i know, it's been a terribly long time since i poked my "face" here. a lot has happened. from finally completing my master's, while healing from a motor accident to publishing new books...life has been quite a roller coaster, not to mention this 'rona pandemic. anyway, i would love to encourage you with a song that's one of my new favs.
fighting for me by riley clemmons
I need the kinda love that
Can outlast the night
I need the kinda love that
Is willing to fight
When the going gets tough
And my strength's not enough
I see You showing up like never before
This battle for my heart
You took on from the start
You are the peace when my mind's at war
And o-ohh
You will never stop fighting for me
When I can't fight for myself
Every word is a promise You keep
Cause You love me like nobody else
You stand up for me
In the darkest night
When my faith is weak
You're still by my side
You will never stop fighting for me
You will never stop fighting for me
In the perfect timing
You make all things right
You paint a silver lining
In this heart of mine
When the going gets tough
And my strength's not enough
I see You showing up like never before
This battle for my heart
You took on from the start
You are the peace when my mind's at war
And o-ohh
You will never stop fighting for me
When I can't fight for myself
Every word is a promise You keep
Cause You love me like nobody else
You stand up for me
In the darkest night
When my faith is weak
You're still by my side
You will never stop fighting for me
You will never stop fighting for me
Your love
Is winning me over
Your heart
Is pulling me closer
Your love
Is winning me over
Your heart
Is pulling me closer
You will never stop...
Fighting for me, fighting for me
Every word is a promise You keep, oh, o-ohh
You will never stop fighting for me
When I can't fight for myself (when I can't)
Every word is a promise You keep (oh, oh)
Cause You love me like nobody else (nobody)
You stand up for me (You stand up for me)
In the darkest night (In the darkest night)
When my faith is weak (yeah, yeah)
You're still by my side (my side)
You will never stop fighting for me (You will never stop)
You will never stop fighting for me
i hope you remember that Jesus, our Redeemer, is fighting for us.
pray, talk to Him, trust Him in the waiting.
it's like in the Lord of the Rings trilogy...evil is eventually destroyed and good wins.
Head full of questions, how can you measure up? To deserve affection, to ever be enough For this existence When did it get so hard? Your heart is beating, alive and breathing And there's a reason why You are essential, not accidental And you should realize
You are beloved I wanted you to know You are beloved Let it soak into your soul Oh, forget the lies you heard Rise above the hurt And listen to these words You are beloved I want you to know You are beloved You-ou-ou, you-ou-ou, you, you are beloved
Sometimes a heart can feel like a heavy weight It pulls you under and you just fall away Is anybody gonna hear you call? (Oh oh) But there's a purpose Under the surface And you don't have to drown Let me remind you That love will find you Let it lift you out
Don't be afraid Don't let hope fade Keep your eyes fixed on the light above In the heartbreak, in your mistakes Nothing can separate you from love Don't be afraid Don't let hope fade Keep you eyes fixed on the light above In the heartbreak, in your mistakes Nothing can separate you from love
Don't be afraid Don't let hope fade Keep your eyes fixed on the light above (you are beloved) In the heartbreak, in your mistakes Nothing can separate you from love You are beloved
But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead.
Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life.
Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.
I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” //isaiah 43
no matter what negative words someone has spoken that has slayed your heart and
no matter who has made you feel rejected and unwanted, the truth is you are so loved, beloved.
focus on the love of Jesus and find your worth and identity in His precious word.
You, don't have to prove yourself, don't try to be someone else
You don't have to prove yourself
Don't try to be someone else
You are loved
Just look up; you are loved
Just look up; you are loved
Just look up; you are loved, just look up
"So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:
They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.
None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us."// romans 8:31-38
so this song i'm sharing today has been steadily replaying in my head and i thought it was worth the share.
i've come to love it so much.
enjoy!
never too far gone~ jordan feliz
I have loved you from the start
I have seen your hurting heart (your hurting heart)
And you feel so lonely, but you keep on hiding
'Cause you feel so guilty for what you've done, but
There's no distance too far, that I can't reach you
There's no place that's so dark, that I can't find you
Anywhere that you are, if you need proof
Take a look at these scars, and know I love you
Doesn't matter, doesn't matter, doesn't matter what you've done
You are never, you are never, never too far gone
Oh ah-oh, ah-oh
You have run down every road
And you've lost your way back home (your way back home)
And you feel so dirty; you know you're unworthy
Feeling undeserving of any love, but
There's no distance too far, that I can't reach you
There's no place that's so dark, that I can't find you
Anywhere that you are, if you need proof
Take a look at these scars, and know I love you
Doesn't matter, doesn't matter, doesn't matter what you've done
You are never, you are never, never too far gone
Oh ah-oh, ah-oh
You will never outrun my love, my love, my love
You will never outrun my love, my love, my love
You will never outrun my love, my love, my love
You will never outrun my love (you will never outrun my love)
There's no distance too far, that I can't reach you
There's no place that's so dark, that I can't find you
Anywhere that you are, if you need proof
Take a look at these scars, and know I love you
Doesn't matter, doesn't matter, doesn't matter what you've done
You are never, you are never, never too far gone
Oh ah-oh, ah-oh
Never too far gone
Oh ah-oh, ah-oh
Never too far gone
Oh ah-oh, ah-oh
"God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. I’m an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking. You know when I leave and when I get back; I’m never out of your sight. You know everything I’m going to say before I start the first sentence. I look behind me and you’re there, then up ahead and you’re there, too— your reassuring presence, coming and going. This is too much, too wonderful— I can’t take it all in!"// psalm 139:1-6 (the message) "The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness."// jeremiah 31:3 "Come now, let us settle the matter," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."// isaiah 1:18
you're never out of reach of our loving Lover, Jesus. He owns this world and universe. and there's nothing too horrible you have done that He wouldn't forgive if you ask Him.
so go ahead and ask Him, accept His forgiveness and move on with your wonderful life as His Holy Spirit leads you day by day to live a life of purpose for Him.
Jesus is awesome!
He will always find you, no matter where you are, i promise!
stop fighting His love. embrace all of it, darling. :)
although its only been a couple of months i've been away from this space it feels like forever since i spilled some of the sunshiny, colorful words Father has given to my care for you here.
it's not a monday nor a tuesday but who says i can't share a song on a thursday? hihihihi
so this evening, i came across this song and in a few seconds it got me hooked.
it spoke to me so much that i just had to share. :)
enjoy!
I am no victim~bethel music
I am no victim
I live with a vision
I'm covered by the force of love
Covered in my Savior's blood
I am no orphan
I'm not a poor man
The Kingdom's now become my own
And with the King I've found a home
He's not just reviving, not simply restoring
greater things have yet to come
greater things have yet to come
He is my Father
I do not wonder
If His plans for me are good
If He'll come through like He should
'Çause He is provision and enough wisdom
To usher in my brightest days
To turn my mourning into praise
He's not just reviving, not simply restoring
greater things have yet to come
greater things have yet to come
I am who He says I am
He is who He says He is
I'm defined by all His promises
Shaped by every word He says
I am no victim
I live with a vision
I'm covered by the force of love
Covered in my Savior's blood
I am no orphan
I'm not a poor man
The Kingdom's now become my own
And with the King I have a home
it took a while for me to come to this powerful understanding. I AM NOT A VICTIM!
no matter what I've had to painfully endure because of other people's terrible mistakes and poor life choices, no matter how their choking words have pierced my heart, i refuse to see myself as a victim and live with a victim mentality.
why? because I believe I have my loving Father in heaven and He cares about me, He adores me, He wants me, He loves me even when people I thought were best in displaying His love for me treat me with such absurdity, cruelty and shove me aside with their unbelievably cold and hurtful words and silently loud actions.
i've had to endure some things these past months that have left me wondering and questioning and just trying to really understand how some folks who say they are Christian leaders could say and do certain things that arr so way out of line as the leaders they say they are.
and after much introspection and lots of time spent with the Lord i've finally reached that understanding that ever human walking the surface of the earth is a broken cistern. no matter how 'good' of a person they are or pose to be and no human or thing could ever fill the void in the human heart. only God through Jesus Christ His Son and the power of His Holy Spirit can do that if we believe.
i've come to the point where i've stopped looking forward to any human loving me perfectly as my Father in heaven does. His approval of me is enough for me and His love is all i've ever needed. and sometimes He uses humans who allow themselves to be the physical extension of His love to show me His care and love like one loving and thoughtful uncle I have in australia but not even he could ever love me perfectly as my Father in heaven.
i won't deny the yearning of enjoying being part of a loving and peaceful home. but till then, i'm thankful for the beautiful glimpses Father God gives me of His amazing promises to me on earth and in Heaven. i am grateful for the short and sweet experiences He gives me as i taste what it is like to be loved by a set of humans i can call family who make me feel like i belong. as brief as those moments are, i cherish them.
i am grateful.
i understand my Father God better now.
i understand myself better now,
and i understand other humans better now and why they can be so unstable and cold, and hurtful and mean and insecure and envious and how it drives them to do the unthinkable.
i understand why i love anne of green gables and akeelah and the bee so much too. :D
my Father in Heaven has promised me that He has not left me as an orphan. He is right here with me through His Holy Spirit.
as i yield myself to Him, and obey Him and deeply depend on Him, i'm good to go!
it's true, we're all searching and looking to be loved.
i've stopped my search, thank God!!!
i am now the one allowing myself to be the vessel to pour my Father's love and hope into little hearts that are hungry for love and affection. hearts that are desperate to be seen, known, loved.
so no. i am not a victim!
i am a victor through my Jesus Christ!
i am more than a conqueror through Him who loves me.
i refuse to be the hurt who keeps hurting others.
i put an end to that demonic cycle.
i am not a victim.
i am LOVED!
I don't know what you have endured in your journey till now, i don't know what you are currently enduring but what i do know is if you believe in Jesus, you are no longer an orphan left in this cold, difficult world. You are His child now, so stop striving to be loved. stop looking for love in all the wrong places. stop thinking God created you to suffer on your on in this life.
He sees you, He knows you! He wants you to stop striving.
He wants you to accept His love (Jesus) and all that comes with Him as a gift to you.
just believe.
It's really worth it.
i have tasted and seen that He is good! :)
Psalm 68:5 says, “Father of the fatherless and protector of widows, is God in his holy habitation.”
Deuteronomy 10:18 says, “He ensures that orphans and widows receive justice. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing.”
Psalm 10:14 says, “But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted. You consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.”
"I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you." ~ Jesus // John 14:18
"Let us acknowledge the Lord, let us press on to acknowledge Him. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear, He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth. " ~ hosea 6:3
travis greeeeeeene! he was in town over the weekend for a prayer/worship time to stand in the gap for the nations. twas an awesome time! i sang and danced my heart and body out.
i love, love his songs! especially this one. it's special to me because whenever God leads me to win a battle it comes up on my shuffle. i usually have my songs on shuffle, and somehow, someway, whenever i face what seems like an insurmountable hurdle and God makes a way to overcome it's this very song that comes right up. and i just look up at the skies and laugh and laugh in awe and breathe a 'thank You' to Him because He did it again. He's awesome!
made a way//travis greene
Made a way Don't know how but You did it Made a way Standing here not knowing how we'll get through this test But holding unto faith You know that Nothing can catch You by surprise You got this figured out and You're watching us now But when it looks as if we can't win You wrap us in Your arm and step in And everything we need You supply You got this in control And now we know that
You made a way When our backs were against the wall And it looked as if it was over You made a way And we're standing here Only because You made a way You made a way
And now we're here Looking back on where we come from Because of You and nothing we've done To deserve the love and mercy You've shown But Your grace was strong enough to pick us up
And You made a way When our backs were against the wall And it looked as if it was over Lord You made a way And we're standing here Only because You made a way You made a way When our backs were against the wall And it looked as if it was over Lord You made a way And we're standing here Only because You made a way
And you move mountains
You cause walls to fall With Your power You perform miracles There is nothing that's impossible And we're standing here
Only because You made a way
You move mountains You cause walls to fall With Your power Perform miracles There is nothing that's impossible And we're standing here Only because You made a way
You move mountains You cause walls to fall With Your power Perform miracles There is nothing that's impossible And we're standing here Only because You made a way
And we're standing here Only because You made a way
And we're standing here Only because You made a way
You made a way You made a way You made a way You made a way
Don't know how but You did it Made a way Don't know how but You did it Made a way
Don't know how but You did it Don't know how but You did it Don't know how but You did it Don't know how but You did it Don't know how but You did it
Don't know why but I'm grateful Don't know why but I'm grateful Don't know why but I'm grateful Don't know why but I'm grateful Don't know why but I'm grateful Don't know why but I'm grateful
And we're standing here Only because You made And we're standing here Only because You made a way And we're standing here Only because You made
'Cause You move mountains You move mountains You move mountains You move mountains
And You cause walls to fall You cause walls to fall You cause walls to fall You cause walls to fall
And You cause chains to break You cause chains to break You cause chains to break You cause chains to break
And giants fall Giants fall Giants fall Giants fall
'Cause you move mountain You move mountain And everything is easy for you 'Cause you move mountain Yes You move mountain
Mountains are moving Mountains are moving Mountains are moving Mountains are moving
Strong holds are breaking now Strong holds are breaking now Strong holds are breaking Strong holds are breaking
'Cause you move mountain You cause walls to fall
With Your power With Your power With Your power With Your power
You perform miracles You perform miracles You perform miracles You perform miracles
My son is breathing My son is living My son is breathing My son is living
When the doctor said no You said yes When the doctor said no You said yes
When they pronounced me dead You said not yet When they pronounced me dead You said not yet
You perform miracles You perform miracles
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I
am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.//isaiah 43:19
But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.// ephesians 2:4-10
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do
not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.// galatians 5:1
Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.// isaiah 59:1
i know my life is an offense to the devil and his demons because i am he apple of my Father's eye. i am a Princess of the Most High God and there's no power, no flesh that can thwart His plans for my life. and because the devil what damage i do and will continue to do to his useless kingdom he comes at me pretty often. sickness, accusations, lies, false rumors, slander...you name it. he has tried it all but i aint going nowhere till my Master asks me to come Home.
And because i am a threat to his kingdom he keeps trying all the time to take me down. and each time i'm like, nah uh, satan! and i fight him with the armor of my Father.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.// ephesians 6:10-18
keep praying child of God, wage war against the enemy of your soul with the Word of God. and i pray that you'll be sensitive against double minded people. there are so many phonies out there who pretend to be on your side but are only trying to know your mind and work against you. be careful what you share and with who.
talk to God and He'll give you discernment to know who's genuine around you. as you pray, the angels on assignment are working for your good and destroying strongholds!
the miracles God wants to bring your way will leave you speechless. the power of His Holy Spirit is available to you! USE IT!
battle on, faithful soldier of the Lord! you can do this! and keep your joy! it's your strength!
Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”// nehemiah 8:10 :)
