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.

A Testament Of Faith

 I give myself away, I give myself away, So You can use me.

1 Timothy 2 verse 6: Who gave Himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.

In this lyric and scripture to me it means that we give ourselves to Christ daily as we walk with Him in our path to see that we need Him in this life that we live because He cares for us.

Let me see redemption win, Let me know the struggle ends, That You can mend a heart that's frail and torn.

Ephesians 1 verse 7:  In Him we have Redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.

We were in darkness, But you created light, You brought us redemption, Through giving up your life.

Psalm 130 verse 7: Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with Him is full redemption.

In these lyrics and scriptures, we take a look at redemption and how we are redeemed in Him, because He sent His Son to die for our sins, so that we could be forgiven. I think that's a wonderful thing to know because without Redemption in Christ, where would we be?

You poured out your blood for the world, You let freedom reign, So that we can stand and proclaim.

2 Corinthians 3 verse 17: Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

In this lyric and scripture we find that true freedom, is found in Christ. I think it's great that our freedom is found in Him, because we take a look at the way that Christ loves us, so that we can have everlasting and eternal life with Him, and so that we may honor in Him in the way we should go and the way we should serve Him to Honor in a pure heart of Faith for all eternity with Him and to know that we are loved by Him and we as His Child can serve Him freely.

Its a beautiful release, To lay your burdens down, To let freedom fall like rain, fall like rain, There's overwhelming joy, In the power of the blood And through the cross I find, A beautiful release.

John 8 verse 36: So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

In these two things, we see how just like the scripture with freedom, that we are able to release our hearts to Christ, that we can find the freedom to be free in Christ and to serve Him well.

You’ve brought me to the end of myself And this has been the longest road, Just when my hallelujah was tired, You gave me a new song, I’m letting go, I’m letting go, I’m letting go, Falling into you.

Proverbs 3 verse 5-6: 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.

In this scripture and lyric, we see that just by letting go, that if we trust in God and lean not on our own understanding, that we can acknowledge His ways because He will make our path straight and we can follow Him for the rest of our days and speak Truth and His Love to others.

Would I believe you when you would say, Your hand will guide my every way, Will I receive the words You say, Every moment of every day, Well I will walk by faith, Even when I cannot see, Well because this broken road, Prepares Your will for me, Help me to end my endless fears, You've been so faithful for all my years, With one breath You make me new, Your grace covers all I do.

2 Corinthians 5 verse 7: For we live by faith, not by sight. 

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

In this lyric and scriptures that we see, we know that we can live our life by walking by Faith and not sight. In the second scripture, we see how our Faith is confidence in what we hope for in life and assurance about what we do not see, because this where it's important to trust Him and pray about His Plans for our life.

Ain't seen a cloud in forever over me, But I believe Your rain is coming, mm, Yeah, I've been hanging onto high hopes, 'Cause You're the one who's making dry bones come to life, You're the light I put my trust in, Every word You say is gonna come true, You will lead me to the promised land, Everything You say is gonna happen, Even though I haven't seen it yet, I will build a boat in the sand where they say it never rains, I will stand up in faith, I'll do anything it takes, With Your wind in my sails, Your love never fails or fades, I'll build a boat in the desert place And when the flood and the water starts to rise, yeah, I'll ride the storm 'cause I got You by my side, With Your wind in my sails, Your love never fails or fades, I'll build a boat, so let it rain, You're the map, You're my compass, You help me navigate the currents underneath, Take the lead, I surrender.

John 14 verse 6: Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

In the scripture from John 14 verse 6 and the lyric above it, we see that when we think we need to build a boat, to step away from anxiety, to step away from stress, to step away from the things that overwhelm us, we see how God is the way, the truth, and the life and no one comes to the Father except through Him. I mean, right when we think we need to build a boat to escape that part of life, God shows us that while we may still build a boat even if it's not physically building one, that we can trust Him to come through for us, that we can trust Him to help us in anything that we are facing in life right now, because He Is Love overall.

Safe, planted here on middle ground,, I've stayed here way too long, Brave, outside of the safe and sound, That's where I be - long, So Jesus take this fearful heart, And give me a running start, Cause I, I want to risk it all, I want to give You every-thing, All of me for You, You and You a-lone, I want to see Your kingdom come, I want to risk it all.

1 John 4 verse 9: This is how God showed His love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

In these last two things, we see that it's okay to take risks by being brave enough to step out into Faith, to not know where you may end up, and to risk it all for Christ by sharing a testament of Faith, Redemption, Hope, Love, and to know that God has continued to show His Love among us because He is Love, and that He sent His One And Only Son into the world, that we might live through Him by being a living, breathing, walking miracle, and letting our light shine for others, so that they too, can see the great works of Christ.

I want to end on this, so a lot of you may have seen me post sometimes in the past about September being Hydrocephalus Awareness Month, if you don't know what that is, let me briefly say that it stands for water on the brain. I was born with Hydrocephalus, but wasn't diagnosed with it until I was six months old. I have learning disabilities, I have Epilepsy which is a seizure disorder, I have Neuropathy, Myoclonus, but overall I don't let these things stop me. I've had trouble making friends, however even though I still may have trouble with that, I have some very great friends that I've built friendships with who have become best friends that are family to me and always will be that in my life. I say all this, and end on it because I think it's important to know that God has give us a purpose to give ourselves away to Him, to allow His Redemption to enter our hearts, to allow us Freedom in Him and to serve with Honor in the way He wants us to go, to let go and let Him take the reigns of our testimony, to release the things we sometimes allow to creep up on us at times, and give it to Him. I also think it is a great thing to also know that we can walk by Faith in the assurance that God gives us to have hope, confidence that He's building something great for our life and we can take that risk to find out what happens next in our testimony, just by relying on God to give us the hope we need to rely on Him, and so with all this said and mentioned, never let your Testimony be something that keeps you away from sharing what God is about to do in your life, and what He's done in your life for the better.

Who We Are In Christ

When you feel forgotten by others, Remember you are not forgotten by God.

God loves you and He has not forgotten you. You have a reason to smile.

You're Not Forgotten, God Sees You.

He Knows My Name, He Knows My Every Thought, He Sees Each Tear That Falls, And He Hears Me When I Call.

Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.

In times when we see how God gives us the strength to overcome, we become stronger in Him.

We understand how God gives us the ability to step into Faith, so that we can put that Faith into place.

When we begin to understand the times that become hard, we see how we can put our actions for Christ into place, and what I mean with that part is, no matter how many times in our day that we do things for Christ, and no matter how many times we fall, we will always get back up because God loves us all.

He loves us so much, that we seek Him in the times that we need to be found again, if we get lost.

Once Lost Restored, Broken Made Whole, I'm Found In The Savior. 

That song, is from Mikey Moore And The Responding, and with this song, God reminds us as His Child, and as His Own, that we are never and I mean ever forgotten by God because God is Love.

In all of this, we find our true identity in Him to overcome the different obstacles that we face in life.

This study was inspired by a song I heard this past week, and it was sent to me by a friend that thought I would like it, and surely enough I did.

This song is called Heartfelt by Frequency Of The Forgotten.

Part of the lyrics say this: I Messed Up Again, Said I Wouldn't Fall. Now I'm Hiding Like Adam Behind This Wall, My Prayers Feel Cold. My Hands To Stain. Every Time I Try I Slip Back In Shame.

You see in these lyrics, we might have things that happen, things we realize that can happen but you know what with God's Help, we see that even though we say we won't fall, that even if we do, He lifts us back up and shows that we are enough. When we hide behind a wall, when our prayers feel cold, and we have stains on our hands, or we slip back into a character trait like shame, who do we go to?

The answer, is simple because we go to God. We go to Him in prayer because God doesn't abandon us. He doesn't forget us, we are not forgotten by God. I mean it when I say that in in our truest identity in Christ, we are never ever forgotten by God who loves us, why? Well because that answer is, God is Love. When we realize that God is Love, there is nothing that can separate us from Him, no matter how hard the Enemy may try to separate us, we will never be forgotten by our Savior because He is our Redeemer and we are His and because we are His, we don't have to worry about being abandoned.

Isiah 44 verse 21- “Remember these things, Jacob, for you, Israel, are my servant. I have made you, you are my servant; Israel, I will not forget you.

1 Peter verse 2- Who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

Often times in these two scriptures, we could feel like we are abandoned and forgotten, but here is what some of the lyrics from Sarah Kroger's Song Belovedness say: You've owned your fear and all your self-loathing, You've owned the voices inside of your head, You've owned the shame and reproach of your failure, It's time to own your belovedness, You've owned your past and how it's defined you, You've owned everything everybody else says, It's time to hear what your Father has spoken, It's time to own your belovedness, He says, "You're mine, I smiled when I made you, I find you beautiful in every way, My love for you is fierce and unending, I'll come to find you, whatever it takes, My beloved", You've owned the mess you see in the mirror, You've owned the lies that you're just not enough, You've been so blinded by all you're comparing, It's time to own your belovedness, He says, "You're mine, I smiled when I made you, I find you beautiful in every way, My love for you is fierce and unending, I'll come to find you, whatever it takes, My beloved", You are completely loved and fully known, Beloved, believe He died to make your heart His home.

In this song, we get to see that even in the moments that we feel forgotten or abandoned, we are not because in our truest of true identities in Christ, we are Loved, we are Cherished, we are Enough.

When I felt that church hurt, So hard to put into words, Feeling stranded, abandoned, Thought we would end up with Heaven on earth, Instead of this church hurt, We found ourselves down in the dirt, cll of us imperfect people under a steeple, Just trying to do God's work, cnd then there was church hurt.

How many times have you wrestled with feeling unworthy? Outside looking in, Like you and your sin don't belong And that devil slips through, Starts telling you you've been abandoned, You've heard all his lies, But the truth's been the truth all along, You have been chosen, Seen, known, and loved every moment, Called by your name, Yes, He knows it, So run like a child to your Father, You have not been forgotten, You have been chosen.

In these two songs, we see how no matter what we face in this life, that we are chosen by Him, and we are never ever forgotten by Him because with God all things are possible and nothing is impossible for Him. We live each day, like it would be our last and we live each day in knowing Christ is with us daily.

I want to end on this because I feel it's important to end on this last little thing. Just to know You and

To make You known, We lift Your name on High, Shine like the sun make darkness run and hide, We know we were made for so much more, Than ordinary lives, It's time for us to more than just survive

We were made to thrive.

I wanted to end on the song Thrive by Casting Crowns, because I feel that it's important to let people know that in the Kingdom of God, we are made to Thrive in His Image and it is also important to know that we are made for more than anything we can imagine in this world because just like in Phillipians 4 verse 13: I can do all things through Christ that gives me strength, and just like in 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.

Those last two scriptures with that song, should be an indication that when we let the Enemy sometimes try to make us feel like we've been forgotten by others or we feel abandoned, we can go back to the very first quote that I started with tonight where it talks about and reminds us that When you feel forgotten by others, Remember you are not forgotten by God.

How great is that to know again, that we are not forgotten by our Creator who made us in His Image?

I'm glad to know my Identity in Him, is never being forgotten by Him because He loves unconditionally and because He loves unconditionally, we can then go to the second quote of remembering to smile too.

We should always make it a goal to smile, and to be able to share God's Word with other people as well.

Remembrance In Grief And Loss

 Psalm 34 verse 18- The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

In this verse, when we are brokenhearted and we remember God saves those crushed in spirit, I feel for the people who go through loss, I feel for the people who deal with grief in their own way and how God reminds us that He'll be with us forever and that He'll mend what is broken.

When you see broken beyond on repair, I see healing beyond belief, when you see too far gone, I see one step away from home, when you see nothing but damaged goods, I see something good in the making, I'm not finished yet, when you see wounded, I see mended.

Revelation 21 verse 4- ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

In the verse this reminds us in how no matter what, God will wipe away our tears when we feel sadness.

Every hour of every day, Oh I need You, Lord, and that will never change, Every moment in every way, Oh I need You, Lord, and that will never change, No that will never change.

We cannot hide, Your Spirit is inside We are called to speak You Jesus, Breathe with us Your words, So Your grace is heard, So that all who seek find Jesus.

In these lyrics by David Leonard and Joy Dame, we see that every hour even a city on a hill that when we seek Jesus even in the toughest times of grief and loss, that He'll still make a way for us as His Children.

Ecclesiastes 3 verse 1-8-    There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,  a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

So I'm gonna thank you, For all that You've done, Came broke the window to my soul, You pulled me from the devil's hold, No longer wearing those grave clothes, Your living water made me Whole, You made me Whole.

With this song by Joy Dame called Whole, and just like the last scripture, we realize that there is a time for every season, even when that season can be about grief and loss.

When we lose somebody close to us, it hurts. It hurts our heart, it hurts our soul and it can make us feel a lot of different emotions in the process.

The way we deal with grief and loss of somebody we are close to is leaning on God to carry us through.

It will never be easy, but losing people you love never is. The important thing to know, is to remember who they were when living then to remember the bad times. It is also important to know that there will be days when it feels like it's a dream, one that you don't want to have to wake up and find out it's real.

It can be easy to want to give into feeling like the bad thing that happened, didn't happen at all and that the person we lost, amongst the grief that we have in our hearts for them, will still be here.

Jeremiah 29 verse 11 talks about the plans God has for us, now He also in that scripture talks about how the plans He has for us, are not to harm us but to give us a hope and a future.

You see, Joy Dame was a precious soul. She had a great heart for people.

I had the pleasure of meeting Joy with my parents in Lapeer Michigan on June 22, 2024.

When I got to meet Joy, it was a humbled blessing in getting to meet her.

It was humbling because of the songs she did but also the one she did with her rapper friend and with Connor Roy with the song Singing Over Me.

You're bigger than my wildest dreams, Greater than all the failures I have seen, In ev'ry situation, In every season, You've always come through, You've always come through, Your love has opened up my eyes, Rescued me from my shame And gave me sight, Unfailing, unending, Unchanging, unrelenting, You always come through, You always come through, In the dark, You're the light that's shining, In my heart, You're the hope that's rising From the start, You were right there singing over me, I was lost Now Your grace has found me, I ran away But Your mercy saw me, I feel alive as I hear You singing over me.

Zephaniah 3 verse 17- The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you;  in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

Joy was a friend and like a sister to me after I got to meet her in person. I loved Joy, she was family.

Psalm 147 verse 3- He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

In this scripture and in the last scripture, God will sing over our life and He'll heal what is broken within us and bind up our wounds and make our heart feel whole again and know that we can have something that will mend our spirit from feeling the heartache and the moments of feeling that grief and loss.

This study tonight, is in Remembrance, in Honor, and in Memory of Joy Dame who had a loving heart.

I pray that anyone who knew Joy Dame, or knows her family will just pray for family as well tonight.

It is a difficult time for their family and anyone who know her well or have gotten a chance to meet her.

I do know however, that no matter what life brings our way, that God is watching over all of us.

There is something one of my best friends says, it's not goodbye, it's a see you later moment.

We will all one day be in Heaven with Jesus and when we do, He will tell us well done, good and faithful servant. In s Casting Crowns song it says: I don't want to leave a legacy, I don't care if they remember me, Only Jesus. Let Jesus be the light of the legacy that we do our best to strive in daily.

Let this be a reflection in how we should be reminded in how we won't always be here on Earth, because only God knows when He calls us home to be with Him. Let it be a reflection to us, to let people in our lives know that we care about them, and love them just like Christ loves all His Children.

No matter what we go through, it's important to know that no matter how we deal with the loss or grief, and no matter how we deal with grieving in our own way, that there will always be our loved ones around us and friends and even Jesus that will give us the comfort and strength to keep pushing through.

It is my hope that in this study, we can remember that we don't always have to feel brave or strong when we are hurting, but that we can lean on God to help us get through and be strong in Him to overcome other obstacles in life because sometimes it's even important to know that it's ok to not always be okay.

Cause I'm broken, Down to nothing, But I'm still holding on to the one thing, You are God and you are strong, When I am weak.

If I didn't know what it hurt like to be broken, Then how would I know what it feels like to be whole. If I didn't know what it cuts like to be rejected, Then I wouldn't know the joy of coming home, Maybe it's okay if I'm not okay, 'Cause the One who holds the world is holding onto me, Maybe it's all right if I'm not all right, 'Cause the One who holds the stars is holding my whole life.

Let these songs be a reflection that it's okay to tell others and more importantly Jesus in how you feel. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKaYtFw3lOc

This last song I'm sharing is one that Tom Taylor wrote with Joy Dame, and I'm sharing that one to end the study as it is one that can be a reflection that we don't always know what tomorrow may bring but we know who holds tomorrow, and just like we can quote a song that says that life is worth the living just because He Lives. Let our life be a reflection of how we can live our best life and do the things God has called us to do.

Truth

 The truth is I am my Father's child, I Make Him Proud And I Make Him Smile, I Was made in the image of a perfect King, He looks at me and wouldn't change a thing, The truth is I am truly loved, By a God who's good when I'm not good enough, I don't belong to the lies, I belong to You And that's the truth. 

Lie number one you're supposed to have it all together And when they ask how you're doing, Just smile and tell them, "Never better", Lie number 2 everybody's life is perfect except yours, So keep your messes and your wounds And your secrets safe with you behind closed doors, Truth be told, The truth is rarely told, now, I say I'm fine, yeah I'm fine oh I'm fine, hey I'm fine but I'm not, I'm broken And when it's out of control I say it's under control but it's not And you know it, I don't know why it's so hard to admit it, When being honest is the only way to fix it, There's no failure, no fall, There's no sin you don't already know, So let the truth be told.

 … Scared, oh, I thought I knew scared, But I'm so filled with fear, I can barely move, Doubt, I've had my share of doubt But never more than right now I'm wondering where are You … Here on the edge of fall apart, Somehow Your promises find my troubled heart … This is the truth I'm standing on, Even when all my strength is gone, You are faithful forever, And I know You'll never let me fall, Right now, I'm choosing to believe, Someday soon, I'll look back and see, All the pain had a purpose, Your plan was perfect all along, This is the truth I'm standing on … Good, I believe You're still good, Even when life's not good, I will not lose this hope, That the God who parts the sea, Promises He's gonna make a way for me. 

I thought I knew what I was talking about, When I testified of Your great love, Well, I was a soul on fire, there was no doubt, Bible believing, saved, and washed in the blood But it wasn't 'til I stumbled and made my mistakes, That I could know in my soul how amazing was grace, You brought me blessings out of a tragedy, You turned my old song into a symphony And with Your spirit living inside of me, I'm a new creation, I'm a new creation, And now I know what You were talking about, Went from my head into my heart, When I was broken at the bottom, I found, You're my Healer and Redeemer, Jesus, that's who You are, You brought me blessings out of a tragedy, You turned my old song into a symphony And with Your spirit living inside of me, I'm a new creation, I'm a new creation.

John 14 verse 6- Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

2 Timothy 3 verse 16-17:  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God, may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Psalm 43 verse 3: Send me your light and your faithful care,, let them lead me;, let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.

Psalm 25 verse 10: All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful, toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.

2 John 1 verse 1-3:  The elder, To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth—because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.

Speak, O Lord, as we come to You, To receive the food of Your holy Word, Take Your truth, plant it deep in us, Shape and fashion us in Your likeness, That the light of Christ might be seen today, In our acts of love and our deeds of faith, Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us, All Your purposes for Your glory.

In all the songs I shared in the beginning, along with the scriptures and the song at the very end, we see that no matter what happens in life that God is the light, but that He also guides us in the Truth which is His Word daily. He guides in the truth of His Word because He shows us that no matter what hardship we go through, that He is going to bring that part of our test by Faith into a Testimony of Hope.

We see how things like that can bring a joy into our life because God is Faithful, He Is Just, and He is Love and because of that, we are surrounded by His Love and His Word which is the Bible and the Bible is the Truth of which God prepares us into knowing that we are loved by Him on a daily basis.

No matter what we face in life, we can't believe the lies of the Enemy, so we should look forward in our days to look to the One that is Truth which is God because when we believe in the Holy Spirit, we know as children of God, that no matter how many times the Enemy may knock us down, God picks us up.

Let's take what we've learned in all of that and remember that just like in a Veggietales Song, it says:

And so what we have learned applies to our lives today, And God has a lot to say in His book, You see, we know that God's word is for everyone, And now that our song is done, we'll take a look.