Spirit Lead Me

Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) - Hillsong

You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand

I'm so scared of the great unknown because I know my feet will fail me. Why can't I just trust? I want my faith to stand and grow and become bigger than any fear I have.

You are calling me dear Savior and I'm heeding the call. I'm running to You! Can you see me? I'm pushing through the shallow waves and I know where I am going. I'm going to the deep waters. I'm so tired of living in the shallows.


 And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Jesus. Jesus. Sweetest name I know. Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart. All I want is You. Take everything I have. Lay waste to the towers I build. Obliterate the idols of my own making. The temples I've erected to myself and my false gods. Destroy every wicked thing inside me and rise up inside me. Leave nothing untouched Lord! Sweep the house clean! I don't want to hold anything back from You again. So much less of me and so much more of You is what I seek Savior.

I am undone. Standing in the presence of the King there is no place to go but down on my face crying out, "Holy! Holy! Holy!"


 Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You've never failed and You won't start now

Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls Lord. I'll swim forever if that is what You want from me. The ocean you have set before me is beautiful and mysterious. I never want to say again, "I don't feel you anymore." I want to feel You all around me. I want You to be the reason I sing. My enemy may be a roaring lion on the shore but he has no power out here among the turquoise waters of Your grace. I am safe. 

I have always been safe in You. My home is not in the shallows or on the shore. My home is beneath the surface, surrounded only by You and Your love for me, King Jesus. Whom shall I fear? Who can hurt me? Who can remove my spirit from Your care? None can Lord. None can.

 Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior

Deeper is where I want to go, Lord. Further than I have ever gone before! Lead me! I'm ready. I'll leave all of this behind if I can just follow You. I can't see Your face just yet but I'll chase after your glory until I can. I'm swimming further out now Lord. I'm in a place I haven't seen in a long time. You brought me back here and I am grateful.

The waters of Your love are warm and comforting. I will sing to my God, my King. I love you with my broken and misleading heart. I will trust that You know my true self and can see past the falseness of this life. I know that You have forgiven me to the utmost. I'll stay here Lord. I don't want to go back the way I came.

Spirit lead me......

Dear Eden

My Dearest Eden,

     I love you to the moon and back! My love for you is something entirely new and amazing. Jesus made you just for me and your Pops. We are so blessed because of you.

     I prayed for you even before you were here. Now that I've had you in my life for a whole 6 months, I cannot imagine my life without you in it. I cannot wait to watch you grow. I can't wait for you to realize just how awesome your Nannie is!! :)

     Jesus gave you the very best Daddy and Mommy around. They both love you so much. You can even make your grumpy daddy smile in an instant, that's how powerful your cute face is! You love your momma so much even at only 6 months old. You dance for her and jabber at her constantly. She is the best mommy around!

     I hope that I am the best Nannie that I can be for you in the years to come. I hope that when you see me, you see Jesus. I hope that when I speak to you, you hear Jesus. I hope that when I hold you, you feel Jesus. I pray that you come to know Him as your Savior early in life to save yourself the pain of waiting till you are older. Nannie waited til she was 30 and man, that was a bad idea. So, never turn away from Him Eden, run to Him always. He loves you so much.

     I can't wait til you are back home in Texas so I can hug and squeeze you every single day! Just know that Nannie is always thinking about you every single day. You are always on my mind and I know for a fact it's the same for your Pops. He sure loves you so much!

Lots of love and kisses,

Nannie

You Gotta Friend in Me

You've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me
When the road looks rough ahead
And you're miles and miles from your nice warm bed
You just remember what your old pal said
Boy you've got a friend in me
Yeah you've got a friend in me

Simple song with a powerful, deep message.

There aren't many that I count as my close personal friends. I have found that living a life of ministry is not really compatible with having many intimate friends. Being in ministry is a hard calling and it is an even harder calling on the people God chooses to be friends with ministers and their wives.. Being the friend of a pastor's wife ain't no picnic! Especially this particular pastor's wife :)

Those that I call my friends are the ones I can call at the drop of a hat. These are the women that know my worst side and still want to be around me. These few precious jewels have seen me cry and comforted me when all I could see was darkness. They help me walk when the "road looks rough ahead," and they hold my hand to steady my steps. Not everyone can do this for me.

You've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me
You got troubles and I got 'em too
There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you
We stick together, we can see it through
'Cause you've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me

I've been thinking about my friends a lot these past few days. I have to come to the conclusion that they are worth more than any amount of money. They are more precious that gold or jewels to me. My life without them seems drab and pale compared to the kaleidoscope of color they bring to my life. I need them.

"There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you." It's true! I'd sooner cut off a finger than not do all that I could to help my girls. Their hearts are strong and I admire that. They are funny, creative and incredibly witty. I welcome the stomach pain from laughing in their presence. I know that even if we didn't worship together, if we scattered to different bodies of Christ, we would still be the best of friends. We are sisters held together by Christ.

It's not just a simple friendship. It was forged by the purifying fire of Heaven.


 Some other folks might be a little bit smarter than I am
Bigger and stronger too
Maybe
But none of them
Will ever love you the way I do
It's me and you boy

I'm pretty sure they could find a more sane and calm friend to have than me! Someone who doesn't walk around looking like a cat lady half the time! They could certainly find a friend that isn't as distant and cold as I can be quite often.

Even with all that being true, no friend will ever love and appreciate them as much as I do.

It's me and you ... girls. :)

And as the years go by
Our friendship will never die
You're gonna see it's our destiny
You've got a friend in me

I can't wait to be very "old" friends with you girls. White hair and slower gaits will only make our laughter sweeter and our bond stronger. Perhaps we'll share a giggle over a senior special at Luby's or sit in our pew in church and raise our hands high and sing loud because we are just too old to care what anyone thinks!

We will comfort each other through tragedy and sadness. We'll walk through the valleys and over the mountains together and distance won't matter.

Our friendship will never die because it will only become stronger in Heaven.

I love you girls.

(You Got A Friend In  Me by Randy Newman) 

Mr. No Name(John 13)

     Thinking back on the last meal my Lord shared with His disciples this Maundy Thursday. Preparations were made for the meal in an upper room belonging to a man Jesus knew. He told His men to tell the man that "The Master" needed a place to have Passover. This nameless fellow was loved by Jesus and was a believer. He's not named but he had a special place in Jesus' final hours.

     We often read over the people in our Bibles that are not given names. It's human nature to find names. We want to know who people are! But so many times in the perfection of God's Word, we see people affecting the plans of God who have not been named in the ancient pages.

     This is significant to the modern Christian I think. We live in a world now where you aren't anybody special unless you are in the limelight. You aren't really important at church unless you are leading something or planning things. At least that's how we can feel but it's not true!

     Even though this dark world revolves around notoriety and celebrity, we are royalty! We share the inheritance of the King of the Universe for goodness sakes! So what if some of us work in the background and are never recognized by man for what we do! Jesus knows and that is the only one who counts. Work for His glory only! Never do anything,especially in His church, for the approval and glory of man.

     The only One who deserves the glory is Jesus Christ. If we seek fame and glory only for our egos at the expense of the lost and our fellow Christians, we are walking a very dangerous path.

     So, there are lots of people in God's Kingdom like the man who offered his upper room to Jesus. Never named in the pages but what he did is known thousands of years later and will be known for eternity! Hold your head up, smile at the heavens and know that your Savior sees it all. He rewards accordingly and you are not forgotten by Him who loves you.

My Thursday Betrayal

     Tomorrow is Maundy Thursday. It is the day that we acknowledge that our Lord Jesus Christ instituted the Last Supper to remember His sacrifice.

     In this intimate setting with His disciples Jesus said this, "Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me." (Matt. 26:21) I try to imagine the scene and how it would have felt to be one of the disciples as He said that! They knew that He was powerful and that He could do miracles. They knew that He was someone special and different than the rest who claimed to be the Messiah. So when He said those words, I wonder how quickly the dread of betraying their Master caused them to search inside and say, "Is it I Lord?" (Matt. 26:22)

     I don't think it's wrong to imagine myself in that group. I am sitting around the tables, reclined on the ground as the Savior speaks about His betrayal. I don't have to ask if it's me as Judas did (v25), I just know.

My Betrayal:

1.     Pursuing my own selfish ideas. Instead of focusing on what God expects of me in this life, I have focused on just how to get through it. I rush through my life with my head down and my heart guarded against any pain. I do just the bare minimum and hope it's enough. I have refused to look up and be a part of what He has planned.

2.     I have made excuses for my spiritual lethargy. It's the churches fault. It's the fault of those who have disappointed me over the years. It's the fault of those who talk about me, slander me, hate me and revile me. I have made myself a martyr and it's sinful. Lord, I ask you to forgive me please.

3.     I have wasted my time and talents on nothing of real value. Going through the motions, I've been hollow inside. Clinging to certain things that keep me bound up when You only want my freedom.

4.     I've neglected Your Word.

5.     I've brought strange fire to my worship. Insincere words sung from dirty lips. Hands held at my side because I'm too ashamed to raise them in front of others. Worried about how I might look instead of how it would please You if I were truthful and honest just one time during my worship!

     I admit my betrayal. I repent from it and I will walk away from it. I know that forgiveness is mine but I will never take it lightly again.

O, The Blood of Jesus

What a sacrifice saved my life. Yes, the blood it is my victory.

Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.

"Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left."

"And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!""

"The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!"" (Luke 23:26-38)

So, we cry out Your name. El Shaddai, Lord of Grace. We rely on Your grace, Adonai, crowned in praise. God Most High, Jesus Christ.

 

Lead Me To The Cross

 

Savior I come, quiet my soul

Oh Lord, please quiet my soul! It's noise devours me and drowns out Your sweet voice. I forget to listen for Your voice, dear Shepherd, and I get focused on my enemy circling around me. He only comes to kill, steal and destroy.

Remember, redemption's hill

Cast my eyes to the hill of Golgotha every single day of my life! Remind me of Your innocent blood spilled upon the ground for my sake. What do I have to complain about in Your majestic shadow? How can I forget so easily, the magnitude of that moment? Sweet Jesus, make this world distasteful to me compared to even the hem of Your garment.

I want to run to the Cross! No hurdles, no obstacles and no detours can stop me. I am strong only in You. I am so weak but You are so amazing and strong. Let me lean on You when the mountains rise between You and I. God is here, let the broken hearted rejoice! Let the sick say I am well!

Where Your blood was spilled

For my ransom

Your blood was spilled for me. Precious life flowing from wounds that I should have suffered. Your body broken beyond recognition. Deserted by all who followed You through so many dangers, toils and snares. I desert you all the time Lord. Oh God, please forgive me! How many times have I deserted You in my short Christian life? So many that I am loathe to even try and count. Mercy and grace King Jesus - - that is all I can cry out to You.

Everything I once held dear

I count it all as loss

Heaven and earth cry out Your name. Your kingdom is established and I live to know You more. I will never be the same. Spirit of God, my life You've changed. And I'll forever sing Your praise. I live to know You more. (Hillsong)

The rocks have been doing my job Father. The oceans cry out Your majestic name on days that I sit and mourn over my trials. I want to live to know You more. I never want to be the same! There is nothing in this life that compares to Your love and devotion for me. There is no amount of money or fame that can compare to the gift of Your love. There is not a relationship I treasure more than this one between You and I. Oh Savior, I live to know You more!

I can't run to You by my own power or my own might. I can only run to You by the Holy Spirit's power. I'm going to try and keep running this life race until I see Your face Lord. I don't want to live outside Your glory anymore. I want to be like Moses when he came down from the mountain. I want to reflect Your face so much that people ask me to cover my face!

Lead me to the cross where Your love poured out. Bring me to my knees, Lord I lay me down. Rid me of myself, I belong to You. Oh, lead me to the cross.


(M. Sorrells 4/2014)