Saturday, July 9, 2011

Music for my Lord

Judges 5:3 "I will sing to the Lord, I will sing; I will make music to the Lord, the God of Israel."
Romans 14:8 "If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord." 

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I think back on my past month, and how I have been blessed so much by music. I 100% believe and know that God gave me music for a reason. I recently fell in love with music, and I know that God needs me to have that passion. The passion I have for music then becomes my gift, the gift that I glorify God with. I have a purpose! I am so grateful for all of this, and aim to glorify God in every thing I do!

Friday, May 27, 2011

joy Joy JOY!

What I'm reading NOW:

Desiring God by John Piper :) This book is so helpful to me on my faith walk!

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Matthew 11:28-30

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." 

Whenever I get stressed, it is always because of earthly things. I start to over-think every thing, and get frustrated because I can't control it all. I become broken inside, and weary, because I am putting my faith in earthly things and people. But the second I pray for peace, God is so amazing and truly fills me with HIM and I don't worry anymore! He takes the pain away, and carries me, holding me close to Him. The way I feel, it's like I'm consumed completely by Him, and I love that feeling. I'm reminded of the song we used to sing in choir: "Eagle's Wings." Taken from scripture, the words say "He will raise you up on eagle's wings; bear you on the breath of dawn, make you to shine like the sun and hold you in the palm of His hand." The palm of His hand...this is such a fatherly image, I can't help but feel love and warmth. I'm truly amazed by my God and His unconditional love, and I can't even begin to grasp His power and strength.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Ecclesiastes 7:13-14

"Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what He has made crooked? When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future."


I love this verse so much, and yet it is so difficult for me. First: God has made everything. If it is blessed, He blessed it; if it is crooked, He made it that way. 
Second: We need to appreciate our lives so much more. How many things do we take for granted? We could be so much happier if we appreciated things more. Even the simple things! "Be happy" the Bible says.HOWEVER, times are not always going to be pleasurable. There will be bad times, and persecution. But we need to realize that God made those times too, and it is all part of His grand and glorious plan. 
The hardest part of this verse for me is the last line. I am such a planner, I want to plan every detail of my life out. But the truth is, only God can do that. HE has the master plan. And thank goodness. I can't discover my future; I can only trust God who created it perfectly for His purpose. 

Sunday, May 15, 2011

1 Thessalonians 3:12-13

"May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May He strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father..."

Only God can change our hearts. He is the source of every feeling, every thought, every emotion that we experience. It is because of HIM that our love should and WILL "increase and overflow" like His love for us. God will strengthen our hearts, and we will not be weak anymore; then we will be following HIS will, and will be "blameless and Holy" in His sight.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

1 John 5:4- Victory in Faith

1 John 5:4 "For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith."  

 

God has had a plan for us since before time; we were chosen and were born His children. We can accomplish anything in Him, and we can defeat anything! I always hear "be in the world, not of the world." Now I see that I can "overcome" the world! That doesn't sound easy does it? But we WILL be victorious. Our faith is our victory! 

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

James 1:2-8

 2(E) Count it all joy, my brothers,[b] when you meet trials(F) of various kinds, 3for you know that(G) the testing of your faith(H) produces steadfastness. 4And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be(I) perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
 5(J) If any of you lacks wisdom,(K) let him ask God,(L) who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6But(M) let him ask in faith,(N) with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like(O) a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8(P) he is a double-minded man,(Q) unstable in all his ways.

~ We are going to face trials and troubles in our faith walk, but it is God's plan! He must test us so that He can mature us completely. When we need help we should lean on God, who freely gives His love- but we must not doubt Him! We must have complete faith in God.