{psalm 2:12}
{photo by lisa johnson}
{photo by lisa johnson}
Thursday, February 23, 2012
psalm 1:1-3
blessed are those
who do not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but who delight in the law of the LORD
and meditate on his law day and night.
they are like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
whatever they do prospers.
:: psalm 1:1-3
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
..You're Beautiful..
Such a beautiful song, definitely JAM of the DAY, okay ONE of my jams of the day in my getting ready music this morning, ahhhh soo good!!!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
..all things bright and beautiful you are..
All things wise and wonderful You are
In my darkest night, You brighten up the skies
A song will rise...
..song of hope by the robbie seay band..
{song of hope}
Ahhh, another song in my getting ready music lineup that I cannot stop singing and dancing to today!
--
All things bright and beautiful You are
All things wise and wonderful You are
In my darkest night, You brighten up the skies
A song will rise
I will sing a song of hope
Sing along
God of heaven come down
Heaven come down
Just to know that You are near is enough
God of heaven come down, heaven come down
All things new
I can start again
Creator, God
Calling me Your friend
Sing praise, my soul
To the Maker of the skies
A song will rise
I will sing a song of hope
Sing along
God of heaven come down
Heaven come down
Just to know You and be loved is enough
God of heaven come down, heaven come down
Hallelujah, sing
Hallelujah, sing
Hallelujah, sing
- song lyrics by the robbie seay band;
photo courtesy of only imagine photography
photo courtesy of only imagine photography
..oh how great, is our god..
Oh words and song upon my HEART this morn, YES, "how great is our God, sing with me how great is our God, and all will see...
So I wasn't going to write anything more, but there is something about this photo of these precious triplets that just brings joy to my little heart and just makes me smile. One of the things I love about photos and choosing which ones to use with my posts is that the old adage that is picture is worth a thousand words, for me is so true.
There are so many times a photo captures all I am feeling and trying to express without me even needing to elaborate, this one is no different.
Just love it and something about it made me change the one that had originally come to mind when I decided I had to post this song after getting to worship just now, oh He is so great. Because of Him and His love, comfort, presence, and peace, I am blessed.
Treasured. Loved. Chosen. And Blessed.
Held in the grip of grace.
Yes, You oh God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely.
I will worship, yes, I will praise You.
To You alone do I look, O Lord, to You alone do I call.
For You alone are my Jehovah Jireh; my God of great faithfulness.
My God of unfailing, everlasting love.
For this is my comfort in my affliction,
that Your promise alone gives me life.
Savior, who can move the mountains.
My God is mighty to save, mighty to save.
So, I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes... to You.
::
Age to age He stands / And time is in His hands / Beginning and the end
The Godhead Three in One / Father Spirit Son / The Lion and the Lamb
How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God
Name above all names
Worthy of our praise
My heart will sing
How great is our God
:: lyrics by chris tomlin;
photo courtesy of only imagine photography
Monday, February 13, 2012
..my salvation comes from him..
truly my soul finds rest in god alone;
my salvation comes from him.
{psalm 62:1}
my salvation comes from him.
{psalm 62:1}
:: photo by amanda kingston
-the-lord-is-gracious-
I cannot get these four words out of my head. The Lord is gracious. The Lord is gracious. Like water to my soul, a truth that resonates so deeply with the all that is within me and makes my heart leap. A truth that reflects the heart of the One who holds me in His hands.
A truth that is so much more than mere words on a page or a feeling or emotion, yet a reality that transcends my very existence and transformed and tuned my heart to sing His song in this journey of the last several years of discovering, becoming, being and living out of who I really am. Who HE says I am. The Beloved, Abba's Child. That at the core of my being, I am loved. Seen. Known. Held. Adored by my God the King. That I am His, nothing and no one else, but Abba's Child. For that is my true self and the source of my identity, security, value and worth alone. That I am the Beloved. I am His.
I am Abba's Child.
The Lord is gracious. This God, this God, who saves me, heals, touches, and restores. Who walks with me. Who fights for me. Who has been and IS and will CONTINUE to be faithful. For that is who He is. The Lord is gracious. The Lord is gracious. Was reading psalm 145 earlier and cannot get even just a few words into that psalm before I start hearing Shane and Shane's rendition of it playing in my head. Such an incredible song about our amazing Lord and Savior. Yes, the Lord is gracious...
Great is the Lord, so worthy of praise - great is the Lord - one generation will - commend Your kingdom to one another - they will speak of You - and i will meditate - on Your wonder - and they - they will speak
of Your glorious splendor - of Your majesty - everyday i'll praise thee - forever and ever - everyday i will praise - for You open Your hand - and satisfy desires of all things - my God the King
the Lord is gracious
and slow to anger
He is rich in love
He is good to all
He is good to all
- lyrics by shane and shane, psalm 145;
photo courtesy of allison lewis
photo courtesy of allison lewis
..for you open your hand..
for You open Your hand,
and satisfy desires of all things, my God the King
{ "psalm 145" by shane and shane }
Friday, February 10, 2012
- he persevered because he saw him who was invisible -
- we live by faith, not by sight -
"now faith is being sure of what we hope for, certain of what we do not yet see"
*unedited/stream of consciousness to edit/rewrite
not by that which our eyes, but what our hearts alone can see. there was something that was there amidst habakkuk in the shadows. when all had been taken away. all had been lost. there is something going on as job cried out and lamented to his god. something we find amidst his heartache, disappointment, praise and despair. there is something more going on when we see shadrach, meschach and abenago in the fire. something allowing them to emerge without a single hair singed not smelling like smoke. there is something else going on when Abraham believed. When Moses followed God through the desert, though both knew not where they were going. There is something more going on when they suffer, Paul suffers and a whole host of people like you and me in between. There lies hidden the treasure we seek. as henri nouwen declares, "a life stronger than death." For there is something incredibly beautiful and transcedent in these snapshots. More going on that what the eye alone can see. Each clung to hope, each clung to Hope, and refused to let go. Refused to let their eyes dwell or focus on everything that was happening around them, though the trials they endured were "many and bitter" as David, another to add to the list, shares unreservedly in the psalms. There was something my heart can deeply resonate with. So many of these verses I've posted today that I cannot explain how much they put into words all that my words simply cannot express, of this life, this truth, this hope and this promise of the one who was, who is and is to come. These words pull and draw me into a reality that is more real than anything I can see, touch, taste, or feel. A reality that we know is all around us, calling, singing over our hearts with His song. But Moses... even when no one around him believed him or understood what or why he was doing what he was doing, Moses, by faith, continued on. He kept going even despite their jeers, doubts, insults and accusations that this God, this "god" that had supposedly led them to the desert to pass over into the promised land, was a liar. "He has only brought us out here to die, Moses we would have been a lot better off in Egypt, as slaves. At least there we had food. where is this "god" you speak of. how long? how many years? how much longer do you expect us to believe this? and on and on and on they cried. But they could not see. they could not see. But what we find in Hebrews' account of Moses in the years of leading the Israelites through the desert is astonishing. Words that leapt off the page and gripped my heart and changed everything about how I was feeling about embracing a new year. Something I wasn't sure I wanted to accept last January, as one year had brought more than I thought I could handle and I wasn't ready for whatever could be lurking around the corner next. 2010 has taught me a thing or two about life, I remember journaling. And I'm not sure I want any more of it, were my exact sentiments last New Year's Day in the early hours of 2011. After an emotional New Year's Day, on in which I woke up with an all too familar knot of nausea and dread in the pit of my stomach, everything within me was crying out for answers. I needed to know how I was going to do this, how are we going to do this God, you and me. How are we going to enter this new year, because to be honest, I'm not sure I really want to go. After a series of events, when I ventured out of the house to my favorite Starbucks, my eyes fell on these words from a favorite psalm, "the lord is my shepherd." I cannot describe the peace and comfort that flooded my soul in those moments as suddenly, I felt like I was slowly being lifted out of a deep, dark pit. Slowly, one by one, a series of verses which led me to the verses that became my prayers for 2011, also led me to one last treasure in the 11th chapter of Hebrews... After commending a list of others for their hallmarks of faith, we find one line much different from all the rest.
23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.
What hits me the most of the author's use of the word, "chose." It shows point blank that while Moses could have easy accepted an easy life, known as the son of the Pharoah's daughter and escape the harsh punishments his people were under, he CHOSE to be mistreated ALONG WITH the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
He chose. He made a decision based on not what his temporal sight, his eyes, could see before him, but he chose to believe that which his HEART alone could see. The God who He knew was there, whom He knew was with him. His God which he knew was bigger than anything that was currently happening. He persevered, he chose to believe and trust and follow His God. I love what comes after that example of what he chose. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of GREATER VALUE than the treasures of Egypt... why? because he was looking ahead to his reward, his eyes were FIXED upon Him who has promised and who is faithful. We find next that Moses left Egypt, not being bound by fears of the king's anger, for He saw him who was invisible... This invisible yet at the same time unmistakable Presence we find and we see woven throughout each of those pages from beginning to end. Moses persevered because he saw something greater. He saw and trusted and CHOSE to believe and walk with the One whom He knew was for him, whom he knew was there, and whom he knew would never leave His side. The One whom though our eyes have not seen Him, our hearts know Him well. Our God, our God, who is greater. The One whose promise alone gives me life. The One who is my reason to live. To One who gives me strength to wake up another day and to walk with Him. To put one foot in front of the other and take another step. It is Him who gives me strength. He who is my strength. Who gives me grace and the strength to seek Him, know Him, trust Him and believe Him. Believe and live in the reality of His presence more real than anything my eyes could ever see. Being led and guided by the One my heart alone can see.
Yes, You are my Jehovah Jireh:
my God who is forever faithful.
I will follow You.
For He who has promised is faithful.
I love you more than words could ever express,
you are my loving God and all I am is yours. Here in your presence, I am made whole. Set free. Made new, alive again. Given hope, strength, grace, peace. Led into life everlasting. I worship You and thank You.
"now faith is being sure of what we hope for, certain of what we do not yet see"
*unedited/stream of consciousness to edit/rewrite
not by that which our eyes, but what our hearts alone can see. there was something that was there amidst habakkuk in the shadows. when all had been taken away. all had been lost. there is something going on as job cried out and lamented to his god. something we find amidst his heartache, disappointment, praise and despair. there is something more going on when we see shadrach, meschach and abenago in the fire. something allowing them to emerge without a single hair singed not smelling like smoke. there is something else going on when Abraham believed. When Moses followed God through the desert, though both knew not where they were going. There is something more going on when they suffer, Paul suffers and a whole host of people like you and me in between. There lies hidden the treasure we seek. as henri nouwen declares, "a life stronger than death." For there is something incredibly beautiful and transcedent in these snapshots. More going on that what the eye alone can see. Each clung to hope, each clung to Hope, and refused to let go. Refused to let their eyes dwell or focus on everything that was happening around them, though the trials they endured were "many and bitter" as David, another to add to the list, shares unreservedly in the psalms. There was something my heart can deeply resonate with. So many of these verses I've posted today that I cannot explain how much they put into words all that my words simply cannot express, of this life, this truth, this hope and this promise of the one who was, who is and is to come. These words pull and draw me into a reality that is more real than anything I can see, touch, taste, or feel. A reality that we know is all around us, calling, singing over our hearts with His song. But Moses... even when no one around him believed him or understood what or why he was doing what he was doing, Moses, by faith, continued on. He kept going even despite their jeers, doubts, insults and accusations that this God, this "god" that had supposedly led them to the desert to pass over into the promised land, was a liar. "He has only brought us out here to die, Moses we would have been a lot better off in Egypt, as slaves. At least there we had food. where is this "god" you speak of. how long? how many years? how much longer do you expect us to believe this? and on and on and on they cried. But they could not see. they could not see. But what we find in Hebrews' account of Moses in the years of leading the Israelites through the desert is astonishing. Words that leapt off the page and gripped my heart and changed everything about how I was feeling about embracing a new year. Something I wasn't sure I wanted to accept last January, as one year had brought more than I thought I could handle and I wasn't ready for whatever could be lurking around the corner next. 2010 has taught me a thing or two about life, I remember journaling. And I'm not sure I want any more of it, were my exact sentiments last New Year's Day in the early hours of 2011. After an emotional New Year's Day, on in which I woke up with an all too familar knot of nausea and dread in the pit of my stomach, everything within me was crying out for answers. I needed to know how I was going to do this, how are we going to do this God, you and me. How are we going to enter this new year, because to be honest, I'm not sure I really want to go. After a series of events, when I ventured out of the house to my favorite Starbucks, my eyes fell on these words from a favorite psalm, "the lord is my shepherd." I cannot describe the peace and comfort that flooded my soul in those moments as suddenly, I felt like I was slowly being lifted out of a deep, dark pit. Slowly, one by one, a series of verses which led me to the verses that became my prayers for 2011, also led me to one last treasure in the 11th chapter of Hebrews... After commending a list of others for their hallmarks of faith, we find one line much different from all the rest.
23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.
What hits me the most of the author's use of the word, "chose." It shows point blank that while Moses could have easy accepted an easy life, known as the son of the Pharoah's daughter and escape the harsh punishments his people were under, he CHOSE to be mistreated ALONG WITH the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
He chose. He made a decision based on not what his temporal sight, his eyes, could see before him, but he chose to believe that which his HEART alone could see. The God who He knew was there, whom He knew was with him. His God which he knew was bigger than anything that was currently happening. He persevered, he chose to believe and trust and follow His God. I love what comes after that example of what he chose. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of GREATER VALUE than the treasures of Egypt... why? because he was looking ahead to his reward, his eyes were FIXED upon Him who has promised and who is faithful. We find next that Moses left Egypt, not being bound by fears of the king's anger, for He saw him who was invisible... This invisible yet at the same time unmistakable Presence we find and we see woven throughout each of those pages from beginning to end. Moses persevered because he saw something greater. He saw and trusted and CHOSE to believe and walk with the One whom He knew was for him, whom he knew was there, and whom he knew would never leave His side. The One whom though our eyes have not seen Him, our hearts know Him well. Our God, our God, who is greater. The One whose promise alone gives me life. The One who is my reason to live. To One who gives me strength to wake up another day and to walk with Him. To put one foot in front of the other and take another step. It is Him who gives me strength. He who is my strength. Who gives me grace and the strength to seek Him, know Him, trust Him and believe Him. Believe and live in the reality of His presence more real than anything my eyes could ever see. Being led and guided by the One my heart alone can see.
Yes, You are my Jehovah Jireh:
my God who is forever faithful.
I will follow You.
For He who has promised is faithful.
I love you more than words could ever express,
you are my loving God and all I am is yours. Here in your presence, I am made whole. Set free. Made new, alive again. Given hope, strength, grace, peace. Led into life everlasting. I worship You and thank You.
..blessed are those who have not yet seen..
"but blessed are those who have not seen, yet have believed..."
yes, you are my jehovah jireh.
my god who is here, my god who is faithful.
my god who alone is good; my god who always, always provides.
"...for he who has promised is faithful."
Monday, February 6, 2012
HE is our refuge and strength.
I cannot begin to describe how much these words have comforted and brought me peace in my times of heartache as well as times of deep joy. Just ran into a friend's facebook status and wanted to click LOVE not like, and just had to re-post and share these words and was so grateful I ran into them.
For He alone is my refuge and my strength. I do not know where I would be without Him. And there is never a moment when I don't need Him. He has filled my heart with His song; His hands restore and make whole, give me life anew every morning. He is the One who is there when everything feels it is falling apart, He is the One who alone holds every tear, every heartache, every victory and joy, every hope and defeat. Yes, You are my Jehovah Jireh, my God who sees, my God who is with me, my God who IS fighting for me. My God who will never leave my side.
My hope is YOU.
in hope against hope, abraham in hope believed...
...for he who has promised IS faithful.
in your {un}failing love
IN YOUR UNFAILING LOVE
you will lead the people you have redeemed...
you will lead the people you have redeemed...
IN YOUR STRENGTH
you will guide them.
you will guide them.
:: exodus 15:13
The Lord will guide you always.
He is your constant source of stability.
[ isaiah 58:11 and isaiah 33:6 ]
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