Mighty God.. Elevation Worship

 https://youtu.be/_fySa7YmnxM

Matthew 14: 24-36

"The wind is watching every gesture of Your hand. Waves of fear collapse at Your command."

 I love this whole chapter. You see so much of Christ's character. Even when he was in deep sorrow of John the Baptist being beheaded, he still went out and healed people, and fed thousands.  Jesus never let anything stop Him from doing the ministry He came to do.  Jesus is loving, caring, and feeling person. When we are suffering, we need to remember that Jesus hurts with us. 

 Verse 30, Peter started to sink because he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the high waves around him. If we focus on the difficult circumstances around us without looking to Jesus for help, we will despair and sink too. Verses 30-31,  At least when Peter's faith was failing he reached out to Christ, the only one who could help him. We are going to be afraid of certain things that are allowed to enter our life.  We live in a falling, sinful world. But we can't let that fear make us lose sight of Jesus Christ, and that no matter what, we are in a win, win relationship. Our eternity is secure in Christ. 

Verses 34-36,  In these verses, the people recognized Jesus as a great healer, but how many understood who he truly was? They came to Jesus for physical healing. They came to prolong their lives on Earth, but they did not come to secure their eternal lives. We miss the whole message of Jesus if we seek him only to heal our bodies but not our souls. 

 When the pressures of this life rush in, and they will, Christ will always be there for us.  But there is so much more than looking to Jesus for help here. There is an eternal plan for us all. 

For Your glory Lord 

Kim D

Parable of the 4 soils...

 https://youtu.be/kz9wzxVLDks

Matthew 13: 10-30

God is truly building His kingdom. I believe there is a separating that is happening now. Are we listening?  Are we still hungering for more and more of God no matter what?

 Are you are a follower of Christ who hungers for the truth even when you can't make sense of things. Even when the going gets tough? Or do you just follow when everything is smooth?

 These 4 different types of soil that Jesus spoke about in these scriptures, is the different responses of people to God's message. When the going gets tough,  will we remain faithful? Is the evil one snatching away what was sown in your heart? 

Some hearts are hardened, some are shallow, some are distracted by worries, and some are receptive. 

I love verse 13 when Jesus says:  This is why I speak to them in parables:  Though seeing, they do not see, though hearing, they do not hear or understand".....

 The way things are going today, I have to scratch my head and wonder, "what the heck are people thinking. Don't they see what's happening? So much evil and after control." 

These scriptures explain it so well. There are the weeds, which is the unbelievers. Then there is the wheat, which is the true believers. Verses 24-30,  God allows unbelievers to remain for a while. All of us growing together. Just like a farmer allows weeds to remain in his field, so that the surrounding wheat isn't uprooted with them.  Weeds and the young blades of wheat look the same and can't be distinguished until they are grown and ready for harvest

 We will live in this world with unbelievers for a while, and those who say they believe. Only God sees through to the heart. God's harvest of all people is coming. We should be making ourselves ready, by making sure that our faith in Jesus Christ is sincere. 

For Your glory Lord 

Kim D

Hallelujah here below.. Stephany and Elevation Worship worship

 https://youtu.be/M7MR77AVBOs

"We are an alter of broken stones, but You delight in our offering."

Matthew 5: 16..."Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." 

 I love how Jesus says, "your Father".  Talking to believers. To glorify, means to make a big deal over. A lot of christians live a life as a believer silently. To embarrassed, or concerned you might offend someone. Yet the rest of the world continues to offend us. Continuing to speak very clear what they feel, or what is pushed in our face today. 

 I love people. I will continue to love ALL people. But I will never hold back the truth. When someone does something that is offensive to me, or in front of a child, I will speak up. Or if someone asks how I feel about something. It's up to that person who asked me the question if they want to continue to be my friend. A true friend tells the truth in love. Or if I see a brother or sister in Christ going in the wrong direction. I will speak up. I would hope that a brother or sister in Christ would do the same for me. That's love. Not judging. 

 Our life should be evident of the change that Jesus Christ made in our life. You can't do the things you used to do, or talk the way you used to. You're still the same person, it's just that you're sensitive to the things that hurt Jesus.

Matthew 10:33 , " But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven"......I can't keep silent. Since the day I surrendered the old me to be changed, it's not even possible to keep silent of the life that lives within me. It's too good.

 My Hallelujah here below is my greatest offering, and not just in the church building.  Are you willing to praise him outside of the church building?  We should be in public the way we are in church. It should not be a secret. Speak up, live out loud the way the rest of the world is. We should make a bigger impact than they are. We should be the salt and the light of the world. We should be known by the change in us and the impact it's made in our life. Then go out and impact this world.

For Your glory Lord 

Kim D

All i want.... Red Rock worship

 https://youtu.be/qjJ24n4KL20

"Oh Lord, steal away my selfish gain, and lead me to Your perfect ways. Keep my heart fixed upon bringing glory only to Your Name. My joy is in Your truth.  I desire more of You in my life because nothing else satisfies. Nothing else last."

 How many things have you tried to be satisfied in your life? We all try so many things to fill an empty void. I can certainly testify to this. Been there, done it.  I thank God for His mercy. Some people go their whole lifetime without realizing that this void can only be filled by Jesus Christ. You can have all the money in the world. Go on all the vacations that you have on your checklist. Drive a fancy car, and live in a mansion. You can still come up empty. 

 The chaos in our world, the chaos that may be in your life, may be the very thing that God is using to bring you to a deeper relationship with him. 

That's what a disciple is. Someone who is kingdom minded and after the things that satisfy God's heart. The things that break his heart, should be the very things that break ours. But if you choose to just stay on the surface, and not go deeper, your eyes won't be open to kingdom things. To have your spiritual eyes be open, and some of your questions be answered, the Bible tells us in Matthew 5: 1, "Blessed are the poor in spirit for they shall see the kingdom."  This whole sermon was given to the disciples to take them to the next level. Just like God desires to do with those of us who say we believe. He desires to show us the secret things. I like to call them nuggets. 

Verse 6, " Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."  Being hungry to please God comes with such a beautiful promise. You won't have to search after other other things, or substances to fill the emptiness. Because you will be satisfied. He will fill you. 

For Your glory Lord 

Kim D

Frontiers... Vertical Worship

 https://youtu.be/wYpnWx9gnZs

  

I know it's 20 years later of 911, but this year, for some reason hit me harder.

I believe it's because the unity we had for such a short while after this horrible tragedy,  is gone again. Things just keep getting worse. Also watching the constant horror of that day on TV all day, and if you weren't watching TV, it was all over Facebook. I know I won't ever forget that day.  None of us will. 

"What is it going to take for people to come together? Why aren't things changing? What's wrong with this world God?" Then He speaks to my fears and anxieties.  I always want to hear His voice and truth above my questioning. 

He always brings me to His truth again when I start to question, and talk to Him honestly about all my thoughts that start to bring me down. 

Reading Matthew 12:28, Jesus promises rest for our souls if we come to Him. See things through His eyes and not my own. Or how I think things should be. That only keeps me in a down feeling. 

But when I come to the end of myself, and my way of thinking, I begin to see clearer. I start looking out beyond this great unknown, though I can't see it. There will be a day I'll see my true home. Until then, I have to face the reality of the Bible. Things will get worse. People don't like to hear that. But it's truth. 

Matthew 24:6-14.    Wars and rumors of wars. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, there will be famines and earthquakes in various places....We see this truth happening in Afghanistan. We see  suffering in Haiti. There are tragedies all over the world. Everything is happening more frequent, and the Bible tells us that will happen. 

The Bible also tells me that His grace is sufficient, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.  There will be many things in this life that will feel like a thorn in the side. Our hearts will ache. Things that will torment us. But I know that Christ's power rests on me. I hold tightly to this truth.  I hope you do too. God is faithful, and one day He is returning. 

Until then,  2 Timothy 2: 1-3, "be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.... Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus."

For Your glory Lord 

Kim D

Hope has a Name... River Valley Worship

 https://youtu.be/ezowVsEa9ac

Being a Christian is not just sitting back and being glad someone told you about Jesus. Ok, so now your saved, and will one day be eternally home. No, it's getting involved while the "harvest is plentiful." Building His kingdom right here. Let people know there is hope for the future despite all the things we are seeing.

I believe God is looking for those of us who say that we believe. Are we just sitting back, or are we doing what He asked us in, Matthew 9: 37-38.  Many people are ready to know this hope that we have. They are looking for answers. Jesus commands us to pray that people will respond to this need for workers.

I have never seen more people discouraged since 2020 rolled in. Me being one of them. But instead of focusing on all that is happening world wide, I focus on people in need of prayer and hope. 

2 Corinthians 5: 15-20....  "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us"....  This is what God's word tells us. We should not take it lightly being an ambassador for Him.  We are sent with a message of hope for anyone that the Lord leads us to. At your job, in a grocery store, in the gym, anywhere.  Pray for boldness.  Pray for opportunities.  Pray for the Holy Spirit to give you the words to speak. Trust me, he will.

"Hope has a name. His name is Jesus. On mountains high,  and valleys low. My soul will rest, my confidence in You alone." 

For Your glory 

Kim D

Over my head.... Jenn Johnson

 https://youtu.be/6mAvt3CxEQM

There are mornings I wake up to get in my prayer room to be in the presence of God, and anxiety can still creep in. Or maybe it's just my heart hurts for the people and situations I've been praying for. Seeing people in complete disaster and loss from storms and fires. So many lives lost from this virus and other sickness. But whatever the feeling is, it drives me to focus on God. To pray more, and knowing God is still in complete control. Nothing is taking Him by surprise. 

I know the enemy hates my time in prayer for my family and friends. So I will not give up sitting there,  seeking God, until that feeling subsides. And it always does! There has been alot of painful prayer requests this past 2 years. Alot of painful things happening all over the world. Storms, floods, fires, deaths. It's just been so constant, and the Bible talks about these things in Matthew 24:7-8.. Luke 21:10-11.

The book of Matthew chapter 6: 25-34, are great verses to meditate on for worry. But verse 33 seems to be a key verse to worry.  " But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."  So to seek God's kingdom and his righteousness, means to turn to God first for help. To fill our thoughts with his desires. To serve and obey him in everything. Our world is seeing the affects of not doing this. 

In these past 2 years, I have been learning to deepen my relationship with Christ. Focus on His word, and rejoice in each day He gives me.  I love to talk to people about Him wherever I go. There is always opportunity, and you never know who God has listening in. Someone you may bless without even knowing it.

Things may feel like they are crashing in all around you. But you may be right where God wants you to be? Drawing you to a deeper love relationship, and understanding  of His character. 

So like the verses of this song,  " Whether I sink, or whether I swim, it makes no difference when, I'm beautifully in over my head."

For Your glory Lord 

Kim D

Song of Jabez .... According to John

 https://youtu.be/T4jc8PNImVY

1 Chronicles 4:9-10

The closer I get in a love relationship with my God, the more I realize that the greatest blessing is to know He desires to use me. To be a part of His plan and furthering His kingdom. 

That was the joy that Jesus had. Not at all to be confused with happiness. He stayed focused on His Father's will, and why He came. Luke 22:44, "not my will, but Yours." Sometimes those words are very hard to be obedient to. But oh what a blessing. What greater blessing could there be than to grow in a deeper love relationship with Jesus. 

The problem with so many of us, is we get caught up on focusing on the things that are causing us so much trouble,  or heartache. If we could only look beyond what we see.  Because God always has a plan and purpose for what the enemy is using to distract us from a blessing.  The more we focus on ourselves, or the things around us, the more distracted we become from the path God desires us to follow. Colossians 3: 1-2. Set are minds on things above. Victory is there. 

 Maybe you're in a really hard marriage. I hope I can encourage you. Some of us leave marriages because we say, "I'm just not happy, and I deserve to be happy."    There is definitely times where marriages do end up in divorce for biblical reasons. But not just because your not happy anymore, and if your spouse is willing to stay, 1 Corinthians 7:12-14. I was blessed to see my husband come into a love relationship with Jesus. Forgiven and set free from addictions. The comfort I have now knowing he is eternally home. 

Matthew 16: 24-25.. Your cross may be heavy, but there is a blessing.  Psalm 40:8,  Delight to do his will. Allow Jesus to show you the difference of happiness and joy.   Joy is perfect understanding of God, and oneness with Him that Jesus enjoyed. 

Don't give into the, "whys" or, "I deserve better", "It's just not fair" ... It will only choke out the truth, Mark 4:19.

 Colossians 3:3, Learn what it is to be safe with Jesus as you carry your cross. Let Him expand your horizons beyond what you see. He will keep His hand upon you,  and keep you from evil, according to His will.

For Your glory Lord 

Kim D