Lyrical Friday - Closer

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Echoing in my heart is a beat to draw closer to God. It's a beat I want to hear and feel all the days of my life. His love has ravished my heart and taken me over. All I want is to be with Him forever, and often He's the only one I want to be with. My prayer is that He would pull me a little closer and take me a little deeper, that I may grow in knowledge of His heart. Closer by Bethel Live mirrors that desire.

These lyrics are romantic (without the man, hehe). God's love is so much sweeter than anything I've tasted, and it is great for me. I am captivated and utterly fascinated by His perfect love. He knows me, all of me, and loves me with a pure and unashamed love. Yes, Lord, pull me a little closer and take me a little deeper.

I know that this love can be scary, intimidating, and even foreign. And so I encourage you to step aside from fear, and pride. Let it all go and allow God to romance you. Allow Him to pull you a little closer. Allow Him to take you a little deeper. The reward is greater than the risk. You will taste a love that is sweeter than anything you've known, and will ever know. I pray that this beat may echo in your heart as well and spark a great love story. 

O God, you are my God;
    I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you;
    my whole body longs for you
in this parched and weary land
    where there is no water.
I have seen you in your sanctuary
    and gazed upon your power and glory.
Your unfailing love is better than life itself;
    how I praise you!
I will praise you as long as I live,
    lifting up my hands to you in prayer.
You satisfy me more than the richest feast.
    I will praise you with songs of joy.
I lie awake thinking of you,
    meditating on you through the night.
Because you are my helper,
    I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.
I cling to you;
    your strong right hand holds me securely.
Psalm 63:1-8 

And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. James 4:8-10

Closer, Bethel Live

Your love has ravished my heart
And taken me over, taken me over
And all I want is to be
With You forever, with You forever

So pull me a little closer
Take me a little deeper
I want to know Your heart
I want to know Your heart
Cause Your love is so much sweeter
Than anything I've tasted
I want to know Your heart
I want to know Your heart

Whoa, whoa, how great Your love is for me
Whoa, whoa, how great is Your love

Pull me a little closer
Take me a little deeper
I want to know Your heart
I want to know Your heart
Cause Your love is so much stronger
Than anything I've faced and
I want to know Your heart
I want to know Your heart

Birthday Surprise! It's Monica part 1

Today's post comes from the lovely Monica. I've had the privilege of being Monica's youth leader and now friend. With great joy I asked her to share her heart and pour out what God has done in her life the past few months. I am confident that you will be blessed by her. Tune in Friday for part 2.

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Happy Birthday Blog!

I was so honored when Raquel asked me to post on the blog for its fourth birthday.

As some of you may know this past year the Lord had me go through a program called Ignite with Potter’s Field Ministries. It’s a program designed to have students give a year of their lives completely to the Lord. I spent three months in Montana, training to be sent out along with 2 other girls to the beautiful country of Guatemala.

   I spent 6 months in Guatemala, doing afterschool work with the kids in the local community, tutoring, bible lessons, skits, puppet shows, you name it! During the last three months the training portion of the Ignite school was moved down to Guatemala and my team and I were able to come alongside the then training interns ( who are now on the field) and help encourage them during their time there.

   The Lord has used the past 10  months of my life to reveal Himself to me in such a powerful way. For so long I bought into the lie that I was unlovable, that there was something defective in me that unqualified me to be loved, even by God. While I learned multiple lessons this year, none has gone deeper that the realization I had during my 3^rd month on the field.

    God loves me. As silly and basic as that might sound , after all it’s a phrase that any three year old in Sunday school can utter, it was a truth that had not sunk in very deep in my life. For so many years I thought God loved me, but it was only because I could fit under the classification of “human” which automatically made me eligible to receive His Love, but He would never really hand pick me to love, there are so many better people out there to pour out love and favor on, so many that are worth loving He definitely wouldn’t chose me if He had the choice. 

   This sadly is the lie that I had allowed to embed itself in the depths of my heart, and it was so successfully embedded that I believed it to be true, and was completely blind to the fact that I believed it about myself and my relationship with the Lord.

   During my time on the field, I literally had nothing else to cling to but Him, no familiar background, no home church, no people that I had known forever, my robotic and semi-automatic “christianese” responses wouldn’t cut in on the field. I was forced to get raw and get real with God and allow Him to strip away all the routines that I had allowed myself to hide behind, and come face to face with the ugly truth ( that was really a lie) that had been shaping my view of God and His Love for me all this time.

    I learned what it is to be Loved by the Lord, but better yet what it is to accept His love. What it is to bask in the Steadfast Love that the Lord has for me, and in that I found a confidence in being His Daughter that I was convinced I’d never be able to have.

   I’m still learning just what it is to walk in the freedom His Love brings, His individual love for the person, not for humanity in general but I’m taking it one step at a time.

   Being back home now after such a tremendous experience is a bit disorientating, but I have the Love of my Heavenly Father to ground me. I am beyond thankful for the journey He’s guided me through and the one that’s yet to come.

   Thank you to all who have been praying for me during my trip, your prayers where definitely heard and felt. May you too bask in the Steadfast Love of the Father. 

Monica in Montana with the Ignite program

Monica's view in Montana (jealous)

Monica in Guatemala

Lyrical Friday - How Great Is The Love

Happy Friday Lovelies!

Today's post will be a combo of a devo I just read that ties so well with today's lyrics. 

Devo by Jack Hayford from Praise in the Presence of God // YouVersion Reading Plan

Lyrics by Meredith Andrews // Vertical Church Band

Boaz, a marvelous Old Testament picture of our Lord Jesus Christ, reveals his love for Ruth, an equally beautiful picture of the Church, that is, of you and me. As they are about to become engaged, Boaz expresses his commitment to Ruth by asking her to spread out her shawl (see Ruth 3:15–18). Into its folds he pours out six ephahs of grain—a total of about seventy pounds of barley!

Now catch the picture. Can you see our Lord Jesus saying the same thing to us, His bride?

“I don’t want you to go through life empty-handed. I want you to know My abounding provision for all matters of your life.” Jesus is saying, “I will fill the biggest pocket you’ve got! I’ll fill it with love and everything else you need as well.” That’s His promise!

Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His loving-kindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments. Deuteronomy 7:9 

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. John 15:13

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?  Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:31-39

Thank You for the way that You love us
How You love us
Thank You for the way You have made us

We were created
For Your pleasure, for Your presence
For the glory of Your name

Thank You for the way that You love us

Jesus, faithful King
Lord, with grateful hearts we sing
How great is the love
How great is the love
Of our Savior
The weight of the cross, the curse of our shame
You carried it all and rose from the grave
How great is the love, how great is the love
Of our Savior

Thank You for Your grace that has saved us
You forgave us
Thank You for the way You have freed us

We have been ransomed
We've been rescued, we've been purchased
With the price of Your own life

Thank You for the way that You love us

Jesus, faithful King
Lord, with grateful hearts we sing
How great is the love
How great is the love
Of our Savior
The weight of the cross, the curse of our shame
You carried it all and rose from the grave
How great is the love, how great is the love
Of our Savior

Thank You for the way that You love us
How You love us

love without clinging

Hi lovelies. One of my favorite writers is Ruth Bell Graham. I treasure her words and thoughts as if my own Grandmother would be speaking them to me. I came across this poem that a young Ruth wrote to herself as Billy Graham's wife. More than a poem, or even words to herself, I believe this to be an encouragement to those women who are wives... wives to husbands that are given to studies, career, ministry or what not. I dedicate this post to all the wives in my life who love deeply, cry often, and pray fervently for their husbands.

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Love
without clinging;
cry
if you must—
but privately cry;
the heart will adjust
to the newness of loving
in practical ways:
cleaning
and cooking
and sorting out clothes,
all say, “I love you,”
when lovingly done.

So—
love
without clinging;
cry—
if you must—
but privately cry;
the heart will adjust
to the length of his stride,
the song he is singing,
the trail he must ride,
the tensions that make him
the man that he is,
the world he must face,
the life that is his.

So
love
without clinging;
cry—
if you must—
but privately cry;
the heart will adjust
to being the heart,
not the forefront of life;
a part of himself,
not the object—
his wife.

So—
love!

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 

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hello April

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Happy April to YOU!
Where did March go? It was been a busy month. Lot's of birthday fun and love, with many breakfasts, lunches and dinners. It was a great month that ended with the greatest celebration of all: Easter. Jesus is Risen!

I'm secretly hoping for a quiet April.
With two bible studies happening, I find it more difficult to actually sit down and receive from the Word without it feeling like homework. So as the saying goes, April showers bring May flowers, I am praying for an out pour of the Holy Spirit to shower over me and bring forth much fruit. I pray the same for you!

From the dew of heaven and the richness of the earth, may God always give you abundant harvests of grain and bountiful new wine. Genesis 28:27




I will be to Israel 
Like a refreshing dew from heaven. 
Israel will blossom like the lily; 
It will send roots deep into the soil 
Like the cedars in Lebanon. 
Its branches will spread out like beautiful olive trees, 
As fragrant as the cedars of Lebanon. 
My people will again live under my shade. 
They will flourish like grain and blossom like grapevines. 
They will be as fragrant as the wines of Lebanon.
Hosea 14:5-7

Lyrical Friday - How Deep the Father's Love For Us

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Happy Friday to YOU!
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thursday  I mean Valentine's Day. I did. Girls Night In became Girls Night Out. We went out for Pizza on a rainy and surprisingly chilly Miami night. I ate good food and laughed loud among the best company of friends. Indeed, it was a good night. It's a good thing to have friends.

So naturally, I would post a song about love, not just any love, the greatest love of all. Today's lyrics describe this perfect love so well. I know it's not a new song, but one that is known. And so I beg, don't just sing along but really sit back and consider each word.

And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. Ephesians 3:18


How Deep the Father's Love For Us, Stewart Townend


How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that left Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
(REPEAT)

known by name

As I emailed the ladies from my Bible study, I included a few words of encouragement. This too may be for you as much as it was for me this morning. So grab a cup of coffee, or tea, or hot chocolate and read on. 

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In the Bible there are many women who are mentioned but have no names. They are either identified by their location, their status and/or their condition. For example: A SAMARITAN woman, The WIDOW of Zeraphath, The woman with the ISSUE OF BLOOD. There are many more nameless and faceless women in the Bible.

You fill in the blank about yourself: 

The woman with the issue of __________. 

The wife of __________.

The Woman from __________. (this label could be your workplace)

I know that there are times when we feel like a nameless women. We even label others by what we see of them or their circumstance. If we focus on the label, we will miss out on a greater truth. These nameless women were not nameless to God. He knew each one by name and was intimately acquainted with their need. Though they had no names, God counted them worthy of mentioning them in His Word, using them for His purpose. He knew the name of the Samaritan woman, and though to the world she had a need for physical love, God saw her real need and He met her there. An outcast among her own people, she then became a bold witness for Christ. He knew the name of the Widow of Zeraphath. To the word she was just a poor widow with nothing to offer. But to God, she was a rich widow for her faith and obedience would prove that with God all things are possible. The woman with the issue of blood was also known by God, He knew her name. To the watching world her need was for healing but God knew that her real need was salvation. God knows you by name. 

He knows your need, your real need. He knows what you cry about. He knows what you worry about. He knows it all. Knowing everything about you He yearns to  speak comfort to you through His word. He longs for your presence in prayer. And He anxiously yet patiently waits for you to stop and worship Him. Through these three you will find hope, security, and deliverance. You are not nameless to God. Be blessed, you are known by name and your identity is found in Him. 

Waiting. Delighting.

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Earlier this week I was chatting with a friend. She asked me about my upcoming trip to Haiti. As I shared with her the minor and major details, I found myself saying, “This is different. It’s not something I was anxious about, or waited for. I truly believe that the Lord has seen my delight in Him and is now granting me my heart’s desire.”

Two years ago the desire to go to Haiti was planted in my heart. And though I prayed, I was not consumed by it. In my years of waiting, I could have hustled God, nagged Him, thrown fits, and questioned His purposes, or made attempts to make it happen. But for whatever reason, beyond myself, I did not. Looking back, I delighted in the Lord and now, well now I am about to experience God granting me the desire of my heart.

It seems that we are always waiting for something: a job, a raise, a deal to go through, a spouse, a child, deliverance, a response from Heaven, or, you fill in the blank according to your situation. Basically, we are waiting for life to get better. I do believe that most of the things we are waiting for are not selfish, but God planted desires that will satisfy the “abundant life” that is promised to us in John 10:10. I ask for us to stop and consider this question: How are you waiting?

In considering my waiting for Haiti and my waiting for other desires, I see a difference. I normally wait and wait and wait and continue waiting. Somewhere in between waiting and waiting, a series of happenings begin to unfold:

I over think

I doubt and nagg God

I become anxious

I am led by emotions

I contemplate methods of manipulation

I try to help God and accelerate His purpose

I grow weary, burdened and discouraged

Bitterness kicks in

Hold up! You too?! When we wait and our expectations aren't met within our time frame or in a less favorable manner we can spiral into a series of ugly and rebellious attitudes. Therefore, learning what delighting in the Lord is and it's benefits is instrumental for our waiting season. Delighting cannot happen if we are not in God's word, committed to prayer and active in His service. Delighting removes our constant fixation on the desire and causes us to focus on the Giver of every good and perfect gift. Delighting on the Giver will enable us to wait joyfully and patiently. Delighting through the waiting process will also guard our hearts from losing hope or lacking faith. Lastly, Delighting will change us, for it may be that the very outcome we are waiting for could differ from the outcome God has already chosen for us (which is always the better of the two). 

Whether you have begun to wait or have been waiting for x amount of time, know that God is fully aware of your desires. He has not forgotten you. He loves you and is working all things out for your good, and ultimately for His glory. My encouragement to you as you wait for ____________, is to not delight nor glorify a desire or its outcome, but delight fully and wholly in the Lord (not for what He can do or give, but for who He is). In His perfect timing He will grant you your heart’s desire and give you the abundant life He intended for you to live. 

May we be delightful people with delighting hearts. 

Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:3-5 

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord! Psalm 37:13-14 

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. 

Birthday Surprise. It's Stephanie!

My favorite holiday is here and with it a very special post by one of my favorite people. For those who don't know Stephanie, she is vibrant, enthusiastic and encouraging. And to those who know her, we can all say we are better people because she is in our lives. May this special Thanksgiving post speak comfort and joy to your heart. 
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To be completely honest, I wanted to decline Raquel’s offer when she first asked me to be a guest blogger. Why? I let fear paralyze me at that moment and I had no idea what to write about, BUT I heard a firm response from God, “Yes, you WILL write and you WILL share what you have learned!” I immediately knew exactly what He was talking about. So here it goes…

Back in February, I attended an amazing conference. Prior to this conference, I was ecstatic to volunteer and serve at the conference, but God gave me a clear “No!” I was crushed and confused because my heart’s desire is to serve others, but I knew that God wanted me to be still, sit back, and hear from Him. It would be me and Him, nothing else!

Throughout the conference God was moving in my heart. The night Hillsong United led worship, God revealed something to me. You see, God exposed  the ugliness of my heart to me and unfolded a deeper layer that I had no idea was lying inside of my heart. I knew then this was one of the reasons God wanted me to sit out, and not volunteer at the conference. I suddenly broke out in tears and felt my knees suddenly collapse.  I felt ashamed and embarrassed. God revealed to me that I was angry. Angry with Him! “What?!? How could this be? I’m so head over heels in love with Him! How could I have been angry and in love with Him all at the same time?

Rewind …

Way before attending this conference, I had been trying to pass one of the tests to become a teacher. It had taken me a little well over a year to pass it. While many eagerly waited to start the New Year, I was taking into the New Year a heavy burden of frustration. Throughout that time of test after test, I felt like I done everything humanly possible to pass. I bought books, hired tutors, listened to cds, attended workshops, and more. My next train of thought was, “My failing MUST be because I’m not spiritual enough?” (At this point, I had no idea where my head was at.) I then proceeded into trying to do all the “Christian stuff” so that I can hopefully gain God’s favor and mercy to pass the test. (Side note: This is so far from God’s truth…We do NOT have to gain His love, it’s unconditional nor do we have to work to receive His favor/mercy/grace) I fasted. I prayed. I went to church. I sought Biblical counsel. I read my Bible. I had done anything and everything. I knew for sure God was going to hook it up and open the door for me to pass. Yeah, NO! The next time I went to take it, I read in big fat letters, “Not pass!” “What? God, how could this be? You MUST be mad at me!”

Fast-forward to the conference …

“Angry? Why would I be angry with God?” It then dawned on me that I was angry because the thought of God forsaking me, and not giving me the desires of my own selfish heart, had been lingering inside of me. I had been feeling let down by God. I felt like my prayers were hitting the roof and not heaven. Why wouldn’t God turn to me and allow for me to pass the test? “C’mon God, You created everything in 6 days... Can’t you just make it happen and allow this miracle to take place?!” I would have never imagined, in my wildest dreams, that I would reach the point of being angry with my God.

After I left the conference, I confessed to my boyfriend all that I had been hidden in my heart. We prayed, and I instantly felt God’s love and healing hand over my heart and life. God’s faithfulness revealed to me yet once again. “CONFESS your sins to each other and pray for one another so that you may be HEALED.” James 5:16.

Thanksgiving is here! What am I thankful for? Well, I’m thankful for God’s strength. He gave me strength to push forward even when I thought I could not take one more step or one more test. I took that test 7 times! If it was not for Him, I would have easily given up probably after the 3^rd time of not passing it. I was stubborn (hence me having to take it 7 times) and God wanted me to gain radical faith in trusting Him with my life even when things don’t “fall in place.” I’m thankful that though this sin had been residing in my heart, God’s love did not change.

I learned many things during that season of my life. I can honestly say that though storms may come, and they will come, there is ALWAYS something to be thankful for. I encourage you to dig deep and pray even when it seems as if you can not mutter out a single word to God. Prayer not only changes things, but it changes YOU!

“BE THANKFUL IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, 

for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” -1 Thessalonians 5:18

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. 

Tell God what you need and THANK HIM for all he has done.” –Philippians 4:6

“When everything seems like it’s falling apart, 

that’s when God is putting things back together just the way He wants it.” 

One last thing, though God did not answer my prayer on my timeline to pass the test, He did do something far more imaginable. He gave me the gift of faith! Faith to truly trust God with my life, with my future, even when all else fails.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Birthday Surprise. It's Nicole. part 2

Welcome back to Nicki's hope story.
Part 1 (click here) was a great read, yet I tell, part 2 will be even better! May the Lord speak mightily to you!
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Here is a piece of God's hope story: 

She is eight years old. Her brown face contains a smile that can brighten the darkest of moments. Her big black eyes have potential to catch anyone’s attention, and keep it. She is timid at first glance but once she feels comfortable you have nothing more than a young girl full of joy and laughter and smiles dancing around your waist and holding onto your hand for dear life. She is smart, she is kind, and she is beautiful in every way. She has gone through much more difficult struggles in her short eight years than I have in my twenty-two. She is a daughter of the King. She does not know her earthly father, but she is learning to trust in her heavenly one. Her name is Alijati, she is from Kamonkoli, Uganda, and I am her sponsor.

The Lord has used this precious child to teach me lessons I never knew I needed to learn. Lessons on love that go beyond barriers that we put up around ourselves. Lessons on patience and trusting in our God in Heaven that promises to be our strength, our guide, and our help in times of trouble and need. But most importantly, a lesson on how important it is to be obedient to what the Lord is asking of you, in order to not miss out on the will He has for your life.

God had purposed for me and Jati to connect with each other, and because of this and the desire He placed in me to want to do something bigger than myself, her need and my ability intersected. I am able to provide food and education to a worthy child who would have not fully known these things otherwise. And it goes beyond that. In providing for her and being there for her, I am able to give her the opportunity to know Jesus and experience His love and hope in a tangible way; a way that she has never known because of the struggles she's dealt with.

I have my own dreams that start with love and the desire to glorify God, and end with wanting some precious brown faces in Uganda to know about their Father in Heaven who loves them and is intimately acquainted with them. Maybe your hope story isn't a needy child that you can provide for from across the world. Maybe it’s a stranger across the city or a sibling in the next room. My prayer is that our mighty God would strengthen and equip you to do what you may not even know He’s called you to do yet. Allow your ability and the need He places before you to intersect, so that He may be glorified. Open your eyes, open your heart, allow His love to flow through you and watch your hope story, which is really His, unfold right before you.

"We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our hope and our shield. 

In Him our hearts rejoice as we trust in His Holy name." Psalm 33:4 

photo of Nicki and Alijati, Uganda 2012

photo of Nicki and Alijati, Uganda 2012

Alijati is the beautiful girl wearing the white top. 

Birthday Surprise. It's Scarleth!

Hi Lovelies! Today's birthday surprise comes to you from Scarleth. A little bit about her, she is passionately in love with Jesus, bold, outspoken, and has a tremendous God given zeal for the broken and abused. May her words encourage you this day in a post she has titled: Humble Spirit. 
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Humility can only be found through the impact of Christ’s love in our lives. This is important to know because God has called both you and I to give ourselves selflessly to His call and purpose. He requires that we love others as Christ loved the church, giving Himself as ransom for many. Jesus didn't save us to show off what He could do but as an act of love, obedience and humility before God. 

“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” Phil. 2:8

Jesus was humble, obedient, selfless, and His own interest was for the interest of others. He commands us to do the same. We are commanded to be like Jesus. Does that mean are we to be perfect? No. We are all sinners and all have fallen short of the glory of God, but through His grace and love we are redeemed. It is not by all the “good” we have done or have yet to do, but by Jesus alone.

There are three characteristics of Jesus that I want to share with you today! If you’re a note taker (like me) you might want to write these down…

1. Submission to God

“Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 Jesus did just that, He was obedient to God during His life here on earth. He taught all and He healed the sick. He prayed and fasted for forty-days and forty-nights When He was tempted by Satan and the angels of God ministered to Him when He resisted. You and I are called to resist the devil through an absolute submission to Christ. Unless we are completely and utterly surrendered to His word we will not be able to stand against the enemy when he attacks. How do we begin to submit to God? Through reading and meditation of His word, and a life of prayer. It is fundamental that we yield to the presence of God through obedience.

2. Selfless Service

A humble spirit values the welfare of others. “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interest, but also for the interest of others.” Phil. 2:3-4. Jesus models selfless servitude for us in that He humbly came to earth to serve others. He came looking for the sick not the healed. He came to rescue and restore the brokenhearted. I have had “hands on” privilege of serving God's people. In my life, there is nothing more gratifying for my soul than helping others. No greater joy than to be there for those in need, witnessing God's work in the midst of chaos. He uses people like you and me to bring glory to His name, when we allow our selves to be selflessly involved in the work that He has placed us in. Every day is an opportunity to help someone, it doesn't matter how big or how small that task is, just help. At the end of the day, it is not about you, it is all about Him. All the glory belongs to God.

3. Selfless Love

Loving others, for God is Love. “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:11. The love of God is immeasurable, His love overpasses our mindset. He loved us so much so that He gave His one and only son in ransom for our sins {John 3:16}. What is selfless love? Caring for the concerns of others before our very own. Lord, break my heart for what breaks yours. We are His children and we are called to be obedient, humble, selfless… If we want God to use us greatly we must allow God to break us deeply. Selfless means the quality of unselfish concern for the well-being of others. Isn't that what Jesus desires? For us to love others and care for others needs before our own? This is what He has called you and I to be Selfless.

I exhort you to take a double look at your life, seek the areas that are affecting your personal relationship with others. Examine your walk, thoughts, ministry, all the things you do on a day to day basis. I leave you with the following verse and I pray that the Lord continues to speak to you as He has spoken to me. 

“Remind them to be subject to rulers, authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.” Titus 3:1-2

Birthday Surprise. It's Kim!

Hey! Today's post comes from the very lively and enthusiastic Kim. If you need someone to get things done, she is your go to girl. Charisma, charm, and ambition best describe her. Praying you may be blessed, encouraged and equipped through this lovely birthday surprise! Go on, read!
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[photo credit]

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I will love you for you have loved  /  I will forgive as You forgive  /  Your love prevails  /  You fill my life with hope again. -Love Knows No End, Hillsong Live

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How great that we have a Heavenly Father who loves us despite of who we are. His son died for us and paid a debt which was not His own. I call this: Priceless Cause. Priceless, in that a debt was paid in a way that repayment could never be sufficient. His cause is humanity, His creation. 

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"He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24

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God's love for us is never failing. His love is limitless. And though His is more than we could ever as for, our hearts are never fully satisfied in Him. 

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"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." Proverbs 4:23

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One way of guarding our hearts is by loving others as Christ has loved us. At times it will be easy to love other. But Christ calls us to be doers of His Word; this includes loving all, even the unlovable (regardless of their condition). 

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We should live to seek the broken and the lost. Through love we can help mend them to be the individuals God has created them to be. We too have been called to a priceless cause. 

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"I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice." Ezekiel 34:16

Lyrical Friday - You Alone We Praise

Happy Friday!
I heard this song for the first time last week and could not get it out of my head (for good reason). My friends who were with me couldn't stop singing it. And I am pretty sure that after listening to it, you won't either. Enjoy and praise the One who alone is worthy of our praise.
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You Alone We Praise, Ocean's Edge School of Worship

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King of Kings and Lord of Lords
You alone are powerful
You reign in love, You reign in love
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The One who is and is to come
Great I Am, The Holy One
You reign in love, You reign in love
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You Alone We Praise, Oh
You Alone We Praise
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Jesus Christ, the Risen One
You have saved us by Your blood
We're overcome, by Your love-
There is no One who is like You
There is no One like our God!

Lyrical Friday - Overcome

Happy Friday to You! 

Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome. the world. John 16:31-33

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This portion of scripture has been one of great comfort in my life, many times. It is often quoted to those who are in the midst of tribulation and sort of blurted out without giving much thought to it. These words, spoken by Jesus, are so heavy in worth. Jesus has overcome this world: tribulation, hunger, thirst, sleep deprivation, loneliness, poverty, humiliation, betrayal, slander, demonic manifestations, temptation, and the greatest of these, sin and death. Do you hear the treasures of this verse being rattled? All that we are going through, and all that we have yet to walk in to, Christ has overcome. And because He has overcome we can take refuge in His comfort, delight in His hope, glory in His praises and rest in His promises. 

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I pray that you may be anchored in this truth today, tomorrow and forever. You are in Christ, a new creation, you no longer have to fear as the world does, but you can be of good cheer in the midst of tribulation. Because Christ was not alone when he walked this earth as a man, neither are you. The Father is with you. He loves you and He cares for you. What matters to you, matters to God; no matter how big or however small the matter may be. He is for you, not against you. Trust Him with your life and as you do, you too will overcome this world. 

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Overcome, Jeremy Camp 

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Seated above, enthroned in the Father's loveDestined to die, poured out for all mankindGod's only son perfect and spotless oneHe never sinned, but suffered as if He did2All authority, every victory is YoursAll authority, every victory is Yours2CHORUS:Savior, worthy of honor and glory,Worthy of all our praise, You overcameJesus, awesome in power forever,Awesome and great is Your name, You overcame2Power in hand speaking the Father's planYou're sending us out, light in this broken land2We will overcome by the blood of the Lamband the word of our testimony, everyone overcome

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