Hiking In Grace & Capturing My View

Relevant Conference Update

11.06.10

relevant |ˈreləvənt|adjective closely connected

That word holds so much more meaning to me than it used to.

After checking into the conference, I went up to my room and began to go through the goodie bag that I had been given. There in the bottom, almost lost amid the books and leaflets, was a small black bag with a silver necklace inside from the vintage pearl.

I liked the design of it. I’ve liked what I saw on the vintage pearl website in the past.

But will I wear it? A necklace for a conference? It seems kind of cheesy.

“No it isn’t, because you are.”

“I am what Lord?”

“Relevant.”

“Huh?”

“Relevant. You are relevant TO me. You are relevant IN me.”

“Oh.” I whispered with a catch in my throat and eyes about to spill over thankfulness for my Savior who loves even me.

It has become a cherished necklace that holds far more meaning than what is seen on the surface.

And yes, it is being worn. A quiet reminder to me of a conversation with my Lord.

Gratitude… Catching Up Once Again

11.02.10

116. Little boys -well, not quite so little anymore- excited about Lego
117. Plans cancelled making way for a day of catching up
118. a girlie little girl
119. watching the fascination on the face of one in the tub while playing with bubbles
120. the calming and encouraging voice supporting me
121. in my first ever jump into being an “independent consultant” for Blessings Unlimited
122. the one in the tub saying, “I’m a whale, Mom! You can pet me!” with chin resting on the edge of tub
123. “I like this house, it is painted.”
124. freshly mopped floors
125. The scent of Peach Mango wafting from two freshly bathed Goldens
126. bloggers met at Relevant becoming facebook friends
127. that my kids enjoy watching a good musical with their mom
128. that they have been wandering the house singing softly -and not so softly- “the rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain…” and “jus’ ew wait ‘enry ‘iggins, jus’ ew wait!…”
129. My only brown-eyed little boy, another year older
130. ‘Connecting’ with another pastor’s wife
131. God’s continued promises, reminding me of His good thoughts toward me
132. the help of a husband enabling me to check things off my ‘to do’ list
133. A husband’s quiet reminder, from the pulpit, that His mercies are new every morning, “…I’m smelling coffee, birds are singing just outside. I see your mercy, streaming in with the morning light…” (~Chris Rice)
134. one ‘getting on board’ with ‘gazelle intensity’
135. God’s wisdom pouring through a pastor’s preaching
136. filled with biblical TRUTH and not personal opinion
137. the little one won the potty training race! (thankfully the one with two legs, not four… the one with four needs to step up and do her duty ….OUTSIDE!!)
138. soft little girl hair that smells like strawberries
139. the feel of hardwood floors under my feet
140. grace, God’s, straight from him, and extended to me through others

“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,

singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Giving thanks always for all things unto

God and the Father in the name of our Lord JesusChrist;”

~Ephesians 5:19&20

Linking up again with Ann Voskamp’s Gratitude Community today.

A Path, His Presence, and Pleasures Forevermore

10.28.10

“Thou wilt show me the path of life:

in thy presence is fulness of joy;

at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.”

~Psalm 16:11

The first time I read this verse as a new Christian, it was written on the back of a photograph of my pastor’s 15 year old daughter. She had just blessed me with her newest photo of herself and this was her “life verse.” I was 20, but just a babe in her presence. Her love for Jesus spilled out of her mouth and continues to do so even now. She serves now on the mission field in the Australian Outback. (Pray for her and her sweet family, if God leads you today.)

I have come to love this verse.

What is your favorite verse today? What verse is God speaking to you through today?

Gratitude: Multitudes on Monday

10.25.10

101. knowing I am Relevant in Christ, whether anyone else thinks so or not
102. thanking certain people in person, for their ministry
103. realizing a prayer, from years ago and a different side of the earth, was answered
104. a mom willing to ‘road trip’ at a moment’s notice
105. falling more in love with my husband pastor, each time I hear him preach the Word
106. being able to be thankful for double standards set against us
107. for they resulted in our being in the place we are now
108. for the sweetness of a man weeping at the singing of Amazing Grace
109. for it caused my eyes to do the same
110. because “All is grace” and it is amazing
111. for the challenge of being a better blogger
112. for the challenge of blogging only for His Glory
113. for meeting so many people face to face
114. for a beautiful drive in the country
115. to assist someone go back ‘home’ and see where they came from

Linking up with the Gratitude Community hosted by Ann Voskamp at Holy Experience.

Correcting "myself"

10.25.10

Relevant

I was misquoted on Saturday night by someone in front of 200+ people. Not a situation in which you jump up and yell, “that’s NOT what I said!” I can’t remember exactly what he said but I do know that he changed it enough that he changed the meaning of what I said because the MAJOR POINT of what I said was lost. Words do mean something and to leave out just one or two words can drastically change a sentence, a statement. My words were taken out of context, changed and used for another purpose.

What I said was, “I have found that you know you have truly forgiven someone when it becomes more important to you to see the person come to be a new person in Christ. To be more concerned about their eternal salvation, than to see them punished for a crime. (“vengeance is mine saith the Lord”). To be more concerned about the coming eternal punishment already set against them, than the prosecution they face in this current life.”

Because in the end only one thing matters. Have they accepted the gift of salvation in Christ or do they reject him?

John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

My point… the gospel was lost in the changing of the words. The gospel was censored out of what I said when I was misquoted.
**(edit: It made me think of Courtney, the Rachel Ray show edited out her testimony and every mention of the gospel and Jesus Christ.)

I would much rather see someone come to Christ and find forgiveness and new life, than to see that person rot in jail, die, and go spend their eternal life in hell.

(I harbor no ill feelings against this person at all, in any way, shape, or form. We all make mistakes and misspeak all. the. time. Yes, I understand the point of civil law, and the judicial system here on earth, that is not what this post is about.)