Bravehearted Thots: Seek My Face

What are you seeking?

~ Anna

Heartwork: Families like this are my inspiration

Heartwork in Haiti from Heartwork on Vimeo.

~ Tessa

Christ's Praise Sung in Unexpected Places

Having just survived finals, it occured to Tessa and I that we had a blog. A blog?!?!

Yes, it's been ages since we've posted. God has shown his power and goodness mightily to us  in the past weeks as we traveled to Moscow and begun adjusting to life with our three new siblings.

So, to warm my posting skills back up, I'd like to post a video that gave me chills and made my heart swell with praise. One day, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!



(As a postscript, my new 6 year old sister Oksana has been standing by my side watching the video posted above. Halfway through she started dancing and even began to sing, "Ah-lu-la! Ah-lu-la!" Having seen her language skills grow by leaps and bounds in the past three weeks, I am extremely thankful to hear her little voice uplifted, albeit unknowingly, to the Savior whose birth we are about to celebrate.)

~Lissie

Off to Russia!

I apologize, I know it's been rather post-less week,(does that make sense? I've been up for 18 hours and am looking forward to another short night) but we've been very busy preparing for our three new siblings. We leave for Russia at 4 a.m. tomorrow--all 10 of us here at home! Yes, we're crazy, and we love it...

I hope to post soon, because I was very blessed with an amazing weekend in Chicago for the National Bible Bee.

So, stay tuned. For now, I'm off to help my little sisters finish packing. :)

Heartwork Video

YOU can help an orphan, no matter who you are, what you do or how much money you have.


it. from Heartwork on Vimeo.

~ Tessa

Friday Articles

Here are my links for this week. Enjoy!

• Cross-Eyed Blog: Courtship and Dating (This is an excellent article on the differences between courtship and dating. I highly recommend it.)
• Cross-Eyed Blog: The Sweetest Charm
• Russell Moore: Is The Orphan My Neighbor?

~ Tessa

Hope Is Fading

This video makes my heart just ache. Bring your box of tissues.


Hope is Fading – Orphan Sunday from Allan Rosenow on Vimeo.

~ Tessa

Do Something Now

Do Something Now from Children's HopeChest on Vimeo.

If we don't.... who will?

~ Tessa

Friday Articles


Well, I haven't made good my promise the past few Fridays, but here are a few links for you to enjoy.

• How To Become a Lady
• My Hope Is Found
• Putting Emotions In Their Place (This one was very convicting for me personally!)

~ Tessa

When The Evening Fades

Although I've only bumped into this amazing 18-year-old a few times during my music classes, each time I am struck by John Kraemer's humility, intelligence, graciousness, and firm conviction. I was excited to learn he had produced his own CD! I plan on ordering several for myself and to give gifts to friends. What an inspiring witness and testimony for Jesus Christ!

http://www.johnkraemermusic.com/music/when-the-evening-fades/

~ Tessa

A Dream Come True

I'm engaged. Really and truly. I can't wait until it finally sinks in.

I get to marry the most wonderful man in the entire world!!

http://untohimwelive.blogspot.com/2010/10/on-other-side-of-world.html

~ Tessa

Content in all Circumstances

Love this quote! (Read the book, it will change your life.)

"Christian Contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God's wise and fatherly disposal in every condition."
~Jeremiah Burroughs, Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment

Now if I could actually learn Christian contentment...

Still, My Soul Be Still

This is a song I listen to over and over. I am amazed by God's compassion and His willingness to be our "Strong Tower." He is mighty to save!

"I love you O LORD, my strength." The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies."

~Psalm 18:1-3                                       



Lady Jane Grey

“Seventeen-and knew eight languages-in music peerless-her needle perfect, and her learning beyond the churchmen; yet so meek, so modest, so wife-like humble to the trivial boy mismatched with her for policy! I have heard she would not take a last farewell of him; she feared it might unman him for his end. She could not be unmanned-no, nor outwoman’d. Seventeen-a rose of grace! Girl never breathed to rival such a rose; rose never blew that equaled such a bud?”

            --Alfred, Lord Tennyson, about Lady Jane Grey. 

Best Friends

I absolutely love having 11 siblings (although I won't meet three of them for a few weeks yet, as they are still in Russia--see our family blog, Unto Him We Live). Life is never dull at our house! We like saying we're "a party waiting to happen." We're never lonely, or bored, and there's always someone with which to have fun.

Sometimes people ask us if we "always get along." I'm not sure where they get that idea. We're all sinners, and clashes do happen. We have issues to deal with, and we have to work hard and depend on God's grace in order to "get along" with each other. I'll explain more below.



However, I can honestly say that we are each other's best friends, not because we're all so lovable (by any stretch of the imagination!), or because we're closing in on perfection. It's taken a lot of training, hard work, and a deliberate choice to love each other to get to this place. And, honestly, some people might think that the concept of having your siblings be your best friends sounds, well, less than fun. They might even think we're crazy or that we need to get a life. But having experienced that closeness with my siblings, I can't imagine living any other way.

Here are five reasons why we believe it's important to be each other's friends:

1. It is in obedience to God's command to love each other (Matthew 22:37-40).
2. It is an amazing witness of the love of Christ to others watching our family (and we do get watched-and stared at-a lot).
3. It empowers us to serve others as a team and to be "straight arrows" in our parent's "quiver" (Psalm 127:3-5).
4. It is an encouragement to other families.
5. It makes living with each other a lot more enjoyable!

How did we become best friends? Again, it's not through our own merit. Here's a very few of the practical ways we have built our relationships with each other (with our parents' help):


The original three of us in 2000 before any of our Russian adoptions- L to R: me (Lissie), Joe, Tessa.

1.     We read and memorize the Bible together. The Bible is not a "magic tool"; reading the Bible together does not automatically sanctify us. It takes God's work in our lives and a conscious application of the principles found in His Scripture to make a difference. But we've been reading a chapter of Proverbs a day for nearly seven years now, and we also memorize a verse a month (and recite it together each day) about loving other people. It's made such a difference! The verses act as a "fence", reminding us of how to interact with each other and convicting us when we stray.



Now there's six of us! (November 2001) L to R: Tessa, Lissie, Cassandra, Jaynie, Joe, Speedy.

2.     We apologize to each other biblically when we sin against each other, and we seek each other's forgiveness as soon as possible. Yes, this is humbling, and no it's not always easy. But it is crucial to keep bitterness and anger from growing in a family. Our parents have taught us (and they model this in their own marriage) not to justify or minimize sin, and they have also trained us not to leave an apology for another day or when we "feel" sorry. (Ephesians 4:26, 32)

3.     We do things together. Let me be more specific. I said above that being best friends allows us to be a team. Although we don't do everything together, we make a priority of spending time with each other. We love being able to work like a well-oiled machine, conquering big projects in record time as we labor together. We love going on hikes, working on puzzles, baking cookies, making music, and many other family activities. We choose to make family time important and as a result, our bonds are deep and strong.

The nine of us three months after the adoption of our second trio of Russian siblings.
L to R: Princess Bink, Lissie, Natasha, Jaynie, Tatiana, Joe, Speedy, Cassandra, and Tessa.

4.     We are a 100% family. When my parents first got married, my dad wisely said, "We're not each going to do 'our own' part. We're going to try to 'out serve' each other in a 100% way, 100% of the time, even if that means doing the other person's job. In other words, we need to live Christ-like, sacrificial love."  My wise parents have lived this out and are teaching us to live the same way. Now believe me, it can be tough living 100% for 11 other people, and we have room for improvement. However, it does make a difference when we try to live this way.



5.     We make it our goal to speak encouraging words to each other. I should say that this point is one our parents have had to train into us pretty hard. It's amazing how easy it is to verbally tear your nearest and dearest down!  However, after each of our two previous adoptions, when our common vocabulary was very small, we all knew how to say "Very good job!" in Russian, so we said it--a lot. It's funny, but we found that those three little words are contagious, and that the approval we expressed toward one another helped to cement our new friendships. It's our goal to speak "edifying words" to one another (Ephesians 4:29).

The "current" nine of us on vacation in Tennessee, October 2009.

I'm so grateful for my eight siblings at home now, and I can't wait to become best friends with my three new siblings!

~Lissie

O Love That Will Not Let Me Go

I rediscovered this song this morning and remembered just how much I love it. I thought I would share it here! What rich and precious lyrics about our great and mighty and incomprehensible God!



~ Tessa

City of Despair



The life I lead looks bleak from where I stand,

Grey walls rise up, I’m rushing forward fast.

No hope I have of any change ahead.

The lifeless eyes of empty faces stare;

Am I alone? Are people without hope

Like me? The caring smiles I used to see

Are slowly disappearing from my sight

Where did they go? Will they come back to me?

I see the darkness rise before my face.

The tunnel waits, a murky death - so deep,

Unknown and sad - of my abiding hope.

But look up high toward heaven’s watching eyes

Between the dim asylums built so high

By me, my hands alone in great despair.

So past my dingy tears a ray of hope

I see burst through. Anticipation great,

I soar so high on mighty eagles’ wings

I leave behind despondency, despair,

To seize the hand of Christ, my saving grace.

O joy! My heart is filled with exultation.

The glad, triumphant laugh, elated, leaps

Unasked, yet wanted, wished-for, from my lips.

My circumstances haven’t changed, I know,

My focus looks up past the dirty grey

To gaze upon the King of Glory above

Who fills the sky that looked so small, before.

But now the dingy city fades from view

And all I see is Him who died for me.

~ Tessa

Friday Articles

As promised, here are this week's links. Enjoy!

• Justin Taylor: Redeeming Singleness
• Jasmine Baucham: The Eyes of the World Are Upon You
• The Pickwick Portfolio: Being Faithful

~ Tessa

Video: Dancing in the Minefields

I absolutely love this song. This is exactly what I have been waiting for and hoping for and praying for. What a wonderful picture of a God-centered marriage!

~ Tessa

Friday Articles

Here are some of my favourite articles and blog posts from this week. Every week, I will be posting about some of the reading I've done online. Some of these are encouraging to the soul and some are helpful in the way that we live. I hope some of these things will help you as well! 

• Joshua Harris: You Need a Mother Very Badly
• GirlTalk: What is The Wife's Responsibility in Conflict
• Empowered Traditionalist: Fashion Faux Pas For The Guys
• Passionate Homemaking: 10 Things I'm Learning About Marriage
• Her.meneutics: Craigslist Gives Up... (view with discretion)
• Justin Taylor: Glory of God in the Sun

~ Tessa

Radical: The Gospel

This morning, before the sun had peeked it's sleepy head over the horizon, I read this beautiful rendition of the gospel. It was a wonderful beginning to my day. Phrases and sentences have lingered in my soul all day long. I wanted to share it with you.

I know this post is super long and in our culture of sound-bytes and catch-phrases, it's hard to sit down and read something of this length, but please do. You'll be blessed!

****************************************

"An old preaching professor used to take his students to a cemetery every semester. Standing on the perimeter overlooking scores of headstones, he would ask his students in all sincerity to speak over the graves and call people from the ground to rise up and live. With some embarrassment and an awkward chuckle or two, they would try it. Of course, one by one they would fail. The professor would then look at his students and remind them of a core truth in the gospel: people are spiritually dead, just as those corpses in the cemetery were physically dead and only words from God can bring them to spiritual life.

"This is the reality about humanity. We are each born with an evil, God-hating heart. Genesis 8:21 says that every inclination of man's heart is evil from childhood, and Jesus' words in Luke 11:13 assume that we know we are evil. Many people say, "Well, I have always loved God," but the reality is, no one has. We may have loved a god that we made up in our minds, but the God of the Bible, we hate.

"In our evil we rebel against God. We take the law of God, written in his Word and on our hearts, and we disobey it. This is the picture of the very first sin in Genesis 3. Even if God has said not to eat from the tree of knowledge, we are going to do it anyway.

"We spurn our Creator's authority over us. God beckons storm clouds and they come. He tells the wind to blow and the rain to fall, and they obey immediately. He speaks to the mountains, "You go there," and he says to the seas, "You stop here," and they do it. Everything in all creation responds in obedience to the Creator...until we get to you and me. We have the audacity to look God in the face and say, "No."

"Jesus told us that everyone who sins is a slave to sin, and Paul went so far as to say that we are captive to the devil himself. And because we are slaves to sin, we are blinded to God's truth. Ephesians 4:18 says that we are darkened in our understanding and our hearts are like stone. According to 2 Corinthians 4:4, we can't even see Christ because of the depth of our spiritual blindness.

"The Bible describes us as enemies of God and objects of his wrath. We are spiritually dead and eternally separated from God. What's worse is that we can do nothing to change our status before God. No one who is morally evil can choose good, no man who is a slave can set himself free, no woman who is blind can give herself sight, and no person who is dead can cause himself to come to life.

"The gospel confronts us with the hopelessness of our sinful condition. But we don't like what we see of ourselves in the gospel, so we shrink back from it. We live in a land of self-improvement. Certainly there are steps we can take to make ourselves better. So we modify what the gospel says about us.

"We are not evil, we think, and certainly not spiritually dead. Haven't you heard of the power of positive thinking? I can become a better me and experience my best life now. That's why God is there - to make that happen. My life is not going right, but God loves me and has a plan to fix my life. I simply need to follow certain steps, think certain things, and check off certain boxes, and then I am good.

"Both our diagnosis of the situation and our conclusion regarding the solution fit nicely in a culture that exalts self-suffiiciency, self-esteem, and self-confidence. We already have a fairly high view of our morality, so when we add a superstitious prayer, a subsequent dose of church attendance, and obedience to some of the Bible, we feel pretty sure that we will be all right in the end.

"Note the contrast, however, when you diagnose the problem biblically. The modern-day gospel says, "God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. Therefore, follow these steps, and you can be saved."  Meanwhile, the biblical gospel says, "You are an enemy of God, dead in your sin, and in your present state of rebellion, you are not even able to see that you need life, much less to cause yourself to come to life. Therefore, you are radically dependent on God to do something in your life that you could never do."

"The former sells books and draws crowds. The latter saves souls. Which is more important?

"In the gospel God reveals the depth of our need for him. He shows us that there is absolutely nothing we can do to come to him. We can't manufacture salvation. We can't program it. We can't produce it. We can't even initiate it. God has to open our eyes, set us free, overcome our evil, and appease his wrath. He has to come to us.

"Now we are getting to the beauty of the gospel."

And skipping ahead...

"This is the gospel. As long as you and I understand salvation as checking off boxes to get to God, we will find ourselves in the meaningless sea of world religions that actually condemn the human race by exalting our supposed ability to get to God. On the other hand, when you and I realize that we are morally evil, dead in sin, and deserving of God's wrath with no way out on our own, we begin to discover our desperate need for Christ.

"Our understanding of who God is and who we are drastically affects our understanding of who Christ is and why we need him. For example, if God is only a loving Father who wants to help his people, then we will see Christ as a mere exampple of that love. We will view the Cross as a just a demonstration of God's love in which he allowed Roman soldiers to crucify his Son so that sinful man would know how much he loves us.

"But this picture of Christ and the Cross is woefully inadequate, missing the entire point of the gospel. We are not saved from our sins because Jesus was falsely tried by Jewish and Roman officials and sentenced by Pilate to die. Neither are we saved because Roman persecutors thrust nails into the hands and feet of Christ and hung him on the cross.

"Do we really think that the false judgement of men heaped upon Christ would pay the debt for all of humankind's sin? Do we really think that a crown of thorns and whips and nails and a wooden cross and all the other facets of the crucifixion that we glamorize are powerful enough to save us?

"Picture Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. As he kneels before his Father, drops of sweat and blood fall together from his head. Why is he in such agony and pain? The answer is not because he is afraid of crucifixion. He is not trembling because of what the Roman soldiers are about to do to him.

"Since that day countless men and women in the history of Christianity have died for their faith. Some of them were not just hung on crosses; they were burned there. Many of them went to their crosses singing.

"One Christian in India, while being skinned alive, looked at his persecutors and said, "I thank you for this. Tear off my old garment, for I will soon put on Christ's garment of righteousness."

"As he prepared to head to his execution, Christopher Love wrote a note to his wife, saying, "Today they will sever me from my physical head, but they cannot sever me from my spiritual head, Christ." As he walked to his death, his wife applauded while he sang of glory.

"Did these men and women in Christian history have more courage than Christ himself? Why was he trembling in that garden, weeping and full of anguish? We can rest assured that he was not a coward about to face Roman soldiers. Instead he was a Savior about to endure divine wrath.

"Listen to his words: "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me." The "cup" is not a reference to a wooden cross; it is a reference to a divine judgement. It is the cup of God's wrath.

"This is what Jesus is recoiling from in the garden. All God's holy wrath and hatred toward sin and sinners, stored up since the beginning of the world, is about to be poured out on him, and he is sweating blood at the thought of it.

"What happened at the cross was not primarily about nails being thrust into Jesus' hands and feet but about the wrath due your sin and my sin being thrust upon his soul. In that holy moment, all the righteous wrath and justice of God due us came rushing down like a torrent on Christ himself. Some say, "God looked down and could not bear to see the suffering that the soldiers were inflicting on Jesus, so he turned away." But this is not true. God turned away because he could not bear to see your sin and my sin on his Son.

"One preacher described it as if you and I were standing a short hundred yards away from a dam of water ten thousand miles high and ten thousand miles wide. All of a sudden that dam was breached, and a torrential flood of water came crashing toward us. Right before it reahed our feet, the ground in front of us opened up and swallowed it all. At the Cross, Christ drank the full cup of the wrath of God and when he had downed the last drop, he turned the cup over and cried out, "It is finished."

"This is the gospel. The just and loving Creator of the universe has looked upon hopelessly sinful people and sent his Son, God in the flesh to bear his wrath against sin on the cross and to show his power over sin in the Resurrection so that all who trust in him will be reconciled to God forever."

~ David Platt, Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From The American Dream, pages 30-36

~Tessa

Sweet Delight

This is one of my all-time favorite quotes. A youthful Jonathan Edwards penned it when he began to notice the lovely young woman who would one day be his wife. Every time I read what he says about her I am spurred on to know better the "Almighty Being" as Sarah Edwards did; to love Him so well that "all the world...with the richest of its treasures" would be "but rubbish to me" (Phil 3:8).

"They say there is a young lady in New Haven who is beloved of that almighty Being, who made and rules the world, and that there are certain seasons in which this great Being, in some way or other invisible, comes to her and fills her mind with exceeding sweet delight, and that she hardly cares for anything, except to meditate on Him- that she expects after a while to be received up where he is, to be raised up out of the world and caught up into heaven; being assured that He loves her too well to let her remain at a distance from Him always. There she is to dwell with Him, and to be ravished with His love and delight forever. Therefore, if you present all the world before her, with the richest of its treasures, she disregards it and cares not for it, and is unmindful of any pain or affliction.

"She has a strange sweetness in her mind, and singular purity in her affections; is most just and conscientious in all her actions; and you could not persuade her to do anything wrong or sinful, if you would give her all the world, lest she should offend this great Being. She is of a wonderful sweetness, calmness and universal benevolence of mind; especially after those seasons in which this great God has manifested himself to her mind. She will sometimess go about from place to place, singing sweetly; and seems to be always of joy and pleasure; and no one knows for what. She loves to be alone, and to wander in the fields and on the mountains, and seems to have Someone invisible always conversing with her."

~ Jonathan Edwards in In Trouble and In Joy, pgs 102-103, as quoted bySharon James 

Although one might be tempted to attribute Jonathan's effusive description of Sarah to be hyperbole born out of attraction, it is possible to have a relationship of almost unbelievable sweetness with the Lord even at a young age.

If you want an example, just study the life of David for a while. While still a youth, he sought God's glory instead of his own in his battle against Goliath, saying beforehand, "This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands...that all the earth may know that there is a God is in Israel" (1 Samuel 17:46,47).

It was David who penned the well-known words from Psalm 42: "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; when shall I come and appear before God?" David said in Psalm 73:25, "Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth."

His words sound pretty radical, but they evidently come from a sincere heart, as God called David a man after His own heart (Acts 13:22). I want to be a woman after God's heart, delighting in His presence and seeking after Him earnestly as both King David and Sarah Edwards did

~Lissie

"The Glory of God" ~ Paris Reidhead

Sing, My Heart!

Sing, my heart!

Sing, like Moses and Miriam,

“The Lord is my strength and my song,

He has hurled the horse and his rider into the sea.”

A song of triumph to the Lord.

Sing, my heart!

Sing, like Barak and Deborah,

Throwing off the hands of the oppressors,

Loosing the grip of Sisera.

A song of victory to the Lord.

Sing, my heart!

Sing, like Hannah to the Lord,

Who makes the barren give birth to many

And those who were hungry satisfied with food.

A song of exaltation to the Lord.

Sing, my heart!

Sing, like David, delivered from Saul,

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress,

He makes my arms bend a bow of bronze.”

A song of thanksgiving to the Lord.

Sing, my heart!

Sing, like Jabez, the honourable one,

Whose mother bore him with pain,

Who prayed, “Bless me indeed.”

A song of blessing to the Lord.

Sing, my heart!

Sing, like Job in suffering and pain,

Submitting to the Lord in adoration.

“Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

A song of affliction to the Lord.

Sing, my heart!

Sing, like Isaiah, of things unknown,

Revealing the future and glorious things.

The Messiah, coming as a Man.

A song of prophecy to the Lord.

Sing, my heart!

Sing, like Mary, a humble virgin,

The one chosen to bear the Lamb.

Sing of His mercy, holiness and grace.

A song of eloquence to the Lord.

Sing, my heart!

Sing, like Jesus, our Mighty Advocate,

The prayer of example He gave us to follow.

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.”

A song of prayer to the Lord.

Sing, my heart!

Sing, like Stephen, who sang even in death,

Who boldly accused the Pharisees,

And praised God while being stoned.

A song of death to the Lord.

Sing, my heart!

Sing, like Peter, the first rock of the church,

Who denied Christ three times, but

Praised God through much persecution.

A song of persecution to the Lord.

Sing, my heart!

Sing, like Paul and Silas, in the night,

Chained and in prison, yet singing

Hymns of praise to God in their misery.

A song of praise to the Lord.

Sing, my heart!

Sing, like John, waiting for the Lord

Singing of the Root, and the Bright Morning Star,

The Revealer, who says, “I am coming soon.’

A song of eternity to the Lord.

Sing, my heart!

Sing, like those who came before,

Men and women who praised God

Even in difficulty, death and pain.

A song of history to the Lord.

~ Tessa

Set Apart

I find this clip from Leslie Ludy (see her website, http://www.setapartgirl.com/) both challenging and inspiring. I had the privilege of hearing Leslie and her husband, Eric, speak about a year ago and was both encouraged and convicted by their message.

I was convicted by the fact that I have not been living my life all and only for the glory of God.

I was encouraged to shut my ears to the to the traditions and demands of the world, and to listen only to the voice of Jesus Christ and to live only for Him.


~Lissie

Your Hands

     This song has been a good reminder to me whenever I am struggling with trusting God in my circumstances. Even though everything around me might be crumbling, there is a Rock I can run to, all the time. He will never fail me, even though people will. It calls to my mind Psalm 18:1-3 "I love You O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised..." And even though the hard circumstance or trial may not be taken away, God will never ever leave.



~Tessa

Worship

As I think about worship, the hardest part for me is worshipping in the way I live. I can go to church and sing and talk about praising Him. But, worshipping through what I do? That’s where the rubber meets the road for me. What about you? Is the way you walk a megaphone for what you worship?

One of my favourite books, The Air I Breathe, by Louie Giglio, has some excellent insights about worship:

"Worship is our response, both personal and corporate, to God for who He is and what He has done, expressed in and by the things we say and the way we live.” (pg. 53)

This was a big eye opener to me:

“The true test of worship isn’t what we say, but what we do.” (pg. 77)

This next quote is my favourite quote in the whole book. Worship should be as regular as the clock ticking and blinking our eyes. What a challenge!

“We always come to worship through the doorway of Jesus Christ. But check out what comes next in that Hebrews 13 passage: 'Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise.'
     Hello! Are you seeing what I'm seeing?
     This verse says we are to worship continually!
     God's got to be kidding, right?
     Continually offer Him a sacrifice of praise? Like 24-7? Day and night? All the time? How is that even possible?
     Maybe we should all join a monastery. (Or maybe not.) Maybe we should just take a deep breath and consider what the writer of these verses is suggesting.
     For one, he's making a massive point with his first-century readers who were quite familiar with the smells and sights of animal sacrifices. The knew what it meant to come once a week, or once a year, bringing some animal as an offering to God.
     But it's not like that anymore. We're not talking about a once-a-week or twice-a-year thing. We're talking about a new relationship that allows us to praise God at any momeny, in any setting. In the hallway. In a restaurant. In our bedroom. On a sports field. Anywhere we are.
     Continually means that any time is the right time to praise God!

"And continually means a huge attitude adjustment is in order. Continually means that in every moment, we’re constantly looking for ways to glorify Him.
     Continually gets our worship outside the wall of the church building.
     Continually gets our worship outside of our devotional times.
     Continually gets worship outside of our Christian conferences.
     Our worship events.
     Our MP3 players.
     Our headphones.
     Continually gets worship into the marketplace.
     Into the boardroom.
     Into our hangout places.
     Into our conversations with friends.
     Into our Starbucks moments.
     Continually gets worship into our entertainment choices.
     Our bank accounts.
     Our hidden thoughts.
     Our dark nights.
     Our joys.
     What God is saying is this: “Everything you are – is Me. Everything you have – is Mine. The life you live is my life that I’ve freely given you. And I want worshipers who will be constantly reflecting My goodness and grace with that life.”
     God wants our lives to be a seamless song of worship. God wants our worship to be a way of life.” (pgs. 87-89)

~ Tessa

Walk The Line

Walk the line

The lonely line.

The world rushes by

Don’t look at them.

Watch the line

The lonely line.

Wander not

Go straight and true

Follow the line

The lonely line.

Don’t follow your friends,

Who cares what they say?

Choose the line

The lonely line.

Don’t forget the lost

Give the hope inside

Speak the line

The lonely line.

Don’t forget the standard

Look up, who’s your captain?

Fight for the line

The lonely line.

Shield your eyes

Guard your heart

Aim for the line

The lonely line

Pass along His compassion

Grasp someone’s hand

Hold out the line

The lonely line.

Don’t slow down

Run to win!

Race for the line

The lonely line

Lay aside sin

That so easily entangles

Live in the line

The lonely line

Don’t look around

At your circumstances

Remember the line

The lonely line.

Trust in His blood

The Lamb who died

Abide in the line

The lonely line

He’s coming in the clouds

To bring home His bride

So, walk the line

The lonely line.

~ Tessa