That is Dying to Self

Did you ever notice that it seems like the messages that you needed to hear just drops in your lap at the right time. Like me, you might not even realize that you needed to hear that but then you read it or hear it and it hits you square in the face with truth and meaning. Just recently I was over at agenttimonline.com and he had posted an article. This wasn't the first time Agent Tim had posted this article or I had read it. A little over a year ago I had read it for the first time on his blog. I had loved it so much that I copied it off and put one on the refrigerator and then linked it to share it with you on my blog.
When I was at agenttimonline.com a few days ago reading his most recent post, "That is Dying to Self". I suddenly remembered that I had read this article before and loved it! Somehow over our move from Louisville it had gotten lost and forgotten. Now once again this article is on our refrigerator and I'm re-posting it here. Please take time to read this great article...maybe it will find itself on your refrigerator!

-Victoria

That is Dying to Self

“When you are forgotten or neglected or purposely set at naught, and you sting and hurt with the insult of the oversight, but your heart is happy, being counted worthy to suffer for Christ — that is dying to self.

When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart, or even defend yourself, but take it all in patient loving silence — that is dying to self.

When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, or any annoyance, when you can stand face to face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility, and endure it as Jesus endured it — that is dying to self.

When you are content with any food, any offering, any raiment, any climate, any society, any attitude, any interruption by the will of God — that is dying to self. When you never care to refuse yourself in conversation, or record your own good works, or itch after any commendation, when you can truly love to be unknown — that is dying to self.

When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy nor question God, while your own needs are far greater and in desperate circumstances — that is dying to self.

When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself, can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart — that is dying to self.” — Author Unknown (Taken from Different By Design by John MacArthur).

Oh, that each of us could be one who dies to themselves — oh, that I could be one that is dying to self!

The Moving

We moved from Kentucky to Florida. We had a big moving truck! I could run back and forth in it...that is before it got packed up. The first day that we were moving two people came to help us pack up the truck. The next day there was one. The next day there was four people. Some friends came over too! We got to play toy air planes and guns. It was a fun day! We went out in the backyard and hid in the shed and then we popped out to shoot bad guys. The whole moving process was very fun for me...until we got sick. After we got better we headed down to Florida. In Florida we got the truck unloaded very fast! We had a lot of help from the people at church. Then one of Victoria's friends came over to help us organize. (Side note from Victoria: Thanks Jordan!) I got out all my toys while they were organizing and started playing. I had lots of fun playing too! Spencer and I played out in the backyard a lot. A couple of times our family has gone out into the woods in the back of our house. Sometimes there's snakes out in the back too! Just to let you know Spencer helped all the guys load and unload the truck. We are now settled into our new house. I like it a lot!

-Andrew

Fellowship and Fun with Friends

Last weekend I was able to spend some time up in Indiana with my dear friends Megan and Brittany Dunphy and their family. It was so great to be able to see them again after several months of being apart!
Since we were all not feeling very well Sunday morning we decided to stay home from church and not spread our ickyness. So we all got our bibles and had a bible study together in the living room of their house. I enjoyed the time we spent reading our favorite bible verses and talking over them. It was a great time of sharing the convictions that God has laid on our hearts. Even though we started out with sharing one passage each, it seemed like whenever one person shared a passage that led another person to think of another passage and we all just bounced ideas off of each other. It was a great time with fellow sister's in Christ!

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
always in every prayer of mine making request
for you all with joy,
for your fellowship in the gospel from
the first day until now.
Being confident of this very thing,
that He who has begun a good work in you will
complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
-Philippians 1:3-6

-Victoria

Trust in God

Where God guides
He always provides.

-Author Unknown

I found this quote in the back of one of my Mom's old bibles. She had forgotten that she had put it there and couldn't remember where she got it. I don't know who the author was who said this but I also haven't done any research on it. This quote though is a constant reminder to my family that God will not lead you somewhere and then just leave you hanging. We must always trust our futures to God.

-Victoria

Your Grace is Enough!

This song is one of my favorites right now! Whenever I first heard Your Grace is Enough the words that jumped out at me strong were "You use the weak to lead the Strong". It just awed me as I looked through my bible and realized that God does use those that are so unworthy, even His disciples where fishermen and tax collectors. How will He use us?
As I sing through the song I have to ask myself, is God's grace enough? God's grace and love are so much better then popularity and coolness in the world's sense, God is always present and never failing. I have come to realize that since becoming a Christian . This is a victory song for Christians all over the world that God's grace is enough!

-Victoria