A Good Reminder...

"We are pressed but not crushed.

Persecuted but not abandoned.

Struck down, but not destroyed.

I am blessed beyond a curse,

For His promise will endure.

And His joy is going to be my strength.

Though the sorrow may last for a night,

Joy comes in the morning!"

Haiti: How You Can Get Involved.

Haitian orphans are coming to South Florida and need temporary homes (maybe even permanent ones). 4 Kids of South Florida is looking for families to be a part of their Safe Family Program.

You do NOT need to be a licensed foster family to do this, for more info go to: http://www.4KIDSofsfl.org and click on What We Do, then click on Safe Families.

Haiti: God's Desire Is For You

My heart is stirred for this nation right now more than ever as I recently discovered about the 7.0 earthquake that devastated one city of Port-au-Prince. I have friends who are going to help with relief work and one who is from Haiti.  Please continue to join me in prayer for this country and for my friends and their families who are there.

I know a lot of people are not happy with Pat Robertson right now for some of his comments he has made, but the truth is that God will do whatever it takes to bring a people unto Himself. Honestly, I don't know if this was caused by God or not.  Yet, I do know this, my friends, God is far beyond us. 

He is also a Holy God.  He is not just a far off Being watching things happen.  No, He is very much involved in every detail.  In my humanity, I do not fully understand His ways, but I know He is good.  Just as it said in "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe" when Lucy was asking about Aslan being safe, her friend replied: "He isn't safe, but He is good." 

If you study out the history of the country of Haiti, you will find out many dark discoveries about what lies behind this government.  I believe that when we make dark alliances such as they have done, there are reprocussions.  There are reprocussions to every sin we ever commit.

Although sin is viewed as the same in God's eyes, on this earth, some sins have a greater affect in our eyes and can actually influence whole nations.  I encourage you to study the spiritual history of Haiti and perhaps, if you are a Christian, you will be more burdened to pray for these people. Yet, we must see all of this through the lenses that God is good.  He is merciful. His mercy is not like our view of mercy.  He loves the whole world!

Please pray that God's will would be done in this land and for His light to shine forth to literally change hearts and change the infrastructure of an already fragile government.  Please pray for true salvation to spring up from the rubble.  Pray for life and for these dry bones to live again.  Come Lord Jesus. Come.

Honesty Truly Is The Best Policy...

Ya know, I recently got hurt from a friendship and it was hard.  Yet, thinking about it now, atleast I was honest.  Even if the other person is not, you should stand your ground and not be shaken. 

Being hurt hurts! Yet, the best thing you can do is be honest with yourself, others, and choose to not be offended.  You will win in the end. Just remember though, the victory is already yours.

A Beautiful Boundary Line...

A beautiful boundary line, You draw around me.

It's my hedge of protection, it's Your love and mercy.

Though it's painful at the time,

In the end, it always brings me life.

So into the wilderness I come.

I will follow You wherever You go.

I will stay hidden in You.

For it's the only way.

Humility...

Oh the ache within me to go low!

Yet what  joy that awaits on the other side!

Oh the peace within my soul when it is done.

Oh the love He gives me when I come.

So I must go low.

Oh the ache within me to go low!

Yet what life that awaits on the other side!
Oh the communion with the King of all Kings.

Oh the encounter with One who fulfills my dreams.

So I must go low.

Oh Lord, how I long to be like You.

I long to see as You do.

I long to be satisfied,

And to drink from a well that won't run dry.

So I must go low.

The New Wine...

It's a new day, it's a new wine.

It's a new day, it's a new wine.

It's a new day, it's a new wine.

For Your mercies are new every morning.

In Your faithfulness, You make all things new.

So I'm drinking.

I'm drinking, drinking deeper still.

Drinking, drinking, deeper still.

'Cause I know there's more.

I know there's more.

Simplicity

All I want to do is sing You a song.

All I want to do is give You my heart.

All I want to do is rest in Your arms.

Oh there's no greater place.

There's no better plan.

So I'll stay right here.
I'll choose to wait upon You.
I will wait until You come.

A Beautiful Generation...

What a beautiful generation,

A beautiful nation.

I see a beautiful generation,

A beautiful nation.

They're overwhelmed with love for You.

They're overwhelmed with love.

They're overwhelmed with love for You.

They're overwhelmed with love.

Deeper I Come...

You bid me to come.

You bid me to run.

To the deeper waters.

Deeper than I've ever gone before.

You bid me to take a step and take a drink.

You bid me to come.

You bid me to run,

To these deeper waters.

Deeper waters which satisfy.

You bid me to take a step and take a drink.

As I come,

As I come,

As I come,

I see that the shallow waters I once tasted are not enough for me.

I must go deeper.

I must go deeper still.

For only in Your waters will this thirst be quenched.

For only in Your waters will Your joy be released.

You bid me to come.
You bid me to run.

So I take a chance to see what I was created to be.
For I know there's more than I have ever dreamed.

Provoked By One Life of Sacrifice...

All it takes is one life to turn things around.  All it takes is one person to be burning on fire with passion to change a nation. Jesus Christ was one Man who had a burning desire for a people to be one with Him and one with His Father.  He turned it all around.  He invested in 12 men and they changed the world. 

It wasn't 150 men, nor was it 50, just 12 men.  All it takes for something to change is a voice. One voice to say no to injustice, no to sexual immorality, yes to purity, yes to holiness, and yes to His ways.

Today, I had the honor of watching a dear friend's Memorial Service and I had the honor of getting a true glimpse into his life day to day. Though he was an imperfect man, he truly lived a life of sacrifice.

He learned how to receive the love of His true Father and he learned how to give it away.  Not only give it away to those closest to him, but to the hurting, to the needy, to the broken children of the world.  He learned how to be a defender of the voiceless just like Jesus is our Defender in front of the accuser of the brethren. 

He learned how to take the compassion he felt for those in need and do something about it.  He learned how to stand in the gap to ask the Lord to stop the wrong. He learned how to take the promises of God and speak them forth over a dying generation. He discovered who he was and that he had a whole lot of love to give.

Derek Loux lived out Malachi 4:6: "He will turn the hearts of the father to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers."  He was a testimony of a father bringing restoration to the children that they might know what true love is as a true son and daughter.

In the few moments I had with him I learned that he was not only a talented musician, singer, and songwriter, but he had a deep compassion for the ones who had no voice and knew not of the Father's love.  "Anyone can do this. Anyone can answer the call."  Derek said.

He was just a man with a wife and children and not much money, but a huge dream in his heart.  In a short time, the Lord answered his cry. In a short time, the Lord provided an abundance of finances and supernatural wisdom on how to carry this out and his vision was birthed. 

Now Derek is gone from this earth and his voice is with his Maker.  I'm sure he sounds so beautiful singing to Jesus forever in His Presence.  He is in the presence of full joy where there is no more sorrow and no more tears. 

Yet, his legacy continues and it resounds a sound to those who remain here with words asking the questions: "Will you answer the call? Will you respond to these injustices?"  Lou Engle said it best today when he asked, "Who will now step into those shoes? Who is willing?"  As Derek provoked everyone he met with the thoughts of the orphans, he continues to impact our lives profoundly. 

Therefore, this vision will continue on, I believe, because the Church is beginning to awaken with a hunger for more than this life has to offer.  She is no longer satisfied with the status quo of mediocre Christianity.  She longs for Jesus and for Him to make the wrong things right.  She longs to know the things of His heart and to come into agreement with Him. 

Will you answer the call?  Will you respond? Will you be the one to provoke change?  Are you willing to rescue one child at a time?  Jesus, I say yes to your call and all that You would have for me to do. I say yes.  I say, come and have Your way. Come and make the wrong things right.  Return oh Lord as we hasten the day of your coming!

Thank you Derek for leading the way that we could come behind you. God be with the Loux family as they grieve this deep loss.

If you would like to give to the Loux family and continue seeing their vision to rescue more children stay alive, you can give at this link:  http://www.josiahfund.org/

This Is How You Love...

There's no sense of judgement in Your eyes.

No sense of condemnation in Your voice.

No wagging, shaking finger in my face.

No look of disappointment or disgrace.

You rejoice, You rejoice over me.

You speak life and life abundantly.

You sing and You dance and celebrate my days.

And you say that I'm Your dream and Your desire.

Oh I am starting to believe it.

Oh I am starting to feel it.

I think this could be the beginning of something good.

I think I'm starting to see, that this is how You love.

Oh Israel, How He Longs For You...

Cry out oh Israel.

Cry out because He hears.

For your Redeemer comes from Calvary.

Your Salvation draws near speedily.

You are not forgotten,

Nor are you shamed.

Though you have hardened your heart,

He is not dismayed.

For as the rain clouds glide through the skies,

A glimpse of hope will quickly fill your eyes.

For your Deliverer has come.

He has set your captives free.

You were paid with a price,

So that your sin will no longer be.

Lift up your eyes as He roars through the skies,

With joy in His heart for His redeemed.

As the day He's been longing for finally arrives,

Your joy will be made complete.