Tag Archives: peace

Glorify through Thankful song

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Glorify through Thankful song

“I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.”
Psalm 69:30

songbirdI like to sing in the shower; when no one is around of course. Music makes my heart soar to new heights, and in that moment I am a songbird, melodic and beautiful. Unfortunately, God and I are the only ones who think so! The thought of anyone but the Father hearing my tuneless crooning makes me cringe, but when it is just He and I – I am brilliant!

I certainly am not thankful for my crappy voice, but I am thankful for the opportunity to use it to glorify my God – even if it is for an audience of one.

 Most of the time I sing out of gratitude.

  • Gratitude for the love He shows me every day, simply by being by my side.  

  • Gratitude for coming into my life and forgiving all of the wretched things that have defined my past.  

  • Gratitude for giving me a heart for what is true, and worthy, and beautiful.

But it is when I sing simply because of who He is – the Creator of the universe, that I believe I glorify Him most. He is so big that a song can barely contain all that is our God. All powerful. All loving. All merciful. The heavens and all of nature declare His glory, and I join in; singing my tuneless song, perfect in all its glory – to Him.

For Him.

About Him.

Let’s make this Thanksgiving a time to remember all that God has done in our lives, especially the small things that often go unnoticed. Thank Him each day by expressing  your gratitude for who He is and what He has given you.

Even if it is a simple tuneless song, just between you… and He.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Is Jesus knocking at your door?

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answer the doorHas God asked you to do something for Him?  Do you feel as though He is calling your name? Answer the door - say yes to God!

Monday…

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Monday…

Have you never had the Monday blues? The “I had such an amazing weekend that Monday just bursts the bubble” blues? Or maybe the weekend wasn’t so amazing and it was work…lots of work, and today is simply a continuation of that craziness. A new beginning to the same old thing.

I’ve felt it. In fact that is pretty much how today feels; thick with responsibilities and to-do lists. Another day in the life of…drudgery.

DRUDGERY in the Merriam-Webster dictionary says this: dull, irksome, and fatiguing work : uninspiring or menial labor

Yep, that’s my life…sometimes; when I let it be. The key is to change our way of feeling when we rise in the morning. Gain positive perspectives and approach the week full of hope and inspiration. Change the way we look at the day and the things that we are responsible for. Are you laughing? Or simply rolling your eyes? Change the way we feel?  Is that even possible?

It is. With God’s help everything is possible. It all begins with Him. If we begin our week in our own strength, the burden of our responsibility is heavy. It weighs upon our minds; our very being. And it can seem too much to bear. But when we start out our days and weeks in the presence of the one who can carry it all, the one who asks for it – we can feel as though we have an army of helpers available to us.

Matthew 11:28 says this: “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.”

Even though this verse is allegorical in many ways, referring more to spiritual burdens than physical ones, I have found that when I “come to Him” each and every morning, and especially at the beginning of my week, which often threatens to drown me with burdens, I am refreshed and encouraged, and the load seems lighter.  I give it all to Him. I ask Jesus to guide my steps; my to-do list, to reflect His plans for my life.  And although there is still much work to be done, I am comforted knowing that I am doing God’s will, with God’s help.  Jesus wants to partner with us in our burdens; to lighten our loads.

Sometimes when we awake into a new day, we feel alone. We feel  weary. We feel uninspired.  There are lunches to make, laundry to do, bills to pay, calls to place….cleaning, driving, homework, dinner, activities. Then we fall into bed  exhausted to simply wake 8 hours (hopefully!) later and begin it all again.  Maybe your days look different than mine. Perhaps you go to a job, or take care of a family member who is ailing.

Whatever your situation looks like, Your Father who loves you can help.

  • He helps by bringing peace to our minds and hearts. Peace in the choices that we make and the things that we do.  Peace is knowing that we are exactly where we are supposed to be, doing exactly what we should be doing.

  • He shows us beauty if we are willing to see it. Beauty even in the laundry sitting before us.  Seeing beauty in the mundane is in effect thankfulness. Cleaning your house may not be your cup of tea, but the fact that you have one to clean is a beautiful, thankful realization.

  • He shows us love. Love becomes evident in many ways. It can come in the form of a friend who calls you out of the blue, or a hug from your teenager who lately has been more alien than human. It could even be a needed provision that you didn’t expect.

 

…and it all begins with time. Time with Him. Time invested in relationship.

Just as we wouldn’t get married and then not spend any time with our husbands; nor should we make a commitment to God and not follow through with the building of the relationship. It can be more fulfilling than you can possibly imagine if you only give it a chance.

Spend time today. Start small…. As your heart and mind fill with peace, He will lead you to deeper waters.

Soli Deo Gloria!

a peaceful heart

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a peaceful heart

a peaceful heart

lisaPeace is probably one of the most important gifts we can give ourselves everyday. Peace in our work, peace in our relationships and peace with the choices that we make day in and day out. But it is also one of the most difficult to hold onto. Everyday there is an assault of external influences that threaten to take my peace from me.  I start out the day peaceful, pray for peace, walk in peace….and then the phone rings.  {sighs} After some of these calls I have to go to the Lord and ask for peace all over again.  I’ve decided I want life…life for my body. And in order to experience that life to the full - peace must prevail. Here…now….always! Jesus desires peace for you. Look for it, ask for it…and you shall receive!

Soli Deo Gloria!

Lisa

a mind of metal

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lisaAuthor J.R.R.Tolkien has brilliantly written an epic story of good and evil, power, greed, and redemption, which has impacted many people’s understanding of these forces and their roles in this world.  As we examine the room of the mind today, my mind instantly goes to a scene from the movie adaptation in which what was once good has been corrupted…to potentially the ruin of all. Here is an scene from “The Two Towers” in which two young hobbits, innocent and loving creatures, learn a bit of that lesson from the old and wise shepherd of the forest, Treebeard.

As Treebeard, Meri and Pippin are walking through the woods towards safety at the prodding of Gandalf the White, Pippin notices smoke rising in the distance. Treebeard comments that there is always smoke coming from Isengard these days. He goes on to say that Saruman the White, used to walk in those woods and care for growing things, but now has a mind of metal.

What happened to Saruman? What changed him from the white wizard who was respected and revered as an authority; a leader, into the power hungry force of destruction that he is portrayed as in the two towers? Originally Saruman was good, but somewhere during the fulfillment of his proposed purpose in middle earth, he changed and became what he originally worked to defeat. Evil.

We all have the potential to realize a corrupted purpose. Originally we can desire good,working toward God’s purpose for us, with every intention of noble purpose. But the fact is, the evil forces of this world are constantly working to derail us, to persuade us that our desires and theirs are the same. Before long, the need for control and power take over and all of the good that was in us has been hardened into metal.

Treasure for this room consists of peace and contentment. When our minds are at peace, the rest of our lives can fall into place. The mind controls our emotions, how we feel in any given situation, and how we react to the world around us. So protecting it is of utmost importance.

The Apostle Paul instructs us in Philippians 4:8,9:

“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me , or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” (emphasis mine)

Peace is our goal. Peace in our homes. Peace in our work. Peace in our ministry. Peace in our reactions to the external. Peace in our hearts. When these things are at peace…contentment will follow.

Putting this into practice is a whole different matter.  It isn’t enough to read the bible and know what it says, we have to put its lessons into practice in our lives. Live the way we were meant to live. If we simply read the words but don’t make any changes to our behavior, we are not changed. It’s easy to sit in church on Sunday listening to a wonderful sermon, nodding our heads in agreement, but then return to our lives unchanged, acting the way we always act, doing the things we always do, thinking the things we always think. We have to apply these truths, make changes.  But how?

  1.       Examine what you put into your mind through television, books, and the internet. Media is a great tool for Satan to infiltrate our minds. Make sure that you are engaging in worthy media.

  2.     Pay attention to the conversations that you have. Are they kind? Do they build or destroy? Is there a particular person that drags you into a negative pattern of thinking? If so, try directing the conversation toward the positive, or ask them not to go there. If this doesn’t work then it may be time for you to take a break from that friendship.

  3.       Fill your mind with worthy and wholesome things. Movies and books can start off great but quickly turn malevolent before you even know it is happening. Determine to find wholesome entertainment.

  4.       Music can be another avenue for Satan to work his evil deeds. Did you know that before his fall he was in charge leading worship to God? Hmmmm….so he most likely knows how to manipulate that particular entertainment very well….to the ruin of many. (remember all of the angels that went with him?)

  5.       Finally – and above all, read God’s words to you ….His personal love letter to His children. And pray…everyday. For His strength when we need it. His mercy and grace when we fail. And His love throughout these trials of life. Always Love.

If you take steps to live a changed life, peace will come. Write “PEACE” on notecards and place around your house, in your car, on the mirror in your bathroom, or in your drawer at work to remind you to always seek it. Peace will come my friends, and He will bring it to you when you seek Him with all your heart!

Lord, give me peace this day in all that I do, in all that I think, and in all that I say. I desire this above all things, for I know that when I place myself in your hands and live as you desire, everything else will fall into place. Remind me daily to seek you, for when I seek you with all my heart I know that I will find you. Amen

Soli Deo Gloria!

Lisa

Next week is the final week for “the rooms of our house” series. We will be talking about the body and linking all of the rooms together to show how they help to rebuild our “temples”.

See you next monday!

 

 

 

A heart for the eternal

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Welcome!

This is the fourth post in a series on the “rooms” of our “house” and the treasure that we fill it with. If you would like to read the previous three posts you can find them in the calendar to your right on Mondays in September. Just click on the date and it will take you right there!

“By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.” Proverbs 24:3-4

There are 91 separate scriptures that have to do with matters of the heart; our heart, God’s heart, what we have in it and what comes out, and the replacement thereof. Our hearts it would seem are directly affected by our emotions. And as we discussed last week, our emotions are ruled by our souls. If we are keeping worthy treasure in our soul room, it would stand to reason that our hearts would be in pretty good shape – yes?

But are they?

I recently had a discussion about a particular difficulty I have had speaking life instead of death; namely the words that come out of my mouth. “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of” Matthew 12:34. I   have gotten remarkably better on this front over the years, but there are still those moments where truly offensive words escape through my lips, searing not only the hearers ears, but my own as well! And it makes me wonder…if I truly have a changed heart, a heart of flesh and not of stone, why do these words still manifest within me? What am I harboring deep within my heart that would allow such profanity to be part of my thinking; conscious or not!

The discussion did not really solve this quandary, it pretty much left the group thinking. But I believe that this is what helps us to explore those deep places – this thinking, this admission of failure, this discussion that takes place between sisters and brothers in faith. And ultimately it will keep us accountable.

In addiction counseling they say that admitting you have a problem is the first step towards healing. This is so true. Admitting it is first.

Calling it sin is second.

We can’t rationalize away the things we say or the things we do as “genetics” or as “just our personality”. I’ve even heard some say that it’s “not that bad” or “everyone is doing(saying) it”. You know that twinge that you feel within when you say something you shouldn’t, feel something you shouldn’t or do something you know is wrong? That’s a God poke. He’s poking you in the heart to let you know that this is something that you need to pay attention to, an attitude that you need to change, or circumcise from your heart. (romans 2:29)

The bible tells us through a multitude of scripture that we need to guard our hearts, fill our hearts with worthy and not folly, and to fill our hearts with wisdom. Matters of the heart have the power of life, as well as death.

Here are some things that we should guard our hearts against:

  • Hope deferred (Proverbs 13:12)

  • Foolishness (romans 1:21)

  • Corruption in deeds (psalms 14:1)

  • Pride and arrogance (proverbs 8:13, proverbs 29:33)

  • Deceit (Jeremiah 17:9)

These things will bring you low, cause pain and heartache, death – and ultimate separation from God. A sick heart is probably one of the most destructive forces in our lives – guarding it should be a priority.

We want life – a worthy life.  Wisdom can help us to gain that life within our hearts, help us to bridge that gap between us and the eternal. When we know the things that challenge our hearts and cause us to “slip” in word and deeds, when we feel that twinge or God poke - we need to sit up straight and listen.

So we need to fill our hearts with worthy treasure.

Here are some examples of worthy treasure:

  • Wisdom

  • Gladness (psalms 16:9)

  • Peace (Colossians 3:15)

  • The words of God (Deuteronomy 11:18)

  • Light (2 Corinthians 4:6)

 

This is accomplished by:

  • Faith (acts 15:9)
  • Music from the heart (Ephesians 5:19)
  • Thankfulness
  • Meditation (psalms 19:14)

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also!” Matthew 6:21

Guard your hearts my friends and receive life and ultimate healing and health. Set your heart on things above and receive the blessings that our Father so richly provides for us.  Accept the gift and choose to write His story on your hearts, so eternity may be our treasure!

Next Monday: a mind of metal

 

Soli Deo Gloria

Lisa

Dear Vanessa ~ Living A Hurried Life

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Dear Vanessa,

I feel like life is so busy.   We are constantly racing children to activities, working, and just every time I turn around there is something to do.    It is like I have lists that are never ending. 

Any advice?

Natalie

Dearest Natalie,

I believe many of us feel the same way.   Running, racing, and somehow trying to keep your head above water to maintain some level of “balance”.

Why is it that many of us get so lost?

How do we lose focus?

We slip into a state of being where “we believe we know what is best for ourselves”.

What do we really “need” to do or accomplish?

The prioritization of want vs. need is what it comes down to.  Can you identify with this?  I think we all can.  It is easy to get caught up in the race.

Society has “evolved” to a state where we rush from point A to B, where much of our day is filled with a slogan word many of us are familiar with – “multitasking”.  The more we can do the more efficient we are.

But are we more efficient?

One of the definitions for multitasking is: “requires for staff to take on a wider range of tasks, usually involving on-the-job training.” (webdefinition)  On the job training – what a concept!  This implies that we are training ourselves to multitask.

Perhaps we should be training ourselves in a different way?  Where should our priorities be?  Where should we slow down and concentrate our efforts?

We all have times in our lives when we get glimpses of what life is supposed to be like. Our focus shifts, and we realize we should be investing our time where it really matters.

In the big picture “who” we focus our efforts on is the most important.

I have lost focus many times in my life then something that almost takes my breath away brings me back to where I need to be.  But I sometimes wonder – why does it take these instances or wake up calls to bring us back to a place of balance?  I need to trust that God has my best interests at heart, and that he does not want me to be immersed in the “things” of this world.  He wants me to love, and to enjoy every day as it was my last.   He wants me to come to Him during the day, in times when I am happy, in the moments that take my breath away, in times when I am sad, in times where I feel like I cannot take it anymore.   He has given me grace so many times when I have come to him in fear.  He has constantly reassured me when I have come to Him in weakness.  He smiles when down on me when I am at the moments that bring me my greatest joys.

“And they refused to listen, And did not remember Thy wondrous deeds which Thou hadst performed among them; So they became stubborn and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But Thou art a God of forgiveness, Gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness; And Thou didst not forsake them” (Nehemiah 9:17).

I have asked for His grace many times when I have lost focus.

Ask for grace….

We are all human, we have emotions but the key is not to let them take us over.

We are pulled in many directions, but the key is to prioritize and not lose focus amidst the chaos.  The key is to slow down the schedules, the accumulation, the attainment for more, and the chaos.

To prioritize one’s life in those areas that make sense and result in benefits for the family unit and community.  This honors God, and this is what He wants for us.

Where do you priorities start?

  1. Take time to reflect, pause and renew – take time for prayer, time for God, and time to rest.  Renew your spirit.  It is times where we feel zapped because we have overextended ourselves that cause us the most discontent.   Make this a number one priority in your day, take the time.

  2. Eliminate unneeded stress in your life – have boundaries, don’t take on what you can not handle. If you feel overloaded, make a list of all the tasks you are taking on, and number them in order of priority.  Ask yourself what you could get rid of.

  3. Don’t overschedule yourself –  each day, come into the day with a blank slate approach.  For me, I ask the Lord to lead the day for me.  Sometimes I try to control the day, and that is when I start feeling overwhelmed.

  4. Make your family your first priority -  Make them #1, don’t leave them til last after you have given of yourself to everyone else in your life (I am sure we all have issues with this one)

  5. Don’t wait to start, do this now – no one can do this for you, so take the first step in prioritizing and you will feel so much better.

We all have one life to live; the key is living it in a way that honors God.   The blessings will follow.  Take the time to slow down and smell the flowers. Slow down.

Every day that we are here on earth is a “gift” that is why it is called the present.

Dear Lord God, I pray for all of those women that take too much on, help them prioritize.   I pray that you give them rest and clarity of what is important vs. what is not.    I pray you to fill them with hope, love and promise.   Help them to see what is best.  I pray for this in Jesus’ Name Amen.

May you be blessed beautiful lady,

Vanessa

If you have a question for Vanessa please email her at [email protected]

You can also read Vanessa’s personal blog and journey at www.nesschesters.wordpress.com

Dear Vanessa ~ A Messy Life

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Dear Vanessa,

I don’t know if others feel this way, but sometimes when I look around, in this crazy world, I feel overwhelmed.   I see pain, I see illness, I see starvation, young children dying, and people broken.   I don’t understand it, how can a God that loves us allow such pain?  I am on my own journey of faith, and have questioned this for some time.   Does God love us?

Confused,

Victoria

Dearest Victoria,

The short answer to your question is YES!  God loves us so much that He gave His only son so that we would be saved.  As Jesus was on the cross He said,

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”  And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. (Luke 23:34)

This statement from Jesus just takes my breath away.   In His last moments of human life, He asks our father to forgive.   After the people nailed Him to the cross.   Forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.

I am sure in those last moments of life, as God looked down on His son, and shed a tear.   Thinking about this moment as a mother who also has a son, I feel the pain and sadness of these last moments.

Jesus knew that through his death would come life and renewal for us all.  He knew that he would bridge the relationship with our Father in heaven and that we would be forgiven for our sins.

I am thankful for the forgiveness……

We all need forgiveness in this life…..

God loves us Victoria, He loves us so much that He gave His only son.

I too have wondered about the crazy pain in this world; I think many of us have.

God allows us to have free will in this world, but through Jesus we are set free.

Hebrews 10:36-39
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.  For in just a very little while, “He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.” But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.

There is pain in this world, but there is so much hope.

God always uses these situations for good, He brings hope in the pain, and light in darkness.

He does not make the bad things happen in this world; bad and evil are not part of Gods will.   God is love.  In the situations where there is pain or disaster God will bring goodness, understanding, hope and love.

He brings light…..

He has shown me so much amazing kindness in this life, and as I look back in time I know He was carrying me.    There have been times where I have thought “Why Lord, why is this happening?”

But we don’t know what we don’t know…..

We cannot see the picture or plan completely, only He knows.  

Perhaps through the pain comes healing of many, maybe relationships get stronger, maybe the pain causes others to come together in faith?

This much I do know, in my pain and through the biggest struggles, He has brought me so many gifts.  He has given me perspective, has brought me so many to love, and has healed me beyond words.    He has given me inner healing and a sense of peace.

Psalm 6:6-9

I am worn out from my groaning.

All night long I flood my bed with weeping
and drench my couch with tears.
My eyes grow weak with sorrow;
they fail because of all my foes.

Away from me, all you who do evil,
for the Lord has heard my weeping.
The Lord has heard my cry for mercy;
the Lord accepts my prayer.

He hears our prayers and knows exactly where the pain is.   His healing may not be in our time, or in the way that we believe it should be, but He hears and He heals.   He loves us beyond comprehension.

When I see pain now, I look for Gods hand in the pain.

A child is hungry – people reach out to help.

A family member passes away – families who have been broken come together to heal.

A child of God is injured physically – the time allows the child to heal and rest in soul and body.

A natural disaster happens – communities come together to rebuild, love, encouragement and perspectives are changed.

People learn reliance In and Through HIM.

It is all in the perspective my friend, perspective is everything.

May I trust in You, Lord, and do good;

May I dwell in the land and feed from Your faithfulness.

When I delight myself in You,

You will give me the desires of my heart.

I will commit my way to You and trust in You,

And you will bring it to pass.

You will bring forth my righteousness like the light,

And my justice like the noonday.

May I rest in You and wait patiently for You;

I will not fret because of those who prosper in their way,

Because of those who practice evil schemes. (Psalm 37:3-7)

Victoria, come to Him and rest your mind my friend.  He is there through the storms in this life, He is the light that shines through the darkness.

Dear Lord God,

I pray for understanding in the pain for all of those that know you and those that do not.   I pray for your healing in the pain, physically, spiritually, emotionally.   We are broken Lord, and live a messy life.   I pray for you to show us rest.   I pray for this in Jesus Name Amen.

Blessings to you beautiful lady,

Vanessa

If you have a question for Vanessa please email her at [email protected]

You can also visit her personal blog page at www.nesschesters.wordpress.com

She Weeps!

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 a beautiful life marketplace   

I have another painting for you today ~ simply because, to my chagrin, I simply did not get the project finished that I have been working on.(next week!) This is a watercolor that I painted back when I was just developing my love for Jesus. Music has always been a huge part of my life and an inspiration for me. I realized when I sat down to write this that….I already did! This is actually a re-post of a sort, from back when I first started this blog.

This painting has, for me, been a symbol of my transition from lies of the world into truth and was inspired by a verse from “Revelation Song” which is what this post was about!  So, here is the picture and the re-post.  If you have never heard the song, there is a link at the end to watch it on you tube. It is beautiful and worshipful and I think you will love it as much as I do! 

(~we are also continuing, for the month of May, all sales from our etsy shop will go to benefit a dear friend with breast cancer, to help her with the medical expenses of and upcoming treatment.  Thank you for all of your prayers for her and her family! Katherine, we love you!)

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“She Weeps”  by lisa evola

https://www.etsy.com/listing/150414351/she-weeps-limited-edition-print

The Book of Revelation is without a doubt, my favorite book in the bible.  I love the imagery that is used and the best part:  We Win!  The artist in me wants to paint it all, all of the colors, all of the creatures, all of Jesus!  Everything about it draws me in.  One of my most favorite songs that we sing in worship on Sunday is Revelation Song. It reflects some of the very best parts of that book, and never fails to make me cry (not hard to do if you know me at all!)  But truly, it is a beautiful song with beautiful words and I imagine that these are words we will all be singing one day to the

   King of Kings and the Lord of Lords!

 

 

Revelation Song

Worthy is the,
Lamb who was slain

 

Revelation 5:11-12 ~ Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: ”Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”

Holy, Holy, is He
Sing a new song, to Him who sits on
Heaven’s Mercy Seat
[Repeat 2x]

Revelation 5:13 ~ Then I heard every creature on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them singing:  “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”

(Chorus)
Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And I will adore You…!
Yeah!

Revelation 4:8 ~ Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying:  “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.”

Clothed in rainbows, of living color
Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder
Blessing and honor, strength and
Glory and power be
To You the Only Wise King,
Yeah

Revelation 4:10-11 ~ The twenty-four elders fell down before Him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:  “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power,”

(Chorus)
Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come, yeah
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And – I - will - adore You!

 

Revelation 11:16-17 ~ And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God saying: “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.”

Filled with wonder,
Awestruck wonder
At the mention of Your Name
Jesus, Your Name is Power
Breath, and Living Water
Such a marvelous mystery

 

Revelation 1:17 ~ When I saw him, I fell at his feer as though dead.  Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living one; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!”

(Chorus)
Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come, yeah
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And – I - will - adore You!

 

Revelation 19:16 ~ On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

                            KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

 
Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come,
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And – I - will - adore YOU…

if you  would like to hear the song, click the link below!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsiDukXIeVY

A Peaceful Heart

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peace picReview Matthew 5:1-8

This Week’s Memory Verses:

Matthew 5:9-10

9: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

10: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Peacemakers. This conjures visions of heads of government shaking hands, while behind their backs they cross their fingers. Or maybe you see a teacher standing between two students making them apologize to each other. Or a wife, willingly submitting to her husband, even though she knows he is wrong. (hee hee….had to throw that in!) What is a peacemaker according to Jesus in the Beatitudes?

The answer I have pondered all week long, for you see I question whether I am capable of this daunting task.

About a week ago I had words with my mother.  I did not think that they were “words” till I received the email that chastised me for making her feel bad.  Although what I said, I did not intend to hurt her…it did. And in retrospect I can see why.  I caused her to be defensive of her own past actions, and honestly it doesn’t even matter whether I am right or she is, what matters is that I drove a rift in our mother/daughter relationship that simply should not be there.

So, how to repair the damage without being led back into the original discussion?

I read some things on what this particular beatitude meant and I contemplated how it pertained to my life and this situation, and this is what I learned:

  1. Being a peacemaker is not about saying you are wrong when you are right, but about evaluating the situation from God’s perspective, and being slow to speak.

  2. A peacemaker does not shove things under the rug in order to avoid confrontation, but instead considers the feelings of the other person and determines the weight of their words.

  3. Peacemakers build up, they do not destroy.

Although I did not say what I said in order to be right, I believe that I spoke too quickly and did not weigh how my thoughts would be taken. I’m still not sure what God’s perspective would be on this particular topic, but I think he may have used different words or a different approach. Sometimes when we say things to others, we think we are helping them, when in actuality all we are doing is condemning them.

Of course there are some things that just need to be said, but is there a different way to say them? A gentler way? Maybe giving exact references instead of just your opinion of what it means?

First and foremost, the words that I chose did not build, but broke down. Not only the spirit of someone that I love but also my relationship with my God. Not fatally broken down, but it is definitely an on your knees moment. Everything that we think, say, and do that is not the way that God would think, say, and do it, is sin.  So I (again) will confess my sinful nature and ask for forgiveness – From God and my mother.

My Prayer:

Lord I am so sorry that hurtful words came from my mouth and my heart. Forgive me, and thank you for showing them to me so that I can repair – not only my heart, but also the heart of another.  I pray that next time I will be slower to speak, for out of the mouth comes the desires of our hearts, and my heart’s desire is peace.

Reflect His Light!

Lisa