Name:Karen Country:United States State:Wisconsin Metro:Madison Gender:Female
Interests:Redeemed through the blood of Jesus Christ by the sovereign free grace of the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, blogging to the glory of God through the power of the Holy Spirit, all for your upbuilding, dearly beloved brothers and sisters in Christ. I love God and I have a passion for His Church to be revived again, so my prayer is that He would rend the heavens and come down and breathe life into the dry bones, including my own. I love reading, studying, writing and talking about God's Word. I almost always have a book nearby and enjoy hunting in used bookstores for treasures. I enjoy listening to music as well as walking, sitting and reading and contemplating in parks. Philippians 3:7-16 is one of my favorite passages of Scripture. By His grace may I willingly offer myself to dwell wherever He calls me (Nehemiah 11:2).
I've adapted this 3 Year Bible Reading Plan and occasionally post
based on what I'm
currently reading. If you don't have a plan, you're more than welcome to read along with me!
I've been slowly chewing on the book of Matthew and am still reflecting on that, though right now I'm reading through the book of Numbers.
II Corinthians 13:14
MORE ABOUT ME
Theological "mutt" a.k.a.
Evangelical Reformed Charismatic Baptist with a Methodist-Mystical-Liturgical Twist
end of the year in the midst of heartbreak children of God how long will we be foolish, brutish and ignorant thankless, futile in our thinking shaking our fists, cursing God sitting in our ashes, rending our garments, seeking bliss, bliss and more bliss receiving loss, loss and more loss whining, complaining, mourning over our broken hearts, pains, bruises, afflictions, sufferings
end of the year in the midst of heartbreak perhaps we've not gotten what we wanted or expected but haven't we already gotten what we needed and far more than we expected haven't we already gotten what we didn't deserve, couldn't earn or couldn't ask for hasn't the suffering Servant received all that He didn't deserve in our place so we might freely receive what we never deserved in the first place so we might receive what we couldn't buy or earn justification for sins, righteousness for unholiness a white wedding garment for our filthy rags a place in the heavenlies for the pig sty a new soft heart for an old hard heart mercy upon mercy, grace upon grace the right to be called children of God the right to call "Abba, Father!" through His blood through His cross through His life grace abounding to dead sinners powerless unworthy helpless us
end of the year in the midst of heartbreak have we praised Him have we thanked Him for His sovereign grace to us
end of the year in the midst of heartbreak have we asked Him to keep us near the cross to keep us near to Him in the midst of heartbreak and at all times
(Warning: The video is pretty graphic; it includes scenes from "The Passion of the Christ." I don't usually include such things on my blog, but decided we all needed a reality check here.)
Blood on My Hands (Todd Agnew)
Each crack of that whip was for my mistakes Blood is on my hands Each stumble up that hill was my step to take Blood is on my hands How do I say thanks for this
In the cross, In the cross, be my glory ever Till my ransomed soul shall find rest beyond the river
Each tear that flowed was by my sorrow sown Blood is on my hands Each drop that was spilled, my debt fulfilled Blood is on my hands How can I say thanks for this
Jesus keep me near the cross There a precious fountain Free to all, a healing stream flows from Calvary's mountain
I would also encourage you to look through my many posts on God's sovereignty, assurance and fighting for joy, the broken heart, contentment and songs about want *I* want. Know that I have (and continue to) struggle with these things. Many of these posts reflect the struggles I have had to know His joy and assurance in the midst of heartbreak and my examination of Scripture in the process. We so often go wrong in our attitudes toward heartbreaks when we do not first go to Him and His Word and ask His Spirit to teach us from there...Let's never forget that He alone has the words of life – how ridiculous of us to continue to drink stagnant water when we have the living Water available to us!
We all experience and struggle with heartbreak, none of us can escape it in this life, but know that God is with us through each and every broken heart we meet...
May we trust that our Lord will give us sufficient grace to keep us looking to Him and fixing our eyes, our hearts and our minds on Him rather than our broken hearts...
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen." II Corinthians 13:14.
May we grow up and mature in Christ for as we grow in our knowledge and experience of God's grace shown us in Jesus Christ, of our Father's love and of the intimate sweet communion available to us through His Holy Spirit, we will grow in our trust in the Lord in all circumstances. We walk by faith and not by sight, so we do not see all today, but one day we will. But for today and for each of our days that lie ahead, as children of God, we can trust God's strength and grace will be sufficient for each day, for each heartbreak. May He keep us drinking of His living water and abiding in the true Vine, so we might not wither up in the midst of heartbreaks and heartache, but be fruitful and vibrant and be able to say no matter what the circumstances, "It is well with my soul." May God give us grace to trust Him more and to know His abiding and full joy always...even in the midst of our deepest sorrows.
As I water the plant you gave me (it's not doing so well now ), I remember how you were always there with a cup of cold water (well, often hot coffee ) for me (and a treat!).
As I write these words, I remember the cards you sent me (and many others), even when writing became difficult for you.
As I speak a word of encouragement, I remember how you always spoke beautiful words to me.
As I strive to love my family, I remember the deep love you had for your family.
As I struggle in prayer, I remember how you always held my hands up.
As I stumble in walking today, I remember how you walked here with me.
As I dream dreams, I remember the dreams you continued to dream.
As I'm cooling off and in danger of becoming lukewarm, I remember the passion you had to live life to the fullest, even in your cancer.
As I'm tempted to stop running the race, I remember your words, "Frogs can only move forward" and your continuing reminders to me to press on.
As I look at little frogs you gave me, I remember how you never stopped moving forward, despite the many obstacles in your path.
As I try to keep my eyes on Jesus, I remember your eyes gleaming with encouragement, even as you lay dying.
As I walk here today on cement sidewalk, I remember you're now walking above on streets of gold (and one day I will join you).
I remember, my friend.
I remember my friend.
Gone nine months, forever in my heart.
Your hugs are memories I embrace warmly.
As I write these thanks to you, I remember how you never failed to say thank you.
As the tears come, I remember Jesus' promise that He is coming and is preparing a place for me as He has already done for you, and we will be together again soon.
I remember my Friend.
I remember, my Friend.
Help me to be such a friend to others as my friend was to me...
Written in loving memory of my "frog" friend, my "Barnabas" friend, who lost her battle with cancer, but was a victor in Christ. She went to be with the Lord on March 27, 2009.
Written also with a grateful heart to God for His gift of friends, past and present. Thank you, my friends. Thank you, my Friend, for my friends who You have sent to take care of me and to keep me moving forward.
I'm anguished over you over your soul over your dear soul you are dear to me
you try to numb the pain... ah, joy! ah, but then you find there's always a new pain isn't there? was that real joy? was that lasting joy? was that true joy?
you try to nurse the bruises... ah, joy! ah, but then you find there's always a new bruise isn't there? was that real joy? was that lasting joy? was that true joy?
you try to stop the tears... ah, joy! ah, but then you find there's always a new tear isn't there? was that real joy? was that lasting joy? was that true joy?
you try to bandage the wounds... ah, joy! ah, but then you find there's always a new wound isn't there? was that real joy? was that lasting joy? was that true joy?
you try to heal the hurt... ah, joy! ah, but then you find there's always a new hurt isn't there? was that real joy? was that lasting joy? was the true joy?
you try to ease the burden... ah, joy! ah, but then you find there's always a new burden isn't there? was that real joy? was that lasting joy? was that true joy?
you try to avoid the rejection... ah, joy! ah, but then you find there's always a new rejection isn't there? was that real joy? was that lasting joy? was that true joy?
you try to mend the heartbreak... ah, joy! ah, but then you find there's always a new heartbreak isn't there? was that real joy? was that lasting joy? was that true joy?
you try to ignore the betrayal... ah, joy! ah, but then you find there's always a new betrayal isn't there? was that real joy? was that lasting joy? was that true joy?
you try to fill the loss... ah, joy! ah, but then you find there's always a new loss isn't there? was that real joy? was that lasting joy? was that true joy?
you you try you turn you seek you experiment you labor in vain you despair you sink you fall you
instead of you, you, you instead of trying to numb your pain instead of trying to nurse your bruises instead of trying to stop your tears instead of trying to bandage your wounds instead of trying to heal your hurt instead of trying to ease your burden instead of trying to avoid your rejection instead of trying to mend your heartbreak instead of trying to ignore your betrayal instead of trying to fill your loss instead of you, you, you
instead of you, you, you instead of listening to the voice of your pain instead of listening to the voice of your bruises instead of listening to the voice of your tears instead of listening to the voice of your wounds instead of listening to the voice of your hurt instead of listening to the voice of your burden instead of listening to the voice of your rejection instead of listening to the voice of your heartbreak instead of listening to the voice of your betrayal instead of listening to the voice of your loss instead of you, you, you
will you be still will you stop trying will you listen for something for Someone heavenly yet come to dwell on earth His voice the good Shepherd's voice His voice calling His voice calling you by name dear one have you heard Him have you heard His voice calling you through your pain through your bruises through your tears through your wounds through your hurt through your burden through your rejection through your heartbreak through your betrayal through your loss
do you hear Him calling God the Father calling you, you, you your name in your pain in your bruises in your tears in your wounds in your hurt in your burden in your rejection in your heartbreak in your betrayal in your loss
His Son Jesus is no stranger to pain His Son Jesus is no stranger to bruises His Son Jesus is no stranger to tears His Son Jesus is no stranger to wounds His Son Jesus is no stranger to hurt His Son Jesus is no stranger to burdens His Son Jesus is no stranger to rejection His Son Jesus is no stranger to heartbreak His Son Jesus is no stranger to betrayal His Son Jesus is no stranger to loss
will you be still will you stop trying will you listen for something for Someone for His voice beyond you, you, you beyond your pain beyond your bruises beyond your tears beyond your wounds beyond your hurt beyond your burden beyond your rejection beyond your heartbreak beyond your betrayal beyond your loss
beyond and yet He is not actually far from you He came from the beyond He came to earth not to take away your pain not to take away your bruises not to take away your tears not to take away your wounds not to take away your hurt not to take away your burden not to take away your rejection not to take away your heartbreak not to take away your betrayal not to take away your loss
He came to take away sin the barrier between man and God He came to save sinners to save the sick (they that are whole have no need of Him) to save all who will hear His voice to save all who will believe in Him to save all who will receive Him to give them real joy to give them lasting joy to give them true joy to give them Divine joy to give them Himself
do you hear Him? do you hear His voice? He knows His sheep He calls them all by name I pray He would give you ears to hear Him
will you come to Him ah, joy! ah, but yes, I hear your doubts I know you're skeptical ah, but yes I know pain will come once again bruises will come once again tears will come once again wounds will come once again hurt will come once again burdens will come once again rejection will come once again heartbreak will come again betrayal will come again loss will come once again (I've known them all – again and again)
ah, but then if you are His if you come to Him in His presence at His right hand fullness of joy pleasures forevermore Divine joy in every pain in every bruise in every tear in every wound in every hurt in every burden in every rejection in every heartbreak in every betrayal in every loss (I've known Him, I've know His joy – again and again)
He will be with you real joy lasting joy true joy Divine joy in every pain in every bruise in every tear in every wound in every hurt in every burden in every rejection in every heartbreak in every betrayal in every loss
whosoever will may come are you willing will you come to Him to Jesus Christ?
dear one I'm anguished anguished over you, you, you I've known Him I've known His joy I love you O, how I want you to know real joy lasting joy true joy Divine joy
O, how I want you to know Him Jesus Christ I know Him I love Him I long for you to know Him to love Him Jesus Christ to know His love to know His joy
I'm anguished over you I'm praying you might know Him I'm praying you might love Him Jesus Christ I'm praying He might make you willing
my soul is anguished I pray your soul would soon escape your anguish and flee to Christ
until then I remain anguished over you over your soul over your dear soul you are dear to me my dear one
The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. Numbers 6:24-26
Redeemed through the blood of Jesus Christ by the sovereign free grace of the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, blogging to the glory of God through the power of the Holy Spirit, all for your upbuilding, dearly beloved brothers and sisters in Christ. I love God and I have a passion for His Church to be revived again, so my prayer is that He would rend the heavens and come down and breathe life into the dry bones, including my own.
If you do not know God through His Son Jesus Christ, I pray God might use my words here to draw you to know Him and Jesus Christ whom He sent. God offers His free gift of everlasting life to all who will receive it. I am praying He might cause you to seek Him and receive His gift of repentance and remission of sins by believing in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ.
Please feel free to explore here, and as you read, if you have any questions, please message me.
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), I remember how you were always there with a cup of cold water (well, often hot coffee 
) for me (and a treat!).
