Psalm 23:6 - CUPS

Psalm 23:6 - My cup runneth over...

As I reflect back on Mission Nashville I am so blessed.  I know the ten teens who went with Doc and I were blessed to.  All of our cups were overflowing.  The main reason being is we chose to live Kingdom Life.  We chose to focus on the Lord and not ourselves or others.  We chose to do what the Lord directed us to do.

As I preached about yesterday, the teens showed attributes we, as a church, can learn from.

• Compassion - seeing teens at the altar praying with other teens was such a blessing to me
• Unity - working together as a team is something adults struggle with
• Perseverance - not giving up when it would have been so easy
• Servant heart - no matter what task was put before them, they did it with a servant attitude

Those of us who went to Nashville were challenged to come home and continue with living a Kingdom life.  In order for that to happen we must show these same attributes.  Compassion.  Unity.  Perseverance.  Servant heart.  In order for that to happen we must keep our focus on the Lord.  When we do these things, then we will have cups overflowing with blessings.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for the blessings from the mission trip last week.  Thank You for using me as Your servant not only in areas of ministry in Nashville but with the group we took.  I praise Your Holy Name for loving me enough to put opportunities before me to serve others.  Thank You Jesus for being My Blesser.  Amen.

Psalm 103 - "Nothing I Hold On To"

Psalm 103

1 Praise the Lord, my soul;
    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the Lord, my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
    and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
    and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6 The Lord works righteousness
    and justice for all the oppressed.

7 He made known his ways to Moses,
    his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
    slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
    nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
    or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

13 As a father has compassion on his children,
    so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed,
    he remembers that we are dust.
15 The life of mortals is like grass,
    they flourish like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
    and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting
    the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
    and his righteousness with their children’s children—
18 with those who keep his covenant
    and remember to obey his precepts.

19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
    and his kingdom rules over all.

20 Praise the Lord, you his angels,
    you mighty ones who do his bidding,
    who obey his word.
21 Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,
    you his servants who do his will.
22 Praise the Lord, all his works
    everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the Lord, my soul.

I love a song we heard at Mission Nashville this week.  It's called "Nothing I Hold On To" and even though the lyrics are so simple they are so powerful.

I lean not on my own understanding,
My life is in the hands of the maker of heaven

I Give it all to you God, 
Trusting that you'll make something beautiful out of me

I will climb this mountain 
With my hands wide open
I will climb this mountain 
With my hands wide open

There is nothing I hold on to
There is nothing I hold on to
There is nothing I hold on to
There is nothing I hold on to

All Glory To God, Forever. Amen

Woo hoo!!!!  "Nothing I Hold On To" is the way I want to live my life.  Total surrender is the theme of my life.  I don't want to allow anything to get between me and the Lord.  Nor do I want to allow anyone to get in between Him and I.  I pray every day to have His attitude and His demeanor.  When I allow the enemy to creep into my life, I give him a foothold and he is not the one who should have a foothold in my life.  Only the Lord should be in my life.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for this song.  Thank You for loving me enough to not only die on the cross but then to be resurrected for me.  I pray You will continue to bless all of the people who participated in Mission Nashville in a mighty way.  Show each of us where You want us to go and what You want us to do as Your servants.  Thank You Jesus for being The One I Hold On To.  Amen.

Psalm 144:1 - My Rock

Yesterday was such an amazing day filled with God moments.  There were so many times I was in awe as I saw God working in and around me.  I loved basking in His Presence.  But the enemy didn't like the day went.  He tried over and over at the end of the day to strike.  He won in some cases but not in all.  Praise The Lord!  I am grateful for Psalm 144:1...

Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle – my loving kindness and my fortress, my high tower and my deliverer, my shield and the One in whom I take refuge, who subdues my people under me.

The Lord blessed me with His words and His composure as I battled the enemy last night.  He gave me boldness in a whole new way.  I'm so grateful that He was there for me but I'm also saddened by the ground the enemy took back.  I am praying against the enemy having anymore power in this new day ahead.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for encouraging me and giving me new boldness.  Thank You for being My Shield last night.  Lord, I pray against the enemy gaining any foothold in the lives of the ones I dealt with last night.  I pray You would be so real to them that they would not have any chance to follow the enemy.  Lord, close mouths that need closed.  Open up minds to Your way when all they are use to is the way of the enemy.  Thank You Jesus for being My Rock.  Amen.

Matthew 22:34-40 - Loving With God's Love

So many people....

so many hurting people...

so many hurting people who need The Lord...

so many hurting people who need to surrender to The Lord.

It seems like every time I turn around there is another person who needs prayed for.  Many of these people either don't know The Lord or have walked away from them.  I just wish I could smack them up the side of the head and wake them up.  But of course that wouldn't be what Jesus would want of me.  He would want me to love them and to pray for them.  The desire of His heart would be for me to be a beacon of light to them.  How can I be a beacon of light to those who don't want to have a different life?  How can I make a difference in the lives of people who are happy with the way they are?  The only way is to be Jesus to them.  I need to show them unconditional love just as He would.  Wow!  That's not always easy to do.  When people keep living the way the ways of the world and refuse The Lord, it's hard to love them.  But if we follow His direction we must love them.

34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law,tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”  37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

I am praying for the love of Jesus to take over some people's lives.  I am praying nothing will go right for them until they accept The Lord as their God instead of the things of this world they have as their god.  I pray for...

...the alcoholic who struggles with sobriety.  I pray for this time sober to be his time of complete surrender
...the heroin addict who needs to get to the end of herself and allow God to cleanse her.  I also pray protection over her family
...the mother who is allowing the world to suck her into it and away from The Lord

Dear Jesus,
I pray You will enable me to be the beacon of light You so desire of me.  I pray for more of You and less of me.  Lord, these three individuals You have laid on my heart to pray for this morning are precious people.  They are Your children who need You in a mighty way.  Father, whatever I can do to make a difference is the desire of my heart.  Thank You Jesus for being My God.  Amen.

Romans 8:28-31 - "Oceans"

Yesterday as I went throughout my day I had the music of a song going through my head.  Later in the day the lyrics started coming to me.  It was no surprise when I woke up to the song today.  "Oceans (Where Feet May Fall)" that Hillsong sings is about how no matter where The Lord takes us our faith will be with us.  There is one part in particular that blesses me beyond measure.

Your grace abounds in deepest waters

Your sovereign hand

Will be my guide

Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me

You've never failed and You won't start now

The Lord never leaves us.  No matter what comes before us He is there.  His Word tells us in Romans 8:28-31...

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He alos justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" 

We just need to remember to keep our focus on Him.  We need to make sure our faith is grounded in Him so we won't fall.

So I will call upon Your name

And keep my eyes above the waves

When oceans rise

My soul will rest in Your embrace

For I am Yours and You are mine

It all comes back to living in His Presence.  Seeking His Will each and every day...

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders

Let me walk upon the waters

Wherever You would call me

Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander

And my faith will be made strong
In the presence of my Savior

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for the reminder of this song.  Thank You for loving me so very much.  "I am Yours and You are mine" continues to be the desire of my heart.  Lord, "When oceans rise; My soul will rest in Your embrace..."  YES!  You have given me the example of what it means to be faithful.  You are always there for me and I want to always be with You.  Thank You Jesus for being My Faithfulness.  Amen.

Ruth 1:16-17 - Is God Enough For You?

16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”

"Is God enough for you?"  What a loaded question...one too make you think and ponder upon.  I loved hearing the story of Ruth again last night.  Hearing of her complete surrender always encourages me.

Living a life of surrender is where I choose to be.  Hearing His Voice and following His prompting is the easiest place for me to live.  I am so grateful for the day I finally realized what it took to live a peaceful life.  I have so many people who question how I can call my life peaceful when it is so chaotic.  LOL  Peace comes in the chaos when we lean on Jesus  Peace comes in the storms of life when we allow Him our total self.

It's funny to think about us "allowing" Him anything.  We aren't ours.  Nothing we have is ours.  Everything comes from Him.  Yet because we hold onto things we think we have control.  NOT!  We just think we have control.  Sometimes I picture The Lord up there watching us and probably laughing at us.  I'm sure there are times He shakes His head at us as we try to do things in our own strength or in our own way.

Freedom comes when we realize total surrender is the best choice we could ever make on this earth.  Total surrender on this earth will bring peace in our earthly flesh.  Woo hoo!

Yesterday was full of "stuff" that could have drove me crazy because I felt out of control.  Thankfully The Lord reminded me He is the only One to be in control.  He already had things taken care of before they happened.  Woo hoo!

Dear Jesus,
I'm not sure what all today holds.  I do know there are some physical things that could get in the way today but I give them to You to handle.  I also know there may be some times you take me out of my comfort zone today and I pray for Your Words on my lips.  Lord, last night I was reminded You don't ask me to do anything You have not already equipped me to do.  Thank You for that reminder as I start another day.  Lord, thank You for being Enough For Me!  Amen.

John 10:10 - "I Will Rise"

I woke up this morning singing "I Will Rise" and was so blessed.  Sometimes the weight of praying for people can become so overwhelming.  It seems like there is an ever growing list of things/people to pray for.  I have to remember to pray and allow God to work through my prayers instead of fretting over them.  The most important thing to pray for in anyone's life is their spiritual needs.  It grieves me to see believers losing faith due to circumstances put before them on this earth.  If they would only hold onto the promise of eternity with the Lord instead of giving into the enemy, life would be so different for them on this earth and for eternity.

"There's a peace I've come to know
Though my heart and flesh may fail
There's an anchor for my soul
I can say, it is well…"

Woo hoo!  I am so blessed to live based on eternity and not worldly things.  The Lord is My Anchor and for that I'm so grateful.  His love is what gets me through each and every day.  I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt that He is with me no matter what happens.  That is a comforting thought.  I am never alone.  

I also know the reason I can live a life of hope in eternity is because of His death and resurrection.  I love the words in this song that go…

"Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead…"

His death and resurrection are why we are here today.  His sacrifice on the cross was the ultimate thing He could do for us.  When you think about it if we don't life a life in surrender to Him, His death and resurrection were for nothing.  I sure don't want to get before Him and be asked why I didn't live a life fully surrendered to Him.  I use to think my time before Him at judgement would be Him asking about things I did or didn't do.  Now I believe my time will be more of a conversation with Him about a life of surrender.

Many people today would rather die than surrender fully to the Lord.  That's a shame.  Surrender doesn't show weakness but rather shows strength.  A life of surrender gives us exactly what He has in store for us.  I love Jesus' words of John 10:10...The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.  This promise is exciting!  I so desire His fullness not only on this earth but in eternity.

This morning I am praying for some pretty tough circumstances in people's lives but I am leaving them with the Lord.  The old saying that you shouldn't worry over things you can't change is so very true.  But the thing that I always think of when I hear that is I can pray and prayer changes things.

Dear Jesus, I pray Your will for…
…the one struggling with demons from her past
…the one caught up in a situation not of You and can't figure out how to get out
…the family torn apart by jealousy
…the family grieving over the loss of their loved one
…the family torn apart by a family member's addiction
…the one who has went back into his addictive ways
…the one struggling with major health concerns
…the family who lost their home to a fire
…the ones who have damage to their homes caused by the storm
…the mother who is raising her children in the ways of the world
…the parents who are struggling over their children who have strayed away from You

Thank You Jesus for listening to my prayers this morning.  Thank You for the reminding me of the words to this song.  I am so grateful for the peace You give to me throughout my days.  Thank You for the ones praying for me that allow me to feel more of Your peace.  I love the knowledge that I am ready to say, "And I will rise when He calls my name...No more sorrow, no more pain...I will rise on eagle's wings...Before my God, fall on my knees...And rise, I will rise."  Thank You Jesus for being My Peace!  Amen.

 

Deuteronomy 31:8 - Promise Keeper

I love this scripture.  It gives me such peace as I hold onto its promise.  When I stop and think about people who don't have such knowledge, I wonder how they make it through life.  How do they make it through the storms of life?  I know some turn to other gods such as drugs and alcohol but those are only temporary fixes.  The Lord is the only fix for eternity.  

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for being with me 24/7.  Thank You for the peace that comes with leaning upon Your strength when mine is gone.  Thank You for Your loving arms that I feel around me when I fall apart emotionally.  I praise Your Holy Name for being My Promise Keeper.  Amen.

Ephesians 6:10-20 - "Help Me Find It"

This week has been a tough one for me.  As I think back upon everything that has happened it's no wonder I am feeling empty.  It's also didn't surprise me when the Lord woke me up to a song Sidewalk Prophet's sing called "Help Me Find It."  The words reminded me to not allow things I can't control to get to me.  That is something easier said than done.

"If I need to be still
Give me peace for the moment
Whatever Your will
Whatever Your will
Can you help me find it"

Yes!  That is exactly what I want.  His will for me.  Nothing else.

"I lift my empty hands (come fill me up again)
Have Your way my King (I give my all to You)
I lift my eyes again (Was blind but now I see)
‘Cause You are all I need"

He is definitely all I need to get through the good days and the bad days.  No.  I don't like using the terms "good" and "bad" when it comes to talking about days.  There are just some days that are tougher to get through than others.  Sometimes they are tougher because I make them that way.  When I allow the enemy to cause me to doubt myself, is one of the things that can make a day tougher.  When I don't listen to my body, a day can be tougher.  When I take on the weight of the world, a day can be tougher.

I needed reminded that when I pray for people or circumstances I don't have to fix things myself.  Instead I need to allow the Lord to work through my prayers.  Sometimes my prayers are so deep and it's hard to not allow the people/circumstances to get to me.  There are so many people who are dealing with satan in a family member's life.  If I allow my prayers to pull me down, then I'm allowing satan a foothold in my own life. 

Earlier this week I told someone I had my full armor of God on because I felt like I was going into the enemy's camp.  At the time, I didn't realize just how true that was.  The enemy is fighting for me and I refuse to allow him victory.  It order to have victory in the Lord all pieces need to be in place each and every day.  Many teach of six pieces of armor (Ephesians 6:10-17) but there is a seventh piece and that is praying in the Spirit (vs. 18-20).

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 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. 13 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. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvationand the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

This morning I am praying the full armor of God over myself.  I also pray it over anyone who is in battle with the enemy.  

I pray the belt of truth so that I will not be deceived by the "father of lies" (John 8:44).  
I pray the breastplate of righteousness to keep the vulnerable areas of my life protected.  
I pray the footwear of the readiness of the Gospel so that I might flee the enemy and move in the Lord's will.
I pray the shield of faith so when the attacks come at me my faith in the Lord will enable me to continue standing.
I pray the helmet of salvation so the enemy will see I belong to the Lord.
I pray the sword of the Spirit will take over me completely so I have the best offense to anything that comes my way.
I pray my prayers will open doors that need opened and close doors that need closed not only for myself but for those I pray for.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for the reminder of "Help Me Find It" this morning and then for showing me the path on where to find the peace I need.  Thank You for being with me these last few days that were so tough.  I praise You for giving me the realization this morning that the doubts going through my mind belonged to the enemy.  Thank You for taking care of those doubts and clearing them out of my mind.  So many tears have flowed this week but the ones today are ones of peace that You have given me.  Woo hoo!  Thank You Jesus for being My Full Armor.  Amen.

Matthew 6:9-13 - "God of Wonders"

The Lord woke me up singing "God of Wonders" this morning.  As I was singing, I thought about how when He is truly our "...Lord of heaven and earth …." our life is different.  We don't have to fret over such things as a day full of appointments.  When we pray for the Lord's will, we leave the day in His hands.  We are told in Matthew 6:9-13 to do just this.

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Verse ten is instrumental in what will happen when we pray this way.  Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  Praying His will is the only way we should pray.  We don't know what's best for us.  Only He does.  Therefore, why should we ask Him to do something that may not be His will?  We shouldn't.  

This song says, "You are holy…"  Isn't that enough for us to know to make us realize the importance of depending upon Him.  We seek to be like Him.  The desire of our heart should be to also be holy.  But we can never be the same as Him; only be seeking holiness for ourself.    

holyVariationadj.adjective

• 1. Belonging to, derived from, or associated with a divine power; sacred.
  2. Regarded with or worthy of worship or veneration; revered.
     a holy book.
  3. Living according to a strict or highly moral religious or spiritual system; saintly.
     a holy person.
  4. Specified or set apart for a religious purpose.
     a holy place.
  5. Solemnly undertaken; sacrosanct.
     a holy pledge.
  6. Regarded as deserving special respect or reverence.
     The pursuit of peace is our holiest quest.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for this reminder this morning.  Thank You for loving me enough to encourage me throughout my days.  I praise You for the encouragement I received from my friends yesterday when I fell apart.  I praise You for the day that is ahead.  Father, I am praying Your Word over this day.  "They kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."  Lord, only You know the outcome of this day.  It is in Your hands, not mine.  Father, would you please use me in this day to be You to others?  Would You please not let me get so caught up in everything that I miss an opportunity You put before me?  Most of all would You please guard my tongue from saying anything that is not part of Your will?  I praise You Father for being My Holiness.  Amen.