"In Christ Alone"

I have put a band together and tomorrow we will be singing "In Christ Alone" at church. The last couple of months have been rough and refining to say the least. Yet, almost every morning on my way to work I have been listening to some of my favorite hymns in hopes to be reminded of the work that Christ has done and in prayer that my joy would be restored.

I cannot remember when I first heard this song, but I can remember when it came from the heart of my dear friend Amanda. In August she came to visit me from St. Louis with her son and while placing him down for a nap she sang the sweet words of "In Christ Alone" over Micah. I sat outside the door and cried in awe of the lyrics. Yesterday Amanda gave birth to her second child, Ruth Helen. While Amanda and Ronnie are rejoicing in the two little blessings the Lord has given them (Micah and Ruth), they are also fervently praying about a huge decision that will impact their family. On November 30, Ronnie will be attending a hearing in Austin, Texas to adopt twin cousins of Amanda that are in horrible circumstances. All parties are recommending that Ronnie and Amanda receive the baby girls. I want to dedicate this post to the Garcia family. Please pray for them as they walk in obedience and pour the hope they have in Christ over these children. Ronnie is also in the midst of finishing seminary, so you seminarians can relate to the work that is added on top of it all. I love you Amanda and Ronnie and praise the Lord that he placed you in my life and used you in the time of my conversion where I found hope.

"In Christ Alone"
In Christ alone my hope is found,

He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fulness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

7 Random Things About Me - A Post for Shoeless Millar (aka. Jill Miller)

K-Booth's Randomness

1. I am catering a wedding in December. From tuxedo strawberries to quiche, the hors d'oeuvres will be plentiful.
   
2. My favorite snack is Cheez-its and Chocolate Milk.
   
3. The Lord declared that my conversion/salvation experience would consist of me seeing my depraved state before a holy God while dry-heaving over a toilet bowl. Praise the Lord for grace and mercy.
4. My top three favorite hymns are: How Deep the Father's Love for Us, In Christ Alone and Before the Throne of God Above.
   
5. I can sketch/draw. The only problem is that I do not have any of my work, only copies. They have mostly all been portraits of people and I have given them as gifts. :(
6. I have an extra bone in my foot. This was discovered after I tore a ligament and in the x-rays the Podiatrist noticed the small bone.
   
7. In the last three years, since I graduated from College, I have been a Missionary in Washington State, a Juvenile Probation Officer, a Campus Missionary for Angelo State University, a Pharmacy Tech and am currently a Teacher's Aide for a special needs class at Lincoln Junior High.

I would like to Tag Sarah Bebee and Shea Politte.

Handicapped and Restored

So I have to apologize for my lack of posting as of late. The picture displayed on the left of this post is a perfect representation of where my life is right now. For those of you who do not know, I took a job in August as a Special Education Teacher's Aide at Lincoln Middle School in San Angelo. We have 11 students in our class (1 Muscular Dystrophy, 1 Autistic, 8 Downs Syndrome and 1 Williams Syndrome). Starting the job I began to ask myself many questions including, "Lord, through this experience, what exactly are you trying to teach me." Graciously the Lord opened my eyes immensely through a pastor in Oklahoma that I talked to at a Voddie Baucham Conference. The disposition that the kids are in that I work with is the same disposition I am in before the Lord. Some of my kids cannot even go to the bathroom without my help. They are utterly dependent on me. I pray that as I continue through this life I would be able to recognize the dependence that I have on the Lord. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, yet only through Him can I do all things. Apart from my God I can do nothing. Don't get me wrong because there is the responsibility of man factor, yet I breathe and am who I am today because of Christ and myself being crucified in Him. It motivates me daily to do my job when I see myself in those kids.

Another motivational factor that has spirred me on to holiness and sharing Christ with others is the mere fact that sin is what brought disease and death into this world. I am surrounded by a physical representation of the effects of sin through my class and it makes me shutter. And yet the Lord has given me a thirst and a hunger like none other during this time. By his grace may I strive to be more like Him through sanctification and purification.

Besides work I have been so blessed as the Lord is restoring my relationship with my father and myself. Years of bitterness, unforgiveness and lack of communication are being torn down. My relationships with friends has once again turned sweet. I had to ask myself at one point..."When did I become so selfish?" I began to examine my life and ask the Lord to search me and know my heart. Somewhere in the midst of serving, caring for others, planning, teaching and pouring out in ministry, I began to question who cared about me, who has served me, who has poured into me lately...This questioning became a destructive path in my life. I was really searching for significance in the world's eyes instead of the God who knows me, loves me, pours into me, cares for me. If you are in ministry or are preparing to go into ministry, I pray you do not find yourself in that position. We are called to serve, not be served. We are called to love one another as an overflow of the Lord's love for us. My cup was empty and I was seeking for it to be filled from the wrong sources. Praise the Lord once again that He does not allow us to continue in our sinful state. I have learned to love the word RESTORE.
As for other updates...I am teaching Sunday school with the Senior High girls at College Hills and helping lead worship every other Sunday. I am having accountability/mentoring with a girl on Tuesdays that is such a blessing. I have taken the roll of caterer for a wedding in December and am currently seeking the Lord as to where he will have me move to in the summer. It is time to get out of this town of San Angelo. Until my next update, I love you all and miss many of you as distance is the separator of us. Please pray for Jill Miller and Cara Bebee who are on the mission field.

To Everything There is a Season

This whole summer has been bitter sweet. In alot of ways I have been celebrating everyone elses life through marriages, new jobs, missions, moves, engagements...Meanwhile my life has been somewhat at a standstill. In May I had to immediately find a job due to the fact that I was not going to get paid that month. I started as a Pharmacy Tech in the middle of that month. I have learned what it means to work as if working for the Lord and not for man. My experience has been somewhat unpleasant at the Drug store. I came from a position of investing into peoples lives and pouring all I had into them for Christ's Namesake, into a position that from 8:45-6:00 I stand behind a counter and count pills all day. In some ways the Lord has used me with my co-workers, yet at the end of the day I realize that my work was hardly eternal. I have begun searching what it is that the Lord would have me do next. Where He would have me go and what He would have me do and many of the answers have been slammed doors in my face.I continue to remind myself that He is Soveriegn and knows the path that He has already paved ahead of me and yet when walking alone with little direction, I find myself weeping. It has been a lonely road of unassuredness. I find myself praying as David did throughout the Psalms that the Lord would give me the joy of my salvation.
HOPE has been the one thing to sustain me through this lonely time. I praise the Lord that I will not spend an eternity in this temporary place we call home. And yet I plead with Him that he would continue to sanctify me through His truth that he may not say "ye of little faith", rather, "well done you good and faithful servant."

The pictures in this blog are from one fo my greater nights this summer. The four roomies (old and new) decided that we were going to have a girls night. We dressed our finest and ate at the Wharf. The food was fabulous and company divine. The former great night was spent on the free side of the riverstage where about 8 of us sat on a sleeping bag and danced under the stars listening to a concert.

To conclude this blog I want you to know that I have an interview tomorrow and some big decisions ahead. Will I take the teachers aide position for special ed...the preschool teacher position that is only 30 hours a week or find something temporarily as I consider missions school? May the Lord direct me and guide me and may my feet be quick to go in the direction He should lead. I love you all and miss many of you. I am glad that I have been able to be a part of your lives in some way and know that you have played a sweet roll in mine.

Hannah: an example of biblical womanhood

HANNAH
“grace” also “beauty or charm”
1 Samuel 1 & 2

You can picture her with a face that bore the radiance of her own spirituality, wearing clothes that she stitched herself being handy with the needle (1 Sam. 2:19). She was barren because the Lord had closed her womb (1 Sam 1:6) Most likely the first wife of Elkanah, but because of her barrenness he took another wife (Peninnah) who bore him children.
Hannah was one of 4 great woman in history who grieved because she could not conceive. Others were:

• Sarah (Gen. 21) who was much like Hannah because of their husbands bigamy and distress over their inability to conceive (later conceived Isaac)

• Rebekah (Gen. 25) who bore her trial of barrenness with indifference (later conceived Jacob and Esau)

• Rachel (Gen. 29) who being so irritated at her long wait said “give me children, or else I die” (later conceived Joseph)

Each barren case and first born was raised up for special purposes of divine providence. Hannah handled her barren womb with faithful prayer. (seen below)

Hannah would travel with her husband, Peninnah and family once a year to worship and sacrifice to the LORD OF HOST (this is the first time Jehovah Sebaoth is used in scripture asserting his universal supremacy- “hosts” meaning armies of heaven seen for the first time in Hannah’s prayer later. )

You see that Elkanah had a great love for Hannah by giving her double the size he gives his other wife. And because of this her rival (Peninnah) was jealous and provoked Hannah greiviously to irritate her because of her closed womb.

After years of provoking by her rival, we never see Hannah railing or going into furious rages. She simply grieves and ends up weeping and loosing her appetite ,denying the peace offering her husband offered her yearly.Once again you see her husbands care and love for her in verse 8. She did not whine to Elkanah about her childlessness because she knew that children are an inheritance from the Lord (Ps. 127:3; Gen. 33:5)

We then see Hannah deeply distressed pouing her heart out to the Lord and weeping bitterly she vowed this vow:

“O Lord of Host, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.” –(1 Sam. 1:11)

• She first starts out with Lord of Host once again recognizing his universal supremacy

• The word Servant is expressed 3 times showing her humility, submission and dependence on the Lord.

• The vow was significant alone. Levites were already the Lord’s property from 25 years of age until 50. It was their duty to minister in the tabernacle taking turns a few weeks every year also attending three annual feast. But her vows to offer her son in service to the temple were from infancy to death making it a Nazarite vow that could only be made by the husband. This vow had be be approved by the husband in order for it to be a valid vow. This also would show her husbands support for her. (Samson’s mother made this vow and John the Baptist’s mother did later) It is not shown whether or not the vow included all the provisions of the Nazarite vow.

Eli the priest observed her prayer and accused her of drunkenness because no word came from her mouth. His accusation against Hannah was the same accusation the unbelieving mob made against the disciples on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:13). But Hannah’s defense (in verse 15) argues her conscious integrity, innocence and serenity of spirit. Simply pouring out her soul before the LORD.

You then see the family ending their time at the temple in worship and returning home where Elkanah knew Hannah (aka. they had sex). It was then that the Lord opened her womb and Hannah conceived and bore a son that she called Samuel which means “asked of the Lord”.

You see Hannah being a wonderful mother, not leaving him with another, and turning down a trip with her husband until he was weaned. Once being weaned, Hannah dresses him for his first trip to the tabernacle, where she leaves him. Though Eli the priest’s two son’s were polluting the atmosphere of worship by laying with women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle, Hannah leaves him with no fear. She had placed him in the hands of God, and she believed that God would answer the petition she had made before his birth.

But before she leaves her precious son she offers a prayer that echo’s through generations of women. In it Hannah exhibited the fervency, depth and fire of a woman who was happy and who sang her happiness and belief in God. SHE LOVED HER GOD!

1Sa 2:1 And Hannah prayed and said, "My heart exults in the LORD; my strength is exalted in the LORD. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.
1Sa 2:2 "There is none holy like the LORD; there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.
1Sa 2:3 Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
1Sa 2:4 The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble bind on strength.
1Sa 2:5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn.
1Sa 2:6 The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
1Sa 2:7 The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts.
1Sa 2:8 He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, and on them he has set the world.
1Sa 2:9 "He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail.
1Sa 2:10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the power of his anointed."

• She acknowledges God’s holiness, His goodness, His sovereignty, His power, and His wisdom. She worshiped Him as Savior, as Creator, and as sovereign judge. She acknowleged the fallenness and depravity of human nature, as well as the folly of unbelief and rebellion. In short, her few stanzas were a masterpiece of theological understanding.

• Hannah’s prayer of dedication was the model for Mary’s Magnificat (to magnify or extol) in Luke 1:46-55.

• Both Hannah and Mary formally dedicated their firstborn sons to the Lord (1 Sam 1:24-28; Luke 2:22-24).
  

She gladly left Samuel to work in the temple by lighting a candle, holding a dish or closing a door because she knew that if he could do those menial tasks joyfully than he would rise in a greater ministry to the Lord.

The way Hannah immediately dedicated her first son to the Lord and gave him over to serve in the tabernacle at such a young age demonstrated the purity of her motives of motherhood being her one ambition in life. She understood that motherhood is the highest calling God can bestow on any woman under the call of being a wife.

Scripture frequently portrays marriage as “the grace of life” (1 Peter 3:7) and motherhood is one of the highest calling any woman could ever be summoned to under the call to be a wife (1 Tim. 5:10; Titus 2:3-5 these two passages share things on motherhood). Only rarely in Scripture were women singled out and praised for careers outside the domestic realm.

Samuel later became the earliest of the great Hebrew prophets after Moses and last of the “Judges”. He also would anoint David as king.
At the end of her biography it states- “And the young Samuel grew in the presence of the Lord”

Characteristics of Hannah that we can take home with us:
- Constant, steadfast faith
- Patience
- Persistent and Passionate Prayerfulness
- Meekness
- Humility
- Submission
- Unreservedly devotion
- Motherly love
- Non- complaining spirit
- Willingness to cast her burdens on the Lord
- Love for heaven, husband and home
- Unselfish
- Dependence on the Lord
- Integrity
- Innocence
- Belief and Trust in the Lord
- Grace
- Worker of the home
- And the woman could sew.

Information retrieved from : “The Bible”, “All of the Women of the Bible” by Edith Deen, and “Twelve Extraordinary Women” by John MacArthur

When The Music Stops

I have been reading a book lately called, "Safe in the Everlasting Arms" and came across this paragraph that was written more than a hundred years ago by the artist John Ruskin:
"There is no music in a rest, but there is the making of music in it. In our whole life-melody, the music is broken off here and there by "rests", and foolishly think we have come to the end of time. God sends a time of forced leisure-sickness, disappointed plans, frustrated efforts- and makes us a sudden pause in the choral hymn of our lives and we lament that our voices must be silent, and our part missing in the music which ever goes up to the ear of the Creator. How does the musician read the rest? See him beat time with unvarying count and catch up the next note true and steady, as if no breaking place had come between. Not without design does God write the music of our lives. But be it ours to learn the time and not be dismayed at the "rests." They are not to be slurred over, nor to be omitted, not to destroy the melody, not to change the keynote. If we look up, God Himself will beat time for us. With eyes on Him we shall strike the next note full and clear."

Once again the Lord has given me a word of encouragement from and old dead guy. I cannot help but see the wisdom in this during a time, once again in my life, where I have no idea where "the music is going." At this point it is a time of rest, though I have struggled with my flesh in being anxious over what lies ahead. It is perfect that in music the word is rest or Selah. Selah (hebrew: סלה) may be the most difficult word in the Hebrew Bible to translate, especially as nobody knows what it means. Selah is probably either a liturgico-musical mark or an instruction on the reading of the text, something like "stop and listen". The Psalms were sung accompanied by musical instruments and there are references to this in many chapters. Thirty-one of the thirty-nine psalms with the caption "To the choir-master []" include "Selah" so the musical context of selah is obvious. Selah notes a break in the song and as such is similar in purpose to Amen in that it stresses the importance of the preceding passage.

Rest....Stop and Listen...I will lean on the things in my life that are assured and realize that there is a preceding passage that I am so amazed that my Father in Heaven has written. I must look to Christ, the author and perfector of my faith that I may stike the next note full and clear. C.S. Lewis once said, "Look to yourself, and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin and decay. But look for Christ and you will find Him and with Him everything else thrown in." May I submit to death, death of my ambitions and favorite wishes every day and death of my body-in the end may I submit with every fibre of my being.

The Weekend of Weddings and Engagements

This weekend was one filled with love and romance. Friday evening was a windy one but there was something more than the air stiring around my cousin Chad Fogle and his now fiance Angela Sacco. At 3:00 Chad and Angela made thier way from Santo,TX to San Angelo. Upon thier arrival Chad told Angela that he wanted to take her to his favorite spot at the lake. Meanwhile myself and some of our cousins hopped into the family boat. We went according to plan and that was to go by fast so that Chad would know that he had 5 minutes. At that point we curved around next to the reeds holding this sign...

Here is the video of the engagement. And a few pictures. After all was said and done we headed to the restaurant were there was a 12 piece mariachi band and to follow we had the room set up with candles and a wash bassin where he proceeded to wash her feet.

I think she was pretty excited.

As the weekend rolled on, so did I, in a car with my sister as the driver and my niece (14 months) and nephew (3 years) in the back. The drive to Austin was a long one as my appreciation grew for the Lord's grace in giving patience. The purpose of this trip was to see my younger step-brother Jeremy Swanson wed his bride Wendy. The area was beautiful and the ceremony at the country club was followed by a dance at an old rustic dance hall. Enjoy the pictures and love the one your with...

My Niece Averie (goodness I am a good photographer..HeeHee)

I bet you cannot guess who these people are...no silly...it's the bride and groom.

My niece and brother-in-law Kevin (aka. daddy to her)

Me on a tree swing.

Beautiful Feet Discipleship

For those of you who recall, the Lord has given me a special talent when it comes to painting toes. I know that this seems like a funny thing, but if you are a girl reading this post, you may have a great appreciation. Needless to say I am once again at a crossroad in life and am seeking the Lord for the direction I should take. For the last two years the Lord has been faithful to grow my heart for the girls on the ASU campus as I have discipled and mentored them as they go through the wonder years we call college. As my term here at the BSM ends, I have wondered how to maintain that disclipleship and those relationships. Why not continue to serve girls by doing thier toes and sharing the good news in the midst? I love the Lord and I love people, so if it takes humbling myself at peoples feet to share Christ...may it be.
I am looking for a job currently. I covet your prayers for me and for the Lord to give me perseverence in the wait. He has always provided and whatever His lot is for me...I will gladly bear. If anyone actually reads my blogs, I hope you have a great day and may the Lord be gracious to you always.

Beach Reach 2007

Well, I am sad that this blog was not posted directly after Spring Break. The morning after I returned I caught the flu and had no contact with the outside world for what seemed like forever, although it was only 5 days.
I cannot begin to tell the many stories of divine appointments that the Lord laid our before us during out trip. We went before the throne and then Lord went before us and prepared the field before each shift. During Beach Reach training we teach our students how to transition the conversation into spiritual matters and ultimately the gospel. Every single one of us stood in awe of how we did not have to transition...people were so thirsty and hungry and evidently the Lord's glory surrounded us, because they immediately were asking us questions. We are thankful that the Lord gave the words and scriptures for the defense and confirmation of the gospel. Our team saw the Lord save 5 people and the events that lead up tp those occations were divine indeed.
Below I have added some pictures and a link to some of our students testamonies. I ask that you go to that link and read what work the Lord did and give him the glory for the sanctification of the saint and the salvation of the few. I could not have asked for the Lord to have given me a better team to work alongside during my first trip to Beach Reach and my last trip to lead as the Campus Missionary at the BSM. The unity and love for one another was great. Enjoy the stories!

The Crew + Cara Bebee and Kirby. These two came back from a three week mission trip in Papua New Guinea on Sunday and joined us from thier missions school on Monday. Sharing the gospel from one people group to another.

The Girls. Stunning is the only word I can think of.

The Boys. Ummm...stunning also. This is the cheerleader pose. Wow...HeeHee

Cara Bebee and I. This was my favorite sand sculpture.

Baptisms: 27 total. 400 Beach Reachers stood around the sand sculpture yelling and clapping and raising a commotion. The beach goers began to gather to see what the ruckus was about and a sudden hush come over the crowd as the beach reachers bowed at the sand sculpture. Two girls behind me were drunk and when everyone bowed they also went prostrate. It made me think about the scripture that every knee shall bow. After being prayed over all of us stood near the waters as new believers showed all spectators, believers and non, a sweet representation of what the Lord had done. The old being gone and behold new things. The truth had now become living and active in them and they were baptised in the ocean that bows daily and glorifies the Lord as He draws the line and tell the ocen where to stop.

As most know, the van ministry is a huge part of the Beach Reach ministry. One night we all gathered before loading the vans and started to pray. The first shift of vans set out and when they came off of the shift they were all in awe because every group that they had picked up were San Angelo people. None of the other teams had one San Angelo group on thier vans.

The sunrise was spectacular. Pictures never do the Lord's glory justice.

Worship on the beach at the end of the week.

Needless to say we had a fun time. Nice faces girls.

It looks like we are in the bunkers at battle. Beach Reach was a battle ground, but an easy fight won with the Lord on our side.

To see more Beach Reach testamonies from other students at Angelo State go HERE!

My Pride and Joy

So, I wanted to show you guys a picture of my pride and joy!

HeeHee...Just Kidding, here are my real pride and joy. The Lord has given me the sweetest and cutest niece and nephew. Logan just turned 3 and is a blast needless to say and Baylee is having her 1st birthday this weekend. I love being an aunt and pray for these kiddos daily.

I hope this message finds you counting all that the Lord has blessed you with as He certainly has blessed me. His graciousness to me is unfathomable.

Notice Me

Notice Me

Verse 1:

It's a path leading where

Your guess is as good as mine

And I have been here before

At this split in the road

And so I'm sitting here

Waiting and wondering which direction we will go

Oh, oh truly, only our God knows

Chorus:

And I'm standing right in fron of you

I'm standing right in fron of you

But I don't think you even notice me

The way I notice you

Verse 2:

And it's a mystery

A thought lingering in my head

Of a boy and girl loving life together

But I, I'm afraid of dreaming

Yeah I, I hesitate for hoping

Cause parting can be such sorrow

But will it even matter tomorrow

Chorus

Bridge:

And I've been here before

In uncertainty's room

Standing at the door

Waiting and trusting as His grace

It guards me and you

PreChorus:

I can hear my Lord saying

I can hear my Lord proclaiming

I can hear my Lord saying

I can hear my Lord proclaiming and saying

Last Chorus:

And I'm standing right in front of you

I'm standing right in front of you

And my grace, oh it holds you

So you can't lose

Cause in my grace

I have noticed you

I have noticed you

I have noticed you

It is very imortant that you read through these lyrics and see the beauty in it. I am so proud of my dearest friend and roomate that wrote this song at a time that all of us women and men find ourselves. In this quest for a mate we begin to daydream more than live out the day that the Lord has given us. Our hearts and minds wonder towards the other person in hopes that there could be something. Meanwhile, the Lord knows your wants and yet wants you to see...by His grace He has noticed us. Oh, that our hearts and minds could wrap themselves around this concept.

I have found myself in daydream mode recently and the Lord showed me a little something that I thought I would share with you. In Genesis 2:21 says,”So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon man”, then again in Genesis 15:12, “A deep sleep fell on Abram.” In both cases the Lord is doing a great work. In the first case He brings woman to man and in the latter he is making a covenant with Abram. I both cases he puts man to sleep though. It then came to me that the Lord wanted to receive all the glory for His names sake. If man had something to do in either of these processes, then man could boast. Then I recalled a verse in Song of Solomon that says, “I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or the does of the field, that you not stir up or awaken love until it pleases.” It is my prayer that the Lord would put to sleep my desire to love a mate until that love be awakened. Meanwhile, I cling to the P31 woman, “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” May I fear the Lord and realize that by His grace He has noticed me.