Still- Hillsong... Day 3 of 31 days of worship

When I first heard this song in college, I fell in love with it. I was going through a rough patch... I was struggling with identity, school, rivalries and boys... Praise team practice came around that week and I grudginly went. We started with this song... a new one that our pianist had heard and wanted to present to us. As I listened to the words, it was all I could do to keep from crying. In the pain and struggles, hardships and frustrations I was being surrounded by God.It was the first time that I even got chills while worshipping.
Psalm 46:10 says that we should be still and know that he is God... It goes on to read that the Lord Almighty is with us....
I love the line that says When the oceans rise and thunders roar... I will soar with you above the storm... Father you are king over the flood... I always liked the verse in Isaiah that said those who renew their hope in the Lord will mount up on wings like eagles... eagles are so majestic and graceful... I've always loved that verse, but had an eye opening thought the other day while sitting in church. I love the x-men movies and in the third movie, there is a character named Warren Worthington (Archangel) who is a mutant... his mutation is that he has these beautiful white wings... he can literally fly... in one scene, he is running away from his father and the mutant antidote and he crashes through a window and soars away...

I know we don't have wings and can't fly... but it was a really great visual.
When we are weary and can't move another step... God's right there to pick us up... like that visual of Archangel... we are lifted up and carried through... Now let's back track a little... we aren't the ones that are strong... it's all God... starting in verse 28 we read: Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God,the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
It is by God's strength that we are made strong... when we cry out to him for help and strength, he is right there beside us, helping us through... sometimes, we have to limp through the pain of the storms... but we are never alone in those storms...
Plumb released a song entitled: Need you now... and the chorus reads: How many times have you heard me cry out "God please take this"? How many times have you given me strength to Just keep breathing? Oh, I need you... God, I need you now.
Going into verse 30: Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Hide me now... under your wings... cover me, within your mighty hand.
These verse and the song Still are very close to my heart.... they are a reminder to be still in the midst of the chaos and noise... to remember that God is in control... he is the commander of the waves and seas... he is the Lord over all... Be still and know he is God.

10,000 Reasons- Matt Redman

Psalm 103 reads: Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all. Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.
Yesterday morning as I was driving home from the airport, I heard this song… and the first verse is what hit me and became the “theme” of my 31 days blog… the first verse reads: The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning, It's time to sing Your song again…Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me…Let me be singing when the evening comes.
There are days that I can tell you that I am not singing praises when I leave work to head home… in fact a few years ago, I could have never even written something like this without lying…. Do we live our lives singing “Bless the Lord, O my soul” or is it, “Well, it’s another day….” I used to wake up thinking, it’s another day, another 8 hours at work, another paycheck… now, after completely opening up my life to God’s will… I wake with an excitement on some mornings… that song is there and I can’t stop singing. Each of our days should be like that… we should be overwhelmed with worship in the good times, the bad times, and all those in between times. Bless the Lord O my soul, O my soul… Worship His holy name. Sing like never before, O my soul… I’ll worship your holy name.

Cornerstone- Hillsong

We all know the story of the wise man and the foolish man… one built his house on the sand, the other on the solid rock. When the floods came, the foolish man’s house was washed away. The wise man’s house stood firm.
When we place our trust on Christ Jesus, He becomes the cornerstone and solid rock in our lives.
Psalm 69: 6-8 reads: He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
“On Christ the solid rock, I stand, all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.”
Ephesians 2:19-22 says: Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
On John Piper’s website, desiringgod.org, he says this: God's great purposes for the building of his church, including Bethlehem, often come through seasons of rejection, but in the end he remains triumphant and none of us can bring his purpose to ruin. If we reject his way, we cannot destroy his plan. C.S. Lewis said once: "We all serve God inevitably, but it makes a great difference whether you serve like Judas or serve like John."1 In the end God is triumphant in our belief and our unbelief. He is triumphant in our obedience and our disobedience. Human beings, whether good or evil, rejecting or accepting, believing or unbelieving, cannot thwart the ultimate purposes of God. "The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner."
“Christ alone; cornerstone. Weak made strong; in the Saviour's love, Through the storm, He is Lord… Lord of all.”
When it comes to our lives, as Christians, we should be focused on Christ... the cornerstone of our faith... the solid rock that carries us in our times of weakness. Put your trust in the cornerstone that will never fail!
It's funny, but after I posted this blog very early this morning... on the drive back from the airport I heard a song that is going to be featured during the next 31 days... and I realized that this challenge for me has become about worship... I hope these songs will bless you as they have blessed my life and made me realize that you can worship anytime and anywhere... there is never a bad time to give our worship to God!
Have a great Monday!

31 days blog challenge...

Starting this 31 days blog has been difiicult, I'm not goiing to lie... It's been an interesting road, pulling songs and working out what to write. I am actually still working out several songs... so this should be pretty exciting. I am here, one day before starting this great adventure of music... excited,nervous and scared. I pray that God will use these words to bless each reader. It's been a wild ride and a bumpy one at that... but I'm learning so much as I go...
So tomorrow, as you set out on this journey of music with me, may the words of the songs will touch your life and bring you closer to God.

Everybody's working for the weekend...

You remember that 80's song, whether you want to admit it or not... most radio stations will play it on the Friday commute home...
I found myself really praying that the week would pass quickly and deliver the weekend.... and then I got to thinking that if I spent my life wishing for tomorrow... I would end up never really living... we are encouraged to life every day as if it were our last... we are not promised tomorrow, so don't just work and live for the weekend... experience each day, mo matter how hard, no matter how exhausted we are, we need to see the blessings instead of just seeing the bad things, the exhaustion or the frustration.

On the edge of somthing big and brave...

Every breath is another step of faith, Part of me still likes the ground where I feel safe and sound... but you push me, pull me and I finally let go. "Falling" by Travis Cottrell.
The moment that we take the step of faith and become a Christian, something happens... our lives have a purpose... a higher calling if you will.
It took me about 9 years and getting rid of the baggage before I actually began to understand what I truly wanted to be. I am still fighting the battle of self-doubt... there are days that are better than others...
Jeremish 29:11 was always a favorite verse because no matter how much I was floundering in life, it was an encouragement that I had a purpose... I was made for something great. The verse tells is: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. God can do great things in our lives if we are open to Him!
A couple of Sundays ago, our pastor was sharing a message on being open or obediant to God's will. He used the calling of the disciples in Luke 5... He sees Simon's boat and because there are so many people surrounding him, he asks Simon if he can go out on the water with him. After Jesus finished speaking, he told Simon to go to deep water and cast his nets. Simon, who has been fishing all night looks at Jesus and tells him “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
Because you say so... Simon had just met Jesus and was open to what he had to say... needless to say they caught so many fish that the boat was beginning to buckle under the weight... they had to call in another boat to help the bring in their catch. It is then that Simon realizes who he is talking to... he tells Jesus to leave him because he was a sinful man... Jesus tells him that he will now be a fisher of men. When they reached shore they left everything and followed him.
These men had just met Jesus and yet they were willing to leave their livelyhood to follow him... without question. I know that I cannot say that... I question everything, even if I know that God's placed this calling on my life... I'm more like Moses, making excuses than Simon, James and John who left everything and followed Jesus.
The first thought that comes to my mind is "I'm too young, no one will listen to me." He gave me the verse in I Timothy 4:12 that says Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Another thought that came to mind was "I don't have the right education, or I don't like speaking in front of people... I can't do that... I bet you can guess which verse popped into my head at that thought... yup, Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
I would use the excuse of work... I have a job, I can't finish this study... suddenly, I find myself being let go from my job. I was "blessed" with 5 months to finish a study that was about 3 years in the making. As soon as the study was completed, I found work at a consignment store, followed by a job offer with UPS. It's funny how God works, and even though I complain, make silly excuses and falter at times, He wants to use me to reach people. It's a scary thought sometimes, but the words of Travis Cottrell's song I'm Over encourages me... I've lived so long in darkness. Fighting all I believe. I've questioned everything you are, but faithful as the morning star you never leave. I'm over living life in fear and doubt. I'm over I won't resist the one I can't live without... I'm over. I don't know why you chose me. Knowing I would be weak. But just I am torn apart, you run to me with open arms and hold me. I'm over living life in fear and doubt. I'm over I won't resist the one I can't live without... and I know you love me, even when its hard to see. I'll follow and choose to say, I'm over. You never said it would be easy, but you promised that you'd stay. You give me rest, and you will be here with me, You'll never walk away. Fighting, Doubting, losing, drowning, running, fearing... I'm over living life in fear and doubt. I'm over I won't resist the one I can't live without... and I know you love me, even when its hard to see... I'll follow and choose to say I'm over.
Will we be like Simon and be willing to leave everything that we know, everything that we find comfort in and be open to His will? or will we be like Moses and make excuses to sit in our complacent rut? The choice is yours... it's scary, but be encouraged that when you step out on faith, God will be right there beside you, he's always faithful!
Be encouraged this week!!! I leave you with the song Faithful God by Travis Cottrell

Finding balance...

It's been a long two weeks trying to find a balance in life. After being unemployed for about five months, it has been weird getting back to work and finding that balance... Today at church, I was approached to play volleyball at our church and I am suddenly excited about Tuesday... not that I am any good at volleyball, it will simply give me the opportunity to make new friends and fellowship:)
These past two weeks have been a learning experience, but I am finding that balance again... with much prayer and patience (yes, I am learning patience... again)... things have been slowly moving back to where I have balance once again... Isaiah 26:3 says: You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
The British had it right when they came up with the posters "Keep calm and carry on" during the second world war...
Put your trust in God, keep calm and carry on!
I hope that in finding this balance I will have more time to blog during the week:) Keep calm and carry on my friends ^_^