God's Word to His Church, Harvest Church

Sunday, December 14th, 2008

Dad (Pastor Tim Atchley) gave an excellent word on giving. It was entitled...
"Never Say I Can't" and afterwards, we had a time of ministry from our "Wee Scottish Prophet" Joe Ewin via Skype. Joe Ewin shared that he heard the Lord speak to Him from Psalms 65:9-13 for Harvest Church. It an excellent word too, to sum it up... The key point to it was "God is going to crown our year with many blessings."

Psalms 65:9-12 in the NIV version says:

"You care for the land and water it,

you enrich it abundantly,

The streams of God are filled with water

to provide the people with grain.,

for so You have ordained it.

You drench its furrows

and level its ridges;

You soften it with showers,

and bless its crops.

You crown the year with Your

bounty,

and Your carts overflow with

abundance.

The grasslands of the desert

overflow;

the hills are clothed with

gladness.

The meadows are covered with

flocks

and the valleys are mantled with

grain;

they shout for joy and sing."

If you are at all like me, when you hear this, you breathe a sigh of relief with the image of a cruise-like future ahead of you. This is a promise abundance... what more could we ask for. We won't need or want for anything... in fact we're going to have more than enough.
These were my thoughts (in a sense) on Sunday the moment I heard that Word. In my mind it was timely and perfect. My company that I work for is going through very tremulous times, and I'm getting married in May. I really needed this Word.
Then, God spoke something to me very clearly, and He told me that I was not even in the ballpark of seeing the big picture that He had in mind for me, and even more importantly.... for Harvest Church.
You see, just before that Word, a just as timely one was spoken on giving. You wanna hear another crazy thing? All this week and even all last week, that was exactly what God was speaking to me. In fact, I taught on giving in my middle school class just that Sunday before
(the 4th).
God spoke something else very clearly to me,... the message that we heard on Sunday, and the prophetic word of encouragement from Joe Ewin later that same day, were to be seen and heard hand in hand. They were not separate, but rather they complemented one another in a very real way.

To continue my story, for two weeks God kept saying over and over again, "Give, give, GIVE" always three times in a row and over and over again. So, I kept trying to find more ways to give. Then, Monday, driving home from work, I once again heard God's voice whisper to me: "Give, give, GIVE". To which I responded this time, "God, I am giving... what are you trying to show me?"
His response both startled and confounded me, "To live abundantly, you MUST give abundantly. So, give in abundance that you may live in abundance."

Now, this may have been enough of an explanation for you, but it still confused me. But, I remembered Luke 6:38 (a scripture I'd used in my Sunday school class)

Give, and it will be given to you.

A good measure,

pressed down,

shaken together

and running over,

will be poured into your lap.

For with the measure you use,

it will be measured to you.

Then it hit me, God has supernaturally been showing this in the spiritual and in the physical and it's only just hitting me. Even in my office God has been using people to show me His intentions for Harvest Church.

Now, all of this may be a little muddled. It's taken me 3 days to get up the nerve to even try to communicate this because I know, that without the grace of God granting understanding, the weight of this will be missed. However, I want to say to you...

"Give, give, GIVE.... give abundantly that you may live in abundance."

We've heard some crazy words and promises but, let's not get caught up in the surface meaning and let's get down and let's ponder what God's really saying. This is the season in which we are supposed to lay aside current circumstances and give by faith. God said so. Let me tell you, He has some crazy things in store for us if we do.

Remember, "It is more blessed to give, than it is to receive."

Who's up for that blessing He's promised?!!!

Thankful, Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving this year was undoubtedly difference from what I have been used to. But then, so is so much of what is happening in my life this year. I found this reality made this Thanksgiving all-the-more sweet.

This year we were missing a few family members due to circumstances. Some live too far away to make it in, and others had to stay home with other family... on the flip side of this however, we added a few to the "family".

-note: you'll see Rambo in many photos... that is because, scoff as you might, he is part of our family :)

A very dear couple (friends of ours) opened up their home to us for our family to celebrate Thanksgiving with them. We drove up Wednesday evening to stay the night and begin our Thanksgiving early on Thursday. Mom's side of the family (excluding those I mentioned before) drove up Thursday at noon along with my fiance' Justin McConnell... and the celebrations began.

I will keep my narative short, because if I were to list all of the "goings on" of the day, it would be a post that you'd never finish. But, I must say, having my fiance' there with me was oh-so-special. I was able to fellowship with my family, which is extremely important to me, it makes me happy... and have him there with me! Life couldn't have been better.

This was the last year that I will celebrate Christmas with my family as an Atchley. However, as a McConnell, I trust family dynamics will remain sweet. I am very close to my family- my twin Sarah, my parents and my brothers. I suppose it comes along with being homeschooled, and learning to bear with one another through the trials of a father/husband in the ministry. There's a bond there I personally, don't think anyone else could touch.

I love the fact that my Justin, is loved by and loves my family. It does my heart good. So, for that... I am very Thankful This Thanksgiving.

Good Morning Dear Katherine!

This morning, I would like to honor a friend of mine who has been in my life for at least 7-8 years now. We've grown up together, changed with the seasons together, learned hard lessons together... and celebrated together.

Katherine Damron has been a faithful, loving dear friend for the entirety of my teenage years til now, and... I fully expect for a long time hence!

Dearest Katherine,

The Lord bless you today as you finish up some of your classes at Lee and begin your journey home for Thanksgiving! I love you so very much!

Thank you for always being faithfully there for me, in prayer, with support, and with the joys that come with growing through the seasons together.

Can You Rest?

Sometimes, words just simply aren't enough.

This past week has been so abundantly overflowing with the richness of God.

Do you know my God as one who gives much more abundantly than one could ever ask or think? I know Him.

He is the one who knows my deepest desires, and in turn, gives only what is better!

In uncertain times, of this I am truly certain: my Father will more - than sustain me. How do I know this? He has always been a more - than Father to me... He's unchanging... so He must be planning to always provide in this way, for His daughter.

His sustaining grace hasn't always been recognized by me. This is due to my understanding being so far below His and visa versa, His ways being so far above my own. He knows that to reach me and to provide for me, he must go deeper than I can myself, possibly go. I see the superficial need, the need that is on the surface, He see's the needs of my heart and of my soul. He will always reach these before He ever touches the surface.

Thus, though at first, I may not see His hand reaching into my circumstances, I can know that I know His hand is there!

Thus, just as was shared this past Sunday, I can be continually encouraged even when discouragement is the trend of the world and... even some believers.

Why? Because I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that God is going to more-than sustain me. He is going to touch and enrich my very being. Circumstances are surface issues, while larger issues are being dealt with,. My soul, my inheritance, my very worth is wrapped up in His loving arms even through these days.

I rest, I in fact am at peace knowing that I am in my Father's care. Can you rest?

My God is So Good *To Me*

Saturday, November 8, 2008

My parents 22nd anniversary was today. They're celebrating 22 years of life and love together. Today, I can honestly say that they are more in-love with one another than when they first began.

I've always cherished this about them and have determined, that come my time to marry, it will be with a man who will love me more and I him each and every year we're together just like how my parents share.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

I took a trip to the mountains with my Justin McConnell. We drove the loop and looked at the colors in the trees.... all the while listening to James Taylor, "How Sweet it is to be Loved By You". Then we drove on to Gatlinburg to ride the Trolley of Lights... it's a trolley that takes you through all of the Christmas lights in Gatlinburg.

After a much longer time on the trolley than we both would've thought :) Justin took me to a nice restraunt in Gatlinburg.. where we had Fettuchini Alfredo.

From there Justin drove me to a park, and under a gazebo that he had filled with lit candles... he pulled out his guitar and sang to me a song he wrote-- FOR ME!!!!

Then, much to my surprise out of his pocket comes a white box, he's on his knees... asking if I would be his wife.

So, ladies and gentlemen... soon, I will be Mrs. Justin McConnell!!!!!!!

I couldn't be more happy... I love this man so much!

I have been wordless for sometime now.
Sorry,.
Forgive my boring page while my spirit is slowly being refreshed.
Once my cup begins to "runeth over" I will for sure post something on here: )

Vols- 2008!!!!

As most (who follow SEC or college football) know, our beloved VOLS are not doing too hot this season. Much as it pains me to say it, the fact is: we STINK!

Even so, this past Saturday (the 25th) it was a must for my family (excluding Sarah who was at the game), Justin and myself to watch the Alabama Vs Tennessee football game. You see, every year when it comes to Alabama, not only is it a huge college rivalry over all, but there is always some friendly rivalry between my mother, our dear Elaine Slay and our beloved apostle Pete Beck.

The candy-bar bets are set, the friendly banter via the phone past, the TV is on, the chips come out, the Dr Pepper is ready, Rambo is wearing his Tennessee “necktie” and orange and white paraphernalia litters the room while we settle in to watch this oh-so-tense rivalry game. All bets are on and constantly in the back of our minds, while the glimmer of hope (hanging by a thread) remained that Tennessee would somehow pull off a miracle.

The “T” parted and out ran our mediocre players as fans who’ve turned sights on hope rather than reality cheered and waved their orange and white painted up arms in the air. Smokey barked, Davy Crocket himself there to watch and we all felt this deceptive voice in our mind that said, “maybe this time, just maybe, we’ll win.”

Field goals, touchdowns and bad calls later… heads hung low as Alabama became victorious.

The game was over.

It would have been a melancholy moment had the process of watching the massacre of the Tennessee Vols not been so DARN FUN -:O

The fellowship was sweet, the willingness that all showed to put forth some hope, the yelling, the jumping, the waving of arms, the cheering and the geering at refs… made it a blast and, in the end…It was a good day!

It isn’t whether we win or loose… it’s how we watch the game.

Fact is… that’s the BEST PART.
Fellowship with family, bets with friends along with some friendly trash talk was what made the game. I didn’t care about the Vols or whether we won or lost in the end. All I could think about was… How fun it was to be with family!

Good Days- The CCA Smokey Mountain Getaway

The Mountains

Our Little Friend (whom we met on the hayride)

Our Marrie Couple

Katherine's Friend from Lee:)

Our Men....

Thay-wah Bo- Jean

Michael, enjoying a hotdog

Mauk

Megan

Matt-a-Beany

Katherine- A.K.A. Kate

Katherine and her Lee friend

My Justin and Me: )

Our Beautiful Journalism Girl Liz

My handsome man, Justin

Precious Emily Prince

Always Smiling: Christina Damron

Emily Prince

Jonathan--- SMILING!!!

Mountains

To Come to the End of Yourself

I found the “end of myself” (or rather the end of one facet of myself—there is so much flesh yet to overcome) this weekend. It was a painful, humbling, freeing process.

Finding the end of yourself is not a beautiful thing at first by any means. You look at yourself and all you can see is the grime, the sin, the ugliness of human nature, the lack of faith, the self centered-ness, the stench of being unthankful, etc.

I’d manipulated situations, even tried to manipulate God in order to get my own way… and I couldn’t do it any longer… I broke down, made a fool of myself, gave up… etc, etc. etc. -------------I’d come * da dum * -- to the end of myself.

I looked at myself this weekend in total, unutterable disgust. I couldn’t bare myself, and I wondered, even more so… how it was anyone else could.

Some would say, oh! But Grace, Grace! And, indeed they’d be right… but, God knew I needed to become disgusted. I needed to see all of that for what it was before I’d realize how much I needed that Grace.

You see, in God’s mercy… He forgives me… by His grace, I came to the end of myself. It was His grace that caused me to loose my monopoly-like game and to see it for what it was. Without his grace, my hair would still be falling out, and stress would remain my middle name.
I didn’t see this until Sunday though.

During worship as we were singing Father of Creation… I clearly heard the Lord say, “It is for such a time as this that you are called.” What?! I don’t know about you, but this made no sense to me. Then, I remembered, Saturday at the ladies meeting mom had shared on a woman named Cecilia (am I right? I don’t remember names very well). This woman was vastly different from the culture… even the “Christian” culture. She was a strong woman. Mom ended with saying, we are “called to be strong women.”

I just pondered that for a while, and then… Randy Reid was called upon to preach… and it was marked for me. I felt like I’d sat on that front row with a target taped to my forehead and subtitles running through my eyes reading everything that I’d been through just the day before.
God read my mail… and, I thought I’d feel horrible… I thought I’d be distraught, broken, disheartened. I knew I should feel like a failure, like I should be ashamed… but instead, I felt released! The joy of GRACE covered my during this sermon and the revelation of the grace that comes from repentance tore through my being and ravaged my human understanding.
This was freedom! The laying aside of my desires, of my manipulative lifestyle, etc… was a gift of freedom!

What’s the song say, “So, won’t you give your all to Jesus? Because there is freedom!” I really and truly do need to be free of myself to be strong… I found myself to be absolutely, without a doubt, weak. Just to be lifted up and told, “I chose the weak things of this world to lead the strong.”

Oh the grace God has for me. Let me never forfeit it for my “own strength” because inevitably, there will be a day when I do not find the end of myself… when the grace for that is taken from me, and I will live according to my own desires in misery. God truly does know best for me… and now, I must believe it.

Lord, I believe, now help my unbelief.

Blessings Upon You and Your Family

I would like to just take a moment to recognize someone who’s silently served (in a GREAT way) the body of Harvest Church for years. This person can be accurately defined as the body’s Prayer Warrior.

There have been many times there’s been a need, and this person steps up consistently to the plate. Anytime I’ve found myself in need of encouragement, I’ve received a letter in the mail reading exactly with what I needed to hear. Consistently this person will hear the voice of the Lord on behalf of someone else (probably- most likely- due to already having been in prayer for them) and they’ll act on it.

In a season of need, there’s been the perfect gift at my door, in a dry season, there’s been a note in my mailbox, in a desperate season, there’s been exactly what that season calls for placed in my hands… But, more than anything… in EVERY SEASON I can bank on having this person pray for me almost- if not- daily. That means more than anything to me…

I know for a fact, that this person is the hands and the feet of the church. This person sends up the prayers that I know God hears… and this person is the helper to our Pastor Tim and his wife Sheila in this way.
“This person” is none other than our very own, Jamie Hemphill!

Good morning Jamie!

I hope you have a great, big, beautiful day today and that on this day the Lord finds you blessed!
Thank you Jamie, for all you’ve done and for all you do. It’s more than you’ll ever know. I truly believe that your reward in heaven is going to be GREAT due to your service here in Harvest Church.

I love you!

PS. The photo is of Justin and I on vacation... you know why I use it :)

"God is In the Small Things"

There is an old saying that has floated around here and there for as long as I remember.
The person it orginated from is unknown by me, as is the person who first told it to me. But, it's in the back of my mind at present. It goes something like this,

"God is in the small things."

That's it. That's all there is to it; short, sweet, simple and to the point. God is in the small things.

This happens to be true (I believe) much of the time. We take for granted the small things while we search desperately for the next miracle, or supernatural act of God, just to satisfy our many curiosities. Meanwhile all around us are testiments to His greatness and more-over... His love for us.

This is applicable in any and every area of this life; I garauntee it.
However, I want to focus on something that has slowly been sprinkling my heart lately.
(I say sprinkling because I don't feel that I've quite received the full flow of revelation yet.)

What about the gifts? -Not specifically the Spiritual gifts, although they will apply... I'm speaking even of your (my) personal gifts.

We could sit back and examine everyone's gifts, compare them to our own, or try to make a recipe of our desired gifts. But, there is something so much better.
We need to take our eyes off of the spiritual-personal gifts catalog and recognize what the Good Lord has already given us. "Be faithful in the small things that the Lord has given you and you will be made ruler over much."

You may not be the next greatest teacher, but you're one crazy good cook.
"If you love me,.... (then) feed my sheep." Mark 21:17

You may not be the next pastor, but you can make anyone feel at home where ever you are.
"Share with God's people who are in need, practice hospitality." Romans 12:13

You may not be the next Sarah Palin (women) but, you can care for your children and your household like no one else.
Proverbs 31

I am telling you, that as sure as I write this now, no one can do what you do better. I don't care what it is, I don't care how large or small.
We are most guilty of considering what we do small, insignificant or meaningless; when all scripture is clearly saying the opposite.

What has God given you to steward- God is in the "small" things!

Tonight, as I sat down to stir up some thoughts to decorate my blog page and maybe elicite some response I did what comes natural to me... I created atmosphere.
I cleaned up my room a bit, turned on some relaxing music, opened my window to listen to the water fall and the outside crickets and lit some candles. Instantly my room became filled with the night air breeze, the room smelled of vanilla (from the candles) and the spirit of the Lord filled my room along with the music that I put on.

I'm not bragging when I say, that's a gift.
Im proud of my gift! God gave it to me! Why shouldn't I take pride in MY gift?

I have the gift of creating an atomosphere that fills my heart with peace and joy wherever I am. I love beautiful things, so I like to create beauty around me if I feel enough doesn't exsist.

This isn't the gift of healing, of prophecy, of teaching... no, but it's my gift and God is in it!
God is proud of it and I do, I steward it, I caress it, I love it and I care for it.

I will not flaunt this gift, that wouldn't be right. But I recognize that God gave it to me as surely as he gave that man the gift of prophecy or that woman the gift of teaching...

It may be seeminly small, but it's not... God's in it:)
God takes delight in the fact that I delight in His gift to me.

I encourage you today, take delight in your gift, even if it's a "small thing" to our human eyes and understanding. Why? Because "God is in the small things."

Taking a Walk

Yesterday evening, I made every effort to get to Seqouah Hills (sp?) right before/at sunset. Sunset and sunrise are my very favorite and probably the best times to take outdoor photos.

I packed my camera, brought extra batteries, put on my tennis shoes, a baggy sweatshirt, threw my hair up in a messy bun and ran out the door. I thought my photography adventure would not begin until I arrived… However, the Lord had something so different in mind.

I rolled down my windows (because it felt so good outside) and began to soak in the weather, tuned my music station to worship and drove. Immediately my soul began to feel refreshed. My heart began to skip and dance and the Lord began to whisper comfort to my spirit.

You see, once again… the Lord knows you better than you know yourself. The Lord knew my spirit has been in need of some refreshing; that my disposition has been struggling a little as of late. And He knew just how to meet me where I was and help me. I though I was just going to go take some pictures, what was really happening was God had taken me away to become refreshed.

By the time I arrived at my destination, my spirit was soaring. I thought:

“Oh, these pictures will be wonderful.”
Thus, I began to walk looking for photogenic moments… but, I began to people watch (I’m really very guilty of this quite often).

The Lord spoke to me in that moment. I watched as all these people jogged, ran and rode their bikes. I watched them as the pushed themselves to the limit (there are even mile markers to let you know how far you've gone) and I found myself thinking " if only they’d slow down, they’d get to see the beauty of this sunset"… the way the light is reflecting off the leaves and filtering through the branches creating blotches of shadows on the gravel. They’d see the few leaves that have turned a fiery-red already, and they'd take in the magnificence of the surrounding houses.
But, you see…. This place is a place that revolves around show. Every house is over-the-top ornate and wealthy. The landscaping is pristine, the people there are well to do and the expectations of these well to do are very high.

I observed all of these people running and realized, that I was very out of place, in a messy bun, jeans, old tennis shoes and a oversized sweatshirt, while every other person there was wearing their Nike running shorts and tops, their biking suites and any other imaginable athletic wear. Geared up from head to toe in the finest of athletic wear these people were out running, not just for health’s sake, but for the image that it will gain them.

Please tell me, why is it necessary to gear up to run in a neighbor hood? Would you do it in your own? No, I think not. No, these people knew where they were running and who would be watching, thus, the “dressed for the occasion”… No one was walking (besides myself), all were pushing themselves to the limit in their garb. Why? Possibly because it was expected, everyone else there was doing it.

I kept walking, my ears tuned to the gravel that was crunching underneath my feet. For some reason it calmed me to hear it. The relaxed timing of it was a stark contrast to the sound of others running by… I found my pace much more pleasant to the ears and found it lent to more opportunities to hear the birds, the crickets and other pleasant outdoorsy songs. As soon as you pick up the pace, the sound of the gravel was no longer pleasant, but it rather drowned everything out, even my thoughts out.

My eyes met with inquisitive passers by as they noticed my smiles and my thoughtful expressions as I wondered at trees and scenery with my camera in hand. You could tell a select few would’ve loved to sacrifice their pressure to keep an image for just a moment to inquire as to my purpose; but alas, they did not.

They missed out.

God was calling me to take a breath… to take things in, to take Him in. He knew my heart loves beautiful things, and He allowed me to see them, and even contrast them to those who would sacrifice the beauty of that moment for running with their eyes closed.

My camera tried to capture those moments… but it only captured pictures that don’t do justice. It couldn’t capture the voice of God whispering in my ear, the sorrow of some of the hearts on bikes and in running shoes, or the joy of my heart for the gift of relishing this beauty. It could not capture the sound of gravel under my feet, or the rhythm of a pace reflective of Jesus’ words in my heart. It could not capture the stark contrast of the grandeur of homes around me against the oversized sweatshirt on my back. It could not reflect the joy of being so different that evening from everyone else who didn’t know how to slow down and listen.

It would be merely a picture… thus, in an attitude of relaxation, I’m afraid I only took a few pictures… but! There will be another time for that also.

Missing Photography

Today is lovely, the sky is perfect, the weather breath taking…. And I am longing to capture it with my camera.

It feels like it’s been eons since I’ve been able to take a camera out for the soul purpose of capturing what my eyes find to be beautiful, and it’s killing me.

So, my friends, after work today (which cannot come too soon with weather like this) I am off!!! Off to Sequoiah (sp?) Hills where I will click that shutter until my heart’s content… and you will see the fruit of this demeanor of mine, posted soon enough.

I hope you all will enjoy the photos that come as a result, but I guarantee you won’t enjoy it as much as I will.

Photos are captured moments for me.

My eyes are always searching for beauty… it’s in my nature.

My heart yearns for beautiful things… thus, taking a photo of what causes my heart to skip a beat, or to smile… satisfies me to no end.

My friends, fasten your seat belts and prepare (hopefully) for a barrage of photos yet to come, reflective of what makes my heart feel warm:)

To the Man Who “Holds” My Heart

There are a few men in my life… my Heavenly Father, my earthly father (Tim Atchley), my brothers (Josiah and Isaac Atchley) and the one who’s steadily taking winning my heart Justin McConnell… My Man

The Lord takes you through seasons, and with each new season comes new relationships.
My relationship with Justin has been growing for over a year now… almost 14 months to be exact. And, every moment has been a gift from God.

Justin continues to amaze me as he grows with Christ and determines to walk according to His will. As he listens to the voice of the Lord speak to him regarding school, work, a calling, etc, etc, etc…

He’s been a blessing by being consistent. Is he perfect? No! -sorry Justin
However, I can bank on his hearing the Lord when it’s necessary; I can bank on his being honest with me,;I can bank on the fact that in the end he’ll do the hard thing; I can bank that in difficult times, he’s gonna stick to it and through it; and I can bank that he’ll be willing to pay the price for Christ.
Which, in turn, means that he’ll do the hard thing for me if it comes to it, because Christ has placed me in his life and he will steward that calling just as much as any other.

It is not yet time for my heart to be “completely turned over” to him… but, in the season that God has us in, and with what God has allowed me to in-trust to him, Justin has proven consistently trust worthy and faithful to care for it.

Justin has a servants heart that touches me daily, a perseverance that I admire and a humility that I wish I had.
He’s honest, loving and completely doesn’t care about “keeping his cool”.

There’s a Michael Card song “God’s Own Fool” that I love that makes me think of him when I hear it:

Seems I've imagined Him all of my lifeAs the wisest of all of mankind
But if God's Holy wisdom is foolish to menHe must have seemed out of His mind.
For even His family said He was mad
And the priests said a demon's to blame
But God in the form of this angry young man
Could not have seemed perfectly sane.

Chorus

When we in our foolishness thought we were wise
He played the fool and He opened our eyes
When we in our weakness believed we were strong
He became helpless to show we were wrong.

And so we follow God's own fool
For only the foolish can tell-Believe the unbelievable
And come be a fool as well.

So come lose your life for a carpenter's son
For a madman who died for a dream
And you'll have the faith His first followers had
And you'll feel the weight of the beam

So surrender the hunger to say you must know
Have the courage to say I believe
For the power of paradox opens your eyes
And blinds those who say they can see.

So we follow God's own Fool
For only the foolish can tell
Believe the unbelievable, And come be a fool as well.


Get to know Justin, and you’ll see this is the call that he’ll put out to you. This "foolish faith" is the faith that he walks in.
For every moment of fellowship you’ll share with him, you’ll get to see this heart and you’ll come to love it, just as I have.

I may be his girlfriend, but even as believer in Christ, I could recognize his heart…

If all of this is a little much for you - I don’t apologize.
The scriptures say to “encourage one another…” so, why shouldn’t I begin with a man who means much to me?
Why shouldn’t he and I, even now, begin the practice of “building one another up in our most holy faith”?
Better now, than realize suddenly later, that it’s necessary and not be sure where to begin.

So, My Justin… keep up the good work… I love you for it.

Selah

This weekend has been full of lessons, thoughts, and God moments for me. I feel that at every turn, something was being spoken to my spirit.
After the sermon this past Sunday (which only confirmed what the Lord had been trying to speak to me over the weekend) I just felt an instant need to come away… to think, to ponder and to meditate.

I, as of yet, haven’t necessarily had the opportunity to do so.

Last night was CCA (which, by the way, those who missed truly missed out. It was Holy Spirit inspired, challenging, encouraging and strengthening… which sweet fellowship and wonderful conversation.) and, this morning I have to work.

However, I am in a Selah state. My mind and my heart are simply fixated on the things of the weekend. This could also be labeled as a “meditative state” which is biblical, yes.

In the Psalms the word Selah is used relatively often.

Out of curiosity, I decided to see what the online Websters had to say about Selah….

Surprisingly enough here’s what it said:

- a term of uncertain meaning found in the Hebrew text of the Psalms and Habakkuk carried over untranslated into some English versions.

You know what I discovered through this? The world is simply uncomfortable with Selah because it’s the moment that is reserved completely for the thoughts revolving around Christ and Christ alone.

In an online search for a Strongs concordance, here is what I found:
#5541 Calah (saw law’) a primitive root; to hang up, i.e. to weigh, or to contemplate, to tread down, to value.

#5542 Celah (seh law) from 5541; a suspension (of music), i.e. to pause--- Selah

So, to Selah, is to pause what’s going on around you, to weigh, to contemplate, to take time to break it down and to value something. It is a suspension of current ongoings in order to value something that was just said specifically by Jesus himself.

There is no doubt in my mind that this weekend has been Jesus’ whisperings to my heart. That conversations, scripture and the relationships that have been cultivated this weekend were directly from God to myself… So what am I going to do with it?

God says to my heart, Selah.But God, I must work….. SelahBut God, my favorite show’s on…. Selah

Take sometime, come away--- Selah.

David was near and dear to God’s heart, why I wonder??

Selah

The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength

You know the scripture, “The joy of the Lord is your strength”

--I know you do.

But, do you walk according to that scripture? Do I walk according to that scripture. What about the tough seasons? The times in your life where everything feels heavy, and times are hard.

What about the times when circumstances feel overwhelming (but never really over-whelming because God promises it will never make it there)?
How do we walk in the joy of the Lord through these times?

I confess I haven’t been. Times have been difficult emotionally for me. Does that mean circumstances have been really hard?

Not necessarily… though they’re not easy they’re not terrible either.

It's been simply, a season of learning God’s will for my life, which requires dying to self, which, by the way, isn’t always a walk in the park.

So, how can I find the joy of the Lord in order that I can walk through this with His strength?

My dad always said, that the surest way to be happy, or to have joy, is through thankfulness.

(The above isn’t in quotes because I’m paraphrasing, those aren’t exact words; however, they are the same concept.)

It’s the truth, the quickest way to depressions is to be ungrateful, and visa versa, the surest way to find joy, is through thankfulness.

Do not despise or take for granted anything the Lord has given to you, because as sure as I stand here today it will be the cause of your ruin.
There is such strength to be drawn from recognizing that you are thankful (for instance) for your family.

Think and reflect for a moment on your spouse, kids, sister, brother, parents, cousins, grandparents…god parents. Reflect on the happy moments, on the joys they’ve brought you, on the significance of theirpresence in your life, and find yourself being thankful.

Think about your friends, the strength they’ve provided when you’ve needed it, the laughs, the hurts…everything. Find yourself thankful for being surrounded by multitudes who care for and love you, allhandpicked by God for your benefit.

Think about the smallest moments in a day where something touched your heart…. Find yourself being thankful.

I have news for you, if you’re thankful, if you’re finding yourself mulling over the things in your life that you’re thanking God for, you are finding yourself thankful and you’re building up your spirit.

That is the joy of the Lord, and this, is your strength.

Your strength, my strength, is being always able to find something to give thanks about which in turngives us joy, which in turn gives us a continual access to strength.

The world doesn’t have this, thus, they’re without hope. We brothers and sisters in Christ, have hope.Always, we will hope and always we will be joyful, because what is there that’s greater than what He’s already given us?

I'm thankful for my handsome man, Justin. Who's passionately in love with Jesus and also, passionately in love with me. :)

I'm thankful for family that gathers together regularly to celebrate relationships and thank the same Father, Jesus Christ.

I'm thankful for this moment, the beauty that comes with the journey.I'm also thankful for this moment, a deer no more than 5-10 feet from my car just this past Saturday.I'm thankful for my Rambo Beanie who loves dad bestest, but loves me second bestest lol : )