Hear Him Speak

What would God's voice sound like? He speaks through different ways, but his true voice...

PSALM 29

Ascribe to the Lord, O mighty ones,

ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;

worship the Lord in the splendor of his holinesss.

The voice of the Lord is over the waters;

 the God of glory thunders, 

The Lord thunders over the mighty waters.

The voice of the Lord is powerful;

the voice of the Lord is majestic.

The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;

the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,

Sirion like a young wild ox.

The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning.

The voice of the Lord shakes he desert;

 the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh.

The voice of the Lord  twists the oaks and strips the forest bare.

And in his temple all cry, "Glory!"

The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; 

The Lord is enthroned as King forever.

The Lord gives strength to his people with peace.

Sing of His Love

Testings bring Blessings and Blessings bring Testings - It's like a never ending cycle!
God has brought me a new "test" - I plan to embrace it.  This, by far, is the hardest test I have had to deal with, a test that I don't want to talk about.  I've got to find a way to overcome this fear. And I know that the only way is through HIM.

"When you pass through the waters I will be with you. 

And when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. 

When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;

the flames will not set you ablaze. 

For I am the Lord your God."

Isaiah 43:2-3

Would dare you, would you dare, to believe,
that you still have a reason to sing,
'cause the pain you've been feeling,
can't compare to the joy that's coming

So hold on, you got to wait for the light
press on, just fight the good fight
because the pain you've been feeling,
it's just the dark before the morning

My friend, you know how this all ends
and you know where you're going,
you just don't know how you get there
so just say a prayer.
and hold on, cause there's good who love God,
life is not a snapshot, it might take a little time,
but you'll see the bigger picture

Before the Morning 

 Josh Wilson

Never let 'em see you when you're breaking
Never let 'em see you when you fall
That's how we live and that's how we try
Tell the world you've got it all together
Never let them see what's underneath
Cover it up with a crooked smile
But it only lasts for a little while
There's no such thing as perfect people
There's no such thing as a perfect life
So come as you are, broken and scared
Lift up your heart and be amazed
And be changed by a perfect God

Suddenly it's like a weight is lifted
When you hear the words that you are loved
He knows where you are and where you've been
And you never have to go there again
Who lived and died to give new life
To heal our imperfections
So look up and see out let grace be enough
There's no such thing as perfect people
There's no such thing as a perfect life
So come as you are, broken and scared
Lift up your heart and be amazed
And be changed by a perfect God
By a perfect God
Be changed by a perfect God

Be changed 

Perfect People

Natalie Grant

Taking Up My Cross

I am a different person than I was in high school. I'm more me, who I was then was not me.  "Satan intended to harm me, but God intended it for good (Genesis 50:20)." And now because I have been faithful to him, I'm bearing his fruits.  God has opened so many opportunities for me, choosing to take them is my part. 

I'm looking into an eight week internship with a missionary in Mexico this coming summer. I am SO excited about it! And so ready for it too! I know it is just the beginning of what God has in store for me.  I've known since I was twelve years old that one day I would be in missions, throughout the years I have began to feel it even more.  Then I would say yeah it will probably happen later on in life. But in all "actual" (Spanish for the present) his plan for me, this calling from deep within, is a lot more closer than I had thought.  Sunday at church I felt God's presence, his peace and his love - as I was worshiping him I became overwhelmed - I know he was speaking to me, it may not have been actual words but I knew exactly what it was.

And for the first time in my life, I'm ready. Truly ready for Him to take me somewhere. And I know with all my heart that the opportunity that has opened up for me this summer has been and will be totally Him.

There is NO holding back anymore!

I owe Him everything . . . 

Therefore, my dear [sister] - stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourself full to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

  1 Corinthians 15:58

Beautiful Bride

Most females don't look in the mirror and feel beautiful. I am one of them.  We (females) end up searching the world for someone to call us beautiful, someone to comment on our looks. That's why we wear some of the crazy things we wear!  To be noticed, because deep down, there is a little girl crying out her dreams.  She wants to be beautiful, some day she wants to be a bride, to have kids and to live happily ever after.  (These four dreams I have gotten from Beth Moore's book Breaking Free, but I am sharing my view.)

I remember having those dreams, but if we really think about it-we still have those same dreams! One of my friends recently got married; her marriage is a beautiful symbol of true love.  It brought back those dreams and hopes of one becoming a beautiful bride.  And it also reminded me that I am nowhere near ready to be a bride for an earthly man; I'm still preparing myself for my Prince.

Right now my dreams are the same, but right now they take on a totally different meaning! 

I yearn to live happily ever after in a place far more beautiful than we can even imagine!
(1 Corinthians 2:9 ~ No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.)

I dream to have children of my own, whether they are mine or adopted. I may or may not be able to have children of my own, but I rest secured that I will be an influence on someone because of the path God has made for me.

I want to be beautiful, not because someone tells me, but because I am so In Love with Christ that I can't help but to see His beauty in me. (Song of Songs 2:1 I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.)

And lastly I want to be his bride, I want to begin preparing myself for him.  The one who came to earth to Die for Me. (and you too of course) But that is the kind of love He showed me, I want to show Him my love in return.

Song of Songs is a very intimate book.  It is between the "beloved" and her "lover."  It is our example of Christ with the church.  In Ephesians 5:22-33, it talks about husbands and wives duty to each other.  (v. 25 Husbands love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her) That is how intimate our relationship with Christ should be.  No matter if we are male or female, we are the bride of Christ.  We are not His "wives" but his "brides." Why are we brides? Because although we will spend eternity with Him, we will remain fresh and new.  Our relationship with Him should never become "old and crusty."

To be a bride of Christ, is to be willing to follow Him wherever He may lead me! And that is where I will go.

The Woman at the Well

John 4:7-15
 (11) "Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep.  Where can you get this living water? 912) Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank form it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?" (13) Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, (14) but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."(15) The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water."

I need a fresh taste of the living water, I don't need to go back to the well that draws me in but yet habit is so hard to break.  I took that big drink of living water.  God "lead [me] into the desert and [spoke] tenderly to [me]" Hosea 2:14  and it was a beautiful place; a place I want to stay!

Growing up is a funny kind of thing.  You learn where to draw the line and stand up for who you are.  And when that time comes to take that first very big step, its scary, intimidating, almost terrifying. Because - it means you're becoming an adult.  But I have a feeling that once that first big step is made, each tough step after may become a little less intimidating.  I don't mean there wont be horrifying ones, I mean, that you will know that you can.

"If God is for us, then WHO can be against us?" Romans 8:31

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes us with groans that words cannot express." Romans 8:26

Breakthrough

I'm starting this blog, because I have a lot to say, to let out.  I have been through many struggles in these first 20 years of my life. Some of which I have brought on myself and some of which life has just given me.  But through it all I have had to grow up, I have had to learn from mistakes and hardships.  I wouldn't change anything that has happened, good or bad, because I wouldn't be who I am today.  I don't necessarily like who I am every day, but I'm getting there.  But one thing has been solid, one thing has held me together when I felt like falling apart would just be easiest.  That One thing...Is God.  He has helped me breakthrough my captivity of my past.


The definition of a <breakthrough> is : an offensive thrust that penetrates and carries beyond a defensive line in warfare; an act or instance of breaking through an obstacle; a sudden advance especially in knowledge or technique; a person's first notable success.


My "Breakthrough" was when God spoke to my heart.  Therefore, now I am going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her.  Hosea 2:14.   
And that is exactly what he has done.




Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You.  Show me the way I should go, for to you, I lift up my soul.  Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord, for I hide myself in you.  Teach me to do your will for you are my God, may your good spirit lead me on level ground.
                                                                    ~Psalm 143:8-10~