Psalm 63:1 and Random Thoughts

Psalm 63:1

O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.

 

God is good.  Always. 

He is the only One who truly satisfies. 

He is the giver all good things.  The One who created. 

When I feel like I am about to fall, He is there to uphold me. 

He gives us beauty to enjoy.  Because of His sustaining hand, I can watch the sun rise, enjoy green grass, and the cool evening breeze. 

He gives us strength and breath every morning. 

He has given me a precious family and friends who I call brothers and sisters. 

I am blessed because He was cursed.  Jesus died for me.  He died for those whom He loved before the world was created.  

I learn more each day what a sinner I am and how much I need Jesus.  But His love never fails, never gives up, never runs out on me. 

Praise be to God for His ever-abundant goodness.  I long for the day when I will see Him face to face, in all of His glory, and I, perfectly in His image. 

 

Just some random thoughts from me on this glorious Saturday morning.   

Daniel and Kerry - Married!

Saturday, August 3rd was a good, good day.  It was a blessed day.  A God-glorifying day.  A beautiful day.  A day of miracles and answered prayer.  

This was the day that my dear friend and mentor, Miss Kerry married the amazing man who won her heart. 

For years and years - as long as we have known her - we have prayed with her and for her.  We prayed that God would bring her a husband.  He answered those prayers in a beautiful way!

I watched the groom, groomsmen, and bridesmaids make their way to the front.  Then Miss Kerry came around the corner of the building on her dad's arm, and it hit me - she really, really is getting married, and she looks GORGEOUS!  And I cried.  I cried tears of absolute JOY! I hadn't even considered crying as a possibility, and I literally couldn't see a thing!  I quickly reminded myself that I had to capture these memories. :)  I wiped my eyes, and proceeded to take pictures through the blur.  What a memorable moment!  I wouldn't trade it for anything. 

Their ceremony was very sweet, God-glorifying, and full of heartfelt thanksgiving.  This is something that I will always remember.  Here are a few of my favorites from the day: 

Coming down the aisle on her father's arm.  

I loved seeing her hold Daniel's hand...so precious to see my friend in love.  :)

Praying together while listening to the song "Never Once" by Matt Redman.  Powerful!

Reading their handwritten vows. 

The rings - their sign of commitment.

Introducing...Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Morrisett!!!!!  Praise the Lord!

The Happy couple!

She was radiant, glowing, beaming, and an absolutely beautiful bride!

She told Mama that she "felt guilty being so happy."  :)

  I am so happy for them, and grateful to God for His ever abundant goodness!

Love her! 

Where did the custom of "throwing things" at the bride and groom come from anyway?  Rather violent, don't you think?  :)

Off to begin a beautiful new life...together.

Proverbs 18:22

Last Sunday, I was blessed to meet two wonderful people, Mr. and Mrs. Fischer.  Mrs. Fischer was the midwife when I was born.  It was a pleasure to spend the day with them and become acquainted with them.  I feel privileged to know them and look forward to more sweet times of fellowship with them and their family.  

Elijah

Happy Birthday to my incredible brother, Elijah!!!  What an amazing young man he is!  He is godly, gentlemanly, hard working, patient, thoughtful, gentle, and beyond-wonderful, not to mention good looking.  :)  I love him so much and do not know what I would do without him.  God was indeed good to give me such a brother! 

 

Elijah, I pray that God would bless you with a greater knowledge of and love for Him in your 17th year.  It is a joy to see you striving to serve Him.  I can see the fruits of the Spirit in your life each and every day.  It is an example to me to see how you respect and honor authority,  and how you work until the task is completed and well done.  Thank you for always being there to encourage me on the hard days,  treating me, our mama, and all other ladies with respect, going running or biking with me in the mornings, loving me when I am unlovable, protecting me, and taking time to serve and bless others.  I love you more than words can say, I respect you, and I can not wait to see what God has in store for your life this year.  Keep pressing on, loving Jesus, and serving the Lord. 

 

I love you.

 

To God be the Glory,

Hannah

Sarah

My cousin, Sarah, came for a visit earlier this week.  We had a blast together!  We did hair and makeup, went outside to snap some photos, then we headed downtown to do some antique shopping.  We spent several hours browsing antique shops together, trying on cute (and sometimes goofy!) hats, and ate lunch at a cute little café. Here is a photographic summary. 

Texas girl!  :)

These hats were fun.  Not my style, though.  :)

This brick wall downtown provided a lovely backdrop for portraits.

I get such a kick out of this picture of me with all of our "baggage", because I am definitely not a shopper!  :)

 

Burn For You

 

  I heard this song for the first time on Sunday.  Incredible!  

Break my heart, take my dreams, they’re only in the way
Of what’s better than I ask or imagine
You’re my home, You’re my place, each and every word You say
Set me on fire, fire for You, fire for You

Set my heart on fire so that I can burn for You
Set my heart on fire, let them see me burn for You

A face like stone, a heart like wax and a passion for the dead
Unfailing love is what You’ve asked, You’ve imagined
The offered lives of the weakest ones are known to change the world
You set them on fire, fire for You, fire for You

Burning, having a passion for serving our God - this is something that I have been pondering lately.  Again, these thoughts were sparked by reading Foxe's Book of Martyrs. 

I love the line in the song "The offered lives of the weakest ones are known to change the world".  That is so, so true!  Not only physical death, but offering our lives in service each and every day while we live.

 

I remember a conversation I had recently, as I was sharing my thoughts about Foxe's Book of Martyrs with a friend.  We asked the question as a challenge - whether we would be strong and even willing if/when the time comes.  In my mind, of course I would.  But, being willing to give up my life for Christ when, at times, I am hardly willing to show my love for Him by doing the dishes, or cleaning the bathrooms?  These little sacrifices.  If I am unwilling to give of myself in the little things, will I be faithful in the larger things (Luke 16:10)?  This is something that I have thought of so much during the past weeks. 

 

Another conversation I had in a group setting a few weeks ago, the young people were talking about spectacular ways to die.  It really got me thinking.  If I could choose a way to die, what would it be?  Truly, the conclusion I came to was that I would wish to die as a martyr.  I have prayed for God's will in this.  I do not know when or how I will die, but He holds me in His hands, He cares for me.  He knows when and how.  He knows when I will be going home. 

 

Charles Spurgeon said that "Death is but going home."  That is so true for the Christian!  Death is only the beginning of life!

 

Revelation 14:13

Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’”

“Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”

 

 

 

 

1 Corinthians 15:51-58 (these verses from Sunday's sermon - the best I've heard in a long time.)

 

"Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—  in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
 

“O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”
 

The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

Here is a quote from Charles Spurgeon.  I read it yesterday, and it is a great reminder that "every good and perfect gift is from above." (James 1:17)

"Whatever thou art, thou hast nothing to make thee proud.  The more thou hast, the more thou art in debt to God; and thou shouldst not be proud of that which renders thee a debtor."

I want to burn for Him, be consumed with Him, have a passion for my Lord, a burden for lost souls. I am indebted to Him, and He is alone worthy. 

Psalm 86:11
"Teach me Your way, O Lord..."

July Blessings

Hello y'all! 

 

I hope that the month of July has been full of joy and that you have been wonderfully blessed.  Can you believe that this year is more than half gone!?!  I can't! 

 

The month of July has been full of glorious sunsets, incredible food, spending time with family, fun 4th of July celebrations, baseball, morning runs (working my way up to a 5K!), kitty-loving, Ultimate Frisbee, and God's ever abundant grace.  His mercies are indeed new every morning!

 

I have been thinking a lot about persecution, martyrdom, and serving Christ with my ALL lately.  It has been on my mind often, almost constantly, after reading Foxe's Book of Martyrs (a MUST READ!), so I was very blessed to find this quote from William Wilberforce, shared on this site.

 

"Christianity especially has always thrived under persecution. At such a season she has no lukewarm professors; no adherents concerning whom it is doubtful to what party they belong. The Christian is then reminded at every turn, that his Master’s kingdom is not of this world. When all on earth wears a black and threatening aspect, he looks up to heaven for consolation; he learns practically to consider himself as a pilgrim and stranger. He then cleaves to fundamentals, and examines well his foundation, as at the hour of death. When Religion is in a state of external quiet and prosperity, the contrary of all this naturally takes place. The soldiers of the church militant then forget that they are in a state of warfare. Their ardor slackens, their zeal languishes. Like a colony long settled in a strange country, they are gradually assimilated in features, and demeanor, and language, to the native inhabitants, till at length almost every vestige of peculiarity dies away."

 

And now for a photographic summary of what we've been up to this month:

I got up early one Sunday morning and made donuts.  Yum!

Homemade glazed donuts + an ice cold glass of milk + a glorious Sunday morning = bliss! 

We have played Ultimate Frisbee the last two Sunday afternoons, and it has been a BLAST!  I hope to post pictures soon.

The day before July 4th, I had the bright idea (or not so bright?) :) to make homemade Oreos, having no idea what a huge project it would become.  I started them in the late afternoon and finished them up around 1:30 in the morning.  By that time, my combat soundtracks were about the only thing keeping me going.  :)  The Oreos were absolutely delicious, and worth every bit of work.  You can find the recipe I used here. 

By the way, if you have never listened to The Red Baron soundtrack, you must! :) "Welcome Back", Friend & Enemy" and "Airbattle 1" are my favorites.

The 4th of July was a very beautiful and blessed day.  We had gorgeous weather, great fellowship, amazing food, and some super fun games.  God is so good!  I am so grateful for the freedom that we have.  Praise Him for His abundant goodness to each one of us!

"If our faith is to grow exceedingly, we must maintain constant intercourse with God."

- Charles Spurgeon

New family photo!  I love it!

Red, white, and blue.

Grandpa with his girls.

A mourning dove nest in a hanging flower basket.

I love spending time with my precious Great Grandma.  She loves to tell me stories from nearly 100 years ago. 

The kids took a bike ride after lunch.

At Grandma's birthday party with all of the grandkids. 

The guys picked a bunch of black raspberries and mulberries, so we made a pie and homemade vanilla ice cream (what's pie without ice cream!?!).  It is a new family favorite, and Papa told me that it was his favorite pie ever.  :)

Each Tuesday, the guys go to play father-son baseball.  It is so fun to watch them!

Little Tigger is such a cutie pie! 

Jeremiah takes such great care of her!

A glorious sunset yesterday evening!

"If we begin, continue, and end with God, our way will be strewn with blessings."

- Charles Spurgeon

Psalm 75:1

"We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks!

For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near."