Come as You Are! ~ Crowder

Nov10

Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy
And my burden is light.
~ Matthew 11:28-30

Come as You Are!

Broken
Hurting
Ashamed
Come as you are

Confused
Angry
Lost
Come as you are

Bitter
Wandering
Sorrowful
Come as you are

Healing found
Hope renewed
Joy restored
Come as you are

Freedom from bonds
Light to lead the way
Mercy free flowing
Come as you are

Sit in the arms of the Lord
Find rest under the shadow of His wings
Be filled to overflowing
Just come as you are

Shine!

Oct12

“You are the light of the world.
A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket,
but on the lampstand,
and it gives light to all who are in the house.
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
~ Matthew 5:14-16

God designed us all to be beacons of light that emanate his love, grace, forgiveness, and beauty to the world. When life throws us hardships, chaos, disappointment, sorrow, trials, tribulations, heartache, and an endless supply of curve balls, often we sink inside the ‘basket’ where no one can see us. In my journey, I have had my share of trials, tribulations, heartache and pain, and at times I lost my desire to shine, but somewhere deep within, God always tugs at my heart and mind, whispering to my soul, and reminding me that it is in the most difficult of times that my light shines the brightest. It is in the moments where I want to run and hide, avoiding the world, that I have to step out on faith, step out on God’s promise to bring me good and not bad, to bring me a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). For when I step out of my pain and trust what God is doing, then the light of the Lord shines brighter than the full moon on the darkest of nights. God is love. God is hope. God is joy. God is peace.

So, even when life knocks you down and throws punches where it hurts the most, remember in that moment that you can be the beacon of God in the lives of those around you. Don’t be a shrinking violet, be the stunning sunflower: stand tall, look to the heavens for help, and stay firmly rooted in the Lord. He has always seen me through, and in this difficult trial filled with confusion and heartache, I know he will yet again!! I also know he will see you through the tough circumstances and tribulations of your life, bringing you to a place of beautiful peace and never-ending joy….a place where you will be the brightest light for all around to see the glory of God!

God bless and keep you and may you be the lighthouse to others through your storm.

All my love ❤

Merely Existent

Nov7

Have you ever encountered a time in your life, be it a day, a week, a month, or years, where it just seemed that there was no hope? Ever feel like the emotions of your circumstances would swallow you whole, leaving only an empty carcass of pain and defeat? I have been there with you my friend! I have encountered the gates of hell first hand, and am here to say that the darkness will not destroy you, nor will it consume you! I am living proof that there is hope! There is light amidst even the darkest times of your life. There is love even when you don’t love yourself and you feel as though love is nonexistent. I am here to tell you that there is release from the darkness and pain, and it is found in The Lord!

http://www.what-is-depression.org

God will never leave you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6-8)! He is your light in a world of darkness (John 8:12, 12:46). He is your hope in those desperate times where everything seems to confuse and overwhelm (Romans 15:13, psalm 42:8). He is your strength when you just can’t go any more; when you just feel like you would be better off dead. God is there to lift you from the mire of your own sin (Psalm 40:2). He is there to pull you out of the pit of shame, guilt, and ambivalence.

mymorningmeditations.com

All you need do is cry out (Psalm 34:17, Isaiah 19:20)! Release your tears, your heartache, your pain. Surrender them to God and know that he collects them all, seeks revenge for wrongs done to you, forgives you for your own sins, and brings the hope and promise of a future filled with peace, comfort, hope, and salvation!

http://www.deviantart.com

May you know you are not alone in your journey! All my love ❤

“Why are you like a man dismayed,
like a mighty man who cannot save?
Yet you are in our midst, O LORD,
and we are called by your name; do not forsake us!”
~ Jeremiah 14:9

money..cnn.com

Merely Existent

Moving in slow motion
Life is taking its grueling toll
Leaving me feeling empty
Devoid of true happiness and peace

What do I face each day for
Only to be struck down
Beyond the anger, past the hurt
The emotions continually stupefy me

Why am I so lost
Confused as to who I am
What I want in life
What I expect from God

Each day seems so different
The expectations so unique
My existence like vapor
The hunger for something more haunts me

Longing to live passionately
Fearing to face reality
The thoughts anger me
Cause conflict deep in my soul

Resentment pulsing through my veins
Shattering the life I clung to
Sadness fills my heart
Casting its shadow on my joy

Self condemnation destroys my hope
Beckoning me towards the pit of hell
The emotional lion devours my very breath
Leaving only tortured remains

The Battle

Nov3

Throughout life, you sin and you are sinned against! It is a part of being human. But what do you do when you are hurt, when innocence is torn from your young life bringing turmoil and confusion into your adulthood? How do you let go of what has been harboring in the heart, mind, and soul for so long? The Bible says that vengeance belongs to the Lord (Hebrews 10;30-31, Romans 12:19, Deuteronomy 32:35-36), but it also reminds us that it is okay to be angry (Ephesians 4:26, James 1:19-20). Righteous anger is when you are angry at a wrong done to you, against your heart, against your soul. But righteous anger does not lead to bitterness, resentment, and hatred. Righteous anger leads one to a place of forgiveness, healing, and restoration, allowing God to do His work in your heart and the heart of the person who hurt you!

So ask yourself today what you’re doing with your anger. Are you holding onto it, unable to hold the hand of God? Or, are you letting go of it, reaching for the healing power of God? Release it to God, and don’t provide Satan the opportunity to control your mind, your words, or your actions. Give the pain, bitterness, hatred, resentment, sorrow, devastation, and any other angry thoughts and emotions to God. Let Him bring healing, shining His light of love and grace into your broken heart, making room for the beauty in life!

May God be with you through the anger and the trials, bringing peace, comfort, and joy to your wounded soul!

“Be angry, and do not sin.”
Do not let the sun go down on your wrath or give place to the devil.
~ Ephesians 4:26-27

johnlund.com

The Battle
Anger and wrath work their way to the surface
Screaming to get out
All consuming
Deadening
Past events heinously take their place in the present
Intruding on my peace
Humiliating me
Devastating
Helplessly the demons of contempt move in
Condemning myself
Abhorring others
Those who caused me humiliation anger me
Tainted my innocence
Ravaged my soul
Exposing my pain with ferocious intensity
With a cruel vengeance the emotions attack
I am angry, alive, vulnerable
They are insatiable
Always intensifying
Circling endlessly about me
With great trepidation I face them
Waiting for the next battle

Proverbs for the Wicked (4mygodsglory.wordpress.com)
When It’s Good To Be Angry (sevim143.wordpress.com)
Be Angry And Sin Not (pastordanboatman.wordpress.com)
Question: Battling That Anger and Bitterness (jsparkblog.com)

Ah, the freedom of the Lord!

Nov2

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.
Isaiah 61:1-3

anniecallahan.com

Thank you Lord for your everlasting love! Thank you for your spirit that guides, inspires, renew, and breathes life into the darkness of our hearts and minds. May we remember you are our first love. You are our freedom from the shackles of this world. You are our hope for a future. You are our light in the darkness. You are our Creator, our Lover, our Father, our Friend, our King, and our heart’s desire! Help us to hold onto you always, living each day for you and you alone!

You O Lord! (4mygodsglory.wordpress.com)
Anointed For Today (pureglory.net)
Isaiah 61 (missdeeblessed.wordpress.com)
Where is Freedom? (terryhallarts.com)

Life Gone Awry

Oct29

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and father,
who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts
and establish you in every good word and work. ~ 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

http://www.turnbacktogod.com

Life Gone Awry

It is amazing the little things that affect you
The way something so subtle can determine your path in life
As a child it is the small things that matter most
The simple things that guide your thoughts

These things impact you in ways often unseen
You live life blindly and wonder why you do the things you do
Sometimes these things cause you to turn against yourself
Destroying you from within, devouring your very soul

Trust is such a small word yet so strong
You were created to trust others for your survival
As you grow that trust is often discarded by those you love most
Leading you into disastrous habits and relationships as an adult

Breaking trust and God-given boundaries leads to turmoil
When you cannot trust, you hide within the hallways of your mind
Avoiding others or only giving them what they want to see
Slowly losing who you are and any identity you were clinging to

When the very thought of yourself is nonexistent you lose touch
Losing your ability to feel your emotions and experience love
Most of all you lose an intimacy with someone who is beyond compare
He gets lost in the crevices of your pain and self contempt

When finally you sink into the miry pit of despair you can only reach up
Seeking answers to the sadness, hurt, and longing that resides in your heart
What you find is that compassionate someone who was with you all along
He felt your pain, was angry when you were hurt, and has a hopeful future for you

God was, is and always will be with you
No matter how dark your life seems, He stands next to you, holding you in His strength
He loves you, cheers for you, and longs for you to know His gentle peace
He wants to guide you through your pain and help you feel love again

When you have hit rock bottom with nowhere else to go
All you need do is call His name and He will bring you hope
He will cover you with His grace and shelter you in the shadow of His wing
Most of all God will lift your soul, bringing you closer to Him, helping you trust again

Jesus is ______. (faithinadesert.wordpress.com)

Broken Girl

Oct5

In this world pain and suffering are unavoidable, but there is hope amidst the chaos and torture we encounter both physically, emotionally, and spiritually. As women we are considered by some to be weak and here to serve men. However, the meaning of Biblical servitude did not include the abuse and degradation of our innocence, and the devastation of our soul. Sexual abuse is often considered taboo to discuss and is hidden under the carpet, both for those who partake of it and those who are its prey. No more!

Ladies, you have a God that is bigger than anyone who has ever hurt and abused you, a God who has wept at your stolen innocence, and has been angered by the abuses done to you. I praise God each day for the miracles He sets in my path, and one of those is Matthew West, an artist who has taken to heart the despair that faces women who have fallen victim to sexual abuse. His song, Broken Girl, has touched me to the core, and I want to share the lyrics with you. I hope that you can read the words, and be inspired to release the demons of abuse–guilt, shame, ambivalence, self contempt, depression, despair—and surrender them at the foot of the cross! God is big enough to carry them and has more than enough love to see you through the storm of recovery.

Deuteronomy 31:6 tells us to “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” What a wonderful promise. Do not be afraid to seek counsel, to get help, and tell your story. God will honor your pain and courage with love never-ending, and a new image of who you are in Him—-clean, holy, righteous, beautiful, and perfect! You are a daughter in the kingdom of heaven, and no one can take that from you, NO ONE!

May the Lord touch your heart, heal your mind, and shine light into the darkness of your soul. With all my love!

Broken Girl
written and sung by Matthew West
To hear the entire song, simply click here.

deviantart.com

Look what he’s done to you
It isn’t fair
Your light was bright and new
But he didn’t care
He took the heart of a little girl
And made it grow up too fast
Now words like innocence
Don’t mean a thing
You hear the music play
But you can’t sing
Those pictures in your mind
Keep you locked up inside of your past

This is the song for the broken girl
The one pushed aside by the cold, cold world
You are, Hear me when I say
You’re not the worthless they made you feel
There is a love they can never steal away
Cause you don’t have to stay the broken girl

Those damaged goods you see
In your reflection
Love sees them differently
Love sees perfection
A beautiful display
Of healing all the way tonight

Let your tears touch the ground
Lay all your shattered pieces down
And be amazed by how grace can take a broken girl
And put her back together again

This is the song for the broken girl
The one pushed aside by the cold, cold world
Hear me when I say
You’re not the worthless they made you feel
There is a love they can never steal away
You don’t have to stay the broken girl

Abused? There Is Hope (theladiesfeed.wordpress.com)
The Abuse Expose with Secret Angel (secretangel911.wordpress.com)
God of the Abused (greatbaygospel.wordpress.com)
Our Strong Tower in Times of Trouble (secretangels911.wordpress.com)

Darkness to Light

Oct5

Everyone has a past, times that haunt, memories that taunt and tear our hearts and minds apart. Sometimes they can be so overwhelming and you feel like you will break because the conflict is so strong. Believe the lies or seek the truth and let it fill your heart and mind?

I used to allow these wicked thoughts to take control, to lead me to places of danger and harm. But somehow, in some miraculous way, God came in. He reminded me of the truth…that I am HIS beautiful creation. I am pure and righteous through the atoning blood of His Son’s sacrifice. I am His daughter whom He loves with a love so divine and so grand that I am filled with a peace I simply don’t understand. With prayer and encouragement from trusted friends, He shines the light of His love whenever the lies of my past open the floodgates of darkness. He brings grace where shame once resided. God has given me the wonderful gift of His mercy, a compassion so rich it fills my soul and washes over the sinful guilt coursing through my heart and mind.

I honestly don’t know how my life would be without the pure love of God that came and rescued me! Would I be drowning in Satan’s sea of lies? Perhaps I would have turned to a life of alcohol or drugs to numb the pain? Maybe I would have resorted to cutting or a destructive lifestyle to bring relief from the past? I know not where I would be today without the grace of God living within me. He has reached into my state of brokenness and set me free from the shackles and bondage of abuse and for that I am eternally grateful. Yes, there are those moments where satan desires nothing more than to remind me of my past, to bring the abuse back to the forefront of my mind, to fill my heart with his elegant lies. But today it is different, for satan has been cast out…the lies replaced with the beauty and love of my wonderful, great, awesome, and powerful God!

I pray that you too can feel the loving hand of God upon you. May his truth come to light and wash over you so that no matter how hard satan tries, you will still return to the loving God who created you and calls you His own. Don’t lose hope by remaining in the pain of the past or the sin filled life of the present. Instead, run to the grace filled arms of Jesus Christ and find ultimate release from the sinful thoughts, the destructive plans, and the devastating patterns you have developed to help with the pain. Release them to the only One who can heal you deep within. May you find strength and peace amidst this journey of life! And even more importantly, may the glorious forgiveness of God encompass your very soul, reminding you how beautiful and how loved you truly are. All my love.

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known,
along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth.
These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. –Isaiah 42:16

Darkness to Light

Darkness
Shame
Shifting sand

Spiraling
Plummeting
Nowhere to stand

Contempt
Anger
Rising again

Battling
Torment
Mind filled with sin

Searching
Seeking
Reaching for God’s hand

Praying
Yearning
Waiting to land

Forgiveness
Healing
God’s love so grand

Listening
Learning
Shackles of sin disband

Grace
Light
Flowing from God’s hand

Life!

Sep15

In this world there will be trials and troubles (John 16:33), of this I am sure! God never promised us a walk in the Garden, with the exception of Adam and Eve who let go of all that God had laid before them in a single moment. Since the first day sin came in to existence, when Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, man and woman have been struggling. But take heart, our struggles are not in vain.

God takes the struggles, trials, and extremes of life, and brings strength, perseverance, and hope (Romans 5:3-5) to the human heart. Never are you left to traverse the chaos of this world, nor the consequences of your actions alone. God promises that He will never leave you nor forsake you (1 Chronicles 28:20). He also loves you with a love that never ends (Romans 5:5).

The world may bring pressure and conflict. Your life may be filled with devastation and depression. You may have made a mistake, and be reaping the harsh consequences that have come because of it. However, rest assured, God is holding you through it all. He may give you more than you can handle alone, but He never gives you more than you can handle when you let Him lead. With God at the helm of your heart, you can do all things (Philippians 4:13).

NO matter the battle, no matter the depth of despair, no matter the struggle, no matter the anxiety or fear, no matter the insecurities or longings, no matter the sin…..let God lead you to a place of peace, surety, and comfort.

All my love, and may you find strength in the Lord to carry on, moving past it all!

Hugs and blessings ❤

Sorrow

Jul13

Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice;
and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.
A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come;
but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish,
for joy that a human being has been born in to the world. John 16:20-21

Sorrow flies
Coming and going as it pleases
Building its nest on the branches of hope