It's not about me

Psalm 121

2010-09-29T03:48:00.000-07:00

Hmmm, just thinking ... does the state of this blog reflect the state of my relationship with God?
I should like to say no, am still in love with Him, but somewhere in my conscience I know things could be a lot better.
As I was praying in church on Sunday, the Lord placed Psalm 121 on my heart. Immediately after the prayer the announcer asked us to read the very same psalm. I knew then that God was calling my attention to it.

Psalm 121

A Song of Ascents.

¹I WILL lift up my eyes to the hills [around Jerusalem, to sacred Mount Zion and Mount Moriah]--From whence shall my help come?

²My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.

³He will not allow your foot to slip or to be moved; He Who keeps you will not slumber.

⁴Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand [the side not carrying a shield].

⁶The sun shall not smite you by day, nor the moon by night.

⁷The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life.

⁸The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.

Muse

2009-07-10T21:07:00.000-07:00

Is our attitude today an attitude that flows from our vision of God?
Are we expecting God to do greater things than He has ever done before?
Is there a freshness and a vitality in our spiritual outlook?

Oh! King David

2009-06-15T13:46:00.000-07:00

I read Psalm 69 yesterday and found it most interesting.
I felt like David was articulating my issues - my plight - my struggles.

He begins with a desperate plea:
1 Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck.
2 I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me.
3 I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.
4 Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head; many are my enemies without cause, those who seek to destroy me. I am forced to restore what I did not steal.

Then, as if he says - "wait a minute, why am I being so stressed?, I'm better than this - God knows me better" - he states his case.
5 You know my folly, O God; my guilt is not hidden from you.
6 May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me, O Lord, the LORD Almighty; may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me, O God of Israel.
7 For I endure scorn for your sake, and shame covers my face.
8 I am a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my own mother's sons;
9 for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me. ...

He gets real about the issues and boldly asks for Justice. Not in general terms but in a detailed to the tee manner;
13 But I pray to you, O LORD, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation.
14 Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep waters.
15 Do not let the floodwaters engulf me or the depths swallow me up or the pit close its mouth over me.
16 Answer me, O LORD, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me.
17 Do not hide your face from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in trouble.
18 Come near and rescue me; redeem me because of my foes.
19 You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed; all my enemies are before you.
20 Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none.
21 They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.
22 May the table set before them become a snare; may it become retribution and [a] a trap.
23 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever. ...
28 May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous.
29 I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me.

I love that after crying out, venting and all, he bursts into praise. His face is still stained with tears, the pain is still there but he acknowledges that God is bigger. And he speaks with faith, knowing that things will change - Now it's as if he doesn't have a care.
30 I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.
31 This will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hoofs.
32 The poor will see and be glad— you who seek God, may your hearts live!
33 The LORD hears the needy and does not despise his captive people.
34 Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and all that move in them,
35 for God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah. Then people will settle there and possess it;
36 the children of his servants will inherit it, and those who love his name will dwell there.

I'm learning.

The way to permanent faith

2009-05-17T16:23:00.000-07:00

Oswald hits the nail again.
Like this passage was written expressly for me.
This walk of faith is not easy, sometimes it means being stripped of every thing but the fulfillment that comes from obedience and surrender is absolutely price less.

After we have the perfect relationship with God, through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, our faith must be exercised in the realities of everyday life.
We will be scattered, not into service but into the emptiness of our lives where we will see ruin and barrenness, to know what internal death to God’s blessings means.
Are we prepared for this?
It is certainly not of our own choosing, but God engineers our circumstances to take us there. Until we have been through that experience, our faith is sustained only by feelings and by blessings.
But once we get there, no matter where God may place us or what inner emptiness we experience, we can praise God that all is well. That is what is meant by faith being exercised in the realities of life.
". . . you . . . will leave Me alone."
Have we been scattered and have we left Jesus alone by not seeing His providential care for us? Do we not see God at work in our circumstances?
Dark times are allowed and come to us through the sovereignty of God.
Are we prepared to let God do what He wants with us?
Are we prepared to be separated from the outward, evident blessings of God?
Until Jesus Christ is truly our Lord, we each have goals of our own which we serve.
Our faith is real, but it is not yet permanent. And God is never in a hurry.
If we are willing to wait, we will see God pointing out that we have been interested only in His blessings, instead of in God Himself.

Secret of the burning heart

2009-05-01T08:49:00.000-07:00

I have been going through a cool patch. Those times when I know I'm still madly in love with Jesus but couldn't put in the effort to spend quality time with Him.
The "you know I love you" phase. I feel tired, like I spent so much time crying out and now - I'm burned out. It shouldn't be an excuse though.

In my devotions this morning I came across something interesting;-

We need to learn this secret of the burning heart.
Suddenly Jesus appears to us, fires are set ablaze, and we are given wonderful visions; but then we must learn to maintain the secret of the burning heart— a heart that can go through anything. It is the simple, dreary day, with its commonplace duties and people, that smothers the burning heart— unless we have learned the secret of abiding in Jesus.
Much of the distress we experience as Christians comes not as the result of sin, but because we are ignorant of the laws of our own nature.
For instance, the only test we should use to determine whether or not to allow a particular emotion to run its course in our lives is to examine what the final outcome of that emotion will be. Think it through to its logical conclusion, and if the outcome is something that God would condemn, put a stop to it immediately.
But if it is an emotion that has been kindled by the Spirit of God and you don’t allow it to have its way in your life, it will cause a reaction on a lower level than God intended. That is the way unrealistic and overly emotional people are made. And the higher the emotion, the deeper the level of corruption, if it is not exercised on its intended level. If the Spirit of God has stirred you, make as many of your decisions as possible irrevocable, and let the consequences be what they will.
We cannot stay forever on the "mount of transfiguration," basking in the light of our mountaintop experience (see Mark 9:1-9 ). But we must obey the light we received there; we must put it into action. When God gives us a vision, we must transact business with Him at that point, no matter what the cost.
We cannot kindle when we will The fire which in the heart resides, The spirit bloweth and is still, In mystery our soul abides; But tasks in hours of insight willed Can be through hours of gloom fulfilled.

Oswald Chambers.

He is able

2009-03-12T09:07:00.000-07:00

During my devotions this morning, I was reminded that God desires us to be expectant. Open and ready, believing that He will move and change things in our lives.
With the boldness that Jabez presented in 1 chronicles 4:10

Jabez cried to the God of Israel, saying, Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and You would keep me from evil so it might not hurt me! And God granted his request.

God requires us to believe and not doubt.
Many times "We think His ideals are lofty and they impress us, but we believe He is not in touch with reality— that what He says cannot actually be done".

"My misgivings arise from the fact that I search within to find how He will do what He says. My doubts spring from the depths of my own inferiority".

This reminded me of the song - He is able.

He is able
More than able
To accomplish what concerns me today
He is able
More than able
To handle anything that comes my way
He is able
More than able
To do much more than I could ever dream
He is able
More than able
TO MAKE ME WHAT HE WANTS ME TO BE.

AMEN!!

Sing God a brand-new song!

2009-03-08T16:15:00.000-07:00

Psalm 96

Sing God a brand-new song!
Earth and everyone in it, sing!
Sing to God—worship God!

2-3 Shout the news of his victory from sea to sea,
Take the news of his glory to the lost,
News of his wonders to one and all!

4-5 For God is great, and worth a thousand Hallelujahs.
His terrible beauty makes the gods look cheap;
Pagan gods are mere tatters and rags.

5-6 God made the heavens— Royal splendor radiates from him,
A powerful beauty sets him apart.

7 Bravo, God, Bravo! Everyone join in the great shout: Encore!
In awe before the beauty, in awe before the might.

8-9 Bring gifts and celebrate,
Bow before the beauty of God,
Then to your knees—everyone worship!

10 Get out the message—God Rules!
He put the world on a firm foundation;
He treats everyone fair and square.

11 Let's hear it from Sky, With Earth joining in,
And a huge round of applause from Sea.
12 Let Wilderness turn cartwheels, Animals, come dance,
Put every tree of the forest in the choir—

13 An extravaganza before God as he comes,
As he comes to set everything right on earth,
Set everything right, treat everyone fair.

The Discipline of Spiritual Perseverance

2009-02-28T18:34:00.000-08:00

Be still, and know that I am God . . . —Psalm 46:10

Perseverance is more than endurance. It is endurance combined with absolute assurance and certainty that what we are looking for is going to happen. Perseverance means more than just hanging on, which may be only exposing our fear of letting go and falling. Perseverance is our supreme effort of refusing to believe that our hero is going to be conquered. Our greatest fear is not that we will be damned, but that somehow Jesus Christ will be defeated. Also, our fear is that the very things our Lord stood for— love, justice, forgiveness, and kindness among men— will not win out in the end and will represent an unattainable goal for us. Then there is the call to spiritual perseverance. A call not to hang on and do nothing, but to work deliberately, knowing with certainty that God will never be defeated.
If our hopes seem to be experiencing disappointment right now, it simply means that they are being purified. Every hope or dream of the human mind will be fulfilled if it is noble and of God. But one of the greatest stresses in life is the stress of waiting for God. He brings fulfillment, "because you have kept My command to persevere . . ." ( Revelation 3:10 ).
Continue to persevere spiritually.

Oswald Chambers - My Utmost for His Highest

Do You Really Love Him?

2009-02-19T11:57:00.000-08:00

Another read from Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For Him Highest.

She has done a good work for Me —Mark 14:6

If what we call love doesn’t take us beyond ourselves, it is not really love. If we have the idea that love is characterized as cautious, wise, sensible, shrewd, and never taken to extremes, we have missed the true meaning. This may describe affection and it may bring us a warm feeling, but it is not a true and accurate description of love.

Have you ever been driven to do something for God not because you felt that it was useful or your duty to do so, or that there was anything in it for you, but simply because you love Him? Have you ever realized that you can give things to God that are of value to Him? Or are you just sitting around daydreaming about the greatness of His redemption, while neglecting all the things you could be doing for Him? I’m not referring to works which could be regarded as divine and miraculous, but ordinary, simple human things— things which would be evidence to God that you are totally surrendered to Him. Have you ever created what Mary of Bethany created in the heart of the Lord Jesus? "She has done a good work for Me."

There are times when it seems as if God watches to see if we will give Him even small gifts of surrender, just to show how genuine our love is for Him. To be surrendered to God is of more value than our personal holiness. Concern over our personal holiness causes us to focus our eyes on ourselves, and we become overly concerned about the way we walk and talk and look, out of fear of offending God. ". . . but perfect love casts out fear . . ." once we are surrendered to God ( 1 John 4:18 ).
We should quit asking ourselves, "Am I of any use?" and accept the truth that we really are not of much use to Him. The issue is never of being of use, but of being of value to God Himself. Once we are totally surrendered to God, He will work through us all the time.

Isaiah 44

2009-02-17T09:09:00.000-08:00

I was reading Isaiah this morning and I found this chapter quite fascinating, he talks about the greatness of God as - creator, the one who formed me in the womb, He pours out His Spirit on my offspring and blessings on my descendants. He is the first and the last period. Then He says do not tremble, do not be afraid, how comforting.
Then he shows us our silliness in creating idols- we chop down the tree, warm ourselves by its fire, cook our food on it's flames and then use the rest to carve an idol that we bow down to and say it's our god. Isn't that silly?, we make it with our own hands and all over a sudden it has all this power over us. I'm thinking - cars, careers, gadgets we can't live without, sports, tv, things, things, things, how is it that they master us so?

Isaiah 44
Israel the Chosen
1 "But now listen, O Jacob, my servant,
Israel, whom I have chosen.
2 This is what the LORD says—
he who made you, who formed you in the womb,
and who will help you:
Do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant,
Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land,
and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,
and my blessing on your descendants.
4 They will spring up like grass in a meadow,
like poplar trees by flowing streams.
5 One will say, 'I belong to the LORD ';
another will call himself by the name of Jacob;
still another will write on his hand, 'The LORD's,'
and will take the name Israel.
The LORD, Not Idols
6 "This is what the LORD says—
Israel's King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty:
I am the first and I am the last;
apart from me there is no God.
7 Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it.
Let him declare and lay out before me
what has happened since I established my ancient people,
and what is yet to come—
yes, let him foretell what will come.
8 Do not tremble, do not be afraid.
Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago?
You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me?
No, there is no other Rock; I know not one."
9 All who make idols are nothing,
and the things they treasure are worthless.
Those who would speak up for them are blind;
they are ignorant, to their own shame.
10 Who shapes a god and casts an idol,
which can profit him nothing?
11 He and his kind will be put to shame;
craftsmen are nothing but men.
Let them all come together and take their stand;
they will be brought down to terror and infamy.
12 The blacksmith takes a tool
and works with it in the coals;
he shapes an idol with hammers,
he forges it with the might of his arm.
He gets hungry and loses his strength;
he drinks no water and grows faint.
13 The carpenter measures with a line
and makes an outline with a marker;
he roughs it out with chisels
and marks it with compasses.
He shapes it in the form of man,
of man in all his glory,
that it may dwell in a shrine.
14 He cut down cedars,
or perhaps took a cypress or oak.
He let it grow among the trees of the forest,
or planted a pine, and the rain made it grow.
15 It is man's fuel for burning;
some of it he takes and warms himself,
he kindles a fire and bakes bread.
But he also fashions a god and worships it;
he makes an idol and bows down to it.
16 Half of the wood he burns in the fire;
over it he prepares his meal,
he roasts his meat and eats his fill.
He also warms himself and says,
"Ah! I am warm; I see the fire."
17 From the rest he makes a god, his idol;
he bows down to it and worships.
He prays to it and says,
"Save me; you are my god."
18 They know nothing, they understand nothing;
their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see,
and their minds closed so they cannot understand.
19 No one stops to think,
no one has the knowledge or understanding to say,
"Half of it I used for fuel;
I even baked bread over its coals,
I roasted meat and I ate.
Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left?
Shall I bow down to a block of wood?"
20 He feeds on ashes, a deluded heart misleads him;
he cannot save himself, or say,
"Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?"
21 "Remember these things, O Jacob,
for you are my servant, O Israel.
I have made you, you are my servant;
O Israel, I will not forget you.
22 I have swept away your offenses like a cloud,
your sins like the morning mist.
Return to me,
for I have redeemed you."
23 Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done this;
shout aloud, O earth beneath.
Burst into song, you mountains,
you forests and all your trees,
for the LORD has redeemed Jacob,
he displays his glory in Israel.
Jerusalem to Be Inhabited
24 "This is what the LORD says—
your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb:
I am the LORD,
who has made all things,
who alone stretched out the heavens,
who spread out the earth by myself,
25 who foils the signs of false prophets
and makes fools of diviners,
who overthrows the learning of the wise
and turns it into nonsense,
26 who carries out the words of his servants
and fulfills the predictions of his messengers,
who says of Jerusalem, 'It shall be inhabited,'
of the towns of Judah, 'They shall be built,'
and of their ruins, 'I will restore them,'
27 who says to the watery deep, 'Be dry,
and I will dry up your streams,'
28 who says of Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd
and will accomplish all that I please;
he will say of Jerusalem, "Let it be rebuilt,"
and of the temple, "Let its foundations be laid." '

Psalm 66

2009-02-05T08:12:00.000-08:00

I have purposed to post all the scriptures that God brings to mind, especially now when lots of things are shaky and He is the only stable. I place these scriptures here so I can come to them over and over and remind Him about His promises to me.

Psalm 66
Shout with joy to God, all the earth!
Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious!

Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you.
All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you,
they sing praise to your name." Selah

Come and see what God has done,
how awesome his works in man's behalf!
He turned the sea into dry land,
they passed through the waters on foot—
come, let us rejoice in him.

He rules forever by his power,
his eyes watch the nations—
let not the rebellious rise up against him. Selah

Praise our God, O peoples,
let the sound of his praise be heard;
he has preserved our lives
and kept our feet from slipping.

For you, O God, tested us;
you refined us like silver.
You brought us into prison
and laid burdens on our backs.
You let men ride over our heads;
we went through fire and water,
but you brought us to a place of abundance.
I will come to your temple with burnt offerings
and fulfill my vows to you-
vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke
when I was in trouble.
I will sacrifice fat animals to you
and an offering of rams;
I will offer bulls and goats. Selah

Come and listen, all you who fear God;
let me tell you what he has done for me.
I cried out to him with my mouth;
his praise was on my tongue.
If I had cherished sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened;
but God has surely listened
and heard my voice in prayer.

Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer
or withheld his love from me!

I am undone

2009-01-29T08:58:00.000-08:00

When I first heard this song in church a long while back I was undone.
I was reminded of it during my quiet time (3 days running) and I'm still getting undone.
Oh God! who is there like you?
You complete me.

Here in your presence

Found in Your hands, fullness of joy
Every fear suddenly wiped away here in Your presence
All of my gains now fade away
Every crown no longer on display, here in Your presence
Heaven is trembling in awe of Your wonders
The kings and their kingdom are standing amazed

Chorus:
Here in Your presence, we are undone
Here in Your presence, Heaven and Earth become one
Here in Your presence, all things are new
Here in Your presence, everything bows before You

Bridge:
Wonderful, beautiful, glorious, matchlessin every way
Wonderful, beautiful, glorious, matchlessin every way

I haven't watched this video fully because every time the song plays I close my eyes and worship my maker :-).

Obedience

2009-01-24T11:19:00.000-08:00

I came across this scripture the other day and couldn't get over how important it is to be obedient to the Lord at all times.

"Tell them that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Cursed is the man who does not obey the terms of this covenant-
the terms I commanded your forefathers when I brought them out of Egypt, out of the iron-smelting furnace.' I said, 'Obey me and do everything I command you, and you will be my people, and I will be your God. Then I will fulfill the oath I swore to your forefathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey'-the land you possess today."
I answered, "Amen, LORD."

Jeremiah 11:3-5

Enlarge the place of your tents - Isaiah 54

2009-01-22T11:50:00.000-08:00

I find a lot of encouragement in this scripture, an expectancy for God to move in a new big way. Enlarge the place of your tents He says, I understand that to mean grow your faith, have hope, look up, good things are coming so make room for them. No matter what the situation the Lord is your husband, He has got you covered. For me it means security, peace, rest, reassurance, He is going to do it all by Himself.

1 "Sing, O barren woman,
you who never bore a child;
burst into song, shout for joy,
you who were never in labor;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
than of her who has a husband,"
says the LORD.
2 "Enlarge the place of your tent,
stretch your tent curtains wide,
do not hold back;
lengthen your cords,
strengthen your stakes.
...
4 "Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame.
Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.
You will forget the shame of your youth
and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.

5 For your Maker is your husband—
the LORD Almighty is his name—
the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;
he is called the God of all the earth.

6 The LORD will call you back
as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit—
a wife who married young,
only to be rejected," says your God. ....

10 Though the mountains be shaken
and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed,"
says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

11 "O afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted,
I will build you with stones of turquoise, [a]
your foundations with sapphires. [b]

12 I will make your battlements of rubies,
your gates of sparkling jewels,
and all your walls of precious stones.

13 All your sons will be taught by the LORD,
and great will be your children's peace.

14 In righteousness you will be established:
Tyranny will be far from you;
you will have nothing to fear.
Terror will be far removed;
it will not come near you.

15 If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing;
whoever attacks you will surrender to you.

16 "See, it is I who created the blacksmith
who fans the coals into flame
and forges a weapon fit for its work.
And it is I who have created the destroyer to work havoc;

17 no weapon forged against you will prevail,
and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
and this is their vindication from me,"
declares the LORD.

Praise you in the storm

2008-12-30T12:59:00.000-08:00

I was sure by now,God, that You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.

Chorus:
And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away

Chorus

I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth

Casting Crowns

You are God alone

2008-11-11T11:50:00.000-08:00

You are not a god
Created by human hands
You are not a god
Dependant on any mortal man
You are not a god
In need of anything we can give
By Your plan, that’s just the way it is

You are God alone
From before time began
You were on Your throne
Your are God alone
And right now
In the good times and bad
You are on Your throne
You are God alone

You’re the only God
Whose power none can contend
You’re the only God
Whose name and praise will never end
You’re the only God
Who’s worthy of everything we can give
You are God
And that’s just the way it is

Unchangeable
Unshakable
Unstoppable
That’s what You are

By Phillips,Craig and Dean

Test of faithfulness

2008-08-28T22:03:00.000-07:00

I was blessed reading my devotional today from Oswalds book 'my utmost for his highest'.

We know that all things work together for good to those who love God . . . —Romans 8:28

It is only a faithful person who truly believes that God sovereignly controls his circumstances. We take our circumstances for granted, saying God is in control, but not really believing it. We act as if the things that happen were completely controlled by people. To be faithful in every circumstance means that we have only one loyalty, or object of our faith— the Lord Jesus Christ. God may cause our circumstances to suddenly fall apart, which may bring the realization of our unfaithfulness to Him for not recognizing that He had ordained the situation. We never saw what He was trying to accomplish, and that exact event will never be repeated in our life. This is where the test of our faithfulness comes. If we will just learn to worship God even during the difficult circumstances, He will change them for the better very quickly if He so chooses.
Being faithful to Jesus Christ is the most difficult thing we try to do today. We will be faithful to our work, to serving others, or to anything else; just don’t ask us to be faithful to Jesus Christ. Many Christians become very impatient when we talk about faithfulness to Jesus. Our Lord is dethroned more deliberately by Christian workers than by the world. We treat God as if He were a machine designed only to bless us, and we think of Jesus as just another one of the workers.
The goal of faithfulness is not that we will do work for God, but that He will be free to do His work through us. God calls us to His service and places tremendous responsibilities on us. He expects no complaining on our part and offers no explanation on His part. God wants to use us as He used His own Son.

Lord Help

2008-06-14T13:18:00.000-07:00

Lord, help me to walk this road
Because on my own, I fail to follow
The crooked routes, the rocky paths
I need your hand all the way
The dusty roads, they blur my vision
The ditches and potholes, they hurt my feet
You know the way, please lead me home.

Before the throne of God

2008-05-30T16:41:00.000-07:00

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong, a perfect plea:
A great High Priest, whose name is Love,
Who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on his hands,
My name is written on his heart;
I know that while in heaven he stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair,
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look, and see him there
Who made an end of all my sin.

Because a sinless Savior died,
My sinful soul is counted free;
For God, the Just, is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Praise the One,Risen Son of God!

Behold him there, the risen Lamb
My perfect, spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,

The King of glory and of grace!One with himself,
I cannot dieMy soul is purchased with his blood
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ, my Savior and my God
With Christ, my Savior and my God

Awesome lyrics by Shane and Shane

Drugged on Jesus

2008-02-12T20:44:00.001-08:00

Mm mm mm mmm so good!
You give me a warm fuzzy feeling.
When all is perfect and as it should be,
It's good!
When there is chaos every which way,
It's still good!
You give me peace and joy that is above and beyond.
Give me more and more and more, more of you Jesus.

You're my Strength

2008-02-08T06:51:00.000-08:00

You’re my Strength
(Reuben Morgan)

You are my strength
Strength like no other
Strength like no other
Reaches to me

You are my hope
Hope like no other
Hope like no other
Reaches to me

In the fullness of Your grace
In the power of Your Name
You lift me up
You lift me up

Unfailing love
Stronger than mountains
Deeper than oceans
Reaches to me

Your love O Lord
Reaches to the heavens
Your faithfulness
Reaches to the skies

8th January 2008

2008-01-25T13:17:00.000-08:00

Lord I thirst for you
I long to be in your presence
To busk in your loving arms and enjoy your kisses.

Right now I wish I could stop breathing
Shut out thoughts that are running helta skelta across my mind.
If just for a brief moment I would stop feeling and everything would be silenced.
Jesus, Jesus.
My soul thirsts for thee, my flesh longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no other.

Birth your purposes and plans in my heart oh God, that I may be fulfilled living on this earth.
Oh that everything in me would be silenced in God's presence.
Hush! be still all yee in the presence of the God of Heaven and earth.

My life belongs to you

2008-01-25T13:01:00.000-08:00

"I'll sing your praises forever, deeper in love with you
Here in your courts where I am close to your throne
I've found where I belong".

Everyday, listening to songs of worship excites me more and more.
Everyday, the words of these songs mean more than ever before.
The musicians were truly inspired by the Holy Spirit to put into words what my heart feels about my God.
God you are so worthy, so worthy!!!
Psalm 111

Sometimes I think one needs to have gone through stuff to sing and mean these songs.
"I'm trading my sorrows... though the sorrows may last for a night, His Joy comes.."
"So close, I believe your holding me now in your hands I belong"

It is well with my soul

2008-01-05T09:05:00.000-08:00

Blessed Be Your Name

2007-08-30T17:07:00.000-07:00

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

(Matt Redman)

Jesus Bring The Rain

2007-08-26T19:22:00.000-07:00

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

I am Yours regardless of
The clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain
So I pray

Holy, holy, holy

MercyMe

Voice of Truth

2007-07-17T10:34:00.000-07:00

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes To climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves
To step out of my comfort zone
Into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out His hand

But the waves are calling out my name
And they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again. "Boy, you'll never win!""You'll never win!"

But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
The voice of truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant
With just a sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand

But the giant's calling out my name
And he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again. "Boy you'll never win!""You'll never win!"

But the stone was just the right size
To put the giant on the ground
And the waves they don't seem so high
From on top of them lookin' down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
Singing over me

I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

(Casting Crowns)

My Gethsemane Moment

2007-07-12T18:50:00.000-07:00

I've been blessed with good health, hardly fall sick and when I do it's minor.

When I was carrying Mich, there was no doubt in my mind that I would be in good health and give birth naturally to a healthy baby, well as it turned out I had a c-section.

I always dreamed that I would have all my children by the age of 30, well... I had to re prioritise.

When I was expecting Nziiza I never imagined that I would go into preterm labor let alone have Jesus take him back immediately, again I was wrong it all happened.
It felt like the ground had been removed from under my feet, all these bombs hitting me from a direction I least expected.

Ok, where do I go?, well to the author of my life. "Jesus please help me, what is going on?" He was there, He comforted me and even though I couldn't get the answers I knew I was safe with Him, He healed me.

I'm on the go again and this time I'm praying and telling God how I would like to have another child without any trouble. As I move a long I'm reading the scriptures and understanding how I'm no longer under the curse, by His stripes I was healed and that means the curse that was placed on me because of the sin of Eve has been lifted, I can have a supernatural pregnancy and child birth.
Next day I get a call from my doctor and she is talking about a cervical cerclage, huh?? what are you talking about? never heard of it, never knew it existed, boof!!! another bomb.

"Ok, God what is going on?" this doesn't make sense. I begin telling Him how I don't want any of that stuff, no way.
Then He brings me to a point of total surrender, I'm like God, you know what?! I've come to realise that my life is not my own, I'm here to bring you Glory, it's not about me but about you and what you want to do with my life.

CLING!!!! My Gethsemane moment.

I would rather not go through these tough circumstances but if all this is so that your name is glorified, bring it on. If it means giving away all that I am, all that I have, health, family, friends, all the things that "define me", then let it be.
God if it means taking my life so that Glory comes to you, LET IT BE.

It's painful, it's hard, but I surrender all. Immediately there is a big burden lifted off of me, the pressure is off and an inexplicable joy comes over me.
Oh what JOY!!!.

Now I have an idea of what Jesus was talking about Matthew 26:38-39

'Then Jesus went with them to a garden called Gethsemane and told his disciples, "Stay here while I go over there and pray." Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he plunged into an agonizing sorrow. Then he said, "This sorrow is crushing my life out. Stay here and keep vigil with me."
Going a little ahead, he fell on his face, praying, "My Father, if there is any way, get me out of this. But please, not what I want. You, what do you want?" '

It's a daily process of surrender ... Selah, Amen.

In Christ Alone

2007-07-10T17:10:00.000-07:00

In Christ alone will I glory
Though I could pride myself in battles won
For I've been blessed beyond measure
And by His strength alone I overcome
Oh, I could stop and count successes
Like diamonds in my hand
But those trophies could not equal
To the grace by which I stand

In Christ alone I place my trust
And find my glory in the power of the cross
In every victory let it be said of me
My source of strength, my source of hope
Is Christ alone

In Christ alone will I glory
For only by His grace I am redeemed
Only His tender mercy
Could reach beyond my weakness to my need
Now I seek no greater honor
Than just to know Him more
And to count my gains but losses
To the glory of the Lord

(Michael English)

Though He slay me ...

2007-07-02T13:48:00.000-07:00

Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him;
I will surely defend my ways to his face.
Job 13:15

When you are able to say this of the Lord, then you are in business.

Word of God Speak

2007-06-18T07:20:00.000-07:00

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 seeYour majesty
To be still and knowThat You're in this place
Please let me stay and restIn 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

I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay

(Mercy Me)

A glimpse of Glory

2007-06-14T08:02:00.000-07:00

I've never experienced anything more supernatural than the time I held Nziiza in my arms, it was absolutely heavenly and surreal.
At the time it was almost like a dream but indeed I saw Jesus, I touched Him just holding my little baby. It is not an encounter that can be retold to effect in as much as it is an experience to be felt.
Sam and I partnered with God in creating this beautiful child, Nziiza was God's to start with and provided another opportunity for us to share in creation, to have a supernatural encounter with the maker Himself.
I believe that God wanted us to meet with Him period, that was Nziiza's purpose, brief but powerful.
Children are a gift from God and He grants them to us as stewards, he decides how long we will have them and there is no denying the impact they have on us as parents, guardians, sisters, nephews and what ever other capacity they assume in our lives.

The morning after Nziiza left, the song that was on my heart was,
"Oh it is Jesus, yes it is Jesus
It is Jesus in my soul,
For I have touched the hem of His garment
And His blood has made me whole".

Children are God's vessels of ministry and communication to us, we should be very careful the way we handle them.

Yesterday evening I was taking a walk in the park after putting Mich to bed, I was talking to God and telling Him how I was looking forward to seeing His blessings out of this and guess what He told me?, my love and devotion should not be dependent on what He is going to do for me because then my love is not genuine. I need to love Him regardless of whether or not He blesses me and my was that a hard teaching or what?!
The perfect reminder that I'm not my own but His and my life is meant to bring Him glory and not the other way around.
Lord, total surrender is really hard, I don't know how to love you unconditionally but I'm willing to learn, please teach me how.

Be still

2007-05-16T14:29:00.000-07:00

Hide me Lord, under your wings
Cover me within your mighty hand.

When the oceans rise and thunder roars
I will soar with you above the storm
Father you are King over the flood
I will be still and know you are God.

Rest my soul, in Christ alone
For there's power in quietness and trust.

When the oceans rise and thunder roars
I will soar with you above the storm
Father you are King over the flood
I will be still and know you are God

Focus

2007-04-06T19:05:00.000-07:00

Did you know that unbelief is a sin?
Well that is what the Holy Spirit has been teaching me lately, through different circumstances in my life. Reading this scripture today crowned it all. Hebrews 3:12-14

12See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. 14We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.

There are many times God has shown His promises to me, how He will never leave me nor forsake me and that in everything He has my interests at heart. But time and again I find my self falling back to doubts and fears influenced by what I see going on around me, around the world, everywhere. I felt like He was telling me to focus, to keep my eyes on Him and what He says and not what the world is showing or how I am feeling. This is the typical experience of the Israelites being led out of Egypt, they complained a lot, every after a miracle they would be quiet for a bit but soon forget and start complaining again. They failed to look at the bigger picture, the bigger God but were engrossed in petty issues. I guess that why it took them forty years to get to the promised land and sadly non of the people who started the journey actually made to the land because they died on the way. That says a lot doesn't it?

I have been anxious about the future, what will happen in a few months when Sam starts his internship and is not home as often as I would have loved, or where we will stay when we get back from Dallas, let alone the crazy heat that everybody talks about in Dallas. There have been a whole lot of things on my mind and just when I was indulging in this worry the Holy Spirit quickened my mind to Philippians 4:6-7 that says;

6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Help me Lord to see you as you really are, The Almighty God.

A beautiful Psalm 19

2007-03-25T08:40:00.000-07:00

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.
3 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. [a]
4 Their voice [b] goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,
5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
11 By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Praise the Lord!

2007-01-22T07:30:00.001-08:00

It is time to Praise the Lord!It's not time to ask or petition but to give thanks and Praise God for who He is.When we petition, we are asking God to do things for us but that is not what He is calling for. Right now He desires hearts that are full of gratitude and that Praise Him for who He is.He delights not in the strength of the horse, nor does He take pleasure in the legs of a man.The Lord takes pleasure in those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy and loving-kindness. Psalm 147:11He determines the number of stars and calls them each by nameHe is great and mighty in power; His understanding has no limitHe covers the sky with the cloudsHe supplies the earth with rainHe makes grass grow on the hillsHe provides food for the animalsHe spreads snow like woolHe hurls down His hail like pebblesHe sends His command to the earth; His word runs swiftlyHe grants peace to your borders and satisfies you with the finest of wheat"He captures your life, your entire life, in one glance. He sees your birth and burial in one frame. He knows your beginning and your end, because He has neither". Isn't that Awesome?!, I read that in a book by Max Lucado maxlucado , I couldn't put it better.I was just thinking, you know how these days it's all about "who you know, and who knows you"?, well quite honestly I know not of any one who can do even an eighth of one of the things mentioned about God. I'm definitely privileged to be known by God and that in itself causes me to praise Him.

Revelation

2007-01-22T07:27:00.000-08:00

"You opened my eyes to your wonders anewYou captured my heart with this loveBecause nothing on earth is as beautiful as you"That's the song on my heart today.There are things I have known about God for a long time but somehow lately I'm getting a fresh revelation about them.Forexample, that God loves me inspite of what I do, He loves me! Period, it has nothing to do with what I do or who I am.Nothing I say or do will EVER change the fact that He loves me. I can not make Him love me more or love me less, He just loves me, He is fixated on me, He knows everything about me, even to the tiniest details like the way my nails grow.He calls me to love Him too, but the big difference here is that even though I have every reason to love Him using the "because" factor, as in He is naturally good, gives me nice things and so on, He is calling me to love Him for who He is and not for what He does/can do.His doings/ works are like the icing on the cake, but who He is/ His character is the real deal.He calls me to stand in His righteousness, note that there is absolutely nothing I could ever do to get into right standing with God. It's about allowing God to take control of my life and having Jesus dress me in His righteousness through the blood He shed at calvary. All I have to do is acknowledge and surrender, no need to sweat it.Now isn't that just amazing?!

Marvel

2007-01-21T19:41:00.000-08:00

The word of God is so wonderful, at times I'm left speechless and in awe.The other day I was reading Psalm 111 and the character of God was imprinted on my heart in an amazing way.It says;7The works of His hands are [absolute] truth and justice [faithful and right]; and all His decrees and precepts are sure (fixed, established, and trustworthy).8They stand fast and are established forever and ever and are done in [absolute] truth and uprightness.9He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant to be forever; holy is His name, inspiring awe, reverence, and godly fear.Verse 5 in the NIV says ... He remembers His covenant forever.10The reverent fear and worship of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom and skill [the preceding and the first essential, the prerequisite and the alphabet]; a good understanding, wisdom, and meaning have all those who do [the will of the Lord]. Their praise of Him endures forever.There is a whole lot of things that stand out for me in these scriptures but the one that I would like to mention is His covenant. God's covenant with us is all about Him, it is His show, we partner together but He is the one who "rocks". I'm excited that God made a covenant with me as a believer and He has vowed to keep it forever, nothing will change that regardless of the many times I fail.This kind of ties in with something else that I have been learning, that it's not about me but all about Him. The "show" is His, I need to get out of the way so that God is exalted, takes His rightful place. Yeah, so I have needs, I want to achieve certain objectives, the list is endless but I have to learn not to focus on my issues but on God. Besides, isn't He the one who has Fire going before Him to consume His enemies on every side? The one whose lightening lights up the world that the earth sees and trembles?AND the one who makes mountains melt like wax before Him, before the Lord of ALL the earth?God is true, righteous, just, faithful, trustworthy ... so I was thinking if He can do all these things just by being who He is - God, certainly my lists of prayer requests are, can I say meagre?!For a long time my needs have been the center of my focus but when I see that God can literally make mountains disappear, I realise I need to focus on Him more than on what I want Him to do for me. I guess it's time to get out of the way and allow God to take center stage.