Psalms and Praise

Today I read from Psalms 24&25. I am only gonna focus on 24 right now. I will focus on 25 later when I get home from class. I loved 24 because it was a psalm of praise to our God. I mean, the first line says enough for me.

"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it
The world and all it's people belong to Him" (v.1)

That alone is enough for me to worship the King of all kings. And you know, God is so much more than everything just belonging to Him. He takes CARE of everything as well! He gives us everything we need. When we are in trouble, He lifts us out. When we are scared, he comforts us. When we talk, He listens. And let me tell you, He listens better than any of your friends or family EVER will!

He doesn't just own everything we know...He made it too. (v.2)

David worships God and says that only those who seek Him have the right to worship Him. I don't know about you, but I seek Him daily. I have not gone a day without prayer and lately my prayers are continuous. (I can't believe this--but I have to tell you guys this..my little dog is snoring like my dad does :D) I digress.. David even goes on to say that only those who seek God are even able to worship in His presence. (v.3-6)

Make way for the Lord when you worship, open up your hearts in prayer, in song, in psalm. Open up your heart to Jesus who died for you. Open it up to God who sent his ONLY Son to die in your place for YOUR sin. Did you know Jesus was blameless? Sinless? Noone who crucified Him seemed to care.. Did you know that His death (when the rocks split) even brought some who crucified Him to follow Him? This is why it says:

"My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. So I live in this earthly body trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave His life for me." (Galatians 2:20)

Praise the Lord for what He has done in your life. He brought you into the world through your mother. This is why you should love God more than even your family and friends. He has been there for you since before the beginning of your life. He knew you even in your mother's womb before even your mother knew you were there! Go read Psalm 139. I will be there by December 22 this year. (I am a woman with a plan!) Also read (v.7-10 of Psalm 24).

Have a great day!! God bless you.

Lanie

Prayer requests? Email me at livin4christ0129@yahoo.com.

Psalms and Jesus

As always, work was a blur and I mean a slow/fast blur. Today was non stop chats (not like the usual light traffic, I am talking I had 88 chats by the time I was only working for four hours!!) .

I read Psalm 22 before I left for work today. I read it in a hurry, so I read it again when I got home. It kinda struck a chord with me. Read it!! At first it starts out with David asking God why he is not answering his prayers. (v.1&2) This hit me because I felt like this recently. I felt like God had better things to do than worry about me. Then I read Matthew 6:26 and thought.. God does care for me. (1 Peter 5:7). And it looks like David realized the same thing.

Even with unanswered prayers (that he knew of..) He praised God for who He was and what He has done. (v.3-5) Then he thinks he is unworthy again and like he is being abandoned by men now and God. They mock him and treat him like poo. They mock God by mocking Him by saying things like:


"Is this the one who relies on the Lord ?
  Then let the Lord save him!
If the Lord loves him so much,
  let the Lord rescue him!"

That was (v.8). What does David do once again?? He praises God and displays his trust in Him from the beginning of life to now. (v.9&8) This Psalm touched me because I felt just like David had once before.

This goes on with trust and depression then there is something that popped out to me. I never saw this before when I read it before I knew about Jesus.( Freshman yr. of HS) When I first read this psalm I was visiting church for the first time as a friend had invited me. (I HAVE to give y'all my testimony some day!!) and I read is an though "Why would someone gamble for someone else's clothes in front of them, thats rude!?" But today, I saw this.

My enemies surround me like a herd of bulls;
      fierce bulls of Bashan have hemmed me in!

Like lions they open their jaws against me,
      roaring and tearing into their prey.

My life is poured out like water,
      and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart is like wax,
      melting within me.

My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay.
      My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.
      You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead.

My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs;
      an evil gang closes in on me.
      They have pierced my hands and feet.
I can count all my bones.
      My enemies stare at me and gloat.

They divide my garments among themselves
      and throw dice for my clothing.

This is (v.12-18), Pay close attention.

"Roaring and tearing into their prey" ..nails, spear, hatred, yelling...

"My life is poured out like water" ..the blood..

"My bones are out of joint"..i can imagine Jesus' arm(s) were out of joint with the width of the cross..

"My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth" ..Jesus was thirsty, but mocked and given sour wine..

"pierced my hands and feet" ..nails, blood, sorrow..

"they divide [all] my garments..and throw dice for my clothing" ..read John 19:24

Then I realized, it all comes together. This passage was written way before Jesus was even a baby.. a prophecy! God works all things together for good. Not always YOUR good, but good.

Always keep Jesus in your heart. God bless you!

Lanie

A

Work was really slow today.. REALLY slow. But all day I just kept thinking in my head, "God, thank you..". I read mostly some more today from Apollyon. It is amazing what great authors those guys are. Along with the Bible, (amen). I read the book, then I compare it to the Bible just to make sure they got everything right :) Then I enjoy my book some more.

It has been laid on my heart to open up to God in constant prayer.. Not just a prayer when I eat, a prayer before sleeping, yadayadayada.. No! I mean, i don't even have to think of it much less make myself do it anymore. The past few weeks I have grown closer to God than ever before and I feel like He is trying to tell me something. I wake up and the first thought that even comes to mind is, "Good morning, God. Thank you for waking me up with this beautiful day." Then i think about what might happen that day and instantly, God refreshes me and says in my heart "Worry not.". I say in my head thank you. and i get up. i think to God until i eat and right before i east i close my eyes to pray. Then i eat and say thank you, it is delicious or...that was not good, but you gotta eat to survive, right??

You get the picture, right? CONSTANT PRAYER. I believe I wrote about this once before in a previous (long back) blog. I will have to find it for y'all.

Anyway, I read Psalm 23 on the way to church today..NO i did not drive and read at the same time LOL. I rode with my friend to her church. Well, it wasn't her church until this morning :) She became a member. Also, that was one decision of two she made. She rededicated her life! And then around 1 this after noon i came to find out that one of my other close girl friends is rededication her life to the Lord too! Amen.

There have also been about 3 times as many baptisms as usual at the churches I have both visited and mine. It is truly a spiritual awakening going down in East Texas!! Keep praying people. Jesus is coming and He is coming sooner than we think.

I am going to bed, but think on this verse:

1 Thessalonians 3:8

Prayer request? Email me at livin4christ0129@yahoo.com Have a wonderful evening/night/morning/whatever!

Lanie

God bless you!

My Day..

Today was a great day, work went by slow/fast at different times, and I am more than half way done with Apollyon, the 5th book in the 12 book series I am reading and I just bought it and book 6 yesterday. Left Behind is truly the best series have have read yet. Today, I read Psalm 21. This one made me think, but not as much as Psalm 19 and 20 did yesterday. Mainly 20. I am about to go to bed guys!

Prayer requests? Email me at livin4christ0129@yahoo.com

Lanie

God bless!

Revival

I am having a great day. With God, with family, with my book. I have been blessed this morning to see my parents before I go to work. I have not see my sister though. All I can think about is yet another two prayers being answered. a financial blessing for my scrubs for school even if I have to pay it from my next check because it was an accident (but I really needed it this week and God gave it to me in advance by a person's mistake) and the beginning of a revival in the United States. Go watch the news right now. You will see about Glen Beck and his amazing get together of believers and people who want to see a change and a spiritual change.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-p6ABs74lk


Check this video out from this morning! See how many people came together.

Keep praying people! I can see a revival coming. I am praying fervently for this. God bless you!

Short n Sweet

Work was actually really quick today. I read all day. I began the 5th book in the Left Behind series today (Apollyon) and it is another amazing one. I am gonna make this short so I can go read some more of my book and my Bible and catch some ZZzzzz........ Night guys! God bless you all.

Today..

Today I read some more of Psalms (13-17) and I also read my favorite (for now) Psalm 66 and I read Matthew 3. Then, after not really having time to actually digest this spiritual meal, I got REALLY busy in Lufkin with my fiance and his registration for classes. So later we went to evening church service and the theme tonight was FAITH once again. I remember that a WHILE back this happened to me. I was spoken to in my heart by God to search about faith. I learned all I could and then some more. But tonight was about needing faith in God to actually have a relationship with Him.

The demonstration was 8 white styrofoam cups. He poured water in one cup (these cups were in a crate with holes in the bottom) and then began moving the cups around and based on our human faith (what we use 5 senses to tell us is real or not) to choose the one we thought had the water in it. He tipped all of them upside down and now a one had water in it. He showed us the holy crate, no pun intended, and lo and behold...no water. none in the cups, none on the table, NOTHING. Our human faith betrayed us. The truth was one of the cups had an absorbent gel in it and we couldn't see it. HA!

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will happen; it gives us assurance of what we cannot see. (Hebrews 11:1)!

Have faith in Jesus.

Lanie.

(still feelin like somethin may happen) prayer request?? livin4christ0129@yahoo.com

Praise the Lord!

I was unsure in high school, but I finally heard from a friend who is still in HS and she has rededicated her EVERYTHING to God. It is so great, she is on fire for God, and I'm glad I will see her in Heaven. She is a strong sister in Christ, and I learned that not only me, but her as well, are having this feeling like something big is about to happen in the world. I feel it more than her, but she feels (just like me) that we are spending so much time in God's word and that we feel called to just keep readin it. We feel like the time is coming when we won't be able to just open the Book and read it. It is coming a time when we won't have that opportunity and we must keep His words in our heart. Her exact words were "bcz i feel like we abt to have to close our bibles.. n hide the word in our heart.. idk!! its kinda crazee" in a facebook message. Please tell me if you are feeling the same way. Email me at livin4christ0129@yahoo.com.
I am going to bed soon and I have to wake up in about 4 and a half hours. :) My fiance is registering for classes tomorrow. I am going to support him there. God bless you all!
Lanie
send me your prayer requests as well.

Still Buggin'

So I am still kinda...erked?? Could that be the right word? No.. I don't know what work I can use, but I am really focused on God right now. I just don't know what He is tryna tell me. Something big is gonna happen soon, I can feel it.

My dad just got his wisdom tooth pulled, he is in pain, but not as much as he was yesterday or the day before. He almost had to go to the emergency room because it was so bad the Sunday. Speaking of Sunday, I'm reminded of church. AND my new work schedule. I used to be off on Sunday and Thursday, I had Wednesday night off after 9 at night and I haven't been able to go to the youth (ages 12 to 19, I'm 19) at my church and I was barely gonna make it to Great Escape on time when class started again. I was praying that when I started my nursing classes that I could still go to church. Well, get this! My schedule (praise God!) I do work on Sundays, but i work Sunday nights so I get to go to church still and I am off on Tuesdays (class) and Wednesdays (so now I can go to youth and Great Escape just like the last two semesters.) I cannot go to Crave anymore though, but I don't care. I am just thankful that I can go to church still and I am not obligated to work on those times.

So as my day off today, I have not really done..anything. I am thinking about going to see my friend Alli at her house because that is probably where she is at. (My dad is so restless waiting for his meds, I'm praying he heals quickly and it lasts a while.) I am a little annoyed that I woke up so late today (11 AM) ugh! So late, but I at some left over bbq beans and potatoe salad for brunch. (not as much as it sounds like lol all that was left over was a few bites) Then later I ate a half an egg and cheese sandwich, some classic lays potato chips, and two cups of milk.

Anyway, I am gonna read a few Psalms later and a chapter or two of Matthew. See ya! Be blessed!

Lanie

This is So Weird

For the past few weeks I have just been feeling like God is trying to show me something about what is about to happen in the world. I keep feeling like something extremely big is about to happen. I don't know if it will be big in my life alone, or in the world, but it feels like the world. i do not have any clue as to how to explain this, but I just feel like something is up and God want someone to know. Please email me if you are having this same feelings. Also, I have been having a weird dream of the earth (literally hard ground like in a desert) crumbling and rumbling and all my friends are stuck in it. Doesn't it say something about earthquakes in Revelation??? YES! But anyway, I just thought I would let y'all know what God is doing in my life.

I read Acts-Revelation and now I am reading Psalms and the Gospels. I was only gonna read the Gospels, but I felt God call me to dive into the Psalms so here I go and there I went. :) I love all of you. Prayer request? Email me at livin4christ0129@yahoo.com.

Also remember to email me if God is laying something large on your heart right now as well.

Hebrews

Today I really dug into Hebrews for the first time ever. Chapter 9 verse 11 all the way to the ned stuck out to me more than the rest, but mostly chapter 13 was the sore thumb of the book. It just stuck out there like HERE I AM! The most amazing verses I have read in a while are there. Like theses for instance: Hebrews 13:5-8 (read 8 again *smile*) and Hebrews 13:15. I really enjoyed todays reading. I was listening to the Sirius station The message as well and there were some really great songs on tonight. I also began listening to Cannons by Paul Wickham and Revelation Song by Phillips, Craig, and Dean. These two songs are great songs to pray through and sing and PRAISE God with.

Also, I have begun to notice some things. First I want to say (before I mentions this thing that just hits me) that if you believe that God is the one and only TRUE God and that Jesus is the Son of God and died for our sins and that the Holy Spirit lives in you and helps you in times of need then be proud of it!! What gets me is when people who live in the United States (freedom of religion fo sho) write blogs or emails to other people in the US and text people and write about God in papers and what not and they spell God "G-d".... Why? I love God! I don't love this G-d... I will tell you straight up that He is number one. If anyone knows why this is happening, can you email me at livin4christ0129@yahoo.com. Thank you. God bless you all!

Lanie

Prayer requests?? Mention me on twitter (@) marie0129, you can also direct message me. Also, you can email me at livin4christ0129@yahoo.com!! Goodnight guys!

Green Tea & Water

YUMMY! These are by far my two favorite things to drink, third is Sweet Tea. yummm.. Anyway.

I am staying on track with my Bible study. I encourage you all to read Jesus Freaks (i've read it probably a million times) and Extreme Devotion (more recently just started reading it). These books inspire me to live for Christ in ways I never thought I could. I am praying for God to show me what I can do. May may not know this, but I was calling to mission work last summer and since have only been on one trip to Memphis for Street Reach Ministries. I wanna go again so badly. I am going to go get ready for work. God bless!

Lanie

have any prayer requests? comment or email me at livin4christ0129@yahoo.com.

well..

My beginning of the journey was easier than I thought. Then..duh duh duh! It ended abruptly with some temptation and dinner..

I guess I am taking that as a sign that I am going to be starting over tomorrow. Please pray with and for me guys. I need direction, time (who doesn't), peace, and compassion. I have all of these to a degree, I really need perseverance more than anything. I have been reading my Bible like it's on fire for the past month. I started in Acts and kept reading in sequence from there. Now I am in Colossians. I am also going to continue with my Extreme Devotion. Please keep my family in your prayers. I am praying for salvations and commitments. I am praying for peace, I am praying for guidance (not just for me), I am praying for the persecuted church. I am praying for a LOT of things..I love you guys! Thank you reading. If you have any prayer requests, email me at livin4christ0129@yahoo.com or comment below.

God bless!

Lanie

Life Is Great

Today I got my Extreme Devotion from the Voice of the Martyrs! I began day 1 out of 365. I've never been great at keeping a habit of doing a devotional, but this one speaks to me more than others. As many of you will not know, last summer God called me to missionary work. I have not been able to go on any missions since last summer when I went to Memphis for Street Reach, but I still have that calling and am thinking of going on a trip this coming Spring Break if possible. This devotion is about the persecuted church. I have strong faith and believe that if what happens to these strong men and women in Christ ever happens to me, I would be strong in my faith to not give in. It just speaks to me. I really have no clue why this is such a strong thing for me, but please keep me in your prayers guys. I need prayer for my mom, dad, and sister to come to know Christ like I do, and grow in their faith. I also need prayer for my fiance, he is trying to find what God wants him to do right now, he just needs guidance. Lastly, I need prayer for myself as I begin my journey today. I have begun a journey I cannot boast about, but all you will need to know is that I need prayer to stay strong in this test. It was so funny (God funny) today.. I began this journey (planned on it for a week to begin today) and just when I begin this devotional comes in the mail like three days before expected. I believe this is what I am supposed to be reading, studying in my Bible, and praying for. I am also asking God to lead my family and friends in His will. Anyway, I love you all and God bless!

Lanie