My Hope Is In You by Aaron Shust

One surprise treat at the Relevant Conference came when Aaron Shust and his wife joined us for lunch one day.  Aaron sang this song following the moving testimony of his wife on how they almost lost their small son to illness.



God is our hope!
Our only true, abiding, constant care.

He promises good!
I'm looking for the good promised me today.
It is here!  
Past all I see with the natural eye—

within the hard, 

the sad, 

the struggle, 

the insecurity,

the confusion,

the doubt, 

the regret . . .

I find His good in the thumbprint of Jesus's image on my soul.

What's the good He's working in your life today?
How is the image of Christ being pressed into your clay?

We Are Blessed! Rejoice and Be Glad!

Multiple scriptures profess the steadfast faithfulness of God to remain near us during our time of difficulty.  I am tired today and have much to do in my world, so I can’t take the time to look them up and post them for you.  But Joshua 1:9 is one that pops to mind quickly in these days . . .

“Be strong and courageous.

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” 

Wherever . . . and in whatever!

Four weeks ago today, my life changed in the blink of an eye.

But Abba is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

He is only faithful!

He is truly merciful!

We are greatly blessed!

We are perfectly loved!

But I am also flesh and blood— and I struggle, I hurt and I am sad.

I am so grateful for a Savior who loves me in the midst of my weakness just as much as when I am responding strong!

“This is the day the Lord has made.  

I will rejoice and be glad in it!” 

Ps 118:24

My dryer was not drying, now it is fixed—I rejoice and am glad!

My Littles have been sick, but are now well—I rejoice and am glad!

Co-op begins Friday, I am unprepared...but—I rejoice and am glad!

So many have loved & carried us to Abba—I rejoice and am glad!

I do not understand the silence of others...but—I rejoice and am glad!

The medical bills have begun to hit...but—I rejoice and am glad!

I am weepy & struggle to focus on things...but—I rejoice and am glad!

The Fair is on and the Fair is fun—I rejoice and am glad!

We are surrounded by kindness & generosity—I rejoice and am glad!

I miss the voice I have loved hearing since I was 14...but—

I rejoice and am glad!

The Blessed Controller of ALL Things!

Yes! . . . that is who God is!

He even controls the shuffle of songs on ipods!  As He did for me yesterday while in the waiting room of the rehab area of our hospital when my husband was in speech therapy.

This is the list of songs God played for me!  

Each one a love song, 

an encouragement for my faith, 

a boost of remembrance into who He is and who I am in Christ.  

The butterflies were swirling as we awaited the appointment with hubby's neurologist.  I'll share that tomorrow, but I can't help but smile again this morning as I remember His grace gift to me yesterday.

I couldn't help but share them with all of you in hopes that you too feel loved, encouraged and boosted in your relationship with Abba!

Soli Deo Gloria!
To God alone the glory!


My Beloved, by Kari Jobe



Strong Tower, by Kutless



You Are God Alone, by Phillips, Craig & Dean



You Are For Me, by Kari Jobe



I Belong, by Kathryn Scott



Revelation Song, by Kari Jobe (yes...I really like Kari Jobe! :)



I Lift My Hands, by Chris Tomlin

Women of Faith Worship—Rejoice! . . . A Music CD Review

When the Thomas Nelson Company offered me the chance to review the latest Women of Faith Worship CD, I was ecstatic!  Immediately I was reminded of the Renewing the Heart Conference I attended years ago.  What an impact that music had on me!  I actually wore out my tape! 

Yes . . . it was long enough ago to be on cassette tape!

Yes . . . I am that old! J

Unfortunately, I was pretty disappointed with WOF’s album—Rejoice.  The lyrics are fine, the singers nice, the song-choice okay—the total package is simply lacking.  From first listen, I was ready for each song to be over part way through, hoping the next one would get better.  I never felt impacted or drawn into worship—which is the point, right? 

There are 10 songs total—a mix of new alongside popular worship songs out on radio.  In my opinion, the popular ones fell flat and the instrumentation throughout was mediocre.  They all started to sound the same.  With so many powerful worship songs/albums available, this one falls short of being worth the add to my ipod or CD player.

Perhaps if I had attended the Women of Faith event I would feel differently about this album.  Those who experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit moving amongst the raised hands and voices of thousands of women gathered in Jesus name may enjoy this.  Being personally involved in that kind of experience WOULD make the difference! 

But for me, having missed the impactful event, I never felt impacted by the music they shared together.

Disclosure: Thomas Nelson Company provided me Women of Faith Worship: Rejoice for free for review purposes with no expectation that I would provide a positive review.  The thoughts and opinions shared are entirely my own.

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Be Still

Be still . . .
Wait upon the Lord . . .
Rest and quiet ushers salvation and strength . . .

Learning new habits take practice— 

and patience in the process!

Thank you for always being HERE . . .

 with me—wherever I am 

physically, emotionally, spiritually!

Thank you, Father, for your immense—immeasurable—inescapable love!

Joy Comes In The Morning!

Joy has come in the redemption of sins!  
In the seeker being found!  
In the lost being directed.  
In the broken-hearted being loved!

“O death, where is your victory?  O death, where is your sting?” 1 Cor. 15:55

Death could not hold redemptive Love in the grave!

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.’” John 14:6

For the unloved one—
He is the personal and intimate, unconditional and thoughtful agape love.

For the depressed, the rejected, the grieving one—
He is the deep joy not understood nor sustained by this broken world.

For the weary, restless, worried one—
He is peace; sweet, deep, all encompassing and thoroughly sufficient, restful peace!

For the hurt, bitter, sinful one—
He is far reaching forgiveness that frees from living in hell; both eternally and while here on earth.

For the broken and empty one—
He completes the design originally intended and the freedom that comes in living within it.

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” John 14:27

Resurrection morning is God’s love realized to the world.  He cannot make us choose Him, but He woos us with His love.

Resurrection morning is His matchless joy shouting out to all the generations, all the Kingdoms and all the worlds.

Resurrection morning is His peace deeply realized as death no longer has the final say in any life.

Resurrection morning is absolute forgiveness of sins and all deceit of the evil one conquered.

Resurrection morning is completion of the work of the Son for the Father.  

"It is finished!"

“If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9

Easter is God’s love triumphing once for all—forever—over evil!

What love—what joy—what peace...in forgiveness & completeness.  

All because of the cross, the tomb and the resurrection power 

of God through Christ Jesus. 

“To the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever.  Amen.” Romans 16:27

~artwork by Ron DiCianni~

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Prayer For Deliverance From Self

Deliver me, O Jesus,
From the desire of being loved,
From the desire of being extolled,
From the desire of being honored,
From the desire of being praised,
From the desire of being preferred,
From the desire of being consulted,
From the desire of being approved,
From the desire of being popular,
From the fear of being humiliated,
From the fear of being despised,
From the fear of suffering rebuke,
From the fear of being slandered,
From the fear of being forgotten,
From the fear of being wronged,
From the fear of being ridiculed,
From the fear of being suspected.
Amen


~The Missionaries of Charity~

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Praying For Your Children

1.  PRAY THAT THEY WILL KNOW CHRIST AS SAVIOR EARLY IN LIFE

O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Psalm 63:1

And that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:15

2.  PRAY THAT THEY WILL HAVE A HATRED FOR SIN

Hate evil, you who love the LORD, who preserves the souls of His godly ones; He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.  Psalm 97:10

3.  PRAY THAT THEY WILL BE CAUGHT WHEN GUILTY

It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.  Psalm 119:71

4.  PRAY THAT THEY WILL BE PROTECTED FROM THE EVIL ONE IN EACH AREA OF THEIR LIVES: SPIRITUALLY, EMOTIONALLY, PHYSICALLY, INTELLECTUALLY AND SOCIALLY

I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.  John 17:15

5.  PRAY THAT THEY WILL HAVE A RESPONSIBLE ATTITUDE IN ALL THEIR INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps because he possessed an extraordinary spirit, and the king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom.  Daniel 6:3

6.  PRAY THAT THEY WILL RESPECT PEOPLE IN AUTHORITY OVER THEM

Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities for there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.  Romans 13:1

7.  PRAY THAT THEY WILL DESIRE THE RIGHT KIND OF FRIENDS AND BE PROTECTED FROM THE WRONG FRIENDS

My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path.  Proverbs 1:10, 15

8.  PRAY THAT THEY, AS WELL AS THEIR FUTURE SPOUSE, WILL BE KEPT PURE

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?  For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.  1 Corinthians 6:19-20

9.  PRAY THAT THEY WILL BE KEPT FROM THE WRONG SPOUSE AND SAVED FOR THE RIGHT ONE

Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 2 Corinthians 6:14, 15

10.  PRAY THAT THEY WILL LEARN TO SUBMIT TOTALLY TO GOD AND ACTIVELY RESIST SATAN IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES

Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7

11.  PRAY THAT THEY WILL BE SINGLE-HEARTED, WILLING TO BE SOLD OUT TO JESUS CHRIST

I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2

12.  PRAY THAT THEY WILL BE HEDGED IN SO THEY CANNOT FIND THEIR WAY TO WRONG PEOPLE OR WRONG PLACES, AND THE WRONG PEOPLE CANNOT FIND THEIR WAY TO THEM

Therefore, behold, I will hedge up her way with thorns, and I will build a wall against her so that she cannot find her paths. Hosea 2:6

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Linked up with Far Above Rubies, {Titus2}sDays, Living Well Wednesdays and Raising Homemakers

River God

Rolling River God 
Little Stones are smooth 
Only once the water passes through 
So I am a stone 
rough and grainy still 
Trying to reconcile this river's chill


CHORUS: 
But when I close my eyes 
and feel you rushing by 
I know that time brings change 
and change takes time 
And when the sunset comes 
my prayer would be this one 
that you might pick me up 
and notice that I am 
just a little smoother in your hand


Sometimes raging wild 
sometimes swollen high 
never have I known this river dry 
The deepest part of you 
is where I want to stay 
and feel the sharpest edges wash away

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I Belong

Oh, how I wish that all of you could be studying "covenants" with me! You are never alone if you have entered into a covenant relationship with God! The two become one in a covenant and it cannot be broken.  Not only that, but in covenant you enter into a binding relationship with all those your partner are in covenant with as well!  We are covenant brothers and sisters in Christ!

So unlike our relationships today--fickle, selfish, emotional, dependant upon positive circumstances being in place. No...a covenant relationship with God cannot be revoked--He will never break it. He will never, never, never leave us alone!

"I will not forget you. Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands." Isaiah 49:15, 16

Lovely song...lovely reminder. Nothing can or will seperate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.


(Please pause the music on my sidebar before beginning the video)

~I Belong by Kathryn Scott~

What's Your Song?

Have you ever asked about your song?  You know—the one that God is singing over you!  Don’t you kind of want to ask and find out?  I mean...really...the God of all the universe is with you, is delighting in you, is loving you and rejoicing over you with singing!!!!  Don’t you want to know what He is singing over you???  I’ll admit I sure do!

“The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save.  He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”  Zephaniah 3:17

I asked Him once before and heard the song “It is Well” in reply.  At first I thought, how can He be singing this over me?  A little more time spent quietly in His presence and He showed me it was “well with my soul” because it was well between Him and I!  (You can read a little more on that exchange here if you’d like.)

So last night, before going to bed, I took the authority that is mine through Christ Jesus over my thoughts and asked again... “Are you singing over me today?  If so, what song?”

Immediately my mind was flooded with a song I have not heard, sung or even thought of for years!  The chorus of Keith Green’s, “O Lord You’re Beautiful”.   But...the words were changed and I wrote them out in my journal as they sang in my head...

My child...you’re beautiful

Your face is all I see

And when your eyes are on My own

My grace abounds to thee!

(I’ve listed the complete original lyrics to this song at the end if you are unfamiliar with it.)

I just let the words sing over and over and over again before feeling led to write down more thoughts from Him concerning me.

“You are beautiful because you are My daughter and My treasured creation.  Beauty is in all I do.  Beauty and love for all My creation.  My attention is always turned towards you.  Because I love you.  Keep your eyes on Me and My grace will continue to abound in and over your life.”

He is singing over you as well.  In the stillness of your time with Him today, ask Him about your song.  His love for you is not a secret!  Believe in this lavish love and listen for it.

Ask...believing...and you shall receive....

Keith Green—O Lord You’re Beautiful

Oh Lord, You’re Beautiful

Your face is all I see

For when your eyes are on this child

Your grace abounds to me

Oh Lord, Please light the fire

That once burned bright and clean

Replace the lamp of my first love

That burns with holy fear

I want to take your word and shine it all around

But first help me just to live it, Lord

And when I’m doing well, help me to never seek a crown

For my reward is giving glory to you

Healing Begins

This is my current favorite song--Healing Begins by Tenth Avenue North

True healing begins when grace collides with the darkness within.  The light that is grace dispels as it disperses hidden darkness that the evil one prefers stay hidden.  Once the light shines in and on us we have a choice to make.  Allow healing and restoration that is ours in Christ Jesus through confession and repentance. Or...return to the control of the darkness.  But once the True Light of Christ has shone--ignorance is not bliss. 

"Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed.  The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much" James 5:16.

Satan loses power over us when, first of all, we become aware of what he is up to.  Secondly, when we share our struggles, our sins, our weaknesses--our broken places--with each other.  By prayer and insight, counsel and encouragement--his powerful darkness lightens, his tight grip loosens.

Ask God to shine His light on the dark areas in you.  Allow the sweetness of brokenness to sweep you off your "good enough" pedestal.  This is where healing and freedom begins...where the light meets the dark!


~You will need to pause the music player on my sidebar before playing this video~

The Knots Prayer

I apologize for my sporadic posting lately--sick kids and a lot of life going on around here.  Little time for contemplation, just conversation with God! :)  A friend shared this with me and I felt it was worth passing on...

May God bless you in your walk today--wherever He takes you and to whomever He puts in your path!

A Play Date With Words—Haiku

I peer at the edge
where sanity is kept, lost.
Nap! Edge disappears.

Follow, Beloved.

True adventure awaits you.

Deepest purpose found!

(An enjoyable way to wake up from a nap--spend a few minutes playing with words!)

Thank You Jesus!

Before The Throne of God--A beautiful song with amazing, powerful lyrics...perfectly echoes the resonance of Resurrection Sunday!

(remember to pause my music on the sidebar before playing)

Walk By Faith

This broken road I journey on is God's will for me.  All of it!  It is also a walk by faith.

He has prepared a path of restoration!

God’s will for me is that I work through, work out, my sanctification (Phil. 2:12, 13).  It's not easy.  But there is no easy road to great purpose and great glory.  Those who don’t work--who won’t die to the flesh, who won’t stay out of the world’s clothes, who won't allow brokenness over sin lead them to repentance, who won't trust Him through the twists and turns--will not reap the sweetest reward!  


Those who do are the ones most blessed. 

They are those who are truly in a relationship with God—not just following religious forms.  They are those who talk regularly with God—not just in time of crisis.  They are those who hear frequently from God—not just what they hear from sermons.  They are those who are guided by God—not just tossed to and fro.  They are those who are rewarded both on earth and in heaven.  


They are those who travel the broken road in freedom!

It’s a choice for everyone.  Choosing great growth and great victory will be born, at times, out of great pain and/or effort (but never striving!) 

My flesh will want to trump God’s efforts.  The evil one will attempt to join with my flesh in victory over me—over God.  But what he does not accept is that ultimate, complete victory is already God’s!  And it is mine!  I just keep my eyes, my heart fixed on Jesus!  I let the refining come and join in it.  Triumph is near!

Join me in pressing in and pressing on!  Rejoice!



Rejoice in your personally planned, broken road, prepared by the Designer just for you!

~You will need to pause my music player on the sidebar before listening to this video~

WALK BY FAITH by Jeremy Camp


Would I believe you when you would say
Your hand will guide my every way
Will I receive the words You say
Every moment of every day


Well I will walk by faith
Even when I cannot see it
Well because this broken road
Prepares Your will for me


Help me to win my endless fears
You've been so faithful for all my years
With the one breath You make me
Your grace covers all I do


yeah, yeah , yeah, yeah, ya


Well I'm broken- but I still see Your face
Well You've spoken- pouring Your words of grace


Well hallelujah, hallelu
(I will walk by faith)
Well hallelujah, hallelu
(I will walk by faith)


I will walk, I will walk, I will walk by faith
I will, I will, I will walk by faith

Fellowship in the Garden—Then and Now

My thoughts rest this morning on God’s benevolent intent towards me!

I am His and He is mine.  His love is perfect, mine has its shortcomings.  But His love towards me is never altered nor affected by my imperfections. 

He never walks away from me out of disgust.  He never responds dejectedly to my neglect.  He never shakes His finger at me disapprovingly.

He faithfully stays by my side and lovingly, graciously, mercifully massages my heart towards Him. 

It is my truest desire to be found faithful in Him.  How often I fall short.  How often I miss the mark.  How often I cringe at thoughts and reactions that respond out of me. 

I weep over this sinful flesh. 

There are victories, to be sure.  Who I am today is so unlike the me of yesterday.  I have learned to rest in His sanctification schedule over my life.  I embrace His holiness and desire more than anything to be. like. Christ!  That is why I have come to embrace the brokenness of revealed sin in my life.  And why it saddens me.

He is a holy God.  He holds to the line of righteousness that will not be moved.  He is also ever with me.  He draws me towards Him.  Towards that holy place in His Presence.

O! to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer,

This is my constant longing and prayer;

Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,

Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

O! to be like Thee, O! to be like Thee,

Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;

Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness

Stamp Thine own image deep in my heart.

He desires relationship—with me!  He desires closeness—with me!  He desires communication—with me!


My thoughts visit Genesis.  In the Garden before sin entered in.  Adam and Eve had such a closeness with God as they walked and talked with Him.  


He is not a God of changed opinion.  He “is the same yesterday, today and forever” Hebrews 13:8.  His desired and lived-out relationship with the first couple then is the same relationship that He desires to have with me today.


Even after sin entered into the garden, God continued to communicate with this couple.  God did not, could not, would not lower His holy standards to accommodate them.  But neither did He cut off communication and fellowship with them following their outright disobedience.


Adam and Eve were blatant in their sin and yet they still heard from God!


But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”  He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”  And he said, “Who told you that you were naked?  Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”  The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”  Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”  The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.  Genesis 3:9-13


God talked with man and woman before sin.  God talked with the man and woman after sin.


The man and woman talked with God before sinning.  Man and woman talked with God following sin.


Their fellowship of natural, 2-way communication continued in the midst of their disobedience.  What was normal before, remained.  Their closeness was altered, but God did not withdraw His desire to talk with them because of their actions. 


In fact, I have available to me what Adam and Eve never did!  Recovered closeness! 


Adam and Eve had to continue this life separated from the One they desired most to be with.  Separated from the garden.  Yet I have Christ within—ever drawing me closer to God.  The Holy Spirit within—aligning my heart with His.


The Blood of grace and suffering bore at the cross reconnects separation with a true oneness—a closeness “walking alongside” could never be.  The veil was torn.  The chains of separateness between God and His beloved broke free. 

This is the fellowship offered to me.  Received by me.  Living in me!


To meet in the garden of my soul with its Designer and Cultivator.  To have the closest of relationships, the deepest of communication, the truest sense of belonging and being wholly loved—desired! 


What hope, what joy that gives me this day. 

O! to be like Thee, while I am pleading,

Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love,

Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,

Fit me for life and Heaven above.

Do We Realize...

...that there is nothing the devil dreads so much as prayer? His great concern is to keep us from praying. He loves to see us "up to our eyes" in work--provided we do not pray. He does not fear because we are eager and earnest Bible students--provided we are little in prayer. Someone has wisely said, "Satan laughs at our toiling, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray."
--Unknown Christian, The Kneeling Christian

Thoroughly

Dear Robin,

You cannot control your life. You are therefore free.

You are not trapped by the need to arrange things as you want.

Trust me more fully than you ever have before.

Do what I am leading you to do,

even though the risks from your perspective are enormous.

I am thoroughly good, and I am good enough to trust thoroughly.

Your Abba Father

Always

I have "always" loved this song. Today I embrace the words more fully, for they are more fully known!




You are good always
And in all ways
You are working all things
Together for our good
You are good always
In big and small ways
I know I can trust You
In everything You do

With the hard winds of life
Blowing out of control
It can feel like I'm all on my own
But You've given me Your word
And I know You'll never leave
And I've never faced a single storm alone

I can't say it's always
Been a smooth open road
Or turned out the way I'd prefer
But one thing I'm sure of
You've been faithful to me
And I live to give You all that You deserve