the Atonement Child

Beloved, 

If this story has opened old wounds, please know that Jesus is waiting with open arms to welcome and comfort you as his own. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, that the Lord won't forgive-and forget. He promises that as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed your transgressions from you. He died for you and rose again so that you can have new life in him. All you have to do is accept him. His love is not earned but given as a free gift. That's my prayer for you: that you will know and accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord and learn who you are in him.

In Christ, you are his child. You are raised up with him. You are forgiven. In Christ, you are a new creation, the very temple of the Holy Spirit. You are delivered from the power of darkness. You are redeemed, blessed, holy, and sanctified. Even now, God is holding your child close. And in Christ, you will be reunited in love. 

You are victorious and set free from sin and death. You are more than a conqueror. You are strong in the Lord, able to withstand any storm through him.

You are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. You are accepted. You are complete in him. You are crucified in him, free from condemnation, and reconciled to God Almighty-and reunited with your children. Through Jesus, you are qualified to share in his inheritance. You are a fellow citizen with the saints and the household of God. You are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, and Jesus Christ is your Cornerstone, your High Priest, your Husband.

You are born of God, and the evil one cannot touch you.

You are overtaken with blessings.

You are called by God.

You are chosen!

You are an ambassador for Christ, a messenger of the Good News. You are healed by the stripes of Jesus, and you are being transformed into his likeness.

You are loved.

You are one in Christ.

You can do all things in Christ Jesus.

His grace and mercy are beyond anything I can explain in words. The bible is filled with his love for you, and his promises. Please allow yourself to experience this love and forgiveness, to live in it, to walk with him. Let go of yourself, and cry out to the Lord, and he will hear and answer. He knows all about you. He knows everything you've done, where you've been, what you've said, how you've felt, and he loves you with a love everlasting.

The Holy One, Jesus Christ, the most mighty God, holds out his hand to you right now. All you have to do is open the door of your heart and invite him in.

May it be so.

Francine Rivers

This was written by Francine Rivers, an internationally best-selling author who wrote the two best books I've ever read: Redeeming Love and the Atonement Child. I just finished the Atonement Child and I can't begin to tell you how amazing this book is. It's one of those can't put down, can't stop crying, can't help but love Jesus books. This book has brought so much love, healing, and restoration for me because it beautifully paints the overwhelming love the Father has for me. I am His beloved. He captivates my heart daily as I seek Him. The Father's love is so hard to grasp, to accept, yet the most free and inviting characteristic of the One who rescued his people on the cross. Even if you don't read this book, I pray that you experience the Father's love for you today. His power of forgiveness, love, mercy, and redemption is one that none can deny. Seek Him. He loves you. He loves you. He loves you.

Book description- In one horrific, terrifying moment, Dynah Carey's perfect life is shattered by rape, her future irrevocably altered by an unwanted pregnancy, her doting family torn apart. Her seemingly rock-solid faith is pushed to the limits as she faces the most momentous choice of her life-to embrace or to end the untimely life within her. 

Trust.

So, I'm starting to see God in random circumstances in my day so I thought I would share one of my more recent stories. Yesterday as I was packing up my room to head back to Auburn, God showed me himself through my animals. Quick recap- Riley is my best friend who is 8 years old and is seated on the left in this picture. The lighter colored dog is Sophie. Sophie is a dog from the pound that I brought home this summer who doesn't exactly know me very well. Anyway, I had a huge box in my arms full of things to take back to Auburn. Both dogs were laying in the hall way that I was proceeding. As I walked towards the dogs, Sophie jumped up and scampered away at the sight of me and my large object as if I would drop it on her or harm her. Riley, knowing me well enough to know I would never intentionally hurt her trusted me as I walked right over her holding the box. See, Riley knows I love her and that even if I did drop that box on her she trusts that I know what I'm doing. Sophie, not as aquatinted to me was afraid and left thinking I may harm her. 

How many times are we like Sophie with the Lord? We see him coming and we run from him because we don't trust him with our lives. Riley on the other hand, is the picture of complete faith and trust in her master. He will change any situation for good yet we still don't completely trust Him all the times with our life. Even when he brings big boxes around us, do we trust him enough to endure what he has in store for us long enough for him to make it good? Trust the Lord today. Be a Riley. Leave the Sophies at home!

Israel

This blog is an email that my cousin Stacey sent to me this morning. Please take the time to read it. Pray about it. Her heart is obviously in this so she deserves your attention.

Hi Brandy, I hope you're doing well. I know this comes as a bit random, but I wanted to share something with you and ask you for your help. As you know, Israel is now engaged in a war against a terror organization called Hamas. After suffering 8 years of rocket attacks against our Southern cities, Israel has decided to fight back, and has invaded Gaza. The purpose of this mission is to rid the world of one center of terrorist activity. It is to rid ourselves of terrorist neighbors (one of our many, unfortunately!) and to try to give our Southern residents a normal life again; a life in which they do not have to be scared to place their children on school busses in the morning because Hamas intentionally targets their cities between 7-8am. in order to kill children specifically. The reason I am writing you is because I believe that it is very important to spread around the Israeli message before people start hearing the other side too loudly. (The UN and most European countries have already started calling for an immediate cease-fire which would harm Israel and strengthen Global Jihad.) In our last war (incidentally, one we did not start) Israeli PR attempts were basically failures, and the world heard mainly the side of Hizbullah. Thus the world did not get to see that Israeli citizens too were crouching in bomb shelters day and night; that Israeli citizens too were being injured and killed; and that Israeli citizens too were suffering unbearable conditions throughout the months of the war. This time around, we are making every effort to get out a clear and balanced message. We are trying to show our side to the world and to try to explain both who we are fighting against, why we are fighting them, and what we hope to accomplish. As with all of our other wars, we did not start-nor did we ask for-this war. We are simply trying to live, and we deserve to do so in peace. I am writing you because you have been here, Brandy. You have seen and been impressed with everything this wonderful land has to offer and you and Rebecca have met its people. You know that we are not looking for a fight. In the PR war (which is the second force in any war) Israel needs soldiers, both big and small. You are uniquely positioned to champion Israel's side since you reach people who may not otherwise hear about Israel in any capacity other than the Holy Land. You have seen that Israel is a vibrant state that shares many of the Judeo-Christian values which make America as great as it is. I have attached a link below to a speech given by a women named Bridgit Gabriel. This woman is a Lebanese Christian who suffered during the First Lebanon War at the hands of Muslim extremists. She tells her story in this clip for about 30 minutes and it is truly amazing. She describes how she came to clean her mind of the brainwashing she had grown up with in Lebanon and to understand that Muslim extremists are to blame for the fighting that ravaged her country and her home. If you would please take one hour, whenever you have some free time, and watch this video and then go out and tell your friends at college who Israel is fighting against, you would be making a huge contribution to a very worthy cause. Israel right now needs those who will speak up for it, both Jews Christians and Muslims. If you tell only two friends about what you've learned and they tell their friends and they tell their friends...then you will have done Israel a great service. Please let me know if you need any information about the conflict, Israel's history with Islamic extremists, or anything else to help you understand what's going on over here. I will understand if you're not interested in this, but (as Mrs. Gabriel mentions), there is an Arab saying that goes "First comes Saturday, then Sunday". This refers to the extremist goal of first ridding the world of Jews, and then moving on to Christians. This is a war that affects all of us and if we do not take an active part in it, then we should at least know what's going on and what others are doing about it. Thanks for reading this! Love to Blakely and good luck to Blair!Love, Stacey The Bridgit Gabriel experience in Lebanon:http://multimedia.heritage.org/content/wm/Lehrman-092706a.wvx

Faith for Blair

As I wipe away tears from my eyes, I am rummaging through what I thought would be just another shipment. Shipment-clothes from Blair. I've gotten in to the new swing of things by going downstairs and getting clothes to take back to school. This occasion was quite different.

Unexpectedly, I was a ball of emotion tonight. I'm no sissy and I usually don't care too much about Blair's leaving and coming because it's sorta the norm. However, this time I care so much about what she is doing and about her heart that I felt a little different tonight as I was stealing all her clothes out of her room. I embraced t-shirts with passionate sayings, pictures, or supporting organizations of good causes. I also looked thru her recent book collection and music collaboration. In her entire hurricane of a room, each item mirrored the heart of Christ. You see, Blair really gets it. She has responded to the call on her life. She is leaving EVERYTHING behind and following him. Jesus said in Matthew 16: 24, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."  She is going after him by denying herself completely. She will take a backpack (much heavier than I expected may I add since I saw her have to carry the mis-connected strap thru the airport haha) full of her belongings for 11 months. If you could only see her room and all the things she has left behind, you would be astonished. She's taking up her cross-her responsibility, her call to follow Jesus Christ. Matthew 10:37-39 says, "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Watching my mom and sister embrace and say good-bye for a while reminded me of this verse here. You see, Jesus wants us to be entirely about Him. He wants our WHOLE life in surrender. He is our top priority. He wants us to love him more than anything else in the whole world. He loves us this way. He demands that we value Him more than our family members. I know Blair loves each one of us so much but what's encouraging to me is that she loves the Father more than anything. She places Him higher than anything in this world. He is her best friend. It's funny how life is sometimes. This Christmas with my family was some of the best times we've ever shared. Each party, bowling, dinner, movie, and gathering meant more to me this year. Call in maturing, prioritizing, or spiritual growth, but I realized this year how much my family means to me. Blair and I got to hang out so much this break that it's strange that this is the year she would leave. It's that supernatural closeness that forms when people know that time is limited. I know this is going to be hard for many of you so here's what the Lord has shown me to offer to you.

FAITH- in the Father.

A preacher on my retreat this week taught on the faith of Abraham and mentioned something I've never read before. If it weren't enough for Abraham to have the faith to agree to take his son to Moriah to be sacrificed- His only son, Isaac-who God promised to bless the nations thru and is now telling him to kill him- look what Abraham said. In Genesis 22:5, "He said to his servants, 'Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then WE will come back to you." He had enough faith to believe that regardless of how, God would keep his promise in blessing the nations through Isaac. If he was going to raise Isaac from the dead, or prepare some other miracle, Abraham had faith that he and his son would both return even though he was planning on killing his son. Faith.

This morning John Schmidt preached on David and Goliath and read the passage from 1 Samuel 17: 32-37, "I have done this to both lions and bears, and I'll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear WILL RESCUE me from this Philistine!" David had faith that His Lord was with him. Faith.

Hebrews 11:6, "...it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him."

2 Corinthians 5:7 "We live by faith, not by sight."

I pray that you would join me in testing out our faith in this season. Having faith that is not altered by hardships or difficulties. One of my favorite quotes from the book, The Shack, is this "Faith does not grow in the house of certainty." I hope that He is testing you and me in trusting Him with our sister in Christ, affirming the fact that He has called her into ministry for the next couple of months and we can rest knowing that He has her in His hands. It is His will. May He show you what having Faith in Him can do for you.

My prayer to Blair:

Romans 1:8

"First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your FAITH is being reported all over the world. God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God's will the way may be opened for me to come to you. I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong-that is, that you and I may be Mutually encouraged by each other's FAITH."

Words of Wisdom.

"Tis not that I did choose Thee, For Lord, that could not be; This heart would still refuse Thee, Hadst Thou not chosen me... My heart owns none before Thee, For Thy rich grace I thirst; This knowing, if I love Thee, Thou must have loved me first." Josiah Conder

New Thought from The Shack, a great book I can't put down...

"Mack, the world system is what it is. Institutions, systems, ideologies, and all the vain, futile efforts of humanity that go with them are everywhere, and interaction with all of it is unavoidable. But I can give you freedom to overcome any system of power in which you find yourself, be it religious, economic, social, or political. You will grow in the freedom to be inside or outside all kinds of systems and to move freely between and among them. Together, you and I can be in it and not of it." 

"But so many of the people I care about seem to be both in it and of it!" Mack was thinking of his friends, church people who had expressed love to him and his family. He knew they loved Jesus, but were also sold out to religious activity and patriotism. 

"Mack, I love them. and you wrongly judge many of them. For those who are both in it and of it, we must find ways to love and serve them, don't you think?" asked Jesus. "Remember, the people who know me are the ones who are free to live and love without any agenda."

"Is that what it means to be a Christian?" It sounded kind of stupid as Mack said it, but it was how he was trying to sum everything up in his mind.

"Who said anything about being a Christian? I'm not a Christian."

The idea struck Mack as odd and unexpected and he couldn't keep himself from grinning. "No, I suppose you aren't."

They arrived at the door of the workshop. Again Jesus stopped.

"Those who love me come from every system that exists. They were Buddhists or Mormons, Baptists or Muslims, Democrats, Republicans and many who don't vote or are not part of any Sunday morning or religious institutions. I have followers who were murderers and many who were self-righteous. Some are bankers and bookies, Americans and Iraqis, Jews and Palestinians. I have no desire to make them Christian, but I do want to join them in their transformation into sons and daughters of my Papa, into my brothers and sisters, into my Beloved."

"Does that mean," asked Mack, "that all roads will lead to you?"

"Not at all," smiled Jesus as he reached for the door handle to the shop. "Most roads don't lead anywhere. What it does mean is that I will travel any road to find you."

Opinions...

So... short blog but hoping for return posts-your turn to tell me what you think.

1. A kid at my daycare's parents told me they don't do Christmas tree, ornaments, lights, presents, Santa Clause.. nope-no presents. Instead, they wake up and have birthday cake and ice cream with decorations of birthday party to celebrate Jesus's birth. They said our culture has centered and focused everything around us and they won't give their children presents because it's not about them. May be extreme, but... sure gets the point across and she was one of the few kids who knew whose bday is on Christmas.... what do you think?

2. At the candle light service tonight at church, we all took communion. Sitting beside me, my friend said she doesn't believe communion is for everyone. She thinks only those saved in Christ should participate... .opinions?

3. There are so many children in this country and others that are orphaned. Is it selfish to have our own children when so many kids never feel love firsthand. Aren't we called to love?

These are simply just things I've heard lately and wondered what others thought. These are just your opinions and thoughts...I feel we should all form our own spirit led idea on what we ourselves believe. Just thought it would be cool to hear some response.. so please.......

HOME SWEET HOME...

So it's December 22 today and I am finally home. Home... as in Wetumpka, Alabama. However, the past couple of weeks the Lord has shown me an entire new perspective of what the word, "home" really means. Here is what home has looked like over the past couple of weeks. The next few blogs will feature bits and pieces of what I feel makes up home for me. The picture above is of my roommates. Here's a little bit about them because, they're sort of a big deal. The one pictured here with me in red is Katherine Archer. She's in her fifth year at Auburn in grad school for speech therapy. Commonly referred to as Chatty, this girl keeps me laughing. I've really enjoyed getting to know her. She's so inviting and including. She's just one of those people who just make you seem right at home in conversation. Her experience in life offers amazing advice and encouragement for me. She and I will be living in our house next semester. I'm excited to continue to grow in our friendship. The girl in the grey shirt is Katy Crane. This crazy girl is more like a roommate. She lives in the room right across from me. She may have more patience with me then anyone I've ever lived with. She puts up with the loud and unending alarms, continuous banging of doors, blaring music, and of course, just ME. Katy and I have gotten closer due to the fact that we rarely go home. We both stay in Auburn as long as we can. It's been so fun to go deeper in our relationship and see her heart for missions and for people. She just finished at Auburn and now will head to Switzerland or Australia for a semester for discipleship training through YWAM. This is an amazing opportunity for her but really stinks for me. She won't be there next semester at all so... I'm really going to miss her! The last roommate on the end in the pink shirt is Emily Stewart. Emily is a senior at Auburn and closest to my age. She just finished all her classes for Human Development and Family Studies and will study with her class in Italy next semester. Thankfully, she will be in Auburn a few weeks in January before she splits. Emily is more like the older sister for me in Auburn. Our relationship is a pretty deep one. We've had numerous conversations about the Lord and she's been an amazing influence for me this semester. Unfortunately for her, many of our conversations have included complaining, crying, looking back and selfish thoughts from me. I'm so thankful for all the advice and mentoring she's held out to me throughout the semester. All three of these girls are absolutely amazing. Look at them! Could I ask for more beautiful roommates? The semester with them has been pretty drama free with exceptions to our pet rat we like to scare each other with. This rat is so awful looking that it will never fail to result in scream or missed heart beat. The only other thing that can annoy us more is the darn door stopper in the kitchen that sticks out and makes an annoying sound when anyone hits it. We've had some mysterious events occur in the semester including cookies, a/c, dishwasher, bathroom sounds, Ellen, destroyed pumpkins, garbage fines, and other things. Overall, we had an amazing time getting to know one another this semester. I can't thank the Lord enough for such an opportunity to grow and learn from such amazing Christian women in my own house. I feel like I had to grow up a bit and at the same time add a bit of youth to the house :) Thinking of home during this holiday season allows me to miss the three girls that have really, really allowed Auburn to seem more like home for me. It hasn't been easy to adjust to another city but these girls have a lot to do with the home atmosphere that is growing in Auburn. I'm so thankful to them for allowing me to be a part of a great group of people living under one roof. I'm not looking forward to going back to our house and taking down our Christmas tree (we got a real one) and all the ornaments, but I'm definitely looking forward to seeing these girls again soon. I miss them already. They definitely make up a part of my "home" this semester.

BIGGER PICTURE.

Yesterday, I went to Auburn University's graduation. One of my close friends was graduating so I decided to sit through 2 hours of recognition and rewards. As I sat there with hundreds of graduates before me, my mind was going ninety to nothing in thoughts. One of the most significant things I could think of was this:

Sitting with 2 other graduates of Auburn and knowing some of their adventures, I realized one thing we all have in common. During college, we seem to forget the bigger picture. My two friends beside me, my friend graduating, the hundreds of graduates, and myself have all been in nights of chaos where we let uncertainty overcome reason. Those nights consist of thoughts like these: Will I ever get this paper finished on time? What the heck am I going to do about this test I had no clue about? Should I even go to class? What will my parents think when I bring home another D? How in the world am I supposed to know what major to choose? Will I ever use my major? Will I ever even get a job in the major I chose? Does school really matter? Why does it matter? I hate school. I hate college. I hate work. I hate studying. I hate class. I hate this professor.... you know what I mean. 

In life, these thoughts can be all too familiar as well: What is the point of life? Why do I do good to others and in return get nothing? Why is it so hard for me? What is the meaning of life? Why do I feel so alone? Does anybody love me? Will I ever find a mate? Will I ever get a slow day to just rewind and relax? What am I going to do with my life? Do I really love this person? Why do these people hurt me so much? Why do I look this way? How could anyone love me? So many thoughts that in the situation make life seem so hard and so pointless... right?

All those graduates have surrounded themselves with those endless question-asking nights yet, look where they are now. They are graduating! They are at the day they have been waiting for for four or more years. The day when they will march up to their teacher and receive a long awaited award for their achievements. The day is here and nothing can stop them now! No hard test, no eternal working paper, no horrible professor... they made it! The smiles on each of the graduates reflects the priceless feeling inside of achievement-They have reached their BIGGER PICTURE.

Let's tie life into this-What is our bigger picture? What day will we walk up to the stage and receive an award from our teacher that no insecurity, fear, reason, rejection, misunderstanding, mistake, failure, weakness, embarrassment, sickness, sin, pain, ignorance, abandonment, insignificant, accusing, or bankrupt thoughts can stop us? What is the point of life? What is our bigger picture? 

Louie Giglio told of this at the Passion tour in Atlanta in April-

You are like a match that when lit is on fire for 5 seconds and then is simply just left with a black stick. But, if your fire is tossed into the fire of the Lord, it will be a part of the flame of the Trinity, the flame to Heaven, the flame that impacts the nations, the flame that will burn FOREVER in Heaven.

Jesus told of this Bigger Picture in John 14-

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."

2 Peter 3:8-

"With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day."

OUR BIGGER PICTURE:

Eternity. Every day on this Earth we should be comforted in the fact that we have a Savior who loves us so much and gives us the opportunity to be a part of the bigger picture. We have our numbered days to look forward to the day when we meet Jesus Christ face to face. So in Earth, each day we are to know him more-to give Him glory with the days that He has given to us. Any day that is hard, stressful, or meaningless to us is just one day, one part in the bigger picture of eternity. So, just as those graduates were sitting in chairs in the coliseum yesterday, we too will all wait in Heaven. We will march up to the stage where we will see our teacher, Jesus. As we walk up to Him, all the hard times and sufferings will be rewarded in our diploma that reads, "Well done my good and faithful servant." We will get to meet our teacher face to face and live in an eternity free of pain. 

Be Encouraged that we have a BIGGER picture.

Further thoughts- These lyrics by Sara Groves hit perfectly on this:

Lyrics | Sara Groves lyrics - Rewrite This Tragedy lyrics

ALL THINGS HOLD TOGETHER.

So, now that finals are over and no more studying is done-I can study what I really want to study. THE WORD. In Ak's this afternoon and got out my bible and began to read. I'm reading in Matthew right now so I picked up in chapter 11. As Jesus fulfills the Law, he quotes what is written in Malachi. Even though what I'm about to write has nothing to do with what Jesus spoke about in Matthew, I believe that the word is alive and the Lord uses it to speak to me. I read where Jesus fulfills what was written, but then I continued to read. I came across Malachi 3:6 and it completely changed the direction of my day. It is written, "I the LORD do not change." It goes on to say, so you are not destroyed. 

I THE LORD DO NOT CHANGE.

Wow!! How extremely comforting! In a time where most of the people around me face changes in daily life constantly, and I myself have had to adjust to quite the number of changes lately, this verse can knock you down. I have friends that are leaving Auburn for good, friends that are starting to think about leaving USA for good, friends who are dealing with life changes in spiritual walk, and well... who isn't dealing with change? Last night at the Behold the Lamb concert in Birmingham, Bebo Norman said this..."Right in the middle of my inconsistency, I remember that I believe in a God that is SO consistent." It's the same thing with change.. right in the middle of change, I remember that I believe in a God who doesn't change. 

Further Encouragement: 

As I continued reading, the Lord also spoke to me through Isaiah. In Ch. 42 vs. 9, it says, "...and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you." Another Wow for me...It's just encouraging for me to remember that all things are from Him. The Lord declares new things in my life. Before they even arrive, he knows! The last verse I will leave you with that could possibly encourage you in a time of change is this... Col. 1:17, "He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." THANK GOD.

He goes before us, He goes with us, and He goes after us. My favorite line, IN HIM, ALL things HOLD together. So... if you are dealing with any change, which I believe is tough, be comforted in these verses. Hold on to Him because, He is holding on to you. 

this photo-taken from a friend's camera phone of the sky...no lie.

Merry Christmas from the Brendles

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Britney

Tonight I watched this reality episode on MTV about Britney Spears. It's called, Britney-for the record. It was awesome. It's pretty much her telling her story and giving her fans insight on her life and what she's gone through. I'm definitely a fan because I feel like there's no better candidate for grace. Here's some of her words that I identified with...

"It's weird-like you can see the world, the coolest part of the world. The coolest part, but then on the other side you see the most beautiful part. You go from one extreme to the other and they're both worth it because you wouldn't see one without the other. And that cool part is real cool, but that heaven is heaven. So, it's like I've been to both places."

I realize some of you think that's confusing and terrible sense making... but I get her. I think she's amazing for still sticking with things. So, I'm adding in the lyrics from a Bebo Norman song called Britney. They wrote this song about Britney Spears and I think it's amazing.

Britney im sorry for the lies we told
we took you into our arms and then left you cold
britney im sorry for this cruel cruel world
we sell the beauty but destroy the girl
britney im sorry for your broken heart
we stood aside and watched you fall apart
im sorry we told you fame would fill you up
and money moves the man so drink the cup
i know love goes around the world we know
and you never see it coming back you never see it coming back
i know love goes around the world we know
and you never see it coming back but i can see it coming back for you
yes coming back for you
britney im sorry for the stones we throw
we tear you down just so we can watch the show
britney im sorry for the words we say
we point the finger as you fall from grace
i know love goes around the world we know
and you never see it coming back
you never see it coming back and
i know love goes around the world we know
and you never see it coming back but i can see it coming back for you
yeah, its coming back for you, yeah, its coming back for you,
yeah, its coming back for you,
yeah britney i do believe that love has come
here for the broken here for the ones like us
i know love goes around the world we know
and you never see it coming back
you never see it coming back
and i know love goes around the world we know
and you never see it coming back
but i can see it coming back
i know love goes around the world we know
and you never see it coming back
you never see it coming back
i can see it coming back for you
its coming back for you... yeah

Pregnant With Jesus!?!

I have traveled many moonless nights,

Cold and weary with a babe inside,

And i wonder what I've done.

Holy father you have come,

And chosen me now to carry your son.

I am waiting in a silent prayer.

I am frightened by the load i bear.

In a world as cold as stone,

Must i walk this path alone?

Be with me now. Be with me now.

Breath of heaven, Hold me together,

Be forever near me, Breath of heaven.

Breath of heaven, Lighten my darkness,

Pour over me your holiness, For you are holy.

Breath of heaven.

Do you wonder as you watch my face,

If a wiser one should have had my place,

But i offer all i am

For the mercy of your plan.

Help me be strong. Help me be. Help me.

Breath of heaven, Hold me together,

Be forever near me, Breath of heaven.

Breath of heaven, Lighten my darkness,

Pour over me your holiness, For you are holy.

Breath of heaven, Hold me together,

Be forever near me, Breath of heaven.

Breath of heaven, Lighten my darkness,

Pour over me your holiness, For you are holy.

Breath of heaven. Breath of heaven. Breath of heaven.

** So this may be cheesy and I may loose some of you on this...

However, these all too familiar lyrics to the Christmas song, Breath of heaven, really struck me today. As I listened in the Christmas spirit on the way to class this morning I really grew intrigued of Mary's thoughts. Of course, I am not trying to take any credit here because as you all know, I did not birth Jesus Christ. However, how similar are we to Mary. I mean, lately I've been thinking about being saved. Before I met Jesus in a personal relationship, I knew of him. I was biblically educated, but I didn't live the lifestyle. I can remember feeling so helpless at times and wishing I could have this amazing joy that other Christians had, but I just didn't know Jesus. I knew OF Him, but I didn't know him personally. As I look back now on many of my friends and classmates, I see them in destruction and it hurts me because what did I do different? Why am I on this side of the realm now? Did I just respond to His calling in my life? Why did He choose me to live out his glory? There are plenty of good people in life that don't know the Lord but if they did, I feel they would represent the gospel far better than I do. So, this is why I wrote these lyrics...

Aren't we all kind of pregnant with Jesus? OK... NO! haha.. but like Mary, we all carry Him around. Everywhere we go, everything we do, all we say... He is IN us, dwelling inside of us...(1 Cor. 6:19-20). Why? Why has He chosen us to carry His son? Why ME? We carry the light of Jesus in a world that is SO COLD AS STONE. This Earth is so dark, and life without Jesus... darker. So, like Mary, we must cry out to Him to sustain us. Help us in EVERYTHING. I love how these lyrics say..."Lighten my darkness." Jesus is LIGHT!!! What did the wise men follow? He is the LIGHT for the Gentiles. 1 John says in Him is life and that life is the LIGHT of men. We can't deny it! Also, I love the words, "Hold me together.." How many times in this holiday season is this our prayer? Things get crazy, life gets crazy... He hold us together in the palm of His hand! The second verse is why I said all those things about myself earlier. Sometimes, the enemy can lead me to believe that I am a failure, a miserable sinner, and unacceptable. I have thought.. Lord, have you ever regretted calling my name? Someone else could do so much better as I continue to fail you...This is when we cry out to Him for strength, protection, guidance. Times when we depend on Him draw us closer to him... that's what it's all about-our relationship with Him! He made us to love Him and to have a relationship with Him.

The last thing is this... I want to spend the rest of my life knowing Him and loving others. If that's in this country or 11 ( :-D ), this is what I want to do. Everything I have has been given to me by the Lord, my response is to give it back. I want to be used by Him to draw glory to His name. I want others to know, feel, hear, see and trust in the One who saved me. "I offer all I am for the mercy of your plan."

Read over the lyrics again... start celebrating the life of Jesus today!

Jesus, pour over me your holiness- for YOU ARE HOLY.

I can't live without you.

You found me here I’m barely breathing
You picked me up but I’m still wanting more
You’re the ocean deep I’m in up to my knees
Wanting desperately to drown
You’re the one bright part of my languid heart
You’re the love I cannot live without
I cannot live without

Please hold me close I can’t stop shaking
It’s not for fear my walls are breaking down
You’re the ocean deep I'm in up to my knees
Wanting desperately to drown
You're the one bright part of my languid heart
You're the love I cannot live without
I cannot live without you
I cannot live without you

You hold on.. hold on
Can you hold on to me?
Because you’ve held everything… yeah

I can’t live without you
I can’t live without you.

O Oprah...

WORDS FROM OPRAH

"There are many paths to what you call God...if it brings her to the same point it brings you, it doesn't matter if she calls it God along the way or not. There couldn't possibly be just one way. What about Jesus? There couldn't possibly be (one way) with the millions of people in the world.""I was able to open my mind about the absolute indescribable hugeness of that what we call God. I took God out of the box because I grew up in the Baptist church and there were rules, belief system and doctrines and I happen to be sitting in church in my late 20's where you have to get there at 8 AM or you couldn't get a seat. A very charismatic minister and everybody was into the sermon and this great minister was preaching about how great God was and how omniscient and omnipresent and God is everything and then he said the Lord Thy God is a jealous God and I was caught up in the rapture of that moment until he said jealous. And something struck me, and I was like 27 or 28 and I was thinking, God is all omnipresent and God is also jealous? Jealous? God is jealous of me? And something about that didn't feel right in my spirit because I believe that God is love and is in all things and so that's when the search of searching more than doctrine started to stir within me...""Man made God in his own image-the eternal, infinite and unnameable was reduced to a mental idol that you had to believe in and worship as my God or our God. God is a feeling experience not a believing experience. Religion is a believing experience. If God for you is still about a belief than it's not truly God."

WORDS FROM TRUTH"

"I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols." (Isa. 42:8)"Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN." (Matt. 5:16)Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me." (John 14:6)Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness...So God created man in HIS OWN image, in the IMAGE OF GOD he created HIM; male and female he created them." (Gen. 1:26-27)"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me." (John 14:1)** "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who SUPPRESS the TRUTH by their wickedness...They exchanged the TRUTH of God for a LIE, and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator-who is FOREVER praised. Amen... Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." (Rom. 1:18-31)

JEALOUS GOD???

God is not jealous OF you, He is jealous FOR you! God plainly demonstrated this to me at work. We were out playing on the play ground with another class. Yes, me and another teacher and our 3 year olds. One of my sweet girls fell off the slide and was hurt and began to weep loudly. I saw this occur and my heart felt compassion for my little child. As she ran to me in tears, I embraced her in my arms. As I was comforting her, I looked up and the other teacher was looking at us. I thought to myself, I am so glad she ran to me! I am her teacher who spends time with her in and out of days, I love her and show her love, and I have taught her that I care for her. Of course I would want her to run to me and not the other teacher. She is my student. This is not out of anger, jealous of the other teacher, or selfish concern but because she is mine and I know what is best for her. This is how God is with us. When we turn our eyes to other objects or ideas, he is burdened because he created us, taught us how to love, and died for us.... why wouldn't he be jealous FOR us?!

The Teachings of Eckhart Tolle:

-Who you are requires no belief-Heaven is not a location but refers to the inner realm of consciousness-the man on the cross is an archetypal image. He is every man and every woman.-My mind is part of God's. I am very holy.-My holiness is my salvation-My salvation comes from me.-Let me remember that there is no sin-The only message of crucifixion is that you can overcome the cross.

hOsPiTaLiZeD

So, in the many hours that I've spent in the hospital visiting this weekend, I've had some thoughts:

-Why do we have a hospital if we don't believe in the power of healing that is ultimately from the Lord?

-Would medicine work without Jesus? I mean think about it, some meds work for some people-some for others. It is the same thing with surgery. I am going to go out on a limb and say that there is NO medication that has fully worked 100% of the time. Why not? Is there a higher power in control... or just coincidence?

-Does God sometimes put people in the hospital so he can have communication with his children? Seems that we pray without ceasing especially when we have loved ones in serious health conditions... maybe it's His way of drawing us to communicate with him.

-Why do we wait until someone is sick and dying to go pay a visit, send a call, or give a small gift?

-What is it about a hospital that similarizes a church building? Everyone there feels like family. Esp the ones who you see each visit that have loved ones laying in rooms right next to your loved ones. All the sudden, you get to know people and hear their lives. It's almost like it's his way of drawing us to community like we should do anyways.

-What about the impact just visitors do? Just because I am laying in a hospital bed and one of my saved friends is praying her heart out, one of my unsaved or struggling friends is inspired to know the Lord more or seek him more affectionately? Seems our impacts are usually not as heavy?

-When my grandfather in his 80's is getting fed by his adult children, he all the sudden resembles identically a newborn baby=completely helpless on his own. Hm... funny how life works? What about our Spiritual life? Isn't that how we would be (completely helpless and bonded to sin) without our Savior?

-The first words a man says when being asleep for 8 days, when he comes to consciousness is Jesus Christ. hm... What other name is worthy to be said?

-Life is so precious... why do we need hard times to remind us of them? Sometimes, it's too late.

James 5:14-15 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to PRAY over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. [15] And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.

Notice: It’s the “prayer offered in faith” that works. Not just wishful prayers for healing, but the prayer of faith.

Matthew 8:16-17 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and HEALED ALL the sick. [17] This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “HE took up our infirmities and carried our diseases.”

Mark 1:40-41 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” [41] Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I AM WILLING,” he said. “Be clean!”

Mark 16:17-18 And these signs will accompany those WHO BELIEVE: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in tongues; [18] they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

Acts 3:2, 6, 16 Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts.... [6] Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but WHAT I HAVE I GIVE YOU. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” ...[16] BY FAITH IN THE NAME OF JESUS, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this COMPLETE healing to him, as you can all see.

Ephesians 6:18 (New American Standard Bible)
18With all (A)prayer and petition (B)pray at all times (C)in the Spirit, and with this in view, (D)be on the alert with all (E)perseverance and (F)petition for all the saints,

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (New American Standard Bible)
17(A)pray without ceasing;

Earlier in the week, I was holding an infant at work. I had been reading about the Creation in Genesis and how God made Adam and then breathed life into him. So, I imagined this baby I was holding just as it is. All God did to create man was breathe life into him. WOW. Just one single breath. When I saw my mother spoon feeding my Grandbuddy this weekend, he resembled this newborn baby. As a baby we are completely helpless and dependent on others. However, at 80 we could end up the same way? Hm...
19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return."

One last thought from friend of mine... In this hospital, I would love to be a witness in my final hour as I lay on a bed. Many doctors have hardened their hearts so they can better fulfill their duties. So, what if God uses a dying individual in the hospital to reach out to these doctors/nurses. I mean, who is really dead and hospitalized to sin?

HOSPITALS- sure make you think.

I WANT A CANDY BAR!

Many of you have been asking/following the update with my Grandbuddy so I FINALLY have some amazing news!! He is ALIVE and doing well. He is off the ventilator and the tubes but still is under some pretty serious circumstances. Everyday he is doing better! The man doesn't even realize how close he was this time. Last night, I finally got to go back in the ICU and see him. This is the first time he's been able to see or communicate with anyone. For his first introduction back to society, me, Brantley, Ann Morgan, Blair, Mom, and Aunt Jo were all there to welcome him back. My cousins and I just sat and talked to him as he whispered four words. Even though it took 20 min each for us to understand him, his words were as follows: Jesus Christ, prayer, home, and hungry. Yup.. He's doing just fine. We all sat and loved on him for the 30 minutes of visiting time we had. Then, we all went to dinner. It's fun to have family in town from Auburn, Clemson, and Mississippi.
Today, we went to see him at the 10 O'clock visit. He looks so much better already. Today he was talking a bit more. Even though he tried to convince us he is dying, we calmed him down and tried to make him realize the worst part is over and it's not his time to go. It was truly the Lord's plan to have him be at the hospital when he went down. He told us the nurse just fed him his last meal. After laughing and telling him that was his FIRST meal, he then started asking for a candy bar. haha!! We have no clue where this came from- ha. He wanted Mom to read some cards to him and then he had Blair, me and Ann Morgan pray over him. He really is doing well and we are so excited for him! The Lord is real. The Lord is powerful. The Lord is healing. We are seeing that today. Prayers are still appreciated and soon, Grandbuddy will be back in action. Life is precious- Don't take it for granted.
In Peace,
Brandy

For My Grandbuddy.

The Sunday after my birthday, I went to Montgomery to spend some time with my family. I drove over to see Grandbuddy because it had been awhile since I'd seen him. When I first sat down with him to talk, he was asking about my summer and my time in Hong Kong. These general questions led to talking about my decision of school and the transfer to Auburn. Due to the heartbreak I felt he may have for my unpredicted quitting of volleyball, I was hesitant to this subject. However, he suprised me with his support and his encouragement to continue to do what I feel led by the Lord. Some humor aroused in our conversation when we got onto the subject of politics. For anyone who has spoken to Grandbuddy on this election, you know he is completely against OBama. He asked me how in Auburn, Christian students could vote for the anti-Christ. Even though I knew he was being slightly dramatic on this, we cleared it up with the conclusion in Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." I told him that even if Obama is the anti-Christ, then so be it! For those of us who know the Lord, that means our long awaited face to face introduction to our Savior is one day closer!! Keep in mind, this is Grandbuddy I'm talking to, so politics are a bit of an exaggeration.

This political conclusion opened up the next subject. Grandbuddy wanted to ask me about my Jewish family. He is very interested in mine and Blair's hearts for missions, so he rightly questioned the salvation for the Jews. He was only curious to my opinion. My Grandbuddy truly loves my Nana and Pop. Let me stop here and say something. I am so extremely thankful for all four of my grandparents. It is so uplifting to see their relationship as friends and the love they share. In fact, my Nana used to call Grandbuddy her date because he would pick her up and drive her to my athletic events in high school when my Pop had to work! (Nana is my mom's mother and Grandbuddy is my dad's father haha). I honestly value this quality of a genuine heart that all my grandparents display.

Anyways, Grandbuddy goes on to tell me his knowledge of Abraham and the chosen people in the Bible. This furthered our biblical conversation where I want to stop and add another humorous story. You never know what will come out of this man's mouth about the bible. Grandbuddy asks me, "Have you ever heard that Satan is the father of all lies?" With my nod, he continued, "Yea, well I think he's my grandfather!" He goes on to say, "I mean, that fish that I caught that was this big," his hands measure about the width of his shoulders, "was really only this big," and shortens the distance to about a few inches of space between his hands. He also explained to me that when he tells women they look good, thinner, and attractive, "They just aren't really that pretty to me at all." Of course, me and the other cousins that have returned home after a semester in college, didn't even get the privilege of the lie. Grandbuddy told us straight up what he thought about our weights. But, his concern was that he does lie, and by that- he meant a numerous amount. I honestly don't think he realizes how funny he really is. I mean, he really has convinced himself that Satan could be his father! :-)

The next part of our conversation again dealt with his humor, but also some truth. In reference to the spiritual gifts in Romans 12:6-8, Grandbuddy asks me, "You know where in the bible, it talks about gifts?" I gently nod for him to Enlighten me with his wisdom. He tells me,"I don't think I got one!" He said his Sunday school class focused on these gifts earlier that day and he was convinced that, "The Good-Lord just didn't give me none of them gifts!" While he is explaining that he can't preach and is not a teacher, and that "None of them healings or tongues can even happen in today's world," I silently praised the Lord that this man wasn't my preacher. He finished however, by telling me that if he has any gift at all, he thinks he has the gift of giving. He expanded his idea with the realization, "I mean I always have given my money away to the church or that St. Jude's place, so I think I'm a giver." Even in this humorous generalization, I started thinking about this, and I believe Grandbuddy is correct. Buddy Brendle is definitely a giver.

What astounds me most about this, is he doesn't even know the depths of his gift the Lord has sent to him. This man gives so much more than money. I have never known a man to support his grandchildren more than my Grandbuddy. Personally for me, he has shown an extreme deal of support in my athletic career. It would be awkward for the old man in the chair not to scream and holler at my ball games. You all know that only God himself would stop Grandbuddy from missing a game. Even though his words were not always affirming, a silent Grandbuddy would be even more strange. And, he isn't just screaming for/at me! I don't know many of my teammates of families of, for that matter, who don't call this man "Grandbuddy." He provided the support of a loving Grandfather to many of us as we grew up. He gives his time, energy, and support to each one of us. A giver- yes, he is!

To sum up this critical meeting I had with my Grandbuddy, I want to end with our conversation about life. "Well Brandy," he said, "I'm getting older and I'm soon to roll over." I quickly interrupted saying, "In that case Grandbuddy, you've been saying that or you've been near to death for ten whole years now..." Turning the conversation back to serious mode, he went on, "No really, I can't seem to think that it is only right to survey my life. I mean, what was my point on Earth, why was I even here, or what did I do significant?" After hearing his explanation to what he thought he had done to this day on Earth, I was really challenged in my own life. None of us are too young to sit down and meditate on this very question. What have I done with my life? Have I made an impact at all on this Earth? Why did God even put me here? And this, is the Point of it all. Every little bit of each of our lives does have a purpose. In fact, Isaiah 43:7 says, "Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made." This verse is describing our identity and our purpose. Our sole purpose is to bring glory to our maker by loving the Lord and loving people. Each day, we are challenged to see Him and know Him more. We are to take that very love, that he displayed while hanging on a cross, which is now in each of us, and share it with every human being on the Earth. Grandbuddy, I think you are doing an amazing job. By the love that Jesus Christ has empowered to you, you are using your gifts of giving to share that very love with many others. From children at St. Jude you have never met, people in foreign countries who have been reached due to your financial support to me, Blair, and FBC, to the very individuals who have been coach, cheered on, or influenced by you on athletic grounds. Many of us feel loved by you today. This valuable lifetime we have each been given, matters! Take comfort in the fact that the creator of the universe, sun, moon, emotions, and life in general-loved us enough to send his son to die for us! There is NO greater act of love that can EVER be established. You are so, so incredibly loved! Use that love to impact the world around you. We all need to be loved. No known gift is required for you to do this. All we really have is Jesus, and he's COMPLETELY and SOLELY all we need to make a change in the world today.

See Grandbuddy, even in your gift of giving, you gave me some inspirational advice. The Lord used you this time to preach, teach, and give me some biblical, meaningful, and life-changing words. This is how the Holy Spirit works. God will take what you think is your gift and use it to fulfill all these other gifts. I am so thankful for you and have been touched by this conversation.

General Update on Grandbuddy: Today, Nov. 5- He had surgery to get a pacemaker put in... Surgery went well. Thanks so much for your prayers. Due to his rather clogged lungs, he is still on a ventilator. I think we are just waiting for his lungs are ready to start doing things on their own. I think the big thing now is just praying for those lungs to keep healing. The progress has been good lately! My prayers are centered around his patience and peace as this whole thing starts to aggravate him. I hate not being able to talk to someone I love and to think He can't talk to anyone like he would want to right now just shows me how frustrating this must be for him. Keep him in your prayers... I believe this will eventually all be better and he will be complaining about the government and Auburn/Alabama football in no time :-)

Thanks!

The Voice of A Savior

The Voice of a Savior by Mandisa - lyrics
Some people try to listen to the bottom of a bottle
Some people try to listen to a needle in their arm
Some people try to listen to the money in their pocket
Some people try to listen to another's arms
You and I are not that different
We got a void and we're just trying to fill it up
With something that'll give just a little peace
All we want is a hand to reach to
Open arms that say I love you
We'd give anything to hear
The voice of a Savior
Some people try to find it with blind ambition
Some people try to find it where no one else has gone
Some people try to find it in the crowns of victory
Some people get defeated and lose the strength to carry on
You and I are not that different
We got a void and we're just trying to fill it up
With something that'll give just a little peace
All we want is a hand to reach to
Open arms that say I love you
We'd give anything to hear
The voice of a Savior
The voice of a Savior
Some people try to find it in the shadow of a steeple
Some people try to find it in the back row pew
Some people try to find it in the arms of Jesus
That's where I found it, how about you?
You and I are not that different
We got a void and we're just trying to fill it up
With something that'll give just a little peace
All we want is a hand to reach to
Open arms that say I love you
We'd give anything to hear
The voice of a Savior
The voice of a Savior
We'd give anything to hear
The voice of a Savior
The voice of a Savior
The voice of a Savior

Bamboo Curtain

Good Works and the Gospel

Just before China was taken over by the communists, one communist officer made a revealing statement to a missionary, John Meadows: "You missionaries have been in China for over a hundred years, but you have not won China to your cause. You lament the fact that there are uncounted millions who have never heard the name of your God. Nor do they know anything of your Christianity. But we communists have been in China less than 10 years, and there is not a Chinese who does not know...has not heard the name of Stalin...or something of communism...We have filled China with our doctrine.
"Now let me tell you why you have failed and we have succeeded," the officer continued. "You have tried to win the attention of masses by building churches, missions, mission hospitals, schools and what not. But we communists have printed our message and spread our literature all over China. Someday we will drive you missionaries out of our country, and we will do it by the means of the printed page."

Today of course, John Meadows is out of China. The communists were true to their word. They won China and drove out the missionaries. Indeed, what missionaries failed to do in 100 years, the communists did in 10. One Christian leader said that if the Church had spent as much time on preaching the Gospel as it did on hospitals, orphanages, schools, and rest homes-needful though they were-the Bamboo Curtain would never have existed.

The tragedy of China is being repeated today in other countries. When we allow a mission activity to focus only on the physical needs of man without the correct spiritual balance, we are participating in a program that ultimately will fail.






Revolution in World Missions by K.P. Yohannan

Reflection.

Reflection.

So lately, I've been in a time of reflection to see where the Lord has led me in the present day. In church the pastor has just finished a series titled, "Remember." He spent some time in the Old Testament, the book of Joshua Ch. 4. This is the time when Moses gives the leadership of the Israelites trip to the Promise Land over to Joshua. As my pastor taught about the crossing of the Jordan (vs. 19-24) and the provision of the manna and quail (Ex. 16), he showed us how the Lord provides for his people. This provision also reminds me of when the Lord provided a ram for Abraham to sacrifice after he was obedient with his son in Genesis 22. This is something I really began to embrace and think about how God is ALWAYS faithful. Looking back on my life it challenges me to think of the times when He has been faithful to me. Looking how far He has brought me today from a life of destruction, darkness, and evil, only begins to describe His faithfulness in my own life.

My pastor went on to teach us about remembering these times when the Lord has been faithful and good. After the Israelites crossed the Jordan River in Joshua 4, Joshua took the 12 stones he had taken from the middle of the river (vs.8-9) and set them up at Gilgal (vs. 20). In verse 21 Joshua tells the Israelites, " In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, 'What do these stones mean?' tell them, 'Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.' For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over." Later on in the chapter in vs. 24 he continues, "He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God." You see, the Israelites set up markers here to remind them of what the Lord had done for them. One marker, in vs.19, was the specific day the Israelites named to signify the days that God provided a way for the "impossible." The key marker in this story is of course, the stones they set up in Gilgal. These stones were a significant way to remember the Lord stopping the waters for them. These stones would be shown to generations of their families so that they too would be reminded of the Lord's faithfulness.

Another story that was shared in church by Pastor Peter from Uganda was the story of Jacob's dream in Genesis 28. After he woke, he placed the stone which he laid on, up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it, naming this place Bethel, meaning "House of God." This was a way for Jacob to set a marker to remember this place where the Lord came to Him. He named it the house of God because He was amazed and magnified God because of His faithfulness. This story also reminded me of when Abraham named the place where he was to sacrifice his son, Isaac, to the Lord. Since the Lord responded to Abraham's obedience, Abraham called that place, The Lord Will Provide (Gen. 22:14).

These passages influenced me to look at my life and see the times the Lord has been faithful to me. Have I spent time remembering what He has done on my behalf? Do I have markers set to remind me daily that the Lord is faithful?

These thoughts overcame me as I sat at the park on my birthday for some time to reflect on the past year of my life. As I was celebrating the beginning of a new year of life, I was also drawn to look back and see where the Lord has brought me from the previous year. I got out all my devotion notes from the past year and began to see what verses, books, and songs had been inspirational to me. I also saw struggles that I have battled over the year. I remembered the time when the Lord brought me to my knees in total surrender in February, when the Lord showed up to me in writing at Passion in April, when I was baptized by the Holy Spirit at church camp in May, the Lord providing for me to go to Hong Kong in the summer, His provision to settle me in Auburn, and His continuing faithfulness to comfort me in these times in Auburn. Looking back to my studies in the different issues I faced and the trials I have overcome, all I can see is the Lord's hand in it all-good and bad times. It just stirs up a humbleness in me to think that He has done so much for me in this year to remain faithful to me. And to think that He has done greater things such as wash, sanctify, and justify me (1 Cor. 6:11) in the name of Jesus!! How great the Father's love for me! But, I am reminded in Phil. 3:12, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." AH I love this!

Think of it like this, the cross and the empty temple are the two final markers the Lord left us with. He wrote His love on our hearts so now, WE are the Markers. We are living stones in a spiritual house. (1 Peter 2:4-6).

So don't forget his goodness and faithfulness that He has shown you. He loves and cares for us so much. He is providing even now, if we don't even see it. The Lord has been so good to you- He even gave His son to watch be crucified so that we could be made right with God by grace through faith. The crime was committed- We are sinners. There had to be a punishment or God would be unfair or unjust. This punishment was Jesus's death on a cross so that you and I could believe in Him and be free from our transgressions so that we may know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead ( Phil.3:10-11). So, rest in that today! Examine your life. See where the Lord has been faithful and praise Him for that. Praise Him for Who He is! Find markers that will never allow you to forget Him! The nail marks in His hands show that He never forgets us! I hope that this will encourage you today.

Brandy