I was just listening to a song by Laura Hackett, called "I Put on Christ." I thought I should share it with you all. We've been speaking about the reality of the battle at hand. We are part of a great army. Let's not forget that we are at war constantly and must, therefore, put on Christ everyday. So here are the lyrics:

For the battle is raging
The devil is raging
And I don't want to be sleeping
While the battle is raging

I don't fight as one beats the air
Give me eyes to see and ears to hear
I don't fight as one beats the air
Give me eyes to see and ears to hear
Oh God

Just thinking that I have a BEAUTIFUL church family. You are all wonderful. Bless you.

hey all! just wanted to let you know that I have a blog for my travels on the other side of the world. For anyone who is interested, here is the address:
http://jotravelstonzandbeyond.wordpress.com/blog-3/

love you all!
:)

So this morning I was sitting at the breakfast table and noticed a line in the paper which said: "RISE UP!" It struck me, especially since I had heard it only a little while back when a worship leader sang it in a song, a song calling people up. Soon after I read it I got a piece of paper and a pen and wrote what came to me. it was this...

"Rise up...

I was just reading this passage and was encouraged. I feel like it would be a good reminder for us all.

Your LOVE, O Lord, reaches to the

heavens,

Your FAITHFULNESS to the skies. Your RIGHTEOUSNESS is like the

mighty mountains,

Your JUSTICE like the great deep. O Lord, you preserve both man and beast.
How priceless is your UNFAILING love!

Both high and low among men find REFUGE in the shadow of your wings. They FEAST on the ABUNDANCE of

Your house;

You give them drink from your RIVER of DELIGHTS. For with YOU is the fountain of LIFE;

in Your LIGHT we see LIGHT.

So once again I found myself sitting at the kitchen table encountering big and bold clear words. This time it was on the table placemats. The words were: HARVEST BOUNTY. I stopped and thought about those words, then I decided to start writing again. This is what came:

I woke up and saw big bold letters in the newspaper today, that said, 'CHANGE IS COMING.' Then I began to write...

"I'm building my people up. I'm sending them out. NEW things will arise. I am bringing about NEW things. You need not fear or worry, for the Commander of this army is the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY! The more there is darkness---the more there is LIGHT. Take heart my people. Listen to my voice and follow me. MORE. MORE. MORE...
I have GOOD things in store. I AM on the move."

'A CHANGE IS GONNA COME...'

The BEST is yet to come.

I was just reading in Isaiah and was encouraged by these verses...
it got me thinking about the picture that someone had over simplechurch of the pipes and the water system in Vancouver. Also, the theme of "new songs" and "new life" came to mind while reading this..

Isaiah 41: 18-19

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how WIDE and LONG and HIGH and DEEP is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.