Resurrection Sunday

I loved this Easter for several reasons.

1. As my faith grows, my understanding of the importance of this day magnifies.
2. Church service was amazing.
3. I got to spend a wonderful day with my family.

More and more each day I recognize that The Spirit lives in me, I feel it more and more each day.  The calm, the peace, the love, the joy, all of it.  It's amazing.   I keep feeling how important it is to tell people about it.  I feel like so many people say they believe in God, they believe in Jesus but I wonder why it doesn't compel them to get excited.  To do more than buy a new dress and host an Easter egg hunt.  I'm by no means perfect and sometimes I find myself not practicing what I preach, we're all hypocrites to some extent, but I promise you I work on it every single day. 

If we celebrate Easter as a Christian then we know that Jesus told us before He left to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them.  He told us to love God with all our heart, soul and mind.  He told us to love our neighbor as ourselves.  If we celebrate Easter and eternal life then why done we at least try to embody these things?  I don't think that means that we have to all sell all our possessions and travel to a different corner of the Earth, I think it means we should all have our own ministry, we should all each day, be trying to love everyone around us and show them Jesus' love and mercy.  People should be able to look at us as Christians and wonder what is so different about us, where do we get our overwhelming hope and joy?  Jesus says in the bible that he does not come to judge (John 12:47), so what makes us think that we can?  I pray that Jesus would come back one day and His church isn't divided because people focused more on their interpretation of the word than the Great Commission; instead of the two greatest commandments that we can all agree came from our Savior.  None of us are made perfect overnight, but are we striving everyday to be a better person, more like Jesus, more patient, kind and humble?

 

This was the setting for church this morning, so beautiful, such a wonderful message.

 

Then it was off to my mom's house for family fun time!  Tula dog is one of the sweetest doggies ever.

 

Heated game of dominoes in the back yard.   I had such a fun time with my siblings playing games and hanging out in the sun.

Timothy Keller Sermon- Justified by Faith

Timothy Keller- Justified Faith

"Justification is not merely an abstract theological concept. It is the sense of approval and belonging that every person desires. Justification is more than having our sins forgiven. It means that in God’s eyes, we are given Jesus’ perfect record. We are treated as if we had lived the perfect life that Jesus lived. We are given the love that Jesus deserved. We have the same access to the Father that Jesus has. The good news is that all of this comes, not from us doing anything, but simply by faith." -From the sermon page.

Romans 3:21-28 : 21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in[a] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[b] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

I wanted to find a Timothy Keller sermon on Galatians to listen to today because I have been going through his book with my small group.  I found this sermon which was somewhat similar to the word of Galatians and I loved it.  It talks about the freedom that comes with the gospel.  That no works that we can do will ever get us right with God.  Jesus has already done that for us.  That if we do works of service to get closer to God we're only doing them for ourselves.  They are selfish in nature.  They must come from a place of gratitude toward Jesus because of what he has done for us.  I love these messages because I think that it is something I need to work on, something I need to get through my head.  It's a learning process that I can certainly see growth in over the last 6 months.  It's great to be able to look back and see the changes God has made in my heart. 

Yums

I got a new cute jar on clearance at TJ Maxx for candies, but I bought all healthy food so I had nothing to fill it and my co-workers were not happy about it.

Sleepy time tea and a book is the best way to end the night.

I am really loving this Timothy Keller- Galatians for You book.  Highly recommend it.

Who will do that work?

This is the video they showed at church on Sunday about what the additional money given to our church is doing in India.  This is the mission trip I am working toward being a part of. 

healing

There is no song that heals my soul more, or makes me feel closer to Him.

Overgrown

Biggest cucumbers on Earth.

I took this photo while exploring the Cincinnati Art Museum a few weeks back

This picture is from Savannah, looks like someone was trying to recreate the lock bridges in Paris.

This is the absolute truth. 

Let me see your grill...

This is what I wake up to most morning.  Lucky me.

I love when Kitty's Coffee has my favorite coffee Highlander Grogg!

I should probably be marketing for the cupcake makers of Abby Girl Sweets Cupcakery.  They make such amazing cupcakes and I tell everyone about them.  My dear friend Ney'Shawne wanted to surprise her boyfriend with some strawberry cupcakes so I picked them up for her so she could share them with him!  It was hard to resist biting into one!

Downtown Skywalk Walnut St.

Seriously how did I cook my food before I had a grill? Yum...

Quite time to do my bible study called Dwell.  Excited about small group tomorrow.  I had been having a rough time working through a few issues and this quite time helped me work through it.  Feeling so much better.  Remembering this is the right path...

Spiritual Gangster

This is my view every morning.  I know it's almost time to get up when the light starts peaking in.  I'm not going to complain about it though because one of the worst things in life is when it's dark out and you have to get up.

Staring out the bus window

  It was raining and shining at the same time today

I’ve been meaning to try this detox water for a while.  Not necessarily to detox but because I’m a fan of flavored water.  This is 3qts of water, a lemon and a lime, half of a very large cucumber that I got at the Fresh Market of Fountain Square, and 15 mint leaves. 

I stole this picture from instagram.  I love this t-shirt and I feel like I might need it.  Apparently it’s a Yoga company.  I fail at yoga every time I attempt it but this t-shirt is a winner.  Check out their merchandise here spiritual gangster.

Also discovered my favorite song is a Hymn written by George Matheson

1. O Love that will not let me go,

I rest my weary soul in thee;

I give thee back the life I owe,

That in thine ocean depths its flow

May richer, fuller be.

2. O light that followest all my way,

I yield my flickering torch to thee;

My heart restores its borrowed ray,

That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day

May brighter, fairer be.

3. O Joy that seekest me through pain,

I cannot close my heart to thee;

I trace the rainbow through the rain,

And feel the promise is not vain,

That morn shall tearless be.

4. O Cross that liftest up my head,

I dare not ask to fly from thee;

I lay in dust life’s glory dead,

And from the ground there blossoms red

Life that shall endless be.

History of the Hymn

I must always remember

Babies!!!!

For the past few weeks my family and I have been meeting every Tuesday for a bible study through Crossroads called Dwell.  I made a post on facebook asking who would do it with me and my family replied.  It’s something to get us together once a week and I love it.  We normally get together to drink and party so it’s good to get together for a bible study.  Yesterday’s bible study was especially fun because my sister-cousin Jamie and her husband Scott found out the sex of their baby!!  I knew the appointment was in the morning but I also knew that they would do something fun to reveal the sex.  I got to my uncle and aunt’s house and they had cupcakes waiting.  She had filled them with the colored icing, it was so cute!  I can’t believe how much I love this baby already, I cannot wait to meet HIM!!!