Every Promise of Your Word

I like this song by the Gettys.  If you click the title of the song below, you can listen to it on YouTube!

"Every Promise of Your Word"

From the breaking of the dawn to the setting of the sun,
I will stand on ev'ry promise of Your Word.
Words of power, strong to save, that will never pass away,
I will stand on ev'ry promise of Your Word.
For Your covenant is sure,
And on this I am secure—
I can stand on ev'ry promise of Your Word.

When I stumble and I sin, condemnation pressing in,
I will stand on ev'ry promise of Your Word.
You are faithful to forgive that in freedom I might live,
So I stand on ev'ry promise of Your Word.
Guilt to innocence restored,
You remember sins no more—
So I'll stand on ev'ry promise of Your Word.
 
When I'm faced with anguished choice, I will listen for Your voice,
And I'll stand on ev'ry promise of Your Word.
Through this dark and troubled land 
You will guide me with Your hand
As I stand on ev'ry promise of Your Word.
And You've promised to complete
Ev'ry work begun in me—
So I'll stand on ev'ry promise of Your Word.

Hope that lifts me from despair, love that casts out ev'ry fear,
As I stand on ev'ry promise of Your Word.
Not forsaken, not alone, for the Comforter has come,
And I stand on ev'ry promise of Your Word.
Grace sufficient, grace for me, 
Grace for all who will believe—
We will stand on ev'ry promise of Your Word.

Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2005 Thankyou Music

A good busy...

Lester is here from Canada!  We've been hanging out and having a good time.
Between Lester, Amos, church, teaching, sleeping, etc., things have been pretty busy!
I hope you're having a good summer, now that summer has officially begun as of three days ago, June 21st!

When sorry isn't enough...

A few months ago I was reading a blog that I won't list here. The photographer had recently married, and she was writing about the last few months of married life. She got to the point in which she said that her husband has "learned to bring me a present" when he makes her mad.
[Insert Jennica yelling] DAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!

NO.

NO.

How is that forgiveness? Why wouldn't a simple, "I'm sorry; please forgive me" be enough?  Must you even hear an "I'm sorry; please forgive me" before you give forgiveness?
I say no.

Also, bringing presents to appease the angry spouse/friend/family member/employer/whomever is NOT forgiveness.

Several thoughts:

-Why would you want that present sticking around? Every time you see that...thing, whatever it happens to be, you are reminded of the time that person made you mad or hurt you and you chose not to forgive him or her. Really?!  I would hate to have that over my head.

Friend: "Oh, this vase is pretty, where did you get it?"
You: "Bob got that for me when I got mad at him. He's learned well."

That is not forgiveness; that's withholding forgiveness, restoration, acceptance.

-Presents as prerequisites for forgiveness means that unless a present comes, forgiveness will not be granted. Then, you are not only unforgiving, you are also bitter because you didn't get a present!

-Withholding forgiveness makes the offending person feel as if he or she cannot meet your expectations and thus is not worthy of your love. This is a very hurtful form of rejection.

-No matter what someone else does to you, you have to live with your own response to the situation. You can make the situation better or worse based on your reaction.  Maybe they will never know that they hurt you, or maybe they will never care that they hurt you.  You have to forgive anyway.

-The Bible says that we must forgive, for we have been forgiven ourselves.
"And be kind  to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as God in Christ forgave you."
Ephesians 4:32
"Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection."
Colossians 3:12-14

-Forgiveness is the gospel!  I was reminded of this in church a few weeks ago.  I was suddenly hit again with the truth that God has forgiven me.

ME.

He forgave my sins not because I deserved it, not because I came and groveled, not because I gave Him a gift trying to convince Him that I was worthy.  He forgave me because He loves me, in spite of my faults.  He knows that I am dust and loves me anyway!
"For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly."
Romans 5:6

Shouldn't that be our attitude?
Shouldn't we too forgive others, whether they knowingly or unknowingly hurt us?

Forgiveness is at the heart of love.
Undeserved, unreserved, unending.

Jesus, Thank You

The mystery of the cross I cannot comprehend
The agonies of Calvary
You the perfect Holy One, crushed Your Son
Who drank the bitter cup reserved for me

Your blood has washed away my sin
Jesus, thank You
The Father’s wrath completely satisfied
Jesus, thank You
Once Your enemy, now seated at Your table
Jesus, thank You

By Your perfect sacrifice I’ve been brought near
Your enemy You’ve made Your friend
Pouring out the riches of Your glorious grace
Your mercy and Your kindness know no end

Lover of my soul
I want to live for You


Music and Lyrics by Pat Sczebel, Sovereign Grace Ministries

Happy birthday...

I didn't realize it until a few days ago, but my blog is four years old as of May 14th!  Wow.
I started this blog after IBEX because several other people had blogs during IBEX.  I think I'm one of the few who maintained mine.  I didn't start a blog at IBEX because several people had them and I didn't really want to jump on the bandwagon, plus I was busy.  However, after IBEX, I thought it would be a cool way to stay in touch with people, plus I would be able to keep it up better once I wasn't distracted with the foreign adventure that is Israel.  Of course there is now Facebook, but I've still kept this up! *pats self on the back*
Anyway, happy belated birthday, little blog! :)

Going green...in more than one sense...

So, for Amos' birthday, I got him a frog.  Scratch that, I captured a frog.  One of his frogs.  For his birthday.
I brought said frog up to NorCal with me so that I could give it to Amos for his birthday.  I packaged up the frog, a granola bar, a secret message, and some little notes for him and gave him the box on Wednesday, telling him not to open it till his birthday, which was on Thursday.
Amos called me the day after his birthday, so I asked him if he had opened his present.

J: Did you open your present?
A: Yeah! It's kind of funny, the frog you gave me looks a lot like a frog I have at home.
J: *sounding disappointed* Really?
A: Yeah.  They're kind of the same color, but the one you gave me is soft and kinda furry.  Mine was hard and kind of scraggly.
J: *laughing to self* Really?  Oh.
A: Yeah, they are a lot alike, but they aren't exactly the same.
J: Oh, okay.

If he only knew then what he knows now... ;)  He's a good sport.
Oh, and I did get Amos a few real presents.  He has a nice dark blue polo shirt and a funny aqua blue shirt. :)
Happy birthday, boyfriend! :)
[Note: My blog is being weird/dumb.  I decided to use the new blog editor, but it doesn't let me edit very well!  Sorry for the weird font sizes.]
[Edit: It was a stuffed frog, not a real frog. ;) ]

Thoughts...

I like making these collage things...