Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Been some time...

Well it certainly has been some time since I last posted on my blog. Work has been keeping me busy as well as my cycling. I just haven't taken the time to sit down and type my thoughts.

I am so excited because Tonja and I are starting our study on the book of Daniel. I am so thrilled to delve back into this book because the first Bible study I participated in was on Daniel. That was back in the fall of 1994. So some 13 years later - I open the book again, not the first time since 1994, but the first time that I will study it from chapter 1 to 12. For 11 weeks - I will be stepping back in time to visit w/ Daniel, Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael(Meshach), Azariah (Abednego), & King Nebuchadnezzar. What's so amazing about the study - is that we will be looking at Ancient Babylon and comparing it our modern day Babylon. I will be learning about living a life of integrity while also receiving Divine Words of prophecy! We are surrounded by a Babylon of our own and it represents much more than just an ancient city. Opulence, wealth, perfection, me, me, me, self-absorbtion.
I pray I will find time to blog my journey through Daniel... so I can share with you all the God is opening to me. I am excited to see how much more I will see in God's Divine Word in 2007 than I did in 1994! Gods' Word is new everyday! It was the study of the book of Daniel that first introduced me to Biblical study - that book, the Holy Spirit and a hunger in me has kept me digging ever since.

This week - in the introductory video - Beth stated: "God has assigned us to this world - but the enemy has assigned the world to us" Which influence will win out in your life?
In this modern day Babylon - my prayer for you is to seek first His Kingdom, to serve Him in this world He has assigned to you! You will never come up against an enemy that God will not defeat as long as you keep in mind that He is the One and Only - and there is NO other God besides Him!

Read along with me! Read Daniel 1 this week... pray over Daniel 1. Find a study on the Book of Daniel and come along for a wonderful journey!

Monday, August 6, 2007

God IS Good!

Yes, let me say that again - God IS Good!


I have to admit, that when I first decided to blog I was going to only have this space open to my close friends and family. But after much prayer and prompting by the Holy Spirit - I wanted to share my faith with many more than just my close friends. I have found several wonderful ladies of faith who also share my passion for our Lord and who are putting themselves out there in blog land. It's not coincidence that I have found these women, but a Divine design that I have met via the internet these great gals. I do choose to moderate what posts are made prior to posting and now know why it is a good thing.


I was excited to open my inbox this morning to find that someone out there posted anonymously on my blog - unfortunately after opening the email I had to reject the comment. At first I have to admit that a bit of anger began to burn inside. This individual stated that they had found my blog randomly and that "frankly people with such obvious blind faith scare me" what saddened me the most was that that this person stated (I will quote again here) "but your "lord" has done nothing but terrible things to me." But then after a few moments, my heart broke for this person. I don't know what has happened to this person in his/her life, but whatever it is/was - I know they are hurting. I want this person to know that God IS good. I immediately prayed for this individual. John 16:33 is one of my favorite verses in scripture - and it is one I have prayed over many times - I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!

I prayed this scripture for this person today. I prayed that the hurt this person has experienced in life would be removed, that he/she would accept and feel the loving arms of our Father wrap around them, that this person would ulitmately find peace - peace that can only come from Him. I pray that someday this individual knows the love that the Lord has for him/her and they knwo the measure of His healing.

Yes friend, if you read this God IS good, God loves you and will heal your broken heart. John 3:16 is a verse that is so familiar, we even see it posted at sporting events - For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. I always think it's important to follow with verse 17 when you share the famliar John 3:16.
Verse 17: For God did not send his Son into the world to condem the world but, to save the world through him.


I cannot find anywhere in scripture where God said that life would be perfect, that it would be easy - because if that were true - I would have signed up immediately. What I can find all over scripture God loves us, He wants to heal us, lead us, save us. He provided His son as our atonement for our sins and the sins of the world - so that in Jesus we can have peace. I pray that this individual comes to know Jesus - an eyes wide open faith!

I ask each of you to pray for the lost, the hurting, the sick, the lonely. God IS good.


God starts with us where we are. But He doesn't leave us there - He moves us to a deeper level of faith.