This is new to me, so bare with me. Someone told me this was a good place to share my faith and hopefully encourage others with scripture and music. I remember well what it was like before I came to know Jesus and I don't ever want to be there again. So this will help me just as much as it will anyone else. I'm not gonna share my life story cuz that would take way too long and bore you to the point of not listening to anything else I said. :#) Anyways my plan is to start small and work towards digging even deeper into things. So my commitment is every morning I will give you a word of encouragement from God's word and then a song to listen to. Hopefully this goes well. So we will start today.......

Thursday, April 16, 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaia32TsPq0
Proverbs 4:23 "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."

I get convicted alot when I meditate on these words. Lately I have been struggling with mood swings, and most of it is due to the condition of my heart. The heart truly is the wellspring of life! Like that old saying goes, "garbage in garbage out." I believe God sees this issue as a very critical one. HE knows the evil that exists in our world and HE knows that our hearts need HIS protection in order to withstand the devil's attempts to fill us with garbage! Listen to what it says in 1Peter 5:8 "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." We need to constantly carry around with us an awareness of the spiritual warfare that is taking place around us. Oh yes, it's for real!!! And our minds and hearts are where the battles are fought. So let us be mindful of what we allow into our hearts, so that what comes out of our hearts brings glory to our Heavenly Father's Holy name. HE deserves it!!! One last verse I want to leave you with and it comes out of Luke 6:45 "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks." Ouch!!!

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Romans 5:8 " But God demonstrates his own love for us in this : While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. "

I've read this verse time and time again just as I'm sure you have too. But, this morning during my morning devotional time it really got down into my heart. To think about dying for someone who cursed you, spit on you, beat you and nailed you to a cross is really crazy but that's exactly what Jesus did for you and me. That kind of love is beyond our own understanding. The clearest picture we will ever have of God's love for us is Jesus Christ battered and bloody hanging on a cross dying for you and me while we either screamed "crucify Him", or we spit on Him, or beat Him, or we just did absolutely nothing while HE willingly gave HIS life up so that we might be saved!!! That is love to the highest degree brothers and sisters. Jesus Christ is the heart of our awesome loving God!!! So today let us focus on the cross and forget about the pity stuff we tend to get caught up in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6CK0Krm4rM

Friday, April 10, 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJEPg7fKOtc
Psalm95:2 Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song.

Good morning! God deserves so much more than we give HIM. If we knew the half of it we would probably never stop singing to HIM. It is easy to get caught up in this fast paced crazy world and lose sight of having that grateful heart. I am guilty!!! So today let us think about all HE has done and give HIM the praise HE deserves!!!

Thursday, April 9, 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEn74zP1glQ
Genesis 28:16-17 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it." He was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven."

This piece of scripture really hit me early in my walk with the Lord. Although I know Jacob's revelation from God came to him in a dream and mine didn't, but my revelation was just as real to me. Jesus comes to all of us in HIS own special way. But just like Jacob I was unaware of HIS presence until HE woke me from my sleep. We were all asleep in one fashion or another. Are you awake today??? Do you realize HE'S right beside you right now???