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.

music monday// somebody like me

i would be the first to admit that i have the tendency to be judgmental. sometimes i get into the ditch of judging before i realize what i'm actually doing, thanks to Holy Spirit convicting me. so this is not me trying to be all miss perfect and holiest of holy. this is me calling out my sin and challenging myself and you to be more mindful of how we react towards people who are neck deep, drenched into the bog of sin.

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we must be the bigger person and let the love of Jesus inside of us move us into action by helping folks to come into repentance. the gathering of Christians should be the last place where people struggling with sin should feel judged and condemned. the church is where spiritually sick people go for healing so why do we sometimes condemn people with our sharp looks and gossip/slander? we only drive people who need Jesus away when we wrap ourselves with such attitude.

Jesus has called me to be a friend to sinners and help them get to know Him personally. however, i must remember that bad company corrupts good character. so where do i draw the line? i believe i can build a healthy friendship with those who don't really know Jesus and help them see Truth but make sure they are not the ones influencing me to go astray from Jesus. i must remember that the people i surround myself with consistently, my close friends should be people passionately chasing after Jesus as i am. but this also does not mean i ignore people God places in my path to influence and show His love to.

God is the only One with the right to condemn/judge a sinner, not me or you. but it doesn't mean i should look on unconcerned when i see someone going down with sin. the Word teaches me to correct [not condemn] people in love. the way i call out the sin in others, the tone i use matters. if we correct in a judgmental, harsh, condemning manner how can the person in sin be willing to change for Jesus? they're likely to rather become angry, bitter and feel unloved and walk farther and farther away from people who are supposed to be radiating with the love of Jesus and go seek comfort in their sins/wrong company. and the viscous cycle continues until someone like me decides to be brave and really reach out to the 'unlovable' and be the hands and feet of Jesus to them.

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how would you feel and where would you be if Jesus held your sins against you and decided not to come and die to take away your sins? you and i would be doomed if He didn't love us enough to forever cleanse us from our sins.

this song convicts me so much! see how the little boy was ready to reach out to the old drunken man? oh, how Jesus is so right about how we need to be like children to enter into the kingdom of Heaven!

somebody like me ~ jason crabb

the congregation parted like the red sea when that old drunk stumbled in down

the aisle and took a seat right in the middle of amazing grace.

he could feel the judgement they were passing,

thought to himself 'aint that just how some folks acting.'

he'd rather be on the street than in this place and with tears on his face

you'd think somebody would put their arm around him

you'd think somebody would hit a knee, pull him in, say a prayer,

that's what i'm talking 'bout right there.

you'd think somebody would practice what they're preaching.

well, i wonder who that somebody could be.

prob'ly somebody like me.

well, he's got problems nobody wants a part of.

when he got up and slipped out nobody stood up.

they don't wanna make a scene so they let him walk outta there without a prayer

you'd think somebody would do something different

you'd think somebody would go against the grain,

be the one to run him down, bring him back and turn him around.

you'd think somebody would wanna make a difference.

well, i wonder who that somebody could be.

prob'ly somebody like me.

oh, can i get a witness? somebody, somebody. oooh yeah.

you'd think somebody would put their arm around him

you'd think somebody would hit a knee, pull him in, say a prayer,

yeah, ooh

you'd think somebody would put their arm around him

you'd think somebody would hit a knee, pull him in, say a prayer,

that's what i'm talking 'bout right there.

you'd think somebody would want to make a difference

well, i wonder who that somebody could be.

prob'ly somebody like me.

"and if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? do not even pagans do that?" matthew 5:47

"'a new command I give you: love one another. as I have loved you, so you must love one another. by this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.' " john 13:34-35

"while Jesus was having dinner at matthew's house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Him and His disciples. when pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, 'why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?' on hearing this, Jesus said, 'it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but those who are ill. but go and learn what this means: "I desire mercy, not sacrifice." for I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.' " matthew 9:10-13

"do to others as you would have them do to you. if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? even sinners love those who love them. and if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? even sinners do that." luke 6:31-33

"instead, speaking the Truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is, Christ." ephesians 4:15

"do not judge, and you will not be judged. do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. forgive, and you will be forgiven." luke 6:37

"if we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. if we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His Word is not in us." 1 john 1:8-10

"then i acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity. i said, 'i will confess my transgressions to the Lord.' and You forgave the guilt of my sin.' " psalm 32:5

"whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. for whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen." 1 john 4:20

"when they kept on questioning Him, He [Jesus] straightened up and said to them, 'let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her' [adulteress.] again He stooped down and wrote on ground. at this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, 'woman, where are they? has no one condemned you?' 'no one, Sir,' she said. 'then neither do i condemn you,' Jesus declared. 'go now and leave your life of sin.' john 8: 7-11

let's ask Jesus to help us carry Him to people who are broken and need the Hope tucked within us, to learn how to love people who are lost and at the same time to have the wisdom to know how to properly relate with them so we don't end up being influenced to go astray from Him.

xoxo, gen delali.

a cleansed past: the room

hi guys! i would like to share a dream. not one of my own but one that deeply moved me and has been embedded deep in my brain ever since i got to know of it. remember how i was reading i kissed dating goodbye? i finished up last weekend and got to start when dreams come true by eric and leslie ludy & finished that up yesterday- but that book is for another post to gush over. ;) 

back to the dream- joshua harris shared a poignant dream he had some time ago while visiting a pastor in peurto rico in his book i kissed dating goodbye and i can't help but share it. here goes...

maybe you've blown it. maybe you reflect on past actions and wince with remorse. purity seems like a lost cause. this dream, called "the room," is dedicated to you.

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in that place between wakefulness and dreams, i found myself in the room. there were no distinguishing features save for the one wall covered with small index-card files. they were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. but these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endless in either direction, had very different headings. as i drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read "girls i have liked." i opened it and began flipping through the cards. i quickly shut it, shocked to realize that i recognized the names written on each one.

and then without being told, i knew exactly where i was. this lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn't match.

a sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as i began randomly opening files and exploring their contents. some brought joy and sweet memories, others a sense of shame and regret so intense that i would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching. a file named "friends" was next to one marked "friends i have betrayed."

the titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird. "books i have read," "lies i have told," "comfort i have given," "jokes i have laughed at." some were almost hilarious in their exactness: "things i've yelled at my brothers." others i couldn't laugh at: "things i have done in anger," "things i have muttered under my breath at my parents." i never ceased to be surprised by the contents. often there were many more cards than i expected. sometimes there were fewer than i hoped.

i was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life i had lived. could it be possible that i had the time in my twenty years to write each of these thousands, possibly millions, of cards? but each card confirmed this truth.
each was written in my own handwriting. each signed with my signature.

when i pulled out the file marked "songs i have listened to," i realized the files grew to contain their contents. the cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, i hadn't found the end of the file. i shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of music, but more by the vast amount of time i knew that file represented.

when i came to a file marked "lustful thought," i felt a chill run through my body. i pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size, and drew out a card. i shuddered at its detailed contents. i felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded.

suddenly i felt an almost animal rage. one thought dominated my mind: "no one must ever see these cards! no one must ever see this room! i have to destroy them!" in an insane frenzy i yanked the file out. its size didn't matter now. i had to empty it and burn the cards. but as i took the file at one end and began pounding it on the floor, i could not dislodge a single card. i became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when i tried to tear it.

defeated and utterly helpless, i returned the file to its slot. leaning my forehead against the wall, i let out a long, self-pitying sigh. and then i saw it. the title bore "people i have shared the Gospel with." the handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. i pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. i could count the cards it contained on one hand.

and then the tears came. i began to weep. sobs so deep that they hurt started in my stomach and shook through me. i fell on my knees and cried. i cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. the rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. no one must ever, ever know of this room. i must lock it up and hide the key.

but then as i pushed away the tears, i saw Him. no, please not Him. not here. oh, anyone but Jesus.

i watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. i couldn't bear to watch His response. and in the moments i could bring myself to look at His face, i saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. why did He have to read every one?

finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. but this was a pity that didn't anger me. i dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. but He didn't say a word. He just cried with me.

then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. starting at one end of the room, He took out the file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card.

"no!" i shouted, rushing to Him. all i could find to say was "no, no," as i pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn't be on these cards. but there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. the name of Jesus covered mine. it was written with His blood.

He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and continued to sign the cards. i don't think i'll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed i heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side. He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, "it is finished,"

i stood up, and He led me out of the room. there was no lock on its door. there were still cards to be written.

"so let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in dissension and jealousy. rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature." romans 13:12-14

***

joshua continues...

maybe you have a particular memory that continues to hound you, a memory that makes you feel unworthy of God's love and forgiveness. don't let the past beat you up. forget it. don't replay that moment or any others like it. if you've repented of all those behaviours, God has promised to remember them no more ["for I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." hebrews 8:12]. move on. a lifetime of purity awaits you.

***

i believe God gives us dreams to show or reveal certain insights we don't know of or certain spiritual mysteries. i don't know if the room and the files joshua saw in his dream are exactly as the records system in Heaven concerning our activities down here on earth. but what i do know is, God does take notice of every single thing we do. He knows our every move and thought.

"Your eyes saw my unformed body, all the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be." psalm 139:16

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 Jesus sacrificed His life while mankind was in sin in order to reconcile us back to our Father. and when we truly believe and surrender to God, our past sins are washed white as snow and the purity of Jesus clothes us. 

"He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. for as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him." psalm 103:10-13

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have you messed up? i've made mistakes too. hush, it's okay. ask for forgiveness from God, your Creator and Redeemer. surrender your whole heart to Him and start the journey of purity with Him right by your side. let's finish the race clothed in purity. :)

xoxo, gen delali.

linking up here and here.

music monday// forgiven and loved

the love God has for me is so great, i sometimes can't seem to fathom how wide and deep it really is. this song reminds me of how i cannot earn my way into the grace and salvation of Jesus Christ! like, He loves me not because of my own good deeds, but because He simply loves me! i need to be careful not to work for God's grace[undeserved favor], but to work from it. the outflow of His love into my life eventually fills up to the brim and spills over through me to others!

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"therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." 2 corinthians 5:17

forgiven and loved~ jimmy needham

tell me i'm forgiven and loved, cause i hear it from the street corner priests

on how God is love and how man can be clean

but my joy has been on holiday and my peace has almost passed away

tell me i'm forgiven and free

oh, i tried and tried to rectify my hopeless situation

but i bought the lie, i still have work to do.

now, i'm working nine to five like i can earn my own salvation

but there is no condemnation in You.

oh, whisper to me now that it's for real

oh, cause in the silence of these walls righteousness lost its appeal,

dirty deeds have done me in

oh, but that can't stop the faithful Friend

giving mercy once again as You heal

here it is, i'm feeling it

oh, oh, oh, i tried and tried to rectify my hopeless situation

but i bought the lie, i still have work to do.

now, i'm working nine to five like i can earn my own salvation

but there is no condemnation

oh, He died, He died to rectify my hopeless situation

and His blood commands my guilt to leave

now on Calvary i stand, empty pockets, open hands,

oh, there is no condemnation for me.

oh, i tried, oh, i tried and tried to rectify my hopeless situation

but i bought the lie, i still have work to do

now i'm working nine to five like i can earn my own salvation

but there is no condemnation in You

child you're forgiven and loved, child you're forgiven and loved.

child you're forgiven, and child you are loved,

child you're forgiven and loved.

no matter how farrr you think you've gone in the wrong direction, bad choices, sinful nature, Christ beckons you to come to Him! He has forgiveness that's rooted in a deep, deep, ocean of pure, unconditional love.

 and if You've confessed your sins and asked for forgiveness, He has forgiven you! really! don't allow the enemy weigh you down with the shame and guilt of the mistakes you've made. you. have. been. forgiven. believe it and move on in Christ! constantly let His truth fill you up to shut out the lies of the enemy.

you are truly forgiven. :)

xoxo, gen delali.

You Are More

Hi guys! I want to share a few words with you today. Sometimes less is more, right?! ;)

“You are more than where you have been. You are more than the mistakes of your past. You are more than the belittled expectations placed on you. You are more than how the world defines you. You are more than the doubts and fears that hold you bondage. You are more than what people think and say of you. Everything that seeks to define who you are, everything that tries to tell you what you’re worth, is nothing compared to the way your Creator defines you. You are more.” -Alessandra Ferguson

God’s Word says of you in 1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” 

“What manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us because it did not know Him.” 1 John 3:1 

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 

“And you, being dead to your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” Colossians 2:13-14

Dear friend, whenever you feel inadequate and the world hollers at you that you’re not good enough, please remember these words okay? Rest in the truth of who God says you are. Our identity is found only in Christ, so don’t let this world bring you down. Through it all, remember the unconditional love Jesus has for you. :) 

Have a meaningful day! xoxo

Your friend,

Delali.