Your feeling burdened and so warn down
you seem to stumble with every step that you take
It seems that no matter what you do life seems like one big mistake
Finally finished trying to get by
you kneel down and start to cry
Asking God's help you try again
this time though difficult you walk along with Him
Cua when life seems so hopeless
and you feel you cant go one
Remember God's promises and He'll help you along
He'll strengthen your weaknesses
comfort your heart
He'll show you His path and guide along
oh, cuz even in the valley
the Son shines bright
I need to trust you when i have no hope
I need to realize your path is straight
I'm tired of going my own way
I'm leaning on you and your word
I'm claiming your promise
no matter what i face
Even in the valley the Son shines bright
though you seem unsure, I'll be alright
He'll show you the way
give you the strength to stand
He'll lighten your load
showing his perfect plan
Cuz, even in the valley
the Son shines bright
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
True Light
There's a shadow hovering over the world
It's blocking out all their joy
It's blocking out all their happiness
they try to get rid of it at any price
some turn to drugs
some turn to others
they're all searching for a way to get this cloud off of them
but they are left scarred, empty and hopeless
you try everything to get rid of your broken heart
you can try to run and hide
from all your pain and sadness deep inside
but know, it'll never go away
without the True Light
He's calling out
He's calling you to come back
He's knocking at your door
waiting
He's the only thing
that will bring hope
He'll heal your broken heart
he'll fill your empty soul
God cares for everyone in this world
He showed it by giving His own son, Jesus Christ
As a payment for our sins, He willingly paid the price
He died on the cross and rose again
showing death have no power over Him
we're no longer in that bondage of sin
we're no longer trapped without a way out
Jesus gave us freedom and hope
that we were desprately seeking out.
It's blocking out all their joy
It's blocking out all their happiness
they try to get rid of it at any price
some turn to drugs
some turn to others
they're all searching for a way to get this cloud off of them
but they are left scarred, empty and hopeless
you try everything to get rid of your broken heart
you can try to run and hide
from all your pain and sadness deep inside
but know, it'll never go away
without the True Light
He's calling out
He's calling you to come back
He's knocking at your door
waiting
He's the only thing
that will bring hope
He'll heal your broken heart
he'll fill your empty soul
God cares for everyone in this world
He showed it by giving His own son, Jesus Christ
As a payment for our sins, He willingly paid the price
He died on the cross and rose again
showing death have no power over Him
we're no longer in that bondage of sin
we're no longer trapped without a way out
Jesus gave us freedom and hope
that we were desprately seeking out.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Rely On You
I've learned to lean on you through the trials
I've depended on your word to guide my way
but lately it seems so hard
to even know what steps to take
my whole world is closing in
no where to run
then i remember your promises
Through the hard times, I'll trust you
Through the trials, my heart will stay true
whenever I want to fall, you stretch out your hand
you've proven yourself time and time again
I'll trust you
cuz I know I can always rely on my Savior and friend
Yes, I can always rely on you
With all the things you've done
how can I doubt
you've saved me by giving your Son
If I can trust you for my salvation
why can't I trust you with everything
help me stay faithful and true
and rely on you
Through everything that's happened
through all the sorrows and pain
I'll look to my God
who'll give me strength!
you've proven yourself time and time again
Thank you for being a faithful friend
Oh, Lord I can always rely on you
I've depended on your word to guide my way
but lately it seems so hard
to even know what steps to take
my whole world is closing in
no where to run
then i remember your promises
Through the hard times, I'll trust you
Through the trials, my heart will stay true
whenever I want to fall, you stretch out your hand
you've proven yourself time and time again
I'll trust you
cuz I know I can always rely on my Savior and friend
Yes, I can always rely on you
With all the things you've done
how can I doubt
you've saved me by giving your Son
If I can trust you for my salvation
why can't I trust you with everything
help me stay faithful and true
and rely on you
Through everything that's happened
through all the sorrows and pain
I'll look to my God
who'll give me strength!
you've proven yourself time and time again
Thank you for being a faithful friend
Oh, Lord I can always rely on you
Monday, March 21, 2011
God Answers Prayer
"Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain." ~ Philippians 2:16
When I read this verse today, God encouraged me that my actions ( everything I do for Him) isn't pointless eventhough sometimes it feels that way. When I labour for my family and especially for my dad to come back to the Lord, sometimes my flesh gets the best of me and I begin to lose all hope. I startWondering if God really can answer my prayers or even if he hears me at all...
Well, I can assure you that He does hear all of our prayers! Last night, I received a call from my dad, he said that he's been thinking about what I said and just his life in general, and has realized that he needs to turn back to God. If that wasn't jaw dropping enough, he also told me that he's reading a devotional book now, and he's purifying his brain by getting rid of the garbage he normally absorbs it with and instead, filling it with God's word. During the whole conversation last night, he kept quoting scripture as well. God has answered my prayers! And the great thing is, You serve the same God I serve... meaning, He can and will answer your prayers as well. Don't let your labor be in vain, continue pressing on and realize that God does hear our crys. He's some encourageing verses that I found that were a blessing to me about Prayer.
"And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us." ~ 1 John 5:14
"I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry." ~ Psalms 40:1
When I read this verse today, God encouraged me that my actions ( everything I do for Him) isn't pointless eventhough sometimes it feels that way. When I labour for my family and especially for my dad to come back to the Lord, sometimes my flesh gets the best of me and I begin to lose all hope. I startWondering if God really can answer my prayers or even if he hears me at all...
Well, I can assure you that He does hear all of our prayers! Last night, I received a call from my dad, he said that he's been thinking about what I said and just his life in general, and has realized that he needs to turn back to God. If that wasn't jaw dropping enough, he also told me that he's reading a devotional book now, and he's purifying his brain by getting rid of the garbage he normally absorbs it with and instead, filling it with God's word. During the whole conversation last night, he kept quoting scripture as well. God has answered my prayers! And the great thing is, You serve the same God I serve... meaning, He can and will answer your prayers as well. Don't let your labor be in vain, continue pressing on and realize that God does hear our crys. He's some encourageing verses that I found that were a blessing to me about Prayer.
"And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us." ~ 1 John 5:14
"I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry." ~ Psalms 40:1
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Galatians 2:19-20
"For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live: yet not I but Christ which liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
When I think about this verse, I begin to think of the song,I am Crucified with Christ.
How true, we really are crucified with Christ! But what does that really mean? Well, First, Christ was crucified to pay for all of our sins by dying on the Cross. He loved us so much that he was willing to take our place on the cross. Now, when dwelling on how much Christ suffered for us(wretched sinners), why wouldn't we want to serve God and please Him! Well, that's kind of the idea when it comes to being crucified with Christ. It's dying to our earthly flesh(our desires, dreams, goals) and just taking up our cross and following Him! It's focusing on what God wants instead of what we want. It's seeking and following God's perfect will for our lives, instead of following our heart and doing what we think is right or what we want to do. That's the real concept of being crucified with Christ! It's having the mind set of "It's Not what I want, but what God wants!" It's Not what you think, but what God thinks! Everything that we do would be to Glorify Him! This verse below shows exactly what God means by dying to self....
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
~ Romans 12:1-2
Being crucified with Christ is our reasonable service! It's the Least that we can do!!
When I think about this verse, I begin to think of the song,I am Crucified with Christ.
How true, we really are crucified with Christ! But what does that really mean? Well, First, Christ was crucified to pay for all of our sins by dying on the Cross. He loved us so much that he was willing to take our place on the cross. Now, when dwelling on how much Christ suffered for us(wretched sinners), why wouldn't we want to serve God and please Him! Well, that's kind of the idea when it comes to being crucified with Christ. It's dying to our earthly flesh(our desires, dreams, goals) and just taking up our cross and following Him! It's focusing on what God wants instead of what we want. It's seeking and following God's perfect will for our lives, instead of following our heart and doing what we think is right or what we want to do. That's the real concept of being crucified with Christ! It's having the mind set of "It's Not what I want, but what God wants!" It's Not what you think, but what God thinks! Everything that we do would be to Glorify Him! This verse below shows exactly what God means by dying to self....
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
~ Romans 12:1-2
Being crucified with Christ is our reasonable service! It's the Least that we can do!!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Faith
Faith, what is true faith? For two weeks I'm going to do a study on this subject that is the foundation of everything as Christians we should believe. In order to get a greater understanding on this topic, I went to Hebrews 11.
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through Faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." ~ Hebrews 11:1-3
In the first verse God says that faith is the substance of things hoped for. At first glance, I was kind of confused. How can faith be something we hope for. Shouldn't it be what we believe. Which made me begin to wonder, what is the real biblical meaning of hope?
" For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doeth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
I see in this verse that our salvation is by hope. Meaning we have faith that Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven. It's by grace through faith not of works. How is it that we can trust God with the most important thing, which is our salvation but, we can't reply on God to provide our everyday needs. The same God that loves us so much to send His son to die on the cross to pay for OUR sins, is the same God that loves us enough to want the best of us and provide for our every need. God promises to work everything out of OUR good. Meaning, He does have a plan for us we just simply need to trust Him and wait patiently for Him.
Being in college is tough sometimes especially financally. Right now, I'm about $500 behind on my school bill and I have about a $900 dollar payment due in a couple of weeks as well. I'm working 20hrs on campus but that only covers my bill for half of the semester. As of right now, I have no idea how I'm going to be able to take mid-terms, let alone finish out the semester. I could become discouraged at all of this and just retreat back home like a coward. But, I don't have to. I have a God in Heaven that loves me, watches over me, and wants the best for me. I just simply need to lean on Him, and prayerfully seek Him for His leading and guidence in my life. It might be hard not knowing how I'm going to pay my bills but, I can always rely on God who promises to provide and take care of us. And the best part is..... HE can and will do the same for you! Just lean on God and wait patiently for Him! He will supply all your needs!
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through Faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." ~ Hebrews 11:1-3
In the first verse God says that faith is the substance of things hoped for. At first glance, I was kind of confused. How can faith be something we hope for. Shouldn't it be what we believe. Which made me begin to wonder, what is the real biblical meaning of hope?
" For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doeth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
I see in this verse that our salvation is by hope. Meaning we have faith that Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven. It's by grace through faith not of works. How is it that we can trust God with the most important thing, which is our salvation but, we can't reply on God to provide our everyday needs. The same God that loves us so much to send His son to die on the cross to pay for OUR sins, is the same God that loves us enough to want the best of us and provide for our every need. God promises to work everything out of OUR good. Meaning, He does have a plan for us we just simply need to trust Him and wait patiently for Him.
Being in college is tough sometimes especially financally. Right now, I'm about $500 behind on my school bill and I have about a $900 dollar payment due in a couple of weeks as well. I'm working 20hrs on campus but that only covers my bill for half of the semester. As of right now, I have no idea how I'm going to be able to take mid-terms, let alone finish out the semester. I could become discouraged at all of this and just retreat back home like a coward. But, I don't have to. I have a God in Heaven that loves me, watches over me, and wants the best for me. I just simply need to lean on Him, and prayerfully seek Him for His leading and guidence in my life. It might be hard not knowing how I'm going to pay my bills but, I can always rely on God who promises to provide and take care of us. And the best part is..... HE can and will do the same for you! Just lean on God and wait patiently for Him! He will supply all your needs!
Friday, January 14, 2011
"I can do all things through Christ which strengthenth me." ~ Philippians 4:13
So many times we become discouraged and overwhelmed at what appears to be big problems in our lives. The truth, however, they become big problems when we(as Christians) don't give it over to God which evidently is due to lack of faith. When problems come into our lives, do we dwell on them or give them over to God. I could very easily become discouraged and overwhelmed with what is happening in my life right now. I mean, I grew up in a dysfunctional family. My parents divorced when I was little due to my dad being abusive to my mom, my sisters, and I. Later on, when I was 8, my mom remarried to Eric, my step-dad, who is such a great blessing to have in my life. In the summer of that same year I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior at my grandma's V.B.S., but due to a not so great childhood, I couldn't really remember the day I got saved very well. Also, due to the fact that my dad's beliefs didn't really agree with mine completely, I heard alot of falsehood about what I should believe growing up.
Well, even though God blessed me with a great Dad like Eric, I had to deal with verbal abuse on a weekly basis from phone calls from my real dad. It was hard, it was. I actually tried to be strong on my own which didn't work of course, and well... I ended up having such worthlessness for myself that I truly wanted to end my life. However, praise be to God that my mom walked in the room when I was about to stab myself with the knife I grabbed from the kitchen. I ended up going to a mental asylum, which, I must say, is the scariest place I have ever been to. Kids were throwing other kids against the walls, cursing, and screaming at the staff; it was nuts. I cried myself to sleep that night, thinking about my life and well, I did something that I hadn't done in a while; I began praying to God asking for forgiveness and strength to overcome all of this. I also told Him that night, that if He gets me out of here that I would give Him my life to do what He wants with it.
The next day, my mom showed up to take me back home. We embraced each other in a hug, crying our hearts out. God saved my life that night. I know 100% that if I didn't cry out to God that night, I would probably have ended up there for a year or two just like the administration woman said. But, thankfully, God is a God of second chances and I'm so thankful for that! So when I returned home, I came back with a different attitude. When my dad called me that night and started yelling at me for being so stupid, I cried again, but afterwards I just gave it over to God and I began to have this complete peace in my heart. When I got older, about 15 or so, my oldest sister, Heather got involved with the wrong crowd and well, she ended up running away to live with some friends of hers. She then began slamming our family and speaking lies about us. It was definitely hard to hear. When I was 16, my sister Justine started hearing voices and started talking to them. It got so bad that she ended up punching a window and trying to run into the woods to save a guy named Drew, who didn't exist. She then began accusing us of plotting against her to kill her. It was crazy! However, she truly believed it. She even went so far as trying to protect herself by hurting me. I was scared! I didn't understand what was going on; I couldn't understand. All I knew was my best friend was trying to hurt me. My parents didn't know what to do and ended up putting her in a mental facility to evaluate her so we could find out what was wrong. Turns out she has an anxiety disorder with schizophrenic tendencies, as the doctors put it. Meaning, her mind is in a fantasy world most of the time.
During that same time, I began working full-time as a CNA at the nursing home as well as finishing my senior year. I ended up taking care of my grandpa as well cooking meals for him and cleaning his house before work. It was alot for a 16 almost 17 year old to take on, but I had to. As I began college at Pensacola Christian College, God allowed me to make some great friends. He also used that time to allow me to be a blessing to others. While there, two of my friends dealt with suicidal thoughts. I promised to keep quiet, but I couldn't keep quiet about something like that! I knew just how serious it was, so I told my dorm supervisor, who in turn got a hold of the the counselor, and well, lets just say my two friends got the help they needed and also got realization that someone also cares about them. During that same time, one of my other friends became very distant and well, I saw it as a cry for help, so I ended up making sure he knew someone still cares by sitting by him, talking to him, and continually praying for him. Later on that semester, I found out that he too was contemplating on the idea of ending his life, but then he said that I saved his life by just being there for him. I believe that God had me there that semester for a reason, I also believe that if I didn't go through the trials I went through, that I wouldn't have really noticed the needs of those that were right in front of me.
During that semester, I was also able to counsel a friend of mine back home who was dealing with a dad like mine, and who got away from all the heartache and stress by drugs. If I didn't have a dad that didn't understand, and caused me so much pain, how could I have understood how my friend felt, or how really to go about counseling him. But, since I did know how it felt, I just spoke from my heart. Now, I'm going to college for Elementary Education and I'm minoring in Biblical Counseling, but I have no clue what God wants me to do with my life. I'm okay with not knowing though. I have complete peace, because I've learned throughout the years to cast my burdens on God and not allow fear to stop me from doing what I need to do. I could have become bitter or depressed, but I relied on God's strength to help me press on! And so can you:
"Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee:" ~ Psalm 55:22a
"Let the peace of God rule in your hearts" ~ Colossians 3:15a
"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus," ~ Philippians 4:7
God said that His peace passes all understanding. Meaning, that God's peace will allow us to stop worrying about what life throws at us. In Matt. 6:25-34, Jesus is preaching the familiar Sermon on the Mount. He ends Chapter 6 by discussing our lives and how we shouldn't worry.
"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
When we worry and stress about things in this world that we can't even control, then we are not really trusting God. Because our God is all powerful, all knowing, and always in control! Instead of making our lives worse by worrying about things that are completely out of our hands, lets just cast our cares upon God. Let's demonstrate real, true, genuine faith by simply giving our lives to God and simply trusting Him completely to supply all of our needs. That's how we will have God's perfect peace rule in our hearts! By giving God our burdens and worries and trusting God to take care of it. If we depend on God's strength daily then we can overcome all fear and obstacles that life throws at us. Let's give God everything today! And allow His perfect peace to rule in our hearts and minds.
Well, even though God blessed me with a great Dad like Eric, I had to deal with verbal abuse on a weekly basis from phone calls from my real dad. It was hard, it was. I actually tried to be strong on my own which didn't work of course, and well... I ended up having such worthlessness for myself that I truly wanted to end my life. However, praise be to God that my mom walked in the room when I was about to stab myself with the knife I grabbed from the kitchen. I ended up going to a mental asylum, which, I must say, is the scariest place I have ever been to. Kids were throwing other kids against the walls, cursing, and screaming at the staff; it was nuts. I cried myself to sleep that night, thinking about my life and well, I did something that I hadn't done in a while; I began praying to God asking for forgiveness and strength to overcome all of this. I also told Him that night, that if He gets me out of here that I would give Him my life to do what He wants with it.
The next day, my mom showed up to take me back home. We embraced each other in a hug, crying our hearts out. God saved my life that night. I know 100% that if I didn't cry out to God that night, I would probably have ended up there for a year or two just like the administration woman said. But, thankfully, God is a God of second chances and I'm so thankful for that! So when I returned home, I came back with a different attitude. When my dad called me that night and started yelling at me for being so stupid, I cried again, but afterwards I just gave it over to God and I began to have this complete peace in my heart. When I got older, about 15 or so, my oldest sister, Heather got involved with the wrong crowd and well, she ended up running away to live with some friends of hers. She then began slamming our family and speaking lies about us. It was definitely hard to hear. When I was 16, my sister Justine started hearing voices and started talking to them. It got so bad that she ended up punching a window and trying to run into the woods to save a guy named Drew, who didn't exist. She then began accusing us of plotting against her to kill her. It was crazy! However, she truly believed it. She even went so far as trying to protect herself by hurting me. I was scared! I didn't understand what was going on; I couldn't understand. All I knew was my best friend was trying to hurt me. My parents didn't know what to do and ended up putting her in a mental facility to evaluate her so we could find out what was wrong. Turns out she has an anxiety disorder with schizophrenic tendencies, as the doctors put it. Meaning, her mind is in a fantasy world most of the time.
During that same time, I began working full-time as a CNA at the nursing home as well as finishing my senior year. I ended up taking care of my grandpa as well cooking meals for him and cleaning his house before work. It was alot for a 16 almost 17 year old to take on, but I had to. As I began college at Pensacola Christian College, God allowed me to make some great friends. He also used that time to allow me to be a blessing to others. While there, two of my friends dealt with suicidal thoughts. I promised to keep quiet, but I couldn't keep quiet about something like that! I knew just how serious it was, so I told my dorm supervisor, who in turn got a hold of the the counselor, and well, lets just say my two friends got the help they needed and also got realization that someone also cares about them. During that same time, one of my other friends became very distant and well, I saw it as a cry for help, so I ended up making sure he knew someone still cares by sitting by him, talking to him, and continually praying for him. Later on that semester, I found out that he too was contemplating on the idea of ending his life, but then he said that I saved his life by just being there for him. I believe that God had me there that semester for a reason, I also believe that if I didn't go through the trials I went through, that I wouldn't have really noticed the needs of those that were right in front of me.
During that semester, I was also able to counsel a friend of mine back home who was dealing with a dad like mine, and who got away from all the heartache and stress by drugs. If I didn't have a dad that didn't understand, and caused me so much pain, how could I have understood how my friend felt, or how really to go about counseling him. But, since I did know how it felt, I just spoke from my heart. Now, I'm going to college for Elementary Education and I'm minoring in Biblical Counseling, but I have no clue what God wants me to do with my life. I'm okay with not knowing though. I have complete peace, because I've learned throughout the years to cast my burdens on God and not allow fear to stop me from doing what I need to do. I could have become bitter or depressed, but I relied on God's strength to help me press on! And so can you:
"Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee:" ~ Psalm 55:22a
"Let the peace of God rule in your hearts" ~ Colossians 3:15a
"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus," ~ Philippians 4:7
God said that His peace passes all understanding. Meaning, that God's peace will allow us to stop worrying about what life throws at us. In Matt. 6:25-34, Jesus is preaching the familiar Sermon on the Mount. He ends Chapter 6 by discussing our lives and how we shouldn't worry.
"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?" ~ Matthew 6:25-26,30
When we worry and stress about things in this world that we can't even control, then we are not really trusting God. Because our God is all powerful, all knowing, and always in control! Instead of making our lives worse by worrying about things that are completely out of our hands, lets just cast our cares upon God. Let's demonstrate real, true, genuine faith by simply giving our lives to God and simply trusting Him completely to supply all of our needs. That's how we will have God's perfect peace rule in our hearts! By giving God our burdens and worries and trusting God to take care of it. If we depend on God's strength daily then we can overcome all fear and obstacles that life throws at us. Let's give God everything today! And allow His perfect peace to rule in our hearts and minds.
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