as a parent! Well not really, but I have decided it is much easier when they are younger! I love all of my children so much. I have done all I know to bring them up in church, and teach them to love the Lord. What do you do.... when you have one who seems to pull against everything you believe... and has no desire to "know" the Lord?
I never really ever entertained this... but it seems to be how it is with one of my older kids. My heart is breaking. I gave them to the Lord, so I know He has a bigger plan than I can even comprehend. But how do you sit by and "trust" .... knowing your heart is breaking?
I have read The Power of a Praying Parent years ago... but last night, God nudged me about 3 am to go pull it out. So I did.
The first verse used in the book, touched my heart... and although I do pray for my children, I realize I have not "poured out my heart" in a while regarding them. Lamentations 2:19 says, "Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord. Lift your hands toward Him for the life of your young children." So, I realize... it's time to get mean and get touch, and do some major "pouring" toward the face of the Lord.
I have made so many mistakes, bad choices, etc when I was younger, but I never felt "away" from God. It was like He was there behind me still pulling me, even when I refused to listen, and did it "my way". I don't see that in the life of my child. It's like nothing moves them, nothing touches them... and it hurts.
Well.... this is the trial of my time right now. Prayer will go on, fighting and warring over my kids. I love them all so much, and do not want to see any "lost" to this world!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
Quick Share...
I love Hillsong, so many of their worship and praise songs touch my life. But there is one right now that is my anthem. It's "Desert Song". I'm sharing the lyrics. If you would like to listen to it, you can find a video on Tangle.com or YouTube.com
Verse 1:
This is my prayer in the desert
And all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in the hunger in me
My God is a God who provides
Verse 2:And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flames
Chorus:
And I will bring praiseI will bring praise
No weapon forged against me shall remain
I will rejoiceI will declare
God is my victory and He is here
Verse 3:
And this is my prayer in the battle
And triumph is still on it's way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand
Bridge:
All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship
Verse 4:
This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be empited again
The seed I've recieved I will sow
Verse 1:
This is my prayer in the desert
And all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in the hunger in me
My God is a God who provides
Verse 2:And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flames
Chorus:
And I will bring praiseI will bring praise
No weapon forged against me shall remain
I will rejoiceI will declare
God is my victory and He is here
Verse 3:
And this is my prayer in the battle
And triumph is still on it's way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand
Bridge:
All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship
Verse 4:
This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be empited again
The seed I've recieved I will sow
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
It's really hard...
to wait. I am definately NOT a patient person. I am trying, but it drives me crazy to not see the "other side" of a situtation. I realize this is not about God, it's about me, and my lack of surrender of certain areas of my life.
Some things are so easy to lay down, my family is the hardest. But I'm learning. My husband's company that he had been with for 8 years closed in December. Right now, we are still without a job. I go through days of complete panic, then I go through days of peace. We haven't "run out" of anything so far. And God has provided through people we don't even know.
I remember stories from my grandmother, about me when I was little. I grew up in the church, my mom and grandmother were my teachers. I knew the Bible when I was very young. According to my grandmother, I had FAITH. She said, If I was told that God would do this or that, or His word said this or that, I believed it. Nothing could change my mind. The past few days I've been looking back over life wondering... when did that change.
I found some answers, and it wasn't God ever failing me, it was me failing God and myself. It's because I chose to do it "my way" instead of waiting for His will in my life. I failed to seek Him. I let my focus be on other "things" instead of Him. My faith is lacking because of me, not Him.
Last Sunday, I just really didn't want to be at church. I am frustrated with so much right now, so many things beyond my control. But I knew I had responsibilites that I must follow through. So as I prepared myself in prayer and reading His word, I read these words of Davids:
Psalm 27
v4. One thing 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.
v5. 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.
Lord, I want to dwell with YOU. I want to seek YOUR ways in everything. I want to see YOU and not all the "things" of this world. May I put my focus on YOU. May I find you, and dwell in YOU, while I am waiting for the things of this world to come to pass. May "things" not block my view of YOUR true beauty. May "things" never come before YOU in my life.
Some things are so easy to lay down, my family is the hardest. But I'm learning. My husband's company that he had been with for 8 years closed in December. Right now, we are still without a job. I go through days of complete panic, then I go through days of peace. We haven't "run out" of anything so far. And God has provided through people we don't even know.
I remember stories from my grandmother, about me when I was little. I grew up in the church, my mom and grandmother were my teachers. I knew the Bible when I was very young. According to my grandmother, I had FAITH. She said, If I was told that God would do this or that, or His word said this or that, I believed it. Nothing could change my mind. The past few days I've been looking back over life wondering... when did that change.
I found some answers, and it wasn't God ever failing me, it was me failing God and myself. It's because I chose to do it "my way" instead of waiting for His will in my life. I failed to seek Him. I let my focus be on other "things" instead of Him. My faith is lacking because of me, not Him.
Last Sunday, I just really didn't want to be at church. I am frustrated with so much right now, so many things beyond my control. But I knew I had responsibilites that I must follow through. So as I prepared myself in prayer and reading His word, I read these words of Davids:
Psalm 27
v4. One thing 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.
v5. 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.
Lord, I want to dwell with YOU. I want to seek YOUR ways in everything. I want to see YOU and not all the "things" of this world. May I put my focus on YOU. May I find you, and dwell in YOU, while I am waiting for the things of this world to come to pass. May "things" not block my view of YOUR true beauty. May "things" never come before YOU in my life.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Song share....
One of my favorite songs right now is - Offering by Paul Baloche. When I first heard this song before Christmas I listened to it over and over again. It touches my heart and leads me into worship with our Almighty King. Read the lyrics. It's beautiful.
The sun cannot compare
The glory of Your love
There is no shadow in Your presence
No mortal man would dare
To stand before Your throne
Before the Holy One of heaven
It's only by your blood
And its only by your mercy Lord, I come
(Chorus)
I bring an offering
Of worship to my King
No one on earth deserves
The praises that I sing
Jesus may you receive
The honor that You're due
O Lord, I bring an offering to you
I bring an offering to you
Thursday, January 29, 2009
On with the study...
So I am loving our Wednesday night study on Worship. In our first week, we talked about what worship is. I love this quote: "In worship the church gathers to celebrate God's saving deeds. Through this celebration, God continually brings to the worshiper the benefit of His saving deeds - the forgiveness of sin and the healin gof life, which flows from the saving and healing death and ressurection of Jesus Christ.
Last week we talked about our covenant relationship with God. The covenant he made with Isreal and such. But we also discussed the covenant with God and the church. Unlike many of the covenants with God in the OT the stipulation was that "I will be your God and you will be My people"... the only difference today is that we now have Jesus Christ.
Isreal was never able to keep their commitment... what Jesus does for us we can not do for ourselves. He keeps his agreement. He fulfills the covenant. And in HIS absolute obedience He establishes for us an eternal relationship with God.
This week was about an Offering of Praise... the concept of sacrifice in worship. In the OT, people delt with sin through the sacrifice of animals. Today, our sacrifice was Jesus; the once and for all sacrifice of sin.
So let's think for a moment, if Jesus sacrifice was ALL of Himself, how much should our sacrifice be in worship to Him? When we worship and offer praise... are we coming with our hands empty or are they full of sacrifice. How much did it "cost" us to go to church and to enter before the throne of God? We come to worship Jesus for that once and for all sacrifice... but what are we offering Him back? Aren't we to bring in the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving?... yes we are.
So... what does it cost YOU to worship the ONE who gave everything? Are we coming empty handed to always be "filled"? Or are we coming to lay our "everything"? Just a thought.
Last week we talked about our covenant relationship with God. The covenant he made with Isreal and such. But we also discussed the covenant with God and the church. Unlike many of the covenants with God in the OT the stipulation was that "I will be your God and you will be My people"... the only difference today is that we now have Jesus Christ.
Isreal was never able to keep their commitment... what Jesus does for us we can not do for ourselves. He keeps his agreement. He fulfills the covenant. And in HIS absolute obedience He establishes for us an eternal relationship with God.
This week was about an Offering of Praise... the concept of sacrifice in worship. In the OT, people delt with sin through the sacrifice of animals. Today, our sacrifice was Jesus; the once and for all sacrifice of sin.
So let's think for a moment, if Jesus sacrifice was ALL of Himself, how much should our sacrifice be in worship to Him? When we worship and offer praise... are we coming with our hands empty or are they full of sacrifice. How much did it "cost" us to go to church and to enter before the throne of God? We come to worship Jesus for that once and for all sacrifice... but what are we offering Him back? Aren't we to bring in the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving?... yes we are.
So... what does it cost YOU to worship the ONE who gave everything? Are we coming empty handed to always be "filled"? Or are we coming to lay our "everything"? Just a thought.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Humbled by His grace...
The past few weeks have been so difficult. We have a few family things going on, but foremost, my husbands company closed in December and we are without a job!
I tell my husband that some days are great, I have peace and faith in God to move mountains. Some days I feel like the breath has been knocked out of me. Some days my two brains argue! lol
However, God has already proven Himself true. We are seeing little blessings and provision everywhere that we never expected. We have continued to give, and rest on His Word. I have spent much time in prayer... you know when trouble comes, sometimes your prayer life get's a huge jump start! (not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing) But twice this week alone, we have been blessed by another brother or sister in the Lord.
Thank you God, for loving us so much! Thank you that people put "feet" to your love as well! May I never forget these small deeds, and may I never go without seeing opportunities for me to give back!
I tell my husband that some days are great, I have peace and faith in God to move mountains. Some days I feel like the breath has been knocked out of me. Some days my two brains argue! lol
However, God has already proven Himself true. We are seeing little blessings and provision everywhere that we never expected. We have continued to give, and rest on His Word. I have spent much time in prayer... you know when trouble comes, sometimes your prayer life get's a huge jump start! (not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing) But twice this week alone, we have been blessed by another brother or sister in the Lord.
Thank you God, for loving us so much! Thank you that people put "feet" to your love as well! May I never forget these small deeds, and may I never go without seeing opportunities for me to give back!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Worthy of Worship
This is one of my favorite hymns. It's a newer hymn, but it is a wonderful song and truly "worshipful". He is worthy of so many things! Worship is remembering, remembering what He has done and where we have came from... Lord, You are worthy.
Worthy of Worship
Verse 1
Worthy of worship, worthy of praise,
Worthy of honor and glory
Worthy of all the glad songs we can sing,
Worthy of all of the off’rings we bring.
(Chorus)
You are worth, Father, Creator.
You are worthy, Savior, Sustainer.
You are worthy, worthy and wonderful;
Worthy of worship and praise.
Verse 2
Worthy of rev’rence, worthy of fear,
Worthy of love and devotion;
Worthy of bowing and bending of knees,
Worthy of all this and added to these…
Verse 3
Almighty Father, Master and Lord,
King of all kings and Redeemer,
Wonderful Counselor, Comforter, Friend,
Savior and Source of our life without end;
Worthy of Worship
Verse 1
Worthy of worship, worthy of praise,
Worthy of honor and glory
Worthy of all the glad songs we can sing,
Worthy of all of the off’rings we bring.
(Chorus)
You are worth, Father, Creator.
You are worthy, Savior, Sustainer.
You are worthy, worthy and wonderful;
Worthy of worship and praise.
Verse 2
Worthy of rev’rence, worthy of fear,
Worthy of love and devotion;
Worthy of bowing and bending of knees,
Worthy of all this and added to these…
Verse 3
Almighty Father, Master and Lord,
King of all kings and Redeemer,
Wonderful Counselor, Comforter, Friend,
Savior and Source of our life without end;
Monday, January 12, 2009
Worship is Amazing...
We started last Wednesday a wonderful study in our adult class on Worship.
I love that in the very first lesson we were reminded that worship is a remembrance and celebration of what God has done. That worship is something we come prepared to do. It isn't something that only happens when the sermon is perfect, the music is perfect, the heating and cooling are perfect.... It isn't something that depends on anything other than YOU and ME.
Worship is amazing. And it can be done anywhere at any time. All you need is a heart thankful and remembering what God has done, what His Son did... and worship should flow!
Blessings. More thoughts on worshp to come.
I love that in the very first lesson we were reminded that worship is a remembrance and celebration of what God has done. That worship is something we come prepared to do. It isn't something that only happens when the sermon is perfect, the music is perfect, the heating and cooling are perfect.... It isn't something that depends on anything other than YOU and ME.
Worship is amazing. And it can be done anywhere at any time. All you need is a heart thankful and remembering what God has done, what His Son did... and worship should flow!
Blessings. More thoughts on worshp to come.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Good evening!
I hope everyone had a wonderful day of worship. God is amazing isn't He?
We opened with: Lord I Lift Your Name On High
First Set: Overcome (This was led by our youth pastor, he is a wonderful musician.)
Second Set: How Great Is Our God into How Great Thou Art
Worship was a little short today, because we had other things out of the ordinary at the end of service. But God was good and it we had a sweet presence.
Come on over to Fred McKinnon's site and check out the other lists:
http://www.fredmckinnon.com/myblog/2009/01/11/sunday-setlists
I hope everyone had a wonderful day of worship. God is amazing isn't He?
We opened with: Lord I Lift Your Name On High
First Set: Overcome (This was led by our youth pastor, he is a wonderful musician.)
Second Set: How Great Is Our God into How Great Thou Art
Worship was a little short today, because we had other things out of the ordinary at the end of service. But God was good and it we had a sweet presence.
Come on over to Fred McKinnon's site and check out the other lists:
http://www.fredmckinnon.com/myblog/2009/01/11/sunday-setlists
Monday, December 29, 2008
Sunday Worship
I am attempting again to join in at the Sunday Set list at Fred McKinnon's Blog. Many worship leaders post what their Sunday was like in music and worship right here: http://www.fredmckinnon.com/myblog/2008/12/28/sunday-setlists-23/
So here we go:
Opener: We Are Exalted
Set 1: Worthy of Worship
Set 2: We Will Worship The Lamb of Glory
To The Only God
I Worship You, Almighty God
We had a wonderful time of worship, a bit different than the usual, but the sweet presence of the Father was with us. Thank you Lord, for being so good to us!!!
So here we go:
Opener: We Are Exalted
Set 1: Worthy of Worship
Set 2: We Will Worship The Lamb of Glory
To The Only God
I Worship You, Almighty God
We had a wonderful time of worship, a bit different than the usual, but the sweet presence of the Father was with us. Thank you Lord, for being so good to us!!!
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