong>They soon forgot his many acts of kindness to
them.</strong></i></span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></span><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Instead, they rebelled against
him at the Red Sea. Even so, he saved them—</i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">to defend the honor of his
name</i><span class="indent-1-breaks"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></span><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and to demonstrate his mighty
power</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Psalm 106.7-8</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I came across these verses in my time with God this week and
it immediately transported me back to a conversation I had with my Dad
recently.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My Dad loves to share Jesus with others and this particular
day he was having a conversation with a disillusioned young
man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This troubled man said he couldn’t
be believe in the Bible because he had never seen a miracle and he felt it was
all a bit unrealistic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My Dad replied,
“You’ve never seen a miracle?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve seen
a lot of miracles in my life!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And for
the next two hours shared with this man all the miracles he had seen and
experienced in his life.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I was listening to my father share this story, I wondered
. . . <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Would I be able to talk for two hours about the miracles
I’ve seen and experienced in my life? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s not that I haven’t experienced miracles . . . <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s just I’ve forgotten . . . <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How easy it is then when we get in difficult places, like
the Israelites were – back up against the wall (the Red Sea), to begin to
question God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His power?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His greatness?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His goodness?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We assume He has set us up to fail. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We listen to the lies that say He’s a dangling-carrot-kind-of-God who takes great joy in yanking things away whenever He feels like it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We believe He’s a game-playing God who wants
to see if we’ll flinch or yell “Uncle”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We accept as truth, because of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">what
we see, </b>that He’s a malicious, vindictive, and troubling God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I propose it’s because we’ve forgotten.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve forgotten the ways He’s demonstrated to
us His might and power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His unending
love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His elaborate grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve forgotten that He is greater.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wiser.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
All-powerful.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Simply, w</span>e’ve forgotten the
miracles.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So how do we keep from forgetting and wallowing in our pain and disillusionment?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We choose to remember.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We make note.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> We w</span>rite down and hold close our God-sightings.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And when the times of disillusionment come, when we feel God
has backed us into a corner, left us hanging out to dry, we remember the treasure
trove of God-miracles, we bring them out into the light and cling to their truth instead of what we feel.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don’t know where this Christmas Season finds you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Times of joy or sorrow?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Times of laughter or
disillusionment?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wherever you are, whatever situation you find yourself in, may you choose to REMEMBER!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Remember God’s outrageous grace. His priceless gift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His unending love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His forever promises. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Remember the miracles you have seen and experienced in your
life, let them remind you of God’s great power and might, even when you cannot see!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When we choose to remember, we will have what
we need to face whatever comes our way, without allowing them to shake our
foundation and demolish our belief in God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let's start by remembering the greatest miracle
of all . . . <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God becoming one of us!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
khusebyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09158512293355186164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767846831563498513.post-91366771563503359362015-11-15T11:43:00.000-05:002015-11-15T11:43:28.120-05:00Servant Living<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"></span></i></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">Jesus knew that the Father
had given Him authority over everything and that He had come from God and would
return to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So he got up from the
table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around His waist and poured water
into a basin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then He began to wash the
disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel He had around Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">John 17.3-5<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">Jesus
knew who he was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knew where He had
come from and where He was going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
was God, the Creator of the universe, King Eternal, Yahweh washing the feet of
the one’s He had created.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">For
the disciples, this was a “shock and awe” moment!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No Rabbi or any person of significant status
had ever washed another’s feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It just
wasn’t done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The job of foot washing was
always relegated to the lowest of the low, the refuse of society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">But
Jesus never let society dictate His behavior, He never let it deviate Him from
His mission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had come to serve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just hours from this moment, Jesus would
demonstrate His greatest act of service, His coup d'état, the cross!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Overthrowing the norms, the status-quo and
turning this self-driven, people pleasing society on its head.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">After
Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, He told them, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Since, I your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to
wash each other’s feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have given you
an example to follow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do as I have done
to you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>(John 13.12-14)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">Do
what I do. Serve each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">Having
the heart of a servant was a way of living for Jesus and it should be for those
of us who are His followers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t
one act of service, followed by a myriad of self-driven deeds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a lifestyle of service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unconditional service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No expectations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Service born from a heart that loves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">Jesus’
greatest act of service, the cross, came from a heart propelled by love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so should our service derive from a heart
of love for those He created.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">Unconditional
service is never easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unconditional
service always has a cost but it is a way of life for those who choose to
follow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It marks us as true followers of
the One who first demonstrated His love for us!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">Lord, we confess in this
every-man-for himself world, we have lost sight of this servant way of
living.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have allowed the world and its
ways to color our perspective and justify our self-centered choices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Teach us to have the heart of a servant and
to live each day, following the example you set for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen </span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></i> </div>
</div>
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khusebyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09158512293355186164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767846831563498513.post-4126904313534641872015-11-08T16:13:00.000-05:002015-11-10T18:49:30.718-05:00Thank You, Jesus<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">Thank
you, Jesus . . . for rescuing me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light";"></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">I
was arrogant, self-seeking, and prideful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I didn’t need You.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But You chose
me and laid bare my depravity. A knife to my soul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A necessary pain, to break away the old and
form the new and I am forever grateful! </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"> </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light";"></span></i><br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">For though He
wounds, He also bandages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He strikes but
His hands also heal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">Job 5.18</span><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light";"></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">Thank
you, Jesus . . . for giving me life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light";"></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">A
life everlasting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A life that begins
now! My old way of living was a meager existence, a barely-getting-by
reality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But now I’ve stepped into a new
reality, a new way of living.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Embracing
the journey You have for me, viewing my circumstance through a new lens,
knowing You are shaping me with a future purpose in mind!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light";"></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">I heard a loud
shout from the throne, saying, “Look God’s home is now among His people!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will live with them, and they will be His
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God Himself will be with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and
there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All these things are gone forever.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the One sitting on the throne said, “Look
I am making everything new!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">Revelation 21.3-53</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light";"></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">Thank
you, Jesus . . . for making me Your beloved daughter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light";"></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">No
matter where I go, no matter what happens to me, no matter what someone says
about me, I’m your child!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing and no
one (including me) will ever change that!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am Your most precious possession.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You love me with an everlasting love. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light";"></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">See how very
much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">1
John 3.1</span><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light";"></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">I have loved
you, my people, with an everlasting love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>With unfailing love I have drawn you to Myself.</span></i><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"> Jeremiah 31.3</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">Thank
you, Jesus . . . for your faithfulness to me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light";"></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">You
never give up on me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You never throw in
the towel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter what I do or say,
you remain faithful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are the SAME,
yesterday, today and forever!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your love
for me knows no end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My behavior never
changes who You are.</span><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hebrews 13.8</span><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light";"></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">The faithful
love of the Lord never ends!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His mercies
never cease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Great is His faithfulness;
His mercies begin afresh each morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">Lamentations 3.22-23</span><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light";"></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">Thank
you, Jesus . . . for knowing me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">You
know me and yet you still love me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
know my thoughts, intents and desires.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You know what’s best for me, what I need and what I don’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are always for me.</span><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light";"></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">O Lord, you
have examined my heart and know everything about me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know when I sit down or stand up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know my thoughts even when I’m far
away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">Psalm 139.1-2</span><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light";"></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">Thank
you, Jesus . . . for allowing me to know You!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light";"></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">You
have given me Your Word so that I may know You. This isn’t a casual
relationship but an intimate, personal, all-consuming one!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are the lover of my soul and You desire
me to know You.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">This is what
the Lord says:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t let the wise boast
in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in
their riches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But those who wish to
boast should boast in this alone:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing
love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight
in these things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I, the Lord, have
spoken!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i><span style="font-family: "myriad pro light" , sans-serif;">Jeremiah 9.24</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "myriad pro light";"><br /></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></div>
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khusebyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09158512293355186164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767846831563498513.post-72324157835009055132015-10-11T11:10:00.000-04:002015-10-11T11:11:46.166-04:00Soul Quiet<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">My soul quietly waits for the
True God alone; my salvation comes from Him</span></i><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Psalm
62.1</span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">I
confess, I am rarely quiet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is go,
go, go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do, do, do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And at the end of the day, it’s difficult to
turn off my brain and rest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I find it easy
to take refuge in all I’ve accomplished and ignore the unsettled, restless
feelings in my heart. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Focusing on the
doing, rather than the being.</span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">Someone
once told me, we aren’t human-doings, we’re human-beings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">How
true this is and yet how uncomfortable we find “being” to be.</span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">When
am I ever “soul quiet”? </span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">We’re
fixers . . . <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">We don't need a Savior because we are our own savior. We
need money, we take out a loan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We no
longer feel in love with our spouse so we dump them for a newer model.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our child is struggling with a teacher, we
move them to a different class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
in-laws are driving us crazy, we cut them out of the picture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We read self-help books, see counselor after
counselor, and take matters into our own hands. </span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">Waiting
is for those who are lazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Waiting
wastes time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Waiting never solves
anything.</span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">We
don’t need a Rescuer because we are our own rescuer.</span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">It’s
easy to rationalize away this call for soul quiet waiting.</span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">Soul
quiet is hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soul quiet takes precious
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soul quiet takes perseverance and
intentionality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Soul quiet causes us to
let go of the list and focus on the being. Soul quiet forces us to be still. Soul quiet brings us face to face with who we are deep down inside.</span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">We
will never pursue this life accidentally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><strong>The voices of this world shout loud and long and unless we choose to
remove our self from their continual barrage we will never learn to listen to
the whispers of our Savior.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">Years
ago I learned a soul quiet practice called “Contemplative Prayer”, also
known as Lectio Divina (Sacred Reading).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have found it to be a wonderful way of helping me learn to quiet my
soul and wait on God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">Here’s
how it works:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">*Read
aloud the passage of Scripture (should be only 2-3 verses).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Listen to the words and be still for 1-2
minutes.</span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">*Read
aloud again and Reflect for another 1-2 minutes:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What in this passage touches my life today?</span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p>*Read aloud again and Respond for another 1-2 minutes: What is God inviting me to do </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p>today?</o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p>*Read aloud again and Rest for another 1-2 minutes: Ask nothing, simply rest in the presence</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p>of the Lord.</o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">*Write
down what God has spoken to you through His Word.</span><span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><o:p><br />I encourage you today to take Philippians 4.6-7 and begin your soul quiet practice.</o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;">God
is calling all of us to the soul quiet way of living.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Resting in His presence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Waiting on Him to rescue us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Quieting our hearts before Him. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>It’s the way of Peace even when our worlds
are turned upside down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the way of
Joy even when there is tremendous pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is the path of Life for those who choose to walk its way.</span><br />
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khusebyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09158512293355186164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767846831563498513.post-65419614269959966792015-08-23T09:48:00.000-04:002015-08-23T09:48:32.763-04:00Outlandish Faith<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What would
cause someone to go against the tide of social influence?</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What would make them stand up against a vast
amount of their peers and refuse to go along with what they believe?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peer pressure is a powerful force and few can
stand against it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">However,
there were two men in the Bible who did just that . . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Caleb
and Joshua were chosen, along with ten other men, to explore the Promised Land
and give a report to Moses and the people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When they returned ten of the spies were against conquering the
land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is what they said, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“The land
we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">All the
people we saw were huge. We even saw giants<span style="font-size: small;"><sup> </sup>there. Next to them we
felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too!”</span></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i>(Numbers 13:32-33 NLT)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Caleb and Joshua disagreed! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They wanted to go immediately and take the
land. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“But all the people began to cry and weep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then the whole community began weeping aloud,
and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">they cried all night</b>. Their
voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron.”</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">(</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Numbers 14:1-2 NLV</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">By this
time, you would think Caleb and Joshua would have given in to this incredible
amount of pressure but they didn’t</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Listen to what they said,
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“It is a rich land flowing with milk and
honey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do not rebel against the L<span style="font-variant: small-caps;">ord</span>, and don’t be afraid of the people
of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">They have no protection, but the L<span style="font-variant: small-caps;">ord</span>
is with us! Don’t be afraid of them</b>!” </i></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">(Number 14:7-9 NLV</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">When everyone else was trembling in
fear, Caleb and Joshua were ready to march ahead. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who does that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Why would they believe when everyone else did not? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">They knew who God was!</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had witnessed His
constant faithfulness to them, time and time again and they believed!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They saw the Promised Land through a
different lens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">They knew the God who created the Universe, who hung the stars in space
and formed the land would stand with them, would go before them and they had
nothing to fear!</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">They all had witnessed God’s
faithfulness to them; when He provided manna, brought water from a rock and saved them
from the Egyptians!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What caused Caleb
and Joshua to believe and the Israelites to doubt?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">To the other Israelites, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Caleb</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">and Joshua had an outlandish faith!</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was completely illogical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
this wild and crazy faith was rooted in an amazing, outlandish God who had
proven Himself over and over to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What kind of faith do you have?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How big is your God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you trust Him when things seem impossible,
when you can’t see what He is doing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The only way to develop this kind of
faith is to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">KNOW your God</b>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I encourage you to get into His Word
and discover who He is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will not
disappoint!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This is what the Lord says: “Don’t
let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their
power, or the rich boast in their riches. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone:
that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates
unfailing </b></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">love . . .” </i></b>(Jeremiah
9:23-24 NLV)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Myriad Pro Light",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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