Thursday, August 25, 2011

Yahweh's abundant love!


 I
LOVE
JESUS
CHRIST,
THE
LOVER
OF
MY
SOUL.


If I could have one "impossible with man but possible with God" prayer answered, it would be that all my friends and family, and everyone I come into contact with would be able to feel the astonishing, awe-inspiring, breath-taking, overwhelming, majestic, wondrous love of our Savior; The Lord God, Almighty. 

8God is love, and anyone who doesn't love others has never known him.  9God showed his love for us when he sent his only Son into the world to give us life.  10Real love isn't our love for God, but his love for us. God sent his Son to be the sacrifice by which our sins are forgiven. 11Dear friends, since God loved us this much, we must love each other. 
-1 John 4:8-11


Nehemiah 1:5
LORD, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments.

I know LORD that I have friends, family and co-workers that have not ever caught a glimpse of you or who you truly are. I pray, to you, Lord of all Creation, that every word out of my mouth, every action I make be only of you and your GREAT LOVE, so all that are brought into my life will fall madly in love with you, the one who made them; The maker of the heavens and earth.

I pray that they will see through what I say, do, write and sing; That you are the one that loves them more than any person on this earth and can fill them fuller and take them higher than anything this world can give.

LORD - I know how lost I was before you found me and I pray from the deepest place in my heart that you bring all the lost in my life, that don't know you, to see the best representation of you through me and all my Brothers and Sisters you have blessed me with in life. That we, Your Children, be a lighthouse for nothing but your astonishing, awe-inspiring, breath-taking, overwhelming, majestic, wondrous love! In the most HOLY name of your Son JESUS CHRIST; I pray! AMEN! Thank you Yahweh! My great redeemer! As even before I have asked; you have answered. Isaiah 65:24 Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.

And above all these [put on] love and enfold yourselves with the bond of perfectness [which binds everything together completely in ideal harmony].

Col 3:14 (AMP)



Your Great Name
Natalie Grant

All the weak; find their strength; at the sound of your great name
Hungry souls; receive grace; at the sound of your great name
The fatherless; they find their rest; at the sound of your great name
Sick are healed; and the dead are raised; at the sound of your great name


Jesus, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us, Son of God and Man
You are high and lifted up; that all the world will praise your great name


Redeemer, My Healer, Almighty
My savior, Defender, You are My King
Jesus, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us, Son of God and Man
You are high and lifted up; that all the world will praise your great name

Friday, August 19, 2011

Repentance

Matthew 3: 2Repent (think differently; change your mind, regretting your sins and changing your conduct), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (AMP)


 When I was introduced to repentance at 13years old,  I thought it was something I had to do every Sunday at church, in front of our congregation, while my pastor prayed over me rebuking what-ever it was inside of me that caused me to sin that week. I would stand, tears pouring down my face; convicted. Yet I didn't know, or understand what conviction actually was or meant. All I knew was that I would sneak out of my house or whatever friend's house that I was staying at that weekend, and I would smoke cigarettes and pot, kiss boys, and stay out all night doing "Lord knows what", and come Sunday, I would listen to my preacher holler about hell, damnation and the immense Love of Christ.

I knew I was in the right place because somehow, week after week,  I made it to church. I knew this preacher man had some sort of authority, I just don't think I was mature enough to fully understand that repentance is vitally important to Christian life.

I thank God that I accepted Christ at that time, because I believe my youthful declaration that "Christ is Lord and he died and rose again" saved me in my adult life and why I was called back from the darkness that consumed while I was God's lost lamb.

With time and maturity I've come to realize, that for me, repentance means more as an open and honest dialog between God and I and not as a public display of remorseful emotions. I am not knocking open displays of remorse I'm just simply stating that I, personally feel repentance the most, when it's just between God and I. When I sit on my bed and get real with God.

While I never minded my church family seeing my sorrowful display, I didn't truly comprehend what I was doing because I kept sinning the same sin's over and over again for many more years to come. I didn't understand repentance and total surrender and that I was to be an obedient Christian turned away from sin. That lack of understanding is probably why I was lead astray into the new age movement for a little over 10 years by an endearing, yet false, prophet.

Luke 5:31-32
Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, 
but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."


I know, living in this world that I will never be "sin free" until the day our Lord and Savior Jesus comes back (Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.) yet, I still innately know,  that when I go to the cross, where He died for me, and I admit my sins, and lay them down at that place; I become purified in His blood.

Whether it's as simple as a flare up of anger at someone cutting me off while driving or deeper anger, like the betrayal of a friend that let me down. It doesn't matter; what matters is that I am truly repentant and ask God to help me turn from that sin. Matthew 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” I don't have to do it alone, in fact I can't. Only He can, if I am willing because where I am weak - HE IS STRONG!

But when the goodness and loving kindness 
of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, 
not because of works done by us in 
righteousness, but according to his own 
mercy, by the washing of, regeneration 
and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured 
out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 
so that being justified by his grace we might 
become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 
Titus 3:4
 
If I have lust of the eyes, or covetousness of my heart and I don't fess up to it, I stay separated from God. It's almost like it automatically blocks me from the blessings God has set up for me if I stayed in His presence and followed the path He has laid out for me. When I don't repent, it's like I have a cloak of pride covering me and that keeps me in the dark and I am saying to God; "I can handle it, I don't need your help, and I don't think I've done anything wrong." When deep down, I know that's a lie, furthering the repentance I need to make.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us 
our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”  
1 John 1:9

It could be that I had a bad day, and I lashed out at an unsuspecting co-worker, friend or family member. What EVER the sin is, great or small, when I repent of that sin, I am no longer in bondage from that sin and I am freed of it and able to walk in God's light and His will for my life. I am inviting Him to be apart of my life so as to walk in righteousness with our Holy Lord. 

I've realized the sheer healing and reconciliation that repentance brings, so I try to get alone with God often. I tell Him how sorry I am for the things I do, out of disobedience or self-sufficient pride. I ask Him to help me see the sin's that I might not be aware of and I also list the things I am aware of. Usually by the time I am done listing them all -- I am weeping. To be so honest to God and to myself is a radically purifying experience. Then grace and forgiveness washes over me and I am once again in my Saviors loving presence.

Repent, then, and turn to God, 
so that your sins may be wiped out,
that times of refreshing may come from the Lord
Acts 3:19 

The whole point of repentance, is that Jesus died for us and for each sin we've ever committed. He gave His life, so that we may live. We are covered in Grace and Mercy under Him and His blood, and can be in God's presence, asking our Holy creator to forgive us. We are purified and sanctified in Christ Alone, part of that sanctification process is repentance. God already knows, so talk to Him, live your life in communion with Him, invite Him to help change your heart and turn from your sinful nature for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. James 4:6 


Holiest Lord of all creation, The Great I AM,
I come before you and ask that these words be met with the sincerity in which they are intended and that all people of every nation, sinners near and far,  read these God inspired words and come to repentance. I pray that we sense always that we are separated from you and whoever reads these words will have the walls around their heart come down and that we all walk hand in hand to the Cross and lay down all that keeps us from surrendering to your great love. I pray these things in the mighty name of your Son, Jesus Christ. 
Amen.

Friday, August 5, 2011

Waiting on the Lord

I've come to realize how impatient I am and that only through the Lord and leaning on Him, I am able to wait.

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. -Psalm 27:14

I love this verse because it reminds me not only to wait ON the Lord but to wait IN Him. He is the strength that will get me through whatever it is I am faithfully waiting for.

Waiting has actually created in me a more significant relationship with God. At first, I tried to pull away so I could do things "my way" but once I just let go of trying to control and let Him have the control, I was able to  depend on Him.

Instead  of being impatient, I was able pray to and talk to Him about all the "worries, insecurities, fears" I've had while waiting. The more I give Him everything and have faith He is working things out to create the best possible outcome, the more He truly strengthens my heart which gives me assurance that He is here for me and motivation to keep leaning on Him.

He is my comforter and my reassurance. 
Thank you Adonai! Praise to your HOLY name!