.... only one way to HOPE everlasting..

... being a bit discouraged by what is happening around me... one good thing was to meet with my "spiritual" mom today... she is not old enough to be my mother but she is my first Christian friend and mentor... I love her a lot and I hardly see her enough...
sharing what happened in the last 7 or 8 months of our lives we always end up talking about our friend... the One who has brought us together, the source of all our joy.. Jesus Christ, son of God.. Healer, Comforter and Saviour...
a grey day... a black and grey world... so much heartache and brokenness.... so much to do, so many to minister to... was leaving with a renewed sense of hope though... this is why we are here... this is what He is doing...
I am convinced and know with such certainty in my heart that He loves me and is good, holy and just... so if He allows all this heartache in my life and around me... there has to be a reason...
I know He is all about refining and making us more like Him... but then again... not for my sake but for His glory... so... as much as I needed some time to rest and process what's been going on... I can't stay there..
He has things for me to do, He has put people in my path I can minister to... I need to extend love to... I need to look beyond myself, leave my burdens in His capable hands and love those around me going through some crisis and difficult time...
a beloved mother, a dearest friend... young girls getting in trouble.... all loved by my God and made in His image.. all, like me corrupted and broken..sinful and lost.. without hope until they can see Him, can hear Him, can feel Him.... some just need me to be Jesus to them while going through an especially heart breaking time... others need to be led into His presence... some need to hear about my hope..and that it is a person, Jesus....
never a dull moment...  but never without hope... or peace..or joy... to be loved like that... I will never get used to that...

This is what it means to be held

How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life

And you survive

This is what it is to be loved and to know

That the promise was that when everything fell

We'd be held

( thanks to Natalie Grant.."Held")

... a world of despair... come rescue us oh Lord...

.. coming to my Lord with a heart full of sorrow... sorrow over a world so full of sin and despair... so black and sad and hopeless... a world that has turned away from God... not acknowledging and honoring Him the way He deserves...
pursuing selfish desires and throwing away all that is good and praiseworthy... forsaking self discipline and morals, trampling on others without any concern... oblivious to the pain inflicted... oh woe is me...
I am feeling compelled to come before my God pleading for this society... for His righteousness to be restored to His people... proud, rebellious and sinful people we are.. sinning, giving in to temptation... call us back oh Lord... let godly sorrow lead to repentance and restore the years the locusts have eaten...

Relent, O LORD! How long will it be?
   Have compassion on your servants.
 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
   that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
I am pleading, oh Lord with you.... come into this world and with your righteous anger set things right...
do not give us over to our sinfulness but redeem us from the pit of self indulgence and utter SELFISHNESS....
forgive us for misrepresenting you to the world around us.... humble us and make us holy...
in a world like ours where everything goes, where immorality is rampant... Lord come and rescue us..
let us find refuge under the shadow of your wings... for you alone are our help in trouble...
Mighty God , you are more than able to accomplish anything that concerns us today....
putting our hope in you is what we need to do... you are our present help in danger... lift the clouds of sin and let us see the light... let us draw near to you and be healed...
you alone are worthy of our time, our concern and our praise.... have mercy on us oh Lord....