I exalt thee

Hey friends!

I'm currently working on a post, but had realized it's been way to long since my last.

So in the mean time...here's one of my favorite songs. There's just something about the lyrics that bring me into the Lords presence.

I exalt Thee, I exalt Thee

I exalt Thee, O Lord

I exalt Thee, I exalt Thee

I exalt Thee, O Lord

Listen and worship! Be blessed!!

The Activity of the Human Soul

I've been thinking a lot lately about worship and what it really means; and today I stumbled upon this amazing video.


Worship Is from Josh Collesano on Vimeo.


Worship in English, comes from the words

weorth meaning worth and

scipe/ship meaning quality.

Something having the qualities of worth.

Psalm 86:9
All the nations you have made will come and worship before you Lord; they will bring glory to your name. For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God.

In the Old Testament, worship meant to bow down. It was a posture, easy to spot someone in 'worship' on the street. The concept behind the word meant to serve, or bring an offering.
The Old Testament is filled with people bringing 'offerings' to God, or 'sacrifices; and even human sacrifices. Abraham feared the Lord so much that he took his only son to be an offering for God (Genesis 22).

And then came Jesus.

It might not make any sense to someone who isn't familiar with the Word to try and make sense of this whole offering thing; and I'm sure they might wonder why we don't sacrifice offerings today.

Here it is very simple: Jesus, the Son of God, was the ultimate sacrifice. When He died for all our sins, worship became an internal thing, not an external.

He came and died so that we didn't have to make sacrifices any more.

Worship should never just be something done on Sunday morning when the band is playing...it's a lifestyle.
It's your way of saying to God: I love you. It should be constant and never ending.

Think about your lifestyle right now. How much of your time and day go to worshiping God?

Beloved, worship should be what comes from your heart. Your true heart. God created you, so He knows what's really going on in there anyways.

Yet a time is coming and has come now when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. -John 4:23

Worship isn't about the song your listening to, or who is holding the microphone. It doesn't even need to be when there is music anywhere near you. Worship should be how you conduct your day. It should be the way you live your life.

Worship is giving your all to the Highest of Highs. God doesn't desire for us to only have a set time to worship. He wants us to be worshiping Him from the minute we wake up to the moment we say good night.

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. -Hebrews 12:28

We are receiving a kingdom. Do you know that? God is giving us the gift of eternal life in His kingdom in Heaven. One that doesn't shake when things get rough, one that stands firm on the Word of God.
So why not, while we're down here on a really shaky earth, live like we're up there?

It might sound crazy to some of you, but I'm serious.

The Lord delights when we give it all to Him. So let's do it.
Worship is 'the activity of the human soul'. I'm praying that each day I can be more of a worshiper to God.
Maybe for you, it's the little steps. Maybe right now you need to just sit in silence worshiping God. Or maybe you would like some music on in the background to get you going.
But know that it should continue when you get up. When you go to the store, when you get stuck in traffic, when you don't do well on a test, when you come across some devistating news. It's how you handel things in life.

We live in a very troubled world. One that needs God.
Be an example. Let's start to do things differently. Let's start to make sure we're noticed for being children of God.
Let's be noticed for our worhship.

Psalm 95:6

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the maker, for He is our God.

Your love is extravagant

The definition of extravagant is:

-exceeding the bounds of reason, as actions, demands, opinions, or passions.

-going beyond what is deserved or justifiable

In the 15th chapter of John Jesus tells us that "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love".

God loved Christ so much that He sent Him to the earth to die for all our sins.

And Jesus loves us just as much.

But we've done nothing to deserve it.

I am in love with this song right now because of the worship it brings to me. Don't watch the movie, in fact, just hit play and move away from the computer.

Christ's love goes beyond anything that we deserve, or can even try and justify. I know I haven't done anything to deserve this kind of life...but I'll sure take it!

We follow an amazing God. He doesn't require much, just to love Him and walk in His ways. I pray every morning for God to use me in some way to the people around me because I want to thank Him for what He's given me. You see, when we follow Christ and daily take up our cross, we're showing our faithfulness to God. I believe with all my heart that God rejoices when we choose to follow Him, and not the world. He rejoices when we choose to be a little bit different than everyone else.

We live in a world where so many people need to be constantly reminded of how good they are, or how pretty they are, or that 'yea we're still friends'. Isn't it a great feeling to know that none of that matters? The only one that does matter want's to have an intimite relationship with you...not one of constant reasurance, just one that wants to love you. Because you're you.

Take some time and worship the God that loves you because you're you. 

Your love is extravagant

Your friendship, it is intimate

I feel like moving to the rhythm of Your grace

Your fragrance is intoxicating in our secret place

Your love is extravagant

Spread wide in the arms of Christ is the love that covers sin

No greater love have I ever known You considered me a friend

Capture my heart again

Spread wide in the arms of Christ is the love that covers sin

No greater love have I ever known; You considered me a friend
Capture my heart again

Your love is extravagant

Your friendship, it is intimate

Have a blessed day,
Your sister in Christ,
Meg



A broken Heart

Hey everyone!
So there I was, sitting on the beautiful beach of Waikiki in Honolulu, and God decided that it was a good time to make me burst out into tears in praise to Him.

It was without a doubt, a God moment.

I've come to realize that our timing doesn't even come close to Gods. I don't think soaking up the sun would have been when I picked for my heart to be open to Him, but that's why we serve an Almighty God.

I'm currently reading Breaking Free by Beth Moore, (she is amazing! If you've never heard her or read any of her stuff please please please go google her now!) and it's been a great book but nothing so far had made me re-read the chapter twice...until I got to the chapter entitled 'Hearts Broken by Betryal', it was all over from them on.

Betrayal is a really ugly thing, it's a bigger heart break than any break up, and makes you feel really awful. I pray that if you haven't been through it, you won't ever, but if you have, that this might open your heart a bit.
After years of attending a large church, I was betrayed and had my heart broken.It was the most difficult time in my life, and I pray that I'll never have to go through anything like that ever again..

But I thank God everyday for what happened.

Hebrews 4: 15-16 tells us this "This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most."
Meditate on that for a minute.

It's a bit of a reality to read 'for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin'. I find comfort in knowing that Christ was betrayed just like I was. In her book Beth Moore brought up the greatest story of betrayal found in the bible: Judas. For those of you not familiar with the story, go read Matthew 26: 14-56.

It was after reading this story in my bible that my heart began to really open to the Lord.

I loved how Beth put it "I usually think of betrayal as something the betrayer knew would devistate but did not care enough to act differently. If you've ever felt betrayed, wasn't part of your injury knowing that the other person would have been aware of how hurt you would be? Judas was a betrayer in every sense of the word. A true betrayer is motivated by selfishness" (Moore 129).

If you continue reading you know that after Judas betrays Jesus, He is arrested and eventually nailed to the cross to die for our sins.

As the tears streamed down my cheeks in the sunlight, I realized that all I needed was to give God my heart break. After all, it is His will that I went through all of it. It's also His will that after a while I realized that I am a much better person because of what I went through. Heart break of any kind, at the moment, gives us little reason to turn to God and say 'Hey thanks God for letting my heart get broken! I'm sure it will all turn out dandy!' Speaking from experience, nothing but anger comes out when you get your heart broken.

Jesus didn't get angry. Philippians 2:5 says: "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus". Christ knew that He had to be betrayed in order to full fill Gods word, so what did He do when He found out He'd be betrayed...prayed.

I put my book down and prayed harder than I ever had in my life. I prayed that my heart would be mended, and that God would continue to bless my life (I was on a beach in Hawaii for heavens sake!). I prayed that He would open my heart as wide as it could go so I could see Him more and less of myself.

God uses us in so many ways, sometimes not in the ways we'd prefer.
My heart break was devastating. But I now know that God used that experience to put me where I am today. I went on to lead an amazing group of kids in a Youth program, and on to a church that has truly ignited the fire in me. He used that experience to make me realize all the real gifts He has given me.

Satan used Judas to get to Christ, but God took over the situation and made it good. He made it so good. Every time betrayal enters our lives, God will use it for good...if you let Him. It's not to say that the last two years I haven't given my broken heart to God, but I hadn't done it fully. I had always kept apart for myself, so I could have something to lean on almost. Something I could use to say to people 'ya, well you think that was bad...listen to this'. I know now that God will only have that terrible experience come out of my lips when it benefits Him. Only when someone needs me to tell them.

The hard feelings are gone. I have a Father in Heaven who has taken me and used me more than I could have ever imagined! I am finally free! Praise God!!

So here's the question, if you ever come upon betrayal, will you choose to take Gods hand and let Him lead you? And if you've been through betrayal already, have you really given your broken heart to our Savior?

Jesus' betrayal lead to Him dieing on a cross so that my broken heart could be mended.

Praise to the King of Kings!
Your sister in Christ,
Meg

Take up your cross daily

This past weekend Sonny and I traveled to the beautiful state of North Carolina. I was over whelmed by my surroundings...they actually have fall there! The trees change colors and are the most amazing sight ever. (For those of you reading this in the North, you have to remember that us Floridians have about 7 days of fall, the trees very faintly change and if you're not paying attention to them, you'll miss it)

There were times when we were driving that I just had to sit there and try to mentally take a picture of all Gods amazing creations that I don't get to enjoy here in the Sunshine State.

The day we left we were driving down the street and on the side of the road was 'The Cross Guy'. There he was, just out walking down the road with a 6 foot wooden cross hanging off his back.

I was at a loss for words.

Madison (Sonnys cousin) told me that she had spoken to him one time and found out that he once 'lost it all' and is now homeless, but walks around every day with this cross on his back preaching the gospel.

"Then He said to them all: Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me" Luke 9:23

My mind was blown as I sat there thinking about the this man...and my own faith.

How many of us would walk around carrying a 6 foot wooden cross on our backs daily?

How many of us, if we lost everything, would carry around a 6 foot wooden cross daily preaching about Christ?

"The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion" Proverbs 28:1

I want to be bold like this man. Even as I write this, thinking about my next thought scares me: I want to be bold like this man so that if God decides tomorrow to take everything I have away from me I would still bring Glory to His name.

I want the kind of faith 'The Cross Guy' has. I want to be be bold in my faith.

It's really simple for all of us to say: yep, if God took it all I'd be fine. But do we really truly feel that in our heart?

If you're like me, you're sitting there reading realizing that if you had nothing, you'd freak out.

And if you're more like me, in two seconds you'd realize that it would be ok.

Jesus, our Savior would protect us. Not just the way the world views us but our Souls. He'd make sure that if we could with stand having nothing, then we had truly lived with Him in our heart. Because that's what He did for us...He took the cross and carried it all the way to His death.

Everyday we have the option to take up our crosses and follow Him. God has given us the ability to have it all, and still have Him.

Take up your cross with me so we can do this together. We have it all, so lets pretend everyday there's a 6 foot wooden cross waiting at our door to take with us where ever we go.

Take sometime and look at the picture...and pray for 'The Cross Guy'. Pray to be bold like he is.

Your sister in Christ,

Meg

Forever and Ever

Music brings out emotions that other things can’t. Music also (given the artist) gives you that “thats it” moment when you see the lyrics.


While I was cleaning my room today I was jammin out to David Crowder…as I sang along I realized I was having that moment. They lyrics were everything I could every want to say to God, take a look:

Love so incredible to know


It’s never gonna go


Never gonna go


Love too impossible and true


For anyone but You


For anyone but You


I think I’m on the brink of something large


Maybe like the breaking of a dawn


Or maybe like a match being lit


Or the sinking of a ship


Letting go gives a better grip


I’m finding everything I’ll ever need


By giving up gaining everything


Falling for You for eternity


Right here at Your feet


Where I wanna be


I am Yours


Love so indelible to know


You’re never gonna go


You’re never gonna go


Love too unthinkable and true


For anyone but You


For anyone but You


Maybe like a match being lit


Or the sinking of a ship


Letting go gives a better grip


I’m finding everything I’ll ever need


By giving up gaining everything


Falling for You for eternity


Right here at Your feet


Where I wanna be

Gods love is SO incredible to know. But it’s a love that we have to know. His love is never going to leave us no matter what, because it’s too impossible and true. Gods love is like no other love you will EVER experience in your life. He’s never going to dissapoint you, He’s never going to turn His back on you, He’s never going to say “you’re not good enough”.

Praise the Lord!

Gods love gives you everything you will ever need!! But of course theres a small fee…giving Him your life. He created you, so why not say thanks everyonce in a while.
When you give your life to Christ you’re choosing to live for HIM. You’ll soon find out that you have to give up a lot in order to do that…a LOT. Things you might enjoy, things others might enjoy.

But what you get in return is more than you can ever imagine.

Gods going to give you eternal life with Him. How could you not want that?!? When your life becomes Gods life, you finally realize that you’re His. Everything you do should then REFLECT Jesus. Giving your life over to God is a huge deal, and takes a lot. Giving your life to God to work in…is what we were made for.

Pray to God today and Praise Him for his incredible Love! Praise Him for all the things He’s given you.

Psalm 150: Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.

I’m falling for You for eternity
Right here at Your feet
WHERE I WANNNA BE

I am Yours.

Your sister in Christ,
Meg

Burn Us Up

I'm not sure if I've shared this with you guys before but it's about my favorite story in the bible.

It's found in Daniel Chapter 3.

Daniel chapter 3 is about three Judahites that did not bow down to King Nebuchadnezzar, and were then thrown in the fire furnace.

The chapter begins with King Nebuchadnezzar making a “ninety feet high and nine feet wide golden image” of himself.
Talk about vanity.
He then made a decree to all the people and nations stating “as soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music you must fall down and worship the image of gold that I have set up”. He also went on to state that if anyone does not bow down to him, he will place them in a fiery furnace.

Rewind for just one second: Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before me”.

As the music began to play, all the people of all the nations bowed down to the king…except three.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. (Say that three times fast)

Once the king heard that these three were not bowing down he demanded to know why. With a simple answer, they replied
“O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it and he will rescue us from your hand”.

So if you’re not following…these three men just stood up to the king and told him basically “yea, it aint gunna happen”.

THE KING! The man who just told them that if they didn’t follow this they would end up in a furnace. Imagine your oven…on like 800. Pretty hot.

So obviously Nebuchadnezzar gets pretty upset about this and orders them to the furnace. And not just to the furnace, but he ordered it to be heated SEVEN times hotter than normal…and to throw Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in.

The following part of the chapter is why this is my favorite, and as much as I’d like to summarize it for you, I can’t to do it justice:
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”
They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”

25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”
26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”

So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

THEY CAME OUT OF THE FIRE AND DIDN’T EVEN SMELL LIKE A BURNT MARSHMELLOW!
Also, note that there were four men walking around. Although the bible doesn’t say who that fourth man was, like many, I believe that it was Jesus. Like many other times in the Old Testament, this is a prophecy to the Son of God. He came in and protected the three of them, because they stood up for God. And not only did they stand up for God, but they were willing to die for God.

Would you bow down to Nebuchadnezzar, or go dancing around in a furnace?

God gives us these kinds of encounters every day. They may not have these types of ramifications at the end, but He gives us situations where we need to stand up for Him.
God is worth fighting for…He’s worth your life.
If He’s the one who created you, and gave you life, how do you repay Him. How do you say thank you?

Read and reread this chapter. Glorify God today in everything you do. Thank Him that you don’t have to go into a furnace, but ask Him to give you the strength you would need to stand in that furnace. And think about who that fourth figure was.

If you had to bow down or go dance in a furnace, what would you do?

Also, please listen to Shane & Shanes Burn Us Up.

Your sister in Christ,
Meg