God I Look to You (Bethel)

Have you even been in a time of transition?  Since my last transitional place I had decided that my next transition would be a better time and yet I still find myself struggling emotionally.  I want to carry on, throw a fit, and just rant and rave but I know that is not going to make the process any quicker if anything it will slow it down.

God promises that He will never leave or forsake us.  God promises that there is absolutely nothing that can separate us from His love.  God's word declare that God is for us and not against us!!  All amazing great promises.  It also states in James that we are to count it all joy when we experience various trials because the trials build our faith and give us wisdom and other amazing God minded things (see James 1:2-8)

I love almost all of the music that comes out of Bethel church in Redding, CA.  I would say their worship team is among some of the best because their worship attempts to glorify God and help others draw closer to God through their worship.

One of their older songs, God I Look to You contains such valuable Godly truths that I felt this was the song to share with all this week.  As you get ready to start your work week know that God is with you every step of the way.  Take a few minutes each morning to just pray and declare this song because it will help you get your focus on Him and not all the chaos going on around you.

God truths;

• He will give us His wisdom to know what to do and say in every and any situation
• When we focus on Jesus we cannot be overwhelmed
• God is our strength and shield.  He is our refuge in times of trouble.
• Worship changes our focus!!!

Ps 91 TPT

When you sit enthroned under the shadow of Shaddai,

 You are hidden in the strength of God Most High.

 Here’s how I describe him:

 He’s the hope that holds me, and the Stronghold to shelter me,

 The only God for me, and my great Confidence.

 And He will rescue you from every hidden trap of the enemy,

 And He will protect you from false accusation and any deadly curse.

 His massive arms are wrapped around you, protecting you.

 You can run under his covering of majesty and hide.

 His arms of faithfulness are a shield keeping you from harm

You will never worry about an attack of demonic forces at night,

 Nor have to fear a spirit of darkness coming against you.

 Don’t fear a thing! Whether by night or by day,

 Demonic danger will not trouble you,

 Nor the powers of evil launched against you.

 For God will keep you safe and secure; they won’t lay a hand on you!

 Even in a time of disaster with thousands and thousands being killed,

 You will remain unscathed and unharmed!

 You will be a spectator as the wicked perish in judgment,

 For they will be paid back for what they have done!

 When we live our lives within the shadow

 Of the God Most High, our secret Hiding Place,

 We will always be shielded from harm!

 How then could evil prevail against us, or disease infect us?

 God sends angels with special orders

 To protect you wherever you go,

 Defending you from all harm.

 If you walk into a trap they’ll be there for you

 And keep you from stumbling!

You’ll even walk unharmed
 Among the fiercest powers of darkness,
 Trampling every one of them beneath your feet!
 For here is what the Lord has spoken to me:
 “Because you have delighted in me as my great lover,
 I will greatly protect you.
 I will set you in a high place,
 Safe and secure before my face.
 I will answer your cry for help every time you pray,
 And you will find and feel my presence
 Even in your time of pressure and trouble.
 I will be your glorious Hero and give you a feast!
 You will be satisfied with a full life
 And with all that I do for you.
 For you will enjoy The fullness of my salvation!”



God I Look to You

God I  look to You, I won’t be overwhelmed

Give me vision to see things like You do

God I look to You, You’re where my  help comes from

Give me wisdom; You know just what to do.

I will love You Lord my strength

I will love You Lord my shield

I will love You Lord my rock forever All my  

days I will  love You  God

Hallelujah our God reigns

Hallelujah our God reigns

Hallelujah our God reigns

forever all my days Hallelujah

Your Promises (Elevation Worship)

Are you a participant or a spectator when it comes to worship?  Do you only consider worship as a service that happens on a Sunday morning during a church service?  Do you know that worship needs to be a lifestyle?  Do you know that when life's difficulties bombard you that it is worship that allows you to rise above the situation?

I love music and so many of today's songs contain wonderful reminders of God's promises.  I am very much of a lyrics person when it comes to worship songs.  I really don't want to sing about anything that does not line up with what God's word say or what God's word says about us.  That is why it breaks my  heart so much to hear songs sung in churches across america that speak to a weak minded mentality or ask for something that God's word says we already have.  I also do not care of fluff songs, songs that sound great on the radio but really do not say anything meaningful. I guess you can call me a worship song snob, not a great title I know but worship is so near and dear to my heart because it is through worship that we glorify our savior.  It is through worship that we can connect with Him, to see Him, and to hear His voice.

I love to consider the fact that in Heaven all we will do is worship Jesus (see Revelation 4:8) and during our worship we will not be distracted by various thoughts.  Our worship will be completely focused on the one we love and the one who loves us.  I wish I had that hear and I am growing in that but I can still be distracted by the clock, what needs to be done or my worship can be delayed because I cannot get my body out of bed early enough in the morning.  This past year I had a friend pass away who was a mentor to me when I was younger.  Her passing grieved me and I missed her greatly.  There were many if only moments the day I found out until the though hit me that she was with Jesus and she was worshiping Him and she was spending one on one time with Him with absolutely no distractions.  I must admit I was a bit jealous but it also helped me be thankful for the time I was able to know her here on the earth and I knew she was in an amazing place.

So because God speaks to me through music so much I would like to begin sharing with each of you some of the truths and promises various songs bring to me.  It is my hope and desire that we can go on this journey together of learning to worship Him more and draw closer to Him.  It is my desire that we can grow in our intimacy with our creator.  I do want to add I know that worship is not just singing a song, it is a heart attitude, but it is through music that we tend to express the most our worship and adoration to God.

The below song is by Elevation Worship and is calle Your Promises.  It speaks to me that when you are going through a storm in your life you don't have to focus on the storm you only have to focus on God and His promises.  He will never fail you, He will never forsake you, and there is nothing that is going to take His love away from you.  You cannot mess up greatly enough that Jesus will not still love you.

What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are. But that’s also why the world doesn’t recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he’s up to. But friends, that’s exactly who we are: children of God. And that’s only the beginning. Who knows how we’ll end up! 1 John 3 Message Bible

Remember always You are a child of the Most High God and you are greatly loved.  God is for you!!!!

Your Promises

When the weight of the world begins to fall
On the Name of Jesus I will call

For I know my God is in control
and His purpose is unshakable

Doesn't matter what I feel
Doesn't matter what I see
My hope will always be
In Your promises to me
Now I'm casting out all fear
For Your love has set me free
My hope will always be
In Your promises to me

As I walk into the days to come
I will not forget what You have done
For you have supplied my every need
And Your presence is enough for me

Doesn't matter what I feel
Doesn't matter what I see
My hope will always be
In Your promises to me
Now I'm casting out all fear
For Your love has set me free
My hope will always be
In Your promises to me

You will always be more than enough for me
You will always be more than enough for me
Nothing's gonna stop the plans You've made
Nothing's gonna take Your love away
You will always be more than enough for me

Doesn't matter what I feel
Doesn't matter what I see
My hope will always be
In Your promises to me
Now I'm casting out all fear
For Your love has set me free
My hope will always be
In Your promises to me

Child of God - No Longer Slaves

Hello friends.  Thank you for taking the time to read this blog.  My numbers may still be small but I am thankful for each and every one of you.  I am thankful for your prayers and encouragement and for staying with me as I sort through the pain of healing some wounded areas within me.

God is so good and faithful and He is doing an amazing work within me.  As I was walking out some truths this weekend and trying to move into different more truthful mindsets I found myself anxious and fearful.  I was fearful as I faced the same situations that in the past have left me hurt, wounded, and feeling rejected.  I was nervous and afraid that I would act the same way as I have acted in the past, from a place of hurt and woundedness and not from a place of love.  While I cannot say the weekend went perfectly, there were a few times I know my words and actions may have been better, I just asked God to forgive me and moved on.  In the midst of my fear I say Jesus taking my hand and saying He was with me walking right beside me.  In Isaiah 41 verses 10 and 13 God reminds us to not fear because He is with us and He is upholding us with His righteous right hand.  This is the verses that came to mind with the picture I saw, while the fear never left it did diminish and I was able to walk in more confidence and boldness as the weekend progressed.  The feeling of always being on the outskirts and looking in began to recede as I began to know I had a place and a purpose with others.

Last week I began to allow God to really show me who I was in Him.  I began to confess those words out of my mouth.  At times I felt like a liar but God's word is true so I just pushed through the negative until the truth began to take root in my life.  John 8:32 declares that we will know the truth and the truth will set us free.  I held firmly onto these words because this scripture has brought past healing to me so I know it would bring a deeper healing as well.

To move on, this weekend at church we sang the song No Longer Slaves.  This song talks about being free of fear but it also talks about being a child of God.  This phrase in particular stood out to me during church.  What does it look like to be a Child of God?  Obviously it doesn't look like a person who walks around in gloom and despair.  Graham Cooke always says there will be no Eeyore's in heaven.  So as children of God we should be loving, kind, joyful, always willing to help another, and so much more.  It means living a life that sees the one in front of you and not just living a life that is all about you.  Friday night I observed a group of ladies that love God but do not walk in the power and authority that is their's because they are children of God.  They walk in a place of powerlessness feeling that what they need can only come from others.

It dawned on me friday, and I have observed these ladies for awhile now, that they all had a leader and that leader maybe in good faith was training the other women to be powerless as she was.  Maybe the leader did not know the power that was within her but for whatever reason I began to have compassion on these women.  I know that each one of them was loved by a great God and He had great plans and purposes for them, there was a treasure waiting to be mined in them.

Since I want to be a gold miner and draw that gold out of others I began to pray for God to help me help them discover their worth and value in Him.  I want to see people walk in the power and authority that God gave them.  I want to help others not only walk in truth but I want them to see themselves through God's eyes.  I know a few of their stories and I know their past has been difficult but I also know we don't have to live in our past.  We are made new, the old man has gone, it has been crucified with Christ on the cross.

Please know I do not judge these ladies for where they are I just recognize it as having been there myself.  When you have dwelt in a pit long enough you begin to see other pit dweelers and your desire will be to help them see how they can be free of their pit too.

As you listen to the song No Longer Slaves my God begin to speak His truth to you.  May you hear from Him what it looks like to be a Child of God.  For me He is speaking the truth the fear will not take my voice away.  I am important and I have something to say!

In parting I want to leave you a few truths to stand firm on:

• You are valuable
• You are loved
• You are chosen
• You are wanted
• You have a part that only you can fulfill (Jer 29:11)
• You are accepted
• God will make a way when there appears to be no way because He is a God of the impossible.

Love and blessings to each of you.