Musical Mondays

I haven’t done a Musical Monday post for a while.  These are some of my favorite songs right now.  If they’re not on your playlist they should be. If you don’t have a Youtube account click on the word (Youtube) and it’s easy to create one.

For God so loved the whole wide world
Sent His only Son to die for me
Arms spread wide for the whole wide world
His arms spread wide where mine should be
JESUS CHANGED MY DESTINY!

 

 

 

You unravel me, with a melody
You surround me with a song
Of deliverance, from my enemies
Till all my fears are gone

 

 

Who could imagine so great a mercy?
What heart could fathom such boundless grace?
The God of ages stepped down from glory
To wear my sin and bear my shame

 

I hope you enjoy some quiet reflection with these beautiful songs.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

 

 

 

Road Trip With My Bestie

What an awesome, powerful, thought-provoking, convicting week-end.  My bestie and I spent Friday and Saturday in the company of Priscilla Shirer.  Imagine, two days in the company of 5,000+ women (and 2 brave men), worshiping, praying, and building trust in the One and Only.

Now, when I say praying I’m not talking about your run of the mill prayer times where we ask that our words and thoughts are pleasant in His ears, that He will bless and heal our friends and family, that He will keep us safe and give us wisdom and courage.  That was there, of course.  I’m talking about the kind of prayer that covers all the bases and gives no one any doubt that we were in His Presence.  All turned in prayer requests (Yes, all 5000+!) on the cards provided. We were then encouraged to take a prayer card the next day (They had been prayed on overnight.) and commit to praying for that person for the next 7 days.  Is that some powerful praying or what?

The conference was divided into 3 segments with music by Tony Evans opening each.  That man has some serious vocal ability.  Beautiful voice!  Another thing about the music — Imagine if you will 5000 women’s voices, praising God for those who accepted His invitation to join the Forever Family, singing It Is Well With My Soul a capella.  Each time I hear a large group sing a favorite hymn I know in my heart what heaven sounds like.

So, here are some things from my notes:

  • Scripture for the event was Luke 9:1-17
  • The cure for your exhaustion is intimacy with Jesus.  After all, He said, “Come away with me.”
  • A recipe for ministry.  First, we are called as the disciples were.  Second, we are given power and authority, as the disciples were.  Lastly, He does the sending, as He did the disciples.  Ministry of any kind is and must be about Jesus.
  • Resist the urge to put yourself in the ‘spotlight’ until He says go.
  • If there was a perfect church and you showed up, it wouldn’t be perfect.
  • Re: 5 loaves and 2 fishes – You don’t need more than His blessing on what you already have.

  • Hearing God is not about newness it is about nowness.
  • Those who don’t expect to hear from God, WON’T!  AW Tozer
  • God is omnipresent!  (I know you already knew that.)  He showed up for Gideon, Moses, David, Simeon, etc.,  and He shows up for us!
  • His glory is ever-present, yet, we often don’t see Him.  In this country we have so many resources, like Bibles, CD’s, DVD’s, books, the Internet… we fail to take the time to look for Him.

And that, dear friends, is what a terrific weekend looked like.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

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Double Standards

I’ve been reading through the book of Proverbs this week and have been amazed at the number of references to double standards.  We’re going to land on one Proverb, in particular, today. Chapter 20 verse 10 is very precise in its wording yet there is a deeper meaning to it.  It appears to be talking about weights and measures in the world of commerce but there is also a deeper meaning that applies to everyday life.  (I used the New Living Translation for this picture.)

  • Commandment 8 tells us we are not to bear false witness.  That’s dishonest and God has no use for it and reminds us of His desire for us to stop lying throughout the Bible. (Leviticus 19.11, Proverbs 12:22, Colossians 3:9, Revelation 22:15 and so many more…)
  • We are not to say one thing and mean another.
  • When we consider another person higher or lower than ourselves because of what they have or don’t have we are using a standard that is totally against God’s standard of simply loving one another.
  • God does not want us to cheat in any way.  God knows our hearts and minds.  We’re so full of double standards.  How about this one, do as I say, not as I do.  Or, you can listen but do not comment.  Or, That’s so easy, but you can’t do it yourself.
  • What did Jesus say about the issue?  Check out Matthew 7:3-5.

    In the culture we live in double and multiple standards exist everywhere.  My prayer is we will all be able to see the planks in our own eyes before we comment on the specks in someone else’s.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

 

Five Sentence Friday – Luke 6:40

Do you have a favorite teacher?  Someone who has had a direct impact on your life?  Someone you could sit and listen to for hours without tiring at the sound of their voice?  I know you do.  We all do.

This verse spoke loudly to me.  So much so that I decided to use it for this post.

  • My ultimate teacher is Jesus.
  • I will never be greater than my Teacher.
  • I will become more like Him as I learn more from Him.
  • My training is directly from God because His Word is my manual.
  • No one knows more than my Teacher.

And there it is.  For everyone who is a teacher, myself included, it’s really important to remember that we don’t know everything.  Only God does!

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

Ask For Anything — 5 Sentence Friday

While reading today’s word in Jesus Speaks by Steven Scott I knew these were the words most needed by someone who reads this blog.  If that’s you would you take the time to leave a comment as to how this article has helped you? 

Whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.  (John 14:13-14, ESV)

 

If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.     (John 15:7, NIV)

  1. Jesus is the Word.
  2. To abide in the Word/Jesus is to actively live it out.
  3. Knowing the Word helps us know what is with His will.
  4. Jesus wants to do ‘things’ for us.
  5. His commandments (found in the Word) are the key to His response.

Are you spending time in His Word? That’s so very important.  It doesn’t matter if you read a book or a verse at a time.  It simply matters that you are spending time with Him and want to abide in His Word.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie