Hi!

So this is my first experience as a blogger! I have never done this, but the reason I wanted to is so that I can use it as a ministry. I pray that I will be a blessing to others, and I pray that everyone who reads this will find encouragement, being led to worship by the Spirit of God. "That the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come." (Ephesians 1:18-21) That we would know the hope to which we have been called. Wow. Let us worship the Lord. And what other reason are we living for, other than to worship? And this not meaning necessarily singing songs or raising our hands or convincing ourselves of worship, but living in a spirit of praise, being thankful that God has indeed brought us out of darkness and into His marvelous light, into the kingdom of the Son He loves. That we would offer our bodies to God as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to Him, the kind He will accept, for this is truly our spiritual act of worship. That we may be transformed by the renewing of our minds so as not to conform any longer to the pattern of this world. And this in turn overflowing into our lives, pouring into others. May you be encouraged in this way.

So I'm creating this blog at almost 5 in the morning, just because I'm up. I've been up, reading, praying, studying for this wonderful Bible study, "God's Heart for the Nations". We haven't gotten far in it yet because we've just started. But it is wonderful. Very scripturally based (is that a word?). So I suppose I just plan to share with the world what God is doing in my life through this. And where to begin?! Our God is incredible, and He chooses to reveal Himself to us. So where I am..I've been praying lately for humility. I struggle so very much with pride and with anxiety, and these two together. I find myself being anxious about making sure I'm not being prideful. Then I have to stop, regroup, and ask God to fill me with His Spirit and my mind with His Word, that it may dwell in me richly. Then He faithfully reminds me of His Word, things I didn't even know I had memorized. Things that I haven't read in forever, things I memorized in like the 6th grade. How holy is our God. He reveals Himself to us, and when we ask to be filled with His Word, He is faithful to do whatever we ask in His Name.

So one thing I realized the other night as I was thinking about the cross. On the cross, God poured out His wrath for our sin upon Jesus. Acknowledging that God the Father and God the Son are totally equal in the trinity, God in essence poured out His wrath on Himself for our sin. He turned His back on the Son, so literally Jesus (fully God) experienced Hell to redeem that which was lost. (The Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.) Because He loves us. (Because He IS love.) For the sake of His Name and the praise of His glorious grace (Isaiah 48:9-11, Ephesians 1). So what can we say? What can we do? We fall to our knees, openly acknowledging our sin and utter depravity, but being reminded that "He became sin who knew no sin, that we might become the righteousness of God." Because of Christ, we are righteousness. We have been made righteous. "In order that in the coming ages, He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:7)

Be encouraged, friends. When we are overwhelmed by life and by our schedules, let us remember that this is not our life; our life is hidden with Christ in God, and when Christ, who is our life, is revealed, we also will be revealed with Him in glory. Therefore, let us set our hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Let us set our minds on things above, not on earthly things, for we have died, and our life is hidden with Christ in God.. (a regrouping of Colossians 3:1-4). Let us remember and pray for those who have never heard the Gospel. Let us remember those who think they have, but have never believed. Let us remember the people we walk around with daily, who look at our lives. May we be a reflection of God, filled with His Spirit and with His love. And this can only happen by humbly submersing ourselves in His Word and prayer, realizing that every single thing we do is an act of worship. Whether it's worship of God or idols, life is worship. "Ascribe to the Lord, O families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength, ascribe to the Lord the GLORY due His Name. Bring an offering and come before Him; worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness." (1 Chronicles 16:28-29) How do we ascribe to the Lord the glory that is due Him? We bring our offerings, all of who we are, which is from Him anyway, we come before Him and worship Him in the splendor of HIS holiness. What a blessing this salvation is! That that which was lost was sought out by the holy Son of Man. We have been chosen (Ephesians 1:4-5, John 15:16), to the praise of His glorious grace (numerous times in Ephesians 1).

God, may we be a people that loves You. No one is good; no one seeks God. But You have sought us. And may we acknowledge, receive, and dwell in the righteousness that is of You and You alone. God, teach us to worship. Teach us to praise You. Teach us to be thankful. Teach us to live. Teach us to pray. Teach us to love. To the praise of YOUR GLORIOUS GRACE! And God, let Your light shine in the darkness.

http://home.worldvision.org/india/?Open&campaign=11071928&ppi=48789042
Visit the site; read the stories. Not so you can feel good that you read something about someone, but actively take time to pray for these people, that they may know God and that they may have life abundantly. And what is eternal life? "Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the ONLY True God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent." (John 17:3)
Let us pray together that they may know this hope to which we have been called, that they may know salvation, and that the Light may shine on them. May they know the God of love, of mercy, and of grace. And may we be faithful workers in God's harvest field.