We sing songs in worship, but do we slow to think of who wrote them, how they came about, what they say and define? I heard it once said that Christians don’t tell lies, they sing them. While I know that is not true for all of us, I dare say that it can be said of all of us from time to time. I do love that the Christmas season brings about its own songs for us to sing and celebrate the Savior with. My absolute favorite Christmas song to be sang is “O Holy Night!” or “Mary did you know?” and then we cannot forget “Silent Night”. Each with their own passion, story and intimacy. I know I should choose one of those for this section, but the Lord has led me to another song. I was introduced to this song last year and I am forever thankful to the Lord for it. The most powerful foundation of this song is the Living Word of God.
Singing the Word of God is the most powerful praise we can give. These are the moments when we know that Christ is exalted and not ourselves. These are the Words written and given for mankind to know The Lord better and as we sing Him,we come in contact with a greater purpose and a greater experience than ourselves. These are the Romans 12 moments of the renewing of our minds and the proving of God’s perfect Will.
Risen Savior (Sing My Soul)
Who bore our sin Who took our shame? The Lamb of God Holy and righteous is His name. (1 Peter 2:24)
Sing my soul, sing out and bless the Lord For He has overcome, Oh by His precious blood Now He’s lifted high, come let us lift our eyes Set them on Jesus Christ, He is our Risen Savior
(Psalm 103-104, Philippians 2:9-11)
Who heals our wounds Who knows our pain? The Lamb of God Holy and Righteous is His name Nothing can ever take His place. (1 Peter 2:24)
Sing my soul, sing out and bless the Lord For He has overcome, Oh by His precious blood Now He’s lifted high, come let us lift our eyes Set them on Jesus Christ, He is our Risen Savior (Psalm 103-104, Philippians 2:9-11)
Let the earth be filled with Glory Let our hearts be filled with praise You are worthy, God Almighty Holy, Holy, Holy
(Psalm 72:19; Revelation 4:8-11)
Is it a coincidence that when the church or the Christian sings the Words “You are worthy, God Almighty, Holy! Holy! Holy!” the atmosphere changes. The environment changes. These Words are being said by angels even now as we sit reading these Words. The Heavens are declaring Him! The advent is really all about sitting and recognizing that He is Worthy, He is God Almighty, and that He is HOLY! HOLY! HOLY!
The Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah – Matthew 1:1-17
The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham:
Abraham fathered Isaac, Isaac fathered Jacob, and Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers. Judah fathered Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez fathered Hezron, and Hezronfathered Ram. Ram fathered Amminadab, Amminadab fathered Nahshon, and Nahshon fathered Salmon. Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab, Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth, and Obed fathered Jesse. Jesse fathered David the king.
David fathered Solomon by Bathsheba, who had been the wife of Uriah. Solomon fathered Rehoboam, Rehoboam fathered Abijah, and Abijah fathered Asa. Asa fathered Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat fathered Joram, and Joram fathered Uzziah. Uzziah fathered Jotham, Jotham fathered Ahaz, and Ahaz fathered Hezekiah. Hezekiah fathered Manasseh, Manasseh fathered Amon, and Amon fathered Josiah. Josiahfathered Jeconiah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.
After the deportation to Babylon: Jeconiah fathered Shealtiel, and Shealtiel fathered Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel fathered Abihud, Abihud fathered Eliakim, and Eliakim fathered Azor. Azor fathered Zadok, Zadok fathered Achim, and Achim fathered Eliud. Eliud fathered Eleazar, Eleazar fathered Matthan, and Matthan fathered Jacob. Jacob fathered Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.
17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteengenerations; from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteengenerations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations.
Have we ever slowed down long enough to investigate the names represented in this lineage of grace? When I was in high school looking into the word of God asking what I should study next, He led me to the lineage. These names, these people, and their stories are not here by accident. They each represent another pillar of grace shown upon all of humanity. When you review the fact that there are men from all walks of life and every journey known to man and they are the foundational rocksof welcoming the Savior of the world. And five women. Five. Five is the number for grace in scripture that can be found all over the Word of God reflecting His grace on our lives, and He chose to give us five women in the lineage that represent each of us.
Tamar: the unwanted.
Rahab: the mistreated.
Ruth: the forgotten.
Bathsheba: the taken.
Mary: the misunderstood.
These women represent all of us. None of us are left out and the Lord cherished them and chose to call them blessed. They experience the Christ in many ways and one of the most powerful being through the birth of their own children. The welcome of holding their own children, was partially welcoming the Christ. And when does the advent season truly being? I challenge that it took place every moment of every day, but especially in these families at the birth of the next generation. The longing for the coming of Christ dictated their very existence and their family purpose – but did they know it? With the creation of every new generation, they were one step closer to the Christ. Could the same be said of us?
And then we have fourteen generations between Abraham and David, David to Babylon deportation, Babylon deportation to Jesus. Is that a coincidence? I say not. The number fourteen represents a double measure of spiritual perfection. But that is an entire study all its own, which I encourage you into more. The linage of Jesus is more than words on a page. It contains the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit in its every motion. The enemy tried in many ways to destroy these people too… but he failed. Just as he will fail in our lives and in our journeys. Our High King has the victory, and we are privileged to walk in that truth and with that banner over us. May we celebrate the birth of each new generation of believers in our midst as that is one more day closer to His second coming. And may we rest in His goodness as we reflect on all He has done inus and for us, even then things that we are unaware of.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21
No book on this earth can replace the power of the Word of God. No words on this earth hold a candle to the power find through opening the Holy Word and soaking it in. There is not a book greater than His Book, the love letter written with me in mind. We are what we put in. If I enjoy my cheeseburgers and cheesecake every day of my life, my body will be a reflection of that. The same holds true for the soul. If I neglect the very words that bring life to my soul and mind, I will flounder in the wind.
I’ve been asked many times “what are you reading?” or “is this a good book?” or “what can I do to change my circumstance or be more joyful?” A few weeks ago, I began to really look at my bookshelves and realize the books I have read over the course of my short 37 years have brought great impact to my outlook on life, my perspective on my circumstances on life and what I have chosen to impact my head space. So, this blog is a little unique, as I am sharing the books that have meant something to me – but come highly recommended.
Disclaimer: I do not necessarily agree with all of the authors stance on many things, so please do not use this message as an attempt on anything ugly. I am stating that these specific books pushed me, challenged me, and encouraged me. These books below are never meant to replace the time spent with the Word of God – only to enhance the time spent. Here we go….
The Autobiography of George Muller; Corrie Ten Boom; Prayers that Avail Much by Copeland; The Power of a Praying Wife by Omartian; Praying through the Names of God by Tony Evans; Secrets of the Secret Place by Bob Sorge and One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voscamp.
These books are some of the books I have owned and read for more than twenty years and some I just added within the last five. These books keep me grounded in my faith as they are foundational reminders to the scriptures that are so dear to my soul and give the life that continues to keep me moving in my darkest moments. They are tools in guiding me to the quiet stillness moments with my Lord. They are the constant visuals of continued mission. Our days are difficult – my life is full of uphill climbs, and I am sure so is yours… but these are core foundational reminders to keep the faith and stay connected to the only Life Giving Vine we know.
Two of these are daily prayer books that can be utilized to assist in daily prayer time [#3&4]. Two of these are stories of people you cannot find in existence anymore – they walked so closely with God the earth shook when they awoke [#1&2]. The other three are made up of helpful reminders of the importance of time alone with God [#6], time of gratitude during every day darkness [#7] and a reminder that every jot and tittle are not wasted in God’s word [#5].
Praying Circles Around Your Children by Mark Batterson; My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers; Upside Down Prayers for Parents by Bergren; Raising Kingdom Kids by Tony Evans; Kingdom Marriage by Tony Evans; Parenting by Tripp; New Morning Mercies by Tripp
These incredible books tell stories over my life. My Utmost for His Highest was first published in 1924 by Chambers’ widow [#2]. I can remember opening this devotional book for the first time in high school – I stole my mom’s book – and thinking about how timeless it was for our lives even today. These words ring loudly with wisdom and truths that are very uncommon to our culture, but dripping with the Spirit of God. Also, New Morning Mercies [#7], is a beautiful daily devotional read that was gifted to me by a very dear friend. They are full of powerful reminders a daily truths for today.
Praying Circles Around Your Children and Upside Down Prayers for Parents [#1&3] are also full of unique and counter-culture reminders and prayers applicable to the little humans you may be raising. Raising children is one of the most crucial positions and mission I hold and I cannot tell you how ill-equipped I often feel. These little reads are great reminders on how to stay focused on what truly matters and dismiss the rest. Numbers 4, 5 & 6 will give you great hope while dismantling all of the ugly found within your own selfish soul. I have a love and hate relationship with all three of these books because they enlighten me to many of my own character flaws which brings great pain, but it is the much needed, good pain. They have helped me grow more than so many other books I have touched.
The Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson; Grave Robber by Mark Batterson; You and Me Forever by Francis & Lisa Chan; Crazy Love by Francis Chan; You Were Made for More by Jim Cymbala; Spirit Rising by Jim Cymbala; Fresh Faith and Fresh Power by Jim Cymbala; Not Forsaken by Louis Giglio; For the Love by Jen Hatmaker; Seven by Jen Hatmaker; Here, Now by Kate Merrick; Adopted for Life by Moore; Forgiving What You Can’t Forget by Lysa Terkeurst; The Broken Way by Ann Voscamp.
WOW – each of these books I can tell you were I sat and what season of life I was in while I was reading them. The Fresh Faith and Fresh Power Cymbala books take me all the way back to high school reading. I know I was a nerd and not the normal high school student, just ask my youth pastor who was charged with dealing with me and my constant push for more! And the Batterson books which helped my not long after the death of my sister with navigating who my God says He is. And of course the Hatmaker books which lightened my up from religion and thrusted me into more of relationship and laughter with my God. And the timely book that I had read many years ago, The Broken Way by Ann Voscamp, which taught me foundational truths before I knew I would really need them.
Here, Now – a wake up call to all who cannot seem to stop letting life control them. And Adopted for Life – the awesomeness about how we are all adopted in Christ and how that parallels for those littles among us adopted into our family home. Crazy Love by Chan will challenge you – if you think you love God, read this. It will make you think twice about what love really is. You Were Made for More by Cymbala – I remember reading all of NYC when me and my husband Clif went on a couples only weekend trip to hear from God and photograph the city. It was a powerful weekend of renewal and goodness for us both and this was my book of choice. Never would I dream our family and home would look the way it does now. Every day I am blessed.
And of course, You and Me Forever a great marriage book and tool to be the guideposts on this journey. And Forgiving What You Cannot Forget – speaks for itself. A Powerful Read to stop the victim card being played in your life. And Not Forsaken by Giglio – exactly that… all are must go to’s. And reminder books for life.
Prayers that Avail Much for Women, Copeland; How Successful People Lead, Maxwell; Minute Motivators for Leaders; Slow Down by Nordeman; Simple Truths of Service; Go-Giver; Rainmaker; The 12 Week Year; The Sensational Salesman, Cummings; Live Love Lead by Houston; Spiritual Leadership by Blackaby; FISH; Inside the Magic Kingdom – Disney’s Success; Customer Satisfaction is Worthless Customer Loyalty is Priceless.
Each of these are business, sales, leadership, customer service, good human books. I could go into detail, but honestly, each of these have nuggets of goodness and best practices for all. If you are in business at all – read them all. If you are a leader at all, read them all.
CS Lewis; Francine Rivers; Karen Kingsbury – best fiction authors with purpose
These are some of the best fiction books and series I have ever read with a greater purpose. The Magicians Nephew by CS Lewis is the first book in the Chronicles of Narnia Series – A MUST READ. The Screwtape Letters is a book written by the demons who are trying to destroy a human’s life. It gives great perspective on our days of living today, even though written many years ago. Rejoice is in the first series of the 20+ book series of the Baxter Family books by Karen Kingsbury. I couldn’t find my first book, Redemption, I am sure I loaned it out – but these are a powerful fiction read of a family living life with problems growing their faith. I believe many of us can relate.
Angels Walking series is another set of books by Karen Kingsbury that speaks to how the angels walk among us – such a great fiction by bound in truth read! Francine Rivers is one of the most historical fiction authors I’ve ever read – she will create stories within a biblical era and do great things with not being against scripture, but building the stories out. Sons of Encouragement and Lineage of Grace are great examples of this. Also, my favorite series of ALL Time is the Mark of the Lion Series which begins with Voice in the Wind. Redeeming Love – read it the first time in 24 hours. I am thankful there is one who passionately pursues my soul in this way. Even after I leave and flee so very often. I highly recommend each of these great literary marvels!
Multiply by Francis Chan; Walking with God in Every Season- Ecclesiastes/SongofSolomon/Lamentations, Arthur/Delacy; Ezra/Nehemiah/Esther by Arthur/Delacy; 40 minute studies by Arthur/Delacy; Waymaker by Ann Voscamp; No Other Gods by Minter; Gideon by Priscilla Shirer; Radical by David Platt, The Broken Way by Ann Voscamp; Breathe by Priscilla Shirer; Covenant by Kay Arthur; not listed: PRECEPT UPON PRECEPT by Kay Arthur
Discipleship Books – each and every one of these have unlocked a powerful truth about my God. If you are looking for core foundational truths that challenge you and encourage you in your relationship with God, these are great studies that will grow you and take you deeper in fellowship with the Lord. Each of these will guide you in the Truth of the Word and the hope of tomorrow. The bible study of Gideon, for example, Priscilla Shirer unpacks the story of Gideon. The powerful truth of how our God looks at a scared man fearing for his life and calls him a “Valiant Warrior.” Even when our actions don’t line up, our God still speaks truth over us. A great place to start bible studies is on precept.org – they have studies for all walks of life and all ages.
I know this is a lot to share on this amazing Christmas Eve – but today is the day to start to read. Reading changes an atmosphere. What we are putting in is either bringing death or life. Choose to turn the TV and the Facebook off today and pick up a book that will bring life! Make the most of 2023 – make it different than the last.
From the day of our 20 week ultrasound, we knew this journey was going to be difficult. Our amazing, beautiful, incredibly awesome baby girl, whom we had prayed for more than five years was about to breathe the air of this world for the first time. During that forever life-altering ultrasound visit, which was really only supposed to tell us what the color of balloons to have at our gender reveal party, forever changed me. Forever changed us. When life turns sideways.
On June 26, 2013, we were given news that our sweet Miss Georgia was going to be born with a moderately impaired cleft lip, cleft palate and it would also effect the nose. Looking back on this day, I am reminded of how quickly the world can get dark. Cold. The feelings of unfairness, comparison, and discontentment can quickly move in to demand your every thought, every word and your every fear. When life turns sideways.
The concern with clefts is not just on the exterior, but while in the womb, it may be difficult to tell if the major internal organs are also effected. Many times, I am unsure of the statistics, when a child has a cleft it is an exterior deformity that has some major challenges within their body. At our 20 week ultrasound, our physician team was unclear of the road we were facing. They immediately scheduled a visit with the high risk team at UT Medical Center to take some 3D ultrasound views and more intimately look at each organ with some of the best physicians in the country in high risk deliveries of God’s gift to mankind. During this time, the highly experience team agreed that Miss Georgia’s cleft was only facial. And for that, we are still on our knees giving thanks.
But then the roller coaster began. Could God heal our baby girl before she was born? Yes, He always could…. He created her. Would God heal our baby girl before she was born? Only delivery would tell. And if healing did not take place, what did that say about our God? Or better yet, what would that say about me? When life turns sideways.
As many of you know, healing did not take place within the womb. Our precious baby girl was born with the most incredibly beautiful face, which also had a moderate cleft lip, cleft palate and they both effected the nose and gum line. But we loved it. We loved that little face so very much. The sassiness that came out in a newborn child is unparalleled. And the love that one person could feel for someone unregistered before. We loved her little face so much that before her first surgery (at two months old), we were kind of sad to see the sweet little lip be closed up. We had truly grown to love every single kiss from those little lips!
When life goes sideways. What do we do? Does it change who our God is? Does it change us?
Today, we are embarking on our third surgery. The second surgery was the largest one today date in that it completely rebuilt the her palate so that she could eat “normal”. This surgery, while just a one day, outpatient surgery to repair her nasal cavity, building up the walls of her nose and trimming down the excess skin from her lip, is the first she knows about.
Before now, she did not realize she had a cleft lip or cleft palate when she was born. She did not realize that she was different than anyone else. Before this month, she in her three year old mind had never known surgery or hospitals. She only knew fun! Life has now gone sideways.
If you know Miss Georgia, you know that her smile is radiant. Her sparkle is contagious. Her joy is unparalleled and her love is big! She understands. She feels. She grasps far more than a three year old should.
Today, we ask that our friends and family will intercede in prayer for our family today as my daughter, for the first time, becomes aware of pain through surgery. We ask that you will intercede on our family’s behalf that the enemy, who desires to steal, kill and destroy, has no power over the physicians, nurses, surgeon and hospital where we will be. We ask that you join us in praying for Miss Georgia’s beautiful purpose to be completely fulfilled and that through this experience she falls more and more in love with our Saviour. We thank you for all of your love and support!
Today is a big day for our home. And we pray that today our Father is glorified above all else.
As I bounce around in this small piece of metal in the air with Your wind and Your rain, I am reminded of just how small I really am. There are many days that I feel strong, big, in control…. But today, I am just a blip on the radar of Your force and strength. You are bigger. You are much stronger. My body can only bend to where Your creation tells it to go. The wings of the plane bounce. Jolt. Every burst of wind forces this “heavy piece of machinery” into it’s mercy. Your Mercy. The rain falls and the wing gets wet. The winds blow and the wing moves. The light on the end of the wing never stops blinking. It never stops shining and it never stops reminding the creation around it that the plane is coming.
That it is coming.
And just like that, the clouds break, the rain stops and the city comes into view. Is the airplane wing different through the storm….
The Church is to be the living and breathing Body of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ intentionally went to the least of these. His best and closest friends (the disciples He chose) were not among the upper echelon of people. The men and women that His Holy Book (the Bible) documents that He spent time with were the prostitutes and tax collectors (again, not the well liked of society).
Ephesians 5:1 tells us to “be imitators of God, as beloved children: and walk in love just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, as an offering and a sacrifice to God, as a fragrant aroma.”
“Imitators of God”…. when I walk around and do life, my little girl, Georgia, is constantly watching me. She says, “hello, it’s nice to meet you!” and shakes hands. She wants to drink coffee, sing and dance throughout the house. She wants to read a book and play on her phone. All because she wants to me an imitator of me. She isn’t me. But she wants to be like me. Just like I am not God or Jesus, but I want to be like them. So I must follow their example and imitate them. Paul even throws in there, “as beloved children…” The Lord and Paul knew that we would need an example. And since everything on earth is just “a shadow”, of course our children should teach us this beautiful lesson of being an imitator of Christ.
All too often we find ourselves becoming imitators of spiritual leaders- pastors, teachers, writers, speakers…. when our good book (the Bible) tells us to be imitators of Christ. In order to imitate Him, we must first know Him.
Ephesians 4: 4 “There is one body, and one Spirit, just as also you were called to one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all”. We are one body. We are one body in Christ.
We, as The Church of Jesus, The Body of Jesus, must be concerned about being where the “least of these” are and welcoming them into The Embassy (since we are ambassadors) for safe keeping from the enemy. If not, we are just a country club concerned about our own desires and well-beings…. but we must stop using Jesus Christ’s Name as a banner.
This book. This book. Wow. This book. Okay, so my girl Francine Rivers has challenged my knowledge of God’s Word once again. Francine writes a beautifully anointed book in exploring every avenue of scripture. She doesn’t just focus on the text, but the historical, physical and sociological climate of our scriptures.
This book explores the lives of five men in scripture: The Priest (Aaron), The Warrior (Caleb), The Prince (Jonathon), The Prophet (Amos) & The Scribe (Silas).
These men each faced extraordinary days in walking with the Unseen God of the Hebrews. These men were placed in positions that no one else had ever faced and were forced to choose- follow Him faithfully & fearlessly OR disobey and walk away from the only peace and truth they’d ever known.
Not only does Francine challenge us with her sanctified imagination of scripture, but she follows up each section with a dive straight into the Living Word of God. It is always important to decipher between what we actually know from scripture and what is sanctified imagination, but Francine paints crucial pictures for all believers everywhere to study out further.
This book has challenged me in ways I never could’ve dreamed. It has also taught me how to view each person in our Holy Scriptures: real, sinful people born of the same dust as me. These people were not super heroes. These people were common. These people only accomplished what they did for the Kingdom because the Spirit of the Living God was upon them. Lord, may I be one who is known as a girl with the Spirit….
In order to defeat the enemy, we must first identify him.
We all have one enemy.
He is referenced as the father of lies.
Our Lord told us that the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy. That same enemy accomplishes his work through unbelievers who give themselves over to him. While it is easy to sit and say that the Muslim religion is our enemy, let’s remember that they can be brought to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Does that mean that we roll over and look the other way so that we don’t offend someone? No. It means we take this battle, the fight, this war, to the only place where it can actually we won…. On our knees.
Our enemy must be defeated in the spiritual realm. Our enemy is Satan himself and the evil he brings into the world. When a nation stops praying, stops believing in the One True God, YHWH, then evil has the upper hand. And we are seeing that very thing unfold before us… Evil taking over our country, one city at a time.
Spiritual warfare is real. There is a spiritual world that is going on all around us, every moment of every day. This book is a beautiful fictitious depiction of how angels are involved in the spiritual warfare all around us.
Have you ever been curious about why God’s perfect plans for our lives are so important and how they effect those around us? God knows what is best for us, He knows what His perfect plan for us is, He wants us to surrender our will to His perfect Will. This book shows how normal people, living normal lives make decisions that effect the course of their lives forever. Karen Kingsbury creates an inner monologue within the reader that forces them to view every day activity with a new set of eyes, spiritual eyes.
If you want to look at life from a different vantage point, this series is the one for you this cold, winter season! It is a MUST READ! The second book in the series, Chasing Sunsets, is also ADDICTIVE and may actually be better than the first.
This series also shows you the major importance of prayer and the power that it has on the course of life. And never forget how much power is found in the Name of Jesus.
ous baby girl was born with the most incredibly beautiful face, which also had a moderate cleft lip, cleft palate and they both effected the nose and gum line. But we loved it. We loved that little face so very much. The sassiness that came out in a newborn child is unparalleled. And the love that one person could feel for someone unregistered before. We loved her little face so much that before her first surgery (at two months old), we were kind of sad to see the sweet little lip be closed up. We had truly grown to love every single kiss from those little lips!
fare all around us.
The Journey 