September 29, 2013

You Can Begin Anew



Sunday Scripture

and a

Song


How many times have you wished for a "do-over"? In this life, we mess up. We make mistakes. That is the nature of humanity. 


God foresaw this would happen. He knew our need would be great for Him to pull us out of our despair. He knew our failures would feel like a huge weight around our necks, pulling us down and keeping us from knowing joy.

That's why He died for our sins. So that we can be free. Free to live and love and create new joy in our lives, despite our past and our shame. He takes all that away from us and creates in us a new beginning. Simply by sincerely asking Him to do so, and truly wishing to repent of our ways.

Prayer: Lord, I wish things weren't the way they are. I wish so much that my choices had not brought me to where I am now. I can't change the past, but with your help, I can change who I am going to be. Help me, Lord. Forgive my past mistakes, and lead me into a new beginning. I want to know joy and love, and I want to know You more. Walk with me through this day and always, and lead me.  In Jesus' name. Amen


"This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!"
2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV


"For I am about to do something new.
See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?"
Isaiah 43:19 NIV


We can be made new. Every single day. God breathes new life into us and we start again. No matter how many times we fall. He is there, to pick us up, hold us in our brokenness, and give us another chance in this life. Believe it, my friend.

Here's a link to a post I wrote about Leaving the Past Behind. I share my thoughts about how to let go of the past and move forward. We have to make a conscious choice to leave the past behind us, and learn to control our thoughts going forward. 

Tenth Avenue North has a wonderful song to remind us we are not defined by our mistakes. We are Children of the Most High. God loves us and wants only the best for us. We have to let go of our painful past and allow God to work in us to create something new. Many blessings, friend.

Tenth Avenue North - You Are More


Subscribers, please click on Hope to find to view this video on my blog site. 
Mobile readers, here's the link to view this on Youtube

I pray God finds you where you are today, and that you reach out to Him for healing. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven. Amen

September 22, 2013

Lord, I Give You My Heart



Sunday Scripture

and a

Song


 "Take delight in the Lord,
  and he will give you the desires of your heart."
Psalm 37:4 NIV


And since I do not know the desires of my ever-changing heart, let my desire be only to worship and honor my Savior.


Please enjoy this video of a favorite song of mine, performed by a choir in Oslo. The harmonies are wonderful, and the prayer is from my heart. 


Subscribers please click on Hope to find to view this video on my blog site.
Mobile viewers click here to view this video on youtube.

September 9, 2013

How Can I Keep from Singing



God made me a singer. From very early on, I knew that’s what I wanted to be. As a very little girl, I remember sitting on my swing on Sunday mornings after church, swinging and singing songs to Jesus. 

My daddy made the swing by connecting a pole between a sawed-off tree trunk and a living tree. It was a place where I would sit all by myself and swing and sing and make up songs. It wasn't too far from the kitchen window and my mother's watchful eye, but to me I felt far away from everyone in my own little world. Even though I was very small, I remember this special place and my private time spent swinging and singing there.

Most lives are filled with some sorrow, and while my childhood and adolescence took some very bad turns, I am certain these events helped to mold me into who I am today. I honestly don’t think that I would feel the compassion and love that I have for God’s people if I had not endured all that I had to go through. 

I have always loved to sing, and enjoyed singing in my grade school choirs. During one holiday season, I remember singing - very loudly - as one of the Wise Men in a Christmas pageant at the Little House of Prayer. Naturally, I dreamed of being a big singing star. But even in these early years I realized the profound joy I felt when I sang.

It wasn’t until I was adult, and had given up my dream of stardom for the more real and tangible dreams of being a wife and mother, that I had an epiphany that would change me forever.

I realized that God made me able to sing, so that I could sing for Him.

Elation coupled with humbleness, and I wondered how I hadn’t known this truth all along. Those songs I made up as a little girl were ‘God’ songs, about the beauty of life and the world, about butterflies and blue skies on a sunny day; some of the very things I am grateful for each day of my adult life. How I wish I could remember those songs!

As I lead worship singing, or sing in the Chancel Choir at my church, I draw on years of vocal training through singing with high school and community choirs. You’d think that it would all be second nature, but I am always learning, and honing my craft.

When I sing, I have so many things to remember: how and when to breathe, annunciation, and of course, singing the proper notes and staying on my part. Sometimes I fear my imperfection, if I feel my voice isn’t up to par, or I worry if I will be able to hit that high note. Or perhaps I haven’t had adequate rehearsal time, and I fear I will make a mistake.

That’s when I pray. I give it all to God. I pray that He will empty me of me, and fill me with His Holy Spirit. Great joy fills me when I sing from my heart, and I’ve been told it shows on my face. I really can’t help it. I am a very emotional person, and I don't feel the need to hide my joy.

But there's more to this story, and my sweet sister-in-law, whom God has often used to teach me spiritual truths, explained it best. She said that I am a vessel, and that God uses me. 
I imagine it like this, as if I am an empty pitcher. God fills me with His love and His Holy Spirit, and then pours me out. When I sing, I pour out His love over His beloved children. It's His love that's reaching everyone, and I am so thrilled that He uses me in this way. 

When I feel the gentle peace of His indwelling Spirit, I am lifted beyond my earthly concerns. His peace fills me as I give it all to Him, surrendering my fears and human frailty, and I am blessed with indescribable peace and joy. 

And not surprisingly, when I'm not worrying about perfection, the singing goes along perfectly.

And it isn't just in singing that this works. Any time we hold worries and concerns too closely, we are trying to do this life all on our own. We need to surrender those thoughts and fears that trouble us and keep us from joy. When we are burdened with care, we should share our concerns with God. Just give them all to Him.

And though our problems don’t go away, our inner selves are filled with a comforting peace that assures us that all will be well. In the greater scheme of things, our little daily troubles and concerns don’t amount to much. Maintaining this perspective while keeping our thoughts with God will also help to keep our feet on the pathway to peace.


And that, my friends, is the only path I want to walk.


Let go of your troubles, concerns, fears and hardships and allow God to fill you with all that He is. 


When we do, we can begin to heal, and move toward a more perfect peace in Him.