the greatest gift notes part 2

*every little thing will be okay--because God is working good through every little thing

*joys are always on their way to us

*gifts always come out of the unseen & hidden places

*you only begin to change your life when you begin to change the way you see it

*seek out all things unseen

*the message of christmas is that this worlds a mess, and we can never save ourselves from ourselves and we need a messiah

*God is with us, God is for us, God is in us

*we were made to worship---every moment you live, you live bowed to something

*you always go farther when traveling light

*the little & the small is lifted up

*our joy goes beyond the walls of this world

*you will go out in joy, and be led forth in peace

*all worry dethrones God :( 
  for when the king rules, you cease to rule

*you've got to use the life you've been given to give others life

*you have been given gifts in order to be a lifeline to others

*rejoicing in the Lord happens while we still struggle in the now.

*the secret of joy is always a matter of focus

*nothing is impossible with God

*the good things in life are not health, but holiness
  are not riches, but relationship with God
  are not our plans, but His presence

*he withholds no good thing from us because the greatest things aren't ever things

*rest here

*there is only room in us when we are done with us

*you are unconditionally accepted and unbelievably wanted

*he comes for you in the wilderness

*be a dwelling space for God.  mary became a space

*the promises came true in the space of her surrender

*simply become a place for God

*before we are called to give, we are called to receive

*be a space for love to come

*space becomes a sanctuary

*he is with us, he will save us

*at christs birth a battle was waged and won for you
  satan falls like lightening from the sky
  the agonies of redemption

*this is a time of awed silence

*WE LIVE IN AN OCEAN OF GRACE

*God stays with us

the greatest gift notes part 1

i've been working through this book

the greatest gift by ann voskamp

and, as i do with all my bible studies, take notes of things that appeal to me or jump out at me.  here are some of my notes from this book so far:

*the authority of God made all human beings

*God in three persons, uncontainable affection, knelt down and kissed warm life into you with the breath of His love.

*you are made of the dust of this earth,
  and you are made of the happiness of heaven
  and you are flesh, and you are spirit
  and you are two worlds longing for the home of forever and Him

*the answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God

*be kind....be honest

*we only find ourselves when we find God

*let God find you

*troubles can make us better or bitter.  they can make us rise or sink

*rise

*listen to the carols just a little bit longer

*linger in the quiet

*only when you are overwhelmed with the goodness of God can you overflow with the goodness to others

*laugh!

*laughter is a gift

*we will laugh with relief for all eternity

*all fear is but the notion that Gods love ends.

*it doesn't

*the Lord will provide

*worry is belief gone wrong

*peace is belief that exhales

*hurry empties a soul

*love came down

*you can never be undone

* God is never absent, never impotent, never distant

*all is grace

*love comes surely

* Jews dance when the  ten commandments are read because its a proclaimation of Gods love for us.

* there is a scarlet lifeline of hope

*we are all looking for a lifeline

*risk to live

*rahab, great grandmother of jesus many times removed was a former prostitute & pagan

*God is coming! can you feel it?!