Save my life

It was Sunday morning. Sitting there silently with my folks in that typical pew, surrounded by the familiar sights, sounds, and smells of my church, I listened to my fellow church members share thoughts, scripture, prayers, etc. It was just a typical Sunday, always something new, but still the same general routine. I tried to block out all my pains, stresses, fears so that I could better focus on the words being shared. (Those negative thoughts, feelings, and situations love to interfere when we attempt to set our eyes on Christ.) I need to focus; I need to commune with God; this is MY time with Jesus. I blocked everything out and began to quietly pray.

Just as I was getting situated, I heard a small sound to my left. An almost silent sniffle. I peaked out the corner of my eye and sure enough, a tear rolled down my neighbors cheek...and then another. She found a tissue in her purse as several more tears like the first began to fall. I paused...what do I do? I really need this time with God, just me and Him. Another sniffle. I stopped. My heart broke as I remembered some of the struggles she had encountered in her life. Slowly, quietly, I inched my way closer gently placing my arm around her, silently drawing her close with a strong squeeze. As she composed herself, here and there others stood to share struggles they were facing. My mind drifted to friends experiencing a whole gamut of hardships. Everyone I knew had a story. I scanned the room and wondered what pains were hidden behind those smiling faces. Going full circle my attention finished with me...how often to I reach out and address those hurts in others? Do I draw them close to comfort and love them, or am I always too busy?

Jesus was never too busy to show love. Even though He may have been exhausted, hungry, or on a mission....he always took time for the hurting, sick, wounded, unclean, even the dead. There was never a grievance to small that He ignored it or too big that He didn't give it all He had. He saw every pain and addressed it with all His attention. I desperately wish I could say I've done the same in my life, but I know that's not true. I'm a busy lady! And way too often I find myself focused on my own agenda rather than on being the hands and feet of Christ. But Jesus was that perfect example, something we can (and should) strive for in our own lives. Show love to others today, you never know how God will use even a small kind word or act of encouragement to touch a grief stricken soul.

     Save My Life - Sidewalk Prophets

 

What We're Here For - The Afters

                                          

 With Every Act of Love - Jason Gray

I am His

What a huge blessing to know that I belong to the creator and king of the universe! Not only do I belong...but I was bought at a very high price! God allowed His one and only son to die a horrific death just so He could call me His. Just so He could welcome me with open and joyous arms into His family, forever. So that He could call me His child. Me. A sinner. Not just any sinner, but one that can barely go any length of time without doing/thinking/saying/feeling something uncharacteristic of Christ, who was perfect, truly without blemish. God allowed His perfect son to die...for us. How anyone could actually allow that to happen for me is completely incomprehensible to me! I just don't get it. Sure, I've always believed God sent His son to die for me....yet I have never been able to fully wrap my mind around it. And as I've grown and become increasingly aware of my faults/sins/blemishes/ugliness....it becomes harder and harder to grasp. Why would He ever do that for me?? I cannot even come remotely close to deserving this gift. I am completely and utterly unworthy. However, the truth of the matter never falters. "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16). Even when I fail, when I let Him down, He is still overjoyed to call me His child. Nothing I could do/say/think would ever make Him love me less. That open invitation is always there. Wow, now that's love! And it is available to ANYONE who believes. I may not understand it, but I most definitely believe it and am so so thankful for it!

      

Voice of Truth 2

After writing my last post inspired by the song "Voice of Truth", I stumbled across this video. I thought it was pretty cool and thought you may like it as well.

Voice of Truth

I am so thankful for God's Word, it brings LIFE and HEALING. It is full of truth and quickly dispels any lies Satan eagerly tries to whisper to our hearts. He is always waiting, always searching, for ANY opportunity to slip us some kind of  deceptive poison. 1 Peter describes it well, as he says, "Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8, italics mine). Yikes! Since we do not readily see or hear the devil, it is very easy for us to minimize his presence in the world (especially in our lives), despite the pain and suffering we see all around us. But Peter refers to him as a ROARING LION, PROWLING around looking for someone to DEVOUR!! While at first glance that may seem overwhelmingly scary (I wouldn't want to meet a hungry lion anywhere!), we can find strength in the book of James: "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7, italics mine). He will FLEE from you. The big, hungry, prowling, roaring lion will FLEE from YOU! Miriam-Webster defines the word "flee" as follows: "To run away from danger or evil", "To hurry to a place of security", "To pass away swiftly." Once he sees the spirit living in you as a Christian, he's gonna skedaddle! Going back to James, God calls us to 1. submit to Him and 2. resist the devil. It is important not to separate the two! For it is only due to the Holy Spirit living inside of us that we are able to resist Satan and cause him to swiftly run away from danger to a secure place.

Having the Holy Spirit living inside of us is the primary defense we have against Satan. However, if we are not actively seeking God or just not as close to Him as we should be, it's easy to let those lies slip in here and there. Believe me, I've been there! It can be ever so dangerously subtle and will most likely come from the most unexpected place. So "be on your guard; stand firm in the faith (1 Corinthians 16:13)." Ok....be on my guard and stand firm...I think I can do that! Oh be careful my friend, because many of us think we can do this on our own, and that's exactly where Satan wants us. It is only through CHRIST we can succeed in this. We must seek His truth in the Word He gave us."I can do all things through HIM who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13)

Psalm 119:11: "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."

Ephesians 6:11-17: "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

Last but not least, I want to share a song that I absolutely love! It is the reason for the title and part of the inspiration for this post. It is entitled "Voice of Truth" and is by the band Casting Crowns. God uses music in a special way in my heart and is constantly speaking to me through the words he has fed others in writing these songs. Enjoy!