Friday, January 6, 2012

Caleb's Song






CALEB'S SONG

I AM A WARRIOR
I WILL FIGHT FOR YOU
I AM A FIGHTER
I WILL DIE FOR YOU

I WILL TAKE UP MY SWORD
AGAINST OUR ENEMY
I WILL LIFT UP MY SHIELD
FOR HIS ATTACKS ON ME

FOR I SEE WITH MY HEART
AND I RUN WITH MY SPIRIT
ONTO THE BATTLEFIELD
CARNAGE EVERYWHERE

I WANT THAT MOUNTAIN
GOD GAVE IT TO ME
EVERY STEP I TAKE
FOR ALL ETERNITY

I CAN FIGHT THE GIANTS
I CAN WRESTLE THEM
BUT IF THEIR SEEDS STILL LIVE
I WON'T WIN

I AM A WARRIOR
I GO TO BATTLE FOR YOU
I AM A FIGHTER
I WILL FIGHT FOR YOU

I HAVE MADE MY STAND
AND I WON'T RETREAT
TILL YOU REMOVE YOUR HAND
AWAY FROM ME

FOR I SEE WITH MY HEART
AND I RUN WITH MY SPIRIT
ONTO THE MOUNTAINTOP
GLORY EVERYWHERE

I CAN SEE YOU CLEARLY
I CAN HEAR YOUR VOICE
I CAN KNEEL IN WONDER
THAT YOU'VE MADE ME YOUR CHOICE

I AM SERVANT
TO THE MOST HIGH GOD
I AM HUMBLED
BY THE MOST HIGH GOD
UNDER THE WEIGHT OF YOUR GLORY
I AM PRESSED
AND IN THE SHADOW OF MERCY
I AM BOWED

IN THE TRUTH OF REFLECTION
I SEE MY NEED
FOR YOU
ONLY YOU
YOU ARE THE MOST HIGH GOD

AND YOU SEE ME
YOU LOVE ME
YOU SAVE ME
EVERYDAY

MORE OF YOU
ON MY MOUNTAINTOP
MORE OF YOU
IN MY MOUNTAIN VIEW
MORE OF YOU
WHEN I STAKE MY CLAIM
ON WHAT YOU
HAVE GIVEN ME

I AM YOUR WARRIOR
I HAVE FOUGHT FOR YOU
I AM YOUR SERVANT
AND I HAVE LIVED FOR YOU
I AM YOUR CHILD,
I AM YOUR SEED,
YOU LIVE IN ME.





Thursday, January 5, 2012

Joyful Beginnings




(photo courtesy of  Public Domain)


In the beginning, before time began, God created the heavens and earth. Out of the void He called earth. Out of darkness He called light. As the earth took shape and filled with many wonderful plants, He spoke the animal kingdoms into being. Out of clay and dust, He shaped a man and called him Adam. And out of Adam, right below his heart, he removed a rib and created woman. The man named her Eve. 

The beginning of all life is in God's control. It's how we choose to live our lives that brings God glory and honor. How will you live your life this year? Is it really a New Year for you and I? Or just the same old everyday stuck in a rut tradition? 

Who is your heart focused on? What you want or what God wants for you? Whose desires will you choose to put first? Yours? Or God's. Making the decision to be God's servant will be easy; following through on that decision will be challenging. As soon as you throw down the gauntlet, the devil will be right there in your face to try and prevent you from being obedient and faithful.

"This is the day which the Lord has made: I will rejoice and be glad in it." says the Psalmist. But, what happens if the power goes out? Will you still be thankful? What will you do if someone hits your vehicle, while you are in it? Do you call him/her an idiot driver? Or do you thank God for it? It is hard to praise God when you are tempted to be unkind and mean-spirited. Do it anyway. Praising God in the midst of the trials and temptations of everyday living is the only way you will get through it with peace of mind; keeping not only your sanity intact, but your compassion and empathy. 

Let us begin today with joy. 

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Just Another Book?



If the devil knows the Scriptures better than you do, what are you going to do about it? 

When he tempted Jesus in the wilderness, he abused Scripture by taunting Him with it. But Jesus used Scripture to send the devil packing. 

Start your New Year off right. Get your Bible off the shelf, pray over it and ask God to guide you in your understanding of it, and begin to apply it to your life. Otherwise, it's just another book on the rack.

I'm an overcoming Christian and my desire is that you are, too. I am overcome by the Amazing Grace God has for me. And I overcome the enemies of God using the Scripture as my level, my shield and my sword. 

GENESIS: BOOK OF BEGINNINGS. 
EXODUS: BOOK OF DELIVERANCE
LEVITICUS: BOOK OF WORSHIP INSTRUCTIONS-HOLINESS, SACRIFICE, ATONEMENT
NUMBERS: BOOK OF GENEALOGIES; LIVING IN THE WILDERNESS/ PREPARATION TO ENTERING THE PROMISED LAND
DEUTERONOMY: BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE AND BLESSINGS

(are you hungry yet?)

JOSHUA: BOOK OF CONQUEST-OVERCOMING OPPOSITION AND SHARING THE REWARDS
JUDGES: BOOK OF MILITARY HEROES WHOM GOD RAISED UP TO DELIVER AN IMMORAL PEOPLE
RUTH: BOOK OF FRIENDSHIP-THE DEMONSTRATION AND REWARDS OF BEING A FRIEND

1 & 2 SAMUEL: BOOK OF TRANSITION OF GOVERNMENT
1 & 2 KINGS: HISTORY BOOKS OF GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE IN A 400 YEAR SPAN
1 & 2 CHRONICLES: BOOKS OF HOPE

(gonna have to re_read my Bible again, all the way through!)

EZRA: BOOK OF RESTORATION OF THE REMNANT OF GOD'S COVENANT PEOPLE
NEHEMIAH: BOOK OF COURAGEOUS, RESOURCEFUL LEADERSHIP
ESTHER: BOOK OF GOD'S PRESERVATION OF HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE
JOB: BOOK OF 'WHY THE RIGHTEOUS SUFFER'-REVEALING THE CHARACTER OF GOD

PSALMS: BOOK OF PRAYERS, SONGS AND HYMNS-FOCUSING ON GOD IN EVERY SITUATION, CIRCUMSTANCE AND TRIAL

PROVERBS: BOOK OF APPLIED PRACTICAL WISDOM
ECCLESIASTES: QUESTIONING THE MEANING OF LIFE
SONG OF SOLOMON: BOOK OF AUTHENTIC LOVE

ISAIAH: BOOK ON THE HOLINESS OF GOD/SALVATION IS OF GOD
JEREMIAH: BOOK OF THE NEW COVENANT-GRACE AND FORGIVENESS WRITTEN IN THE HEART
LAMENTATIONS: SORROWING OVER GOD'S JUDGMENT OF HIS SINFUL PEOPLE-THE RESULTS OF IDOLATRY AND UNFAITHFULNESS
EZEKIEL: BOOK OF JUDGMENT & RESTORATION-INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY OF FORGIVENESS AND GRACE
DANIEL: EMPHASIZING THE TRUTH THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL OF HISTORY

HOSEA: BOOK OF STEADFAST LOVE
JOEL: PROPHETIC OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ON GOD'S PEOPLE-REPENT AND RECEIVE
AMOS: BOOK OF REPENTANCE, WORSHIP AND CHANGED LIVES
OBADIAH: BOOK OF GOD'S JUDGMENT AGAINST ISRAEL'S ENEMIES
JONAH: BOOK OF REVELATION OF GOD'S HEART-MESSAGE OF GRACE FOR ALL PEOPLE, NOT JUST SOME; STEPS TO REVIVAL
MICAH: BOOK OF ACCOUNTABILITY
NAHUM: CALLED TO HOLINESS AS A WAY OF LIFE
HABAKKUK: CALLED TO FAITH IN DAILY LIVING
ZEPHANIAH: CALLED TO SERVE AS GOD'S COVENANT PEOPLE IN THE WORLD
HAGGAI: CALLED TO AUTHENTIC WORSHIP
ZECHARIAH: CALLED TO AUTHENTIC FAITH-REPENTANCE, REVIVAL, RESTORATION
MALACHI: CALLED AGAIN TO AUTHENTIC WORSHIP-REBUKED FOR SHALLOW WORSHIP

MATTHEW: REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST AS THE PROMISED MESSIAH/DETERMINING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN "KINGDOM OF HEAVEN" AND "KINGDOM OF GOD"
MARK: REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST AS THE SON OF GOD AND THE SON OF MAN
LUKE: REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST IS GOOD NEWS-GOSPEL OF JOY, GOSPEL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOSPEL OF PRAYER
JOHN: BOOK OF RELATIONSHIPS BASED IN OUR LOVE FOR GOD AND GOD'S LOVE FOR US

ACTS: REVEALING THE PERSON AND PURPOSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
ROMANS: PROCLAIMING GOD'S POWER TO SAVE ALL PEOPLE
1 & 2 CORINTHIANS: LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IN A NON-CHRISTIAN ENVIRONMENT

GALATIANS: JUSTIFICATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH
EPHESIANS: REVEALING THE UNION & BOND OF CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH
PHILIPPIANS: LIVING A JOY-FILLED CHRIST-CENTERED LIFE
COLOSSIANS: REVEALING THE MAJESTY OF CHRIST

1 & 2 THESSALONIANS: PREPARING FOR CHRIST'S RETURN
1 & 2 TIMOTHY: THE PURPOSE AND POWER OF SCRIPTURE 

TITUS: REMINDED TO 'HOLD FAST' (like superglue) TO THE GOSPEL OF OUR SALVATION
PHILEMON: REVEALING OUR RELATIONSHIP TO EACH OTHER IN CHRIST

HEBREWS: REVEALING THE AUTHORITY AND FINALITY OF JESUS CHRIST AS SAVIOR

JAMES: PRACTICAL & TRUE RELIGION VS. COUNTERFEIT RELIGION
1 & 2 PETER: LIVING A LIFE OF HOPE AND JOY IN THE MIDST OF CONFLICT
1, 2, 3 JOHN: LIVING A LIFE OF ACTIVE LOVE AND FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
JUDE: DEFENDING GODLY FAITH AGAINST UNGODLY FALSE TEACHINGS 

REVELATION: REVEALING GOD'S MAJESTY, POWER AND AUTHORITY

(this was a wonderful study today. took 3 hours just to get this far) I love my BIBLE!