Jesus, Bring the Rain

I remember the Praise Band singing this the first week of school,
but I just heard it again today, and it hit me in a completely different way...

Bring the Rain

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that
I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You

Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to Praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

I am yours regardless of the clouds
that may loom above because
You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
suffering Your destiny
So tell me whats a little rain?

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Now playing: MercyMe - Bring the Rain

None But Jesus

Have you ever gone to church and thought that the Praise Band
has been shadowing your life? They sang this song tonight,
and that's how I felt, so I thought I would share it.

None But Jesus

Hillsong



In the quiet

In the stillness

I know that You are God

In the secret of Your presence

I know there I am restored

When You call I won't refuse

Each new day again I'll choose

There is no one else for me

None but Jesus

Crucified to set me free

Now I live to bring Him praise

In the chaos in confusion

I know You're sovereign still

In the moment of my weakness

You give me grace to do Your will

When You call I won't delay

This my song through all my days

All my delight is in You Lord

All of my hope

All of my strength

All my delight is in You Lord

Forever more

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Now playing: Hillsong - None But Jesus

Brokenness

I have learned over the past month that God sometimes needs to bring you to your worst, on your face before Him, before He can start to put the pieces back together and get you back on your feet. We don't always understand why stuff happens, and there are times where no one can see the "good" that could possibly come out of a situation.
Over the past month, our leadership team has been studying Brokenness, as I watch my family crumble.
My devotion on February 6th was, "Are You Ready To Be Poured Out As an Offering?"

Are you ready to be poured out as an offering? It is an act of your will, not your emotions. Tell God you are ready to be offered as a sacrifice for Him. Then accept the consequences as they come, without any complaints, in spite of what God may send your way. God sends you through a crisis in private, where no other person can help you. From the outside, your life may appear to be the same, but the difference is taking place in your will. Once you have experienced the crisis in your will, you will take no thought of the cost when it begins to affect you externally. If you don't deal with God on the level of your will first, the result will be only to arouse sympathy for yourself. "Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horn of the altar" (Psalm 11:27). You must be willing to be placed on the altar and go through the fire; willing to experience what the altar represents--burning, purifications, and separation for only one purpose--elimination of every desire and affection not grounded in or directed toward God. But you don 't eliminate it, God does. You "bind the sacrifice...to the horns of the altar" and see to it that you don't wallow in self-pity once the fire begins. After you have gone through the fire, there will be nothing that will be able to trouble or depress you. When another crisis arises, you will realize that things cannot touch you as they used to do. What fire lies ahead in you life?
Tell God you are ready to be poured out as an offering, and God will prove Himself to be all you ever dreamed He would be.
My Utmost for His Highest
Oswald Chambers

We all know that nothing takes God by surprise, and He knows what is best, and everything will work out according to His purpose, but it takes a while to get it. Grief lasts a long time. The pain lasts longer. But, it is the surrender to God's will that begins the healing process--when you are on your face, giving every tear to Him.

"The appropriate response to suffering is worship, and worship is the first act of faith."
~Johnnie Moore, Campus Church--Job, January 27, 2008

Only You

David Crowder

Take my heart, I Lay it down

At the feet of you whose crowned

Take my life, I’m letting go

I lift it upto You who’s throned

And I will worship You, Lord

Only You, Lord

And I will bow down before You

Only You Lord

Take my fret, take my fear

All I have, I’m leaving here

Be all my hopes, be all my dreams

Be all my delights, be my everything

And It’s just you and me here now

Only you and me here now

You should see the view

When it’s only You

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Now playing: David Crowder - Only You

Homesick

I know I've been posting a lot of songs the last few days, but for those of you who know me, you know that music is my second heartbeat. Music is how I express thoughts, feelings, fears, so if you want to get inside my head, you might as well browse my iTunes... Today was tough. Not only was yesterday Hannah's funeral, but today is 5 years since Grandaddy Peters died. So, I'm more Homesick now than ever.

You're in a better place,
I've heard a thousand times
And at least a thousand times
I've rejoiced for you
But the reason why I'm broken,
the reason why I cry
Is how long must I wait to be with you

I close my eyes and I see your face
If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
I've never been more homesick than now

Help me Lord cause I don't understand your ways
The reason why I wonder if I'll ever know
But, even if you showed me, the hurt would be the same
Cause I'm still here so far away from home

I close my eyes and I see your face
If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
I've never been more homesick than now

In Christ, there are no goodbyes
And in Christ, there is no end
So I'll hold onto Jesus with all that I have
To see you again
To see you again

And I close my eyes and I see your face
If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
Won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
Won't you give me strength to make it through somehow

I've never been more homesick than now

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Now playing: MercyMe - Homesick

Dancing With the Angels

Memories surround me
But sadness has found me
I’d do anything for more time
Never before has someone meant more
And I can’t get you out of my mind

There is so much that I don’t understand
But I know…

You’re dancing with the angels
Walking in new life
You’re dancing with the angels
Heaven fills your eyes
Now that you’re dancing with the angels

You had love for your family
Love for all people
Love for the Father, and Son
Your heart will be heard
In your unspoken words
Through generations to come

There is so much that I don’t understand
But I know

You’re dancing with the angels
Walking in new life
You’re dancing with the angels
Heaven fills your eyes
Now that you’re dancing with the angels

We’re only here for such a short time
So I’m gonna’ stand up, shout out,
And sing Hallelujah
One day I’ll see you again

You’re dancing with the angels
Walking in new life
You’re dancing with the angels
Heaven fills your eyes
Now that you’re dancing with the angels

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Now playing: Monk & Neagle - Dancing With the Angels

Praise You in This Storm

I was sure by now
God, You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with You"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with You"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

Though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

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Now playing: Casting Crowns - Praise You In This Storm

Elbow Room

The past 16 days have been the most unexpected of my life. No one assumes a child will be born prematurely. Watching God work these past two weeks and my dorm and my friends come together to pray for someone they may never meet has been incredible. Yesterday, I opened my devotional to January 25th and starting reading. I decided to post it here so I can share it with those who need it.

Leave Room for God

As servants of God, we must learn to make room for Him--to give God "elbow room." We plan and figure and predict that this or that will happen, but we forget to make room for God to come in as He choses. Would we be surprised if God came into our meeting or into our preaching in a way we had never expected to come? Do not look for God to come in a particular way, but do look for Him. The way to make room for Him is to expect Him to come, but not in a certain way. No matter how well we may know God, the great lesson to learn is that He may break in at any minute. We tend to overlook this element of surprise, yet God never works in any other way. Suddenly--God meets our life--"...when it pleased God..." (Gal. 1:15)
Keep your life so constantly in touch with God that His surprising power can break through at any point. Live in a constant state of expectancy, and leave room for God to come in as He decides.

Hannah Banana

www.caringbridge.org/visit/hannahlucas
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All I’ve got, all I am, all MY dreams, and all MY plans

I’m holding back, I’m holding NOTHING back from You.

I surrender it ALL, I lay it before You,

For all of my days, I’ll give You the glory,

You caused me to see, My heart is divided,

Lord, take all of me, ‘cause I have decided.

All I’ve got, all I am, all MY dreams, and all MY plans

I’m holding back, I’m holding NOTHING back from You.

Whatever it takes, I trust You completely

I’m here in Your hands, If You need to break me.

All I’ve got, all I am, all MY dreams, and all MY plans

I’m holding back, I’m holding NOTHING back from You.

I surrender it ALL, I lay it before You,

For all of my days, I’ll give You the glory,

You caused me to see, My heart is divided,

Lord, take all of me, ‘cause I have decided.

All I’ve got, all I am, all MY dreams, and all MY plans

I’m holding back, I’m holding NOTHING back from You.

841 Days and Counting...

841 days ago, I sat in the van, luggage packed, ready to go to college. We went to church, I said goodbye to my youth group and the only way of life I had known for 18 years...I knew I was going to visit, but I knew nothing would ever be the same again...We grabbed lunch at Burger King, and then got on 460E. It was quite possibly the longest drive from Roanoke to Lynchburg ever...I had been e-mailing some of my quad mates since June, and I had known my roommate for several
years, so I wasn't worried about being alone...I was anxious...anxious to be a college student...anxious to be completely responsible for myself...what I ate...when I went to bed...what I did with my time...I was leaving the nest. I was really excited, and I told no one how scared I was. 841 days ago, I had NO idea what I had gotten myself into. I'm not talking about Liberty and it's rules...I knew the rules...it's why I wanted to come here...I'm talking about my ENTIRE life changing before my eyes...Jenn and I thought we would be each other's friend...we didn't know anyone, and neither of us are social butterflies...But, by the second day, we were eating lunch at different tables...I met this girl from Iowa and another girl from Oregon...a few days later, this girl from Texas popped her head in and said, "Hi, I'm Kim." Who knew that I would meet the three people I couldn't imagine (now) not knowing... God puts people in your life who need to be there...they have a purpose...and sometimes, that purpose is to make your side hurt from laughing all night long... Sometimes, they are there to encourage you...be a shoulder to cry on...arms to hug...an ear to listen... Sometimes, they are there to *gently* bring you back to earth when your head is in the clouds...or if there are fireworks in your meadow... Sometimes, God removes that person from your immediate life, and none of you understand why...but soon, you realize that absence really does make the heart grow fonder, and you anticipate that person being with you again... Growth is hard...that's why they're called "growing pains." But, growth must occur...if there was no growth, we would never reach our full potential...we would never move from milk to steak...we would never be able to receive all the blessings God has for us...