How do I make much of You, Jesus?

I do my best writing for the blog late at night. Inspiration, for me, usually comes between 11pm and 2am. It's been that way for as long as I can remember.

Lately? Nothing. No inspiration. It's been so frustrating. It's either write something half-hearted to get a post out on time or go for weeks without posting, dreaming of and hoping for an amazing post that will bless the socks off my sweet readers.

Father, why? I want to make much of You and what You are doing in my life! I want to share it! You're doing so much - why can't I write well? Why can't I get these thoughts out coherently?

My daughter, make much of Me by spending time with Me in the morning and letting the overflow of My Word and My presence season your relationships for that day. One moment, one choice at a time. Start there, and let Me choose how to use that. Your heart is precious to Me, child - more precious than your writing style. And then, just write. You don't have to be witty or well-polished. Just share.

How can I make much of Jesus?
-Meditate on the verses that declare how glorious He is! (They're all over the place! I mostly am fond of the Psalms, Revelation, Nehemiah, Job, Isaiah, John, and Romans - but seriously. He's glorious from Genesis to Revelation)
-Sing His praises throughout the day as I care for my daughters and our home!
-Fill my heart and my mind with His Words. They are always words of life, peace, and assurance. Writing verses on index cards and taping them up in prominent spots helps me memorize.
-Share all of the above with my sweet girls, and as much as I'm able with Will when he gets home.
-Then, whenever God brings someone else into my path that day, be ready to share the love and truth He has imparted that day, and trust Him to work out the rest.


Here's a partial list of what He's working on in me right now:
1) He's challenging me to ask Him to show me where I have unconfessed and unrepented of sin - and to confess and repent! There's a boatload. And it's like a kid peeling a Band-Aid so slowly off of a hairy patch on her forearm. Each time I make a little inroad to dealing with one thing, He reveals something else that I need to deal with and it hurts like the dickens.
2) I drag my feet too much when He says 'obey'. "Call that person and ask for forgiveness, Lisha." "...Lord, how about I just Facebook them?" "...No. Just call." Blurghhhhh. He treasures immediate obedience over doing something with style or for convenience.
3) If I am not glorifying Jesus in my marriage - if He is not pre-eminent in all my thoughts, words, and actions toward Will - He is not being fully glorified in my life. No matter how much of a disciple I appear on the outside. White. washed. tomb. Hi, yes, that's me.
4) The longer I walk with Him, the more sinful I realize I am. When I first started following Jesus 12 years ago, I thought for sure by now I'd have the hang of this Christian Living thing. Nope. I'm realizing I am capable of more depravity than I ever realized. And it's only by Jesus' restraining graces that my sin doesn't manifest itself more outwardly.
5) Some of the most painful and pressing times I've experienced in the last year are a direct result of my own sinfulness in years past - not necessarily because of someone else's poor or foolish choices. Though Christ has paid for the sins, God has not released me from dealing directly and painfully from the consequences of those sins (although He does give grace to walk through the consequences). I am not 'suffering for Christ's sake' in most cases; I am suffering because of my own stupid choices years ago.
6) He is calling me to freedom and to recognize the liberty I have because Jesus has already suffered the wrath of God on my behalf, and when I believe discouraging thoughts, it is an affront to the Lord. Even though I have done nothing to earn the favor of God, He has freely bestowed it and I should graciously live like I believe it. I am no longer a slave to sin; I am a bondservant of the Lord Jesus.
7) I am selfish. SO SO SO SO SO selfish. Die to self, Lisha. Over. and over. and over. Follow My example - willing to die to your dreams, your plans, your convictions, your wants, if it means the Father gets the most glory.
8) I like to think I'm willing to let God do whatever will bring Him the most glory in my life, but the truth is that I secretly want to 'choose the scene of my martyrdom' (Oswald Chambers) by telling the Lord how I would be able to praise Him in specific hard situations instead of giving Him the freedom to do whatever He needs to do, no matter the immediate or long-term cost.

Jesus did not come to make much of me. He came to make much of His Father by His obedience. and if I want to make much of Him in all areas, I must follow. Let this be a reminder:

I want to make
much of You, Jesus
I want to make
much of Your love
I want to live today
to give You the praise
that You alone are so worth of!
I want to make
much of Your mercy
I want to make
much of Your cross
I give You my life:
take it, and let it be used to
make much of You

Making much of Jesus,
for His glory!
~Lisha

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How to Involve Your Kids in Missions

**Warning**
Involving your children in missions when they are young and eager to follow Jesus uninhibitedly may result in your children living a life that is sold out for the Gospel of Jesus, to see His glory made known everywhere, no matter where it leads them.

What are some ways to encourage your children to be involved with missions, even if you live in AnyTown, AnyCountry, with no desire or immediate plans to move?

In our home in SmallTown USA, here's what I'm learning as I go as I invite my three girls to learn more about missions:

1) Introduce -and keep talking about- the God of glory, as He reveals Himself through Scripture.

Start at the beginning and teach your children that God's plan from the beginning (and even before the beginning!!) was to redeem a people for Himself from every nation, tribe, and tongue - for His glory!! - and that He loves ALL people groups EVERYWHERE and asks us to join Him in bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ to them! When they see that God is a missionary God from Genesis to Revelation (and down through the millenia!), hopefully they will catch the vision that they should be a missionary people because they are His, no matter where He has put them.

If this is an unfamiliar idea to you, please find a Perspectives course near you! It's a 15-week course on the glory of God and the biblical mandate for and history of worldwide missions - and it is fascinating & convicting!

(Really awesome activity: Search the phrases "all the peoples", "all the families", and "all nations" [in the NKJV. It might vary slightly in other translations] at a site like BibleGateway and you'll find that God has the whole world on His mind and heart from the beginning, threaded all the way through the Bible. He's serious about His glory being made known, and people from everywhere worshiping Him forever. Those should be our passions, too.)

2) Pray for missionaries, and...

3) Pray for people groups, countries, and governments!

Pray with your children, and let them pray as they are led, too. If you need some direction on how to or who to pray for, contact your church leadership (if your church supports any missionaries) or get books like Operation World and Window on the World to focus your prayers. Also, at your discretion, let your children know about major world events and leaders, so that they can pray more effectively. If you see their prayers answered in the news, tell them and keep a written record. We're not told to pray just because it's good for us - we are told to pray because God works when we do!

My 7 year old made this Croatian flag to remind her to pray
for the people of Croatia, and for our summer missionary
who is headed there in August.

Another opportunity: if your children can write or dictate letters or emails to the missionaries or government officials they are praying for, let them! It's probably a huge encouragement to missionaries to hear that they're remembered back home, and it's probably nice for leaders to receive mail that asks for nothing but lets them know they are being prayed for.

4) Model missions giving or going.

Do you include giving to missionaries in your budget? If so, let your kids see that. If not, why not? If reaching the world for Jesus is a priority for your heart, it should probably be a priority for your budget if at all possible - and if it really can't be (we've been there!), then spend your time instead: volunteering/going on a short term trip with one or more of your children/just striking up conversations with those closest to you about the Lord are some ways that you can be investing in missions yourself. And if God has clearly asked you to go somewhere for Him: GO. Don't think you can slide by with just giving money to the cause and staying put, like He will overlook your disobedience. If He calls you, follow His lead. Children are notorious for following what they see being modeled in their lives!

5) Let them help - let them lead.

Our church is sending out seven short-term missionaries this summer. When my daughters heard this, they asked if they could raise money for all of them. We added up the amount that is needed to raise, decided that yes! God is capable of providing every last dollar!, and then I let them brainstorm a list of ways to raise money. I did not rule anything out (although we did chat about the feasibility of some of the ideas and how to improve on them: 'let's put all of our toys out on display in our bedroom and lots of people can come into our room and shop, like a store!') - and then they each picked a project.

A few of the fabrics A picked out for the dolly skirts!

Right now, I am cutting up fabric for 18" dolly skirts that Abby will help me sew together and Elizabeth is planning to make a series of greeting cards & prints. I am doing whatever I can to help as needed (as in, I run a sewing machine much more effectively than the girls do!), but they know they are responsible for seeing this through and thinking through the advertising and the budget for materials. Whether they contribute $5.00 or $500...I am praying that God will show me how to encourage them to make a difference where they are.

6) Study the lives of faithful missionaries with your children.

From the Old Testament, up through today. And don't forget (with discretion) looking at the lives of those in the persecuted church...the ones who are risking their very lives for the sake of God's glory being known in a way that we cannot fully comprehend. (Check out the Voice of the Martyrs for more information)

Some amazing books about missionaries:
(for younger listeners & readers)
I Heard Good News Today by Cornelia Lehn <---far and away, my favorite so far
Missionary Stories with the Millers by Mildred Martin
The Christian Heroes Then & Now series (by Geoff & Janet Benge)
Hero Tales by Dave & Neta Jackson
And the Word Came With Power by Joanne Shetler

(for older readers - high school & up)
Foxe's Book of Martyrs by John Foxe
Bruchko by Bruce Olson
God's Smuggler by Brother Andrew
No Compromise: The Life Story of Keith Green by Melody Green
Through Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot
Susanna Wesley by Charles Ludwig {Susanna was not a missionary per se, but her faithfulness to raise her children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord gave the world both Charles and John Wesley, whom God used mightily. There are plenty of other faithful mothers you could look up, as well! Being missions-minded doesn't mean you have to go overseas; it means you need to be faithful to point people to Him no matter where you are.}

7) Live perfected in Christ.

Not "live perfectly in Christ", but perfected. You are complete in Him, with everything that you need pertaining to life and godliness; thoroughly equipped for every good work; and He is continually working in you and has prepared good works for you to walk in. When you live perfected, your life will exude grace and deep joy (whether in calm or stormy seasons) and it will be a reflection of His glory and goodness and it will be infectious in your home - and your children will take that and spread it wherever God leads them.

Is there any guarantee that you or your children will want to be overseas missionaries to unreached peoples if you do all of this? Not necessarily. But it does mean that you will be giving them a chance to find out which kind of gospel work God has for them: whether here, or in a far-off land - because God invites each of His children to partner with Him in taking the Gospel everywhere for His glory!

May it all be
for His glory!
~Lisha

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Less of me, more of Jesus!

There needs to be less of me, and more of Jesus.

So, at least until May, you may not be reading as much from me on here...I'll keep up with the Weekly Bible Reading Plans and maybe one additional post per week if I can. Not because I'm abandoning the blog, but because my time to write has decreased significantly recently - for a great reason!

With Will's encouragement, I enrolled in a course called Perspectives on the World Christian Movement. Have you ever heard of it? You should see if there is one being offered in your area - and, wow. It is absolutely worth looking into. Will took the course a few years ago when it was offered an hour away, and I've been praying and hoping for a chance to take it. This time, it is right here in our town, just a mile from our home!

It is a 15-week course that meets once a week for 3 hours per class. There are speakers who come from all over the country & world to share about missions - from biblical, historical, and strategic viewpoints.

In addition to the amazing speakers and warm fellowship, there is homework. Oh good golly gee, is there homework.

Do you see the size of the textbook?! There is amazing content, and lots of it!

I have not done homework in ten years. YEARS. So putting on my homework cap, thrilling though it was!, took a bit of adjusting.

My evenings, which have gone like this for a while:

1) put girls to bed
2) catch up on FB, Pinterest, etc
3) work on a blog post or two
4) have a snack and hang out with will
5) stay up a little longer to write/clean kitchen/prep
6) bed

became this over the course of the last week:

1) put girls to bed
2) homework
3) bed

Hitting the books and the homework for the next 4 1/2 months!
SO pumped about learning more about my Lord
and His global mission to reach the nations for His glory!

So, if I'm quiet on here, it's because the world needs less of my writing and more of how absolutely glorious Jesus is. I am ecstatic to have this opportunity to dig into the Word and learn more about His mission to bring glory to Himself by keeping His promise to Abraham to bless all nations & conquer evil. Whoa.

One thought from this evening's speaker that just. wrecked. me:

If you feel that your walk is stagnant - dull - boring - lagging - lacking purpose...consider this: maybe it's that you started trying to write your own little side story (and maybe invited God to join your tale) and forgot Whose story you're really a part of. {Lisha's paraphrase}

oh. ouch. It hit so close to home.

Jesus, let me decrease as You increase. Let me be a blessing, that others may see and want to worship only You!

Gaining a new perspective,
for His glory!
~Lisha

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Remembering Sarah

What were you doing on October 27, 2001?

I remember. I was at a benefit spaghetti dinner. It was my sophomore year of college.

The guest of honor ruined my life.

Well, that's not entirely true. She ruined the life I was building for myself.

A life lived for me. by me. in my own power.

__________________

Sarah was eight years old. exhausted and weary in body. but full of confidence and an expectant spirit.

and her boldness and joy in our short conversation

has made all the difference in my life.

A life that is now lived for Jesus. by Jesus. in His power alone.

It's a story only the Lord could write.

Sarah's body failed her 12 years ago. tonight. at the precious age of 8. I remember. Every time I hold one of my sweet daughters, I remember. Every time we celebrate Hannah's birthday (October 27), I remember. I tell my girls, often, the story of the little girl that God worked through to rescue me. And I pray over them and for myself, that He will work through our lives however He chooses to bring many others to know His great love. Even though I understand what that cost might be, as their mom.

I rejoice for her, because she got the longing of her heart. She shared this passage with me as she talked about not being able to wait to meet Jesus face to face:

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

{John 14:1-3}

How is it that God can take something so evil - so wretched - as a terminal illness and create beauty and life from it? I don't know! But I do know that He can, and He does. 

What's your story? How did the Lord reach out to you?

Remembering,

for His glory!

~Lisha

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Lost in India

Over the past couple of weeks, the girls and I have been learning about India through the online adventure "Lost in India", sponsored by Mission India & Sonlight Curriculum.

www.lostinindia.org

The goal of the Lost in India project is to raise $350,000 to help children in India who have never heard about Jesus attend Children's Bible Clubs for free. The cost to send 1 child is $1. My girls have been scouring the house, looking for loose change, and even coming up with ways to earn money to contribute.

The main teaching tool is an engaging video series following the story of friends Justin & Chris, who are trying to find each other in India (Chris - an American - is lost!, and Justin - an Indian believer - is trying to get to him!). They meet other believers along the way, who share their stories and how the love of Jesus has changed their lives.

One of the stories is that of a woman named Roopa. There were two versions of her story released: one for the parents to watch, and one that was more appropriate for children to watch. If my daughters were a few years older and I believed they were mature enough, I would have allowed them to watch this one, though. It's a powerful story of suffering and the kind of forgiveness that can only come through Jesus. Please watch. and let your heart be broken for all the ways that people - who are made in the image of God - can be so easily discarded, abused, or abandoned by others. and then let your heart sing for joy that Jesus can bring beauty from devastating circumstances!

Watch her story here: Roopa's Story - Mission India
(Parents, I would preview this before letting any little -or big- ones see it)

Thanks to Lost in India, my girls and I are developing a greater love for people of other cultures, a deeper compassion for the hurting, and a more intense desire to do what we can to help the message of grace and mercy go forth to the ends of the earth (and to start here by making sure we are living like Jesus teaches us to)!

If you'd like to sign up for the Lost in India project, it is totally free (aside from what you are able to donate to the Children's Bible Club fund - but that is not mandatory). There are 8 videos in the series that you can view at anytime, family devotional thoughts, quizzes, personal stories, and ways to explore India through food, music, clothing, etc with photos, recipes, & video clips.
Watch the trailer/Sign up/find more information here: http://www.lostinindia.org/

You can check out our family's homepage if you're interested in donating through our page, or to invite your friends to help: https://www.lostinindia.org/donate/thehunters/

Sharing Jesus with the world,
for His glory!
~Lisha

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i will be here.

tomorrow morning if you wake up

and the sun does not appear,

i will be here.

if in the dark, we lose sight of love

hold my hand, and have no fear,

'cause i will be here!

i will be here

when you feel like being quiet;

when you need to speak your mind

i will listen!

and i will be here

when the laughter turns to cryin' -

through the winning, losing and trying

we'll be together...

i will be here

tomorrow morning, if you wake up

and the future is unclear,

i will be here.

as sure as seasons were made for change,

our lifetimes were made for these years!

so i will be here

i will be here

and you can cry on my shoulder,

when the mirror tells us we're older,

i will hold you!

and i will be here

to watch you grow in beauty,

and tell you all the things you are to me

i will be here

i will be true to the promise i have made

to you,

and to the One

who gave you to me!

tomorrow morning, if you wake up

and the sun does not appear

i will be here...

oh, i will be here

[steven curtis chapman]

it's the song we danced to at our wedding. 9 years ago. some days, that seems like just yesterday; some days, like an eternity ago. it was actually 3,287 days (<---math geek alert).

and the covenant we made before God and to one another was

for richer...and poorer
in sickness...and in health
for better...or worse
'til death parts us, will...
i will be here.

this has been a hard road more often than not these past few years. a painful journey, for both of us - because of both of us. but the Lord knew that, and it delighted Him to put us together anyway!! and i am grateful for every day we've shared - even the most devastating ones. He knew our strengths & weaknesses would complement each other, and that our grandest dreams would be in harmony. He is at work daily, even when we can't see it, conforming each of us to the image of Jesus so that He might get the glory for this union, and that we might live abundantly as one. i hope someday that i will be beautiful enough for you to see me as your crown and a reflection of God's glory in your life. i'll continue to strive for excellence in being Mrs. Will Hunter; i'm committed to learning how to love you more for as long as He lets me. 

i'm your wife,
for my good, and
for His glory!
~Lisha

Take cover! (a look at head covering)

Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 

Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved. For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered. 

For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. For man is not from woman, but woman from man. Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man.

For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. 

Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God.

Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering. But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.
[1 Corinthians 11:2-16, NKJV]

This passage has long fascinated me, and has often created strife & discord, or at the very least confusion, among the church - and can infuriate or confound those who are not Christian. Should women cover their heads all the time? Just at church? Can a man sport long hair? Should a woman cut her hair short? What was Paul writing about in this letter to the church at Corinth, so long ago?

Photo by Molly Viglione Photography, 2013

As with any doctrine in the Bible, it's important to remember that we must be willing to take into account the historical context AND the whole counsel of God when we try to discern what is meant. Many factions and heresies in the church have come from those who try to build a doctrine based on their limited understanding of one or two verses! As I began to research what it all meant, I have found the following online resources to be helpful:

Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 11
John Wesley's Explanatory Notes on 1 Corinthians 11

John MacArthur - The Subordination and Equality of Women (sermon - part 1)

John MacArthur - The Role of the Godly Woman (sermon, part 2)

Faith Defenders - Head Coverings

I was also introduced to this website recently, and I've appreciated the insights here. I don't know that I necessarily agree that it is a mandatory practice as of yet, but I'm not done searching for answers. (May I never be done searching for answers, Lord! Make my spirit a teachable one!)

The site is called "The Head Covering Movement". I've highlighted some of the really helpful articles:
An Introduction to a Neglected Doctrine
Why Head Coverings? Reason #1: Creation Order
Why Head Coverings? Reason #2: Angels
Why Head Coverings? Reason #3: Nature
Why Head Coverings? Reason #4: Church Practice

And the following books are helpful on the subject of biblical womanhood -some of which address headcovering. It is by no means an exhaustive list, only what I would recommend because I've read all or parts of them:

Evangelical Feminism & Biblical Truth by Wayne Grudem

Recovering Biblical Manhood & Womanhood by Wayne Grudem & John Piper

This Momentary Marriage by John Piper

The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace

Let me stress this, as I share. For the time being, I choose to wear a scarf, kerchief, etc - all day. My choice to cover my head in no way is a symbol of my salvation, or my superiority as a believer. It does not mean that I think all women should cover their heads. It does not mean that I think another's worship or prayers mean less than mine.

It does mean that in my own personal relationship with my Lord, I feel Him asking me to wear this symbol as a tangible reminder that I have been created as a woman under authority - my husband's, my church leadership's, and God's - so that God might get the most glory. Will & I have had seasons in our marriage of much discord. Pain, frustration, anger, bitterness. Friends, it ought not to be this way - but sometimes that is reality. Even though I often do a shoddy job of it, the deepest desire of my heart is to live a life that brings God the most honor - and walking around with a reminder on my head keeps me accountable to Him throughout the day. I need the constant reminder to treat Will with honor and respect - because often, I don't. To my shame, and his, and ultimately, God's. I need the reminder that God has given me a specific role - and it's not to be the star of the show!! My role is to support, care for, encourage, and live a quiet life of gratitude and praise - willing to pour out my time, strength, & energies out of love for Christ, Will, and my beautiful daughters [who are continually learning from my example what the love of God looks like in action!], even when conditions are not ideal. Even when I am dishonored, or dismissed, or not loved or appreciated as I feel I ought to be. The gentle tug of the pins that hold my covering in place remind me through my day that 1) I should be living a lifestyle of continual worship & prayer, and 2) I am called to cultivate a submissive heart attitude - to put others' needs & wants before my own, trusting that the Lord will take care of my desires & needs in His time! 3) I can always take cover in the Lord. He is my refuge, strong tower, shelter, and He guards my very life when I run to Him!

So, friend, if you are reading this, please know that I don't expect you to be wearing a covering on your head next time I see you. I'm not looking to show anyone up, or guilt anyone into this practice; I'm just hoping to share a little of what God is doing in my heart today and to share the ongoing hope that I have in Christ that He can change even a wicked heart like mine to be more like His!

I echo John MacArthur's sentiment:
"As with meat that had been offered to idols, there was nothing in the wearing or not wearing of the head covering itself that was right or wrong. It is the rebellion against God–ordained roles that is wrong, and in Corinth that rebellion was demonstrated by women praying and prophesying with their heads uncovered."
Read some of his thoughts on 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 here:
Head Coverings for Women

Covered by His mercy & grace,

for His glory!

~Lisha

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PS If you have questions, or thoughts, let's talk! I am not an authority on this issue, and I'd love to talk it over. I'm not going to be insulted, or offended, or upset, by anyone who is also wanting truth - or by people who disagree with me! :)

The Sun, The Moon, and Abby

I love that God made children to be curious about the wonders of the world around them.

And I especially love that God seemed pleased to make my daughters to be enthusiastically curious.

While leaving the grocery store this morning, Abby asked why we can't see the moon during the day when it shines so brightly in the sky at night. Here is a reasonable re-creation of the conversation:

A: Mom, how come you can't see the moon in the daytime? It's in the sky at night and it's so shiny!
H: Mooooooon! MooooooooooooOOOOOOOooooon?!!? Where moon? (repeat continually in the background of the rest of the conversation)
M: You can't see the moon in the daytime because the sun is brighter, and our part of the earth is toward the sun. The moon doesn't actually have any light of its own - God made the moon to reflect the sun's bright light in the darkness of nighttime. So in the day, we don't need to see it, because a brighter light is shining - the sun!
E: Oh. Cool.
A: So the moon shines sunlight on us when we see it at night?
M: Yep! Did you know that God made people to be kind of like the moon? When we're left to ourselves, we don't have any light of our own to shine. But He made us to reflect how brilliant and marvelous Jesus is when things are dark - when we think and act and become more like Jesus, His light reflects off of us into other people's lives.
A: Wow.
E: That's neat. The way God did that!
A: And thought of it like that!
M: It sure is! God planned every detail like that!


Thanks, Jesus, for the reminder that it is more awesome to be a reflector of Your light than it is to try to be a light on my own. That in the sunny seasons of my life, the best thing that my heart can hope for is that people don't see much of me because a Brighter, Purer Light is shining!! and that in the nighttime seasons, that people see that I am but a reflector of Your Light as I travel in the darkness.

www.wallpaper4me.com

And thank You for my daughters, who You've created to reflect Your love into my life when I forget just how brilliant You are!


Just a reflection,
for His glory!
~Lisha :)

I'm sharing this post over at A Proverbs 31 Wife, The Time-Warp Wife, Growing Home, Far Above Rubies, Raising Homemakers, & Hope in Every Season!

10...9...8...7...

10 days till E's surgery.

13 days till we move.

I cannot tell you, friend, how thankful I am that in God's timing the cecostomy and the move are happening within 3 days of each other. It leaves me no time to sit around and mull over all of the "what ifs" that I was anxious about weeks ago.

I am physically spent. For three weeks now I have been packing, cleaning, and moving stuff around as much as I can during the day (while still caring for the girls, one of whom likes to unpack and unclean as I try to pack and clean!), and then packing and cleaning still into the wee hours of the mornings. [Will has been so sweet to let me sleep in most mornings for a couple extra hours while he gets the girls up & fed!] My hope is to be done packing and done with the cleaning a couple of days before leaving for the hospital so that when we get back, all that's left is to load up the van and any other vehicles and move.

For those who have been praying, thank you.

Thank you!

I have had a few days lately where I can feel that I'm being carried to the throne of grace. To be reminded that it's His strength I lean on and not mine, and that He is holding me up in answer to the prayers of others is very humbling and encouraging!

Please continue to pray!
-for the doctors, that their hands would be steady & sure and that the diagnosis & treatment are exactly what E needs. for the nurses, for wisdom, clarity, & energy as they tend to E and the other sweet kids on the children's floor.
-for us, that we would not fear nor give a moment's worry about our daughter. because the King of the universe has her in His mighty & tender hand.
-for the needs that come with moving, and a blessing over the people who will be taking time out of their lives to help us.
-for patience and joy and kindness toward the girls and each other in this season of big changes!

The countdown is on,
and His timing is perfect,
for His glory!
~Lisha :)

Leaf Lessons

As Will and I were driving to Keene this morning, I was in awe of the canvas of glorious color around me. Fall in NH is gorgeous! And I was quietly thanking God for His vast creativity and for giving us something so beautiful to enjoy as the weather gets a little cooler...and cooler...and cooler.

Mount Monadnock in the fall. Majestic and lovely!

I was thinking about why it is that the leaves change color. Not completely understanding the science behind it, I do know that they turn these brilliant  and deep shades of red, orange, yellow...because they are dying. Because soon there will not be enough food produced in the tree for them to keep them through the winter - they will die and fall to the ground.

Oh, what a picture of what our lives in Christ should be!

My life is most brilliant and glorious as I die to self and am surrendered to a new season of life in Christ. I am a beautiful and vibrant example of His glory on display when I stop feeding my soul with the temporary food of this world (keeping up with the most popular musicians or theologies or actors or sports stars or gossip or talk shows or reality shows or the latest political fiasco or a hobby or self-indulgent lifestyle that does not impact beyond my fleeting earthly existence). When I relinquish my rights to my dreams, my future, my desires - then He can shine through my life by molding me into who He made me to be: a reflection of Him! And He's the most beautiful being ever!

Praising God for the beauty of dying leaves,
and the lessons therein,
for His glory~
Lisha :)

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I'm not! But He is!!

God is good.

God is wise.

God is gracious.

God is patient.

God is just.

God is merciful.

God is faithful.

God is enough.

God is MORE than enough.

God is sovereign.

God is the "I AM". [See Exodus 3, John 8]

And just as God is "I AM", I...am not. I am not worthy that I should be called a child of the Most High. I am not deserving of such a tender & faithful Father. I am not righteous or holy, that I should expect the blessings of eternal life. I am not anything good apart from Christ.

But my heart is full tonight of the God who IS!!! The last couple of weeks have brought such an outpouring of His lavish love and blessing on our lives. Not only as He has financially & materially provided for us (a friend dropping off prayed-for household necessities in bulk; clothes, cases of diapers & wipes, and a $100 gift card left on our doorstep in early morning hours; a $600 gift from people in our church family, $200 gift from a faraway missionary friend, $50 from another church family, and just yesterday an anonymous $50 gift card in time to pay for our gas that we needed to travel to Dartmouth) - but as He has taken care of our hopes & dreams, for they are precious to Him, too, as we seek His face!

We followed His leading to announce that it was time to close up the Bible House about 3 weeks ago. We were bummed, because we really enjoyed what we were doing! To be able to spend our time and our available resources to bring the Word of God to those in our community!!! A dream job, indeed! But He had an even BETTER plan. When Will started calling our distributors to tell them he was closing the store, most of them told him that he could actually just keep the accounts open even though we won't have a store front. Which means that people (like you!) can still order from the "Jaffrey Bible House". It's just that the Bible House will look pretty much identical to our apartment, because people will pick up orders from our home instead of from the shop underneath our home. He is allowing us to continue our "dream job" in a different form, while enabling Will to find other employment! It's a win-win-win - I think that's what it's called, anyways...

And our sweet Elizabeth had a procedure done up at Dartmouth today, which revealed that she "most likely" does not have Hirschsprung's disease (we're waiting to hear back for the official news). The procedure was an intense one, and while there was crying (on Elizabeth's part), and while the mother's heart in me was nervous as all get-out that there would be long-term trauma...overall it couldn't have gone much better than it did. I praise God that He loves my daughters even more than I do, and that He promises that when we stay our minds on Him in times of trouble that His perfect peace keeps us. And while it looks like there's not an exact diagnosis of Elizabeth's problem, we know that God created every single cell in Elizabeth's body just the way He needed to so that her life would bring Him the most glory. And so her life, and ours as parents, has become a walk of faith (like it is with every child!). 

And so, even when circumstances seem pretty unfavorable, ah! we glory in the truth that God is the Great 'I AM'. And He is all good things. He is leading us His way, which is perfect to grow us to be more and more like Christ. No matter what joys or trials lay ahead of me and my dear family, we know that each one is for our good and His glorious Name's sake.

God is. good. all the time.

Selah.

For the glory of the Great 'I AM',

Lisha

Come and hear...

Come and hear, all you who fear God,
and I will declare what He has done for my soul!
I cried to Him with my mouth, and He was extolled with my tongue.
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.
But certainly God has heard me; He has attended to the voice of my prayer.
Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer,
nor His mercy from me!!
[Psalm 66:16-20]


I feel like now is a grand time to declare what the Lord has been doing for my soul these past few months! He has been renovating my life in so many ways! Bear with me; my thoughts are unorganized. I'm about to pour out what's on my heart & mind...

My desire to know more about who God is and what He has done and is doing and will do is intensifying. Some people can't start their day without coffee; I find that I can no longer start my day well unless I've had ample time to read the Word and pray. What a difference it makes! No, it doesn't magically make everything go well; I mean that it makes a world of difference in the way that I react to what is happening around me. I still have days when kids pee on the floor or sisters fight or break things or scream at me or lie. I have days when people I love die or end a friendship with me or I'm berated for the choices I've made. But in all those things, there is a peace that passes all understanding; there is patience with some to spare; there is on my tongue the law of kindness and wisdom - all mine from the Lord if I'm but willing to take time to ask for it!

God is bringing peace and restoration to our marriage. I tend to be stubborn, selfish, and critical often with Will. And the Lord is convicting me and softening up this ugly heart. I am finding that the more I let the Word of Christ dwell richly in me - the more I just am so overwhemingly grateful for the gift God has given to me in having Will as my husband (corny joke time: I married God's Will!! pahahahahahaha. OK.)

Even though Elizabeth is testing her ability to be both openly AND passive-aggressively defiant, and Abby spends quite a bit of time some days standing with her face to the wall, and Hannah has a blatant disregard for the term "no" - I am finding joy! real joy! in loving and training my girls how to be women of the Word of God and enjoying the privilege of being their teacher (and all of the other roles that I get to fill). When I get frustrated with them (which happens often some days, especially those days when I haven't fed my soul with Scripture!) and snap, mock, or yell at them, God is teaching me and humbling me by giving them such forgiving hearts. A wife and mom - what a noble calling, for them that are called!

And most noticeably (for me), is the increase of faith in God as Jehovah-Jireh (The God who Provides!). Will and I were obedient to God's call on our hearts over a year and a half ago to start the process of opening up His Bible house here in town. We don't know what we're doing in the way of running a business - we just follow His lead. And there have been periods of time when we haven't heard His voice as clearly because like Peter, we've stopped staring at Jesus and instead looked around to realize He's got us doing something dangerous. "Lord! Save us! We're drowning! We don't have an income to rely on! Bills are due! Girls need shoes! Phones are shut off! Jesus! We can't do this - it's not natural!!"

And the reason it doesn't seem natural to leave a decently-paying job when you have a wife and three small girls at home to open a Christian bookstore in the middle of a recession is because IT ISN'T NATURAL. It's super-natural. All that has been accomplished through the Bible House is because God alone has orchestrated it. We're not faithful superheroes. We are a couple of ordinary, uninteresting people whom God has chosen to render others speechless and uncomfortable.

We have seen God's miraculous doings. When we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, He adds unto us that which we need.

Lately, our faith in this area is being tested. We are going through a deeper refining. Though the Lord has always been faithful to provide for our true needs (food and clothing), it has been His way for the last four months to not allow completely for rent, hot water, electricity, college loans, car insurance, and other things. We have not shared this before - partly out of pride, for which I beg your forgiveness - and partly because we did not want people to think we felt that God was not providing and/or being unjust. Will recently made the decision, however (and I believe it's a wise and obedient one) that if the Lord does not provide all of the money that we need to pay late and next month's rent on time (January 5th), that he is going to take that as the Lord's sign that we are to close the store and move on to the next chapter of God's story for us. We are praying for a miracle!! To us, the amount that we owe is so great, so insurmountable, so impossible that it gets so easy to get sidetracked from the truth that God owns all of the money everywhere ever and can meet that need in a heartbeat. All of those weeks when we made less than $100 might have been because He wants to display His ability to provide huge things now.

I grapple with the reason why He hasn't done it yet. If He hates debt so much, why hasn't He allowed us to pay each of our bills on time?! We don't need more than that; just enough so that the collection phone calls stop and we don't live with the real possibility of being evicted. But God is sovereign, my friends, and everything He allows (good or bad) is used to glorify Himself and to make us more like Christ!!! And that is one of my deepest heart's desires, that I identify with Christ so much that people look at my life and their minds are blown because they see that Christ is REAL and ALIVE, working in my life!!! and that He came to set them free from their slavery to sin if they would just accept that gift!!

Bookstore or no bookstore, whatever God has for us in the coming days/weeks/months/years, I trust Him completely and absolutely. He may ask us to close the store because He's got something more amazing for us - another way that we can live a life that is dedicated to sharing the hope of Jesus with people full-time - or He might provide the thousands we need in the next two weeks because He wants Will to stay behind the register for now. We don't know. We are waiting on His answer. And His answer will be perfect.

Come and hear, you who fear God. We are not doing anything extraordinary. We are following Jesus. And He is worth everything we've 'given up' and He will be worth whatever else we have to leave behind to go where He leads us.

By His grace, and
for His glory alone!!
~Lisha

Teaching: part 1

I first decided I wanted to be a teacher when I was in the 4th grade. Mrs. Zecha was my teacher, and I have fond memories of her and that year of school. In middle school, it was Mrs. Thibodeau & Mr. Emerson that caused me to think more seriously about teaching as a job. Then in high school, Ms. Witty, Mme. Howard, and Ms. Hart -whether they knew it or not- encouraged and inspired me to attend college to pursue a teaching career.

In 2004, I graduated from Keene State College with a degree in mathematics and certification to teach middle & high school math and got an amazing job right away teaching 7th grade in Windham, NH. I had a two-year "career", and I loved the students and my team. And then, our sweet Elizabeth made her grand entrance, and I gave up teaching as a career...

...or had I?

I've been asked on multiple occasions whether I felt like I was throwing my education away by staying home with my children. No. No!! I have not wasted my education - I have redefined my teaching career. I teach my children now. And this year, Elizabeth & Abby started kindergarten at home. I am teaching reading, writing, math, science, and world history. and morals. and responsibility. and self-discipline. and how to make peace. and life skills. and basic culinary arts. and contentment. and so on. I am also actively teaching Hannah how not to eat EVERYTHING off of the floor and how to sleep through the night - also important life skills!

Another age group that the Lord has given me a desire to teach is the young ladies - middle school through early twenties. As I have learned more about Jesus and grown exponentially in my love for His Word, He has shown me that it is a responsibility to the up and coming generations that the older women be willing to teach the Word to them. Not always in a class setting, but by lifestyle, priorities, counsel, and actions. And with each passing year, I am increasingly passionate about seeing the young generation of ladies be challenged to follow Jesus completely, without being tainted by the world around them.

I have the privilege to teach once in a while at Beautiful You - the teen women's club at our church. Club started up for the year a couple of weeks ago, and I was led by the Lord to teach about God's standard for beauty. His Word is His standard. Jesus is our example for beauty. And as women, there are a couple places in the Bible where God clearly lays out what He considers a beautiful woman to be and do. Proverbs 31 is a great start (check out my entry Her Worth is Far Above Rubies! for more about her!). The other place is Titus 2:3-5. Here, the Lord describes what He expects of women in the church. Women who are older are supposed to live a life of teaching the younger ladies what it means to be a godly woman, so that God's Word will not be blasphemed!

So, I traded a career teaching 7th grade math (which is actually quite fun! And crazy! And...mostly crazy!) for a lifetime career of teaching women who are younger than I am what it means to follow Jesus wholeheartedly and refine their God-given standard of beauty in the process. It may not pay any material bills, but the eternal scope of what God is asking of me is astounding. Not because I am a great teacher but because Jesus prepared me to do this before I was ever created (see Ephesians 2)!! 

And if you are reading this, and you are a woman who belongs to Jesus, let me encourage you that you, too, are called to be a Titus 2 woman. The Lord will equip you with everything you need to teach the younger generations, if you will obey Him! Do your daughters need teaching? How about a lonely young mother? Or the college-aged ladies who don't yet know what God wants them to do with their lives? Reach out! Don't hoard the lessons God has taught you for yourself - share His Word and His Truth with those who are younger than you. [And, in return, be prepared to be taught by them, too]

Oh, Lord, may every single moment be spent pointing my husband, my daughters, and all of the young women in my life to Your holiness and beauty!!! Oh, that every breath would bring You the glory You deserve!

In His grace, and

for His glory!

Lisha :)

To Live Is Christ!!!

The letter that Paul wrote to the church at Philippi is one of my most beloved parts of Scripture. I don't think that it is more important than any other piece of the Bible, but I find it's one of the parts that I visit over and over again. Like spending time with a dear friend, it never gets old - and it knows me well!

Today I was reading and meditating on a verse in Chapter 1 that many believers know and love to quote:

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

[1:21]

And I was thinking about how it's easy for me to get sucked into the lie that because I trust Jesus, my life should work out pretty well all the time. To live is Christ!! How exciting!! I know Jesus; I have an in with God. My life is going to be great!

But as I considered the weight of the second half of the statement, I was hit hard with the weight of the first half. To die, Paul says, is GAIN. For the one who has trusted Jesus for salvation, death is a bonus! It only gets eternally better after we physically die! Can I truly say that I am looking forward to the time when God calls me to my heavenly home by ending life as I know it here? ...some days, yes. I yearn for no more sin struggles; I yearn for peace in my relationships and I yearn most of all to just fall at the feet of Jesus and worship Him for all eternity. But some days, I beg God not to take me before I get to spend decades loving Will, or before I get to see my girls grow in grace and truth, or before I know that some of my family and friends have decided to trust in Jesus, too. 

To die is gain.

And to live is Christ.

What does that mean? 

Does it mean that life is going to be easier? Jesus is God! If living is like Jesus, then...will life be better? Will He prosper me by giving me all of the wonderful American Dream-y things that I want because I keep His rules and do lots of wonderful things in His name?

Christ lived a sacrificial human existence. He laid down all of His rights for the sake of His Father's plan to redeem and restore a wretched people (read: all of humanity). He did not live a Christian take on the American Dream. He wasn't pampered because He was God's Son. He did not complain. He did not whine. He gave. He healed. He prayed. He fasted. He extended dignity to the outcasts and sinners. He did not worry about His reputation as He called out the hypocrisy of the self-absorbed, self-worshiping religious leaders of the time. He did not fight with physical force, but He warred constantly and ferociously against the spiritual filth that was and is rampant. He spoke truth unabashedly even when it meant His dearest and closest friends and disciples left Him. 

He suffered. He was bruised. He was humiliated. He was hated. He was executed.

To live is Christ.

If you consider yourself a Christian, are you willing to proclaim "TO LIVE IS CHRIST!!!" and fully take on that identity? To be hated for Jesus' sake? To be bold and speak the truth in love even if it means you'll lose friends, or a job? Are you willing to give up your "rights" to all of those things you think you're entitled to (a nicely decorated house, a new car, that prestigious career you worked so hard to get) to carry the message of repentance to a world that does not know just how holy and righteous God is?

As I was thinking about this, I was overwhelmed by a fear of the Lord that I have not had in a while. My salvation, though it's a gift, was NOT a free gift. It is given freely - meaning that I need to do nothing except receive it by faith - but oh, Christian, after we have received the gift of eternal life, Jesus demands a radical thing. He asks that we die to ourselves and let Him live in and through us. After salvation, we are no longer our own - we are His. We belong to Christ. And a life lived to Christ is going to be a life full of trials and tribulation and suffering and being hated for His Name. The fear of not laying down everything that I am at God's feet daily (and moment by moment!) - that I am bringing reproach on the name and honor of Jesus because of my preference for comfort and predictability and being liked rather than unashamedly taking on the identity and suffering of Jesus - that fear just flooded me today. And provoked me to search and weed out those areas in my heart where I am coddling the flesh instead of exclaiming "to live is Christ!" with my life.

Are you ready to abandon all you have built for yourself, to live for Christ, should He demand it of you? If not, oh friend, spend some time in prayer and the Word, until you come to that place when you can proclaim that indeed, 'to live is Christ!" and find all joy in it.

To live is Christ, and to die is gain. What a beautiful statement. What a life-altering concept. What a holy, merciful, awesome God.

By His grace and

for His glory!!

Lisha

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Jesus Loves Me?

Friend,

The gospel of my Lord Jesus Christ is not

The western church has cheapened the meaning of Jesus' message by using that phrase and others like it on bumper stickers, on kids' toys and cheap party favors, on T-shirts and keychains everywhere.

I have yet to find a place in the gospel accounts where Jesus is walking around telling people "Smile, I love you!", and that alone is sufficient to save them. God does love everyone - that is what compelled Him to come. But it's the Atonement by His death that saves, when we believe, not just His saying "I love you!".

If you think that sharing the gospel with others is being bold enough to tell them that Jesus loves them, my friend, you are not sharing the gospel with them.

People who don't know that they are sinful and who think that they are worth loving don't really care that Jesus loves them. After all, a lot of people love them. They're pretty awesome. That was my attitude before I knew that Jesus was my savior. I don't know if you knew me back in high school and college, but I was arrogant. And I was awesome.

My accomplishments and good deeds were many. I had a lot of influence and I had a lot of acquaintances. So what if Jesus loved me? I totally deserved it because I was an amazing human being! When well-meaning Christians told me that Jesus loved me, I rolled my eyes at them because, hey, why wouldn't Jesus love me?!

It wasn't until my sophomore year in college when I was confronted with the message that I needed to

that God got my attention. Someone finally was bold enough to tell me that I was sinful and that I needed to admit it and trust that Jesus had died on my behalf if I had any hope of getting into heaven.

What makes the statement "Jesus Loves You" so amazing is not that He loves you because you're astounding. It's because in spite of the fact that you are a depraved wretch, He still bore the entirety of my sin and your sin to Calvary and was executed for it, that God's justice might be totally satisfied instead of poured out on us. But unless we each choose with our lifestyle and heart, soul, and mind to daily appreciate that sacrifice and confess that Jesus Christ has every right to all of us, even to our very breath - we will each be expected to personally make payment for each and every one of our individual sins. Eternally. Because that's what it costs. [The wages of sin is death. Romans 3:23]

Jesus Christ came to share that the kingdom of God was at hand and that every body has been given an opportunity to repent of their sinful ways. The good news is that Jesus Christ accomplished for us what we could never hope to accomplish ourselves - to fully satisfy the wrath of a just God by paying with his sinless life. 

It's not a message you want to hear. It's a lot easier and comfortable to hear "Smile, Jesus Loves You!". But I'm not interested in your life being easy or comfortable. I'm increasingly interested in your repentance and eternal salvation through Jesus.

Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord... [Acts 3:19]

For His glory!

Lisha

Tough Lessons

There is a lot of stuff going on in my heart and in my mind lately. Some days are fabulous, and by fabulous I mean that there's not a lot of crying and I'm able to function quasi-normally. Some days are fabulous, and by fabulous I mean that friends show up at my door with iced coffee or coolattas. Most days, however, are marked by a copious amount of tears and mood swings that can make New England weather seem pretty stable. 

God is using this time to do some major heart renovations. Even though it's painful and thoroughly unpleasant sometimes, I know that on the other side of it I'll be grateful for the 'refiner's fire!' 

Getting my weight under control has been one thing that God has really been prompting me to do - for quite some time. Since Elizabeth was born 3 1/2 years ago, I have gained almost 40 pounds, which is about 80 pounds heavier than any doctor would tell me is remotely healthy. About 3 months before we found out we were pregnant, I had really gotten quite serious about losing weight, and had lost about 20 pounds. Mostly through exercising and eating healthy and eating the correct portions (moderation?! Go figure!...) I did not really enjoy any of it, though. Except that I was more able to fit in some of my pre-Abby pants. 

Last week, while I was trying to get back into the exercise routine, and I was complaining and trying to coax God to help me lose weight faster, He put a verse on my heart that I know and I've heard many times and even been more than happy to repeat to Will in many instances: "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ." [Colossians 3:23-24] 

Whatever you do. That includes, but is not limited to: losing weight, scrubbing the toilet, cleaning up poopy diapers, getting up at 1am...and 4am...and 5am...and 6:30am...with sick children to change bedsheets and diapers and jammies, doing dishes, reading to the kids, grocery shopping, and breaking up sibling fights (which can be awfully nasty!) So, in a few moments, I realized that my attempt at losing weight was futile, if it wasn't being done for the Lord. My motives were wrong. I wanted to lose weight so I could have more kids and the pregnancies would be healthier. That's not a bad bonus, but it shouldn't be the whole motive. 

The last couple of days, then, have been a little more enjoyable. As I'm faced with choosing healthy food or...say...cake (as many of you know, my husband is a cake-a-holic, and we always seem to have plenty of it in this house, which is not always entirely my fault!!!), or when I am contemplating whether or not I should exercise, being reminded that my ultimate goal is to take care of this body that the Lord has blessed me with makes those choices easier. So...here we go, Lord...20 down, a lot more to go! :) 

The other major renovation He is doing in my life is in regard to my children. Since I was about 12, I have always wished for lots of children, and especially after Will & I got married, I have said to the Lord on multiple occasions something like: "Lord, my desire is to have lots of children so that they can live lives that honor You!" and in the last few days the Lord has gently pointed out that that's really prideful. Like "Hey, Lord, aren't you so proud of me, that I'm willing to sacrifice my body and its ability to function normally so that You can have more kids on the earth who just love You so much? Isn't that amazing? I'm pretty awesome that way. Can you bless us with more kids? Twins, even? Triplets? Could I please be like Michelle Duggar?? [Note: she is the woman from the TLC show "18 & counting" that has 19 children!]" For a long time, my relationship with the Lord fluctuated based on whether or not I was pregnant or just had a baby. It's hard not to feel ashamed when I realize that my joy in the Lord was not necessarily what He had done for me on the cross, but what He was doing for the size of my family. 

God is showing me how to be content with the size of my family now. As I was reading and praying the other night, He spoke in the stillness of my heart that if He only ever gives me these two children, I need to be content with that. He is not concerned with the number of children Will & I have; He is concerned that we are willing to raise whatever children He gives us for His glory and in His nurture and admonition. What a freedom that realization has been over the last couple of days! 

This miscarriage, then, has been one of the most important events of my life. God has brought me face-to-face with two sins that I have been either ignorant of or unwilling to deal with for a long time, and I have found more joy in worshipping Him for who He is, not just for all the great things He's doing for me. 

Here is Psalm 66. I was reading it the other night. How timely and beautiful God's Word is, and how wonderful when I finally lay down my pride and allow His Word to teach and refine my heart! Enjoy! 

Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! 
Sing out the honor of His name; 
make His praise glorious. 
Say to God, 
“How awesome are Your works! 
Through the greatness of Your power 
Your enemies shall submit themselves to You. 
All the earth shall worship You 
and sing praises to You; 
they shall sing praises to Your name.” Selah 

Come and see the works of God; 
He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men. 
He turned the sea into dry land; 
they went through the river on foot. 
there we will rejoice in Him. 
He rules by His power forever; 
His eyes observe the nations; 
do not let the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah 

Oh, bless our God, you peoples! 
And make the voice of His praise to be heard, 
who keeps our soul among the living, 
and does not allow our feet to be moved. 
For You, O God, have tested us; 
You have refined us as silver is refined. 
You brought us into the net; 
You laid affliction on our backs. 
You have caused men to ride over our heads; 
we went through fire and through water; 
but You brought us out to rich fulfillment. 

I will go into Your house with burnt offerings; 
I will pay You my vows, 
which my lips have uttered 
and my mouth has spoken when I was in trouble. 
I will offer You burnt sacrifices of fat animals, 
with the sweet aroma of rams; 
I will offer bulls with goats. Selah 

Come and hear, all you who fear God, 
and I will declare what He has done for my soul. 
I cried to Him with my mouth, 
and He was extolled with my tongue. 
If I regard iniquity in my heart, 
the Lord will not hear. 
But certainly God has heard me; 
He has attended to the voice of my prayer. 

Blessed be God, 
who has not turned away my prayer, 
nor His mercy from me!