Sunday, December 26, 2010

Who Fufills His Purpose for Me...

My dear friend and big brother, Justin Ryder, along with Libby, wrote me a very sweet note for Christmas. They had bought me a journal (which I loved!!) and had written in the front. It was by far the sweetest note I have ever received. They talked about  alot of things, but the one part that I will treasure was the end of Justin's contribution. He said that he has been praying that my time in God's Word would be electric. Consuming.  Exciting.

And friends, God is answering that prayer! I am so excited to dive into the Word every morning. To think, that I have the very Word of God in my hands. The word of God!!! I get to learn more about Him each and every day, and the supply of things to learn will never ever ever run out! How exciting!

So that being said, with my renewed excitement for reading and studying the Word has come a new and renewed excitement of writing. I told my mom this morning that I literally am always thinking about writing. It just excites me beyond anything I could ever imagine. I feel so full of the Holy Spirit and I just feel I have to share it with the world!

So today I just wanted to share what I read this morning.

"I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me."
Psalm 57:2



ful·fill also ful·fil (fl-fl)
tr.v. ful·filled, ful·fill·ing, ful·fills also ful·fils

1. To bring into actuality; effect: fulfilled their promises.
2. To carry out (an order, for example).
3. To measure up to; satisfy.
4. To bring to an end; complete.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This simple cry of David brought me so much comfort this morning. In the midst of great distress, turmoil, and anxiousness, David leans on the Lord. He openly declares what he knows to be true in his heart of hearts about the Lord, and that is that no matter what the circumstances may be, God is going to fulfill HIS purpose and calling on David's life!! What peace this must have brought the king! To know that he doesn't ever have to worry about anything. He can rest in His Savior to protect Him and sustain Him through it all.

The same can apply to all of us, dear friends!
We can have peace in the truth that God will fulfill, and is already fulfilling His purposes for us! We don't need to worry about making the wrong decisions. We don't have to worry about "messing up" God's plan. We don't have to worry about somehow going the wrong way, or trying to fulfill God's plan for Him.

No. He is fulfilling His perfect, amazing, and completely mind-blowing plan in each of us today.

What an amazing truth! I don't need to ever worry! He will be faithful to me and will bring everything to light in His perfect will and timing.

"I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."
Psalm 27:13-14












Saturday, December 25, 2010

My 2nd Blog!

Check it out! No worries, Lifting My Eyes is still going to be my main blogging priority. ;)
As you will see, this 2nd one has more of a different purpose, but I still wanted to share it with ya'll.
Hope you enjoy! Merry Christmas!

-Hannah

http://allthings-withyou.blogspot.com/

Saturday, December 18, 2010

nothing compares.

"But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ . Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord!
For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith- that I may know him and the power of his resurrection..." Philippians 3: 7-10

Praying that you will look to Jesus, dear friends! He is worth everything you have!! Give it all to Him! Surrender your lives to the One who loves you...and know that He is with you through it all! Nothing else matters...all of this. Our lives here on earth. Our relationships. Our jobs. Our appointments. Our plans.

None of it compares or even comes close to the wonder of knowing Jesus! I hope and pray each and every one of you comes to know this Savior.

He loves you!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Where's the line to see Jesus?

Oh, that we would all remember what Christmas is truly about!!



"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great JOY for all the people!! Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord! This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests!”









Tuesday, December 14, 2010

And tonight....I will praise the Lord!

Tonight is my last Christmas concert at Great Bridge High school! A bitter-sweet time for sure. So many happy memories have been made with my orchestra. Orchestra is actually one of the main reasons I went into public school sophomore year, after being home-schooled my entire life. I cannot even express the joy I feel when I am up on stage playing!! I literally just close my eyes, move with the music, and imagine I am playing for my One true love...my Savior and my King.
To HIM be all the praise forever and ever!
Praise Him with me dear friends! He is worthy! Praise Him in all things...all circumstances...all situations. He has always been faithful to you, and will never ever ever stop! He is so good! What a loving God we serve!


"Praise the Lord.
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with tambourine and dancing,
praise him with the strings and flute,
praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord!"

Psalm 150: 1-6


 










Friday, December 10, 2010

hope.

today was difficult for some reason. i woke up excited it was friday, yet as the day progressed, that excitement dimmed. i guess im just burned out. i have really been pushing myself hard with school. i am so motivated to crush it. i want to get an A in nursing, and i certainly am not getting it handed to me. but on the other hand, i have been getting more excited about being a nurse. i can't wait to just help people....
which leads to the hardest part of the day.
 
i saw my sweet libby tonight. i haven't seen her in so long because it is really really hard to see her with her being home trying to rest, and me being a full time high school senior and nursing student. but the lord has all of that figured out too.

but yeah. i was with my daddy, and he went with me to take libby and justin their dinner. Vietnamese noodles for justin and chick-fil-a soup for lib. when she opened the door, i wanted to cry. she looked exhausted. and sick. and utterly worn down. and all i wanted to do was scream, "Oh, God why!!!!!!" I wish i could have cancer instead of her. i wish i could help her. i wish i could actually do something to help her pain go away. but all i can do is stand back...i am utterly helpless. there isn't anything i can do.
but... my Father can do something.
so friends, please.... please pray for a miracle with me. pray that this awful cancer will flee from libby's body in the mighty Name of Jesus. pray that she will be completely healed. pray for justin....it's killing him to see his sweet wife battling this. and pray for hope. we all need hope.

i know and believe God can and will heal Libby. i believe that with all my heart. it's just really hard sometimes. but He knows. thank God i don't have to have all things figured out! and thank you for all your prayers and encouragement. means the world to me.
 
now off to watch a christmas movie and drink some hot peppermint tea! love ya'll.

 
And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Romans 5:2-5



dontwasteyourcancer

Sweet Libby and her little dollie girl, Ava

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

could there really be a place for me?

i think God is unbelievable. he allows my favorite story, the Chronicles of Narnia, to be made into amazing movies, the third of which is coming out this friday... and then my favorite musical artist end up doing a soundtrack for it!! AND i haven't related with a song so much in my life. wow. God...you are so good.
Hope you enjoy it as much as I do, friends! :)

Monday, December 6, 2010

at peace.

so it's 10:02 pm on a monday night....and i'm exhausted beyond description. i think i'm running on 3 hours of sleep since friday. i have a huge nutrition test tomorrow and about a zillion other things i should be doing. oh, and don't even get me started on all my other school work. and yes, i am asking myself the same question: why am i blogging again???
i don't know. it just hit me.

i feel really happy right now.
strangely content.
peaceful.


praise be to God! if i weren't so tired, i would heave a giant sigh of relief. hehe however, like i said, it was a long weekend. i was at a young life camp doing work crew with about 50 other kids. we literally cleaned and worked from 10:30pm friday night to 2:30pm sunday afternoon...and i mean non stop. it was the most exhausting, rewarding, and amazing experience. i got to serve kids that they might know the Savior's love! i cannot express my joy.

and i just wanted to let ya'll know, if any of you have been praying for me...i think it's working. i am peaceful and trusting God. and it has been a long time since i have trusted Him completely, dear friends. in everything. the stress about college. the constant awareness of my own shortcomings. my worries of never being loved or never having someone want to cherish me. these things all just sap my joy and steal my enjoyment of God away from me. i don't want to live that way anymore.


so thank you. whoever you may be.thank you for your unseen support through these difficult seasons. thank you, if you are praying. it means more to me than i can even say. i don't even know who reads this blog and if it's even encouraging.but i want you to know that i pray for you daily!! i pray that the Lord speaks through me-a simple girl who needs her Savior day after day- and that you hear his "well done" and feel His love. He gives me these words. they aren't mine. i honestly wouldn't be able to just sit down and write like this if it weren't for Him.

so yes. i am thankful. thankful for you. thankful for Christmas. thankful for violin and piano and voice. thankful for the Word of God. thankful for hot cups of tea. thankful for running shoes and an ipod.thankful for country music. thankful for my parents and sisters. thankful for my Young Life family and friends.thankful for hope.....
and thankful for my flannel covered pillow that is calling my name.

love you guys.






Thursday, December 2, 2010

you are my refuge...

Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from Him.
Truly He is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
He is my mighty rock, my refuge!
Trust in Him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge!