can i just say that i have an amazing life for the next couple weeks? in 6 days i first get to spend an evening with my callan and then i'm flying to noman's land of the great south of mississippi to see the most precious family i know.
My girls :)
Maddie Paige age 5
Lauren Elizabeth age 3
Caitlin Grace 8 months
Then im seeing Phantom of the Opera in San fran on Sunday with bethers! a best friend, one of the most amazing musicals of all time, and san fran! who could as for more??
i've also been reading some good stuff in the Word lately. i was blessed to recieve an ESV study bible for my birthday and i love it! I've been reading out of Hosea and am continually blown away by my God's unconditional love for His people.
Then im seeing Phantom of the Opera in San fran on Sunday with bethers! a best friend, one of the most amazing musicals of all time, and san fran! who could as for more??
i've also been reading some good stuff in the Word lately. i was blessed to recieve an ESV study bible for my birthday and i love it! I've been reading out of Hosea and am continually blown away by my God's unconditional love for His people.
6:1-3:
"Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us;
he has struck us down, an he will bind us up.
After two days he will revive us;
on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.
Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; his going out is sure as the dawn;
he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth."
"Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us;
he has struck us down, an he will bind us up.
After two days he will revive us;
on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.
Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; his going out is sure as the dawn;
he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth."
There are times where HE tears us and HE strikes us down but never without healing us and bringing us back to himself. and he is as sure as the dawn. he will ALWAYS be waiting. ALWAYS rescue us. the most loving thing our God can do is show us himself and there are times when it takes him tearing us down for us to see Him. what a loving God that we can trust!
6:4-6
What shall I do with you, O Ephraim?
What shall I do with you, O Judah?
Your love is like a morning cloud,
like the dew that goes early away.
Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets;
I have slain them by the words of my mouth,
and my judgment goes forth as the light.
For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,
the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
What shall I do with you, O Ephraim?
What shall I do with you, O Judah?
Your love is like a morning cloud,
like the dew that goes early away.
Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets;
I have slain them by the words of my mouth,
and my judgment goes forth as the light.
For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,
the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
How often is our love for God fickle?! how often do we, like Gomer the prostitute, run to any and every earthly temperary satisfaction? what a good reminder that he disires our steadfast love. not our mindless spiritual checklist.
11:8-9
How can I give you up, O Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, O Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
How can I treat you like Zeboiim?
My heart recoils within me;
my compassion grows warm and tender.
I will not execute my burning anger;
I will not again destroy Ephraim;
for I am God and not a man,
the Holy One in your midst,
and I will not come in wrath.
despite our sin and fickle hearts, he still loves us like a father his children, and even more so! it is rare that we hear people describe their relationship with the Lord as warm and tender but that's our father! he desires to protect us and be tender and compassionate with us.
how thankful i am that my God does not act out of anger, but chooses to deal with me gently and compassionately. what an amazing God we serve!
How can I give you up, O Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, O Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
How can I treat you like Zeboiim?
My heart recoils within me;
my compassion grows warm and tender.
I will not execute my burning anger;
I will not again destroy Ephraim;
for I am God and not a man,
the Holy One in your midst,
and I will not come in wrath.
despite our sin and fickle hearts, he still loves us like a father his children, and even more so! it is rare that we hear people describe their relationship with the Lord as warm and tender but that's our father! he desires to protect us and be tender and compassionate with us.
how thankful i am that my God does not act out of anger, but chooses to deal with me gently and compassionately. what an amazing God we serve!
