Monday, 24 November 2014
What If?
So a what if? has been on my mind today. Just kinda dropped into my spirit. As I've stated in a previous blog my church has been looking at what it means to be "the church". Looking to scripture only and breaking traditions and habits. Not getting hung up on things like pews or how many songs to do but realizing these things while not bad aren't to be our Anchor, only Jesus is neccesary to remain constant. So back to my What If? What if, we as the church actually shared everything we had like the bible talks of in Acts 2? What if, we as the church sold possessions and distributed the money to those in need? What if instead of rushing to the local buy and sell when we have an unwanted item we first look to our own church and see if anyone can use said item? What if when we needed something we were able to go to our friends at church and say hey, I need this, does anyone have this? Make our needs known. Receiving and giving. Loving and caring for one another. What if we lived in this way? Would the world around us see this? Would this make us known for our love? Taking care of each other. Picture it. Here's a scenario. A woman, we'll call her Jill. Jill is new to Quesnel and has no winter coat. She doesn't have much money and really can't afford one. Perhaps Jill makes her need known or perhaps someone just sees her need and gives her a winter coat. In any case now Jill has a nice new warm winter coat. Jill has been taken care of. Now Jill goes for a walk with a friend. This friend is not a believer but this friend knows Jill was in need of a coat. She sees Jill now has a coat, so she asks Jill about it. What a testimony Jill can share with her friend! Maybe this gets her friend thinking. Thinking of the love that was shown to her friend...so What if? Seriously, WHAT IF? I really think our love would abound if we lived in such a way and we also would grow closer and closer together as we met each others needs.
Monday, 17 November 2014
Songs are my Friends...
A great man I knew used to say songs were his friends. This is true for me too. Songs are my friends. Some are fun and fast and fill you with laughter and joy and just make you want to dance. Some are serious and slower. I love all types of music but for me the music that touches my heart the most is usually something really meaningful. These songs, (or friends) for me usually have deep meaning. Sometimes songs can help get you through a hard time in your life. There's a song by Jesus Culture called One Thing Remains. That was my anthem song for almost 2 years because of what I was going through. It was a dark time but during that time I clung to Jesus and I held on to this truth: "Your love never fails, it never gives up, it never runs out on me." I lived and breathed that lyric when the circumstances of life would try to cloud my everyday.
For me right now my friends are the majority of the new album by Steffany Gretzinger called The Undoing. I listen to these songs numerous times a day. They are intimate friends. They know my heart and with them I enter the holy of holies and sit at His feet. Below are some of the lyrics that speak to my spirit.
Out of Hiding- This song is written from the point of view of the Father. This lyric continues to give me shivers. I encourage you to reflect on it and listen to it. You can find all the songs mentioned in this blog on youtube.
Cause I loved you before you knew it was love
And I saw it all, still I chose the cross
And you were the one that I was thinking of
When I rose from the grave
Now rid of the shackles, My victory's yours
I tore the veil for you to come close
There's no reason to stand at a distance anymore
You're not far from home
Steady Heart- I love how this song speaks about how God is unchanging. He's steady. We can rely on Him even when we can't see. I love the melody of this song and I love her tone. I really love singing this one. Actually I love singing all of them. I love the intimacy of the last line of this song.
steady heart that keeps on going
Steady love that keeps on holding
Lead me on
Steady grace that keeps forgiving
Steady faith that keeps believing
Lead me on
And as the dawn breaks
And the clouds clear
In an open space
Together we will run
No Fear in Love- A few people at church have been doing a weekly play. A couple weeks ago they message of the play was about love and how if we love we will share the gospel. I've read this verse a thousand times before: There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear. 1 John 4:18. After the play the whole week this song was really speaking to me. If I really love I won't be scared to share the gospel. If I love I won't be afraid. I need Gods love to help me love the way He loves.
Stir in me a love that's deep
A love that's wide, a love that's sweet
And help me, Lord
To never keep it to myself
And if my heart should dimly burn
And if my feet should fail to run
Call my name and I will come right back to You
There's no fear in love
I I hope you reader have been blessed as I shared some of my friends with you.
For me right now my friends are the majority of the new album by Steffany Gretzinger called The Undoing. I listen to these songs numerous times a day. They are intimate friends. They know my heart and with them I enter the holy of holies and sit at His feet. Below are some of the lyrics that speak to my spirit.
Out of Hiding- This song is written from the point of view of the Father. This lyric continues to give me shivers. I encourage you to reflect on it and listen to it. You can find all the songs mentioned in this blog on youtube.
Cause I loved you before you knew it was love
And I saw it all, still I chose the cross
And you were the one that I was thinking of
When I rose from the grave
Now rid of the shackles, My victory's yours
I tore the veil for you to come close
There's no reason to stand at a distance anymore
You're not far from home
Steady Heart- I love how this song speaks about how God is unchanging. He's steady. We can rely on Him even when we can't see. I love the melody of this song and I love her tone. I really love singing this one. Actually I love singing all of them. I love the intimacy of the last line of this song.
steady heart that keeps on going
Steady love that keeps on holding
Lead me on
Steady grace that keeps forgiving
Steady faith that keeps believing
Lead me on
And as the dawn breaks
And the clouds clear
In an open space
Together we will run
No Fear in Love- A few people at church have been doing a weekly play. A couple weeks ago they message of the play was about love and how if we love we will share the gospel. I've read this verse a thousand times before: There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear. 1 John 4:18. After the play the whole week this song was really speaking to me. If I really love I won't be scared to share the gospel. If I love I won't be afraid. I need Gods love to help me love the way He loves.
Stir in me a love that's deep
A love that's wide, a love that's sweet
And help me, Lord
To never keep it to myself
And if my heart should dimly burn
And if my feet should fail to run
Call my name and I will come right back to You
There's no fear in love
I I hope you reader have been blessed as I shared some of my friends with you.
Sunday, 16 November 2014
Soul Thirsts...
So I know some really were enjoying my homeschool blog. I've decided to be done with it and do this instead. Does it mean I will never blog about homeschooling again? No! I just feel like homeschooling is just one aspect of my life so I've decided to share parts of everything in my life. Beware, my life isn't my own, my life is in His hands so many or most posts will be about Jesus. He is everything to me. He IS life so of course its gonna be about Him.
Today was church. We've been looking at what it means to be the church. How did they meet in the bible? What did they do? Was so awesome to go to church and have things fresh. Everything different. Prayer and coffee at the beginning. Tables up in the room where we have our meeting. The message and communion done first. Singing last...can this be church? Tables in a church instead of pews? Not passing the Lords supper down a row? Worship at the end? Where do we get these ideas that this is how we do church? All through the New Testament the early believers met. They met in homes. They met in the temple. They met in an upper room. They knew each other. They didn't spend one day a week together. They took care of each others needs. They didn't have one guy who did everything. They had gifts and they exercised them, everyone, not just the apostles. They took part in spontaneous prayer. They were led by the Holy Spirit, and they were bold. All these things like pews, and how many songs to sing, when to pray, none of it's important. The only thing that matters is Jesus. That He is glorified. That we be salt and light to a dying world and show Gods love. I feel walls breaking. A few months ago I posted on fb about God breaking down walls, that He was moving, doing something good, I think we are seeing fruit of that and I'm excited to be a part of it. He is stretching us, its uncomfortable. Do I like to be stretched? No, if I'm honest, not really. Do I like to see the result of our being stretched? Absolutely!
Today Robin preached. And he asked something thats been on repeat in my head all day. What grips your heart? He said be honest with yourself. What grips your heart? Is it Jesus? What captivates your heart? What do you spend your time doing or thinking about? If I'm honest with myself I will answer in this way: What grips my heart? Jesus...most of the time...but then I'm reading a really good book, I'm watching a really good series on Netflix. Is He on my mind...yes, but not first and foremost, more in the background sometimes. So to that I say, more of Him and less of me. That is my prayer. A bit of prioritizing is probably needed. Does it mean I can never do anything fun? No, just means I need to make sure those things aren't captivating my heart. That they aren't consuming me. I want to be consumed by God, I don't want these things to consume me.
In closing I will share verses in which I got my blog name from. My hearts desire is really God. My soul thirsts for him...
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? Psalm 42:2
You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you, I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you. Psalm 63:1
Want to listen to the message spoken about in this blog or past messages? Listen here: http://www.lakeviewchurch.net/sermons
Today was church. We've been looking at what it means to be the church. How did they meet in the bible? What did they do? Was so awesome to go to church and have things fresh. Everything different. Prayer and coffee at the beginning. Tables up in the room where we have our meeting. The message and communion done first. Singing last...can this be church? Tables in a church instead of pews? Not passing the Lords supper down a row? Worship at the end? Where do we get these ideas that this is how we do church? All through the New Testament the early believers met. They met in homes. They met in the temple. They met in an upper room. They knew each other. They didn't spend one day a week together. They took care of each others needs. They didn't have one guy who did everything. They had gifts and they exercised them, everyone, not just the apostles. They took part in spontaneous prayer. They were led by the Holy Spirit, and they were bold. All these things like pews, and how many songs to sing, when to pray, none of it's important. The only thing that matters is Jesus. That He is glorified. That we be salt and light to a dying world and show Gods love. I feel walls breaking. A few months ago I posted on fb about God breaking down walls, that He was moving, doing something good, I think we are seeing fruit of that and I'm excited to be a part of it. He is stretching us, its uncomfortable. Do I like to be stretched? No, if I'm honest, not really. Do I like to see the result of our being stretched? Absolutely!
Today Robin preached. And he asked something thats been on repeat in my head all day. What grips your heart? He said be honest with yourself. What grips your heart? Is it Jesus? What captivates your heart? What do you spend your time doing or thinking about? If I'm honest with myself I will answer in this way: What grips my heart? Jesus...most of the time...but then I'm reading a really good book, I'm watching a really good series on Netflix. Is He on my mind...yes, but not first and foremost, more in the background sometimes. So to that I say, more of Him and less of me. That is my prayer. A bit of prioritizing is probably needed. Does it mean I can never do anything fun? No, just means I need to make sure those things aren't captivating my heart. That they aren't consuming me. I want to be consumed by God, I don't want these things to consume me.
In closing I will share verses in which I got my blog name from. My hearts desire is really God. My soul thirsts for him...
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? Psalm 42:2
You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you, I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you. Psalm 63:1
Want to listen to the message spoken about in this blog or past messages? Listen here: http://www.lakeviewchurch.net/sermons
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