"Fear doesn't live here no more"

Tonight in Bible study, several points were tossed around and discussed and lots of broken people came together and discovered that we are ALL the "least of these." As I was driving home a song came on that really just reminded me that although SO many different topics were discussed and SO many different hurts were explored, they're all the same in this: Love not only came for ALL, Love came for EACH ... and though the pain of this world can be REAL and MEAN, the only One who matters has already overcome your struggle.

I hear the Savior say
Thy strength indeed is small
Child of weakness watch and pray
Find in me thine all in all

 

(Finding time for seeking Him, having difficulty in decision making, finding strength in your circumstances to help you face them as a godly individual...)  

Jesus paid it all
All to him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

Lord now indeed I find
Thy power and thine alone
Can change the lepers spots
And melt the heart of stone

 

(Because of what He did, we dont have to have pain any more, we dont have to harbor guilt, we don't have to inflict sadness on ourselves or even stay in a rutt ...)

Jesus paid it all
All to him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

It's washed away! All my sin! And all my shame!

And when before the throne
I stand in him complete
Jesus died my soul to save
My lips shall still repeat

 

(THIS PART is my favorite! WE, the broken, the hurting, the cast out, the undeserving, the "unloved," the very ones who have broken the HEART of our living God,  stand before the creator of the universe COMPLETE. WHAT an EXTRAORDINARY love!)

Jesus paid it all
All to him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

Oh praise the one who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead   

Jesus paid it all
All to him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

"O praise the One" by Kristian Stanfill

 

 

 

Fear doesn’t live here no more
Fear doesn’t live here no more
When Your name was spoken
Your name brought healing to me
Shame doesn’t live here no more
Shame doesn’t live here no more
When Your name was spoken
Your love brought healing to me

Condemnation no more
Sin lost all control
I am set free
By Your glory and grace
You broke every chain
I am set free

Your name Jesus
Your name Jesus
Jesus Your name
Your name brings healing to me

I am free
I am free
These chains have no hold on me
I’ve been healed
Hallelujah

"Fear doesn't live here no more" by Planetshakers
 

 

 

There's a wreckage, there's a fire
There's a weakness in my love
There's a hunger I can't control
Lord I falter and I fall down
Then I hold on to the chains you broke
When You came down and saved my soul
Save my soul

Hallelujah
We are free to struggle
We're not struggling to be free
Your blood bought and makes us children
So children drop your chains and sing

So I look, do I still fail
Do I withhold, do I still give in to temptation
On my own I am bankrupt
I will trust You, I'll take you at your word
You promise
Hallelujah
We are free to struggle
We're not struggling to be free
Your blood bought and makes us children
So children drop your chains and sing

Hallelujah, death is overcome
And we are breathing
Hallelujah our stone hearts become flesh
A flesh that's beating
Hallelujah chains have been undone
And we are singing
Hallelujah the fire has begun
Can you feel it?

Hallelujah
We are free to struggle
We're not struggling to be free
Your blood bought and makes us children
So children drop your chains and sing

"The Struggle" by Tenth Avenue North

 

 

 

You see, it all goes back to having a heart of worship. It's there, where we humble ourselves to Him, that we are filled. In each of our weaknesses HE is strong. He doesn't love us less when we sin. He doesn't love us less when we don't believe in Him. He doesn't even love us less when we defile His holy name. He is always enough. What kind of love is this? That meets us in our circumstances no matter how filthy they may be by His standards? He LOVES US so much that He doesn't care what our argument is against Him. This is how we are charged to love. Love people in their circumstances. Love them in their unbelief. Love them in their despair. Love them through their sin. Love them in their brokenness. And if we choose not to, it's like we're looking the Savior in the face and saying, "You didn't do enough to save him." WE ARE ALL THE "LEAST OF THESE!" There is nothing separating me from the crying girl on the MARTA that I saw two weeks ago and have been praying for ever since. Nothing separates me from anyone else. BECAUSE HE IS ENOUGH. And never once did we ever walk alone.

 

If you're hurting tonight, I want to invite you to take it to the One who has all authority to provide you with peace in your circumstance. He is faithful. He is true. He is never failing. And He loves you with a love that will absolutely move your soul in a way that you didn't know it could  move. The most amazing thing about Him is that He calls you CHILD, He calls you FRIEND, and He also calls you FORGIVEN because He was broken for you. Be set free from chains tonight. Let your fear, let your guilt, let your shame, let your uncertainty, let your hurt, let your brokenness all fall away from you. It's because of grace and mercy that your heart can find healing tonight. I pray that Jesus's heart and intention be made clear to you tonight and that you would fall in love with Him tonight and every single say for the rest of this beautiful life you've been given.

 

Amen.





Days 2, 3, 4, & 5 ... And my challenge to you!

Day 2 : I'm beyond thankful for old friends and new neighbors. I was able to spend a beautiful evening with old friends watching football over some lovely fried food. We laughed, we threatened to beat each other over rival differences, it was great. I ended the night with a beautiful evening meeting new friends and neighbors. It's wonderful that God has surrounded me with supportive, fun, loving, and God-fearing people.

Day 3 : Humbled, brokenhearted, and entirely blessed by Walk 153 and what it means to this singles ministry and the leadership. I didn't get to stay for very long but what I learned in the short time I spent there broke my spirit entirely for the ones who will face this mean world with no human parents if more people don't step up and adopt these sweet babies. If I could financially afford it I would adopt about 175 of them. God's heart of adoption and love over me motivates me to love people the same way. Precious angels. Can we just go round them all up and love on them!?!

  

Day 4 : "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

God is so obviously in the midst of our troubles. I've been so down and in the dumps today because of a person who questioned my motives and my faith based on a remark I made and continued to badger me even when I apologized and thanked her for pointing out my shortcomings so that I could avoid hurting my witness. I strive every single day to be light in a dark world but I'm not perfect and I will fall, but God knows my heart and where it stands. This quote was given to me randomly today by a person who had no idea what I was dealing with.  I understand that we have accountability partners, but this woman wanted to do nothing more than break my spirit, mocking the scriptures that I've posted and such. Praying that God will reveal to her that my heart is true and truly desires to only live in His light.

Day 5 : Early morning runs that allow me to open my heart and my spirit and ready myself for my day. I have A LOT  of driving to to every single day and with only so much time in a day, it can seem entirely overwhelming to get things done ... much less exercise! So glad that God has provided me not only with a great place to run, but motivation in the tons of people who are out running also and are so encouraging! It's my happy place. 

Finally ... I'd like to encourage us all to participate in this "30 Days of Thanks" with a true heart of thanks. I understand that we're all so thankful for the obvious things in life, but i think it's very important to really use this time to meditate on what we need to be thankful for. Let's take this thankfulness to new depths. I'm diving in and I want you to dive in with me!

It's that time again ... 30 days of thanks! Day 1: New friends

My journey to this new church has brought me a group of people that make me laugh, cry, laugh & cry simultaneously, but most of all they just make me feel loved. They really don't know how much they have meant to my heart and my life. I only hope I have as much to offer them and their ministry as they have offered to me. I love you, Gardendale singles! Thank you for being so amazing :)! 

Disclaimer: If you're not pictured here, I still love you equally as much.