because music speaks what i cannot...

g.b.n.

This face and smile melt my heart. :)

A New Thing...

18 “Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.

19 See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland.

20 The wild animals honor me,
the jackals and the owls,
because I provide water in the desert
and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,

21 the people I formed for myself
that they may proclaim my praise. (Isaiah 43:18-21)

I Shall Believe

Arise, My Soul, Arise

It's really amazing to me that when we seek God and seek for answers and wisdom from Him, we get them! I mean... I've known this for some time, but often I either forget it - or He does a completely new thing. He has a wonderful way of hitting me with an answer or a nugget of wisdom when I'm least expecting it.

Lately I've been listening to some Mark Driscoll sermon podcasts while I work or commute. He has a way of presenting the Bible that just resonates with me most days. His sermon title this particular day was "Jesus Rejoices in the Holy Spirit." He had lots of good stuff to say about joy and how the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives. He had 10 points to investigate if we felt like our joy tanks were low. And honestly, I can say... My joy tank has been a little lacking these days.

My Joy in the Holy Spirit Increases When:

1. I spend sufficient time in the Scriptures He wrote
2. I repent of the sin He has convicted me of
3. I serve with the gifts He's given me
4. I forgive those who sin against me and pray for my enemies
5. I enjoy what I have and give generously
6. I pay attention to my health
7. I remind myself that joy is one emotion God gives
8. I share in the joy of others
9. I respond physically, trusting that my emotions will catch up
10. I plan fun and capture sacred moments as they come

Some of these I feel I do regularly. Some areas I could definitely work on. Definitely something to think about.

I have some other things that have resonated with me, but I'll save those for another day.

I'll leave you with these lyrics:

Arise, my soul, arise; shake off thy guilty fears;
The bleeding sacrifice in my behalf appears:
Before the throne my surety stands,
Before the throne my surety stands,
My name is written on His hands.