Category Archives: Amazing Grace

Power Failure???

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There’s never a power failure with God!

Unlike in Florida…

Where we experience power failures all the time…

Like today…

The sun was shining…

It was beautiful outside…

And our power went out!!

We’re used to it in hurricanes and lightning storms…

Prepared for it even…

But, I wasn’t prepared for a power outage today…

Electricity!!!!

I can’t live without it!

I was on the computer…

The internet went down…

Digital clocks were blinking…

The security alarm was beeping…

My hubby was watching his beloved Yankees…

And now nothing!

My son was getting ready to go out…

But can’t use the hair dryer…

Life just stands still a moment…

Or two, Or three…

I quickly forget we have no power…

I’m so used to having it available!!!!

 I go to turn on a light…

I go to microwave something…

I know I’ll freak out soon…

When I realize…

The air conditioning is dying!!!!

Help!!!

Oh, wait!

Thank You, Jesus!!!!!!

Here it comes…

The power is back…

Oh, Praise God!!

I know I need all Your power, too, Lord!

All the power Your Word says I have in Christ!

Power in Your Holy Name, Jesus!

And the power of Your Holy Spirit living in me!!

Thank You, God!!

You’ve never failed me yet!!!

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Luke 24:49

“I am going to send you what My Father has promised;

but stay in the city until you

have been clothed with power from on high.”

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John 1:12-13

“Yet to all who did receive Him,

to those who believed in His Name,

He gave the right to become children of God

children…born of God.”

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Romans 15:13

“May the God of Hope

fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him,

so that you may overflow with hope

by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

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1 Corinthians 4:20

“For the Kingdom of God is not in word,

but in power.”

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You can count on God’s Power!

“It’s A Shame!” Is Different Than “It’s A Sin!”

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“Condemning looks”

When it’s not a sin…

Annoy me!!

And it makes me sad to think…

That people need to do that…

Judge others!

Let’s be clear about the two…

Shame

noun

A painful emotion caused by a strong sense of

guilt, embarrassment, unworthiness, or disgrace.

 

Capacity for such a feeling:

(Have you no shame?)

 

One that brings dishonor, disgrace, or condemnation.

A condition of disgrace or dishonor; ignominy.

 

A great disappointment.

 

 Shamed, Sham·ing, Shames

 

tr.v

 

To cause to feel shame; put to shame.

To bring dishonor or disgrace on.

To disgrace by surpassing.

To force by making ashamed:

(He was shamed into making an apology.)

Put To Shame

Idiom

To fill with shame; disgrace.

To outdo thoroughly; surpass:

(Your productivity has put the rest of us to shame.)

 

Sin

 

noun

 

A transgression of a religious or moral law, especially when deliberate.

 

Theology

 

Deliberate disobedience to the known will of God.

A condition of estrangement from God resulting from such disobedience.

Something regarded as being shameful, deplorable, or utterly wrong.

 

Sinned, Sin·ning, Sins

 

intr.v.

 

To violate a religious or moral law.

To commit an offense or violation.

 

James 4:17

 

“If anyone, then,

 

knows the good they ought to do

 

and doesn’t do it,

 

it is sin for them.”

 

Colossians 2:6

 

“So then,

 

just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,

 

continue to live your lives in Him,”

 

*One on-line answer that I liked to the question:

 

What is the Biblical difference between sin and shame?

 

“‘Sin’ is generally used to describe a wrong doing of some sort,

 

usually ethical, moral, or religious.

 

It’s a known wrong,

 

that people in their respective society shouldn’t do.

 

‘Shame’ is often associated with sin in most cultures,

 

however it is definitely very different.

 

Shame is the emotion

 

associated with either being,

 

or doing, something that others disapprove of.

 

-You can feel shame because you were caught doing something wrong, like stealing.

 

-A child can feel shame when they don’t get picked for the basketball team because they’re not tall enough.

 

-A person can even feel shame for a wrong they’ve done that no one else knows about.

 

Shame is often associated with a conscience,

 

and it has some connections,

 

but shame is not necessarily an indicator that you have done something wrong.

 

The easiest way to define shame is:

 

An emotional sense of disappointment either in oneself or another,

 

caused by failure to meet some given standard, moral or otherwise.”

 

Summary:

 

A sin is an estrangement from God

 

And shame is a feeling of inadequacy or guilt.

 

Romans 6:14

 

For sin shall no longer be your master,

 

because you are not under the law,

 

but under grace.”

Ahhh…

 

Grace!!!

 

Shame or Sin…

 

Neither control me any longer!!

 

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

 

“But He said to me,

 

‘My grace is sufficient for you,

 

for My power is made perfect in weakness.’

 

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses,

 

so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

 

That is why, for Christ’s sake,

 

I delight in weaknesses,

 

in insults,

 

in hardships,

 

in persecutions,

 

in difficulties.

 

For when I am weak,

 

then I am strong.”

 

Don’t feel shame for something that honors God…

 

No matter how weak or foolish it makes you look…

 

In the eyes of unbelievers.

 

That would be misplaced shame!

 

Because the power of Christ…

 

Is perfected in our weaknesses!

 

1 Corinthians 15:34

 

“Come back to your senses as you ought,

 

and stop sinning;

 

for there are some who are ignorant of God—

 

I say this to your shame.”

 

 Only having shame for what dishonors God:

 

Ignorance of God…

 

Sin against God…

 

False beliefs about God…

 

Equals well-placed shame!

 

Consider the difference between:

Not dishonoring God vs Dishonoring God

 

God-Centered vs Self-Centered

This will explains the difference between…

 

Misplaced, or well-placed, shame!

 

If you’re dishonoring God…

 

You’ll feel shame…

 

No matter how strong,

 

Or wise,

 

Or right

 

You are in the eyes of men!

 

Sin is always a proper cause for shame…

 

Sin is behavior that dishonors God.

 

Solution????

Get rid of the unbelief that feeds shame…

 

Through belief in God’s Word…

 

And faith in the promises of God!

 

Read more at: 

http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/sermons/battling-the-unbelief-of-misplaced-shame

 

Romans 9:33

 

“As it is written:

 

‘See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble

 

and a rock that makes them fall,

 

and the one who trusts in Him

 

will never be put to shame.'”

 

http://christianity.about.com/od/faqhelpdesk/f/romans14issues.htm

 

Christians…

Our traditions, rules, and regulations…

 

Are not equal to God’s laws.

 

We can’t base our moral judgments of others…

 

On opinions and personal dislikes…

 

Only on the Word of God!

 

Our relationship with Christ and His Word

 

Regulates our convictions!

 

Romans 14:23

 

“…everything that does not come from faith is sin.”

Let faith…

And your conscience convict you…

And tell you what to do in these matters.

Romans 14:12-13

“So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another.

Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle

in the way of a brother or sister.”

But how do we decide if something is sin when the Bible is not clear?

According to: 

http://christianity.about.com/od/faqhelpdesk/qt/knowsin.htm

 

“The Bible presents general guidelines to help us judge sin when we are uncertain.

 

Romans 14 is a great place to start.

 

Usually when we’re in doubt over sin,

our first tendency is to ask

if something is bad or wrong.

I’d like to suggest thinking in the opposite direction.

Instead, when you’re trying to determine if something is sin,

ask yourself these questions based on Scripture:

  1. Is this a good thing for me and others? Is this beneficial? Will it draw me closer to God? Will it strengthen my faith and my witness? (1 Corinthians 10:23-24)
  2. The next great question to ask is, will this glorify God? Will God bless this thing and use it for his purposes? Will this be pleasing and honoring to God? (1 Corinthians 6:19–20; 1 Corinthians 10:31)
  3. You can also ask, how will this thing affect my family and friends? Although we may have freedom in Christ in an area, we are never to let our freedom cause a weaker brother to stumble. (Romans 14:21; Romans 15:1) In addition, since the Bible teaches us to submit to those in authority over us (parents, a spouse, a teacher), we can ask, do my parents have a problem with this thing? Am I willing to submit this to those in leadership over me?
  4. Finally, in all things, we are to let our conscience before God convict us of what is right and wrong on matters that are not clear in the Bible. We can ask, do I have freedom in Christ and a clear conscience before the Lord to do whatever is in question? Are my own desire’s submitted to the Lord’s will? (Colossians 3:17; Romans 14:23″

 Something may be a shame, but not a sin!!

Don’t judge!

And don’t cast that condemning look!!

Yes, We Can!!

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Running around, round, round, round…

 

Lost in doubt, doubt, doubt…

  

How to stay true…

  

When the whole world’s against you?

  

But, the Spirit in you and me…

 

 Is the very thing that lets us say…

 

Yes, We Can!

 

We raise our hands…

 

Get up again!

 

They say we’ll never make it…

 

Tell ’em, tell ’em, again…

 

Yes, We Can!

 

Look around, round, round, round…

 

People knocked down, down, down…

 

Move to the power of love…

 

Take a hand, help somebody stand up!!

 

On our own…

 

We’re headed down a dead end road…

 

God is with us, so we say…

 

Yes, We Can!

 

Can’t take it…

 

Feeling alone?

 

 Together we can face it!

 

So here we go…

 

We’ll let ’em know…

 

We’ll let the whole world know!

 

 Yes, We Can!

 

Not too young…

 

Not too weak…

 

We Can Do It!

  

Yes, We Can!!

 

 John 14:16-17

 

“And I will ask the Father,

 

and He will give you another advocate

 

to help you and be with you forever— 

 

 the Spirit of truth.

 

The world cannot accept Him,

 

because it neither sees Him nor knows Him.

 

But you know Him,

 

for He lives with you

 

and will be in you.”

 

Amen!!

Abandon All For Him!!

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Tired???

Dry???

There’s so much more to life!

A higher calling…

Makes your life count with every breath!

Live with abandon

Give it all…

Every part of your heart to Jesus…

Place it His  Hands…

Drop everything to follow Him…

Hold on!

Don’t look back!!

Abandon the old…

Embrace the new!!!!

2 Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore,

if anyone is in Christ,

the new creation has come:

The old has gone,

the new is here!

Yes!

I’ll live with abandon, Jesus!!

For You!!

It’s Time To…

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“Enjoy Your Freedom” by Holley Gerth

http://holleygerth.com/

photo by n11a11m

photo by n11a11m

For many years, freedom sat like an unopened present on the shelf of my heart. I looked at it a bit suspiciously. From time to time, I’d pick it up and shake it so I could try to figure out what was inside. But I never had the courage to open it.

Then God said it was time. He placed my hands on that box, helped me untie the ribbon, peel back the paper, and lift the lid.

And here’s what freedom looks like to me this summer:

Being able to laugh out loud.

Friends who accept me as I am, mess and all.

Sitting on the back porch watching fireflies.

A nap.

Knowing I can make mistakes and then try again.

Grace spread out like a picnic and God handing me a paper plate.

Freedom given is not complete. It’s only when we receive it, enjoy it, give thanks for it that becomes fully ours.

The fourth of July in America is a day for celebrating freedom–please do.

And let’s also celebrate the freedom God has given us every other day too.

Open the gift and enjoy what has always been yours, friend!

XOXO

Holley

***Now this is a great post! 

Thank you for permission to reblog this, Holley!

Check out Holley’s entire blog!!

“Heart to Heart with Holley”

Best-selling author of You’re Already Amazing

Who also partner’s with DaySpring

What does freedom mean to you???

Open your gift of freedom from God!!

And Enjoy!!!

Amen!

Galatians 3:22

“But the Scriptures declare

that we are all prisoners of sin,

so we receive God’s promise of freedom

only by believing in Jesus Christ.”

Don’t Stress Out!!

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Happy 4th of July!!

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Our Crazy Siberian and I are just chillin’ today!

While hubby’s watching the Yankee game…

And our son’s out of town…

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Our Precious Little Girl’s been feeling better lately…

And is actually letting me type this post!

Yipee!!

See?

She doesn’t look stressed out! 

Ha!

I received this e-mail this morning!

“A Great Lesson on Stress

(author unknown)

A young lady confidently walked around the room…

While leading and explaining stress management to an audience…

With a raised glass of water…

Everyone knew she was going to ask the ultimate question…

“Half empty???

 Or half full???”

She fooled them all…

“How heavy is this glass of water?”

She inquired with a smile…

Answers that were called out…

 Ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz…

She replied…

“The absolute weight doesn’t matter…

It depends on how long I hold it…. 

If I hold it for a minute…

 That’s not a problem… 

If I hold it for an hour…

I’ll have an ache in my arm…. 

If I hold it for a day…

I’ll have to call an ambulance… 

In each case it’s the same weight…

But the longer I hold it…

The heavier it becomes!”

She continued…

“And that’s the way it is with stress… 

If we carry our burdens all the time…

 Sooner or later,

As the burden becomes increasingly heavy…

We won’t be able to carry on!”

Here’s where I strongly disagree…

With the rest of this…

 Worldly attitude!!

As she continues…

“As with the glass of water…

You have to put it down for a while…

And rest before holding it again…

When we’re refreshed…

We can carry on with the burden…

Holding stress longer…

And better each time practiced…

So, as early in the evening as you can…

Put all your burdens down… 

Don’t carry them through the evening…

 And into the night…

Pick them up tomorrow.”

But as a Christian,

I must say,

“Lay those burdens down at the feet of Jesus,

And NEVER pick them up again!!! 

Wake up refreshed!!”

Psalm 68:19

“Praise be to the Lord,

to God our Savior,

who daily bears our burdens.”

Matthew 6:34b

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,

for tomorrow will worry about itself.

Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Matthew 11:28-30

“Come to Me,

all you who are weary and burdened,

and I will give you rest.

Take My yoke upon you

and learn from Me,

for I am gentle and humble in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls.

For My yoke is easy

and My burden is light.”

Psalm 55:22

“Cast your cares on the Lord

and He will sustain you;

He will never let

the righteous be shaken.”

1 Peter 5:7

“Cast all your anxiety on Him

because He cares for you.”

Psalm 121:1-2

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—

where does my help come from

My help comes from the Lord,

 the Maker of Heaven and earth.”

I John 5:3

“In fact,

this is love for God:

to keep His commands.

And His commands are not burdensome,

Savor these verses…

Let’s NOT stress out!!

Give it ALL to God…

He can handle it…

And leave us stress-free!!

Amen!

“To Believe”

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“And my God will meet all your needs

according to the riches of His glory

 in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19

Take a moment…

Listen to…

This beautiful voice…

With this beautiful message…

Allow yourself…

To Believe!

http://video.staged.com/preacher/jackie_evancho_to_believe

“He gives strength to the weary

and increases the power of the weak.

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.”

Seek Out The Life-Giving Water!!

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And Bring Your Whole Family With You!!!

Job 5:10

“Who gives rain upon the earth

and sends waters upon the fields.”

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John 4:14

“…but whoever drinks the water I give them

will never thirst.

Indeed, the water I give them

will become in them

a spring of water

welling up to eternal life.”

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Proverbs 18:4

The words of the mouth are deep waters,

 but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.”

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John 7:38

“Whoever believes in Me,

as Scripture has said,

rivers of living water

will flow from within them.”

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Proverbs 22:6

“Direct your children onto the right path,

and when they are older,

they will not leave it.”

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Acts 18:8

“…and everyone in his household believed in the Lord…”

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Ephesians 6:1–2

“Children,

obey your parents in the Lord,

for this is right.

‘Honor your father and mother’

(this is the first commandment with a promise)…”

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Revelation 7:17

“For the Lamb

at the center of the throne

will be their shepherd;

He will lead them to springs of living water.

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

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Revelation 22:17

“The Spirit and the bride say,

‘Come!’

And let the one who hears say,

‘Come!’

Let the one who is thirsty come;

and let the one who wishes

take the free gift of the water of life.”

Ahhhhh…

So Refreshing!!!

Shake, Shake, Shake!! Can You Be Shaken???

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“Truly He is my Rock and my Salvation;

He is my fortress,

I will not be shaken.”

Psalm 62:6

Lord, it’s Your way and not our own…

Our minds are set on nothing less…

Than You and You alone…

We will not be moved!

We will trust in You…

And we won’t be shaken!

Recognize the enemy trying to shake you…

Don’t be shaken! 

Or moved!

Ephesians 6:10-18

“Finally,

be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.

Put on the full armor of God,

so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

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.

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.

Stand firm then,

with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,

with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

and with your feet fitted with the readiness

that comes from the gospel of peace.

In addition to all this,

take up the shield of faith,

with which you can extinguish

all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Take the helmet of salvation

and the sword of the Spirit,

which is the word of God.

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.”

Stand!!

My hope is in You Lord…

I won’t be shaken!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql6FgBEsiC4

“Through Christ

you have come to trust in God.

And you have placed your faith and hope in God

because He raised Christ from the dead

and gave Him great glory.”

1 Peter 1:21

The hand I hold…

Won’t let me go!

I will stumble…

I will fall down…

But I will not be moved!

I will make mistakes…

I will face heartache…

But I will not be moved!

On Christ, the Solid Rock…

I stand!

All other ground is sinking sand!

I will not be moved!

Hymn-The Solid Rock

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.
Words:  Edward Mote, circa 1834; first appeared in Mote’s Hymns of Praise, 1836.
Music: Solid Rock, William B. Bradbury, 1863

Matthew 7:25-26

The rain came down,

 

the streams rose,

 

and the winds blew

 

and beat against that house;

 

yet it did not fall,

 

because it had its foundation on the rock.

 

But everyone who hears these words of mine

 

and does not put them into practice

 

is like a foolish man

 

who built his house on sand.”

 

Remain in Christ…

 

Stand on the Rock…

 

Stand firm...

 

Don’t be moved or shaken!

We’re Restless! God’s Relentless!!

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So many restless souls looking for God…

Humans seeking rest for the soul…

Restless…

Restless without God…

And restless for God…

Even with so many other people around…

“I think of a time…

That we are not living in now…

When injustice will cease…

When hatred will be overcome with love…

When grace will reign supreme!

And I get restless for that final course…

Are you restless with me, my friends?”

-Jon Foreman from Switchfoot at Heaven Fest 2012-

Isaiah 11:6-9

“The wolf will live with the lamb,  

the leopard will lie down with the goat,

the calf and the lion and the yearling together;  

and a little child will lead them.

The cow will feed with the bear,  

their young will lie down together,  

and the lion will eat straw like the ox.

 The infant will play near the cobra’s den,  

and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.

They will neither harm nor destroy on all my Holy mountain,

for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord   

as the waters cover the sea.”

 http://www.intouch.org/god

Pastor Charles Stanley

“Deep down,

there’s a place within each of us

that is made for one thing—

a relationship with God.

No matter how hard we try to cover it up

or fill it with something else,

we will never be satisfied.

Our hearts will remain restless

until they find their home with God.

That deep, hidden part of you is there,

even if you haven’t realized it until now.”

Jesus offers rest to all who will come to Him.

Matthew 11:28-29

“Come to Me,

all you who are weary and burdened,

and I will give you rest.

Take My yoke upon you

and learn from Me,

for I am gentle and humble in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls.”

God wants us to search for Him while He can be found.

James 4:8

Come near to God

and He will come near to you…”

In searching and praying to know the truth about Him…

He allows Himself to be manifest to you.

James 1:5-7

“So, if any one of you is lacking in wisdom,

let him keep on asking God,

for He gives generously to all

and without reproaching;

and it will be given him.

But let him keep on asking in faith,

not doubting at all,

for he who doubts

is like a wave of the sea

driven by the wind and blown about.

In fact,

let not that man suppose

that he will receive anything from Jehovah;”

We’re restless to find God…

We’re restless for Him to come back for us!

   God’s relentless to find us!

He won’t give up!

Song of Solomon 8:6

“Set Me as a seal upon your heart,

as a seal upon your arm,

for love is strong as death,

jealousy is fierce as the grave.

It’s flashes are flashes of fire,

the very flame of the Lord.”

God’s relentless in pursuing you…

‘Til He has all of you…

Not just a part…

Don’t stay restless…

Relentlessly pursue Him…

“Til you have all of Him!

You won’t relent

Until You have it all

My heart is Yours

I’ll set You as a seal upon my heart

As a seal upon my arm

For there is love that is as strong as death

Jealousy demanding as the grave

And many waters cannot quench this love

Come be the fire inside of me

Come be the flame upon my heart

Come be the fire inside of me

Until You and I are one

John 4:23

“Yet a time is coming

and has now come

when the true worshipers

will worship the Father

in the Spirit and in truth,

for they are the kind of worshipers

the Father seeks.

God is Spirit,

and His worshipers

must worship in the Spirit

and in truth.”

2 Chronicles 16:9

“For the eyes of the Lord

range throughout the earth

to strengthen those

whose hearts are fully committed to Him…”

Relentless!

Luke 15:3-7

“Then Jesus told them this parable:

Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep

and loses one of them.

Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country

and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?

And when he finds it,

he joyfully puts it on his shoulders

and goes home.

Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says,

‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’

I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in Heaven

over one sinner who repents

than over ninety-nine righteous persons

who do not need to repent.'”

Luke 15:8-10

“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins

and loses one.

Doesn’t she light a lamp,

sweep the house

and search carefully until she finds it?

And when she finds it,

she calls her friends and neighbors together and says,

‘Rejoice with me;

I have found my lost coin.’

In the same way, I tell you,

there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God

over one sinner who repents.’”

Your God is relentless for you!!