So, there's a blog music game and I wanna play too :)
If someone close to you died, name a song you'd play at their funeral
--Dancing with the Angels by Monk & Neagle
A song you dedicate to a child
--Well for my daughter specifically: In my daughter's eyes by Martina Mcbride
A song that makes you thankful
--When I think about the Lord by Shane & Shane
A song that reflects how you feel towards the world
--Be near by Shane & Shane
A song you dedicate to your family and friends
--Lean on me by Bill Withers
A song that makes you dance
--Freedom by Indiana Bible College
A song that reminds you of an ex:
--Umm pass :)
A song that makes you cry
--Goodness just one? There's SOO many, but a couple off the top of my head are Butterfly Kisses and I can only Imagine.
A song that describes you
--Set the world on fire by Britt Nicole or My Desire by Jeremy Camp
A song that gives you hope
--From the Inside Out by Hillsong
A song that is dedicated to you
--Well my husband says his song to me is I cross my heart by George Strait
A song you love but can't sing
--The More I seek you By Kari Jobe
A song that annoys you
--Brass Monkey by Beastie Boys
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Isn't this your story of Redeeming Love?
So as many of you know, for the past week I have been reading the novel “Redeeming Love”
It is probably one of the best books I’ve ever read, but interestingly enough, there’s another story that’s just a tad better. ..
Last night I was talking with my husband about the book Redeeming Love as it was coming to an end, sharing with him my thoughts—he mentioned a story in the Bible of the similar underlying theme, so early the next morning I woke up and studied it out for myself. I read for about an hour gathering the similarities of the book “Redeeming Love” and the book of Hosea. And this is where I want to begin.
Hosea chapter 1-3 you can read it on your own time, but here’s the summary.
First off, Hosea utterly defines the terms: merciful, forgiving and loving. He absolutely amazes me in the same way Job amazes me…and because I thought Redeeming Love was such an amazing story, when I read Hosea’s story from the Bible it impacted me much more being that it’s God’s Word. Not a fiction love story. I find that with every word I read in the Bible, it seems that it gives me either direction, faith, discipline, or sets an example. But in this case, more than setting an example of a human expressing mercy, forgiveness and unconditional love; Hosea is used to prophetically symbolize the Cross, (the Love of Christ for His people) which comes in the New Testament. There is no better love story than the Cross.
In the opening chapter of the Book of Hosea, God asks something very unusual. The LORD said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the LORD.” Hosea 1:2 and so the prophet Hosea did as he was told, he married the harlot named Gomer. Gomer bore Hosea 3 children. 2 boys and 1 girl. The meaning of each child’s name represented God’s chastisement towards the people of Israel for being adulterous, prostitutes, and lovers of the flesh. But anways back to my story. After Gomer had 3 children with Hosea, she did exactly what God told Hosea she would do.
..she is going to be unfaithful to you; in fact, she will become nothing but a common street prostitute..
I’m sure once this started happening Hosea felt the pain of his wife being unfaithful he remembered God’s whisper…”regardless of her actions, I want you to love her anyway.”
What a challenge!! How many of us could honestly say we’d marry a person knowing they would be unfaithful to us, not once, not twice but become nothing but a common street prostitute? I think if I was asked that of myself, I’d have to refuse, but you see that is why Hosea is so great, in spite of his puzzled request, he’s obedient..something I would not have been able to follow through on…funny enough, it’s shown me a great lesson..and I’ll get to that in a minute.
Gomer is being passed from man to man, until at last she fell into the hands of a man who was unable to pay for her food and her clothing. News of his wife came to Hosea and the Lord said to him, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods…” Hosea 3:1
So Hosea went to the marketplace and as he watched Gomer being brought up and placed on the dock she was stripped of all her clothing and stood naked before the crowd…the auctioner says "let, the bidding began."
Hosea bought her with everything he had and said to her,” “You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man” and so it was, Gomer was bought, was loved regardless, and was forgiven.
So you ask what makes this story better than any I’ve read? Well…
This is my story.
Maybe this is your story.
I once was like Gomer; a prostitute being passed around by one sin to another, turning from one god to another…::sigh:: a faithless human heart falling deceptive to all the attractiveness of the world..or so I thought was attractive…But someone bought me back. Someone bought you back.
He loved us…regardless of our unfaithfulness to Him...He loves us…my mind cannot wrap about His kind of love--the price he paid was more than anything Hosea could have gave, it was worth more than anything in this whole universe..and while still loving us on that day at the auction (Calvary) He said, “come back to me, I loved you from the beginning and chose to be in a relationship with you EVEN though I knew you’d turn away from me, but here I am at 33 years of age spreading my arms for you…buying you back.”…
::silence, except the sound of tears hitting the keyboard::
Jesus,
thank you.
It is probably one of the best books I’ve ever read, but interestingly enough, there’s another story that’s just a tad better. ..
Last night I was talking with my husband about the book Redeeming Love as it was coming to an end, sharing with him my thoughts—he mentioned a story in the Bible of the similar underlying theme, so early the next morning I woke up and studied it out for myself. I read for about an hour gathering the similarities of the book “Redeeming Love” and the book of Hosea. And this is where I want to begin.
Hosea chapter 1-3 you can read it on your own time, but here’s the summary.
First off, Hosea utterly defines the terms: merciful, forgiving and loving. He absolutely amazes me in the same way Job amazes me…and because I thought Redeeming Love was such an amazing story, when I read Hosea’s story from the Bible it impacted me much more being that it’s God’s Word. Not a fiction love story. I find that with every word I read in the Bible, it seems that it gives me either direction, faith, discipline, or sets an example. But in this case, more than setting an example of a human expressing mercy, forgiveness and unconditional love; Hosea is used to prophetically symbolize the Cross, (the Love of Christ for His people) which comes in the New Testament. There is no better love story than the Cross.
In the opening chapter of the Book of Hosea, God asks something very unusual. The LORD said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the LORD.” Hosea 1:2 and so the prophet Hosea did as he was told, he married the harlot named Gomer. Gomer bore Hosea 3 children. 2 boys and 1 girl. The meaning of each child’s name represented God’s chastisement towards the people of Israel for being adulterous, prostitutes, and lovers of the flesh. But anways back to my story. After Gomer had 3 children with Hosea, she did exactly what God told Hosea she would do.
..she is going to be unfaithful to you; in fact, she will become nothing but a common street prostitute..
I’m sure once this started happening Hosea felt the pain of his wife being unfaithful he remembered God’s whisper…”regardless of her actions, I want you to love her anyway.”
What a challenge!! How many of us could honestly say we’d marry a person knowing they would be unfaithful to us, not once, not twice but become nothing but a common street prostitute? I think if I was asked that of myself, I’d have to refuse, but you see that is why Hosea is so great, in spite of his puzzled request, he’s obedient..something I would not have been able to follow through on…funny enough, it’s shown me a great lesson..and I’ll get to that in a minute.
Gomer is being passed from man to man, until at last she fell into the hands of a man who was unable to pay for her food and her clothing. News of his wife came to Hosea and the Lord said to him, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods…” Hosea 3:1
So Hosea went to the marketplace and as he watched Gomer being brought up and placed on the dock she was stripped of all her clothing and stood naked before the crowd…the auctioner says "let, the bidding began."
Hosea bought her with everything he had and said to her,” “You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man” and so it was, Gomer was bought, was loved regardless, and was forgiven.
So you ask what makes this story better than any I’ve read? Well…
This is my story.
Maybe this is your story.
I once was like Gomer; a prostitute being passed around by one sin to another, turning from one god to another…::sigh:: a faithless human heart falling deceptive to all the attractiveness of the world..or so I thought was attractive…But someone bought me back. Someone bought you back.
He loved us…regardless of our unfaithfulness to Him...He loves us…my mind cannot wrap about His kind of love--the price he paid was more than anything Hosea could have gave, it was worth more than anything in this whole universe..and while still loving us on that day at the auction (Calvary) He said, “come back to me, I loved you from the beginning and chose to be in a relationship with you EVEN though I knew you’d turn away from me, but here I am at 33 years of age spreading my arms for you…buying you back.”…
::silence, except the sound of tears hitting the keyboard::
Jesus,
thank you.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
The Season Of Thanksgiving
In everything give thanks…1 Thessalonians 5:18
With thanksgiving right around the corner I wanted to set some time down to write out my 2010 reasons why I am thankful this season. Bible says that in everything we should give thanks and though I often do so, this season magnifies and reminds us to be thankful more than any other time of the year. So here I go: I warn you I’m letting you inside my brain and my thoughts…sometimes they are a little weird : )
#1. I am thankful for life. I woke up from my sleep last night, I’ve been given another day. I have air in my lungs and my health is great. I am thankful for the life of my family--immediate and extended. I am thankful that I have not had to go through the sadness of saying goodbye to a close relative or friend. I am thankful for the friendships God has blessed me with. I truly feel like we were created for one another. My friends offer the things I don’t have and vice versa, but God did it perfectly so we complete one another on a friendship level. I feel like my friends are like my family, I love them just as much. I am thankful for my husband. I am thankful for true love…I’m thankful he has never beat me, taken advantage of me, treated me ugly, called me any sort of bad name, but rather blesses and shows me he loves me daily. He prays for me, he loves me unconditionally, works hard for me and our children, doesn’t cheat or come home drunk (you may be laughing, but I’m really thankful he’s a God fearing man!) I love my marriage. I am very thankful for it. He is the man of my prayers. I am thankful that God was merciful enough to consider me worthy of having children. I am a mother of 2 beautiful, healthy children and for that I rejoice daily! There is no greater feeling than hearing the words “Momma” I am thankful for my salvation and my eternal home, heaven. I am thankful that God’s grace is upon me forgiving me daily of all my wrong doing. I am thankful that the Holy Spirit is constantly convicting me giving me opportunities after another to change what I’m doing or prevent me from doing. I am thankful I can hear God’s whisper and know when I am hearing from my Father. I am thankful that I can feel God’s presence so heavy in my home. It is so comforting to sleep at night knowing HE is standing in the room with us. God you are always welcome in my home and everywhere we go! I am thankful that I know God’s truth. I am thankful that I don’t have to wonder if there is a God, He is ever so present in my life. . I am thankful for God's mercy, because then I know how to give out mercy to those around me. I am thankful that my family & friends are saved because one day we’ll all spend eternity together and I’ll never lose any of you! I am thankful that I am not perfect and have flaws. I am thankful for being different.
I am thankful for my amazing parents and my close knit relationship with them. They have worked extremely hard to provide for me and my siblings. They are Godly parents who have done nothing, but raise me in the ways of the Lord. I am thankful for their prayers because I know they are constantly blessing me and my lil family. I am thankful for having a house, a vehicle, food, clothing and a good paying job. I am thankful that I can see, taste, walk, hear and talk. I am thankful that I have all my fingers, toes, and limbs. I am thankful that I have a college degree. I am thankful that I don’t have to wake up everyday wondering what my purpose in life is. I am thankful that I have passion. I am thankful for adoption agencies. I am thankful for orphanages where at least children have a place to go. I am thankful for giving people that donate to good causes. I am thankful for forgivness of others. I am thankful that I know how to love even when it is not responded. I am thankful for the internet; it makes life for me so much easier : ) I am thankful for the ocean, mountains, sun, rain and animals. I am thankful for good inspiring people that challenge and impact my life. I am thankful for good folk/indie music. That’s the best kinda music right there : ) I am thankful for warmth. I never like being too cold. I am thankful for humble people. I really dislike arrogance. I am thankful for faith, it has gotten me more places than I could ever imagine. I am thankful for teachers, nurses, hospitals, fire fighters, soldiers, social workers, and all who service everyone but themselves. I’m thankful for medicine to heal the ill. I’m thankful for so many more things, but I feel like this list scratches the surface of the thankfulness in my heart. I really do thank God for all of it, to Him be the Glory for being able to even say thanks for anything! This life is precious, and even more precious when you stop in your tracks and thank Him for all the blessings in your life.
With love,
Est
In everything give thanks…1 Thessalonians 5:18
With thanksgiving right around the corner I wanted to set some time down to write out my 2010 reasons why I am thankful this season. Bible says that in everything we should give thanks and though I often do so, this season magnifies and reminds us to be thankful more than any other time of the year. So here I go: I warn you I’m letting you inside my brain and my thoughts…sometimes they are a little weird : )
#1. I am thankful for life. I woke up from my sleep last night, I’ve been given another day. I have air in my lungs and my health is great. I am thankful for the life of my family--immediate and extended. I am thankful that I have not had to go through the sadness of saying goodbye to a close relative or friend. I am thankful for the friendships God has blessed me with. I truly feel like we were created for one another. My friends offer the things I don’t have and vice versa, but God did it perfectly so we complete one another on a friendship level. I feel like my friends are like my family, I love them just as much. I am thankful for my husband. I am thankful for true love…I’m thankful he has never beat me, taken advantage of me, treated me ugly, called me any sort of bad name, but rather blesses and shows me he loves me daily. He prays for me, he loves me unconditionally, works hard for me and our children, doesn’t cheat or come home drunk (you may be laughing, but I’m really thankful he’s a God fearing man!) I love my marriage. I am very thankful for it. He is the man of my prayers. I am thankful that God was merciful enough to consider me worthy of having children. I am a mother of 2 beautiful, healthy children and for that I rejoice daily! There is no greater feeling than hearing the words “Momma” I am thankful for my salvation and my eternal home, heaven. I am thankful that God’s grace is upon me forgiving me daily of all my wrong doing. I am thankful that the Holy Spirit is constantly convicting me giving me opportunities after another to change what I’m doing or prevent me from doing. I am thankful I can hear God’s whisper and know when I am hearing from my Father. I am thankful that I can feel God’s presence so heavy in my home. It is so comforting to sleep at night knowing HE is standing in the room with us. God you are always welcome in my home and everywhere we go! I am thankful that I know God’s truth. I am thankful that I don’t have to wonder if there is a God, He is ever so present in my life. . I am thankful for God's mercy, because then I know how to give out mercy to those around me. I am thankful that my family & friends are saved because one day we’ll all spend eternity together and I’ll never lose any of you! I am thankful that I am not perfect and have flaws. I am thankful for being different.
I am thankful for my amazing parents and my close knit relationship with them. They have worked extremely hard to provide for me and my siblings. They are Godly parents who have done nothing, but raise me in the ways of the Lord. I am thankful for their prayers because I know they are constantly blessing me and my lil family. I am thankful for having a house, a vehicle, food, clothing and a good paying job. I am thankful that I can see, taste, walk, hear and talk. I am thankful that I have all my fingers, toes, and limbs. I am thankful that I have a college degree. I am thankful that I don’t have to wake up everyday wondering what my purpose in life is. I am thankful that I have passion. I am thankful for adoption agencies. I am thankful for orphanages where at least children have a place to go. I am thankful for giving people that donate to good causes. I am thankful for forgivness of others. I am thankful that I know how to love even when it is not responded. I am thankful for the internet; it makes life for me so much easier : ) I am thankful for the ocean, mountains, sun, rain and animals. I am thankful for good inspiring people that challenge and impact my life. I am thankful for good folk/indie music. That’s the best kinda music right there : ) I am thankful for warmth. I never like being too cold. I am thankful for humble people. I really dislike arrogance. I am thankful for faith, it has gotten me more places than I could ever imagine. I am thankful for teachers, nurses, hospitals, fire fighters, soldiers, social workers, and all who service everyone but themselves. I’m thankful for medicine to heal the ill. I’m thankful for so many more things, but I feel like this list scratches the surface of the thankfulness in my heart. I really do thank God for all of it, to Him be the Glory for being able to even say thanks for anything! This life is precious, and even more precious when you stop in your tracks and thank Him for all the blessings in your life.
With love,
Est
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