Blessed be the Name of the Lord

Praising God for those in my life who are such an undeserved blessing to me.

Praising God for closing doors on purchasing certain vehicles, and praising Him for opening the doors to the decision to get my new (to me) car.

Praising God for the ability to get a vehicle... one that runs; and stops; the windows all go up and down; the trunk lid actually closes (and even opens automatically!); keyless entry!!; A/C and heat that works; a radio that works; LED headlights; cupholders!; doors that aren't iffy; it doesn't veer off toward the ditch the moment I let go of the wheel (only to test the alignment!); and my Mom likes how it sits! :-)

Praising God for time to seek His face, even though it won't be at church, and it will be difficult missing the women's group.

Praising God for a schedule that will allow me to have time to clean up my apt, and craft, and actually sleep.

Praising God for the things He is doing at NPCC, and the spiritual growth going on right now.

Praising God when it's easy or hard to do so.

Treasure Map

 <sup>How often do we hear Jeremiah 29:11 quoted when speaking of plans that God has for people or churches, or even high school students/college students the day after graduation and you haven't a clue where life is going?

Yesterday morning we (women's group at church) talked about this passage a little bit, and it impressed a image in my mind about it. To get the most out of this verse, you have to read it in a little more context.

"11</sup> For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹² Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." ~Jeremiah 29:11-13.

While praying after we talked, I got this picture in my mind of a treasure map, like you might see in relation to pirates. You know the ones: The brown parchment paper with weathered and torn edges, and a thick red "X" where the treasure is buried.

This map represented that we have the promise from God that He knows the plans he has for us. The red "X" is the plan. It is there waiting for us, but it isn't something that we just wait to have delivered to us. It's something we go after by seeking His face and praying.

Infused

Just a thought I had on my drive back to my apt this evening. The songs on the radio and thoughts already spinning around in my head. *this was a few days ago, like last weekend I think* Anyway, the thoughts I was thinking that evening last week we turned to the word "Infused". I was listening to KLOVE on my drive back to town. The songs stirred my thoughts. I began to think about "soaking music" and the Kansas City International House of Prayer (KC-IHOP) and the music that used to be played there. I thought about what soaking music means: soaking in the presence of the Father. Does this mean soaking in His presence all around us, or does this mean letting His presence be inside of us so that we are infused with His presence as He permeates our being?

Then I looked up the definition. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines "infused" as:
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Main Entry: in·fuse
Pronunciation: \in-ˈfyüz\
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): in·fused; in·fus·ing
Etymology: Middle English, to pour in, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French infuser, from Latin infusus, past participle of infundere to pour in, from in- + fundere to pour — more at found
Date: 1526
1 a : to cause to be permeated with something (as a principle or quality) that alters usually for the better b : introduce, insinuate
2 : inspire, animate
3 : to steep in liquid (as water) without boiling so as to extract the soluble constituents or principles
4 : to administer or inject by infusion
— in·fus·er noun
synonyms infuse, suffuse, imbue, ingrain, inoculate,
Leaven: means to introduce one thing into another so as to affect it throughout. It implies introducing something that enlivens, tempers, or markedly alters the total quality.
Infuse: implies a pouring in of something that gives new life or significance.
Suffuse: implies a spreading through of something that gives an unusual color or quality.
Imbue: implies the introduction of a quality that fills and permeates the whole being.
Ingrain: (used only in the passive or past participle) suggests the deep implanting of a quality or trait. Inoculate: implies an imbuing or implanting with a germinal idea and often suggests stealth or subtlety.
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(Emphasis above mine)

If you want to infuse water with a flavor, you put the item in the water, and let the flavor seep out into it. Is this not what we should desire from the presence of God? That He would infuse us - to place down deep inside us so the Spirit seeps through us -  with His Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit has come to dwell in us, to infuse us with Himself, that we would glorify God by becoming more Christ like.

Anyway... that's just a few of my thoughts... I don't really have a good conclusion.... it's late and I need to sleep. I have a long day tomorrow, and a long week ahead. Funny, I dreamed the other night that I would feel like I hadn't really rested this weekend by the time tomorrow evening came about... I feel like that's what it's going to be like tomorrow evening, but it's going to be so worth it.

Grace

What can I say? I find myself clicking "unfollow" and "unlike" a lot these days. Especially if someone posts something with vulgar language or even generally stupid material. I don't have need for that in my life. Maybe you take good photographs or are an amazingly good artist. But when I see things that offend my spirit I will continue to click "unfollow" and "unlike" on those profile pages.

I feel as if my media filter has become more fine as I continue with where my mind and heart has been after our women's retreat. It's like an oasis has been found in the desert. A more accurate term may be rediscovered. It's been there. I was just going in circles. Going through the motions. I feel reawakened to spiritual things that I've experienced before and yet this is different. It's as if the whole church body at NPCC has been awakened to the same thing, except it's going to go deeper. I am so excited for the things we are learning as a church body, and the spiritual growth that is happening. To take the phrase from the lesson during the college group Crossroads: The Journey Is The Destination. We are never fully there spiritually. We may be more mature than we used to be, but we've always got more to learn and experience!

Although I may not be quite sure my spiritual gifting, I do know another gifting god has given me. And that is being an artist. I wanted to share this piece, which is the one I've recently worked on. The clouds with the lightning represent life before Christ. The sun rays, blue sky, and fluffy white clouds represent the grace God bestowed on us in His Son, Jesus. Yeah, maybe it's a simple drawing in Sharpie. But it was an idea I needed to get out of my head since the word "grace" has been on my mind lately. I don't know what I'm going to do with the piece now that I've drawn it. I just keep thinking of what else I can draw next!

Well this has been a lengthy blog for me. I should go to bed since its already midnight-thirty...