Proverbs 29:25

"Fear of a man will prove to be a snare, 

but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe."

Why is it easier to speak hope than to keep it in our hearts?

"Let us hold fast the confession of our HOPE without wavering, for He who promised is faithful." - Hebrews 10:23

I praise God that His Holy "Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans." - Romans 8:26

Just last night I was encouraging a dear friend and the Holy Spirit gave me words - HOPE - just came out of me. An now, just hours later I am doubting, trying to take control, and fearful of my own circumstances. How often that happens...we know the truth deep in our souls - yet we let our circumstance steer our thoughts far from it.

Today let's ask God to help us live out the hope we have confessed.

Lessons from Africa Remembered

All of a sudden I realize how "American" I have become again - it has just crept into my soul.  Jesus, please help me remember the truths you revealed to me.  Help me become more selfless; more focused on Your good and perfect will.

Truths I need to remember:

1. Because of the fall - Life is suffering, life is pain – so learn to live with it, expect it, and learn how to cope with it.

Job 1:21 “And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

2. When something good or joyful does happen, embrace it, cherish it, remember it.

Luke 2:19 “But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” Revelation 3:3 “Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent.”

3. Always keep your eyes on the Cross – our only hope in this world is Jesus Christ. 

Romans 8:18 – “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

4. Remember that His ways are “higher” than ours– that His plan is far better than ours.   

Isaiah 55:9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” 

5. Regardless of our current circumstance, we are in our maker’s hands.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

6. God loves us and wants the best for us.

Romans 8:31 “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He sent His only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

REALity

With so many sad things happening in the World, it is easy to be sad. Right now, the Lord is reminding me that these things "are a shadow of the things that (are) to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ." (Col 2:17)




So, while we can only see what is right in front of us - allow the Holy Spirit to remind you that there is another reality where there is no more pain or brokeness, and where all these sad things fit into the Lord's sovereign plan. Focus on that REALity today.

"And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Jesus Christ." Ephesians 2:6

Wedding!

I just saw a magazine Ben and I are in - so fun! It makes me remember how perfect and BLESSED our wedding day was:)

Alabama Weddings : Booksamillion.com (Magazine)

Happy Valentine's Day!

I have heard it said that reading the Bible is like reading God's love letter to us ... so wouldn't it make sense that the verses are just like valentine cards?! Happy Valentine's Day!

Just passing through

I woke up this morning - realizing the full magnitude of the day: my sister is having her first baby today, my aunt just had her baby, Ben's mom just got out of surgery, he and I are traveling this afternoon, and of all things - it is my 29th birthday, TODAY. We just have lots of things happening right now - life is just packed with transitions and changes, TODAY!

As I am soaking this all in, praying for this child, and trying to relax with my coffee - my wise aunt dixie emailed me, and I just can't help but share:

"Travel well, Travel safely, Travel- realizing that is a picture of what we do with life --- we're just traveling through."

This reminds me of the Israelites; traveling for YEARS - can you even imagine the amount of change that happened over, say, 29 years of their life?! And, every single day of their journey the Lord went ahead of them and provided for them. What an amazing picture of the way He is moving ahead of us, ushering us into new seasons of life, and taking care of us the whole way. Amazing. Hold tight to Jesus today - He is the only constant in our journey through this world:)

My aunt Dixie says, "Life is all about learning to recover." In my devotion a few days ago, Beth Moore wrote "Christ gave us the ministry of reconciliation." Both of these phrases insinuate constant action: learnING and ministry. Both phrases assume a constant need for recovery and reconciliation. Both writers know the brokenness of this world we live in - both have experienced deep pain and heartache and both have been redeemed and reconciled to God the Father through His deep love and mercy for us, given through Jesus Christ.

With a little time off of work to ponder the miracle of (in the words of my five year old nephew) "The maker of us coming to live with us" - KNOW that "the maker of us" came to redeem the brokenness and loss of the past year or years. He came so that our sorrow may be turned into gladness. He came so that we may live for eternity with our heavenly Father. Praise Him!

This year, allow God to continue His good work of reconciliation and recovery in your heart - and then go into a hurting and broken world to help others learn to recover and be reconciled with God, and with each other - through Christ's love and mercy constantly covering and redeeming.

..."while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good." Titus 2:13-14

I just made some note cards to help me memorize the first 8 verses of Proverbs 3 - I thought I would share. I don't know about you - but I need it in my soul today:)

Yesterday my sweet husband took me on a date to the HIGH museum of art in Atlanta! So sweet and fun! It also marked the one year anniversary of when we started dating last year - and one of our first dates was to the HIGH - can you tell which picture is from this year or last?!

There were a few "give-aways" - like the current exhibition with Andy Warhol prints in the one from this year, and if you can read the dates on the stickers! Anyways - it was awesome! The current exhibit is titled, "From Picasso to Warhol" - basically - a road to abstraction. It included 14 artists including:

Giorgio de Chirico (which Ben was particularly interested in!)

Jackson Pollock (I am always especially drawn to the energy of his extreme process - driven pieces - Ben thought they were pretty ridiculous!)

Warhol, of course:)

Alexander Calder (I am teaching first grade about them right now!):

Constantin Brancusi:

Henry Matisse!!!!! SOOO COOL!!!

Of course, Picasso:

Ben got a little frustrated with the taking of the pictures!

I thought it was so cool they let you - I don't think I have ever been to a museum where you were not only allowed to take pictures - but encouraged to do so! They had an "app" you could download to your phone - and then when you took pictures of the art, your phone would tell you about the piece! Crazy! Pretty amazing what technology can do today!

There were also works from: Mondrian, Duchamp (this was THE most interesting to try to explain to Ben- ha!), Miro, Leger, Bourgeois, Jasper Johns, and Romare Bearden! For more info: http://www.high.org/

It was pretty awesome to see all these works together. Our one big criticism was that there wasn't a clear path through the exhibit - we doubled back several times to find certain things we wanted to see and then once we were out - realized we had missed the whole Calder room! Altogether - we would both highly recommend going to see the exhibit - just make sure to check off all the artists you are suppose to see before leaving!

When Christ is our focus - and He is filling our hearts - peace, love and joy erupt from within. The love and grace Christ has given us was given to be shared.



"Present grace COMPELS joy. Future Grace, our hope in heaven, ALLOWS for present joy." - Gary Spooner


"Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him." Psalm 98:1

Ahhhhhh! (The Scream)

Second grade is learning about Edvard Munch's "The Scream" this week! We are discussing things that make us scream...So I took the opportunity to show them something that makes me scream!!!!!!!! Ha!

It's a messy art room:) We are also discussing diagonal lines and how they create "drama" and lead the viewer to the subject of the painting!

FYI - got some more wedding pics! If you are interested:

http://tothegathering.blogspot.com/

http://www.stephendevrieschronicles.com/

In need of a Savior!

I am studying Esther and Ruth right now - and learning TONS about being a girl! Go figure - I am 28 yeras old - and just now learning to be comfortable in my feminine skin! I am trying to unpack exactly why – and mostly I think it’s just our culture. Our culture tells us to be tough and independent and that I don’t “need” any help; I can do it all myself.

I am learning, now – that God didn’t create us to be independent – or to do life by ourselves. He created us to be in relationship with Him – to ask for and rely on help from Him. The whole point of life is to learn to life in relationship with Christ – our PERSONAL savior – who knows us completely and loves us unconditionally.

And, all of our Earthly relationships reveal something about the way we are called to relate to Christ – and I think marriage is an especially awesome blessing in this respect! I am already learning from my marriage relationship about the deep LOVE that God has for each of us. I am also learning that relationships REFINE us! Each person in your life is there to “chip” something away – or “sheer” off some of the “wool” that is keeping us from a full relationship with Christ.

God is showing me that admitting my need (for anything and everything!) is the first step to having an authentic conversation with Christ. So – I need help – but my help comes from above – so that I can in turn help and love the precious people in my life. Thank you Jesus, for showing me how much I need you!

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." – Hebrews 4: 15-16

So...

I've been a little MIA because I have been planning a wedding - but I hope to get back to blogging soon:) Here are a few pictures friends and family have sent from the day:

The day was pretty perfect - God is so good and so faithful. Ben and I are blessed - the whole experience was overwhelming - I am still marinating in the bliss! Thank you, Jesus for precious friends and family and for the A-mazing sunset on October 1, 2011!

- Mrs. Benjamin Dwight Duncan