"Knees to the Earth"

I heard this song this morning and was very uplifted by it so I wanted to share it with all of you. Music has always been an inspirtation for me and I hope it is for you as well. Please scroll on down to the bottom of my blog to the music player, scroll to the bottom of the list of songs click on "knees to the earth" if its not already playing, close your eyes and be lifted. Enjoy. Here are the lyrics:

Wonderful Savior

My heart belongs to Thee

I will remember always the blood You shed for me

Wonderful Savior

My heart will know Your worth

So I will embrace You always as I walk this earth

Chorus:

Be blessed, be loved, be lifted high

Be treasured here

Be glorified

I owe my life to You my Lord

Here I am....

Beautiful Jesus

How may I bless Your heart?

Knees to the earth

I bow down to everything You are

Beautiful Jesus

You are my only worth

So let me embrace You always

as I walk this earth

Chorus

Be Encouraged

I've been trying to bring you words of encouragement from Women of Faith, but today I found encouragement in the music Ministers corner of the church bulletin. Here's what he had to say:

Have you ever wondered why we "enter His gates with thanksgiving" when we come together to worship? Probably not, but it's an interesting question. Why start with thanksgiving? Why not start with praise (affirming the characteristics of God), or with confession, or petition? Why thanksgiving? I believe it's because God meets us where we are. To begin worship with praise would assume we all come into worship with an awareness of God's presence, His characteristics, etc. But the truth is, many times we're running on fumes, not particularly tuned to God's channel. Thanksgiving is "earthy". It is God meeting us where we are. It generally centers around physical provision... the ways God cares for us in this world. To me, it's like God is saying, "So, you're not aware of Me in your life right now? Your eyes are on the bills, food, shelter, the kids, your to-do lists? That's okay. We'll start there. See me in the midst of your physical needs. See that I am with you through it all." God meets us where we are in thanksgiving and as we become aware of Him, we move naturally into praise, confession, petition, and true adoration. As you come into worship..., look at your life and see God there...and thank Him.

~Pastor Mark Richardson

I hope you are encoraged by this as I was. I pray that each of you have a blessed week.

Be Encouraged by

Real Friendship

A friend loves at all times,

and a brother is born for adversity.

Proverbs 17:17

Friendship is a wonderful thing. I cannot imagine a day going by without talking with my friends...Ralph Waldo Emerson asserted that there are two cornerstones to friendship. One is truth, the other is tenderness. I agree. To love someone, we must know they are truthful with us. Love is built on respect and respect on trust. Truth and tenderness must go hand in hand because if they try to stand alone, one will be too hard and the other too soft.

I would add a third element that is essential to friendship-freedom. We can love others tenderly, be completely truthful with them, but unwittingly want them as our own. We find ourselves hurt if they do things with other people and we're not included. If we don't encourage them too be free (even of us), there is no real friendship. When we hold on to anything too tightly, it dies.

Luci Swindoll, I married Adventure

Be Encouraged by the 23rd Psalm

The Lord is my Shepherd = that's Relationship!
I shall not want. = that's Supply!
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. = that's Rest!
He leadeth me beside still waters. = that's Refreshment!
He restoreth my soul. = that's Healing!
He leadeth me in paths of righteousness = that's Guidance!
For His name sake. = that's Purpose!
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death = that's Testing!
I will fear no evil = That's protection!
For Thou art with me. = that's faithfulness!
Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. = that's Discipline!
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. = that's Hope!
Thou anointest my head with oil. = that's Consecration!
My cup runneth over. = that's Abundance!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life = that's Blessing!
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord = that's Security!
Forever. = that's Eternity!

Be Encouraged

On of my favorite songs growing up was "Consider the Lilies". I used to sing it in church with the preachers daughter, Kim. I never really listened to the words until a few years ago when Richard and I were taking the Crown Financial Bible Study. We learned that not only will God provide for your every need, but as long as you have the faith that he will, you shouldn't worry about whether or not he will. But worry applies to more than just your financial situation. For me worry encompasses so much more. Matthew 6:25-34 Tells us not to worry, so don't. I know, easier said than done. Trust me, I'm living proof, I'm a worrier. But this is something I am having to learn to do less of. So be encouraged by God's word, and don't worry, Be Happy.


Matthew 6:25-34
Do Not Worry

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[b]?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Be Encouraged by

Falling Forward

"The Lord upholds all who are falling."Psalm 145:14 nrsv

When I was a little girl, my father was just about the best daddy any daughter could have. (Still is.) He gave me a great picture of the heart of God by always coming the moment I called (or at least that's how I remember it). Therefore, I had a deep trust that my daddy always had my best interest at heart. One day, however, he tested this trust. I was up on a low roof and my dad was on the ground when he asked me to jump into his arms. I stood with my toes at the edge of the roof and could feel myself swaying. I was terrified. Then Daddy said, "Sandi, you're gonna fall either way. If you fall backwards, I can't help you. But if you fall forward, I'm going to be able to catch you."
That is exactly the picture I want you to hold in your mind if you are struggling in any area of your life. If you are wounded by circumstance or the betrayal of others, if you are in despair about your marriage or your children or your future, if you are being swayed by temptation, you probably feel like you are falling. Go ahead and fall, but fall into the arms of the one who can save you.

Sandi Patty
Falling Forward
Excerpted from A Grand New Day: A Full Year of Daily Inspiration and Encouragement © 2008 Women of Faith, Inc. All rights reserved.