"the LORD bless you and keep you;

the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you,

the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."

- numbers 6:24-26

shot to the heart.

It is always an interesting thing when someone brings something up to you about your personality and it seems to rock your world.  Yesterday, while having a conversation with a friend he brought up a thing he has noticed about me.  He asked me about the wall that I have, why I don't always express my deepest opinion on subjects.  He explained to me that he could see that I always had more to say but he could see that I keep it to myself. When he said this, it felt like I got stabbed somewhere deep inside and felt a pain.  This pain felt brand new, though it also felt like it had been there all my life.

A wall? Truth is, when he mentioned I have a wall it felt like I looked up at wall that I had never seen, and it was stinking tall. This guy needs to be a therapist.

I'm not sure how he dug that out of me but he sure did.  I haven't been able to shake what he said.  It just keeps repeating in my head.  I have lost all focus since yesterday afternoon and feels like I am floating around. I feel so much that the current season of life [and all of life in general] is about faith in God.  Wait patiently Brett. Be still and know that God is God. The difficulty of this season is learning patience.  It only makes sense that if it is patience I would like to gain, then it is situations where I need to be patient that I will learn.

I'm just having to tell myself that I will look back on this season with gratitude.  I'm hoping to gain that gratitude in the present. 

no temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

1 Corinthians 10:13

the influence you can have.

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

            -Philippians 4:8-9

"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."

            -Ephesians 4:29

none but Jesus.

in the quiet, in the stillness, I know that you are God.

in the secret of your presence, there I know I am restored.

when you call, I know I wont refuse.

each new day again,  i'll choose.

there is no one else for me, none but Jesus.

crucified to set me free. 

now i live to give Him praise.

in the chaos, in confusion, I know you're sovereign still.

in the moment of my weakness, you give me grace to do your will

when you call, I know I won't delay

this my song through all my days.

there is no one else for me, none but Jesus.

crucified to set me free. 

now i live to give Him praise.

all of my delight is in you Lord.

all of my hope and all of my strength.

forevermore.

there is no one else for me, none but Jesus.

crucified to set me free.

now i live to give Him praise.

life.

         As of recent, life has been such a cool experience.  There are so many new things I have never experienced before happening all around me.  Emotions I have never known, victory I have never seen and a peace that goes past my understanding. There are new friends and old friends who mean more to me than I even could think of. This season is so new to me that sometimes it doesn't even feel real.

         As I think about the events around me that are so cool I am happy to say that it is all glorifying to my God. Yesterday a group of new friends left for Haiti on a trip that is about two weeks long.  The excitement and joy that these people have in them and around them here in Atlanta is so encouraging and I have no doubt that they will bring so much hope to the people of Haiti. I am so thankful to know them and so excited for the future of these friendships. A victory for Atlanta has been happening over the last year in the growing of a new church, Passion City. A day of celebration, I'm sure, happened on Sunday as they moved into their first building.  I am not a "part" of this church but I sure do feel and see so much of what God is doing through them. My church home is going through many exciting changes and just to be a part of it is extremely humbling.  The influence that God has allowed it to have on this city is undeniable and HUGE. God has almost completely renewed the way that I feel about my church, for the better. The staff are unbelievable people who are extremely gifted and so graceful. I get to see and hear about life change every single week.

         When I think about the last 5 months of my own life I can only look up to God and thank Him for the people, the wisdom and the victory He has allowed to be a part of it.  There are so many sweet moments I have experienced and I am so expectant that God has a big work continuing over the next year.  I promise you that God is for you if you will allow Him to be.  He has plans for your life that are for prospering and not for harming. If you will be intentional with your words to him, He WILL hear you.  He hears the cries of His people and is faithful to respond. As I mentioned before, sometimes life doesn't even feel real... or possibly life feels so real that I'm not used to it.

         The brothers I have around me are so encouraging.  The past year of getting to know them deeply has been incredible.  Their hearts are all about seeking God and learning to understand His will for them in this season.  They're desperate for God's wisdom and desperate for God's presence. I'm always praying that Jesus would be famous in their lives and loving watching this happen. My new friends are such peaceful people and I enjoy so much leaving them feeling encouraged every time. The relationship with my sweet girlfriend Morgan has brought nothing but good into my life. She walks around carrying the peace, joy and love of Christ everywhere she is. I am so excited to see what God does in her life and am so thankful that I get to be a part of it.

         I trust that God is delivering me from the season of depression and anxiety that I was in. This post is testimony of God and his heart for his people. These events that I described are "kingdom events." Ones that will effect this earth for eternity's sake. Jesus' fame is written in, on and around them.  These friends I described are a huge part of bringing God's kingdom here and now. I have to let you know that the riches of God's love will always be enough.

         

a post taken from another blog.

From the blog "Reaching For The Robe"

By: Donna Taylor 

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Tuesday, April 5, 2011

 God's Whispers Over Honey on my Biscuit

The honey came so slowly from it's little plastic container. The hot biscuit steamed, the melting butter teased me  --- my mouth watered. But the honey was in no hurry at all. Steve, my husband, laughed at my dilemma and commented on the reality of life we can see even in the slow but steady flow of honey. And I pondered it as I waited...
Waiting ---- when we are in God's hands --- so often the word w-a-i-t is like an umbrella covering us isn't it?
If we refuse to wait --- if the "umbrella" is removed because we will not hesitate and remain under it --- then "less" is ours (we get soaked from the rain) -- and the "more" that could have been is missed (a dry walk in the midst of a deluge).

I could have opted to quickly squeeze a packet of grape jelly on my wonderful, warm biscuit. After all, grape jelly is yummy as well. But Steve and I enjoyed hearing God in the lesson over our biscuits. The jelly would still taste good --- and it would certainly come more quickly. Golly - I could have already had two good bites in my mouth in the time it took for the golden honey to begin it's slow progress towards my biscuit. But then I would have been settling. The honey may be slow --- but without question, it is the healthier choice. It is fully natural -- the grape jelly is not. My body will respond in healthy ways to the honey. And while I might enjoy the grape jelly --- it would bring nothing healthy with it.
(I know - you laugh at me - choosing "healthy" honey over "unhealthy" jelly --- for my VERY unhealthy buttered biscuit --- I'm laughing at myself too.)

Still - even in the goofy, silliness of my world --- my good, good God speaks to me. Yes -- even --- over a biscuit.
And so --- to have the healthy, good honey --- to choose the "good part" --- to receive the best of the choices given  ----  I must w-a-i-t.

It's a beautiful thing the way God uses the time encapsulated in our waiting.

For, "He knows the plans He has for us... they will bring us hope... a future". Jeremiah 29:11

I've thought on this much of late --- and stuttered at trying to put it into words. But God has kindly reminded me, that He too waits --- but He never wastes the time while waiting.

God is at work in the "wait" --- working to prepare the way for our walk of faith, waiting to see if we will trust Him, obey Him, surrender to Him --- put our hand in His -- fully. He, Jehovah, waits to see, if we will again insist on our own way, or if we will give ourselves over to Him and wrap ourselves in His robe. He wonders --- "must it look the way you want it to, or this time, will you allow it to be the way I choose for you?"

God holds Himself back from coming to take us home ---- as He waits for the souls who have not yet come to know Him. He longs for them - His love is beautiful -- He waits.

To ponder on this -- causes me to love Him more deeply. For in the transforming work of becoming more like our Christ, our Father asks us only to do what He Himself is doing.

To remember this --- is to realize His holiness in the waiting.
Holiness is too easily lost in humanness. Therefore, we must choose to remember.
To choose to remove our focus from our frustration in the waiting - and instead put our focus on the Holiness of His waiting. John 3:30 To increase Him and decrease me -- by choice.

So may we wait for the golden honey's unhurried pace,
----wait for the transformational work,
----wait and prepare to receive what is being birthed in the waiting.
May we wait patiently --- in, on, and with the Lord.

"Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you;
   therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.
For the LORD is a God of justice.
   Blessed are all who wait for him"
Isaiah 30:18 (NIV)


"But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always."
Hosea 12:6

"But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me."
Micah 7:7

"For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed."
Romans 8:19


"And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised."
Hebrews 6:15

"...and since that time He waits for His enemies to be made his footstool."
Hebrews 10:13

encouragement for the day.

"tear down the walls see the world,

is there something we have missed?

turn from ourselves

look beyond

there is so much more than this.

look to the skies hope arise

see His majesty revealed

more than this life there is love

there is hope and this is real."

In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice;

in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.

- Psalm 5:3

Psalm 4

1 Answer me when I call to you,
my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
2 How long will you people turn my glory into shame?
How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?
3 Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself;
the Lord hears when I call to him.
4 Tremble and do not sin;
when you are on your beds,
search your hearts and be silent.
5 Offer the sacrifices of the righteous
and trust in the Lord.
6 Many, Lord, are asking, "Who will bring us prosperity?"
Let the light of your face shine on us.
7 Fill my heart with joy
when their grain and new wine abound.
8 In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, Lord,
make me dwell in safety.

LOVE.

LOVE

is patient.

is kind.

does not envy.

does not boast.

is not proud.

does not dishonor others.

is not self-seeking.

is not easily angered.

keeps no record of wrongs.

does not delight in evil.

rejoices with the truth.

always protects.

always trusts.

always hopes.

always perseveres.

"Love never ends."

 - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 
  

"So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

- 1 Corinthians 13:13