Lyrical Friday - Beg

Happy Friday! As of lately, the Lord has been reminding me of the good ol' days. The days when my salvation was fresh and passion filled. The days when I welcomed the Lord's consuming fire to burn in my life. He took me back to the days when all I had was my first love and not religion. 
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We can so easily become accustomed to the Christian "agenda": read the word for x amount of time, pray the right prayer, sing a song and do a good deed. I can't remember how to do life without this agenda. And so I question myself, and I question you: If this agenda was taken from us, what would we have left?
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Beg by Shane and Shane has caused me to beg God to move and break through in my life. I pray that it would be our love for God, for more of Him that would draw us to His Word. I pray that it would be our love for God that would bring us to our knees in prayer. I pray that it would be our love for God that would cause us to live a life of worship. I pray that it would be our love for God that would lead us in obedience as we serve Him and His people. I beg God to move and break through in your life like never before.

I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations. Ezekiel 36:26-27
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Beg, Shane and Shane 

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Here I am
One more day of not
Loving Him the way He asks
In fact my heart is singing praises to the things
that make me feel alright

So I’m sinking fast like a stone heart should
And on the way down
I’ve done what I could
To try and try to turn this stone to flesh

I’m haunted by my God
Who has the right to ask me
What by the nature of my rebellion
I cannot give.

So I beg for you to move
I beg for you to move
I beg for you to break through

So here I am
Got my deeds for the day
All my cute little words about
How I am saved
Am I saved?

Could I love you with my mouth like a church kid should
At the end of the day
My words get burned as wood
Oh, but I was good.

These songs are noise
In your ears
A clanging drum
You want my love

sentence tuesday

Just because you found God, 

doesn't mean you should stop seeking Him. -Jarrid Wilson 

Hi Friends. 
I heard a great teaching by Alistair Begg this morning and had to share. Enjoy and be blessed! 

Restored And Forgiven

ALISTAIR BEGG

 | 09/25/2011

Alistair Begg, Pastor of Parkside Church near Cleveland, Ohio, and teacher on the national radio program,Truth For Life, teaches from the Book of Mark on the subject of Restoration and Forgiveness. The ultimate healing that we all can achieve is the healing of our relationship with God, giving us life and saving us from eternal damnation. Ransomed, Healed, Restored, Forgiven, are the attributes that correct our spiritual condition.

Scriptures: Mark 1:35-45

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Click on the link to listen: Restored And Forgiven: Alistair Begg

God's Little Girl

Hi Lovelies!
For more than a year now, I have been carrying a letter in my wallet. I'm not sure if I carry it with me to share with someone who may need the encouragement or if its more to remind me that I am loved. What makes this letter so valuable is not who wrote it but the truth behind the words written.

At the time it was written, I was preparing for a teaching on guarding our (valuable) feminine hearts. I asked a good friend of mine (whom we shall call Mr. Man), "If you could talk with my girls, what would you say to them about their value and worth?" He shared with me amazing things but in the matter of five minutes I had forgotten every point He made. So I prayed, "God, if it is your will for Mr. Man's words to be shared with my girls, place it in His heart to write it on paper." Lo and Behold, God had began that work in his heart and a few days later he asked if e he could write them a letter. I know that this letter comes not from my friend but from God's very heart. It's not only for my youth girls, or just for me, but for all of us! Be blessed dear sister by knowing and accepting your value and worth in Christ!
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Thank You Myleen for this pic of Emma! 

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To God's little girls, 
You are God's little girl. Never forget. See yourself the way God sees you, for His thoughts are what matter. No man, no boy, no one can ever take that away from you. You are worth more that your weight in gold, but even gold has no value in the mouth of a pig. Don't ever lose respect for yourself. No man can conquer you, except for He who has conquered death. He alone should reign in your heart's throne room. 
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"For your Maker is your Husband, the Lord of Hosts is His name. And your Redeemer is the Holy one of Israel; He is called God of the whole earth." (Isaiah 54:5) Guard your hearts. Men are pigs, foolish and putrid. May you be so lost in God, that in order for a man to find you, he must first be close to God. 
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You are His little girl. It is not your fault you are hurting. Rise Up! Though now you may be bleeding, never forget His Words: 

"Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction." (Mark 5:34)  "I have blotted our your transgressions, like a thick cloud, return to Me, for I HAVE REDEEMED YOU." (Isaiah 44:22) 

Never forget your first love. Never look down on yourself. You are and will forever be beautiful jewels, the apple of your heavenly Father's eyes. 
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I love you ALL, 
Mr. Man 
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Lyrical Friday - You Won't Relent

That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. 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. Joel 2:12-13
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There is not much that needs to be said after reading these verses in Joel. The Lord is calling us into His presence and today's lyrical post is just the song to do so. Jesus Culture reminds us that that Lord will not relent till He has all of us. And so, I encourage you today to meditate on the lyrics and give yourself wholly unto Him. Return to your first love.
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Set me as a seal upon your heart,  

As a seal upon your arm; 

For love is as strong as death,       

Jealousy as cruel as the grave;     

Its flames are flames of fire,  

A most vehement flame.        

Many waters cannot quench love,   

Nor can the floods drown it.  

Song of Solomon 8:6-7

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You Won't Relent, Jesus Culture

sentence tuesday

Let the past rest, but let it rest in the sweet embrace of Christ.
-Oswald Chambers

the load that lay like lead

The load 
that lay
like lead
lifted:
instead:
peace.
The dread
that hung
fogthick, gray,
faded away;
and with release,
day.
The trial
the same...
unsolved,
but this:
now
it is
His.
-Ruth Bell Graham

Lyrical Friday - Wrong Worship

Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:21-24


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Happy Friday dear Friends! 
Once again, I had a different song in mind when the Lord brought to remembrance this video that my friend showed me earlier in the week. Though the video caused me laugh, it also compelled me to search my heart. I even said "ouch" because it revealed the ugliness of my heart. Let the confession booth open it's doors. 
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Sometimes when I worship, I don't really mean it. I am not saying that I do this intentionally but there are distractions, thoughts that pop into my head, even lack of faith that creeps into my heart as I worship God. It is so easy to sing along to a song that I know all the words to or even to bow my head in "prayer" when in all reality my mind is consumed with what I will eat after the service is over. I know I can get an"Amen" from someone out there who can admit to the same wrong. 
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I love that this video reveals what often is the condition of our heart as we worship God. I'm here to encourage you and challenge you to pray with me:

"Lord, humble me. Teach me to worship you in spirit and in truth. Teach me to worship you wholeheartedly, with no reserves, no distractions and none of me in the way. You are worthy of praise, glory, devotion, adoration and exaltation because You are Father, You are Son, You are Holy Spirit, You are the Almighty God, You are Healer, You are Provider, You are the Prince of Peace, You are the Great Shepherd, You are Savior, Messiah, Redeemer and Friend. Amen!!!" 

 Pray a prayer similar to this one before entering a time of worship, whether it be in your home or your church. A prayer like this the Lord will never deny. I know that He will magnify Himself in your worship! Don't steal the glory of worship by making it about you. Glorify God alone in your worship.
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Wrong Worship, First Orlando Church

 "Our worship here on earth may be the loneliest times in Heaven." -Arlene Hoffman

sentence tuesday

If you don't read the Word of God, you won't know how to pray. 

-Maky Fernandez

photo credit

Lyrical Friday - Bring the Rain

Hello Friends.

It has been said that we can be found in one of three places: 1) in a storm 2) walking out of one or 3) walking into one. Certain trials can absorb our life and consume our very being, much like a category 5 hurricane. While other trials seem like a simple breeze, a casual rain, shaking us for a moment. We are reminded in Matthew 5:45 that the rain falls on the just and the unjust alike.

For every storm, God has given us a promise:
But now, listen to the Lord who created you. The one who formed you says,"Do not be afraid,
For I have ransomed you.      
I have called you by name; 
You are mine. 
When you go through deep waters,      
I will be with you.   
When you go through rivers of difficulty,      
You will not drown.   
When you walk through the fire of oppression,      
You will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.
Isaiah 43:1-3

As a dear friend and sister who has gone through all kinds of trials, I beg you to seek holiness in every storm. Seek holiness? Yes, seek all things holy: God, His Word, prayer, praise, serving others... It makes the passing through the storm a lot easier, even joyful. You'll see the spiritual growth in your life as you walk out of the storm. And it is the armor you wear walking into the storm.

Today's Lyrical Post is one of those songs that helps you get through the storm. That's one aspect of seeking holiness in a storm: through song! May these lyrics cause you to worship God. I am confident that as you worship God (with the little that you have), He will increase your faith and fill you with His peace. Praying for showers of love, mercy, grace, forgiveness, kindness, joy, peace and rest. Do not fear. You are His. He is with you . You will not drown. You will not be burned for for the flames will not consume you.
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Bring the Rain, Mercy Me


*At times we only have the strength to mutter out "holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty" those are the greatest words we can cry out with during a storm.

sentence tuesday

The greatest form of praise is the sound of consecrated feet seeking out the lost and helpless.
-Billy Graham  

monday funday

Having slept only three hours, I arose early to join my friends on a little adventure. We set out to see the sunrise at the beach. Unfortunately, we didn't make it on time but we did enjoy the beach. Welcome to Miami: 

the water was absolutely lovely

walking to the Pier

View from the Pier 

Lyrical Friday - Broken for Love's Sake

Hey Friends!
I happened to find this song while searching for the song I originally thought to use. However, God lead me to this one. As I read these lyrics my heart sunk at the reality that I am nothing like my Jesus. He was broken for love's sake, I am not. I am too selfish at times to allow God to break me and mold me back into His image. I am too distracted with the affairs of this world to be broken for love's sake. God requires a wholly surrender from us. When we come to a place of full surrender He becomes our all in all, supplier of every need, provider, savior and friend.

I pray that the lyrics of this song would be more than just words with music. May your heart be quieted and stilled as you meditate on these lyrics. May you be broken and mended by God's loving hands. May He bless you abundantly as you surrender to His love, His wonders and purposes. God bless you and happy Friday!

Broken for Love's Sake, Tricia Brock


You've come to seek and to save
Those who lost their way
So seek me or I won't be found
You've come to keep and sustain
Those whom You have made
So keep me, oh keep me now

When it gets hard, You go before me as a shield
When its too late, You come behind me and You heal
Should my heart break when loves the only way
So be it Lord, may I be broken for love's sake

I will trust and obey more and more each day
As You take Your place in me
And should I ever fail or stumble in the way
You will help me to my feet