You Amaze Us...... Selah

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzfKhKf9Pig

 

WOW!!! Great song………..

 

 

I don’t know how You do it God, but You do…… You amaze me and bring me Your “peace that passes ALL UNDERSTANDING,” when everything around us looks like it is falling apart. ALL GLORY AND HONOR belong to You alone.

 

WOW!! Just close your eyes and let this song sooth your mind and soul from anything that may be going on in your life right now to steal your faith, hope and joy, and possibly right down to your belief in God. He is still GOD OF ALL! Anything and Everything, does not go unseen by our God.

 

Do you have God in His proper place in your life, or do you have other gods before Him? Do you even have a relationship with Him at all? Have you placed him on a shelf and take Him down only when you need Him. If you are a Christian, there is NO EXCUSE for staying lukewarm, Read Revelation 3: 16. Maybe these are some of the reasons why you don’t stand amazed. You’ve either never really had a love relationship with Jesus, or you are backsliding with excuses slowly but surely. All of us can blow our witness from time to time, not meaning to do it. But this is the very thing that should draw us to repent, and strive to be a better witness for Christ.

 

You have to admit it, this world is shaken, relationships are being shaken every day, families are falling apart, people who once had faith and believed in God no longer believe. God’s very own, gossiping and arguing with one another, causing them to make excuses not to go to God’s house and worship Him. The list can get a lot longer, but they are ALL still EXCUSES not to be in love, and amazed with the Savior Jesus Christ. We ALL will have to give an answer one day, whether you want to believe that or not, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Matthew 12:36, Roman 14:12,  .  Romans 1:28, I pray your eyes open before it’s too late, and God gives you over to your depraved way of thinking.

 

Sometimes I just cry when I listen to the news on the radio. Then prayers for my family, and this world are lifted from my heart to Almighty God. I don’t know about you, but my heart just breaks over the things I hear. Jesus truly is the only Life when death is all around us. He is our only peace when all else seems to be failing. He is our strength when weakness overcomes us.

 

I heard on the radio the other day that they are going to have atheists chaplains for our non-believing soldiers. They must not have looked up the meaning of chaplain before they put it after atheists,.. LOL!     Chaplain means:  a priest or other Christian religious leader who performs religious services for a military group (such as the army) or for a prison, hospital, etc. When I think of a soldier in great fear on the battle field, or dying on the battle field and in need of prayer, what is an atheists going to do or say to bring hope? They don’t believe anything! I sure wouldn’t want that standing over me while I take my last breath. I want to hear words of hope, and the promises I know to be truth of God’s word. I will hear someone say to me, “Kim, you’re going home.”

 

Reading devotionals, and going into the bible and reading about the life of Jesus is peace to me. This is what a relationship is, spending time with your Love. As I get older, my fear about things, even death is subsiding. I have hope.. I have faith… I BELIEVE!! Jesus did that in me. How I pray that if you once tasted, go back and taste again until it turns into a daily meal. If you never did, He still stands at the door of your heart and knocks.

 

Read Psalm 42:….. Keep your hope in God. One day you may find yourself saying, Lord, “You amaze us.”

 

 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mountain-Valley-Devotionals/508413785852066

…..mvdevotional.blogspot.com

Kim

I.. "don't deserve You"... Plumb

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnGYnDv9N8o

 

Daniel 9: 8 “To us, O Lord belongs open shame….. because we have sinned against You.”

 

The punishment that we deserve for our sins was put upon Jesus Christ. He took all our shame and blame, and nailed it to the cross.

 

Isaiah 53:5 “But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our sins, the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.” What really gets me about the sacrifice of Jesus, and just brings me to my thankful knees is that, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.

 

What Love, what Grace, what Mercy!! Who can love us greater than this? God demonstrated His own love for us in this way. Why wouldn’t we run to the cross? Yet even some of us who have, we don’t view our sin in the light as we should. We have been favored, and yet we are living ungrateful lives. There will come a time in our life where we all have to decide want we want to believe. You’re either a believer, or you’re not. There is NO INBETWEEN! You either walk in the Light, or in the dark, a friend of God, or an enemy.

 

None of us are deserving of God’s love, but He gives it to us anyway. God will never give up on us, and His arms are always opened wide. He is quick to forgive when we make mistakes and repent, turn from our sin and turn to Him. So don’t keep saying I “don’t deserve You.” That’s a lie that Satan would love for you to believe to keep you right where you’re at. God’s heart is like no other even after all that we’ve done. Let Him be the light inside you that gives you a reason to keep trying. I pray it brings us to our knees and true Salvation. A Spiritual sorrow, and not a worldly sorrow. Judas had a worldly sorrow.  Are you caught in something and just sorry because you got caught? Or did it humble you to be thankful for the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ? Judas was sorry that he got caught at being the one who betrayed Jesus for money, a selfish act. Worldly sorrow usually repeats itself, because it is selfish, no desire for change, or changing for the wrong reason because the change isn’t for God.

Peter had a true Godly sorrow. He was so sorry for his denial of Jesus that he wept bitterly. He then served Jesus all the days of his life, willing to die for Him. Godly sorrow weeps for other sinners, weeps because you broke the heart of God and therefore your heart is breaking, weeps  for the glory of God in this world,  weeps for the enemy to be defeated. Godly sorrow leads to a changed life, not one that repeats the same wrongs over and over again.

 

If we would see sin as God sees it, we would run towards Jesus, or back to Jesus as fast as we can and not look back. You’re free for a new beginning, and your world can start all over again.

 

Admire the grace that saves you, the mercy that spares you, the love that pardons you.

May Jesus be the first face we see, the first thing we think about, and the love we can’t live without.

 

 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mountain-Valley-Devotionals/508413785852066

…..mvdevotional.blogspot.com

Kim

Changed.... Rascal Flats

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSozMCn9fFA

 

Dedicated to my husband’s new life in Christ. I praise God for all that only He could have done in our lives. I thank everyone for your unending faithful prayers. We both know that the battle is never over living in a world that is falling. But we have gone this far, now we will run to the finish line!

 

Don’t be fooled by Satan if at times he whispers in your ear, “you’re not really changed. You know you still have those thoughts. You know you want to, so go ahead, one more time. You know all you have to do is say you’re sorry again.”

 

I hate Satan and all his whispered lies. It also makes me made that some people can talk and think they walk a perfect road, or one that they didn’t make as many mistakes, or they didn’t do anything that bad. We are ALL sinners, and we ALL FALL short of the glory of God, Romans 3: 23-24. So stop pointing fingers. Judge and be judged, Matthew 7: 1-3. At least some people are humbled enough and want to be “changed” by the power of God alone.

 

Use God’s written word against him and his voice will become faint. He will never leave us alone because we live in his fallen world, and it is falling fast! God didn’t say to us, “I’ll die for you when you deserve it.” He said, no , despite your sin, and in the face of your rebellion, My Son will still die for you, Romans 5: 8.

 

Mercy was given to us all. Jesus shows us only His patience is WITHOUT limit. 1 Timothy 2:15 “Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription “The Lord knows those who are His”…. So if you are truly changed, your heart’s desire, and the fight in this life will be to “turn away from wickedness.”

 

You may question yourself, but don’t question God’s written word. When you make the decision personally, to change from your old life to a new life in Christ. That’s when you truly came to believe in your heart and not just your head, the gospel of Jesus Christ. Then you are sealed by the Spirit of God. It’s not a question, it’s a fact!

 

Matthew 16:23, People will talk about you, even Jesus had to say to Peter “Get behind me Satan.” Don’t allow Satan and all the people he uses,  to steal one precious moment of your peace with God. They will all have to answer to God for judging. Our sinful past no longer exists for those of us who are in Jesus Christ. So tell the enemy to back off. Refuse to look back and move fearlessly forward with our God.

 

 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mountain-Valley-Devotionals/508413785852066

…..mvdevotional.blogspot.com

Kim

Let it Go.... From Frozen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0MK7qz13bU

 

For some time now people have been telling me to “let it go,” in any situation I feel I want to try and fix now. So I sing LET IT GO a lot, and I am learning to do just that!!

 

Lord we so often want to fix things NOW! Forgetting that You work things out perfectly in Your time. Let Your patience, and goodness, and Power shine through us so we can bless others and not get in Your way.

 

Thank you Jesus, for the gift You gave to those of us who receive it. Acts 1: 8 “But you will receive POWER when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses”…. We are the vessels of this power within.

 

Psalm 68: 28 “Summon Your power Oh God, show us Your strength.”

 

As you grow in a closer relationship with God, even though you don’t see Him, you feel His presence all around you. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. If we are to overcome Satan and have the peace and power of God, it must be by looking to Jesus. Let go of everything else and follow hard after Him. He will never fail you. It is impossible to be still and feel His power over anything, unless Jesus becomes our everything. So let things go and trust Him.

 

As a child I remember my parents always having my best interest in mind. I may have fought and kicked and screamed thinking I knew better. But in the end, if I took my way it would have been disastrous. To this day I still call my parents from time to time to ask their opinion on things. There are times in my life I see that my emotions of whatever I am going through is causing me not to think clearly. I hate being in this state of mind, but Satan loves it, and wants me to react right then and there. Experience is teaching me, let it go and pray. Trust number one God, surrendering everything totally to Him. Also trust those He’s placed in my life to give me Godly advice. Realizing that trials will always happen throughout our lives to break us of self, and to trust and rely on God.

 

If you are anything like me,  you may find yourself wanting to fix things, stop exhausting yourself! You can’t do anything to change anyone or anything, so let God change you. God truly has your best interest in mind.  He is so amazing! I know this may sound crazy, but the best part of being still in the valley of life, is knowing God more. The more valleys you go through, the more you see that God never leaves you there. But there is a condition to this truth. He wants to be our everything.

 

I have learned in my relationship with God that being still requires great strength when I want to react. But by the power of the Holy Spirit I’m learning to be still, and “Let it Go” into Gods hands. I find that even though things all around me haven’t changed, the peace that can only come from God is there. This helps me not to interfere with anything God is doing.

 

 

He doesn’t want a part of us, He wants all of us so He can FILL US with His POWER!

 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mountain-Valley-Devotionals/508413785852066

…..mvdevotional.blogspot.com

Kim

 

 

I wanna be where You are....Michael Jackson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFL_gYXE6Rk

I don't really know what's going on, but God is bringing me back to some oldies and I love how He is speaking to me through them.

I was talking to God on my way to work, and I said to Him just as I was pulling in the parking lot, God... "I just always want to be where you are, everywhere." Well guess what happened from there? I sang this Michael Jackson song all the way to my office, and it didn't stop there. I then pulled up the video. My friends at work said to me, "really Kim." They are so used to seeing me pull up Christian music. So I shared with them how God has such a sense of humor, and yes, He wants me to use this song.

1 Corinthians 3:9 "For we are co-workers in God's service, you are God's field, God's building"

I know that if you listen to this song, you may not see what I'm talking about, so let me give you a glimpse into what I hear by breaking the lyrics down into the conversation...... Anyway, it is still a good song, so just have fun watching little Michael Jackson.

Me-- "Can it be I stayed away too long?" ...... God--"Did I leave your mind when I was gone?" (God really never leaves, we do)..... Me (and pride)-- "It's not my thing trying to get back, but this time let me tell You where I'm at. You don't have to worry (God really doesn't worry) cause I'm coming back to where I always should have stayed. And now I know the meaning of Your story, and It's enough love for me to stay"......" God-- "Please don't close the door to our future. There's so many things we haven't tried." ...... Me-- "I'm gonna love You better than I used to, and give You ALL the love I have inside."

Here's what I couldn't stop singing, and even downloaded it on my I pod when I got home..... "I wanna be where You are, anywhere you are.... I wanna be where You are, everywhere You are."

Hope you have fun with this song and video, and I hope you can see it on the Spiritual side like I do.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mountain-Valley-Devotionals/508413785852066
.....mvdevotional.blogspot.com
Kim

The Greatest Story....Avalon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJSVmvZTnBw

Beautiful lyrics!!!! I can testify to how true they are.   If you will allow God to use you, your life in Christ can be the “Greatest story ever told.”

 

I love talking with people. Every conversation usually gives me a little something to write about. God will replay conversations in my mind, then scripture will come, then a song will come, then a writing.

 

Everyone has some kind of problems in their marriages. Some more than others, some worse than others. I have had my share too! People have told me that I look like a fool to put up with some things I have put up with in my marriage. Well Jesus put up with me living my way for a LONG TIME. Then He even died for me! Do you consider Him a fool? I don’t,  I consider Him my Savior. I will continue to be a fool for Christ, and forgive as many times as He tells me to. Matthew 18: 21-22, This verse tells me to be prepared to forgive MANY times,  and as long as the person is truly repentant. How can anyone judge a person’s apology. Only God knows the heart, but He will give you a glimpse into the truth of the apology. We don’t break a person, God does, and this is done in His timing. Ephesians 4: 22-24, “Created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” by chipping away of the old nature, until the new nature begins to bloom. At the same time He is breaking your loved one, He is also doing a GREAT work in you!! How would you even learn how to love your enemy, forgive anyone, show the love and grace and mercy of God, if you don’t go through HARD TIMES. This is the only way to even begin to show people the Jesus in you.

 

Some people say I look at my life through ROSE COLORED GLASSES. I tell them, I don’t look at life through MY EYES at all anymore. I’ve learned to walk by faith, “not by sight,” 2 Corinthians 5:7. The Lord will only build a bridge of faith directly under the feet of a faithful traveler. I pray my God looks at me that way and smiles. We can’t measure worth by human standards, that’s always a lie. You have to see through heavens eyes. And when I look at things that way, all I see is the blood that was spilled for me. The forgiveness and mercy, that Jesus endlessly offers to me. So I choose to be taught, and used by my Master, the Lord of my life!

I see my perfect place in the Master’s hand, and I am honored to be a part of His plan, no matter how long it takes. That’s the love, that’s the grace, flowing from God through you to your spouse, who yes, may mess up MANY times. But like the scripture says in 1 Corinthians 7:13, If you are a believer, and you spouse is WILLING to stay, you “must not divorce.” If they want to leave, “let him do so.” I listen to God’s word, not what the many voices are saying. I also desperately prayed to God for direction and wisdom on this. I strongly urge you to do the same.

 

In my personal situation, I believe God was telling me to stay. He has done a mighty work in both me, and my husband. I never had a personal relationship with Jesus until the going got tough. That’s when I cried out and surrendered my life, and everything in His hands. I thank God that He chose this road for me to be drawn to Jesus, and to my knees. My heart is now one with His. I can tell you that my prayer life has changed tremendously! I can tell you by experience, if you and your spouse are not seeking “first His kingdom”…. You are both in for a long hard road!!  That’s just the way it is because God is true to His word, Mark 3:25, “If a  house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” Another truth is, Ecclesiastes 4:12, “A cord of three strands is not easily broken.” So if you are the believer in the relationship, GET READY to rest in your Saviors arms. Or you can exhaust yourself trying to make things better your way. I’ve been there, and it doesn’t work. God has to come first. Holiness before happiness, His “kingdom first.”

 

I always pray that my story can help someone not to be quick to run away from the hurt, but be quick to run to God for direction. I can’t stress enough to seek Godly counsel. If your spouse won’t, then you go. That is where you will hear the truth. Why would you want to hear any other advice than the truth that comes from the Creators manual.

 

Yes, the road can be VERY hard and tiring. But one day you and I will receive a joyful and heavenly welcome home. I can’t wait to hear one day “well done my good and faithful servant.”

 

31 years of marriage, and only 18 years of them I have had a personal relationship with Jesus. I am so excited to say my husband now walks the same road with me, and is getting baptized this Sunday!

 

ALL GLORY TO GOD!!!!

 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mountain-Valley-Devotionals/508413785852066

…..mvdevotional.blogspot.com

Kim