God's Presence

"The LORD replied, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

Exodus 33:14

 

 

January 21, 2013

 

An angel held my baby today, of this I am most certain. As he laid there on a hospital-looking bed, electrodes and tape covering his precious little head, it's as though I could sense His presence as I closed my eyes. Wrapped up and swaddled lying on that hospital bed, so helpless, he looked at me with those beautiful hazel eyes searching my own eyes for security, comfort and assurance. And I knew that my job as his mother had never been more important than in this very moment. I wanted to break down, in all honesty, but he needed me to be strong for him. And the only way I knew how to be strong for him was to pray.

 

Oh, my precious little son,

May you feel the great power and Spirit of the Holy One.

 

Guard and protect him LORD with all of my heart I do pray.

May Your peace and assurance be with him right now in every possible way.

 

Hold him in Your strong, protective Fatherly arms

Casting and vanquishing all evil that desires to cause him harm.

 

In this moment helpless and fearful I do feel.

Send Your Spirit, may it be strong within, to give me faith like steel.

 

In You there is no fear.

So I beg of You, Jesus, come to us. Be ever so near.

 

Fill us with Your promises of hope, trust and love

Allowing the Holy Spirit to fill his heart from that which comes only from Heaven above.

 

 

And just as my little guy searched my eyes for that security and comfort, I looked to the LORD for that same reassurance and protection. I close my eyes and envision myself lying at the feet of Jesus. It is an emotional scene. I cry - deep, gut-retching cries - as my head lays on His lap. He strokes the top of my head, holding me close. "Jesus, I am so tired," are the pleas I manage to let out in between cries. "I'm trying to go forward, fearless, but something tries to hold on to me, preventing me from focusing on You." With a knowing nod, He doesn't have to speak any words to me, and my soul finds rest. His embrace is solace. I don't want to leave this moment. My heart is restored and finally whole. It is the only time in which there is no more pain. There is no more fear. I don't want to open my eyes and face the world, so I beg Him to make it all end - to take away the pain and the hurt. I don't want to feel it anymore. And so I pray. I wonder if that prayer I prayed for my son this day isn't the same one my Jesus prays for me...

 

Oh, my precious daughter, daughter of the King,

May you feel the great power and Spirit of the Holy One.

 

Guard and protect her, LORD, with all of My heart I do pray.

May Your peace and assurance be with her right now in every possible way.

 

Hold her in Your strong, protective Fatherly arms

Casting and vanquishing all evil that desires to cause her harm.

 

In this moment, helpless and fearful she does feel.

Send her the Spirit in order to build her faith strong like that of steel.

 

Remind her that in You there is no fear.

I beg of You, LORD, come and to her be ever so near.

 

Fill her with Your promises of hope, trust and love.

Open her heart to receive the Holy Spirit that comes only from Heaven above.  

 

 

There was a miracle that happened today. My little boy took on this challenge head on (literally - he was having an EEG done). He did everything he needed to do in order to make things go as smooth as possible. He even, after about two grueling hours of being restrained (just an FYI...the kid never stops moving), gave a hug to the technician. I have never been more proud of my little guy, and more thankful that the LORD's presence surrounded us in protection, reassurance and love.  

Believe

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

Jeremiah 29:13

 

 

I Believe

 

I believe in that which I cannot see.

I know that my God is there for me.

 

In sickness He provides the healing.

In broken-heartedness He restores the feeling.

 

In weariness He gives me peaceful rest.

In the darkest moments of my life, He is the Light in the quest.

 

In weakness He shows up in power.

When enemies are at my heel, He strikes them down and they cower.

 

Great are the Lord's plans for me.

This I do believe!

 

I will walk by faith and not by sight.

I will follow in the steps of my God, my Light.

 

I have the hope which only He can provide.

All things are possible when within me He does reside.

 

I believe! 

Made New and Fully Alive

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

2 Corinthians 5:17

 

"He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!"

Revelation 21:5

 

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws."

Ezekiel 36:26-27

I've decided my 2013 will be titled, The Uprising. I am determined to no longer be held down by fear and its captivity. My 2013 will be fearless! Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not naive to think there won't be moments of doubt, fear and temptation that will try to creep in and infest my new vision for 2013. I'm just going to take a wild guess (just going off of past experiences here...) that because of my new vision for 2013, the devil will try to throw all he's got at me to cloud this new found vision. So, that's exactly why I'm making it about Jesus and not me. I'm living fearless in Jesus, as I make Him the center of each of my moments and days. With Jesus at my center, safe in His arms I will remain. Lead me, Dearest Jesus, and show me how to live a fearless 2013. I know it's not possible to do this without You as my center, but I know that in You all is possible!  When those doubts, fears and temptations try to creep in preventing me from living fearless, come to me with Your Truth and make me fearless in You. Thank you, Dear Jesus, that this is a gift You give to those who believe in You! What an amazing gift to start the new year with!

Alive

 

Dearest Jesus show me the way
To live like You - with love and compassion every day.

Your healing and mercy are for all.
It picks us up when we falter and fall.

Because of your grace alone,
Our sins You did atone.

The deepest wounds of affliction and pain You heal,
And within me joy I am able to feel.

What makes You great
Is that You exchanged love for hate.

Even when betrayed and left to die,
"Father forgive them," was Your final cry.

You have called us to live as You would
In order that Thy Will on earth be done as it should.

No longer am I bound in chains and fear.
For You are always to me near.

You now reside within my heart
And, from You, I will not depart.
Through You, I have been given a fresh start.

My life is made new
When I choose to follow You.

How amazing and great are these gifts You have given.
Alive and well - I am now surely livin!

 



Thankfulness

"One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple." Psalm 27:4

 

"For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone." Psalm 91:11-12

 

"Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you." Psalm 9:10

 

 

Held safely in the palm of His hand. It did not escape me that there was very little I could humanly do as I held my precious baby in my arms. As his usually rambunctious and vibrancy for life quickly drained from his little body, the tears from my eyes increased. "Save him, Oh Lord," I pleaded. I begged. So fearful I was losing my son, I yelled louder as if that's what God needed in order to hear my desperate cries. "Please don't take him today, Lord! Not today." As I drove him to the hospital fearful of losing him, my thoughts turned to the Lord and I was reminded again we are not in control! Life is precious. It can change in an instant. God's ways and thoughts are not ours. He works all things for the good of those who love Him.

 

I'm unsure of the why behind what happened to my little boy Christmas day. But I am sure that the Lord's Will always prevails, and that He can take anything and bring good out of it. I am sure God had (has) His hand on my little boy today - and every day. Held safely in the palm of His hand.

 

And I'm so very thankful. I'm thankful and praise God that He gave me another day, another minute, another second with my sweet little boy. I'm thankful that the prayers of many were heard today. So much to be thankful for. Today, that little boy brought his mama closer to Jesus in prayer. That little boy brought a close family even closer together. That little boy brought many people to Jesus in prayer today. That little boy brought new faces and familiar faces together today. And that little boy reminded us all just how precious life is and just how much even 1 minute matters. Thankful. Held safely in the palm of His hand.

 

Thankful

 

I am amazed at what I see when I look all around.

So many blessings can be found.

 

My heart is filled with a joyous and thankful song.

May the Lord's praises be sung all day long!

 

From out of the trenches You have rescued me,

And have shown me a new way to be.

 

Only You could do such a marvelous thing.

How great is Your love to me - all praises to You I will sing!

 

Never Forsaken

 

You were there that day

When my world was falling away.

 

You called to me and spoke my name out loud.

I was so scared I was lost, but in You I was found.

 

Never by You was I forsaken.

But all along named and taken.

 

You came to get me that night.

In speaking my name, You told me it would be more than alright.

In You, I would be given new sight.



Hope

"I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them."
Psalm 34:4-7
 

As I write this, it is the day before Christmas Eve. All is currently calm. And by calm I mean my soul is at rest. I can't help but reflect on the past year. A year ago, all was definitely not calm. Turmoil was to the left, to the right, to the front and to the back (I think there's a song for that). So much has changed in my life, and it has very little to do with me and a whole lot to do with the Lord and His promises. "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:18).

Christmas has a whole new meaning for me this year. Now, don't get me wrong. I've always before seen "Jesus as the reason for the season," but this year it's different for me. I close my eyes and see that perfect little baby lying in a manger and I'm standing there right beside Him. My heart belongs to that sinless baby. I think about that baby and am overwhelmed with joy, thankfulness and praise that that little baby came to save me from my brokenness.

Christmas is about the hope we can find in that little baby. Christmas is about the unconditional, self-sacrificial love found in that little baby.

A year ago, my hopes and dreams were few and far between. I wondered if the emptiness I felt inside could ever be filled with joy and laughter again. Today, I have never felt more joy and have laughed as much as I do now. The emptiness I once felt is filled with hope and love because of what that little baby lying in a manger did for me. As for my dreams...I dream much bigger these days. I dream for the day I will be in the eternal presence of that little baby and finally be home...and fully complete.

Under the Shelter of Your Love

 

Under the shelter of Your love,

You watch over me from Heaven above.
 

All things in my life You have promised to work for good,

Having been predestined to be like Christ, as You knew I would.
 

Out of all the poor choices and broken dreams,

You still triumph and come to redeem.
 

You come to the oppressed to deliver and save.

We, in Christ, are no longer condemned by the grave.
 

My life because of You is anew.

You now ask that I do as You would do.
 

You see beyond that which has ripped me apart.

And see the goodness no longer hidden deep within my heart.
 

You ask me to patiently wait for Your call,

And in You will be the confidence to deliver Your message standing tall.
 

Within me is the Spirit of Life.

It drives out all worldly strife.
 

How humbled and privileged to be called to this greater purpose,

When surely I don't deserve this!
 

You have come to save,

And, with this, the peace of understanding You gave.
 

You have given me salvation.

It is Your proclamation.
 

You have healed me and made me whole,

Restoring my body, mind and soul.
 

You give me what I need and more than I've asked for,

Because it is me that You adore.
 

What a great gift this is,

And all because I AM HIS!

December 14, 2012

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance. From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth - he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do...

 

But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.

 

We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you."

 

Psalm 33: 12-15; 18-22

 

 

RISE UP

 

Rise up, rise up and for our Lord fight.

Christians, I'm calling you - Come out this night!

Free from us evil one, no more may we be held down in fright.

 

With the Lord by our side,

His light will be the lantern that will be our guide.

 

Through His mercy and grace,

The power has been given to take back this place.

 

No longer will we live shackled by fear.

With the Lord as our center, we will persevere!

 

Let us take back the night.

May the love of the Lord be our vision and our sight.

 

The time is now, Christians, we are in need.

For it is our dear brothers and sisters that are wounded and bleed.

 

Let us be ready Lord, send us on Thy way.

Lord, have mercy. This we pray. 

Jesus, My Friend

Jesus, My Friend

 

Oh, Dearest Jesus, how I long to hear

With anticipation and an eager ear

 

For the day in which You will to me come

Telling me Thy Will has been done.

 

"Good and faithful servant," will be the words You speak.

"In obedience to My Word, you have become humble and meek."

 

And then, to me, You will say the words I have so desperately longed for.

"Today, my friend, I have come to take you home and live with me you shall forever more.

 

No more suffering and pain,

For the Kingdom of God is now your gain.

 

Like a Father who stands near His obedient child lovingly and proud,

You held fast to Truth and did not succumb to the evilness of the crowd.

 

For you opened your heart and accepted Me in thought and deed,

Recognizing that it is I who fills each and every need.

 

All of your sins have been washed away.

And in magnificent glory you shall be with Me this day."

 

Until, Dearest Jesus, that day will arise,

Plant within my heart the Holy Spirit to be wise.

 

Please lead me in Thy holy ways.

And bless each and every one of my days.

 

Open my heart to willingly obey and trust,

Knowing that this command from You is a must.

 

"There is work here yet to be done.

But take heart knowing the victory has already been won.

 

I know you cannot see what lies before you,

But there is something here for you to do.

 

Feel My powerful hand rest your fearful heart.

I am always with you and will never from you in this life depart."