Blessed Be Your Name
Tree63

Blessed be your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where the streams of abundance flow
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

Blessed be your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all as it should be
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, Blessed be your name

I was hard at work this evening sitting on the couch in my living room-enjoying the breeze drifting through the open window. My mind has been a bit frazzled lately, so it has been good to sit and be still.

As this song played, I thought about all that I have learned this year. Although I wouldn't have chosen much of it, I am thankful for what God has done in my heart. It has only been recently that as I sing this song, I think about all that God's name implies. Not only is it His name, but it represents His character, the very essence of who He is. Even with the hurt in my heart and the tears in my eyes, I couldn't help but lift my hands in worship to the God who is.

Big Things

For the longest time I have always had a hard time accepting when people would talk about wanting to do big things for God. It seemed to be the talk that fired up youth. I couldn't figure out why doing 'little' things wasn't enough for some people. It seemed to me that the focus was more on the big things than God.

Perhaps I allowed the pendulum to swing a bit too far the other way in my own life. I wasn't looking for big ways that God could use me. Rather, I was content to do the 'little things'. Not that I see teaching as a little thing, but I didn't figure that I would end up in any book about people who changed the world. I realized recently that I had been content to do those things within my areas of strength. Instead of being forced to depend on God alone, I was leaning on my own strength far too much. I am still trying to 'figure out' what all this means for me. I do know that I want to be depending on God much more than I am.

ReachGlobal Missionaries

Here are my missionary colleagues:)
We had a wonderful time together this weekend away in the mountains.

Beautiful

One of my family members (thanks Kent) recently sent me this description. I thought it was such an amazing way to look at our Father's love so I wanted to share it. Life isn't always easy, but we can trust our good God and Father!
Blessings to each of you today!

Somewhere in God’s plan, a father holds the child’s hand and looks deep into the eyes as the nurse inserts the needle, and although there is pain, the look of love and the feeling of the hand hold helps to make it through something that “is best for us”. If we believe literally that we are created in God’s image, then I will hold onto this image, I will hold onto his hand and watch the look of Love as I experience this moment in time…..hopefully with the faith of the child that this is what is “best”.

Valentine's Banquet

Just sharing the creativity of the 9-12 graders with you:) The following are 'shared stories'. After writing one line, the papers were folded and passed around the table. While the below is just a small sampling, we did have a few good laughs. Hopefully I will get a few pictures posted soon for you to see.

Kelly
was wearing boots.
Brennan
was stupid.
They met in a dumpster
He said, "Oops!"
She replied, "Thank you very much."
Then a giant sumo wrestler burst through the bathroom door and shot them.

Bertha
was as thin as a stick.
Wentworth Miller
was awkwardly lanky.
They met on a arm.
He said, "Hey baby, I think you made me drop something: my jaw."
She replied, "Oh, Raspberries!"
Then she ate her falafel.

Suzie
was sweet.
Austin
was retarded.
They met happily.
He said, "Are you going to eat that?"
She replied, " I'm fine with that."
Then they jumped off the train.

Emma
was rude.
Dan
was buff.
They met in a bar.
He said, "I don't like spam."
She replied, "Yeah, this is pretty boring."
Then they moved to Saskathawan.

Stand In The Rain
She never slows down
She doesn’t know why but she knows that
When she’s all alone it feels like its all coming down

She won’t turn around
The shadows are long and she fears
If she cries that first tear
The tears will not stop raining down

So stand in the rain
Stand your ground
Stand up when it’s all crashing down
You stand through the pain
You won’t drown
And one day what’s lost can be found
You stand in the rain

She won’t make a sound
Alone in this fight with herself
And the fears whispering if she stands she’ll fall down

She wants to be found
The only way out is through everything
She’s running from
Wants to give up and lie down

So stand in the rain
Stand your ground
Stand up when it’s all crashing down
You stand through the pain
You won’t drown
And one day what’s lost can be found
You stand in the rain

Thought for the Day

The mystery of life is that the lord of life cannot be known except in and through the act of living. Without the concrete and specific involvements of daily life we cannot ocme to know the loving presence of Him who holds us in the palm of His hand...therefore, we are called each day to present to our Lord the whole of our lives.

Henri J.M. Nouwen

Free Pizza

Jerry's

For many who have lived in Romania, that word alone brings to mind many different images. For others who are oblivious to the pizza chains on the other side of the world (which is okay) it has no meaning.

For me, Jerry's is a bimonthly ordeal. Student council orders pizza for students and staff who choose this alternative to bringing their own lunch. Last week, I walked into the office at 11:10 (5 min before elementary lunch starts) and was dismayed that the smell of Jerry's was missing. As the trampling of little feet climbed the stairs, we waited wondering what might have gone wrong (lost driver, misplaced order...). As our cherubs waited, the delivery man arrived, handed me the bill, and I rushed the first batch upstairs to start serving. Half way through serving elementary lunch, I realized that not only did we have an extra pizza, but the bill was only for 13-we had ordered 15. I was perplexed and stunned.

After lunch and my 1/2 grade music class, I returned to the office to try and sort out what had happened. It turns out that Jerry's decided to give us free pizzas because we had such a large order. Mind you, this had NEVER happened before. Sadly, I realized that I had counted out money for the price we were quoted over the phone so we had paid more than we needed. Had I only been paying attention.

I just can't seem to let go of things like that, so it has been drifting around in my mind and I made an interesting comparison that I would like to share with you. Earlier that week, we had been studying verses about the gift of grace in chapel. I realized that in a way, the gift of the free pizzas was similar to grace. Jerry's was freely offering free pizzas. They even showed a reduced bill. I simply chose to ignore it and kept my eyes focused on what seemed important at that moment-the hungry kids ready for food. Instead of accepting their gift, I paid for it.

I think in some ways this comparison works. God has canceled our bill and extends his grace and love to us. At times, we simply choose to focus on other things and try to continue to pay the bill. Paying for free pizza is one thing-because we can, but we can NEVER "pay" for the grace God offers. If we choose to keep trying to pay-through good works or any number of ways-we loose out on that gift.

Are you still trying to pay for grace?

Devoured

1 Peter 5:8
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

I don't know if you've ever felt that way, but I certainly felt devoured today. It hit me toward the end of the day-as I was sitting discouraged-that I had been devoured, or at least toyed with. Why didn't I see it earlier? Why did it have to go on so long before I finally realized what was happening? I wonder sometimes if I will ever get to the point where I am strong enough and then I realize that my only strength comes in standing in the shadow of the cross-hiding behind my savior and allowing Him to fight for me-to rescue me. Jesus, please come and protect me.

Recently, I received this song in an email. I was a bit embarrased to look back and realize I had listened to this song multiple times and let the words slip by without really hearing them. As I read the words today it really fit with the place where I am at. It fits with what I am hearing and with what I sense God showing me. May you be blessed and encouraged as you read these words.

In Me
by Casting Crowns

If you asked me to leap
Out of my boat on the crashing waves
If you ask me to go
Preach to a lost world that Jesus saves

I'll go, but I cannot go alone
'Cause I know I'm nothing on my own
But the power of Christ in me makes me strong
Makes me strong

'Cause when I'm weak, You make me strong
When I'm blind you shine Your light on me
'Cause I'll never get by living on my own ability
How refreshing to know You don't need me
How amazing to find that you want me
So I'll stand on Your Truth, and I'll fight with Your Strength
Until You bring the victory, by the power of Christ in me

If you ask me to run
And carry your light into foreign land
If you ask me to fight
Deliver your people from satan's hand

I'll go, but I cannot go alone
'Cause I know I'm nothing on my own
But the power of Christ in me makes me strong
Makes me strong

'Cause when I'm weak, You make me strong
When I'm blind you shine Your light on me
'Cause I'll never get by living on my own ability
How refreshing to know You don't need me
How amazing to find that You want me
So I'll stand on Your Truth, and I'll fight with Your Strength
Until You bring the victory, by the power of Christ in me

To reach out with Your hands
To learn through Your eyes
To love with the love of a savior
To feel with Your heart
and to think with Your mind
I'd give my last breath for Your glory