April 19, 2024

Just As I Am

April 19, 2015 by

Many of you have gone on Spring Break or are anticipating taking a vacation this summer.  It is a time to refresh spirit, soul, and body.  Over the next couple of weeks, our faithful bloggers will be taking a ‘spring break’ from writing so that they can come back to us refreshed and freshly anointed.
However, Girlfriends’ Coffee Hour website won’t ‘go black’!  We will be revisiting some of our favorite blogs and daily devotions which have blessed us in the past.  We pray that each of you, our faithful friends and readers, will continue to start your day meditating on the devotionals and songblogs, and be encouraged and blessed.

Let’s give each of our bloggers a big round of applause,
a hug, and the rest they so deserve.  God bless you, ladies!

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Just as I am – without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee – O Lamb of God, I come

Just as I am – and waiting not to rid my soul of one dark blot
To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot – O Lamb of God, I come

Just as I am – though toss’d about with many a conflict, many a doubt
Fightings and fears within, without – O Lamb of God, I come

Just as I am – poor, wretched, blind; sight, riches, healing of the mind
Yea, all I need, in Thee to find – O Lamb of God, I come

Just as I am – Thou wilt receive, wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve
Because Thy promise I believe – O Lamb of God, I come

Just as I am – Thy love unknown has broken every barrier down
Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone – O Lamb of God, I come

Just as I am – of that free love; the breadth, length, depth, and height to prove
Here for a season, then above – O Lamb of God, I come

Michael Neale
written by Charlotte Elliott

* ~ * ~   ♥  ~ * ~ *

May 15, 1975, in Jackson, Mississippi, at a Billy Graham Crusade, I took my Daddy’s hand and walked down flights and flights of stairs to the stage where Mr. Graham was preaching and made my public profession of faith.  The Holy spirit moved in me during this hymn—and my life was forever changed.  As I sit here, with my sweet daddy’s brown Bible open to where he wrote all about that day, I am so grateful. I have Jesus as my Savior and I will never be the same. Never underestimate the power of music, sweet friends!

“Just As I Am” was written by Charlotte Elliot.  Her life was a testimony of patience and endurance in suffering—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. She was ill in her 40’s with pain that was often debilitating.  She felt useless to God until,  one night before a bazaar to benefit a school, she began to question everything.  She started thinking that maybe God was just an illusion of emotions… that maybe that’s what spirituality is.  The next day, she felt her life questions must be met and conquered in the grace of God.  So there, she took a pen and paper and wrote for her own comfort, “the formula of her faith.”  She then had it published in “The Invalid’s Hymn Book.”

For years now, “Just As I Am” has been sung as a hymn of invitation in church gatherings all over the U.S. and beyond.  But to me it is personal—it’s my salvation—and it is where my relationship with my Lord began.  And so I wrote my own words of commitment:

~Just as I am – not having to say or do anything, You died and shed Your blood for me, and that You would have us come to You, – O Lamb of God, yes, we come!

~Just as I am – right now, rid my soul of this darkness and sin, even one. Your blood can cleanse it all – O Lamb of God, yes, we come!

~Just as I am – though I am trudging through mud and trials. I have so many conflicts and sometimes I doubt You. I choose fear over faith sometimes – but You call and I come!

~Just as I am – poor, wretched, blind. Yet You give sight, riches, blessings, and healing, both physically and spiritually and emotionally. Yet, all I need is You, in You I find complete healing, when I seek You, I find You – O Jesus, I come!

~Just as I am – right where I am, You accept me, You receive me with open arms. I am welcomed, pardoned, cleansed and relieved!!! Because all Your promises are true and You always come through – O Lamb of God, I come!

~Just as I am – Your love unknown has broken down every barrier, every one! Now to be Yours, yes Yours alone – O God, I come!

~Just as I am – Your love is free. It stretches to the Heavens and there is no end to it, here for a season, then above – O Lamb of God, I come!!!

We come, on our knees, to Him and He receive us with open arms, always!  Where are you today? God knows and He cares;  and He loves you so much!  Run to Him and rest.  He is waiting.

* ~ * ~ ♥  ~ * ~ *

Let us pray:  Dear God, this hymn in itself is our prayer.  Just as we are, without one plea, we thank You for shedding Your blood for us, so that we are free to live with You forever.  Thank You for breaking down the barriers for us. Thank You for Your endless love that is freely given.  You forgive and forgive again; and You accept each of just as we are.  Lamb of God, we come.   In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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

CHRISTLife — TwentyEight: Empowered

February 19, 2014 by

cl empoweredMost times it’s through weakness that we experience God’s strength. He uses our weaknesses and the areas that we feel less strong to open a divine door. Without weakness we would rarely experience His strength. My mind goes back to Gideon and his army of 300, yet he was equipped to do exactly as God intended and defeat an army that worshipped idols.  He started out with 3000 men, and God reduced the army to 300.  Another example of less is more is the feeding of the masses with just loaves and fishes.  Doesn’t our God just have a way?  When we trust Him with our life, can’t He equip us and empower us for exactly what He has for us to do?   You already have access to the strength the Spirit gives, simply because He lives in you!

He has called you for supernatural acts, my friend, which require supernatural equipping.  We must be charged up in order to do the will of God.  Like your cell phone, it will do you no good if it is not charged.  Same with us as believers, if we do not stay connected to His Word, and in tune with His Spirit, how will we know what  God has in mind for us?  He speaks to us through His Words in the Bible. And at the end of this chapter, there are a few verses that were recommended for deeper study and I thought we could go through them together…

Your right hand, O Lord, is majestic in power; Your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy.
Exodus 15:6

God saved the Israelites by parting the Red Sea.  It is an almighty symbol of God’s saving work on behalf of His people.  This event is a reminder of the salvation of our God.  How do you remind yourself of His great saving work in your life? What “red sea” do you need Him to part in your life today?

I love You Lord, You are my strength.
Psalm 46:1

This was written toward the end of David’s life when there was peace.  God is praised for His works and blessings thoughout the years.  What blessings has He done in your life, and have you praised Him for it?  What if are you struggling with right now?  Even if… He is worthy to be praised.  What is your “if?”  Even if the world around you is crumbling, we don’t need to fear.  In the face of utter destruction, the writer expressed a quiet confidence in God’s ability to save him. No matter what, God is our refuge.  Even if there’s turmoil and trials, He’s not just a retreat—He is our Eternal Refuge and strength in every circumstance.  He is always providing, always there to help.  His power is complete and He gives us victory over all!  He will never fail you, He will always rescue you.

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid.
The Lord, the Lord Himself is my Strength and my Defense; He has become my Salvation.
Isaiah 12:2

God is never too tired or too busy to help and listen to His children.  His strength is ours and—if we stay close and engaged in His Word—we will always have His strength at our disposal. All you have to do is say His name and seas calm, problems fade, and you are restored.  Even if a whisper is all you can muster, Yahweh is listening and ready to intervene.

Friends, you may feel like you don’t have what it takes to do battle for God, but He sees it differently.  He sees you as equipped, empowered, full of strength and ready for any task laid before you.  1 Corinthians 1:27 says,”But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.”  If this is you, you are exactly where God wants you. You are in a position to listen and accept what He has for your life and you are humble enough to know that you cannot do anything on your own.  For He has promised that when we are weakest,  He is strongest.  And when we are at our lowest, His strength carries us.  It is such a precious time of communion that we don’t ever want to forget and we will always cherish such times.  I encourage you to journal and keep a list of when you and God are more in union and you couldn’t make it another minute without His strength.  Then you have a battle plan to share with others and a faith that can move mountains!

Let us pray: Dearest Lord, thank You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit in me.  Help me to never get in the way of Your perfect plan.  I pray for a fresh filling every morning, oh God.  I thank You for Your power in me, for Your patience in my weakness and for Your strength when I need it most.  Lord, keep me humble. Keep me teachable and positioned to hear You only.  Silence the voices of the world that can be so loud and can drown You out sometimes.  Help me to remember that the only way to hear You is to be still and listen and to read Your word and pray. Thank You for parting our “Red Seas” and for taking care of our “if’s.”  Forgive us when we forget that You are enough.  We love You and praise You and sit at Your feet.  Precious Lord, thank You for hearing us. It’s in Jesus name we pray, amen.

 

Filed Under: CHRISTLife Bible Study Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Just as I Am

January 17, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

~  Listen while you read, please!  ~

Just as I am – without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee – O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am – and waiting not to rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot – O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am – though toss’d about with many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without – O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am – poor, wretched, blind; sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need, in Thee to find – O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am – Thou wilt receive, wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe – O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am – Thy love unknown has broken every barrier down;
Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone – O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am – of that free love; the breadth, length, depth, and height to prove,
Here for a season, then above – O Lamb of God, I come!

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

May 15, 1975, in Jackson, Mississippi, at a Billy Graham Crusade, I took my daddy’s hand and walked down flights and flights of stairs to the stage where Mr. Graham was preaching and made my public profession of faith.  The Holy spirit moved in me during this hymn—and my life was forever changed.  As I sit here, with my sweet daddy’s brown Bible open to where he wrote all about that day, I am so grateful. I have Jesus as my Savior and I will never be the same. Never underestimate the power of music, sweet friends!

“Just As I Am” was written by Charlotte Elliot.  Her life was a testimony of patience and endurance in suffering—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. She was ill in her 40’s with pain that was often debilitating.  She felt useless to God until,  one night before a bazaar to benefit a school, she began to question everything.  She started thinking that maybe God was just an illusion of emotions… that maybe that’s what spirituality is.  The next day, she felt her life questions must be met and conquered in the grace of God.  So there, she took a pen and paper and wrote for her own comfort, “the formula of her faith.”  She then had it published in “The Invalid’s Hymn Book.”

For years now, “Just As I Am” has been sung as a hymn of invitation in church gatherings all over the U.S. and beyond.  But to me it is personal—it’s my salvation— and it is where my relationship with my Lord began.  And so I wrote my own words of commitment:

~Just as I am – not having to say or do anything, You died and shed Your blood for me, and that You would have us come to You, – O Lamb of God, yes, we come!

~Just as I am – right now, rid my soul of this darkness and sin, even one. Your blood can cleanse it all – O Lamb of God, yes, we come!

~Just as I am – though I am trudging through mud and trials. I have so many conflicts and sometimes I doubt You. I choose fear over faith sometimes – but You call and I come!

~Just as I am – poor, wretched, blind. Yet You give sight, riches, blessings, and healing, both physically and spiritually and emotionally. Yet, all I need is You, in You I find complete healing, when I seek You, I find You – O Jesus, I come!

~Just as I am – right where I am, You accept me, You receive me with open arms. I am welcomed, pardoned, cleansed and relieved!!! Because all Your promises are true and You always come through – O Lamb of God, I come!

~Just as I am – Your love unknown has broken down every barrier, every one! Now to be Yours, yes Yours alone – O God, I come!

~Just as I am – Your love is free. It stretches to the Heavens and there is no end to it, here for a season, then above – O Lamb of God, I come!!!

We come, on our knees, to Him and He receive us with open arms, always!  Where are you today? God knows and He cares;  and He loves you so much!  Run to Him and rest.  He is waiting.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

Let us pray:  Dear God, this hymn in itself is our prayer. Just as we are, without one plea, we thank You for shedding Your blood for us, so that we are free to live with You forever. Thank You for breaking down the barriers for us. Thank You for Your endless love that is freely given. You forgive and forgive again; and You accept each of just as we are. O Lamb of God, we come.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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