http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl6i3XvomzE&feature=player_embedded
My testimony. God's story. God's Glory.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Sunday, July 7, 2013
weakness
"But he said, ' My grace is sufficient for you: my power is made perfect in your weakness' ..."
2 Corinthians 12:9
Monday, June 24, 2013
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
misunderstood or maybe just mistaken,
but never sorry for that day.
When I let him go.
I fell to my knees and praying for peace.
To me he had to suffer for my mistake,
Deep somewhere under all those memories we made,
I knew he couldn't stay
Was it weakness or strength that made me turn away...
I can't wish away the pain, I am the only one to blame
Hearts crack before they break
Cracked by the weight of all the memories that told me he couldn't stay
Why look for value in a man who will never love you the right way.
I know now am not my own to just give away
Now I have to live with the pain
and explain to others why he couldn't stay.
But take it from me sweet one
Its worth the wait.
I now have peace about that dark day.
Monday, June 10, 2013
Humbled I confess
who I am, I am that wretch
Down on my knees
I say once more,
Be with me my blessed Lord
My brokenness I cannot hide
weaknesses become my greatest pride
now marked by you in all I do
be glorified, Lord take my life
Your promises I don't deserve
My value is now found in your infinite worth
Draw me close, close to your side
nowhere else satisfies
Praise you, for my emptiness
you know how long it took me to confess
My way is empty a vain pursuit
to put anything else before you
Here and now, everyday renew my sight
show me your way, I seek your light
You paid my debt with the greatest price
forevermore Lord use my life
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Monday, June 3, 2013
obedience
If you know me at all you know I LOVE HISTORY. Seriously, it's so cool. A few years ago my family did the whole tourism thing in Washington DC. I remember a one particularly beautiful exhibit; we put on the nerdy head phones and strolled around just reminiscing and learning about times past. I was in such awe of the well preserved beautiful relics. It was so surreal not the objects itself but what they had been through rich history oozed from them making the past almost tangible.
After accepting the precious gift of grace, we now are a new creation. A creation with a purpose no longer our own, we exist solely for the glory of God. We are living exhibits of eternal love. We are all living and walking displays of the power of the living God. This is why once we become a Christian we are called to a life of obedience, a life of holiness. We can not live recklessly guided by our ever changing emotions! Obedience is an outward reflection of inward change. Jesus changed your life? Good, live it! Does your life look normal? Jesus didn’t die for us to live normally. Hear me out. I am not saying sell all your possessions and move to a third world country…which is great if that's what you are called to do, but most of us just need to strive for a life continually growing in Jesus where we are planted.
As a Christian, there will never be a point where you wake up and go shoot dang, I have arrived!!
I’ve made it with the most awesome job, the kids, the husband everything I want wow. How awesome this is the life. NOO this does not happen. Our hearts are always looking to worship something and if it isn’t Jesus it will be something. Ourselves, others, relationships, careers, people, family. It is a long obedience.
I’ve made it with the most awesome job, the kids, the husband everything I want wow. How awesome this is the life. NOO this does not happen. Our hearts are always looking to worship something and if it isn’t Jesus it will be something. Ourselves, others, relationships, careers, people, family. It is a long obedience.
When we become saved there are four things our lives become.
A gift from the lord
A temptation to sin
A responsibility to the lord as His stewards
A threat to our identity in Christ .
Love is a gift and obedience is a reaction, an outward sign of inward change. Personally this concept took me longer than I’d care to admit to learn and honestly its still a huge work in progress.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Sunday, May 26, 2013
As Christians, we have something so special so
unique so organic and rare it can never be stolen. This is hope. On a not so awesome day, I sometimes wish I
could just jump in to Abba’s arms and nussle my face in his shoulder and use
his robes to dry my moist eyes. I call this moment God hug moments. Its one of
true humility and yearning for comfort, when you know you weren’t made for this
world because nothing truly satisfies.
If
you do not feel the need for a savior, then you are your own hope. You are your
own savior. It is up to you to understand the world and make your own peace and
if you mess up welp, better luck next time.
How
discouraging! Being young is difficult in the way that we are expected to be a
hope for the generation to come. Yeah no pressure. But how can a generation of broken people
offer peace and healing? The misconception culture tries to sell us is that if
all of us collaborate together we can bring good in the world. No really, you are hurt and broken just be
okay just heal your own scars and be your own healer and when you can’t buy our
product. (consumerism is a topic for a different day) What if WE ALL FAIL? What do we do then?
With hope also comes honesty. We can’t hold on to
hope if we don’t think we need it outside of ourselves. You see I truly believe
as Christians we sweep things under the rug and say Jesus take it without
dealing with the issue. We do ourselves a HUGE disfavor we are really saying
that, “yeah God you are big, but you aren’t big enough to cover all of my sins
well maybe some but not that really ugly one hidden in the depths of my heart”
Oh how you miss out on the JOY that is promised. The last word of the passage
is reconciliation You have been reconciled to the savior of the universe and he
will stop at NOTHING to make sure you are completely devoted to him in every
area of your life.
Joy is a result of hope.. Do not put your hope in
things that will only leave you void! They will suck up all your joy in your soul like a vacuum! I pray that you
find daily JOY in the hope of the glory of God,
rejoice in the suffering, and rejoice in his glorious gift of grace
Choose Joy.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Security Check
The more I talk to young women the more I run across
the topic of security. Security of a future, job, relationships, family, career
whatever the case maybe. But security in something. I had a friend who recently
lost a huge portion of her security in life and was describing the void and
pain it brought her. The pain made it hard to be herself amidst the brokenness
and insecurity. It was a situation beyond her control. She lamented the fact that a majority of her
Christian friends were telling her nonchalantly to pray about it and give it to
God.
While that advice is true, I
couldn’t help but think. God already has it…he doesn’t need us to give him
anything. Nothing we have could bring
God anymore happiness than he already has. But what God does want is to be our
security. He will take anything away that breeds a false sense of security,
leaving us feeling hurt and broken which is just a portrayal of how we already
look to Abba.
If we think we have it all together we are sadly mistaken. I have
made this mistake several times. Gripping and grasping and what I think will
bring me happiness when instead I am worshiping the created rather than the
Creator. In my friends case the Lord tore her down to rock bottom to understand
that Christ has to be her Rock.
Revelation 3:17 You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.'
But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”
This is our CONSTANT spiritual
condition. But often times we forget how broken we truly are! As my friend kept
pouring out her heart to me, I thought man this is such an opportunity to grow!
Just like we grow
physically we also grow spiritually. During this season of her life and she is
learning to grow in security in the Lord. It is a daily heart check.
C.S lewis
states that our hearts are Idol making factories. If the Lord isn’t our God
daily our hearts will find something else to worship. This is why God uses
broken people. Broken people realize their NEED.
If you don’t recognize your
sickness you don’t get to see the doctor. God is a healer of the broken. But
this requires the Holy Spirits conviction for your sin. Repentance is key. When
we go through dry spells as Christians we often feel far away from God he is
not our security, he is our emotional peace. This is sometimes because we
forget to repent daily of our sins. Repentance is not easy. But we cannot
accept the cure if we don’t accept the diagnosis. The diagnosis is sin is our
personal cancer. Knawwing on every ounce of effort and good thing we have.
Take a few minutes to read what God says about it.
Soul Food.
Psalm 40:2
Psalm 16:8
Eph1:13
Psalm 46:1
Isaiah 52: 13
Hebrews 13:8
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Wretched
Wretched creature that I am
Guided by emotions which deceive and enslave
Pure, organic desires turned dark and twisted
Remorse is a long lost friend
One who haunts and lingers when my desires run rampant
I have distanced myself
He would not recognize me anymore
Ignoring his guilt, shame
I cover myself with my own remedy
One which heals at night, but diminishes at dawn
For what sin can light not hide?
Wretched creature that I am
Have I forgotten that the dawn reaches every crevice and crack in my soul?
Every unspoken word, silent thought
Oh, how I have missed you remorse!
But Please do not come alone, my soul is spacious
Bring conviction and change of heart
A heart which proclaims repentance
Beats of forgiveness
Wretched creature that I am who can save?
But You Mighty one,
You exchange my wretchedness for worth
Oh, how have I found favor in the eyes of the one who made the skies?!
how I love grace.
Grace to save the wretch like me.
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Conquerors
Greek: Hupernikao
Definition : Prevail mightily, Surpassing victory
Romans 8:28
God fights for you. Everyday he fights for your attention. Be real: its not going to look normal to the world. True faith in the Lord is going to be so HARD. It involves complete surrender of yourself daily. Are you ready for this? It is going to expose all of your insecurities. Then it will push you WAY out of your comfort zone.
You have been given ground by God to stand and be a
beacon of light for him. It is such a privilege. Don’t confine yourself through sin and
insecurity which has no place for those who love Jesus.
This means fighting for God too. Finding time daily
to meet with Him, talk with him, study his word. How are you supposed to defend
your faith if you aren’t willing to grow in it? The only truth in the world is
that of the Gospel. Stand on it. Build your life on it. You have a God who shuts the mouths of lions
and conquered kingdoms reigning over your life and loves you. Do not be
disheartened by the brokenness of this world. The devil will try to make the
mediocre look normal and beautiful. But it is not fulfilling it leaves you craving
more and never satisfied. Too cruel and
too true.
Friday, May 17, 2013
Softly and Tenderly
Softly and tenderly
Softly and tenderly you speak to me
A still small voice carries
farther than the loudest cry
Cries of fear, failure, disappointment
Hot tears flood my eyes and cloud my vision of your glorious skies
The skies that prove that life does indeed go on,
For you stand outside of time, space and circumstance
With the same soft and tender voice
You gently lift my forlorn spirit
from its anguish and self inflicted pain
Lungs once filled with feathers now evenly expand and fill with life
Not my life, but a chance to live life outside myself.
Outside my insecurities, internal boundaries…they all crumple.
When I realized my whole life I was fighting for a fist full of air
A vain empty pursuit, now that I’ve met you.
You who fling sanguine sunsets over oceans.
Make mountains with a mere thought,
Dangle the moon above my worries and dazzle my heart with your stars.
The flowers invite me to dance
with them as they sway perfectly to the rhythm of your love
You are all I want. Help me remember that when you are all I need.
Softly tenderly love me for the rest of my life.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Promises Kept
Sometimes you gotta reach rock bottom to understand that Christ needs to be the Rock you build your life upon. Yup. I've been there.
These promises have me so hope and encouragement I hope they do the same for you!! :)
As most young adults, I long for security. In my future,
friendships, careers, and in this weird- awkward transition into adulthood, it
is so easy to buy into the security that the world offers if we are not rooted
deeply in the word of the Lord. When the lies of the world crumble around us it
can be a terrifying experience especially if we have built our lives upon them.
Swallowed up and spit out by the world drying up all of our hopes and
dreams.
This is why it is so incredibly important that as
young men and women we build our lives on the promises of God; first and
foremost being the Bible. Leaving our past behind but not forgetting what we
learned and building our lives on TRUTH. Sometimes I get so consumed in the
planning of my life I’ll wake up in the morning praising Jesus, but by noon I
am wrapped up in my own agenda.
When I was a naïve young, freshman in college, I
thought I had my future completely set, (not saying that I have everything perfect now ha, thats a joke) But then, I met a man who loved me more than
anything, was accepted into the program of my choice in university everything
seemed to be going swimmingly. So I prayed a prayer I have written to this day
saying, God I want to serve you the best way possible, if that means taking
everything do it, I don’t care I just want you!!
Okay, heed to those who pray for that, God will take
it. And he took it and more, friendships, my career of choice, the man who I
thought loved me. Yup, God answered and I was not too happy about it. I was
going to take on the world alone. I had nothing, but I still had faith that God
had a plan, so I began to think. God, you promise me yourself and you are good,
therefore you promise me good! I don’t see ANY good in my life but you promise
it in the Bible so I am going to find it and take you up on it! Thus, began my
journey into the Holy World of God in pursuit of the promises he mercifully
makes to broken people. I delved head first into the word like my life depended
upon it, honestly I needed it to function still do. I wouldn’t wish that
situation on anybody but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.. These are a few of the promises I leaned on during
that crucial time in my life. I saw it as pain in my life but I look back now
and know that I was just growing in Jesus. They were Growing Pains.
These promises have me so hope and encouragement I hope they do the same for you!! :)
Discouragement
Proverbs 19:21
Proverbs 3:5-7
Joshua 23: 14
Courage
Genesis 14:7
Joshua 10:42
2 Chronicles 13:18
Trust
Hebrews 10:18-35
Hope/ Joy
James 1:2-4
Romans 5:1-11
Security
Psalm 40:2
Psalm16:8
Eph 1:13
Psalm 46:1
Isaiah 52:13
Hebrews 13:8
I hear the Savior say
Thy strenght indeed is small
child of weakness watch and pray
Find in me Thine ALL in ALL
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