Deep, Deep Down Worship

When all you had were ashes, how did you rejoice when God turned it to beauty?

When you mourned, how did you rejoice when God turned it to inexpressible joy?

When you were engulfed in a spirit of heaviness, how did you rejoice when the Lord covered you in a garment of praise?

How can the people that are suffering have the most joy?

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, 

to give unto them beauty for ashes, 

the oil of joy for mourning, 

the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; 

that they might be called trees of righteousness, 

the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Isaiah 61:3

You have turned for me my wailing into dancing;
you have removed my sackcloth
and clothed me with joy,
that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!
Psalm 30:11-12

"I'm not sure we will ever be fully released to "dance" before the Lord until we've learned to wail. You'll never know the experience of being clothed with joy until you've allowed Him to remove your sackcloth."
Tell it Beth Moore!

How Mark Driscoll Says Men Should Treat Women

For Jesus' Sake, Given Over to Death and Swallowed Up By Life

2 Corinthians 4:5-7; 5:4, 5, 8-10

⁵For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

⁷But we have this treasure [!] in jars of clay, to show that the [all] surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. ⁸We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; ⁹persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; ¹⁰ always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. ¹¹For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh...

^5:4For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. ⁵He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee...  ⁸Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at HOME with the Lord. ⁹So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please Him. ¹⁰For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

(emphasis added)

Prayer of the Month

Please be my Strength, 'cause I don't have anymore.

JESUS WANTS THE ROSE!

More on redemption and Christ's love.

Feeling Icky

A lot of pressure as of late has left my body weakened and my heart feeling icky. Time for some truth and encouragement. Praying you feel strengthened along with me.

"Inviting even the worst and most unfair circumstances out into the spotlight sets the stage for a miracle. In the meantime, never forget that God still reserves the right to favor the suffering."
- Beth Moore

"The Lord gives His people strength; the Lord grants His people security." Psalm 29:11

In Jesus' name, I am clothed with strength and dignity!

"Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised." Heb 10:35-36

The Maker of all, the God Most High dwells within us.
"How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty!" Psalm 84:1