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God does not need the Creation in order to have something to love, because within Himself, love happens. Have you ever been so caught up in something that you just had to share it? That's because real love creates a genuine openness. The reason that we long for intimacy, is because we are made in the image of perfect intimacy.

Our King clothes Himself as a beggar and renounces His Throne, in order to win the hand of His bride. The Incarnation, the life, and death of Jesus answers once and for all the question, "What is God's heart towards me?" This is why Paul says in Romans 5, "Look here, at the Cross."

I want you to think about the part you find yourself playing, the self that you put on like a costume. Who cast you in this role? Are you living out a script that someone else has written for you? Most of us have not been invited to live from our hearts, to be who we truly are, so we put on the costume hoping to offer something acceptable to the world, something functional. Either we're chosen for the wrong reasons, or we're not chosen at all.

So what does this have to do with our heart?

Answer:

"What is man that You are mindful of him,

the son of man that you care for him?

You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings

and crowned him with glory and honor." (Psalms 8:4-5)

NOTES TO SELF

Mike and I had the opportunity to go to The Voice of the Apostles conference which is held for three days in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It was an awesome time of refreshing and worship, and a much needed time of learning God's Word in a new and profound way. Here are some of the notes that I took during Bill Johnson's workshop:

1. The Bible doesn't tell us to humble our brother, it tells us to humble ourselves.
2. We, as the body of Christ, have been given and called to the ministry of reconciliation; which means that we don't count their sins against them. By them, I mean other people.
3. We can stand in the place of intercession for those who because of sin, judgement is their portion.
4. Jesus came to show us what one right man can do when He is in the perfect will of God.
5. We are to prophesy according to our faith, while re-defining the nature of God's goodness to the world.
6. There has to be action that is equal to words when giving a presentation of the gospel.
7. Satan undermines revival by poisoning the minds of people.
8. The pathway to idolatry is fear - Israel turned to Baal because Baal promised prosperity.
9. We cannot use human tools to bring about supernatural manifestations.
10. We cannot win the world through a debate on religion, there must be a declaration of power.
11. The questions you have, have no power unless you empower them.
12. Not every battle is worth fighting, some battles are just distractions.
13. If we constantly defend ourselves against others, we may not have the energy left that we need to fight the battle that really matter.
14. Proving to others that we are important is one of those distractions.
15. Do not engage in a fight that is not important to your God-given destiny.
16. I do not need anyone else's approval to be the person God created me to be.
17. Speaking boldly in the LORD bears witness to the signs and wonders of God.
18. The Kingdom of God is within us.
19. Acts 14:1-4, signs, wonders, and miracles of God
20. 1 Samuel chapter 14 , shows us The Effect of Courage

A Revelation:

After an exhausting church board meeting tonight, I figured out that there are just some things I am never going to understand. But...for the first time in a year and a half, I know that I am right where I need to be. All of my questioning, searching, and wondering has led me to a place where crying out to the LORD has become first language. And after much prayer and fasting, my questions have been answered and I have found what I was searching for. My discovery was this:

Even here....His Hand will guide me.

Psalm 127:3-5

I was sitting with Abigail as she opened up her Christmas presents and I began to reflect on what it means to be truly grateful. She is so wonderful. She is excited all the time. Life hasn't gotten hard for her yet. Life hasn't beaten her up with experiences. A boy has never broken her heart. She doesn't have any bad memories that she tries not to think about. She is the happiest little person that I know. And she makes me happy. Whenever I reflect on these blessings, I thank God. I thank Him for changing my life by allowing me to be a part of hers. And I think to myself, "Lord Jesus, please help me, so I don't mess this up".
As she grows, I find myself taken back by her constant discoveries of the world. She reminds me daily, to remember what it's like to be a child. She reminds me to be free when I give love, to not withhold it, but embrace it instead. Thank you, Lord, for my family. Psalm 127:3-5 "Behold, children are a gift of the LORD. The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them."