Through the Bible, life experiences, love for family & friends and the beauty of nature around me I am growing daily. I would like to share my journey with you. Three of my favorite things are Prayer, Praise and Worship. You will find lots on those topics and a dash of the rest of my life!
[The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
In Whom we have our redemption through His blood, [which means] the forgiveness of our sins
This is the first of what I pray will be many posts devoted to praising our awsome God! I plan to do this every Thursday and would love for you to join me! I would be honored if you would share with me what you are praising God for this week!
I am starting my Thankful List this week and will continue it with the Praise God post each week!
There are many days that this verse is flowing through my head. Usually, it is not because I am rejoicing and being "glad." Most of the time, if I am hearing or singing it over and over while I do the dishes or trying to get a new math concept to make sense to my six year old, it is because I need the reminder! As you may guess, today is a day that I needed to be reminded. My loving Father made this day and I can rejoice and be glad in it no matter my circumstance, mood or hormone level!
Praise God for He is Good and His Mercy Endures Forever!
What verse does your spirit sing to you when you are having "one of those days?" I would love to hear and maybe even add yours to the list I keep close by for when I need extra help!
On this special day, I prayed a prayer on the way to our new church. It is a long drive but worth every second we spend in our new church home.
I struggled finding our new church after the awesome one we left. However, in Gods time... we found the new home He had for us.
This prayer I prayed was very specific and heartfelt. For revelation regarding the authority that Jesus died to give us. The authority that His victory gives us. The authority we have over the enemy through our King of Kings.
After the awesome worship service and before the amazing childrens program, our new pastor spoke of the very thing I prayed for. This beautiful, humble, sweet man truly is in tune with the Holy Spirit. I am so blessed. We are all so blessed. I cannot tell you all he said today. I could not give it justice.
What I can say, with confidence and gratitude, is that Jesus died for our sins. And He rose from the grave, conquered it to give us victory and authority over the enemy. Death, sin, sickness, disease, addiction, etc. You don't need me to give it a name. You already have the list.
Now, all we need to grasp is that that list is ashes in the wind. Jesus Christ is our King of Kings. The Alpha and Omega. The Beginning and The End. Our Victorious Savior. As the devil is under His feet, so he is under ours. We have authority, now we just need to embrace that authority.
Take hold of the victory that Jesus gave each of us, put on your combat boots and show the devil who the boss is. The devil and his minions have no authority in your life. They are defeated already, all you have to do is remind them in the name of Jesus and they will flea faster than you can spell Victory!
Thank you, my sweet, loving and perfect Jesus. I love you and I love all of yours. I melt at the thought of Your Love!
I am changing Joyful Friday up a little this week. I have finally gotten up the courage to share my testimony of how God drew me to Him. How he took the bad decisions I made and worked them for good. How he picked me up out of the deep black pit I was in, dusted me off, wrapped His arms around me and put me back on my feet, facing Him. On His path, surrounded by Light and Love.
My wonderful friend Nikki from SimplyStriving was kind enough to take some of her precious time to read it and give me some suggestions. I am eternally grateful for her insight and kindness! Because it is so long, I have decided to make a page dedicated to it. I will give you a snippet of it today, along with a song that sings along with my spirit. Then, should you want to read the whole story and have a few extra minutes you can click on over and check it out!
Taken from "God's Story through My Life" - "So I woke up one day and decided to go with "Plan B." I began to relive the years I felt I had missed. I started drinking, doing drugs and then found less than desirable ways to make money. My goal was to make as much money as I could as fast as I could so that I could leave my first husband and my life as I knew it quickly and completely, never to look back. I was as far from God as I can ever imagine someone being."
I pray that you will read my testimony with an open mind and open heart. I also pray that you will find encouragement and hope in it. That you will be reminded that you can not stray too far from God. His love for you is perfect and unconditional.
I would love to hear from you! What is your testimony? How has God worked in your life to bring you to Him?
This is one of my and my families favorite worship songs and bands. We love Rock music and Worship music and this band has perfectly combined the two! Seventh Day Slumbers Take Everything Album is full of wonderful worship songs and this is the one we listen to the most. If it was a cassette, it would be warped right now!
I am so full of gratitude and praise for our Mighty King that I am almost speechless. Today, I am going to let the song speak for itself.
I pray that your spirit is lifted from this song.
I am linking up with Grow Where You're Planted for Tune-in Tuesdays! We would love if you would join us with your favorite Worship song!
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
This is one of the first scriptures I learned. It defines faith. Today, I read this verse in the Amplified Bible for the first time. It blew me away. It is fascinating to me how having more insight to the original meaning of the words and language used in penning the Bible opens so much in understanding.
Hebrews 11:1AMP
Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed*) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].
{*emphasis mine}
How many times have you asked God for something, having full faith that He will answer you, then walking back out into your daily life start having the "but if it doesn't happen" thoughts or that little voice in your head planting seeds of doubt? I know I do, often.
If you inherited a home that you had never seen and were handed the title deed to the home, would you doubt its existence? Would you need to see photographs of it before you bought your plane ticket to go take possession of it? Would you say to your friends, "well, I hope this house is mine." Or would you say "I have a home in ...! Would you like to come with me to see it?"
God has so much for each of us. So many blessings and rewards. Our part is to believe, have faith, accept them as reality before the realization of them. When you ask God for something, before you end your prayer, thank Him for it as if it has already happened. Then water that prayer continually with praise and thanksgiving. Also, I have learned to live out that faith. To live life as if it is already answered, not as if I am not sure if it will happen.
God is so Good, so Faithful. HE LOVES YOU! And so do I!
I pray you have a blessed and joy filled day!
Today I am linking up with Barbie for Fresh Brewed Sundays - Come on over and join us!
I am starting something new! Joyful Fridays! Every Friday I am going to post on Joy and how we can have more of it in our lives. I would love to make this a Link Party or Blog Hop but I am not sure I have the following for that just yet. If this is something you would be interested in, please let me know in comments or email!
This is one of my favorite songs by Casting Crowns off of their Until the Whole World Hears album and it going 'round and 'round in my head last night inspired me!
There are so many scriptures in the bible on Joy and Joyful that I am sure that this is something that God wants us to have lots of in our lives. In John 10:10, Jesus tells us that he came so that we can have an abundant life and to enjoy it! Each Friday I am going to give a verse on Joy and share a little of my own insight and how I apply it in my life.
Psalm 95:1-3
Amplified Bible (AMP)
1O COME, let us sing to the Lord;
let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation! 2Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise!
3For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
I would like to say that I am consistent each day but I am not. That is something I am working on. However, on the days that I make the time to spend time with God and to sing and make a joyful noise to Him, I can feel and see the difference. He is our Rock, our King; the Alpha and Omega. We live in a chaotic and ever changing world. We can rejoice in the fact that our God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow!
Maybe you aren't comfortable singing out loud. Maybe you were not gifted with a singing voice. Well, I fit both categories and am here to tell you that you should forget yourself and just try it. Yes, some of us even have to step out in faith just to sing out loud! Once I got over my own insecurities and reminded myself that this was not for me but for God; that it is not a contest but a way for me to bring joy and praise to my King; I let go and let loose! It felt great! Once we ask Jesus into our hearts, we are filled with Him, His Holy Spirit. When I focus on praising and worshiping God with my less than lovely voice, Holy Spirit steps in and helps. That is why He is here, to be our helper, counselor, comforter. To step in and fill in where we are weak, broken, unable.
So turn on your favorite worship song or just click play above and SING, SING, SING! Make a JOYFUL NOISE and start (or finish) your day with the peace and joy of the Lord!
I would love to hear from you. What songs do you enjoy singing out? What things bring you joy each day?
I have some days that I am just not on my game. So far, this week as been full of them. I tend to beat myself up for these days, telling myself that I am doing something wrong or not having enough faith. Most times, when I can pull my head out of the funk I realize that I am putting words in Gods' mouth. I have to continually remind myself that I have become the righteousness of God through Jesus Christ. For someone that has been anything but righteous in life and is very aware of the bad choices made, this is a very hard concept to accept. It is easy to say, write on an index card, memorize and repeat; but truly believing it, acting accordingly, not condemning myself at every turn, is another thing completely.
2 Corinthians 5:21
Amplified Bible (AMP)
21For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [[a]endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness].
In comparison to many I know, I am a fairly young Christian. It was only 4 years ago that I began to truly understand the truth, love, mercy and grace of our God. I knew of Him, knew the bible pretty well, but I never knew Him. I had prayed the "sinners prayer" in the past but was just going through the motions. I really had no idea what I was saying or what it truly meant. Being so young in my faith, I wonder, how long before I start to find stability in my standing with Christ? How long is it going to take me to get it through my head that He loves me and forgives me, sees me approved, acceptable, righteous? Not through my eyes or my works, but through the blood and Resurrection of Jesus.
See, I know these things, yet still I sit here feeling like a mess. Then I am reminded of Philippians.
Philippians 4:6-7
Amplified Bible (AMP)
6Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition ([a]definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. 7And God's peace [shall be yours, that [b]tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall[c]garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
So now, I will run into His arms and remember that the riches of His love will always be enough. Today I will sing and dance to my Lord. Starting with Forever Reign that I posted about yesterday. Loud and often. The best time to sing and dance to God is the time that you feel the least like doing it.
Psalm 149:3-4
Amplified Bible (AMP)
3Let them praise His name in chorus and choir and with the [single or group] dance; let them sing praises to Him with the tambourine and lyre! 4For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation and adorn the wretched with victory.
Just typing this out and reading over these verses has already started to mend my soul. It is going to be a good day after all.
I would love to hear your thoughts. Do you struggle with these feelings? If so, how do you deal with them? Did this post and these scriptures help you?
Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night with a tornado of "to-do's" going round and round in your head? I do... often. Sometimes it is just the daily stuff around the house or a looming bill and then other times I feel plagued that I am not doing enough for God or to further his kingdom.
After reading John 6:28-29 I took a deep breath, calmly thought about it and then let out a huge sigh of relief along with a song of praise!
John 6:28-29 in the Amplified Bible reads "28They then said, What are we to do, that we may [habitually] be working the works of God? [What are we to do to carry out what God requires?]
29Jesus replied, This is the work (service) that God asks of you: that you believe in the One Whom He has sent [that you cleave to, trust, rely on, and have faith in His Messenger]."
I don't take it to mean that I am not supposed to preach the good news or clean my kitchen. However, it is such a relief to know that the act of believing in Jesus, cleaving to him, relying on him is a service to God in itself. I can do that! I do that! So, now I go from self condemnation to peace and relief. I count that as a good day!
The next time you wake up in the wee hours and feel that boulder on your chest and the buzz in your mind... remember to cleave to, trust, rely on and have faith in the One Whom He has sent... our beautiful, powerful and victorious Jesus Christ!
22It is because of the Lord's mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassion's fail not. 23They are new every morning; great and abundant is Your stability and faithfulness.
I don't know about you, but if the Lord's mercy and loving-kindness were not fresh everyday, I would be in a lot of trouble! I am grateful to know that when I fail, His compassion does not. He knows me and understands me and He loves me anyway! Once I wrapped my head around that, I was brought to my knees. Each day I have to be reminded and each day He is faithful to remind me that He is Love.
My intention with this blog is to give voice to my journey - My physical, spiritual, creative and mental journeys. At 35, I have already passed much of the journey and will add those flashbacks as I feel inspired. For now, I am going to start with the present - because it is a gift!
The reason for this intention is the hope that even one person may read this blog and feel encouraged. No matter where you are in life, there is always hope for today and tomorrow. If you are beat down, broken, jaded or just plain tired, then stick with me. I have faith you will see "light" closer than the end of the tunnel!
In sharing this Truth and Love I will also share myself. Not a "church face" but the real me, with real struggles, joys, lessons and tons of laughs and love. Being a homeschooling mom, stay at home wife, artist at heart if not in skill and a lover of all things beautiful, I venture to say that this should be a pretty interesting mix of information!
I am fumbling my way through "this blog thing" and hope to have more for you soon!
