Principles of Life

I was listening to to old FBC Jax songs on YouTube, which also included listening to FBC Atlanta, same director different location, when I stumbled on "Principles of Life" written by Phil Cross for Charles Stanley's 40th anniversary. In the mist of it Dr. Vines, my old pastor at FBC Jax, had a video montage of some of his (Charles Stanley's) 30 life principles. I became so intrigued as to the what the rest of them were I looked them up, just call me Nancy Drew jacked up on Mountain Dew and migraine medicine.

Where have I been these are so awesome! Well, I know where I have been; I have been trying to control my own life and experiences, I have been learning that I am not in control of anything and that He is and will alway have His will in my life whether it's perfect or permissive, I have been learning either I choose to go willingly or not if it's His will I will go, I have been coming back to the place of perfect peace, rest, trust, happiness, abundance, fullness, satisfaction, understanding, compassion, I can go on even more but as a teacher the excessive use of commas are bothering me.

Yes, I've heard all these time and time again, being that I've been in church sine 9 months before I was born, but never in a complete and concise list. This list will be printed and put into everything that I own for those times that I need a quick reference.

The 30 Life Principles
by Charles Stanley
1. Our intimacy with God – His highest priority for our lives – determines the impact of our lives.
2. Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.
3. God’s Word is an immovable anchor in times of storm.
4. The awareness of God’s presence energizes us for our work.
5. God does not require us to understand His will, just obey it, even if it seems unreasonable.
6. You reap what you sow, more than you sow, and later than you sow.
7. The dark moments of our life will last only so long as is necessary for God to accomplish His purpose in us.
8. Fight all your battles on your knees and you win every time.
9. Trusting God means looking beyond what we can see to what God sees.
10. If necessary, God will move heaven and earth to show us His will.
11. God assumes full responsibility for our needs when we obey Him.
12. Peace with God is the fruit of oneness with God.
13. Listening to God is essential to walking with God.
14. God acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.
15. Brokenness is God’s requirement for maximum usefulness.
16. Whatever you acquire outside of God’s will eventually turns to ashes.
17. We stand tallest and strongest on our knees.
18. As children of a sovereign God, we are never victims of our circumstances.
19. Anything you hold too tightly, you will lose.
20. Disappointments are inevitable, discouragement is a choice.
21. Obedience always brings blessing.
22. To walk in the Spirit is to obey the initial promptings of the Spirit.
23. You can never out give God.
24. To live the Christian life is to allow Jesus to live His life in and through us.
25. God blesses us so that we might bless others.
26. Adversity is a bridge to a deeper relationship with God.
27. Prayer is life’s greatest time saver.
28. No Christian has ever been called to “go it alone” in his or her walk of faith.
29. We learn more in our valley experiences than on our mountaintops.
30. An eager anticipation of the Lord’s return keeps us living productively.

Faith

For awhile the thought of "faith as small as a mustard seed" has floated in and out of my head. To be quite honest it happens the most right after lunch when my "chickadees" are slightly losing it and I start to become slightly overwhelmed by thoughts of what is going to happen, where am I going to go, I love this why is God guiding me somewhere else. In those moments just a simple thought pops into my head,"if you just have the faith of a tiny mustard seed," and in that moment I make the choice to believe that I am in His hands! With that small amount of faith God begins to ease all of those other thoughts and the peace that God has granted me from day one of this begins to flood in and take control. Isn't it simply amazing how God can take something so small, just a simple thought, to usher in a wealth of peace? However, it's my choice to have even that small amount of faith, but when I make that choice that small amount grows beyond measure!

The Unseen Hand

There is an unseen hand to me that leads through ways I can not see
While going through this world of woe
This hand still leadds me as I go

Chorus:
I'm trusting to the Unseen Hand
That guides me through this weary land
And some sweet day
I'll reach that strand
Still guided by the Unseen

I long to see my Savior's face
And sing a song about his Saving Grace
And there upon this golden strand
And praise him for his guiding hand

Chorus:

I Need You Now!

Daystar

Lily of the Valley, let your sweet aroma fill my life
Rose of Sharon show me how to grow in beauty in God's sight
Fairest of ten thousand make me a reflection of your light
Daystar shine down on me let your love shine through me in the night

Lead me Lord, I'll follow. Anywhere you open up the door
Let your word speak to me, show me what I've never seen before
Lord I want to be your witness, you can take what's wrong and make it right
Daystar shine down on me, let your love shine through me in the night

Lord I've seen a world that's dying
Wounded by the master of deceit
Groping in the darkness, haunted by the years of past defeat
But when I see you standing near me, Lord
Shining with compassion in your eyes
I pray Jesus shine down on me let your love shine through me in the night

Lead me Lord, I'll follow anywhere you open up the door
Let your word speak to me, show me what I've never seen before
Lord I want to be your witness, you can take what's wrong and make it right
Daystar shine down on me, let your love shine through me in the night

Why Choose Faith?

It feels like for the past few days I and the ones I love the most are under great attack; I turn from one struggle to the next, from one valley of desperation to the next. The "self" side of me wants to say "but I am trusting in God, why is this happening?" Why does it seem the closer we get to the Lords will the harder things will seem? It seems as though God is not there. But I KNOW THE TRUTH, God is right their with me, with my family in the middle of the fire waiting for us to call out for help! He allows trials to come to purify our faith and to draw us closer to Him, He never allows anything to happen to us that He Himself has not preordained from the beginning of the world.

So why do I choose faith? Simply I choose faith because the thought of God not controlling my life is utterly terrifying, the thought that there is no one to call out to for help is beyond isolating. That's not to say that I understand these trails that we are going through, but I stand here today to say that I know that God is sitting on His throne and our lives are in His hands! God is in control and my faith I believe that HE will provide!!!

Thou, Oh Lord

hou, Oh Lord
Many are they increased that troubled me
Many are they that rise up against me
Many there be which say of my soul
There is no helpe for him in God

Father, once again I turn it all over to You! Use me Lord for Your will and Your glory! Please give me the peace that passes all understanding!

Thou, Oh Lord!

But thou, oh Lord are a shield for me
My glory and the lifter of my head
Thou, oh Lord are shield for me
My glory and the lifter of my head

Repeat

I cried unto the Lord with my voice
And he heard me out of His holy hill
I laid me down and slept and awaked
For the Lord sustained, for he sustained me


Thou, oh Lord are a shield for me
My glory and the lifter of my head
Thou, oh Lord are shield for me
My glory and the lifter of my head

Repeat Twice

Unredeemed

Exodus 15:13 "In Your unfailing love, You will lead the people You have redeemed."

Lord, please bring me Your sweet peace! Lord, I lay my life at Your feet, please take those pieces and make something out of it that brings honor and glory to You and You alone!


Unredeemed

The cruelest world
The coldest heart
The deepest wound
The endless dark
The lonely ache
The burning tears
The bitter nights
The wasted years

Life breaks and falls apart
But we know these are
Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
It may be unfulfilled
It may be unrestored
But when anything that's shattered is laid before the lord
Just watch and see
It will not be unredeemed

For every choice that led to shame
And all the love that never came
For every vow that someone broke
And every lie that gave up hope
We live in the shadow of the fall
But the cross says these are all
Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
It may be unfulfilled
It may be unrestored
But when anything that's shattered is laid before the lord
Just watch and see
It will not be unredeemed

Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
It may be unfulfilled
It may be unrestored
But you never know the miracle the father has in store
Just watch and see
It will not be
Just watch and see
It will not be unredeemed

The cruelest world
The coldest heart
The deepest wound
The endless dark
The lonely ache
The burning tears
The bitter nights
The wasted years

Life breaks and falls apart
But we know these are
Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
It may be unfulfilled
It may be unrestored
But when anything that's shattered is laid before the lord
Just watch and see
It will not be unredeemed

For every choice that led to shame
And all the love that never came
For every vow that someone broke
And every lie that gave up hope
We live in the shadow of the fall
But the cross says these are all
Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
It may be unfulfilled
It may be unrestored
But when anything that's shattered is laid before the lord
Just watch and see
It will not be unredeemed

Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
It may be unfulfilled
It may be unrestored
But you never know the miracle the father has in store
Just watch and see
It will not be
Just watch and see
It will not be unredeemed

If I Never Teach Again, Will I Still Praise HIM?

That's a good question isn't it? I love teaching, I love my students, I love the challenge, I love it; but I love my Lord and Saviour even more! I struggled for 5 years to get my degree and thought that I would teach until I was married and had children. To answer my question though, YES I will now, still, and forever more praise HIM! If his perfect will is for me to be a sub or check out girl I can only imagine how much more I will love it! I don't know what God is refining me for (see previous post) but I praise Him for what He has, is, and will do! I praise Him for the peace that God and God alone has brought! Even in my moments of weakness and fear, which are many; He speaks to me, to calm me, bring peace and understanding that HE is in control and when I am ready HE will provide me a job! I praise Him for giving me the opportunity and strength to share my faith with others and pray that He will provide me with even more opportunities to do that!


It Is Well With My Soul

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain:
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Through the Fire

Malachi 3:3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

A woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were the hottest so as to burn away all of the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that, "Yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver in the fire, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?"He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in the silver." This story is taken from www.separatedmen.com

Through the Fire

So many times I've questioned certain circumstances,
And things I could not understand.
And many times in trials, weakness blurs my vision;
That's when my frustration gets so out of hand.
It's then I am reminded: that I've never been forsaken,
I've never had to stand one test alone.
When I look at all my victories,
And the spirit rises up in me,
And it's through the fire my weakness is made strong!

Chorus:
He never promised that the cross would not get heavy,
And the hill would not be hard to climb.
He never offered our victories without fighting,
But He said help would always come in time.
So just remember, when you're standing in the valley of decision
And the adversary says "give in",
Just hold on, My Lord will show up
And He will take you through the fire again!

Bridge:
I know within myself that I would surely perish
But if I trust the mighty hand of God,
He'll shield the flames again, again
Repeat Chorus

He Leadeth Me

HE LEADETH ME!

He leadeth me, O blessed thought!
O words with heav’nly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be
Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.

Refrain:
He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful foll’wer I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.

Sometimes ’mid scenes of deepest gloom,
Sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom,
By waters still, o’er troubled sea,
Still ’tis His hand that leadeth me.

Lord, I would place my hand in Thine,
Nor ever murmur nor repine;
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since ’tis my God that leadeth me.

And when my task on earth is done,
When by Thy grace the vict’ry’s won,
E’en death’s cold wave I will not flee,
Since God through Jordan leadeth me.

Because He Lives!

This evening I started to have a pity party for myself, tomorrow starts "teacher appreciation week," I never really gave any thought but this year it's different. This year I'm at a school where it's a it's a big deal and I was just letting it all get to me until God put this song ("Because He Lives') in my head. It first started with me humming, "Because He lives, I can face tomorrow!" Then it hit me I can literally face tomorrow because God will give me the peace to get through it, and every other day! "Because He lives, all fear (uncertainty) is gone," I don't need to worry about what people think or don't think of me. "Because i know He holds the future and life is worth a living just because He lives!" I don't need to worry about anything, I just need to continue trusting in HIM!!!

Because He Lives
The Gaithers

God sent His Son - they called Him Jesus,
He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.

Chorus:
Because He lives I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives.

How sweet to hold a newborn baby
And feel the pride and joy he gives;
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain days because Christ lives.

(Chorus)

And then one day I'll cross the river,
I'll fight life's final war with pain;
And then, as death gives way to victory,
I'll see the lights of glory - and I'll know He lives.

God is my Master Weaver!

It's incomprehensible how God works but it is also so amazing. He speaks through songs, stories, Bible studies, still small voices, loud clashing shouts but still He speaks. He gives peace where their should be none, understanding when you can't understand anymore, grace when that is the farthest thought in your mind, and compassion for others when all you want is for others to come and have a pity party for you! My God the master weaver can take all of the threads of my life and turn it into a tapestry of praise for Him!

For so long I tried to weave the "threads" of my life, only allowing God to help when I needed it. I cannot even begin to tell you how awful my tapestry looked, until last year I turned in my tools and let God do his work of art in my life. I turned my life over to the Lord over 15 years ago, I grew up in a Christian home, I was a member of a church 9 months before I was born, but I always tried to maintain the design. I was like that bumper stick "God is my Co-Pilot" but instead mine would have said "God is my Co-Weaver." I had felt the tugging of my strings before, but I knew what I wanted out of my design and I felt like I had the artistic direction to get it there, let's just be clear I DON'T!

I was master designer when I was in college and even though I had my struggles, I felt like I was in control. I became an intern with the "smart kids," I had rave reviews from others and I thought my design was "hot stuff." I began teaching and within the first three months I became a "model teacher," I was the one who received the outstanding reviews, I was the one who took the praise. When I got sick, I was the one who fought and won each battle with TTP and I was the one who took all of the sympathy.

Little did I know I that I was the one who was ruining the design. If you ask any artist they will tell you that if you don't step back to gain perspective and direction your piece will be ruined. I was the one who never stepped back. Yes, when I was in need or sick I prayed and asked God to make it better, and He did; but when I came through it I went on as if I did it all on my own. Now that I've released the controls, life doesn't seem like a chore. He has given such peace, understanding, and grace and that is all I could ever want or need!

I'm not going to go into all of the details that lead me to hand in my "tool" and let God finish the design, but I will skim them.
I think back to last year when this all started, I knew what God wanted me to do and I did it. I will never regret what I said, how I said it, why I said it, or what came of it. I know and can see that He was and is working all things for my good. I got a chance to teach some awesome kids and hopefully make an impact. I got the opportunity to go to a new school and learn from insanely awesome teacher and to spend a year with my Cam!

Even though He didn't change the outcome to what I wanted, He changed the outcome to what I needed. Even though He didn't send me a "Publishers Clearinghouse" check for $100,000,000, He is providing for my needs. Even though He isn't sitting on my bed or writing a blog to explain the whys and whats, He provides me with scripture/Bible study or a song when I need it. He's not crowding me with people who would be more than willing to help me have a pity party because He knows I don't need it! He's showing me everyday that there are those with situations and circumstances that in the grand scheme of thing may or may not be "bigger" than mine, but to them it is everything and He has provided me with a compassion for them that I might not of ever had. (Let me just say for those people, if there are an, who may one day read this blog; I am very compassionate (and humble, can't you tell :), but there are some people who I find it very hard to have compassion for (this would be people who I know, not strangers)!)

In closing I will never regret the day when I asked Jesus to save my soul and forgive me of my sins, nor will I ever regret the day when I choose to change my saying from "God is my Co-Weaver" to "God is my MASTER WEAVER!"

Thank you Lord for allowing me to come into Your Kingdom! Thank you for saving me of my sins, even though You knew that i would not turn over my tools until later in my life! Thank you for meeting each and every one of my needs! Lord, You are so great and awesome and I just praise You for what you have done in and through this sinner's life! Father I just pray that you continue to weave my life in such a way that it only brings praise and glory to you! Please let me be a witness for You! I give You all the praise, honor, and glory FOREVER! AMEN!



I'D RATHER HAVE JESUS
George Beverly Shea

I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold,
I'd rather be His than have riches untold;
I'd rather have Jesus than houses or land,
I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand:

Chorus
Than to be the king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin's dread sway
I'd rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today

I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause,
I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame,
I'd rather be true to His holy name:...

He's fairer than lilies of rarest bloom,
He's sweeter than honey from out the comb;
He's all that my hungering spirit needs;
I'd rather have Jesus and let Him lead:...

How Great Is Our God

The splendor of a King, clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice
All the earth rejoice

He wraps himself in Light, and darkness tries to hide
And trembles at His voice
Trembles at His voice

How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God

Age to age He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the end
Beginning and the end

The Godhead Three in One
Father Spirit Son
The Lion and the Lamb
The Lion and the Lamb

How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God

Name above all names
Worthy of our praise
My heart will sing
How great is our God

How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God