Hillsong: with all I am

My heart longs for Jesus. I can't explain it, but He has touched my heart in a way that has forever changed me. I long to be near Him, to be able to see Him face to face, to hug and hold Him. He is everything to me. He is my Savior, Healer, Redeemer, Sustainer, Lord, King and Friend. But, there are moments when I fail terribly at being His disciple, servant and friend. This song helps me in those moments to reorient my heart towards Jesus, the one I love. This song reminds me of His gentle love that beckons me into His arms of compassion and mercy. "Jesus, I am so thankful that I belong to You. There truly is no one else I would rather spend eternity with than with You."

Enter the Worship Circle: I Could Run Away (performed by Josh Kuipers)

This song has been a lifeline to me this past week. I've really needed the reminder that Jesus will always be "right by my side" no matter what. That there's nothing that can separate us. I am in Him and He is in me, forever. Even when I sin, He is still near me because His blood covers my sins (past, present and future). Sure, I still need to confess my sins in reverence and honor to Him as the Holy Spirit continually purifies me of unrighteousness. But, because I am in Christ, there is nothing that can separate me from Him or the Father's love. Thank you Holy Spirit for the reminder this week that Jesus will always be with me, every step of the way!"

I could run away

You would always stay
Right by my side

Everything I've ever wanted
I've found in you

Oh I need you
Every step of the way

 

Leona Lewis: bleeding love

I imagine when most people hear this song they are reminded of someone they are deeply in love with and I get that, I do. This song describes a deeply passionate love that cannot be ignored nor restrained. It speaks of a wild love that doesn't make sense at times, a love that challenges a person at the very core of their being. That's what Jesus' love does to me. He makes me want to love deeper and more passionately. In many ways, He has "cut me open" in order to teach me to love like He does. Over the last 10 years, I have literally felt like my heart's been bleeding out where "I keep bleeding, keep, keep bleeding in love."

Before Jesus entered my life I thought I knew what it meant to love. But, as He has shown me His unconditional love, I've come realize that I have much to learn about loving others. When I first felt the love of God, it was like nothing I ever felt in my life: "But something happened for the very first time with You. My heart melted to the ground, found something true." There were so many people in my life who tried their best to pull me from my new found love. "And everyone's looking 'round, thinking I'm going crazy." But, I knew deep in my heart that what I was experiencing was real. "But I don't care what they say, I'm in love with You. They try to pull me away but they don't know the truth."

The craziest thing is that we can know and experience God. Everywhere I go, I am encountered by the love of God. I see the face of Jesus in so many people I meet and He "cuts me open" with unconditional love. "And in this world of loneliness I see Your face, yet everyone around me thinks that I'm going crazy." Sure, it's been a hard road at times to be continually stretched to love deeper and at times painful when I've felt the sting of rejection from others. It's been in these moments that I've tried to close off my heart from loving others which has in many ways shrunk and crippled my heart. "My heart's crippled by the vein that I keep on closing" because of the pain.

But, I'm so grateful that Jesus has never stopped cultivating in me a "Love that never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance" (1 Corinthians 13:7 NLT). That He continually cuts me open so that His love can bleed out of me and onto a broken, lost and hurting world. Is Jesus calling you to love with greater passion? Ask Him to cultivate in you a greater capacity to love like Him no matter what the cost. Trust me, it's worth it because we were created by God out of love, for love and to love.

Effective Stewardship

Are you concerned about the things God is concerned about? Are the things that anger you and make you weep reflect the heart of God? If so, what are you doing about it?