We Write out of Relationship

By Amanda Fergusson

We only have to look at the Psalms to see that every one of them is written out of relationship. Whether the psalmist is praising or lamenting, the foundation on which he addresses God at all is that he is in covenant relationship with Him. David, perhaps the greatest songwriter of all, wrote this as an epitaph on his life:
"The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man exalted by the Most High, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, Israel's singer of songs. The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; his word was on my tongue." (2 Samuel 23:102 NIV)
For David it was all about his relationship with God. When he sinned it was God who he felt he had offended first and foremost (Psalm 51:4) even though his sin had hurt others. When he won battles, he credited his victories to God (Psalm 18). Whether life was going well or times were tough, the songs he wrote were all viewed through the prism of his relationship with God.

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School

I start school today. Everything is going to be new for me since I just transferred from PCC to PSU. Everything is bigger, larger, louder...

I hope to gain as much knowledge as I can. I don't wan to take this opportunity of going to college for granted! Learn, interpret, and retain the knowledge I'm given.

I say goodbye to Summer and move forward to face Fall as it is; and as it progresses, I hope that the old leaves of my tree will fall, and make room for the newer ones that come along. Slowly, my brain strives to retain all the good it receives, as the neurons in my brain branch out to make new connections...

May this Fall be good. A new season, a fresh start.


Peace and God bless,

SD

Every good gift comes from above... every single one...

As I was scanning through one of the books I read recently, I found a statement of faith made by one of the most amazing man that have ever walked on the face of the earth... Besides Jesus, this man lived a purposefull life in wisdom and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

* For all of you guys out there who might not have a clue about what to make of your life, I would recommend that you learn and study the life of Jim Elliot. A true hero, who knew who he was, where he wanted to be, and the resources he had to accomplish the perfect will of God.

I took this quote from Shadow of the Almighty by Elizabeth Elliot.

"Because, O God, from Thee comes all, because from Thine own mouth has entered us the power to breath, from Thee the sea of air in which we swim and the unknown nothingness that stays it over us with unseen bands; because Thou gavest us from hear of love so tender, mind so wise and hand so strong, Salvation; because Thou art Beginning, God I worship Thee.
Because Thou art the end of every way, the goal of man; because to Thee shall come of every people respect and praise; their emissaries find thy throne their destiny; because Ethiopia shall stretch out her hands to Thee, babes sing Thy praise; because Thine altar gives to spawrrows shelter, sinners peace, and devils fury; because 'to Thee shall all flesh come,' because Thou art Omega, praise.
Because Thou art surely set to justify that Son of Thine and wilt in time make known just who He is and soon will send Him back to show Himself; because the name of Jesus has been laughingly nailed upon a cross and is even now on earth held very lightly and Thou wilt bring that Name to light; because, O God of Righteousness, Thou wilt do right by my Lord, Jesus Christ, I worship Thee."

In hot Pursuit,

SD...etc

Inusual

This song has been such a blessing for me. Because at all times, we can be certain that God's perfect plan is always the best for us. We don't have to understand it, because it's too perfect, yet, we can accept it and say Yes, and Amen to all of HIs perfect thoughts...
Lets not forget that it's all about HIM. Our most sincere, whole-hearted adoration, and praise, all for HIM.
We are to always lift our eyes up, and behold His precious face, the glow of His holiness, the sweeteness of His voice. Love Him, for who He is, because there's absolutely nothing that can separate us from Him.



Words and music: Bani Muñoz

De lo poco haces mucho

De la nada haces todo

Donde menos te espero estás

Eres inusual

Diste vida con tu muerte

Luz a la oscuridad

Hoy me quedo sin palabras

Y veo que eres real

Ya no dudo más

Ya no temo más

Solo creo en ti

Eres Dios Inusual

Tu amor sin igual

Mi papa celestial

Sobrenatural

Eres Dios Inusual

Tu amor sin igual

Mi Papa celestial

Nadie como tú

Powerful Attracion

by John Thomas

Two questions came to mind while lying awake at 3:30 in the morning listening to my neighbor’s dogs bark. First, how accurate am I with a frozen hotdog at 20 paces, given total darkness and a six-foot fence about mid-way? And second, how is it that women have all the power?

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Expressing our deepest longings

Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) was a Spanish reformer who earnestly sought to glorify God. This fact is demonstrated in one of the prayers he recorded in his journal:

“Dearest Lord, teach me to be generous; teach me to serve you as you deserve; to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and not to seek reward, except to know that I do Your will.”

If you were to write out a single prayer to express the deepest longings of your heart, what would you say?

The Road of Renunciation

What things has the Lord asked you to give up and you haven’t?

They might be dreams, desires, relationships; simple things such as a CD that shouldn’t be there…

These little things keep you away from having a closer relationship with God; from drawing near because you know that something in you isn’t aligned to the word of God. He doesn’t seek to "rule" over your life, and although He owns you - He is a gentleman, and won’t force things out of your life.

What part of being a “love slave” do we not understand? Being a love slave means choosing to belong to your Master for life, knowing that you do not own yourself anymore, but that you’ve submitted you entire life at His feet despite the fact you've been set free.

Let go of those things that keep you away from Him. Know that one day in His presence is sweeter and better than thousands of days out of His courts…

His paths and thoughts are so much higher, that we humans, will never comprehend them; we only have one choice, to embrace those thoughts, to accept the path of renunciation without looking back. This path is only for the few… for the humble one who has chosen to love his life last, and to love God above everything and anything. Only the brave choose this path, and thought there’s pain, they press on, they move forward, because they know that their greatest reward is to behold the beauty of the Lord, to see Him face to face…

Don't worry about your life now, because He owns it.

In hot pursuit,

SD

Prayer Insights

By: Dr. Steve Swihart
Here are some cautions you should be aware of each time you pray:

1. Do not trust in the number of your prayers, but in the number of God’s attributes.
2. Do not rely on the length of your prayers, but on the length of God’s grace.
3. Do not rest your heart in your sincerity, but in the Scriptures.
4. Do not focus on your problems, but on God’s promises.
5. Do not try to talk God into your own will, but try to get to the place where you are prepared to accept His will, whatever it is.
6. Do not become trial-centered, but Throne-centered. Remember Who's in charge.
7. Do not merely talk, but listen as well.
8. Do not stop believing when you stop praying.
9. Do not pray desperately FOR victory so much as FROM a disposition of victory because of the supreme sufficiency of God’s sovereignty and grace.
10. Do not pray your own prayers, but find out what God wants prayed.