Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus...

For the past week, or so, the song below has truly ministered to me in so many ways. Especially the part that says " How He watches o’er His loved ones Those He died to make His own How for them He’s interceding Pleading now before the throne ". It is so endearing to me to know that he is interceding for me! I literally have had this song on repeat in my car (and in my head) for the past week. Being so deeply moved by these words I decided to do a mini study of Jesus' intercession for us and found these verses to minister to my soul as well:

Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 6:19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever...

I am also a lover of words, and find I take much joy in the knowledge of the true meaning of a word. In the dictionary the word intercede means to act or interpose in behalf of someone in difficulty or trouble, as by pleading or petition.

Jesus is an advocate for me before the throne of God! Lately I have been struggling with multiple issues. Some are more recent and I know they are fleeting. Others are not so fleeting. None the less, I am comforted that no matter how long or short the trial or waiting is, the whole time, without ceasing, the Lord is interceding on my behalf. I have also been learning that the sin does not come from not liking the trial or the waiting. The sin comes when I believe that God is "holding out" on me. My God is one gives freely and abundantly ALL good things, in their time. (Ecclesiastes 3:11 - He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end). Praise be to God, for knows and hears my hearts desires, and gives me all that is good!




Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus
Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free
Rolling as a mighty ocean
In its fullness over me
Underneath me, all around me
Is the current of Your love
Leading onward, leading homeward
To Your glorious rest above

Oh the deep, deep love
All I need and trust
Is the deep, deep love of Jesus

Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus
Spread His praise from shore to shore
How He came to pay our ransom
Through the saving cross He bore
How He watches o’er His loved ones
Those He died to make His own
How for them He’s interceding
Pleading now before the throne

Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus
Far surpassing all the rest
It’s an ocean full of blessing
In the midst of every test
Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus
Mighty Savior, precious Friend
You will bring us home to glory
Where Your love will never end

He's always been faithful to me...

Music with beautiful words always has the ability to stir up emotion and passion in me. On Sunday we sang the song "He's always been faithful". Even now as I sit here typing, singing the song in my head it brings tears to my eyes. I look at my life and see God's grace everywhere. Though I make foolish decisions, though I am selfish, when I had no understanding of God's character and therefore no understanding of what pleased God; He pursues me. He has protected me, guided me, and loved me with an everlasting love. Daily I forget the God I serve. I make Him into a pebble when He is the Rock. So easy is it to rely on self, and forget what God has done and continues to do in our lives.

God, I cry out to you! I praise You and all Your beauty. I weep with regret for what I have not done well, and weep for joy in the blood that has covered it. I praise you for Your goodness. You are truly good in all ways. You are my one true desire! My only survival.

though i feel in want, i need not
though i strive for happiness, i have joy
though i long for comfort, i have peace
i have all in You
i desire what only You can give

i have searched for love, and found pain
i have tried to succeed, but lacked gain
my best is worth rags
a sentence to death, yet i have life
i have all in You

my search for the temporal, for the perfect fruit
how my heart so easily fixes on one
but You have provided many
You provide the garden, despite my futile efforts
and i realize again
i have all in You

Lord bind me to thee
let Your proven love resonate in my mind and my heart
may it compel me to trust You more tomorrow
than i have today
may my heart's song always be
i have all in You

1 Peter 3:13-17

How gently and gracefully You draw me. How I am deeply moved by Your love for me. It is so easy for me to tell someone I love them. It is wonderful to believe someone loves me. But no one can express perfect sacraficial love, but You. All of my desires You hold in Your hands. By love songs I could be moved to tears for longing, now I smile knowing You fulfill all love songs! You are greater than any human emotion. You satisfy more than a desire fulfilled! You are the lover of my soul. My contentment comes from serving You, because I know it never goes unnoticed, and I desire to hear You say, "Well done". I take comfort in Your plan as a baby takes comfort in his mother's arms... I know I am safe here.

"Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil." ~ 1 peter 3:13-17

Too many worries...

Lord there are so many thoughts, worries, and fears that are in my head right now. So many things that I am trying to plan or foresee. So many thoughts that are keeping my thoughts from you. I am not sure how to push them to the side so I may have a heart that only longs for you. As I dwell on your word tonight, may my heart be at peace within me. May I no longer look to what the future holds as my comfort, but let me forever find my comfort in you. I praise you, for you plan my footsteps, so I have no need to worry or fear.

Psalm 57

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
till the storms of destruction pass by.

*I cry out to God Most High,
to God who fulfills His purpose for me.*

He will send from heaven and save me;
he will put to shame him who tramples on me. selah
God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!

My soul is in the midst of lions;
I lie downamid fiery beasts-
the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows,
whose tongues are sharp swords.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!

They set a net for my steps;
my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my way,
but they have fallen into it themselves.
Selah

My heart is steadfast, O God,
my heart is steadfast!
I will sing and make melody!

Awake, my glory!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn!

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.

For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!

If I could just sit with you awhile

When I cannot feel, when my wounds don't heal
Lord I humbly kneel, hidden in You
Lord, You are my life so I don't mind to die
Just as long as I am hidden in You

If I could just sit with You a while, if You could just hold me
Nothing could touch me though I'm wounded, though I die
If I could just sit with You a while,
I need You to hold me Moment by moment, 'till forever passes by

When I know I’ve sinned when I should have been
Crying out my God and hidden in you
Lord I need you now, more than I know how
So I humbly bow, hidden in you

If I could just sit with You a while, if You could just hold me
Nothing could touch me though I'm wounded, though I die
If I could just sit with You a while, I need You to hold me
Moment by moment, 'till forever passes by

Lord, I will trust you

"Search my heart, search my mind, search my soul
Make me clean, make me new, make me whole

All of my plans, all of my dreams,
I lay them down before Your feet
All of my time, all that was mine,
I now submit to Your design "

- Aaron Shust

Yesterday was the day. Court was in the morning and everyone went as scheduled. The first part of the day was not too bad because I was in, what I like to call, "task oriented" mode. I was the thinking about the legistics of everything. Then the afternoon came, then the evening, then night. Anyone who has ever had anything tragic happen ( or at least seemingly tragic) knows that the later it gets in the day, the more reality begins to settle in. I was with multiple people last night, yet I still felt alone.

The lyrics above are my theme song for this stage of life that God is allowing me to walk through. It is very easy to have the radio on and sing along to a song like this. But it takes on a whole new meaning when the thing(s) you hold dear are stripped away and you have to make the decision to place all that you love and hope for on the altar for God.

Lord I will trust you with my life
though my heart is broken
I will trust you
Through tears and through pain
I will trust you
Though I know not what tomorrow holds
I will trust you
Through this, and all things grow in me a spirit of contentment
Where ever You call me to be, I will trust you