The Preceding

The letting go always precedes the grace. Always. The breathing always precedes the living. Humbleness precedes the vessel's use. Brokenness precedes the healing.

I ask for the latter, not taking into account that the former comes with it.

I cannot except God's grace unless I first let go of my own pride and strengths.

2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

I cannot live without breathing.

Genesis 2:7 then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.

I cannot be a vessel ready for use if I am not humble.

2 Timothy 2:21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

I cannot be healed unless I am broken.

Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

These are truths. Do I really believe them? Then I will no longer pray just for the results, but also for the process--God's life changing and character building process. His truth will change my life. The heart-believing precedes the life-change.

Romans 10:9-10 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus

Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus 

Helen H. Lemmel

O soul, are you weary and troubled?

No light in the darkness you see?

There’s light for a look at the Savior,

And life more abundant and free!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.

Through death into life everlasting

He passed, and we follow Him there;

O’er us sin no more hath dominion—

For more than conqu’rors we are!

His Word shall not fail you—He promised;

Believe Him, and all will be well:

Then go to a world that is dying,

His perfect salvation to tell!

Alive in Christ - a thankful thursday

701: chocolate cherry goodness for desert - and watching Titus eat his own special cup

702: golden light and "photo-bombers on bicycles"


707: eight verses memorized in Romans eight (The Romans Project)

709: school on the sunny grass

711: little hands clinging "sit by me!"

723: this alive in Christ promise

Scripture & a Snapshot

Hope in Christ - a thankful thursday

696: new green growth - spring is near
697: waking up fully alive
698: this time today
699: freedom from perfectionism
700: this hope within me

Peace ...as I trust Him

It has been really quiet here the past several months. Lots of changes have been going on in my life and there are even more in the near future. I would like to continue to blog, but I'm not sure how consistent I'll be at  posting. I'll be graduating in a month, my family is moving across the country, and I have to make decisions about what I'm going to do this next year and the ones to come.


Yet I know my Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. I may be uncertain of what the future holds, but I am certain of Him. My eyes have been opened to the glory of God and His grace is sufficient to meet my every need.

Psalm 61:1-4
Hear my cry, O God;
Attend to my prayer.
From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For You have been a shelter for me,
A strong tower from the enemy.
I will abide in Your tabernacle forever;
I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah
He has always been faithful to me in the past, and I know He will continue to be faithful in the future. His love never fails.


In every change / He faithful will remain