My Angel

ANGEL

by Casting Crowns

My Dearest Kyristen,
You're the proof that the Father answers prayers!
I love you with all my heart.
-Stephen

It was a day just like any other day
I was a boy just like every other boy
When a girl unlike any I had seen
It’s like she stepped out of a dream
And into my world
It could’ve been the summer wind
Playing with her hair
As the sun danced in her eyes
We were standing there
She smiled, I forgot my name
‘Cause all I was thinking

Maybe I’m crazy but I’m praying
That an angel will love me, an angel will love me
Maybe I’m a fool but I’m still falling
Asking Heaven above me for an angel to love me

The rest of my life
The rest of my life

You’re the proof that the Father answers prayer
Because somehow, some way
You and I are standing here
With a sacred promise and a ring that says it all
Oh, I’ve just begun to fall
And from the deepest part of me I say “I do”

And after all the changing seasons have turned to years
The crowds are gone and the songs have faded
I’ll still be here
Holding you and thanking Heaven for my angel

Maybe I’m crazy but I’m praying
That an angel will love me, an angel will love me
Maybe I’m crazy for praying an angel will love me
Maybe I’m a fool but I’m still falling
Asking Heaven above me for an angel to love me
The rest of my life
The rest of my life

I Love You

It's just you and me,

on my island of hope.

Breath between us, could be miles.

Let me surround you.

My sea to your shore.

Let me be the calm you seek.

"I love you."

-Sarah McLachlan

I Will Notice

Quote from the movie "Shall We Dance?"....

"We need a witness to our lives.  There's a billion people on the planet.... I mean, what does any one life mean?

But in marriage, you're promising to care about everything.  The good things, the bad things, the terrible things, the mundane things... all of it, all the time, every day.

You're saying 'Your life will not go unnoticed because I will notice it.  Your life will not go unwitnessed because I will be your witness.'"

Overwhelming Love

I love to share my experiences about what God has been doing in my life; but, I can never seem to get the words together to describe it well enough.  No matter what I type, or say, the words always seem to fall short.  So many times I feel like people must think I'm crazy, but they just don't understand.  God is so good and so full of love.  He has a plan for YOU... not a religious, jump-through-hoops, recite this prayer thing... no way!  You are his child and he looooooves you!  Isaiah 49:16 even says that He has engraved or tattooed you on the palm of his hands.  He wants to be a part of everything you do.  He is a good Father!

Years ago, I went through the most painful and tragic time in my life as my marriage of 15 years crumbled and fell apart.  In broken-hearted desperation, I cried out, day after day for God.  Faithfully, He carried me through the weeks and months that followed.  He strategically placed believers and experiences in my life that lifted me out of the pit of depression and bitterness that I was in.  He taught me forgiveness, and taught me how to love and trust again.  He taught me how to pray and worship in spirit and truth.  But most importantly, He ruined me and spoiled me for His love and presence.

Never in all of my years as a follower of Christ did I have such an incredible, overwhelming desire to spend time with my Father God.  Here I am years later and the revival in my life is stronger than ever before.  My passion and hunger for God often overwhelms me, and I just have to get away to spend time with Him.  Whether it's through worship and praise, reading the bible, taking communion, spending time in prayer, or just laying face down before Him.... I just can't seem to get enough.

Every day, I can truly feel my Father beckoning and interrupting me throughout my day.  At least a hundred times a day a spark ignites in my spirit that causes my attention to shift to Him.  Like a playful lover interrupting your day with a 'thinking of you' text message, so does my Father with His beckoning. It happens at work, at the store, at my house, when I'm surrounded by people, and when I'm all alone.  His love beckons, and I can not wait to find time alone with Him.

Please hear my heart in this matter.  You will never experience this with earthly religious practices... you will only sense this when you are completely and wholly surrendered to Jesus.  He will immersed you in the Holy Spirit, and you will become alive with passion!  I am not boasting or bragging; but, I am trying to excite hunger in your heart like mine.  I know three other people right now who are experiencing this same God-given revival in their own lives, and several others who are pressing in for a breakthrough right now!  Remember that God does not show favoritism (Rom 2:11).  His desire is for all of His children to hunger and thirst after Him. If you seek Him, you WILL find Him!  He promises that He will give you rivers of living waters flowing from within.  (John 7:38)  I am experiencing these rivers daily, and I pray that you will too.

I have been given so much and I have been blessed beyond measure!!  I hunger for more and more and more.  With all that I have been given, there's still an eternity filled with the wonder and amazement of my Father.  He's the God who holds the entire universe in the span of his hand (Isaiah 40:12)... imagine the millions and millions of things that He has not even begun to reveal to us yet.  My heart burns for more and more.

Dance With Me

Dance With Me

Jesus Culture

Won't You dance with me, Oh

Lover of my soul

to the song of all songs?

Romance me, Oh

Lover of my sould

to the song of all songs.

You're Not Alone

You're Not Alone

Meredith Andrews

Who Will...

"Who will love me, for me"

What Love Really Means

JJ Heller

Forthcoming Love...

My Dearest Forthcoming Love...

Right now my Father is working on me.  He's working on my heart.  He's healing and restoring me.  He's teaching me how to trust again and how to love with an unbroken heart.  My Father's hand is steady and deliberate.  There is purpose in every motion that He creates in my life.

Though I don't know you yet, please wait patiently, because the day is coming when the timing will finally be right.  On that day, He will take you by the hand and lead you into my life and I'll forever be able to sing "God Gave Me You".  Until then, I will be patiently awaiting our day.

Divinely yours,
Stephen

Go! Touch! Tell! Love! Serve!

God's been placing so many thoughts in my heart lately.  My mind has been swirling with words, scriptures, ideas and concepts.  I know these are from my Father's heart, because many of these are come head-to-head against my own fears, limits and frustrations.   I feel He is drawing me into a new season and I cannot wait to see where all this leads.

I just want to journal a rough list of recent things on my heart.  Father let these be done in me...

• My plan is out-dated, old and obsolete.  His plan is the new strategy. 
• Nothing of this world will matter to me any more.
• I have died to myself, I am dying to my own dreams and goals.  I am only alive for the purposes of Christ.  In Him I live and breathe. 
• The book of my life is being rewritten.  Love is the plot, Faith is the binding and Hope is the pen with which I write.
• Fears are gone!  Fear of death, failure, loneliness, fear of growing old, fear of poor health, your notice has been served!  You have been broken!
• Money and finances are no longer the most important thing to me.  In fact, they are being moved to the most insignificant place.  I am fully funded to do what my Father asks.
• Simplify, Downsize, Eliminate, Lighten the load, Sell, Give, Live below my means.
• Cap my spending and income and give the rest.  
• My American dream robs from my Heavenly treasure.
• My earthly cost: persecution, suffering, misunderstood, hated, mocked
• My heavenly reward: priceless beyond measure
• Time to move from the checkbook to the street.  Go!  Touch!  Tell!  Love!  Serve!
• Fast, Pray, Discern, Listen, Hunger, Thirst, Seek
• Risk everything.  Go "all in".  Expect the unexpected.
• 6 billion people need my Father.
• Just Go... Make a difference... the world is waiting.

For Better or Worse

I had the privilege of being a witness of true love yesterday.  My son and I were fishing near the boat launch at the lake, when a small SUV pulled up with a pontoon boat attached.  An older gentleman stepped out of the car.  He was in his mid-50's with a long gray beard and was dressed just like a fisherman should be.

As he approached us, he started scoping out the boat ramp.  He was very friendly and began to tell me that his wife was handicapped and he was trying to figure out the best way to put the boat in the water.  "You see," he explained, "We love fishing and used to have a couple of  bass boats.  But ever since my wife's been handicapped we haven't been able to go out on the lake.  I just bought this pontoon boat and I built a special ramp so I can get her wheelchair from the dock to the boat."  He continued conversing with me while he was inspecting the ramp, and then when he was satisfied with his plan, he explained to me how he was going to do this.  I smiled, nodded, and realized I may have the help this guy a little.

He returned to the SUV and I could hear him lovingly explaining to his wife how he was going to back the car up, tie off the boat, pull up the ramp to a nearby parking space and then help her onto the boat.  I didn't notice anything odd, and she was quiet so I figured she must be used to him taking time to explain and care like this.

After several attempts he was able to get the boat in the water.  I did offer my help and he was glad to have the extra hand to stabilize and secure the boat while he pulled the car and trailer up to the handicap parking spot.  He called out to me several times to express his thanks.

I wasn't prepared for what was about to take place.  As the gentleman opened his wife's car door and loving spoke to her, she squealed and shrieked uncontrollably and excitedly.  She was so loud that it startled me and my son.  We were some distance from their car, but I found myself looking around to see if anyone else noticed how odd this was.  His wife was not just physically handicapped and unable to stand without the use of a wheelchair, but there was a mental aspect involved as well.

It took him a few minutes to get her out of the SUV and into her wheelchair.  She was obviously very excited (and loud) about the boat as she kept squealing.  Once in a while, I could pick out a word or two she was saying, but he knew and understood her ever sound.  As he wheeled her down the pier he smiled and called out to me again.  "She's so excited!  You see?  She's just so excited about all this!"  He never  flinched or apologize for the strangeness.  He never realized how odd this was.  He didn't try to silence her, or even act like anything was wrong.  He was so happy to see her excitement and he couldn't wait to get her on the boat.

As he approached his "homemade" wheelchair ramp, she became scared and started to scream.  The ramp was about four feet long, but we had tied the boat so close to the pier, that she was really only going to pass over about 6 inches of water in the process.  But those 6 inches cause a great deal of fear for her, and her way of expressing it was screaming.  He stopped and talked with her.  He reassured her and calmed her and then he pushed her across the ramp an onto the boat.  Once on the boat, the excitement returned and she was obviously happy again.

I've been thinking about that couple several times throughout the day.  My mind was searching for answers to explain the level of care and attention that he was providing.  I wondered what could have caused the mental aspect of her handicapped.  I imagined how devastating that must have been on him and on their relationship; but then again -- it didn't even phase him.  He cared for her as if she was a child, but she was his wife.  Couples today are so quick to divorce over such petty issues, but here's a man that is committed "for better or worse".  And not only is he committed, he embraced it with a gentle, loving, kindness and excitement. There's so many lessons in what I saw today.... I know I'll remember that experience for years to come.

 

Your love sets me free

Addison Road

Hope Now

Everything rides on hope now

Everything rides on faith somehow

When the world has broken me down

Your love sets me free

You've become my hearts desire

I will sing Your praises higher

Cause Your love sets me free

This Love is Stronger

For several months I have been following the story of "Daisy Love" and praying for her as often as I can remember. Daisy Love Merrick is the precious daughter of Pastor Britt Merrick of Reality Church in California.  Daisy is just five years old and has been battling a rare form of cancer called "Wilms Tumor".  If you get a chance, please visit Daisy's web site called http://PrayForDaisy.com

A beautiful song was written for Daisy by Dominic Balli
Today I simply wanted to share this song with you, but if you'd like more information about Dominic Balli you can visit this page.

I hope you enjoy this song and please take time to pray for Daisy...

When that storm comes
Like a hurricane
And the sun seems far away

We will not fear the wind
We will not fear the waves
I can feel your calm within

When this life is shaken
By ragin’ seas
We are not gon’ be afraid

So if ya walk on waves and wind
Then hold my hand and I’ll walk again

Chorus:
This love is stronger than the blood that beats my heart
This love is deeper, than the pain of all these scars
This love goes farther than the hope in answer’s arms
This love is stronger
It’s strong enough for me

V.2
You lived our sorrows,
Befriended all our pain
All that we might rise again

You stole my sickness,
Rested in my disease
All that I might rest in thee

And you alone bring healing,
And for you I’ll wait
But we are not gon’ be afraid

Chorus:

Bridge:
We may be crushed but we are not ever forsaken
We may be struck down but we are not ever destroyed
Then when that fire comes to shine through me your glory
We are not gonna be afraid

The Thief

Brook Fraser has an amazing, poetic way with the lyrics in her songs.  Recently I listened to a couple of her albums and read the words as she sung.  I love her style and the deep meanings in her lyrics.

In this song I love the lines...

"It is as if, 

I knew you before we spoke

Do our hearts know something we don't?

Conspiring, converging without giving us any say"

and the lines...

"You're ruining me

With secrets and gestures and looks.

With sonnets from second-hand books

Playing the chords in me, nobody knew how to play"

Love it.. good stuff! :-)

Holding My Heart Out

Love, where is your fire?

by Brooke Fraser

Love, where is your fire?

I've been sitting here smoking away.

Making signals with sticks

and odd ends and bits, 

but still there's no sign of a flame.

Imposters have been passing,

offering a good-feeling glow.

But I'm holding out 

for what you are about

an inferno that burns to the bone.

Some urge me to be temperate.

Lukewarm will never do.

Cause I wanna blaze with you.

So I'm holding my heart out to you.

So I stand handing out torches,

speaking words that are lamps to their feet.

Till the time when you come

and I'm whole and we're one and

the fire in me is complete.

Then a doubt comes to lie

at the back of my mind

That I'll offer you me

and you'll politely decline.

So I hasten to mute it.

I'll shout and rebuke it "away!"

Cause I know I'll blaze with you.

Cause I'm holding my heart out to you.

Cuts Like a Knife

Luke 22:47-51 says...

While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them.  He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"


When Jesus' follower saw what was going to happen, they said "Lord, should we strike with our swords?" And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.


But Jesus answered, "No more of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him (immediately).

I speak with experience when I say "betrayal cuts like a knife."  Nothing that I have ever experienced has pierced so deeply and caused so much pain in my life.  Anxiety quickly set in, and depression lingered on and on.

My Father God was so faithful to rescue me.  For almost a year, He led me to specific scriptures that soothed my soul on a daily basis.  He put songs in my heart, and worship on my lips.  He taught me how to forgive, how to love, and how to move on.  He put friends and mentors in place with words of encouragement.  It's been a very long process, but today I am a new creation in Jesus, and my heart has been completely healed and set free.

Even after all of this, the process of healing still requires the hand of God in my life every day, and today was no exception.  In the middle of a perfect day, a simple, small reminder hit me like a brick wall.  Within seconds I could feel my blood boiling and my heart sinking.  It was like the devil had punched me right in the stomach and took the wind out of me.  Three minutes earlier life was great, now I was once again at the bottom of a pit looking up.

But Jesus is so faithful and He is so near...

Just like the scripture above, I could hear him say "No more of this!"  I could feel His hand reaching out to me, and swiftly healing me once again.  He lifted me and put my feet back on stable ground.  He reminded me of forgiveness and love, and he quickly restored my soul.  The whole experience from sinking to healing lasted about 10 minutes. 

God is so good, and so faithful!! 
Praise you Lord Jesus for your swift healing!!

I Yearn For You

Lord I want to yearn for You

I want to burn with passion

over You, and only You

Lord, I want to yearn.

-Shane and Shane

Forgive

Bitterness cannot take root in a heart

that chooses to forgive.
-smk

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 

Colossians 3:12-14

Father's Love Letter

My Child,

You may not know me, but I know everything about you.
Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up.
Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways.
Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.
Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image.
Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being.
Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring.
Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived.
Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation.
Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book.
Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth
and where you would live.
Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb.
Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born.
Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me.
John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love.
1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.
1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child and I am your Father.
1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.
Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father.
Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.
James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.
Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love.
Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore.
Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you.
Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession.
Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul.
Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things.
Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me.
Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires.
Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine.
Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you.
Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart.
Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes.
Revelation 21:3-4

And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth.
Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus.
John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.
John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being.
Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you.
Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you.
1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love.
Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me.
1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you from my love again.
Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen.
Luke 15:7

I have always been Father, and will always be Father.
Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is… Will you be my child?
John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you.
Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad
Almighty God

Father's Love Letter used by permission
Father Heart Communications Copyright 1999-2010
www.FathersLoveLetter.com

You Are My Joy!

You Are My Joy

David Crowder Band

He set me on fire, and I am burning alive.
With His breath in my lungs I am coming undone.
And he set me on fire and I am burning alive.
With his breath in my lungs I am coming undone.

And I cannot hold it in and remain composed.
Love's taken over me
So I propose the letting myself go.
I am letting myself go.

You are my joy.
You are my joy.
You are my joy.
You are my joy.

And He set me on fire, and I am burning alive.
With His breath in my lungs I am coming undone.
And He set me on fire, and I am burning alive.
With His breath in my lungs I am coming undone.
And I cannot hold it in and remain composed.
Love's taken over me and so I propose the letting myself go.
I am letting myself go.

You are my joy.
You are my joy.
You are my joy.
You are my joy.

I need to catch my breath, I need to.
I need to catch my breath, give me a moment now.

You are my joy.
You are my joy.
You are my joy.
You are my joy.

I'm laughing so hard
And I'm laughing so hard
And I'm laughing so hard

He Woos

Woo...

     a) to seek the affection, favour or love of.
     b) to seek after zealously or hopefully.
     c) to court, to invite, to seek."

God has been wooing my heart all day long. He's been drawing me closer through words, verses, songs, and favor.  When I woke up, I could immediately feel His presence and felt Him saying "I miss you"  and "I'm with you".  I've been here before, and I knew that it was going to be a precious day.  I began seeking Him by praying while taking a shower, and calling out His name.  I could sense the heart of my Father drawing near.  His presence continued to beckon me throughout my day and I'm finally beginning the climb out of the heaviness that has been on my heart lately. His Grace empowers and His Love Never Fails.

He's relentless.  
     He pursues me.  
          He engulfs me.  
               He overwhelms me.
                    He chases.

He goes before me.
     He walks beside.
          His glory is my rear guard.
               He covers me.
                   He lifts and secures my step


He never gives up.  
     He comes like He promises.  
          He pours out His Spirit.  
               There's always more.  
                    There's always more.


He's unending.
     He opens up the heavens.
          He rains down.
               He reaches farther and farther.
                    And then He does it again.