Beautiful by Michael Ketterer

With Us - Hillsong Live

I heard this song last night and now I can't stop listening to it...one thing about music and myself is that, once I hear a song I love, I tend to over-play the song at an excessive amount OR until I find something else I love. Today I will over-play this track...it's a weird cycle I have when it comes to my iPod. Listen to this song and you will want to over-play it too! It is exactly the kind of reminder of God's grace/love/mercy/plan for me I need this morning...!

Make Us Ready - Harvest Bashta

Hillsong Live : Stronger/This Is Our God

Just another something that is so great about the land down under... Hillsong worship music! They just released an acoustic album of everyone's faves! This has to be my favorite so far, from what I've heard.

Kari Jobe: You Are For Me

Kari Jobe just released a video for one of my favorite worship songs...such truth in the lyrics.
Kind of needed this song tonight...love how it reminds me of who HE is.

Passion:: AWAKENING

Out today is Passion Conference's latest album AWAKENING. It's definitely a must buy. With new and old songs from their live worship event in Atlanta Georgia this past January.

Track Listing::
1. Awakening
2. Say, Say
3. Our God
4. How He Loves
5. Healing Is In Your Hands
6. King of Heavens (Isaiah 61)
7. You Alone Can Rescue
8. Where the Spirit of the Lord Is
9. Rise and Sing
10. Like a Lion
11. Chosen Generation
12. With Everything
13. A Mighty Fortress
14. Jesus Messiah
15. The Stand

{Name above names, Lamb that was slain, Beautiful God.
King above Kings, God of all things, Beautiful God.
And there is no other name, like Jesus.
Give You all of the praise, oh Lord.
So let hope rise and darkness tremble in Your holy light.
That every eye would see Jesus our God,
great and mighty to be praised.}

This Beautiful Exchange : Hillsong Live

You were near though I was distant
Disillusioned, I was lost and insecure
Still mercy fought for my attention
You were waiting at the door
Then I let you in.

Trading Your place, for my offenses
For my redemption, You carried all the blame
My burden erased, my life forgiven
Redemption took my place

When only love could make a way
You gave Your life
In a beautiful exchange

Breaking the curse of our condition
There is nothing that can take this love away
My only desire, and sole ambition
Is to love You just the same.

When only love could make a way
You gave Your life
In a beautiful exchange

When only love could break these chains
You gave Your life
In a beautiful exchange

Holy are You, God
Holy is Your Name
With everything I've got
My heart will sing
How I love You.

Cielo :: P H I L W I C K H A M

Allow the lyrics of this song
invade your s o u l + m i n d.
I'm walking through the bright white gates
Breathing in and out your grace
All around me melodies rise
That echo with the joy inside
So I start to sing
But I can't sing loud enough
I can't sing loud enough
When I'm singing for You my God
I can't sing loud enough
I can't sing loud enough
When I'm singing for You my God
With a thunder roll and a brilliant light
Your glory boasts and the heavens shine
The saints and angels stand in awe
Captured by the beauty of it all
So I fall to my knees
But I can't bow low enough
I can't bow low enough
At the vision of You my God
I can't bow low enough
I can't bow low enough
At the vision of You my God
I can't hold it all inside
I'm reaching for the One who brought me out of death and into life
Now I can't lift my hands high enough
Life my hands high enough
When I'm reaching for You my God
I can't lift my hands high enough
Life my hands high enough
When I'm reaching for You my God
Oh I'm reaching for You my God
I'm reaching for You
I'm reaching for You
I'm reaching for You my God

We're All In This Together

After attempting to type out a post like ten times......I found a post I liked better than all of my feeble attempts combined from a guy named Tim Schraeder. When it comes out on DVD, I plan on watching it a again with a notebook and pen by my side.

These are some of his tweets, tweeted during the movie, as seen on his post about the film.. I encourage you to read the original post too.

• Maybe the human race [for possessions, fame, power] isn’t meant to be a race at all.
• Loneliness is one of the most extreme forms of poverty.
• Too often we dwell in the past or focus too much on the future that we miss this moment.
• The future will be written by the way we respond to moment that’s in front of us.
• If what happens inside the four walls of the church doesn’t make a difference in the streets that people travel to get there, then maybe we are missing the point.
• We’ve trained ourselves to look past the needs.
• Ignorance isn’t just sleeping through the fire, it’s really just fanning the flame.
• Love has been reduced to define what makes us feel good.
• At the core of who we are, every single human being craves the same thing… love
• Jesus is the ultimate expression of God’s love to humanity.
• Jesus didn’t die to give us religion, He died to give us love.
• Our weakness is a place for God to show His strength.
• God’s picture for the Church for us to be the light to the world around us.
• For too long the Church has made a big deal about the small things, and a small deal about the big things.
• Preaching does not come from the pulpit, it comes from the people of God living their lives out for Him (Brother Andrew)
• We don’t just attend church, we are the Church.
• The Church exists for those outside of it.
• If we want to make history, we need find our place in His Story.
• The love of God cannot be measured but it can be demonstrated.
• We need to preach the Gospel with our actions.
• We’ve made a dangerous division between what’s sacred and what’s secular; nothing is secular, everything belongs to God.
• If you are not a part of the solution, you are a part of the problem.
• What we are not, He is.
• The greatest of these is love.
  
  
  Amos 5:21-24 (The Message)
  "I can't stand your religious meetings.
  I'm fed up with your conferences and conventions.
  I want nothing to do with your religion projects,
  your pretentious slogans and goals.
  I'm sick of your fund-raising schemes,
  your public relations and image making.
  I've had all I can take of your noisy ego-music.
  When was the last time you sang to me?
  Do you know what I want?
  I want justice—oceans of it.
  I want fairness—rivers of it.
  That's what I want. That's all I want.
  
  

Jesus didn't die to give us religion,

He died to show us his LOVE.
LOVE Jesus first,
LOVE His people second.

Join the movement >>
i-heart.org

THE I-HEART REVOLUTION:

We're All In This Together
Hillsong United's latest project is coming to a theatre near you! The next part to I-Heart Revolution is a feature film/documentary that will be screening in theatres across the country NOVEMBER 4! Check out the list of theatres to see which one is closest to you. + spread the word!!

Locations

theiheartfilm.com

I-Heart.org

Remain // Ben Cantelon

The lyrics to the pre-chorus of this song have been ringing in my head all day! It is such an awesome reminder -- of a fact I so often forget -- how God is ALWAYS with us and REMAINS with us through the HIGHS and LOWS.

Defender of this heart
You loved me from the start
You never change

Through the highs and lows
As seasons come and go
You never fail

Day after day
Your love will remain
Faithful and true
You are good

*Keep Running...

God Disciplines His Sons

¹Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ²Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

⁴In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to

the point of shedding your blood. ⁵And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
⁶because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."

⁷Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? ⁸If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. ⁹Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! ¹⁰Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. ¹¹No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, i

t produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
¹²Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.

HEBREWS 12:1-12

Tonight, while spending time with God I came across Hebrews 12 ... this was the Post-It marking the passage that I so often forget to apply in my daily life. So many times I stop running (like this week)... I give up too easy, I walk. In an actual race (back in my Cross Country days..), our coach ALWAYS yelled, "Never stop running -- even if you have to just slow down your pace, NEVER stop running! Pick up those legs!" In reality (I hate to admit it) BUT when you are running a long distance and you begin to walk, from not being in shape -- it does indeed make your legs hurt even more than if you were to just simply slow down your pace to a jog. With Christ, when we 'walk' we are allowing Satan to slow us down, he doesn't want us to finish STRONG! When we slow down we give Satan the foot hold he desires. Slowing down amounts to us not spending time with God and letting our relationship with Christ dwindle. Yet when we continue to run with Gods strength, we are filled with JOY and PEACE ... we aren't ashamed for walking!! We don't live in SHAME or GUILT. When I would stop running during practice or a race I was left feeling ashamed and as though I had failed. God doesn't want us to go through life feeling like failures, he SO loves us that he sent his son to die, that HE could help us finish the race with HIS never ending POWER + GRACE + MERCY + LOVE! Christ wants to see us FINISH our race STRONG with out holding back .... RUNNING, SPRINTING to HIM alone. When we run to him our legs don't hurt as bad as they would from walking or slowing down with Satan. BUT when they do hurt, God is testing us to see if we have the will power to keep running through our trials, sufferings, or despair. The more you run and work out, the STRONGER you get, your legs no longer hurt or feel the burn -- in this case, after sting of sin -- that is guilt and shame. In Christ we don't experience a burn in our calves from walking, we find our STRENGTH to finish the race HE has set out for us. Will you join me and pick up those legs, get in shape + sprint for the finish line!?

ENCOUNTERING GOD

*In a moment that [to the world] looked like the biggest failure, turned out to be the worlds greatest success story ever ... Jesus' death + resurrection for humanity.
-joel houston (via my paraphrased notes)

God is alive. He IS the great I AM, not the great I WAS. Same yesterday, today and tomorrow. The first and the last. Yahweh. Provider. Ever present help, in OUR time of need. A God of LOVE and MERCY no one can ever fathom...this is the God I serve. This is the God that desires ME and YOU. This is the God that sent his one and only son, to die an undeserving, criminals death that to the world looked like a FAILURE, turned out to be the greatest SUCCESS story ever..Jesus died so WE could have LIFE. This is LOVE, real, true love. God wants to encounter YOU, try encountering HIM.

Yew..God is too good. I had the honor and privilege to go down to Miami Florida this past weekend to worship with Hillsong United and their pastors. The conference was called Encounter, and an Encounter it was! The worship of course was amazing, you could just sense the presence of God throughout thee entire arena. As for the speaking, the pastors at Hillsong blew me away...I will be honest, I came to the conference with this pre-meditated inkling that the people from Hillsong Church were (sinful nature..we ALL judge :)) a tad arrogant and perhaps not in it for the right reasons -- I was -- to my delight, proved wrong.. I was actually a little shocked at how humble and down to earth those from Hillsong Church were, I mean we do get caught up thinking they are these huge celebrities because they are known internationally and sell out shows BUT the truth of the matter is they come from their local church. So, pretty much their conference was just a glimpse of what their church looks and feels like on Sundays. They were so passionate about Jesus and making HIS name famous that the event almost had nothing to do with the people behind the conference!! I loved that. I will say though, if you've ever seen a Hillsong DVD or clip of them performing they obviously have cool lighting, great music, and all the rest of it BUT they do a pretty good job of not making it about the people on stage and making sure all the praise goes right to Jesus and making HIS name known.

Pastor Phil Dooley, Brian Houston, Scott Samways, worship leader Joe

l Houston and anti-slavery activist Zach Hunter all spoke throughout the weekend...definitely life changing messages from each of them.

Phil Dooley spoke the first night on Tearing Down The Walls, this was one that spoke right to me! He talked about how as Christians we are to tear down the walls of self- shame+guilt- judgment- indifference. Walls of self make us become more concerned about what WE are doing and loose sight of what GOD is doing...causing us to miss what God has set for us. Walls of shame + guilt cause us to live feeling like failures when Christ already succeeded for us on the cross! "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:16-17)

Brian Houston spoke on Encountering God..this one was powerful. Plus he is really passionate when he speaks so it cuts right to the core. He referenced John 9, when the blind man is healed through obeying Jesus' commands, "The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see." (John 9:11) Clearly, the blind man had a true God encounter. God encounters; where things are changed- doors are opened OR closed- dreams are renewed. He talked about how we are to live knowing AND expecting God encounters. When we experience an encounter, Satan does EVERYTHING to under mind it and fills our soul with doubt, as if it wasn't a true God encounter. We are to believe in the impossible. Though, the people in John 9 could not believe that the blind man was able to see, the man himself had believed in the impossible -- therefore the impossible took place, by Christs healing power. Finally, Brian talked about how we cannot allow our voice of reason and logic get in the way of truly encountering God. We can't let these thoughts undermind the POWER of what God can do -- "An encounter is a collision with the unexpected."

Then they did a tag team type session on Faith+Hope+Love, where Scott Samways spoke on Faith Zach Hunter spoke on, Hope and Joel Houston spoke on, Love...((add message notes later))


"Oh, the depth of the riches
of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
"Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?"
"Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay him?"For from him and through him
and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen."
Romans 11:33-36

Matthew 6:10

Y O U R
K I N G D O M
C O M E ,

Y O U R
W I L L
B E D O N E.

H E R E O N
E A R T H

A S I T I S
I N H E A V E N .

Unfailing God.

Yew.. where to begin.. Okay so God + I time tonight was so needed first of all, but wow it was so crazy how God shows up the way he does! Setting the stage for awesome God time; I am home alone for the week while the parents and twin serve in a devastatingly poverty stricken small town in West Virginia. My sister went to South Africa for three weeks serving over there, mainly to the youth. And my older, younger (too quickly turning into a man..ha) brother is also serving (closer to home..but not at home) in a predominantly Muslim community.. I know it will be life-changing for him. Okay, so there you have it.. I am left here with my youngest brother, whom I love and adore. HOWEVER, I am truly, deeply, hate to admit it, actually missing my family being around.. I feel safe with them, safe; physically - protection, emotionally - I can be myself and my true colors show when I am with them, physically - not being able to communicate with them (especially my twin) is SO hard..way harder than I thought! Okay! There you go, that's the background for MUCH needed God and me time .. date with Jesus.. more than a date a true encountering of my God!

Whether I am going to study, serve, or worship I always, try to start God and me times with praying, that God would open my eyes and heart to what he is trying to teach or show me. Side note I have never.. maybe once? Okay, not that I could remember have ever really gotten broken up or truly emotional over praying to my Creator..I know it sounds outrageous (because it is!) but I always, always, have blamed it on that I am JUST NOT AN EMOTIONAL person.. that's why I don't cry over anything.. well lets just say that changed tonight. It sounds strange but I actually have been asking God to so break my heart that I would shed true, raw, and hard tears.. Tonight I did. I just laid it all out there - - e v e r y s i n g l e t h i n g that has been tugging and nudging on my heart.. sin, struggles, doubt, worries, fears, desires, thoughts, dreams .. pretty much everything honestly. Every thought and word I spoke to my Father made me shed tears.. streaming down my face.. I couldn't control it.. I couldn't believe it either! I was actually (finally) crying because I was so heart broken over what I was saying to God.. struggles I had to get off my chest, desires and dreams I am confused about, what ever it was. It's as though, for the first time - - seriously - - the first time I was so vulnerable with God, that I knew and realized that I couldn't run or hide from him.. I was found out, it was like I was sharing my deepest darkest secrets with a friend without holding back, I obviously know God knows my heart inside and out, BUT it means more and does more when we as his prized possessions, children, lovers, can physically speak them out to him and have a true heart to heart with HIM! ((AT THIS POINT OF THIS POST I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF THIS WOULD MAKE SENSE.. I just want to remember times like this)) Wow.. Okay I have lost all train of thought at this point.. BUT this time of sharing and praying and seeking Gods face was so POWERFUL.. it was so healing and rejuvenating and refreshing for my spirit I could not have asked for a better date.. best date I have ever been on thus far in my relationship with my Love. s i g h . . . wow I forgot ONE more crazy happening .. I had hardly even opened the word after praying and being emotionally distraut (sp? my automatic spell check is currently MIA as I type .. so I can only hope for the best at this point) when I came across this verse, Philippians 4:4-6. Now, I do believe sometimes God might only want us to read just a verse or two and truly meditate on.. it's like quality vs. quantity. So I was like, hmmm I love Philippians (the entire book is amazing) .. so I re-read it a few times and looked at the meaning(s) of the words and really chewed on what the few lines read. When I first read it .. I laughed out loud .. with tears still warmly streaming down my face .. I couldn't believe how it was EXACTLY what God had chosen for me to read, right then and there;

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
Philippians 4:4-6

pe⋅ti⋅tion

-noun. a request made for something desired, esp. a respectful or humble request, as to a superior or to one of those in authority; a supplication or prayer: a petition for aid; a petition to God for courage and strength.

This verse was literally what I was praying about and asking for! -- AND when I was reading those words, the song Unfailing God - Desperation Band came on.. the thought of knowing how my God has never failed me blows my mind! and plus seeing first hand that God indeed provided the perfect passege for me to read (it's the little things) is so amazing.. I fail TOO much.. everyday.. every minute, and STILL some how, he has enough grace and mercy to love and cherish me the way HE does.. it's crazy! I know, and realize 'God and I' time isn't always this exciting or powerful (to me anyway, just being honest).. BUT what if it was?! My prayer is that my relationship with Christ would never seem boring.. more deep breaths.. Okay I have to go to bed NOW.. work is in a few hours.. not good! Meditate and realize the fact that we have NEVER been unloved, forgotten, unreachable to the Creator.. He is reaching for me, for you..dancing over us, singing over us, waiting, watching.. take hold and don't look back.. it will change your life I promise.

Listen up....

Tonight at church we sang a new song by Christy Nockels' and I really liked it - so of course I had to buy it off iTunes and ended up buying the whole thing ... it's so good! It includes originals + covers. New music brings such joy, eh?
Get it on iTunes

healing/surrendering

SURRENDER ALL.
EMBRACE YOUR HEALING.

I needed to hear that like mad.

God I cry out, get me through my day by day temptations that pull me down, steer me away from believing Satan's lies. Protect me under the shelter of the shadow of the Utmost High. Allow me to live a holy and pleasing life according to Your will. Make me let go, let me take hold of only you. I am a broken person in need of healing, only you offer. Break my heart for what breaks yours; let me truly surrender all and embrace healing.

inspire inˈspīrverb [ trans. ]1 fill (someone) with the urge or ability to do or feel something, esp. to do something creative : [ trans. ] his passion for romantic literature inspired him to begin writing [as adj. ] ( inspiring) so far, the scenery is not very inspiring. See note at encourage .• create (a feeling, esp. a positive one) in a person : their past record does not inspire confidence.• ( inspire someone with) animate someone with (such a feeling) :he inspired his students with a vision of freedom.• give rise to : the movie was successful enough to inspire a sequel.

We're going to Miami ...

It's official. Lindsay and I are going to Miami, FL at the end of August. For Hillsong United's Encoutrer Conference! ... amazing worship, amazing time.

Matt Redman - King of Wonders

We could try to count the stars,
You already know them each by name.
Every single galaxy was your design,
Your majesty displayed.

Your glory shines before our eyes,
The more we see, the more we love You

King of wonders, we stand amazed,
There’s no other, other than you.
King of wonders, you know the way to our hearts and
The more we see the more we love you.

You reveal and we respond,
You have shown there’s no one like you God
Your love and mercy welcomes us
Into the beauty of this Holiness.

Your glory shines before our eyes,
The more we see, the more we love You
The more we see the more we love You, God.

* compassionart//free song