Forever For His Glory

Humility has never been the easiest thing for me. I always put a lot of pressure on myself when I’m doing anything in front of people; especially when I sing. I have always had/have a deep fear of messing up, i.e. squeaking when I hit a high note, etc. Lately, God has really been dealing with me on this subject. Whenever I sing in front of people (by myself), my throat tightens, my heart-rate increases, and my face turns red(der). I always want it to be perfect. It has to be perfect! I’ve always been told to strive to do my best, unfortunately, I took it a little too literally. Anything other than a perfect performance, and I’m discouraged. Now, by this time, you’re probably thinking, “ Make a joyful noise to the Lord! It doesn’t have to be perfect! ” Which is something I’ve been told over-and-over again, but I haven’t really accepted it. I mean, aren’t we supposed to do everything as unto God? As if He was right there? Does that not mean that we’re supposed to do our best? Yes an...

As I was reading my daily Proverb a couple days ago, one verse in particular stuck out to me. Proverbs 25:14 says, Whoever falsely boasts of giving is like clouds and wind without rain . Whenever I have read that verse before, I thought that the giving part was talking about giving in a physical way, i.e. money, help, food, etc., and that it was dealing with outright lying to make oneself look good. But, when I just read it again, I saw it in a different light. It’s not just talking about giving something physical, it’s also talking about prayer. How many times have you had some ask you to pray for something and tell them that you would, and then go off and completely forget that you were supposed to pray? I have done it many more times then I care to admit. And it’s not that I don’t initially pray for them. When I receive an email, or have someone ask me for prayer, I normally pray immediately, but I only do it once. As if I was checking it off of my “spiritual” checklist. ...

Some friends taught us this song recently, and I love the lyrics! It's also really fun to sing. Take a listen..... You've Been Mercy All the Way     by John G. Elliott Chorus  Mercy mercy Goodness and kindness Love and forgiveness Mercy mercy It's been mercy all the way It's been mercy all the way Verse 1 Lord I thank You For Your faithful mercy All my footsteps Have been guarded by grace From this moment on My heart will praise You Lord I love You Lord I love You Verse 2 You have loved me With a great compassion You have spared me From the pain I deserve Here's my heart Oh may it bring You pleasure Lord I love You Lord I love You

As we were at camp this last week, I was watching the kids and how they acted. The discussion between the girls was always about which boy they liked better (and visa-versa), and tempers flared quite easily. After trying to talk to them rather un-successfully (David did also), I un-knowingly started to have a rather self-righteous mentality. I’m so glad I’m not like that! And as soon as I thought it, God brought to mind the Pharisee... Luke 18:10-14 Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for eve...

"It isn't your gold or silver, your talents great or small,your voice, or your gift of drawing, or the crowd you go with at all: it isn't your friends or pastimes, your looks or your clothes so gay; it isn't your home or family, or even the things you say; it isn't your choice of amusements, it isn't the life you lead, it isn't the things you prize the most, or the books you like to read;no, it isn't the things you have, dear, or the things you like to do, the Master is searching deeper... He seeks not yours, but you. It's your heart that Jesus longs for; your will to be made His own with self on the cross forever, and Jesus alone on the throne." ~Ruth Bell Graham