Take Back

 

Just wanted to share a song that I was introduced to by a good friend.
It is called "Take Back" by United Pursuit Band & Will Reagen

"With the wind at our backs
and in the strength of the Lord
We will rise on the wings of the dawn
We're gonna take back all the enemy has stolen.

It's in the blood of the One who's worthy.
I know God has not forgotten 
All that's lost and broken.
So come and see the turning of the tides
Come and see your sons and daughters rise
For how could he who did not spare His own son
Not freely give us victory against the darkest of nights?

We're gonna plunder the pits of hell.
You're worthy. You're worthy. You're worthy. You're worthy." 

I find myself meditating on the words of this song, and just shutting down everything that is going on around me, and entering His presence, feeling the weight of His glory on me.  My spirit waits before God, and shrinks to nothing compared to His greatness.  I want to restore His glory here on earth as it rightly should be.  There are so many things that were created for God's glory that have been diminished and perverted to worship other things.  If everything on earth were bowing down to Him in submission, it wouldn't be enough praise to lift up His name to where it should be established.  God is above all things, and yet, still asks us to call him Daddy. 

I want to take back all the enemy has stolen.  I don't know what that looks like yet, but I'm asking God to help me press in to His heart so I can find out.

Seeking God with my WHOLE heart

So I just came across my blog after years of neglecting to keep myself accountable to writing.  My idea to start a blog was initially to record the things I'm learning in Scripture and keep myself accountable to quiet times and seeking after God in my daily tasks.  Of course, I would love to enter in the presence of God and be worshiping the Holy of Holies on my face, but when my day just won't allow for that, I can pause and thank God for the way He holds everything together around me.  So today, I can start again refreshed and restored. 

Things I'm focusing on today:
1.  Serving my husband and family by getting the laundry caught up, baking some yummy treats to freeze for those cravings around 10pm, and getting my household organized so Joel doesn't have to do much work when he gets home.
2.  Researching the conclave and interceding on behalf of the cardinals that have to vote in a new pope.  I am praying that he is a godly man who will be after God's own heart, like David.  I pray that he will be a man who works to restore the Catholic church back to a stature of holiness and compassion.
3.  Getting some time in the Word to learn more about my God who is outside of time, who is the God of all creation and yet still knows the number of hairs on my head.  None other can be so close...
4.  And of course, I am still determined to keep my flesh in line with my desire to be in a healthy weight range and take care of the body my God entrusted to me.

Until the next time...Be blessed. Rejoice in all things.

All creation cries out

Sometimes, living in this world among believers and unbelievers, it's hard to get my mind straight and hold fast to God's word. Everyone thinks they have the answer and that their way of thinking is correct. As I ponder this, I wonder, "How can I really know who is right?"

The only answer to this question is: Turn to the Bible. I know that God's eternal power and divine nature is understood and seen through the things he has made, so those who have suppressed the truth are without excuse (Romans 1:20). I want so badly that everyone would know the truth and be exposed to the light. There is nothing in creation that doesn't cry out to God and his wonderful works. Our God is a creative God, and He is also a jealous God (Exodus 34:14). And one day, everyone will be subject to the wrath of His judgment, and we will all give an account of ourselves to God (Romans 14:12).

Because of our steadfast and righteous King, I will only follow His statutes and will not walk in the way of the wicked, but I will delight in the Lord day and night, and meditate on His laws. God, help me to judge according to Your word, and not become bitter or proud. I love you and want to imitate Christ Jesus in my life, so that others will recognize that I follow a powerful and great King because of the great love He has shown me. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.

IT IS DONE...

Today, I was challenged with the obstacle of overcoming my anger with joy, and choosing to be patient and forgiving. Being obedient to God is going to Him when we're in trouble, and not relying on our own strength. Paul once had a vision of a thorn in his flesh. Scripture does not go into detail what this passage means, but there is something that is true: We can all relate to it. The thorn in my flesh today was the idea that I have to be patient, and my will and desires need to conform to what God is planning for me and how He is preparing a place for me. So God, please forgive me for sinning against you and against others. Help me to be more patient, and slow to anger and abounding in love. Teach me to be like you. Amen.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made PERFECT in weakness. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. FOR WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN I AM STRONG.

"You tore the veil, You made a way....when you said that it is done."

The importance of GRACE

Grace: God's provision for every need:
Through a bible study called "Seeking Him", the women in the church have been studying different concepts that help us 'experience the joy of personal revival.' This week, we focused on grace, and how we are able to approach the throne of grace because it is a gift that we DO NOT deserve. I have always had a hard time understanding the magnitude of what grace is, and why God gives it to us abundantly.


Ideas that I have struggled with:
1. When I'm in the midst of a sin, my mind can say, "STOP!" all it wants, but I continue in my sin. My fear is that I love my sin too much, and have a barrier between myself and God when He sends His Holy Spirit to guide me and help me.

2. I feel overwhelmed by my guilt and failure before God. I know how great of a sinner I am, and I know that as long as I'm living on this earth, I will never be completely sanctified.

3. When I know that something I'm going to do is a sin, I sometimes think to myself: 'But afterwards...I can ask God for forgiveness, and He'll give it to me.' I know this is cheating and not following with a pure heart, but I don't know how God wants me to act in this circumstance.

4. The farther I am encompassed in my sin, the harder it is to approach God and face Him. I can't open my bible and let Him show me how I've failed. I am too great of a sinner to speak to such a Holy God.


Things I've learned this week:
1. There is no sin too great that God cannot cover with His unfailing grace. I've doubted God's power and love, and that has led me deeper into sin. Just proclaiming the truth that we can "draw near to the throne of grace with confidence, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:15-16)

2. The more sin that we have, the more grace God will give us. "Where sin increased, grace increased all the more.." (Romans 5:20)

3. We are not free to sin whenever and however we want to, as long as we intend to confess it. God's grace is a restraint on us, not a license to sin. "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By NO MEANS! How can we who died to sin still live in it?" (Romans 6:1-2)



God, I realize that I need to trust You more and invite Your Holy Spirit to convict me of my sin. I desperately need your grace and mercy, and I accept them as a free gift, by the power of Jesus's blood. Help me to live a life free from all unholiness and wordly passion, but one that has self-control and godliness. Thank you for giving me authority over sin, and pour Your grace over me as I seek to live rightly before You. In Your son's name, Amen.