How He Loves

While doing my bible study, I was listening to How He Loves (one of my favorite songs) & one part struck me today. There's this part where it's only instrumental & then all the sudden the tempo picks up and the chorus "Oh how he loves us! Oh how he loves us!" continues in & for me it meant something more than usual.

Through this time of support raising, I've forgotten that I'm not alone in this. I have a Lord God who is working everything out for me & has a great plan for me! And even though sometimes I forget how much he loves me, I always remember. Lately, I've felt like that instrumental part of the song - Still with the Lord, knowing He's there, but not exactly loving him or praising him for what he is doing. Then all the sudden, I feel this rush of peace, joy & happiness that floods my heart and my thoughts and I remember again how much I LOVE HIM. How much He is great! How all the glory goes to Him! And that He loves ME, out of all people. I am his child and he will guide me through an obstacle that I face.

Oh Lord, I love you & thank you for loving me.

Here I am humbled by the love that You give,
Forgiven so that I can forgive.
So here I stand,
Knowing that I am Your desire,
Sanctified by glory and fire.
And now I've found the greatest love of all is mine,
Since You laid down Your life,
The greatest sacrife.

Majesty, Majesty.
Your grace has found me just as I am,
Empty handed but alive in your hands.
Forever I am changed by Your love,
In the presence of Your Majesty.

Australia Lovin

Some of our Wallabe team, mostly UCLA kids with one Cal Poly friend!

I'm so excited for our team! They're all so great in different ways!

Lord, I lift up a prayer for our team at this moment. I pray that they are relying on you and solely you for their needs and wants! I know we are all going through stress with raising support, but I pray that you give them peace in their hearts. I pray for our leadership, that they will be vessels that you will directly use to guide us through preparation and the trip itself. I pray for those who are financially struggling. I pray that they trust fully in your mighty works and know that you will get them through any situation that comes their way. If it's in your will Lord, you will get every single one of us to Australia! Lord, I pray that with these last weeks of school, we will glorify you in everything that we do! That we will shine YOUR light and proclaim YOUR name in our actions and words. Lord I pray for those missionaries in countries and local areas now. I pray for strenghth, guidance, health, and high-spirits! I love you Lord so much and I thank you for placing me in an area where I can publicly proclaim my love for you! I pray this in your son's name. Amen.

Worship

I have always felt a strong connection to the Lord through the act of worship. I get this sense of comfort and love whenever I worship to my Lord through singing or just praying throughout the song. I've never really known why, but I can definitely feel God's presence with me during those times. Lately, worship has been a little different because of everything running through my mind. From Australia support raising, to the trip in general, to picking a leadership team next year . . my mind is just filled with all these thoughts that I'm praying to the Lord for guidance for. However, worship puts me into perspective onto WHOM I am asking the guidance from. The lyrics within the song help me refocus my prayers from asking for guidance to merely praising Him for his work in my life thus far. I am so incredibly blessed and I know that He will help me through these decisions and opportunities that He himself has blessed me with.

One song that has been on my heart lately is "With Everything" by Hillsong.

It's such a great illustration of giving everything to the Lord, which is definitely an intimidating thought, but something we're all called to do!

Open our hearts to see the things that make Your heart cry

To be the church, the You would desire

Light to be seen

Break down our pride and all the walls we've built up inside

Our earthly crowns and all our desires

We lay at Your feet

So let hope rise

And darkness tremble

In Your holy light

And every eye will see

Jesus, our God

Great and mighty to be praised

God of all days,

Glorious in all of Your ways.

Your majesty, the wonder and grace,

In the light of Your name.

With everything

With everything

We will shout for your glory

With everything

With everything

We will shout forth your praise