November 19, 2024

Born For This

July 1, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Feels like I’ve been holding my breath, trying to still my restless heart
Everything hangs on my next step, finding my nerve, playing my part
I found shelter underneath His crown, found favor inside His eyes
Rock this boat, and I just might drown, honesty seems to come with a price
There’s a time to hold your tongue, time to keep your head down
There’s a time but it’s not now

Sometimes you gotta go, uninvited
Sometimes you gotta speak when you don’t have the floor
Sometimes you gotta move, when everybody else says you should stay
No way, no, not today
You gotta ask, if you want an answer
Sometimes you gotta stand apart from the crowd
Long before your heart could run the risk
You were born for this
You were born for this

I’m leaning on the ones before me, my father’s father’s dreams
I’m standing on the top of their shoulders calling the One delivering me
There’s a time to hold your tongue, time to keep your head down
There’s a time but it’s not now

One step, one move
Born to trust You
Made to lay my life before You

Songwriters: Nicole Nordeman, Bernie Herms
Performed by: Mandisa

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Ladies, we were born for such a time as this!!  We have been equipped for everything we need to live a life of victory.  We just need to tap into it!!!  We each have an important role in the Kingdom and it’s different for each of us.  God planned it that way, so that we all may function in unity together as sisters in Christ.  The question we need to be asking God is “What’s my role ?”  And, once you know, then do it well to honor and glorify your Daddy in Heaven.

We can learn SO MUCH from Queen Esther and her God-given boldness at just the right time.  It wasn’t the popular thing to do and she most certainly could have lost her life for her boldness.  She stood alone and yet she trusted God in it.  And because of it her people were saved.

  • Are we listening to what God is telling us to do?
  • Are we trusting Him in it?
  • Are we willing to step out in that holy boldness and be obedient?

Amazing things are awaiting when we choose to step out!
Obedience = Abundant Blessing

I love this excerpt from Dr. ChandraKumar Manickam:
“Some people watch history, while some people make history. A true hero recognizes a crisis and moves to meet it. What makes a hero? Someone would say, “Be just in the right place at the right time.” People become heroes, because they take quick action at the “right time,” while others stand watching in horror. This kind of courage made Esther a brave heroine in the history of Israel.
Though queen Esther did not have a specific title of ministry, she was instrumental in saving the entire Jewish nation. She was steadfastly committed to living according to godly principles. This allowed God to use her for His purpose and glory.”

click here for entire teaching

Ladies, let us not be just watchers but instead step out in faith and let God use us right now for His purposes—orchestrated by Him for His glory!!!

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Heavenly Father, I thank You that we were born for such a time as this and that each of us women have a very IMPORTANT role in the Kingdom.  May we choose to operate in the different roles that you have appointed specifically for each one of us…so that we may live in unity with each other.  I pray that each woman would step out in holy boldness at just the right moment orchestrated by You for Your glory and Yours alone…in Jesus’ name!!!  Amen.

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

God’s Great Dance Floor

June 30, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

I’m coming back to the start
Where You found me
I’m coming back to Your heart
Now I surrender
Take me
This is all I can bring

I’m coming back to the start
Our God is freedom
And here we feel Your heart
Your heartbeat for us
Take me
This is all I can bring

You’ll never stop loving us
No matter how far we run
You’ll never give up on us
All of heaven shouts: ‘let the future begin’
Let the future begin

Take me
This is all I can bring

I feel alive, I come alive
I am alive on God’s great dance floor
I feel alive, I come alive
I am alive on God’s great dance floor
I feel alive, I come alive
I am alive on God’s great dance floor
I feel alive, I come alive
I am alive on God’s great dance floor
I feel alive, I come alive
I am alive on God’s great dance floor
God’s great dance floor!

Songwriters: Martin Smith, Nick Herbert, Chris Tomlin
Performed by Chris Tomlin, Passion Band

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“No matter how far we run, You’ll never give up on us.”  To me, this speaks to mankind. Just think, that for over two thousand years after Jesus was on the earth, most things have not changed.  From the beginning of time, our ancestors lived life as the best they could. They chose to follow God or not. They chose to have joy or sorrow in their hearts.

Look at what God has done for His people, Israel. He chose to make them from a promise He made to Abraham. His family were idol makers. God knew something about his heart and chose to test him through making him wait for the birth of his only son into the promise. At the birth of Isaac there was a celebration of life. I like to think of God being impressed by Abraham’s trust and of Isaac’s trust of his father. Isaac had to accept God in his own life and learn to trust him.

We rear our children in the church, but they have to make trusting God their own. Our kids think life shows them what and who God is in their life. But it is up to us to guide them into making right choices. Just as the kings of Israel knew who God was, some decided not to follow after God. They chose to lead the people astray. God cannot make someone want to follow Him, our hearts have to be willing to accept God.  We also need to remember to celebrate the small victories, so we do not get weighed down with the world’s problems.  We need to dance on God’s big dance floor!

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Father, help us to remember to celebrate life.  Often times we make our lives too hard or complicated.  We forget to look out past the weeds to see the beautiful butterflies or animals that You have created for our and Your enjoyment.  Thank You for the little treasures we receive—the bird songs, the crisp morning air, the baby’s cry, the ability to get up out of our beds.  Thank You for the inspiration music gives to us to dance!  Thank You, in Jesus’ name.  Amen!

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

I Can Just Be Me

June 29, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

I’ve been doing all that I can
To hold it all together, piece by piece
I’ve been feeling like a failure
Trying to be braver
Than I could ever be
…It’s just not me

So be my Healer, be my Comfort
Be my Peace
‘Cause I can be broken
I can be needy, Lord, I need You now
To be, be my God
…So I can just be me

I’ve been living like an orphan
Trying to belong here
But it’s just not my home
I’ve been holding on so tightly
To all the things that I think
That satisfy my soul
…But I’m letting go

So be my Father, my mighty Warrior
Be my King
‘Cause I can be scattered, frail and shattered
Lord, I need You now
To be, be my God
…So I can just be me

‘Cause I was lost
In this dark world
‘Til I was finally found in You
So now I’m needy, desperately pleading
Oh Lord, be all to me

So be my Savior, be my Lifeline
Won’t You be my everything?
‘Cause I’m so tired
Of trying to be someone
I was never meant to be

Be my God, please be my God
Be my God so I can just be me
So I can just be me
…I can just be me

Singer / Songwriter: Laura Story, along with Jason Ingram

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Can’t you just imagine leafing through your Bible and coming upon these words…they are so similar to one of David’s songs, don’t you think?  This song sings just like one (no, like MANY) of the psalms.  Perhaps these words are very similar to a song in your own heart?  I’ll tell you…they are close to my own, at times.

Oh, I can whine…and complain!  Despite the great measure of grace and blessing that my God has poured into my life, at times I seem to forget.  I can become overwhelmed with the situations and circumstances.  And then  attempt to wrestle with these ugly things rather than resting and relying on my God.

Silly me!  I try to take things into my own <incapable> hands instead of seeking the only One Who IS capable—my Lord, Jesus the Christ, the One to Whom all “all authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given…” (Matthew 28:18).

I (and you also, my friends!) we are not alone in struggling with matters such as this!  We’ve already recognized that David called out to God in his struggles. But we also have the examples and godly encouragement of other men throughout the pages of the Bible.  The Apostle Paul and his disciple, Timothy, are two who I thought of immediately!  Paul wrote in his letters to encourage the believers in the first century Church <and us, too!!!> to rely on all that Christ had made available.

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you,
for My power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses,
so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses,
insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.
For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9, 10 ESV

In Paul’s letters to Timothy, as he taught him regarding leadership, Paul faithfully reminded Timothy that God is the One Who is to be trusted and relied upon.  For example, He said:

That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know Whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.
2 Timothy 1:12 NIV

All throughout the Scriptures, God’s people are instructed over and over and over again of the simplicity of the commands He has for us.

He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you
but to do justly,
and to love kindness and mercy,
and to humble yourself and walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8

We need to remember.  And to trust and obey.  It is SO much simpler to do things God’s way!  And then ‘I can just be me!’   Amen?

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Oh, how we praise You, dear Lord!  What joy we have in our hearts knowing that You ARE our Healer, Comfort, Peace… our Father, Mighty Warrior, King… our Savior, Lifeline… truly our everything!  How gracious, kind, and compassionate You are towards our human nature which, at times, is weak and needy and tired!  Thank You for how patient and longsuffering You are with us…never leaving us nor forsaking us even when we are whiny and complaining.  Thank You for Your grace and mercy, Your lovingkindness, Your forgiveness, Your love!  Thank You for always being there when turn our little hearts around and acknowledge that You have not changed…and never will.  Thank You for forming and making us—to ‘just be me!’  We love and adore You, Faithful Father!  And pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

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

Three Wooden Crosses

June 27, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv
There are three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway
Why there’s not four of them, Heaven only knows
I guess it’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you
It’s what you leave behind you when you go

That farmer left a harvest, a home and eighty acres
The faith an’ love for growin’ things in his young son’s heart
An’ that teacher left her wisdom in the minds of lots of children
Did her best to give ’em all a better start
An’ that preacher whispered: “Can’t you see the Promised Land?”
As he laid his blood-stained Bible in that hooker’s hand

There are three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway
Why there’s not four of them, Heaven only knows
I guess it’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you
It’s what you leave behind you when you go

That’s the story that our preacher told last Sunday
As he held that blood-stained Bible up
For all of us to see
He said: “Bless the farmer, and the teacher, an’ the preacher
“Who gave this Bible to my mamma
“Who read it to me”

There are three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway
Why there’s not four of them, now I guess we know
It’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you
It’s what you leave behind you when you go

Songwriters: Kim Williams and Doug Johnson
Performed by Randy Travis and Josh Turner

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Every time I hear this song I can imagine the story it is telling…

A bus has wrecked. Three people have died—a farmer, a teacher, and a preacher. The farmer left the love of farming to his own son. The teacher left her wisdom to her students. A preacher leaves his Bible with a hooker who then uses it to turn her life around. She reads the Word and turns from her possibly horrible miserable life. She has a young son of her own. She reads those same life-saving words to her own son. Her son would become a preacher….

Now these are some honorable legacies!

We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the Lord, and His might, and the wonders that He has done.
Psalm 78:4

The hooker in the ballad above did not hide ‘the glorious deeds’ from her son.  She did not hide from him what saved her life. Instead, she gave him the same tools that were given to her by a dying preacher to make sure that her son did not follow the same path the she had.  She got to see a great legacy formed when her son decided to become a preacher. We as parents leave legacies to our children.  They watch everything we say and do, and they learn by listening to us and watching us.

As parents it is up to us to leave our children with a good foundation in Christ. We pass our morals and beliefs onto our children through our actions and conversations with them. They then will turn around and pass it down to their own kids. Leaving a godly legacy becomes more important with each passing generation as this world begins to turn from God.

We should not hide these things from our children. In the song the hooker does not hide her life from her son.  Instead, and this is my imagination working, she shares what her life was like to him and reads to him the Bible, which saved her life.  The preacher made sure that the legacy of God continued when he passed his bloodied up Bible to someone who was in desperate need of it.  I like to imagine that the hooker was on her way to a new life, and the preacher was God’s instrument in making sure that she made herself better and left a good legacy herself.  We need to follow this example and leave a good legacy for our own children.

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Dear Heavenly Father, please guide me in helping to leave a Godly legacy to my children.  May they learn how good You are and that You will never leave them. Please protect them and help them build their own Godly legacies.  In Jesus name, Amen.

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

I Will Not Be Moved

June 26, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

I have been the wayward child, I have acted out
I have questioned sovereignty and had my share of doubts
And though sometimes my prayers feel like they’re bouncing off the sky
The hand I hold won’t let me go
and is the reason why…

I will stumble, I will fall down
But I will not be moved
I will make mistakes, I will face heartache
But I will not be moved
On Christ the Solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
I will not be moved

Bitterness has plagued my heart many times before
My life has been like broken glass, and I have kept the score
of all my shattered dreams and though it seemed
that I was far too gone
My brokenness helped me to see it’s grace I’m standing on

I will stumble, I will fall down
But I will not be moved
I will make mistakes, I will face heartache
But I will not be moved
On Christ the Solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
I will not be moved

And the chaos in my life has been a badge I’ve worn
And though I have been torn
I will not be moved

I will not be moved
I will make mistakes, I will face heartache
But I will not be moved
On Christ the Solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
I will not be moved

Singer / Songwriter: Natalie Grant
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What does it mean to be solid in your faith?

The definition of the word solid is “…firm and stable”.  How can we be firm and stable—solid— in our faith when the storms of life are threatening to take us down? Although not the easy path the answer is a simple one—it is a choice.

When life seems out of control and you don’t feel as though you are going to get through it, you have to choose to trust in God. He promises to get us through the storms and, if we don’t give up or lose hope, we will see the victory in the end.

A solid faith is not based on circumstances.  It is trust and hope in God in the midst of the circumstances…refusing to be moved from that place.  I trust in You, Lord, for You are faithful!!!

Although most of my circumstances have not been pleasant (and many I would not have chosen), God has been faithful. In each and every one, I have experienced Him in such a powerful way and learned lessons I would not have otherwise learned. When something comes my way, I am always looking for those blessings in disguise along with what God wants me to learn through it.

Anyone who listens to My teaching and follows it is wise,
like a person who builds a house on solid rock.
Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise
and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.
But anyone who hears My teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish,
like a person who builds a house on sand.
When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house,
it will collapse with a mighty crash.
Matthew 7: 24-27 NLT

We must be building our lives on Christ the Solid Rock and refusing to be moved when the storms of life come.  Otherwise we are on sinking sand…and there goes our hope and our strength.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
Proverbs 13:12 ESV

Let us become a tree of life as we choose to put our hope in Him.

And let us not grow weary of doing good,
for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Let us choose not to become weary
Galatians 6:9 ESV

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Oh Father, life is hard—there is no doubt about it.  But You have told us to take heart because You have overcome the world.  May we choose to put our hope and trust in You and not grow weary and give up!  If we continue to fight the good fight, we will be victorious.  Thank You for that promise…in Jesus’ name, amen.

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

Not For A Moment

June 25, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

You were reaching through the storm
Walking on the water
Even when I could not see
In the middle of it all
When I thought You were a thousand miles away
Not for a moment did You forsake me
Not for a moment did You forsake me

After all You are constant
After all You are only good
After all You are sovereign
Not for a moment will You forsake me
Not for a moment will You forsake me

You were singing in the dark
Whispering Your promise
Even when I could not hear
I was held in Your arms
Carried for a thousand miles to show
Not for a moment did You forsake me

And every step every breath You are there
Every tear every cry every prayer
In my heart at my worst
When my world falls down
Not for a moment will You forsake me
Even in the dark
Even when it’s hard
You will never leave me
After all

Not for a moment will You forsake me

Songwriters: Meredith Andrews, Jacob Sooter, Mia Fieldes
Performed by Meredith Andrews and Vertical Church Band

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God promises us that He will never leave us or forsake us.  As you listen to this song, I hope you can let this promise enter into every area of your life.  This week was hard.  My husband and I, along with our precious second daughter, piled in the car at 6 am and headed to Freshman Orientation.  My baby is going to college in August, God willing.  And as the parents were asked to leave and form a separate group, I spilled.  I tried to hide the tears but to no avail.  Emotions hit and I realized that change is coming, like it or not.  But God will never change and He will never leave me in this alone.

The words to this song I sing over and over: “You were reaching through the storm, walking on the water, even when I could not see” (through the “what if’s” and the “no way I can do this”).  And  “in the middle of it all” (the doubting that I can do this financially, the deep sadness of a chapter that flew by and now she is growing up) “not for a moment, did You forsake me”—and You never will!

Then we are reminded of all He is!  After all, He is constant, only good, and sovereign.  All these things He is and it doesn’t matter where we are.  He meets us there.  Even when we aren’t listening or life is busy and so loud that we cannot hear His voice, He is still a constant and He is walking right beside us. He is there—every step, every breath, every tear, every cry, every prayer… in your heart, at your worst, when your world falls down, in the dark, when it’s hard…He is there with you.  He will NEVER leave. Not for a moment will He forsake you.

If this is a trying time for you and you are feeling really alone, this song is for you today.  God wants to remind you that He is always with you and He loves you!  He knows what is going on in your life and He isn’t surprised by any of it.  Please cling to Him and these words.  Write them on a note card and place them in the most seen places.  Remember always: you are loved and you are cherished and you are never alone.

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Let us pray:  Dearest Lord, thank You for walking with us through this hard and sometimes lonely world.  You said that there would be trials and hard times; and to thank You for these times because we get to SEE Your hand in all of this.  We get to feel You carry us and witness Your miraculous ways.  Lord, we love You and we praise Your Name.  You are a Light in the darkness, You dry every tear, and You hear every prayer.  Help us to glorify You in these times and to share Your love with those who don’t know You.  Keep our eyes on You.  In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

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

I Want To Live Like That

June 24, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Sometimes I think
What will people say of me
When I’m only just a memory
When I’m home where my soul belongs
Was I love
When no one else would show up
Was I Jesus to the least of us
Was my worship more than just a song

I want to live like that
And give it all I have
So that everything I say and do
Points to You
If love is who I am
Then this is where I’ll stand
Recklessly abandoned
Never holding back
I want to live like that
I want to live like that

Am I proof
That You are who you say You are
That grace can really change our heart
Do I live like Your love is true
People pass
And even if they don’t know my name
Is there evidence that I’ve been changed
When they see me, do they see You

I want to live like that
And give it all I have
So that everything I say and do
Points to You
If love is who I am
Then this is where I’ll stand
Recklessly abandoned
Never holding back
I want to live like that
I want to live like that

I want to show the world the love You gave for me
I’m longing for the world to know the glory of the King

Singer/Songwriters: David Frey, Ben MacDonald, Ben Glover, along with the rest of the band, Sidewalk Prophets

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This is the legacy I want to leave!
Is my life proof of Who God says He is?

Let’s explore Who God says He is:

For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights.
2 Samuel 22:32-34 NIV

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor;
No good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless.
O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in You.
Psalms 84:11-12 NIV

And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God,
and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”
He was even called the friend of God.
James 2:23 NIV

Don’t you just love these verses?  They tell us that

  • it is God Who arms me with strength
  • He enables me to stand on new heights
  • He is a Sun and a Shield
  • He bestows honor and favor
  • and no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless
  • blessed is the man who trusts in Him

Because of Jesus our walk and our life can be blameless.  Now THAT is something worth celebrating!

God gave me a second chance at life after I messed it up the first time.  My heart’s desire after being born again is to do this life well and honor God in all that I do. My legacy and my life reflect that to be so.  We must be doers of the word and not hearers only.  A life lived out in the Truth is what makes the difference. Authenticity…because people are watching.  May we reflect the Father and His love to those around us.

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Heavenly Father, I thank You for the gift of redemption.  May I be love when no one else will show up!  May my worship be more than just a song!  My heart’s desire is to live like that…and give it all I have…so that everything I say and do…points to You!  In Jesus’ name AMEN!!!

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

A Love So Amazing

June 23, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjvA Love so amazing
Has come to save me
And this love changes everything
Father, You found me
Your goodness surrounds me
I’m Yours for eternity

And You will always be
The King on the throne
Now Your praise will always
Be on my tongue
No one else could do the things
That You’ve done in my life

Your ways are faithful
Your works are beautiful
Your word sets the captives free
Your hand upon me
Heals and restores me
Your grace fills my every need

And You will always be
The King on the throne
Now Your praise will always
Be on my tongue
No one else could do the things
That You’ve done in my life
There’s no greater love
That’s ever been shown
And Your song in me
Just has to be sung
No one else could do the things
That You’ve done in my life

You said, if I follow You
I’ll know the truth
And do the things You do
Yours is the kingdom and the power
Forever, Lord
You’ll always be my God

Singer / Songwriter: Paul Oakley

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No matter what comes our way, God is always true to us.  We may not understand at the moment, or until the day we stand before our Father, but we can know that He does not give us more that we can handle.  If we are honest and look back at our lives, we might just be amazed at the miracles we have lived through.

I remember the birth of my son, as I am sure most of us can our children’s births. I remember the moment I said, ‘I have to push!’ to the moment the doctor said ‘Push!’  In about two pushes, he was out. He was quiet and purple. I was afraid and so was unconcerned about what was happening to me; I cared more about what was going on with him.  The expert nurses worked on him while I was watching from my bed. They were able to get him to cry—what a beautiful sound!  His color came to him and he was truly beautiful to me.  His dad was the first to hold him and I was able to later on after I had gotten back to a room.  That first hold is when reality hit: “I am a mom, this life is my responsibility. God has gifted me this opportunity to make him a man, to grow him in God’s image, to grow to be like Jesus.”

Today, he is a wonderful young man.  People tell me of how well we (parents and stepparents) did in rearing him.  Only with the grace and goodness of God has he made it.  I had such great friends, men and women, who have poured prayers into his life and continue to do so.  I wish to be that passionate about the other children that come into our lives today through our ministry with the children of our local church. Each child that comes through the doors need to understand that the Bible is Spirit-breathed, the inspired Words of our Father.

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Father, thank You for Your Word!  Thank You for the ability to learn and show us Your love and mercy in so many ways…ways that we can not even begin to fathom.  We know in part now, then we will know in detail.  Help us seek You  with all of our heart.  Create in me the desire to reach the unreachable, to teach those whom others cast off.  Thank You, Lord, in Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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

I Place My Hope

June 22, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

The troubles of my heart
They’re tearing me apart
How I need Your saving hand
To grant me a new start
Lonely and afraid
I call upon Your name
Save me from my enemies
And cover all my shame

I will lift my eyes
From this fragile life
For You will rescue me
You are my Prince of Peace
And I lift up my soul
To You who makes things whole
Oh, mercy-love of old
In You I place my hope
I place my hope

So guide me in Your truth
Be my strong refuge
Oh, forgive my doubting heart
And lead me back to You
Help me to believe
Your love is all I need
Even when the storm is strong
You will provide for me

Even in my darkest place
There’s a promise I will claim
Those whose hope is in Your grace
They will never be ashamed

Singer/Songwriter: Ellie Holcomb (with Ben Bannister)
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This song gives me such a joyful conviction to sing out my profession of HOPE and TRUST in God’s promises. My favorite part is the bridge where Ellie Holcomb sings “…there’s a promise I will claim—those whose hope is in Your grace, they will never be ashamed.” I, too, do claim that promise!  How about you?

We have this HOPE…we do rejoice in this HOPE…we are not ashamed by this HOPE.

Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us,
for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts
through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us.
Romans 5:5 AMP

Listen to what Paul writes (in verses 1-4) leading us to this promise:

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith
into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings,
knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character,
and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame….

I trust (and pray) that these words inspire and strengthen your hearts (as they do my own)! Truly it is not in our own ability to figure it out but rather to recognize this grace and hope…and believe and trust. Our part is to ‘hold…firm’ and to “stand” and to “grasp and hold fast.” Jesus did the hard part! And God has made His promise and oath!

So when trials come (and we know they do!), and we are suffering (as does happen at times), we only need to grab hold of the sure and steadfast anchor of our soul—our HOPE.

For me, memorizing Scripture is the only sure and reliable way to hold these truths from the Bible in my mind.  ‘Cause I can’t always sit down at the computer, and log into some Bible software, and pull up a verse or two!  Or I don’t always have my Scripture memory book or memorization cards right at my fingertips. But (for better or worse!) I do always have my mind with me…and can reach into this treasure of memorized Scripture passages to be encouraged and made strong.  Here are some additional verses you might memorize (or write down on little cards to carry along with you!).

Sustain me according to Your word, that I may live; and do not let me be ashamed of my hope.
Psalm 119:116

For we share in Christ, if only we hold our first confidence firm to the end,
Hebrews 3:14 RSV

This was so that, by two unchangeable things [His promise and His oath] in which it is impossible for God ever to prove false or deceive us, we who have fled [to Him] for refuge might have mighty indwelling strength and strong encouragement to grasp and hold fast the hope appointed for us and set before [us].
[Now] we have this [hope] as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whoever steps out upon it—a hope] that reaches farther and enters into [the very certainty of the Presence] within the veil,
Where Jesus has entered in for us….

Hebrews 6:18-20 AMP

I encourage you, friends, to sing along with Ellie; be strong in your conviction that “...there’s a promise I will claim—those whose hope is in Your grace, they will never be ashamed.”  Praying for you (myself, too!) that we will remember that we HAVE this HOPE and that we will cling to the anchor of our soul!  God always keeps His promises!

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

I Am

June 19, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

There’s no space that His love can’t reach
There’s no place where we can’t find peace
There’s no end to amazing grace
Take me in with Your arms spread wide
Take me in like an orphan child
Never let go, never leave my side

I am holding on to You
I am holding on to You
In the middle of the storm
I am holding on, I am

Love like this, oh, my God to find
I am overwhelmed what a joy divine
Love like this sets our hearts on fire

This is my Resurrection song
This is my ‘Hallelujah Come’
This is why to You I run
There’s no space that His love can’t reach
There’s no place that we can’t find peace
There’s no end to amazing grace

Singer / Songwriter: David Crowder (with Ed Cash)

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“There’s no space that His love can’t reach….” Oh, how much God loves us…do you know how loved you are ???  This blogpost I came across states this beautifully:

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You Are ‘The Apple of My Eye, The Treasure in My Heart 

“You are not worthless; you are the apple of His eye and the work of His hands. God is saying to you, “You are the apple of my eye, the treasure in my heart.”

The Bible states, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:20-22). In the sight of God you are His treasure, and where His treasure is, there His heart is also. His heart is with you, yes, with you His treasure.

God wants you to know you are deep in the core of His heart and He is watching over you daily. His thoughts are with you. They are thoughts of good and not of evil.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  (Jeremiah 29:11, 12)

You may not know or understand it, but He wants me to reassure you that He is watching over you daily. You are the work of His hands, His own treasure. If you can put your trust in Him, you will see a transformation in your life. His hands are wide open towards you right now, He is waiting to embrace you, wanting to heal and set you free. If you are feeling alone, abandoned like there is no one to help, the Bible states that God is our Helper, He is the glory and the lifter of your head.

And the LORD shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, And save them, Because they trust in Him. Psalm 37:40)”

from Prayer for Today blog 

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There is no place we can’t find peace in the storm. In Mark 4 we find the example of Jesus calming the storm….

On that day, when evening came, Jesus said to His disciples, “Let’s go across to the other side of the lake.” So after leaving the crowd, they took Him along, just as He was, in the boat, and other boats were with Him. Now a great windstorm developed and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was nearly swamped. But He was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. They woke Him up and said to Him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are about to die?” So He got up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Be quiet! Calm down!” Then the wind stopped, and it was dead calm. And He said to them, “Why are you cowardly? Do you still not have faith?” They were overwhelmed by fear and said to one another, “Who then is this? Even the wind and sea obey Him!” (verses 35-41)

We must stand firm in our faith and keep believing. We must go by faith and not by what we see. He is faithful and, in the end, we will have the victory!

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Heavenly Father, I thank You that there is no place that Your love can’t reach…that there is no place that we can’t find peace. In the middle of the storm may we choose to hold on to You— the One who is faithful…in Jesus’ name, amen!!!

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