A fellow blogger shared this on her blog. I am not able to listen to the song tonight, but look forward to doing so in the morning. I was drawn by the quality of the photography, and then was struck with the different faces the worshipers have as they sing to their Lord. I have never heard of this group and obviously can't see inside a person's heart, but I just imagine what they are thinking as they sing...
The girl on the left in the red cap is praising God as she watches her brothers in Christ, marveling that her Lord can save sinners and so dramatically transform lives so that they will praise Him.
The man in the collared black shirt closes his eyes as he strums and thinks about his praise-worthy God.
In the background, a brother in Christ drops his head in humility, feeling unworthy to lift his voice in song but, knowing his worth through Christ's shed blood, holds his life out to the Lord to use however He desires.
His sister in Christ in the plaid shirt sings with her head back, resting in the Capable and All-Powerful arms of her Mighty God. She cannot even express how tired she is, but she knows how Able He is.
To her left in the "middle ground", the second guitarist in the sock cap focuses on getting the notes right, squinting as he prays that somehow Christ might be glorified through his weak effort.
And all the other believers in the picture, whatever their state, have one desire: they must meet with the Lord, must find Him, despite all that is taking place in their personal lives and in the world. He is their Hope and He is More Than Enough.
These are just my thoughts about this picture. I have no idea where these worshippers' hearts really are, but I've been in almost all of "the shoes" I've described. I want to know Him more and what a glorious thing it is to be on the journey with others who desire the same!
If you have a minute, why don't you hop over to Tasha's blog where I found this picture and link and read her great post about "Same" from Five Minute Friday!
It has been too long since I got to do Five Minute Friday and I have been missing it! To find out more about Five Minute Friday, check out Kate Motaung.
So, without further ado, let's start the timer!
I'm not the same as I used to be.
About eight years ago or more I underwent a drastic change. I found out that I was a sinner, guilty before my Righteous Holy Creator and that I was worthy of punishment. I also discovered that my Creator had sent His Son to this earth to die and take the punishment that I should receive and that if I would put my trust in Him and repent of the wrongs I had committed against Him, I could have forgiveness, mercy without charge. Now things are completely different.
I'm still the same me, but I'm also so different.
"What has changed?" you ask. I still have the same blonde hair, the same chubby cheeks, but inside my heart, Jesus, the Son of God, is King and reigns. Therefore, I'm not the same as I was.
What He desires for my life is good and I have begun to desire those things, too. What He deserves is right; I have begun to want to give Him what He is worthy of.
He has changed me. Like a caterpillar turns into a butterfly over time and is still the same insect, but completely different, I have been made new and beautiful by the King of Glory. And anyone who wants this transformation can receive it, too!
Stop.
Good morning everyone!
It's Friday! And that means.....War Room opened in theaters at midnight last night!! You were thinking I was going to say, "...it's time for Five Minute Friday," didn't you? Well, I will get to that soon, Lord willing, but for now, I am super-excited thinking about another excellent film from the Kendrick brothers! This time, their movie focuses on prayer and I can hardly wait to see it this evening!
Prayer is the greatest tool that those who believe in Jesus Christ possess! How often do we make use of this invaluable resource, though? I would challenge you (and most of all, myself!) to seek the Lord and begin meeting with Him more regularly. As you go throughout your day, do you find yourself turning to Him with an important decision (big or little)? Do you find yourself praising Him when you see His marvelous creation or do you thank Him when you realize the blessings He showers on you or the ways He protects you? Our Creator is great and worthy of all praise! He desires that His people be in constant communication with Him!
If you haven't heard about the Kendrick brothers or haven't heard about their newest film, I would encourage you to check them out and to go see their movie!
If you've already seen War Room (since it opened at midnight), I'd like to high-five you! Those the consumer-movie statistics really watch what happens on opening weekend and it would be great for them to see an out-pouring of support for this movie from the Christian community!
It's Friday and the word of the day is Find!
(Hop over to Kate Motaung's blog to see what trails my fellow-writers followed with this word!)
Years ago, when I was a little girl, the choir at the church we were part of sang a beautiful song called "Find Us Faithful." It stuck in my head and I would sing it and loved it. For years I have thought of this song and sang it off and on, but recently, the thought of faithfulness and the Lord's returning to find us, in whatever condition we're in, has been on my mind. I've been saddened and discouraged by some things at my church. It seems that I'm finding lack of interest in the things of the Lord, lack of willingness and eagerness to serve and put the time into Bible study so that we can be an effective, God-centered people. What happens when there are no workers to be found? what happens if no good, faithful workers stay to carry on the work of the Lord and to advance His Kingdom? Well, I know that in the days of Elijah, he thought he was the last one, yet there were many, many others who had stayed faithful to the Lord, Elijah just didn't know it. If the Lord returned today, though, how would He find me? I've been so concerned and saddened about the spiritual state of my brothers and sisters in Christ, but will the Lord find me faithful? So, today, I am praying for revival not only for my church but in my own life. I'm praying that the sin in me would be overcome by the mighty power of my precious Lord. I desire that the Lord would return and that He would find faith on His earth. Our work is not done, I must be found faithful.
It's Friday again & I am excited about the word for this week's Five Minute Friday! (Visit my other blogging companions at http://katemotaung.com/2015/08/13/five-minute-friday-learn-a-post-retreat-post/ !) The word is Learn, so here I go!
There's a wonderfully, exciting time that sometimes arrives in my heart since I've become an adult. It's the new-wonderful feeling that comes, when it comes, at the start of a new school year. There's something about learning that just sends such an excitment into my heart!
Kyrie is the secretary at the Christian school in town. I visited her there recently and thrilled at the boxes of school boxes packaged up and ready to be cracked open by eager little minds, bright, energetic blank slates ready to be written on. I remember those special open house parties my mother would throw for us when we were starting a new homeschool year. She would lay out all our new textbooks, arranging them enticingly on a table and invite The Grandparents over for a snack/supper. It was so fun to look at those blank pages and think of filling them with my neatest, nicest handwriting! Of course, the fun wore off in a day or so, but still, that little-girl feeling comes over me and I'm excited for students, (and myself, a student who will soon be started a new college year).
You know, in God's Word, the Bible, He tells us of the importance of us being ready learners, eager listeners for His words, ready to take in and do what He tells us. When we refuse to listen to Him, we put ourselves in grave danger. It is always good for us to have open hearts to take in what He would have us know and put into practice.
Today, what is the LORD saying to me? What do I need to learn of Him? (Time's up.) He says in Matthew 11:28-30, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly of heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
(I did just a bit of editing.... Hope that's okay, y'all...)
It's Friday again and time to team up with Kate Motaung and the gang at FMF blogger party!
The word for this week is: Here
Go!
The summer course is over, I've turned in my last test. The LORD helped me all the way and I'm so thankful and excited to be done. Now for a week or two free before the fall schedule starts. But what then? And what before then? And what after then? I find myself again to be in need of coming before my gracious Master and saying, "LORD, I am here. Whatever You want to do with me now and in the future, take me and use me. I'm not sure what Your will is for me, what Your intentions are, but I know that they are for my good, because You are good. You do all things for my good, and most importantly for Your Glorious Name to be exalted. So, LORD, use me, do whatever You want to do. I offer my life, I am here for You, dear Potter. Who else is here with me on the altar? May I be used by You to be an encouragement to them as they continually surrender their lives to Your purposes. What else is at stake, what else is here being offered? My strength, my talents, my lack of sleep, my cluelessness, my brains, my can't-compute-don't-comprehend-ness, my family, my friends. All these dear gifts belong to You. You loaned them to me and with Your help I surrender them back to You. I lay them down here at Your feet for You to take and turn them into something that will exalt You and Your Precious Son, Jesus Christ. You also are here, LORD. And that is the most important fact. The fact that I don't mindlessly offer myself and all I love to something or someone who doesn't care. You are here and You tenderly and sweetly take my little gifts and hold them for me."
Stop.
So what about you, dear reader? What does "here" mean to you? And, more importantly, are you at the place in your life where you have surrendered to Jesus Christ to be the Lord of your life? Have you realized your sinfulness and His righteousness? Do you know how much He loves you, that He came to this earth, lived a sinless life, and died taking the punishment which we all deserve? Do you know that He rose again three days after He died, showing Himself to be totally different than any other god or leader? Do you know that anyone who calls out to Him for forgiveness of sins, anyone who surrenders to His being their Master and Lord, will be heard by Him, will be forgiven and blessed with His kind Lordship? I would like to challenge you to think about this. Ask God to show you whether my words are right or not; let Him be your God and the Ruler of Your life!
It's Friday again and I'm linking up with the great writers at Kate Motaung's Five Minute Friday weekly writing party! http://katemotaung.com/2015/07/30/five-minute-friday-try-plus-a-giveaway/ The word for today is Try. Whew!
Go.
One of my childhood memories that even now carries over into adulthood is my Mother's encouragement at mealtimes to get her children to "Try just a little bit of everything served." Even if we didn't think we would like it, or even if we knew we didn't like it, we were told to get a bite-sized portion. To this day, I love almost every food, probably as a direct result of her training.
I remember coming in contact with a wonderful older man when I was in my teens. He was a top maker who sold his toys at a family-friendly museum-like center. There he taught people young and old how to throw his tops just right and make them spin. My family stayed on and on until we finally had it mastered. I was sobered when he pointed out, "So many young people I try to teach quit so easily." His words stuck with me and encourage me even now not to quit too soon. As a college student, I have at times experienced feelings of being overwhelmed at what is required of me, but I know, if I keep on going, keep trying, I can succeed.
I've run out of time, but I have to add something a dear Sunday school teacher told his class once. "It's only the quitters who are failures. Those who make mistakes but get up and try again are the ones who succeed." Those who belong to Christ have His Holy Spirit and the promise of His great strength for those things they attempt to do for His Name's Sake. Whatever the LORD leads His people to do, He will help them to accomplish. It's our job to trust Him and to try!
