heaven

Tonight I was listening to my pandora hymns station and heard this song called Worthy is the Lamb by hillsong. It made me think of heaven, and Rev. chapter 5 where no one is found worthy to open the scrolls except the Lamb. I just think of being in that room with John who is recalling everything God is showing him, and he says that he wept and wept because no one on heaven or on earth was found worthy of opening them...he probably felt  truly hopeless and completely empty. Until Christ is worthy! I cant comprehend His perfection and humility to be slain for us. It really painted a picture to me of our unworthiness, of how imperfect we are, but how amazing God is that He would make Himself a man so that we have hope and a real deep relationship with Him now...based on nothing but what was done for us by Jesus. 

"Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. And they sang a new song, saying:    “You are worthy to take the scroll     and to open its seals,  because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God     persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.   You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,     and they will reignon the earth.”  Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying:    “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”


lyrics of the song.

Thank you for the cross Lord
thank you for the price you paid
bearing all my sin and shame
in love you came,
and gave amazing grace


Thank you for this love Lord
thank you for the nail-pierced hands
washed me in your cleansing flow,
now all i know,
your forgiveness and embrace


Worthy is the Lamb!
seated on the throne
I crown you now with many crowns
you reign victorious!
High and lifted up
Jesus son of God
the treasure of heaven crucified
worthy is the lamb
worthy is the lamb

~*Summer*~

lately...

"I know O Lord, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps." Learning alot about Jeremiah's life & how real & close he was with God.

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." 

Hebrews 10:23

a prayer for freedom in Jesus by Scotty Smith

I just love this prayer that Scotty Smith wrote on his blog this morning. 

A Prayer for Even More Freedom in Jesus

If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36

Dear Lord Jesus, it’s the morning of the 4^th of July, and I’m very thankful to be living in the “land of the free.” But I’m still not as free as you intend, nor as joyful, for that matter. Though you’ve already freed me from trying to earn my salvation by anything I do or am; though you’ve already liberated me from the illusion that I can earn more of God’s love by doing more goodness and less foolishness; though the chains of condemnation have already been obliterated and the fears of death, judgment day, and the future have been sent packing by your perfect love—I’m still not as free as you intend.

As I read the Scriptures and reflect on my relationships, I feel very much like a babe—a neophyte, a raw rookie in so many gospel freedoms. Only the gospel helps us see and own our sin, brokenness and bondage. Only your grace keeps us from going to shame and self-contempt as we do so. Hear my prayers and bring more grace.

Jesus, please free me for loving others as you joyfully and relentlessly love us. There’s no freedom more central and powerful for revealing your glory. Help me return kindness for coldness, pursuit for avoidance; gospel for gossip. I want to be less irritated more often with fewer people. Help me to use fewer words and more listening when talking with others. Please unshackle me from the illusion of control in my relationships and annihilate my commitment to a pain-free heart. To love well is to hurt often.

Jesus, please liberate me from thinking about the next thing, so I can be present in the current moment. Help me make better eye contact and heart connection with others. Please help me to be more intrigued with people that I don’t know and less standoffish around strangers.

Jesus, break even more of the shackles of my insecurities. Empty my closets of all fig-leaf coverings and clothe me in the garments of grace. Liberate me from grave-clothes of shame and feelings of incompetence. Unfetter me from thinking too much about what I’m not by showing me more of you and who I am in you.

Lord Jesus, grant me greater spontaneity, louder laughter, saltier tears, and quicker repentances. Hallelujah… it is for freedom you have set us free. So very Amen I pray, in your most compassionate and powerful name. Amen.