🙌 It's crazy amazing how God is working through Forrest Frank recently. He has given him so much talent and has been blessing his music and it is wildly received. He has been blowing up the charts. His album Child of God ranked #28 on the (all-genre) Billboard's Top 200. His current album, Child of God II, is at #12. And now, there is a new #1
Two weeks ago, he was skateboarding outside his home and actually hit the corner of his house. His back was broken. His tour was interrupted and he has been under a doctor's care.
I just wanted to highlight this for the glory of God. Only He can do what is being done. This is how Forrest has been handling it all. I'm sorry, not sorry for the list of videos. I think it plays out perfectly and doesn't really need any extra explanation. I hope this blesses your soul as much as it did mine. 💖
This is how you wait well and cast your cares on Christ...
I hope you have enjoyed this as much as I have. It's sort of like being along for the journey, behind the song. 😃 Watch God go. He's showing up and showing off. I love it!! 😍💖 Our Jesus is more than amazing!! 🙌🙌 Have a blessed day! 😊
Music is one of my personal favorite ways to get into touch with my thoughts and feelings. God uses that to the good of our relationship, as well. He knows that He can usually speak to me through music and I will pick up on it, even if just telling me doesn't work.
Sometimes, like now, He puts a song into my head and it will keep playing off and on until I do something with it. Sometimes He is trying to get me to listen to it and give me wisdom or an answer to something. Sometimes I feel led to share it on Facebook and not know for whom.
Other times, if that doesn't work or He has someone specific in mind, it won't go away until I share it where or when I feel He is leading me. At least once He has really laid it on my heart to share it directly with a specific and known person. That was really cool because it was the first time that He had done it that way and I wasn't really sure of myself in hearing Him. Yet, He stretched my faith and blessed the other person through it like He was originally intending too. He rocks. 💖😊
Why am I telling you this?? Well, it is because it is happening now. I have the song "Split the Sea" by Hannah Kerr on my mind all night. I am starting to get a little bit tired. I had actually forgotten what the song was that had been kicking around up there while I was doing other things on the blog. I asked God to remind me what it was and He did almost instantly. So, without further ado, here it is. I hope that you are blessed by it. I really feel like someone is needing to hear this. With God's perfect timing, it could be now or someone who happens to cross this post 5 years from now. Whomever you are, here you go. 😁 God bless you!!
Split the Sea - Hannah Kerr
Okay...here is a bonus video. lol I left the song playing while I edited a little bit on the posts. There was another Hannah Kerr that I need to check out when I am actually able to pay better attention. It is called "Giants Fall."
Then, THIS song came on. All-Time Favorites List alert!! lol
Write Your Story by Francesca Battistelli -Yay!! 😁
I ran across these on Youtube. I love Bethel Music. I love most of the voices I hear from them. Steffanie is no different. Just beautiful and the heart of worship, also. I hope you enjoy these as much as I did. God bless and have a wonderful week!
Defender - Steffany Gretzinger
I have heard this song before and absolutely loved it the first time I heard it.
I love the words of encouragement here:
Reckless Love (plus an encouraging word) - Steffany Gretzinger
This was another new one to me. I hope that you will take a listen and be blessed. 💗
No Longer Slaves
This is a favorite song as well. It also does my heart good to see such young hearts singing it from deep within. Praise God!
I promise I am working on more than just music links. It's just taking a little bit but the payoff will be worth it. ;) For now, I do want to share a few, though. This first song was given to us as a parting thought to meditate on last week in our Bible study. Listen and be blessed. <3
"Day after day, night after night I will remember, You're with me in this fight
Although the battle, it rages on
The war is already won
I know the war is already won"
I have had this next song kicking around in my head for a couple of days. I love it. I hope you do, too.
"Oh, God, You don't need me, but somehow You want me Oh, how You love me, somehow that frees me
To open my hands up and give You control
I give You control
You want me, somehow You want me
The King of Heaven wants me
So this world has lost its grip on me"
I love the idea of starting the day with some Bible and exercise. Maybe I can make a habit out of it. ;) I hope, anyway. I don't know if you knew that there were videos with Christian music to dance to? This is a great song to get you revved up for the day. Get your blood pumping. 😁
I was going to title this post, "Good Morning!!" but that is another workout entirely. lol Enjoy!
I think Wally from WayFM did. :0D
Okay, I know this is silly but that is okay, too. Our son was greatly exposed to Veggie Tales and I still love them. LOL I have no shame in that. That is my inner child shining through. ;) This song has crossed my mind at least 3 times out of nowhere already this week and it is only Tuesday. I haven't listened to them for quite awhile. It might be God's sense of humor reaching out to me. I have been praying about some things and maybe He's reminding me that He is bigger than any of it. And in a way to make me laugh. I love Him so much!
I was on Facebook this weekend when someone mentioned the song "So Will I." I had never heard it but they had such a deep, instant connection, that I went to listen to it. It is beautiful. I happened to click on Amanda Cook from Bethel. There was another song on after it that I loved just as much or more, called Reckless Love. I love them both so much. I am sharing them so that you can hear them too. Our Heavenly father is too amazing for words. 💘💗💘 Listen and be blessed.
At 5:33 Cory starts talking about the testimony and story behind the song.
It is totally worth hearing. The lyrics are in the Show More dropdown.
The chorus: "Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God Oh, it chases me down, fights ‘til I’m found, leaves the ninety-nine
I couldn’t earn it, I don’t deserve it, still You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God" 💗
This version of Reckless is more melodious and beautiful on its own.
Lyrics are on screen for this one.
I have some stuff on my heart this morning. Some of it I am sure that I am not consciously aware of. I just know that God is touching my heart. I was re-reading a previous post and started listening to "Thank You" by Ray Boltz. It is one of my favorites. That led me to think of a couple of others. I love the words to both. I feel God speaking to me through both of them. I won't go into detail but I'm sure that we all have something that draws us to be able to relate to both. I will probably post a third, as well. God bless us one and all. Draw close to Him.
We should always expect to win. "Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." ~ Mark 11:24
Expect To Win - Ivan Parker
I like that the next one gives a little backstory of the writer. The first time I heard this, it became a favorite.
"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." ~ John 15:5
I Can't Even Walk - Tony Greene
The last one for now is one from years ago, 1984, to be exact. "Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all." ~Mark 10:15
The Warrior Is A Child - Twilah Paris
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
So, I am doing a lot of thinking and praying this evening. There is something that I am waiting for and all systems seem to be a go but the proverbial door is locked somehow. I am not sure why or what is causing it. My mother in law just gave me some real words of wisdom. She pointed out to me that something really and literally seems to be blocking it and I need to pray about what it is and how to get it out of the way.
I am a very spiritual person but in the doldrums of life, sometimes things just are. I was caught up in the worldly thought that things sometimes take more time than we are willing to give because we are impatient. Yet, God is faithful. Sometimes all we can do is praise Him in the hallway until the door opens. I was doing my best to do that because it is all true. At least I was until now.
Now, I am thinking that she is right. Now, I am praying to God to show me what, if anything, that I need to know. Is this a "Be still and know" moment or a moment in which I need to rebuke what is in my way? It was set forth to be a sure thing. It seemed like it was only going to take maybe a week to work out. Yet, it is soon turning into a month. I can't keep waiting for nothing. Something has got to give. I am praying over this situation but also trying to have ears to hear and eyes to see what He would show me.
In the waiting, I have been trying to work on the plans I mentioned yesterday. I have also started germing (my short for germinating) some more seeds. Lord, help me. :D I am running out of room but I can't help it. They will be so pretty!
I have to get some cleaning done still before I go to bed but couldn't resist the urge to blog. I have so many posts that I have wanted to publish and haven't gotten to. I will try to do a better job of kicking myself in the rear end until they are up. ;)
Blessings to all of you <3 If you are also in the hallway, just know that He's got it. He knew it was coming before it even got to you. He already had it worked out. Just lean into His presence and trust Him. Be prayerful. Do all He asks you to do and what you know you should do. The rest is up to Him. :) Lay that which you can't control at His feet and just trust Him.
While I'm Waiting - John Waller
I had both songs come to mind and both are great. Sharing. :)
So, I was working through my prayer binder this morning. I was acknowledging God for all that He is. I read over the Biblical Hebrew names I had added recently. I had highlighted the name in pink and the meaning in yellow. As I read down through the meanings, it struck me in a new way.
I already new it but in different words. I knew Him as, "the lifter of my head", "where my help comes from", etc. Yet, looking at this list, I gained a more blunt perspective...."My Hero." lol (Yes, I even heard the sappy scenario play in my head when I thought that. The characterization of the damsel in distress that acknowledges the one who came to save her. With a sugary voice she says, "My hero!!")
But He is!! It's so true:
He is : Lord Almighty, Master, divine Salvation, Sanctifier, Shepherd, "the Lord who is present" (there), Healer, our Righteousness, Provider, our Banner, our Victory, Peace, "the Lord of Hosts", "the most high God", "the strong one who sees (El-Roi), "the Everlasting God", Jealous, Mighty, Powerful.
After reading all of these things, how can we see Him as anythingbutour hero?
My list of reverence in my prayer binder also listed this: "--You are omnipotent (all-powerful), omnipresent (everywhere), omniscient (all-knowing), immutable (unchanging), eternal (everlasting), love (hesed OT, agape NT)"
He sees any injustice and is mighty to save. He puts a hedge of protection around us. He lifts us up when we fall. He answers us when we cry out to Him. He carries us and gives us strength. He is our "Creator, Provider, Protector, Savior and King." He is our Superman, our Batman, and any other good superhero all rolled into One. He is Lord of ALL. How AWESOME is THAT?!? :D :D :D
Wow. Thank you, God, for giving us new revelations when we seek you. It all added up to the same thing but the light just shown from a different perspective that brought even more realization. Thank You!!
I hope that you were as blessed as I was by this acknowledgment as I was and I pray that you are inspired to reach into your own prayer time and seek Him even more. <3
I just stumbled upon this list and it has a few that are not mentioned here. I will have to add them to my binder. ;) This is one of my favorite ones so far on it - CETHER = My hiding Place (Ps. 32:7). I love to take refuge in the Lord!! Psalm 27 is one of my favorite passages. Maybe I need to do a post on that chapter alone.
Also, the purple quote is from a song my son sang at VBS last year. The full song is below. I highly recommend it. lol It had this mom singing it when the kiddo wasn't even with me. ;)
I watched War Room a few hours ago. It was a really good movie. I was praising the Lord on the way home and this song popped into my head. It got me to thinking about some things. It made me think about how we have a ripple effect in the lives of others and they in ours.
We should be a blessing to others and sometimes we do it without even trying. You just never know what others are seeing in you. Sometimes it can be more than we see in ourselves.
We get busy living life sometimes and don't really think about our actions and how even something really small to us can be huge to another. We should ask ourselves more often what we can do to be a blessing and do it on purpose as well as just in living our lives for God.
We should also make it a point to spend time in our War Room. It's not just something we CAN do. It's something we NEED to do!!
God and I have been spending time together this morning. I have loved all of it. For once, I did more listening than talking. He's really trying to help me with something that I have taken to Him over and over. This morning, part of the song "Just Be Held" by Casting Crowns is in my head.
"And when you're tired of fighting
Chained by your control
There's freedom in surrender
Lay it down and let it go
So when you're on your knees and answers seem so far away
You're not alone, stop holding on and just be held
Your world's not falling apart, it's falling into place
I'm on the throne, stop holding on and just be held
The whole part above there is in my head but the most repeated and the strongest emphasis is on
"There's freedom in surrender. Lay it down and let it go."
I have a tendency to get frustrated over too many things. I long to be unflappable. I have met people that have really floored me with the peace they have. It's easy to look at some and think, "It's easy for them to have peace because there isn't anything going wrong." Wrong. We all have things going on and sometimes more than we show.
I was working with someone at a job and the job was crazy at times. The people sometimes reacted to the craziness. One person who didn't was a manager and had young kids with one on the way. I know from experience that work has stress at times and home has stress at times and sometimes at the same time. It can be overwhelming. But, more often than not, she had peace and a smile. Even when she got upset, she didn't seem that ruffled. I both admired and was baffled by it. I asked her one day how she could be like that? She said, "I can't do anything about it. So, why get upset?" Hmm. I saw her point but I wasn't sure it could be that simple for me.
That was awhile ago. I still keep trying to catch myself and let it roll off like water on a duck's back. This morning, God is giving me a gentle nudge and some food for thought.
"There's freedom in surrender. Lay it down and let it go."
As I am typing this, my son is across the room chomping cereal with his mouth open. I have told him time and time again to close his mouth. He knows better but just doesn't sometimes think about it. I have also already seen him blow his nose really big and there is a little bit of a chill in the air. Outside it is 53 degrees and high of 74 for the day. I have already switched the a/c to heat. Maybe he's congested and is having difficulty breathing while he eats. I should just be happy he is eating breakfast. I'm gonna lay it down and let it go. <3
The whole song is beautiful. If you haven't heard it, take a listen. I love it. God bless you all and I hope you all find freedom in surrender today. Lay it down and let it go. :)
So, God has been speaking into my heart a lot today. Maybe it's just that I have been better at listening today. I have to tell you that He is constantly stretching and growing me. Today is one of those days. I had decided a long time ago that if I were to blog that I wouldn't make it too personal. I didn't want to be one that journaled, essentially, in public. Nothing against those who do. I just thought, for me, that it was a bit too much. I'm a pretty private person. However, I think God is leading me out of my comfort zone. He has a way of doing that. It's called faith building. Obedience. Maybe it's a hearing test. Did we listen? Did we really hear Him?
He knows that He can use music and television/movies to speak to me. I will get a revelation or a correlation somehow. Today's reminder is from Aladdin. God is holding His hand out like Aladdin on the magic carpet and saying, "Do you trust me?" I don't believe any symbolism about the carpet, etc. For me, the meaning is clear and simple. Do I trust Him with all that is going on right now both in public and in the depths of my heart? My answer? A meek yes. Not meek in the sense of uncertainty in trusting Him. Meek in the uncertainty of where we are going to go. lol YET, I know that I would be nothing without Him and He has always proven Himself in countless ways. Do I trust Him? Yes. Am I a little shaky and hope not to freak out on the way? Yes.
Some might say being timid and freaking out don't go with trust. Sure it does. We have the timidity or fear first but we have to submit to our trust in the Lord. Look at Joshua. One of my favorite scriptures is Joshua 1:9 (this is NET version):
"I repeat, be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic, for I, the LORD your God, am with you in all you do.”
What strikes me about this is that God tells him the same thing, at least 3 times in short order. He had already told Joshua in verse 3, "I am handing over to you every place you set foot, as I promised Moses." Handing over. It's his for the taking. God said He would be with Joshua and would not leave. He told him the plan, how far spread the land that He was giving him was, He gave Joshua vision and promise. That was all up to verse 5. In verse 6, God tells Joshua not to be afraid. Then, in verse 7, while He is still talking to Joshua, He says it again. And, again, He says it in verse 9.
He was preparing Joshua for a road and a plan that maybe Joshua wasn't sure of. Moses had been the leader. Now, Moses had passed away. Someone had to lead. God chose Joshua and gave him every assurance and encouragement He could, including, "I...am with you in all you do." He basically said to Joshua, "I've got your back."
Some may also bring up 2 Timothy 1:7 -
"For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline."
True, He didn't. But we started believing the lies of the serpent in Genesis 1.
So, as always, I am leaning on Him (Proverbs 3: 5-6) and also on Jeremiah 29:11-14,
"11For I know what I have planned for you,’ says the Lord. ‘I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope. 12When you call out to me and come to me in prayer, I will hear your prayers. 13When you seek me in prayer and worship, you will find me available to you. If you seek me with all your heart and soul, 14I will make myself available to you,’ says the Lord. ‘Then I will reverse your plight and will regather you from all the nations and all the places where I have exiled you,’ says the Lord. ‘I will bring you back to the place from which I exiled you.’
I don't know where this blog will lead but I know the One who is in control. That is enough for me. I trust Him and I might buckle up for the ride. :p Another song reference. Ginny Owens "Get In, I'm Driving." God bless you all. <3
So, today I am sorting through some things that I have been talking to God about. I don't know all of the answers yet but I know some of them. I'm sorry to be so vague but you know how it is when you think you know but want to be sure. Or, even if you know what He is telling you, it's for you and not everyone else. I'm trying to discern all of that but for now what I know is this:
This blog is His. It's the only place that I know that I can put my heart and thoughts of Him and things He wants me to share out there and be completely real. It's simple. Whomever comes here is here because they want to see or know more. That's the only reason to be here. In too many situations, I feel like either someone wants to filter me out or that I need to filter myself to not be too "preachy" or "fanatical" in the eyes of others. That is not something I can keep doing all the time. I know there are others out there, somewhere, that share my heart and views. Maybe some will stumble upon this blog as a happy accident. I pray God will use it to enlighten and touch us all. God bless and I hope you enjoy it. :)
This is one of my current favorite songs. I used to be all about the music when I was younger. Now, I'm all about those lyrics, 'bout those lyrics, no kidding. lol Sometimes you can have both. This is one of those songs. :)
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