Saturday, March 29, 2014
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Oceans
The song "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" by Hillsong United is a very popular one right now. And every time I hear it, the words speak to me in a different way. When I need to be reminded that "I am Yours and You are mine", it's there ringing in my head. When my heart breaks for people in need of healing, this song reminds me that when God calls me out upon the waters, He won't leave me. He's never failed me. I often use a prayer journal in my devotional time and a few weeks ago I wrote the following about this song. Little did I know, a childhood friend and my 7 year old cousin would be diagnosed Leukemia within a week of each other. I think of them and their families in this song. And others who feel like they are drowning. Lord remind us that you never failed us. And we are yours!
Lord,
There may be times when you call me out upon treacherous ocean waters, just as you called Peter to walk on water. To a place or situation which is unknown, and scary, and where I may fail. But you are already there. When the ocean rises and I am in deep over my head, it is there that my faith will become even stronger and will stand. Let me always call upon your name, Jesus. Keep my eyes above the worry, doubt, fear, and unknown… keep my eyes on your Glory. When it gets hard, Lord, my soul will rest in your loving embrace. You are always holding me. Jesus, I am YOURS. And when I am in deep waters, your grace is there. Your sovereign hand will be my guide and gently show me what to do. When I feel afraid and failure is around me, I KNOW that you, Lord, have NEVER failed! Why would I ever think you can't handle what's to come? It's already gone through your hands, you've already prepared me for it, whether I know it or it. Jesus, I am yours. Holy Spirit, deepen my trust in you so that it is abounding like your love. No borders, no walls, no limitations. I will walk out of my boat, into/onto the waters, when you call me. Bring my faith and my soul into a drowning relationship with you. So that when the waters are deep, my faith is secure with You as my anchor.
Amen.
Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)
Hillsong United
You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown, where feet may fail
And there I find you in the mystery
In oceans deep, my faith will stand
And I will call upon your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise my soul will rest in your embrace
For I am yours, and you are mine
Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand will be my guide
Where feel may fail and fear surrounds me
You've never failed and you won't stop now
And I will call upon your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise my soul will rest in your embrace
For I am yours, and you are mine
Spirit, lead my where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters, where ever you would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made strong in the presence of my Savior.
Lord,
There may be times when you call me out upon treacherous ocean waters, just as you called Peter to walk on water. To a place or situation which is unknown, and scary, and where I may fail. But you are already there. When the ocean rises and I am in deep over my head, it is there that my faith will become even stronger and will stand. Let me always call upon your name, Jesus. Keep my eyes above the worry, doubt, fear, and unknown… keep my eyes on your Glory. When it gets hard, Lord, my soul will rest in your loving embrace. You are always holding me. Jesus, I am YOURS. And when I am in deep waters, your grace is there. Your sovereign hand will be my guide and gently show me what to do. When I feel afraid and failure is around me, I KNOW that you, Lord, have NEVER failed! Why would I ever think you can't handle what's to come? It's already gone through your hands, you've already prepared me for it, whether I know it or it. Jesus, I am yours. Holy Spirit, deepen my trust in you so that it is abounding like your love. No borders, no walls, no limitations. I will walk out of my boat, into/onto the waters, when you call me. Bring my faith and my soul into a drowning relationship with you. So that when the waters are deep, my faith is secure with You as my anchor.
Amen.
Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)
Hillsong United
You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown, where feet may fail
And there I find you in the mystery
In oceans deep, my faith will stand
And I will call upon your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise my soul will rest in your embrace
For I am yours, and you are mine
Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand will be my guide
Where feel may fail and fear surrounds me
You've never failed and you won't stop now
And I will call upon your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise my soul will rest in your embrace
For I am yours, and you are mine
Spirit, lead my where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters, where ever you would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made strong in the presence of my Savior.
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Part of Love
A quality of God's love has been coming up a lot over the past few days. This is God's love when we are angry. Anger can be a hard thing to overcome. In becoming a Christian I had a lot to work on and anger was by far the thing God wanted me to change. I remember in youth group I would always talk about how anger is the thing about myself I would most like to change for the glory of God. He wanted me to be more like him.
"The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love."
Psalm 103:8
I had no idea what slow to anger meant because I am the type of girl who isn't afraid to show her emotions especially when they are overflowing like in times of anger. So as you can imagine I wasn't exactly living the "slow to anger" lifestyle. I began to pray and James 1:19-20 became a goal for my life. "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires." I began to listen to others more. God was teaching me not to become angry when I failed to win an argument or when I felt neglected or offended. Now I am angry when injustice and sin occur, I am angry when others are being hurt. It is amazing how much work God has done! Do I still get angry? YES! Of course I do. It wasn't until someone I am with every day told me that I handle my anger well that I realized all the work God has done over the years in regards to anger. I try not to erupt like a volcano spitting hot lava. I take the situation in, say my opinion and if it doesn't change anything just walk away and brush it off. He is changing me even when I thought there was no hope of being changed and if you struggle with anger he can change you too. We can stand together as followers of Christ and get angry at what truly matters. Things such as the injustices of sex trafficking, poverty, and many many others. Let us follow God and be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. Let's choose love!!
"The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love."
Psalm 103:8
I had no idea what slow to anger meant because I am the type of girl who isn't afraid to show her emotions especially when they are overflowing like in times of anger. So as you can imagine I wasn't exactly living the "slow to anger" lifestyle. I began to pray and James 1:19-20 became a goal for my life. "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires." I began to listen to others more. God was teaching me not to become angry when I failed to win an argument or when I felt neglected or offended. Now I am angry when injustice and sin occur, I am angry when others are being hurt. It is amazing how much work God has done! Do I still get angry? YES! Of course I do. It wasn't until someone I am with every day told me that I handle my anger well that I realized all the work God has done over the years in regards to anger. I try not to erupt like a volcano spitting hot lava. I take the situation in, say my opinion and if it doesn't change anything just walk away and brush it off. He is changing me even when I thought there was no hope of being changed and if you struggle with anger he can change you too. We can stand together as followers of Christ and get angry at what truly matters. Things such as the injustices of sex trafficking, poverty, and many many others. Let us follow God and be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. Let's choose love!!
 |
| He calms our raging seas. |
Monday, March 24, 2014
why did i stop dreaming?
I used to be that girl that I could sit in a room all day & play by myself. Imagine all times of crazy things. Talk to anything in my room & make them whoever I wanted. I was imagining, dreaming as a kid.
In high school I had big dreams for myself. Who I wanted to be. The success level I wanted to be at professionally. Where I wanted to live.
In college, those dreams started to dwindle. I felt little in a big world.
I began to think, dreaming is for kids.
Now, I am in my late twenties & afraid to dream.
Fear. That word alone scares me. Fear I will fail. Fear I will become discontent. Fear I won't be comfortable enough. Fear I will actually end up hating it. Fear I misread God's direction.
Going through Jennie Allen's book, Restless, I am asked all these questions that just make me think about my life. Things I never wanted to think about again. Things I've never even really thought I needed to think twice about.
Then I think what is my God purpose here? Who gives me these dreams in the first place? Who puts those passions in my heart?
I stopped dreaming because of the failures of my past. I am so afraid that the dreams I once had led me to a place of discontent. A place where satan got ahold of me & I left God on the side.
But then I started to wrap my head around some truth. There is nothing wrong with dreaming, as long as they are God dreams. Not dreaming for a better life, leaving myself discontent, but dreaming of a life of what I can do more of for God.
So that's the question. Do you still dream in your life? Do you led God lead those dreams? Or did you stop dreaming like me because of fear?
In high school I had big dreams for myself. Who I wanted to be. The success level I wanted to be at professionally. Where I wanted to live.
In college, those dreams started to dwindle. I felt little in a big world.
I began to think, dreaming is for kids.
Now, I am in my late twenties & afraid to dream.
Fear. That word alone scares me. Fear I will fail. Fear I will become discontent. Fear I won't be comfortable enough. Fear I will actually end up hating it. Fear I misread God's direction.
Going through Jennie Allen's book, Restless, I am asked all these questions that just make me think about my life. Things I never wanted to think about again. Things I've never even really thought I needed to think twice about.
Then I think what is my God purpose here? Who gives me these dreams in the first place? Who puts those passions in my heart?
I stopped dreaming because of the failures of my past. I am so afraid that the dreams I once had led me to a place of discontent. A place where satan got ahold of me & I left God on the side.
But then I started to wrap my head around some truth. There is nothing wrong with dreaming, as long as they are God dreams. Not dreaming for a better life, leaving myself discontent, but dreaming of a life of what I can do more of for God.
So that's the question. Do you still dream in your life? Do you led God lead those dreams? Or did you stop dreaming like me because of fear?
Do you want to be apart of our Girls of God's Heart community? {click here}
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
The Spiritual Boxing Ring
God is your biggest fan. No matter what place your in.
Always rooting you on.
Never leaving your side when you're elbows deep in the spiritual boxing ring with the enemy.
He gives you water during breaks, gives advice and sends you back out to keep fighting.
Yes, keep fighting.
Exhausted, wanting to stop and wondering when it will end.
That's all of us.
You're not alone.
We are constantly in spiritual warfare.
We never get to stop.
If we stop then the enemy wins.
We are fighting our guts out for souls.
Our lost parents, addicted children, sick family members and hurting friends.
Our fight isn't always for us.
It's for the ones we love most.
Sometimes we are all they have.
The only prayers spoken for them.
The only ones believing that they can change.
We fight on their behalf.
We declare that the enemy can't have them.
The devil and his team throw punches and we come back with an uppercut to the gut.
Kicking and screaming.
Even if we are bloody and wounded, even if we are down for the count and enemy thinks he's about to win.
GET BACK UP.
Too many people you know are counting on you.
Don't give up so easily.
Just when you think you are about to get KO'D is when you're the closest to winning.
Call a time out.
Talk to your heavenly COACH, take a drink and get back out there in the ring.
Be a champion for Jesus.
Help win souls and never stop fighting.
The Spiritual boxing ring is real life. Our prayers are punches and leading people to Jesus is the ultimate VICTORY.
It's the fight of life or death.
Monday, March 17, 2014
dream big, dream more
Do you ever sit around & wonder why you stopped dreaming?
In the book Restless by Jennie Allen that question was asked.
Why did I stop dreaming? I can think of a million reasons why I stopped dreaming big dreams. But this isn't what this post about it.
I want to dream big & dream more for this blog. Kelly & I started out on this journey back in August of 2010. We started as just a Facebook page to encourage women in their faith.
Then we started this blog in 2012. To reach more women. To be able to express ourselves & show the work God has done in our lives.
Now, we want more again. We've brought to the table of actually studying the Word with our readers. Similar to the SheReadsTruth Community as well as the IF:Equip Community, but still different.
Julie & I sat down together & discussed what that really means for us. How we want to go about it.
First, we want this to be a community. A community of women sharing what God is doing in their lives, their real life struggles, just anything that they need to get out. We've not created a forum on our page under Guest Resources. This is all new to us to bear with us if there are kinks along the way.
Also, we want to hear more from YOU. Our readers. Bloggers, non bloggers, anyone. Anyone that has something that they want to share with the world & don't know where to share it. Our blog is here for that. We want to encourage guest writers within our blog.
So.
Do you have a suggestion of what book in the Bible you want to study?
Do you want to be apart of a community of women online in a forum?
Do you want to write?
We have all of that right here.
Email us at girlsofgodsheart@gmail.com.
In the book Restless by Jennie Allen that question was asked.
Why did I stop dreaming? I can think of a million reasons why I stopped dreaming big dreams. But this isn't what this post about it.
I want to dream big & dream more for this blog. Kelly & I started out on this journey back in August of 2010. We started as just a Facebook page to encourage women in their faith.
Then we started this blog in 2012. To reach more women. To be able to express ourselves & show the work God has done in our lives.
Now, we want more again. We've brought to the table of actually studying the Word with our readers. Similar to the SheReadsTruth Community as well as the IF:Equip Community, but still different.
Julie & I sat down together & discussed what that really means for us. How we want to go about it.
First, we want this to be a community. A community of women sharing what God is doing in their lives, their real life struggles, just anything that they need to get out. We've not created a forum on our page under Guest Resources. This is all new to us to bear with us if there are kinks along the way.
Also, we want to hear more from YOU. Our readers. Bloggers, non bloggers, anyone. Anyone that has something that they want to share with the world & don't know where to share it. Our blog is here for that. We want to encourage guest writers within our blog.
So.
Do you have a suggestion of what book in the Bible you want to study?
Do you want to be apart of a community of women online in a forum?
Do you want to write?
We have all of that right here.
Email us at girlsofgodsheart@gmail.com.
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Monday, March 10, 2014
make me broken
I love worship music. Actually that is an understatement. KLove has brought my worship music to a whole other level. I rarely download songs on my phone, but I have been lately. And I download the songs I put on repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
Keep Making Me by Sidewalks Prophet has become my biggest prayer. This song send chills up my arms & down my legs. This song is my prayer.
It's my prayer always.
Because I always need Him more.
Make me broken
so I can be healed
cause I'm so calloused
& now I can't feel.
I want to run to You
with heart wide open.
Make me broken.
Make me empty
so I can be filled
cause I'm still holding
onto my will
& I'm completed
when You are with me.
Make me empty.
'Til You are my one desire.
'Til You are my one true love.
'Til You are my breath, my everything.
Lord, please keep making me.
Make me lonely
so I can be Yours
'til I want no one
more than You, Lord
cause in the darkness
I know You will hold me.
Make me lonely.
Listen to it here
Keep Making Me by Sidewalks Prophet has become my biggest prayer. This song send chills up my arms & down my legs. This song is my prayer.
It's my prayer always.
Because I always need Him more.
Make me broken
so I can be healed
cause I'm so calloused
& now I can't feel.
I want to run to You
with heart wide open.
Make me broken.
Make me empty
so I can be filled
cause I'm still holding
onto my will
& I'm completed
when You are with me.
Make me empty.
'Til You are my one desire.
'Til You are my one true love.
'Til You are my breath, my everything.
Lord, please keep making me.
Make me lonely
so I can be Yours
'til I want no one
more than You, Lord
cause in the darkness
I know You will hold me.
Make me lonely.
Listen to it here
Saturday, March 8, 2014
a new idea
If we were to study a book in the Bible, would you study along with us?
What books are your favorite?
Let us know, we want to hear our readers suggestions!
What books are your favorite?
Let us know, we want to hear our readers suggestions!
Friday, March 7, 2014
You Are NEVER Alone!
Happy Friday girls (and guys too, heck why not!)!
This last Sunday as we were singing a song in church I had a most wonderful "lightbulb moment". Some of you may know the words...
I look ahead, believing you are able, I will look back and see that you are faithful...
I had a picture in my mind of my God walking before me, clearing a path for me, making sure there is nothing for me to stumble on, defeating my enemies before I ever reach them. I also looked back and there he was, bringing up the rear, making sure nothing could surprise me from behind. I thought about where I would want to be if I was walking through something unknown and possibly scary… I wouldn't want to be in the front of the pack or the back of the pack - too vulnerable! I'd want to be right in the middle of the pack, the safest and most secure spot. This is how I walk through life when I have the Lord!
Maybe you've heard this song…
I know who goes before me, I know who stands behind, the God of angel armies is always by my side. (Amen, hallelujah)
I began searching for scriptures to support this idea. Do you know what I found?! He also walks beside me, spreads his wings over top of me and bears up under me! He surrounds every part of me as I make my way through this life of unknowns. Wow! What wonders this does for my confidence and security. Take a look at what the Bible says about this:
He goes before me:
Deuteronomy 31:8 The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged.
Psalm 18:30 As for God his way is perfect; the word of God is proven; he is a shield to all who trust in him.
He bears up under me:
Psalm 54:4 Surely God is my help, the Lord is the one who sustains (bears up under) me.
Deuteronomy 33:12 Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure on him for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders.
He covers us with his wings:
Psalm 36:7 How precious is your loving kindness oh God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of your wings.
Psalm 57:1 Be merciful to me, o God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in you; and in the shadow of your wings I will make my refuge until these calamities have passed by.
The Lord stands by our side:
Psalm 121:4-8 Indeed he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. the Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go both now and forever.
Job 1:10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has?
Psalm 139:5, 7-10 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me… Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
Friends are you grabbing onto this? He surrounds us with his presence and NEVER sleeps. Ahhhhh… I can rest and let him fight for me. My challenge to you is to take at least one of these verses, if not all, and post it somewhere where you will see it. Next to your bed would be perfect if you tend to worry instead of sleep! On the bathroom mirror, refrigerator, car, wherever, just make sure that you meditate on the truth that your God goes before you, stands behind you, walks beside you and covers you from above and below. You are never alone!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)