April 20, 2024

When I Survey The Wondrous Cross

March 17, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

His dying crimson, like a robe,
Spreads o’er His body on the tree;
Then I am dead to all the globe,
And all the globe is dead to me.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

To Christ, who won for sinners grace
By bitter grief and anguish sore,
Be praise from all the ransomed race
Forever and forevermore.

~  Sing this song with me as our prayer and worship today.  ~

Songwriter: Isaac Watts/ Performed by Vineyard’s Kathryn Scott
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What a wonderfully written hymn!  This is one is so God-breathed.  As the Holy Spirit led, Isaac Watts wrote.  It is interesting, while reading the biography of Watts, how he was a Nonconformist.  He did not go by the traditional teachings of his era, he was always outspoken.  He had a natural gift for rhyming and was punished for using it.

As we begin to think about Easter and what Christ’s death on the Cross means for each of us, I would ask that you think about keeping a journal.  Write down prayers, thoughts, praises, or anything that you believe would help you celebrate Easter with a new viewpoint in the years to come.

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Father, I ask that You watch over each of us during the Lent season.  Help us to see and learn more about what the Cross means for us.  Help us to see our salvation in a new way.  We love You and want to know You more.  We want a more intimate relationship with You.  Thank You, Lord!  In Jesus’ Name, we pray.  Amen.

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

Life’s Healing Choices – Week 1 – Make the Choice

January 10, 2013 by

 

Well, we’ve almost made it through the first week.  How are you holding up?  If anything like me, you’ve had moments of denial, shaking your head, stammering for words, and just sheer amazement (& maybe even a little bewilderment) at what we’ve read and learned.

What is the first principle?  Realize that I am not God.

Should be easy, right?  Anyone think they “should” be able to hold it all together as wife, mother, employee, church-goer, volunteer, etc?  We should be able to do everything, at once without a break or help, right?  Super Mom!  Wonder Woman! Well, not if you learn God’s plan for your life.  He expects us to need Him, and to accept His guidance in our lives.  He knows we can’t do everything, and especially not by our own power.

John Baker provides three steps for us at the end of each chapter: Pray About It, Write About It, and Share About It.  So let’s get started!

PRAY –

Ask God to give you courage to admit your weaknesses, your struggle to control the world around you, and your inability to hold it all together.  There is nothing “weak” about admitting you cannot do it yourself.  God knew that we couldn’t do it without Him.

Ask for His power to fill your life and provide the strength you need to make changes in your life.  Ask for His peace when you are fearful, His comfort when you are unable to rest.  Matt 11:28-29

If you can’t find the right words, remember … there are no right words.  There is no special incantation to mutter that will make it to God.  At times you may not have the words to speak, and that’s when we are reassured that He already knows, and the Holy Spirit will intervene on our behalf. (Romans 8:26)

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.(NLT)

 

Matthew 11: 28-29

 

 Above all remember that He will hear our cries,

He will answer us, and He will deliver us (Ps 34:4)

I prayed to the Lord, and He answered me. 

He freed me from all my fears. (NLT)

WRITE –

Throughout this journey, you will want to take the time to write your thoughts to the questions posed in our book.  Often, the process of writing will help to clear our thoughts, help us see truths more clearly, and offer insight on what God is saying to us.  Find a notebook or journal to use for your thoughts.  Keep it in a safe place, and remember it is your private journal.  While there will be times of sharing, we will be guided on when to share, what we’ll share, and with whom.

When I first thought of keeping my journal “safe”, I thought about keeping secrets … are we really called to keep secrets from our spouse?  Then I realized, it’s not about keeping secrets but learning how to manage & control emotions.  I can easily spout off from the emotional core of my being … with tears, and irrational thoughts.  We call this “emotional vomiting” because it just spews forth without purpose or consideration.  I view the journal as a way to work through this sickness and learn how to express my thoughts, emotions, and experiences with clarity, purpose, and control so that I don’t put off another person.  As I tell my kids, “just because it pops into your head, it doesn’t have to come out of your mouth. “

Baker gives us five writing guidelines on page 24 to start the process:

  • What people, places or things do you have the power to control?
  • What people, places or things have you been attempting to control?
  • Describe how you try to control your image, other people, your problems, your pain?
  • Write how fear, frustration, fatigue and failures of trying to be the “General Manager of the universe” has affected your relationship with God & others.
  • What specific hurt, hang-up or habit have you been denying?

SHARE –

Throughout this study, we will encourage participants to share with someone they can be honest and totally open with.  I would strongly advise that you make this someone of the same sex because the information we work through may stir up emotions and experiences that are not appropriate with a member of the opposite sex.  Even if you think your husband, boyfriend, or platonic guy-friend is this person, you may want to find someone else to talk to first …men have a tendency to want to fix things for us, to protect us, and make all things right in our world.  This is not the role for our sharing-partner.  And, we don’t want to encourage a level of intimacy with someone outside of marriage that is not appropriate for women seeking God’s will in their lives.This is not to say you cannot (or should not) share with your spouse.  Just realize that sometimes a person outside of the immediate circle may have different insight & suggestions for you.

This group is not a counseling session, nor an affiliate of the Celebrate Recovery program.  At times, it may be necessary for you to seek professional counseling with a trusted pastor or licensed therapist.  We are here to facilitate a book study and encourage learning & personal growth through Bible study.  In Titus we are encouraged to support each other, learn from each other, and encourage one another as women.

After you’ve taken the time to reflect and write your answers to these questions, we welcome your comments below, or visit our Facebook Group for additional discussion.  If you are not currently a member of our Facebook Group, you can click HERE to sign up for this online Bible study, and you will be added to this group.

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Dear Lord, thank You for the journey You have given to each of us.  We realized that You alone are God, the only one with the power to bring change in our lives.  We ask that You shower us with Your grace, open our eyes to the truths of our lives, calm the fears as we take different paths than the ones we’ve always walked, and remind us daily that we are not alone in this process.  You are ever-present, ever-loving, ever faithful.  Through Your power, we can do all things.  Amen. 

If you are interested in joining us for this online Bible study, and would like to join our secret Facebook group, click HERE to sign-up!  Once we receive your registration, we will email you further details.

If you would like to send a personal comment to Amy in regards to this blog, please email her at:  Amy@girlfriendscoffeehour.com.

 

Filed Under: Victorious Healing Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

GCH: What’s on Your Plate? – Food For Thought…..

November 18, 2012 by

Today, I want to take a little different approach to this blog, and share some food for thought for this holiday season.  I know the holidays can be a trying and lonely time for some, and I pray that my message today will speak right to your heart!  <3

Image from
www.bibleverses.com

Isaiah 26:3

“You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.”

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John 14:27

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I now give and bequeath to you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.  [Stop allowing yourself to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]”

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Proverbs 16:7

“When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies live at peace with him.”

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2 Thessalonians 3:16

“Now may the Lord of peace Himself grant you His peace (the peace of His kingdom) at all times and in all ways [under all circumstances and conditions, whatever comes.]”

We can clearly see here that the Lord instructs us to live in peace, in all circumstances and conditions.  But what about times when “life” happens, and you just don’t feel like living in peace?  Or it’s hard to walk in peace because of the circumstances?

Sometimes we have things happen in our lives that are devastating.  They rip the rug right out from under us.  They cause much stress, anger, bitterness, and more.  How in the world are we to walk in peace during those times?

First, we have to recognize who or what is causing the stress, anger, bitterness, and lack of peace in our life.

John 10:10

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy.

I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance to the full, till it overflows.

The “thief” is satan.  (I refuse to capitalize his name!).  His job is to cause destruction, steal and kill my life, and my joy.  He is the god of the world (for now).  He is a fallen angel that has set his ways against God and all that God stands for.  Anything he can do to turn us from God, or cause those who are not yet walking with God to think that God’s love is not real, he will. It’s his pleasure to try to ruin the children of God!

Cancer, adultery, rape, molestation, divorce, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and more, are just a few of the tactics that satan uses to destroy God’s children!

But what about hatred, grumpiness, anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, depression?  How do we enjoy life, as God wants us to, if our hearts are filled with these things?

You wake up in the morning and you just feel this heaviness that has set its sites on you.  You just can’t shake it.  You feel numb.  You feel like a zombie.  Nothing looks or tastes good.  Even the sunshine outside looks miserable to you!

You feel fat, ugly, mean, nasty, miserable.  You don’t want to talk to anyone.  You just want to be left alone to work through this, if you can.

How do you get past these feelings?  How do you live beyond these things?

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I will say right here that I am absolutely NO expert in this area, but I have learned a few things over the last few years, that I would like to share with you.

I have a tendency to suffer from depression.  Moderate depression.  I’m not talking about clinical depression here, which is far worse and more serious than mild to moderate depression.  If you suffer from clinical depression, please seek counsel from your doctor and/or your pastor.

I do not have any degrees in counseling or psychology.

I am just a person who has struggled with these types of things in my life, and the Lord has brought me through it.  That is what I want to share with you today.  The how’s…..

People used to tell me “Christi, you just need to get over it.”  Yes, I could clearly see that.  But what I didn’t know was HOW!  How was I suppose to just “get over it”?  How do I get past the anger, bitterness, depression, unforgiveness, and even more emotions that sometimes can toy with people’s emotions and hearts?

Stay in the Word.  Stay in the Word.  Stay in the Word.

It can’t be that simple, can it?

When people would tell me this in the beginning, I would think “Right! I’m in the Word every single day! I’m still struggling!”  But you know what?  I had to keep on keepin’ on, as the expression goes.  My “cure” wasn’t going to happen overnight!  I had to learn how to be at peace with who I was and what God was doing in my life!  Without His peace, I struggled every day!!!

 I could only learn about His peace through His word!  

Staying in the word doesn’t always been reading the bible all the time!  It can also include good books by Christian authors.  Watching DVD’s from Christian evangelists.  Turning on praise and worship music to allow your mind to be filled with the word through music!  There is so much more to it than just reading the bible!

You will also notice that in order to suffocate the negativity in our lives, means that you actually have to get up and do something!

 Do something to fight the negativity!

You can’t just sit there and expect it to just go away on its own!  You have to actually do something to fight these emotions daily!  To read the bible, you have to get up, go get your bible, and turn the pages, correct?  To listen to music, you actually have to get up, go to the stereo, choose the music and then turn the stereo on, correct?  You have to ­do something first!!!

James 1:22 — “But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it…”

To be a “Doer”…

means you have to DO SOMETHING!

So what are some things that we can do to remove the negativity out of our lives?  Below I have listed some tips that have helped me over the years.  If you have other tips, I’d love for you to share them in the comments section below.  The tips below are listed in no particular order.

  • Read the Word
  • Pray
  • Listen to Praise Music
  • Go for a walk
  • Go outside barefoot
  • Call a friend
  • Go to lunch with a friend
  • Take a warm soothing bath
  • Find a hobby that will take your mind off of problems
  • Seek Counsel
  • Go for a massage
  • Get a new haircut
  • AVOIDS NEGATIVE PEOPLE!
  • Try to find the GOOD in your situation
  • Stop saying negative things to yourself
  • Practice breathing slowly
  • Read a positive book curled up in bed
  • Ask someone to be your “vent partner”
  • Practice grace under pressure
  • Be responsible for your feelings
  • Learn to meet your own needs
  • Exercise every day
  • Learn the words to a new song
  • Write a note to a far away friend
  • Keep a journal
  • Practice a monster smile
  • Quit trying to “fix” other people
  • Get enough sleep
  • Talk less and listen more
  • Volunteer at a Shelter or Food Pantry
  • Freely praise other people
  • Have a support network of people, places and things

These are just a few tips on how to get past a negative attitude and walk in peace and joy!  But truthfully, it all starts with YOU!  What will YOU do to change your circumstances?  Choosing to do something means that you give God Glory for what happens in your life, and you have put satan in his place and he does not win!  He learns that you will not tolerate the weapons that he puts in your life, to keep you down!

I will also say that these tips are not for just a quick-fix.  These are not things you get from a drive-thru window!  They are things that you need to do on a consistent basis!  You can’t just expect life to change overnight, especially if you are dealing with some pretty tough situations!

Don’t just do something….Give it time to work!  Whatever you do, don’t give up!!  Let Jesus set you free!!!!

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I pray this message reaches at least one person!  I know for myself, things did not change overnight.  I had to be patient and allow God to do what He needed in my life.  I am here to tell you that the steps I have shared with you here today, WORK!!  But YOU have to put some effort behind them first!

Be Blessed & Be a Blessing to Others,

Christi

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