Sunday, April 25, 2010
Restoration
I know that I have been restored. My children, my heritage that I will leave behind...is restored to God. But my family- my brothers, and my Mom have not been restored. (nor my dad). But my brothers have been heavy on my heart. I want them to know Jesus and to have wholeness and healing...but I also want there relationship to me restored. We are brothers and sister...family...we grew up together...we fought...we played...we broke rules...we laughed...we were family. But now we are strangers. We have chosen different lives..
I was at the prayer room Thursday evening for an hour...before I knew it was coming I found myself crying out and even yelling what was in my heart...a cry to God to restore my family to me. It was like an emotional vomit that happened before I even felt it coming on...like He searched me and knew what was in my heart even before I did. (which is not unlike Him.)
In the midst of my crying and yelling..I found myself clinging to and repeating--"You are a Restorer God! Only you can do it! Only YOU! YOU are the Restorer!"
So this Sunday morning at church, one of the first songs played was "Restoration" by David Brymer. I sensed that it was very appropriate for where many people were at this morning. But for me, in my heart...I felt like it was an acknowledgement that God heard my prayers, my hearts cry.
Later, they announced they would be doing baby dedications next Sunday morning..and I felt like God was telling me how when we dedicate our children- Lilly and Kaiden next week...it will be a physical picture of how he has Restored me, my heritage, and a new generation in my family.
Hallelujah, He makes all things new. He brings Restoration.
So sit back and take in the words of this song..."He takes our mourning and turns it into dancing...he takes our weeping and turns it into laughing...He takes my pain, he's called me by a new name, He's taken my shame, and in its place He's given me JOY."
And because of all this...I can have HOPE and peace about my family...because He IS a RESTORER!
Hallelujah, You make all things NEW!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Spring Up Oh Well Within Me
As the deer pants for the water, my soul-longs for you.
As the body dies without water, my soul dies without you
they may say, come on get over it
drink be merryfultomorrow we die
that's why
i'd rather sit in the house of mourning
then at the table with food
blessed are the hungry, you said i believe it
hunger is an escort to the deeper things of you
you satisfy, you satisfy
as the deer pants for the water, my soul-longs for you
as the body dies without water- my soul dies without you
my soul cries
my soul cries
my soul cries...for you
take to the place where you satisfy take me to the river
ill do anything god there is no no price
take me to the river
they may say come on get over it
everything is ok
they may say
why the hunger why the thirsty why the mourning
my soul cries my soul cries my soul cries- for you
my soul cries, my soul cries, my soul cries for you
take to the place where you satisfy take to the river,
ill do anything, God there is no price
take me to the river
all my tears you hold in a bottle
you will pour them out like the rain
weeping endures for the night but JOY comes in the morning, JOY comes in the morning
blessed are the hungry, blessed are the thirsty, you said it- i believe it
hunger is the escort to the deeper things of you
my soul cries, my soul cries, my soul cries- for you
deep is calling out to deep
i gotta go deeper deeper deeper still
you're not so far away
you're living on the inside of me
spring oh well, spring up oh well within me
spirit of the living God
spring up oh well within me!
spring up oh well, spring up oh well within me!
a river of life!
~~spring up oh well within me!~~
Holy spirit rise up inside of me, fill me with desire for Jesus
all consuming fire living flame of love
come and move within the hearts of men and women
and make us lovesick for Jesus, we are lovesick, come Lord Jesus, COME!
--misty edwards--
Psalm 77:11-20 (New International Version)
11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
12 I will meditate on all your works
and consider all your mighty deeds.
13 Your ways, O God, are holy.
What god is so great as our God?
14 You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the peoples.
15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
Selah
16 The waters saw you, O God,
the waters saw you and writhed;
the very depths were convulsed.
17 The clouds poured down water,
the skies resounded with thunder;
your arrows flashed back and forth.
18 Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,
your lightning lit up the world;
the earth trembled and quaked.
19 Your path led through the sea,
your way through the mighty waters,
though your footprints were not seen.
20 You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Spring up oh well with in me, and declare the goodness and majesty of the Lord! Display his Splendor for the world to see! Move in me Lord, make me lovesick for you, I am desperate for you. I place you above all others, all needs, all wants in my life!! You satisfy! Only YOU satisfy. Hunger is the escort to the deeper things of you...Let that be my cry, my prayer.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Hope does NOT disappoint us
5 weeks ago...I found a lump in my left breast, by accident. I thought about what or If I should do anything. But Daniel assured me I should go to have it examined. And so I called to set up my appt. Shortly after I went to the SOZO conference...where God told me He was going to send someone to pray for my healing for it. But I knew it would be someone I did not know, because I had not told anyone. So I knew if it happened, God really spoke to me, and meant what He said. Alas, the conference was coming to an end and we were in the line to leave, when a man came up to me and told me He felt like He was supposed to pray for me- for my healing!! Wow. Ok, God..So he did. I told him what God had spoke to me, he said he felt like he was supposed to all weekend but had not had the chance.
I was in awe of God.
So I came home and waited for my appointment. Time seemed to crawl by...but it finally came. To sum it up quickly, we waited another week for the ultrasound, another week for the appt with the surgeon, but then that appt got canceled, so waited another day. Through all of it....I just felt a peace that truly surpassed allllll understanding. It was hard to see the fear in my husband's eyes for me and my sister's. Out of their love for me they were afraid. But I wanted to be strong. I did not want to fall apart with anxiety and fear, worries and what if's...I had a few moments of struggle...But all I could hear in my heart was...."With all my heart, with all my mind, and all my soul, with all I know" over and over and over again. I would trust him with all of me...He knows my fears, but I know he loves and he is good. So whatever happened, I wanted to believe that and trust He would bring good and growth and that He would get glory out of it.
"I won't be afraid, I will face the wind. So let the winds blow, let the winds blow"
Whatever those winds were going to look like,
I wanted to be strong and FULL OF FAITH and HOPE!
NOT FEAR!
So today I went it to the surgeon for my consult for a biopsy since they discovered it was a solid mass. I was so ready for it all to be over so we could move on and not have this dark cloud of wonder hanging over us anymore. She informed us that it was indeed a solid mass but it was benign, nothing to worry about, no procedure or surgery needed.
Yay, God!!!
I was reminded of what God spoke to me, the prayers gone up for me, the unknown affect and healing that has come from them...
Through all of this I have persevered to find Him in it, believe what He says about me, about my future...He always, always, always answers us...
He knows us in and out. He is so faithful.
And His hope- NEVER disappoints.
Glory to Your Name Lord. You are worthy to be praised.
"...And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."
Romans 5:2
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Sink or Swim
Peace vs. all the emotions raging within me...all the truth and promises of His goodness and faithfulness.
The days before I have had peace and was not consumed with these fears...but this morning it hit me like a very real tidal wave...I could almost see inside myself...watching the waves be tossed back and forth, a sloshing that is messy and splashes onto everything around it. It was sink or swim...but I kept coming back up, fighting for my air, fighting for who He says I am, what He says about me, what he says about my future... but I would sink with a thought of fear, the what if's, be pushed down under the water..... but then be reminded of His promises and I would swim back to the top...Gasp for more air, for peace, calmness, strength...
I love that no matter how many times we sink...he always gives us the strength to swim back to the top. He ALWAYS answers our cry for help. He ALWAYS answers! He never leaves us or forsakes us. Never!
He does not let us be overtaken by the waves if we call out to Him.
We always have a choice...we can choose to let our emotions overtake us or we can choose to cling to what He says about us and who He is, and claim His promises.
So right now, I choose to swim...not sink!
to be continued...
Monday, February 8, 2010
Bring me forth in Love
the King desires you..
Now Listen oh daughter
He wants to be with you
He longs for the day
when He makes all things new..
all things new..
He longs for the day..
He longs for the day..
when you allow Him to make all things new..
so listen oh daughters...
the King desires you.
so listen oh daughters..
the King desires you!
I say yes-
I say yes-
I say yes-
I want to be with you.
so I say yes-
I say yes
I say yes
I want to be with you.
I say yes-
I say yes-
I say yes-
I want to be with you.
I say yes-
I say yes-
I say yes-
I want to be with you.
Oh God I won't accuse you of being too difficult..
I won't accuse you of asking too much of me.
I won't accuse you...
for I know , I know, you know what moves my heart~
and I say yes.
I say yes..
I will go my own way...
to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of frankincense.
I will leave the past behind..
and how I failed, so so so many times..
but I l believe in your commitment to me.
I trust your promise more than I trust my own commitment to you..
I say it again, I say it again
I will go own my way
Yes, yes, yes.
I'll say yes.
I know that you will bring me to the end..
and I say yes
You are able to keep what I've committed to you
are able to bring me forth in love..
You are able to keep what I've committed to you
are able to bring me forth in love..
You are able to keep what I've committed to you
are able to bring me forth in love..
You are able to keep what I've committed to you
are able to bring me forth in love..
You are able- I trust you..
I trust your desire for me.
For your said it and I believe it.
For you've given me the spirit as a guarantee.
As I walk through the journey~
As I walk through the wilderness~
I know, I know, I know your gonna bring me into, into only You.
Though I fall I am not utterly cast out..
though I fall, He upholds me by His right hand
You are able to keep what I've committed to you
are able to bring me forth in love..
You are able to keep what I've committed to you
are able to bring me forth in love..
I believe it- so into your hands I commit my spirit..
I commit my way.. I commit everything..
For you have not left me alone, you have given me the help of the holy spirit.
I walk in the spirit day by day by day
I walk in the spirit...
show me the way, show me the way...
It's all about love, from beginning to the end...
For God is near to the brokenhearted..
He draws near to the humble,
anybody can come, anybody...
Creaking of a rusty gate...no, thanks!
1 Corinthians 13 (The Message)
1 Corinthians 13
The Way of Love
1 If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. 2If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. 3-7If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
8-10Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Drink deep
just waiting to be discovered..
You’re a mystery~ so intriguing. You’re a mystery so inviting.
You saved Yourself for the weak, the humble, and the meek.
Only the hungry dine, only the thirsty drink deep.
You saved Yourself for the needy. You saved Yourself for me.
I want to waste my life to search You out~ search You out.
-misty edwards