Psalm 50:1-13

This mornings QT was really great for me. The main thought I took away was this: God doesn't NEED my sacrafices...service...He has MANY resorces...HE WANTS MY HEART. Thank you Dikola for the many times you have reminded me of this. I believe the Lord used your voice in my ear this morning to drive this into my heart. I asked myself: LORD, when I serve you is it because my heart is purely Yours? Oh LORD, please take all other motives out of my heart. Guard it...show me when I am serving You because I have the gall to think you need me. Or because I want to score points with others or even You so that You answer my prayers...I want to love You with all of my heart PERIOD. Not because of what You can do for me or what I hope you do for me.

"How refreshing to know You don't need me, How amazing to find that You want me. So I'll stand on Your truth and I'll fight with Your Strenght until You bring the victory. By the power of Christ in me." -"In Me" by Casting Crowns

Dad, I'm sure you are praying for Geoff today. Dikola, I haven't been able to talk to you lately...I'm praying for your Bible study this morning...Please be praying for Geoff and Leah today. He has had some things going on with his brain and has to have an MRI today. Please pray that they will feel God's presence and seek Him with all of thier hearts...the doctors to have wisdom....you know. I love you all.

Well, I am slowly (VERY SLOWLY) making may way back into the world as this sickness slowly makes it's way out of my body...I can't believe how sick I have been and how long...I won't go into all the details...only to say it has been so miserable and I can't wait until I am feeling myself again!

Being sick like this has shed some light on some things...I am not nearly sympathetic enough to others who are sick. There is a lady in my church who has been bed ridden for MONTHS and I have only been to see her once...I HAVE to go see her again. Chris' grandma lives with some very aweful infirmnities everyday and I've never really considored what it means for her...I would be a horrible person in her shoes...So I must pray for these woman and others and try to encourage them more. Oh Lord, help me to be a blessing to those who are in pain. Help me to think of others. Let me be Your hands of comfort, Your smile of encouragement. Thank you for the health you have given me. Forgive me for all the times I take it for granted.

I have so mcuh to be thankful for! Goodnight everyone.

Dad, you are so faithful...thank you for posting your QT everyday...Unfortunately it has been awhile for me...

This morning the word "skillful" stuck out to me. God wants us to do our best to worship Him. I don't think that means we all need to go out and take piano lessons, or voice lessons...but it matters to Him that we do our best. The most important thing to God is that we have an upright life. The other two words that stood out to me were "new song". I think that God does enough for me each day that I should have a new song for Him each day. I need to have a more thankful heart and really think through what He has done for me each day.

Dikola, you are a good example to me in this. You see God's hand so clearly and are so ready to praise Him. I want to be more like that...so here I go...

Today, we were invited to two different homes for labor day and were able to go to both...it was a great time for everyone...we got to swim, Austin got a new knife, I was able to spend a little time with my friend Annie, who I don't get to see very much. I was able to spend some time with 2 little girls who lost their mom a few years ago. They are so sweet and they remind me of how precious life is. My husband and I went on a little jog, which we never do...I am a live, and I have a great family. I know Jesus as my Savior and I have the opportunity to share Him with my children everyday...

Lord, please help me to do just that...to live in such a way that my family sees You in me. May they fall in love with you. I get so overwhelmed with this sometimes... A friend of mine said something that I've thought about a lot lately...I don't even remember what she was talking about, but I remember saying something about how hopeful she was and she said, "Laurie, my confidence is in the Lord." I was taken back...I immediatley realized that I was putting way too much thought and prayer into what I can do, or should do...I realize when she said that that we are desparate for God to move in hearts....only He can create a clean heart in Austin. Only He can heal Melissa. Only He can bring Bonnie and Cameron to Him. Only He can draw Angie to Himself...I really want God to use me...I want to see change. I want Him to take impossible situations and make everyone see how great and mighty He is.