Your Word Is Life to Me....

In daily study I am in Daniel 9, Beth Moore shared some amazing words that were written by Travis Cottrell in regards to the life that Daniel lived for God. In the 9th chapter God's Word became life to Daniel more vividly than ever before. My heart is overwhelmed in praise to God for the life He allows me to live and it makes me stop and think....do I allow His Word to be my life?....what do my words, my actions say about Him, all in all, how do I live for Him? Do I write a love letter to Him daily with my life? So, as part of my quiet time today all I could do was say these words over in over in praise to His Holy Name. I pray that these words will bless your heart as much as it does mine and even more so your quiet time with the Ancient of Days. He desires us more than you could ever imagine.

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"Your Word Is Life to Me"

I am a stranger in this place;
This world is not my home.
I want more than it can give.
I am a desert needing rain;
I'm thirsty for Your voice.
The very reason that I live -
You are the Word, my one desire,
An all consuming Holy fire,
The very breath that I am longing for.
My heart is desperate for Your ways.
Refine me in Your holy blaze,
If that is what it takes to know You more.
You are the Truth that sets me free;
Your word is life to me.
Only the power of Your Word
Can melt away these chains
That have held me far too long.
So light the fire and let it burn
These shackles and restraints,
And I will sing this freedom song.
- - -
You are the Word, my one desire...
You are the Truth that sets me free.
Your word is life to me.

by Travis Cottrell

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Dear Jesus, I praise You!!!! Thank You for being my best Friend, for speaking to me, changing me and molding me into the person You have created me to be and for being the Truth that sets me free! Continue to use me to glorify You, may my life shine and exalt You, may my words be a reflection of Your mighty presence. Burn bright in our lives Lord. You truly are the Word made flesh and You truly are my one desire....

Jesus Messiah...

This week I had the opportunity to drive to Herculaneum and get my oil changed. Sounds fun, huh? Well, little did I know as I took off in my car Thursday that this drive to get my oil change would turn out to be the most amazing time of praise & worship. As I was driving up Hwy 67 "Jesus Messiah" by Chris Tomlin came on and suddenly I was overwhelmed by His presence. It truly was as if He was perched right there in the passenger's seat (physically and in the driver's seat spiritually)next to me! Tear's flooding down my face, hands lifted in praise, belting out this song in total praise as I was driving. As I think of it now (because I was totally oblivious to anyone around me other than Christ) people passing by me were sure to think I had either totally lost it or I'm choosing to think that they were witnessing one of the most amazing times of praise & worship!! That morning before I left I had read Psalm 139 and these verses came back on my heart as I was worshiping "You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me." (v. 1-5) Praise Him!!

The words to this song lead to an amazing conversation with Christ. One filled with praise for who He is and all He has done! So here they are...enjoy and sing them like never before, for He is faithful and amazing!!!

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Jesus Messiah by Chris Tomlin

He became sin
Who knew no sin
That we might become His Righteousness
He humbled himself and carried the cross

Love so amazing
Love so amazing

Chorus:
Jesus Messiah
Name above all names
Blessed Redeemer
Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners
The ransom from Heaven
Jesus Messiah
Lord of all

His body the bread
His blood the wine
Broken and poured out all for love
The whole earth trembled
And the veil was torn

Love so amazing
Love so amazing, yeah

Chorus:
Jesus Messiah
Name above all names
Blessed Redeemer
Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners
The ransom from Heaven
Jesus Messiah
Lord of all

All our hope is in You
All our hope is in You
All the glory to You, God
The light of the world

Chorus:
Jesus Messiah
Name above all names
Blessed Redeemer
Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners
The ransom from Heaven
Jesus Messiah
Lord of all

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Blessed Redeemer, Thank You for humbling Yourself and for carrying my sins and the sins of the world to the cross, the very cross You died on for each of us! Thank You for rescuing me Father, thank You for loving me, for my hope is in You. You Love, are so amazing and I praise You!!!!!

Letting go...

This past weekend's service was amazing (as usual) and my heart was so flooded with emotion as J-miah sang the song "All for You" by Starfield. What an amazing song! I've found in my life that I try so hard to hold on to stuff that is just damaging to who God created me to be, as I allow the world and all it's choir ring in my head all the negative's in life. I've been freed from things for a long time, but honestly my freedom has been taken to a higher, more sovereign level as I allow the Holy Spirit's choir to sing of the amazing victories I have (we all have) in Christ! May I forever reflect on this song and remember and cherish the day I let go of all the worries of the world and focused on the amazing life God has blessed me with.

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All For You

Nothing compares to the life I have in You

Nothing of this world satisfies

So I want to let go, I want to let you know

All that I have to give is yours


Here I am as gold to the fire

I will surrender to Your hand

To this place, Lord

I have come ready for Your Touch


It’s all for You, it’s all for You

I’m letting go, I’m letting go


What is it in me that hangs on for so long

Why do I fight the tears that come

I work so hard to keep in control when

All that I want is to let go


Here I am as gold to the fire

I will surrender to Your hand

To this place, Lord

I have come ready for Your Touch


It’s all for You, it’s all for You

I’m letting go, I’m letting go


I’ll take this life and lay it down

I’m letting go, I’m letting go

My hopes and dreams, here at your feet

I’m letting go, I’m letting go

And I’m ready for your life

And I’m ready for your life


It’s all for You, it’s all for You

I’m letting go, I’m letting go


Father God, today (as usual) I'm overwhelmed by Your amazing presence in my life and for the beautiful reminder that You give me that You are in control. I give my life to You Lord, I'm letting go, it's ALL for You, may You continue to blot out the ink of the world and fill me with Your Holy Spirit, clarity & vision for the awesome plans You have for my life. Thank You Sweet Jesus I praise You!

Perfect People...

This song has been speaking to my heart this week...

Never let 'em see you when you're breaking
Never let 'em see you when you fall
That's how we live
That's how we try
Tell the world you've got it all together
Never let them see what's underneath
Cover it up with a crooked smile
But it only lasts for a little while

(chorus)
There's no such thing as perfect people
There's no such thing as a perfect life
So come as you are
Broken and scarred
Lift your heart
And be amazed, and changed
By a perfect God

Suddenly it's like a weight is lifted
When you hear the words that you are loved
He knows where you are
And where you've been
And you never have to go there again

(bridge)
Who lived and died to give new life
To heal our imperfection
Look up and see love
Let grace be enough

By Natalie Grant

Father, I thank You so much for Your perfect life and love. Thank You for being a living, breathing example in my life. May you be forever glorified in and through my life, my thoughts and my ever waking breath....

A time a restoration...

These last 5 weeks have flown by! It's been a long time, yet a time of great reflection and restoration. Over the last 5 weeks I've had the opportunity to really get back to the basics of life...what is important...tons of prayer...defining what God desires for my life...vacation...prioritization...reading...soul searching. Did I mention it has been an amazing 5 weeks? God has been working in my heart as I have taken the focus off of so much distracting stuff in my life and placed it on nothing but Him. It really helped being away for 2 weeks on vacation. Although it all started a few weeks prior to vacation as I started reading an awesome book called Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala. I am not finished reading it yet as I have taken my sweet time absorbing all the God is speaking to me about through it. Prayer is such a gift to us and it is something I have always felt gifted by, but this book brings to light the huge, immense power God allows us to have through prayer with Him. Our prayer life cannot be some mechanical exercise, but a real calling out to God with passion for whatever needs you are praying for. Needless to say, I L-O-V-E this book and would encourage you to read it, it will bring true Fresh Wind and Fresh Fire for the amazing God we love and serve.
On top of reading this book the week prior to vacation I began a Bible study by Beth Moore called "Daniel - Lives of Integrity, Words of Prophecy". Obviously we are studying the book of Daniel and is a faith building study of prophecy and it is teaching me how to shine for Christ in our modern culture and let me tell you what, I have been blessed and challenged by this in depth study. It has opened my eyes and provided quite the awakening, it has allowed me to see the way I have allowed the world to reshape me, when He is the Potter and I am His clay. Hence the 5 week break...I needed some time to react to all that God is saying to me as I have allowed so much of the world to keep me busy, not necessarily with bad things, but I want the best things. When I talk about busy things I'm talking about things like the internet, which don't get me wrong isn't "bad", but I truly was allowing it to take time away from Christ that was unnecessary, instead of doing my daily reading or other important things, because the world says if your not connected at the hip with the WWW your not "in" the know, well, obviously I am still connected and will use it as a connection tool, but I won't be allowing it to consume every waking hour, anyway, that is just one of the many things that I have been blessed by. SO,again, another wonderful opportunity to learn and I would invite you to read with me the book of Daniel and see just how he called on the supernatural knowledge and understanding of Christ and received just that as he took a stand against the modern culture of his time that Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, was creating. It's awesome to know that we too can call on that same supernatural wisdom and understanding and receive it just as Daniel did and shine like never before in the presence of our Heavenly Father and every person we come in contact with. If you are competitive and like to be different (I am talking Godly here) , what is the greatest challenge??? Conforming to the same world everyone else is or shining the amazing light of Jesus Christ and stepping out of the box on His behalf...rejecting the flesh, walking daily with the Spirit. I read this and had to close with it...the way to avoid getting burned by the world is the bathe in God's presence. So true!!!

God, I thank You so much for the restoration and clarity You are allowing me to experience and for the tools You have provided. Thank You for these obedient writers, who are living their lives for You and inspiring people like me. I pray today for Your supernatural knowledge and understanding God and I pray that we will hunger for Your presence and will all get down on our knees in true, humble, obedient prayer to You and I pray that the importance of prayer would resound throughout our church and community and reign in our lives. Thank You Sweet Saviour and Sovereign Lord....