True Friendship with the King

I was reading the book "Get Lost" this morning (it's become a part of my morning devotions) and something that Dannah wrote about spoke to me...like an arrow piercing the target right in the middle! I am going to paraphrase what she wrote, but with different examples..and of course my own words.  

"Bring me a husband."
          "Heal my stomach ache."
                     "Help me find the right job."
                               "Help me pass my finals...they're hard"
I know my conversations sometimes consist of demands such as these. Do yours too? I bet sometimes they do, I think that every christian does it at some point. God is not a genie though; he is the Almighty God and a King. If you met a king or president would you approach him like that? I hope not. You would enter that friendship with respect and honor. Now, God is above all else on Earth and in Heaven; how can we do that to him?? He is not to be used by us like that. Often we give him a list of things to do, like a wish list. It's not that he doesn't want to hear our needs. It's just that we rarely dwell in his presence to hear his desires for us. I knelt down and asked the Lord to show me the desires he has for my life, will you do that as well? Will you put your life into his hands? Let us, like Evan Roberts, kneel before him and say, in full surrender, "BEND ME, BEND ME."

 

Whom have I in heaven but you? 

And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.

~Psalm 73:25

"When I see you, my whole world seems to change..."

I heard this song ("When I see you" by Big Daddy Weave) on my pandora radio last night as I was falling asleep. The words just struck me. When we look up at God everything seems right. It's like going to another country and seeing everything as a treasure, just like in the music video above. 

Some of the scenes above were just precious!

Our Lighthouse...

I don't really have words to describe how amazing this song is. This song was written by the hinsons who also sing it (you can find it on youtube), but I prefer this version. 

Jesus is always there guiding us and protecting us! Amen! 

Unwavering Hope!

This is my computer background right now - anyone surprised?? 
I hope not, because on my author's page it states that I love horses. 

     Every month at crosscards.com there are new monthly calenders. The thing I love about these backgrounds is that they have a bible verse. I looked yesterday for the one that would grace my screen for September. When I saw this choice, it was a hands down winner! Usually its a harder decision and takes a while for me to choose. When I saw the picture it was void of the horses...half the background was blank. When I looked at the wooden planks, the figure-eight knot on the side it, and the verse, it reminded me of the hope the first frontiersmen must have had as they continued west into "wild horse country." To me the horse has always been symbol of strength, grace, beauty, and hope.

     David also had hope. The first four verses of Psalm 71 are all pleas for God to come to the rescue. David must have been in a bit of trouble and his enemies were close at hand when he cried out to God. But the rest of the Psalm tells of how God has helped in the past and how David trusts in God. Verse 13 states: "May my accusers perish in shame; may those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace." Then in verse 14 he says (also above): "But as for me, I will always have hope." Let us also have an unwavering hope in God!

"All we did was nothing, but Love still came!"

     Last night I was chatting with a friend about music; what new songs they recommended, any bands/artists they preferred. We talked for a while and shared some new songs and I learned about two new bands, which is very exciting, especially since I love the groups lyrics.
     Luminate is a christian rock band that started in 2005. Samuel Hancock, the lead singer, is the youngest member. He had just started college, but had been a rebellious teenager, and the first two members of the band were wary of adding someone who still "had some growing up to do." Despite their worries God brought them through and apparently Sam has grown up enough (haha..). Their song Banner Of Love is such a great song...so great that you have to listen to it so the lyrics speak to you, like they did to me. 
     Samestate is also a christian rock band that started in 2008, which makes it a fairly new band. The singers all come from Kansas, which explains the "ya" in their song Shadows. My favorite song of theirs so far is Hurricane (the lyrics are posted below). The song spoke to me because we talked about Gods' sacrificial love in Pilgrim Camp. I mean what did we do to deserve such agape and sacrifice? NOTHING! Jesus gave his life for us because he loved us first, before we even knew him. He was thinking of us on the cross as he died that horrible death, and his love still comes even though we sent him there! Thank you Jesus for your unconditional Love.

HURRICANE - Samestate

Verse 1:
The tide has turned around,
We’re washing away,
With thunder and rain,
You’ll be back again,
It’s getting hard to believe,
And even harder to see,
That You could love,
Those like me.
Cause what do we really do
To deserve love so true,

Chorus:
Now all at once heads are spinning faster like a hurricane,
Cause all we did was nothing
But the love still came,
And it’s bringing in Good News,
His love is comin' back,

Verse 2:
What if I never cared,
But now I do,
With only hours left,
How is it I still choose
Cause what did we really do
To deserve love so true,

Chorus:
Now all at once heads are spinning faster like a hurricane,
Cause all we did was nothing
But the love still came,
And it’s bringing in Good News,
His love is comin' back,
For all of us who have a hard time
Getting it through our brains,
That all we did was nothing
But the love still came, 
And it’s bringing in Good News,
Love is comin' back for you,
Oh, for you, oh

'Cause what do we really do?
I don't get itOh, what do we really do?
I don't get itOh, what do we really do?
Sometimes we don't have to understand.

Summer Youth Retreat 2013

     Our churches VBS was ending the day the summer youth retreat was starting. It wasn't hard to choose where I'd rather be (no offense to my church). I love going to Pilgrim Camp during the summer; I mean, who doesn't?! Me and my sister split the driving time, while our brother took in the view from the back seat. It was our first time driving that far and for so long (4 hrs 30 mins / 250 miles).

     The lessons during the youth retreat were about the Holy Spirit (which my sister had taught about in VBS just a few days before). The leaders who spoke to us did a very good job, because even though I forgot the place where I normally write notes, I remember most of what we learned:

~ The Holy Spirit is constant and practical. 

~ He is always there to comfort us. 

~ He will guide us always. 

~ We should live as Jesus lived-by the Holy Spirit.

~ We have to joyfully pursue the Holy Spirit. 

~ The Holy Spirit will help cleanse us of areas of sin.

~ You don't need to feel anything, the Holy Spirit is continually working in us. 

~ Our spiritul fruit (Galatians 5:22-23) is the evidence that the Holy Spirit dwells with us. 

     Worship time is definitely what I look forward to the most. The Stand by Hillsong has been a favorite since the first youth retreat I attended. 10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman has also been a blessing. We actually sang that song for choir at our church once when it came out. This year though, another song stirred me. The lyrics went like: "Come all consuming fire, invade my life I give into you / Come like whisper still, invade my will I give into you / Awake my soul, and arise to the throne / Embrace the one who bled over us." It is called "Come All Consuming Fire" written by Matt Gawronski

     The activities were fun to watch and participate in. There was basketball and volleyball, which I was content to watch. I like playing basketball, but I'm not used to the vicious competition from the young men. The donut eating contest was also fun to watch, especially wiht Brother Ken Freedman participating. There was one game most played and that was the chin-penny game.  We had to balance a penny on our chin and try to knock others' pennies of their chins. It proved harder than I thought but it was fun anyway. I also met new friends and caught up with old ones that I hadn't seen in a while. 

     "Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity."  - 1 Timothy 4:12, ESV

"Don't use your youth as an excuse; you can and will go wherever I send you. You can and will say whatever I tell you to say. You have no reason to fear the people you speak to, for I am with you and will defend you."  - Jeremiah 1:7-8, The Voice Bible

My hope and dream...

     Every little girl dreams of the knight that is going to sweep her off her feet and honor her all the days of her life. We all had those thoughts of castles with nothing but happiness and love surrounding us. We all twirled around in those beautiful dresses and pretended we were waltzing in a large ballroom. Believe it or not we probably all know how to curtsy even though we never will in public. I think that is a God-given desire. Then, when we meet the man he isn't perfect or honorable everyday. He may not even love us all the time. Soon, we stop that "foolish" dreaming. 

     Well I haven't yet! One day I will meet my knight and you know what, he won't be perfect. He will have weaknesses. This is the man I look forward to meeting one day: A strong man in Christ! A man who, to the world, may be weak, but through Christ is made strong. He will hold my hand throughout life to support me and will treasure my heart. He will love me indefinitely. BUT, I pray that above all else, including me, he will love God. The way he will show his love to God is by cherishing me, the gift God gave him. And I hope and pray that God will help me do the same.

Help Me Find It - Sidewalk Prophets

I don't know where to go from here 
It all used to seem so clear 
I'm finding I can't do this on my own 
I don't know where to go from here 
As long as I know that You are near 
I'm done fighting I'm finally letting go 
I will trust in You 
You've never failed before 
I will trust in You 


(Chorus):
If there's a road I should walk 
Help me find it 
If I need to be still Give me peace for the moment 
Whatever Your will 
Whatever Your will 
Can You help me find it 
Can You help me find it 


I'm giving You fear and You give faith 
I giving You doubt
You give me grace 
For every step I've never been alone 
Even when it hurts, You'll have Your way 
Even in the valley I will say 
With every breath 
You've never let me go 
I will wait for You 
You've never failed before 
I will wait for You 


(Chorus again)

I lift my empty hands (come fill me up again) 
Have Your way my King (I give my all to You) 
I lift my eyes again (Was blind but now I see) 
‘Cause You are all I need 


(Chorus again)

This song has been on my heart for a while..and I figured that I would post it. 

Maybe it will bless you, as it has blessed me in the past...and will surely bless me in the future.