Gentleness & a Lioness.

"Known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing Everything." {2 Corinthians 6.} This is a place where I lay down a lot of rough drafts, inspiration, and heart stuff that relates to the dichotomy of life this side of Heaven.

[runnin-onfaith]

“Sometimes changing the world means getting quiet enough for God to change me.”

— Lysa TerKeurst (via faithful-forever)

[the-soul-doctor]

[legislacerator]

i can’t believe how many people in their mid-20s are buying the amazon alexa and like hooking it up to their home security systems and lights and phone and shit like i know we all saw the 1999 disney channel original movie smart house. they warned us and you are playing with fire

[breathe-lioness]

I think about this daily.

[quotemadness]

“If you see beauty in something, don’t wait for others to agree.”

— Sherihan Gamal

[delta-breezes]

Julia Smith | @humphreyandgrace

[onlinecounsellingcollege]

You don’t have to be perfect to inspire other people. Let them be inspired by the way you deal with your struggles, your heartache and your imperfections.

Unknown (via kvtes)

[breathe-lioness]

Since when did Tumblr become full of emojis?

Where are all the young adults sitting wide-eyed at their laptops, sharing heart-felt-typed-out emotions at 11:58pm?

[breathe-lioness]

OH MY HECK TUMBLR LITERALLY CHANGED MY WORD “heart” into an EMOJI

I understand now.

We’ve been kidnapped.

[breathe-lioness]

Since when did Tumblr become full of emojis?

Where are all the young adults sitting wide-eyed at their laptops, sharing heart-felt-typed-out emotions at 11:58pm?

[thesovereignword]

C.S. Lewis

[breathe-lioness]

G  R  A  C  E

a : unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification (Merriam-Webster)

It’s this getting of something, Someone, I don’t deserve.

It’s what picked me up from a broken, dirty, state of selfishness, and restored me to perfection. I was made new in the eyes of God, even when I couldn’t quite see it myself.

But it didn’t stop there. The grace that saved me is the grace that keeps me alive. 

It wasn’t a one-time deal, it’s a daily transaction. Grace is the divine assistance given to me to accomplish anything life throws at me. It’s the ability to let go of my selfishness and pursue His Holiness.

through (Jesus) we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, (Romans 1:5)

For from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. (John 1:16)

I struggle with legalism. 

I struggle with pride.

I struggle with wanting everything to look real good whether or not it is on the inside.

But God is constantly pulling me into G  R  A  C  E.

I didn’t earn it, I can’t sustain it, I can’t make it look good.

That’s the whole point. My mistakes aren’t surprises or forks in the road, they are reminders that grace is really heavy and beautiful. 

Ultimately, my mistakes are reminders of how important and costly grace really is.

You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law,or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?[a] 4 Have you experienced[b] so much in vain—if it really was in vain? 5 So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? 6 So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. (Galatians 3:1-6)

Grace is the divine power, the finished work, the substance of what we believe by faith. 

Jesus, You’re still making me new.

[breathe-lioness]

Jesus has been reminding me this week of how short my time is on this planet. 1 Corinthians 15 talks about RESURRECTION and why it means everything. If Jesus had not been raised, my faith is useless. If my hope in Christ turns out to be only for this world, then woe is me (17-19)! But. That's not the case. He did rise from the dead and He is my hope and what seems so important down here is often temporary. My body will die, but just like a seed dies before it grows, I will be raised with Christ with a new body that is perfect and eternal. All this to say: this world is only the beginning of the story. Jesus came to show us that there is so much more, and I believe him. My weakness here is temporary. My struggles here are temporary, and no matter what may come I have the hope of knowing the Creator and Savior of the world. The One who suffered and died, and then defeated death through the resurrection. I'm rambling now, but the takeaway is this: don't waste your time down here worrying about things that will be gone in the blink of an eye. Praise God that we already have victory over the biggest thing: death! Let that encourage you to be strong and immovable in your faith and your calling. Nothing you do for Jesus is ever useless (58). ❤

[spillywolf-deactivated20190920]

there is…….. nothing stopping me from being a ton happier and trusting in God completely but me

[the-abiding-oak]

[aquire]

started from the bottom now we a little bit above the bottom

[breathe-lioness]

Fill your home with old friends, and new;

Even when it’s hard and you don’t get much sleep and everything already feels busy and stressful and loud.

Even when you’re longing to just have a silent night.

Let in all the people and the Legos and the table overflowing with food and the coffee and the loose leaf tea and the crazy leggings and Christmas sweaters.

Let in the cat toys that look like Santa’s pants.

Let in the reminiscing of an old friend who passed away.

Let in the blessings of the people God gave you.

Merry Christmas.

[breathe-lioness]

I am so excited about this year’s Christmas Eve service I am shaking.

[breathe-lioness]

The Night Before Christmas -- Steven Curtis Chapman