Shelter in the Storm

I have a shelter in the storm
When troubles pour upon me
Though fears are rising like a flood
My soul can rest securely
O Jesus, I will hide in You
My place of peace and solace
No trial is deeper than Your love
That comforts all my sorrows

I have a shelter in the storm
When all my sins accuse me
Though justice charges me with guilt
Your grace will not refuse me
O Jesus, I will hide in You
Who bore my condemnation
I find my refuge in Your wounds
For there I find salvation

I have a shelter in the storm
When constant winds would break me
For in my weakness, I have learned
Your strength will not forsake me
O Jesus, I will hide in You
The One who bears my burdens
With faithful hands that cannot fail
You’ll bring me home to heaven

-By Steve & Vikki Cook and Bob Kauflin

Isn’t that comforting?! I’ve been freshly encouraged by the lyrics from the above song. While walking through a season of many difficult circumstances I can have peace because no trial is deeper than the love of Jesus Christ…such grace!

Thank you Lord that you are the source of all joy and that I can find rest in my soul amidst the worlds temptations! Thank you for faithful hands that never fail!

Psalm 59:16-17- “But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress. O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.”

Family Fun!

Yesterday my family headed to my grandfather's house for the afternoon and evening. We had lots of fun swimming and hanging out by the pool (with some great tunes in the back round :). My grandfather cooked us up some yummy burgers and then dad put on a firework display. What a wonderful time! There's just nothing like spending a day with family!

In Christ Alone-Verse 4

No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow'r of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.

This verse has been very comforting to me today! How glorious eternity will be! No matter what circumstances I’m facing now or will ever face, “Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand!”

Hebrews 12:1- “…Let us lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

Fun Times!

These are pictures from when my parents were out of town, the singles rock climbing event, and the church family movie night.

In Christ Alone- Verse 3

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
John 8:12- “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
Matthew 28:2-6- “And Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, ‘Do no be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come see the place where he lay.”

And as He stands in victory
1 Corinthians 15:55-56- “O death, where is your victory. O death, where is you sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
Galatians 3:13- “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.’”

For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
1 Peter 1:18-22- “Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefather, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for your sake, who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead, and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”

In Christ Alone- Verse 2

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
1 Peter 3:18- “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.”

This gift of love and righteousness
Romans 5:5- “And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who have been given to us.”

Scorned by the ones He came to save
Matthew 27:29- “And twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, ‘Hail the King of the Jews’”

Till on that cross as Jesus died
Romans 5:6-8- “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

The wrath of God was satisfied
Romans 5:9- “Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.”

For ev'ry sin on Him was laid
1 Peter 2:24-25- “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of you souls.”

Here in the death of Christ I live!!!

In Christ Alone- Verse 1

For about a week or so now, I keep finding myself singing “In Christ Alone” in my head (and sometimes out loud =). I decided to put scripture to the lines of the verses. I’ve found this to be very helpful and beneficial. Check back over the next few days for the others verses!

In Christ alone my hope is found
2 Corinthians 1:10 –“He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.”

He is my light, my strength, my song
Psalm 27:1- “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; whom shall I be afraid?”

This cornerstone, this solid ground
Isaiah 28:16- “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: Whoever believes will not be in haste.”

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
2 Timothy 2:19- “But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are his,’ and ‘Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.’”

What heights of love, what depths of peace
John 3:16- “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life”

Colossians 3:15- “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body, and be thankful.”

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
Psalm 34:4- “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”

My comforter, my all in all
Isaiah 51:12- “I am he who comforts you!”

Here in the love of Christ I stand!!!

Glory to God

Over the past few weeks between the NEXT conference, various messages, scripture, and the book “Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ” by John Piper, I’ve been coming across many different points and quotes on giving glory to God. Take some time to read through them—I’ve been challenged!

-Seeing and savoring Jesus Christ is the most important seeing and savoring you will ever do.

-If you don’t prize Him above all things, you haven’t apprehended His true worth.

-The deepest longing of the human heart is to know and enjoy the glory of God. We were made for this. “Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth…whom I created for my glory,” says the Lord (Isaiah 43:6-7). To see it, to savor it, and to show it—that is why we exist.

-We were created—that He might “make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy” (Romans 9:23).

-The sun of God’s glory was made to shine at the center of the solar system of our soul. And when it does, all the planets of our life are held in the proper orbit. But when the sun is displaced, everything else falls apart. The healing of the soul begins by restoring the glory of God to its flaming, all-attracting place at the center.

-Christ does not exist in order to make much of us. We exist in order to make much of Him. Christ is not glorious so that we get wealthy or healthy. Christ is glorious so that rich or poor, sick or sound, we might be satisfied in Him.

-To love the glory that comes from God, means we love Christ.

-The pursuit of God’s glory becomes the pursuit of godly ambition.

-The problem isn’t seeking glory—it’s where we find it.

-We are wired for glory!

1 Corinthians 10:31- “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

1 Peter 4:11- “Whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as the one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong dominion and glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Have you been giving God glory in all things?
Do you prize Jesus Christ above all things?
Is God’s glory shinning at the center of the solar system of your soul?

More Pictures

The following are pictures of random recent events. Lots of cute, darling kids that bring so much joy into my life! =)