November 21, 2024

Evidence

February 22, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv
It’s not a flag on a field
It’s not a sign in my yard
Not a cause that I join
Not a phrase on a coin
It’s the change in my heart

Mercy and grace and compassion
They’re only words without action

I need hands that are open
Reaching out to broken hearts
Cuz’ that’s the only way this world
Will ever know who You are
Love is the evidence
Love is the evidence

Might be the pain that you share
Might be the time that you spend
Or the war you don’t fight
Backing down from your pride
After all in the end

My life wasn’t changed by an argument
That never would have been enough
My life was changed by the evidence of love

Your hands that were open
Reaching out to my broken heart

  Citizens Way

  *  ~   ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥    ~  *  

For I was hungry, and you fed Me.
I was thirsty, and you gave Me a drink.
I was a stranger, and you invited Me into your home.
I was naked, and you gave Me clothing.
I was sick, and you cared for Me.
I was in prison, and you visited Me.’
Then these righteous ones will reply,

‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you?
Or thirsty and give you something to drink?
Or a stranger and show you hospitality?
Or naked and give you clothing?
When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth,
when you did it to one of the least of these
my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
Matthew 25:35-40 NLT

One day we will stand before Jesus and He will speak to us, His sheep.  There will be one line on the right and one line on the left.  To some He will say; “Oh you, righteous and obedient sheep, I was in prison and you visited Me. I was hungry and you fed Me. I was thirsty and you gave Me water. I was homeless and you took Me in. I was needy and you met My needs.

To the others He will say: “I was in prison and you didn’t come visit Me.  I was hungry and you didn’t give Me food.  I was thirsty and you gave Me no water.  I was cold and you gave Me no clothes. I had no home and you did not invite Me in.”  They will say; “Lord, when were You thirsty and hungry? When were You in prison? When were You homeless? When did I not clothe You?”

He will answer: “If you have done it unto the least of these, you have done it unto Me.”

Jesus calls us to love each other.  More and more we are to love all of God’s people.  Love changes lives.  You may not be able to change the world for everyone but you can change the world for one person just by investing in them and loving them and being Jesus to them. How can we do this?  We cannot do anything on our own, my friends…we have to cry out to Jesus to change our hearts and to make them like His.

If only we could all do this—be intentional with our time here on earth and seek those who are in need and ask Him what we can do. Anyone come to mind?  If not, I pray this week that God opens your eyes to someone that you can bless.  In return, you will be blessed!

   *  ~   ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥    ~  *  

Let us pray:
Dearest Lord, You are amazing and loving and the Blesser of our lives.  You give so much love to each one of us.  You give us a life of abundance and we praise You for it all.  Oh Lord, may we be Your hands and feet to the hurting and needy of this world.  Help us to be intentional about our lives and live to love all people and serve them as You do.  Open our hearts, Lord, to receive the message that You want us to spread—the love of Jesus is so much that He died for them so that they can live with You forever.  As this song says, ” that’s the only way this world will ever know who You are…“.  We love You, in Jesus’ name, amen.

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

Come As You Are (Redux)

December 28, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

❦

Redux means to revisit, bring back, re-release.  This last week of 2014, we —the bloggers here at Girlfriends Coffee Hour—are each ‘revisiting’ a blog we wrote earlier this year.

We would love to share with you just a bit about how very good God has been to us!  He has given us all so much grace and mercy, blessings and provision, protection and guidance!  He has led us and taught us through His Holy Spirit so many incredible things!  He has molded, and chastised, and encouraged us to be daughters with humble hearts who are dependent upon Him.  And He has helped us to be strong, committed, and faithful women  who love Him and desire to bring Him much honor and glory and majesty.

We pray that our words would encourage you also…and draw You deeper into relationship with the One Who loves you so!  Here are my friend Kim Spring’s words.

❦

After Christmas, and now the new year is on the way…I look back on some of the songs that really touched my life.  This one Come As You Are still brings me to my knees. The fact that He accepts me just as I am, loves me, and forgives my every sin is totally humbling!  And one of the hardest things for me to do is to rest at His feet. {I am working on this.}

“Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can’t heal”; I am claiming this, accepting this, that there is nothing too big or small, old or new problem, whether it is my own pit I have jumped in or whether it is  a pit I’ve been pushed into.  God can heal and redeem and renew!  Will you claim this with me and believe too that all is okay  and you can bring anything to the Cross. And most of all, you  CAN come as you are. You WILL find grace and mercy. You WILL find rest and you will find love unconditional.  Can I invite you to come along with me?  We can be just as we are!

  *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~   ♥   ~   *

Come out of sadness from wherever you’ve been
Come broken hearted let rescue begin
Come find your mercy
Oh sinner, come kneel
Earth has no sorrow
That Heaven can’t heal

Lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
Oh wanderer, come home
You’re not too far
So, lay down your hurt
Lay down your heart
Come as you are

There’s hope for the hopeless
And all those who’ve strayed
Come sit at the table
Come taste the grace
There’s rest for the weary
Rest that endures
Earth has no sorrow
That Heaven can’t cure

Come as you are
Fall in His arms
Come as you are
There’s joy for the morning
Oh sinner, be still
Earth has no sorrow
That Heaven can’t heal

Songwriters: David Crowder, Ben Glover, Matt Maher
Performed by David Crowder and the Passion Band

* ~ ♥ ~ ✞ ~ ♥ ~ *

How awesome is it that we can come into the Presence of the Creator of the universe, the King of Kings, and we can just be who we are…?  We don’t have to get good enough or perfect enough—we can come as we are.  He knows us better than we know ourselves and He loves us in spite of us.

“You’re not too far” -You can never go too far that His arms can’t reach you!  And He meets you there.  Give all your cares and hurts to Him.  He is able and willing to carry it all for you.  Matthew 11:28 says,”Come to Me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.”  A rest that lasts a lifetime.  He never gets tired of rescuing us.

“Come sit at the table, come taste the grace” — His grace is free.  Where would we be without it?  2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “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 about my weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”  See?  There is rest for you at His feet.

“There’s joy for the morning” Psalm 30: 5b,”Weeping may spend the night, but there is joy in the morning.”  Yes, this means that hard times won’t last forever and we will rejoice and be full of joy in the midst of the hard and know it’s a short time.  He never leaves us in that place for long.  And He is hope! For He has a beautiful life planned for you. Trust Him!

And the end of the song? “Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can’t cure.”  So true!  Heaven can heal any sorrow on earth!  So today, we praise Him because we are His and He receives us… just as we are.

* ~ ♥ ~ ✞ ~ ♥ ~ *

Let us pray: Dear Lord, how amazing You are that You accept us and love us for who we are.  You know our faults and You give us mercy and grace when we stray.  You never give up on us, Lord.  You know our hearts, and You welcome us and meet us where we are in life.  Thank You for the joy that comes after the sorrow and for the rest You give us when life gets hard.  We love You, Lord!  In Jesus’ name, amen.

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

Nothing Compares

November 16, 2014 by

I’ve heard all the stories
I’ve seen all the signs
Witnessed all the glory
Tasted all that’s fine

Nothing compares to the greatness of knowing You, Lord
Nothing compares to the greatness of knowing You, Lord

I see all the people
Wasting all their time
Building up their riches
For a life that’s fine

I find myself just living for today
‘Cause I don’t know what
Tomorrow’s gonna bring
So no matter if I rise or fall
I’ll never be alone, oh no

Singer/Songwriters:   Johnny Mac Powell, Bradley B. C. Avery, Mark D. Lee, David Carr, Samuel Tai Anderson  ~ Third Day

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~   ♥   ~   *

As I listen to this song, I’m taken into His Word, in the Book of Psalms, chapter 40, verse 5:

Many, Lord my God, are the wonders You have done,
the things You planned for us. None can compare with You;
were I to speak and tell of Your deeds, they would be too many to declare.

Have you ever sat and just thought about all the Lord has done for you?  From the day you were born, and really before, He made plans for your life.  Full of blessings and hope for great things.  And look in the Bible, way before our time, how many times He saved His people from destruction.  And then there’s the most amazing gift that He gave us—Jesus.  And so many blessings in between.  I encourage you to read the Old Testament and just see all the ways He loved and all the ways He cared.

As the song says, I, too, have heard all the stories. I have witnessed miracle after miracle in my own life and the lives of others.  I have been blessed with food to eat,  shelter, clothing and so much more.  But without Him…none of those things matter. Knowing God and having a relationship with Him is all that is important.

We are on this earth such a short time in comparison with how long we will live with Him in eternity.  This is our temporary home.  Let me ask you a question: When you go on a trip to the beach or the mountains and you have rented a condo, do you unpack your stuff and maybe put them in the drawers (depending on how long you are planning on staying.)?  Do you use their plates and cups, and you sleep on the beds that are provided?  Even if the decor isn’t what you would have picked, you accept it. You don’t go to target and get new curtains and towels that match your taste, do you? You don’t take down the drapes and replace them with something more ‘you’, do you?  and you definitely don’t go out and buy new paint colors.  Why?  Because it is temporary!  You won’t live there permanently.

Friends, we won’t live here permanently either. Your real home is in Heaven with Jesus.  So yes, we do live in this world, but our focus should be on the things of Heaven—leading others to Him, giving to the needy, nurturing the children, and guiding them in the ways of  Jesus.

You can’t take your boats and planes and not even your savings account to Heaven. I’m not saying those things are wrong.  And, of course, you need money to live, but take your focus off of worldly possessions and look to Him to fulfill you.  He is all you need.  Things come and go.  Houses get foreclosed on and cars break down.  But God loves you…and He is forever!

Friends, we are only guaranteed this moment.  We have no idea what tomorrow holds.  So please, I encourage you to put Him first!  If you have strayed, run home to Him. He is waiting and will never turn you away!  And remember, in Him, you will never be alone!

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God endures forever.
Isaiah 40:8

And the Lord will be King over all the earth.
On that day there will be one Lord—His name alone will be worshipped.
Zechariah 14:9

Oh!  What a day that will be!  But until then, seek Him, praise Him, give Him thanks for all He has done and will do in your lives and spread His love to the world.  Nothing will ever bring you more joy!

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~   ♥   ~   *

Let us pray…

Dear Lord, You are awesome and amazing.  You love us so much, even when we don’t love ourselves.  Even when we continue to place other things above You, You are patient and continue to bless us.  Open our eyes to those around us that need You.   Give us the courage to step out in Your name, and to lay up our treasure in Heaven with You.  Oh Lord, You are all that matters, You alone fulfill our every need.  Help us to live in today and to have our affairs in order, so that, when You do come and the trumpet sounds, we will be ready!  Thank You for being FOR us.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

 

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

Move

May 29, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

I’m not about to give up, because I heard you say
There’s gonna be brighter days, there’s gonna be brighter days
I won’t stop, I’ll keep my head up, no, I’m not here to stay
There’s gonna be brighter days, there’s gonna be brighter days
I just might bend but I won’t break, as long as I can see Your face

When life won’t play along, and right keeps going wrong
And I can’t seem to find my way, I know where I am found
So I won’t let it drag me down, oh, I’ll keep dancing anyway
I’m gonna move, move
I’m gonna move, move
I’m gonna move
I’m gonna move

I’ve got to hold ‘er steady, keep my head in the game
Everything is about to change, everything is about to change
This hurt is getting heavy, but I’m not about to cave
Everything is about to change, there’s gonna be brighter days
I just might bend but won’t break, as long as I can see Your face

When life won’t play along, and right keeps going wrong
And I can’t seem to find my way, I know where I am found
So I won’t let it drag me down, oh, I’ll keep dancing anyway
No matter what may come,
Gotta move to a different drum
No matter what life brings
Gotta move
Gotta move
To a different beat
No matter what may come
Gotta move to a different drum
No matter what life brings
Gotta move
Gotta move
To a different beat
I just might bend but I won’t break as long as I can see Your face

When life won’t play along and right keeps going wrong
And I can’t seem to find my way I know where I am found
So I won’t let it drag me down, oh, I’ll keep dancing anyway
When life won’t play along and right keeps going wrong
And I can’t seem to find my way, I know where I am found
So I won’t let it drag me down
Oh, I’ll keep dancing anyway

~ Sing this song with me as part of your prayer and worship today ~

Written by Dan Muckala and MercyMe / Sung by MercyMe

* ~ ♥ ~ ✞ ~ ♥ ~ *

I love this song…because in this life we will have trouble.  But we need to keep movin’ and believing that better days are on the way!  Let’s see what promises God gives us for when we encounter days of trouble….

Come back to the place of safety, all you prisoners who still have hope!
I promise this very day that I will repay two blessings for each of your troubles.
Zechariah 9:12 NLT

What an AWESOME promise to hold on to! I have personally experienced this countless times in my life.

I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace.
In the world you have trouble and suffering, but take courage—I have conquered the world.
John 16:33 NLT

Hold on to your hope in Him, no matter the circumstances!
He is Faithful !!!!

* ~ ♥ ~ ✞ ~ ♥ ~ *

Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your Word and these promises to hold onto.  I thank You for Your faithfulness in each circumstance.  I pray that when trouble comes, we will choose to keep dancing and moving and not let them drag us down.  In Jesus name, AMEN!!

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

Rooftops

May 22, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Here I am before You, falling in love and seeking Your truth
Knowing that Your perfect grace has brought me to this place
Because of You I freely live, my life to You, oh God, I give
So I stand before You, God
I lift my voice cause You set me free

So I shout out Your name, from the rooftops I proclaim
That I am Yours, I am Yours

All the good You’ve done for me, I lift my hands for all to see
You’re the only one who brings me to my knees
To share this love across the earth, the beauty of Your holy worth
So I kneel before You, God
I lift my hands cause You set me free

So I shout out Your name, from the rooftops I proclaim
That I am Yours, I am Yours

All that I am, I place into Your loving hands
And I am Yours, I am Yours
Here I am, I stand, with arms wide open
To the One, the Son, the Everlasting God, the Everlasting God

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

Performed by Kim Walker and Jesus Culture

* ~ ♥ ~ ✞ ~ ♥ ~ *

What if, instead of focusing on our trials and circumstances, we put our focus on the One Who is faithful???  What if we focused on ALL that God has done in our lives??? What a difference that would make!!!

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way,
consider it an opportunity for great joy.
James 1:2 NLT

Trials are opportunities for growth and to experience God in a powerful way!!!

I love this powerful statement about circumstances by Graham Cooke (from The Way of the Warrior – live version):

“Everything you are passing through right now is a learning opportunity. We need to stop treating life’s difficulties as though they shouldn’t be happening to us. They are training. They are a really important part of who you are. God allows in His wisdom what He could easily prevent by His power. The darker the situation, and the more problematic the circumstances, and the more difficult the things we have to go through, the reward on those things is substantially greater.”

Instead, let us choose to enter His gates with thanksgiving and praise for all that He has done and continues to do….

Understand, therefore, that the LORD your God is indeed God.
He is the faithful God who keeps His covenant for a thousand generations
and lavishes His unfailing love on those who love Him and obey His commands.
Deuteronomy 7:9 NLT

* ~ ♥ ~ ✞ ~ ♥ ~ *

Heavenly Father, here I stand…arms wide open…heart wide open. All that I am, I place into Your loving hands. So I shout out Your name, from the rooftops I proclaim that I am Yours, I am Yours…in Jesus’ name!! Amen!!

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

I’m Not Who I Was

May 14, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

I wish you could see me now
I wish I could show you how
I’m not who I was
I used to be mad at you
A little on the hurt side too
But I’m not who I wasI found my way around
To forgiving you
Some time ago
But I never got to tell you soI found us in a photograph
I saw me and I had to laugh
You know, I’m not who I was
You were there, you were right above me
And I wonder if you ever loved me
Just for who I wasWhen the pain came back again
Like a bitter friend
It was all that I could do
To keep myself from blaming you

I reckon it’s a funny thing
I figured out I can sing
Now I’m not who I was
I write about love and such
Maybe ’cause I want it so much
I’m not who I was

I was thinking maybe I
I should let you know
I am not the same
But I never did forget your name
Hello

Well the thing I find most amazing
In amazing grace
Is the chance to give it out
Maybe that’s what love is all about

I wish you could see me now
I wish I could show you how
I’m not who I was

Listen while you read…

~  Singer / Songwriter: Brandon Heath  ~

* ~ ♥ ~ ✞ ~ ♥ ~ *

About 6 years ago, I started mending fences and rebuilding relationships with people I had really hurt during a really horrible time in my life.  I was in a slimy pit and I was stuck there for a while.  I hurt everyone that I held most dear and  loved the most.  Can you relate?  Is there anyone in your life that you want to tell them that you aren’t that same person that you were?  Now that Jesus is first in your life again, or maybe for the first time, you want to shout it from the rooftops that your life looks so different now.  Your light shines only for Him.  You aren’t that same gossip that used to tell what you heard about others.  You aren’t that same jealous friend that wasn’t happy for the good things that happened for others.  You aren’t that same person that held a grudge instead of giving grace and forgiveness.  And doesn’t it feel good?

Brandon Heath wrote this song about his stepmom.  After his father and she got a divorce, he lost touch with her.  He didn’t try to reach out to her.  Many birthdays and holidays went by without even so much as a card.  Later, when his life was radically changed and Jesus took the wheel, he wanted her to know that he had changed.  He wasn’t that same man and he wanted her to know that he actually cared about her…he even loved her.  What an amazing story of how our Jesus takes lives and redeems them and rebuilds them and makes it so good that we want to shout it from the rooftops!

The line “I figured out I can sing, I’m not who I was” tells me that when you give your life to Jesus and you allow Him to live through you, you find gifts that He has given you that you never knew you had.  What is your life like now?  Can you go back through and see where He has changed you?  Guess what!  You don’t have to speak any words for people will know Who you serve and follow by the way you live now.  You will live your amends and apologies, and people will see the grace that you so readily give instead of holding grudges.  I’m praying with you today that our lives will reflect Him and that we will live the abundant life because we have been totally transformed!

* ~ ♥ ~ ✞ ~ ♥ ~ *

Let us pray:  Dear Lord, You still change lives radically and change us from the inside out.  You fill us with Your Spirit and we cannot help but smile and spread the joy that we have.  Thank You for the gift of forgiveness that we can readily forgive those that wrong us.  We give up the sins of our past and start living out our amends to those we have wronged.  Oh Lord, we love You!  And we are no longer who we were!  In Jesus name, amen.

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

This Is Amazing Grace

April 5, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Who breaks the power of sin and darkness?
Whose love is mighty and so much stronger?
The King of glory, the King above all kings.

Who shakes the whole earth with holy thunder
And leaves us breathless in awe and wonder?
The King of glory, the King above all kings.

This is amazing grace. This is unfailing love.
That You would take my place. That You would bear my cross.
You laid down your life that I would be set free.
Oh, Jesus I sing for all that You’ve done for me.

Who brings our chaos back into order?
Who makes the orphan a son and daughter?
The King of glory, the King of glory.

Who rules the nations with truth and justice?
Shines like the sun in all of its brilliance?
The King of glory, the King above all kings!

Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain.
Worthy is the King Who conquered the grave.
Worthy! Worthy!

This is amazing grace. This is unfailing love.
That You would take my place. That You would bear my cross.
You laid down Your life, that I would be set free.
Oh, Jesus I sing for all that You’ve done for me.

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

Written by Phil Wickham and Jeremy Riddle/Performed by Phil Wickham

 *  ~  *  ~    ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥    ~  *  ~  * 

It was five words that would change my life forever: “God is not mad at you.”  Let me give you some backstory.  I have a rich heritage of Christ followers in my family.  My grandparents laid a strong foundation of faith that has reached and shaped generations.  I was attending church in the womb – you know what I’m saying? I came to Christ at an early age, but for some reason this truth never really sunk in as it should.  I heard those five words a little over four years ago, after I married and began to return to worshipping regularly.  I thought “This guy is crazy.  He needs to stop telling folks that God is not mad at them. We’ve all sinned. God hates sin. How can he tell these people God is not mad?”  The man continued to talk about how much God loves us.  I mean, I knew that. But I began to read in my Bible to get some answers.  I needed proof to back up everything I’d learned, right?

Perhaps you’ve heard the same things I did growing up.  That my sin placed Jesus on the cross.  That every time I sinned I nailed him back up there. We learn guilt and shame and “we’re not worthy of the blood of Jesus.”  True.  We are not worthy. But what does John 3:16 say?  “God so loved the world….” Loved. LOVED the world. Loved the world so much that he gave his Son. Not that He was so angry with the world.  Not that He was so mad at the world.  Not that He was so exasperated that He was forced to send Jesus.  Nope.  LOVE.  It took me a while to come to grips with that truth, to be honest. I had to pray about it. I needed God to help me break some strongholds of religion and denomination and come to grips with what The Word said.  Can you understand what I’m saying?  You want a pure relationship with God?  You need to allow Him to break down your barriers to his unbelievable, unfathomable, supernatural, all-powerful, relentless love for you. “Yeah, but you don’t know….” I can hear those wheels turning in your head.  So can God.  Sorry, friend. God is bigger than your objections. HE. LOVES. YOU.

He loves you so much that He GAVE His Son in your place. It’s called the “divine exchange.”  Jesus took on your garbage so you could have the good stuff. MANY books have been written on the topic.  If you’d like some awesome reading, I will suggest “Bought with Blood” by Derek Prince. With Scripture it shows you exactly what Jesus took in our place when He died for us, and what we receive in return.  I could seriously be here all day talking about what happened on the Cross, but here’s a teaser, so that you can allow God to show you Himself:

  • Jesus was punished that we might be forgiven
  • Jesus was wounded that we might be healed
  • Jesus was made sin with our sinfulness that we might be made righteous with His righteousness
  • Jesus tasted death for us that we might share His life
  • Jesus was made a curse that we might receive the blessing
  • Jesus endured our poverty that we might share His abundance
  • Jesus bore our shame that we might share His glory
  • Jesus endured my rejection that I might have His acceptance with the Father
  • He was cut off that we might be joined to the Lord
  • Our old man was put to death in Him that the new man might come to life in us

Hallelujah!  This is why I love this song – it reminds me of how AWESOME God is and how deeply Jesus loves us.  “Jesus, I DO sing for all that You’ve done for me!”  Friend, let me tell you today: God is not mad at you.  God loves you.  Don’t believe me?  Ask Him to show you, just like I did.  Believe Him when He shows you.  Then watch what unfailing love can do in YOUR life!

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

Lord, I Need You

February 11, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv
~  Listen while you read, please!  ~

Lord, I come, I confess…bowing here I find my rest
Without You I fall apart; You’re the One that guides my heart

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You; every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness, Oh God, how I need You

Where sin runs deep Your grace is more; where grace is found is where You are
And where You are, Lord, I am free… holiness is Christ in me

Teach my song to rise to You when temptation comes my way
And when I cannot stand I’ll fall on You; Jesus, You’re my Hope and Stay

You’re my one defense, my righteousness, Oh God, how I need You
My one defense, my righteousness, Oh God, how I need You

Artist: Matt Maher

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

“Bowing here I find my rest…without You I fall apart; You’re the one that guides my heart….”  Oh, how this is my Truth that I live by!

He IS my Everything.  My ALL in ALL!  As long as I have God that is ALL that I need no matter what storms I may face in my lifetime.  As long as I have Him that is all that I need…even if the worst of the worst happens, or things don’t turn out the way I hope.  This is my Truth!!!

My Truth is not determined by my circumstances; I believe that somehow, someway He would get me through whatever it is.  He is the key.  I wouldn’t want to do life apart from Him.

In John 15:5 Jesus says,

I am the Vine, you are the branches.
Those who abide in Me and I in them
Bear much fruit, because apart from Me you can do nothing.

So the question I ask myself (and I want to ask yourself, too) is this:
Are you a Prisoner of Hope when storms in life come your way?? Or are you tossed to and fro depending on your circumstances??

God has shown me so much about trees.  Let me share some of this with you.  I love this excerpt from “Lessons From The Oak Tree’ blog:
“The mighty oak tree, no matter how severe the storm and how strong the wind, the oak tree will continue to stand tall – branches may break and the tree may be stripped of it’s leaves, but through it all it will continue to stand tall.” He also pointed out an interesting fact, of which I was unaware, that the roots of an oak tree can extend down into the ground up to two and one-half times their height. Now THAT, my friends, is a deeply rooted tree.

So the question for each of us is—how deeply rooted are your values? Do you let yourself be blown to-and-fro with what is currently popular? Or do you stand for what you believe in? I think that what we stand for defines who we truly are. What we do in private when no one is looking…that defines the type of person we are.

I truly believe that one way we can influence this world for good is through our example. By defining ourselves by our values and beliefs, and then sharing those values and beliefs with others through our example, we can influence others for good. Do not waiver, do not lower your standards to fit in or to be popular. Rather, raise your standards so that you can raise those around you.

Here is what Scripture says about trees:

Jeremiah 17:8 ESV
He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.

Psalm 1:3 ESV
He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

Isaiah 61:3b
They will be called mighty oaks, a planting of the LORD for the display of His splendor….

I love the strength in these trees; their roots are deep and they are grounded. No matter what storms they endure, they continue to stand firm. Oh, let this be my Truth and your Truth as well…

So no matter what you are enduring today (and believe me, I know life is hard). But I also know my God is Faithful in ALL things and He is my peace. And with Him I can get through anything that comes my way. He truly is ALL that I need….

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

Heavenly Father, I ask You now for the peace that surpasses ALL understanding for each and everyone of the ladies reading this blog.  No matter what they are currently walking through, may our Truth be that no matter what storms come our way that as long as we have You then that is Truly ALL we need!!!  In Jesus name,  AMEN!!

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