Wow! That simple title is such a mouthful! I have been brought to Psalm 103 all week long I have read it over and over & it never ceases to amaze me that God is showing me something new every time out of these 22 verses!
1 Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. 2 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits- 3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, 5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. 6 The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. 7 He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: 8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. 9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; 10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; 14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. 15 As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; 16 the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. 17 But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children 18 with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. 19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. 20 Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. 21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will. 22 Praise the LORD, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the LORD, O my soul.
Ok, so that was a mouth-ful to read I know, but the part that has stuck out to me is verse 10
"He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities".
Do you ever notice that we as "Christians" want to be the first people to put a "degree" on sin?? Like oh well, " at least I did not cheat on my husband" or " I did not kill, steal or do anything BIG." And so, we rationalize why our sins are not as "bad" as these things! I have had God dealing with me all week regarding my thoughts! I am the type of person who may think these things, but heaven forbid it come out of my mouth! I'd rather just know that I'm thinking " Oh well, they think they are better" or " at least I'm not......(fill in the blank)..." as if my sin is not as sinful as these other things! You know Christ did not come to die on the cross for just the "bad" sins! If I remember correctly " all have sinned and fall short of the glory". So why do I struggle with my "sin ego"?? God is showing me that he has forgiven me for even those thoughts that I am thinking whether expressed or contained, and that the judgement that I pass onto another for "their sin" is just as sinful as the sin I am committing! I have never thought of myself as a "judgemental" type of person, but I feel god is tearing through these layers to the things that I like to keep between me, myself & I! God is saying.... Hey, lets just take a look at this...... So, when I come & say, " but God I"........I feel he's looking at me and saying, " but Brittany, I........" So when I think about verse 12 " he has removed our sins as far as the East is from the West" How far exactly is that?? Can your mind fathom?? Mine can't! But I know that it is forgiven & therefore I must too forgive & learn that even as my sins have been accounted for, yours have been too! And is it really my place to worry about it? I am to LEARN to be like Him ~ Gracious, compassionate & slow to anger & quick to forgive! It is a process, but I am along for the ride......
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Random pics with family & friends!
Here are random pics of our friends!
"To the world you may be one person, but
to one person you may be the world".....
Now, I guess you can see why I feel so blessed just to be me!
Monday, April 13, 2009
Friends..&...Trees???
Isn't it funny how God brings certain people into our lives ~ the least likely people with whom we'd think we'd be friends. You know the judge the book by the cover deal? I have been so fortunate over the years to have a few people whom I could truly call a "friend". You know someone you can just "spill" to & they still love ya' when your finished? Someone who no matter what the situations surrounding you life are - will be there to listen, and give Godly wisdom. It is so funny how God orchestrated these type of people into my life. I am such a cautious person to letting new people past "my walls", but am feeling God placing these people into my life. I know the Bible says there is a "time for everything". I am thankful for the friends I have had, still have and am excited to see the new friendships that are forming. I think Madea summed it up pretty well for me -
" Some people come into your life for a lifetime and some come for a season. You have to know which is which. I put everybody that comes into my life in the category of a tree. Some people are leaves on a tree. The wind blows, they go to the left. The wind blows from the other way, they go to the right. They are just unstable. You can't count on them for nothing. All they ever do is take from that tree. What you need to understand about a leaf is that it has a season. It'll wither and die and blow away.There ain't no need to be praying over a leaf to be resurrected. When it's dead it's gone. Let it go! Some people are like that. All the leaf ever does is cool you off every now and then. If you're grown, you know what I'm talking about, because you can call them in the middle of the night and get cooled off. That's the leaf people. They come to take. Then there are people like a branch. You got to be careful with branch people. They come in all different shapes and sizes. You never know how strong they will be in your life. So my advice is to tip out on it slowly. When you're going out on a limb, don't put too much weight on it at once, because it can fall and leave you high and dry. Sometimes, you have to wait for a branch to grow up before it can hold all of the things you want to share with it. Finally, there are people who are like roots at the bottom of the tree. If you find yourself two or three people in your entire lifetime that are like the roots, then you are blessed. The roots don't care nothing about being seen. All they're there to do is hold that tree up, to make sure it stays in the air. It comes from the earth to give that tree everything it needs. That's what relationships should be about. That's what you need, people who want to be in your life for the right reasons. If somebody wants to walk out of your life, you've got to LET THEM GO! When you learn to love yourself, you will end up giving standards to everyone around you. Again, I repeat with emphasis, if they don't meet those standards, you have to let them go, because they might be a leaf. And forgive them with all your might. "
So, thank you to my "roots" you know who you are. I pray for an entire "vinyard" of friends! But if God should determine that it's not best for me ~ Then let me say I'm still thankful for the leaves & the branches. Because afterall, would fall be as beautiful as it is without the leaves?? No would be my answer ~ so, therefore, I feel my life has been molded from the benefits of the entire "tree".
" Some people come into your life for a lifetime and some come for a season. You have to know which is which. I put everybody that comes into my life in the category of a tree. Some people are leaves on a tree. The wind blows, they go to the left. The wind blows from the other way, they go to the right. They are just unstable. You can't count on them for nothing. All they ever do is take from that tree. What you need to understand about a leaf is that it has a season. It'll wither and die and blow away.There ain't no need to be praying over a leaf to be resurrected. When it's dead it's gone. Let it go! Some people are like that. All the leaf ever does is cool you off every now and then. If you're grown, you know what I'm talking about, because you can call them in the middle of the night and get cooled off. That's the leaf people. They come to take. Then there are people like a branch. You got to be careful with branch people. They come in all different shapes and sizes. You never know how strong they will be in your life. So my advice is to tip out on it slowly. When you're going out on a limb, don't put too much weight on it at once, because it can fall and leave you high and dry. Sometimes, you have to wait for a branch to grow up before it can hold all of the things you want to share with it. Finally, there are people who are like roots at the bottom of the tree. If you find yourself two or three people in your entire lifetime that are like the roots, then you are blessed. The roots don't care nothing about being seen. All they're there to do is hold that tree up, to make sure it stays in the air. It comes from the earth to give that tree everything it needs. That's what relationships should be about. That's what you need, people who want to be in your life for the right reasons. If somebody wants to walk out of your life, you've got to LET THEM GO! When you learn to love yourself, you will end up giving standards to everyone around you. Again, I repeat with emphasis, if they don't meet those standards, you have to let them go, because they might be a leaf. And forgive them with all your might. "
So, thank you to my "roots" you know who you are. I pray for an entire "vinyard" of friends! But if God should determine that it's not best for me ~ Then let me say I'm still thankful for the leaves & the branches. Because afterall, would fall be as beautiful as it is without the leaves?? No would be my answer ~ so, therefore, I feel my life has been molded from the benefits of the entire "tree".
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Easter.......Forgiveness??
Easter is a day that we are to celebrate the Risen King. I have been a bit sad without my daughter here in Tennessee - she's on vacation in California with her dad. So, today my entire family showed up at church. That was pretty cool, we went to lunch afterwards & then to the cemetary to put new flowers on my grandmothers grave. It made me so glad that we have a blessed hope that he will return again & that we will be called up with Him & will get to see our loved ones again. I know that God is about healing - today, I was told by someone that they were sorry for the wrongs that had been done. Isn't Forgiveness what GOD is all about. Ricky said this morning that the lady who was about to be stoned could not even be condemned by Christ himself. So why is it so hard for us as humans to forgive? I am hopefully optemistic that the apology was sincere, but also cautious. Maybe with time, God will be able to heal the wounds that I seem to have bandaged for the past 15 years! All I can do is trust in Him!
Friday, April 10, 2009
One of those days...
Ok, so I hate my first blog to be complaining, but it's been one of those days! Just kind of cruddy & blah! Have ya ever just had one of those days when you wanted to be surrounded by people you know who love you? That's what today has been! I miss hanging with my friends! Sometimes we become so consumed with everyday life I feel we neglect to do things to lift up our spirits! I can't wait to get to hang with my friends again! I love my family don't get me wrong, but sometimes you just need a little R&R with friends!
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