Lyrical Friday - You Ruin Me

Happy Friday beautiful friends.
Update on my Mother: Surgery went well and her eye is physically improving. As for her eye sight, there has been progress. Monday she was able to finally see. It's not the best vision but she can see more than she was able to which was nothing. As the days and weeks come along there will be progress. The doctors aren't able to determine how much progress or even if her eye sight will be fully restored. What they do know is that will definitely need cataract surgery on both eyes. Then will she be able to see clearly. Thank you for your fervent prayers, continue to lift her up as well as the medical staff of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.
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Moving into Lyrical Friday business...
JJ Heller is my go-to girl when it comes to days when I just want to get away from the hustle and bustle of life.  You know, those days when you need to shut out all noises, voices and cares. 'You Ruin Me' definitely ruins me. And that is a good thing, because I am no good for myself. My mind constantly thinks of the worst case scenario, what could go wrong, what is wrong and and dwells on past failures. My heart can be self-centered, desperately wicked,  deceiving, and adulterous. My faith, it wavers, it withers, and doubts. But God's love ruins all of that. His Word ruins my mind, my heart and my faithlessness. As I am ruined, He is magnified in me. My friends, I pray that you too may be ruined, so that He could be magnified in you.
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My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
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 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Colossians 3:2-3
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I will rebuild you, my virgin Israel. You will again be happy and dance merrily with your tambourines. Jeremiah 31:4
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You Ruin Me, JJ Heller 

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There is no recovery
The damage has been done
Your love is a hurricane that I cannot outrun
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You ruin me
You make it so hard to be without you
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I thought I was fine 
With both my feet upon the ground
Your love is the ocean 
And I think I'm gonna drown
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You ruin me
You make it so hard to be without you
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Your love a firestorm
My heart goes up in flames
Oh love, you won the war
And I surrender

Lyrical Friday - Kingdom Come

Happy Friday!
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We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—  Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you. But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.”^[c] 14 We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:8-18

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For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; nor has He hidden His face from Him; But when He cried to Him, He heard. Psalm 22:24
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The righteous cry out, and the Lord heard, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He guards all his bones; not one of them is broken. Psalm 34:17-2 
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Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
Bound in affliction and irons—
¹¹ Because they rebelled against the words of God,
And despised the counsel of the Most High,
¹² Therefore He brought down their heart with labor;
They fell down, and there was none to help.
¹³ Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
And He saved them out of their distresses.
¹⁴ He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
And broke their chains in pieces. Psalm 107:10-14
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Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 1 Corinthians 5:17
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Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. Colossians 3:12-13
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But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 2 Timothy 4:5
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Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless. 2 Peter 3:13-14

-I pray that your faith has been renewed after reading these verses. Kingdom Come by JJ Heller is a song that settles these very scriptures in my heart. Your affliction, heartache, pain, struggle and burdens matter to God. He is intimately acquainted will all your ways (Psalm 139) and promises to perfect all which concerns you (Psalm 138). There will be a day where He will make all things new, brand spanking new! There will be no more sorrow, no more tears, no turmoil, no more fears. We will abide in peace, eternal and glorious peace. There will be no shadow of shame over us and sin we will not know. Thinking of it overflows my heart with joy.

So what are we to do until that day comes? I would fail you if I didn't point you in the right direction (--->Jesus). He is your portion of strength, courage, boldness, peace, joy, self control, love, mercy, grace, validation, affirmation, counsel, hope and well, the list goes on. Though we live in the here and now, we are building/and being built for the then and there of eternity. May hope arise for you in Jesus as you allow Him to manage your current affliction and deliver you from them.
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I can't wait to spend eternity with you!
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Kingdom Come, JJ Heller

Ashes, ashes, we fall down
It always feels too soon
But when we walk on golden ground
All will be made new
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Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
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All will be made new
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Life is but a dream at best
Morning's coming soon
Kingdom come will bring us rest
All will be made new
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Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
All will be made new
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All sorrows and sighs
Will fade away into the night
And all will be made new
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Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
All will be made new

Lyrical Friday - Lover of Ashes

Behold, I will allure her, will bring her into t
he the wilderness, and speak comfort to her. I will return her vineyards to her and transform the valley of trouble into a gateway of hope. She shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, as in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt. Hosea 2:14-15 
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Do not look upon me because I am dark— the sun has darkened my skin. My brother’s were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not kept. Song of Solomon 1:6 
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You are altogether beautiful, my love, and there is no spot in you. Song of Solomon 4:7 
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Yet now He has reconciled you to Himself through Christ. As a result, He has brought you into His own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before Him without a single fault. Colossians 1:22 
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There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1

God has called you His own, His prized possession, the apple of His eye, His beloved. He loves you, all of You! And though you may think you are not worth it, God says you are. Though you may see yourself as junk, a pile of useless ashes, God sees you in His glorious splendor. He is a lover of ashes and can make all things new! Ask God to help you see yourself not through the lenses of this world, but through the lenses of Heaven.

Lover of Ashes, JJ Heller


Simple voice talk to me in simple words
Gentle wind come sing to me the songs that I know
Come to me and hold my heart inside of me
Come and see
Come and see in me

Oh lover of ashes
Be patient with me
My filthy complexion is all that I see
But up from these ashes a beauty will rise
The pride of her father
Though humble in size

Perfect love
Fill my soul with melody
Perfect words of perfect peace
I will breathe, I will sing
I will breathe, I will sing

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

Lyrical Friday - Control

Today's Lyrical Friday post comes from JJ Heller, one of my favorites! Control has ministered to me in a way that I didn't even see coming. I don't struggle with cutting myself, never have but I know girls and guys who do. If that is you dear friend, know that God loves you and He cares for you. Hold on to the hope that is found in Christ! 
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No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 
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He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3
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Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things, 
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:2-5
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If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. John 8:36 
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I would be typing in vain, if I didn't lead you to the one who can free you, that's Jesus. He WILL forgive you, heal you, redeem you, crown you, satisfy you and renew you! He is a mighty comforter and yes, He will bind up your wounds. No need to be ashamed, for we all have scars (even Jesus has scars), different scars but scars none the less. You can have control in Christ, you can do all things through Him who strengthens you.  
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You may never know the depth of anyone's pain, till you listen to them. At times, it will be a silent cry for help or the drip of agony that is poured from a vein... People are hurting and God has placed us in their lives for such a time as this: to be pillars of light, salt to the earth, a holy priesthood, messengers of hope and valiant shepherds. Let's shepherd the flock to Jesus! May we never be to caught up in the affairs of this life or be too distracted doing ministry that we end up overlooking the needs of others.
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Control, JJ Heller 

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The cut is deep, but never deep enough for me
It doesn’t hurt enough to make me forget
One moment of relief is never long enough
To keep the voices in my head from stealing my peace
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Oh, control
It’s time, time to let you go
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Perfection has a price, but I cannot afford to live that life
It always ends the same; a fight I never win
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Chorus
I’m letting go of the illusion
I’m letting go of the confusion
I can’t carry it another step
I close my eyes and take a breath
I’m letting go …
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There were scars before my scars
Love written on the hands that hung the stars
Hope living in the blood that was spilled for me

Lyrical Friday - Invisible Love

Hi Friends.
I'm squeezing in a final post for the year.
A few things before I dive into Lyrical Friday:
1. I am very excited to announce a Lily Makeover! Yes, thee blog will be getting a makeover. Tomorrow, January 1st, 2010 A Lily Among Thorns will be dressed in new clothes. YAY!
2. Some time next week, I will be sharing my 2011 verse and some new year commitments.
3. HAVE A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR'S EVE. Praise the Lord for all He has done. Read Deuteronomy 4:9

Moving along...

JJ Heller as become a close friend, through her songs. It is only appropriate to end the year with one of her amazing compositions. Invisible Love is one of those songs that ministers to my heart so much. The lyrics are simple yet thought provoking... atleast in my head! As you listen to the lyrics, allow them to speak to you of God's awesome love. My prayer is that when you fall, (and make no mistake about it, we all fall) that you would feel His arms before you reach the ground. I pray that you may know His whispers, though you have never literally heard God's voice. May you live in continual wonder, astonishment, surprise, fascination and be awestruck with God's invisible love for you.

Invisible Love, JJ Heller


If my arms could reach around You
I would never move
If my eyes could see You
I'd have no faith left to prove
The wonder of invisible love

This is how it has to be
With You and me
The wonder of invisible love

When I fall I feel Your arms before I reach the ground
Lord, I know Your whisper, though I've never heard the sound
The wonder of invisible love

This is how it has to be
With You and me
The wonder of invisible...

Some day there will be no time to mind
I will be Your long awaited bride
We will dance away the night

Lyrical Friday - Love Me

Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever. Psalm 73:25-26

Hi Friends.

Today's Lyrical Friday song is Love Me by JJ Heller. This song echoes what God has been speaking to me through the book of Isaiah and pretty much through everyone I encounter. There is no limit to God's love for us. Nothing will ever separate us from the Love of God. His love knows no bounds.

A few years ago, I had hit rock bottom and fell into an ugly depression. Wrong decisions had shaken my ground. I was left feeling confused and betrayed by my heart. It was during that lonely, dark, dry and barren season of my life that I learned a lesson that continues breathing life to me. It was in a prayer meeting that God lead me to Joel 2:13(NLT) and He spoke to me: ["Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.]

God's character is simply amazing yet profoundly indescribable.

He is merciful.

He is compassionate.

He is slow to anger.

He is abounding in love.

He is eager to bless you.

And in Him, death has lost its sting.

May His love be your all in all. God bless you.

He cries in the corner where nobody sees 
He's the kid with the story no one would believe
He prays every night, Dear God won't you please
Could you send someone here who will love me?

Who will love me for me
Not for what I have done or what I will become
Who will love me for me
Cause nobody has shown me what love
What love really means

Her office is shrinking a little each day
She's the woman whose husband has run away
She'll go to the gym after working today
Maybe if she was thinner
Then he would've stayed
And she says

Who will love me for me?
Not for what I have done or what I will become
Who will love me for me?
Cause nobody has shown me what love, what love really means

He's waiting to die as he sits all alone
He's a man in a cell who regrets what he's done
He utters a cry from the depths of his soul
Oh Lord, forgive me, I want to go home
Then he heard a voice somewhere deep inside
And it said
I know you've murdered and I know you've lied
I have watched you suffer all of your life
And now that you'll listen, I'll tell you that I...

I will love you for you
Not for what you have done or what you will become
I will love you for you
I will give you the love
The love that you never knew