Lyrical Friday - Tender Mercy

I don't know about you, but as for me, this week has felt eternal. With great joy I say: 

Happy Friday to YOU! 

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Today I was able to witness men and women, who once were enslaved by heavy chains, walk as free as ever. One man shared testimony of how he turned his life around and is now a new man. All of the people in that room, were now free and clean because someone tendered mercy unto them. The slate of their past stands now clean. Though this wasn't a church setting, nor was Christ ever mentioned, I couldn't help but think about Him. -

Yet I still dare to hope

    when I remember this: 

The faithful love of the Lord never ends! 

His mercies never cease. 

Great is his faithfulness; 

His mercies begin afresh each morning. 

I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; 

therefore, I will hope in him!

Lamentations 3:21-24

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We are guilty of falling short, not one is righteous, and all have sinned. As it is, we never do stop sinning but we can dare to hope. Upon the moment of repentance and surrender to God, His love and mercy are tendered to us. His love covering a multitude of sin. His mercy, greater than our sin(s), is made new to us each day! What a wonderful God! 

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Tender Mercy, Enter The Worship Circle 

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Praise The Lord, Oh My Soul
and All My Deepest Parts
give Praise To The One
who Pulled You Out Of Darkness
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tender Mercy, You Forgive Me
slow To Anger, Quick To Love
-as High As The Mountains Try
your Love Falls All Around Me
as Wide As The East To West
my Sins Are Taken From Me

Daisy Merrick and You

 

After 6 surgeries, 22 rounds of chemotherapy and 2 courses of radiation, Daisy Love Merrick is facing cancer for the third time. She and her family are trusting in Jesus. But they are also in a battle for Daisy Love's life. Next steps include chemotherapy and possibly a stem cell transplant with progressive treatments in America and Israel. The estimated cost not covered by insurance will total close to half a million dollars, and because of this, a trust fund has been established where you and your family can lovingly give toward the cost of Daisy's care (see options on the left) or to The Daisy Merrick Trust by mail or at your local Chase Bank branch. Thank you for your love, support, and prayers for Daisy Love! -prayfordaisy.com

Daisy Merrick is a bubbly, joyful, and wacky little 8 year old. She loves playing with her friends, 
going to the beach, and has big aspirations of becoming an astronaut. 
Sounds pretty normal right?

Daisy’s life has been anything but normal. She’s been through 6 surgeries, 22 rounds of chemotherapy and 2 courses of radiation… and is battling cancer for the third time. 

For a limited time, 100% of the proceeds from the Blossom Breeze bracelet will go toThe Daisy Merrick Trust to help with the vast amount of medical and travel expenses. The Merrick family is currently seeking treatment for Daisy in Israel, and you can read about the trip on their BLOG.

Learn more about Daisy’s story, and find out how you can help HERE. Purchase the Blossom Breeze HERE. We’re praying for you Daisy! -The 31 Bits team

DIY: Hurricane Wear

What to do when your city is on hurricane watch:

1. Stock up on water, non perishable foods and survival items
2. Cars should have full gas tanks
3. Remove or tie down any back yard furniture
4. Board up all windows
5. DO IT YOURSELF HURRICANE WEAR!!!!!

 

1. You will need a heavy duty garbage bag-with drawstring and scissors. (Sharpie not needed but recommended)
2. Measure your model/customer
3. This step is a recommendation, draw marks for exact measurements
4. Using the scissors, cut out leg holes and arm holes
5. What your Hurricane Wear should look like
6. TADA, you have effectively made your own Hurricane Wear bodysuit. Drawstring to be worn around the neck

Hope you enjoyed my first ever DIY progect! :)

Lyrical Friday - Love Has Found Us

I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy. Psalm 63:2-5

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Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives. Psalm 90:14

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You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing. Psalm 145:16

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Hungry anyone? Thirsty? Weary? Burdened? Lost? Angry? Hurt? Abandoned? Lonely? Broken?
Can I get a witness? We have all experienced one of the above, if not all, at some point in our lives. It may very well be that these are not scars, but recent wounds. To all these sad states, God says, "I AM." To everything you are not, He is I AM.
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I AM says to you today:
I AM your God. I AM your savior. I AM your friend. I AM your defender. I AM your deliverer. I AM your healer. I AM your provider. I AM your lover. I AM your father. I AM your creator. I AM your restorer. I AM your comfort. I AM the One who sees you. I AM the lifter of your head. I AM the anchor of your life. I AM the light in your darkness. I AM seeking you. I AM who satisfies your every need. Remember, to everything you are not, He is I AM.
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I encourage you to listen closely to the lyrics of this song. Heck, bust out dancing and rejoicing, for the great I AM has found us! His love is better than life itself. So breathe in deep His love! Because only I AM's love can fully satisfy our souls. May He quiet you with His love and calm all your fears. May our wonderful I AM fill you afresh and a new with His Spirit and satisfy your every need. God bless you folks!
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Love Has Found Us, Bellarive

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Broken down
I've run aground
in perfect need
of You
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The life You bring
You breathe on me
for out of You comes everything
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so we breathe in deep this love
so we breathe in deep this love
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Ocean sings
Your melodies
the Composer's heart 
Indeed
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Painted skies
rest at Your feet
the earth surrenders
a masterpiece
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so we breathe in deep this love
so we breathe in deep this love
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It's so beatiful 
how only You can satisfy this heart
it's so beautiful
how only You can satisfy this heart
for You will always be the life i need
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The life You bring 
breathe on me
for out of You comes everything
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that's why 
we breathe in deep this love
we breathe in deep this love
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it's so beautiful how only You can satisfy this heart
it's so beautiful how only You can satisfy this heart
it's so beautiful how only You can satisfy this heart
it's so beautiful how only You can satisfy this heart
for You will always be
the life i need
the life i need
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we sing sing it out we sing it loud 
for love has found us

one of those days.

[photo credit]

time is 12:30 noon
And thus far, it's been one of those days. What could have gone wrong, did go wrong. I sat in a waiting room for over two hours, that's a lot of thinking. The aftermath: disappointment, feelings of inadequacy and an overwhelming sense of failure. Once I was tired of beating myself up, I remembered the Lord. Good thing my handy dandy iPhone was fully charged. And off to the YouVersion bible app I went. My lot for the day, thanks to the integrity bible plan, was in Psalm 25. 
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In you, Lord my God, I put my trust.I trust in you; 
do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. 
No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, 
but shame will come on those  who are treacherous without cause. 
Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. 
Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, 
and my hope is in you all day long. 
Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. 
Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; 
according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good. 
Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. 
He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. 
All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful 
toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.  
For the sake of your name, Lord,  forgive my iniquity, though it is great. 
Who, then, are those who fear the Lord? 
He will instruct them in the ways they should choose. 
They will spend their days in prosperity, 
and their descendants will inherit the land.
The Lord is a friend to those who fear him. He teaches them his covenant. 
My eyes are always on the Lord, for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies. 
Turn to me and have mercy, for I am alone and in deep distress.
 My problems go from bad to worse. Oh, save me from them all!
Feel my pain and see my trouble. Forgive all my sins. 
See how many enemies I have and how viciously they hate me! 
Protect me! Rescue my life from them! 
Do not let me be disgraced, for in you I take refuge. 
May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in you. 
O God, ransom Israel from all its troubles. 
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My day has been pretty crappy and I definitely identified with verse 17, "my problems go from bad to worse" but I will choose to do verses 20 and 21. I am taking refuge in the Lord and placing my hope in Him. This Psalm definitely calmed me and reminded me to anchor my trust in God.
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 I don't know if you are having one of those days, weeks, months or even years. But I do know that it' is normal to experience the lows of life. And for every low in life, there is a high hope found in God's word. For me today, the high hope was found in Psalm 25. I encourage you to seek for an anchor, a high hope, a word fitly spoken for your specific situation. You may not find a hopeful word immediately, but I promise you that the search will be successful. God will answer and not forsake you.

Sentence Tuesday

We need to pick up our cross daily, without fail, 

or we will fail. -Esam Nemer 

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[photo credit]

Lyrical Friday: Dry Bones

Happy Friday!
Click the link below and watch this video first, then return for the song.
Dry Bones Monologue
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Dry Bones, Gungor Band

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My soul cries out
My soul cries out for you

These bones cry out
These dry bones cry for you
To live and move
'Cause only You can raise the dead
Can lift my head up

My soul cries out
My soul cries out for you

Jesus, You're the one who saves us
Constantly creates us into something new
Jesus, surely you will finds us
Surely our Messiah will make all things new
Will make all things new

Life is breaking out, it's breaking out
Life is breaking out, it's breaking out, it's breaking out
And life is breaking out, it's breaking out, it's breaking out

reunited, and it feels so good

Meet my Bible. 

Friday night, it went missing at church. 

I figured I had moved it from my purse and Sunday morning I'd find it.

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Sunday came.

I searched anywhere and everywhere it could possibly have been. 

This was the most tragic and unsuccessful of all searches. 

Someone told me, "Give up, your Bible was probably stolen."

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Monday mourning. I cried so much.

I reminisced on all the times I dated a verse that changed me, 

the highlighted portions of scripture that meant more than life to me, 

and the notes I had taken that got me through each day. 

My heart hurt, a lot. 

I realized Monday morning, that out all that I possessed,

my Bible was my most treasured possession. 

And now that it was gone, I yearned for it more than ever. 

I longed to hold it.

I longed to turn its pages.

I longed for the words of the Lord. 

I mourned as one who had lost their loved one. 

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Tuesday it settled within me that days, months would pass before I saw it again.

I may never hold my Bible again. 

I gave a passing thought to someone else's growth by it. 

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Wednesday morning I heard a teaching on prayer. 

The Pastor read from Matthew 13:58, 

"Jesus did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief."

What could God do if I believed that He could do what I prayed for?

My faith was challenged, and so was my prayer life. 

I prayed: Lord, I am putting your name on the line. 

I believe You, Almighty God, will return my Bible to my hands."

The details of what happened to my Bible are not necessary. 

How it was returned to me are of no value to our walk. 

That God answered my prayer is the big deal. 

What mattered to me, mattered to Him. 

He took notice of my pain. 

He cupped my tears. 

He heard me. 

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What matters to you, matters to God. 

He has taken notice of your pain. 

He cups every tear you cry.

He hears you. 

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Reunited with my Bible and it feels so good! The first page I randomly opened my Bible to was in the end of Isaiah. Highlighted in the bottom of the page is one of my favorite verses. "I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!" Isaiah 65:24. Remember this one! 

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What could God do, 

if you believed that He could do what you prayed for?

Let's talk about sex, baby!

Happy Wednesday. A few months ago, I asked my friend to write a post on purity and she delivered... a whole lot of yada! Take the time to read this post and share with your friends.
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Let's talk about sex, baby!
by Stephanie Landa
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Have you ever wondered why God wants to protect the sacredness of sex for after marriage? Perhaps you're tired of hearing all the messages about purity/abstinence. It seems as though everyone is having sex, and you question what is the point of waiting after marriage for sex. “One side says condoms and sexual freedom are the answer to youthful clamoring about sex. The other, slides silver rings on the fingers of teens and hopes these miniature chastity belts will protect them in moments of temptation. Who’s right? Who’s wrong? Is there a middle ground? Can anybody claim to have clear and certain answers?” – Dannah Gresh
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What if I were to tell you that there is something no one has ever told you about sex? Would you believe me? Well, last night as I was a reading, “What Are You Waiting For? The One Thing No One Ever Tells you about sex” by Dannah Gresh, I came across a profound truth that I could not keep to myself and had to, just had to, share with you. In Genesis 4:1 we read, “Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant.” They were obviously not just laying” there! Gresh grabbed a Hebrew dictionary; she searched for the meaning of “lay” in the sentence. Gresh found the Hebrew word for sex is yada. Yes! The word we most often use to communicate a sense of boredom, is not so “blah, blah, blah.” The definition of the word yada is “to know, to be known, and to be deeply respected.”
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“Almost every woman can admit that she isn’t really yearning for a physical touch in her sexual encounters, but is seeking a deep emotional caressing. For men, most of them, want to know they have what it takes to receive your admiration. They yearn to be deeply respected.” –Gresh
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Out of curiosity, Gresh researched how many times this word (yada) shows up in the Hebrew Old Testament. It is used more than nine hundred times. Now, that’s a lot of yada! It gets even better…
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A couple of other passages that mention yada are Genesis 4:17, Genesis 4:25, Genesis 24:16, 1 Samuel 1:19-20, just to name a few. Several times, the word is used to convey a deep emotional knowing and mutual respect between a naked man and wife. The word yada is used most commonly in a verse like this: “Be still and know [yada] that I am God.” –Psalm 46:10. It’s clear from this verse that yada isn’t about a merely physical act. Yada is a word of intimacy that goes beyond the physical to describe the whole knowing of a person.
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“O Lord, you have searched me and you know [yada] me. You know [yada] when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar…” –Psalm 139 Feel free to read the rest of Psalm 139:1-4, 13-16, 23 and be prepared to be blown away and humbled by God’s grace and love. “When you are in intimate physical and emotional communion with your husband, it will be a mere picture of the passionate love of a God who has been seeking your heart since before you were born.” –Gresh
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This is the one thing no one has ever told you about sex: it’s an exquisite revelation of a much Greater Love.
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God is trying to direct our attention to a portrait that comes close to helping us understand. That portrait is pure, holy marriage. In that sacred place alone do we find a taste of the intimacy we can have with a living, loving God. Maybe that’s why the word yada can be traced from Genesis to Revelation. We must be remind us of what true intimacy looks like, for we have drifted far from the truth. 

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So there it is, Ladies and Gents!  Now go, ponder, and digest this information while falling at the feet of Christ and praising Him for His goodness and unconditional love. I hope this information has given you a greater understanding and has answered your question, “What is the point?” One more thing, please do not drown in the lies of the enemy making you feel unworthy because of your past. God is relentlessly seeking you and loves you for you, despite your past, recent, and future hiccups.

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*If you have not read the book, “What Are You Waiting For? The One Thing No One Ever Tells you about sex” by Dannah Gresh…I totally recommend it. Get it HERE. 

Sentence Tuesday

Down through the years, 
I turned to the Bible and found in it all that I needed. ―Ruth Bell Graham

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[photo credit]

Lyrical Friday - Burn

Hello Lovelies!
I am so excited to introduce you to Torches. I downloaded the EP off of iTunes this morning and have not stopped playing it. It is my personal believe that every one should download it too. After all, it only cost $2.97. Yea, that was a shameless plug for my friend who is the male vocalist. Spread the word, Torches EP is out!
Be a Facebook Fan!
Follow them on Twitter.
Follow them on Tumblr.
Youtube views.
And most important of all, iTunes... shop for Torches. Now you can tell your friends that you bought Torches. What'a convo starter.
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Moving on to lyrical business. The lyrics to 'Burn' are powerful. This is my prayer and now my anthem. May your heart burn as you turn to Lord, through this wonderfully made song.
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Burn, Torches

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Let our hearts always praise our king
With every breathe and song we sing
Let our love pour out for truth
Let it speak and let it move
Till our hearts are consumed by you
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we will burn
We will burn for you
Through the darkness
As we yearn 
As we yearn for you
With our hearts and
Let every breath we breathe 
And every song we sing 
Let them burn
Let them burn for you
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In the dark the lost and hurt
We will stand with hearts that burn
Every tribe and nation sing
Every tongue will confess your king
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In our love (with every song we get to sing)
In our hope (with every breath we get to breathe)
In our hearts (with every chance we get to be)
We will burn (let us burn)

Elisabeth Elliot on...

Suffering
"Although as the world looks at things, we may be "solo", we are not, as God looks at things, solitary instruments. We belong to an orchestra and make harmony by playing our particular part of the score on the instrument given to us."
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God's Grace
"One who forfeits the grace of God is like a bitter, noxious weed which poisons the lives of others. Refusal to accept grace isolates, as a sulking child, wrapped up in his own misery, refuses comfort." 
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Obedience, Sacrifice and Carrying our Cross
"A hard obedience accepted for Christ is the Cross taken up. It is His Cross. He would not give us one which He Himself is not also bearing, has not also borne at Calvary. Each time my heart says YES when my human nature says NO, there the Cross is taken up. There I become a little more like my Master, there I live in Him, there I participate in His work of fulfilling the Father's will on earth."
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Elisabeth Elliot
She's a gem. 

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to-do list

Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Colossians 4:5

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Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. John 13:35

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A good word makes an anxious heart glad. Proverbs 12:25