Soaring Up In Sunshine: July 2015

Monday 27 July 2015

music monday// His daughter

Mistakes in this life are bound to be made. Sometimes we’re tricked into thinking choosing our own way, our own path apart from God is going to bring us fulfillment. Other times we throw ourselves into messes, thinking it’s going to drown out the initial pain we were carrying…only to be left more weary with marks of madness.

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Oh, but the Lover of our souls is always ready to accept us with all of our brokenness. Jesus is calling and waiting for us to do life His way. And even when things fall apart, the Master Weaver knows how to weave the pieces together and create a lovely tapestry of testimonies. Maybe you’re dealing with the aftermath of abuse…maybe you strayed to find comfort in men, and that didn’t turn out great…maybe you mismanaged your funds and your account is swept clean, down to the dregs…maybe you’re facing divorce or the effects of your parents divorce…whatever it may be…when we run to the Healer, He has got to have a way of turning the ashes of your situation to beauty, He’s just got to. We need to trust and give things some time.

His daughter~ molly kate kestner

“Everything’s gonna be alright”

She whispers to herself

She was only 6 years old that night

As she hid behind that shelf

Cause daddy had a little too much to drink

And mama didn’t want her to feel the pain she felt

But she still felt the pain

Well 10 years they came and went

And dad was gone

So she looked for love in other men

And tried to act strong

Oh, broken hearts and scars in only places she could see

Cause she just wanted, she just wanted to feel something

And as she sat there on her bed

Thinking ‘bout what those girls said

Tears streamed down her eyes.

She cried…

if there’s a God out there

Please hear my prayer

I’m lost and I’m scared

And I’ve got nowhere else to go.

I’ve come a long, long way

But I’m not sure I can make it much farther

So if you’re listening, could You give a helping hand

To Your daughter

Well, her path started to change

She reached out and grabbed God’s grace

And finally, she saw a light

Until that night

Where she decided one drink was alright,

And one thing led to another

Next thing you know, 9 months go by,

She’s a mother

And as she laid there in that bed

Stroking that small angel’s head

Tears streamed down her eyes

She cried…

if there’s a God out there

Please hear my prayer

I’m lost and I’m scared

And I’ve got nowhere else to run.

I’ve come a long, long way

But I’m not sure I can be the best mother

So if You’re listening, could You give a helping hand

To Your daughter

Well that baby grew into a boy

Who became her pride and joy

He loved her like no man could

And her heart felt peace,

cause she finally understood God’s love

so as she laid there in that bed,

99 years old

She grabbed her son’s hand and said

“there’s something you must know…”

There is a God up there

Who heard my prayer

I was lost and afraid

And I had nowhere else to go

I had no clue what to do

And then He sent me you

So if you’re lost and afraid

And you feel so alone

Don’t worry child,

Cause there’s a Father who will love you as His own

Just like He loved His daughter

Like He loved His daughter.

Remember the prodigal son who squandered his inheritance? “‘…so he got up and went to his father. but while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms round him and kissed him…’” luke 15:20

“I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who do not need to repent.” Luke 15:7

“and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

Are you starving for affection? Please, don’t run to the wrong people and places. Run to Jesus. How? Read His Word and find what He says about you. How He says He loves you with an everlasting love….sing His truth over your soul…talk with Him…surround yourself with genuine, Jesus loving people who’ll speak truth into your life.

And I know, sometimes you don’t feel His love. but trust me, His love is constant, just like the sun. no matter how much we mess up, when we bring the broken pieces to Him, He knows what to do. Ours is to believe and be patient for the beauty that rises out of the brokenness. Jesus came to bring the lost into the kingdom of Heaven, He came to help those who admit they don’t have life figured out. He’s always calling us to Himself. And let’s be intentional to pursue Him when we run to Him.

xoxo, gen.

Monday 20 July 2015

music monday// the sun is rising

Each person walking the face of this earth has some kind of battle they’re fighting. Some are good at pretending the battle doesn’t exist, some truly know how to count it all joy, and some wear the pain of it all. I’m a mixture of these some days. I’m learning how to really, really count it all joy. even when it seems my mind is exploding and falling apart, I have to choose to believe the sun is rising for me, that some clear joy is coming on some slowest train.

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the sun is rising~ britt nicole

When life has cut too deep and left you hurting

The future you had hoped for is now burning

And the dreams you held so tight lost their meaning

And you don’t know if you’ll ever find the healing

You’re gonna make it, you’re gonna make it

The night can only last for so long

Whatever you’re facing

If your heart is breaking

There’s a promise for the ones who just hold on

Lift up your eyes and see

The sun is rising

Every high and every low you’re gonna go through

You don’t have to be afraid I am with you

In the moments you’re so weak you feel stopping

Let the hope you have light the road you’re walking

Even when you can’t imagine how

How you’re ever gonna find your way out

Even when you’re drowning in your doubt

Just look beyond the clouds

“The sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves.” Malachai 4:2

“and the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” 1 peter 5:10

“weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5

“but the Lord said to him, ‘peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.’” Judges 6:23

“he will call on Me, and I will answer him, I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.” psalm 91:15

I don’t know what battle you may be facing. But know that you are never alone. It may seem that clear joy and redemption are eluding you. But the Lord is not slow on His promises. He will deliver. His timing may not be our desired timing. Hold on. Do not give up. I know sometimes you just want to give up...i get to that point too. But let’s keep drawing strength from our Father through prayer. His grace-unmerited favor is sufficient for us.

xoxo, gen.

Monday 13 July 2015

music monday// does anybody hear her

there’s a way that the bruises and pain of life can leave you with the strong desire to run away. I would know because all I’ve ever wanted to do is run away when it feels like it’s hard for me to breathe.

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And I don’t necessarily mean running away literally. Although I would give anything to literally do. Running away in itself isn’t so bad…it’s what you’re running towards that matters. There were times when life just weighed on me and I run. I run to stupid movies and series to numb the pain. starved of affection and attention, the way I knew to deal was to run. I run to wrong friendships and relationships to escape some misery. But of course, there’s always a price to pay for such running. It leaves you more torn and weary in the end. Some run to food, alcohol, drugs, sex, negative peer pressure, pornography, crappy movies/tv series/songs…

but when you know better, you do better. I know better now to run to Jesus when I feel lost and alone. He’s my safe place.

This song reminds me of me, and how no matter what's going wrong now, I don’t want to be the me I used to be. the me who'd run to lifeless movies and songs and the wrong kind of people.

does anybody hear her~ casting crowns

she is running a hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction

she is trying but the canyon’s ever widening in the depths of her cold heart

so she sets out on another misadventure just to find

she’s another two years older and she’s three more steps behind

does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?

Or does anybody even know she’s going down today

Under the shadow of our steeple

With all the lost and lonely people

Searching for the hope that’s tucked away in you and me

Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?

She is yearning for shelter and affection

That she never found at home

She is searching for a hero to ride in, to ride in and save the day

And in walks her prince charming

And he knows just what to say

Momentary lapse of reason and she gives herself away

If judgment looms under every steeple

If lofty glances from lofty people

Can’t see past her scarlet letter

And we never even met her

He is running a hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction

“come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

“here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with Me.” revelation 3:20

“brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:1-2

“When the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “how is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?” when Jesus heard it, He said to them, those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Mark 2:16-17

Perhaps you’re not the one running away from hurt or some pain towards danger. Perhaps there’s someone around you silently screaming to be noticed, desperately wanting for someone to listen and understand, without necessarily fixing what’s wrong. Listening, I’m learning is an important weapon in helping a broken heart heal. Are you watching? Paying attention? The signs? Personally, I become withdrawn when I’m dealing with stuff…uninterested in things that used to give me life. I’m usually quiet but I become knee-deep quiet.

So, pay attention to the souls around you. You could make such a huge difference by helping someone from running to the wrong things. your kind smile or words could save someone from falling into the deep end. we're not called as Christians to judge and point fingers at people who're lost..we're called to love them to life. I’m not saying to go pry into people’s lives in order to lend a listening ear or be holy ghost jr. But have the knack for noticing the silent signs…It could be a teenager in your neighborhood… a girl in your school seeking the wrong attention by showing way too much skin…let’s do well to be the hands and feet we’re called to be as the body of Christ. let's not be so wrapped up in our own worlds.

We were wired to crave God, and anything we crave in His place becomes an idol.

xoxo, gen.

Monday 6 July 2015

music monday// it's not enough

hi friends! so, this song! please do take the time to soak it all in lyric, by lyric.

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dustin kensrue~ it's not enough

Though all the wealth of men was mine to squander

And towers of ivory rose beneath my feet

Were palaces of pleasure mine to wander

The sum of it would leave me incomplete

Though every soul would hold my name in honor

And truest love was always by my side

My praises sang by grateful sons and daughters

My soul would never still be satisfied