In Your __________, HE IS.

Hi Friends...
I invite you to watch my #2 Video Blog today. Especially if you are going through some tough times. Especially if you need to be reminded of Who God is.


It's four minutes, but I think you will find it worth skipping some boring commercials during your fave show.

Can't view the video in your email? Click here.


The highlights:

• Sometimes living for Jesus means surviving with Him by your side.
• Sometimes walking with Jesus means walking in "the unforced rhythms of His grace."
• In your _______, GOD IS.
• In our desperation, He is our Deliverer.
• In our exhaustion, He is our Energy.
• In our trials, He is our Trustworthy Savior.
• In our loneliness, He is the Lover of our Souls.
• In our emptiness, He is is Emmanuel, God with us.
• And in our weakness, He is our Strength.

His grace is sufficient, for in our weakness, His strength is made perfect.  2 Corinthians 12:9

Rest in these promises today, my friend. God loves you. He has a plan for your life. He will never leave you or forsake you. Would love your comments! If you are reading by email, click here.

Linking today with SDG friends at Finding Heaven...


and with 

Deny Myself?

Then he (Jesus) said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me."

I want to be His disciple.

I want to follow Him.

I want to live and walk with Him.

But deny myself?

... like when I wanted to  did eat that second, yummy, warm brownie that my sweet friend brought to community group.

... or when my child wanted to tell me about his day and I wanted to have my own space and my own quietness.

... how about when Jesus was waiting for me to spend my first moments of the day with Him, and I chose to sleep.

... what about desiring to read anything I can get my hands on - blogs, magazines, great books and in the process I neglect the very Word that speaks life into me.

... and then there's the hoping that God would fix everything in my life that is broken so that I can live comfortably.

I have a lot to learn. I have a lot of self to deny.

“Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat—I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. " Luke 9 (the Message)

Would you join me on this journey? 

Kelli


joining with Joy at

Are We Willing?: My First Vlog and Guest Posting at KIP

Come join me over at Keeping it Personal today where I am guest posting... my post goes along with the vlog.  It's titled... NO EXCUSES! (this is the link) 

So, friends, following hard after Christ requires sacrifice. Are we willing? Would love to know your thoughts today...comment here or over at KIP.

I'm ALL IN...are you?


Kelli


Linked up with Stephanie at One Word Wednesday

My One (or Two) Words for 2012

Ok, I am back from a semi-break from blogging. I have managed to post blogs the last few weeks, but they have been reposts of some faves that some of you might have missed. Thank you for the break. Between holiday activities and family needs and frankly, my own need to rest and rejuvenate, the time was necessary.

But I am ready to get going again! I have spent the last week pondering this year of 2012. How would it be different from 2011? What lessons have I learned? What do I want to continue? To put aside? What do I need to work on? What is the Lord calling me to do?

Lots of people in blog world do resolutions. I always evaluate my former year and look to the next year (or years), but I rarely call my "goals" resolutions. Other people come up with "one word" for the year ahead. As I began to pray and ask the Lord for goals or "one word," two words consistently emerged. As I struggled with going against the grain and having two words instead of one, I remembered (miraculously!) that these two words stem from the same Greek word. Before you call me heady or smart or quit reading, let me explain.

Thirteen years ago when I was in seminary, I took three semesters of Greek and I LOVED it. (Please keep reading!) But after ten years of not continuing to pursue Biblical Greek, most of the words have escaped me. But there are some that I remember...the rest I have to constantly look up.

Anyway, back to the two words. The word "live" was the first word to come to mind as I was praying about 2012. Live. Just live. Live for Him. Live graciously. Live unselfishly. Live audaciously. Live spontaneously. Live radically. Yes, live was my word.

And then on Sunday, January 1, as I sat in church and celebrated my 32 years of knowing Jesus Christ, the word "walk" continued to surface. "Should I change my word, Lord?" "Is it walk instead of live?" Walk in it. Walk with Me. Walk, even though you don't know the path.

As I pondered this, the Lord brought the Greek word "peripateo" to my mind. I remembered (again, miraculously) that this word was used to mean BOTH live and walk in the New Testament.

When I looked up some verses where this particular verse was used, it was no surprise that Ephesians 4:1 was present. Just a month ago, God had given me that verse as a potential new direction for a project I was working on. And here it was again. No surprise. 

"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to LIVE a life worthy of the calling you have received." (NIV)

"In light of all this, here's what I want you to do. While I'm locked up in here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk - better yet, run! - on the road God called you to travel. (Message)

What does this mean for me? There's no more sitting. No more watching. No more dreaming. No more letting fear bench me. It is time to "peripateo." It is time to truly LIVE and WALK out my calling with my God. 

So, what's your "one word," your goal, or your resolution for 2012? I would love to hear. Let's hold each other accountable!

And if you want to read something funny, I am guest posting over at Tammy Karasek's blog, "Tickled Pink Tammy." Here's the link: A Lesson for Life, Literally.  Would love to have you jump over there and join us! (you can give comment love here or there!

Living and Walking,


Kelli