created to love Him...

The next month for me is going to be filled with incredible God-moments! I have high anticipation...but before I say what's happening, here's a warm-up testimony! A few weeks ago I lost a ring that is really special and significant to me. I never take it off, except for when I'm doing dishes. I've been really bummed about it and asking God to help me find it. It was no where in my house! Yesterday, I pulled a load of laundry out of the washer and there it sat! I'm convinced God put it there because how else would it travel from the window ledge in my kitchen down to my basement? This particular ring is a constant reminder of His love for me and my love for Him. It matters to me. So, it must matter to Him! I'm thankful... So...about this next month... This week at Redeemer we have a team from Bethel Church out of Redding, California coming. They are being led by Chris Overstreet. The conference is called Bethel School of Supernatural Evangelism. It will run...

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers we are dust.        ~Psalm 103:11-14 This first picture is the view from Panera Bread in Monroe. Today in my quiet time I've been spending time in Psalm 103 and when I read verse 11, I took a minute and looked up into the sky to try to gain a perspective on how far God has removed my sin from me. As I did that, I began to feel a release from things I've been carrying recently. It often feels like my sin and my failures live right up in my face. I can't get away from the things I struggle with. When I read verses like these, however, I come back to true reality that Jesus has set me free from the torment of sin and death and...

My title of this post has been stolen from John Piippo out of his blogpost called "The Sacrament of the Present Moment." You can read his post here:  http://www.johnpiippo.com/2010/05/sacrament-of-present-moment.html His post has me thinking much on how "present" God is. He is present, as in near and He is present, as in time...like past or future. I spend so much effort on waiting for God to come. My thoughts are propelled forward that He will come through SOON. I'm in waiting mode. This may be a season for me right now. I am waiting for Him to bring about certain things in my life. But, I find myself getting so caught up in the waiting that I forget He desires to be with me right now...and right now...and again...now. He has peace to bring in this very moment. He has righteousness to dress me in at this precise time. He wants to hear my voice tomorrow, but how much more fun for Him if I talk to Him right now.  I don't mean to do this, but I find myself ...

Fig leaves. Any barrier I create to hide my true condition from God's all-seeing, all-loving eye. I have many. I have leaves of shame, leaves of denial, leaves of fear. I have leaves of false holiness - if I can convince myself I am holy enough, maybe God can be fooled, too. The layers of leaves grow thicker and thicker, covering up all freedom and vulnerability. What am I afraid of? What childishness to live my life saying to Omniscient God, "If I can't see You, You can't see me!" He knows ALL of me...every part. Intimately. Passionately. Lovingly. He sees every vile thought, every vile act. He sees when I try to cover my sin with self-righteousness and striving. I have defiled this temple I work so hard to cover. He knows...and still...He desires without repulsion.                                                    He calls me.     ...