Beauty In Christ

I used to think grace was a ladder, Every sinner had to climb, If only I could just do better, I could earn it over time, Tried to work my way to good, Trouble is I never could, But then You showed me, Just exactly how grace works, I'm good at always falling down, You're good at never giving up, I'm good at getting turned around, You're good at saying I'm still loved, And I was wrecked by mercy, The day I understood, I'm not loved because I'm worthy, I'm loved because You're good.

Dear yesterday, Just called to say I'm leaving, I made my home there in your shadows far too long, 'Cause you never fail, To remind me of all my failures, But I think it's time that I leave you where you belong, So, goodbye, shame, Goodbye, past, Oh, goodbye, guilty. You won't see me looking back, I'm slamming that door, And I'm walking away, Hello, freedom, Hello, mercy, Hello, grace And goodbye, yesterday.

Psalm 100 verse 5: For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Be in this world not of it, Follow Jesus, not the crowd, Be light wherever it looks dark, And love where hate is loud, Make every day's ambition, Be to make my Father proud, That's my why, Greet every day with gratitude, Be humble and be kind, See the path in front of you, And leave the past behind, Between grudges and forgiveness, Choose forgiveness every time, Yeah that's my why, Knowing my Jesus and making Him known, Following Him where He calls me to go, And running this race knowing I'm running home, Every day of my life, That's my why, I'm fixing my eyes on a heavenly prize, So if anyone asks yeah that's my why.

Ephesians 2 verse 10: For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

When has He ever failed me, not once, When have I ever seen Him let me down, And is there any battle He can't overcome, And is there any mountain He can't move right now, I believe that my breakthrough's coming, I believe that my God's not done and, I believe there's nothing He can't do (oh oh oh oh), I believe there's a way He's making, Come what may I will not be shaken, On my knees I'll stand upon this truth, My breakthrough's coming, I know He's always faithful, always kind, No matter what my circumstances say, And with a story full of miracles behind, Oh I know my miracle is on the way (yeah), I believe that my breakthrough's coming, I believe that my God's not done and, I believe there's nothing He can't do (oh oh oh oh), I believe there's a way He's making, Come what may I will not be shaken, On my knees I'll stand upon this truth, My breakthrough's coming.

Jeremiah 29 verse 11: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

What's your impossible, Your "I need a miracle", What's got you barely hanging by a single thread, What looks so hopeless now, What weighs down your heart with doubt

You beg for a breakthrough but no sign of breakthrough yet, When you've cried and you've cried til your tears run dry, The answer won't come and you don't know why, And you wonder if you can bow your head even one more time, Don't stop praying, Don't stop calling on Jesus' name, Keep on pounding on heaven's door, Let your knees wear out the floor, Don't stop believing, 'Cause mountains move with just a little faith, And your Father's heard every single word you're saying, So, don't stop praying.

In every little thing we see how God gives us the grace to overcome life's obstacles.

We see how God's love and goodness endures every morning.

When we are searching for purpose, we see how God shows us what our why is, what our purpose in life is. We see our story isn't over. 

If you are going through the motions, and you're searching for a breakthrough, don't ever let your heart give up so easily. I'm hear to tell you, that you've got this, and that you're wonderfully made in the image of God. When we go to the Lord in prayer, we see how God gives us the purpose to be who we are called to be in Christ and when we pray to God, and we wait patiently and rely on His Timing and not our own, we will see breakthrough happen, little or big.

The two quotes about hope, well I thought it was fitting to share that, because we know hope isn't ever too far gone, and that Jesus is our light and our hope despite the darkness that sometimes can be scary.

When we don't stop praying, we are able to continue to be the light and hope to others around us.

If I were to ask you, what is your biggest fear? What are you feeling in your heart that makes you have that fear? Well, for me I would say one of my fears is losing someone close, and the feeling I have in my heart that makes me have that one, is a loneliness feeling, but now I can honestly say that, I've met so many amazing people who I'm thankful to call family and best friends and I don't have that loneliness feeling in my heart.

I know sometimes those feelings, and other fears or things that we feel that are normal to feel, may creep back up at times, but let me tell you, God is our friend and He will help us overcome through any obstacle we face in life, and the Enemy doesn't mean a thing when we got family, friends, and Jesus in our hearts to carry us through.

Sometimes we need to Let Go and Let God, and Let Go of The Pen and Let God write our story and when we allow God to keep writing our story, which is our testimony, we see the greatest picture of all, a God who loves us, a God who cares for us, a God who is understanding, patient with us, and a God who will never leave us, because God give us the love that so many of us need, and He calls us Beloved Children who are and always will be faithful to keep, because God doesn't give up on any of His children.

When God doesn't give up on His Children, He helps His Children, He gives us the ability to lead in Faith, and to lead with Integrity and Wisdom and to lead as a Warrior In Faith.

So no matter what, I heard it once said by a friend. It's not about how many times you fall, it's about how many times you get back up again.

When we get to that point, what else do you need to know? What else do you need to know but that God is a God who gives us the Hope to see the Hope inside ourselves.

I want to leave with this last thing and it's a line by Chris Rice with a song called Go Light Your World.

There is a candle in every soul, Some brightly burning, some dark and cold, And there is a spirit who brings a fire, Ignites a candle and makes his home.

I wanted to end with that line, because we need to remember God is the light of the world and He will give us the hope that we need to see the beauty inside our hearts and realize we are wonderfully made.

Searching For Us

 We roam and we ramble, Get lost and get tangled, In the thorns and the bramble, Confused and alone, Like children, we flee, From the thing that we need, And stray without heed, Far away from our home, And helpless, we stand, In a desolate land, It's cold, wet, and dreary, We're lonesome and weary, But our hearts tend wander, Though truth claps like thunder, We still tend to run from, The King that we love, But He's searching for us from the east to the west, Through the rivers of fire, to the cold wilderness, Like a Father, he loves, like a Shepard, he seeks, And he'll never give up till he brings home his sheep again.

Matthew 6 verse 33: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

John 11 verse 25-26:  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Genesis 2 verse 7: Then the Lord God formed a man[a] from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

John 5 verses 39-40:  You study[c] the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

Psalm 139 verses 23-24: Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Hebrews 11 verse 1: Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

In the all the scriptures, we see how even if we get lost and cannot find our back home, God will continue to search for us, He will continue to help us. He will give us the strength to find ourselves again, and know that we are His Beloved Child.

Beloved Believe He died to make your heart His home.

When I lose my way, And I forget my name, Remind me who I am. In the mirror all I see, Is who I don't wanna be, Remind me who I am.
In the loneliest places, When I can't remember what grace is. Tell me once again who I am to You, Who I am to You. Tell me lest I forget who I am to You,
That I belong to You. To You.

No matter where we are we know that God gives us the strength to be who we are created to be in His Image, and even if we leave the 99, He will always come searching for us and bring us home.

In any life circumstances we can be who God made us to be in the Image of God.

God will always keep searching for His Children and bring them home again.

You are loved, and you are not alone in this world. 

If you feel lost, God will search for you and remind you that you're not forgotten and He will bring you right back home again.

Let this be a reminder, that You are a chosen child of God and that God loves us.

Who God Says We Are And Who We Are Called To Be

 Amazed- The Earth shook, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God Of Israel. Psalm 68 verse 8.

Beautiful- But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16 verse 7.

Compassion- Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3 verse 12.

Delegation- Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 1 Corinthians 4 verse 2.

Emmanuel-  “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). Matthew 1 verse 23.

Faithful- if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself. 2 Timothy 2 verse 13. 1 John 1 verse 9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Grace- For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2 verse 8-9.

Hope- May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15 verse 13.

Inspired- Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. John 17 verse 17.

Joy- So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. John 16 verse 22.

Kindness-But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5 verses 22-23.

Loving- Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4 verse 8.

Mercy- Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Nice- But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” Mark 10 verse 31.

Onward- Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Proverbs 22 verse 6.

Peace-  “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16 verse 33.

Quiet- He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46 verse 10.

Rest- You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Isaiah 26 verse 3.

Saved- Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. Mark 16 verse 16.

Trust- Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3 verses 5-6.

Understanding- Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. 2 Timothy 2 verse 7.

Vision- Then the Lord replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. Habakkuk 2 verse 2. 

Worship- Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Psalm 95 verse 6-7.

Xristos- The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” Luke 23 verse 35.

Youth- Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Timothy 4 verse 12. 

Zealous- Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Revelation 3 verse 19.

When I first started this study, I got this idea from a Facebook video I saw where this kid was describing God in all the letters of the alphabet, so I decided to do a study on something like that, by taking all the letters of the alphabet and coming up with some except for X and Z because those ones I got from this site that I'm going to share right now. https://thepreachersword.com/2018/08/16/attributes-of-god-from-a-z/ This is where I got the last two words from. I also got Zealous from the video I watched and I also got the word Faithful from that video too.

When I look and when we really look at all these words as well as the scriptures that go with them, we can see that each word can describe even us as children of God. We can say that we are amazed to be a Beloved Child Of God. We can describe ourselves in the Delegation of who Christ is.

In everything, we seek the moments to His Truth, His Grace, His Mercy, and most of all His Love. Why? Well, because God is Love.

When we really think about that and everything typed out tonight, we see that in everything, things may not be easy, but one thing remains in it all, and that is knowing that with God all things are possible because nothing is impossible for God.

I hope that this week, as we really look into all of this, that we will remember these things as a reminder in who God says we are, and that we won't take for granted in who God is.

I pray that each time out, that the study in itself is a reminder to anyone needing prayer and hope.

I want to end on these two things, because I feel this is important to share tonight.

I wanted to end on those two things, because we don't have to be any other way except our genuine self. When we are our genuine self, we realize that God made us and created us to be uniquely different.

So with that being said tonight, let us be who God made us to be in His Image and let us be the Light.

Let us make the difference and let us create something new to share in the hearts of those needing to hear, to know who God says they are, and to be a listening ear that can give them hope in their heart.

God Gave Us Each Other

 I've been a walking heartache, I've made a mess of me, The person that I've been lately, Ain't who I wanna be, But you stay here right beside me, Watch as the storm goes through And I need you, God gave me you for the ups and downs, God gave me you for the days of doubt, For when I think I've lost my way, There are no words here left to say, it's true, God gave me you.

I won't take it for granted, I won't waste another second, All I want is to give you, A life well lived, to say "thank you", I wanna live like there's no tomorrow, Love like I'm on borrowed time, It's good to be, it's good to be alive, I wanna live like there's no tomorrow, Love like I'm on borrowed time, It's good to be alive.

John 15 verse 12-14:  My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.

Matthew 18 verse 20:  For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Romans 15 verse 5-6: May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 John 4 verse 11:  Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Jeremiah 29 verse 11: For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you but to give you a hope and a future.

2 Corinthians 5 verse 17: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

In these scriptures we see how God gave us one another, so that we may help one another, that we may do life with one another, that we seek Him in times that can get rough, and that He also shows us that in the last few scriptures that we can be thankful to be living a good life while remembering that we can always do well to live the good life of Faith by also allowing ourselves to Surrender to Him, allowing ourselves to know that we are free, that we are in the body of Christ, and that we can give each other hope and encouragement to keep on doing well as a disciple for Christ.

In the time that we are feeling down, God picks us up. In the times when we feel too far gone, God reminds us that we are loved and that we are His Beloved.

No matter what we go through, God gave us one another and it's a great time to be alive in knowing that our stories which are our testimonies, are from over and that we can live our best life in knowing that we are made for so much more than this.

I want us to think about a time where we felt left out, or we had doubt that we would fit in.

You see, just like in the Dave Barnes song God Gave Me You, He's given us each other on those days of doubt, and He's given us hope to know we are never alone in this world that we are in.

I know that for me, growing up, fitting in and feeling left out, was very difficult. Although, when I came to the ministries I'm apart of, or when I met others like myself with Hydrocephalus or others who understood my story, that made me feel good because it gave me the opprotunity to be able to know I had found places like Christian Media Spotlight, Reds Room, and my twenties Hydrocephalus support group, where I could call it home. I'm grateful, yet thankful and blessed to know CMS and Reds Room exist, just as well as the support group I mentioned.

I think we should take the time to reflect that God isn't done using us in the way that He wants to use us. I think it would be great to reflect on how God is going to use all of us for so much more.

I also think that it's best to reflect on how God gives us the strength to carry on even when it's hard, but He gave us each other and that's another reason to be thankful that we are alive.

It is always my hope that as I do these studies, that God gives each one of us the encouragement that we need, to be a light and to be the person that God has called us to be in our Faith and Relationship with Him. 

I think, that no matter what we face now, that it should stop us, but strengthen us more to tell our testimony and to be the light, and to be who God called us to be while we own our Belovedness.

I truly hope that we can take away these things and apply them in our own walk, but also be able to have the courage to share our Faith and what God is doing in our life as we walk alongside Him.

Battle Belongs

 In times we face a battle. We face a battle together. I wanted to share something. I think we know that if we go through a storm, we can face it together and no we are not alone. I know that sometimes this storm we face can always be difficult but the most important thing to remember is that God is always with us.

I have faced many different things growing up to now, but one thing I don't do amongst all of that, is give up. I don't give up because I am a Warrior In Christ and A Warrior In Faith.

Every day, we seek God in the battles and we seek Him in the storms of life.

When we feel afraid, we go to Him and we go to Him in prayer because God is giving us the strength, the strength to keep on going and don't give up on the things that bring us joy to know we are His Child.

If we were to look at what we deal with versus what the Enemy tries to tell us, we would see that God will always fight for us, always stick up for us, always protect us and He will never ever let us go.

The Enemy will try to attack or even try to bring us down, but God fights harder to bring us back around.

What I mean with that, is He will leave the 99 to find us again and He helps us to know that even when we feel lonely, down and out, or feel like we don't have a friendship with someone, that He is our friend always and that He will always be by our side and that He will continue to help us in the midst of trouble.

In our troubles, He will always give us comfort and remind us that He is here for us, no matter what.

To be kind, 'Cause everyone you meet, Is fighting their own battle, Fighting their own battle, So, be kind, 'Cause everyone you see, Needs to know they matter, They need to know they matter (need to know they matter), So be kind, Kind.

When all I see is the battle, You see my victory, When all I see is the mountain, You see a mountain moved And as I walk through the shadow, Your love surrounds me, There's nothing to fear now for I am safe with You, So when I fight, I'll fight on my knees, With my hands lifted high, Oh God, the battle belongs to You And every fear I lay at Your feet, I'll sing through the night, Oh God, the battle belongs to You And if You are for me, who can be against me? Yeah, For Jesus, there's nothing impossible for You, When all I see are the ashes, You see the beauty, Thank You, God, When all I see is a cross, God, You see the empty tomb, So when I fight, I'll fight on my knees, With my hands lifted high, Oh, God, the battle belongs to You And every fear I lay at Your feet, I'll sing through the night, Oh God, the battle belongs to You, Almighty fortress, You go before us, Nothing can stand against the power of our God

You shine in the shadow, You win every battle, Nothing can stand against the power of our God, An almighty fortress, You go before us, Nothing can stand against the power of our God, You shine in the shadow, You win every battle, Nothing can stand against the power of our God.

In all of this we see that, no matter how many times we may fall, God always picks us back up. He always helps us because in the end, the battle always will and always has belonged to Him.

I say that, because each battle or storm we face, we give it to God and He fights for us all the time and so our battles, our health struggles, our storms, our trials, our fears, our anxieties, we know that the Battle is His and that He will fight for us, so that the Enemy can't knock us down or make us believe the Lies that the Enemy tries to put inside of our head to make us feel worried or caught up in Fear.

The Battle Is The Lord's, Take Courage In The Fight, The Weapons Of This War, Are praises lifted high, My confidence is sure, my God has gone before, I'll sing into the night, The Battle Is The Lord's.

1 Samuel 17 verse 47 says: All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

2 Chronicles 20 verse 15 says: He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.

Zechariah 4 verse 6 says:  So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.

Exodus 14 verse 14 says: The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

1 Timothy 6 verse 12 says: Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Psalm 91 verses 1-4 says: Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High, will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

David didn't need to Goliath's strength because he already knew God's.

Jesus is our living hope, and He wins every battle, every trial and storm. He wins every victory, for the battle is not ours but His, and He will win, when the Enemy tries to take away, steal and defeat us, so that we don't have joy.

God gives us joy, and God gives us the strength to fight with Him because He fights for us so much that we don't have to fight everything or anything alone.

Give it to God and God will give you an abundance of rest, and He will reassure you that you're never alone in the Eyes of Him because with Him all things are possible and nothing is impossible for Him, and with Him we can stand in Faith to know God is Love.

God will always be love and because of that, we know who will win every single victory.

Being Born Again In Christ Baptism Study

 https://youtu.be/a0UacBamUEY?si=J2jv5-lQQttxMjGq

Baptize me where the wind sings new songs, And flows deep in my lungs, to breathe Kingdom come

Baptize me when the rain falls on the sea, And stairs back at me, baptize me

Baptize me in the heat of the burning sun, That causes all growth to come, where death and life are one

Baptize me with the birds in the morning, With the leaves in their turning, baptize me

In what was, in what is, in what's coming, Baptize me

Baptize me up in the mountains, Through rivers up fountains, Through the forest surrounding

Baptize me in the eyes of my brother, In the love of my mother, baptize me.

I was down on my luck, I was stuck, I was running 'round broken-hearted, I was sinking so fast, I couldn't last falling apart And You could've ran away, Leaving me there in my shame, Leaving me fighting my pain, But You made a better way, Oh, oh, oh, I've been saved, Goodbye to the sinner, I'm held by the Father above, No more shame, for, I'm out of the desert and drowned in the power of love, Amazing grace, my soul set free, Ain't no grave, got a hold on me, I'm born again, born again, Washed by the water, I'm clean, My eyes have been open, You're showing me all of my life in a new light, Every step, every breath, Like it's the first time. 

I am a born-again Christian, but that's not the coat that I wear. It's just how my heart's been changed.

The born-again Christian sees life not as blurred, confused, meaningless mass, but as something planned and purposeful.

I'm looking at a masterpiece, I'm staring at a work of art, I'm listening to a symphony, In every beat of your tiny heart, You used to be a choice to make, But now I think you've chosen me, 'Cause I see ten fingers, ten toes, Two eyes and I know this is meant to be, Oh I don't believe in accidents, Miracles, they don't just happen by chance, As long as my God holds the world in his hands, I know that there's no such thing as unplanned, Broken turns to beautiful, I see you right before my eyes And every single breath you breathe, Is destiny love has brought to life, I thought it was my story's end, But now the future's all I see, Instead of asking who you might've been, I'm wondering who you're gonna be, 'Cause I don't believe in accidents, Miracles, they don't just happen by chance, As long as my God holds the world in his hands, I know that there's no such thing as unplanned, Every life deserves a voice, Every child deserves a chance, You are more than just a choice, There's no such thing as unplanned.

John 3 verse 3:  Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.''

1 Peter 1 verse 23:  For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

1 Peter 1 verses 3-5: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

Acts 2 verse 38: Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Mark 16 verse 16: Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Ephesians 2 verses 8-9: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.

Matthew 28 verse 19-20: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

In everything, we see how God gives us life. We see that in everything He brings the light out of the darkness. 

You give life, You are love, You bring light to the darkness, You give hope, You restore every heart that is broken And great are You, Lord, It's Your breath in our lungs, So we pour out our praise, we pour out our praise, It's Your breath in our lungs, So we pour out our praise to You only, You give life, You are love, You bring light to the darkness, You give hope, You restore (You restore), Every heart that is broken And great are You, Lord.

In this we see that even in all these things, we know that God restores and will make us whole.

What can wash away our sins, nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make us whole again, nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Once lost restored, broken made whole, I'm found in the Savior.

When we look at this, we see that God would leave the 99 to find the 1 that went missing, and He would bring back His Child to be given a new life in Him.

I want us to think on that a moment because we are a daughter of the King, and we are also a son of the King.

God who is our King, Ruler, Friend, Father In Heaven, our Waymaker, and everything we can think of to describe His Love for us because He Is Love, goes to show that He bring the prodigal son and prodigal daughter home, because we are all sons and daughters of our Savior who loves without end.

Father, meet me with Your arms wide open, The world's done broken Your prodigal son, Down that road I traveled, Everything raveled only came undone, Father, lead me down to the river, Wash me in the water 'til I'm whiter than snow, I know I'm not worthy, But tell me there's mercy for the wanderin' soul, I lost my way but now I'm on my knees, If it's not too late, won't You tell me please? You gotta place for me, A little grace for me, Father, meet me in the cool green valley, In all of Your glory, when my days are done, Name me as one of Your chosen, Heaven's unbroken prodigal son, Father, meet me with Your arms wide open, Lead me down to the river, Meet me in the cool green valley, Name me one of Your chosen, Heaven's unbroken prodigal son.

In everything, we know that God wants us to be able to know Him, that God wants us to seek Him, that He want us as His Sons and Daughters to come back home to Him, so that we can live in Eternity with Him and be able to know that when we one day, go to Heaven when He calls us home to be with Him, we can hear the words spoken: Well done, good and faithful servant. 

I can tell you that as I was thinking with what I wanted to share tonight, I was talking to a friend and I came across born again. I think back to when I did a study on baptism, and I realize this as I grow daily in my walk, in my relationship with Christ, and in my Faith with Him. I realize that this study for tonight, might be a little in depth, but it's a study that God put on my heart for a purpose. It's a study that God showed me in finding the things I needed to make this study what it's about, with the clarity in opening my heart and realizing that when I look back to my Baptism study, or back to all the other studies I've done in the past or recently, and then look at this one that I've done, it makes me realize in how far I've come from first starting out with what was a phone call study to now doing my Warriors In Faith Bible Study on a ministry platform that I've called home, ever since I came to it in the year 2020.

I say this, because this study is more than just a study to me, it's a reminder in how we can open up our hearts with God, with family, best friends, and others we are close with and because of that, we are able to pray as a whole, to help those who may not know Christ but would like to know Him, just like we do.

The last thing that I would like to share tonight, in hopes that it encourages all of you, is my Warriors In Faith Bible Study playlist as well, because I feel like there are songs that I chose for that on there that can go right along with what I've talked about tonight, as well as what the scriptures and other things say, because we first need to know God, we need to accept Him into our heart, so we can start having that relationship with Him and growing our Faith or even renewing our heart, soul, and our mind.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0mjiI6GLFoINeux8IiHf8B?si=95939f92c4424a1c

Creation In Christ

 Creating a painting or picture for someone can be wonderful, it can lead to joy and happiness.

When we think of creativity, what is the first thing you think of? I think for me, it would be that God has created Heaven and Earth, that God created us in His Image, that He has shown us that in all of creation, we are His Child and that we are a living, breathing, beautiful, and wonderful vessel created by Him.

Separated, Until the veil was torn, The moment that hope was born And guilt was pardoned once and for all, Captivated, But no longer bound by chains, Left at an empty grave, The sinner and the sacred resolved And all of creation sing with me now, Lift up your voice and lay your burden down And all of creation sing with me now, Fill up the heavens let his glory resound, Time has faded And we see Him face to face, Every doubt erased, Forever we will worship the king And all of creation sing with me now, Lift up your voice and lay your burden down And all of creation sing with me now.

I woke up with a broken heart in my chest, I couldn't sleep, couldn't get no rest, Weighed down by the heaviness of life, And I try to shake it, flipping through my phone, But all it does is make me feel more alone

How could anything that feels so wrong be right? And seven billion voices separate us, But only one can show us who we are, We are made, Made in the image of, Made in the image of God, Beautiful shades of love, We are made, Made in the image of, Made in the image of God, That's where the light comes from.

Last week I walked on water, Today I'm sinking low, Can your hand  reach down to me and pull me once more, The dreams I had are shattered, scattered on the floor, The last time you picked up the pieces helped me dream some more, Cause were making stained glass windows, Every piece a different shade, Broken and then put together like a big mistake, But when the light shines through the colors form a tapestry, A hundred different images of how you keep loving me, Each moment you are with me, Each word I hear you say, Help me understand and trust in your higher ways, The road that goes through valleys help me cling to you And when we find a mountain top we'll dance the whole day through, Cause were making stained glass windows, Every piece a different shade, Broken and then put together like a big mistake, But when the light shines through the colors form a tapestry, A hundred different images of how you keep loving me, I don't know why, I don't know why, You keep loving me.

Hey I don't wanna spend my life, Wishing I was different, That would be a waste of time, Cause I know You love me just as I am And I know my God don't make mistakes, So, I'm just gonna be the me you made, The whole world is posting pictures, Looks like everybody else has a perfect life And we're just watching from the bleachers, Discontent and thinking wouldn't it be nice, But comparison is the thief of joy, Trust me, I know cause for way too long I let it steal my joy, but not anymore.

Genesis 1 verse 1-2: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

2 Corinthians 5 verse 17:  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Psalm 118 verse 24: The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.

Psalm 139 verse 13-14: For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Once upon a time, Life was so innocent, Somewhere along the line, Your smile came and went, They made you feel like, You just don't measure up, They try to steal your light, But you are a treasure of, The Maker of the stars, the stars, You don't have to wonder, You are wonderfully made, Perfectly beautiful in every way, Wonderfully, wonderfully made, You're anything but typical, it's true, They ain't seen anybody quite like you

God never makes a mistake, You are wonderfully, wonderfully made, See, once upon a time, There was a secret place, Where heaven's hand designed, Even those freckles on your face, Some things you'd rather trade, Some things you try to fix, Love has one thing to say, It's perfect just the way it is (just the way it is)

Just the way it is, ooh (just the way it is), You don't have to wonder, You are wonderfully made, Perfectly beautiful in every way, Wonderfully, wonderfully made, You're anything but typical, it's true, They ain't seen anybody quite like you, God never makes a mistake, You are wonderfully, wonderfully made, So, the world could see the works of God, On display, So let your doubts and your fears, And your questions fade away

Let them fade away, Once upon a time life was so innocent, I think it's time that smile, Found its way back home again. 

Genesis 2 verse 7:  Then the Lord God formed a man[a] from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

Job 33 verse 4: The Spirit of God has made me;  the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

You spoke, and Your words brought us life, You saw and You said that it was good, But somehow we have broken Your design, And Father, we are praying that You would, Speak to us once more, Bring Your life again.

In the things we've read, and things we've talked about in the beginning, we know that in everything we are a new creation in Christ, and how we can turn to Christ to know how God gives us the courage to be here in the things, that God is doing for us and with us as His Children.

I know this, that being a new creation in Christ, that we see the good works Christ is instilling in us to show us the plans He has for us, and that the plans He has for us are the vessels in the good works that He has shown us to make something beautiful into something brand new because He loves daily and because of that we know that His Creation is all over because we see it daily, because God created Heaven, God created the Earth, He created us, He created the animals, and we are here to know that no matter what happens in life, we can give the things we seek in Him and we seek from Him daily.