hello from Montana

Hey Lovelies.
This past Friday morning I jumped into a car and headed on a cross country trip to the beautiful state of Montana. I joined great friends to surprise their daughter, who is like a younger sister to me. I was her youth leader and throughout the years developed a beautiful relationship. We arrived last night around 8pm and the surprise was hilarious and sweet.

I am not a road trip kind of gal. On the contrary, 45 minutes is sufficient to make me go wild and grow anxious in a car. But I have to say, it wasn't as bad as I thought. It wasn't bad at all. We drove through Florida (obviously!), Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming, and finally made it to Montana. It was beautiful, though Missouri should be renamed Misery, because that's what it was, a miserable boring state to drive through. And inspire of a 4 day drive, it was pretty spectacular to see God's workmanship... anything better that the Florida flat lands!

Arriving to Montana was surreal and powerful. It truly is God's country. To see how perfectly detailed each scenery is, solidified my faith in God as Creator. He has vividly stamped His fingerprints and signature over nature. Each pine tree perfectly placed.  Mountains proudly standing higher than the clouds. Rocks upon rocks being sustained by the very breath of God. Crisp air. Calm and serene towns. Quietness that overwhelms you, and causes you to stop and listen for God. I wish I could bring you here.

This morning I have been meditating and thinking.
I don't need to ride cross country to be in quietness. I can purpose to have quiet moments throughout my day. It would have to take a sacrifice, a death of other pleasures, in order for me to be attentive to God. But cultivating a life in Christ is cultivating quietness, stillness, and purposeful discipline. I've just arrived at "God's Country" and it is proving to be God's teacher.

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way 

and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 

though its waters roar and foam    

and the mountains quake with their surging. 

There is a river whose streams 

make glad the city of God,

the holy place where the Most High dwells. 

God is within her, she will not fall; 

God will help her at break of day.

Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; 

he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

The Lord Almighty is with us;  

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Come and see what the Lord has done, 

the desolations he has brought on the earth. 

He makes wars cease 

to the ends of the earth.

He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; 

he burns the shields with fire.

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; 

I will be exalted among the nations, 

I will be exalted in the earth.”

The Lord Almighty is with us

 the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Enjoy the pictures from my phone (mostly taken at 80mph)

Sentence Tuesday

Being impossible for man

has never stopped God from doing anything. 

- John Piper

Sentence Tuesday

The Holy Spirit comes: 
to bring the whole life of Jesus Christ, 

into the whole of our personalities, 

so the whole love of God can be relayed to the whole world! 

— Jack Hayford 

[photo credit]

Sentence Tuesday

The only thing that ever hinders peace 

is when we refuse to surrender our troubles to God.

—Jack Hayford

Sentence Tuesday

Just because you can't see or imagine 

a good reason why God might allow something to happen 

doesn't mean there can't be one. -Stephanie Landa 

[photo credit]

Dayspring

Because of the tender mercy of our God, 

by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven (Dayspring)

to shine on those living in darkness 

and in the shadow of death, 

to guide our feet into the path of peace.

Luke 1:78-79

[photo credit]

Monday morning I read  Zachariah's song found in Luke 1. His song ends with these two verses. There is one phrase, one word that can not escape me: Dayspring (the first appearance of daylight in the morning; the beginning or rise of anything; advent). God has given Jesus to us as our Dayspring, this is an accurate and appropriate name for Him. For He is the first and only appearance of light in our darkness that can deliver hope, mercy, grace and truth. Through Him there is a rising from the shadow of death, and with it a new beginning. He is our only guide into the path of peace. 

I have to say, if there is a Christmas name for Jesus that I favor, it would have to be Dayspring. I pray that these two verses may never escape you, and be a reminder that in your darkest hour Jesus is your Dayspring! May you celebrate Jesus every day. Merry Christmas. 

Sentence Tuesday

Let not the opinions of man interfere 

with the directions given to you by God. -Jarrid Wilson

[photo credit]

Lyrical Friday - Tender Mercy

I don't know about you, but as for me, this week has felt eternal. With great joy I say: 

Happy Friday to YOU! 

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Today I was able to witness men and women, who once were enslaved by heavy chains, walk as free as ever. One man shared testimony of how he turned his life around and is now a new man. All of the people in that room, were now free and clean because someone tendered mercy unto them. The slate of their past stands now clean. Though this wasn't a church setting, nor was Christ ever mentioned, I couldn't help but think about Him. -

Yet I still dare to hope

    when I remember this: 

The faithful love of the Lord never ends! 

His mercies never cease. 

Great is his faithfulness; 

His mercies begin afresh each morning. 

I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; 

therefore, I will hope in him!

Lamentations 3:21-24

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We are guilty of falling short, not one is righteous, and all have sinned. As it is, we never do stop sinning but we can dare to hope. Upon the moment of repentance and surrender to God, His love and mercy are tendered to us. His love covering a multitude of sin. His mercy, greater than our sin(s), is made new to us each day! What a wonderful God! 

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Tender Mercy, Enter The Worship Circle 

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Praise The Lord, Oh My Soul
and All My Deepest Parts
give Praise To The One
who Pulled You Out Of Darkness
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tender Mercy, You Forgive Me
slow To Anger, Quick To Love
-as High As The Mountains Try
your Love Falls All Around Me
as Wide As The East To West
my Sins Are Taken From Me

Let's talk about sex, baby!

Happy Wednesday. A few months ago, I asked my friend to write a post on purity and she delivered... a whole lot of yada! Take the time to read this post and share with your friends.
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Let's talk about sex, baby!
by Stephanie Landa
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Have you ever wondered why God wants to protect the sacredness of sex for after marriage? Perhaps you're tired of hearing all the messages about purity/abstinence. It seems as though everyone is having sex, and you question what is the point of waiting after marriage for sex. “One side says condoms and sexual freedom are the answer to youthful clamoring about sex. The other, slides silver rings on the fingers of teens and hopes these miniature chastity belts will protect them in moments of temptation. Who’s right? Who’s wrong? Is there a middle ground? Can anybody claim to have clear and certain answers?” – Dannah Gresh
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What if I were to tell you that there is something no one has ever told you about sex? Would you believe me? Well, last night as I was a reading, “What Are You Waiting For? The One Thing No One Ever Tells you about sex” by Dannah Gresh, I came across a profound truth that I could not keep to myself and had to, just had to, share with you. In Genesis 4:1 we read, “Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant.” They were obviously not just laying” there! Gresh grabbed a Hebrew dictionary; she searched for the meaning of “lay” in the sentence. Gresh found the Hebrew word for sex is yada. Yes! The word we most often use to communicate a sense of boredom, is not so “blah, blah, blah.” The definition of the word yada is “to know, to be known, and to be deeply respected.”
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“Almost every woman can admit that she isn’t really yearning for a physical touch in her sexual encounters, but is seeking a deep emotional caressing. For men, most of them, want to know they have what it takes to receive your admiration. They yearn to be deeply respected.” –Gresh
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Out of curiosity, Gresh researched how many times this word (yada) shows up in the Hebrew Old Testament. It is used more than nine hundred times. Now, that’s a lot of yada! It gets even better…
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A couple of other passages that mention yada are Genesis 4:17, Genesis 4:25, Genesis 24:16, 1 Samuel 1:19-20, just to name a few. Several times, the word is used to convey a deep emotional knowing and mutual respect between a naked man and wife. The word yada is used most commonly in a verse like this: “Be still and know [yada] that I am God.” –Psalm 46:10. It’s clear from this verse that yada isn’t about a merely physical act. Yada is a word of intimacy that goes beyond the physical to describe the whole knowing of a person.
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“O Lord, you have searched me and you know [yada] me. You know [yada] when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar…” –Psalm 139 Feel free to read the rest of Psalm 139:1-4, 13-16, 23 and be prepared to be blown away and humbled by God’s grace and love. “When you are in intimate physical and emotional communion with your husband, it will be a mere picture of the passionate love of a God who has been seeking your heart since before you were born.” –Gresh
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This is the one thing no one has ever told you about sex: it’s an exquisite revelation of a much Greater Love.
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God is trying to direct our attention to a portrait that comes close to helping us understand. That portrait is pure, holy marriage. In that sacred place alone do we find a taste of the intimacy we can have with a living, loving God. Maybe that’s why the word yada can be traced from Genesis to Revelation. We must be remind us of what true intimacy looks like, for we have drifted far from the truth. 

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So there it is, Ladies and Gents!  Now go, ponder, and digest this information while falling at the feet of Christ and praising Him for His goodness and unconditional love. I hope this information has given you a greater understanding and has answered your question, “What is the point?” One more thing, please do not drown in the lies of the enemy making you feel unworthy because of your past. God is relentlessly seeking you and loves you for you, despite your past, recent, and future hiccups.

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*If you have not read the book, “What Are You Waiting For? The One Thing No One Ever Tells you about sex” by Dannah Gresh…I totally recommend it. Get it HERE. 

He fights for you!

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The LORD your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes. Deuteronomy 1:30
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For the LORD your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you. Deuteronomy 20:4
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The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace. Exodus 14:14
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Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9
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And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him: “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. TheLORD is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if youforsake Him, He will forsake you. 2 Chronicles 15:2
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You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation ofthe LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you. 2 Chronicles 20:17
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And I will make you to this people a fortified bronze wall; And they will fight against you, But they shall not prevail against you; For I am with you to save you And deliver you,” says the LORD. Jeremiah 15:20 
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As I read all these scriptures and Old Testament stories, I am overcome with joy and strength. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Our circumstances change, some trials are heavier than others, but our God never changes. Today, we can experience the same victories in our life. May your hope be renewed and your spirit strengthened as you trust in the God that fights your battles. He is with you and for you. 

Sentence Tuesday

God seldom gives us all we need in order to understand, 

but He always gives us all we need to obey. 

-Wayne Stiles

Sentence Tuesday

How beautiful it is to learn that grace isn't fragile, and that in the family of God we can fail and not be a failure. 

- Gloria Gaither

Sentence Tuesday

Your relationship with God 

is based on the revelation of scripture in your life. 

-Laura Cuevas 

{photo credit}

sentence tuesday

It is true that God provides people in our lives 

to help us through tough times, 

but He cannot be substituted. -Maky Fernandez 

 

sentence tuesday

Just because you found God, 

doesn't mean you should stop seeking Him. -Jarrid Wilson 

Lyrical Friday - Wrong Worship

Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:21-24


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Happy Friday dear Friends! 
Once again, I had a different song in mind when the Lord brought to remembrance this video that my friend showed me earlier in the week. Though the video caused me laugh, it also compelled me to search my heart. I even said "ouch" because it revealed the ugliness of my heart. Let the confession booth open it's doors. 
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Sometimes when I worship, I don't really mean it. I am not saying that I do this intentionally but there are distractions, thoughts that pop into my head, even lack of faith that creeps into my heart as I worship God. It is so easy to sing along to a song that I know all the words to or even to bow my head in "prayer" when in all reality my mind is consumed with what I will eat after the service is over. I know I can get an"Amen" from someone out there who can admit to the same wrong. 
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I love that this video reveals what often is the condition of our heart as we worship God. I'm here to encourage you and challenge you to pray with me:

"Lord, humble me. Teach me to worship you in spirit and in truth. Teach me to worship you wholeheartedly, with no reserves, no distractions and none of me in the way. You are worthy of praise, glory, devotion, adoration and exaltation because You are Father, You are Son, You are Holy Spirit, You are the Almighty God, You are Healer, You are Provider, You are the Prince of Peace, You are the Great Shepherd, You are Savior, Messiah, Redeemer and Friend. Amen!!!" 

 Pray a prayer similar to this one before entering a time of worship, whether it be in your home or your church. A prayer like this the Lord will never deny. I know that He will magnify Himself in your worship! Don't steal the glory of worship by making it about you. Glorify God alone in your worship.
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Wrong Worship, First Orlando Church

 "Our worship here on earth may be the loneliest times in Heaven." -Arlene Hoffman

sentence tuesday

God is not against you having stuff, God is against stuff having you.
-Rudy Garrido 

sentence tuesday

As sure as God puts His children in the furnace He will be in the furnace with them.
-Charles Spurgeon

Lyrical Friday - Small

Small, JJ Heller 


Cardboard cutouts on the floor 
People wish that you were more like what they wanted you to be
Eventually they won’t have much of you at all in their theology 
The walls are closing in on you
You cannot be contained at all

I don’t want to make you small
I don’t want to fit you in my pocket
A cross around my throat
You are brighter than the sun 
You’re closer than the tiny thoughts I have of you
But I could never fathom you at all

Broken moldings all around
Broken people hit the ground 
When they discover that you’re not here for our benefit
You love in spite of us
You use the least of us to prove the strong aren’t really strong at all

a bit broken and anxious

Hi Friends.
So happy to be writing to you. I pray that you may be found resting, hoping and rejoicing in God's Word.

My heart is heavy, a bit broken and anxious- all for righteousness sake. The lack of love and compassion among Christians is sad. There seems to be more judgment than grace. I by no means intend on pointing a finger and not have three pointing back at me, I fall short too.






God is Holy.
God is Perfection.
God is Blameless & Spotless.
God is Creator, Maker, Author & Giver.
God is Beauty.
God is Light.
God is Life.
God is Deliver.
God is Liberator.
God is Freedom.
God is Father.
God is Spirit.
God is Son.
God is Just.
God is Judge.
God is Hope.
God is Love.
God is Mercy.
God is Grace.
God is Forgiving.
God is Compassionate.
God is Relentless.
God is what we are not.

I encourage you to be as Christ-like as you can be.
May we be known not for what we are against, but for what we believe. We aren't here to point out someone's sins (believe me they are very well aware of them) but rather, we are here to point them to Jesus. Let's not continue oppressing the hopeless or weak with our so-called "Christianity" and self-righteousness. On the contrary, let's abide continually with the Lord Jesus, so that the fruits of His Holy Spirit may be sown in us and flow through us to those who are poor in spirit. May the Love we have placed our faith in, be the Lord that transcends all sin.
Read this awesome testimony, click HERE.

What God has cleansed you must not call unclean. Acts 10:15