The precepts of the LORD are right,
Giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant
Giving light to the eyes.
– David (Psalm 19:8)
I remember the moment, I remember the pain
I was only a girl, but I grew up that day
Tears were falling
I know You saw me
Hiding there in my bedroom, so alone
I was doing my best, trying to be strong
No one to turn to
That’s when I met You
All this time, from the first tear cried
‘Till today’s sunrise
And every single moment between
You were there, You were always there
It was You and I
You’ve been walking with me all this time!
Ever since that day, it’s been clear to me
That no matter what comes, You will never leave
I know You’re for me
And You’re restoring
Every heartache and failure, every broken dream
You’re the God Who sees, the God Who rescued me
This is My Story!
This is My Story!
I hear these people asking me
How do I know what I believe
Well, I’m not the same me, and that’s all the proof I need!
I felt love, I felt Your grace
You stole my heart that day!
All this time, from the first tear cried
‘Till today’s sunrise
And every single moment between
You were there, You were always there
It was You and I
You’ve been walking with me all this time!
Ever since the first tear cried
It was You, You and I
You’ve been walking with me all this time!
– Britt Nicole, “All This Time”
Ah, David.
I love David.
He would probably be diagnosed as bipolar or something nowadays. But that’s okay. He gives me permission to take a raging sea of real emotions to God, where they belong.
“The LORD is my light and my salvation –
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life –
Of whom shall I be afraid?
When evil men advance against me
To devour my flesh,
When my enemies and my foes attack me,
They will stumble and fall.
Though an (unseen) army besiege me,
My heart will not fear;
Though (spiritual) war break out against me,
Even then will I be confident.
One think I ask of the LORD,
This is what I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD
All the days of my life,
To gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
And to seek Him in His temple.
For in the day of trouble
He will keep me safe in His dwelling;
He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle
And set me high upon a rock.
Then my head will be exalted
Above the (unseen) enemies who surround me;
At His tabernacle will I sacrifice
With shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the LORD.
Hear my voice when I call, O LORD;
Be merciful to me and answer me.
My heart says of you, “Seek His face!”
Your face, LORD, I will seek.
Do not hide your face from me,
Do not turn your servant away in anger;
You have been my Helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
O God my Savior.
Though my father and mother forsake me,
The LORD will receive me.
Teach me Your way, O LORD;
Lead me in a straight path
Because of my (spiritual) oppressors.
Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
For false witnesses rise up against me,
Breathing out violence.
I am still confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
In the land of the living.
I will wait for the LORD;
I will be strong and take heart
And wait for the LORD.”
– David (Psalm 27)
[This is not in Real Time. I’m doing this thing called “waiting.” Have you heard of it? That’s when you type out what is on your mind, processing the event and cementing it in your brain. Then, you stop before you hit “Publish” and decide if it’s something that would benefit and encourage other people. Or if it is just to be between you and Him. Like a journal. Anyway, this did not happen today…]
Joe fell today in Fall Avoidance.
I hate it.
We were using small plastic balls for some reaction-time exercises, and his got away from him. As he got up to chase it down, he tripped on his feet and landed in front of everyone.
He was okay, just embarrassed.
Later, he was favoring his wrist, so I took a look at it. Then I realized I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m not a doctor!
Either way, I encouraged him to check with his doctor and then remembered we’re supposed to fill out an incident report when something like this happens. Looking around and satisfied the participants were all okay for the moment, I went out to the front desk to get the report and a clip board. When I told the front desk gal what happened, she called over the captain of the EMT/firefighters who were there working out. She told him someone had fallen and asked if he would check him out.
He agreed, but next thing I knew all FIVE firemen were following me to the gym!
Oh dear.
I really didn’t want to make Joe feel more embarrassed than he already did. I didn’t want him to think he couldn’t handle taking care of things himself.
But he showed such grace as these guys came and checked on him. He joked with them, thanked them for the help and seemed appreciative.
My pride has a lot to learn from that.
The other thing? One of the firemen said, “We didn’t mean to overwhelm you. We just work better as a team.”
Isn’t that the truth?
Hello, my name is Regret
I’m pretty sure we have met
Every single day of your life
I’m the whisper inside
That won’t let you forget
Hello, my name is Defeat
I know you recognize me
Just when you think you can win
I’ll drag you right back down again
Til you’ve lost all belief
These are the voices, these are the lies
And I have believed them, for the very last time!
Hello, my name is Child of the One True King!
I’ve been saved, I’ve been changed, and I have been set free!
“Amazing Grace” is the song I sing!
Hello, my name is Child of the One True King!
I am no longer defined
By all the wreckage behind
The One who makes all things new
Has proven it’s true
Just take a look at my life!
Hello, my name is Child of the One True King!
I’ve been saved, I’ve been changed, and I have been set free!
“Amazing Grace” is the song I sing!
Hello, my name is Child of the One True King!
What love the Father has lavished upon us!
That we should be called His children!
I am a child of the One True King!
-Matthew West, “Hello My Name Is”
At dawn Jesus appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them.
The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?”
They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them,
“If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”
Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.
Jesus straightened up and asked her,
“Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
“No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
(John 8:2-11)
Oh, how can you not love Him?!
I’m finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is, it’s okay
The last thing I need is to be heard
But to hear what You would say
Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain?
Washing my eyes to see
Your Majesty
To be still and know
That You’re in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness
Word of God speak
I’m finding myself in the midst of You
Beyond the music, beyond the noise
All that I need is to be with You
And in the quiet hear Your voice
Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain?
Washing my eyes to see
Your Majesty
To be still and know
That You’re in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness
Word of God speak
I’m finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it’s okay…
Mercy Me, “Word of God Speak”
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
Hebrews 11:6
I was so encouraged at church on Sunday.
The message was about investing in others and how anyone can do it, no matter who they are.
Our church has a beautiful partnership with Youth Horizons, helping mentor fatherless youth.
Talk about the heart of simplicity.
Here’s the quote in my brain right now:
“…I wonder if the difference is not in the fact that when Christians gather with a commitment to hear the voice of Christ, they receive the direction for which they seek.
Such a group experience can help us keep our eye single. Christian brothers and sisters may warn us if we are taking on too many activities, or if we are getting too puffed up, or both; as one friend said to me once, ‘You need to lay low in the Lord.’ They may encourage us that we are moving in the right direction. They may stir us up to love and good works.”
Foster, pg. 187
I’m feeling that need to “lay low in the Lord” right about now. I’m guessing I’ll be back, but I want to keep my eye single.
He is so, so Good.
Have you read “When Godly People Do Ungodly Things” by Beth Moore?
Good, good stuff.
She talks about how to arm yourself against the enemy’s tricks and our own flesh.
She uses the name Had for those who have failed in either of the above.
I like what she has to say to Hads everywhere…
“In case no one has said it to you yet, I sure am sorry you’ve been Had. It’s horrible, isn’t it? Devastating not to live up to your own expectation. To become such a pauper to Grace. I’ve been Had a time or two myself. It’s been a while, but I remember well what it was like being him.
God says He doesn’t want me to forget. I asked Him why. He said too many people have been Had out there. All sorts of ways to be Had. Good and Proud think there are just a few, but if they’re not careful, they may be Wrong. And someday they may even be Had.
But I don’t hope so.
I don’t wish anyone to be Had.
I used to wish I could be Good and Proud again, but I don’t anymore. I don’t want to be Good, Proud or Had. I just want to be Healed.
God says He will never let me be so Healed that I forget about Had. There have been more Hads than Good and Proud may ever know. Sometimes it takes a Has Been to know a Had.
One thing is for sure. Had needs a lot of Help. Healed’s nickname is Help. He got the name because he is what he does. He can’t stop. Healed Hads Help.
God wanted to make sure I never act like I haven’t been Had. So He left the scars. He kept a set on His own hands and feet…
My scars bear the marks of death. Don’t let anyone tell you that being Had won’t kill you. It will. It was meant to. If it doesn’t, you’ve been Had for nothing and you’ll be Had again.
Christ raises the dead only after they die. Before I was Had, God kept saying, “You are not yet Dead.”
So instead I was Had.
Christ let Lazarus lie dead for four days, but not because He was mean.
Scripture said He loved Lazarus even though He let the illness kill him.
Perhaps we all need to know how it feels to be dead for awhile.
But do we believe we might see the glory of God? That’s what Christ told Martha she would see. When He raised Lazarus from the dead, Christ did not raise him sick. He raised him Healed.
I have a suspicion that Lazarus never got to kid himself into thinking he couldn’t get sick again. He just asked for Grace never to become Had again.
Come on, Had. Let’s you and I go on a walk together. It’s time for you to go home. Maybe to a part of God’s home where you’ve never been. I’ll walk with you. You don’t have to hang your head with me. Then again, you can if you want. You can cry, get mad, throw rocks, and kick at the dirt.
Been there. Just keep walking.”
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 112
- 113
- 114
- 115
- 116
- …
- 136
- Next Page »