Lyrical Friday - A Little Longer

My lover said to me,

“Rise up, my darling!

Come away with me, my fair one!

Song of Solomon 2:10

The day I gave my life to God, I read three books in the Bible: Ruth, Esther, and Song of Solomon. I ended the night with the captivating relationship between the Shulamite woman and her love. I have to admit that I am a hopeless hopeful romantic… being that I am a romantic, this love story is what I knew I wanted to have with my God. And so, this verse in chapter 2 always takes me back to that night, and reminds me that God also longs to have this set apart relationship with me. He proposes daily, “Rise up, my darling! Come away with me!”

This reality humbles me. The God, creator of the universe, calls me to Himself. Me! He calls this mess-making, troublemaker, bad tempered me. He calls me, a sinner.

He calls you too.

He covets your hearts.

He desires your thoughts to be fixed on Him.

He is jealous for your time.

He longs and yearns for all you.

What baffles me is how tiny our offering can be at times. As we worship, or as we spend time with Him, do we really offer our all? I know that as for me, most of the time I don’t give God my full attention. I don’t focus as I should. I am easily distracted. I get busy. I worry too much and for too long. And what I end up giving Him is a half-hearted sacrifice. I don’t intend on offering so little, but it's what I have given. Then guilt kicks in. Other times I give more than He requires to make up for my short coming.

A Little Longer by Bethel Music is a reminder that God doesn't want more, nor does He think less of my scraps. He simply wishes for one thing: Me. Broken, Broke, Tired, Sinner me. That’s it. Not words. Not gifts. Not even a sacrifice.

I pray that these lyrics would penetrate your heart. I pray that it would remove you from a place of business, distraction, anxiety, and failure, and take you to a place of stillness and wholeness with God.

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” Genesis 15:1

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:6

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33

 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.  For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:2-3

What can I do for You

What can I bring to You

What kind of song would You like me to sing

'Cause I'll dance a dance for You

Pour out my love to You

What can I do for You, beautiful King

'Cause I can't thank You enough

'Cause I can't thank You enough

All of the words that I find

and I can't thank you enough

No matter how I try

and I can't thank you enough

I hear you saying to me

Listen you, don't have to do a thing 

Just simply be with me 

and let those things go

'Cause they can wait another minute

Wait, this moment is too sweet 

Please stay here here with me

And love on me a little longer

'Cause I'm in love with you

I'm in love with you

Lyrical Friday - God Be Praised

[photo credit]

Happy Friday! I've had to wait all of November to share today's post with you. The words you are about to hear and read are more than a song, they truly are an anthem that my soul can't help but sing!

The first time I heard this song, it was sung live in a church service. It was as if I was transported to Heaven and all God's people sang in one voice, one accord to our King of Kings. The lyrics of God Be Praised, by Gateway Worship, can only be described as powerful. And as I shared this song with others, they too shared the same sentiments. There are days when my soul is weary and upon crying these words my soul is revived and I can't help but sing.

I pray that God Be Praised may become an anthem for your soul; more than a song, a piece of sacred praise, holy devotion, and a patriotic stand.

David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, “Praise be to you, Lord, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. 1 Chronicles 29:10-11

O God, we meditate on your unfailing love as we worship in your Temple. As your name deserves, O God, You will be praised to the ends of the earth. Your strong right hand is filled with victory. Psalm 19:9-10

Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore. Psalm 113:2 

Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts. Psalm 145:2-4

God Be Praised, Gateway Worship


You saved my life from death
When I was all defeated
You spoke Your promises
And brought life to my weakness
Came as a conquering King
And You warred for my freedom
My soul can’t help but sing
Hallelujah

You opened up my eyes
For the first time I saw You
Your love commanding life
And deserving devotion
You told me who I am
Now in faith I believe it
My soul can’t help but sing
Hallelujah

You’ve made a place for me
Silenced all my accusers
Leading me forth with peace
Filled with joy I will follow
Your cross demands my life
Now Your grace is my anthem
My soul can’t help but sing
Hallelujah

Hallelujah, we’re redeemed and made free
By the blood of the Lamb We have won
Hallelujah, we will sing victory
Jesus conquered the grave
God be praised

Lyrical Friday & getting owned!

Hi Everyone!
Before we get into Lyrical Friday, I wanted to blog a little about what the Lord has been showing me. He busted me earlier this week and the only way that I can describe it (thanks to my friend Chris) is that I was totally, wholly and completely OWNED by the Lord. And let me just tell you, being owned by the Lord is a pretty sweet feeling, lol.
For those of you just joining the blog (girls from Westood Wood Christian a big welcome) here is a little history to get you up to date, and by no means do I share this lightly. The SHORT and sweet version: I battle a struggle with Anorexia, mostly fighting thoughts to not relapse. Praise be to God who leads me in triumph continually and guards my steps, only by His strength am I kept whole. I am also a self proclaimed shopaholic. I know this sounds absurd to include this in the same category of struggles, but I love to shop. I'm not too sure if it is Satan himself who sets up the sales traps or if they are amazing God sent sale opportunities... or maybe it's just me!

Everyone faces trials, times of difficulty and seasons of mourning; we all cope differently. When things spiral out of control in my life, as they have the last two weeks, the dark cloud of Anorexia comes over me and does not depart. My thoughts are quickly consumed with this self destructive, self inflicted sin. Being aware of this "cloud" and not desiring to fall in to temptation I run to my comfort zone, to my place of hiding place, no, not God but to shopping. I have noticed that I have not be a wise stewardess of GOD'S money... that's right, I just said that, God's money. I have even thanked Him for the new items of clothing I purchased and for the wonderful gifts I bought. Each item purchased felt like a great accomplishment. Allow me to explain, shopping is more than an even exchange, for me it is therapeutic in a sense. My mind is distracted from the thoughts, the pain, the trial. It feels right to shop but it is only pleasurable for a moment. Shopping is a cheap cover up but not a permanent solution. Soon after the guilt sinks in and an overwhelming feeling of failure.

This past Wednesday as I was working on my HEAL lesson I came across this, "Go to God with your needs- not guys, food, retail therapy, or anything else to fill your emotionally and spiritually." Busted! I continued and came across this one verse, and I was confronted even more with my two areas of weakness: Luke 12:23, "Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing." AHH! Say What?! I had to do a double take. A verse, just for me. God is faithful, He quickly gave me words of comfort, life and hope: Luke 12:32, "Do not fear, Raquel, for it is My good pleasure to give you the kingdom." I felt so dumb... it is so easy to not trust God and become spritually crippled. Going first to God would have been the best solution, however, I took matter into my weak hands.

It is by daily drawing near to Jesus and embracing him as the One who can put us in right standing with God the Father that we are set upon the path of authentic healing. -Allie Marie Smith

All this to say that I am utterly humbled and surrendered to Jesus- again! Thanks be to God who gives joy, hope and life abundantly after failure. That same day He gave me a scripture, a crutch to lean on, a promise to hold on to: Isaiah 40:29, "He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength." May we never shy away from experiencing the warm embrace from the God of all comforts. Let us run to Him first and always. 

Anywho, today's song is a deep cry of my heart. My prayer is that both you and I would be a people who are fully surrendered to Jesus our Lord. My prayer is that through our lives, other's would see God in His glorious splendor. Let hope arise and darkness tremble in His holy light! 


(please pause the media player on the sidebar)
With Everything, Joel Houston


VERSE I:
Open our eyes
To see the things that make Your heart cry
To be the church that You would desire
Your light to be seen

VERSE II:
Break down our pride
And all the walls we've built up inside
Our earthly crowns and all our desires
We lay at Your feet

PRE-CHORUS:
Let hope rise And darkness tremble
In Your holy light That every eye will see
Jesus our God Great and mighty to be praised

VERSE III:
God of all days
Glorious in all of Your ways
Oh the majesty the wonder and grace
In the light of Your Name

CHORUS I:
With everything With everything
We will shout for Your glory
With everything With everything
We will shout forth Your praise

CHORUS II:
Our hearts they cry
Be glorified
Be lifted high above all names
For You our King
With everything
We will shout forth Your praise