Hosanna Life

Oxygen

2011-09-12T15:10:00.000-07:00

Breath of life
Fill her lungs with currents of air

Bread of heaven
Fill her with appetite to sustain every breath

Great physician
Heal her and take away her fear and pain

To Him who can do infinitely more than we can imagine, be glory.
In Jesus who is all things,
Amen

A Let Down

2010-09-26T18:52:00.000-07:00

I kind of felt this week like i let several people down. I am forgetful and, unlike Paul, have asked God more that 3 times to remove the forgetful thorn. I think it's there to keep me humble?! Oh Sovereign Lord, you know :)

Sat down this evening and wrote some verses. Just seemed to flow from how I was feeling. Maybe I'll title it "Complete Forgiveness"? Still ponderign title..it's more of a poetic prayer.

O Dear Lord,
You've led me to the quiet place
Where I can almost see your face
A dark and secret closet space
Where I ponder of your grace

Here I meet you and I see
You'll love me to eternity
I don't feel compelled to be
anyone but just plain me

I come confessing my great sin
And the predicaments I'm in
Life is in a tailspin
Oh what a mess of things I've been

I need your absoluution Lord
The price you paid I can't afford
Apart from you I am a loss
Your separating good from dross

Not me you see but look to Christ
The one, the only sacrifice
Amen, Amen I say no more
I close my eyes, swing wide the door

Come in Dear Lord and cover me
Then all my flaws are hid in Thee

The Holy City, New Jeruslem

2010-07-13T19:02:00.000-07:00

So much has happened since I last posted. Youth Group is still going strong. We have a National Youth Gathering in New Orleans coming up this weekend and the highschoolers are still blessing my life more than I theirs. Then there is the mission trip I am blessed to be leading to China next summer in July. I pray God will lead us to walk in His will there.

In the last week, both my parents have been in the hospital at the same time. Dad is experiencing vertigo. Mom is waiting results of a biospy. It's a tumor in her chest. It seems like this is happening to someone else's family because it is so far away. Yet it is closer to me than anything ever has been. It is a blessing, all those who offer prayer for us. And then it feels lonely. Nooone feels what we feel at a time like this. Still, our Father in heaven is with us.

Tonight I need to remember what heaven is like so here are some reminders:

Rev 3:12 "Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the New Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name."
Rev 4: 2-7 "..a throne stood in heaven with one seated on the throne. And He who sat there had the appearance of Jasper and Carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow, that had the appearance of an emarld. Around the throne were 24 thrones, and seated in he thrones, were 24 elders, clothes with white garments with golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came clashes of lightening and rumblings, and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God. And before the throne, there was as it were a
sea of glass, like crystal.
1 Cor 2:9 "But as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him."

Thank you that our treasures are hidden with you God and that noone can take them away. Grant us wisdom, Grant us courage, for the facing of this hour, for the facing of this hour.

In the Mighty name of Jesus,
Amen!

Waiting Verse

2009-11-25T04:33:00.001-08:00

This morning in devotion, I ran across a great verse of encourgement on waiting:

Psalm 31:23-24
"Love the Lord all you His saints!
The Lord preserves the faithful
but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride.
Be strong and let your heart take courage,
all you who wait for the Lord!"

Watch And Pray

2009-11-24T19:27:00.000-08:00

Waiting, waiting. Boy, oh boy, the waiting can be difficult. There is something to do while waiting though...Something that makes the time pass like lightening. Serving in the Kingdom sure does make the time pass. It has been half a year since I started assisting in Youth ministry. Almost 7 mo.s since i started. Truth is, when serving in the calling that Christ called me to, it hardly seems like work. Prayer meeting leadership is also making the time go by quickly. "I wanna be a witness for my Lord."

Still watching for Christ's return.
Still waiting.
Serving
Waiting.
Praying.
Watching.
Waiting...

Will a day be like 1000 years ?
Oh Sovereign Lord. You know.

Strength to Pray

2009-09-30T18:45:00.000-07:00

Heavenly Father,
Give me the strength to pray. Amen.

I will not turn from the right or to the left. Only show me the way. Light my path. You woke me with this hymn:

God of grace, and God of glory, On Thy people pour thy power. Crown Thy ancient church's story. Bring her bud to glorious flower. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, For the facing of this hour For the facing of this hour.

Joshua 1:7 has been on my mind all day since you brought it to mind. "Only be thou strong and couragous, that thou mayst observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper, whithersoever thou goest.

Lord grant me the courage to stay focused on you. Give me the wisdom to know and obey your will. Keep my mind stayed on thee. What a beautiful promise you give. You indeed have prospered me and defended me. Go also with your church in this hour. Strengthen her commitment. Keep her strong.

Amen

Scary Driving

2009-08-02T14:15:00.000-07:00

When you follow someone to a location, it's a must-do to stick as close to their back bumper as possible (of couse within the two car buffer). You don't want to get a big gap or someone will cut in and you will become separated. Or..you will have to play the weaving game to catch up! Note to readers: this can be frightening!!

I find this principle definitely applies to the christian's drive also. In short, "stick close to Jesus". If you become separated, who knows, you may try to go up the down ramp or head straight into oncoming traffic causing grave error. I was born without a sense of direction so these kinds of things are particularly frightening for me (hahaha). Follow close to Jesus. Go where He leads. He alreay knows the way. He is the way. Final note to readers: I find driving is toooooo fast. Plan is to walk with Jesus.

Who Am I?

2009-07-26T18:05:00.000-07:00

I feel like I've alreay come to the end sometimes. like everything is vanity. Who am I and Where am I headed??!! Used to think the book of Ecclesiastes was such a total downer but I kind of get it now. None of it matters. The world, dreams, life. None of it. Unless....Yes, unless, it is not just living for "me, me, me". Unless meaning is found in the one who gave it all up to pay the price for us. This is what I ponder lately. Out of this pondering and other experiences, I wrote the following verses:

Knowing me in Thee
-------------------------
I only know myself in You
My identity is tied
to the loving perfect one
who changed me from inside

His Spirit is within
My eternal friend
Never far His temple dwells
Within my very tissue cells

I am my Father's girl
And He is my whole world
I treasure who and what I am
bought with a price, his blood, His plan

I am fully known
And my life is not my own
I walk the path my Jesus trod
I am a child of Most High God

By Chris McDaniel

Need a Lift?

2009-07-07T20:06:00.000-07:00

Thoughts of Jeremiah are on my mind. I've been writing a lot lately. So, here is the latest...

"Need a lift?"
Jeremiah down the well.
Tossed in mud.
Deep and stuck.
All alone and out of luck.

Dark, alone that man of God.
Faithful to His call.
With ropes came Ebed-Melech.
God was in it all.

(Jeremiah 38:7-13)

I am remembering that nothing happens in this life that gets past God. Patient endurance. That's where it's at. God has our front, back and middle. Even when it seems dim, His anchor holds within the veil. Jeremiah must have meditated a lot in his ministry. Trusted that in all the chaos, God reigned.

Keep us ever faithful till the end Lord.
In Jesus.
G'Night

Pray Twice. Sing Your heart Out.

2009-07-06T19:17:00.000-07:00

This quote affected me recently. "A hymn is a prayer twice prayed". Martin Luther said it and was apparently restating a quote from St. Augustine. How true though. Sing to Jesus. Write your own or pick one from the saints. They've gone though it before us :) When the words don't come, sing your heart out.

Jesus Lead Thou On
Cento by Christian McGregor,
1723-1801

Jesus lead Thou on, till our rest is won.
And although the way be cheerless, we will follow calm and fearless.
Guide us by Thy hand. To our father land.

If the way be drear. If the foe be near.
Let not faithless fears o'etake us. Let not faith and hope forsake us.
For through many a woe. to our home we go.

When we seek relief; from a long felt grief.
When temptations come alluring, make us patient and enduring.
Show us that bright shore, where we weep no more.

Jesus lead Thou on till our rest is won.
Heavenly leader, still direct us. Still support, control, protect us.

Till we safely land, in our father land.

Q&A

2009-06-12T19:46:00.000-07:00

It never ceases to amaze that as requests are layed before God, He is gracious to hear each one and answer. Sometimes the imaptience comes if the answer is slow in human terms. Several answers have come of late.

My Request: To find a way to serve at my church. I went so far as to write the Evangelism guy because I was needing to tell of Christ post haste.
God's Answer: God popped a song answer to me "Yes, Yes, Yes. Yes to the World once more, yes with a cosmic roar, yes to the other door".
My Reply to God: Lord, What other door? In Lutheran terms "What does this mean?"
God's reply: 1 week later, the Youth Leader asked if I'd be interested in helping with Youth.

Hooray! I absoluteley love it. On Wed. evenings our group gets together to hang out for 1.5 hours. I love getting to know each one's God given personality and gift. They are amazing. At the end we have a devotion and pray. Their prayers are melting. It is a gift from God.

At first I went, back still hurting. You know, slowly, this whole back issue is becoming a non-issue. Another answered prayer. Maybe I was humbled for service. Maybe I was given a lot of faith building in a short amount of time and like Paul said...Satan was allowed to buffet me. Maybe, maybe, maybe...Lord, I don't know. you know. You know!

As Job said "Though he slay me, yet will I hope in Him" (Job 13:15).

Thank you Jesus.
Fix my eyes on you.
Bless and Keep all our Youth leaders and Youth.

Fear Ye Not, Stand Still

2009-03-03T17:38:00.000-08:00

Did you ever feel you are going throught a time of testing? I do. I am living in 24/7 pain due to two bulging disks in my back. I've now received 2 spinal Epidurals with one more scheduled. I've cried out more times than I can count for God to take away my pain. Yet, I feel this is a test of some sort. It seems I can't not grow an adaquate heart of compassion without actually experiecing real and lasting pain myself. Ouch! yet, I am thankful for the test. But that's not it, it seems everyone in my family has hardship right now also.

Pain & Testing Checklist

Dad with Prostate Cancer
Uncle with Dr. consult to find out about something with aorta and lymph nodes. My Aunt, his wife just had back surgery. To boot, he also just lost his job of 30 years.
Brother with pulled groin. (Hard to do your physical labor job like that!)
Husband with 2 painful absessed teeth. (Insurance no help in speeding up oral surgery)
Me with my 2 bulging disks
Grandmother depressed in Assisted living grieving my grandfather still

Everyone's down with something. I've done some dreaming lately. Not the cool kind where your flying or somthing. Yet, I think they are from God. In one dream there were two tornados. A smaller one and a bigger one. I knew I should be panicking with the rest of the crowd, but I felt this peace in the midst of the storms. I kind of went along for sake of "sympathy-panic" of the crowd but deep down, I knew it was okay. Later I dreamed an entity was draggin me backward across the floor. I heard God say "Fear Ye not, Stand Still and see the salvation of the Lord". Even then, I thought, there's not anything seen or unseen that can really do harm to me. I thought, ok, you stupid entity let's go for a ride then. At that point I woke up. Satan can buffet us but he has to get through Christ in me first!!

Here are a couple verses for meditation in all this:

Romans 8: 38-39 For i am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Exodus 14:13 "And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day..."
Thank you Jesus!

Jesus Hands And Feet

2009-02-08T19:32:00.000-08:00

Well, I've put myself out there now... I sent an email to my church's outreach leader. I feel the call to tell the world about Jesus and what he's done for me, for the whole world. Where will this lead. Only Jesus knows.

My old church was so small. the minute I walked in the door, it seemed I was chairman of Education and active in that role. Now it's different. Now, I am humbled and a member worshipping the Lord of Life each Sunday yet.... Yet, I know it's not enough. I know in my heart of hearts, everyone deserves to know this Lord of Love and Life. So, I prayed and sent the email. I hope and pray that I will indeed be Jesus "Hands and feet" in this world.

I have commited it to Jesus. My friend, mediator, Lord.

Amen. Halleluliah!

Ubiquitous Non Sequitur

2008-12-31T17:03:00.000-08:00

My husband likes to throw new vocabulary my way every now and then. He is very well-read and word games for him are as easy as waking up and putting his pants on. His new word test for me the other day was "Non sequitur". Turns out it is an absurd comment that doesn't really fit in. Like he says, "honey... I say... the political climate is baffling" and I say "potato". he also recently used the word ubiquitous in a real sentence. Wow! Ubiquitous according to Webster is "existing or being everywhere at the same time".

I got to thinking that to the outsider looking in on Christianity, Jesus must look like the ubiquitous non sequitur. He is everywhere and seems to say things that don't really fit in today's society. Things like "love your enemies" and "pray for those who persecute you". Jesus even prayed for those who hung on crosses with him. Those who crucified him. Yes this Jesus is friend of friends. Jesus said "greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

Humble Myself - Part2

2008-12-16T18:03:00.001-08:00

Just wanted to post that 1 hour after I posted yesterday, I sat down to read my daily reading from "The One Year Chronological" Bible. I think I got even humbler (is that a word?!). What a great Chrismas message and one I NEEDED. The reading included:

Philippians 2:5-11 "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus; Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! There fore God exalted him to the hightest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jeus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Wow!

Humble Myself

2008-12-15T17:44:00.000-08:00

Humble Yourself In the Sight of The Lord (listen)

The Words to this song have played in my head for the past few days. I think I heard it growing up. Maybe it was at school (i attended Christian school growing up) or Camp Omega or a Choir. I don't remember anymore. All I know is i needed to hear this messsage! I believe trust and humility must go hand in hand. Let's see. a) I need to trust God for the ability to carry out my work tasks each day to His glory so that I can continue to pay my bills b) To not stress about all the Christmas tasks people expect me to accomplish and enjoy the relationships I've been blessed with c) That God will provide for each need.

Hmmm...This must be a lesson from the Lord. Just remember I blogged about the Lilies and Sparrows. Might have to go back and reread that one!

I pray I can give up my self-reliance and give each of these things to God.

In Jesus,

Amen and Amen

Oh My Stars

2008-12-13T08:15:00.000-08:00

Yesterday the moon appeared bright and beautiful. It made it's closest swing by earth in 15 years. We won't see it again like this until 2016. I even noticed it in the car on the way home from work. How beatiful and amazing the order of God's creation is. Tonight on TV Scott wanted to watch a show he'd DVRd on the "Heavenlies". The show pondered the wonders of the universe all the way back to it's creation. Science feels it was a big bang. Since I was not around the day God decided to begin all this beauty, I feel this is as good a theory as any. I sat thinking that the deep complexities of the universe could absolutely not be a cosmic accident. I think an atheist must be deeply perplexed when it comes to this kind of pondering.

This morning, i sat to read my devotion in Concordia's "Portal's of Prayer". it was titled "Time to Stargaze".

Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank you for your beautiful universe and our amazing Blue Planet.
You are an amazing creator and I feel privileged to behold it each new day.
Amen

Lilies & Sparrows

2008-12-10T16:08:00.000-08:00

My good friend is the original inventor of Herbal Shampoo. I don’t mean the brand name on store shelves these days. Yesterday, I heard how she made her own hair care. She grew up in another country where times for her were a bit tougher than they are here in the ‘ole USA. In order to get Herbal Shampoo, she walked to the fields, picked wild herbs and more or less, created her own hair care products. Her hair looks a million times better than mine today. I have always just used whatever I can pull off a shelf. But I worry. What if we are bombed and I can’t take a shower everyday and get all the great stuff I normally use? What if big brother is watching me? What if I lose my job in this economy? And this is my short list.

Matthew 6:28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin."
Psam 84:3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.
Luke 12:6-7 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies ? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

What God makes is beautiful. All sufficient. He leaves it to our creativity for how to use it. We are not left without. Not ever. Our heavenly Father so cares for us that if we put our trust in Him, we really need never worry. We may not always have peace in this world. Life is not always easy. One thing is certain, God's children have His peace. We are more than conquerors. We have everlasting peace.

Halleluliah!!

Purchase From God - All Gifts Free

2008-12-08T23:27:00.000-08:00

Shopping List (For the person who thinks they have it all):
Revelation 3:18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.

1. Gold refined by fire

1 Peter 1:7 These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Zechariah 13:9 "And I will bring the third part through the fire, refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested They will call on My name, and I will answer them; I will say, 'They are My people, 'And they will say, 'The LORD is my God.'"

2. White clothes

Revelation 3:5 He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

3. Eye salve

John 18: 31-32 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
Luke 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has annointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are opressed.

** Cost: All Gifts are FREE **

Isaiah 55:1 Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.

Jesus said "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

Lion of Judah

2008-12-04T19:38:00.000-08:00

(Revelation 5:1-5 ) 1Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" 3But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."

The phrase "Lion of Judah" is on my mind today. I found in a keyword search on Biblegateway.com that the full phrase is in Revelation 5:5. I wonder, is Jesus getting ready to open the scroll and 7 seals? I will pray on this one today. I spoke on the phone tonight with my best friend. She mentioned that her mom recently saw the 4 beasts in church artwork and was looking up what they represent. How appropriate. Jesus is the Lion. Anyone out there have the scoop on the rest? If so, please comment.

I am so glad GOD is in control.

He is the powerful Lion of Judah.

Amen Lord Jesus, Come Quickly. Amen.

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

2008-12-01T17:07:00.000-08:00

As I drove home from work today, the worries of the day were playing in my head and I turned on the radio, however, my spirit began to sing this hymn. i turned the radio down so I could hear what I was singing. I remember the hymn because I have it on an Amy Grant CD. It couldn't have lifted my spirit more. Then, my daily Bible reading when I got home included it:

2 Corinthians 4:18: So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unsseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." Thank you Jesus!

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
Read more about why the author wrote this hymn:http://www.popularhymns.com/turn_your_eyes_upon_jesus.php

O soul, are you weary and troubled?No light in the darkness you see? There’s a light for a look at the Savior,And life more abundant and free!

Refrain

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,Look full in His wonderful face,And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,In the light of His glory and grace.

Through death into life everlasting; He passed, and we follow Him there; Over us sin no more hath dominion—For more than conquerors we are!

Refrain

His Word shall not fail you—He promised; Believe Him, and all will be well: Then go to a world that is dying, His perfect salvation to tell!

Refrain

New Life

2008-11-28T18:34:00.000-08:00

Well, this may seem like a downer for a first post but I assure you, it is about life and blessing. My grandfather recently died. It was on the Lutheran church's "All Saint's Sunday". On this Sunday they usually ding a bell for all the saints in the past year that have gone home to be with the Lord. I listened as each bell sounded and sang joyfully this Sunday. Unknowingly, when I was to leave, there would be a voicemail on my cell with the news that Grandpa had gone home. I had dinged a bell in his honor and didn't even realize it. I had a dream approximately 2 months earlier that my grandfather was showing me some items in one of the rooms of heaven. He was 92. I remember wondering if God was allowing me to prepare for his departure. I'd had him in my life for so long. Indeed, this was the case. He'd run the good race.

As a result of going home to attend the funeral, I was able to share Christ's love with a Buddist relative. The short simple truth of John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life". I don't think she became a christian from the brief encounter we had, but maybe seeds were planted. Maybe from being home and experiencing death, came the beginnings of a new life in Christ. If so, what joy it will bring. Because Christ said "In this world you will have trouble, but, take heart. I have overcome the world".