November 16, 2024

Jesus Paid It All

August 10, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

I hear the Savior say
Thy strength indeed is small
Child of weakness, watch and pray
Find in Me thine all in all

Jesus paid it all
All to Him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

Lord, now indeed I find
Thy power and Thine alone
Can change the leper’s spots
and melt the heart of stone

And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete,
Jesus died my soul to save,
my lips shall still repeat

O Praise the one who paid my debt
And raised this life up from the dead

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow
He washed it white as snow 

Original hymn – Elvina M. Hall / Additional lyrics and praise – Kristian Stanfil

I listen to this hymn and again I am a child, sitting by my mom in church, listening to the grown-ups around me sing; and I understand these words even then. That Jesus paid my debt so that I could live; it was that simple then. Why do we complicate things when we get older?

I hear Jesus whisper,

“Your strength is little, and you are weak. But you are My child and as you pray and seek Me, you will find all that you need in Me.”

And I respond…

“Jesus, You paid it all, the price for every sin that I have committed and ever will commit. I owe You everything. Sin had stained me, taken all from me and in the broken places You filled me. And now I am clean, and white as snow.

Lord, I now see that You alone can do miraculous things, like heal disease, and break even the hardest of hearts and fill all with You. You paid the whole price for my sins, I owe all that I am to You. Sin had left a mark and almost ruined me, but You washed me and made me white as snow.

And  when the day comes that You appear to all, and we get to kneel before You as You sit on Your throne. I will finally be complete in You. You died to save my soul and my lips will proclaim the news to all the world. Jesus, You paid it all, and all to You I owe- sin had left a crimson stain, but You washed it white as snow.”

As a child, I listened to hymns and hung on every word and I pictured the events really happening. I pictured Him dying for me and washing the stain of my sins.  I pictured me dirty once and then I am made white as snow because of Him. I remember longing for the day that the trumpets would sound and I would get to stand before His throne and talk to Him. I would get to bow down before my Lord and Savior and tell Him how much I loved Him and how grateful I am for Him taking my sins away. And you know what? He really did take your sins away. He really did pay your debt and raise your life up from the dead. And because of this, you will live a life that is full and blessed. You will walk in light instead of darkness. And you will be loved by Jesus, our Lord. Just meditate on this today and let it just sink in…you are saved, loved, clean, because He paid it all.

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 1:7

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Verse 9

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Let us pray: Thank You, Jesus, for paying the full price for my sins. You came and died and paid my debt in full. I am in awe of Your sacrifice and Your love. Thank You for loving me enough to save me from myself.  And when that day comes that I get to stand before You and bow down on my knees, I will praise You and proclaim to the world that You are the Savior!   In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Job’s Wife, It was Hard Work

August 8, 2014 by

encouragementbloggraphicromans15

Many of you know the story of Job….  He is going about his life and all is going well. He is blameless and upright and loves God. Then the enemy goes to God and says that Job is only blameless and a follower because his life is so perfect. Like, who wouldn’t be, right? But his God knew better and He allowed some pretty awful things happen to him. He lost his land and his livestock and his money. He watched his children die and he pretty much lost it all.

Job grieves after these tragedies and then…falls to the ground and worships God! After his health goes down , and he’s in so much pain, his wife enters the story. In Job 2:9 she says to him,”Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die.” Now, she is who most of us can relate to. I mean, I totally get his wife. Even though I know I belong to God, and I do love Him with all that I am, I do understand being so overwhelmed and broken in my circumstances that my faith has been drained and I have really been upset with God.

We as Christians (those who have matured or have just became one) understand that trials and struggles will come, as Philippians 1:29 says “For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for Him.” Yes, we are promised suffering. But we are also promised an abundant life.  And though it hurts, we know the end result is a life with Him forever. The most important thing is for Him to be glorified and for others to see how amazing He really is. And He promises in Romans 8:28 that all things will work together for good! (Look that verse up and underline it!)

Back to Job’s story….  God blessed the latter part of his days. His future held so many blessings, he couldn’t even count them. What a promise and a hope to hold onto! It’s hard when you are going through such difficult things to actually fall to the ground in worship.  We may be more like Job’s wife and want to curse God. Or naybe tell Him that we could write the story so much better and the pain would be so much less but we would make sure He got the glory, right?  Wrong! Sometimes the only way He is glorified is to see Him working in a life that is at the end of the human rope. Nothing and no one can do anything to make it better—then God steps in and saves us. No other way but Him.

I can tell you that I have lived through seven years of hard and I am just now seeing the ‘why’ of it. I cannot say that I understand it, but I can say that I totally trust Him. Others will know for sure that it is nothing that we (our family) have done, only our God. But we did believe…and we did keep walking when we really just wanted to stay in bed…and we did keep thanking Him for what He was doing in our lives. Some days all I could say was Mark 9:24, “I believe, help my unbelief.”

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If this is you today, and you’re really wanting to fall on the floor and cry, remember that God is sovereign and He knows what He is doing. If you could see the end of your story, you wouldn’t change a thing. And most of all, He will get the glory and others will come to know Him, through you! And if you are one that doesn’t know Him, please ask Him today to be Lord of your life. All you have to do is pray this simple prayer:

Dear God, I know I am a sinner and I need forgiveness. I know that I need a Savior. I believe that You sent Your Son to die on the Cross to save me from my sins. I want Him to come into my heart today and be my Lord. I want to walk with You through this life. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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How Sweet The Sound-Citizens Way

August 5, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Yea though I walk through the valley
I know that You are always right beside me
And I will fear no evil
You’re my Rock
And my Strength
You comfort me

Amazing grace how sweet the sound
I hear You singing over me
I once was lost but now I’m found
And it’s beautiful
Amazing grace how sweet the sound
It covers every part of me
My soul is silent
I am found
And it’s a beautiful sound

You carry me through the waters
Where Your peace clears away all my sorrow
And nothing can separate us from Your love
Oh, Your love it will always be

You were healing in the pain
You were shelter in the storm
Hallelujah You restore my soul

Songwriters: Josh Calhoun, Ben Calhoun
Performed by Citizens Way

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I have walked through the valley and right now it seems like I’ll be here for a while.  There is an empty parking space in the driveway and a room that has been cleaned out.  I moved my oldest baby girl to another state to start the journey that God has for her.  But, as a mom, I have mixed emotions yet He sustains me and walks with me.  The 23rd Psalm is one of His greatest promises and one that I cling to during this hard time of change. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).

I love how the songwriters put the Scriptures and the hymn “Amazing Grace” together and share such hope with us as listeners.  Can’t you just picture God singing over you?  ‘Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, I hear You singing over me. I once was lost but now I’m found…’ and it is a beautiful sound.  He does carry us through the waters and gives us peace that passes all understanding. And no matter what we go through or what we have done, nothing can separate us from God’s love and His grace.  There is healing in the pain, through Him and there is shelter from the storms, in Him.  Isaiah 43:2 NIV says,

When you go through the waters, I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

I pray today, as you listen to this song, that you feel the hope and the love and His amazing grace washing over you.  You are His and He cherishes you and wants to be with you. He is able to carry you through anything and will keep you from harm.  Just trust Him and thank Him for the miracles and blessings that are yours…you just have to ask.

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Let us pray: Dearest Heavenly Father, we praise You and thank You for always walking beside us and protecting us from so much. Thank You for carrying us when we are too weak or sad to really walk through it alone, and thank You that we never have to be alone. You sing over us and love us so much. Your Word is our rock and full of promises that we can hold on to when this world is coming at us. Thank You for the healing and for the shelter and for being our strength. We love You! In Jesus’ name, amen!

 

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Fix My Eyes On You

July 30, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Hit rewind, click delete
Stand face to face with the younger me
All of the mistakes
All of the heartbreak
Here’s what I’d do differently,

I’d…Love like I’m not scared
Give when it’s not fair
Live life for another
Take time for a brother
Fight for the weak ones
Speak out for freedom
Find faith in the battle
Stand tall but above it all
Fix my eyes on You
On You

I learned the lines and talked the talk
(Everybody knows it, everybody knows it)
But the road less traveled is hard to walk
(Everybody knows it, everybody knows)
It takes a soldier
Who knows his orders
To walk the walk I’m supposed to walk, and

The things of earth are dimming
In the light of Your glory and grace
I’ll set my sights upon Heaven
I’m fixing my eyes on You, on You
I’m fixing my eyes on You, on You
I’m fixing my eyes

I’ll fix my eyes on You, on You
I’ll fix my eyes on You, on You

Performed by For King & Country
Songwriters: Luke Smallbone, Joel Smallbone, Seth Mosley

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What would you do differently if you could talk to a younger you?  I would tell myself to rest in Him and know that all is going to be okay.  We serve an amazing God and He is good and all He gives is good.  I would tell the younger me to really search and learn His Word.  There is truly a verse for all things that you encounter—the happy and the sad.  And I would tell myself to fix my eyes on only Him and let the things of this earth fade away.

I would tell myself that God encounters are so much more important and meaningful than earthly consumption.  And that gratitude always comes before the miracle.  God has an answer to everything.  Sometimes it’s ‘yes’ and sometimes it’s ‘wait’ and sometimes it’s ‘no.’  I would tell myself to trust that even though I don’t like ‘no,’ that it is for my own good; and that if I could see the big picture, I would be so glad that He knew what was best for me.  I would tell myself to enjoy God and to look for the beauty in everything.

I would tell myself to love like He does and to live intentionally for His purpose.  To look for ways to really get in the game and get dirty sometimes.  All that really is going to matter when Jesus comes for us is just this: did we love like we weren’t scared…forgive when it hurt…take time to see the ones hurting…remember that He loves us and dances over us with singing.

So, today, if you would, leave a comment below on what you would tell a younger you!  Just one phrase will do!  And do remember to enjoy Him and all He is.

Need some verses to hold onto today?

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 NLT

No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, Who loves us.
Romans 8:37 NLT

Then I pray to You, o Lord.
I say, “You are my place of refuge.
You are all I really want in life.”
Psalm 142:5 NLT

God, You did everything You promised, and I’m thanking You with all my heart.
You pulled me from the brink of death, my feet from the cliff edge of doom.
Now I stroll at leisure with God in the sunlight fields of life.
Psalm 56:12 MSG

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Let us pray: Dear Lord, thank You for Your grace that gives us chance after chance to get it right.  You are the Lover of our souls and You want to walk with us daily.  Help us to remember to rest in You and that You will do all You promised in Your Word and when we are lost, guide us back to Your promises.  You never change.  Your love never changes.  And victory is ours through Christ Who died for us and loves us unconditionally.  We love You!  In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Love is the Home for Both

July 25, 2014 by

encouragementbloggraphicromans15

In the fifteenth chapter of Luke, starting with verse 11, we read the story of the prodigal son.  I’m sure you have read or heard this so many times but bear with me for a minute.  The actual word ‘prodigal’ means the squanderer or the waster. And the “prodigal son” did squander his inheritance and totally wasted all that his father gave him.

If you think about it, we have all played both roles at some time in our lives. Maybe at one point we are the older, responsible son—keeping everything in order and never disappointing our Father, and looking down on those who do and those who give the sinner a break. We have also been the younger one—wasting our inheritance from our Father, turning to anyone or anything that will make us “happy”, and running so far the other way.  But instead of finding happiness and freedom, we find ourselves in slavery to this other life that we thought we wanted so desperately.  We find ourselves starving for real substance and we are desperate for the life we had before.

And then there’s the father who never gave up on his son, and continued to search and wait and believe that they will one day be a family again. The son returns and the father lavishes love and compassion and hugs. He gives him his best robe and a ring and acts as if nothing happened. Even when the older son gets mad and protests, the father does not judge him. He is fair and just, resembling our Father in Heaven.

Here is the story:

Luke 15:11-32 (NIV)
The Parable of the Lost Son

Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.  After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.  When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’  So he got up and went to his father.  But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’  But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.  Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.  ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’  The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’  ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”

Which son do you relate to?  Have you run so far or are you a slave to something other than God?  Have you wasted all that God has given you for something you thought was better?  Or are you the older brother, looking down on the one who made the bad choices, and maybe a little bitter when he is given mercy by others?

God is your Father and He loves you.  If you have run away, He is ready to meet you where you are.  He is willing to accept you just the way you are and give you the finest life and the abundant blessings that are yours!  All you have to do is ask.  God’s arm reaches so far and you can’t ever outrun Him.

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Do you know this Father I’m talking about?  Do you want this unconditional love that you’ve just read about?  Then pray this with me:

Dear God, I know I am a sinner and I need forgiveness.  I believe that Jesus, Your Son, died on the cross to save me from my sins and I will have Him in my heart forever.  I love You.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Filed Under: encouragement Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Glorious Unfolding

July 23, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Lay your head down tonight
Take a rest from the fight
Don’t try to figure it out
Just listen to what I’m whispering to your heart
‘Cause I know this is not
Anything like you thought
The story of your life was gonna be
And it feels like the end has started closing in on you
But it’s just not true
There’s so much of the story that’s still yet to unfold

And this is going to be a glorious unfolding
Just you wait and SEE and you will be amazed
You’ve just got to believe the story is so far from over
So hold on to every promise God has made to us
And watch this glorious unfolding

God’s plan from the start
For this world and your heart
Has been to show His glory and His grace
Forever revealing the depth and the beauty of
His unfailing Love
And the story has only begun

We were made to run through fields of forever
Singing songs to our Savior and King
So let us remember this life we’re living
Is just the beginning of the beginning

Of this glorious unfolding
We will watch and SEE and we will be amazed
If we just keep on believing the story is so far from over
And hold on to every promise God has made to us
We’ll SEE the glorious unfolding

Just watch and SEE (unfolding)
This is just the beginning of the beginning (unfolding)

Singer/Songwriter – Steven Curtis Chapman

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I need a rest tonight for sure and all the things going on in my life that I wish I could just skip.  Anyone with me?  As Christians and children of God, we aren’t immune from hard things.  But the neat thing is that God is in the middle of it all and His plan is perfect.  We just have to walk through with faith, knowing that it is all for His glory and all for our good.  The difference in the valleys now is I know He is with me and His grace is sufficient for everything in my life.  I’m at peace.

Steven Curtis Chapman wrote this song about life and how hard it can be.  But to have faith through it all that God is in control.  Sometimes we have an idea of what we think our life is going to be like, and sometimes it does feel like it is closing in on you but really it’s just the beginning.  God is writing your story and it is perfect.  We have to believe that what God has promised in His Word will come true and we will SEE one day that it was just the beginning.  And we will be amazed, I believe it and I believe in Him.

We were made for so much more than this world.  We are made to praise Him, and sing songs to Him, and just talk to Him. Isn’t it amazing that we don’t have to worry and stress about what will happen next because He already knows and He has got this under control.  And don’t forget that He loves you so much.  Just hang on for the “Glorious Unfolding.”

Let us pray: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for being constant and in control. Help us to rest in You and have faith that, no matter what we are going through right now, You are still writing our story.  And when we have doubts, lead us to Your Word for encouragement and truth.  We love You and we praise You for planning our lives before we were ever born.  One day we will see all this was for something, and for Your glory.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

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Elisha and the Widow

July 18, 2014 by

encouragementbloggraphicromans15

Elisha and the Widow—She Always had Enough

A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. And the creditor is coming back to take my two sons to be his slaves.”  So Elisha said to her,”What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in this house?” And she said,”Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.”  Then he said, “Go borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors-empty vessels, do not gather just a few. And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons, then pour it into all these vessels and set aside the full ones.”  So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her and she poured it out.

2 Kings 4: 1-5

Notice this poor woman sought out a man of God to help her. She was at the end of her own resources and the creditors were about to take her sons! Today, we may get our cars taken away, or our homes foreclosed on…but no one is going to come get our children for an unpaid debt, am I right?  So, as you can imagine, she was desperate.  And Elisha was available to help, and he was a man of God.  In order to fight, she knew she needed God on her side.

Elisha did not condemn her for her debts nor did her try to get rid of her because her problem was too hard or he was too busy.  He didn’t have the solution to her problem but he knew God did and he trusted Him.  Obviously the widow was in great poverty and she didn’t have much.  In fact, if you look at the above passage, all she had was some oil.  She had sold all she had to attempt to pay off her debts. But for God, this was just enough for Him to bring deliverance to her . See, God told her, through Elisha, to borrow empty vessels and pour the oil into them. And she did.

God isn’t restricted by an amount of oil. He multiplied what she had to fill all the empty vessels. But she had to have the faith to believe He would come through or else she wouldn’t have done her part. She could have thought that was crazy and she would have never been delivered. She BELIEVED what God had told her.

Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full , that she said to her son,”Bring me another vessel”.  And he said to her,”There is not another vessel.” So the oil stayed.  (verse 6)

All the vessels were filled and the oil stayed only when there was not another single empty vessel. Yet these were enough to pass her and her children from bankruptcy into having abundance.

Then she came and told the man of God. And he said,  “Go, sell the oil, and pay your debt, and you and your sons live on the rest.”  (verse 7)

The oil was so much that she and her sons paid off their debt. They were delivered from their problem and she also gained a treasure.  All because she sought the Lord’s deliverance and believed with her whole heart that He would come through for her.  She went to God, poor and oppressed and she left rich and delivered.

What about you today? Are you in need? Do you need a miracle? All you have to do is call on Him and believe that no matter how big or how small, He can and will give you all the riches you desire and abundance from Heaven. His Word is full of stories like this one, of faith delivering people from awful situations. Just believe in Him and He will come through.

Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

Do you know Him today?  Or maybe you have just moved a little far from Him right now.   If so, all you have to do is call on Him and He will answer.  Just seek Him and He will be found.  And if you haven’t been saved by asking Jesus into your heart, you can do so right now!

 

Just pray with me:  Dear God, I am a sinner.  I need forgiveness.  I believe that Jesus is Your Son and You sent Him to die on the Cross for my sins.  I have been set free!  I ask that You come into my heart and save me, and walk with me forever.  Thank You for everything!  In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Waterfall

July 16, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Oh God, my God I seek You
I wanna move when You move
You’re more than I could long for
I thirst for You

You’re an ocean to my soul
To my soul

Your love is like a waterfall, waterfall
Running wild and free
You hear my heart when I call, when I call
Deep calls, too deep
Your love is like a waterfall, waterfall
Raining down on me

Waterfall, waterfall

Oh God, my God I seek You
In this dry and desert land
You lead me to streams of mercy
Once again

You’re an ocean to my soul
To my soul

Your love is like a waterfall, waterfall
Running wild and free
You hear my heart when I call, when I call
Deep calls, too deep
Your love is like a waterfall, waterfall
Raining down on me

Waterfall, waterfall

It’s coming like a flood
I’m dancing in the rain
Everything I’ve done
Is covered in rivers of grace, amazing

It’s coming like a flood
I’m dancing in the rain
I lift up my hands
Your love never changes, amazing

Your love is like a waterfall, waterfall
Running wild and free
You hear my heart when I call, when I call
Deep calls, too deep
Your love is like a waterfall, waterfall
Raining down on me

Waterfall, waterfall

 

Songwriters: Chris Tomlin and Ed Cash

May I suggest you play this song as you read this post?

As I am writing this, it is raining outside, water is coming down in sheets, and dripping off the house and palm trees.  It is so peaceful and I am reminded of God’s love.  It washes all over me and so does His grace.  And just like the song says, His ‘love never changes.’  It is the only constant in our lives.

Water is something we thirst for and our bodies are created to need it always. And we need our God and we were created to thirst for more of Him.  He tells us  to come to the water and drink of the cup of eternal life.  You will never be thirsty again.  His love is like a waterfall—always flowing and so deep we cannot see the bottom.  He does hear us when we call and He is so worthy to be praised!  Don’t you just want to lift your hands to Heaven and sing this at the top of your lungs?

And when we are at the end of our rope and we are in the desert, He leads us to the stream to drink of His goodness.  There is always a well for us to drink from.   His love never runs out and His mercy never ends.  So today, let His love wash over you and accept His grace. You are His, therefore you are worthy.  If you are in the valley, there is a creek nearby.  Let God lead you there.  His love is like a waterfall.

Let us pray: Dear God, we thank You for Your love for us that flows so freely. Thank You that You are the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.  Lord, we praise You for Who You are.  You are our Creator and our Father.  You are our Stronghold and our Portion, and You are all we need.  In the times when we feel unworthy, You draw us close and fill us with Your love and peace.  Thank You for letting us feel Your presence.  We lift up our hands today in praise!  We are grateful for everything You give, for all You give is good.  We pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Rahab-She Was So Much More

July 11, 2014 by

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And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying,
Go view the land, even Jericho.
And they went, and came into an harlot’s house, named Rahab, and lodged there.
Joshua 2:1

We often name our children after some heroes in the Bible, such as Caleb, Daniel, Hannah, and even Moses. But we never hear of a child named Jezebel or Rahab for obvious reasons. Who would name their child after such women whose values are so much less than our own?

Interestingly, Rahab was an Old Testament harlot who vaulted in the New Testament for her faith. That’s right, she is mentioned right up there with Abraham, Noah, Joseph, and Moses. In Hebrews 11 (often referred to as ‘Faith’s Hall of Fame’), these characters from the Bible are referred to including Rahab the harlot. Hebrews 11:31 reads,”By faith, the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not.”  She is there because of her faith…not her profession.

Joshua’s first test of leadership was Jericho.  It was the only way into the Promised Land.  He sent two spies there to survey the land and report back on what they saw.  When they got there, they sought refuge in the home of Rahab, because strange men entering the home of a prostitute wouldn’t look suspicious  to anyone.

The king of Jericho, however, received a report that the two spies had arrived in Jericho under cover in the dark of the night. “Behold”, he was told, “men have come here tonight from the children of Israel to search out the country” (Joshua 2:3).  He immediately dispatched soldiers to search the home of Rahab, but Rahab had hidden the two men on her roof and she told the king’s men that the men had left the city before the gates were shut for the night.

Rahab’s courage allowed Joshua’s spies to report back to their new leader and as we all know from the song, “Joshua fought the battle of Jericho and the walls came tumbling down.”

Rahab and her family were spared death because of her courage and the reason she is so esteemed in the New Testament comes from what she said to the two spies. “The Lord your God,” she told the two spies, “He is God in Heaven above and on earth beneath” (Joshua 2:11).  In spite of the gods that Rahab worshipped, she realized and professed that the Israelites’ God was the real God and she proved her faith by works.

Don’t you see the message in this story? It’s all about faith! Faith is not, and cannot be viewed as, a private treasure for only us to enjoy.  It must be shown for others to realize that God is the real deal! So I challenge you today to allow your faith to show up in the lives of others through serving God’s children. We do this by showing love, just like Rahab did to these men that she didn’t know. Would I do the same? I would like to think so.

Do you know the God I’m writing about today? He is the Real Deal and He loves you so much.  He can shelter you from this world, giving you hope and rest and strength for this journey. All you have to do is pray this simple prayer:

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Dear God, I know that I am a sinner and I need forgiveness. I ask that Your Son Jesus, the One and only Savior, come into my life and change me. I know that He died for my sins so that I may live forever with You.  Thank You for loving me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

If you prayed this prayer today, let us know in the comments section so we can rejoice and pray with you!

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Overwhelmed

July 9, 2014 by

I see the work of Your Hands
Galaxies spin in a Heavenly dance, oh God
All that You are is so overwhelming

And I hear the sound of Your Voice
All at once it’s a gentle and thundering noise oh God
All that You are is so overwhelming

I delight myself in You
Captivated by Your beauty
I’m overwhelmed, I’m overwhelmed by You

And God, I run into Your arms
Unashamed because of mercy
I’m overwhelmed, I’m overwhelmed by You

I know the power of Your Cross
Forgiven and free forever You’ll be my God

And all that You’ve done is so overwhelming
I delight myself in You
In the Glory of Your Presence
I’m overwhelmed, I’m overwhelmed by You

And God, I run into Your arms
Unashamed because of mercy
I’m overwhelmed, I’m overwhelmed by You

You are Beautiful, You are Beautiful
Oh God, there is no one more Beautiful
You are Beautiful, God you are the most Beautiful

You are Wonderful, You are Wonderful
Oh God, there is no one more Wonderful
You are Wonderful, God You are the most Wonderful

Yes, You are Glorious, You are Glorious
Oh God, there is no one more Glorious
You are Glorious, God you are the most Glorious

I delight myself in You
In the Glory of Your Presence
I’m overwhelmed, I’m overwhelmed by You

And God, I run into Your arms
Unashamed because of mercy
I’m overwhelmed, I’m overwhelmed by You
I’m overwhelmed, I’m overwhelmed by You

There is no one more Beautiful
God You are the most Beautiful  

 Sung by Big Daddy Weave  (Music and Lyrics by Mike Weaver/Phil Wickham)

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

Have you ever just heard God’s voice so clear, over the noise of all that is around you?  As we were coming home the other night from our anniversary dinner, kids included, this very song came on and I felt His presence.  I heard His voice and I was overwhelmed.  I immediately went to iTunes and found it and downloaded it so I could be taken away to that place again. A place that I literally felt like I was sitting at His feet and looking at the glory that shone around Him and I was calm. Isn’t He just amazing?

Just to see the work of His hands, the green grass and color splashes all over in the different flowers. To see the oceans and the sandy beaches and the sea shells that make perfect homes for the sea critters. Only God. And to hear the sound of His voice, in loud yet gentle ways, is so overwhelming. The thunder and lightning and rain at just the right times. I’m in awe of our Creator.

“Lord, the way You wait patiently for us to find our way home after a hard, tiring road we took, and the grace and mercy that are ours for free, a gift from You, the Lover of our souls. The Cross that Your Son died on to save us from our sins, so that we could live free here on earth and one day go to Heaven to be with You for eternity, is so overwhelming and we are forever grateful!”

When the chorus plays, I turn it up really loud and I can’t help the tears that fall at the sound of His name, “God, all that You are, is so overwhelming…I delight myself in You, captivated by Your beauty, I’m overwhelmed by You…God, I run into Your arms, unashamed because of mercy, I’m overwhelmed by You…You are beautiful, oh God, there is no one more beautiful…You are wonderful, oh God, there is no one more wonderful, You are the most wonderful!”  Chills run down my spine that the Lord of everything is in love with me and that He is overwhelmed by me and I by Him. And He loves you so much.  So today, find a phrase of this song, write it on a notecard in big letters, and place it somewhere that you will see it and be reminded of all that He is and all that He has done and the love He has for all of us and the love you have for Him. I pray you hear Him today….

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Let us pray:  Oh Lord, all that You are is overwhelming. Your beauty is beyond compare and Your mercy is so freely given even though we don’t deserve it. Thank You for open arms that wrap us in them and shelter us from this world that sometimes is too much. And may someone hear today from this song, the hope and the message that You want for them to hear. We love You and we praise You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
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