Starting Monday Right

So it's been over 4 months since I last blogged for My Walk Monday! So sad because I KNOW this is a good thing for me. I was actually reminded of it by a very sweet blog friend (Angela at Free Spirit Haven) who wrote a couple comments to me recently. She said she hadn't come by in a while and it made me remember I always used to see her when she was doing My Walk Monday all the time. I miss her! I miss you all - my blog friends!

So what about my walk for the week?

Yesterday at church I was blessed to be thinking on things we can sacrifice for the Lord, or ways that we can lose our life to gain it. The first thing the Lord showed me when I was thinking was that I can sacrifice my time.... I can sacrifice rest and laziness :). Recently He has called me into starting a home business with Mary Kay. This has been filling my schedule quite a bit, along with homeschooling, homemaking and mommying 4 kids 5 and under. I love that He also used this to give me confirmation on the new busyness I have, so I know I don't need to let anything go :).

Also recently I have been reading little bits at a time out of Acts 1. As I said I was super blessed to have confirmation from the Lord, but I am also excited to know He cares to comfort us :).

Acts 1 : 10 & 11 during Christ's Ascension into heaven they gazed intently into the sky while He was going... I would imagine if I were in their shoes that this would be a sad time for me, I would not being seeing Him again. But two men in white clothing stood beside them saying, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven." - so comforting and encouraging that God would send two angels to stand with them right at this time and share this happy news with them!

How much more does He want to comfort us in other sad times, or times of need? I love Him for this!

This was a very sweet way to start my day this morning :).

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Hmmm... I would also like to share a new song I learned yesterday morning during worship...

I just loved it...

It is called "God of this City" and it's by Chris Tomlin...

Let us lose our lives, get out of ourselves and BE there for others! Let us love on the people He loves! He calls us to greater things, we only have to be willing to accept the gifts He gives. He alone gives hope, He alone gives peace, there is no one like our God!

My Soul Sings Saturday

Just something fun that made me say a good "A-MEN"! :)

Then Sings my Soul Saturday

I shared a Skillet song on Thursday and while I was looking them up I found this one that I had never heard before. It's GOOD - I bought it on iTunes right away :)

I love the part at the end that they say "sir we have a containment breach - we lost 'em - they're out in the open".

Lord, I know that is when my enemy loses me :) It's when I put things out in the light, when I use my voice to pray and get loose of those bonds that I get out in the open :). No more secrets, no more lies to keep me alone in the dark, right where my enemy wants me, turning me into a monster. You and I both know I cannot control this monster, it's strong and it's ugly. Sometimes it makes me rage from inside the cage, but that is exactly what keeps me bound.

I used to think I needed help from someone else to get me out, to help me save myself and bring an end to it, but I've been seeing lately that that is a lie from the monster! I hear it deep within', just beneath my skin telling me I can't do it alone. Telling me it's okay to be alone. I know the truth is, I am NEVER alone! Even when I give in to the monster!

I hate that I give in the my flesh, I give in to the monster. The very thing that will kill me! The thing that works with my enemy... in my sleep, enticing me, lieing to me, trying to scare me and threaten me!!! Telling me not to wake anyone up, not to get up and fight, not to pray or read Your word... "it's just a dream - go back to sleep" - NO!!! SHUT UP MONSTER!!!

You're the one in a cage. You answer to MY King! You're the one that will be torn apart. You're the one I'm calling out!!! You're the one He's breaking down. He's always here with me. He's come to save me and make it end, I know, I feel it deep within. You're hiding in the dark, your teeth are razor sharp, but I'm not afraid of you because my King is against you monster!!! He has an escape for me, there is a way for me, because He has my soul and has my heart! I'm not this monster!

Lyrics:

The secret side of me, I never let you see

I keep it caged but I can't control it

So stay away from me, the beast is ugly

I feel the rage and I just can't hold it

It's scratching on the walls, in the closet, in the halls

It comes awake and I can't control it

Hiding under the bed, in my body, in my head

Why won't somebody come and save me from this, make it end?

I feel it deep within, it's just beneath the skin

I must confess that I feel like a monster

I hate what I've become, the nightmare's just begun

I must confess that I feel like a monster

I, I feel like a monster

I, I feel like a monster

My secret side I keep hid under lock and key

I keep it caged but I can't control it

'Cause if I let him out he'll tear me up, break me down

Why won't somebody come and save me from this, make it end?

I feel it deep within, it's just beneath the skin

I must confess that I feel like a monster

I hate what I've become, the nightmare's just begun

I must confess that I feel like a monster

I feel it deep within, it's just beneath the skin

I must confess that I feel like a monster

I, I feel like a monster

I, I feel like a monster

It's hiding in the dark, it's teeth are razor sharp

There's no escape for me, it wants my soul, it wants my heart

No one can hear me scream, maybe it's just a dream

Maybe it's inside of me, stop this monster

I feel it deep within, it's just beneath the skin

I must confess that I feel like a monster

I hate what I've become, the nightmare's just begun

I must confess that I feel like a monster

I feel it deep within, it's just beneath the skin

I must confess that I feel like a monster

I've gotta lose control, he something radical

I must confess that I feel like a monster

Safe in His Arms

Yet another song God used recently to minister to me in the car.

I didn't even know this band before I heard them other day. I looked for them on Youtube, found the song I heard, then I bought it on iTunes :). It's Safe in Your Arms by Abandon.

Lord thank You that even when I feel alone and distant I really am never alone. You never leave me or forsake me, and I love You for that. I love feeling safe in Your arms. I love thatYou are my safety. I love that You use songs like this to remind me how much You love and how You will fight for me and never let me go. I know I would be lost without You. I know lately You have been carrying me, I know You have been giving me strength and mercy. I've been in a dangerous place, feeling lost in my flesh and trapped in this body of sin and death... but I also know You are my strong-tower, You are my help and my deliverer... so my future isnot dim! The path I walk I always want to walk it with You my Friend, my Love. I know I belong with You, help me to let You guide my steps, help me let You be in total control. I love You, thank You.

Here's my Heart oh Take and Seal it

I had this song on my heart this week. With the topic in my devotions and my heart struggling with the flesh, I couldn't help but find it to share :).

Someday I pray to learn this version by Jadon Lavik, I love his strum! The original hymn was composed in the 18th century by Pastor Robert Robinson :).

Lord, I need my heart tuned. Tune it to sing Thy grace Lord. To sing of Your unceasing mercy. To praise the name of Your redeeming love. The love that has blessed me and brought me to You. The love that will someday bring me safely and graciously home. Though I was once a wandering stranger running to danger You bought me with Your precious blood. Your grace amazes me. I am so constrained to be in debt to You Lord. So prone to wandering from Your love. But You've bound my heart to You Lord and You refuse to let me go. I want You to take me Lord. Take my heart and seal it, seal it to be ready for my home above.

I'm so Alive and So Amazed at You!

Another song God gave me in the car :)

'So Alive' by Brenton Brown... totally perfect lyrics for the change in my life recently! Read HERE if you are wondering what I mean.

Lyrics:
So much love, so much light I'm alive again
My first breath gazing into you
Open eyes I can see you've been calling me
This is who I was meant to be

So alive, so alive living in this love divine
So amazed, so amazed at You
Moved from dark to blazing light,
Your love took me by surprise
Now I never want to live away from you
I don't ever want to live away from you

Breathing out, breathing in
i'm revived in your love
So content so dependent on you
Just a child but I'm yours, what a mystery that you, the God of all
Would make me Your own

You changed my life, you saved my life
You put your love so deep inside
You turned things round, you set things right
I'm dancing in this love i've found and [all over intro chords]

... and here is a short cut of the song just to give you the idea of the sound... I couldn't find it anywhere else... sorry!

Thank You Lord for shining on me and showing me so much love. Thank You for the refreshing of life I feel You have breathed into me. Thank You for removing the scales from my eyes so I can see clearly, taking me from the darkness into Your blazing Light to see. Thank you for so clearing calling me out of the oppression I seemed to be bound to. Thank You that I can finally feel and see again who I was meant to be all along.

I'm so alive now Lord, so alive, now living in Your love divine! I'm so amazing at the change, so amazed that You would want me after all I have done, I love You! I never want to live away from You! I'm so content in You Lord, I ask that You would grow this contentment and never let it fade. Thank You so much for turning things around and setting them right, I am so amazed in You. Thank You - I love You!

I will walk by Faith

Lord thank You for establishing my steps (Psalm 37:23) for I am excited to follow where You lead. Again I say, Lord, thank You for ordaining and determining my steps (Proverbs 20:24 & Proverbs 16:9). I don't even begin to understand why You do things the way You do, but I do trust in You with all my heart and I acknowledge You in the path set before me and the one left behind me, and I thank You knowing that You will continue to direct me (Proverbs 3:5-6).

I fully trust in the scriptures You have given me and am waiting, excited to see them come to pass! I can't see what You're doing now, but I trust the end result because You told me You have done great and awesome things for me that I have yet to see (Deuteronomy 10:21). I trust the broken road, even along with all the hurt from the pulling, humbling and centering that has taken place. I am yielded to You Lord, thank You for being my Shield and my Protector in this time of need, thank You for using this to prepare Your will for me, for I know this is Your hand (Psalm 109:27) I trust completely that this is Your doing.

Help me to walk in victory (1 Corinthians 15:57), knowing that You wouldn't give me anything I cannot handle (1 Corinthians 10:13). I know You can do all things (Matthew 19:26), for I know You are the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). You who were able to make me NEW (2 Corinthians 5:17) out of a long used body of sin and death - You who blesses me, choses me, loves me, adopted me, is kind to me, gives me what I do not deserve, freely even! - You redeemed me, forgave me and You give to me all things (Ephesians 1) You are amazing God! And only You alone are to be praised! (Psalm 148:13) You are amazing God and I will walk trusting in You!



Lyrics:
Would I believe you when you would say
Your hand will guide my every way
Will I receive the words You say
Every moment of every day

[chorus]
Well I will walk by faith
Even when I cannot see
Well because this broken road
Prepares Your will for me

Help me to win my endless fears
You've been so faithful for all my years
With one breath You make me new
Your grace covers all I do

yeah, yeah , yeah, yeah, yeah, ya

[more chorus]

Well I'm broken- but I still see Your face
Well You've spoken- pouring Your words of grace

Well hallelujah, hallelu
Well hallelujah, hallelu

Then Sings my Soul - ZAP!

LOL - I really do LOVE this song... no joke!

It cheered me up when I had a bad day. I love that the lead singer looks plastic and his mouth moves like Shirly Temple. I love that it looks like the guitarist next to him is wearing socks. I love that the older chubby guy in the back is totally NOT excited! I love the "rock-n-roll"! I love the ZAP!!! I love the ooohh! I love J-J-J-JesUS!!!

Thank You for being my friend Jesus. Thank You for never leaving me flat. Thank You for teaching me to pray. Thank You for my Salvation. Thank You for always being there for me, even when I am trying to run from You. Thank You for changing my heart. Thank You for using ridiculous things in my life to Zap me :). Thank You for loving me now matter if I am right or wrong. Thank You for loving me even if I waste my time with this silly song :). I love You Jesus!

So Long Self :)

This is the song that I used lyrics from for journalling on my Depression layout, I LOVE this song! The part where they sing "they'll be better days", I always thought they were singing "you'd be better dead" lol - that's good too! Die self - DIE! :)

I like the part where they sing "Don't go away mad, but by all means just go away, Go Away!" :)!!!!

I love this song!!!!

Take all of me

This week's song is Fall Into You by Phil Wickham.

Lord thank You for even having me find this song anew, it was on the music on my computer but I didn't realize what I was hearing till searching it out and finding the words.

Lord, thank You so much for loving me as much as You do - I know I don't understand it to it's fullest and I know You are faithfully teaching me who I am to You.

Thank You for taking time on me Lord, for choosing me before the foundations of the earth! Thank You for planning Your Son to die for me, thank You for Your mercy! I am a rotten sinner and a fool, I don't deserve any of this! You died for me and I long so much for my ENTIRE life to be Yours in return Lord, but I suck! I'm a fool! But still a fool with You is something amazing that I think I have yet to comprehend!

Lord help me to wholeheartedly fall into You! I'm so desperate for ALL of You and I am so tired of the weakness of my flesh!!! Lord, please, I cry out - TAKE ALL OF ME! I love that You long for me, please, I offer myself, take me. I love You, I love You, I love You, I throw myself into Your arms, I love You! Good night.

Lyrics:

Oh who am I that Your merciful eyes should fall on me
A sinner a fool, who doesnt deserve You
And what am I that youd offer Your life and die for me
What can I do, Im nothing without You, Im nothing without You
Im nothing without You my love, my saving love

So I fall into You, Im desperate and weak
Crying out from my heart, take all of me

How can it be that the heart of my God would long for me
For all that You do, Jesus I love You, Ill Always Love You
Jesus I love You with all of my heart

Maker of sun and moon and stars
I throw myself into Your arms, into Your arms

Lord - take me all the way!

This is another song that God put on my heart while hearing it in the car. It took me a while to remember enough words to look up the lyrics online and actually find the song, I am so glad I did - I LOVE IT!!

It's called 'The Motions' by Matthew West.

Lord, thank You for being faithful to spur me on when I tend to voluntarily put myself in a rut. You know I don't like where I put myself! I don't care how much it's gonna hurt to get out, but I WANT OUT!

Lord, give me and humble and contrite heart, a heart that beats only for You! If I cannot live this life for You then I would rather not live it at all, this world is worthless to me. Lord please help me not to live as this world lives, consumed and distracted...

I only want to be consumed by You with nothing to distract me. I don't wanna turn back again in the future and feel like Satan successfully made me a drone as part of the masses! I am done! I am not going to live like that again, I submit to You Lord and trust that the devil is fleeing because I have and WILL resist him!!! Take me all the way Lord!

I don't wanna go through the motions, I don't wanna go one more day, without Your all consuming passion inside of me! I want to give you EVERYTHING Lord, take it ALL!

This MAKES my soul SING!!!!

The following clip is not a song, but BOY! does it make my soul SING!!! I cry every-time I see it! Even the three times I watched it to write this post.

Lord please forgive me! Forgive me for not giving you my whole heart, I want You to have it. I want You to be able to count on me when You are down here with me, yelling the encouragement in my face because I too often fail counting on my own strength. Lord please give me the Power to be driven by Your heart, not my own which is deceitfully wicked! I want my vapor on this earth to be one where I am constantly able to get past the burn, past the comparisons, past the failures!

I want this life to shine - I KNOW You have beaten sin and death! Lord I want to promise my best!!!! I WILL trust You to be the Lamp unto my feet and the light unto my path!!! I KNOW that You are telling me that I CAN DO THIS and I believe You!!! I KNOW that You will NEVER leave me or forsake me! I'm not gonna quit, even if I have nothing left Lord. I'm gonna keep driving, I'm gonna keep moving, I'll give it everything I've got! Lord I give my heart all over again tonight, take my life as a sacrifice oh Lord until I see You face to face and You can tell me that I did good, I made it with good effort. I want sooo much to be an example, but if I am walking defeated so will my children, my other family and my youth kids. I don't want to waste this life, please Lord help me not to look back, I LOVE YOU!

I urge you ladies, with tears down my face...

"Never give up - Never surrender!"

(lol - I know I'm a dork! - but I have a valid point ;0) Love you all... may you ALWAYS walk and talk with Jesus!

I'm His!

I love those non-Christian songs that you can TOTALLY apply to the Lord when you are so in LOVE with HIM!

When you feel His love so strong it melts you, but not the kind of melting that comes from temptation, falling or failing, it's the kind melting that comes through refining. When I am tempted though I always try to get back and I give it my bestest with nothing to stop me.

Lord, I know that right now it's my time to run this race to win, and learn as I go! I won't hesitate no more, it can't wait!!! I am totally Yours Lord! I am willing to change the way I think, I want to subject myself to the path YOU laid before me, Lord I want to finally SEE and be FREE, I want to look into my heart and see nothing but a reflection of Your love!!!

I want to live in unity with the body of Christ my family and learn to really LOVE as YOU loved! Lord I won't hesitate no more, it can't wait, I'm sure there's no need to complicate. My time is short, this is my fate, I'm Yours!

I've been spending way too long checkin' the wrong things in this world and bendin' over backwards to hide from You when I do, but there's no point because You know me better than I do :o). You can also give me the strength to rid my life of these things, and You can teach me to plant myself and finally GROW, You tell me "the sky is yours!". But I won't hesitate no more, it cannot wait, Lord I'm Yours and Yours alone!

I think this song is very well known - it's 'I'm Yours' by Jason Mraz. (Sorry ladies for the ear nibbling part! lol - rest assured I don't relate that with my God!)

Pour Out my Heart

I know it's not Saturday - but I just wanted to share this song, it was on my heart after writing my My Walk Monday post today...

Lord I love You - You are so wonderful! Thank You for hearing my every cry, thank You for being faithful even when I am faithless (2 Tim. 2:13). Thank You for the hope I have in You to trust You one day at a time, thank You for answering me.

Give Me Clean Hands

Give us Clean Hands by Chris Tomlin is the one that I thought was just perfect for my heart when the worship team sang it a week or so ago.

Lord I willingly bow my heart before You and welcome You to come into the secret places to do some cleaning, purify my heart oh God. Lord You know I tend to choose to do the very things I HATE and I do not want to do - please give me Your dynamite strength to turn from these things, Lord please tear down the idols in my heart. Teach me to seek after only You and not put anything before You. I love You!

God gave me Another song :o)

'Whatever You're Doing' by Sanctus Real feels like the story of my life right now. I know I have been hearing it in the car for quite a while now but the words really didn't hit me till yesterday when I was driving alone to visit with friends at a Scrapbooking crop.

Here are the words and the video is below...

It's time for healing, time to move on.

It's time to fix whats been broken too long.

Time to make right, what has been wrong.

It's time to find my way to where I belong.

There's a wave that's crashing over me,

and all I can do is surrender.

Whatever you're doing inside of me,

it feels like chaos but somehow theres peace.

And it's hard to surrender to what I can't see,

but I'm giving into something heavenly.

time for a milestone, time to begin again,

re-evaluate who I really am.

Am I doing everything to follow your will?

I'm just climbing aimlessly over these hills.

So show me what it is you want from me,

I'd give everything, I surrender to...

Whatever you're doing inside of me.

It feels like chaos but somehow theres peace.

And though it's hard to surrender to what I can't see,

I'm giving into something heavenly.

Something heavenly...

Time to face up, clean this old house.

Time to breathe in, and let everything out,

that I've wanted to say, for so many years.

Time to release some of held back tears.

Whatever you're doing inside of me,

it feels like chaos but I believe...

You're up to something bigger than me,

larger than life, something heavenly.

Whatever you're doing inside of me,

it feels like chaos but now I can see...

This is something bigger than me,

larger than life, something heavenly.

Something heavenly...

It's time to face up, clean this old house.

Time to breathe in, and let everything out.

Though My Heart is Torn...

... I'll Praise You in this Storm by Casting Crowns.

Read the lyrics as you listen... nuff said through my current time of character building.......

God is By My Side

God put this song on my heart on Sunday when I was waiting in the car with my kids for my husband to pick up Pan Dulce for church that morning. I had never noticed it before then, but it seems now the words were calling straight to my heart.

It's By Your Side by Tenth Avenue North

Thank you Lord for making Yourself known to me during probably the hardest time I have EVER known so far in my life. I know if it weren't for You my heart would have already fallen to pieces! Thank you for holding me!

God gave me a song to hold onto!

I have been singing to my lil brother in the ICU and random old school worship songs have been coming back to me. This one was a total Godsend today to encourage my heart!!!!

Sorry the video below is so short, it's the only one I could find of this song.

The song you You are Mighty by Craig Musseau:

You are mighty, You are Holy

You are awesome in Your power

You have risen, You have conquered

You have beaten the power of death

Alleluia, we will rejoice

Alleluia, we will rejoice

Then Sings my Soul

Make sure you read the words as you watch...They gave me a swift kick in the heart :o)