Back after 3 YEARS!!!

3 years went by really fast -

and at the same time I feel like it has been AGES!!

I've done so much and so little.

I feel like so many of you my friends have "moved" on with your life - and I am still standing in the same place.

By move on I kind of mean as in career. ---

But God has been good and grown me SO far beyond where I possible thought I could go!

Anyway - Here's a good Psalm to think on:

Psalm 37

Of David.

 ¹ Do not fret because of evil men
       or be envious of those who do wrong;

 ² for like the grass they will soon wither,
       like green plants they will soon die away.

 ³ Trust in the LORD and do good;
       dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

 ⁴ Delight yourself in the LORD
       and he will give you the desires of your heart.

 ⁵ Commit your way to the LORD;
       trust in him and he will do this:

 ⁶ He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
       the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

 ⁷ Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
       do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
       when they carry out their wicked schemes.

 ⁸ Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
       do not fret—it leads only to evil.

 ⁹ For evil men will be cut off,
       but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

 ¹⁰ A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
       though you look for them, they will not be found.

 ¹¹ But the meek will inherit the land
       and enjoy great peace.

 ¹² The wicked plot against the righteous
       and gnash their teeth at them;

 ¹³ but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
       for he knows their day is coming.

 ¹⁴ The wicked draw the sword
       and bend the bow
       to bring down the poor and needy,
       to slay those whose ways are upright.

 ¹⁵ But their swords will pierce their own hearts,
       and their bows will be broken.

 ¹⁶ Better the little that the righteous have
       than the wealth of many wicked;

 ¹⁷ for the power of the wicked will be broken,
       but the LORD upholds the righteous.

 ¹⁸ The days of the blameless are known to the LORD,
       and their inheritance will endure forever.

 ¹⁹ In times of disaster they will not wither;
       in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

 ²⁰ But the wicked will perish:
       The LORD's enemies will be like the beauty of the fields,
       they will vanish—vanish like smoke.

 ²¹ The wicked borrow and do not repay,
       but the righteous give generously;

 ²² those the LORD blesses will inherit the land,
       but those he curses will be cut off.

 ²³ If the LORD delights in a man's way,
       he makes his steps firm;

 ²⁴ though he stumble, he will not fall,
       for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

 ²⁵ I was young and now I am old,
       yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
       or their children begging bread.

 ²⁶ They are always generous and lend freely;
       their children will be blessed.

 ²⁷ Turn from evil and do good;
       then you will dwell in the land forever.

 ²⁸ For the LORD loves the just
       and will not forsake his faithful ones.
       They will be protected forever,
       but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off;

 ²⁹ the righteous will inherit the land
       and dwell in it forever.

 ³⁰ The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom,
       and his tongue speaks what is just.

 ³¹ The law of his God is in his heart;
       his feet do not slip.

 ³² The wicked lie in wait for the righteous,
       seeking their very lives;

 ³³ but the LORD will not leave them in their power
       or let them be condemned when brought to trial.

 ³⁴ Wait for the LORD
       and keep his way.
       He will exalt you to inherit the land;
       when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

 ³⁵ I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
       flourishing like a green tree in its native soil,

 ³⁶ but he soon passed away and was no more;
       though I looked for him, he could not be found.

 ³⁷ Consider the blameless, observe the upright;
       there is a future for the man of peace.

 ³⁸ But all sinners will be destroyed;
       the future of the wicked will be cut off.

 ³⁹ The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD;
       he is their stronghold in time of trouble.

 ⁴⁰ The LORD helps them and delivers them;
       he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
       because they take refuge in him.

Not much new here.

Learning to know God more and more -

At least I burn to know and so I search -

He promised I would find if I searched - and I feel I am though at the same time I am finding more new confusing qualities about this man God.

But I love it all - I love Him and desire that I know His love more fully than reality itself.

- if that is possible... and all things are possible with Him

Nathans Words Here

This is a long one - so sorry -

This is an excerpt from an email I sent to a little girl whos gone through a lot of trama in her life. Please pray that it will encourage her in the Lord! Her name is Kelly.

I hope and pray that you are encouraged too -

The battle for believing Gods love and acceptance for you will be one of the most difficult. Our own battered scarred senses can not conceive that a God like this, so good and loving, would even want us. Remember that thoughts lead to feelings, and that feelings lead to actions. That’s why Paul exhorts us in Love to think on whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—and anything that is excellent or praiseworthy. (Phil 4:8)

This will lead us to good feelings, and thus good actions – and the fruit of the Spirit will come from us in abundance! The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Gal 5:22-23)

- It is not easy always to think on whatever is pure, good, right, etc. especially when life seems (and is at times) so rotten, but still God is there with us! With or without a good life, God is still there. A dear friend of my family likes to say, "If I’m still here, God’s still awesome. And if I’m not here, God’s still awesome!" And this is true. With or without that which we think we can’t do without, God is still here with us and He Loves us dearly and will never stop.

Remember that you can talk to God anytime – and just tell him how you feel. Be honest – cause He loves honesty ( Prov 24:26 An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.) and honesty’s the best way into a real relationship. Read the Psalms, David a man after Gods own heart complained a ton – and God didn’t mind. He knows we have a hard time trusting him. – Sometimes I think God is a fool to love a wretch like me. But He is not like us, His love is not like our love, His understanding surpasses ours – and He made us with His hands and imagination, fueled by love and desire for a personal relationship with us. HE LOVES US! HE LOVES YOU!! A LOT! He cries out in the night of our lives: "I sell all creation just for you! I’ll trade all of creation because I love you!"

Here’s a little something that I wrote after reading the Word today, from God (God encouragement I like to call it) to myself – and to you J

For He has vanquished every foe on every side, on your behalf!

He has wiped out entire lands for your benefit –

Opened the doors of heaven for your hunger –

Split the rocks to quench your thirst -

How dear you are to Him!

You are the light of His eyes, His Dearly Beloved!

Look up and have faith! Take courage in His Faithfulness!

He is eager to forgive you!

Already He has begun laying a new foundation!

Already He has new lands for you to live in!

And Peace everlasting for you to dwell in!

He is out the gate with a ring, and sandals for your feet!

He is down on His knees with a towel and a basin of water!

He is kneeling with arms open wide

To take you Home into His heart

From wherever you come!

Remember

Be thankful

Believe

Believe

Believe

Again I say Believe!

And Rejoice in your good fortune o’ daughter/son of Zion!

Rejoice that His mercy endures forever!

Praise the Lord!

Praise His Holy Name!

Amen!

Thank you Lord Jesus!

I pray that this week will hold new hopes and joys for you!

Remember also that joy is a safeguard for you (Phil 3:1 Finally, my brothers/sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.) and trust in His unfailing Love!

My younger sister wrote this.

I thought it was profound and that I ought to share it with yall.

God Bless:

Monday, June 20, 2005