Welcome Creation

Beauty to behold
In all creation, but all
As nothing compared
To this one so small, blessing
Of creation, life anew.

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Ahhh, just got back from seeing my first niece, Keziah (Kih-zee-ə), who my sister gave birth to ~15 hours ago. If I can get a hold of a picture and permission to post it, I will; for now you'll just have to trust me, she's beautiful :).

Update per Jaclyn's plead (or threat?):
Keziah, less than a few hours old.

Thoughts by Verse: Grace and Peace

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father. (Colossians 1:1-2, ESV)

I walk my life's path
Set by You; As I advance,
You grow before me.

With advance, I see
more clearly how much I lack,
How little I bring

You've chosen me for
life eternal; yet, all I
find to give is filth

The price is so high,
Oh, that I could contribute,
But, You have paid all.

As I grow in You,
I see that I am mere man
I have nought to give [1]

At the trailhead, I
Knew I needed Grace. But, to
Know how much I need.

I grow in Your Grace
As I grow in knowledge of
You. Make less of me. [2]

A life of pain and
Regret is not Your path. No;
"Grace to you, and Peace".

With Your Grace comes peace
Peace this world cannot offer.
With You in control

To know that I am
Loved by God, saved from just death,
My life has meaning.

Know God: He loves you
Know Grace: Life bought through Jesus
Know Peace: Life with God.


Grace to you, and Peace from God our Father.


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References:
[1] Isaiah 6:5
[2] 2 Peter 3:18
[3] Vastness of God's Grace

Prayer for Contentment

It was much to give,
All of me; with the promise:
Complete submission,
Gratitude wherever You
Placed me, with sworn diligence.

I'm learning to trust,
Faith that You know, understand
My limits, better
Than even I. I'm sorry
For faltering and doubting.

In search of meaning;
Failure to forge my own path
While ignoring Yours,
Direction lost; forgetting
Promises from me; and You.

Renew my heart, mind
To have eyes for You alone,
Not searching for what
Tomorrow may bring; instead,
Seeking what I can do now.

You have placed me here,
Set responsibility
Before me. Much to live for
To be done for Your glory.
Invest in what's been given.

Lord, help me to be
Content, to focus on now,
Not seeking more things
Only more of You. Grateful
For undeserved worth in You.

Continue to mold,
Temper me. I desire to
Grow closer to You.

Book Meme

So apparently I was tagged by Galant.
Let's see, it feels like cheating to answer the Bible to most of these (1, 3, 4, 5, 8), but I reserve the right to use it if I can't think of anything :P.

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1. One book that changed your life.
The Sacred Romance, Brent Curtis and John Eldredge

2. One book you've read more than once.
Enchantment, Orson Scott Card

3. One book you'd want on a desert island.
I had a lot of choices for the previous question, books I've literally read 100's of times, but I'm not sure I could pick one (besides that answer in reserve) that would truly keep me for all time (or at least the piece of time that would include me implied by the question). So there's always the "useful" answer (ie SAS survival handbook) or the "humorous" answer (War and Peace - lots of pages to help start those fires).
So Bible first, if I can add another to take along: My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers. If I had to choose something of fiction, The Otherland series by Tad Williams; great storyline, epic reading, and a good deal of wilderness survival tips mixed in ;).

4. One book that made you laugh.
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams

5. One book that made you cry.
Wild at Heart, John Eldredge

6. One book you wish had been written.
The autobiography of Job.

7. One book you wish had never been written.
Wizard's First Rule, Terry Goodkind.

8. One book you're currently reading.
Knowing God, J. I. Packer

9. One book you've been meaning to read.
The Gospel According to Grace, Chuck Smith

10. Now tag 5 people.
Hmm, Galant tagged Jaclyn and me, that would be the two people I'm positive watch this space and blog... I suppose there are a few lurkers out there.

Well I'll tag: Gem, Michelle, and Gina. Then 2 tags go into the ether for lurkers or wanderers to grab (you can even comment anonymously if you want to maintain the mystery ;)).

Sacrifice

Lord, renew Your flame,
Consume me, to burn only
In worship of You.

I plead for help, for
Faith to entrust challenges
To You, I want to
Put away self; become a
Living sacrifice to You.