March 11, 2026

Heart Like You

June 28, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjvBurn bright in my life
Burn away the things I hold tight
Give me eyes to see Your Kingdom
The way You want it to be

What can be worth more than You
What do I have I wouldn’t lose
If it means You and I
Look more alike
That’s what I chose

I’d give up the world to find my soul
Pour out my life, give You control
I just want to be what You want me to be
I just want a heart that’s true
A heart like You
I just want a heart like You

As Your waves take shape
All my guilt and shame
Start to fade
And Your love takes their place
I become a well of Your grace, Your grace

I don’t mind the price it costs
I will count all I have as lost
When this fades away, what’s true remains
What can be worth more than You
What do I have I wouldn’t lose

I just want a heart like You
I just want a heart like You

Love And The Outcome
written by: Jodi King, Chris Rademaker, Seth Jones

Then Jesus said to His disciples,
“If any of you wants to be My follower,
you must turn from your selfish ways,
take up your cross, and follow Me.
If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it.
But if you give up your life for My sake, you will save it.
‭Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭24-25‬ NLT

There is nothing on this earth worth holding onto if it gets in the way of your relationship with God.  Jesus said that we are to leave it all and follow Him just as He commanded the disciples.  Is there something you’re holding onto today?

I remember hearing that whatever we put before Jesus will eventually make us torn.  God created us with an insatiable desire to have Him first in our life and though we may try lots of things, God is our ultimate Stronghold and He is for you.  He wants you to succeed in life; to spread His name to all who will listen and show people that it was worth it when you gave it all for Him.

One day we will see Him face to face and all this will pass away and we will be able to say…it was worth it all.  We will see that God has taken all our guilt and shame away and in its place will be a crown of glory!  Are you ready?

Let us pray: Dear God, You are amazing!  You are the beginning and the end!  You never change!  Oh God, nothing on this earth compares to You.  You are our true Stronghold and our Safety forever.  Thank You for the grace that You so freely give when we place things before You.  Help us to always put You first.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

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

Salmon Cakes

June 26, 2015 by

Salmon Cakes

Not as fancy as crab cakes, but higher up the gourmet rankings than a tuna melt, these Salmon Cakes make a quick, protein-filled lunch that can be dressed up or down, depending on your mood.

Dressing up?  Stack them with a poached egg and hollandaise sauce, along with a side of steamed or grilled asparagus.  Going casual?  Serve the salmon cakes in a salad with a vinaigrette and some goat cheese, or with a fried egg and a side of roasted vegetables.  These would go great with tartar sauce or remoulade.  Any way you plate these up, you’ll love these savory salmon cakes!

Salmon Cakes

Ingredients:

  • 1 (14.75 ounce) can of boneless salmon
  • 2 teaspoons mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon celery salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried dill
  • 1/2 cup chopped roasted bell peppers and onions (or 1/2 cup diced bell pepper and 1/2 cup diced onion, cooked in olive oil until soft)
  • 10 large crackers (use saltines, Ritz, or whatever plain cracker you have around)
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions:

  1. Combine the salmon, mayo, mustard, celery salt, dill, peppers, and onions in a large bowl.  Crumble the crackers into crumbs and mix into  the salmon.
  2. Using a bowl or a cup (I used a half-cup measuring cup), pack the salmon mixture into 4 ounce portions.  Remove the salmon cakes from the cup and place them all on a plate.  Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  3. In a large frying pan, heat the butter and oil together.  Cook the salmon cakes for about 8-10 minutes on one side over medium heat, until they have a nice golden crust.  Flip them carefully, and cook again for about 8 minutes.  Remove and serve warm.

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: , , , , , , , ,

A Beautiful Jar of Clay

June 26, 2015 by

encouragementbloggraphicromans15

We now have this light shining in our hearts,
but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars
containing this great treasure.
This makes it clear that our great power
is from God, not from ourselves.
We are pressed on every side by troubles,
but we are not crushed.
We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.
We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God.
We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.
Through suffering, our bodies continue
to share in the death of Jesus
so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.
2 Corinthians 4:7-11 NLT

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

There is so much brokenness in this world.  Look at the headlines every day…Christians are being tortured daily; children are being taken from their mothers; there is hunger and poverty…and the list goes on.  I’m sure if you went anywhere today, you passed a wife that cries every night because her husband is leaving or a father who is working so hard yet not being able to provide.  I know hard…and I know the One Who mends the hearts of all these people.  It is Jesus.

I went through a really trying time when my kids were younger.  It was a time that sometimes I wish I didn’t have to remember.  The memories sometimes are too much and I find myself wanting to erase them all.  But as messy as I see it, God sees it as a ministry that will give others hope and faith.  If I made it through and found joy and peace and restoration on the other side, then so can you.

Read the verses above; a jar that has cracks and holes can allow light to enter in those places.  And, as His children, we are never crushed!  We will always be able to withstand because we have Him to hold us together.  If your story is not the one you would have written for yourself, then thank Him for it anyway.  Our God is good and all He gives is good.  Your story may save someone else one day.  And God says if one person meets Jesus because of your story, then it was all worth it.  It may mean the difference between life and death for that person.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Now, more than ever, we need Him.  And reading and studying His Word will help you know Him more and know His true character.  I just want you to know that all hope is found in Jesus!  Do you know Him?  Are you tired of running and hurting?  He wants to save you!  I ask you to pray this prayer with me:

Dear God, I know that I am a sinner and I need a Savior.  I believe that Jesus is Your Son and that He died for my sins—all of them.  I want You to be Lord of my life.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

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

This Week…Romans 5:1-2

June 26, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through Whom we have gained access by faith
into this grace in which we now stand.
And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.
Romans 5:1-2

This week, here on the Seeking Him devotional blog, we are continuing a mini-series on the subject of HOPE.  Our devotional writers have shared the Truth given us in this week’s passage reminding us that ‘we boast in the hope of the glory of God’!  Here are a few of their thoughts….

In Spiritual Hope (2), Ann reminds us to trust, and not doubt, God….

Whatsoever God spoke concerning our lives shall come to pass. Let us not doubt God.  We will be rewarded as we believe Him.

For in this hope we were saved.
But hope that is seen is no hope at all.
Who hopes for what he already has?
Romans 8:24

Hope is ‘…expecting something you are visualizing but it is not there yet.’  Brethren, when hoping for something, let us put ourselves in totally trusting God; do not have something in mind already…That is why in Romans 15:4 the Word says “…for everything that was written in the past was written to teach us so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

❦

In Hope in the Glory of God, Ahmee writes about our amazing God….

God is amazing in so many different ways!  I looked up the definition of the word glory.  It means “…high renown or honor won by notable achievements.”  To say that we have hope in the glory of God is very true. God has done many amazing things.  Some we have seen ourselves and others we have heard from other people and, some even, we have read in the Bible. God is amazing!

To speak up and say “This is possible all by the grace of God!” is an enormous thing to do.  It points to the glory of God – the same glory that is our hope.  So, point to it…continue to point it…and don’t ever stop pointing to it so that others can find the hope that we have. So, that others can hope in the glory of God.

❦

In Helmet of Hope, Tina shares an encouraging quote with us….

I am currently re-reading Derek Prince’s book Faith to Live By. In his book, there is a chapter Faith versus Hope in which he states,  “Hope, in the biblical sense, is a confident expectation of good – a steady, persistent optimism. Hope protects our minds. Every Christian should wear a helmet of hope twenty-four hours a day. If we lay aside the helmet and begin to dwell on negative thoughts and gloomy forebodings, our minds are vulnerable to Satan’s subtle attacks.”

Our thoughts need to be focused on what is positive, good and worthy. Prayer—along with becoming aware of what we are thinking, watching, and listening to—will begin to change our thoughts and behavior patterns.  It will not be given to us.  We will have to focus on what is right.

❦

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

Good Morning

June 26, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Wave away my yesterday
‘Cause I’m leaving it behind me
Hello sunshine, come what may
I feel something new inside me

I hear the birds singing
Now my alarms ringing
Get up, get up
Hey

It’s a good morning
Wake up to a brand new day
This morning,
I’m stepping,
Stepping on my way
Good morning,
You give me strength
You give me just what I need
And I can feel the hope that’s rising in me
It’s a good morning

Slow down, breathe in
Don’t move ahead
I’m just living in this moment

I got my arms raised, un-phased
Jump out of bed
Gotta get this party going

I went to bed dreaming
You woke me up singing
Get up, get up
Hey

Now I’m smiling, and I’m kissing all my worries goodbye
Got the feeling, if I spread my wings I might even fly
You are my truth, my way
Give me the strength to say
Get up, get up, get up
‘Cause it’s a good morning

Hey, top of the morning to you ‘disa
You smoothie, me ice cold pizza
Cafe au lait, latte dah
You do the zumba, but I do not

Give me like half a marathon
I’ll give you the Gospel of St. John
Hits me like a wake-up bomb
Cuz’ we both know that His mercy flows
In the morning

Mandisa and TobyMac
Songwriters: James Moore, Aaron Rice, Cary Barlowe, Mandisa Hundley, Toby McKeehan

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

  • We got a new puppy.
  • A puppy is like a baby.
  • My baby will be 7 this week.

So our daughter did very well in school this past year and she asked if she could get her own dog. We have 2 large dogs, but she has been desiring a teacup dog of her own. We agreed that she could have a puppy if she earned the money and purchased it on her own. Well she did…and this week Miss Zailey arrived at our home.  A puppy is like a baby…cute as can be, but needing much attention. I have been awake at least three times each night since our new addition has arrived. Our daughter is doing a great job, but I know she needs more sleep than I do so I’ve been helping with the early morning care. This morning at 2:12, I can assure you that “Good Morning” was not on my lips, I was not ready to start my new day, and I was not jumping out of bed with my arms raised. Our youngest son will be 7 next week and I am not used to this…at all… This morning at 5:10, a frustrated 12 year old woke me, she wasn’t feeling well, and the puppy wanted to play. So we played. As I sat in the living room I looked at this little alarm clock and thought about my plans for the day. So much to do, and now it will be done on less than 4 hours of sleep.

At that moment I had a choice; how I approach my day is my choice. And I chose to approach it with joy. God woke me up. Albeit tired, but I’m awake nonetheless. Today my worry was lack of sleep due to a puppy. Yesterday it may have been different, but despite what my worry is, this morning is a good morning. It’s a brand new day, a brand new morning, how are you going to approach today?

Despite what you may be facing
God has given you the gift of life on this day.
He will give you strength…
He will give you just what you need.

 *  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

Let’s pray: Father God, thank You for mornings, for new beginnings, and for fresh starts.  You said You are our strength, and today we may need that strength more than ever.  We stand strong on Your promises, and I pray that each and every woman here sees beauty in today.  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

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

By Thee, O God, Invited

June 25, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Therefore, since we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy], peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God’s favor) in which we [firmly and safely] stand.  And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God.

Romans 5:1 and 2

(click here to listen…and sing along…to this beautiful old hymn)

By Thee, O God, invited
We look unto the Son
In whom Thy soul delighted
Who all Thy will hath done
And by the one chief treasure
Thy bosom freely gave
Thine own pure love we measure
Thy willing mind to save
O God of mercy—Father
The one unchanging claim
The brightest hopes we gather
From Christ’s most precious name
What always sounds so sweetly
In Thine unwearied ear
Has freed our souls completely
From all our sinful fear
The trembling sinner feareth
That God can ne’er forget
But one full payment cleareth
His memory of all debt
When naught beside could free us
Or set our souls at large
Thy holy work, Lord Jesus
Secured a full discharge
No wrath God’s heart retaineth
To us-ward who believe
No dread in ours remaineth
As we His love receive
Returning sons He kisses
And with His robe invests
His perfect love dismisses
All terror from our breasts
Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Bless Your Name

June 25, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

In prisoners chains, with bleeding stripes
Paul and Silas prayed that night
And in their pain, began to sing
Their chains were loosed and they were free

I bless Your name, I bless Your name
I give You honor, give You praise
You are the Life, the Truth, the Way
I bless Your name, I bless Your name

Some midnight hour, if you should find
You’re in a prison in your mind
Preach out in praise—defy those chains
And they will fall in Jesus’ name

You are the Life, the Truth, the Way
You are the Life, the Truth, the Way
You are the Life, the Truth, the Way
We bless Your name, we bless Your name

Selah
Songwriter – Elizabeth Goodine

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

This song tells of the Apostle Paul and his brother in Christ, Silas, imprisoned in the city of Philippi.  They had been wrongly accused, held without a proper hearing, beaten and flogged, and then tossed into the innermost prison cell where they were held in stocks and chains.

But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God,
and the prisoners were listening to them; and suddenly there came a great earthquake,
so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken;
and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened.
Acts 16:25 and 26

Is that not one of the most incredible accounts of deliverance in the Bible?!!?  That is true (it is incredible!  But wait…the Scriptures are filled with record after record after record telling of God’s provision in miraculous, awesome, ‘but for the grace of God’ ways! Such as,

  • Moses and the children of Israel being delivered out of the hand of their Egyptian oppressors
  • Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego stepping out with not even the scent of smoke on their garments after being in the fiery furnace
  • Daniel climbing out of the lion’s den with not a scratch on him
  • Joshua and the Israelites circling Jericho for six days and then on the seventh day, repeating their journey 7 times in a row…and then shouting…and the walls of Jericho came tumbling down
  • Jonah surviving three days of being in the great fish’s belly
  • Mary finding herself, a yet-to-be-married virgin, pregnant
  • the Resurrection from the dead, after three days, of our Lord Jesus Christ
  • And, of course, there are many, many, many more!

How about you…which are some of the wondrous works of God that cause your heart to sing out in praise as you remember God’s great hand of blessing?  (Please share them with us in the comment section below!)  May I encourage you to read through these records and remind yourself how amazing, awesome, and wonderful our God is—and bless His Name!

He is ELOHIM —the God of power and might

He is JEHOVAH-JIREH — the Lord Who will provide

He is EL-ROI — the Strong One Who sees

He is EL-SHADDAI — God Almighty

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥  ~  *

I will extol You, my God, O King,
And I will bless Your Name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless You,
And I will praise Your name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised,
And His greatness is unsearchable.
My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
And all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever.
Psalms 145:1-3, 21

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

Spiritual Hope (2)

June 24, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have gained access by faith
into this grace in which we now stand
and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
Romans 5:1-2

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Justification through faith brings the believer various results—

  • peace with God
  • grace
  • hope
  • assurance
  • sufferings
  • the love of God
  • the Holy spirit
  • salvation from wrath
  • reconciliation to God
  • salvation by the life and presence of Jesus and,
  • joy in God

In our current series, we have been looking at HOPE.  Let’s see what hope did in the lives of some different men of God in the Scriptures.  Against all hope Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “so shall your offspring be” (Romans 5:5).

Whatsoever God spoke concerning our lives shall come to pass. Let us not doubt God. We will be rewarded as we believe Him.

For in this hope we were saved.
But hope that is seen is no hope at all.
Who hopes for what he already has?
Romans 8:24

Hope is expecting something you are visualizing but it is not there yet.  Brethren, when hoping for something, let us put ourselves in totally trusting God; do not have something in mind already.

God knows that we are people made of flesh and blood; and, if not properly handled,  He will lose all of us since we often lose heart when faced with adversity.  That is why in Romans 15:4 the Word says “…for everything that was written in the past was written to teach us so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”  Hope call us to testify as in 1 Peter 3:15.

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you
To give the reason of the hope that you have,
But do this with gentleness and respect.

Our spiritual hope should be awake at all times.  May God grant us the grace for this. Otherwise we may miss the mark through our unbelief.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Dear Lord, thank You for this portion of Scripture we are sharing this week.  Thank You for leading us through this wonderful period of understanding hope.  We have seen a lot in Your Word about this word—HOPE.  Thank You for the insights therein.  We pray for Your grace to abide so that we will put all our hopes in You in all areas of our lives.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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

Nothing Is Wasted

June 24, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

The hurt that broke your heart and left you trembling in the dark
Feeling lost and alone will tell you hope’s a lie
But what if every tear you cry will seed the ground where joy will grow

Nothing is wasted, nothing is wasted in the hands of our Redeemer nothing is wasted

It’s from the deepest wounds that beauty finds a place to bloom
And you will see before the end that every broken piece is
Gathered in the heart of Jesus and what’s lost will be found again

When hope is more than you can bear
And it’s too hard to believe it could be true
And your strength fails you halfway there
You can lean on me and I’ll believe for you
Give it time…you will believe it too

That nothing is wasted nothing is wasted
Sometimes we are waiting in sorrow we have tasted
But joy will replace it nothing is wasted
In the hands of our Redeemer nothing is wasted

From the ruins, from the ashes—beauty will rise
From the wreckage, from the darkness—glory will shine

Jason Gray ~ singer/songwriter

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

As we hold onto our brokenness, that is all that can be seen—by ourselves or anyone else.  But as we intentionally choose day-by-day (ok, sometimes it is moment by moment) to let a tiny bit of joy shine in…or to reach out with Jesus’ love to someone who hurts more than we do…than His glory will shine through us.  And, as it does, our hearts will brighten just a teeny-tiny bit.  And we will be encouraged ‘cause nothing is ever wasted when it is done with the love of God.

I so appreciate what Jason Gray shares in this videoclip before he begins to minister these beautiful words.  He says, “I believe…help my unbelief.”  Friend, ‘cause nothing ever is wasted as we seek and rely on and trust the One Who is always there to help us!  So when ‘hope is more than you can bear’ (at that moment) and when it does seem ‘too hard to believe it could be true’ and when ‘your strength fails you’ even though you are trying, call out to your Father…He is listening!

Hear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
Guard my life, for I am faithful to You; save Your servant who trusts in You.
You are my God; have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to You all day long.
Bring joy to Your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in You.
Psalms 86:1-4

You, my dear friend, are not the first to have gone through these hard, hard things.  Though at times it does feel that way, draw strength from the examples of others who chose, like you, to call upon God.  And believe these Truths—God’s Word is truth.

But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength;
Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning,
For You have been my stronghold and a refuge in the day of my distress.
O my strength, I will sing praises to You;
For God is my stronghold, the God who shows me lovingkindness.
Psalms 59:16 and 17

And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.
When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches,
For You have been my help, And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.
My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.
Psalms 63:5-8

Cling, my friend, to every shred of hope, every drop of  precious light, every tiny bit of joy you can find.  I would love to share with you one of my very favorite passages in the Scriptures.  Truly these two verses have helped me to hold on and cling and believe many, many times!

[What, what would have become of me] had I not believed
that I would see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living!
Wait and hope for and expect the Lord;
be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring.
Yes, wait for and  hope for and expect the Lord.
Psalms 27:13 and 14

And trust in the One-Who-loves-you-so that you will see before the end that every broken piece is gathered in the heart of Jesus and what’s lost will be found again.  He loves you, my friend!  And nothing ever could or will separate you from His love.  (He has promised!)

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

Hope in the Glory of God

June 23, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through Whom we have gained access by faith
into this grace in which we now stand.
And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.
Romans 5:1-2

God is amazing in so many different ways!  I looked up the definition of the word glory.  It means “…high renown or honor won by notable achievements.”  To say that we have hope in the glory of God is very true. God has done many amazing things.  Some we have seen ourselves and others we have heard from other people and, some even, we have read in the Bible. God is amazing!

The sad thing is that some people can see the glory of God and yet they fail to hope in it.  Some cast it aside as unreal, unbelievable, or fake.  Truthfully, I can’t blame them.  If someone doesn’t believe in God or trust God, I can understand why they would have problems believing in someone who, not only rose from the dead, but has risen others from the dead.  (In their case) I can understand why it would be  hard to hope in someone who multiplies little and makes it huge. He does crazy amazing things!

I feel that in order to remind others that God is amazing, and glorious, we should continue to tell of all the wonderful things that He has done in our lives and not shy away when the opportunity arises.  To speak up and say “This is possible all by the grace of God!” is an enormous thing to do.  It points to the glory of God – the same glory that is our hope.  So, point to it…continue to point it…and don’t ever stop pointing to it so that others can find the hope that we have. So, that others can hope in the glory of God.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Lord, Your glory is amazing.  You are awesome.  Thank You for all that You have done, are doing, and will do.  Let us never forget about Your amazing glory and may our hope stay planted in You.  Amen.

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