Two Things....

So......Kelsey and I moved last week resulting in no blog for lasts weeks class and no special feature youth girl.  I'm barely back on my feet and my brain is still shorting out as I explained to you girls last night in class. Not that things have been stressful or negative just overwhelmingly wonderful and flat out exhausting. I no longer have my beloved high speed Internet but thanks to Mineral Wells getting 3G  my parents air card is pretty fast and I am grateful!

I honestly barely remember last week's lesson so we will talk of last night's...."Two Things" ...there are multitudes of books and teachings some full of truth and wisdom, but with so many options we can easily lose focus. So we talked of  "Two Things"    1.To know God in revelation of Christ Jesus and    2. To know ourselves in light of that revelation.   We looked at Jesus' response to the 5,000 that awaited him after he and his disciples tried to get away for some restoration after the beheading of John the Baptist. Mark 6:30-42.  Exhausted and wounded Jesus tells his disciples "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." What beautiful words to hear from the Prince of Peace. Right before he calls them away it says they didn't have a chance to eat. I don't know about you, but I need to eat. I'm thinking... hungry, broken hearted, probably scared and definitely exhausted is not the condition you want to be in when you try to get away and then get faced with 5000 people, people hungry in every way. But instead of the many responses that we as humans can imagine ourselves having we see something different. We see a glimpse into the heart of God. vs. 34 says "When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things." When most would consider us a pain and an annoyance Christ looks at us with compassion. Even concerned by their physical condition,  Jesus provides a miraculous meal for the 5000... Beautiful.   We next looked at our own hearts in light of Christ's...We came face to face with the truth that we often lie to ourselves when it comes to the condition of our heart. "Our fallen thinking processes automatically justify our actions and rationalize our thoughts." We all agreed that it was time to wipe off the cosmetics covering the true soul within us, the soul Christ seeks to know, save and set free.

This weeks special feature! Summer Gage

This pic is my favorite...Summer in action!



I made her turn around so we could see her cute vest!

Summer is a joy and a delight to have. She is very intelligent and humble...an amazing combination. She knows much of the Word but keeps her knowledge to herself much of the time. When she speaks she is always right on and very wise.  Here is the scripture she selected....

"Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord"- and you forgave the guilt of my sin.  Psalm 33:5

Praise the Lord! He forgives the guilt of our sin!

Do you ever miss Jesus?

Do you ever just feel homesick for Him?  Kelsey and I have been packing all day and sorting through our stuff for a garage sale...He's in bed now and Im sitting in our packed up living room just marveling at the grace and mercy of Jesus.  It's been a weird past couple of weeks...haven't had youth girls in 2 Wednesdays (I miss yall so much) due to snowy weather. I've been very preoccupied with the move from our house, not so much productively but mentally.  I've done my normal routine of reading the Word and reading my books and even praying but I've just been missing Jesus...ya know missing his presence.  I told Kelsey before he went to sleep that I was feeling weird and just felt disconnected from the Vine....withering spiritually and as soon as I confessed that I felt the Lord calling. I came into the living room and got on my knees and poured out my confessions and told Jesus I am completely dependent on His grace even to have a relationship with Him. I asked for eyes to see and ears to hear, that he would lift the fog and fill me with the Holy Spirit as I emptied myself of self and flesh. And before even a minute passed Faithful and True was  pouring His love and presence on me....how does He do it...I'm just overwhelmed with gratitude and emotion thinking of his grace on me. His nearness truly is to us our good.  As I opened my eyes and looked up at the empty walls and moving boxes I was overtaken by His goodness...His hands are all over our lives...He's answering long lifted prayers of my heart. The reality of all Christ is to us and offers us is more than our minds can fully grasp but by His grace he gives us glimpses and they knock us off our feet.   Ya know that song "I can only Imagine"...overplayed and over sung I know, but I think about the part that talks about how we will react when we are finally fully in His presence..."Surrounded by your glory what will my heart feel? Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still? Will I stand in your presence or to knees will I fall? Will I sing Hallelujah or will I be able to speak at all?"  Well if how I react to his Presence on earth is a glimpse of heaven then I'll be on my knees speechless for sure! How about you...how do you react in His glorious Presence?