The Lord Is My Hope

We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me." For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ......Romans 15:1-6

Today, I join with Peggy in prayer:

My Father God,

As I read the Scripture, there are many times when I do not understand. I pray that You will open my eyes and my heart with Your Holy Spirit so that I may know the endurance and encouragement and hope that You want me to show to others.

I know that I am to be Your light to the world, and sometimes, I admit...I fail miserably. Instead of relying on You, I try to rely on myself....for strength, for endurance...and instead of seeking You for encouragement and hope and joy, I try to find these in the words and actions of others.

Help me to realize that only You are to be my encouragement. Yes, You speak through others to me, and help me to listen to others as they encourage me. Help me to be an encourager of others and not try to change them according to what I want them to be.

You know all, God. All things are in Your hands. Only good will come from Your purposes for me and those in my life. Help me to remember this even when times seem difficult and I don't understand when tragedies occur.

My Father, sometimes I feel as though I am carrying a very heavy weight upon my back. This weight has names--guilt and shame. I know, Lord, that Jesus took all my guilt and shame upon Himself for me. Lord, as I learn to forgive others as You have forgiven me, I ask that You teach me to forgive myself also.

You are an amazing and awesome God. I trust You, My hope is in You. My joy is in You. Let me lean on You when I feel the weights bearing down on me and take the guilt and shame from me. You are strong and mighty and powerful, and I know that Your shoulders can bear the weight when I totally lean on You.

As I read Your Word, infuse me with Your hope...not the hopes of this world. You are the God of hope. Help me to show this hope to others.

In Jesus' Name I pray...

Amen

LORD, I LIFT YOUR NAME ON HIGH

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCXKnJ2mF0o

LORD, I LIFT YOUR NAME
ON
HIGH

SINGING

PRAISES

TO
YOU

STILL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGhr68iq7ck&NR=1

SHOUT TO YOU, O LORD
POWER and MAJESTY
ALL PRAISE
GLORY
and
HONOR

So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips. When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches, For You have been my help, And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy. My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:4-8 

LET EVERYTHING PRAISE THE LORD!

Psalm 150

 ¹ Praise the LORD. 
       Praise God in His sanctuary;
       praise him in his mighty heavens.
 ² Praise him for his acts of power;
       praise him for his surpassing greatness.
 ³ Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
       praise him with the harp and lyre,
 ⁴ praise him with tambourine and dancing,
       praise him with the strings and flute,
 ⁵ praise him with the clash of cymbals,
       praise him with resounding cymbals.
 ⁶ Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
       Praise the LORD.


HE IS AN AWESOME GOD!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MJeanAe9GQ

I have been PRAISING Our Lord since Friday, so since "EVERYTHING that has breath PRAISES the LORD... JOIN eLisa's challenge to PRAISE THE LORD! today

GOD IS SO GOOD!

YOU ARE GOOD
ALL
THE
TIME!
and

ALL
THE TIME
YOU ARE GOOD!

PRAISE

HIM!

TODAY

I'M

PRAISING
HIM
WITH
EVERYTHING
WITHIN
ME
&

EVEN
MY FEET

MY VOICE
MY HANDS

MY BREATH

&

MY TAMBOURINE!

More praise here and here and here on this blog this weekend from songs that just came forth from me, oldies but goodies plus ALL the PRAISE linking up over with eLisa at Extravagant Grace... how 'bout you?

I think I might have chosen another one that stirs my PRAISE even more but many beautiful choices are being shared already so for another time and another PRAISE!

I WILL WAIT...

JASON UPTON 

Romans 5:1-5

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.
And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

I will wait for you, Jesus
You're the sun in my horizon
All my hopes in you, Jesus
I can see you now arising
(Repeat)

There's a wall that stands in front of me
That I know I just can't climb
And like an eagle you will carry me
It's just a matter of the time

I will wait for you, Jesus
You're the son in my horizon
All my hopes in you, Jesus
I can see you now arising

Evil armies all around me

I believe in the word that promises me
So I will wait another day

I will wait for you, Jesus
You're the son in my horizon
All my hopes in you, Jesus
I can see you now arising
(Repeat)

I will wait for you
Oh I will wait for you
Oh the doubt may try to come in
The disillusions may try to come in

I believe oh Lord (x3)
In the word that you promised (x3)
I believe it will not end
I believe it will not go

I will wait for you, Jesus
You're the son in my horizon
All my hopes in you, Jesus
I can see you now arising

For more THEN SINGS MY SOUL SATURDAY participants

Visit

Amy @ Signs, Miracles and Wonders

BEAUTIFUL ONE

...CONTINUING PRAISE & ADORATION

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9m8MjI-mhU

SONG that RISES UP...

...from INSIDE of me AFTER MIDNIGHT

"I STAND IN AWE"ofYOU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0Qx1e33Ook

than

choruses

of

"I EXALT YOU"
and 
praises just flowing
along with my tears
of course

just a great

PRAISE TIME
at the culmination of a day
GIVING
THANKS
&
PRAYING

I TRULY NEEDED THIS

How about you?

why not join eLisa in her 31 days of PRAISE challenge and giveaways?

[just hit her PRAISE button to learn more]

GOD OF OUR YESTERDAYS

Beth shared this song with me via email and of course, I just had to share it with you. This is a new artist and the video that she told me about, but I also found that Matt Redman(on his "God of this city" album) sings this;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNLfu7fainA
Chris McClarney - God Of Our YesterdaysChris has been/is a worship leader Here is his DEFENDER albumjust released August 2010

We were in the darkest night,
And wondered if our eyes would ever see the light,
You were there, Lord,
We were in the storm again,
And wondered if we’d ever live in peace again,
You were there, Lord,
You were there is the struggle,
You were there in the fire,
You were there all the time.

Praise you, the God of our yesterdays,
Praise you, the God who is here today,
Praise you, our God, as tomorrow comes.

So whatever lies ahead,
Whatever roads our grateful hearts will come to tread,
You’ll be there, Lord,
And we will fix our eyes on you,
And know that there is grace enough to see us through,
You’ll be there, Lord,
You’ll be there is the struggle,
You’ll be there in the fight,
You’ll be there all the time.

Praise you, the God of our yesterdays,
Praise you, the God who is here today,
Praise you, our God, as tomorrow comes.
We thank you for grace in our yesterdays,
We thank you for peace in our hearts today,
And thank you, our Joy, as tomorrow comes,
We will trust you, God.

You’re always closer than we know,
Always more involved and in control,
We will trust our lives to you,
The One who was, and is, and is to come!

Praise you, the God of our yesterdays,
Praise you, the God who is here today,
Praise you, our God, as tomorrow comes.
We thank you for grace in our yesterdays,
We thank you for peace in our hearts today,
And thank you, our Joy, as tomorrow comes,
We will trust you, God.

May this song touch and bless you as it does both Beth and I...so

Let us PRAISE HIM, THANK HIM & REJOICE in OUR GOD of our YESTERDAYS, and that HE IS STILL as He told us so...

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God,

 "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

New International Version (©1984)

Revelation 1:8

by Paul Lee

(c) 2008 Heartlight, Inc.

SOMEWHERE DOWN THE ROAD

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSvgne2kOP0

For more THEN SINGS MY SOUL SATURDAY participants

VISIT

Amy @ Signs, Miracles and Wonders

Many times
I ask 
WHY?


How about you?
Can you relate to this song?

GRATITUDE that HE KNOWS MY NAME

YES

HE KNOWS YOUR NAME!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_BXOiqo808

...and we have taken the time here to know HIS NAME

in "Praying the Names of Jesus"

Ann Spangler's devotion at Crosswalk.com and her book(s)

the above and "Praying the Names of God"

[Monday, June 28th Crosswalk starts over with Week 1, Day 1 of Names of God]

Thank you to all who have come along on this journey

and left encouraging words.

Please continue to

PRAY

IN

HIS

NAME

STAY

in

THE POWER OF HIS LOVE

for

YOU!

THE WONDER OF IT ALL

POINT of GRACE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tINO66rOkBc

For more THEN SINGS MY SOUL SATURDAY participants

VISIT

Amy @ Signs, Miracles and Wonders

Please take the time to enJOY "I AM" (at least the song shared below) in the last post of "Praying the Names of Jesus": I AM. You truly will be blessed! I know I am and the great "I AM" is, as we delight in Him through our WORSHIP and HIS WORD, HIS WAY! He is all this and so much more... enter His sweet Presence!

PRAYING THE NAMES of JESUS: I AM

WEEK TWENTY SIX

The Name of Jesus for this week with Ann Spangler at Crosswalk.com

Hope you will join us today(or anytime during this weekend)sharing from what we read or would like to share about the Name of Jesus for this past week. This is the last one.

You may go HERE to find out more and follow along daily at Crosswalk. com with the devotional of Ann Spangler, "Praying the Names of Jesus"

John's Gospel contains several self-descriptions of Jesus introduced by the emphatic expression

Ego Eimi (e-GO ay-MEE), "I AM."

I AM the bread of life. (6:35)
I AM the light of the world. (8:12)
Before Abraham was born, I AM. (8:58)
I AM the gate for the sheep. (10: 7)
I AM the good shepherd. (10:11)
I AM the resurrection and the life. (11:25)
I AM the way and the truth and the life. (14:6)
I AM the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. (15:1)

Jesus emphatically described himself as the "resurrection and the life," "the way and the truth and the life," and the "true vine." Each of these images has something important to reveal to us about the character and purpose of Jesus Christ.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-HIKxnSZSA

Wednesday was the day that spoke the most to me this week from Ann Spangler (her words in green) because it goes along with a small group study "Life's Healing Choices" by John Baker - Freedom from Your Hurts, Hang-ups and Habits. It's time to REALIZE the REAL LIES and allow GOD'S TRUTH to prevail and set us free. (Peggy)

WEDS.

Reflect On: John 14:1 - 6.
Praise God: For giving us a way back to Him.
Offer Thanks: For the Spirit of God who leads us into all truth.
Confess: Any half truths or lies that you have allowed into your life.
Ask God: To help you to love and recognize the truth.

Join us today in asking Christ for the grace to reject the beguiling lies of our culture — that sexual gratification is all important, that life is about the pursuit of money and success, that the individual reigns supreme. Let us remember the words of St. Paul who urges us to set our hearts on things above, where Christ is, remembering that when Christ, who is our life, appears, then we too will appear with him in glory (Colossians 3:1 - 4).

Ann shared this on TUES.

Jesus, whose name means "Yahweh is Salvation," is the great I AM — the one who is always present with us whether or not we recognize him. Whatever difficulties you may face, whatever storms may threaten, pray for the grace to have eyes and ears wide open so that you may perceive the Lord saying, "Take courage! I AM."

Reflect On: Matthew 14:25 - 27 and John 18:4 - 6.
Praise God: For being with his people.
Offer Thanks: For the ways Christ has been present in your life.
Confess: Any fear that God may abandon you in a time of need.
Ask God: To open your eyes to his presence and his power.
THURS. OUCH! (the pruning) this also, being one of my favorite verses was a beautiful image and devotion from Ann on the great "I AM"

Reflect On: John 15:1 – 16.

Praise God: For sending his Son to be the True Vine through whom the world would be saved.

Offer Thanks: That Christ has made you a branch of the True Vine.

Confess: Any disobedience that makes it difficult for you to abide in the Vine.

Ask God: To prune you in whatever way is necessary so that you can be as fruitful as possible.

The kind of abiding that Jesus speaks of in John’s Gospel is a lifelong abiding accomplished through faith and obedience. Furthermore, we abide not as a single branch, isolated from others, but in union with Christ and with other believers. Together we are branches of “the true vine.”

It is no accident that Jesus uses the metaphor of a vine to describe himself and his disciples. In Palestine abundant vineyards were considered a sign of God’s favor. Vines, in fact, were labor intensive forms of cultivation that grew best in peacetime, producing grapes that could be eaten fresh or made into raisins, grape juice, wine, and even a jelly-like substance called honey. No wonder the vine was a symbol of peace and prosperity. Numerous times in the Old Testament, God had referred to Israel as a vine. But Israel was a wild vine that had failed to produce the rich harvest God intended (Isaiah 5:4). By calling himself the “true vine,” Jesus was saying that he was the true Israel. Jesus and those who belong to him will fulfill God’s plan for the world.

For each of us, abiding in the true vine is a lifelong, sometimes painful process. Like branches on a vine, we have to be pruned so that we can be more fruitful in the future than we have been in the past. Apart from Christ we shrivel and die. But united with him we experience the God-blessed life, which, as Paul told the Galatians, produces “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22 – 23). Indeed, we are called to bear fruit that will last.

Today, ask God for the grace to recognize your true purpose in life, which is not to be blessed but to become a blessing, bearing the sweetness of Christ to all who are hungry for him.

HEAVENLY FATHER,

KEEP ME PRUNED

SO

I MAY BEAR MUCH FRUIT;

YOUR FRUIT,

THE FRUIT OF YOUR HOLY SPIRIT.

MAY I LIVE

THE TRUE PURPOSE

YOU GAVE ME

BY

YOUR GRACE.

MAY I LIVE

PURPOSEFULLY

AT ALL TIMES.

MAY I BLESS OTHERS

as
YOU HAVE BLESSED ME!

MAY I BE

THE SWEET FRAGRANCE

OF CHRIST

TO ALL

WHO HUNGER & THIRST.

THANK YOU FOR BEING THE

"GREAT I AM"

THANK YOU

FOR

WHO YOU ARE

AND

WHO YOU ARE
HELPING ME
TO
BECOME!

This is the last Name of Jesus in "Praying the Names of Jesus"... by Ann Spangler!

I think that Crosswalk.com will continue with Ann Spangler's other book,* "Praying the Names of God" or perhaps another. [Remember that Jill @ Forever n Ever n Always has been doing *this book-about 10 Names left].

If you'd like to share on "I AM", please share your link: