“God’s grace means that I can rest assured

that I’ll have everything I need

to be what He wants me to be and to do what He wants me to do

in the situation in which He’s placed me.

I’m no longer restricted to the limits of my own strength and wisdom.

By His grace, I’ve a new identity and a new potential.

I’m a child of God; the risen Christ now lives inside of me.

I need no longer fear people or circumstances;

I don’t have to feel weak in the face of suffering or temptation,

because I no longer rest in the resources of my own ability.

I’m in Christ and He’s in me.

This new identity gives me new potential

as I face the realities of life in this bent and broken world.

God’s grace gives me reason to ‘take heart.’”

-Paul David Tripp, “Psalm 27: Take Heart”

Keep in mind, my dearest Sarah, that our enemy does NOT want this to be a victorious day for you. Our foe will do everything he can to discourage, and defeat you, period. No, having a “good” day shouldn’t be easy—especially coming off such a week that we have had. Last week, the enemy lost big. I have no doubt that he wants to change that around for this week. This truly is a battle. We can’t think of each day as a regular day, but as an opportunity to reclaim ground for Christ. Sarah, God has given you an optimism, LOVE and joy that very few people have. Rejoice that you have a day to fight for Christ. Fight hard, claim truth, and win the victory for today through Christ alone. Put on HIS armor—your flesh WILL fail you. And when today is over, even if you don’t FEEL victorious, then give that day to the Lord, and prepare to fight for tomorrow. I’m fighting with you, I’m praying for you, and so are so MANY that love you and support you on all sides.

I love ya,
Mel”

Thank You, Father…for the gift of a friend. I pray that You would use these words, sent to me, to encourage others as well. Be exalted, oh God, in all the earth – and may it start in my heart…

“God is good – and not in the cliche, rubber-bracelet sort of way – good in a massive, magnificent, epic, Rocky-Mountain-snow-capped-peak sort of way” – Sam Kordik

]]> http://www.greglovessarah.com/beautiful-words/2008/06/good/feed/ 1 http://www.greglovessarah.com/beautiful-words/2008/06/here-and-nowhere-else/ http://www.greglovessarah.com/beautiful-words/2008/06/here-and-nowhere-else/#comments Fri, 27 Jun 2008 23:57:09 +0000 Greg & Sarah http://www.greglovessarah.com/?p=460

“We may be earnestly desiring to be obedient and holy. But we may be missing the fact that it is here, where we happen to be at this moment and not in another place and another time, that we may learn to love Him – here where it seems He is not at work, where His will seems obscure or frightening, where He is not doing what we expected Him to do, where He is most absent. Here and nowhere else is the appointed place. If faith does not go to work here, it will not go to work at all.” ~Elisabeth Elliot

]]> http://www.greglovessarah.com/beautiful-words/2008/06/here-and-nowhere-else/feed/ 1 http://www.greglovessarah.com/beautiful-words/2008/05/just-can-be-silent/ http://www.greglovessarah.com/beautiful-words/2008/05/just-can-be-silent/#comments Sat, 31 May 2008 03:34:25 +0000 Greg & Sarah http://www.greglovessarah.com/2008/05/30/just-can-be-silent/

“At an old English parsonage down by the sea,
there came in the twilight a message to me.
Its quaint Saxon legend deeply engraven
that, as it seems to me, teaching from heaven.
And all through the hours the quiet words ring,
like a low inspiration, ‘Do the next thing.’

Many a questioning, many a fear,
many a doubt hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment, let down from heaven,
time, opportunity, guidance are given.
Fear not tomorrow, child of the King,
trust that with Jesus, do the next thing.

Do it immediately, do it with prayer,
do it reliantly, casting all care.
Do it with reverence, tracing His hand,
who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on omnipotence, safe ‘neath His wing,
leave all resultings, do the next thing.

Looking to Jesus, ever serener,
working or suffering be thy demeanor,
in His dear presence, the rest of His calm,
the light of His countenance, be thy psalm.
Do the next thing.”

For the which cause I also suffer these things:
nevertheless I am not ashamed:
for I know whom I have believed,
and am persuaded that
he is able to keep that which I have committed
unto him against that day.”
2Timothy 1:12

“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:10,11

“According to my earnest expectation and my hope,
that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always,
so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body,
whether it be by life, or by death.”
Philippians 1:20

I am PERSUADED, SURRENDERED, RESOLVED. You?

Thanks for carrying beauty with you, my friends! Isn’t our Father amazing!? Love you all.

I Thessalonians 4:16-18

I pray that this Wednesday finds you comforted…