After Midnight Soundtrack

One of my favorite things to do is go outside, after dark, and walk. Most of the time I take my music player with me, but the past two nights I haven't taken anything with me. Before going outside, I will write in my journal questions and thoughts; what I'm talking to God about. Then I go out the front door and begin to pray. Nothing in my ears playing; all I hear is God's nighttime orchestra.
Last night was great because along with what I was already hearing, a storm was coming close. Lightening flashes, thunder beginning to roll, and every now and then, you feel a rain drop. It was so beautiful. I asked God to let it rain. Either the day before or a couple of days before I remember reading a love letter from my Groom that He would send something to remind us of how much He loved us. Well, I asked for rain. It might sound strange, but I really enjoy the rain. I like how it feels. It feels so crisp and cool. I like how it smells. It smells clean and fresh. I like how it looks. Everything about the rain, I like. So as I was walking, talking with the Lord last night I told Him why I like the rain. When it rains, its like the earth is getting a rinse over; a shower. It has to be cleaned off from all the junk. Well, I thought about my life in a spiritual sense. I need it to rain down and pour on my life and wash away the junk that does not and should not be there. Now, I love the Lord with all my heart, but that doesn't mean that when I got saved that life would be easy and that I would have a free ride to everything. Life is not fair, but God is still faithful. He reminds us in the little things just how much He loves us.

Come Away With Me

To all the Jesus Culture fans you will recognize the title. One of my favorite things to do is listen to Praise and Worship, especially songs that are intimate and prophetic. Songs that really embrace the love that God has for His children. It brings joy to my heart to be reminded how much God loves me. The lyrics of this particular song are:

Come away with me, Come away with me

Its never too late, Its not too late for you

I have a plan for you

It's gonna be wild, It's gonna be great, It's gonna be for me

Open up your heart and let me in

The spirit of God is saying to me, "Come away with me!"

The words are simple, but why is it the act so difficult? Our flesh, maybe. Our minds....how about this? Our hearts.

Our spirit needs to be in tune with the Holy Spirit. He's calling us to come away with Him. He wants us to spend as much time with Him as we can; He has all the time in the world for you and for me. We're always saying how "busy" we are, but have you seen God's schedule? Hello!! Okay so I might be stretching it a bit, but I am only trying to make a point. Our time tables are not God's time tables. He operates on His own time. He has over 6 billion people to take care of and look over; you have how many? He still makes time for you and me. God never says that His next appointment is about to arrive, so you need to wrap it up. No! He loves you enough for you to get everything out on the table.

He's saying, "Son/Daughter! Come away." Don't you want to get away where its just you and God? No distractions of your "busy" life. If God said to me right now, "Sarah! Get in your car and drive. I'll show you where to go!" Honey, you would not have to tell me twice. When it comes to spending some intimate time with God, four things I have handy: Bible, Journal, Pen, and Prayer Shawl. Sometimes God will lead me just to the quietness of my bedroom. He just wants you to come away with Him. You be amazed at how much God would reveal to you if you just got alone with Him. Bask in His presence. Don't try and get out of it either, blessings come and blessings go. Don't miss out on your blessing or on what God has in store to share with you.

Come away!!

Come away daughter!

Come away son.

Come away father!

Come away mother.

All children of God, "Come away! Open up your heart and LET ME IN!"

Woman of Excellence

The story of Ruth is one of my favorite's in the Bible. I've read it seems like a 100 times and every time I find something that just sticks out. In tonight's reading I found this :
"Then he said, “May you be blessed of the Lord, my daughter. You have shown your last kindness to be better than the first by not going after young men, whether poor or rich. Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence."- RUTH 3:10-11 (NAS)

Here is how it reads in the message: "He said, "God bless you, my dear daughter! What a splendid expression of love! And when you could have had your pick of any of the young men around. And now, my dear daughter, don't you worry about a thing; I'll do all you could want or ask. Everybody in town knows what a courageous woman you are— a real prize!"

Because of Ruth's obedience and submissiveness, she found favor with God, Boaz, and even her mother-in-law Naomi. Woman!! Grab a hold of this!!! This is NOT a thing of the past. This is even for such a time as this. God wants to make you into a woman of excellence!!! Put Him first!! You want a man of God; be a woman of God. That's where it all begins. 

Ruth could have listened to Naomi at the beginning and went back to her hometown. She would have found a new husband, started a new family, etc. Instead she said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God." Ruth didn't settle for second best. I believe she stepped out of her comfort zone. God had planned and had purpose in Ruth's life. Again, because of her obedience, she found favor. People knew who she was! She was a woman of excellence!!

Someone Special

That someone special
He's a lot closer to me than what I think
He's waiting on me and I on him
The suspense feels like torture
Each day that passes, I know that we're getting closer

I stay true to how and what I believe
Thanking God that he'll be doing the same
We won't back down just so we'll be pleasing

His heart and my heart, we finally meet
There is just something about him
I can't explain how I feel nor what's going through my mind
My nerves are a little shaky
My emotions running wild

What does he think about me?
What kind of woman does he see?
Is he feeling what I'm feeling?

God only knows

He looks at my eyes
I look at his
Instantly we know that we are meant to be
Its not on a gut feeling
Its by the Spirit of God which led us to this place

Only God can do this; not man
God has a purpose; He has a plan

I look forward to our journey of a lifetime together
Lets not forget who did this

My beloved is mine and I am my beloved's.

Music

"Today's music..today's artists...don't be deceived by their messages. In fact most the time, its just better not to listen to that song no matter how cool the beat and/or tune is."

Above is from a status that I wrote just recently on my Facebook. Music is a big part of my life. I'm a singer, a songwriter, and of course a customer when it comes to purchase. In just my CD collection alone, I have over 400 CD's and its still growing.
When I was a teenager I would listen to day in and day out all sorts of music. For example, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, etc. Now a days, there is Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and many more.  Some of the artists I listened to back then are still making music even today. Let me just say, I always have been and always will be a fan of the Backstreet Boys.
The music that Britney and Christina started out making and the music they are putting out now...bug difference. When they first came out on the scene as solo artists, most of their songs were innocent and fun to listen to. They were teenage girls singing about who teenage girls sing about. Mostly boys, love, and broken hearts. Now, Britney has a called "3" and its about having a threesome.
Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" is a song full of deception. Yes, we are all born unique, but God did not create anyone person to be gay. Yes, God loves that person, but He hates the sin. Yet there are millions, if not billions of people all over the world who follow her and help her preach that message that we are born this way.
Why would you allow your kids to listen to these songs?
Why would you, as a BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN, allow yourself to listen to these songs?
I myself still listen to some secular music, but I still have boundaries. I know in my heart what I can listen to and what I SHOULD NOT be listening to.
What I listen to in the secular world is between me and God. The same goes for you. I cannot tell you what you can and cannot listen to, but if God says, "Hey! Should you really be listening to that?" And you say, "Well, probably not," Then its a good idea just to listen to the Lord and your heart.

Lucifer's job while still in heaven was Praise and Worship. Since he got the boot, was fired, and cast down into hell, seems that he gets his messages out in the worldly music.

All I'm saying is be careful what you let your ears hear.
Be careful what you let into your mind.

Beloved Painting

First and foremost, ignore the date. This painting was started and completed on July 21, 2012.

In addition to studying to get my Associates in Theology, I am currently taking a basic Greek course. The language to me is beautiful. The word above in the painting is a Greek word. It reads "Beloved". This particular spelling refers to beloved dearest. That spoke to me.

I can know that I am a Beloved Dearest to my Father in heaven; vise versa, my Father in heaven is my Beloved Dearest.

Early Morning Hours and Its Thoughts

Started writing at 3:39 A.M.

Finished writing at 4:12 A.M.

As I begin writing this piece I see that it is twenty minutes until four in the morning. I am hoping NOT to be up for 24 + hours. A lot has been on my mind; a lot has been on my heart.

Hoping for a change. God is having to teach me that it's okay to pray for myself. I'm constantly praying about and for others. Which is good, but I have needs to and they are just as important. Here lately I've been putting my needs on the back burner. 

For almost two years now, I have been reading a lot. Never used to like it, but now I want to. There is one book that I am trying so desperately to finish, but its like God only wants me in His word and nothing else. Tonight I came across a book that I have by Joyce Meyer, "Battlefield of the Mind". I'm sure that I have mentioned it; most people that know me know that I learn quite a bit from Joyce and her teaching. I was drawn to pick up and start reading the book. Then it clicked, I just need to take things more seriously when it comes to my spiritual walk and needs. If there is negative thoughts forming, then I want to go ahead and learn now how to prevent them and keep them away. 

The mind is a powerful tool. God made it like that. I like how Joyce describes our mind as like a computer and God Himself is the computer programmer. It's funny! I've never thought about it like that. 

Another change I am hoping for is an insecurity I have to go away; I don't want to feel this and I definitely do not want to be afraid of it. Here it is: I like to work out by myself. I will exercise with close friends and other women, but I will not do anything if even one man is present. I am embarrassed by how I look physically: from the shoulders the low waist. Playing sports and walking every night have helped keeping my legs in pretty good shape. So I got me a walking buddy. She and I go walking when everybody in my house has gone to bed. I wake her up at some weird hour and I say, "Leslie! Let's walk!!!" 

Tonight tears came to my eyes as I began walking because for once I felt great about doing something for myself. I want to be healthy. I want to be "sexy" (Well, to whoever my Boaz is)! Most importantly though, I want to be ready for whatever God has planned for me. This includes physical characteristics. He made my body and called it a temple. Temples are strong; they hold up to what they are built for. Temples are beautiful; not trashy and weak. 

Like I said in the beginning, there have been a lot of things on my mind and heart....