Week of September 16, 2013

[GinNJ]

Psalm 89:15

"Happy are the people who know You, Lord, who walk in the radiance of your face."

Job 5:17

“Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves, So do not despise the discipline of the Almighty."

Proverbs 3:18

"She (wisdom) is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who hold her fast."

Proverbs 14:21

"He who despises his neighbor sins, But happy is he who is gracious to the poor."


People talk a lot about how "God wants us to be happy, right?" Well, scripture doesn't teach us that God wants us to be unhappy, that is for sure. The real question is ...what does God say leads to happiness. Notice in the verses above the things that God says will make us happy...knowing Him, walking in His light, being disciplined by him, holding on to His Wisdom and being gracious to those who have less than we do. Notice what isn't on the list...getting what we want, never having trouble, being self-focused and all of the other things our culture tells us will make us happy.

I pray that as this week unfolds we all make a decision to experience more of God, seek His face and His wisdom, accept any discipline He has for us and take time to do something kind for someone else! God bless!

Song for the week:

Carry Me to the Cross - Kutless

When the path is daunting
And every step exhausting
I'm not alone
I'm not alone, no, no
I feel you draw me closer
All these burdens on my shoulder
I'm not alone, I'm not alone
You pull me me from this place

Hallelujah
You carry me every day
You carry me all all the way
Hallelujah
You carry me to the
You carry me to the cross

How your love has moved me, yeah
To the foot of all your glory
I'm not alone, I'm not alone
I'm not alone

Hallelujah
You carry me every day
You carry me all all the way
Hallelujah
You carry me to the
You carry me to the cross

All of these cities you have built
And every cathedral you have filled
To all of creation you gave life with your hands
And with those hands you comfort me
You lift me up from my knees
And carry me
You carry me

Hallelujah
You carry me every day
You carry me all all the way
Hallelujah
You carry me to the
You carry me to the cross
The cross
You carry me to the
You carry me to the cross

[Deleted]

My concerns for Timmy's well-being, spiritually & emotionally have been a real heartache for me lately. I feel burdened that he is exploring every corner of his life to figure out who he is, what he believes & where he's headed. He's always had this dream, a goal of being an NFL quarterback, & he may be realizing that God actually gave him that dream, but from the way things look now, the dream is ending. He must feel like a part of himself is dying, & having to re-define what he will do and who he will serve on the throne of his life, what will be his goals, may be causing him tremendous pain and fear. My deepest prayer for him is that he will search all closets, rooms & hallways of his heart, and remove the debris that might keep him from pursuing God with all his heart, soul, mind and strength. May he re-dedicate himself to serving God with total abandon, holding nothing back, and submitting himself to be a useful instrument in God's hands.

Joshua 24:15 "But if you do not want to serve the LORD, you must choose for yourselves whom you will serve.... As for me and my family, we will serve the LORD."

Psalm 63:2-4 "I've seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and glory. Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live and in Your name I will lift up my hands."

LIVE WITH ABANDON (Newsboys)

Chasing after this world makes me tired.
Praisin' my own name leaves me dry

There's gotta be so much more to life than this
A higher calling that I missed
I want my life to count, every breath.

I wanna live with abandon,
Give You all that I am
Every part of my heart Jesus
I place in Your hands.
I wanna live with abandon

I'll drop everything and follow You
It's only Your hands I hold onto.

I'm not looking back
I'm done with that
Wanna give you all I have.
I'm not looking back
I'm done with that
Wanna give You all I am.



Link to music video:

[Deleted]

Whatever you are doing, please take the time to watch the story behind this song. It's about staying devoted to God...surrendering...no matter how devastating the circumstances.




Song: "Hallelujah" by Heather Williams
"Jesus, please come

please come today

hear me

heal me

be near me I pray

I have fallen so far

flat on my face

I'm in need of your grace today

I stumble and fall

but in spite of it all

your love always stays the same

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Jesus, please come

please come today

break me

mold me

use me I pray

but don't give up on me now

I'm so close to you now

I'm in need of your grace today

wipe the dirt off my face

hold me in your embrace

your love always saves the day

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

I have fallen so far

flat on my face

I'm in need of your grace today

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Jesus, please come
please come today"

[Miami]

Thursday September 19, 2013

Jesus is the answer!!

This is very good news for all of us believers and those who aren't.. yet. For all of those souls out there that are still wondering, looking for something that makes your life complete, in pain and darkness, or just confused. Jesus loves your, and he wants to be in your life. He never promises us life will be easy, but he promises life in abundance, and the Strength and Peace to make it thru the tough times.

This world and the people in it will fail you, Jesus never will!!

Jesus....

The mere mention of His name can calm the storm, heal the broken, raise the dead.
At the name of Jesus, I've seen sin hardened men melted, derelicts transformed.
The lights of hope put in the eyes of a hopeless child.
At the name of Jesus, hatred and bitterness turn to love and forgiveness, arguments cease.
I've heard a mother softly breathe His name at the bedside of a child delirious from fever,
and watched... as that little body grew quiet, and fevered brow cooled.
I've sat the side of a dying saint. Her body wracked with pain, who in those final fleeting seconds summoned her last ounce of ebbing strength, just to whisper Earth's sweetest name.
Jesus...Jesus....
Emperors have tried to destroy it.
Philosophies have tried to stamp it out.
Tyrannts have tried to wash it from the face of the Earth with the very blood of those who claimed it. Yet it still stands.
And there shall be that final day when every voice that has ever uttered a sound, every voice of Adam's race, shall raise in one mighty chorus to proclaim the name of Jesus.
For in that day, every knee shall bow, every tongue shall confess, that Jesus Christ is truly Lord.
You see, it was not by mere chance that caused the angel one night, long ago to say to a virgin maiden: His name, His name shall be called Jesus....Jesus....Jesus.....
Ya know, there is something, something about that name........ (~Gloria Gaither)

It is so true. Just the mention of Jesus brings comfort to those who know Him. It is so true because He is so wonderful to me and He is a servant always willing to serve the needs of others.


John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”