created to love Him...

 Today I was sun (Son) kissed! I spent my quiet time this afternoon at Maumee Bay State Park on Lake Erie. It was a BEAUTIFUL day...one I wish all of summer could be like. I don't often spend my quiet time outside because it's distracting to me. I want to look at everything and explore rather than stay focused on what God wants to say to me. Today was not this way. The moment I began my time alone with Him, it was like all of creation was joining in to honor Him and bring me His voice. My time with Him began with thanksgiving and praise for the good things He is doing currently. Immediately I felt my heart fill with joy over His goodness...this in of itself is a miracle. I often waste so much time living in disappointment over things that haven't happened yet. It's a sin-weakness of mine that I've been asking God to change. Today I was taken off guard by how much joy I felt over His goodness, so much so, that it revealed to me that He is transforming my heart from...

I want to know what these guys are talking about...

Worship is agreement with who God is. Intercession is agreement with what God promised to do. When we tell God who He is, our faith expands to believe what He will do.  ~IHOP This is one of the most simplest definitions of worship and intercession...I like it.

Today, in preparation for what God wants to do at Redeemer this Sunday, I've been studying John 20:1-10. It's the story where Mary Magdalene, upon finding the empty tomb, runs to tell the disciples that someone has stolen Jesus' body. I love what Craig Keener has written about Mary in volume 2 of his John commentary and thought I'd share it: The faithfulness of Mary Magdalene frames, hence unites, the first two paragraphs of the resurrection narrative (20:1-2, 11-18), emphasizing the important roles played by women in the narrative - whose behavior again shames the supposedly bolder men. Eastern Christianity later called Mary "isapostolos," "equal to the apostles." Some early medieval commentators found in women's initial resurrection announcement a reversal of Eve's role at the fall. As in the earliest tradition, Mary is the first to find the tomb empty and the first to see Jesus risen from the dead. Mary comes to the tomb first (20:1)...

TODAY I'M THANKFUL TO GOD BECAUSE... * His promises to me are YES and AMEN. *of the resurrection and that Jesus invites me to know Him in it. *of the words, "IT IS FINISHED!" *of the ministry that God has called me to. *He's given me a heart of worship that is only increasing...not decreasing. *the Holy Spirit who lives in me and leads me to all truth. *my dishes are clean! *He is my ever-present help in time of need. *He never tires of my questions and curiosity. *of my church family. *all of my family are followers of Jesus. *of the invention of cherry popsicles. *my car is working and His provision of new brakes, tires and a gas cap! *tomorrow I will wake up to new mercies. What are you thankful for today?