May the devil speak no fear into my soul,
or quiet my shouts of praise,
or extinguish the flame which Heaven's true calling has ignited within.
May passion and steadfastness abound,
And may my pace in the race to meet the savior be quickened.
May my path be unhindered by any obstacle,
but may the strings of Grace pull me back into my place
upon the solid rock; the straight and narrow path.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Poetry
When you're launched into depression
and tempted to aggrevation;
when you're overwhelmed by obligations
and begin to loose control of your emotions;
when you feel you can't fall any lower,
and sense the need to run for cover--
look to your Confidence,
from whom you came by His contrivance;
and rest in the shadow of His sacrifice
which has already covered your every vice.
He is the Almighty One who intercedes
on your behalf though you're tossed and lost in raging seas.
"Spontaneous poem" by AnaMichele
and tempted to aggrevation;
when you're overwhelmed by obligations
and begin to loose control of your emotions;
when you feel you can't fall any lower,
and sense the need to run for cover--
look to your Confidence,
from whom you came by His contrivance;
and rest in the shadow of His sacrifice
which has already covered your every vice.
He is the Almighty One who intercedes
on your behalf though you're tossed and lost in raging seas.
"Spontaneous poem" by AnaMichele
Nature
Between Photography Class, taking Senior and Family portraits and trying to stay ontop of school, I realize I have not posted photogrpahy in quite a while and so, as this week's assignment for my Advanced Photography Class is to take macro and nature photos (and I've gone crazy capturing every bit of nature I see) I decided to post some of the shots I've gotten over the past week.
His Glory is displayed in all the earth! All glory and honor and praise to him, the author and perfector of our faith! Our creator is so marvelous!
Saturday, September 22, 2012
A Word of Encouragement
"These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire
tests and purifies gold--though your faith is far more precious than mere gold.
So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much
praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole
world." 1 Peter 1:7
True Love
"Here is love vast as the ocean loving kindness as a flood when the Prince of Life, our ransom, shed for us His precious blood. Who His love will not remember? Who can cease to sing His praise? He will never be forgotten throughout Heaven's eternal days....
No love is higher, no love is wider, no love is deeper, no love is truer; no love is higher, no love is wider, no love is like your love, oh Lord... Grace and love like mighty rivers flowed incessant from above, and heaven's peace and perfect justice kissed a guilty world in love."
I am falling further and further into the knowledge of the numerous facets of God's nature - His grace, His might, His patience, His faithfulness, His purity, His righteousness, His peace, His compassion, His generosity, His hopefulness, His beauty, and most recently, into understanding just a fraction of His deep, vast, and unfathomable love which already threatens to overwhelm me.
His love is nothing ordinary. His "love" is not just a word used to express happiness, preference, inclination or appeal but rather, an affection as deep and dense as the water of a mighty, rushing river that suffocates as we drown deeper in its depth and current.
This love is nothing like a worldly, fleeting, flirtatious love, but something entirely more deep and true.
His love means faithfulness, care, unity, affection, servitude. And just as He has placed His robe of righteousness upon our shoulders and declared us blameless, now He covers me with a garment of the virtue called 'true love' which implicates regard and compassion, love and devotion to my neighbor, my brother, and my God.
My master and teacher shows me how to put on this love in all areas of my life and what it means to be caught up in it, and to preach it, and live it. Love is no longer reserved for those I choose, but for ALL members of God's creation. And this love brings a longing in me to lay down my life for my brother, to extend my help and service, and to risk my well being for the sake of others. None of these feelings have been aroused by my own nature or character, but only by the Prince of Righteousness who is transforming me into His image. Just as God says in His Word, "No love is greater than this; that a man should lay down His life for His friends", He now directs my path so that I may encounter opportunities to follow His perfect example.
My Savior holds me in His faithful embrace and reminds me to pour out whatever I recieve - I have been given grace, and so I give grace; I have been given life, and so I speak life; I have been forgiven, and so I forgive; I have been loved and so now I will love.
I will love with respect, encouragement, service, and sacrifice, and overflow with nothing less than the passionate and relentless love that Jesus, the lover of my soul, has shown me.
I hope to run harder after Jesus and to love the Church and unbelievers as Christ has loved them - I pray that this love will bring unity between all denominations and all peoples from every tongue and nation so that we may love and praise our God together, in perfect adoration.
No love is higher, no love is wider, no love is deeper, no love is truer; no love is higher, no love is wider, no love is like your love, oh Lord... Grace and love like mighty rivers flowed incessant from above, and heaven's peace and perfect justice kissed a guilty world in love."
I am falling further and further into the knowledge of the numerous facets of God's nature - His grace, His might, His patience, His faithfulness, His purity, His righteousness, His peace, His compassion, His generosity, His hopefulness, His beauty, and most recently, into understanding just a fraction of His deep, vast, and unfathomable love which already threatens to overwhelm me.
His love is nothing ordinary. His "love" is not just a word used to express happiness, preference, inclination or appeal but rather, an affection as deep and dense as the water of a mighty, rushing river that suffocates as we drown deeper in its depth and current.
This love is nothing like a worldly, fleeting, flirtatious love, but something entirely more deep and true.
His love means faithfulness, care, unity, affection, servitude. And just as He has placed His robe of righteousness upon our shoulders and declared us blameless, now He covers me with a garment of the virtue called 'true love' which implicates regard and compassion, love and devotion to my neighbor, my brother, and my God.
My master and teacher shows me how to put on this love in all areas of my life and what it means to be caught up in it, and to preach it, and live it. Love is no longer reserved for those I choose, but for ALL members of God's creation. And this love brings a longing in me to lay down my life for my brother, to extend my help and service, and to risk my well being for the sake of others. None of these feelings have been aroused by my own nature or character, but only by the Prince of Righteousness who is transforming me into His image. Just as God says in His Word, "No love is greater than this; that a man should lay down His life for His friends", He now directs my path so that I may encounter opportunities to follow His perfect example.
My Savior holds me in His faithful embrace and reminds me to pour out whatever I recieve - I have been given grace, and so I give grace; I have been given life, and so I speak life; I have been forgiven, and so I forgive; I have been loved and so now I will love.
I will love with respect, encouragement, service, and sacrifice, and overflow with nothing less than the passionate and relentless love that Jesus, the lover of my soul, has shown me.
I hope to run harder after Jesus and to love the Church and unbelievers as Christ has loved them - I pray that this love will bring unity between all denominations and all peoples from every tongue and nation so that we may love and praise our God together, in perfect adoration.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Leaning on Him - {Grace}
Often times I sin by deciding, in arrogance, that I can make it through the day without reading the Word of God - my bread and water, life, and perfect communion with Christ. I choose my way rather than His way. Instead of being constantly reminded and led by God's Words, I try to make it on my own. I die in my sinful arrogance.
Struggling all day to be kind, obedient, respectful, patient, and diligent wears on me. Putting on acts to demonstrate the changes and new life Christ has given to me proves unsuccessful. If I just stand back and let Him work IN me, I don't have to do a thing. In Him, I will be a light that shines so bright that none can deny His power to bring new life and use the weak in mighty ways. It's that daily submission that He's teaching me. "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:18), "ALL you that thirst, come to the waters" (Isaiah 55:1). He pours out in grace so that we can live as light, just as He calls us to do. But we don't have to labor in vain, trying on our own to be like Jesus. HE is the water that fills, sustains and transforms us into the image of Christ.
In deciding on my plans, my will, my way - that's where I find death in my sin. But He pours out LIFE. Life is given through grace and as He graciously convicts me of sin, reminding me of my need for Him, I fall, in submission and surrender. He reminds me that though I die in my sin (in many ways throughout the day), I have also died TO sin because of Jesus Christ's sacrifice and gift of salvation.
This is just one example of how relying on our own plans and ignoring Jesus' perfect guidance always results in frustration and discouragement.
This can happen in so many different areas in my life. I can praise and worship God in the morning and be joyful and filled, but if I am not living in accordance and obedience to His words all the day long, I will still sin. My most common mistake is trying to focus on God without filling my soul with His teaching, promises, and reminders found in His Word. When I don't start the day with Him, I can't continue the day with Him. I fall back into patterns of sin such as being impatient, prideful, angry, disobedient and lazy. I bite my lip as a ramble of unkind, angry words threatens to burst out in a reaction to something my sister did, and I fight to hold back sarcastic, irritated remarks to my parents.
Jesus reminds me,m though, that He wants every thought, every action and every word to reflect His light and if these sinful thoughts and words consume my mind, I must not have drunk from His waters in the beginning of my day. I cannot worship in song and praise in the morning or on Sundays and then not offer my life as worship. Worship is something I AM, not something I do.
I once heard someone say that Christianity is the only society/group/religion whose only qualification to become a member is the LACK of qualification.
The only way we are saved is by the realization that we CANNOT do anything apart from Jesus and the grace He gives in salvation. Sometimes, even knowing this, I still try to put on acts of goodness instead of putting on the righteousness of Christ. Thankfully, Jesus is showing me that only through His mercy, intercession, and grace can I make it through the day and live in a God glorifying manner.
Grace has been shown to me in so many different ways. Grace comes in the words of encouragement from a friend. Grace comes through His word where He speaks to me every time I open and meditate on His precious promises. Grace comes when I recognize how selfish and prideful I act towards my family, and God leads me to put on the full armor of God so that I can live as light. Grace comes when I'm having a frustrating day as I struggle to be kind and love my neighbor, and then God places Tanner (a 6 year old boy with down syndrome) in the nursery I work at to play with my hair, laugh gleefully as I make silly faces, and play with toys together. He loves on me reminds me the sweet and gentle love Jesus has given to me.
It's these little reminders of God's presence and faithfulness in my life that help me to live for Him and offer every moment of my life to Him.
"The peace of God which surpasses all understanding", "Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life." These are the truths that I cling to throughout my day. They are reminders of the grace and mercy I find in Jesus Christ, my redeemer and Savior, who has promised to bring to completion the good work He has begun in me and all believers, until the day of Jesus Christ.
I will close this post, telling of the teaching, molding and growing God is doing in me, with these words (from the song You Have Won Me by Bethel).
~ "Grace, You've shown me Grace, You've lifted my shame, drawn me with loving kindness. Washed whiter than snow, You have redeemed and made me whole. Jesus, You have won me, You have broken every chain with love and mercy. You have triumphed over death and You are worthy of glory and praise!" ~
Much love and many blessings,
AnaMichele
Struggling all day to be kind, obedient, respectful, patient, and diligent wears on me. Putting on acts to demonstrate the changes and new life Christ has given to me proves unsuccessful. If I just stand back and let Him work IN me, I don't have to do a thing. In Him, I will be a light that shines so bright that none can deny His power to bring new life and use the weak in mighty ways. It's that daily submission that He's teaching me. "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:18), "ALL you that thirst, come to the waters" (Isaiah 55:1). He pours out in grace so that we can live as light, just as He calls us to do. But we don't have to labor in vain, trying on our own to be like Jesus. HE is the water that fills, sustains and transforms us into the image of Christ.
In deciding on my plans, my will, my way - that's where I find death in my sin. But He pours out LIFE. Life is given through grace and as He graciously convicts me of sin, reminding me of my need for Him, I fall, in submission and surrender. He reminds me that though I die in my sin (in many ways throughout the day), I have also died TO sin because of Jesus Christ's sacrifice and gift of salvation.
This is just one example of how relying on our own plans and ignoring Jesus' perfect guidance always results in frustration and discouragement.
This can happen in so many different areas in my life. I can praise and worship God in the morning and be joyful and filled, but if I am not living in accordance and obedience to His words all the day long, I will still sin. My most common mistake is trying to focus on God without filling my soul with His teaching, promises, and reminders found in His Word. When I don't start the day with Him, I can't continue the day with Him. I fall back into patterns of sin such as being impatient, prideful, angry, disobedient and lazy. I bite my lip as a ramble of unkind, angry words threatens to burst out in a reaction to something my sister did, and I fight to hold back sarcastic, irritated remarks to my parents.
Jesus reminds me,m though, that He wants every thought, every action and every word to reflect His light and if these sinful thoughts and words consume my mind, I must not have drunk from His waters in the beginning of my day. I cannot worship in song and praise in the morning or on Sundays and then not offer my life as worship. Worship is something I AM, not something I do.
I once heard someone say that Christianity is the only society/group/religion whose only qualification to become a member is the LACK of qualification.
The only way we are saved is by the realization that we CANNOT do anything apart from Jesus and the grace He gives in salvation. Sometimes, even knowing this, I still try to put on acts of goodness instead of putting on the righteousness of Christ. Thankfully, Jesus is showing me that only through His mercy, intercession, and grace can I make it through the day and live in a God glorifying manner.
Grace has been shown to me in so many different ways. Grace comes in the words of encouragement from a friend. Grace comes through His word where He speaks to me every time I open and meditate on His precious promises. Grace comes when I recognize how selfish and prideful I act towards my family, and God leads me to put on the full armor of God so that I can live as light. Grace comes when I'm having a frustrating day as I struggle to be kind and love my neighbor, and then God places Tanner (a 6 year old boy with down syndrome) in the nursery I work at to play with my hair, laugh gleefully as I make silly faces, and play with toys together. He loves on me reminds me the sweet and gentle love Jesus has given to me.
It's these little reminders of God's presence and faithfulness in my life that help me to live for Him and offer every moment of my life to Him.
"The peace of God which surpasses all understanding", "Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life." These are the truths that I cling to throughout my day. They are reminders of the grace and mercy I find in Jesus Christ, my redeemer and Savior, who has promised to bring to completion the good work He has begun in me and all believers, until the day of Jesus Christ.
I will close this post, telling of the teaching, molding and growing God is doing in me, with these words (from the song You Have Won Me by Bethel).
~ "Grace, You've shown me Grace, You've lifted my shame, drawn me with loving kindness. Washed whiter than snow, You have redeemed and made me whole. Jesus, You have won me, You have broken every chain with love and mercy. You have triumphed over death and You are worthy of glory and praise!" ~
Much love and many blessings,
AnaMichele
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