Fully Surrendered & Fulfilled

 

 



A few words of truth while reading through Philippians today:

 

 

"...I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.  I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ - the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith..."

 

"...for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances..."

 

 

Philippians 3:8-9; 4:11 (NIV)

 

 

 

 

 

Eliza

To live a life of love.

 

My poor camera has not been getting much use lately with the busyness of work and school.

So, my phone has become a fun new way to capture moments.  But don't worry, camera, you'll still be my go-to for photography whenever I can find the time ;)

 

 Some verses of truth I've been reading lately to consider and live out:

 

"Be imitators of God,

therefore, as dearly loved children and

live a life of love,

just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us

 as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

 

Ephesians 5:1-2 NIV 

 

...

 

The other day, Katelyn decided to take up crocheting.  Of course, I had to follow suit of my big sister and pick up my knitting needles again and rediscover the simple joy found in creating a project from a skein of yarn.  It was so much fun to do together!  I've just about finished my first little hat and might think about posting it... maybe, we'll see how it turns out :)

 



 

 

Eliza



Fellowship

 

 

Gathering together and seeking the Lord is such a beautiful thing.

 

In our Bible Study a while back, we studied the last part of Acts chapter 2 and were inspired by the incredible picture it paints of God's people.  We had just finished the last in the series by Francis Chan (http://basicseries.com/) and enjoyed imagining what it would be like to live at that time and how we can incorporate such faith and fellowship into our lives today.

 

"Many, O LORD my God,

are the wonders you have

done.

The things you planned for

us

no one can recount to you;

were I to speak and tell of

them,

they would be too many to

declare."

 

Psalm 40:5 (NIV)

 



Praise

(from a fun-filled weekend spent at Grandma and Grandpa's with walks through Grandma's gardens - her flowers are just beautiful!)

"Praise the LORD.

How good it is to sing

praises to our God,

how pleasant and fitting to

praise him!"

Psalm 147:1 (NIV)

~Eliza



"Direct me in the path of your

commands,

for there I find delight.

Turn my heart toward your

statutes

and not toward selfish gain.

Turn my eyes away from

 worthless things;

preserve my life according

 to your word."

Psalm 119:35-37 (NIV)

~Eliza

"Teach me your way, O LORD,

and I will walk in your truth;

give me an undivided heart,

that I may fear your name."

Psalm 86:11 NIV

Living for HIM

"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm.

Let nothing move you.

Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

---1 Corinthians 15:58---

Rejoice!

The vibrant pink of these little flowers in the morning light inspired me to play around with one of the pictures I snapped after pulling out my camera!

They pretty much "shout" REJOICE! :)

~Eliza

After the Rain

Everything seems so much brighter, greener, and newer after this long week of rain. As the sun began to set tonight, we went on a walk along the trail with Grandma...soaking in the warm rays of sunlight and spotting wildflowers left and right...wild roses, lilies, daisies...every once in a while, glimpsing a butterfly flutter by.

Walking in the bright and beautiful masterpiece of our amazing Creator is such a delight!

-

"May the glory of the LORD

endure forever;

may the LORD rejoice in his

works..."

Psalm 104:31

(We sure did stop to admire the many details of the flowers on our walk...and I sure did wish I had brought my camera...but I didn't! Instead, a picture of our blossoming garden at home will have to suffice ;)

~Eliza

He Is Risen!

"The angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.

He is not here;

he has risen, just as he said.

Come and see the place where he lay.'"

~Matthew 28: 5-6 (NIV)

(We've been working on this song lately, which we played at church this morning)

Let us celebrate...

for he has risen, and HE IS ALIVE!!!

His Eye Is on the Sparrow...

...and I know He watches me!

This morning is evidence! :) First of all, let me back up a few hours...

Ok...so yesterday I knew I would be up late into the night working on my clinical assignments for school (since you don't get your assignments until noon on Thurs. and they are due early Fri. morning!). I have another class that is later in the afternoon, and this cuts out a few hours from the time I have to write up all my super long assignments and review my nursing "skills"!

Long story short...I was up until midnight working on them and then finally collapsed into bed, after setting my two alarm clocks to get up at 5:15am (one for back-up just in case the other doesn't, for some odd reason, go off! ;)

Anyway, this morning I woke up to my dad asking me if I should be getting up and ready to go (to which I was thinking that I had left myself plenty of time to get ready before I had to be at clinicals at 6:45). When I looked over at my clock...to my petrified demise, it was 6:15...the time I was planning on leaving!!! Now, before you all freak-out and lose sleep from worring about me ;)...I'll just tell you that I made it there 5min early! (yep...now you know how fast I can get ready if I need to---and I sure was glad that I planned last night to get there extra-early---SIDE NOTE: my family knows that I can take the fastest or the longest shower...and nowhere in between! :) Although...today there was absolutely no time for even my fastest!

It was just amazing how everything worked out with such a late start:

my super-dad got me up just in the nick-of-time,

my wonderful sister whipped up a sandwich for my lunch, and

all of my nursing supplies and my scrubs were laid out to grab and go (which I had--not by chance--done last night)

Then, as I was driving there, I started singing praise to Him who is in control...when I was reminded of the verse I had read late last night right before I went to sleep:

"Because you are my help,

I sing in the shadow of your wings."

~Psalm 63:7

Our Lord watches over the entire universe...yet His eye is on each one of us!

Praise the LORD!

~Eliza

Psalm 105:1-4

(photography by Melanie)

~

"Give thanks to the LORD, call

on his name;

make known among the

nations what he has

done.

Sing to him, sing praise to

him;

tell of all his wonderful acts.

Glory in his holy name;

let the hearts of those who

seek the LORD rejoice.

Look to the LORD and his

strength;

seek his face always."

~Psalm 105: 1-4~

What I've been learning...

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

(Philippians 4: 4-9)

Need I say any more??? :)

~Eliza

Thoughts...

So many times I find my thoughts on unimportant things, rather than focusing on what really matters...whether it is the long, never-ending list homework I have to do, or what clothes I should wear today. But as I was thinking about Colossians 3:12, I've been reminded of how trivial the "little" things in life are and how important our heart's "status", motives, and our actions are! "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Every morning when I get dressed, I want to also "clothe" myself in these virtues because without them, I can't truly be prepared for the day!

~Eliza

Whisper a Prayer in the Morning...

"Show me your ways, O Lord,

teach me your paths;

guide me in your truth and teach me,

for you are God my Savior,

and my hope is in you all day long."

Psalm 25:4

~Eliza