Dedicated to Matt Weeks: City on a Hill - Casting Crowns

When someone in your family is hurting, the whole family hurts too. This is why it is so important to belong to a church family. It is a home, away from home, with many people you can count on.

This is dedicated to a dear brother of Christ of our church family, Matt Weeks, father of 3 small children who is battling a horrible cancer, but yet he is faithful to our God. He is not the small voice in the valley, he has been the "City on a hill." Bringing the gospel, courage, and comfort to others.

His light has not faded, it's only gotten brighter, comforting others all around him. Isaiah 40:1, "Comfort, comfort my people says the Lord." I believe God is saying to Matt, "Well done my good and faithful servant," as he goes through this valley.

We may not be able to escape what has come our way for a season, but we can find comfort as we face it, in the prayers of people, and the knowledge of God's word. Knowing that no matter the outcome, we in Jesus Christ still get the VICTORY!!!! Jesus overcame, and His children who are called by His Name will overcome too. Even death has no sting.

Job 36:2 "Bear with me a little longer and I will show you that there is more to be said in God's behalf."

This is the site where you can read Matt Weeks' journals as he's been going through this trial from Day 1. You will be SO INSPIRED, and I believe changed in a positive way. By this I mean, we are never meant as Christians to be a small voice in the valley, but a "City on a Hill!"

Philippians 1:12 says, "Now I want you to know... that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel." Illness, or trials of any kind can cause many of us to be bitter, complain, and give up. Matt sees it as an opportunity to spread the gospel.  Maybe you know someone going through a hard time and needs encouragement, and comfort.  We all can be that "City on a Hill" for someone.  Jesus Christ, and more of Him is what we all need.

 "I have no silver or gold, but what I do have I give to you." (Acts 3:6).   

Kim

Hold Me Now - Jennifer Knapp

Romans 6:19, "Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness.”

"From glass alabaster she poured out the depths of her soul."

I love the meaning of this song. It just touches my heart so much, on the love of Jesus Christ for His bride.

I looked up the meaning of harlotry, and it means offering sex for money.

I also looked up the meaning of alabaster box, and what it meant in biblical times. When a young lady reached the age where she could be married, this beautiful box was filled with precious ointment to be used to anoint the feet of her husband to show him honor.

The story of Jesus being Anointed by a Sinful Woman, (Luke 7:36-50), is one of several where the sinner comes out ahead of the religious leaders, only because of recognizing sin, and turning from it, in need of forgiveness. Jesus is more than just our Savior, He is Lord, and worthy of honor and praise. Some Christians today can be such a turn off to people who really need our Savior. Jesus Himself said in John 12:47, "For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it." Jesus had a mission while he was on earth, and it was to show the way to find salvation, and eternal life through faith in Him and His sacrifice for our sins. That is our mission too. We don't lead people by pointing the finger or judging them. We lead by loving them, and showing them Jesus through us.

In this story in Luke, instead of the religious leaders coming out ahead, the sinner did, by her humble offering poured on the feet of Jesus. Can you remember yourself crying out to God saying; "I'm weak, I'm poor, I'm broken Lord but I'm yours, hold me now?" And right at that moment, I bet you felt His presence. If not, maybe you didn't cry out yet. Are you ready to show Jesus honor by your humblest offering? Are you grateful for His forgiveness? Do you appreciate the depth of His mercy? You may feel borrowed, and used, but you are worth every drop of blood Jesus shed for you!

I remember my experience, and still do when I mess up. He is always there waiting to pick me up , and dust me off to go again. Jesus is always there, waiting to hear from His strayed sheep.  We could point the finger, and laugh if we choose. Or we could be more like Jesus.

We could cast stones at others, or love as He loved, and remember where we once were. Remember Jesus said, "Let he without sin cast the first stone." Could any of us really cast one? His blood was shed for ALL Mankind.

Romans 3:23, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

(Here are some other verses for you to meditate on: 

Ecclesiastes 7:20 -- Genesis 8:21 -- Romans 3:9)

Kim

Search my Heart - Hillsong United

Great song, and video. Hope it gets our New Year off to a good start.

I think all of us (at times) are guilty of looking like the world. "Thank you Jesus, for your never ending mercy and grace."

What we believe as Christians, shows in our walk, and talk. Are we leaving Jesus as a baby in the manger, or are we placing Him on the throne He deserves in our lives?

Christmas may be over, but the Christ is never over. He is year round in our hearts. So as the lyrics say, "search my heart, and search my soul... shine your light and show your face; in my life Lord have Your way." Can you say that, or is the wall you have up to thick?

Here is a great statement I read in a devotional, and I pray we all think deeply about it. I believe it can change our walk, and talk.

Do I only serve God when I am in good company, or when faith is profitable? Do I love the Lord only when I am enjoying comforts from His hands? If so I am a hypocrite...

WOW, does that make you think? Or maybe it will make you stop reading this.

To walk with God we truly need to rely on His strength and His grace. Jesus tells us in His word, Matthew 20:22 "You don't know what you are asking! Are you able to drink [from the bitter cup of suffering] I am about to drink?" What part of suffering are we missing? It will NOT be an easy walk, but it is worth it.

True worship doesn't look for His hand to give. True worship adores and praises Christ Jesus for who He is, and for what He has done already!!

Let's live our lives in true worship, shining the light for Jesus. Being the "salt to the earth" (Matthew 5:13).   If seasoning has no flavor, it has no value, right?  Well, if we as Christians make no effort to affect the world around us, than we are no value to God, and the purpose He has put us here for. (Selah)

Are you ready to make a difference in the world for God, or do you want to keep looking like everyone else?

Kim

Refine Me - Jennifer Knapp

This Christian artist I have loved since I first started listening to Christian music. She now struggles with homosexuality, and is open about it.

I don’t believe she can write music like she once did, if she didn’t have a relationship with Jesus.  I fell in love with her music, and how she sings about her love, and need for her Savior. There is no doubt in my mind that she once walked very closely with God.  Look up her music for yourself and listen. Songs like: “Grace is sufficient”, “Say won’t you say”, “Undo me”, “faithful to me”, “ A little more”, and so on.  Please don’t judge her, pray for her. Nothing is too big for God to overcome by the blood of Jesus Christ.  Nothing can separate us from His love, and His desire for us to come back home.

I just love the story of the lost son, because all of us can relate to it, and have been there at one time or another, (in dire circumstances). This is a story of a lost son who finally comes to his senses, remembering his father. In his humility, he decides to return to his father and ask for forgiveness, and mercy, saying "I have sinned against heaven and against you..." (Luke 15:11-32).   To make a long story short, the father who has been watching and waiting, receives his son back with open arms. He was overjoyed at the return of his son. So please, let’s just be the Jesus we are supposed to be, and PRAY!!

People have asked me if I still listen to her music. Yes I do, because nothing can take away the time I’ve spent with God, listening to her music.

Whatever road  Jennifer chooses to be on now, will never undo the legacy of faith that marked her music.

We can all use refining, Selah.

Kim

The Truth is Who You Are - Tenth Ave. North

Another GREAT song by these boys singing live.

Jesus is not just a hope to hold onto. He's holding out His hands, offering us the bread, and the cup, He's with you in whatever you are going through, from start to finish. Question is are you allowing Him to use you?

John 12:26-27, "Whoever serves me must follow me: and where I am, my servant also will be... Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say?..."  Well, what will you say when your heart is troubled and torn apart, "Father save me from this hour?" No, because Jesus says where He is, He wants us to be.

Life would probably be easier if Jesus was just a thought in our heads, or simply something we once read. But He is real, Emanuel, God with us...  He loved us from the beginning of time, before creation, right from the start.  Jesus said,"It was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name!" (John 12:27).  It won't be easy, and you will hear many voices. But through prayer, and time spent with God, He will bind those voices, and open your eyes to feel His gracious sovereign reach, allowing you to extend it.

Many call themselves believers, or Christians, but the truth is, like the lyrics of this song says, "talk is cheap." I pray grace gives you spiritual eyes to see. (Selah) When Jesus offered the bread, and the cup, and we drank it, we chose to taste, to see, to feel, and to touch, the truth of who He is, and sometimes the situation you are in really hurts. You will have many wintry seasons in your walk with Him. You may even become totally numb to the winter of your situation, but you can be sure you will rise above, and God's spring glory will begin. Anyone who knows what you are going through, will not be able to deny that it is truly God carrying you through it. That's when God has secured all the glory to Himself.

When you read Ephesians 6:12, remember, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood... it is against the powers of the dark world..."

This quote I found in one of my daily devotionals, and I would like to share it with you, and hope it may help you see more clearly....

"Every difficult road on which you see the Master's footprints, and along which He calls you to follow Him, leads unquestionably to blessings. And they are blessings you will never receive unless you travel the steep and thorny path. Every battle you encounter, has the possibility of victory that will prove to be a rich blessing in your life."

I pray that you feel Him calm your fears, wipe all your tears, and that the scars of hurt will never become deeply rooted. 1 Peter 3:15, tells us, "in your hearts revere Christ as Lord..."  Let's be prepared to give an answer to the hope we have. I pray we NEVER compromise the truth of His written word, why He came, and why He suffered and died for us all, because the truth is Who He is! So let's not take His grace and mercy lightly.

 Jesus loved us right from the start, "While we were yet sinners..."  Now allow Him to work through you. How is He using your life to extend His grace?

"You came to take us back to the start. You came to touch the hardness of our hearts. You gave us truth, that truth is who You are."

Kim

Lamb of God (I offer me) - Nicole C Mullen

What do we give a King? What could I bring that would be worth anything to Jesus?  We can’t buy or work our way in. The price that was paid has already been done. We are worth everything to our Savior, Jesus Christ!

Do you feel your worth? I pray you do, and stop your searching. I know you’ve heard this song every Christmas.. “Oh Holy night” I want to ask you, have you experienced it yet, deep in your heart and soul? Well there is a few verses I want to point out to you, and really think about (Selah).  

Have you fallen on your knees… have you heard the angel voices… have you experienced that night so divine? Now think about this next verse… “Till He appeared, and the Soul Felt It's Worth!” That’s where it’s all at!  Jesus, and only Jesus, is your answer to all you are worth. What more could He do. He came for us, and died for us. It’s not as deep as people try to make it. Don’t you want to bring Him all of you? That is the gift He is waiting for.

So go ahead,  send up a prayer, and ask Jesus….

“Oh Lamb of God, Oh Prince of Peace, what do I have to offer thee?”

He will answer you, and you will see, the most precious gift to Jesus is your heart. I know “The Little Drummer Boy” is just a story, and a song, but you gotta love it. To me it represents that we all have nothing to bring, and we are all poor boys too. So when we go forward, like the little drummer boy to see our Savior, all we can bring is the beat of our desperate hearts… “Pa, rum, pum, pum, pum.”

Some years ago I gave all I could give to my Savior, and that was my heart. It’s all He ever wanted. Not my perfection, or thinking I could do anything to gain His love. He wanted my heart, so He could show me what it is to live not under conditions, "we have been released from the law..." (Romans 7:6).  

Under Grace freely given to all.

So wrap up all your old self in your heart, and give it to Jesus. He will free you to serve out of love and gratitude for all He’s done. This is living “in the new way of the Spirit.”

Don’t try to reach God by keeping a set of rules. Jesus came to us to make our way to God. If you spend time with Jesus every day, you can’t help but become more, and more, like Him. He will show you, and turn you away from your own performance, to put your faith in Him, and His sacrifice for us.

God’s love for us is not conditional. Until you stop living to try and get God’s approval, you are not truly living under grace, "For it is by grace you have been saved..." (Ephesians 2:8).

So take hold of Jesus and live. We really have nothing to offer Jesus, but ourselves.

“Oh come let us adore Him.” May Jesus become the music to your heart all year through.

Kim

These simple truths - Sidewalk Prophets

I’ve been wanting to write something about this song for a long time, but I never really felt inspired by God, and that is what I wait for.

Well it happened the other night at the Christmas parade.

When my first grandson, Gavin, was an infant, I use to sing the chorus to this song in his ear all the time. When he got a little older, I use to pat my heart, and tell him Jesus lived there. Well before long, at times I would ask him, “ where does Jesus live?”, and he would pat his heart. That was at about 1 ½ years old.

Now I have another new grandson, Chase. We were altogether at the Christmas parade, and the music from the floats was very loud. I was holding my new grandson, and singing the main chorus to this song in his ear that I use to sing to Gavin to calm him down. Well Chase stopped crying, and I heard my other grandson, who is now 3 1/2,  ask my daughter “ could I go see nanny?” Well when he came over to me, he looked right at me, patted his chest, and said, “Nanny who lives here?” I thought I was going to drop Chase! I was soooooooo surprised at the question, at that time with all that was going on, and I knew he didn’t hear me singing. I said to him “Jesus.” He said, “that’s right nanny.” All I could wonder, was where did that come from with all that was going on around us. Then I asked Him, “Gavin, what is Christmas about?” and he said, “Jesus,” and went back to his mom.

All I could do is thank God for all that my daughter is doing to make sure Gavin, and now Chase, are coming to church every Sunday. No one can tell me any different. I know that when Gavin was just an infant, those words of truth were taking root! And now they will in baby Chase!

Hebrews 11:1: Faith is believing everything you want for your grandchildren, speaking it into existence, and then before long, God shows you the blessing.

That’s my personal Christmas gift from God this year. A memory I will cherish forever.  He never stops giving.

Kim