True Love

They say there is a young lady in New Haven who is beloved of that Great Being who made and rules the world. They say that He fills her mind with exceeding sweet delight, and that she hardly cares for anything except to meditate on Him. If you present the world to her, with the richest of its treasures, she disregards it.  She is unmindful of any pain or affliction. She has a singular purity in her affections. You could not persuade her to compromise her true Love even if you would give her all the world. She possesses a wonderful sweetness, calmness, and kindness to these around her. She will sometimes go from place to place, singing sweetly. She seems to be always full of joy and pleasure, and no one knows exactly why. She loves to be alone, walking in the fields and groves, and seems to have Someone invisible always conversing with her.

 

Written of Sara Edwards by Jonathan Edwards, her future husband
(From Marriage to a Difficult Man by Elizabeth Dodd)

Picture by Johnson

Why Were You Born?

This video, created by my Pastor, was such a blessing to me! I encourage you to send it to your friends and family who need to hear God's message of His wonderful plan in creating them! This will soon be available as apps for the 'iphone' and 'ipad' and hopefully for other cellphones as well!
It will also include further information to learn more about each slide soon!

My favorite slide is - "Why were you born?---- Because God wanted you here!"

How simple yet profound! I did not create myself so I have no right to dictate my path in life. I was wanted here by a Master Designer and He has a special plan for me and for each of you as well!

Excellence vs. Perfection

Excellence is willing to be wrong,

Perfection is being right.

Excellence is risk,

Perfection is fear.

Excellence is powerful,

Perfection is anger and frustration.

Excellence is spontaneous,

Perfection is control.

Excellence is accepting,

Perfection is judgment.

Excellence is giving,

Perfection is taking.

Excellence is confident,

Perfection is doubt.

Excellence is flowing,

Perfection is pressure.

Excellence is journey,

Perfection is destination.

~Donna Otto from "Between Women of God"

"Who can find a virtuous (excellent) woman..."

Proverbs 31:10a

This was an eye-opener for me! The Lord really showed me how ugly my perfectionism can be in light of the virtuous model that He has set forth! God does not want me to be "perfect" in my own strength and power, He wants be to allow Him to show forth His strength through me!

He Giveth and Giveth

He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,

He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;

To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,

To multiplied trials He multiplies peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,

When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources

Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,

Our God ever yearns His resources to share;

Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;

The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,

His power no boundary known unto men;

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus

He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.
~Annie Johnson Flint

We sang this song in church yesterday. The Lord touched my heart so deeply as I heard these beautiful words. These words came from a lady plagued by rheumatoid arthritis who was a "shut in". She lost her family and was alone in the world, except for her sister and her Lord. She witnessed the Lord's infinite power and mercy and the Lord used her mightily to minister to others.

This encouraged me, because, sometimes, I don't feel like I have much to give and I am so overwelmed with burdens that I bear, but Jesus comes and giveth and giveth and giveth again. This too is my testimony. May you too come and give all your burdens to Jesus and experience the rest and peace in Him.

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. "
Matthew 11:28-29

(Picture from All-Posters by Annie Henniker)

Drawn by Him

"Draw [Lead me away] and we will run after thee:"

Song of Solomon 1:4

The Lord has shown me with all of my "perfectionist anxiety" that not an ounce of my efforts are enough to bring me closer to Him. It is because of His "drawing" powers that this daughter of "weakness" can run after Him. He must draw and I must follow. When I see things from this light it takes all the pressure off of me and frees me to truly bask in the Light of my Savior!

But like a block beneath whose burden lies

That undiscovered worm that never dies,
I have no will to rouse, I have not power to rise.
For can the water-buried axe implore
A hand to raise it, or itself restore,
And from her sandy deeps approach the dry-foot shore?

So hard's the task for sinful flesh and blood,

To lend the smallest help to what is good;
Ah! if but only those who active be,

None should thy glory see, thy glory none should see.
Lord, as I am, I have no power at all
To hear thy voice, or echo to thy call.

Give me the power to will, the will to do;

O raise me up, and I will strive to go:

Draw me, O draw me with thy treble-twist;

That have no power, but merely to resist;

O lend me strength to do, and then command thy list.

Secure in My Savior's Love

The Lord has been revealing so much to me lately about my relationship with Him and the Love that He has for me. I realize that how much my heart overwelms with love for my Savior is all because of His undying love for me. I am so secure in His love for me that I can truly give everything that I have and everything that I am in service to Him!
This song is truly my love song to Jesus!

My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me,
And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree;
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death,
And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath;
And say when the death dew lies cold on my brow,
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

In mansions of glory and endless delight,
I’ll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright;
I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow,
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

~William R. Featherston

I so await the day when I can look into my Precious Jesus' face and sing about my love and adoration to Him. It truly "will be worth it all" when I see Him!

Nothing Ever Felt So Right

I have just recently finished the Girl's Study Group Classes at my Church.
Upon completion I have had an overwelming feeling of satisfaction. Satisfaction, not in myself, but in the Lord.
So many people have told me that when you're right in the center of God's will, it just feels so right! I have never had such peace, such a feeling of "right" as I have had since completing these classes. My parents have always told me that everything I had went through when I was younger, such as my father leaving when I was little, self esteem problems, etc., would all be worth it someday when the Lord would use it for good. I have had faith in that for so many years and now I am able to sit here and testify with all my heart that it is so true!!!!!!!
When I was able to finally share parts of my story and testify of what the Lord can do; when I heard the voice of Jesus say, "Kayla, this is it, this is what I've promised you all of these years-- that all things would work together for good because you love me, it's happening." (Romans 8:28)
I can testify to that verse so much more now and I can now say that nothing, nothing has ever felt so right as when you are in the middle of God's will. There is nothing that this world could offer that could give you as much peace or satisfaction as what comes from my Lord!

All praise to Him for blessing me so richly!