Here's my heart, Lord, take and seal it

Sometimes we want this relationship with God to come easily.  I self-examine, "Maybe I'm not figuring out things that others have who have gone before me.  Are there revelations God is withholding from me because I won't 'get it together'?"      Alas, the Holy Spirit didn't allow me to think this way much longer.  I found myself reading Ephesians merely by chance and was gently corrected. " Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,  who has blessed us in the heavenly realms  with every spiritual blessing in Christ."--Ephesians 1:3 God doesn't have an "elite" group of people that are allowed access to His blessings.   We have been given everything! " His divine power  has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him  who called us  by his own glory and goodness."--2 Peter 1:3

"May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."--Galatians 6:14 I was challenged this week to try and explain the story of the good news of Jesus in layman's terms.  Let's just say it was difficult.  So much of how I relate to people about Christ is through Bible verses.  I'm not claiming it's bad to know scriptures.  I am trusting in their power to not return empty, but what is equally important is that I understand them in a personal way.   So I then got to thinking, have I begun to take for granted the revelation of Jesus Christ that was given to me by the Father? (John 6:44)  In some ways, the miracle that I have found relief from suffering because of Jesus is old news--but oh how I wish it wasn't!   As I began to dial back my explanation of how I have peace through Jesus, Galatians 6:14 ran through my mind.  Might I not boast in anything but the deat...

I've been clinging to promises from God lately. Suddenly it dawned on me that they will come true. They aren't suggestions or mere hopes. I know that these things will happen: God will withhold no good thing--meaning good things are coming my way--as my walk is blameless in His sight. (Psalm 84:11) He satisfies my soul's longings. As I hunger, I will be satisfied with good. (Psalm 107:9) God fulfills His purpose for me. He does whatever He pleases--I cling to this on days and moments when I feel like I've  "mess up" what He is doing. (Psalm 57:2) He cares for me--Individual little Alicia who seemingly has very little consequence to this world. He cares when I'm tired, He cares when my emotions are out of whack. He cares when I am hurt. I'm never too far away from His gaze. (1 Peter 5:7) These promises come in handy (and these are just a few) when the oppression of fear or dread cause me to think about the what-if's. I tend to think o...

Six months later after being married to a certain Mr. Lund: I don't apologize as much.   I speak less.  I am not afraid to share my thoughts.   I laugh more. (Is this possible?!) I eat healthier. I exercise more. I worship more. I pray for others. I think about the needs of others. I am unashamedly myself. I have a holy fear of the Word of God. I complain less. (Hallelujah!) I value more and cherish the gifts God is cultivating in me. Alas, I probably drink more beer. Even if I were to just have these past six months with My Love (please, Lord let there be six million more!) I can see what an impact this man of God has had on my life and walk with Jesus.  I'm not becoming more like Steven, rather I know I am being transformed from glory to glory. "It may be conceded to the mathematicians that four is twice two. But two is not twice one; two is two thousand times one."--GK Chesterton, The Man ...

When I said "yes" to marrying Steven, I knew what I was getting into--sort of. In fact, I had to decide upon a life with probabilities of living overseas about the time I realized our relationship could be more than friends.  I want noble adventure--the kind that God provides for His children.  G.K. Chersterton though it was an awesome paradox which the life of a Christian can achieve.  We have " the collision of two passions apparently opposite".  There's the ability to be courageous and yet safe at the same time, and the ability to lose your life and find it in the same breath! All I know is that when Steven told me "Jesus is worth it" last year, it resonated with something in me.  I do want to believe that when Jesus commanded to go to all nations, He actually meant it.  So, I have to believe that is for today and now.     Until then, life in America has been so awesome.  This Summer has been so full and new--more friends getting marr...

Today, we are remembering Grandma Amy.  And it has not gone without sobering thoughts of eternity. I know right now that she is with the Father and the place which the Son prepared for her. What brings peace about my grandmother's life is that we are promised a kingdom and an eternity.  Her life did not truly end a week ago. And this is the only hope we have--if it were not so, you ought to pity my life, hers, and anyone else spending their lives for the sake of His Name. "If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied."--1 Corinthians 15:19 I can remember Grandma Amy singing earnestly over and over, "you can have all this world, but give me Jesus".  I now know that her prayer has been answered and she has Him. And that is all she or I need, hope, and long for. "I love you, Grandma."

I've stopped writing in here as often (and I don't believe the picture blogs count).  As much as I wish I could put into words what God is doing in my heart--it's hard.  I don't write as much not because He isn't changing things up--on the contrary--but because God is doing so much I've nearly "shut down" almost to preserve energy. I feel like I've lost all my spunk and piffy comments about Christian culture and then deep revelations about God that I can share.  He is simply there. "Jesus, I need you.  That's all."  Which is what I write in my journals most days. I leave you with this for now: "My comfort in my suffering is this:  your promise preserves my life."--Psalm 119:50