calm in the storm

Often our lives seem to mirror the stormy seas in the movie the perfect storm.  The harbor seems calm, but the further out to sea we get the stormier the sea becomes.  There are times where it may appear that our boat may capsize.  There are some that go out to sea...and never find their way back to safe harbor.  How is the sea in your life?  Are you in safe harbor or are you lost at sea?  

The following lyrics are my prayer.  I invite you to click on the link and close your eyes and listen.  The image  i opened this entry with is chaos.  Without christ in our lives the sea of our life often seems like it did in the perfect storm.  the waves won't always be calm with christ in your life...but you will have someone to hold onto when life seems to be out of control.  

  My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. (Exodus 33:14)
It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. (Deuteronomy 31:8)
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. (Psalm 46:1-3)


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 stronger
In the presence of my Savior
[x6]

I will call upon Your Name
Keep my eyes above the waves
My soul will rest in Your embrace
I am Yours and You are mine

Have you ever asked him to be your savior?   some will say...i am far beyond gods help.  some will say if he knew the sins i have commited he wouldn't forgive me.  It's never too late, and there is never a sin he can't and won't forgive.  If you are tired of running in circles, tired of fighting the roaring waves alone...I invite you to pray the following prayer:

Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness.

I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin.

You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess the Lord our God and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we shall be saved.

Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved.

Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself.

Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.
Amen.   



hillsong - oceans

open our eyes

Micah 7:7-10

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁷ As for me, I look to the Lord for help.
    I wait confidently for God to save me,
    and my God will certainly hear me.
⁸ Do not gloat over me, my enemies!
    For though I fall, I will rise again.
Though I sit in darkness,
    the Lord will be my light.
⁹ I will be patient as the Lord punishes me,
    for I have sinned against him.
But after that, he will take up my case
    and give me justice for all I have suffered from my enemies.
The Lord will bring me into the light,
    and I will see his righteousness.
¹⁰ Then my enemies will see that the Lord is on my side.
    They will be ashamed that they taunted me, saying,
“So where is the Lord—
    that God of yours?”
With my own eyes I will see their downfall;
    they will be trampled like mud in the streets.

Matthew 7:4-5

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁴ How can you think of saying to your friend,^[a] ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? ⁵ Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.

Mark 8:25

New Living Translation (NLT)

²⁵ Then Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes again, and his eyes were opened. His sight was completely restored, and he could see everything clearly.

probably one of my favorite songs is With everything by hillsong.  The first couple versus are, 

 open our eyes

to see the things that make your heart cry,

to be the church that you would desire

your light to be seen

break down our pride

I have been pondering on the first three words, open our eyes. How many people will never truly have their eyes open?  How many people we as Christians know, go around living with blinders on. Walking in sin, walking in darkness?  Some of us Christians are the same way we go around living with blinders on...never really seeing the love Jesus has shone down on us when he gave his life on calvalry.  will we let him open our eyes?  or will we hide behind the walls we have all build up or will we let him come with the wrecking ball and smash  down those walls?  

This past weekend i was battling a sore throat, the enemy was trying to use it to get me down.  He tried for 3 days...all three days i prayed for help, i let my walls down, i let the great healer do his thing.  I am here to tell you he delivered!  The evil one didn't win because I realized i couldn't do it on my own...I needed the great physician to heal me.  

Father i pray that all the people i know that still are living behind their own walls...would get to a place where they would surrender it all to you.  As you know i plan to go to mens retreat this year. I will be in prayer for all those people i know to surrender, to stop running, to stop putting up walls.

amen

least

³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

^{matthew 25 :35, 36, and 40 NIV}

whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.  I can't quite get over this verse.  Most might not think twice about how they treat others.  They might look at a homeless person on the street and think...well  they must be homeless because of something they did, or payments to a mortgage they didn't make.  Reality might be that their home burned to the ground and they couldn't afford to rebuild.  could be that they were thrown out onto the street by someone who just didn't want them around.  there could be a million reasons. 

some people might think less of a man that asks for help, or can't help himself.  whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.  everytime i see one of these situations i am almost immediatly reminded of this verse.  There are so many that can't help themselves.  there are so many that are in our circle of influence just wanting...needing a hand.  It could be as simple as an ear to listen, could be a sholder to cry on, could be someone to prepare meals for them.  We each could do so much to help our fellow brothers and sisters, all we need to do is take off the blinders that have been placed over our eyes.  whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.

Father i pray that you remove the blinders from my eyes.  break my heart for what breaks yours.  You came to fix our broken lives.  I can be your hands and feet lord just by helping someone that needs your touch.  My hands and feet are yours use them as you need!

in jesus name,
amen


hillsong - fire fall down

Passion - you revive me

rescue

How often do some beleivers wonder through life seemingly lost, or overwhelmed with a situation or tragedy infront of them?  The evil one will use any situation to attempt to tear us from Jesus.  The good side of any seemingly hopeless situation is that we only need cry out to our saviour for help.  He is always beside us just waiting for us to cryout to him.  A good friend of mine just recently lost his great uncle and step brother, with whom he was close.  I offer us this prayer for him tonight.  On his behalf i cryout to jesus for help and comfort.  I pray that you cover my friend with the love that only you could!  Lord i lift you high tonight, you always are there beside me, no matter what!


Prayer below taken from a book of common prayer Printed in 1892


Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night;  for the love of thy only son, our saviou, jesus christ.   amen.

Hillsong united - came to my rescue

Repentance

Zephaniah 2:1-3

GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

A Call for Judah to Turn Away From Sin

2 Gather yourselves together!
Yes, gather together, you shameless nation,
²     before the decree is carried out
        and the day passes like windblown husks,
    before the Lord’s burning anger comes to you,
    before the day of the Lord’s anger comes to you.
³ Search for the Lord, all you humble people in the land
    who carry out his justice.
Search for what is right.
Search for humility.
    Maybe you will find shelter on the day of the Lord’s anger.

Lord many in this world fall short of what you have called us to be.  There is lots of violence toward each other, mean talk toward each other, people just plain being evil to one another.  Father i pray for revival around the world.  Strengthen us beleivers so that we might be light to those around us.  Bless those already speeking the good word in though places.  give them strength and an open audience to receive the word.  Lord i too fall short of your expectations.  if there be any offensive way in me lord remove it, that i might be an example of your grace to all those i encounter.  Give me the strength and words to say when confronted with a person who is living far apart from you.  Give me the words to say to reach that specific individual!

in your name i pray,  amen

Hillsong UNITED - Came To My Rescue (Be Lifted High)

paths

A path is an expression of a habit, Evidence of a journey often made.  A habit made visible where others can follow.  Most of us think of a path made by footprints, but there are paths in the mind, both good and bad.  They are made by repeated words and actions...Some sharp as daggers, others kind and gentle.  We all leave paths in the journey with us.  It is up to us to see the path leads somewhere worth going.

James spruill



The above statement is taken from one of my favorite sermons.  It holds so true in every situation. We all create paths in our journeys through life.  It breaks my heart to see so many broken families...children that don't have fathers or mothers.  Still other families that have both parents...but those parents are too busy with their cariers to stop and see what is actually more important.  I saw a video the other day showing 9-11 through the eyes of the firefighters...I don't often cry, but that one made me sob.  Those courageous men and women that rushed in to save the lives of those still in the towers, most of them knowing full well that they might not make it back out...still they rushed in.  We should all be this way.  Even when life seems too hard...we need to trust that god always has our back. 


Hevenly father, I stand in awe of all you are tonight.  I had the pleasure of making over a room this afternoon/evening for a family that probably couldn't have afforded to hire someone to do the things that myself and the other members of my life group accomplished.  I pray that the work we did for this family truely blessed them in more ways than just improving a bedroom.  I pray that we left an impression that this is what godly people do for others.  We expect nothing in return.  I lift us this family to you father i pray they were truely blessed!

in jesus name
amen!


hillsong - shout to god

i will!

while riding around with the family today doing normal saturday stuff i had a hillsong cd in the radio.  The first song on it was beneath the waters.  I like this song anyway, but there is just something special about hearing my four year old daughters singing along to hillsong - beneath the waters at the top of their lungs.  It really touched me.  I pray that as the grow up they will really realize what jesus did for them on the cross.  I will do my part in witnessing to them.  It is so important for them to know that jesus is their cornerstone, that no matter what jesus is right beside them.  That even when they think that they are alone in what they are going through that ne is right there, laughing with them, crying with them, wanting to comfort them when they are sad and broken hearted.  It is my job and privledge as their father to make sure they know!

Surrender

Hillsong - I surrender
Hillsong Live New DVD Album, Cornerstone, 2012, Name of Song: I surrender

Here I am
Down on my knees again
Surrendering all
Surrendering all

Find me here
Lord as You draw me near
Desperate for You
Desperate for You

I surrender

Drench my soul
As mercy and grace unfold
I hunger and thirst
I hunger and thirst

With arms stretched wide
I know You hear my cry
Speak to me now
Speak to me now

I surrender
I surrender
I want to know You more
I want to know You more

Like a rushing wind
Jesus breathe within
Lord have Your way
Lord have Your way in me

Like a mighty storm
Stir within my soul
Lord have Your way
Lord have Your way in me



This would have to be probably my favorite song.  It is and has been my prayer for a while now.   I want as much of jesus in my life as he will fill me with!  Lord have your way in me!

IHP

hillsong - i surrender

in the light

Ephesians 5

New International Version (NIV)

5 ¹ Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children ² and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
³ But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. ⁴ Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. ⁵ For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.^{[a] 6} Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. ⁷ Therefore do not be partners with them.
⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light ⁹ (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) ¹⁰ and find out what pleases the Lord. ¹¹ Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. ¹² It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. ¹³ But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. ¹⁴ This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,
    rise from the dead,
    and Christ will shine on you.”

¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. ¹⁸ Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It almost seems normal anymore for most of the above passage to be true a lot of the time in everyday conversation.  We as people tend to spend most of our time in darkness.  even though we are supposed to spend our time in the light the evil one often entices us with things of this world, sexual immorality, drunkenness, drug addiction, the list could go on and on.  If we as believers would just stop and think about what Jesus would have us do, or what would he do in this situation.  I know it sounds corny...but it simply is the truth!  



Father I all too often fall short of the standard you laid down for us to follow.  You called me to be light and shine for others to see.  You have full control of my life to do with me as you will, I am clay in your hands to mold as you will.  I pray that i would always keep your will in my mind as i speak to others, that i may explain your good news of grace and forgiveness to them.  For you care not what they have done, as long as they earnestly pray, confess and ask for you to forgive them.

amen

Hillsong Kids - Light of the World

Rise people of god

They took jesus away. carrying his cross, jesus went out to a place called skull hill, where they crucified him...

John 19: 16-18 the message


He was sold out for silver.  Falsely accused of crimes.  They cursed at him...spit at him...beat him...and crucified him.  What they didn't know was that 3 days later, the tomb was empty!!!  My Jesus did all this so i wouldn't have to die eternally.  He did all of this so i could rise with him!  I am so unworthy of his love and grace.  Here lately i have been stuck on the song by hillsong beneath the waters . 

below is a passage from my devotional


God knows best what cross we need to bear. We do not know how heavy other people's crosses are. We envy someone who is rich; his is a golden cross set with jewels, but we do not know how heavy it is. Here is another whose life seems very lovely. She bears a cross twined with flowers. If we could try all the other crosses that we think lighter than our own, we would at last find that not one of them suited us so well as our own.

hillsong - fire fall down


Father thank you will never be enough for what your son did for me on the cross.  I pray that if there is any offensive way in me remove it.  Let your holy fire fall on me lord.  Lord i seek to do nothing but your will.  I pray for all my christian brothers and sisters.  Lord let your holy fire fall on them.  Let us be a light so bright for the lost that they would be like a moth to a flame!  Lord i stand here arms wide in worship of you.  show me your heart, show me your way, show me your glory!  Fill me oh lord!

in jesus name amen!