tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74049295080281464742024-03-19T02:49:30.696-07:00Words from Above and from My HeartWriting is a wonderful way to express ourselves to the Lord. I pray that this is a place I can share my heart and meditate on God's Word.Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00972618638815720143noreply@blogger.comBlogger155125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404929508028146474.post-55354349624326116002023-12-24T21:24:00.000-08:002023-12-25T04:45:13.292-08:00Jesus Christ is His Name<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><i><span face=""Century Gothic", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;">Jesus Christ is His Name<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Century Gothic", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;"> </span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Century Gothic", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;">Covenant-keeping, gracious God<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Century Gothic", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;">Sent Christ to earth; let’s bring Him laud.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Century Gothic", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;">He came to live a perfect life,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Century Gothic", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;">To break the bonds of sin and strife.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Century Gothic", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;"> </span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Century Gothic", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;">Jesus Christ is His name.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Century Gothic", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;">The angels sang when He came.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Century Gothic", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;">“Glory to God Who lives on high,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Century Gothic", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;">Peace on earth” was their cry.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Century Gothic", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;"> </span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Century Gothic", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;">He lived a perfect righteous life<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Century Gothic", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;">Though tempted just like you and I.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Century Gothic", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;">And then on Calvary’s cross He died.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Century Gothic", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;">“It is finished” was His cry.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Century Gothic", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;"> </span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Century Gothic", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;">He’d paid the price for rebel hearts.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Century Gothic", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;">We all have missed God’s perfect mark.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Century Gothic", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;">But so unfailing is His love<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Century Gothic", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;">That by His grace, He shed His blood.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Century Gothic", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;"> </span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Century Gothic", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;">Up from the grave He did arise,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Century Gothic", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;">And now He calls for us to die,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Century Gothic", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;">To die to self and live for Christ,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Century Gothic", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;">Be forgiven and filled with life.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Century Gothic", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;"> </span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Century Gothic", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;">What shall we do with this great news?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Century Gothic", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;">If we have the Spirit and the truth?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Century Gothic", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;">Tell the world the Savior’s call<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Century Gothic", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;">Come to Jesus one and all.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Century Gothic", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;"> </span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Century Gothic", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;">And live each day to bring Him laud,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Century Gothic", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;">This Prophet, Priest, and King, our God.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Century Gothic", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;">Jesus Christ is His name.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Century Gothic", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;">Forever we’ll sing because He came.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Century Gothic", sans-serif"> </span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Charmonman; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Charmonman; font-size: 10pt;">Merry Christmas 2023<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Charmonman; font-size: 10pt;">Love, the McLennan</span></p>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00972618638815720143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404929508028146474.post-44397739595392422012023-06-15T06:56:00.009-07:002023-06-15T07:08:19.587-07:00June 16<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpDVZ79ZsgIhlqNx-SL9y7GPPqHYU_U0c6jGdGeiVZ7CxY8ImYp7jhNTjc8rxp6kcqCX8_IVx7XOV44K-Pwu0HBdMTBIx4lFmoEjI3DeNy4wvZXuQrEiYtqT1xkrHJaFhw9aM2nKpcv-3cc0vtAQ_eDdfnLzwuwb05TtjgxwtMZv1DbwqP7rauqo8/s2048/IMG_9374.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpDVZ79ZsgIhlqNx-SL9y7GPPqHYU_U0c6jGdGeiVZ7CxY8ImYp7jhNTjc8rxp6kcqCX8_IVx7XOV44K-Pwu0HBdMTBIx4lFmoEjI3DeNy4wvZXuQrEiYtqT1xkrHJaFhw9aM2nKpcv-3cc0vtAQ_eDdfnLzwuwb05TtjgxwtMZv1DbwqP7rauqo8/w150-h200/IMG_9374.jpeg" width="150" /></a></span></div><span class="s1"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Tomorrow is June 16, a big day of celebration for our family.<br /><span class="s1"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1">My baby boy’s cheerful “Happy birthday, Pappy!” runs through my head and makes me smile and make me cry.<br /></span><span class="s1"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1">My little boy loves sharing a birthday with his Pappy.<br /></span><span class="s1"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1">Pappy said I’d never top that birthday present. <br /></span><span class="s1"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1">And now the day has come to celebrate that little boy, and his Pappy isn’t here with us.<br /></span><span class="s1"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1">But oh how Pappy is in a place of celebration!<br /></span><span class="s1">We cannot fathom the joy, the peace, the happiness.<br /></span><span class="s1"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1">So while we are sad, and that’s okay, we can turn our hearts to Heaven and praise God for eternity.<br /></span><span class="s1"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1">We can keep celebrating birthdays on earth and thank God for every day we have here and also remember that this earth is not our home and we are looking for the one to come, our forever home purchased with the blood of Christ.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /><span class="s1">“For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the one to come.”</span><br /><span class="s1">Hebrews 13:14 </span></span></div></span><p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00972618638815720143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404929508028146474.post-19146503123862791812023-02-09T21:00:00.001-08:002023-02-09T21:02:26.717-08:00Grief<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19px;">Grief is such a fickle feeling, </span></div><div><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Waning and waxing like the moon, </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">And sometimes sitting still like fog, </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Hovering, hindering sight. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Sometimes it trickles down upon you; </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Sometimes it rains down hard, </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Flooding, drowning, carrying you </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">To where it seems so dark. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Then the sun shines through the rain </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">And memories resurface, </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Those puffy clouds of happiness </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">That turn your countenance. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Yes grief is such a fickle feeling, </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">But Jesus is the same today</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">And yesterday and tomorrow.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">He changes not. I’ll rest in Him.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7cOt4aEtatQZc6Ma4nnVxSz98xi0ig8OOOYW20c_1MI9U7AaymAODtVzaR_9geHCBckeRS6Ph5qGn4n28GOamnp7MSxvUp1LqeM0o0jmwmqg_QS-vhjFBicD4eVeGKcGJKHqEBkl-yVLQJJdEZjnF8qPoSmGYF4rP7wNEReuRdVeeXvMkIpygWAIN/s4023/E2DA5A27-C569-4416-8B49-1B60762A3B06.jpeg" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2415" data-original-width="4023" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7cOt4aEtatQZc6Ma4nnVxSz98xi0ig8OOOYW20c_1MI9U7AaymAODtVzaR_9geHCBckeRS6Ph5qGn4n28GOamnp7MSxvUp1LqeM0o0jmwmqg_QS-vhjFBicD4eVeGKcGJKHqEBkl-yVLQJJdEZjnF8qPoSmGYF4rP7wNEReuRdVeeXvMkIpygWAIN/s320/E2DA5A27-C569-4416-8B49-1B60762A3B06.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></p></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00972618638815720143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404929508028146474.post-54798474921064147872023-02-09T20:38:00.001-08:002023-02-09T20:39:47.779-08:00Pappy<p><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Gone from us but not gone forever.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Though we mourn today, we’ll rejoice forever,</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">For earthly death is not the end of his story. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">He has a Savior that gives life eternal.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">He loved his life with his wife and children.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">His grandchildren were truly his crown of glory.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">United in love because our God is love,</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">We will treasure this life and the one to come.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Roger Kevin McLennan</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">June 16, 1955-January 29, 2023</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">“Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,”</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">John 11:25 </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></p>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00972618638815720143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404929508028146474.post-639719041100591832023-01-24T16:07:00.005-08:002023-01-24T16:07:55.750-08:00Incarnation: Glorious Manifestation (Christmas 2022)<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Oh think of the blessed Incarnation;</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Ponder the great majesty of Christ’s birth,</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Oh that glorious Manifestation,</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">God’s love in human form brought down to earth.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The Prophecies told how Jesus would come.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The shadows and pictures were drawn of Him,</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">On David’s throne and over his kingdom</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The Lord of hosts, glorious diadem.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">But humbly He came as a baby boy,</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">And meekly that child grew into a man.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">That man laid down His life for the joy</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Set before Him and according to plan.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The sovereign King died that we would receive</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Eternal life and calls us to believe.</span></p>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00972618638815720143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404929508028146474.post-19097027519981338622021-12-25T07:32:00.001-08:002021-12-25T07:34:01.200-08:00He Came to Save (Christmas 2021)<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Our Sovereign Savior came to earth.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Glorious ones announced His birth.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">They came to shepherds keeping sheep.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The message made them run and leap</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">To see the Babe, to see the King,</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The One Who came to save.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">They beheld the Lamb of God.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">These lowly shepherds gave Him laud.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">He came to do what man could not,</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">To walk our road, to take our lot.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">To keep the law, to die our death,</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The One Who came to save.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The invitation: come believe,</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Come by faith and come receive</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Salvation from Christ our Lord</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Jesus the One by shepherds adored.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Because He loved, because He paid,</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Because He came to save.</span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEha0Ril3a0Us5ugbk-WTJnWllexEyNSR28vGZqwTSLGw2G4vIdoUqBsxn2K2OemQFUiovUUfVFrJjDugJUu-e9yUXnk1QeWSRkrl8gxigAI3s47HDJRYMLtmyFGUYIHV8cyzS4BU2jWGZx7dvf4Ta-qjYTIp-rHa3XPOMpBntpQdiFKaeR_sc1uHq9t=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEha0Ril3a0Us5ugbk-WTJnWllexEyNSR28vGZqwTSLGw2G4vIdoUqBsxn2K2OemQFUiovUUfVFrJjDugJUu-e9yUXnk1QeWSRkrl8gxigAI3s47HDJRYMLtmyFGUYIHV8cyzS4BU2jWGZx7dvf4Ta-qjYTIp-rHa3XPOMpBntpQdiFKaeR_sc1uHq9t=s320" width="320" /></a></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00972618638815720143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404929508028146474.post-47156333190697425432021-12-25T07:22:00.003-08:002021-12-25T07:22:59.835-08:00Christmas 2020<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19px;">I AM: Before time began He was.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">CREATOR: Without Him nothing was made that was made.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">IMMANUEL: God with Us is His name.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">SON OF DAVID: Prophecy fulfilled, He’s King of Kings.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">FRIEND OF SINNERS: Praise God for His mercy to us.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">SAVIOR OF MAN: He came that we might live.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">SACRIFICE: His love held Him on that cross bearing our sin.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">RISEN: Sin’s price has been paid, and He lives. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">LORD: Every knee will bow and declare that it’s true.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">JESUS: He came to deliver His own.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">CHRIST: He’s Messiah, Jesus Christ. Praise His name! </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Oh praise to the Father, the Spirit, the Son!</span></p>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00972618638815720143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404929508028146474.post-70405138224702202662020-01-01T11:20:00.001-08:002020-01-01T11:20:15.884-08:002019 Comes to an End with Deliberate<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> At the beginning of 2019, I decided to walk through the year with
the word <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">deliberate</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had successes and failures throughout the
year, but the goal was to walk out the year deliberately walking out the good
works God has so mercifully prepared for me as </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Ephesians
2:10 says, </span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">For </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">we are his workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus for good </span></i><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">works, which
God <span style="background: white;">prepared beforehand, </span>that
we should </span></i><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">walk
in them.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">And God is so good. The
failures are not for nothing. The hurts are not for nothing. The good, the bad,
it’s all for His glory. It’s for our good. It’s all filtered through His great
love for His people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I was driving a few days ago and thinking about this
year, about how I walked out the year with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">deliberate</i>.
I was thinking about how I didn’t really think about the word a lot during the
year. I just wanted to live the life God has for me and to live it for His
glory. I fail daily, but I know that I must keeping walking forward in faith,
knowing one day He will make all things right, knowing He is still working in
me. I thought about past years and the words I have chosen and how this is not
about me; it’s always about learning more about God, more about His great <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mercy</i>, his <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">faithfulness</i>, etc. And this year was no different. It hit me: God
is always <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">deliberate</i>. Through sermons
from Judges, Ruth, and a series on evil and suffering, the truth is there that
God is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">deliberate</i>. He is sovereign
over all of His creation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His purposes
are good. It can be an incredibly hard truth to wrestle with, but in it is
found great peace. It was His <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">deliberate</i>
plan and by His foreknowledge that Jesus Christ was handed over to be crucified
(Acts 2:23). It is for great good that Christ came into this world to save
sinners. It is for great good that through suffering and evil, we see God’s
great goodness, mercy, and grace. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>2019 was a good year. God is growing our family in
knowledge of Him in our new home. I look forward to what God has planned for
2020. May we walk it out for His glory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00972618638815720143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404929508028146474.post-52356765761218457112019-12-24T17:45:00.002-08:002020-12-12T18:25:49.866-08:00Advent - Remember (Merry Christmas 2019)<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1">Advent- “the Coming”</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1">We know that He came.</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1">So what are we counting?</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1">The work has been done.</span></div>
<div class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1">We count to remember</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1">The work of the Son</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1">And the Father and Spirit</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1">When He stepped down from His throne.</span></div>
<div class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1">He came to save sinners,</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1">Of which I am one.</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1">He’s always been and will be,</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1">But He came down for His own,</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1">So let’s remember.</span></div>
<div class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1">Remember why He came.</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1">Remember the pictures and shadows.</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1">Remember the prophecies.</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1">Remember how it all pointed to Him.</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1">It’s all written in The Book.</span></div>
<div class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1">Remember how He came. </span></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1">Remember the baby and shepherds.</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1">Remember the special gifts.</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1">Remember the sinless man,</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1">Fully God and fully man.</span></div>
<div class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1">Remember the miracles.</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1">Remember the curses He took.</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1">Remember the cross where He hung.</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1">Remember He said, “It is finished.”</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1">All that was written came to pass.</span></div>
<div class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1">Remember the empty grave.</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1">Remember the ascension.</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1">Remember He’s coming again.</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1">Remember and praise Jesus Christ!</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1">Our Savior, Immanuel.</span><br />
<span class="s1"><br /></span>
<span class="s1"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin: 0px; text-align: left;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Merry Christmas from the McLennans 2019!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuKqOR2u9YZKYMad34b3mp8k3daoL295Fwn-vrtd3kY2h4xGiy8982sYBnOUECg-VLvhcrojAElMQuUFDHtkhcgzufpnqPkht9Y9zpV7LbKYjya11iznf-CMHBjj5ngIFjLyIv8uCG-k/s1600/765565B6-A16F-4F7D-A5D4-4FAE38CADF75.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="406" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuKqOR2u9YZKYMad34b3mp8k3daoL295Fwn-vrtd3kY2h4xGiy8982sYBnOUECg-VLvhcrojAElMQuUFDHtkhcgzufpnqPkht9Y9zpV7LbKYjya11iznf-CMHBjj5ngIFjLyIv8uCG-k/s320/765565B6-A16F-4F7D-A5D4-4FAE38CADF75.png" width="259" /></a></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00972618638815720143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404929508028146474.post-20395768806937610262019-07-15T20:00:00.000-07:002019-07-15T20:00:01.181-07:00King of Kings and What a Savior<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;">Life is a battle.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;">I’m my worst enemy.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;">I try and try again</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;">To be in charge of me.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;">But what I want to do,</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;">I don’t even do,</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;">And what I don’t want to do</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;">Is what I do again.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;">Oh who will save me,</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;">My wretched soul?</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;">Praise be to God!</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;">Jesus Christ is my Savior!</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;">You stepped in and died,</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;">And then You rose again.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;">Praise be to God,</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;">What a Savior!</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;">Jesus, You are King,</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;">King of Kings,</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;">Lord of Lords.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;">Jesus, You are King,</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;">And what a Savior!</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;">And as for me and my house,</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;">We will serve the Lord.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;">As for me and my house,</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;">We will serve You.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;">And when we don’t,</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;">Because we can’t,</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;">You step in </span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;">And show us grace upon grace.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;">Jesus Christ, what a Savior!</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;">Jesus, You are King,</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;">King of Kings,</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;">Lord of Lords.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;">Jesus, You are King,</span></div>
<br />
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;">And what a Savior!</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText"; font-size: 19pt;"><br /></span></div>
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00972618638815720143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404929508028146474.post-28543758876106951822019-05-27T19:30:00.002-07:002020-05-25T07:30:13.401-07:00Memorial Day<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">Freedom has never been free.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">It always comes at cost.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">We often take for granted</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">All that freedom costs.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">If we start to feel perhaps</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">Our freedom slipping away,</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">We do not take it lightly.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">We want our liberty.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">But are we truly thankful</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">For those who walked before us,</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">For those who walk beside us,</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">Ensuring we stay free?</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">All those gravestones line the ground.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">All those flags wave freely.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">All those soldiers say goodbye</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">And leave someone behind weeping.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">No, freedom never has been free.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">How thankful that I am </span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">That death is not the end,</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">That by the death of our dear Lord</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">We’re free from death and sin.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">Today I’m truly thankful</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">For freedom in this life </span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">And for those who bought that freedom.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">Praise Jesus, praise the Son!</span></div>
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00972618638815720143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404929508028146474.post-2009646163379895922019-01-02T17:57:00.002-08:002019-01-02T17:58:33.208-08:0020 Years: And We Stand Together Forever<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">“Canon in D,”</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">“To Make You Feel my Love,”</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">“Standing on Holy Ground.”</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">I was walking on air </span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">Because you were there </span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">Marrying me that day.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">I looked at you.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">We were so in love.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">And you stood by me.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">And you stand by me.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">And we stand together forever.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">Moving away from home,</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">College Degrees,</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">Buying our first home.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">Great adventure with you </span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">As we learned and grew</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">Doing life just us two.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">I looked at you.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">We were so in love.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">And you stood by me.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">And you stand by me.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">And we stand together forever.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">Baby makes three</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">And then four, five, six,</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">And even seven.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">Twenty years and two more moves.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">I still love our life </span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">Together.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">I look at you.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">We are so in love.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">And you’ve stood by me.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">And you stand by me.</span></div>
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">And we stand together forever</span>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00972618638815720143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404929508028146474.post-69027035377082652712019-01-01T11:01:00.001-08:002019-01-01T11:07:22.841-08:00Deliberate in 2019<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Deliberate</i> is the
word that I have chosen for 2019. With a move in this new year, I think <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">it will be the perfect word to
walk with as I seek to walk in the good works God has prepared for me. My verse
is <span style="background: white; color: black;">Ephesians 2:10.</span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background: white; color: black;">For </span><span style="float: none;">we are his
workmanship, </span><span style="float: none;">created in Christ Jesus </span><span style="float: none;">for good </span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="float: none;">works, </span><span style="float: none;">which God </span></span></i><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background: white; color: black;">prepared
beforehand, </span><span style="float: none;">that we should </span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="float: none;">walk in them.</span></span></i></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ephesians 4-10 is a beautiful passage about God’s
rich mercy and love that made us alive in Him by His grace. What a gift! Because
He has prepared good works for me, His child, I want to be deliberate in
walking out His works. I want to be deliberate in walking out a life of love in
worship of my Savior. Twenty years ago January 2<sup>nd</sup>, Ephesians 5:1-2
was read at our wedding.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background: white; color: black;"><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Therefore be imitators of God,
as beloved children;</i></span></span><span class="text"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span></span></sup></i></b></span><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black;">and walk</span></i></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="background: white; color: black;">in love, just as Christ </span></i><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">also loved you and gave Himself up
for us, </span></span></i></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">offering and a sacrifice to God as </span></span></i><i style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: black;">a fragrant aroma.</span></i></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Deliberate is defined as <i>done consciously and intentionally</i>. It is from the Latin <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">deliberatus</i>, meaning “considered carefully.’ It can be translated <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">deliberate</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">determined</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">resolved upon</i>,
and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">worked out</i>. This is how I desire
to live my Christian <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">life.
Colossians 3:17 is a great verse to remind me that this is my calling.</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background: white; color: black;">Whatever
you do in word or deed, </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">do</span><span style="float: none;"> all in the
name of the </span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="float: none;">Lord Jesus, </span><span style="float: none;">giving thanks </span></span></i><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background: white; color: black;">through
Him to God the Father.</span></span></i></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I wrote a poem/song to start off this year. I
hope to write more this year. I have started a Bible study on encouragement and
Lord-willing will finish it this year. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">May it be a blessed year! All praise to Jesus!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Do
we live our lives like they matter?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Do
we really know why we’re even here?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">If
we really know all about Jesus,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We
know each day is made for Him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Be
deliberate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Do
it on purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Be
deliberate<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Every
day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ev-er-y
day<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ev-er-y
hour<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ev-er-y
moment<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Let’s
be deliberate<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In
honoring Him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">He
created us to worship Him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">He
created us to live for Him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Let’s
live and breathe the love of Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Let’s
live our lives to worship Him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Be
deliberate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Do
it on purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Be
deliberate<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Every
day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ev-er-y
day<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ev-er-y
hour<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ev-er-y
moment<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Let’s
be deliberate<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In
honoring Him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In Christ Jesus, we are created<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">For good works, which He’d
prepared.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now let’s walk in them<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The way He planned for us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Let’s walk in them deliberately.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Be
deliberate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Do
it on purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Be
deliberate<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Every
day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ev-er-y
day<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ev-er-y
hour<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ev-er-y
moment<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Let’s
be deliberate<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In
honoring Him.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrMj2t6ZMWSQEf4ohHSeIYrgDUsJdtfRWOjxwQ_B-_IC0V2zlsBgOrhzkXVyUz6YOE5pbfayRkhx6LDphpSh3Newt2YxcnUdkl2Q0jf0fdNZksDrVatDxHwCh1vYJEYWBRQbuxQBtb_Y/s1600/deliberate-0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrMj2t6ZMWSQEf4ohHSeIYrgDUsJdtfRWOjxwQ_B-_IC0V2zlsBgOrhzkXVyUz6YOE5pbfayRkhx6LDphpSh3Newt2YxcnUdkl2Q0jf0fdNZksDrVatDxHwCh1vYJEYWBRQbuxQBtb_Y/s320/deliberate-0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background: white; color: black;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background: white; color: black;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00972618638815720143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404929508028146474.post-54984541258398449992018-12-31T13:58:00.002-08:002018-12-31T14:01:54.577-08:002018 Comes to a Close<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And just like that, 2018 comes to a
close. I started the year with the word <i>Nourish</i>
(and also <i>Cherish</i>), and I must say
that I did not concentrate on the words as much as in the past. I needed
something to help me get going for the year, to focus, but they were not as concrete
as past words <i>Faith</i> and <i>Mercy</i> so it was a bit different. I was able to accomplish the goals of reading
aloud through the New Testament with my children this year and read through the
Old Testament again personally, and we surely are nourished by His Word. I love
the conversations that we have had and the growth I have seen in their
understanding. We continue to homeschool and learn and mature together. We have
had some exciting development this year in our studies and some fun travels. It
is a blessing indeed to have this time together. I still feel very lacking in
the desire to better nourish relationships and cherish this time more, and I
will continue to work on this in the coming year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The end of 2018 brought news that
we will move our family to a new home and town in 2019. We have been in move-mode
for several months, which I will admit I am not finding a time of nourishing
and cherishing. I pray that I can cherish the time we have had in our small
town and will relax more and not neglect nourishing the ones I love through
this time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Onto a new year and a new adventure…</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00972618638815720143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404929508028146474.post-30516896846627386912018-12-24T21:49:00.002-08:002018-12-24T21:49:37.713-08:00The Lamb: Christmas 2018<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">The Lamb<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">All those years prophesied,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Pictures and shadows galore,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">All the lambs slaughtered,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">But still there’d be more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Then one day to shepherds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Angels appeared<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Bearing great joyful tidings<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">For a new baby boy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">To those caring for lambs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Came the news of The Lamb,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Agnes Dei: Lamb of God,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Jesus Christ, Savior of man.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">He had come to the world:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Immanuel, God with us,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">And we’d need no more lambs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">To show us the way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Jesus Christ is the Way,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Fully God, fully man,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">He came to save sinners<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">And to rise again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">This Christmas and always<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">We remember He came.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Love brought Him down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">His grace made the way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Merry Christmas from the McLennans 2018!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">May this find you worshiping The Lamb
this Christmas season.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00972618638815720143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404929508028146474.post-70559686287132243002018-01-09T13:49:00.000-08:002018-01-09T13:49:17.703-08:00His Truth Brings Peace: Sing unto the Lord<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>On Monday
nights, our church has Mission Night. People pray, write letters, visit people
in the community, and sing hymns to the residents as the nursing homes. We
often go sing as a family at the nursing home. We are not any of us great
singers, but it doesn’t matter because that’s not what it is about. It is an
opportunity to praise God in song as well as to bless the residents with the
beautiful truth of God’s Word, presented through the hymns, and just to show
them someone cares enough to visit them. I believe that this is a great way to
honor our Savior.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It is often
sad to see residents in the depths of dementia or just the weakness that comes
with age. I see the curse of sin about this earth, how our bodies deteriorate
as we near death. We were created to live forever. Sin entered the world and
with it death. Praise God that He sent Jesus to redeem us, to give us back
eternal life, to not only forgive us for our disobedience but to step in and
take our punishment that we might have His perfect righteousness. It isn’t too
late for these people though. They can still hear God’s truth and be saved, not
saved from an earthly death, but saved from an eternal death. They can walk
from this life into His eternal glory with Jesus as the Savior. Many of them
know Jesus, and they just need to be reminded of His love and comforted by His
promises of Heaven. I love to sing that truth, to sing about the cross and
about Glory.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I was
greatly blessed at the nursing home last night. I had silently prayed that this
would be a time of worship and also bring comfort to the residents. Across the
room I saw a woman struggling in her wheel chair, trying to get out. She had a
strap on her so that she would not fall. I could see the distress on her face,
the confusion, and the fear. I stood there and continued to sing, not sure if I
should walk over there, not sure how I could help. As I saw her continue, I
decided that I should go. I walked across and pushed her wheelchair up to
table. She told me that she had to go home, that her mother wanted her home,
that is was dangerous to stay out late. Oh the heartbreak that dementia brings.
I tried to calmly tell her that I was going to sing some songs with her. She
was panicking. I told her that she would be taken care of, that I was going to
sing about Jesus. I stood there and began singing the hymn along with the
others across the room. She started to calm and she closed her eyes. We sang a
few songs, and I thought perhaps she had fallen asleep, but she looked up at me
and said, “That’s so nice.” God was blessing her with peace through the hearing
of those hymns. I continued to sing out the truth of those hymn (broken through
tears), thinking of the great truth, praying it comforted her heart and another
resident who looked panicked and needed this healing truth of Jesus. I sang to
the other woman and smiled as I thought of my Savior and Heaven. She closed her
eyes again and then would look up and smile. As we sang the last song, she was
now beaming and singing along. I prayed for her to have peace as we left and
she thanked us for coming. Oh the joy that filled my heart as I saw God’s
mighty hand of love. Oh how I love my Savior and the truth of His Word.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As I read
my Bible after I returned home, I was reading in Psalms and hearing God speak about
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“Do not cast me off
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Do not forsake me
when my strength fails.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Psalm 71:9<o:p></o:p></div>
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00972618638815720143noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404929508028146474.post-40072636636980590112018-01-07T14:14:00.002-08:002018-01-07T14:14:57.047-08:002018: Nourish (and Cherish) and Ephesians 4: Walking with a Word through the Lens of Scripture<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Why choose a word (or two, or a
phrase and a Bible verse) for the year? Well, I think sometimes we have a hard
time focusing with so much going on around us. Choosing a word, for me, helps
me to dig deeper into God’s Word, not to just find my word (although I do look
for what God says about it, for He is the author of all and His wisdom is
immense), but also to just really hear Him speak to me. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">He still speaks! Just open the scriptures and read. How kind and loving
a Savior we have that He left us His very words to speak to us. </i>Along with
choosing my words, I made it a goal to read through the entire Bible with the
word so that I do not miss what my Savior has for me, how I can better know Him
and serve Him. I also choose a Bible verse or two to try to recall throughout
my studying. God’s Word proves itself. When we look at scripture in light of
scripture, it grows deeper and richer. <o:p></o:p></div>
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When I chose <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">faith</i> in 2016, I read the scripture and saw how incredibly faithful
my God is and that faith is truly a gift from the Faithful One, Who is overly
and abundantly worthy of my faith. I saw that faith doesn’t come easily, that
sometimes questioning everything we believe helps us see why we have faith in
the first place. When I chose <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mercy</i>
in 2017, I saw how merciful my Savior is and how I can be merciful because I
belong to the Merciful One. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I love how the words don’t just go
away when the year ends. I still see <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">faith</i>
and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mercy</i> every day as I sit down and
read God’s beautiful truth. As I add a new word, the richness increases, and
maybe it has absolutely nothing to do with these words. Maybe it has absolutely
everything to do with the time I spend with my Savior, the time I spend with
His words. As His Word makes a home deep inside us, it become the lens we look
at everything through, and when we look through the lens of scripture, we see
God’s faithful, merciful work all around us. We see how His plan beautifully
continues to unfold under His sovereign care.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In late December, I read something
that someone wrote, and the word <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nourish</i>
stuck out at me. I thought that would be a beautiful word to focus on in 2018
as I continue to dig in and be nourished by God’s Holy Word. I know God wants
me to be nourished by His truth. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In
pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ
Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and the sound doctrine
which you have been following. </i>(1 Timothy 4:6)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I also know that He wants me to nourish my children with His
truth.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You
shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and
when you walk along the road when you lie down and when you rise up.</i>
(Deuteronomy 11:9)<o:p></o:p></div>
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I want to continue this, to read the Bible personally and to
read it with my children (Reading the scripture with my children this last year
has been an immense blessing as I see them grow in their knowledge and
understanding, our family growing together the way God created us to thrive).
Teaching the Bible to other children and to other women has also been an
immense blessing. Oh how we grow as we search to be able to teach. What a gift
God gave us allowing us to learn and to grow in knowledge and understanding and
wisdom. He is a good, good Father indeed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I also knew
that the word <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nourish</i> was about more
than just the spiritual food we need, it is also about what we can do when we
are spiritually nourished. I want 2018 to be a year that I nourish relationships,
with my family, with my friends, within my community, and within my church. I
have seen so many heartaches, so much tearing down in this last year, and I
know that we need to be coming alongside one another to build one another up,
to edify the body. Ephesians 4 is a chapter in the Bible about the church and
unity and the Christian walk. I pray that this year God will guide me to “walk
in a manner worthy of the calling which <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I</i>
have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing
tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to reserve the unity of the
Spirit in the bond of peace.” I am a part of one body, and by His grace I have
been given gifts to work for His service, to build up the body of Christ. We
are not to be tossed here and there but to grow together by sound doctrine,
“speaking the truth in love.” My walk should not look like the world. My
relationships should not look like the world. I know Christ. I have the truth
found in Jesus. I am to “be angry, and yet do not sin.” I am to “let no
unwholesome word proceed from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">my </i>mouth,
but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the
moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” I have been sealed with
the Holy Spirit. May I “let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and
slander be put away from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">me</i>, along with
all malice.” May I “be kind to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">others</i>,
tender-hearted, forgiving <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">others</i>,
just as God in Christ also has forgiven <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">me</i>.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I am so
excited to walk with purpose this year. My husband and I are making efforts to
spend time with each other, as a family, and with our children individually. We
are reading the scriptures together and we are reading good literature
together. We have recently read <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Hiding Place </i>and are currently reading <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tramp
for the Lord</i>. Corrie ten Boom has been and continues to be a great encourager
to us to be nourished by God’s Word that we might walk out our purpose of
serving Him, showing others the way to the Kingdom, to our loving Savior who
will never leave our sides. We saw how very dear the Holy Scriptures were to
Corrie and her sister Betsie and how God did miracles to make them available in
the depths of darkness, to shine His light and truth where evil seemed to
prevail. We saw how powerful the Bible was to save and know it continues to be.
We saw how the ten Boom’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cherished</i>
it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For
I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to
everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. </i>(Romans
1:16)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cherish</i>.
I was only going to chose one word, but the word <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cherish</i> keeps coming to my mind as well. I think that there is a
lesson there, that what we <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nourish</i>
and what <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nourishes</i> us is what we <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cherish</i>. So I will walk out 2018 with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nourish</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cherish</i>. I will seek to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cherish</i>
the life-giving Word of my God while I seek to be <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nourished</i> by it and to nourish others with it. And I will <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cherish</i> my family and friends and my
church, while seeking to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nourish</i>
those relationships. Oh how I look forward to all God has to teach me this year
and how He will choose to work in me and through me for His glory!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75R9LUtuPv2UJw_LHk5oCdjZdgEProAhq7wIS9IhmyjQm9Hg_BNeLno0YFkc4ud7cLK_eGLA65iSJn9NLqA2zHwFSOxoaZ2uf1ShlMVNdD5mo9RG_ogpIL3KGE-aO53QysTA1SC6q9g4/s1600/nourish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="1600" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75R9LUtuPv2UJw_LHk5oCdjZdgEProAhq7wIS9IhmyjQm9Hg_BNeLno0YFkc4ud7cLK_eGLA65iSJn9NLqA2zHwFSOxoaZ2uf1ShlMVNdD5mo9RG_ogpIL3KGE-aO53QysTA1SC6q9g4/s320/nourish.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00972618638815720143noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404929508028146474.post-33999160550696451982017-12-31T15:37:00.000-08:002017-12-31T15:45:22.485-08:002017 with the Merciful One<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
MERCY was the word I chose for
2017. It was a year spent in the Word, looking at just how merciful my Lord and
Savior was and is and will always be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was a year of seeing that mercy is so much more than just withheld punishment,
although it does include that for sure. God’s mercy is so rich, so full of
love, undeserved love. It is so closely tied to grace that I can hardly speak
of His mercy without speaking of His grace. His compassion, His lovingkindness,
His forbearance toward mankind, once His enemies, is indescribable. Oh how He
loves us.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
I enjoyed reading through the
entire Bible this year, a great deal aloud with my children (which was a HUGE
blessing), and page after page, I saw my merciful Savior. It truly is a story
about One God and His love for a people who do not deserve His favor, who fail
time and time again, but who He chooses to show mercy to time and time again,
who He lavishes with grace time and time again. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
I thought this year was going to be
all about how I could be more merciful, and I definitely think that God is
showing me where I need more mercy, but it really wasn’t about me at all. It
was all about Him, about His mercy, about His story for all mankind, His desire
to show them mercy by the giving of the Son. As I reflect back on Christmas,
and I think forward towards Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, I am in awe of
my God, Who loves us enough to step down from the glory of Heaven to show us
mercy, that we might receive His grace, that we might believe, that we might receive
adoption as sons of God, that we might have eternal life in Him. (John 3:16,
John 6:38-40, Galatians 4:4-5) He did this while we were still sinners, still
enemies (Romans 5:8-10). By His great mercy, He reconciled us to Himself. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
It has been many years since the
Lord made me His own, since I was born again, since I called upon the name of
the Lord and was saved, but as long as I walk upon this earth, I will daily
need His mercy, and praise God He provides. (Hebrews 4:6) I am so incredibly
thankful to have the very Word of God at my fingertips, to be able to freely
share the Word with my children, with other children as I serve at my church,
with women in my community, with friends, with the world. It is not only an
incredible privilege; it is my duty because of the mercy He has bestowed on me.
May I stay in a place of awe of the God Who loves us enough to give us His very
words for life. (John 6:68) Life does have an instruction book, and the Creator
of Life, full of mercy and grace gave it to us. We can know His will as we read
His Word.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
2017 has been a good year of walking
with the Merciful One. I am still in great need of His lessons on mercy and
pray He continues to lead me to be merciful as He is merciful. (Luke 6:36) Now
on to 2018, thankful that I never walk alone, that I can be strong and courageous,
for my Savior will never fail me or forsake me (Deuteronomy 31:6), and on to a
new word: NOURISH (Ephesians 4).</div>
<o:p></o:p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
Mercy, it saved me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
Mercy sustains me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
Mercy’s a gift from my Savior.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
May mercy be mine to share.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Surely goodness and mercy shall
follow me all the days of my life, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.” Psalm23:6</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">
</div>
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</div>
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</div>
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</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1EcPfrJCI4LX6ZeRk6mytf86pYsYT-3YvRzVTnRtP0j2xoRwvO7HUeT_2nTVkXIZmS4AZbHEj-AyvVkqA-fa58jPom9jWpa-aAUMAKYILAJ6W7U4F8_9nO8oGhUPKQgF9Q0PEIaIQPOc/s1600/mercy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1514" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1EcPfrJCI4LX6ZeRk6mytf86pYsYT-3YvRzVTnRtP0j2xoRwvO7HUeT_2nTVkXIZmS4AZbHEj-AyvVkqA-fa58jPom9jWpa-aAUMAKYILAJ6W7U4F8_9nO8oGhUPKQgF9Q0PEIaIQPOc/s320/mercy.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00972618638815720143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404929508028146474.post-44766930204252083912017-12-25T17:41:00.001-08:002017-12-25T17:43:41.130-08:00I Pray You See Jesus<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 13pt;">Life
gets so busy.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Sometimes
it’s hard to be still,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Sometimes
hard to focus,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Hard to
see what is real.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 13.0pt;">We can
walk through this life,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Just
passing the time,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 13.0pt;">But I
pray that you don’t miss<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 13.0pt;">The
Christmas Child.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Yes, I
pray you see Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 13.0pt;">For we
all need a Savior.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 13.0pt;">I pray
you see Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 13.0pt;">And find
His arms open wide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 13.0pt;">That
Christmas Child,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 13.0pt;">He grew
into a man,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 13.0pt;">He
spread His arm open<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 13.0pt;">And
unfolded the plan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Mankind
all rebelled<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Against
our Holy Creator.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 13.0pt;">There
was no hope for us<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Without
this Mediator.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Yes, I
pray you see Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 13.0pt;">For we
all need a Savior.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 13.0pt;">I pray
you see Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 13.0pt;">And find
His arms open wide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 13.0pt;">From the
beginning of sorrows,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 13.0pt;">The
answer’s always the same:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 13.0pt;">The
Christmas Child.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Every
page cries His name.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 13.0pt;">All
praise to Christ Jesus!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 13.0pt;">He came
to save!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 13.0pt;">This
Christmas, let’s praise,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 13.0pt;">The One
Who died in our place!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Yes, I
pray you see Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 13.0pt;">For we
all need a Savior.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 13.0pt;">I pray
you see Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 13.0pt;">And find
His arms open wide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Merry Christmas from the </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #595959; font-family: "american typewriter"; font-size: 11.0pt;">McLennan Family 2017</span></i></div>
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00972618638815720143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404929508028146474.post-45898604986889447272017-06-07T21:33:00.000-07:002017-06-07T21:33:14.120-07:00Holy Scripture, Words of My God<div style="text-align: center;">
Holy scripture, words of my God,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The only true and living God,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Creator, Savior, Mighty King,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I open the pages, and hear from Him.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He has so much to share with us.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He has so much to teach us.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Knowledge, understanding, and wisdom</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Are right inside this Book.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He tells how He made it all,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
How He made us for His own.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He is LORD, Holy Sovereign,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
From everlasting to everlasting.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He has a perfect love for us.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He's full of mercy and much grace.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Account after account of His faithfulness</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Are written there for us.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Oh taste and see that He is good.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Open up the pages.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Read the truth, and let it set you free</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
To live eternally.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00972618638815720143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404929508028146474.post-28944158029872722982017-05-18T20:21:00.003-07:002017-05-18T20:21:33.473-07:00Exodus 17: Jesus: The Rock, Living Water, and Banner of Salvation I love reading through the Old Testament and seeing Jesus.<br />
<br />
I'm reading Exodus 17 tonight and just read about God bringing forth water from a rock and couldn't help think about Jesus, the Rock, speaking to the woman at the well about the living water He gives (John 4). Then I read 1 Corinthians 10:4.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
“and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.” </div>
<br />
After reading that richness, I continued to verses 8-16. Here we see God fight for Israel. He had Moses stand at the top of the hill and hold up his staff/rod (symbolizing God's presence, the sign of His victory) while Joshua (whose name means Yahweh Saves) fights below. As long as the staff was held up, the Israelites prevailed. Moses' arms grew weary, and he had to have help holding it up because when he didn't hold it up, the Amaleks prevailed. What a blessing to know that our God never tires (Isaiah 40:28)!<br />
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We have two types of Christ here: Joshua, the Captain of Salvation (Hebrews 2:10), and Moses, the Intercessor to God (Hebrews 7:25).<br />
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We also see the staff being used as the battle "banner." This was a common practice, to hold up a spear or pole, with or without cloth on it to encourage the soldiers. After the victory, Moses built an altar and called the name of it, "The LORD is my banner." (Jehovah Nissi). The Hebrew word for "banner" here is later used in scripture for "pole" in Numbers 21:8 for the pole with the bronze serpent raised up to save the Israelites in the wilderness. Jesus refers to this in John 3:14-15.<br />
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.”</div>
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Jehovah Nissi, the LORD is My Banner. Yes, the LORD Jesus Christ is my Banner of Salvation!Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00972618638815720143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404929508028146474.post-1747569797092103672017-04-15T16:14:00.001-07:002017-04-15T16:14:41.316-07:001 Corinthians 1: Saints by Calling/Boast in the Lord<br />
Paul's greetings are always so encouraging!<br />
<br />
“...to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours”<br />
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"Saints by calling." I love that. People always say to people, "I think you've found your calling," when they appear to be happy with what they are doing, showing their zeal, always eager to speak about and do "their calling." Are we zealous and eager to participate in the work of the Lord? Are we spending time daily with our Lord and Savior in prayer and in the Word (the sanctifying truth: John 17:17)?<br />
<br />
Paul gives thanks to God for the people because of the grace of God given to them in Christ Jesus. All our thanks should point back to Him! Paul gives us such good examples of how we should pray for and encourage our friends, always bring it back to God's faithfulness. We can be faithful because He is faithful.<br />
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Division in the church is no new problem. This is what can happen when men try to align with men instead of the Word of God.<br />
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Preaching the cross is powerful and brings salvation, but many will consider it foolish. Even whatever is considered foolish and weak (that is from God) is wiser and stronger than any wisdom or strength of the wisest, strongest men of the world. It is our calling to be used (though we were weak and foolish) by mighty God. All that we have that is good is from God, through Christ Jesus: our life, our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.<br />
<br />
"LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD."<br />
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00972618638815720143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404929508028146474.post-30314347268972381512017-02-21T22:05:00.000-08:002017-02-21T22:05:39.096-08:00Faith and Mercy and RestI <span style="text-align: center;">spent 2016 wrestling with "faith," looking for rest, so tired, so tired, but not the kind of tired sleep fixes. No, it was the all-over, "I don't even want to care" tired, not that I didn't care, just didn't really want to, and I didn't care as much as I knew I should. Anyway, I opened the Word, mid-2016, and there was "Rest" on Day 7 of Creation, not "go to sleep" rest, but "it's all complete in Him" rest. Yep. That's what I needed, "His rest," so I dug back into the Word. His rest wasn't going to come by relaxing into complacency. His rest would be found by diligently seeking the Rest-giver.</span><br />
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I have read through the Bible on multiple occasions, but for the last few years, I just wasn't getting into it like I wanted to and wasn't feeling motivated, being too tired to care. I DID WANT to want to care. I made a plan to read alongside some other ladies, and that was motivating. I had been wanting to write again, which is a great way for me to process. By the end of 2016, I was feeling much more confident in faith, having spent more time with the Faithful One.<br />
<br />
So then came my new word, "mercy," for 2017. I knew my need to be more merciful, and I knew God clearly gave me this word so I felt ready to move forward with it. "Faith" kept popping up, and I thought it was so cool that God had me finish 2016 with faith and that I wasn't leaving it behind as I faced a new year. God is so faithful!<br />
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By this time in my Bible reading, I was getting deep into the major prophets of the Old Testament. I was trying to learn about how I could be more merciful, and my merciful, loving Father was busy showing me how full of mercy He is, affirming again how faithful He is to His covenant.<br />
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It is clear that I can never have the faith I want to have by digging deeper into myself. I have to dig deeper into better knowing the Faithful One. He is so faithful that when I cannot find faith, He gives me His. He is a covenant keeper, and not only does He keep His side; He keeps mine too.<br />
I can never be the woman full of mercy I want to be by trying harder. I have to look to the Merciful One and acknowledge the abundance of mercy that He has had on me. His mercy can flow through me to others, but I have to not neglect making time to know Him more and more.<br />
<br />
By His great mercy, He has drawn me back deeply into the Word, where I am finding more and more of His greatness. There is where my faith grows, and there is where I'm finding rest. I feared I'd never hunger for the Word like I once had, but my merciful Father has drawn me once again with bands of love to a place of rest in Him (full of spiritual and intellectual stimulation), a place I hunger to be, where I find Jesus everywhere I look.<br />
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00972618638815720143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404929508028146474.post-89272991244404072922017-01-25T09:13:00.001-08:002017-01-25T09:31:16.821-08:00Everywhere I Look I See Jesus!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I finished my current read through Ezekiel this morning. And we end the book of Ezekiel with this beautiful redemption:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“...and the name of the city from that day shall be, 'The LORD is there.'"”</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ezekiel 48:35</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">At the beginning of the book, God left the temple that the people had desecrated, and at the end, He shows His plan for a city that means "The LORD is there." I can't help but think of Immanuel that means "God is with us." The Savior comes! And one day He will make all things new. There are similarities between the garden of Eden in Genesis and John's vision in Revelation. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When God made th</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">e earth, "It was very good." It was perfect and mankind turned from the perfect Creator. Sin entered, and the perfect was shattered. Immediately God began His plan of redemption (right there in Genesis), and that scarlet thread is woven throughout all time. We see pictures/shadows of Jesus all along the way, and then one day, He comes down to dwell with us, Immanuel, to carry out His plan, Savior, Jesus! He doesn't have the birth of an earthly king, but the birth of a humble man. The shepherds are the first to come to worship Him, the lowly shepherds, showing that He comes not just for the elite; He comes for all. These shepherds were probably tending flocks of sheep to be used for sacrifice the coming year, spotless Passover lambs. They leave the field to come adore THE SPOTLESS PASSOVER LAMB! Jesus grows into a man and John the Baptist declares, "</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;">Behold, </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-26063A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-26063A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;">the Lamb of God, who </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-26063B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-26063B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;">takes away the sin </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-26063C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-26063C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">of the world!" (John 1:29) All this time, God's people had been sacrificing innocent lambs to take away their sin. Over and over they went through the necessary steps to try to rid themselves of sin. They needed forgiveness. They needed </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">redemption. They needed to be cleansed. They needed a Savior to be the final Lamb, who could cleanse them once and for all, to bring forgiveness and redemption with Holy God. We need this too! For we all have sinned. We all fall short. We all need Jesus! And at his prime, just like that perfect Passover lamb of a prime age, He went to the cross. Like that Passover lamb, His body was not broken, but His blood was poured out (His blood instead of mine). Like that lamb, He was roasted as He hung on that cross under the scorching sun (instead of my roasting forever in the pits of hell). And like that Passover lamb, we must feed upon Him. We must take in Jesus, not just see Him from afar. Like the wool shorn for clothing, we get to wear His robe of righteousness, and we feast upon Him. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He is to be our everything! And He is enough! He is more than enough! He has given us everything we need. </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #001320;">"I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." (John 14:6) That's Jesus! He died, and as evidence of God the Father accepting this perfect sacrifice, He rose again. It is finished. The price for sin has been paid. No more sacrifice is needed. And one day everything will be perfect again! He is undoing the unraveling of the perfect. He is perfect, and He's bringing back perfect.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #001320;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #001320;">There were a couple of scriptures in chapter 47 that really stuck out to me, where I saw Jesus jump out at me.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #001320;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“...so everything will live where the river goes.” Ezekiel 47:9 </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jesus told the woman at the well about the living water that He gives. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">water </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">springing up to eternal life."” John 4:14</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Praise God that He gives us life without end!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“By the river on its bank, on one side and on the other, will grow all kinds of </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">trees for food. Their leaves will not wither and their fruit will not fail. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">They will bear every month because their water flows from the sanctuary, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing."” Ezekiel 47:12 </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This passage reminded me of how me are supposed to abide in Him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; text-align: justify;">abides in the vine, </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; text-align: justify;">so neither can you unless you abide in Me." John 15:4</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; text-align: justify;">Oh my dear friends, do you know my Jesus? If you do not, call to Him today. He came that we may have life. He gladly exchanges His life for ours. He is full of grace and truth and mercy and love. He came to redeem. Are you redeemed?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span></div>
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00972618638815720143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404929508028146474.post-70987496430477739492017-01-21T10:32:00.003-08:002017-01-21T10:36:36.328-08:00Our Shepherd, Our Savior, Who Makes Us Fit to Be His I am continuing my read through Ezekiel, and moved into the section on restoration. Oh how I love that theme. Our God is so full of mercy and grace and love. Today I read chapters 34 through 36.<br />
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In chapter 34 we see our loving Shepherd! The shepherds of Israel failed, but the people were not abandoned. God Himself will shepherd His people. He will send One like David (Jesus!) to feed the sheep. There will be restoration, peace, and security. There will be "showers of blessing." (I was reminded of the hymn by that name and how we plead for these showers as we believe upon His name and His Word.) God will be their God, and they will be His people. This is referring first to Israel, but praise God (I've read Romans), we Gentiles (non-Jew) have been grafted in! Such a beautiful glimpse into the New Testament to come! We have a covenant-making, covenant-keeping God who is the Savior of His people (all believers from every people all over the world)!<br />
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Chapter 35 is a prophecy against Mount Seir, and all of Moab. God will deal with the enemies of His people. It reminded me of how it is not our place to seek revenge. Vengeance belongs to the Lord.<br />
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Oh how I love chapter 36: RESTORATION! I love how the Bible is one big book about one Savior. There are many smaller books within it, but they are all connected and about a great God and His unstoppable love for His people. It talks about God's people going home. Obviously it is talking firstly about the displaced Jews returning to Israel, but I can't help but think of the story in the New Testament of the prodigal son returning to his father, about how we are sheep that have gone astray, each of us our own way, how the Father longs to welcome us "home," restoration of a sinful people to a sinless God, full of grace and mercy. Ezekiel 36:25-28 is a favorite passage of mine.<br />
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<span style="text-align: left;"> “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your and from all your idols. Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God.” </span></blockquote>
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<span style="text-align: left;">What an absolute beautiful picture of how our Great God and Savior cleans us and makes us new, suitable to worship Him, suitable to be His people. It was His great love that sent Jesus to Calvary. His death was for us that we might be fit to be His. His blood cleanses us. His sacrifice, death on our behalf, a sacrifice accepted by God, proven by His resurrection, makes this possible. No one comes to the Father but through Jesus, and we must be born again to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. This passage is a beautiful picture of that rebirth (regeneration), our unloving hearts of stone replaced with hearts of flesh, fit to live forever, fit to truly love our God, His Spirit in us, enabling us to walk with Him. We could never on our own be good enough, but He loves us enough to step down from heaven to Himself (Jesus) give us His goodness so we can come to God. Our blessed covenant-creating, covenant-keeping Savior who exchanges our filthy rags with His robe of righteousness. Oh praise God: we are a new creation! He is our God, and we are His people! </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"> Oh may many have faith in this great life-giving, life-saving Lord! </span><br />
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00972618638815720143noreply@blogger.com1