All For Your Splendor

With my arms stretched out I'm swaying to Your heart beat. 

I'm growing with the sound of Your voice calling.

You're bring out the beauty that You have put in me for Your joy and for Your glory falling.

With my roots deep in you, I'll grow that branch that bears the fruit. 

And though I'm small I'll still be standing in the storm. 

Cause I am planted by the river, by the streams of living water. 

And I'll grow up strong and beautiful all for your splendor Lord. 

~Christy Nockels For Your Splendor

Storms raging, chest heaving, fear surrounding, are you here Lord, do you see me? Driest drought, withering leaves, I'm thirsty Lord, will you fill me? Deserts as far as the eye can see, where is Your beauty? 

The Lord is faithful even through the strongest storms and driest wastelands. His love and compassion never cease. He continuously speaks blessings over hearts and comforting words. As He prunes branches, the tree becomes healthier and begins to blossom under His watchful eye. He is the gardener of our hearts, the best gardener at that. He creates Edens out of deserts and grows a mighty oak out of a tiny seed. 

He brings beauty and strength out of suffering and shines His beautiful face upon each and every one of us. His light is the brightest and out shines the sun. His love is stronger than any love imaginable. His faithfulness is incomparable to any known earthly relationship. 

Despite weakness, He will help you stand strong through the storm and pour out blessings upon blessings. You are a survivor and made it through all because of Him. He is your refuge and fortress, He is your peace and comfort, He is there when the people of this world fail you. You will bloom and blossom, turning into His beautiful princess or prince. He delights and adores you, His beautiful flower or mighty oak. He is all we need, rest in Him and be joyful in His blessings. Shine and display His beauty, this is what He created you to do. 

Isaiah 51:3

The Lord will surely comfort Zion and look with compassion upon all her ruins; He will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the song of singing. 

Savoring Words

I stumbled upon a letter from my precious Papa today. I found myself clinging to his last written words to me and wanting to memorize every single one. His love had meant the world to me and he expressed it so well in this note.

As I treasured and pondered this card from my Papa I wondered what it would be like if all of us took God's words to heart and clung to each one. How different we would be...

We wouldn't wonder if He loved us or if He was faithful. We wouldn't worry about paying the next bills or the what ifs of this world because our Father always provides. We would not feel insecure because we would know that the Lord's opinion of us is the only one that matters and He loves us completely.

So I challenge you, beloved, to read God's word as if He were speaking to you, His cherished son or daughter.

John 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Clothe and Revive Me

Death where is your power? Sin where is your victory?

He has been raised so we can live a new life, to walk in His light and comfort a world in need. Jesus, though was murdered viciously on a cross, was raised just three days later to wipe all of the grimy sin off our worthless bodies and make us pure and clean, free from blemishes and the deformities of this world, and made perfect in His sight. There is no greater price than the one paid upon that tree.

Did you see that? He made you clean. Even though each of us is very undeserving, He chose you, His beloved son or daughter. He loves you so much that He would lay down His life so that you might live. Can you imagine such a sacrifice?

This aspect is unimaginable to me, that someone would love me so much to die for me---and not only that, but give me more than I could have ever wanted and hoped for. But this is how He loves. His love for us is a fierce, protective love, a love that can move mountains, a love that never ends. How wonderful this is.

This is what our loving Father who provides all we could ever imagine in His perfect timing calls us to do.

Colossians 3:12-15

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Give thanks to the One who gives you life and wipes away all your sin and has forgiven you.

You Revive Me

Christy Nockles

You revive me

You revive me Lord

And all my deserts are rivers of joy

You are the treasure, I could not afford

So I'll spend myself till I'm empty and poor

All for you

You revive me Lord

Lord I have seen Your goodness
And I know the way You are
Give me eyes to see You in the dark
And You race shines a glory
That i only know in part
And there is still a longing
A longing in my heart

You revive me.

You revive me Lord.

And all my deserts are rivers of joy

You are the treasure, I could not afford

So I'll spend myself till I'm empty and poor

All for you

You revive me Lord

My soul is thirsty
Only You can satisfy
You are the well that never will run dry
And i'll praise You for the blessing
For calling me Your friend
And in Your name I'm lifting
I'm lifting up my hands

I'm alive
I'm alive
You breathe on me
You revive me

Give thanks to the One who gives you life and wipes away all your sin and has forgiven you. But the best thing of all is that He loves you!

Have Your Way

"Feels like I've been here forever.

Why can't You just intervene.

Do You see that the tears keep falling

and I'm falling apart at the seams.

You never said the road would be easy,

but You said that You would never.

You never promised that this life wasn't hard but You promised You'd take care of me.

I'll stop searching for the answers,

I'll stop praying for an escape.

And I'll trust you God with where I am and believe that You will have Your way.

Just have Your way,

Just have Your way..."

Have Your Way~ Britt Nicole

As I lie in this hospital bed, I am so thankful that His ways are not my own. I'm thankful that He is faithful to the end and promises never to leave or forsake me. He takes broken things and makes them beautiful. This broken and painful world is restored and renewed by our wonderful, faithful Savior. Pain and suffering passes away as restoration and beauty takes its place.

I have such hope and peace as I wait for healing because I know He has a plan for me, plans for me to prosper and grow, He does not wish to harm me. I don't know why He has allowed my body to be taken over by sickness and pain but I know that He loves me. He loves this broken body, full of imperfections and weaknesses. He loves this broken body, that is easily lead astray and longs to take control. He loves this broken body, that is so stubbornly set in its ways that sometimes struggles to seek His face. He sees and knows all of my brokenness and He loves me anyways.

He holds me together and creates beauty out of the ashes. Many people of this world have tried to destroy His beautiful creation through abuse and painful afflictions but He has turned all of this into something more powerful and stronger. He has allowed my faith in Him to grow, therefore allowing His hand gently lead me to greener pastures where there is peace and relief from the suffering. His face shines upon me, like the sun peaks through the clouds, and He lets me know that it's all going to be ok, that He is here.

This passage from Genesis reminds me of things in my life:

'"But Joseph said to them, 'Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.' And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them."

Genesis 50:19-20

If you have been harmed by people or circumstances of this world, take hope for the Lord our everlasting Father is faithful to the end and will turn our suffering broken bodies into a new, shinning, beautiful creation of His.

Be filled with His never ending peace and unconditional love. Let Him have His way with your life.

One Year Ago Today...

One year ago today my hero passed away.

The clouds quickly rolled in as sadness overtook me.

I held his lifeless hand and laid my head on his silent chest and questioned why he had left me so soon.

The storm grew treacherous as the emotions of my heart overtook me.

I prayed, begged God to take me too.

My Papa had just told me that he would always be here for me but then he was gone.

How could this be, how could this precious man be gone that had meant so much to me?

A large piece of my heart lay on the floor with his lifeless shell and died right there with him.

The thunder rolled as I cried out to my Heavenly Father and questioned why.

But there is always an end to the storms in life, even if it is a brief reprieve.

The sun shines through and it shocks you by its brightness.

The discovery is made that life is still worth living and there is still work to be done.

Storms still come and the winds still blow but you are able to face the rain and look forward to the sun peeking through the clouds once again.

Hope is found.

There is refuge in our Father's arms and comfort is found as He rubs His healing balm over our broken hearts.

My once lifeless heart is revived again.

Piece by piece He put it back together, He remolded and massaged my heart.

Death is not the end,

this life is not all there is.

Something far greater awaits us and we must bring His kingdom here.

We must shine for Him while we can and tell all of His wondrous works before it is too late.

Beauty and peace awaits us as we take steps from this world into eternity.

So live, live for today, for today may be all you have.

Live in the hope and knowledge that you have been redeemed.

Breathe in His love, mercy, hope, and peace,

breathe out His love, mercy, hope, and peace on others.

My heart finds joy once again and longs to shine like the stars in the universe.

If you are overcome by the storms of this life, take hope for He has redeemed the world

and the sun will shine again.

Here

Kari Jobe

Come and rest here

Come and lay your burdens down

Come and rest here

There is refuge for you now

You'll find His peace

And know you're not alone anymore

He is near

You'll find His healing

You're heart isnt shattered anymore

He is here

Breathe in

Breathe out

You will

You will find Him here

I will rest in You

You will find Him

You will find Him here...

Year of Favor

The beginning of the new year causes me to ponder and reflect the year that has passed.

The year 2011 was filled with pain and sorrow and blessings and growth, a bitter-sweet combination that produces many new lessons.

The passing of my grandfathers rocked my familiar world and left me with intense grief and a loss of self. I was shocked and devastated to lose two strong men who had become heroes and role models in my life.

Obstacles continued to follow as my health worsened to the point of hospitalization. But a major blessing came out of the second hospital stay, I had been in constant pain for three years and the doctors never knew what the cause was but they finally had the answers. God is so faithful and good and always provides things in His perfect timing. For the first time in years my stomach is pain free. It is truly a gift from God.

As the year went on I began to search for an apartment of my own and when the time was just about up He provided a place that is perfect for me and provides serenity. He also presented an opportunity for me to work at the insurance agency that I had worked at before and it once again was the perfect fit. He truly amazes me.

I'm not sure what His plans entail for the next steps of my life but I trust that He will lead me to where I need to go. His plans are always to prosper and grow us, never to harm. His love is everlasting and abounds more and more each day. Trust Him completely and give Him control. He will turn our suffering into gladness and use His wonderful redemption to bring us to solid ground.

Isaiah 61:1-3 The Year of the Lord's Favor

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,

because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness the prisoners,

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor

and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn,

and provide for those who grieve in Zion--

to bestow on them a crown of beauty

instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

The will be called oaks of righteousness,

a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor."

This is the year of the Lord's favor. Go and live for Him.