Birthday Surprise! It's Denise.

Happy Wednesday and Thanksgiving Eve! Today's post is from my cousin Denise. She is no newbie here, you can read her 2012 Birthday Surprise HERE. Praying that the promises of God that Denise shares, may be engraved in your heart and and ever present help in time of need. God bless YOU! 

photo credit

You are not alone 

Have you ever been in a crowd of people and felt completely isolated? It's that feeling where you are physically present but no one notices.  I have been hearing this topic from a several people lately. They tell me how they feel lonely, like they don't have any friends, like no one cares but they are constantly surrounded by people. My normal response is, "I know exactly how you feel." 

I spent most of my life feeling this way.  I dealt with a lot of anxiety and depression as a teenager.  I became a Christian once I was in college and Jesus changed my life forever. Most of my fear went away but even as a Christian, there are still those moments where the devil tries to take hold.

I go into these random moments of depression where I feel lost, like I'm in a deep pit and I'm sinking and I can't ever get out again. I have traveled across the country, to the other side of the world even, but nothing is as sad, scary and dark as this place.  

As a Christian, I recognize that there is no reason to stay there. I have a mighty God who loves me unconditionally and will never leave me. Sometimes I wonder why God allows me to go back there again and now I know that it's because, when I get out of it, I love Him even more and cling to Him desperately. 

I was reading Isaiah 60:20 the other night and this verse really encouraged me.  "Your sun will never set; your moon will not go down. For the Lord will be your everlasting light. Your days of mourning will come to an end."

There are times when I feel like I don't even want to be on this earth. Before Christ, these thoughts were filled with despair, they were suicidal because I didn't understand what the point of my existence was. Now when I have these thoughts it's more of a longing and a hope that one day I will be in my real home with Jesus. 

"For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come." Hebrews 13:14 

So now as I wait for that glorious moment when Jesus rescues me from this cruel world, I have to make the best of it and live my life by honoring and worshiping him.  I don't feel so lost in the crowd anymore, because I know that my satisfaction does not come from humans, it comes from the Lord. 

Though I might still feel lonely at times deep down I know that I have someone who loves me unconditionally and is always by my side. 

"But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me." Micah 7:7 

"Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you." Psalms 9:10

So if you are feeling lonely or like you don't belong, instead of turning to people to fill that void, turn to Jesus, the only one who can satisfy you.   

"Because I am righteous, I will see you. When I awake, I will see you face to face and be satisfied. Psalms 17:15 

when you're troubled...

Imagine with me the disciples troubled in a room. Their leader was constrained by a tomb, lifeless and powerless. They must have be frightened, discouraged, and ashamed. And then, Jesus appeared.

Overwhelmed
Discouraged
Defeated
Ashamed
Afraid
Empty
Lost

Whatever it may be that is bringing you down, think of this scene.
And then, Jesus appeared.

In your troubles Jesus can and will appear.
He will comfort,
He will refresh,
He will renew,
By the power of the Holy Spirit when you cry out for Him.

"In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land." Jeremiah 29:12-14

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Lyrical Friday - Rooftops

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I am obsessed with Rooftops by Kim Walker. No really, I can't stop singing, humming and bobbing my head when I can't do either. OK, maybe I'm exaggerating but all jokes aside the song is fantastic.

The chorus: 

So I shout out Your name, 

From the rooftops I proclaim

That I am Yours, I am Yours

All that I am I place into Your loving hands

And I am Yours, I am Yours

Have you ever been at a rooftop overlooking a city? I have. Once in Italy and another time in Israel. And even though I wasn't at an actual rooftop, I stood overlooking Naples and Bethlehem. It was 3 am when we took a break from searching for our hotel. You see, we didn't know that at midnight public transportation ended and to top things off, we never wrote down our hotel's name and address. Two guys from the restaurant offered to help us find our way back home. And so after 2 hours they said, " We will show you Naples." The car came to a stop at the side of a road and it was there that I saw the city of Naples. It was a dark mountain side view of the city but the stars and street lights gave us enough to see her streets, the homes, the trees and all that Naples had to offer minus the people who slept. It was beautiful. Six of us stood at a mountain top overlooking the city, practically drooling over the amazing live picture that was before us.We were silent for a good moment and then the "oohs" and "ahs" followed. It was a movie perfect scene, a film opportunity to yell off the top of our lungs but we didn't. We were caught up in the moment. We were shy before these strangers who generously helped us. We were blinded from seeing this open opportunity to shout. And the moment passed us by. 

Fast Forward to now hearing this song and paying close attention to these lyrics. Why are we not shouting His name and proclaiming His truths from the rooftop of our live. And I don't mean an actual shouting, that would just prove to people that I am really a nut case. I am talking about the silent witness, the one on one encounters, the response to every day life that should be played out as a bold shout. I suppose  we get caught up in the moment that happens day to day, somewhat like my mountain top experience. Are we are shy and lack boldness to rise and speak? Or it may just be that we are not attentive to the opportunities God has placed before us. But that can change. 

My prayer and hope in sharing today's Lyrical post is to that you and I would be stirred up, provoked in a sense, to live bold lives. I pray that when these "rooftop" opportunities arise that we would take notice of them and seize them. So go on, proclaim it today that you are God's special child. Shout out who God is in your life, for you may never know who it may minister to. Make yourself available to be used by God for His glory and fame! 

Rooftops, Jesus Culture 

reunited, and it feels so good

Meet my Bible. 

Friday night, it went missing at church. 

I figured I had moved it from my purse and Sunday morning I'd find it.

- 

Sunday came.

I searched anywhere and everywhere it could possibly have been. 

This was the most tragic and unsuccessful of all searches. 

Someone told me, "Give up, your Bible was probably stolen."

-

Monday mourning. I cried so much.

I reminisced on all the times I dated a verse that changed me, 

the highlighted portions of scripture that meant more than life to me, 

and the notes I had taken that got me through each day. 

My heart hurt, a lot. 

I realized Monday morning, that out all that I possessed,

my Bible was my most treasured possession. 

And now that it was gone, I yearned for it more than ever. 

I longed to hold it.

I longed to turn its pages.

I longed for the words of the Lord. 

I mourned as one who had lost their loved one. 

-

Tuesday it settled within me that days, months would pass before I saw it again.

I may never hold my Bible again. 

I gave a passing thought to someone else's growth by it. 

-

Wednesday morning I heard a teaching on prayer. 

The Pastor read from Matthew 13:58, 

"Jesus did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief."

What could God do if I believed that He could do what I prayed for?

My faith was challenged, and so was my prayer life. 

I prayed: Lord, I am putting your name on the line. 

I believe You, Almighty God, will return my Bible to my hands."

The details of what happened to my Bible are not necessary. 

How it was returned to me are of no value to our walk. 

That God answered my prayer is the big deal. 

What mattered to me, mattered to Him. 

He took notice of my pain. 

He cupped my tears. 

He heard me. 

-

What matters to you, matters to God. 

He has taken notice of your pain. 

He cups every tear you cry.

He hears you. 

-

Reunited with my Bible and it feels so good! The first page I randomly opened my Bible to was in the end of Isaiah. Highlighted in the bottom of the page is one of my favorite verses. "I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!" Isaiah 65:24. Remember this one! 

-

What could God do, 

if you believed that He could do what you prayed for?

Lyrical Friday - Burn

Hello Lovelies!
I am so excited to introduce you to Torches. I downloaded the EP off of iTunes this morning and have not stopped playing it. It is my personal believe that every one should download it too. After all, it only cost $2.97. Yea, that was a shameless plug for my friend who is the male vocalist. Spread the word, Torches EP is out!
Be a Facebook Fan!
Follow them on Twitter.
Follow them on Tumblr.
Youtube views.
And most important of all, iTunes... shop for Torches. Now you can tell your friends that you bought Torches. What'a convo starter.
-
Moving on to lyrical business. The lyrics to 'Burn' are powerful. This is my prayer and now my anthem. May your heart burn as you turn to Lord, through this wonderfully made song.
--
Burn, Torches

-

Let our hearts always praise our king
With every breathe and song we sing
Let our love pour out for truth
Let it speak and let it move
Till our hearts are consumed by you
-
we will burn
We will burn for you
Through the darkness
As we yearn 
As we yearn for you
With our hearts and
Let every breath we breathe 
And every song we sing 
Let them burn
Let them burn for you
-
In the dark the lost and hurt
We will stand with hearts that burn
Every tribe and nation sing
Every tongue will confess your king
-
In our love (with every song we get to sing)
In our hope (with every breath we get to breathe)
In our hearts (with every chance we get to be)
We will burn (let us burn)

Addiction

Good Saturday to you!
I was so blessed and encouraged to read Francine Rivers' blog post this morning and without hesitation I am sharing it with you. May the Lord speak both wisdom and comfort to you. May He bless you abundantly.

Addiction
By Francine Rivers
Www.francinerivera.com

Upon our return from the Panama Cruise, Rick and I learned someone we love dearly had disappeared. We knew what that meant and our hearts sank. Some knew where he was out there in the night going through his own private hell. All we could do was wait and pray and hope the turn-around would come quickly and he wouldn’t die this time.

I’ve been told by recovering alcoholics that it’s the first drink that kills you. An alcoholic doesn’t start back at the beginning. An alcoholic starts where he/she left off and accelerates. Think of being on a slide. If you stop partway down and stop yourself, you’re still there. Lift your hands and down you go. Without the strength of God working in a person, giving up the things that kill us is impossible. To sum up the 12 step program: I can’t, God can, I think I’ll let Him.

Years back, I’m embarrassed to admit I didn’t pay close attention to the dirty, disheveled man holding a sign at the entrance to the freeway. Now, I look for them. I make eye contact. Sometimes I have enough time (before the car behind me is honking) to hand them a bottle of water or a Christmas box.

Why do I see them now? I’ve experienced the anguish of wondering where my loved one is and whether I’ll ever see that person again this side of heaven. I’ve heard the stories of what people go through out there, drunk and alone, looking at a dumpster as a possible warm, dry place to sleep for the night.

Jesus said the poor are always among us. And so they are. Poor in ways beyond not having money.

I try not to worry, but some in my family say I have a worry gene and so it is a miserable default pattern in my life to fall back into it. I have a good imagination. That’s a blessing when I’m writing a story. It’s a curse when I’m imagining all the things that could be happening to someone I love who is out there on the mean streets, homeless, hurting and too ashamed to call for help. Every time the phone rang, my heart jumped. Night time calls always seem to bring bad news.

We are at war. In Iraq and Afghanistan. We’re also in a war here at home, and this war has countless fronts.

What do I do? I pray through my long list of friends who are going through the same thing I am right now. I pray for the many I know who are struggling with addictions; drugs, alcohol, computer games, pornography, food, work. Our nation breeds addiction. Sometimes I lay awake and go through the lines of David’s Psalm 23 or make an alphabetical list of the attributes of God.

And that’s what brings peace in the midst of the storm. Knowing God, remembering how deep and wide and high His love is for each of His children. Knowing Jesus lived out 33 years as a man who faced and overcame every temptation and now stands as our advocate before His Almighty Father who longs for us to return to Him.

Wherever my loved one is, God is there, too, waiting for surrender, ready to lift and restore. God loves my loved one far more than I do. God has a plan in all this and it isn’t to tear us to pieces, but to build us up, to give us a future and a hope.

I may not like the pain that comes with waiting, but it’s in the waiting that my faith grows.

sentence tuesday

May we never close the doors of our churches to dying souls but rather usher them into the saving grace of God. 
-Raquel Rodriguez