A Lesson on Forgiveness

All of the below is directly quoted from "Forgiveness: Breaking the Power of the Past" by Kay Arthur and David & BJ Lawson, and the scripture is from the NASB.  The italics are direct quotes and anything in normal print is my own thoughts.

Galatians 5:19-21
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Ephesians 5:3-6
But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, not effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

If those who have hurt us through their sin repent, God will allow them into heaven, and if they don't, God will deal with them.  Our responsibility is to forgive.  I was once part of the "unrighteous".  I was once condemned to hell.  I was once not allowed into Heaven.  BUT, after all I have done wrong and sinned against God, through my simple act of repenting and asking for forgiveness - God has wiped my slate clean and I am presented holy and righteous in His sight - all because of the blood of Christ that is covering me.  It is not my place to continue judging and seeking justice for those who have wronged me.....I am to simply forgive, just as God forgave me.

These verses below were from Paul, who wrote to believers in the city of Colossae.  He laid out life principles that will help us as we seek to live in our forgiveness.
**Paul's instructions to the believers are underlined.**


Colossians 3:1-10
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, an greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him.

(It is interesting and important to note that Jesus is seated at the right hand of God - meaning, the work is done, nothing else needs to be done for us to receive complete forgiveness and eternal life in Heaven.  All that needed to be sacrificed was done so through Jesus Christ's crucifixion and resurrection.....all has been forgiven for those that repent. Period.)

Colossians 3:12-15
So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Because we're set apart from the world, we belong completely to God. We're "holy", as Paul wrote in the verses.  The phrase put on means "to envelope yourself, to wrap around, to put on something, like clothing."  The idea is to become so immersed in Christ, so focused on Him, that you resemble Him in your thoughts and actions.  The verb tense in the Greek indicates this is a command, to be obeyed at once.


Ephesisans 4:30-32
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Bitterness refers to a deep-rooted enmity that poisons the inner man.  This occurs when we foster hostility toward someone who has hurt us, unintentionally or intentionally. This verse suggests a progression: bitterness leads to wrath (an outward explosion of inner feelings), wrath leads to clamor (a loud outcry against something), and clamor leads to slander (speaking evil about someone).  And to add to the end of this, slander leads to malice (a generalized and corrupt character).  It makes me deeply sad to think about grieving the Holy Spirit.....how many times do I do that throughout just one day?

Our flesh quickly rejects the idea of offering unconditional forgiveness.  After all, if we don't make our enemies pay, who will?  It's easy to rationalize and mount a counterattack on those who have hurt us.  But what was Jesus' example?


1 Peter 2:21-23
For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, he did not revile in return; while suffering, he uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously.

God not only tells us in His Word what we need to do, He gives us an incredible example to follow in the life and death of His Son.  Jesus set the standard for forgiveness in His refusal to "make them pay," His silent acceptance of wrongs against Him, and His prayer for forgiveness.  The magnitude of this is all the more clear when we realize that our personal sin played an active role in putting Jesus on the cross.  We bear responsibility for His death - as if we drove the nails into His hands and feet ourselves.
The forgiveness Jesus offered us through His death on the cross is the same forgiveness we must extend to others.
It's crucial that you forgive those who treat you unjustly, whether or not the repent and regardless of how you feel.  It's easy to respond wrongly when you live by your feelings.  If you choose, however, to obey God's Word,  your feelings eventually catch up to what your mind knows is right.


How does one forgive when there is not desire to?
First, you must realize that forgiveness is a choice, not an emotion.  Since God commanded us to forgive others, to not do so is to refuse to obey God.  This is not a suggestion but a command to be obeyed regardless of our thoughts or feelings.
Second, you need to know your forgiveness of others does not let them off the hook with God.  Jesus bore sin in His body and consequently forgave when He hung on the cross, but all unrepentant sin will be judged by God (Hebrews 10:26-27; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9).  In other words, if people don't repent and believe in Him, they will go to hell.  Forgiveness is offered, but not apart from receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  I can realize that when someone sins against me or offends me or hurts me, they are actually sinning against God, because my life is hidden with Christ in God.  Because Christ lives in me, when I am wronged by someone else, they are actually committing that wrong against Jesus.....it becomes his issue to settle with that person.  It then makes it very easy for me to forgive that person, because I have not been personally sinned against.  And vice versa for me....if I sin against someone else, I am actually sinning against God and need to ask forgiveness from God and the person I sinned against.
As a believer, you are to manifest the character and love of Jesus Christ by forgiving even those who have physically, emotionally, sexually, or mentally abused you, just as Christ forgave those who trespassed against Him.  To refuse to do this is to keep people from seeing the character of Christ.


Remember, when you forgive another person, you're just one sinner forgiving another.  neither of you is what you ought to be.  But when God forgives us, He's forgiving someone who has sinned against perfect holiness.  If God can forgive us from sinning against perfect holiness, how much more easy should it be for us as sinners to forgive another sinner???

God is working!!!

These have been an exhausting 9 days, since I last posted.  (It seriously feels like it has been at least a month since all this sickness/chaos began...when in actuality, it has been 11 days).  I should have still posted, but I'm not going to "put on" and be fake....I was tired, and I gave into my fleshly desire to sleep.  Both my girls have been sick with strep....and each had one random episode of vomiting.....and then my husband also got strep, followed by a hospital visit a few days ago due to severe upper back pain.  It's not so much the "everyone is sick" stuff that is taking it's toll on me....but the "everyone is so needy because they are sick" stuff.  I'm being very truthful - I have had way too many moments where I felt like complaining because I wasn't getting to do what I wanted to do....or because I had to put both girls to bed because my hubby didn't feel good enough to help....or because I'm just as tired as everyone else, but someone has to fix everyone some food.....or because I'm tired and I still have to wake up and take care of a crying infant at least once during the night.  Did you read how many times the word "I" was used in that run-on sentence???  I, I, I....that's my problem.

Thankfully, the Holy Spirit resides in me...and did cause my heart to feel a pang of guilt when I had all of these selfish thoughts, and I have needed to repent so much this past week.  Praise God that His grace and mercy overflows for His children!!  And even though trials and just "hard days/weeks" are frustrating....God truly uses those times to draw us nearer to Him....to help us become more dependent on Him.....to help us focus more on Him.  When things in life seem the most out of control, that is when I am desperately clinging to Him to figure it all out.

Philippians 4:6 has been on my mind a lot this week...

And have I read any further in my book??  Um...big. fat. no.  (insert disappointment in myself here)  I have no excuse, I chose sleep.  BUT....God has still chosen to work in my life....has still chosen to answer my prayers....has still chosen to love me!!!!!

On a very positive note, a BIG decision has been made in our house....my hubs is going on a mission trip with our church to Thailand in January 2012!!!!  So very exciting!!!  Can't wait, just can't wait, to see what all God has planned for this trip!!!  :)

Tomorrow, I am going to post several tidbits and pieces of scripture from the most recent lesson we did in the Bible study I am a part of.....goooood stuff....need to have it saved for future reference!!

When the day doesn't go as "planned"...

So, yesterday....my plan was to read another chapter in "Future Grace" when the girls napped (hoping that I could get them both napping at the same time).  However, that is not how the day panned out.  MK was running a fever between 101 & 102....and was super clingy and needy.  So, basically my entire day was spent comforting / taking care of her, or feeding/entertaining/putting to sleep the baby.  I didn't get the next chapter read.  My patience was tested.....but, God supplied all I needed to give to these two little girls.  If I was doing this on my own, I surely would run out of energy, love, and patience.  But, praise only to God that He can be strong when I am weak....thankful, on behalf of my girls, that Christ is welcome to reside over my life!

Also, I got a sweet phone call yesterday evening from one of my dear friends!!  Miss her so much and so good to hear her voice!  We spent our conversation catching up on each other's life....talking about the trials of life....and giving glory to God for all He has done and will do!!!  And, the conversation directed me to some scripture....so, God gave me an opportunity to dive into His Word....even though it wasn't how I had planned.  But, it was scripture He knew I would need for today.

SJ is still waking up once at night....she loves to eat, LOL....but it's starting to take it's toll on me.  I have to go to bed by 10 to get in a decent amount of hours.  However, that doesn't leave me much "not needing to care for little ones" time to get chores done around the house.  I am constantly feeling behind....and that often manifests itself in a bad attitude and short fuse.  I am daily seeking repentance for my mouth and attitude!!!  I am amazed at my ability to be seeking Christ one minute, and then just a few hours later, allow my sinful nature full of pride and selfishness to take over.  The wonderful hope I have in Christ is that I do not continue to sin because of grace....but because of His blood, I have grace and when I fail (sin) the Holy Spirit convicts me, and God Almighty can forgive me.  It's a bit overwhelming to know that when I repent and seek forgiveness, God will separate me from my sin - as far as the east is from the west!  Wow!!!

I will be reading (finally!!) the next chapter in the book tonight before bed....but, wanted to copy down the last paragraph from chapter 4.
"What we have seen is that the New Testament really does make much of future grace.  The life that's left for us to live from now to eternity will be lived by future grace, or will be lost.  We are not left to ourselves, nor even to the precious memories of bygone grace.  We are not left at all.  Today and tomorrow and for the rest of eternity "He gives a greater grace" (James 4:6).  This is not decoration on the permanent structure of the Christian life.  It is what makes the Christian life permanent.  We live moment by moment from the strength of future grace.  If it were not there, we would perish.  But it is there.  And every future good that we enjoy, in this life and the next, will come from future grace."  ~John Piper, "Future Grace"

It's been a long week...

So, I definitely packed way too much into this week....but, as always, God has provided me with the energy I need to get "life" done. :)  I've also lost my temper one too many times, responded too sarcastically to my hubby, acted selfishly when I should be looking for ways to serve my family, and sought sleep yesterday over getting into God's Word.  And, thankfully, God has provided enough grace to cover my failures.  In my weaknesses, He has shown His power - only He could bring restoration after I cause strife.  Only He could forgive and cover me with His grace, so that today, I can look forward and dive right back into His Word.

My great God allowed me to wake up a little earlier than usual this morning and I was able to go running and have some alone time, with my thoughts and talking to Him.  And, was able to read another chapter in "Future Grace" when I got back.  God was so good to me this morning.  It was very sweet to start my day with Him.  (I will post about this chapter and the next tomorrow).  I needed this calm start to the day, and only my Father in heaven knew what craziness was about to take over my day.  MK woke just as I was finishing reading, and she walked out of her room holding her right ribcage, saying "hurt".  Something was obviously wrong, as she wanted to be cuddled all morning and didn't want much to eat or drink.  The pediatrician's office was able to work us in - and, today was also SJ's 4 month checkup......the end result was MK being diagnosed with Strep and SJ getting a clean bill of health.  :)  So, I spent the rest of the day getting prescriptions, caring for a sick little girl, and keeping the baby happy and entertained.

Today, (outside of caring for the girls) I spent most of the day in prayer....pleading intercession for one of my good friends whose husband has underwent two serious surgeries in a matter of a week, the second one was an emergency one that took place today.  And, all the glory to God, he is stable this evening and hopefully on the road to recovery.  I thank God for the scriptures I am reading on anxiety.  I was able to confidently go before the Lord and speak His own words, as he has promised to provide all our needs....Phil 4:6 and 4:19 were very appropriate for this time.  Praise God, His Word and His Grace are sufficient.

Facing Anxiety

I'm so glad I own this book (Future Grace by John Piper)....and am so disappointed in myself that I haven't read it before now.  It has already challenged me in so many ways, and I'm only on chapter 3!!

This chapter was FILLED with scripture.  I love hearing and reading a person's interpretation of what God is saying through His Word, God truly uses people to speak to others.....but I LOVE having specific scripture to apply and memorize.  (**I'll post more on memorization at the end**)

Who hasn't been anxious??  About at least one thing??  I find that, even though I wouldn't label myself as an anxious person (we often think of someone with anxiety needing medication to control it), but when I truly examine myself and the definition of anxiety as described in the Bible, I am indeed anxious about many things in life.  It makes me sad....1) that I haven't made it a priority to deal with this anxiety and 2) because it means I have little faith in what God can do, how He will do it, and when He will do it.  As was stated in this chapter, "anxiety is a condition of the heart that gives rise to many other sinful states of mind".....here are the examples the book gave of the domino effect of anxiety:

• Anxiety about finances can give rise to coveting, greed, hoarding, stealing
• Anxiety about succeeding at some task can make you irritable, abrupt, surly
• Anxiety about relationships can make you withdrawn, indifferent, uncaring about other people
• Anxiety about how someone will respond to you can make you cover over the truth, lie about things

Jesus identified the root of anxiety in Matthew 6:30, "But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more do so for you, O men of little faith?"  To paraphrase this verse, a direct quote from the book - "Jesus says that the root of anxiety is inadequate faith in our Father's future grace.  As unbelief gets the upper hand in our hearts, one of the effects is anxiety."

This kind of cuts a little deep....it hurts.  It hurts because I know I have failed....I have been living off my own strength....I have been doing what I thought was best....I have been making sure everything I think needs to be taken care of is taken care of, so I can "rest easy".....I have been being self-sufficient.  This is dangerous ground.  And I'm embarrassed and convicted.  I think, down deep in my soul, I always knew that lack of faith led to anxiety, because I do feel anxious when I try to do it all on my own.  So, because I have recognized this anxiety at times, I have tried to give God the controls here and there....but here and there isn't good enough.  It must be complete abandonment of fear, and complete trust - complete faith.  It's so silly....not trusting the Creator of the Universe....wow, who do I think I am???

In Matthew 6:25-34, we have 7 promises from God that He will meet our needs....promises to allow us not to worry about tomorrow.  I think I struggle with worrying about the future the most.  I am often planning how things will work months in advance.  I waste time planning, only for it not to work out how "I planned" in the end.  In the few times (sadly only a few), that I have given complete trust over to God to work it out according to His will....it was amazing how I saw God work and could give Him all the glory.  I steal glory away from God when I try to do things on my own.

Anxiety is definitely an issue for me, and it needs to be dealt with now.  It may always be an issue....but God's Word is full of promises of how He will ALWAYS take care of me and meet me in the middle of my needs.  Here are some scriptures I am committing to memorize....I will give myself until the end of this month to have these memorized and written on my heart.

Philippians 4:6

Philippians 4:19

Isaiah 41:10

2 Corinthians 12:9

Psalm 32:8

Psalm 34:19

Romans 5:3-5

Isaiah 46:4

Romans 14:7-9

Philippians 1:6

Hebrews 7:25

Definitely needed grace today!

So, today started out pretty crappy....and my attitude was pretty crappy right along with it.  The baby woke up at 6am (my alarm was set for 6:15)....I was feeling rushed because I was scheduled to work at the hospital today (I don't normally do this during the week) and the majority of my morning was either nursing the baby or trying to get her back to sleep.....and to top it off, I didn't get a shower or breakfast (lack of food always makes me cranky).  So, I was headed to work (when all I want to do is not go to work and stay home with my girls)....with a bad attitude and an empty stomach.

Man, quite a morning not filled with praise for my Creator.  No praise to Him for giving me another day to wake up to the sweet faces of my husband and girls...no praise that I got to sleep in a bed with a roof over my head....no praise that even though I missed breakfast, I would get a meal today....no praise that I have a job and my family has more than we need.  Wow...my attitude needed serious adjusting this morning!  It often makes me embarrassed how self-righteous I can be.

My day was pretty much non-stop at work....but, (one of the reasons I'm thankful I have the career I do) since I work with people who are having physical issues...God constantly uses this to remind me of all the blessings in my life.  And, miraculously (and if you know me, you know this was a miracle) I wasn't hungry when I got to work.  I can get so hungry sometimes, that it's all I can think about.  I am praising God today, that He kept my stomach feeling full so I could stay focused with my patients.

I got home just as it was time to get dinner started....and then it was a bit of family time....then it was bathtime for MK....then it was "late night snack" time for SJ....and bedtime for both girls.  Then, I got started on some laundry.  And, there's still a dirty kitchen waiting to be cleaned up.  Life is hectic....today was definitely a hectic day.  But, God has been pulling at my heart all day....I could feel Him.  He's been waiting for me to clear a spot in my day to meet with Him.

I'm sorry, Lord, that I've waited until the end of my day.  You still provided for my needs - You still showed faithful to Your promises to care for me as Your child, even though I've been so consumed with what's on my schedule that I've pushed you to the end of the list.

I will resume reading "Future Grace" tomorrow, but tonight, I am going to reflect on some scriptures that I have written down and stored in a journal in the past.  And I am going to pray these scriptures....how powerful it is to pray scripture...to speak back to God His own words!  

Psalm 51:10-12

"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."

Ephesians 5:1-2, 5

"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God......For of this you can be sure: no immoral, impure or greedy person - such a man is an idolater - has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God."

Psalm 4:8

"I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety."

Motivators for obedience??

It is awesome how God has used the last 24 hours (really less than that) to confirm that this "journal" of sorts is what I am to do.  The book I started reading this morning, the Sunday School lesson this morning, and the powerful sermon this morning - all were God speaking to me.  I am feeling compelled to get the words God is speaking to my heart onto "paper"....and since I have two small children and this house can get chaotic....a journal on the internet is the safest place to keep my thoughts, and not lose them! :)


I felt led to start my journey with the study of God's word through the book, "Future Grace" by John Piper.  (I'm embarrassed to say I have owned this book since Christmas 2006, and have not read it yet.)  I'm reading the first two chapters today, which discuss and explain true gratitude...and help identify and make clear the motivator for obedience.  Am I using a feeling of indebtedness to God to motivate me in my desire to obey....or am I simply grateful for all God has done, and my motivation lies in a true faith in God's future grace??  A true faith that God will be true to His promises....a true faith in God and His all-knowing, all-sufficient power.  Just faith, no expectations.  Just faith.  "And without faith it is impossible to please God..." ~Hebrews 11:6~

This first chapter in "Future Grace" has really spoken to me, causing inward reflection of whether I am misusing the feeling of gratitude to motivate me to live a life pleasing to God - as if I can "do" enough to repay Christ for his sacrifice.  How absolutely self-promoting that kind of thinking is....how wrong I am to ever have that idea.  The very essence of a gift, is that it is given freely...without expectation of repayment.  The very act of recognizing the sacrifice Christ made for me, accepting him as my Savior, believing in his resurrection, and knowing He is the only way, truth, and life - all of this is the ultimate "thank you" offering to God, for sending His son to save me from eternal death and to cover me with his blood to hide my sins.  The rest of my life is not lived in continual indebtedness, but rather in joy because of the gift of salvation.

This snippet from the book spoke volumes to me:
"Faith in future grace, not gratitude, is the missing ethical power to overcome rebellion and motivate obedience."  

And this sentence, also from the book ... "The obedience that comes from fearing God without faith in his future grace will not be free, but servile."  Obedience without faith catapults me into a life of legalism.  I would be servant to following an enormous amount of rules (which is impossible for anyone to follow perfectly), in an effort to "return the favor" and continually let God know I am grateful.  Obedience with faith, allows your soul to be free in Christ, knowing that because of the past graces of God, we can trust that He will show grace in the future.

The Bible is filled with examples of obedience being motivated through and by faith....not once does it identify obedience being motivated by gratitude.  (Romans 9:31-32, Hebrews 11, 1 Thessalonians 1:3, 2 Thessalonians 1:11, Galatians 2:20, 2 Corinthians 5:7, 1 Timothy 1:5, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, James 2:26)

It is clear to me that when I consider the great sacrifice that Christ made, that he literally saved my life....I am filled with gratitude.  Gratitude is what I should feel upon receiving the greatest gift anyone could ever receive.  But, I feel that my desire to obey and please God is due to the love He has put in my heart and because I DO have faith in what God will do in the future.  Gratitude is also a natural thing for me, as a follower of Christ, to have in my heart as I reflect and remember what God has done in my life so far....the many graces He has extended to me....the many ways He has disciplined me in love....the times He has not loosened His grip on me, even though I had moved far from Him.  Gratitude is not to be looked upon in a negative light - it just needs not be my motivation to live in obedience.

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name." ~Psalm 100:4~
"Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless I will show my salvation." ~Psalm 50:23~


I think this paragraph from the book is a good summary... "The effort to repay God, in the ordinary way we pay creditors, would nullify grace and turn it into a business transaction.  If we see acts of obedience as installment payments, we make grace into a mortgage...Let us not say that grace creates debts; let us say that grace pays debts.  Past grace is glorified by intense and joyful gratitude.  Future grace is glorified by intense and joyful confidence.  This faith is what empowers us for venturesome obedience in the cause of Christ."

Getting started...

Today starts a new adventure in my life.

God has laid it on my heart to start documenting my relationship with Him....to start actually making Him the #1 priority in my life....to start actually trusting Him with all aspects of my life....to start actually sharing His good news with those He puts in my path.  And I want to set this example for my children....my life's greatest accomplishment would be for my children to see Christ when they look at me.

I am challenging myself to seek and study God's word daily....followed by intimate prayer.  The challenge will be making the time for this, when I rarely have downtime with a 2 year old and 4 month old.  And when I do have downtime, I just want to veg-out or sleep.  I must fight my flesh, and lose some sleep OR wait just a bit longer to watch my show that was DVR'd - because making time for God Almighty is just a bit more important than that extra hour of sleep or catching up on my favorite shows.

This life is a gift...and it is not mine to live any 'ole way I want to.  I breathe and exist because the Creator of the Universe gives air to my lungs and causes my heart to beat.  I don't want to just "exist" anymore.  I want to surrender...I want my life to be an example of Christ....I want to live only for this awesome God that made me.  I want my eyes, my hands, my feet, my heart, my soul, my thoughts, my desires, my mouth - I want all of me to be pleasing to Him.

I am writing this blog to keep record for myself, but also to be a place that (hopefully) people can be turned toward God.  This life is hard, this world is messed up, this body will only age and then die....but through all that is wrong and difficult on this earth....my God is bigger.  I am praying God will use this to show how mighty and perfect He is....especially in the times I am so weak and flawed.


Pray that God would be glorified through this blog!