March 15, 2026

Justice, Mercy, and Grace

October 21, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and rich in faithful love.
He will not always accuse us or be angry forever.
He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve or repaid us according to our offenses.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His faithful love toward those who fear Him.
As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.
For He knows what we are made of, remembering that we are dust.
Psalm 103:8-14 HCSB

“Justice is getting what you deserve.
Mercy is NOT getting what you deserve.
Grace is getting what you DON’T deserve”
– Chuck Smith

As I read this passage I was struck by God’s mercy and grace.  Using Chuck Smith’s quote I divided the verses into two categories…Mercy and Grace.

Mercy – withheld punishment
*slow to anger – verse 8
*He will not always accuse us or be angry forever – verse 9
*He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve or repaid us according to our offenses – verse 10

Grace – unmerited favor
*The Lord is compassionate and gracious, and rich in faithful love – verse 8
*For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His faithful love toward those who fear Him – verse 11
*As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us – verse 12
As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him – verse 13

These are the characteristics of God.  As I continued to study this passage a thought kept re-ocurring:  “This is how God deals with me. Is this how I deal with others?”  OUCH!  Here is what I mean:

“Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus,” Romans 8:1 (HCSB)…yet, how often are we so quick to condemn others sins? (and often ignore our own.)

“I, even I, am He Who blots out and cancels your transgressions, for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” Isaiah 43:25 (AMP)…yet, how long do we nurse our hurts, our anger or hold a grudge?

“And they will go to others and say, ‘I have sinned, I have perverted what is right, but I did not get what I deserved.” Job 33:27 (NIV)…yet, how often do we seek retaliation or revenge when we have been wounded?

Now look at these verses:

Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you?
Does this mean nothing to you?
Romans 2:4 NLT

But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me
as a prime example of His great patience with even the worst sinners.
I Timothy1:16a NLT

So I have to ask myself some hard questions—

  • Do I exhibit the patience and grace God has shown me?
  • Do I offer compassion and love to those around me.
  • Am I forgiving and merciful?

I wish I could answer a resounding YES to these questions. I can not—not in every case. But I can praise God for these qualities I see in Him. I can seek His help as I strive to demonstrate such qualities in my own life. It is the very least I can do, considering all He has done for me.

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Lord, I humbly come before You today, thanking You for being so patient with me. Your mercy and grace are beyond limits. Aid me in reflecting Your character to those around me. Remind me when I am tempted to fall back on my human emotions of all You have done for me. May my life bring honor and glory to You. In Your precious name I ask this, AMEN – It Is So!

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Lift Me Up

October 21, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Waiting for the sunrise
Waiting for the day
Waiting for a sign
That I’m where You want me to be

You know my heart is heavy
And the hurt is deep
But when I feel like giving up
You’re reminding me
That we all fall down sometimes
But when I hit the ground

You lift me up when I am weak
Your arms wrap around me
Your love catches me so I’m letting go
You lift me up when I can’t see
Your heart is all that I need
Your love carries me so I’m letting go

You lift me up with Your love
You lift me up with Your love
You lift me up with Your love
You lift me up

I know I’m not perfect
I know I make mistakes
I know that I have let You down
But You love me the same

And when I’m surrounded
When I lose my way
When I’m crying out and falling down
You are here to

I can see the dawn is breaking
I am feeling overtaken with Your love
With Your love
I don’t know what I can offer
In this moment I surrender to Your love
To Your love

You lift me up with Your love
You lift me up with Your love
You lift me up with Your love
You lift me up

Songwriters: Fuqua, Havens, Jordan Mohilowski, Dan Ostebo

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~   ♥   ~   *

When Paul was writing to the Corinthians he boasted of his weakness (see 2 Corinthians 12:6-10.) He boasted of being able to endure the pain God felt was necessary to keep Paul humble and ready to serve. Paul did endure many hardships in order to do what God had called him to do. Paul endured beatings, shipwrecks, near starvation, severe thirst, and abandonment from friends. All of this to make sure everyone who would listen,  could receive, and become a servant of God. Paul wanted others to know about God, to love God, and to have the passion Paul was given to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to all of the nations, to all  people.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~   ♥   ~   *

Lord, thank You for lifting us up. Thank You for being there for us and for not always answering our requests the way we want. Please give us wisdom to know when we need to stop and listen, and when we need to step out in faith to do Your will.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

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

Some of my Favorite Things…and Cheesecake

October 20, 2014 by

So it was suggested to me to post a recipe today that is one of my very own favorites…since it is my very own birthday!  Woo-hoo…59 ! So I began to think about some of my favorite things…here are  ♪♬♪ a few of my favorite things! ♪♬♪

anything lemon-y
cheese
thai food
butternut squash (prepared just about ANY way!)
a really good mixed greens and veggie salad

But none of these yummy, delicious things are truly enjoyable to me without being able to share them with others. My FAVORITE things include being able to share a meal and God’s blessings with family and friends around our big old oak table!


2013-10-20 17.41.15

As far as a recipe for one of my favorites…well, I wasn’t quite sure and then decided to post my daughter’s Cheesecake Recipe (with her permission, of couse!). This was our indulgence for my birthday cake this year! This recipe is gluten free and refined sugar free; and prepares a huge cheesecake…enough for many slices! Enjoy!

 

2014-10-19 19.42.00

Cheesecake ala Kassia

crust
ingredients:
1 cup gf graham cracker crumbs (or traditional)
1/2 cup ground pecans
3 tablespoons softened butter

directions:

  • preheat oven to 400
  • butter sides and bottom of springform pan
  • mix ingredients together
  • pour mixture into springform pan and press firmly onto bottom of pan and up sides approximately 1+1/2″
  • bake for 10 minutes; remove from oven
  • set aside to cool
  • lower oven temp to 325

filling
ingredients:
4 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese or neufchatel (or combination)
1/2 cup coconut sugar
1/2 cup agave nectar (or honey)
16 drops vanilla creme stevia
4 eggs, room temperature
1 cup plain 2% Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons cornstarch
3/4 cup half&half
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon lemon juice

directions:

  • (set eggs out when starting to make the crust)
  • adjust racks in oven so that one is in the high middle position (not the top position) and one is in the highest low position (#2 and #4 of 5)
  • put a roasting pan on the lower rack and add approximately 1″ water
  • beat cream cheese ‘til light and fluffy
  • gradually beat in sugar ‘til fully incorporated
  • add agave (or honey) and liquid stevia
  • add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition ‘til egg is fully incorporated
  • add cornstarch and beat ‘til smooth
  • add lemon juice and vanilla; beat ‘til fully incorporated
  • add yogurt and half½ beat just ‘til combined
  • carefully pour the filling mixture into the cooled crust
  • place filled springform pan into 325 oven; bake for 70-75 minutes ‘til very center of baked cheesecake is just a tiny bit jiggly when pan is gently wiggled
  • leave cheesecake in oven! turn oven off and leave door slightly ajar for two hours
  • it is best to refrigerate cheesecake for 24-48 hours before serving

topping
can be topped with {your choice} homemade whipped cream, canned pie filling, a drizzle of chocolate sauce, fresh fruit, caramel sauce, etc.

(I would love to hear what your favorite cheesecake topping is!)

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

God loves you!  ♥  (Don’t ever forget that!)

♥  coleen

Filed Under: At Home w/ GCH Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Cornerstone

October 20, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus’ name

Christ alone; Cornerstone
Weak made strong; in the Saviour’s love
Through the storm, He is Lord
Lord of all

When darkness seems to hide His face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil
My anchor holds within the veil

When He shall come with trumpet sound
Oh, may I then in Him be found
Dressed in His righteousness alone
Faultless stand before the throne

Singer/Songwriter: Reuben Morgan along with Hillsong United

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~   ♥   ~   *

Ever have God drop just a part of a song into your thoughts…and it keeps echoing through your mind repeatedly?  That’s what happened to me with this song.  As I was praying one morning “ ♪♬♪ Christ alone, cornerstone ♪♬♪ ” popped into my mind and hasn’t left yet.  (I figure there is a point God wants me to understand here.)

I found several definitions of ‘cornerstone’:

  • at the tip of the angle
  • capstone that holds the whole structure together
  • the most important stone in the structure
  • the one on which the structure’s stability depends

I also found the following Scriptures:

Therefore thus says the Lord God,
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed [shaken, ashamed]
Isaiah 28:16 NASB

…with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.
Ephesians 2:20b HCSB

Look!  I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and honored cornerstone, and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame!
1 Peter 2:6 HCSB

As I was researching this song, I found this quote by Ben Fielding of Hillsong United:

“Jesus is the cornerstone…He is the centerpiece of our hope and compass for all our endeavors. Jesus is the firmest of foundations. Jesus is the reference point for all we have and all that we are. He is the One who holds all things together.”

Jesus laid the foundation with His very life.  He is what holds us together.  He is the one on which our stability depends.  I knew that Jesus was the cornerstone of my salvation but I had never thought of it in this way.  Not only is He the cornerstone of my salvation but Jesus is also the cornerstone of my relationship, the foundation of my life.  So what does that look like?

1 Samuel 15:22a tells us “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice”.  And in Mark 12:30-31 (NLT) Jesus shows us what is most important:

“And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart,
all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.
The second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself.
No other commandment is greater than these.”

With Jesus as our cornerstone, our lives should be a reflection of Him.  Our greatest challenge is to bring our lives under obedience to God and love as Jesus loved.  Being submissive to Him is a choice we make; our obedience brings glory to God and shines His light of love on those around us.  We may occasionally fail but, when we trust solely in Jesus’ name, we are met by God’s unchanging grace.  Though we are weak, Christ’s love is our strength.

“Christ alone, cornerstone…for He is Lord of all.”

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~   ♥   ~   *

Father God, thank You so much for giving us Jesus as our cornerstone.  Thank You for the stability He brings to our lives, and the strength we find in His love.  Help us be a reflection of Him in our daily lives.  Thank You for Your unchanging grace when we fail.  We love You.  Amen – It Is SO!

 

 

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

Seventy Times Seven

October 19, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

The LORD is compassionate and merciful,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
He will not constantly accuse us,
nor remain angry forever.
He does not punish us for all our sins;
He does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
For He knows how weak we are;
He remembers we are only dust.
Psalm 103:8-14 NLT

Forgiveness is a big deal in the Christian faith.  We are saved because God loves us so much that He forgives us of our sins.

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
Yet God freely and graciously declares that we are righteous.
He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.
Romans 3:23-24

Nothing more, nothing less.  We can easily forget that we are freely forgiven our sins— especially, in comparison to forgiving others.  Forgiveness gives you more healing than it does the offender, and it hurts you more than the offender when you don’t forgive.  However, the point I want to focus on is that God freely forgives us, so we should freely forgive others.

I’d like to point out that God didn’t forgive a few sins, or some sins, but all our sins.

You were dead because of your sins because your sinful nature was not yet cut away.
Then God made you alive with Christ, for He forgave all our sins.
He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the Cross.
Colossians 2:13-14

We all have had something done to us that could warrant unforgiveness.  But if God Almighty, the Creator betrayed by His creations, can forgive all of mankind…then we can forgive our fellow man as well.

Jesus explains to us how we should forgive in the parable of the unforgiving debtor.  To summarize this parable found in Matthew 18:21-35:

Peter asked Jesus how many times he was to forgive someone who sins against him and Jesus told him ‘seventy times seven’.  And then proceeds to tell him about a king who decided to collect on some debt from his servants: one debtor owed him millions of dollars and couldn’t pay, so the king ordered that him and all he owned be taken away to settle the debt.  The debtor begged the king for forgiveness and was granted mercy. However, when the man left he went to collect a debt from someone who owed him thousands of dollars and when this debtor asked him for forgiveness the forgiven man did not extend forgiveness like he had been given.  The king was informed of this and the man he had previously forgiven was thrown into prison.

I’ve heard it said that you can give away what you yourself have received because you should understand the situation a little more personally.  Jesus didn’t say that certain things weren’t to be forgiven.  He said, “Seventy times seven.”  So… just forgive.

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

Lord, help me to be as forgiving as You are.  Sometimes it is extremely hard to want to forgive others; but with Your help, guidance, and strength—anything is possible.  Lord, show me who or what You would like me to forgive today so that I may move forward and be freed from unforgiveness.  In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today Is Beautiful

October 19, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Sometimes the day won’t ever end
Sometimes you just throw up your hands
It’s the little things sometimes

Sometimes the world has just gone dark
Sometimes your praying for a spark
It’s the little things sometimes

But if you lift your eyes
See it in a different light
Just a cloud up in the open sky
Let the rain fall away
‘Cause today is beautiful

Right now it feels so hard to breathe
Right now you’re asking God why me
It’s what you can see right now

Cause right now there’s a greater truth
Right now there’s a bigger view
Than what you can see right now

If you see more than what’s in front of you
You might see more of heavens view
If you see more than what’s in front of you
You might see more of heavens view

Singer/Songwriter David Dunn (written with Sam Tinnesz, Blake Bollinger)

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~   ♥   ~   *

It’s all about perspective.  When you’re standing too close to a painting or a picture, you miss out on the whole picture.  You can only see a small piece of the painting. That’s how it is with life.  When we are standing in the midst of our story, and the rain is falling and storms are raging, all we can see is the water in our eyes.  But if we step back under a walkway, out of the rain, we can see sometimes what had to be.  Oh, there will be things we will not understand on this side of Heaven.  But one day, our eyes will be open and we will see the view from Heaven.

Your life is beautiful because He made it.  Sometimes we are so focused on what we are going through…maybe our heads are down because we don’t have the strength to look up.  All we have to do is ask and God will deliver.  All we have to do is look up—and see there is light, there is joy, and there is hope.  At the end of that day that you thought would never end, there is a promise that joy will come in the morning.  At the end of the rain, sometimes you can even see a rainbow.  If you look hard enough, you will see that there is beauty all around us.

Our Creator made sure that we would be surrounded by His goodness.  His artwork fills the earth.  The sun is shining and the stars are singing His praises.  The ocean knows where to stop and the fish of the sea have their own song of praise.  The Bible says that even the rocks will cry out in praise.  Luke 19:40 says, “I tell you,” He replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”  And we, as His chosen people, have the ability to sing His praises in the middle of whatever it is that we are going through. Just close your eyes, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you see this life in His light.

Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars?
He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name.
Because of His great power and incompatible strength, not a single one is missing.
Isaiah 40:26

And because of His strength, you will be empowered to keep on!

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~   ♥   ~   *

Let us pray:  Dear Lord, You are amazing.  You are the Creator of this amazing place, and You are Holy.  You made the stars and the moon and the sun all for our enjoyment, and we are so grateful.  Thank You that we can see things so differently when our eyes are on You.  That life is just a little brighter when we look up to the heavens for our help.  This world can be so hard, but You went before us to prepare the way.  Thank You for the rain.  For when the sun comes out, we are so grateful.  We love You.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

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

Every Promise Of Your Word

October 18, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

Remember Your promise to me;
    it is my only hope.
Your promise revives me….

Psalm 119:49 and 50

 Stuart Townend along with Keith Getty

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

From the breaking of the dawn to the setting of the sun
I will stand on every promise of Your Word
Words of power strong to save that will never pass away
I will stand on every promise of Your word

For Your covenant is sure
And on this I am secure
I can stand on ev’ry promise of Your word

When I stumble and I sin condemnation pressing in
I will stand on ev’ry promise of Your word
You are faithful to forgive that in freedom I might live
So I stand on ev’ry promise of Your Word

Guilt to innocence restored
You remember sins no more
So I’ll stand on ev’ry promise of Your word

When I’m faced with anguished choice, I will listen for Your voice
And I’ll stand on every promise of Your word

Through this dark and troubled land
You will guide me with Your hand
As I stand on ev’ry promise of Your word

And You’ve promised to complete
Ev’ry work begun in me
So I’ll stand on ev’ry promise of Your word

Hope that lifts me from despair, love that casts out ev’ry fear
As I stand on every promise of Your word

Not forsaken not alone for the Comforter has come
And I stand on ev’ry promise of Your word
Grace sufficient,grace for me
Grace for all who will believe
We will stand on ev’ry promise of Your word

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Barley Shiitake Risotto

October 17, 2014 by

Barley Shiitake Risotto resize

Sometimes I have to peek in my pantry and decide, “Enough is enough!”  Time to use up those odds and ends of things.  I had about a cup of barley left in a bag, so I went in search of a recipe for it.  I found one, made some tweaks, and now I present to you:  Barley Shiitake Risotto!

Barley has a fantastic texture:  firmer than rice, closer to a chewy and delicious wheat berry.  It is wonderful in stews and soups, but it is strong enough to be a star on its own.  This recipe calls for dried mushrooms.  You can use any kind of dried mushroom.  I buy dried shiitake mushrooms at the Korean market, and they’re much cheaper there than what you’ll pay for dried mushrooms at a regular grocery store.  For the broth, I made bone broth…but you can use any kind—chicken, beef, or even vegetable broth, that you like.  The original recipe called for grated parmesan, which I didn’t have.  I used a very hard white cheddar.  You can use any hard cheese you like – if you can grate it, you can use it here!

This is not a forget-it-type recipe.  You do need to stir it every few minutes to get the right texture.  Just start this on the stove while you’re making a salad or prepping the rest of your dinner and it will all work out…I promise!

Barley Shiitake Risotto

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup dried shiitake mushrooms (or other dried mushroom)
  • 1 cup white wine
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 small onion
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 cup barley
  • 4-5 cups broth
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/4 cup grated hard cheese (parmesan, very firm white cheddar, or other cheese)

Directions:

  1. Put the dried shiitake mushrooms in a bowl.  Pour over the white wine.  Put another bowl on top of the mushrooms so that they remain submerged in the wine and microwave for 30-60 seconds.  Let the mushrooms rehydrate while you work on step 2.
  2. Mince the onion fine.  In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, heat the olive oil, and add the onion.  Stir over medium heat.  You want the onions to turn golden.  Meanwhile, in a smaller pot, heat the broth to a simmer.  Keep it simmering over low heat.
  3. Mince the garlic, and add garlic and barley to the pan with the onions.  Stir to combine, cooking for 3 minutes.
  4. Squeeze the mushrooms over the bowl and chop.  Add the mushrooms and the wine from the bowl to the barley.
  5. When the wine is almost all absorbed, add a ladle-full of broth.  Stir to combine.  Repeat this process, adding more broth every five minutes or so, when the last addition of broth is nearly absorbed.  You don’t want the pan to get dry, but you don’t want to make soup either.  This should take about 30 minutes for all of the broth to be added, stirred, and absorbed.
  6. After all the broth is added, taste a bit of the barley.  It should be firm and chewy.  If it’s still dry and not al dente, add more stock or water.
  7. When barley is done—chewy and al dente—season with salt and pepper.  Stir in grated cheese and serve hot. (Garnish with extra cheese and take a photo – optional.)

Explore, experiment, enjoy! — Dana

To view even more of Dana’s unique recipe, you can visit her at Frugal Girlmet!

Filed Under: At Home w/ GCH Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

God Always Keeps His Promise

October 17, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

Remember Your word to Your servant,
for You have given me hope.
My comfort in my suffering is this:
Your promise preserves my life.
Psalms 119:49-50

Throughout the Scriptures, there are many, many records of God fulfilling His promise to His people.  Whether it be to an individual, or a group of people, or all mankind—God always keeps His promise.  I am so thankful to have these stories recorded in the Scriptures because they encourage and comfort us.  At any time, we can sit down with a bible and open up to one of numerous accounts.  One that I am always reminded of when thinking of God’s promises fulfilled is the record of Abraham and Isaac climbing Mount Moriah…remember? (Click here to read the entire record.)

As he walked toward Moriah with Isaac, Abraham must have felt conflicted…and heartbroken beyond words….  Can you imagine?  How could God ask him to sacrifice this miracle child He had blessed him and Sarai with!  No doubt, he did not understand all that God was doing.  He didn’t know he was illustrating for God’s people for all time what faith and trust looked like.

Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did
when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions
were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God,
and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.
James 2:21–23

He didn’t know this provision for the sacrifice would foreshadow the sacrifice of God’s only Son —a Son who would not be spared because He was the provided Lamb.

The next day John saw Jesus coming to him and said,
Look! There is the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world!
John 1:29

He only knew that God had promised and that He surely knew what He was doing. He stood on his faith and belief that God could be trusted to keep His promise—even if it appeared like the promise was going to die. And God proved himself faithful to Abraham.

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac,
and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son;
He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead,
from which he also received him back as a type.
Hebrews 11:17, 19

Jehovah – Jireh, our faithful Father, proves Himself faithful to us constantly. Even if it doesn’t look like it right now, God will bring His promise to pass. We have hope through His Word. Trust Him.

What particular promise has God has made to which you can confess,

“Remember Your word to Your servant,
for You have given me hope.
My comfort in my suffering is this:
Your promise preserves my life.”

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Holding Nothing Back

October 17, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

I am chosen, I am free
I am living for eternity
Free now forever

You picked me up, turned me around
You set my feet on solid ground
Yours now forever

And nothing’s gonna hold me back
Nothing’s gonna hold me back
Nothing’s gonna hold me back

My chains fell off
My heart was free
I’m alive to live for You
I’m alive to live for You
Amazing Love, how can it be?
You give everything for me
You give everything for me
Everything

You washed my sin and shame away
The slate is clean: a brand new day,
Free now forever

Now boldly I approach Your throne
To claim this crown through Christ my own
Yours now forever

Free to live
Free to give
Free to be
I’m free to love You

 Jesus Culture / written by Martin Smith and Tim Hughes

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

It’s amazing how, when life gets out of control and things get cloudy, how quickly we can forget that we are free from the chains of bondage. We are free to just be…. We are alive to live for Him. Let us not forget that God is the one that picked us up and placed us on solid ground. If we choose to be there….

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire;
He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
Psalm 40:2

Are we solid in Him? Or do our circumstances sway us to and fro?

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting,
for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
James 1:6 NIV

When you are going through difficulty it is easy to get caught up with all that is going on around you and get lost in the vortex of despair. That is when we need to dig deep and get our focus back on God.  He is the only one that can give us the strength to cling to the Rock…

“Christ is the ROCK and if we build our house, or our lives, on Him, we will not have to fear the storms of life which may come our way. For He is there to always help us in the time of need. The book of John, chapter 16 and verse 33 says: In the world you shall have trouble: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. We are in the world and because we live in the world, situations and troubles will come from time to time. But through building your life in Jesus, we, through Him can overcome our problems. In the book of Psalms chapter 94 and verse 22, it says “But the Lord is my defense; and my God is the ROCK of my refuge.” Isn’t it a wonderful feeling to know we have someone to turn to that loves us more than we’ll ever know, and has all the power of the universe to help us out of our troubles! It’s certainly helped my life go better the last 22 years. I cannot even imagine living on the sand! What a scary thought!”

Excerpted from Jesus Is the Rock  (click here to read article.)

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

Heavenly Father, thank You that we are FREE in You. May we hold nothing back and forget the things of this world and solely place our focus on You. In Jesus’ Name…AMEN!!!

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