Faithful...

...firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty.

Yesterday, I pulled many scripture references out of the chapter I shared about on “faithfulness”. Today I typed them all out for you to read. It's much easier for me to comprehend when I have it all right in front of me to read. Hopefully this is helpful for you as well.

We are dependent upon His faithfulness for our final salvation:
1 Corinthians 1:8-9- “who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.”

He is faithful in deliverance from temptation:
1 Corinthians 10:13- “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

He is faithful to sanctify us:
1 Thessalonians 5:23- “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

He is faithful to forgive us of our sins:
1 John 1:9- “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

He is faithful for deliverance in times of suffering:
1 Peter 4:19- “Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their soul to a faithful Creator while doing good.”

He is faithful in the fulfillment of our ultimate hope of eternal life:
Hebrews 10:23- “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promises is faithful.”

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Constantly Faithful

I just finished reading through the chapter titled, “Faithfulness” out of the book I’ve been reading, “The Fruitful Life” by Jerry Bridges. As I've mentioned in previous posts, this book has been so convicting and outstanding to read. I would recommend it to anyone! If anyone would like to borrow my copy, you are more than welcome to (once I'm done reading it, that is :) )! Here is what the Lord has been showing me and reminding me of through this chapter:

“Consider for a moment the absolute necessity of the faithfulness of God. We are dependent upon His faithfulness for our final salvation (see 1 Corinthians 1:8-9), for deliverance from temptation (see 1 Corinthians 10:13), for ultimate sanctification (see 1 Thessalonians 5:23), for the forgiveness of our sins (see 1 John 1:9), for deliverance through times of suffering (see 1 Peter 4:19), and for the fulfillment of our ultimate hope of eternal life (see Hebrews 10:23). We can easily see that every aspect of the Christian life rests upon the faithfulness of God, and we have the assurance that ‘The Lord is faithful to all his promises’ (Psalm 145:13.”

“A faithful person is one who is dependable, trustworthy, and loyal; who can be depended upon in all of his relationships; and who is absolutely honest and ethical in everything. As with the other graces of Christian character, the first step in growing in faithfulness is to acknowledge the biblical standard. Faithfulness entails absolute honesty, utter dependability, and unswerving loyalty.”

Something that I’m learning time after time is that God is faithful and that will NEVER change! I’m realizing more and more every day the faithfulness of my God and Savior. He was faithful to me yesterday and today and will still remain faithful tomorrow. “Am I this person”, I asked myself? In my desire to grow in being more like Christ, I needed to challenge myself and ask myself some questions: Am I the type of person who is constantly faithful to reach out to others? Do I make an effort on Sunday mornings to go meet the new visitor? Have I been following up with friends and asking them how their doing in their relationship with God? Yes, I might ask someone how they’re doing or go say hi to the new person, but do I always follow up? God is not a person who asks how we’re doing and then, doesn’t follow up! He is CONTSANT! I want to be that person more often than I am now! I want to be a person who is CONSTANTLY asking people how I can be praying for them or how I can serve them. God is faithful to meet our every need, every second of the day!

God has placed individuals in our daily lives that we interact with that we are to care for and hold accountable. Obviously I cannot even begin to compare myself to God, I am wretch and He is Holy. I’m a sinner and He is a Savior. No, I cannot work in other people’s lives like God can, but He does use us as "means" in other peoples lives. He calls us to reach out to the weak and weary, to help those who are falling away from His truths, to serve those in need of service. Faithfulness to God includes faithfulness to one another. It is God who requires that I be faithful in all of my earthly relationships. So only if I seek to grow in the grace of faithfulness toward others will I have any hope of hearing Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

"Great is Your Faithfulness"

Faithful are Your mercies Lord
They drench me like the dew
Pure and sweet Your holy love
I find my joy in You
Your favor greets me like the dawn
My burning heart must sing
To You who rises over me
With healing in Your
Healing in Your wings

Your faithfulness is higher
Than the heavens
Deeper than the sea
Great is Your faithfulness
Your faithfulness is higher
Than the heavens
Deeper than the sea
Great is Your faithfulness to me
Great is Your faithfulness to me

You seat me at Your table Lord
You’ve given me a place
You robe me in Your righteousness
Adorning me with grace
You crown me with Your victor’s wreath
You gained upon the tree
You take the oil of gladness
And pour it out on
You pour it out on me

Why I Love My Dad

I know I’ve mentioned before that my dad is working very hard right now, but I don’t know that I’ve mentioned how much I appreciate him. Here’s a little glimpse of why I’m so grateful for him:

There has never been a day in my life that I haven’t witnessed my dad glorifying God in some way. Whether it be leading his family, correcting one of his children, speaking to a church congregation, the way he conducts business, etc. it’s always been evident that his hope rests in the Sovereignty of God. The thing I love most about my dad is that he fears the Lord. When saying something or making decisions he never fears what man will think of him and this is something that I have always admired!

In growing up, my family has faced many difficult circumstances that have been very hard to get through and are still facing them today. Whether it has been moving from state to state, business ventures failing, losing his mom out of no where, or the house we are in now and all the difficulties that have come with it, my dad has always been faithful to point our gaze straight to the cross and remind us of the work that Christ has accomplished. The best part about all of this is that you would never know my dad was in the midst of a trial because of his attitude towards it. In laying down his life to serve the Church or his family, dad has affected numerous lives in the way he lives out his life for the glory of God and the gospel.

He has always been a very FUN person to be around. He’s constantly making people laugh (even when things are hard for him)! And though my sisters and I make fun of him a lot for the way he protects his daughters, we are truly grateful we have a father that even cares to protect us!

Words cannot express how grateful I am to God for my dad. He is such a BLESSING! I know that when his time comes to go to heaven, he will receive one big crown. I love you, dad!

Speaking of a hard working father, I went to visit him the other day and he said, "Candace, I'm running out of gas." Hmmm.... I wonder why???

Now this is how you get the job done!

Who walks a pumpkin back and forth when you can throw it?

The Proverbs 31 Daughter

Recently on the girl talk blog they’ve been doing a series of posts on the Proverbs 31 women.

Through the posts I’ve been reminded of what my call as a daughter and young lady is to be. I’ve heard of many young ladies viewing this passage of scripture as one that is only geared toward a wife and mother. I can think that, but knowing my own sinful self I don’t think that cultivating a heart of a Proverbs 31 women is going to happen immediately on the day I become a wife and mother. This is something that takes a lot of practice! I know this, simply because of the examples I've had growing up in a Church full of godly women and the example I've had displayed every day in my home through my mom. Though I’m still in a season of singleness and am not a wife or mother yet, I do believe that as a daughter, I am called to be a portrait of some of the roles that the Proverbs 31 women displays. Not in the way I will serve and relate to my own (Lord willing) future husband or children, but in the way I relate to my dad as his daughter.

The Bible teaches in Ephesians 5 that wives are to submit to their husbands, as to the Lord and in Ephesians 6 it teaches that children are to obey their parents in the Lord. I believe that my call as a daughter is to submit to my father and obey all that he asks of me until (Lord willing) he hands me off to my future husband. Just as I am to obey the commandments that God has set out for His children, I am to submit to and obey my own father. Carolyn Mahaney writes: “We read that the woman was created to be her husband’s helper; (Genesis 2:18) then in 1 Corinthians 11:9 Paul writes that man was not created for woman, but woman for man. In Titus 2 we find that the list of instructions for the younger women begins and ends with their relationship to their husbands. Proverbs 31:12- “She does him good and not harm, all the days of her life. And you do not know what the Lord has planned for your future. Your doing good to your husband could be the very means God uses to soften his heart toward you and toward Himself.”

Everywhere the word “husband” was inserted I believe that the word “father” could be there as well. God has ordained that fathers are to be the head of the family just as Christ is the head of the Church. (Ephesians 5:23) Personally in my life, my dad has ALWAYS known what was/is best for me. Even though I don’t always realize it, in the end he is always right!

Here are the top three things that I try to remember as a daughter (through my moms example) when striving to serve and submit to my dad:
1. HELP my Proverbs 31 mom in all her daily tasks of serving my dad and family
2. COMMUNICATE to him that I respect and honor him
3. LISTEN when he gives instruction because he always knows what’s best


With all that said, please know that I’m not trying to place condemnation on anyone. This is something that the Lord has been showing ME. I'm definitely not perfect at any of the things I said. Know that there are many days that I fail to respect my father as the Bible calls me to do. With all that is going on in my family right now, I know my dad is in need of extra honor and respect and he most definitely DESERVES it! I give all the glory to God! It is only by His sustaining grace upon my life that I can say what I’ve said!

Weekend, Work, and Arcade Fun!

This past weekend was a lot of fun! Florida won and as always it was great to spend time with my wonderful Church friends. It ended with a very disappointing loss from the Jags! They just couldn’t get themselves together at the end of the game to beat the Steelers :(. Hopefully this Sunday will be different as they head to Denver to defeat the Broncos. We will see!

Yesterday for the first time in a while, Amber and I got to go into work together. She ran the store while I got some administrative work and advertising done. I made up 200 little coupon books to pass out to customers. They are pretty darn cute! I mean if I got one I would probably come back ;)

When we got home last night Ryan was at our house about to take Victoria and Karah bowling. Amber and I both said, “We wanna go too!” so we hopped in the car and decided to join in on the fun =)! The bowling alley ended up not having any lanes available so we decided to go to an arcade. Here are some pictures:

You're So Good To Me

Last night at my home group we sang a very familiar Sovereign Grace Song, “You’re So Good to Me” As with everything else this week, this song came at the PERFECT timing, in particular the chorus. Last night, through this song, I was so ministered to that I took some time this morning and broke down the different lines of the chorus and applied some Scripture verses to them. I do this with a lot of songs because it helps me apply the glorious gospel truths that are proclaimed through so many worship songs. As I sing about God and all that He has accomplished for me, may I remember that I am no longer bound to sin, but AM NOW ALLIVE IN CHRIST!!!

For You have crowned my days
I need to remember that every day I go through the Lord is at hand, He is my Shepherd and I have NOTHING to worry about!

James 1:12- “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trail, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

Revelation 2:10- “Do not fear what you are about to suffer….Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

With overwhelming grace
Day to day when I sin and fail to recognize God’s hand upon my life His grace is there to forgive me for my failures. His mercies are new and His love NEVER fails.

2 Corinthians 12:9- “My grace is sufficient for you. For my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Ephesians 1:6-7- “To the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.”

Ephesians 2:4-5- “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ- by grace you have been saved.”

Titus 2:11-12- “For the grace of God has appeased, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.”

Lord You’re so good to me
Though going through difficult times right now, I can still say that God has been so GOOD to me. My family is extremely BLESSED and His grace continues to pour out on us.

Romans 8:28- “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Though troubles fall like rain
Though day to day I face difficult circumstances, I need to trust God! I need to rely on His goodness and strength to get me through my days.

1 Peter 1:6- “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials

James 1:2- “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

This precious truth remains
The precious truth remains that Christ has redeemed me from His wrath! Day to day when I fail to recognize His goodness, He still remains faithful to me. Christ sent His Son to pay for my sins and has already ordained ALL of my days. What refreshment this brings to my soul and oh the JOY it brings!

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.”

Psalm 25:10- “All the paths of the Lord are steadfast, love, and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.”

Lamentations 3:22-23- “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Lord You’re so good to me
Yes you’re so good to me!

Battling Impatience

In God’s Place, At God’s Pace, By Future Grace!

James 5:7-11- “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful”

Yesterday I shared what the Lord had been showing me through the chapter on “Patience” out of the book “The Fruitful Life.” Well, I’ve also been reading through John Piper’s book “Battling Unbelief” and it just so happens that I’m reading through the chapter on “Patience” in this book as well. I don’t find it ironic that I’ve come across different chapters on “patience” in two completely different books in the SAME week. It just amazes me how creative the Lord is when it comes to ministering to His children. These two chapters have helped me tremendously and I’m oh so grateful for them!

Here are a few things I pulled out of this chapter "Battling Impatience":

“Impatience is a form of unbelief. It’s what we begin to feel when we start to doubt the wisdom of God’s timing or the goodness of God’s guidance. It springs up in our hearts when our plan in interrupted or shattered.”

Patience is a deepening, ripening, peaceful willingness to wait for God in the unplanned place of obedience, and to walk with God at the unplanned pace of obedience. Patience means to “wait and endure.” We need to trust God to make all barriers blessings. The glorious might of God that we need to see and trust is the power of God to turn all our detours and obstacles into glorious outcomes. If we believed that our hold-up at the long red light was God’s keeping us back from an accident about to happen, we would be patient and happy. If we believe that our broken leg was God’s way of revealing early cancer in the x-ray so that we would survive, we would not be irritated with that inconvenience. If we believe that the middle-of-the night phone call was God’s way of waking us to smell smoke in our house, we would not grumble at the loss of sleep. The key to patience is to have faith in God’s grace on our lives to transform all our interruptions into rewards.

When we have patience, it sustains us! In every unplanned frustration, God’s Word holds true:

Jeremiah 32:40-41- “I will not turn away from doing good to them… I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul.”

“Impatient complaining is therefore a form of unbelief that God is not in control!”

Psalm 23:6- “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me ALL the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord FOREVER.”

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace.
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face
-William Cowper

Lamentations 3:25- “The Lord is good to those who WAIT for him.”