our fortress

Hi Friends.
I felt God prompting me to share a verse with a friend, and I was directed to a Psalm. I've been meditating on this chapter for the last day and a half.

As I read Psalm 46 as a whole, I was reminded of how great, how powerful, how majestic and mighty is our Lord. In the presence of our loving God, we can be still. Has He not proven Himself as faithful? Yes, He has. Because He is our fortress we can be still, steadfast, immovable and abounding in His work.

In the midst of the chaos and or loss... in the midst of peace and joy, be still. May we be a people who get out of God's way and allow Him to be Lord over every area of our lives. May these words ring loud and true in our lives, "Be still, and know that I am God."

1 God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.
3 Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!

4 A river brings joy to the city of our God,
the sacred home of the Most High.
5 God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.
From the very break of day, God will protect it.
6 The nations are in chaos,and their kingdoms crumble!
God’s voice thunders, and the earth melts!
7 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress.

8 Come, see the glorious works of the Lord:
See how he brings destruction upon the world.
9 He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”
11 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress.
Psalm 46- nkjv

Lyrical Friday- Shadowfeet

HAPPY FRIDAY!
I hope you are doing well.

This week's Lyrical Friday is Shadowfeet by Brooke Fraser. These lyrics remind me that I am a new person in Christ (My past is not who I am and it does not determine my future). I  am reminded that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, who strengthens you. I am no longer gripped by fear, shame, guilt and worry.I can stand firm in the midst of uncertainty because I am found in Him who calms the raging seas.

May you be clothed with strength and dignity, and may you laugh without fear of the future as you are found in Him... still standing.

Shadowfeet, Brooke Fraser


Walking, stumbling on these shadowfeet
toward home, a land that i've never seen
I am changing, less and less asleep
made of different stuff than when i began
and i have sensed it all along
fast approaching is the day

[CHORUS]
when the world has fallen out from under me
I'll be found in you, still standing
when the sky rolls up and mountains fall on their knees
when time and space are through
I'll be found in you

Theres distraction buzzing in my head
saying in the shadows it's easier to stay
but I've heard rumours of true reality
whispers of a well-lit way

You make all things new

You make all things new
You make all things new
You make all things
You make all things

[CHORUS 2]
When the world has fallen out from under me
I'll be found in you, still standing
Every fear and accusation under my feet
when time and space are through
I'll be found in you
when time and space are through
I'll be found in you
when time and space are through
I'll be found in you

the fabulous four

Hello Lovelies.
Today I would like to share with you four principles that Pastor Scott shared at church last night:

1. Love the Lord
2. Love God's Word
3. Love the Lost
4. Love the Found

If your desire is to be a lily among thorns, I encourage you to ask yourself these questions: Am I loving the Lord with reckless abandonment? Do I love God's Word? Am I loving those who aren't Christians? Am I loving those who are?

My prayer is that both you and I would be found well pleasing before the Lord, in every area of our lives. May we not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind, that you and I may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2. I encourage you to live your faith out loud and share God's love to all.

Read: Romans 12:9-13

Flames from James

For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

James 3:16-18

...come boldly to the throne of grace.

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
–Hebrews 4:16

May I encourage you today to seek of the Lord and His holiness. To know God and to make Him known is a privilege that with out a doubt we are unworthy of. The word of God says that we can approach His throne of grace with boldness. What a humbling thought. That we, in our unfailing love towards Him, can approach His grand and glorious throne. We can approach not cautiously, not fearfully, or cowardly but with boldness and with confidence. Who are we that He is so mindful of us? We are His precious children, the apple of His eye.

He has called you by name. He yearns to hear from you. He is longing for your presence. He is waiting. What are you waiting for? May we be people known for our grace and kindness. Godly grace can only be produced when we sit at the feet of a merciful and loving God. Always taking in His word and making it at home in our hearts. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and everything else shall be added unto to you. (Matthew 6:33)

God Bless YOU and I pray that you may find peace and joy in the presence of the Holy of Holies, today and forevermore.

Lyrical Friday - Love Me

Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever. Psalm 73:25-26

Hi Friends.

Today's Lyrical Friday song is Love Me by JJ Heller. This song echoes what God has been speaking to me through the book of Isaiah and pretty much through everyone I encounter. There is no limit to God's love for us. Nothing will ever separate us from the Love of God. His love knows no bounds.

A few years ago, I had hit rock bottom and fell into an ugly depression. Wrong decisions had shaken my ground. I was left feeling confused and betrayed by my heart. It was during that lonely, dark, dry and barren season of my life that I learned a lesson that continues breathing life to me. It was in a prayer meeting that God lead me to Joel 2:13(NLT) and He spoke to me: ["Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.]

God's character is simply amazing yet profoundly indescribable.

He is merciful.

He is compassionate.

He is slow to anger.

He is abounding in love.

He is eager to bless you.

And in Him, death has lost its sting.

May His love be your all in all. God bless you.

He cries in the corner where nobody sees 
He's the kid with the story no one would believe
He prays every night, Dear God won't you please
Could you send someone here who will love me?

Who will love me for me
Not for what I have done or what I will become
Who will love me for me
Cause nobody has shown me what love
What love really means

Her office is shrinking a little each day
She's the woman whose husband has run away
She'll go to the gym after working today
Maybe if she was thinner
Then he would've stayed
And she says

Who will love me for me?
Not for what I have done or what I will become
Who will love me for me?
Cause nobody has shown me what love, what love really means

He's waiting to die as he sits all alone
He's a man in a cell who regrets what he's done
He utters a cry from the depths of his soul
Oh Lord, forgive me, I want to go home
Then he heard a voice somewhere deep inside
And it said
I know you've murdered and I know you've lied
I have watched you suffer all of your life
And now that you'll listen, I'll tell you that I...

I will love you for you
Not for what you have done or what you will become
I will love you for you
I will give you the love
The love that you never knew

Lyrical Friday - More

Hi Everyone.
Happy Friday. Every year after youth camp we takeover one service at church where the youth band and the kids share a piece of camp with the parents and the congregation. Tonight is that night. Be in prayer for the youth band, for the skit, for the kids that will be sharing and for our youth pastor.

Today's Lyrical Friday song is More by Matthew West. Enjoy it! May God speak to you in a new and fresh way of His love through these lyrics. I pray that your life would be a shinning light of Him and for Him.

MORE, Matthew West

beauty

I hope you had a great Monday!

This past Saturday, we finished the HEAL study. There was a creative activity at the end of the lesson. We formed two groups. One group cut out words and phrases that represent the life that the world offers. The second group went through the Bible and wrote down scriptures that represent the abundant life God promises. We did this on construction paper, very easy to do. After 10 minutes, we read them. It is increadible how much garbage is out there. Even today as I went over the list of the cut outs from two somewhat innocent magazines I could not believe what you and I are exposed to.

Here are the two lists we made:
Cut outs from Magazines

• Perfection Perfect
• Fashion
• Men, Men, Men
• Go Shopping
• Smooth legs
• Beauty
• Independent
• Real Remedies
• Upgrade
• Love in this Club
• SHOW YOUR SKIN
• Weight Loss Supplement!
• Experience what Paradise feels like
• Relationships
• Tough Bisexual
• BAD GIRL
• STD
• Budweiser
• LOVE
• "I need some cleavage"
• Secrets
• Juicy Goodness
• Catch up with the latest chisme (gossip)
• What makes you kissable?
• Flirty
• "I don't see the point of marriage. But when I need love, I get my love."
• DIY Abortions (Do It Yourself) <--freaked me out
• You want a prettier what? Belly button? Toes? Va-jay-jay? You won't believe the parts some women are tinkering with in their quest for so-called perfection.
• Women abusing prescription drugs
• Sleeping Pill Junkie
• Men, Sex & Love
• "We had sex in an airport bathroom."
• ACNE
• Need ade prevention?

Bible promises

• Psalm 37:4 // Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.
• 1 Timothy 4:7-8 // But reject profane and old wives’ tales, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
• Proverbs 31:30 // Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
• John 10:10 // I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
• John 10:28 // And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
• John 12:25 // He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
• 1 Peter 3:3-4 // Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— 4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

This was an awesome activity, a real eye opener. What are you exposing yourself to? Examine your life. It's crazy the things that we read in magazines, the lyrics to the music we hear and the shows that we watch. The empty promises of this world are everywhere and rather than making us "beautiful" they contaminate us. I encourage you to remove yourself from them and open God's Word. In it you will find an endless list of promises that will wash away the lies we have believed. The abundant life found in Jesus will produce in us an incorruptible beauty. I leave you with this amazing verse and one of my favorite short films:

You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD's hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. Isaiah 62:3

disregard the dust

Hi Friends.
Please disregard the dust on my blog, lol.
I am very excited to write today. It has been a most adventurous and wonderful two weeks since my last post.

July 25-31 was our annual youth camp. God was so good to us. His presence there was so powerful and sweet. We took 140+ teenagers up to Polk City, Fl and stayed at our favorite Camp: Gamp Gilead. We studied through the book of Joshua among other topical teachings and devotionals. Chains were broken, lives were healed and eyes were opened as Christ was revealed. It truly was a beautiful time. I love the camp experience and the fire it fuels in the lives of these kids. What is even more exciting is witnessing these kids seeking the Lord and encouraging one another after they have returned to their homes, to their phones, to facebook and what not. God is on the move and UTH NATION is moving right alongside with Him. Awesome God, I worship you in wonder :D

Another recap: HEAL Group. Yesterday morning we concluded our HEAL study. Lesson 6 (Abundant Living) was the perfect ending to a wonderful study through Psalm 139. This study has been most delightful and convicting. The Lord has done a great work in my heart and in the heart of the 6 girls who boldly joined me on this journey. Never, in all my years of walking with the Lord, have I experienced God's grace like I have in the last 4 months. I had an understanding of His grace yet in that knowledge I had not experienced grace in a personal and intimate way. This study has been the tool God used and continues to use as He searches my heart and leads me in the path of everlasting. Be in prayer for the next 6 girls that will begin a wonderfully made journey this coming Sept/Oct.

Throughout the course of this week, I will be sharing with you a little more about what God has been speaking to me to speak to you. Stay tunned. But for today, He has given me a portion of scripture to share with you:

“Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me." Isaiah 49:15-16

May we be a people who stand firm on these words. He has inscribed us on His palms. My name, Your name is written forever on His palms. You are loved by God. His word says that He loves you with an endless love (Jer 31). My prayer is that both you and I would not forget that. You are forgiven and dearly loved. You were, you are and will forever be worth dying for to God. 

 For I shall be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and My God shall be My strength. Isaiah 49:5