10,000 reasons

We know and have heard the worship song by Matt Redman "10,000 Reasons".  However there aren't really 10,000 reasons actually listed in the lyrics, it is a great reminder of who God is and what He has done.  The song is an easy sing when things are going right, but the first sign of trouble and praising God becomes one of the last things we think to do.

We forget what God has done for us because we don't remind ourselves of God's power until we run out of our own power.  One of the last things we remember to do while being hit with problems in life is to praise God for them.  How often do we do that?  We tend to present our needs before God and then grumble about His perfect timing in perfecting our problems don't we?

Notice I said perfecting the problems.  Many problems are of our own choosing, but some just happen.  What we do have, though, is a choice in how we to respond to problems when they hit fast, furious, slow, steady, or whenever and however they come.    

Praising God kicks the enemy's control over our thoughts to the curb.  Satan cant stand in the presence of praise for God, so he hits the skids and says..."it's a believer!  God's got that one!"

Okay that might have been just in my mind, but it's a great thought because I have found that when I resort to complaining in a bad situation, Satan invites his friends to join my pity party.  If I praise first, I don't have to send out any invitations to my fears.

Praising God unlocks God's power by releasing our trust to His immeasurable resources to meet our needs or problems.

Praise protects our peace that God is working for us and not against us.  Ex. 14:14
Praise is so powerful it can be a problem for your problem.

Ever felt low about yourself?  Praise Him for you fearfully and wonderfully made according to Psalm 139.

Don't like your reflection in the mirror?  Praise Him for it's not by your works you were saved, but by His grace.  Ephesians 2:8-9

Ever felt like you were doomed?  Praise God for raising Jesus from an empty tomb that over came death, and the sting of death is gone.  Read the Easter story in Luke.

Ever felt like the life's storms wouldn't stop hovering your life, praise God in the rain as He still reigns in your problem-filled days.  David recorded many stormy days in the Psalms.

Ever felt like you weren't enough?  We must let Christ increase and us decrease.  John 3:30.

The bottom line to praising God is that praise breaks the chains of sin, opens eyes of the blind, and sets the captives free.  Praising awakens our awareness of God's greatness.  Praise is our hearts response by our Creator's design from deep within our souls.

Praise releases God's grace upon those who have a need for it.

Praise overcomes your circumstances and problems, and helps lift your head when faith feels like it's going into a pit.  Praise overrides your feelings that dictate your life.  Praise reminds us of WHO He is by remembering His faithfulness, of His holy wonder and awe, and that deepens our holy fear of our Creator over fear of man.  

We tend to forget what God can do and who He is in our life.  God can and will do more than we can even dream!  He is already done more than we give Him credit for.

He's going to do more than you think He's going to do. You are not just going to survive through your story, but He will give you more opportunities to use His story through you!!!!

Our position is to praise, we praise Him no matter where and let his faithfulness speak.  Let Him do the difference, the reviving, and the prospering.  Jeremiah 29:11

Praise turns your mess into a message.
Praise turns your test into a testimony.
Praise turns a victim into a victor.

Praise is so powerful that even those who have hurt you can help heal you.  Praise equips us to walk in God's will. 

Praise overcomes your preference - it lifts your face to see God's face in your problem.  Ps. 34.  Praise God we have problems, because we can experience God in many different ways, He is our Rescuer and loves to help when nothing else will.   Praise brings us near God's heart and we can experience His presence, even in our problems.

Praise lifts our hands and hearts to the heavens, and releases our worries, fears, and anxiety to the only one who can carry those burdens in His capable hands.

We live to worship God so WE don't forget He is.  We were built for this as His love carries us through.  Praise is our spiritual act of worship.  Romans 12:2.


And God's people said...Praise God!  To hear a great message by Carl Lentz of Hillsong Church, NYC click here.

Monday storms remind me of what I love

I had many other thoughts I had written for this week but when a storm rolls in on a Monday, and brings me undone before God, sometimes my writing will take a different direction.

There's nothing in this world that I have seen better than community the rises out of adversity.  It quickly becomes the common bond in which we share as believers or neighbors.

What a Monday storm reminds me:

a weather event can still be deadly
a storm can surprise us
a tornado can bring unpredictable death

that we can't take today or tomorrow for granted
that we need to be kinder to each other
that you really never know about your next breath

that stress brings out the worst in people
that storms bring out the best in people
that storms in life brings people to their knees

that there is life after death if you believe in Jesus
that we hurt people with our calloused words
that we don't say "I love you" enough

that we are selfish by nature
that we don't talk to our neighbors
that we get attached to stuff

that in a matter of 16 minutes we can have our entire lives displayed on national television
that a tornado can splinter our spirits
that a loss of life can make us become undone before a mighty God

that death happens outside of storms
that we still need each other
that community happens in our hearts when we pray

we are stronger than we think we are
we have to say goodbye sooner than we think
when innocence dies it still hurts

that we don't talk to God enough
that we don't worship God enough
that we don't thank God enough

But mostly what a Monday or any day reminds me of is that I still need God.  Desperately.

If you have made it this far, please know that you matter.
If you are family know that I love you.
If I call you friend, know that I love you too.
God knows that I love Him most.

Waiting for an update?

You will have to wait a few more days.  This is a look at change a little bit along the way...  

Before I give you the great reveal with the whole new me, I must remind you from where I came from and show you how...

First I  want to stop and praise my Savior who has made this all possible.  I truly couldn't have lost one ounce without Jesus coming into changing my heart of stone and exchanged it for His heart of purity in the area of food.

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." Ezekiel 36: 26 

This journey of losing weight and God's transformation in my soul has been life changing.

So let's give God the glory due here...

It's almost party time people...lift your voices, your hands, and put your feet together in celebration.

If you need a little healthy hope today...let me dish some up for you.  You can change too.  Just start.  

Can you invite change into your heart?  Sure you can...change is just a prayer away.  I talk about change and the heart a lot here but that is where God likes to work His purity plan.  

Don't give up because if you want change God will empower you to make the pure changes that He desires. AND, don't be discouraged when you don't see change immediately. This is a hard process, it takes God's timing and endurance to win this.

Here's what you need to know...the real win is your obedience to God in the area of purity.

God's changes are worth the hard journey it takes to get you there.  

God wants you to continue to seek change because He is waiting for the perfect time where He gets all the praise.

And you know what....we can stand back and say...."WOW!  God did that...."

So let's give God the glory here....

WOW! God did that, God is doing that...

Are you throwing confetti yet?

Just start.

Can You Give God Five Minutes? {Fall}

I love fall.  I love the glorious colors that emerge from trees that will soon transition to rest.  

I love the gentle flow of the leaves as they fall.  I could sit for hours.

It's peaceful here God in your Presence.  Why do I leave?

The fall leaves remind me of change, glorious changes and changes that glorify you Father.

What changes have you experienced over this wonderfully dry summer?

I wish you could look at my heart...you would see those spiritual stretch marks that only a mother could see... of God's work, His expansion...making room for Him.  

I am not who I was.

I am glowing...I am shining His love.

I have joy.  

...in your rest...God, as I look as the fallen leaves. Time alone with You is good.  Thank you for letting me touch your face.  Your soft and gentle touch soothes.

God you are Holy, you are good.  
None compares...all over the earth.  
Not even the beauty seen in your creation.  God I am ever so grateful that you don't compare me with others.  
Thank you for the eyes of love in which you see my fall colored patterns, uniquely as Your bold display.

I am so humbled by your Awesomeness...God... 
I love you more than I can speak.  
More than the rustling wind, 
the explosion of creation,
the fruit box on which I sit, 
or that next plate of cookies.  
God..you are Holy...and Awesome...and mighty in this fallen place.  
My heart falls in worship Jesus.  
All glory is given to you, one who lives in the Highest...in this newly formed and fallen heart.  Thank you for giving me Your Daily Bread.  Thank you that you love me so...wow!

\o/  God, you are enough...for me...in this new season of quiet rest with you.  You are...

I am speechless...It feels like there is not enough praise inside of me...\o/ 

Five Minute Friday {Prayer}

Prayer is our language to God.  

Prayer is power.  Prayer is worship.

God honors our prayers.  

He loves the bold ones, the timid ones, the soft and the loud.  

He hears the quiet stillness of our hearts when we lean in to hear Him.  

He strains to hear our words of praise.  

Our first step of faith is received in a prayer.  

He loves to tell us His whispers.  He longs for us to wait for His timing.  

He loves to hold our dreams tight until he deems them right.  

He wants our desperate hearts.  He hears our tears and fears.  

In prayer, we can let go and let Him grow. He plants passion within our prayers to inspire us.  

Bold prayers honor God.  He loves to draw us near; he loves to keep us in His grip.  

Prayer reveals His truth in our hearts.  

Prayer does not prepare us for the battle; prayer is the battle.

"We take for granted prayer is the preparation for work, whereas prayer is the work."  Oswald Chambers

Take a look in God's word..it's loaded with prayers of those who talked with God.

    

Music Monday [Desert Song]

I love this worship song by Hillsong United.  It speaks to my spiritual journey right now.  I will let the words speak for themselves.


This is my prayer in the desert
And all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is the God who provides

And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flames

And I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
cs from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/h/hillsong/the_desert_song.html ]
I will rejoice, I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

And this is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on it's way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand

All of my life, In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing, I have a reason to worship

This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be emptied again
The seed I've recieved I will sow


I have to chose to worship all the time.  I don’t always feel like it. Sometimes all I feel like doing is crying.  But I know this...at the end of the day....God is still God. He doesn’t change.  He hasn't changed in what He has called me to be or what He’s called me to do. He’s still on the throne in heaven.  And because He doesn't change...that single reason gives me something to cling to.  Because He is in my tomorrows and controls them that gives me reason to worship.

Do you see the hope here?