I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart!

Newsboys - Something Beautiful

From the album Go

I wanna start it over

I wanna start again

I wanna a new beginning

One without an end

I feel it inside

Calling out to me

Chorus:

It’s a voice that whispers my name

It’s a kiss without any shame

Something beautiful

Like a song that stirs in my head

Singing love will take us where

Somethings beautiful

I’ve heard it in the silence

Seen it on a face

I’ve felt it in the long hour

Like a sweet embrace

I know this is true

It's calling out to me

Chorus

It’s the child on her wedding day

It’s the daddy that gives her away

Something beautiful

When we laugh so hard we cry

Oh the love between you and I

Something beautiful

That is a great upbeat NEWSBOYS song! Many times we forget to think about something beautiful...and let it show on our face! I have actually seen people who think Christianity is some...thing that sobers people and beats them down and keeps them afraid to play cards because somebody might see them and think they're playing poker. I say "actually" as if you haven't seen those people. But I think it's amazing that they could even THINK that because it's so untrue!!!!!! Even some movies nowadays. Like when somebody gets saved in a movie they instantly change into something that never smiles anymore. Or when some movies portray Jesus the guy looks like he's so much holier-than-thou and real mopey! Ha! I just laugh!!! It misleads people to see those movies! I mean, it even messes me up when I think, "Ok, is Jesus REALLY gonna be like THAT?" or, "I'm saved and I sure don't act like that guy! It's not right... is it?" No, it's not, I'll tell you that right now. On the radio I heard a thing about how some people think heaven is going to be boring. DOINK! My head pops up! The guy said how could heaven possibly be boring? God is the source of fun and happiness and making people want to have fun, not Satan! And if we walk around with those "holier-than-thou" attitudes how are we gonna make people want what we have? If you see somebody like that do you go, "Whoa! What have they got that I don't? I wanna be like them!" Heheh. No. Christians should be the joy of the earth!!!!!! Come on people, lighten up and show your joy!!! If you have Jesus you have it, why hide it under a bushel? God raise up a world of happy-go-lucky Christians!!!:P

I Want To Be....Radical

One of my life verses is Romans 12:1&2. It says,
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (emphasis mine)
"Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." In our youth group we talk a lot about radical worship, and being a radical Christian. Altogether too often, Christians think of being a living sacrifice as being radical. It's not. This verse says that it is our reasonable service. It doesn't say that that's anything that makes you extra spiritual or something. It's just what you are supposed to be doing.
My desire is to be a radical Christian. Someone that witnesses fearlessly, and with everyone they know. Someone that people can look at and now that they have been, and are in the prescence of God. Someone that makes a difference, and spreads revival wherever they go. Can I do this? No. Can I do this with God? Yes.
Honestly, I know that I have a very very long way to go before I can even begin to be radical. But, that's what I think God has called me to. Verse two says, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind..." God doesn't call me to be as close to the world as possible, he calls me to be transformed! He calls me to be different. But, he calls me to that and so much more. The last part of the verse is this, "that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." God's good, acceptable, and perfect will is for us to be transformed. And he calls us to live that in front of others, so that they can see what God requires of us.
Altogether too often, Christians (or so they call themselves) don't live differently than the rest of the world. They do exactly what the world does. Lost people see them doing these things, and assume that they aren't any different from them. So, why should they change? They don't have a reason at that point. But, God calls us to live differently, and to let the world see that we live differently. This is your reasonable service.

What if I Was Honest?

There's a KJ-52 song that really talked to me, it says:
What if I spoke w/ complete honest-ness
What if told you that I’ve broken some promises
I dealt with pride ever since a little kid
I’ve comprised and I’ve doubted like Thomas did
I can’t hide though he sees the way I live
Every single time I told every little fib
I can’t deny cause he’s already knowing this...
I still got issues that’s hard to let go
Still got some bitter situations with a few folks
Still got a temper that I work hard to control
I gotta remember your standard that’s the goal

Can I be honest?
Can I be real?
Would they still just to how I feel?
But if I was honest ?
If I was real?
Would they even care about how I feel?

I’ve wanted to get back at those who tried to doubt me
I’ve wanted to hit back every time they tried to clown me
I’ve said some things about those that tried to down me
I’ve been too hard on some people that’s been around me
I’m a workaholic addicted to the game
Plus sometimes I’ve been addicted to the fame
I look deep inside things that I’m ashamed
Still the little kid conflicted still in pain

I’m so grateful when I think though how you found me
I used to be hateful of everything that’s around me
I’m so thankful of the way that you still surround me
So shameful yet you love me still confounds me
See I’ve put myself first
I’ve gone days sometimes without reading your word
I’ve acted like a huge jerk
Yet you still love me that’s the thing that I’ve learned...
Hindsight is 20/20 so I’m like whatever

But I regret some of my broken relationships
No matter how hard I’ve tried to just make em fit
And I don’t blame myself and I’m not blaming them
But too many up in my life have just came and went
I’m not perfect I serve a God who is
I serve a God who lives who says that I’m his kid
When I shoot for the mark but I shoot and miss
I serve a God who gives a new start and he forgives
And takes every thing I ever did
Then he throws it in the sea of forgetfulness
See I’m just being honest I hope your getting this
Cuz he’s my promise the reason that I live

I struggle with things everyday that no one knows about. Not even my closest friends. This song describes me. There were a few more lines to the song, and they're great, but they don't describe me. I tend to hide behind a smile, to pretend everything is okay, when it isn't. I cry on the inside, and long for someone to know, but how can they? I know God is there, he's the only thing keeping me from myself. I know he cares, he saved me. But, at the same time, I need someone there. And when I think I've hit rock bottom worst, I find that he's pulled me out, and given me the people in my life that I needed. He's always there, always providing for me.

So, what if I was honest? What if I told you that I feel like the hypocrite I am after most of my posts? What if I told you that I struggle everyday with giving everything to God? What if I told you I wanted so bad to do something I knew was so wrong? I'm being honest. I'm being real right now. I struggle everyday. I cry myself to sleep some nights. I long for attention from the people that don't give it to me. I do things for the wrong reasons. Why? Because I'm a sinner. And, yet, you know what? God always forgives, and sets me back on track.

You know how hard it is to write this? Harder than you know. Because, I have a pride problem. I tend to talk down to people, because it makes me feel smart, I guess. I hate to put myself in a bad light. But, you know what I've realized? I can be honest, because God saved me solely because of his wonderful grace. I don't have to care what people think, because my Savior loves me, and that's worth dying for.

Consuming Fire

The band Third Day has a song called Consuming Fire. Here's the chorus:
and yes our God,

He is a consuming fire
And the flames burn down deep in my soul
Yes our God He is a consuming fire
He reaches inside and He melts down this
cold heart of stone.

God is our consuming fire. At our church we talk alot about having a fire for God. But, one thing God really showed me is that to have a fire for God, it has to consume things in our lives. The only thing left when he's done is himself.
God should consume every ounce of your being. He should be all you need to live. You should be consumed in God. But, to get there is a very long and painful process.
God should be at work in your life. And, many times you will know it because you're experiencing pain. Discipline hurts. But, to be fully on fire for God, that's what you need.
Everyone's probably heard the saying: No pain, no gain. Well, it's true. Without pain, you wouldn't get the wonderful benefits of being on fire for God.

LOST

No not the TV show. When you think about people who are lost, what do you imagine? Is it those people so addicted to their sin, they just can't and have no desire to quit? You've shared Jesus with them, but they roll their eyes, scoff, and otherwise make fun of you and Him. You just throw up your hands and say, "Welp, they're just LOST!" Those kind of people are lost, but they've heard about Jesus. They have a seed planted in their hearts. Whether that seed is going to grow into anything is up to God, You've just gotta keep watering with your life. But those people are not who I'm talking about. I'm talking about the people that live well; people would think they were a Christian if they saw them. They don't go to bars, they're humble, they don't swear or shoot anybody. Whoo! But they have never heard the name JESUS. They wonder, "Is this it? We just be good and die and that's all? Is there something more to this life?" They want to know. They've never been to church - never been invited. You think, "If somebody would tell them JUST ONCE they would listen! They would know that there is more and act accordingly! God would love to have them for his kingdom!" Here's the thing...PEOPLE LIKE THAT DIE EVERY SINGLE DAY! And not just death. It's DEATH. The death of being tortured forever and spending eternity under God's frown - that's AWAY from God. And why is that? Why do they go to hell? BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW. It talks about it in Ezekiel 33:2-7

"Son of man, speak to your countrymen and say to them: 'When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman, and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not take warning and the sword comes and takes his life, his blood will be on his own head. Since he heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning, his blood will be on his own head. If he had taken warning, he would have saved himself. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away because of his sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.' Son of man, I have made YOU a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning for me."

So whose fault is it that that person, never being told that the sword was coming got slain? YOURS. MINE. Imagine you are a watchman on a big city wall, looking out, enjoying the view, eating your Crispy Cremes, and lookin good in your armor. *Oh, boy! This is the life* Then... wait a minute? What's that over there? Thousands of soldiers with weapons and scary stuff headed right for the city! What do you do? Say "Whoa! Check THAT out! Hey looky there! There's a guy going out of the city, what's HE doing? Whoops, they got him. Guess he didn't know they were out there." Uhh...no. What we do today with our cowardice and chickeness about sharing Christ with people is a thousand times worse. Watchman, you're supposed to leap up (forget about your Crispy Cremes:P), start blowing the little trumpet, and make a lot of noise. "The Sword is coming!!!! Save yourselves!!!" A LOT of noise:O THE SWORD IS COMING!!!! What are you doing about it? God said very clearly to give them warning. You gonna let that awesome chance to share pass by? We need to GET LOUD!!!

Think on These Things...

Philipians 4:8 says, "Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things."
Oftentimes, in our modern day world, we fill our minds with worthless things, and hence, think worthless thoughts.
We have to consider carefully whatever we "feed" our minds. The movies we watch, the books we read, the TV shows we watch, the music we listen to. Is it true? Is it honorable? Is it just? Is it pure? Is it lovely? Is it commendable? Is there any moral excellence and praise? If the answer to any of those questions, you probably shouldn't consume it. I love to read. But, I know that if I read the wrong kinds of books, my mind will be filled with the wrong thoughts. Another thing is that is our minds are filled with bad thoughts, we can't think about things that are true, honorable, just, pure and all that. We can't dwell on the things of the Spririt if we dwell on the things of the world. Sure, you might be able to cast an occasional thought towards God during church, but you won't be getting what all he wants you to get from the service. God has so many things for us, but so many times we think only of the world, and miss much of what he wants for us. So, before you read a book, watch a movie, turn on the TV to that one show, ask yourself, "Is this everything good listed in Philipians 4:8?" If not, don't watch it, don't listen to it, don't read it. It may seem boring and stupid at times, and even somewhat useless, but it helps your walk with God, and "feeds" your mind only the good things.

A Fit

Little Annie was running around the house with her doll, happily playing. When she came to the kitchen she saw her mother stirring something over the stove, and dollies became quite a boring play. "Mommy, can I stir it?" she asked.
"No, not right now. Right now it's hot. I don't want you to burn yourself."
Annie pouted and fussed, fumed and pushed, not realizing that her mother knew what was good for her and wanted the best for her.
Similar things have happened in our house with our babies, and it seems ridiculous that they would choose to wail and waller around on the floor because they can't do something that would hurt them. Why don't they just TRUST us?

Do you do that when God denies YOU something? All things work together for the good of those who love him. He ALWAYS has the best plan for you and if He says no do you pitch a fit? It's all a matter of trusting God. Right now we want to sell our house and find a house in Colorado. Nothin. God hasn't given us one. Now do we say, "WaAaAaAaA!!!!! But I WANT a house!!!! Being here without Dad is no good!" In other words, "But I WANNA stir it on the hot stove!!! Playing dollies is no fun!'', or do we say, "Well, alright, just tell me when you're ready to give us one" and go give our dollies a tea party? He has our best interest at heart. God will give us what he wants us to have when He's ready to give them to us. He gives good and perfect gifts.

I'm A Masterpiece!

I went to a retreat this weekend, and the focus of the whole thing was that we are God's masterpiece. When you look at the Mona Lisa everybody thinks of Leonardo da Vinci. When people see you, they should think of God.
But, the question for me was, "Do they?" When people look at me, do they see a work of God, or a thing that the Devil is using? Can they see the radiance of God in my face? Can they tell whether or not I'm saved by my actions? I can't tell you your answers to those questions. You have to deal with that.
Anyway, there were three sessions: The Price of a Masterpiece, All of My Best Friends Are Sinners!!!, and The Purest Place.
The Price of a Masterpiece was about how God has his signature on our life (like Leonardo da Vinci's!), but it comes at a great price. It also talked about how God individually designed each of us, so that no two are quite alike. Just think about that! God made you special, and unique! There isn't another one of you! God has a plan and a purpose for your life, which he reveal in his timing, not ours.
Another thing we talked about is how God is our Prince Charming. You know how in all the Fairy Tales, the Prince rescues the beautiful maiden, and they get married. But, God is our Prince! So many girls look to guys for the things that they think that they "need." But, God created those flowers for you, made that chocolate for you. And all that. But, God made it just for you! That guy might buy it for you, but God made it for you. That is more special than anything else. In a sense, God is your boyfriend.
Here are some scriptures that went with that session:
For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10

The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. John 10:10

Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Romans 12:2

My thoughts are completely different from yours, and my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. Isaiah 55:8

If we have trusted Christ with our salvation, we can say with certainty, "I am completely forgiven and am fully pleasing to God. Romans 5:1

Clean House

Remember when God first moved into your heart? It probably had a lot of dust everywhere, the strawberries were all moldy in your fridge, and all your rated R movies were all over the floor. You probably thought, "This place isn't fit for the King of the whole universe!" You did a lot of house cleaning - getting rid of all the junk and dust that you'd been living in before. But He helped you. You may have actually liked all that bad stuff so the habits were hard to break. I'm sure you're still cleaning up now!
But maybe Christ has lived in your heart a long time or most of your life! You think, "NOW the house of my heart is clean! God can relax in the living room without getting dust all over himself!" The living room maybe. But what about the closet of your heart? You know. The one you shoved some of your little bad things in. The one that has cobwebs in it. The one you don't like Him to go into. Perhaps it's not even a closet, maybe it's more like a drawer. The one you put your rolly-eye attitude in and THAT DRESS that shows a little too much. Your might think, "Well that's OK. Just a closet or a drawer doesn't matter." But...where's God gonna put his shoes? I'm sure you occupy your WHOLE house that you live in right now. I mean, there aren't any rooms that have nothing in them at all! God wants to occupy your WHOLE heart the same way. He wants that closet that you keep all your bad habits in to put his shoes in.
You might have tried to clean it before, but you gave up and said, "no matter how hard I scrub it, it just keeps coming back!" Ask God to help you scrub it. He may not do it right away, but not because he's forgotten. HE WANTS THAT CLOSET! With both of you working together as hard as your can, believe it or not, that closet can be clean! The dust probably will come back after awhile, but stay on top of it so it doesn't build up like it did before. Whether the dust is a lying problem, a temper problem, or just some kind of bad habit, you and God make a great cleaning team!

God, You Couldn't Understand!!!

Have you ever said that? Laugh, if you will, but this is serious. Sometimes we think God just doesn't know about that little thing. "Well, you know. God doesn't want to hear the details of my personal life!" Oh yes he does! God wants you to tell him everything. Everything. If something bothers you, God cares about it, because God cares about you. God wants to hear what that girl said, or what that guy did. Tell him what they did. Repent. But, just pour out your heart to God. God wants to hear what you thought about this or that. Because, God just wants to hear from you. Because, he delights in you. He loves you. He already knows what you're going to say, but he just wants to hear you say it. He loves you that much. He delights in just hearing your voice. So many times we treat God like a person who doesn't really know. He couldn't have know, could he? Well, yes God does. He knows about every little thing going on. And, he knows the answers to life's questions.
However, God is not a spiritual vending machine. God is your Father, and he wants to talk to you. And, he wants you to talk to him. Tell him everything. God truly understands what you're going through. Talk to him, and then listen for what he has to say. For he knows.

Purpose

Do you ever think, "Why was I put on this earth? What needs to be done that God would make ME to do it?" God makes everybody for a reason and believe it or not, you were put here for more than just to take up space.

I got one of mail survey forward things a while back and one of the questions was:"What is your dream?" I filled it out with what I figured I was gonna do when I grew up; get married, have those e-kids, etc. and went on to the next question. But for some reason WHAT IS YOUR DREAM stuck in the back of my mind. I began to think of what that WAS. So now I call my purpose in life "my Dream". I may not know what it is yet, but my dream IS to do what God made me to do.

My mom found her dream. She thinks God put her here to raise nine kids to do what He wants with. My brother's dream is to be a professional soccer player - the one that shares his faith during interviews. I'm still praying about mine. I still don't know what my PURPOSE is. Right now it's to be where I am! But an offering I someday want to make is to make a powerful christian movie I have in mind. (Don't laugh! I know it sounds weird) I want to do my best and hand it up and say, "this is for you God! You can do whatever you want with it!" He can shelf it, He can watch it a couple of times, or He can use it to win thousands for Him and I'll see that WAS my dream. I don't know. I just want to try my best (and get Him to help me!) and give everything I do to Him.

Your purpose in life takes work to achieve. Whether it's raising people that all have purposes of their own, sharing God with other people by the way you juke somebody out and shoot a ball, or making Him full-length films with no experience at all, it takes work. Your purpose, I can promise you IS NOT to be a sofa spud! You have to get up and pray, and honor God with your life and before you know it, your dream will jump out in front of you! My mom had no clue when she had her first baby that 8 more were on the way! My brother didn't know that when he said he wanted to play soccer when he was four, it would maybe be a statement he would say and mean for years and years to come. I don't know what your dream, your purpose is, but just do what God puts in front of you and do it your best so that it's like one of those white little lambs that they sacrificed to God. With no spot or stripes or bad stuff. And trust him. My sister's favorite quote is:"If God is your co-pilot, SWAP SEATS!" He drives you, so let him!

"God can do whatever He wants to do however He wants to do it. He can open what He wants to open and shut what He wants to shut." ~ Coach Grant Taylor

You're here for Him so live for Him.

Meggy T

Hello Ladies!

This is Meggy. God's Grace invited me to do this blog and I think tis a wonderful idea! Keep in mind she is more insightful than me!:) So anyway, I have 8 brothers and sisters and I am a HUGE Jesus Freak!! My other blog site is www.mt-thoughts.blogspot.com Hope you girls will benefit from this blog! God bless!

Meggy T

Emotional Purity

There are essentially three kinds of purity. Today, I want to briefly speak about the most difficult to keep: Emotional Purity.

One of the reasons why emotional purity is hard for so many is that our culture constantly bombards us with images, descriptions, tv shows, movies, songs, news reports, and other things, that honestly, shouldn't be spoken of with such freedom.
Purity is a beautiful gift that we must treasure, and guard. You see, the Devil would like nothing more than to take our purity. We must guard our purity.
But, first you might ask, "What is emotional purity?" Well, emotional purity is remaining pure in your mind. I can't tell you what that would mean for you. That, you have to work out with God, through the Scriptures. But, generally speaking, it means that you don't think romantically about a guy.

Emotional purity is essentially hard as it looks innocent when it comes. Maybe just a little crush on that one guy-it won't hurt anybody, right? Well, before you know anything, it grows. Pretty soon, everytime you see that guy you flirt with him. And, you dream about him at night. You wonder if maybe you'll marry him, and you hope so. Well, that is wrong. Here, you started out thinking, "Hey, if this hurts anybody, it's just going to be me, so, why not?" But, essentially when you start flirting with the guy, you are affecting him. And, you're affecting those watching you and judging Christianity by you. You tell them that Christians aren't any different than the rest of the world, and they don't need what you have.

We need to guard our emotional purity. When you feel yourself be attracted romantically to a guy, pray for him as your brother in Christ. You'll truly see a difference.

Part of the reason we have to deal with this is because all girls long for affirmation. Especially from guys. So, they think if they flirt they'll get that. And when they don't get that, they keep going until they are deep in sin. But, you won't ever find satisfaction in that kind of love. Ever. The only love you will ever find true satisfaction in is God's.