ah…. the beauty of the Lord. i am in awe that He has brought me to this place where nothing else matters-all is rubbish in the sight of Him. i am awe of His un-ending grace that He has freely given- it is more; so much more, than i deserve…and yet He proves Himself faithful.

“o God, You are my God, earnestly i seek You;
my soul thirsts for You
…because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You.
i will praise You as long as i live.”
psalm 63: 1-4

i love You Lord
and for You i wait;
Your promises
and Your power are great.
make haste, my God,
may i taste Your ways
i will maginfy Your sweet peace
all of my days
~john piper

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who am i
that You would love me so gently?
who am i
that You would recognize my name?
Lord, who am i
that You would speak to me so softly?
conversation with the Love most high…
who am i?
~ watermark

… so i have just come back from a day long trip to the large city of chicago, accompanied by my dad. i am not sure how many people travel from cincinnati to chicago (and back) in one day…but we managed to do it, and succeeded quite well! we visited the sears tower, moody bible institute, and all of that good stuff…not to mention, it was a blessing to finally spend some time with him.

lately, the Lord has been teaching me so much about unconditional love. while driving home tonight, these verses were brought to mind:

“and why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? or how can you say to your brother, ‘let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? hyprocrite! first remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” matthew 7:3-5

how convicting these few verses are! oh Lord, why am i so quick to judge others? why am i continually distracted by things instead of keeping my eyes fixed on You? help me to have unconditional love and a humble heart…

“the home of our soul is to be the love of Christ. we are to live our life there. this is what Christ means for our life to be and what He really can make it. our continuous living in the vine is to be living in His love.

turn away from the visible if you would see and possess the invisible. turn away from yourself and your efforts if you would have your heart filled with Him and the certainty of His love. come away from all else, and set your heart on Jesus and His love. occupy yourself with that love, worship it, and wait for it. you may be sure it will reach out to you and by its power take you up into itself as your home. our life must have its breath and being in a heavenly love as much as His.” ~ andrew murray

“…and above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins’ “ 1 peter 4:8

…i pray that i will exhort the love of Christ in my life so that You may be glorified.
my eyes fixed soley on Jesus.. may this life show the love of You.

i am seeking to go beyond this comfortable way of Christian living…only to do His will in my life and live as a servant who is willing to obey what He says. how i see so few who are willing anymore, to go ‘against the grain.’ to move forward. in the Church, we have been drenched in traditions and feast on temporary satisfaction that leave us empty–oh, how we need the one and only Satisfier! however…are we willing? are we willing to go against these traditions? are we willing to take a step of faith onto uncommon ground? are we willing to give up our own wants and desires so that Christ may be fufilled in our lives? i am seeking you Lord..oh, i am willing..

“…they made an exchange. they exchanged life as they knew it for life as God knew it should be. they exchanged the right to do with their bodies however they saw fit for the life of a servant who only does what the Master requests. they exchanged their dreams and ambitions for God’s great and dramatic plan for their lives. they exchanged a life ruled and controlled by sin for a life victorious of sin, clothes with joy and triumph. such is the secret of every man and woman of God. it’s the solemn exchange of a humble human life for His majestic holy life.

…it sounds like a wonderful concept. but most of us stand in the way of letting Christ live in and through us. instead of giving Him the ownership papers to our home-our body and soul-we treat Him like a hired servant. but the true Christian life doesn’t work that way. when we exchange our life for Christ’s, we lay our agendas, dreams, desires, and plans at His feet. we get completely out of the way and allow Him to live His Life through us in whatever way He chooses.”
 ~ eric & leslie ludy (when God writes your life story)

“when the heart sees what God wants, the body must be willing to spend
and be spent for that cause alone.” oswald chambers

and so now i am on my way..traveling up north to visit good family and friends for a week or so  …Lord, i don’t know what Your plans are for me just yet–and maybe i never will…but i pray that You will use me as You wish as i abide in You…for Your glory alone..