Have you ever wanted to be a bird? I have. In fact, right now I really want to. I am listing to this song and its purely instrumental. It is simply a piano with the sound of rain and a crackling fire in the back ground. It makes me relaxed. It makes me long for the outdoors. Why is it that creation is so peaceful? And that the world we have made is so chaotic? My dad was driving me to the airport a few days ago. It was early in the morning. I was watching the sunrise through huge buildings we were passing as we drove by D. C. It was beautiful I must admit, but creations that man have made never seem to give me the peace and calmness that the creation our Creator has made. It is so beautiful. Have you ever sat outside in an old wooden gazebo in the middle of the woods? Let me paint you a picture as best as a legally blind color blind girl can.
Shut your eyes and imagine with me as I tell you what I see. I am sitting in a wooden gazebo I found while on a hiking trail. It sits on a mountain side in the woods and as I look out I see mountains and valleys filled with trees. It is as if there are waves of trees in front of me. it is spring time and the leaves are beautiful and freshly grown. Some trees have blossomed with beautiful white flowers. I stopped in the gazebo because it started to rain. The rain is creating a beautiful mist that covers the valleys with white puffy clouds. The mist dances as it rises in the air. Back, and forth. The only noise that can be heard is the sound of water trickling through the leaves. The smell of rain and Spring time fills the air. Not a person is in sight. Near by is a stream of water dancing as it flows and swerves in between one rock and another. It's about 78 degrees outside and with the spring shower came a nice calming cool spring breeze. Just strong enough to make the trees sway back and forth. small rumbles of thunder can be heard in the distance. It's so quiet, it is as if I can hear my heart beat. I stare at the trees swaying back and forth, and the streams of rain water dancing as they trickle and flow through the forest. I watch the mist as it slowly rises, dancing in the mountains. It then occurs to me, creation is dancing for its' Creator. Nothing is more pure and peaceful to me than creation. I wonder, does God let us witness these moments so that we can be reminded that we should be praising and worshiping God too? Or does He let us enjoy these moments so that we can worship God too. In the Psalms it talks about creation praising its' Creator. In one bible verse it tells us that if we do not worship God, the rocks will cry out. I've studied a bit of what Louie Giglio talks about and research shows that different stars in the universe make different noises as if the universe has its own star orchestra praising God. It amazes me how busy we get in our world, yet the creation around us is worshiping God. How can something without a soul (such as a tree, or a star) worship God, yet we who have a soul, a heart, a mind, and strength get too busy to worship our Creator? I don't want a soulless object "out-worshiping" me. (not that it's a competition but I think you get what i am saying)
I wish I was a bird. I could fly away sure(which is why most people wish they were birds), but I could also spend a lot more time in creation, being reminded to praise and worship my Living God!
"The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zeph. 3:16-17
Psalm 148
1 Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD from the heavens, praise him in the heights above.
2 Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
3 Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars.
4 Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.
5 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created.
6 He set them in place for ever and ever; he gave a decree that will never pass away.
7 Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
8 lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding,
9 you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars,
10 wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds,
11 kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth,
12 young men and maidens, old men and children.
13 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
14 He has raised up for his people a horn, the praise of all his saints, of Israel, the people close to his heart. Praise the LORD.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
So I've Been Thinking
It has been a long time since I have wrote on here. I have so much I have wanted to write but not much time to do it. Well I am waiting for food to get done cooking so here goes some thoughts and realizations.
In my life I have had to make a lot of hard choices. I have also had to do a lot of hard things. I am sure almost everyone has. I am doing one of those very hard things right now. I am taking a break from the things I love doing most so that I can work on me. This is SO hard for me and I really can not put it into words. I love helping others and I LOVE serving God but the best way I can do that right now is by serving Him by working on me. (it's a long story and I am not going to get into it now but just understand that it is VERY hard for me but I know it is what God wants and in some weird twisted way I am really glad it is happening.) So as I was thinking about this late one night (my sleeping schedule is messed up and im having a hard time falling asleep so this happens a lot) I was thinking about hard things. I started to think, I wonder what the hardest thing God ever had to do was? I mean nothing is hard for God is it? Then I remembered something I have grown up knowing; something that now has a brand new meaning for me. God created everything. God Made the heavens and the earth. God knows and named every star in the sky! god made woman (enough said!)! I surely could not keep the world together but God can! These things must be hard. BUT, these are not the hardest things God did. The hardest thing God ever did was send His son to die on a cross for our sins! (This sounds so elementary but hang on). God can do anything and He does SO much but the hardest hting He did was seperate Himself from Christ when Jesus bore our sin on that cross. Now Jesus and God are back together obviously but it hurt God. I am sure God cried terrible tears of hurt and pain. God , big powerful amazing hold-the-world-together God cried real tears of real pain. Why would God chose to let himself hurt? Because He loves me so much! The hardest thing God ever did, He did for me!
That is so humbling yet it fills me up and motivates me to do something about it! WOW! I have always known this in my head and even a little in my heart but now i am starting to understand it with everything I am!
So unrelated to this....
I am going through a recovery program and I am studying addictions and recovery in school for my minor in Psychology. Before I even rea din a book or heard in a class about the 4 areas of healing, I had figured them out. There are 4 places in which a person needs healing in order to recover and be healthy. They are spiritual healing, mental (or psychological) healing, emotional healing, and physical healing. I was thinking about these and a verse came to my mind. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, your soul, your mind, and your strength. Could these htings be related to the healing process? I was thinking as follows:
Love the Lord your God with all your Heart (emotions and emotional healing)
With all your mind (Mental or psychological thoughts and healing)
With all your strength (Physical and physical healing)
and with all your soul (Spiritual and spiritual healing)
Could it be that in order to truly love God to your full ability, you need to be healed in these four areas? Just a thought. What do you think?
In my life I have had to make a lot of hard choices. I have also had to do a lot of hard things. I am sure almost everyone has. I am doing one of those very hard things right now. I am taking a break from the things I love doing most so that I can work on me. This is SO hard for me and I really can not put it into words. I love helping others and I LOVE serving God but the best way I can do that right now is by serving Him by working on me. (it's a long story and I am not going to get into it now but just understand that it is VERY hard for me but I know it is what God wants and in some weird twisted way I am really glad it is happening.) So as I was thinking about this late one night (my sleeping schedule is messed up and im having a hard time falling asleep so this happens a lot) I was thinking about hard things. I started to think, I wonder what the hardest thing God ever had to do was? I mean nothing is hard for God is it? Then I remembered something I have grown up knowing; something that now has a brand new meaning for me. God created everything. God Made the heavens and the earth. God knows and named every star in the sky! god made woman (enough said!)! I surely could not keep the world together but God can! These things must be hard. BUT, these are not the hardest things God did. The hardest thing God ever did was send His son to die on a cross for our sins! (This sounds so elementary but hang on). God can do anything and He does SO much but the hardest hting He did was seperate Himself from Christ when Jesus bore our sin on that cross. Now Jesus and God are back together obviously but it hurt God. I am sure God cried terrible tears of hurt and pain. God , big powerful amazing hold-the-world-together God cried real tears of real pain. Why would God chose to let himself hurt? Because He loves me so much! The hardest thing God ever did, He did for me!
That is so humbling yet it fills me up and motivates me to do something about it! WOW! I have always known this in my head and even a little in my heart but now i am starting to understand it with everything I am!
So unrelated to this....
I am going through a recovery program and I am studying addictions and recovery in school for my minor in Psychology. Before I even rea din a book or heard in a class about the 4 areas of healing, I had figured them out. There are 4 places in which a person needs healing in order to recover and be healthy. They are spiritual healing, mental (or psychological) healing, emotional healing, and physical healing. I was thinking about these and a verse came to my mind. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, your soul, your mind, and your strength. Could these htings be related to the healing process? I was thinking as follows:
Love the Lord your God with all your Heart (emotions and emotional healing)
With all your mind (Mental or psychological thoughts and healing)
With all your strength (Physical and physical healing)
and with all your soul (Spiritual and spiritual healing)
Could it be that in order to truly love God to your full ability, you need to be healed in these four areas? Just a thought. What do you think?
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Hungry? Why Wait?
Hungry? Why wait? That was the theme of one of the dorm halls i lived on my sophomore year of college. At first I thought that the theme was kind of stupid. They took it from a candy bar and I could of cared less about a stupid hall theme. OK, so let's fast forward about two and half years to about last week.
Have you ever had bad cravings for food before? Like you start to think about something yummy like Coldstone ice cream or maybe a tasty sandwich from Burger King. I don't know about you but I get food cravings all the time. It isn't just wanting something sweet or salty, it is wanting something specific. Also I have noticed a common trend in my food cravings. I tend to crave food the most either when I have just filled my house with tons of food, or when I have no food left in my fridge or pantry. So this last week i have been craving ice cream, Burger King, and Domino's pizza. I probably wouldn't want that food so much if I actually had food in my house but I haven't had time or even a ride to go buy food for a few weeks now. That's probably the reason for why I have ordered from Domino's twice in the last week.
Not only do I get food craving, but I get cravings for water too! Have you ever been outside all day working hard or even just playing hard and you get so thirsty that your mouth actually feels dry? Man, when I get that thirsty i am able to drink all the water in the water fountain. (Obviously you can't do that but I think you get what I am saying.) Right now i am also trying to reduce the amounts of caffeine I have been drinking. I don't think I have ever though about going and buying a coffee beverage more than now! It seems like when I either have a lot of something available to me or none at all, I want it the most.
When I am hungry or thirsty and I have all that I want right there in large amounts it is so easy to take care of my cravings; but it is so much harder when I am craving something that I can't have. Why am I talking about this you may be asking? Well, it is because just like we have cravings for food and drink, we have cravings for God. Sometimes we don't say we are craving God but we are craving things that only God can truly fulfill.
All throughout the Psalms you read about David asking where God is and wanting God and even crying out to God. It makes me think of all the times I have craved God. My cravings tend to come pretty easily after I just had a large filling of His presence in my life. Do you know what I am talking about? It is those times when you have just come home from camp or a conference or even a really powerful worship service. Maybe you had an amazing quiet time or you read a book that just made you feel so close to God and you continued longing for that.But there are other times when I crave God. When I feel empty I tend to crave Him a lot. What happens though is that I don't recognize it as a craving for God. Normally it comes in a craving for love, or maybe a longing to be needed or desired. Have you ever wished that some one would care? Ever craved wanting some one to talk to? I have realized that when I get this way, it is normally because I have had a short supply of God in my life. Although I think I am craving something else, what I am really craving is God, His love, His care, and His attention.
A craving is normally an emotion that makes you long for something. I know that many people say you can't base things on feelings. Feelings should not dictate your life but feelings can help direct it. Sometimes when you feel things, it is your bodies way of saying you have a need. Cravings can be a feeling but if you look, even in the dictionary it says that cravings can also be needs. God gave us our feelings for a reason and He can use the to help direct us to Him
When I have no food in my house, i crave it but I can't get it. It is so much harder for me to find a way to get that food because I can't drive and I'm a college student. Some times I simply do not have the money. But if I really want that desired food enough, I will find a way. The question is, when you are desiring that love, acceptance, listening ear, friendship, etc. are you going to find a way to God? If you are Hungry for God, why are you waiting?
Draw near to God (first), and He will draw near to you. James 4:8
Have you ever had bad cravings for food before? Like you start to think about something yummy like Coldstone ice cream or maybe a tasty sandwich from Burger King. I don't know about you but I get food cravings all the time. It isn't just wanting something sweet or salty, it is wanting something specific. Also I have noticed a common trend in my food cravings. I tend to crave food the most either when I have just filled my house with tons of food, or when I have no food left in my fridge or pantry. So this last week i have been craving ice cream, Burger King, and Domino's pizza. I probably wouldn't want that food so much if I actually had food in my house but I haven't had time or even a ride to go buy food for a few weeks now. That's probably the reason for why I have ordered from Domino's twice in the last week.
Not only do I get food craving, but I get cravings for water too! Have you ever been outside all day working hard or even just playing hard and you get so thirsty that your mouth actually feels dry? Man, when I get that thirsty i am able to drink all the water in the water fountain. (Obviously you can't do that but I think you get what I am saying.) Right now i am also trying to reduce the amounts of caffeine I have been drinking. I don't think I have ever though about going and buying a coffee beverage more than now! It seems like when I either have a lot of something available to me or none at all, I want it the most.
When I am hungry or thirsty and I have all that I want right there in large amounts it is so easy to take care of my cravings; but it is so much harder when I am craving something that I can't have. Why am I talking about this you may be asking? Well, it is because just like we have cravings for food and drink, we have cravings for God. Sometimes we don't say we are craving God but we are craving things that only God can truly fulfill.
All throughout the Psalms you read about David asking where God is and wanting God and even crying out to God. It makes me think of all the times I have craved God. My cravings tend to come pretty easily after I just had a large filling of His presence in my life. Do you know what I am talking about? It is those times when you have just come home from camp or a conference or even a really powerful worship service. Maybe you had an amazing quiet time or you read a book that just made you feel so close to God and you continued longing for that.But there are other times when I crave God. When I feel empty I tend to crave Him a lot. What happens though is that I don't recognize it as a craving for God. Normally it comes in a craving for love, or maybe a longing to be needed or desired. Have you ever wished that some one would care? Ever craved wanting some one to talk to? I have realized that when I get this way, it is normally because I have had a short supply of God in my life. Although I think I am craving something else, what I am really craving is God, His love, His care, and His attention.
A craving is normally an emotion that makes you long for something. I know that many people say you can't base things on feelings. Feelings should not dictate your life but feelings can help direct it. Sometimes when you feel things, it is your bodies way of saying you have a need. Cravings can be a feeling but if you look, even in the dictionary it says that cravings can also be needs. God gave us our feelings for a reason and He can use the to help direct us to Him
When I have no food in my house, i crave it but I can't get it. It is so much harder for me to find a way to get that food because I can't drive and I'm a college student. Some times I simply do not have the money. But if I really want that desired food enough, I will find a way. The question is, when you are desiring that love, acceptance, listening ear, friendship, etc. are you going to find a way to God? If you are Hungry for God, why are you waiting?
Draw near to God (first), and He will draw near to you. James 4:8
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Pushed In a Corner
So this is a facebook note I wrote October 4th in 2007. I just read over it and I thought you may enjoy it. Let me know!
So this is some food for thought here. I'm up and it is like 3 in the morning right? I don't feel good for various reasons and i can't sleep cause I drank too much caffeine earlier at the movies. It's fall break and the campus is empty! I mean EMPTY! It's so strange being here for fall break with barely anyone around. But anyways...these last couple weeks I have really been feeling as if I am pushed into a corner and that everyone keeps walking by forgetting about me. Let me explain. No one seems to have time for me right? (by the way, this is not a note looking for pity or blaming people or saying whoa is me. Just keep reading and i think you may enjoy this) I really just want some friends and I keep talking to my friends but they are "busy"and they tell me oh i am so sorry i am busy right now but ill talk to you soon OK? I promise soon I will talk to you! I keep getting this over and over again. Even from my parents. They are both in new relationships and no one seems to have the time for me anymore, and if they do its like the let me squeeze you in cause i feel like i need to time. I feel like i have been shoved in a corner or a closet and am waving my arms and yelling HEY OVER HERE but no one sees me, or they do and say hold on ill be there shortly! Have you ever had that semi depressed feeling where you just want some one to care about you; someone who just wants to be around you cause they just enjoy being around you? No other real motivation? Have you ever just wanted some one to love you and care for you (i don't mean dating wise, i mean just friend wise) but the thing is you can't make some one care. You can't make some one love you; and slowly you watch relationships slip away and there is not much you can do but just wave your arms and say hey remember me over here? So i was down and thinking to myself, well this stinks and then I realized something! This is probably how God feels!!!! You grow close to Him but then you start to get busy and you say to Him i promise i will talk with you soon or ill spend time with you soon and you do kinda. You give him that squeeze in your schedule time and He wants you to love Him and care for Him like He does you but He isn't going to make you or else it wouldn't be real. He is waving His arms and yelling HEY I'M OVER HERE but you get to busy and slowly shove Him in the corner of the closet and your relationship with Him slowly fades away! The most important relationship in our lives is the one we have with Him so why are we shoving Him in the corner? I AM SO GUILTY of this! School has been so busy and Ive had so much to do and I find time to squeeze in my schedule but i am finding the relationship and fire I had for Him this summer is slowly heading back to a luke warm flame again. How dare i be upset that my friends don't have time for me and that I am all alone on an empty campus!! How dare I because God is giving me the opportunity to run to that corner and sit in His arms and share it with Him. He loves me more than any of you ever could and He is waving His arms at me and I've just been to busy. I'm glad i have this free time to spend with Him, my only question is, is He in the corner waving His arms at YOU??
So this is some food for thought here. I'm up and it is like 3 in the morning right? I don't feel good for various reasons and i can't sleep cause I drank too much caffeine earlier at the movies. It's fall break and the campus is empty! I mean EMPTY! It's so strange being here for fall break with barely anyone around. But anyways...these last couple weeks I have really been feeling as if I am pushed into a corner and that everyone keeps walking by forgetting about me. Let me explain. No one seems to have time for me right? (by the way, this is not a note looking for pity or blaming people or saying whoa is me. Just keep reading and i think you may enjoy this) I really just want some friends and I keep talking to my friends but they are "busy"and they tell me oh i am so sorry i am busy right now but ill talk to you soon OK? I promise soon I will talk to you! I keep getting this over and over again. Even from my parents. They are both in new relationships and no one seems to have the time for me anymore, and if they do its like the let me squeeze you in cause i feel like i need to time. I feel like i have been shoved in a corner or a closet and am waving my arms and yelling HEY OVER HERE but no one sees me, or they do and say hold on ill be there shortly! Have you ever had that semi depressed feeling where you just want some one to care about you; someone who just wants to be around you cause they just enjoy being around you? No other real motivation? Have you ever just wanted some one to love you and care for you (i don't mean dating wise, i mean just friend wise) but the thing is you can't make some one care. You can't make some one love you; and slowly you watch relationships slip away and there is not much you can do but just wave your arms and say hey remember me over here? So i was down and thinking to myself, well this stinks and then I realized something! This is probably how God feels!!!! You grow close to Him but then you start to get busy and you say to Him i promise i will talk with you soon or ill spend time with you soon and you do kinda. You give him that squeeze in your schedule time and He wants you to love Him and care for Him like He does you but He isn't going to make you or else it wouldn't be real. He is waving His arms and yelling HEY I'M OVER HERE but you get to busy and slowly shove Him in the corner of the closet and your relationship with Him slowly fades away! The most important relationship in our lives is the one we have with Him so why are we shoving Him in the corner? I AM SO GUILTY of this! School has been so busy and Ive had so much to do and I find time to squeeze in my schedule but i am finding the relationship and fire I had for Him this summer is slowly heading back to a luke warm flame again. How dare i be upset that my friends don't have time for me and that I am all alone on an empty campus!! How dare I because God is giving me the opportunity to run to that corner and sit in His arms and share it with Him. He loves me more than any of you ever could and He is waving His arms at me and I've just been to busy. I'm glad i have this free time to spend with Him, my only question is, is He in the corner waving His arms at YOU??
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Take My Life (A Prayer)
Have you ever taken some time out of your day to think about the words you say in the worship songs you sing? I love spending time listening to the lyrics and really dwelling on what they mean. If I'm not leading in worship I also love turning those songs into personal prayers during the service. The song Take My Life is a song that we sang at Global Youth Camps last year and I remember this week last year (on June 18th Wednesday night to be exact) we were at Eagle Eerie in Lynchburg VA for camp. After we had finished leading the music for the evening service I decided to slip outside for a little bit to spend some time in prayer. It was this very song that I dwelt on and turned into a prayer this time last year.
Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
(God, please take my life and help me to always surrender it completely to You. Please be in charge of my life and my decisions.)
Take my moments and my days,
let them flow in ceaseless praise.
(Take even the smallest parts of my day, and every single one of my days, and help me to use them as a way to bring your glory and honor and praise. May I always glorify you in everything that I do and may I never grow tired of praising You.)
Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of Thy love.
(Help me to reach out in love to people and show them You love.)
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for Thee.
(Direct my steps in the directions you wish them to go. Here am I Lord please send me out to where you want me.)
Take my voice and let me sing
always, only for my King.
(God, I pray that I will only use my voice for You. Help me never to sing to bring attention to myself but only to glorify and honor you. You are my audience of One. May I never forget that.)
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from Thee.
(God, please use me as a mouthpiece for what You want to be said. May the words from my mouth be pleasing to You and be from You.)
Take my silver and my gold
not a mite would I withhold.
(Help me to remember that my physical blessings are from You and belong to You. Help me to use them in a way that best glorifies and honors you. Show me how You want me to use them. May I never keep them for myself.)
Take my intellect and use
every power as You choose.
(As I study and learn more, God I pray that it would help your purpose for this world. Help me to grow wise in Your ways and use my intelligence for You and not myself.)
Here am I, all of me.
Take my life, it's all for Thee.
(God I surrender to You all of my life. May you take control of everything that I am. Help me to not hold on to anything of myself. Help me to see areas that I may not be surrendering to You so that I may lay them at Your feet.)
Take my will and make it Thine
it shall be no longer mine.
(May Your will be done in my life, not my own. I know that You know best God so please help me to live out what You want for my life.)
Take my heart it is Thine own
it shall be Thy royal throne.
(God, my heart belongs to You. Help me to guard it so that it will always be Your first and foremost.)
Take my love, my Lord I pour
at Your feet its treasure store
(Help me to fall more and more in love with You everyday. May I have a life that is always in love with You.)
Take myself and I will be
ever, only, all for Thee.
Take myself and I will be
ever, only, all for Thee.
(You are what I am all about. May You always be my heart's focus and desire! Be my everything and help me to always keep you as my everything in my life!)
Here am I, all of me.
Take my life, it's all for Thee.
(My heart my mind, my strength, my soul, God everything that I am including my thoughts, my time, my hands, feet, voice, lips, possessions, intellect, will, heart, love and everything else that makes up me; may it always be about You. God Here I am, make me and mold me into what You want me to be. My life is Yours. Do with it what You want.)
I hope that you will take some time aside to turn songs and even scripture into prayers yourself.
Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
(God, please take my life and help me to always surrender it completely to You. Please be in charge of my life and my decisions.)
Take my moments and my days,
let them flow in ceaseless praise.
(Take even the smallest parts of my day, and every single one of my days, and help me to use them as a way to bring your glory and honor and praise. May I always glorify you in everything that I do and may I never grow tired of praising You.)
Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of Thy love.
(Help me to reach out in love to people and show them You love.)
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for Thee.
(Direct my steps in the directions you wish them to go. Here am I Lord please send me out to where you want me.)
Take my voice and let me sing
always, only for my King.
(God, I pray that I will only use my voice for You. Help me never to sing to bring attention to myself but only to glorify and honor you. You are my audience of One. May I never forget that.)
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from Thee.
(God, please use me as a mouthpiece for what You want to be said. May the words from my mouth be pleasing to You and be from You.)
Take my silver and my gold
not a mite would I withhold.
(Help me to remember that my physical blessings are from You and belong to You. Help me to use them in a way that best glorifies and honors you. Show me how You want me to use them. May I never keep them for myself.)
Take my intellect and use
every power as You choose.
(As I study and learn more, God I pray that it would help your purpose for this world. Help me to grow wise in Your ways and use my intelligence for You and not myself.)
Here am I, all of me.
Take my life, it's all for Thee.
(God I surrender to You all of my life. May you take control of everything that I am. Help me to not hold on to anything of myself. Help me to see areas that I may not be surrendering to You so that I may lay them at Your feet.)
Take my will and make it Thine
it shall be no longer mine.
(May Your will be done in my life, not my own. I know that You know best God so please help me to live out what You want for my life.)
Take my heart it is Thine own
it shall be Thy royal throne.
(God, my heart belongs to You. Help me to guard it so that it will always be Your first and foremost.)
Take my love, my Lord I pour
at Your feet its treasure store
(Help me to fall more and more in love with You everyday. May I have a life that is always in love with You.)
Take myself and I will be
ever, only, all for Thee.
Take myself and I will be
ever, only, all for Thee.
(You are what I am all about. May You always be my heart's focus and desire! Be my everything and help me to always keep you as my everything in my life!)
Here am I, all of me.
Take my life, it's all for Thee.
(My heart my mind, my strength, my soul, God everything that I am including my thoughts, my time, my hands, feet, voice, lips, possessions, intellect, will, heart, love and everything else that makes up me; may it always be about You. God Here I am, make me and mold me into what You want me to be. My life is Yours. Do with it what You want.)
I hope that you will take some time aside to turn songs and even scripture into prayers yourself.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Psalm 144
1 Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle;
Ever felt like you were in some type of battle? Maybe a battle to keep your family together or a personal battle to stay focused. There are many types of battles that everyone will face in their lifetime. Whether we are going to be in a physical battle, emotional battle, or spiritual battle, we need to realize that the foundation in which we stand on should be God. What this means is that we need to trust God and focus on Him throughout the battle. We must continue to seek His face. It is easy to say that we will make God our Rock but I don't think a lot of us take the time to really understand what that even means.
2 he is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.
Steadfast love is an amazing thing to think about. Steadfast means fixed in place. God's love for us is fixed in place meaning it isn't going anywhere. God will always love us! Isn't that a great thing to think about? God will always be there for us. It is so easy for me to find myself upset about the fact that I feel like no one is there for me. I always wish that some one would care; that some one would always love me. God is that person who will always be there for me and always care. What a great thing to think about!
3 O LORD, what is man that you regard him, or the son of man that you think of him?
4 Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.
Its amazing that God loves us so much. He knows the number of hairs on our heads. He knows our every though and listens to our prayers. He ALWAYS is there for us and loves us so much! It amazes me because life is so short. Did you know that there is about 6.8 billion people in the world right now? God cares about each and every one of them! On top of that, God has cared about all of the people that lived before us and He will care about all the people who live after us! When you think about all those people, it is overwhelming to think about the fact that God still has time and even the desire to care about you.
5 Bow your heavens, O LORD, and come down! Touch the mountains so that they smoke!
6 Flash forth the lightning and scatter them; send out your arrows and rout them!
These verses remind me of watching a severe thunderstorm. I don't know about you but one of my favorite things to do is go sit on my front step and watch thunderstorms go by. If you think about it, most outdoor things shut down during a thunderstorm. Most people go inside of a building or a car. I love how the outside goes quiet and still. I mean obviously there is the noise of thunder and the wind blowing in the trees and possibly even the sound of a heavy rain or even hail. But think about it, the people and the man-made noises tend to be silenced. To me, watching a thunderstorm reminds me of God's power. This is why I love snow too! When it snows a few inches here in VA the entire state seems to shut down. I love how God can get this busy world to slow down by simply using the weather. We fill our lives with so many things that we tend to forget the most important thing; God! This is why I personally love stormy weather! it's a natural reminder of the One in control.
7 Stretch out your hand from on high; rescue me and deliver me from the many waters, from the hand of foreigners,
8 whose mouths speak lies and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
We should always be on guard of the lies that are fed to us. We need to continually seek God's face and pray that He will help us to know the lies that are being fed to us. It is so easy for others to pull us down.
9 I will sing a new song to you, O God; upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you,
10 who gives victory to kings, who rescues David his servant from the cruel sword.
I know that you have heard this and probably known this for awhile but when was the last time you really though about this. The God we sing to is the same God David sang to! We read about these characters in the Bible but how often do we think of them as real people? People thousands of years ago used to make music to the same God that we make music to. Isn't that exciting?! We sing songs to the same God the angels sing to!
11 Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of foreigners, whose mouths speak lies and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
12 May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown, our daughters like corner pillars cut for the structure of a palace;
Plants full grown and corner pillars of a palace? For a little bit I had to think about what these words meant. I finally realized what full grown plants and corner pillars have in common; they are both strong. Full grown plants have deep roots and corner pillars are sturdy and strong. As a youth worker this is my desire for the students in our youth ministry. I hope and pray that they will become strong in their faith with God.
13 may our granaries be full, providing all kinds of produce; may our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields;
14 may our cattle be heavy with young, suffering no mishap or failure in bearing; may there be no cry of distress in our streets!
How often do you find yourself complaining about the things you need? How often do you tell people that money is tight this month or that your fridge is empty? Now compare that to how often you pray for God's provision. Now also compare that with how many times you take aside time to seek His face. Shouldn't we be spending more time seeking God's face than asking for things from Him? And shouldn't we be spending more times asking God to provide instead of complaining about the lack of provision?
15 Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall! Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD!
Blessed are those who choose to make God the Lord of their life. These are the people who have the heart attitude of surrender to God. They truly desire for God to direct them and have control of their life. To me this song represents what they are all about when they choose to make God Lord of their lives.
Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for Thee.
Take my voice and let me sing
always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as You choose.
Here am I, all of me.
Take my life, it's all for Thee.
Take my will and make it Thine
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is Thine own
it shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord I pour
at Your feet its treasure store
Take myself and I will be
ever, only, all for Thee.
Take myself and I will be
ever, only, all for Thee.
Here am I, all of me.
Take my life, it's all for Thee.
-Take My Life
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Psalm 145
1 I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever.
2 Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.
3 Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.
4 One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.
5 They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
6 They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds.
7 They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
8 The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.
9 The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
10 All you have made will praise you, O LORD; your saints will extol you.
11 They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might,
12 so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.
14 The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.
16 You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.
18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.
20 The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.
21 My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.
Is this the attitude you have towards God? this is the attitude of a person who has a BIG picture of God. I think a lot of times we put limitations on God and expect Him to only do small things. I hope, wish, and pray that this would be the attitude the students here in LP would have towards god. i hope that when the students leave this ministry and move on in their life they can say that they have seen God do big and great things.
2 Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.
3 Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.
4 One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.
5 They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
6 They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds.
7 They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
8 The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.
9 The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
10 All you have made will praise you, O LORD; your saints will extol you.
11 They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might,
12 so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.
14 The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.
16 You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.
18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.
20 The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.
21 My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.
Is this the attitude you have towards God? this is the attitude of a person who has a BIG picture of God. I think a lot of times we put limitations on God and expect Him to only do small things. I hope, wish, and pray that this would be the attitude the students here in LP would have towards god. i hope that when the students leave this ministry and move on in their life they can say that they have seen God do big and great things.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)