Saturday, November 12, 2011

What A GRACE!

I am so amazed by God. I am home now from sharing my testimony (for the first time in front of a small crowd), at a women's retreat here. I am amazed b/c God has shown me again HIS Grace in my life. Its nothing I've done. Its nothing I would have chosen for myself! But, in His goodness and mercy, He plucked me off the wide road and put me on the narrow. What a Grace! He chose to grab me out of my sin...I mean, I didn't even realize I needed Him to! What a Grace! As I prayed and prepared to speak, He took me to Isaiah 48:10-11 that says~
"Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver;
I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.
For My own sake, for my own sake, I do it,
for how should my name be profaned?
My glory I will not give to another."

Wow! He did the work that needed to be done. Not because of me, but because of Him. For His Glory. He HAS tried me in the furnace of affliction and like Job 23:10 says~ "But He knows the way I take; when He has tried me, I shall come out as gold."
I am not gold-yet! But, I am seeing fruit that has come from months and months of pruning and affliction. Such joy that has come from what once was devastation. Isn't that what He does? He makes all things new. Not back to how they used to be. Not better. NEW! New b/c we now have HIS life flowing in and through us. And, like John 15 says, we have HIS joy, a joy that is full and satisfying! A joy and satisfaction that only comes through true surrender to Him! Why wouldn't we want this? Why would we choose ourselves and the unfulfilled life instead of this?
We are a little obsessed with Shane and Shane. Not b/c of them, but b/c the words and scripture they sing really bring us into God's presence. Their newest album called "The One You Need" is incredible. But the one song I am loving and can't get enough of especially tonight is called "Your Love." If you have iTunes, you MUST check it out! But I want to leave you with the words...

 "Your Love"

I'm overcoming fear
With Your perfect love, Your perfect love
You're opening my ears to hear
The sound of a lover's voice
You're calling out, You're calling out
Let me see Your face, Your loving face

Your love tears me up
And when its done
Puts me together

I'm overcoming fear
With Your perfect love, Your perfect love
You're opening my ears to hear
The sound of a lover's voice
You're calling out, You're calling out
Let me see Your face, Your loving face

Your love tears me up
And when its done
Puts me together
Your love calls me out
Of my death and my failure
Love, Your love

Your love tears me up
And when its done
Puts me together
Your love calls me out
Of my death and my failure

Your love tears me up
And when its done
Puts me together
Your love calls me out
Of my death and my failure
Love, Your love, Your love

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