Such a powerful song that you may’ve already heard but if not…enjoy!
Category Archives: worship
Trust Fall
How many of you have participated in the trust building exercise where you allow yourself to blindly fall back and “trust” that your partner behind you is going to catch you? If you haven’t done it personally, then odds are you have probably seen the epic fail versions that are all over YouTube. Sometimes we laugh at these awkward moments of letting go control into someone else’s hands but in reality it reflects entirely what Jesus has asked us to do. The Lord dropped in my heart tonight, “Are you willing to trust Me? Even when you fall?”
Trust is a lesson He is teaching me more and more of. I believe God is always calling us to a place of trusting Him, as Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” When we truly trust God we not only give permission to be led by the Spirit but we willing make room for Him to lead us. Too often we speak it and think because we love God that we trust Him when love is based on His initial love for us (see 1 John 4:19) and trust is based on a consistent track record in a relationship.
I choose today to trust God with everything I am and all that I do because I know He is faithful, I know He is true to His Word. Whether I fly or fall, I choose to trust God. Do you?
Pearl of Great Value
Today it is my pleasure to bring to you a guest post from an amazing woman of God, Mrs. Jen Self. She is the wife of Pastor Quinton Self and mother to three amazingly awesome kids! She is a creative and wise woman who loves Jesus more than anything. She works actively with MOPS and student ministries at her church and I am honored to share this guest post with you!
Hey Pearl of Great Worth!
Have you thought today about how very special you are!!
Matthew 13:45-46, “Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding ONE PEARL OF GREAT VALUE, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it.“
You are a costly and fine pearl, a pearl of GREAT VALUE and WORTH! Worthy to be sought out and searched for. A true genuine pearl is forged/developed in wet slimy darkness…which started out as a grain of sand. The oyster takes that grain of sand (which other wise is ordinary, small, an unwelcomed irritant) and forms it into something beautiful and of great value!!
I don’t know about you, but many times I’ve felt like that grain of sand…lost, in the dark, just in the way, small, insignificant, dull, plain, ordinary, unwelcomed, unnoticed and of no value. But then God comes in and reminds me of who I really am, a beautiful pearl of great value, no longer ordinary but forged out of hardship into beauty that is of such value that He, God Himself, sought me out, sold and gave up all that He had to pull and purchase me from the dark place where I was unseen and useless into the light where I could shine forth and bring beauty!
I look back at hard times and know that I wouldn’t trade them for anything because that’s where my true beauty was being formed, fashioned and developed…true genuine beauty of great value!! True beauty that now knows how to recognize true genuine beauty in others 
You being one of them!
The longer the grain of sand is in the oyster under constant pressure and process the bigger and more beautiful it becomes!! I honestly still feel I’m still in the refining process, but I know that God is building, designing, even forging me more and more into the image of beauty that I am in Him!
So no matter where you feel you are today, whether you feel at the top of the world shining forth your beauty, a pearl in process or even just the grain of sand still laying on the shore or at the bottom of the ocean, know that you are not forgotten. God has sought you out, He knows right where you are, He sees and knows your true beauty and value. He loves and cherishes you, He is working on your behalf and looks forward to an adventurous journey side by side, hand in hand with you for your lifetime on into eternity! The greatest love story/journey ever!
When Depression Comes
It’s always good to be reminded of things that we so easily forget in day to day life. Today I got my reminder on the power of depression and how to combat it. If you are facing depression I can guarantee you being around “church folk” (religious) does not work. Often the “church folk” will offer a kind scripture and send you on your way. However, you and I can know Scriptures like “the joy of the Lord is my strength (Nehemiah 8:10)” but unless we learn and intentionally tap into the truth of them they will remain as empty words.
The past couple of days have been rough for me, as soon as I have come home, I got attacked out of nowhere with a depression funk. It was the oddest thing as I was fine at work and even had some great days at work. Yesterday, I slept the day away thinking it was just being worn out from returning to the routine but then tonight was far more brazen. While I was reading and praying, I noticed my thought suddenly turned deeply negative. It was an onslaught of depression that put me in the dumps for no reason at all.
I had the wisdom to text a good friend who then called me and prayed for me. Before we ended the brief call he told me God put in in his heart to tell me to put on praise music (not worship) and to dance before the Lord. Gotta love a timely word of knowledge to bring life to your situation! No sooner had I made a quick playlist on my iPhone and started dancing a fool the depression was gone and I celebrated in who God is! Depression can not inhabit the same place as praise; it’s like telling a sword and a ballon to share the same space. That ballon will pop as soon as the sword moves in place…depression in praise is much the same way.
It was this no hold crazy praise dancing that invited an awareness of who God is and who He is to be that forced any remnant of depression to flee. Joy is constant because it is not based on circumstances while happiness is flexible depending entirely on our circumstances. Praising, not worshipping, invites nothing but joy, that exists no matter the circumstances of life so next time you feel a bit low turn up some songs that praise Jesus and dance. You will quickly discover that the joy of the Lord truly is your strength.
HUBS
Do I have a surprise for you today, Pastor Scott Schatzline, Senior Pastor of Daystar Family Church (in Tuscaloosa, AL) has written a powerful life-changing book called “HUBS” It is a on-time message for the Body of Christ that will cause you to see God at work in your life in a whole new way! This is a MUST HAVE textbook for all believers (young & old) in understanding their journey to fulfill their Kingdom assignment!
Please spread the word with your friends and even better pre-order your copy today! As my friend Josh has said, “If you want Jesus to go BOOM, BANG & POW in your life through ink than you should preorder this book now!” You will not want to miss this powerful book go to www.hubsbook.com
Scandal of Grace
Nothing can compare to the joy and celebration that this season of Easter brings! It’s amazing to be collectively reminded of the Resurrection while introducing many more to this life-changing event. Although we see people come to this truth all the time across the globe, sometimes we take this scandal of grace for granted. The truth of the matter is that it defines the heart of the Father God towards us and declares the way for us to personally know God is wide open.
Join with us as we remember the Lord’s death and celebrate His resurrection, the very defeat of death and the grave. It is by this glorious scandal that we can have the abundant life that God has for us to live with Him!
However, as we will celebrate over the next few days, wherever you are across the world, I encourage you to prayerful invite those around you (neighbors, coworkers & family members) to come to church with you. Studies show 80% of first time guests come to church simply because someone invited them. People who don’t regularly attend church are more likely to come twice a year, Easter and Christmas, so let’s not miss this opportunity to share what we have been so richly given!
Pray For Brock
Yesterday I got a text from a dear sister in the faith asking for prayer for her good friend 22-hr old Brock.
He is in ICU with pancreatitis and the doctors are saying that his kidneys are failing. Below is a link to a video update on his condition. Please spread the word about this and join me and others in believing God to heal this young man. We believe the report of the Lord – Isaiah 53:1-6! // Brock Update Video here.
Oceans (PS22 Remix)
This song has been one of my favorites as lately but then I heard this version from the chorus of PS22 in NYC. You may have seen them before, they have done a large number of high profile events but I guarantee it will bless ya as rich as it did me!
”But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” // Matthew 19:14
Conclave
Today, the world entered a time of waiting as the 1 billion Catholics and countless other spectators across the globe await to see who will elected to be the next Pope. This is done as 115 cardinals from 46 nations came together in the Vatican City in Rome, sequestered to the Sistine Chapel in complete secrecy. While it is no secret that I am not a Catholic, I admire the historical aspect and contributions of the Catholic Church. I am praying that God would guide the cardinals to elect a Pope who would bring life back to catholicism as a whole and point people to Jesus first and foremost rather than the dead traditions of man. It most likely will not happen but you never know…what if it did? Never limit God in your prayers…live in faith in every area and watch what happens!
Much of the Conclave in the Vatican is a centuries old process done completely in secrecy, that is the reason why many have a deep fascination for it. What hit me today is that many people think God is like this today…that everything is planned and done in secret. We often act like only He knows or can know the plan He has for us or what’s coming ahead. While that is partially true…God does know it all…every day of our lives were written in His book before they were started (Psalm 139:16). He is not one to keep everything in secret.
Our God is not a conclave God…He doesn’t meet in secret with just a select few. On the contrary, He loves to share His heart with us! This is primarily done through the Bible, which is His love letter to us; it reveals Jesus who is the Word (John 1:1-14a). The more and more I read His Word I am amazed at just how much He has given us in His Word and then on top of that, all that the Spirit reveals. He has given the Spirit to us to help guide us through this life (John 16:13) and He cares about the minute details of our lives (see Luke 12:6-7)!
Due to this, we can not say we have a God who is unknown or completely secretive. We have been given the Holy Spirit, & the Word (in written and physical form) God has revealed Himself and entrusted Himself to us! It’s now up to us to decide how well we get to know Him by spending time with Him. I thank God that He is not a mystery to us but someone to draw close to, to love and be loved! The door is wide open for us!
