He is Mighty to SAVE!

A few years back, I was definitely at a very different place in my life. I had just finished college, moved back home and was starting all over again. There were a lot of unknowns.

It wasn't until just about a year to a year and a half ago that I surrendered my life to Him. I looked up and told Him that I belonged to Him and that every single day from then on I would live my life for Him. I entered with such passion and thirst for knowledge. It was pretty incredible, really. To this day, nothing has changed. I am even more happy today than I was that day....I continue to strive to learn anything and everything about Him and everything He has done for me.

When Andrew and I got engaged back in March 2009, that is when I really started thinking about the kind of man I really wanted to marry. I mean, don't get me wrong, I knew I wanted to marry Andrew all along, but spiritually. I sat down and wrote exactly what I would want in a husband. I knew a spiritual base was important to me. All I could do at that point was pray for Andrew. I prayed that God would show him what he needed to be for me, him and us together.

Andrew was not at the same point in his spiritual life as I was. In fact, I think he probably thought that I was a little wacko with how excited I was about being where I was. Church...Bible Study Groups....endless research about God, Jesus, the Bible...until LATE into the night and often the wee hours of the morning. Nevertheless, I kept praying. Hard.

God answers our prayers.

One random Saturday afternoon a while back, Andrew asked me if I was going to Church the next day. "Of course. Why?" His reply..."Can I go with you?" HALLELUJAH!!

We've been going together ever since. We go to the sermon and then to Married Bible study and thoroughly enjoy it. Together.

We are developing our spiritual base together. I've never felt more secure....I mean, these days divorce is awfully common. Developing this base together is putting us on the same page about a LOT of topics. Hard topics.

We're a completely different couple than we were a few months back. Much more sincere, honest, loving and STRONG. I know that focusing our lives on living for Him and serving Him is only going to lead to great things for us.

Whoever says God doesn't answer prayers...Are you sure? Have you tried?

What Do I know of Holy

I made You promises a thousand times
I tried to hear from Heaven
But I talked the whole time
I think I made You too small
I never feared You at all No
If You touched my face would I know You?
Looked into my eyes could I behold You?
What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?
I guess I thought that I had figured You out
I knew all the stories and I learned to talk about
How You were mighty to saveThose were only empty words on a page
Then I caught a glimpse of who You might be
The slightest hint of You brought me down to my knees
What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion? Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?Are You fire? Are You fury?Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?What do I know? What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of wounds that will heal my shame?
And a God who gave life "its" name?
What do I know of Holy?
Of the One who the angels praise?
All creation knows Your name
On earth and heaven above
What do I know of this love?
What do I know of YouWho spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?What do I know of Holy?What do I know of Holy?

Masterpiece

You must find beauty in what doesn’t seem beautiful

You took a lump of clay
gave it a name
and called it human
blew breath from Your eternally deep lungs
depositing spirit into wombs and souls
You made us whole
from the first breath we breathed

the first time we opened our eyes
You were all we could see
but we wanted to discover if You were enough
so we took a sip of sin’s bitter cup
we gave up
eternal lives
for the quick taste of a cheap lie

but You’ve been pursuing us since in the beginning
You made
all the first moves
took all the first steps
You knew the only thing that stood between us and You
was death
so You volunteered Yourself to take the place of harm’s way
You became the great exchange of
pain for peace
healing for stripes
death for life
You were the only one who could make things right

we may have counted the cost
but You paid the price
You put Your Word on our hearts
You put Your Name on our lips
and even after we sing all the songs we’ve heard
we’re left with silence
and all You’ve done
and who You’ve been to us
we’re left with all of who You are
and all of who You are
is just too much for us

it amazes us that a God
Who could so easily overtake us
takes us
breaks us
and makes us
more like Him
’cause every day You chisel our character
changing the picture of our lives by the brushstroke

You want us to be Your masterpiece
You want us to be the Master’s piece
You are the only One who gives everlasting peace

so we lay down our selfishness
all agendas
all affections
we come to bring a sacrifice
we come in the Name of the One who gave
His life
and we want to follow Him
which means we take up heavy crosses
which means we take sips of the bitter cup of denying self
and we cry out to You

’cause we want You to hear this humble generation
seeking Your face
and turning from wicked ways
’cause we need You to heal our land
we need You to have the hearts of our kings in Your hand

we want You to scatter us like seed
that every soul
in this world
will know
Your eternity

Ha!!! I'm Baaaacccckkkk

Stay tuned..........

Thank you for making me with such marvelous workmanship...

"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous - and how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Everyday of my life as recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed."

Psalm 139:13-16 NLT

Any biology or anatomy class can teach you just how complex and intricate the human body really is. The more you learn about the body, the more amazed you are at what wonders God can provide. Without Him, we wouldn't be able to see the bright blue sky on a clear, crisp morning. Without Him, we wouldn't be able to hear children's laughter. Without Him, we wouldn't be able to smell wonderful aroma's that surround us.

Without Him, we wouldn't be here today.

Have you set aside time today to tell God thank you for all his marvelous work?

Romans 12:2

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will."

God delivered each and every one of us from our evil, sinful pasts already. Why then, do we continue to let ourselves be controlled by something or someone from which we have already been delivered? No matter our sins, how big or how small they may be, we were already forgiven for them. The past we could not control and this is why we were forgiven. Our past sins are DEAD to the world because He sacrificed himself for us and forgave us. Yet we still choose to continue on going back to that which is dead. The only problem now.... we are CHOOSING or LETTING ourselves go back to that place.

We need to let go or get rid of that around us or within us that is sinful. For some, this is harder than for others, but remember, "It is by God's grace we are saved!" It is worth the hardship you may have to endure to be saved by God. Remember when you are doubting anything; He died for us...for you. He loves/loved us that much.

You're a new creation now, stop playing with the past.

Everyone has yucky days.

So, I've had a series of "yucky" days lately. I was feeling sorry for myself today when I remembered something the pastor was saying last Sunday at church.

"There is a beginning and an end to everything. Good or bad."

So, my bad days can't last forever! I shouldn't be focusing on all the negative things anyway. What about all the wonderful things I have in my life? God, family, friends, boyfriend, job, music, etc. These things are the most important.

"Negative thoughts and attitudes block My flow of life and power." He doesn't want us to dwell on the negative, He wants us to focus on Him and what He can do for us and what we can do for Him.

"I gave to you the Holy Spirit to bring wonderful days to you.
Revel in His power, His glory, His intercession and you will see all things come to you that are full of peace and joy. Love, God"
Galatians 5:22