Joyful Monday

Today is an inexpressible joy day :)

My little sister asked Jesus into her heart today! Very happy :). Our God is a mighty God; there's nothing beyond Him.

~Elissa

Christmas music...I can't express my love for you

Yep. I'm pretty much head over heels in love with Christmas music. Air 1's constant streaming Christmas radio feeds my addiction.

However, this is now my favoritest (yes mac I'm keeping that word) song in the whole world.

I've been crazy about the song since reading Immanuel's Veins. It's really not a spoiler to say the lyrics are in the book :P.

On the above pianer (keeping that word too) cover, they included this verse which I really liked:

On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity--Zechariah 13:1

Woah, right? I didn't know that Jesus was actually prophesied as a cleansing fountain for sins! A lot bigger deal than a pretty metaphor. In light of sacrificing, the prominent worship of Zechariah's day (i believe) it's quite a concept to imagine actually being covered in the sacrifice's blood, in a foundation or pool. Gross maybe, but uber powerful. Not only were the people promised a death and sacrifice but a cleansing pool of blood that would literally wash them clean from impurity.

I know I need that. I sometimes feel so covered with sin--intruding my thoughts and staining my soul. But "There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel's veins; and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains."


It's way more than someone's idea of a cool song. He really was born to die and become a literal cleanser of sin. 


+Elissa

Bible reading = pumpkin pie or turkey?

well.

Reading one's Bible. so simple, yet (at least for me) so difficult. why do I put my Bible on the back burner?

like the 14th pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving, my Bible slips to the bottom of my priorities and sits there.

Ignored.

What is it costing me?

in the quiet, i can hear Him sometimes, calling me closer. but one way He does that is through scripture. if i'm not putting it in my brain, how is the Holy Spirit going to use it in me?

How am i going to reach out to someone else--anyone else--with those words?

Reading my Bible's gotta stop being the 14th pumpkin pie. It's gotta become the turkey--the prized part of the meal, the one most important thing.

we're always learning, I suppose.

***

Sanctus Real's album Pieces of a Real Heart is me now.

"come with Me, I'll show you life, even better than this...I am the One, the One"

"Dear heart, do you belong to me, or do I belong to you? Just look at all the trouble you've dragged me into...oh heart, you've let me down, chasing love where it can't be found."

so. true. so so so true.

***

oh, and also, I had a thought earlier:

why is it that when we've come to the end of ourselves. when we've hit rock bottom. why is it then that we look for ways to serve. why is it then that we are ready to do whatever He says. 

could it be that selfishness and self-satisfaction and self-assurance were what held us back?

oh, Lord, it hurts a lot to hit the floor. but could You help me to see Your purpose, even if it's hard?

^^that's my prayer. what's yours been lately?

Elissa

Hmm. What should I name this post?

Life is fascinating, in case you haven't noticed. I have felt very philosophical lately, would you like to hear my ramblings?  Probably not. That's okay, I'll tell anyway.

1) Be careful what you wish for. I'm not kidding you, whether it's to grow up, to be respected by adults as mature, to be popular...just about any of those junior high wishes turn out to be insanely overrated. It's more fun to just be simple.  I'd like to reference T swift's "Never Grow Up" here, but that's pretty self explanatory :).

2) Having a servant heart is hard. Like, the hardest thing for someone with pride (*sticks hand up* me!).  I was attempting to think of ways to serve my family members yesterday, and was shocked by two things. First, I don't often think about serving them, so it was HARD. And second, it requires focus on others, not me. Which seems obvious, but for me not thinking one selfish thought it super difficult.

3) Moms are epic. Just so you know, they know everything. I'll say it again. EVERYTHING. 

4) I love this time of year. Once it's November, I'm totally in Thanksgiving-Black Friday-Christmas-New Years mode. Why can't they all happen at once for two months?! How awesome would that be??

5) Forgiveness and love are harder to accept than hate and pain. That seems unfair, but it's how it works because we're in a fallen world. Love will only be fully realized when we are in God's presence (heaven)--just because we can't "feel" it, that does NOT mean He isn't loving us. (I took this philosophy from my bro)

Okay, time to end this sadly pointless post. I vent by rambling, so thank you blog readers! :)

What are your pointless ramblings?

--Elissa

Lately....

1. I'm at the library, using their less than perfect internet and being really excited about getting my new computer (macbook)! Even though it's half my early Christmas present and half most of my savings from the fair....

2. Reading these books...excitingness...

This book is seriously amazing. I've never been so assured about God's plan for singleness :). Simply profound.

3. listening to my ipod on shuffle :))

4. Wishing vainly that I didn't have so many lit assignments this week...:P

That's about it... what are your lately's?

~~Elissa~~

It's been so long since I've posted!

First,

In the silent times : seek God

In the painful times : praise God

In the harried times : hallow God

and in the terrible times : trust God.

And at all times — at all times –

Thank God.

 --Ann Voskamp's blog.

 This blog is like sunshine, blue skies, flowers, and puppies. I simply love it. 

Second, this song is me right now:

Third,

When all feels lost 

when nothing makes sense

when crying is what is easy

and getting back up is what feels impossible

don't forget that you are not alone.

Don't forget that He carried the weight for us

don't forget there is a reason.

Trust.

--what's on my heart right now.