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Merry Christmas

At the Feet of Jesus

At the Feet of Jesus

December 18, 2008

As 2008 comes to a close, I find myself in awe over Jesus. Each year I get to know Him in a different way. It absolutely blows my mind that I can personally know the Creator of Heaven and earth. As I look back over different seasons of my life I always find that Jesus not only shapes me and conforms me to His image, He also reveals new characters of Himself to me. I usually can name a new one each time. If I could use one word to describe God’s character revealed to me this year it would be, “Mercy”.

While preparing this letter, I reflected on the past 3 Christmas letters that I have written and I found that each one had particular difficult situations. In 2005 we were waiting on a job. Just around the corner in 2006 we picked up our family and moved to another state for ministry. Last year we lost my grandmother and watched my father battle a nasty cancer. But, none of our family was prepared for what would happen this year. None of us knew that dad would leave our world so soon and enter our Saviors. No one was ready for this! The pain, confusion and grief were indescribable. But during this unbelievable time we witnessed the hand of God and felt His presence like never before. What Mercy!

After spending nearly all of January in Texas with my mom, I whirled home in order to prepare for a brand new women’s ministry the LORD had called me to. Already sure that I was totally incapable of the calling before me, taking on a new ministry while dealing with terrible grief seemed an impossible task. Buried in studies and overcome with speaking anxieties each month, the LORD became my confidence. I was met with intense spiritual battles head on all along the way while serving in this new capacity. But God in His great mercy clothed me with strength to endure every bit of it.

The love and gratitude I have for Jesus overflows with in me. I’m drawn to the text in the gospel of John where I find Mary of Bethany at the feet of Jesus. The account reads, “Mary took a bottle of very expensive perfume made from pure nard and poured it on Jesus' feet. Then she dried his feet with her hair.”(John 12:3) I love this picture. Mary, out of love and gratitude for Jesus is found anointing Jesus’ feet with a very costly perfume. Spending time at someone’s feet was the work of a servant and a woman with her hair unbound was not a common sight in public. The incredible picture that we find in this biblical text is Mary pouring out her life in an intense personal devotion to Christ.

In the verses following we find out that the perfume was worth 3 hundred denarii. (The equivalence of about a year’s wage) Matthew and Marks gospels give testimony that some thought this was a total waste. (Mk 14:4; Matt 26:8) I have a feeling many today would scorn the behavior of one who would pour out a years worth of wages on Jesus’ feet. Think about that for a minute. What do people these days do when they have saved a year’s salary? If it is all spent in devotion to Jesus how do people react? Sadly, I believe that most would exclaim as those already mentioned, “what a waste”. Yet, Jesus describes it as a beautiful thing! (Mark 14:6)

When we get a glimpse of who He really is and what He has done for us, one can’t help but fall at His feet and give it all away! As the great hymn by Isaac Watts says, “Were the whole realm of nature mine- That were an offering far too small- Love so amazing, so divine- Demands my soul, my life, my all.” I can not think of myself in any other place than my life poured out at the feet of Jesus in total devotion, giving everything to Him for all He has done in my life. Saving me from the pit of hell was alone more than I deserve. But the fact that he goes way beyond that and gets personally involved in individuals lives and gives hope, comfort, strength and great mercy when we need it is something I’ll never understand.

At Christmas, in the midst of all the buying, decorating and celebrating some may give Jesus a glance. Others may perhaps meditate on what the birth of Jesus meant. But I hope you do more. I hope you’ll find that there is no greater place to be in this life than to be poured out at the feet of Jesus. Not just at Christmas time but at all times. There you’ll find that there is really no cost and no loss. Nothing wasted. There you’ll find all you need.

Soli Deo Gloria,
Brittnie

All the way my Savior leads me

All the way my Savior leads me
Who have I to ask beside
How could I doubt His tender mercy
Who through life has been my guide

All the way my Savior leads me
Cheers each winding path I tread
Gives me grace for every trial
Feeds me with the living Bread

You lead me and keep me from falling
You carry me close to Your heart
And surely Your goodness and mercy will follow me

All the way my Savior leads me
O, the fullness of His love
O, the sureness of His promise
In the triumph of His blood

And when my spirit clothed immortal
Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song through endless ages
Jesus led me all the way
Jesus led me all the way

All the way my Savior leads me

Lyrics by Chris Tomlin (Hello Love Album)

Last Man Standing (Preteen Fall Retreat)

New Adventure in God's Word

about to embark on this starting Wednesday! Woohoo!

My Husband- a man of many talents

He loves tater tots!

The Home Depot Hot Dogs

I couldn't help but share!

Understanding the Times

I felt like posting this again. I wrote it this time last year.

Understanding the Times
Daniel 9:1-3 In the first year of Darius son of Ahasuerus, who was made ruler over the Babylonian kingdom- in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the LORD given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.

This passage so stuck out to me that I couldn’t help but write about it. Let’s look at this together. For a little background, All Israel had transgressed God’s law and turned away, refusing to obey the LORD their God. (Dan 9:11) and because of their unfaithfulness to the LORD, He scattered them both near and far in all the countries. (vs.7) In particular God had exiled Judah to Babylon and the people were in captivity. Daniel was one of those from the tribe of Judah who had been exiled to Babylon. But Daniel, even as a young teenage boy resolved not to let the pagan culture in which he now lived to be an influence on his life as a child of God. He lived in faithfulness to his God all the days of His life.

And here we are at this passage when Daniel was old in age and we see him searching the scriptures. He is reading the prophecies of Jeremiah which tell of a 70 year captivity and he understands that the LORD will deliver His people out of captivity just as He delivered them from slavery in Egypt. Daniel understands the times. He realizes that through the Prophecies of Jeremiah and the length the people have been exiled that the time of captivity is drawing to a close and the LORD will be faithful to restore His people.

Now Daniel, understanding the prophecies and believing in God’s soon coming restoration does something so interesting. He turns to the LORD God and pleads to him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. Amazing! Why did He do this? Why wasn’t he sitting back and carrying on with his life while waiting for Gods restoration? We see very clearly through his incredibly passionate prayer that he offers up to the LORD in verses 4-19 that he is praying for his sins and the sins of God’s people will be forgiven and he is mourning over them. The people that bore the very name of GOD had been living life their way and were not turning to the LORD and God punished them. Daniel prayed for his people to turn from their sins and return to God.

This raises the hair on the back of my neck. Daniel KNEW the times and he prayed and fasted for his people!
Do we know the times that we are in? As believers are we searching scripture to understand where we are at in our day and age? In Matthew chapter 24 Jesus gives us signs of the close of the age. Jesus tells us in vs.12 that in the last days we will see an increase in wickedness and the love of many will grow cold. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 tells that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.

I’d say that describes our day pretty accurately, wouldn’t you? And by reading these God breathed texts what are we doing about it? Jesus says in Matthew 24:32-33 that we can learn a good lesson from the fig tree: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he (Jesus) is near, at the very gates. Check your own spiritual pulse and the pulse of professing believers today. Do we understand the times? Or are we still going about our daily lives unconcerned about the sin in our lives or the spreading of the Gospel and totally disconnected from the Kingdom work that is to be done before Jesus’ return.

I am quickly reminded of Matthew 24:37-40 which says for as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Let this not be us! Let us be like Daniel who searched the scriptures and understood the times and cried out to God with prayers and petitions and with fasting on behalf of their sin and let us turn to the LORD with all our hearts to be ready on the day that the Son of Man returns. The time is drawing near.

Brittnie

A United House

A United House by Beth Moore
(from her Blog)

To my beloved Sisters who I esteem so highly and consistently find to be part of the solution to our problems in the Church rather than the cause,

Please join me in praying for our President-elect Barack Obama, his wife Michelle, and his precious daughters, Sasha and Malia. Go with me before the Throne of our sovereign God and ask Him to grant wisdom from above to President-elect Obama and the indwelling presence and power of Jesus Christ. In the words of the Apostle Paul, "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior..."

Please also join me in the active and deliberate pursuit of unity and purity in the Body of Christ at this historical time in our country. I implore you in Jesus Name to have zero tolerance for prejudice whether it is regarding party-affiliation, color (whether you are Black, White, or Brown), economics or the like. Disagreement is not sin. Prejudice is. Satan has plotted events and planted attitudes that, should he be successful, will result in havoc. We must not stand for his schemes or cooperate in a single way. We would severely displease God and invite untold chastisement upon Christ's Church in our nation. Speak clearly to your children and graciously but emphatically draw a line in your work places and social circles regarding your stand against prejudice of any kind.

"Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, 'Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.'" (Matthew 12:25) A united house stands. A divided house falls. The devil has much to gain. But he also has much to lose.

We are the Body of Jesus Christ and we have an opportunity to show His character. This is our watch. We stand for what is right not from our feet but from our knees.

I humble myself before you and make these pleas under such bold direction of God that I could not resist it nor disobey it. He made it a fire in my bones.

I love and esteem you so much. Shoulder to shoulder, Dear Siestas. Let's leave not one inch for the enemy to come between us.

Every Tribe, Tongue and Nation

Revelation 5:9
With your blood you purchased people for God from every tribe, language, people, and nation.

I had the opportunity to minister to refugees from Liberia two weekends ago. It was an incredible experience. I got a glimpse of what Heaven will be like!

Here are a couple of videos of the people worshiping in their tongue.


Another quick clip of this awesome experience!


Here are some pics of the day of us joining together our brothers and sisters from Liberia!

Squirrel Wars

Every so often I'll look out in the back yard and see a big pile of leaves that have covered the ground just beneath one of our big trees. I just saw a new pile of them this morning! These are fresh green leaves with the limbs still attached. They aren't dead leaves that are falling due to the season.

Recently we came home from a trip and noticed all the leaves on the ground and we wondered if it could have been some kind of big storm that blew through and knocked down all the leaves or..... lightening maybe that struck the tree and sent leaves sailing to the ground??

We do have tons of squirrels in our back yard and I have thought that maybe it could be them. But they are small and don't look like they could cause much damage.


UNTIL I saw this and then realized....COULD IT BE??

It's time for a break!

Psalm 69:13-18 (The Message)

13 And me? I pray.

God, it's time for a break!

God, answer in love!
Answer with your sure salvation!

14 Rescue me from the swamp,
Don't let me go under for good,

Pull me out of the clutch of the enemy;
This whirlpool is sucking me down.

15 Don't let the swamp be my grave, the Black Hole
Swallow me, its jaws clenched around me.

16 Now answer me, God, because you love me;
Let me see your great mercy full-face.

17 Don't look the other way; your servant can't take it.
I'm in trouble. Answer right now!

18 Come close, God; get me out of here.
Rescue me from this deathtrap.

Vote

I'm not catholic, but this video that the Catholics put together to encourage their people to vote is very powerful and should be seen by all.

Mission

Very early Saturday morning, a team of about 17 people are headed to Georgia to minister to a large group of refugees from Liberia. Will share more details later, but would you be praying for us? I am super pumped to be able to go and love on these people and share the gospel. What could be cooler than that? hope to post about it all when we return.

Something is changing

Something is changing. I don't have a clue what it is....but something is definitely changing. Both my husband and I can sense it. I know most definitely that we are under a spiritual attack and have been for some time. And I am certain that it is regarding some major changes that we are making in our family in order to honor God with EVERY aspect of our lives and to seek first the Kingdom of God. These changes are an offense to the kingdom of Hell and the adversary won't allow us to continue with out a big fight.

But, at the same time that is taking place, there is something else happening that I can't put my finger on. Something more. There have been several situations/circumstances that have come about recently that have caused some kind of stirring in my heart that I don't know how to communicate in words right now. I don't know if it is about me personally, or our family, or one of our ministries or if He is gearing us up for something else. Hmmm....not sure. But, God is up to something. REALLY up to something. So, I am earnestly praying for discernment and for us to be fully prepared when ever God reveals what He is working on.

9 months yesterday

Yesterday marked 9 months since my dad's passing. How insane is that? Something that happened just a few short months ago....yet seems so long ago. Even though I can rejoice of his salvation, all those memories of the moments leading up to his death are such a bitter pill to swallow. Can I press on? Sure. Will it be easy? Absolutely not! My heart still aches and grieves for the emptiness that I feel inside of not having my daddy.

*sigh*

I can't even begin to imagine a life without my heavenly Father in the absence of my earthly one! Thank you so much LORD for your presence!

Deer

I have to share this story. Yesterday while making supper, I turned around to put something on the table and in my kitchen window stood a deer glaring right at me. It terrified me! I screamed, nearly wetting my britches. Thought that I was going to throw up until I realized that my husband was the culprit. He had his target deer that looks JUST like a real deer and was holding it up in the window to spook me. It looked so real though! We do have deer occasionally so it wasn't totally unrealistic for there to be a deer in the window, but then the kitchen window sits up about 10 feet from the ground, so it would have to be a GIANT deer to be able to peer through the window. Either way, bad husband! Bad!

I have giggled about this throughout the day as I have been startled a number of other times when looking out one of the windows to our back yard and seeing a "deer" leaning up against the tree where my husband left him. How many times am I going to be scared by that thing every time I see it! It throws me for a loop every time! Maybe I ought to get out my man's bow and shoot that thing! LOL! Thank you LORD for some laughter today! I desperately needed it!

Longing

To long to hold a child you've yet to meet. Yearning to love someone that you don't even know. How are these things possible? Only the LORD can put such desires in my heart. How long LORD do we wait? Where is she? How do we know where to find her?

Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them. You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed, so mere people can no longer terrify them. (Psalm 10:17-14) Please show us the way soon.

Time with the men in my life

It has been far too long since I have spent time with the men in my life. Ministry has pulled me away from them a lot lately, and I can't tell you how excited I am to snuggle up to all 3 of them while watching IRONMAN and slamming M&M's till we're sick tonight!

Praise 150

Can not wait til Praise 150 this Sunday night!

Another Blog

Well,
I have a ministry blog and a family blog and a Sunday School blog. I guess I should have one for just my self, right? Hope to find this as a place to just spill my heart.
We'll see what happens.

Brittnie