Such a powerful song about our Redeemer that I had to share! This was at the Easter service at my church in Cary that I went to for years. Make sure you watch it until the very end!
http://blog.gethope.net/redeemer#comments
I seriously felt like I was there to see the EMPTY tomb! He's alive people and He's coming back one day...are you ready?
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Big yellow school bus...
How long has it been since you have ridden a school bus? NOT just a bus, but the big yellow school buses from K-12? Well this morning was different and I got to ride the school bus to work. Yes...picture it...Rance, me, and the big yellow bus. We road together to town this morning and since we were running a little behind - we stopped at the school first to grab bus #6 because the office I work in is on his bus route. I forgot how extremely LOUD and bouncy those buses are. I have to say, it made me feel like a kid again. Although being married to Rance, I feel like a kid most days - he has the joy of a kid at Christmas everyday. That's one of the many things I love about him. His JOY is solely in the Lord.
Moving right along, since I told you yesterday we are memorizing Psalm 139 - we worked on repeating the verses we memorized yesterday in LOUD FASHION on the bus route.
Let's read the next few verses:
7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall[a] on me,”
Even the night shall be light about me;
12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,
But the night shines as the day;
The darkness and the light are both alike to You.
We cannot see God, but He can certainly see us. He is always with you. He is always with me. You cannot hide from Him. In verses 8-9, I get a picture of God’s mercy. We believers are sure of God’s direction and protection when we are on that sweet road of obedience, but God is faithful to His children even when we choose to rebel and disobey (make our bed in hell or dwell in the depths of the sea).
Sometimes we act as if God won't notice certain actions we take but David (the writer of this Psalm) knew the truth. Everything we do is as if we were surrounded by neon flashing signs. He sees it all. To God’s eyes, there is no such thing as night or darkness. He sees us just as well at night as in day and in dark as in light.
Regardless of what we are encountering today or in this season of life, He is with us...
Moving right along, since I told you yesterday we are memorizing Psalm 139 - we worked on repeating the verses we memorized yesterday in LOUD FASHION on the bus route.
Let's read the next few verses:
7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall[a] on me,”
Even the night shall be light about me;
12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,
But the night shines as the day;
The darkness and the light are both alike to You.
We cannot see God, but He can certainly see us. He is always with you. He is always with me. You cannot hide from Him. In verses 8-9, I get a picture of God’s mercy. We believers are sure of God’s direction and protection when we are on that sweet road of obedience, but God is faithful to His children even when we choose to rebel and disobey (make our bed in hell or dwell in the depths of the sea).
Sometimes we act as if God won't notice certain actions we take but David (the writer of this Psalm) knew the truth. Everything we do is as if we were surrounded by neon flashing signs. He sees it all. To God’s eyes, there is no such thing as night or darkness. He sees us just as well at night as in day and in dark as in light.
Regardless of what we are encountering today or in this season of life, He is with us...
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Psalm 139:1-6
One of my favorite passages in Scripture is Psalm 139. As I mentioned in the previous blog - I am fascinated by how Our Heavenly Father cares so deeply for each of us. Think about all the billions of people in this world...to think that HE knows each of us so intimately...is hard for my little finite mind to grasp.
Just a couple of days ago, I was just having a blah day! Dee (my best friend & roommate for 9 years) and I would call this a ROOZY MOOD. It's okay you don't have to understand what that means. Anyways, there was absolutley nothing wrong - this mood typically means I need some time alone, just me and my DADDY (yes, my heavenly DADDY). The world can suck the life right out of you and that's why He says to set your minds on things ABOVE, not on things on the earth (Colossians 3:2).
So it was just me, DADDY and my SWORD (Bible). I turned to Psalm 139 and read it for the 7,333,777 time and it never ceases to amaze me how this scripture speaks volumes about how sweet, awesome, cool, and caring Our Lord is! That's when the Lord put it on my heart to memorize all of Psalm 139 and Rance is going to do the same! In fact, we worked on the first 3 verses in the car this morning on the way to work (hold us accountable to this please!).
Read these verses SLOWLY...
1 O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
2 You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
3 You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.
5 You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.
Re-read the verses again.
How beautiful is it that God is into the details of our lives. Every.little.detail! He knows when we sit down and rise up. He knows our every word. He cares about the condition of our heart, the decisions we make, the actions we take, the thoughts we think!
I love the LAST verse because it says exactly what I'm thinking after I read and dwell on the first 5 verses...
How unbelievable it is to read that my FATHER in heaven knows & cares for me so much that literally this kind of love...His infinite love...is simply too wonderful to even grasp...and He feels this way about you too...
Just a couple of days ago, I was just having a blah day! Dee (my best friend & roommate for 9 years) and I would call this a ROOZY MOOD. It's okay you don't have to understand what that means. Anyways, there was absolutley nothing wrong - this mood typically means I need some time alone, just me and my DADDY (yes, my heavenly DADDY). The world can suck the life right out of you and that's why He says to set your minds on things ABOVE, not on things on the earth (Colossians 3:2).
So it was just me, DADDY and my SWORD (Bible). I turned to Psalm 139 and read it for the 7,333,777 time and it never ceases to amaze me how this scripture speaks volumes about how sweet, awesome, cool, and caring Our Lord is! That's when the Lord put it on my heart to memorize all of Psalm 139 and Rance is going to do the same! In fact, we worked on the first 3 verses in the car this morning on the way to work (hold us accountable to this please!).
Read these verses SLOWLY...
1 O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
2 You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
3 You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.
5 You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.
Re-read the verses again.
How beautiful is it that God is into the details of our lives. Every.little.detail! He knows when we sit down and rise up. He knows our every word. He cares about the condition of our heart, the decisions we make, the actions we take, the thoughts we think!
I love the LAST verse because it says exactly what I'm thinking after I read and dwell on the first 5 verses...
How unbelievable it is to read that my FATHER in heaven knows & cares for me so much that literally this kind of love...His infinite love...is simply too wonderful to even grasp...and He feels this way about you too...
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
He knows you by Name...
I know I've been a little absent from the blog world but the Lord has had me busy ;)
One particular verse that I want to share with you today...
You have found grace in My sight,
I have so much I could share on what the Lord has been teaching me but lately I have been dwelling on the fact that Jesus knows each of us so intimately. Really think about this. Noone on this earth KNOWS YOU like Jesus does. He knows every little detail about our thoughts, our fears, our heart and the list goes on!
Do you ever feel like your daily schedule is just so chaotic and that you are just lost in the shuffle of life? At times you feel as if you have the same mundane schedule everyday simply fulfilling your daily responsibilities as a wife, mother, career woman, daughter, friend, or student? Maybe even at times just feeling unappreciated?
I think at times we can all feel this way but let me tell you friend...when you do...simply open your Bible and dwell on SCRIPTURE. There is a God who loves and cares for you so much. Before you breathed your first breath He knew you. Before you spoke your first word He had ordained all the days of your life.
(Which brings me to Psalm 139 which I will be posting about because it speaks of God's intimacy and precious thoughts about me and you)
One particular verse that I want to share with you today...
You have found grace in My sight,
and I know you by name."
(Exodus 33:17)
I have so much I could share on what the Lord has been teaching me but lately I have been dwelling on the fact that Jesus knows each of us so intimately. Really think about this. Noone on this earth KNOWS YOU like Jesus does. He knows every little detail about our thoughts, our fears, our heart and the list goes on!
Do you ever feel like your daily schedule is just so chaotic and that you are just lost in the shuffle of life? At times you feel as if you have the same mundane schedule everyday simply fulfilling your daily responsibilities as a wife, mother, career woman, daughter, friend, or student? Maybe even at times just feeling unappreciated?
I think at times we can all feel this way but let me tell you friend...when you do...simply open your Bible and dwell on SCRIPTURE. There is a God who loves and cares for you so much. Before you breathed your first breath He knew you. Before you spoke your first word He had ordained all the days of your life.
(Which brings me to Psalm 139 which I will be posting about because it speaks of God's intimacy and precious thoughts about me and you)
Jesus cares for you today, just the same as He did the first day He thought you up in His holy mind. He desires to watch you thrive in this life, not just survive and get by. You with me?
So remember the next time you feel unappreciated or lost in the hustle and bustle of this crazy life...that Jesus knows YOU by name...
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
LIFE VERSE from HIS WORD...
*1 Corinthians 10:31*
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do,
do it all for the glory of God.
This verse in scripture says it all and has become a daily prayer of mine. No matter what we are doing, where we are, or what situation we are in...every single thing we do...whatever that may be...we should be doing it ALL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD. Did you get that? Not for MAN'S glory, not to glorify ourselves, not to glorify some thing, but to GLORIFY HIM...
Do you do that my friend?
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Love the OUTDOORS...
This past weekend was one of my FAVORITES because...
#1 - my ROOZY (Dee) was here for the first time ALLLLLL weekend along with my brother & my cousin Brooke!
#2 - it involved MUCH time OUTDOORS enjoying Jesus!
#3 - the weather was GORGEOUS!
#3 - it included our family here too - Frank, Lil Frank, Cody, Ronnie (Rance's dad!), KALA, Charleton...
#4 - It involved a little bit of danger - these trails were NO joke!
Just to share some of the fun...
Thank you Jesus for a best friend of many YEARS, an awesome Godly brother, a cousin that's more like a sister, the kid in my husband, and the INCREDIBLE family I married into.
#1 - my ROOZY (Dee) was here for the first time ALLLLLL weekend along with my brother & my cousin Brooke!
#2 - it involved MUCH time OUTDOORS enjoying Jesus!
#3 - the weather was GORGEOUS!
#3 - it included our family here too - Frank, Lil Frank, Cody, Ronnie (Rance's dad!), KALA, Charleton...
#4 - It involved a little bit of danger - these trails were NO joke!
Just to share some of the fun...
 |
| Kala, Roozy, Travis, Brooke, Jenni, Rance - the fun is about to begin :) |
 |
| This pic doesn't even come close to showing the DANGER we experienced! Although you can see here Brooke opted out of riding across the Creek! |
 |
| Kala is THE WOMAN! |
 |
| The entire group riding :) |
 |
| HA...lots of CAMO! |
 |
| Yes that's my husband on the right! SUCH A KID AT HEART! |
 |
| Please tell me you are laughing...I AM!!! |
 |
| LoVe those 3! |
 |
| Made it to the TOP of the Mountain! It's called The SKYWAY! |
 |
| Group Shot in the Creek! |
 |
| Love Roozy's Facial Expressions |
 |
| Wooooooooooooooooooo! |
 |
| GORGEOUS |
 |
| Warming our feet at the end of the day :) |
 |
| Sunday morning at Stecoah Gap - right by our cabin! |
More pics if you would like to see!
Thank you Jesus for a best friend of many YEARS, an awesome Godly brother, a cousin that's more like a sister, the kid in my husband, and the INCREDIBLE family I married into.
Psalm 9:1
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
Psalm 105:1-2
Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!
Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!
make known his deeds among the peoples!
Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
~My Prayer Today~
Heavenly Father,
My heart is overjoyed because YOU are so good Father, so infinite and Your love is so vast. Thank you Jesus for a little over 27 years ago when you began knitting Rance in his mother's womb. Lord thank you that in Jeremiah 1:5 your Word tells me that before you formed Rance in the womb...you knew him...you knew every little detail about him...you ordained every single day in his life before one of them even came to be (Psalm 139:16). Lord God it's so overwhelming and mind-blowing that you knew when he would say his first word, take his first step, and shoot his first deer before any of it ever happened. God you saw it all and still do. Your Word even says the very hairs on our head are numbered (Luke 12:7). Lord if only we could grasp your infinite love for us. Thank you that you make no mistakes and that there are no accidents.
Lord I am so thankful for Rance's birthday today and for his precious life but more importantly Father, I THANK YOU FOR HIS SPIRITUAL BIRTH - THAT TIME PERIOD IN HIS LIFE WHEN HE ACCEPTED YOU AS HIS SAVIOR. I cannot imagine the view from heaven Father but every time I hear that someone has made a decision to ask Jesus Christ to be Savior and Lord, I think of Luke 15:10 "In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." I cannot fathom a party in heaven but one day we will get to experience that with You! Lord I praise you for all the guardian angels you put in Rance's path along the way and all the times you intervened to protect him from harm. Jesus thank you for the man of God you created in Rance and for all the amazing Godly men You so perfectly placed around him in college to disciple him, love on him, encourage him and point him to YOU (LIKE COREY PENDERGRASS!). Thank you DADDY for all the years he fasted and prayed for his wife because You knew all along that he was praying for ME. Rance had no idea what my name was, but YOU did Lord. I honestly cannot even pray this without many, many tears simply because I know You heard Rance's many prayers and answered each one of them by working in my life during that time in a crazy, mighty way. Thank you Jesus for a man of God who prays. I know I am where I am today in my relationship with You Jesus because of the people that were praying for me along the way and I had NO idea - Rance, Marie, my mom...
Lord I praise You for the abundant life that You offer (John 10:10). God thank you for every joy, every trial, every smile, every tear that Rance has faced during this life here on earth thus far because I know everything he's been through has been for YOUR GLORY and has enabled him to share in YOUR sufferings and to KNOW you more (Phil. 3:10). Reflecting back, I can see Your hand in it all. Your timing is so perfect. I'll never forget the day You ordained for Rance and I to meet in Trinidad. I'll also never forget praising you for showing me such a Godly man. But Lord, I will never be able to thank you enough for allowing me to be the one to call Rance my husband. God I'm so thankful for his heart, his love for You, his passion for You, his constant JOY that comes from YOU, his boldness for You, and his desire to honor and glorify you in everything. How am I so blessed Lord?
Jesus I'm asking you to bless Rance so much today. May he feel how wide and long and high and deep Your love is extra much today (Ephesians 3:18). Thank you Jesus for giving me a partner in life that desires YOU more than me, that loves YOU more than me, and that will choose YOU over me.
In Jesus' Name I pray...
AMEN!
Happyyyyyyyyyyy Birthdayyyyyyyyyyyy!!! I thank God for YOU, Rance Haven Shuler :)
My heart is overjoyed because YOU are so good Father, so infinite and Your love is so vast. Thank you Jesus for a little over 27 years ago when you began knitting Rance in his mother's womb. Lord thank you that in Jeremiah 1:5 your Word tells me that before you formed Rance in the womb...you knew him...you knew every little detail about him...you ordained every single day in his life before one of them even came to be (Psalm 139:16). Lord God it's so overwhelming and mind-blowing that you knew when he would say his first word, take his first step, and shoot his first deer before any of it ever happened. God you saw it all and still do. Your Word even says the very hairs on our head are numbered (Luke 12:7). Lord if only we could grasp your infinite love for us. Thank you that you make no mistakes and that there are no accidents.
Lord I am so thankful for Rance's birthday today and for his precious life but more importantly Father, I THANK YOU FOR HIS SPIRITUAL BIRTH - THAT TIME PERIOD IN HIS LIFE WHEN HE ACCEPTED YOU AS HIS SAVIOR. I cannot imagine the view from heaven Father but every time I hear that someone has made a decision to ask Jesus Christ to be Savior and Lord, I think of Luke 15:10 "In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." I cannot fathom a party in heaven but one day we will get to experience that with You! Lord I praise you for all the guardian angels you put in Rance's path along the way and all the times you intervened to protect him from harm. Jesus thank you for the man of God you created in Rance and for all the amazing Godly men You so perfectly placed around him in college to disciple him, love on him, encourage him and point him to YOU (LIKE COREY PENDERGRASS!). Thank you DADDY for all the years he fasted and prayed for his wife because You knew all along that he was praying for ME. Rance had no idea what my name was, but YOU did Lord. I honestly cannot even pray this without many, many tears simply because I know You heard Rance's many prayers and answered each one of them by working in my life during that time in a crazy, mighty way. Thank you Jesus for a man of God who prays. I know I am where I am today in my relationship with You Jesus because of the people that were praying for me along the way and I had NO idea - Rance, Marie, my mom...
Lord I praise You for the abundant life that You offer (John 10:10). God thank you for every joy, every trial, every smile, every tear that Rance has faced during this life here on earth thus far because I know everything he's been through has been for YOUR GLORY and has enabled him to share in YOUR sufferings and to KNOW you more (Phil. 3:10). Reflecting back, I can see Your hand in it all. Your timing is so perfect. I'll never forget the day You ordained for Rance and I to meet in Trinidad. I'll also never forget praising you for showing me such a Godly man. But Lord, I will never be able to thank you enough for allowing me to be the one to call Rance my husband. God I'm so thankful for his heart, his love for You, his passion for You, his constant JOY that comes from YOU, his boldness for You, and his desire to honor and glorify you in everything. How am I so blessed Lord?
Jesus I'm asking you to bless Rance so much today. May he feel how wide and long and high and deep Your love is extra much today (Ephesians 3:18). Thank you Jesus for giving me a partner in life that desires YOU more than me, that loves YOU more than me, and that will choose YOU over me.
In Jesus' Name I pray...
AMEN!
Happyyyyyyyyyyy Birthdayyyyyyyyyyyy!!! I thank God for YOU, Rance Haven Shuler :)
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