Absolutely In Love

I am in love with these pictures of some lovely people who are very much in love. They are my favorite engagement session ever. (I can say that because they are the first) Please check out their post at Pebbles of Joy and leaves oodles of comments!

Aimee and Mike

The Theraputic Gospel

One thing about Christian counseling today really bothers me. It is not to be similar to the world’s Psychology. I have really enjoyed this two part series on counseling by David Powlison.

Click here for part one

The Inquisitor’s {Satan’s} gospel is a therapeutic gospel. It’s structured to give people what they want, not to change what they want. It merely makes people feel better. It centers exclusively around the immediate welfare of man and temporal happiness. It discards the glory of God in Christ. It forfeits the narrow, difficult road that brings deep human flourishing and eternal joy.

This therapeutic gospel accepts and covers for human weaknesses, seeking to ameliorate the most obvious symptoms of distress. It takes human nature as a given, because human nature is too hard to change. It does not want the King of heaven to come down. It does not attempt to change people into lovers of God who embrace the truth of who Jesus is, what He is like, what He does.

And Part Two

There’s a saying in mercy ministries that runs like this, “If you don’t seek to meet people’s physical needs, it’s heartless. But if you don’t give people the crucified, risen and returning Christ, it’s hopeless.” Jesus fed hungry people bread, and Jesus offered His broken body as the bread of eternal life. It is ultimately cruel to leave people in their sins, captive to their instinctive desires, always self-preoccupied, under curse.

The current therapeutic gospel sounds tender-hearted at first. It is so sensitive to pressure points of ache and disappointment. But in the end it is cruel and Christ-less. It does not foster true self-knowledge. It does not rewrite the script of the world. It creates no prayers or songs.

We must be no less sensitive but far more discerning. Jesus Christ turns human need upside down, creating prayer. He is the inexpressible Gift of gifts, creating song. And He gives all good gifts, both now and forever. Let every knee bow, and let everything that has breath praise the LORD.

 

Calm My Anxious Heart Pt. 2

Never allow yourself to complain about anything – not even the weather

Never picture yourself in any other circumstances or someplace else.

Never compare your lot with another’s

Never allow yourself to wish this or that had been different

Never dwell on tomorrow- remember that [tomorrow] is God’s not our’s.

Contentment is a state of the heart, not a state of affairs. Contentment is seperate from our circumstances.

My crown is in my heart, not my head, not decked with diamonds and Indian stones, nor be seen; my crown is called content. A crown it is that seldom kings enjoy.

Contentment occurs when Christ’s strength is infused into my weak body, soul and spirit.

It’s our “helping God out” that leads to an anxious heart.

Contentment is accepting God’s sovereign control over all of life’s circumstances.

Two women looked through prison bars, one saw mud, the other saw stars.

God says His peace follows our choices.

Beware of what you dwell on for that you shall surely become” – RWE

Our thought life – not our circumstances – determine whether we are content.

Choosing to give anxiety to God
Choosing to pray specifically
Choosing to be thankful
Choosing to dwell on the positive

…If we are displeased with our physical form, we’re really arguing with God.

Too often in our lives accomplishment and doing over shadow grownth and becoming.

Rule: When we rule we make decisions regarding a matter’s course and destiny.
Subdue: When we subdue we bring something under control by conquest & maintain control by diligent maintenance.
Produce: when we produce we create value by multiplying.

All roles provide opportunities. If we want to be women of contentment, we must choose to accept our portion, our assigned roles from God.

Our assigned role is also a trust.

All the hurt, fear, and rejection you have ever felt is what the Lord Jesus felt in the garden of Gathsemane

Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hate.

“Forgiveness is an unatural act.” – Philip Yancy

Forgiveness is not a feeling but a secret choice of the heart.

“I distinctly remember forgetting it.” – Clara Barton

What I choose to be – faithful to God
What I choose to do – forgive others, go beyond forgiveness
What I choose to say – words of blessing and love.

Three barriers to contentment: greed, a lack of purpose, & anxiety

“To Americnas, usually tragedy is wanting something very badly & not gettting it.” – Henry Kissingger

Greed builds a barrier that keeps us from becoming content with what God has given.

Sadley, greed is a downward spiral that leads to envy. Envy leads to debt. All lead to discontent

1) Everything belongs to God
2) Heart attitude is the issue (Ps 62:10)
3) God comes first and possessions come second
4) Possessions are to be used, not loved.

*Search your heart – Ps 139:23-24
*Cut the ropes
*Beware of some seasonal greed
* Have an attitude of grattitude
* Share your wealth

Resolved, to live with all my might while I do live
Resolved, never to lose one moment of time to improve it in the most profitable way I can
Resolved, never to do anything I should despise or think meanly of in another.
Resolved, never to do anything out of revenge
Resolved, never to do anything that I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.

Friends with Cake

When I was about ten years old I met Rebecca at a training session my brother went to. We worked with her once again a couple of years later, and then lost contact. Until a few months ago when we found out we live only a few miles apart, we had never heard anything from her. Now we are re-connected, and she has been an amazing friend. The other night she was able to come over for dinner (chicken tetrazzini cooked by yours truly), and then we sang and had devotions together. Thanks for coming Rebecca, you are always welcome!

(And of course, what would a post on Only One Life be without pictures?!)

 

 

She made a delicious chocolate rasberry cake! When I was taking pictures she goes “oh, is this what life is like with a photographer in the family? Pictures at dinner? ‘Hold it, don’t eat that yet, I didn’t get a picture!’” Pretty much!

And in case you were thinking that this was a quiet little dinner, with a lovely little dessert baking, sitting quietly in the corner girl, here is a picture to prove otherwise:

Calm My Anxious Heart

This has been one of my favorite finds in the book world lately. I took so many notes, and I wanted to share them with you all.

“My feelings are strong but:
God’s word is truer than anything I feel
God’s word is truer than anything I experience
God’s word is truer than any circumstances I will ever face

The problem: Living by feelings
We live by our feelings and what we can see.
The result of living by feelings? An Anxious heart.

The Solution: Living by faith
We must live by trusting God for what we cannot see.
The result of living by faith? a calm heart

Faith looks to God but feelings look to what is going on around us

True faith is always active

“Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.” ~ Isaiah 50:10

Faith says God sent it, so it must be good for me.

God doesn’t keep us immune from trouble

As I look back over my life, my deepest intimacy with Him has come from the dark times.

When what ifs come into our lives, we must ask ourselves if we’re goign to judge God by our circumstances we don’t understand or judge the circumstances in light of the character of God.

Contentment comes from a proper relationship to God, not from a response to the circumstances.

Neither go back in fear and misgiving to the past, nor in anxiety and forecasting to the future, but lie quiet under His hand, having no will but His.

Peace comes through acceptance.

Psalm 77

Though I never understand Why
Though this pain in my heart never goes away.

YET will I exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.

“Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.” ~ Psalm 84:5

My focus becomes Him instead of where I’m going.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me.” ~ Philipians 4:13

When God becomes our total trust we humbly accept our portion and our cup

As we grow in trusting God in all things, our contentment becomes an act of worship.

When we’ve given all our questions to God, when we’re not grumbling about the past or anxious about the future, when our tomorrows are in His keeping, we are free to wake up every morning and say “God’ve you’ve given me today as a gift. Show me how to glorify you in it.

The tomorrows are His and you are free! You are free because God himself has become your sufficiency.

Contentment begins with an eternal perspective.

Opening a Can of Worms

Sarah Palin’s nomination for vice president of the United States of America has been the most praised, and most despised decision so far in the Republican party. Many of my friends couldn’t be more excited, and I agree. But I also know of many others who reacted very strongly in a negative way. I have heard people call her a Feminist, a woman un-fit to be a mother, and at least one other individual has gone so far as to say women shouldn’t be allowed to vote unless they are voting for their husband’s choice. :O Excuse me? I may have more of a stubborn streak in me than the Proverbs 31 woman, but there is a time when men take submission too far, and turn it into domination. I wondered whether or not to open this huge can of worms, and I wasn’t sure. I wasn’t sure that is, until I read an excellent article from a christian wife and mother on this very topic. I would strongly encourage you all to read it, and tell me what you think.

A Mommy and a VP

Be Brave

The other night I was talking to my stand-in big sis and confidant. We talked about the ups and downs of life, progress, and the general rollercoaster my life has been these past weeks. She told me about this song, and I found it extremely perfect. My brother is always telling me “keep your chin up.” I love them both so much, thank you all for your prayers and support.

“Be brave, little one
Make a wish for each sad little tear
Hold your head up, though no one is near
Someone’s waiting for you

Don’t cry, little one
There’ll be a smile where a frown used to be
You’ll be part of the love that you see
Someone’s waiting for you

Always keep a little prayer in your pocket
And you’re sure to see the light
Soon there’ll be joy and happiness
And your little world will be bright

Have faith, little one
Till your hopes and your wishes come true
You must try to be brave, little one
Someone’s waiting to love you”

“Brave” copyright Hannah Kimbrough