Lyrical Friday - One Thing Remains

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 
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For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 

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What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8
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Beloved Friend, Jesus loves you.
He loves all of you.
He loves you in your best.
He loves you in your worst.
He loves you at all times.
His love for you has no end.
His love for you has no bounds.
His love for you is unmatched.
His love for you is yours forever.
There is nothing you can do that will ever diminish His love for you.
There is nothing anyone can do that will cause His love to be removed from you.
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For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5
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But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, [your name here],
And He who formed you, [your name here] :
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
Isaiah 43
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One Thing Remains, Jesus Culture

sentence tuesday

You carry your cross temporarily, 

but you will wear your crown eternally. 

-Fidel Gomez 

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Lyrical Friday - On My Knees

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Hello There.
Today's post is for any one who is weary, tired, burdened, overwhelmed, afraid, maybe even terrified, depressed, discouraged, rejected, humiliated, empty, alone, disappointed or feeling guilty, ashamed and condemned. It could be that you find yourself hopeless and dismayed. If things are not looking good for you from your view point, this song is for you.
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May hope arise for you through the only gateway of hope: Jesus. Only He can fully satisfy your hungry heart and quench your thirst for life, joy and hope. He is your Savior, Redeemer, Father, Friend, Lover of your Soul, Provider, Healer, Teacher, Guide and every other role you need Him to be, He already is. Surrender your hurt, your pain, your all. As the song begins (and lyrically speaking, it's quite short) meditate on the words, let them sink in and become your words. As the music continues, scroll back up and meditate on these verses, let these sink in and become your prayers and anthem.
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O LORD, hear my plea for justice.
Listen to my cry for help.
Pay attention to my prayer,
for it comes from honest lips.
Declare me innocent,
for you see those who do right.

You have tested my thoughts and examined my heart in the night.
You have scrutinized me and found nothing wrong.
I am determined not to sin in what I say.
I have followed your commands,
which keep me from following cruel and evil people.
My steps have stayed on your path;
I have not wavered from following you.

I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God.
Bend down and listen as I pray.
Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways.
By your mighty power you rescue
those who seek refuge from their enemies.
Guard me as you would guard your own eyes.
Hide me in the shadow of your wings. Psalm 17:1-8

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In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul. Psalm 138:3
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 It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear. Isaiah 65:24
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You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4


On My Knees, Seryn 

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On my knees
I can see
Where my heart
needs to be.
When this life
Gets to me
I'll be found
On my knees.

small beginnings

 Hi Friends. As of lately, I've been quite silent: discerning, praying, reading, listening, learning, teaching, sitting, waiting, growing and moving. As promised, I will share with you my 2012 verse.

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While attending a ladies bible study this past fall, I was given a verse by one of the attendees. In her words, “I believe God wants you to hold on to this word: Do not despise the day of small things.” She then proceeded to warn me not to take this verse lightly. And so I prayed. I searched. I found.

I prayed.

Why this verse? It really had little to do with what we were studying and much less with what I had shared with the group that night. But I wasn’t about to take for granted that which may have been a word from the Lord. I prayed: Lord, reveal to me two things 1) the meaning of this verse and 2) how it applies to me.

I searched.

Zechariah 4:10 is the exact verse. “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand. (The seven lamps represent the eyes of the LORD that search all around the world.) ” NLT

Small Beginnings?

We find ourselves in the book of Zechariah, where the people of God had returned to Judea from exile. The returning Jews had laid the foundation for a new temple yet soon abandoned it. As a result, it lay in ruins, neglected and the people overcome by discouragement. The Lord loved His people and so, He raised Zechariah the prophet to call His people to repentance, spiritual renewal and to return to a right relationship with Him. This was the time of small beginnings.

For the Lord rejoices to see the work begin?

Rejoice = Samach (Hebrew) = to brighten up, cheer up, be made glad, make joyful.

See = Ra’ah (Hb) = advise self, appear, approve, behold, consider, enjoy, be near, look after, see after, perceive, give attention to, discern, distinguish, provide, regard.

Plumb Line?

A plumb line, a cord of tin or lead weight attached to one end, is used in construction to ensure that a wall is vertical.

Seven Lamps?

Seven signifies completeness or perfection. God sees all that takes place on earth; He controls the fates of people and nations.

I found.

The past two years have surely felt as if I was in exile. I can’t explain it in words, nor can I fully describe what I felt, but it was much like a person who left a familiar place and migrated to a new location and is now returning to their homeland. Much was taken from me. However, looking back from where I am at today, I see that it was the very hand of God that stripped from me all my “riches”.

The sovereign hands that took away people, ministries, jobs, financial support, and more is now giving back to me. Though I haven’t wandered off, worshipped other gods, nor have I damned His name, there are areas in my life that lay in ruins, neglected and discouraged.  He has called me to repentance, spiritual renewal and to return to a right relationship with Him. He doesn’t leave me alone to do this work. He has faithfully placed Zechariah-type people in my path. He has given me His Word, which is my armor and protection (Psalm 91:4). I have His love which covers a multitude of sin in my life (Proverbs 10:12) and casts out all fear (1 John 4:18).  And as a few verses before reminds me, it is not by my strength, nor by my might that this work will be done in my life, but by His Spirit (Zechariah 4:6).

How precious to know that God, Creator God, Savior God, Holy God wants to do a work in my life. He yearns to do a work in your life too. I desire for my 2012 verse to encourage you as well. Those areas that lay in ruin, neglected, abandoned, discouraged, sin-filled, broken, bleeding, barren, ill, poor, paralyzed, or even refused are all areas that God longs for. When we surrender them to Him, He rejoices over them, He sees that the work is done upright (plumb line) and brought to perfect completion (seven lamps). For who can make straight what God has made crooked? When God is Lord over every area of your life, He will make you whole, a glorious work! And if like myself, you find yourself in the midst of a “small beginning” or a “new work”, do not despise these days nor be afraid but rather find strength in the fact that God has not look down on you but rather has counted you worthy of His work. You are not alone, we are all in the making. 

sentence tuesday

We should not fulfill our potential; we should fulfill our calling. 

-Mark Driscoll

Lyrical Friday - Sun and Moon

Happy Friday! 
Today's post is short and a glorious one. Glorious because it's a song that speaks of the life that we are to live as Christians. When Matthew 5 exhorts us that we are to be the light of the world, it speaks of a reflector light. Such a light is mirrored in the way the moon reflects light from the sun. We are to live our lives in such a way that we reflect the light of Christ to a dark world. So where is the glorious part to all of this? God can use anyone to reflect His majesty and light, all we need to do is surrender to Him. Be encouraged today to let it all go, for the sake of knowing Him and being more like Him. He is as the sun and we as the moon. 
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You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:14-16

Sun and Moon, Phil Wickham

sentence tuesday

Only God can make something beautiful and useful 

from out of our ashes.

-Raquel Rodriguez

Hannah's story

Lyrical Friday - Crags and Clay

Happy Friday! 
I am so excited to announce a new Heal group. This is the first adult Heal group that I do. It is  definitely way different that leading a youth only group. It was a very sweet time. So what more appropriate song than Crags and Clay by Gungor. 
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You are wonderfully made.
You are wholly and dearly loved by God. 
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Crags and Clay, Gungor 

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Standing up from crags and clay
The peaks of earth
In full display
They break the lines
That break the sky
That's full of life
Full of life

The chaos of creation's dance
A tapestry, a symphony
Of life himself
Of love herself
It's written in our very skin

All praises to the one who made it all
Who made it all
All praises to the one who made it all
And finds it beautiful

Soil is spilling life to life
Stars are born
To fill the night
The ocean's score
The majesty
Of sculpted shore
Mystery

All praises...
Fearfully and wonderfully and beautifully made

sentence tuesday

There are people who have money, and people who are rich.

- Coco Chanel