Lyrical Friday - Oceans

Happy Friday!

I am squeezing a little bit of time to post Oceans, a song that has captivated my heart from Hillsong United's most recent album. The lyrics are simple, yet from beginning to end its a spiritual awakening. May your strength be renewed, your faith fortified, and your feet swift to follow Jesus. May the Spirit lead you to where your trust is without borders.

Oceans, Hillsong United

revive me

I lie in the dust; revive me by your word.
My soul melts from heaviness; strengthen me according to Your word.
Psalm 119:25, 28

Praying that you may be revived, strengthened, encouraged today to be real with God as David was in Psalm 119. If you need revival, tell Him and ask Him to revive you. If you need strength, tell Him and ask Him to strengthen you. Whatever it may be that you need, tell Him of your need and ask Him for it. He is a wonderful God who promises to never despise a broken and contrite spirit.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Psalm 119:105

Look upon my suffering and rescue me,
for I have not forgotten your instructions.
¹⁵⁴ Argue my case; take my side!
Protect my life as you promised.
¹⁵⁵ The wicked are far from rescue,
for they do not bother with your decrees.
¹⁵⁶ Lord, how great is your mercy;
let me be revived by following your regulations.
¹⁵⁷ Many persecute and trouble me,
yet I have not swerved from your laws.
¹⁵⁸ Seeing these traitors makes me sick at heart,
because they care nothing for your word.
¹⁵⁹ See how I love your commandments, Lord.
Give back my life because of your unfailing love.
¹⁶⁰ The very essence of your words is truth;
all your just regulations will stand forever.
Psalm 119:153-160

boundaries

Happy Monday!
This morning I read from a little book called: Moments of Peace from the Psalms. It is one of my favorite devotionals to pick up. I read from Psalm 74 and knew that I had to share today's read.

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The Establishment of Boundaries

You set all the limits on the earth. Psalm 74:17 NCV

Fire is a wonderful thing—especially when cooking food or keeping warm. Unfortunately, if a fire gets out of control in your home or a forest, it can be devastating. The flames quickly consume everything in their unhindered path. 

To avoid disaster, one must only build fires within the confines of a suitable fireplace or pit, where they can be easily managed. 

Likewise, boundaries keep the resources and relationships of your life from becoming damaging. That's why God gives you His commands He knows that too much of a good thing can be harmful, and He wants you to flourish rather than self-destruct. 

So don't be afraid of His laws—they'll always keep you safe. 

God, thank you that your boundaries are not meant to limit me but protect me. Help me to always abide by your life-giving commans. Amen. 

You have been our King from the beginning, 

O God; You have saved us many times. 

Psalm 74:12 

example and praise

I spent some time in Psalm 71 this morning. Verse seven caught my attention above all others:

"My life is an example to many, because you have been my strength and protection."

It caused me to measure up my life. Am I a representation of this verse to the world? Can others claim me as an example because God has been my strength and protection? It's an even bolder statement to claim for oneself. I think of the many times that lack of faith has not carried me through a trial but paralyzed me. Or when worry got the best of me, as in a rocking chair swaying back and forth but going nowhere. I am shamed by the thoughts of, "what if..." when I clearly knew what to say or what to do but did not do.

Oh wretched woman that I am.

I love the following verse:
"That is why I can never stop praising you; I declare your glory all day long."

I know the real me, the one that worries, the one whose faith wavers and even lacks it at times. I know me, the one who stares at the promises of God and dares to pray, "Lord will you really protect me?" Because I know me so well, that is why I can never stop praising Him. Praise, despite me, declares God's glorious strength and protection in my life. Praise reminds me that He is who He says He is. Praise speaks His promises and quiets my fears. Praise can, and praise will, mold me to be an example. So praise on dear friend and you too can be an example to many!

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Sentence Tuesday

Whatever problems we're going through, 

they didn't come to stay; they came to pass. 

- Grandma Barb, from Tiffany Meyers

Miami Fog

Lyrical Friday - Here In This Place

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One of my favorite things to do it to sit back on a comfy couch with a great friend. I could be in their presence for hours. Unfortunately,moments like these to happen often because of schedules and responsibilities that collide with time.

However, there is one friend that always has time for us. We don't have to schedule or make it a "date" to sit back with Him. Fortunately for us He tells us to come boldly to His throne of grace. That is unlimited access to Him. Coming to the presence of God is better than an infomercial, for with Him there truly is that, "Wait! There's more." He promises that in that place we will receive mercy and find grace.

Today's lyrical post caused me to stop and meditate on this thought: Is my spare time wasted or invested? I'll be honest with you, I do waste a lot of time in the name of relaxing. Time that 1. is running out, 2. really doesn't belong to me, and 3.will never be returned. How magnificent it would be if I spend five more minutes with Jesus than I normally would. Grace and mercy I could definitely use, so I'm off to receive and find that which I lack: more of Jesus!

Let us come boldly (with confidence) to the throne of our gracious God. 

There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:16

Here in this Place, Elevation Worship


This is a place for the broken
This is the hope of the world
Jesus, friend of sinners
Jesus, Savior

Chorus:
Here in this place mercy is flowing
Here in this place is the glory of God
All things are new in the presence of Jesus
Father we stand amazed
Here in this placeYou are awesome in this place mighty God
You are awesome in this place Abba Father
You are worthy of our praise
To You our lives we raise
You are awesome in this place mighty God

a few words on Guilt

Last night the topic of guilt came up in our bible study. Immediately my mind took me back to the days when guilt and shame were my shackles of choice. Guilt was a familiar feeling that I believed I had to live with.

You see, I carried the guilt of my friend's hopelessness with me that led her to suicide. I held myself responsible for my grandfather's death. I accused my lack of faith, wrong decisions and attitude for the straying away of a loved one. The shame of my past bound me. I understood that God had forgiven me, but I could not forget myself.

That is till a friend spoke words of truth into my life. In short she said, "Raquel, your grandfather died because that's the hour the Lord chose to take Him. Do you really think that you are greater than God? Or that you determine life and death? Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! These words shook me and took me for a ride. Not only was my grandfather's death flashed before me, but every guilt and every shame that had crippled me.

I had a questions to deal with in light of the truth my friend had spoken:
Was I assuming to be greater than God by not forgiving myself? Would I continue believing the lie that I was responsible and accountable for what God had willed and permitted? That night began a process of God replacing truth for lies, a deep healing, and setting me free. His grace was so gentle and sweet.

For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 1 John 3:20

Dear Friend, has guilt made your heart its home? Is your mind clouded with shameful memories? Is your faith crippled? Have you made yourself responsible for choices God has made or the choices others have taken? Are you holding yourself accountable for actions or events that the Lord has forgiven you for? Do you find it difficult to forgive your self and move forward?
God is greater than your sin.
God is greater than your shortcomings.
God is greater than your mistakes.
God is greater than your failures.
God is greater than you.
God is greater than your heart.
God is greater than your memories.
God is greater than your ability to forgive and forget.
God is Great.

Allow today for the grace of God to shatter the shackles of guilt and deliver you from the shame that condemns you. God is love, and it is His perfect love that will perfect you. It's a process, be patient with Him as He replaces lies with truth, heals you, and sets you free.

Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. 1 John 4:17-18

But love covers all sins. Proverbs 10:12

Sentence Tuesday

If you uproot an idol in your life 

and fail to plant the love of Christ in its place, 

the idol will grow back.

-Tim Keller 

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