Tuesday, July 29, 2014

I AM

 
 
I feel Your breath within the breeze
I know You're breathing life in me
A shattered heart
Placed in Your hands
Putting my trust
in the Great I AM

Your loving voice
Calls out to me
"You shall know the Truth
and it will set you free."

You reveal to me
All who You are
"I AM your All in All
The Bright Morning Star

I AM Agape Love
My anger is slow
I AM the God of Compassion
Lover of your soul
 
I AM the Whisperer
That gently speaks to You
I AM Alpha and Omega
I came to make things new


I AM Mercy and Grace
Forgiver of your sins
I AM the Most High
I will stand in your defense
 
I AM your Comfort
Your Provider, Your Friend
A Faithful Father
My love never ends

I AM Wisdom
Your Shepherd, your Guide
I AM the God who sees
Every tear you've cried

I AM your Hiding Place
Your Rest, your Calm
I AM your Safe Shelter
From every storm

I AM your Hope
I AM Faithful and True
The Author of your life
Who came to deliver you

I AM the Bread of Life
The filler of your heart
The God of new beginnings
Who gives you a fresh start
 
I AM the Light of the world
The One to be revealed
I AM the Prince of Peace
I AM the God who heals

I AM your Redeemer
The only One who saves
The perfect Lamb of God
For you, is why I came

I AM the Resurrection
I AM Absolute Truth
The Anointed and Chosen One
Who has chosen you

I AM the Vine
Living Water for your soul
Refreshing comes from Me
I AM the God who makes you whole"

Such depth to who You truly are
In awe – I humbly stand
My everything, my every need
Found in You, the great I AM!

Monday, July 28, 2014

True Beauty



"We have to STOP agreeing with what the world has said about us while it exploits us: We are only as good as we are sexually desirable." ~Beth Moore

From early on, young girls are subliminally trained to "use what you've got to get what or who you want" ... For those who don't feel they measure up to what society portrays as a woman, life can be an ongoing body image struggle resulting in eating disorders and depression.  Sadly, life's goal becomes minimalized to squeezing into a size 0. 

This is NOT what the Lord intends for His daughters.  It is an ugly lie from the enemy that is embedded in us as women.  It has infiltrated us to the point of "normal" - where we don't even recognize how non-stop we are bombarded with it.  It is a clever decoy to keep us focused on everything but who we are called as women to be in Christ. 

Feeling beautiful, the need to feel beautiful is okay, but Hollywood does not define true beauty. 

"You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful." 1 Peter 3:4-5

Not only are we bombarded with "image based" worth, but men are seeing the very same thing and getting a warped sense of who a real woman really is, expecting us to live up to unattainable ideals.  Fact of the matter is, we ALL, men and women alike, are being deceived into a false reality all in order to keep us flesh conscious.  If the enemy can keep us there, we will not be walking in the spirit ~ where our true worth is found. 

"Perfect love casts out fear."  This whole issue is fear based.  Fear of not measuring up, fear of rejection, fear of being unwanted, fear of being second best...  I pray that we all can get to the point where we allow Christ's perfect love to penetrate every broken part so we can walk in wholeness ~ viewing ourselves the way He intended.

"But God told Samuel, "Looks aren't everything. Don't be impressed with his looks and stature. I've already eliminated him. God judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; God looks into the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7 MSG)

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Veils



I scurried around the kitchen taking care of my children’s hunger while worshipping along with the music on my laptop.   Suddenly I had to come to a dead halt, not knowing that MY "hunger" would be met that afternoon.  Leaning onto my elbows on the counter, eyes shut ~ the One being worshipped reached down to touch me: depositing into me the only way to feed my longing to know Him more intimately.

“…the veil of the temple was torn in two.” (Luke 23:45)

Ultimately the veil has already been torn for our free access to God, where we can come BOLDLY to Him, but we hang our self constructed veils that keep us from confidently approaching Him.

I see Jesus, just the lower half of Him (in a white robe).   His hands outstretched beckoning one to come to Him…

A woman, behind a white veil – sheepishly, she pokes her head around to see Him.   She knew Him. He knew her.  That was evident.

As she made her way to Him, there were rows of veils to maneuver around.   Each veil had a name: Shame, hurt, bitterness, resentment, anger, guilt, abuse, abandonment: All in which were blocking her from coming to Him FULLY.  She longed to be with Him, but these veils…

She loves Him and is in relationship with Him.   She is a worshipper… but she only presents to Him the “pretty” parts ~ ashamed of those unhealed areas of her life.  

We think these veils protect us.  We shy away because of shame.   We even unconsciously doubt His acceptance because of false perceptions of our worth due to what we’ve been through or because of earthly relationships that have caused us deep pain.

The most intimate relationships are born out of being vulnerable to share your whole “story.”   This is why He is calling.  He longs for all of you and He knows the healing power His presence brings. Beloved, He is beckoning you…



Longing for a love exchange


Abandoned and free


I anticipate our togetherness


As you make your way to Me



 
Suddenly you cower


From Me, your eyes divert


Veils drape around you


Tailored by years of hurt




I see the shackles tighten


Binding up your heart


You hold from Me the broken


Only giving Me a part

 


A part of who you really are


A portion of your soul


I need to embrace it all


To mend and make you whole

 


Restoration only comes


To places you let Me touch


Press past your own resistance


I’m the One who you can trust




Anxiously I beckon you


As a husband to his bride


To make your way again


Confidently by My side




Recklessly abandoned


To My arms you quickly run


Cradled in My acceptance…


Veils dropping… one by one

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Be Still

                               
 
 
Burdened by life's challenges.  Overwhelmed by surrounding pressures. Moments of anxiety convincing you that "down" is the only direction your life will spiral...  

"Be still and know that I am God."  Psalm 46:10

This Scripture, so simple and yet so difficult.  It's hard for us to wrap our minds around surrendering what appears insurmountable to someone else.  Our worry gives us a twisted sense of control and we can't fathom victory in our lives apart from our own efforts. I mean after all this is BIG stuff we're faced with, but all of the stress and loss of sleep isn't quite working for us, is it?
 
Be still.  Part of the literal translation is "to let drop, let go, release."  We need to drop our hands from fruitless, fleshly efforts, let go of the worry that torments our minds, and release it to Him.  KNOWING that He is God takes the pressure off of our shoulders to be in control and allows Him to take over supernaturally.   

Yes, the giants in our life are big, but God is bigger!  

Be still...

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Peace



Abuse endured by another?  Life is a roller coaster that never comes to a halt.  Cycle of confusion spins so fast that contentment can never take root.  It may not leave outward bruises and scars, but the inward “soul scarring” is a pain that doesn’t just go away with a Band-Aid and time.
 
Or is it a battle  all your own?  The war of inward struggles and pain from past choices.  The guilt and torment of regret and sadness never lets up... a daily chokehold.  You are surviving but you are far from living.  Your day becomes about holding it together for the sake of hiding it from those around you, but inside you are far from okay.
 
Only the One who made us can restore us back to wholeness. In the midst of your raging storm, I pray you look to Him ~ where your release and your peace is found.



Peace



Crashing waves



Bruise my shore



Howling winds



Blow in once more




Torrential rains



Pelt my skin



Lightning bolts



Come again




Turbulent waters



Staggered stance



Cycle repeated



In this dying dance



 
Trembling knees



Strike the ground



Eyes glance up



To where help is found



 
An instant hush



The storm to cease



All at once



A soul at peace…