Praise To the Lord

                God loves when we make music and praise Him. He wants us to raise our voices to Him for His glory and honor and power. 

“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and 

to sing praises unto thy name, o most high.”

-Psalm 92:1

“O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to 

the rock of our salvation.Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, 

and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms."

-Psalm 95:1

“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with 

gladness: come before his presence with singing."

-Psalm 100:1

“Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.”

-Psalm 150:1-6

“I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.”

-Psalm 69:30 

               About 2 months ago I decided to write a few songs to God. I know this is different from my typical posts but I thought it's time I finally share them.

Dear God, I Need You

All the twisted lies

And all the broken promises

That changed who I used to be

All my hopes and dreams

That crumbled in my hands

All my mistakes

I’d like to erase

My obsessions got the best of me

The weight of this world

Has got me on my knees

Aching for something beautiful

I want to feel beautiful

Swallowing this pain

I close my eyes

I’m my only ally

Lost for words, don’t know what to say

I can’t take it anymore

Don’t want to cry another night

Don’t want to continue this fight

I’m afraid to lose control

Filled with worry

With every rising sun comes unchartered territory

All the times I’ve turned my back

And still you wait for me

And I can hear you say

It’s okay

You say you’re so ashamed

Regrettable choices you’ve made

Bruised and broken

Your soul’s torn at the seams

But you’re still hoping

I know you think you’re all alone

But anywhere you are

You’re forgiven

The mistakes that you’ve made

Memories erased

Only by my grace

I was living in denial

Wearing a fake smile

Heading for disaster

Living like it didn’t matter

It’s time

I draw the line

Underneath this skin

Is a heart that’s aching

It’s praying

This world just takes

It’s stealing

Let your love wash over me

I fall asleep at night

All alone and afraid

I need you here

I need you now

It’s crawling in my veins

I’ve become quite a liar

Dear God, I’m on my knees

I’m praying

Can you ever forgive me?

Can you hear my soul is crying?

Calling out to you

Loneliness is my enemy

Insecure

Don’t know what for

Building up walls

Let them fall

I pretend I can do it on my own

But I don’t really want to be alone

Turned into someone I don’t want to be

Searching for something beautiful

I want to feel beautiful

All the times I’ve turned my back

And still you wait for me

And I can hear you say

It’s okay

Rescuer

Break your lonely heart free

Don’t be someone you don’t want to be

Beaten and broken

By flashbacks of your own past

Mistakes that you can’t erase

But that doesn’t matter

He’s still waiting for you

Feels like your world is falling apart

All the lies and promises

That pulled you away

Cut you like a knife

But hold on

All the pain will be gone

Don’t cry another night

Don’t put up a fight

You’re under attack

Tired of all the bricks on your back

Taking fire

Feeling tired

Tired of this fight

You want to feel alive

Feels like your world is falling apart

All the lies and promises

That pulled you away

Cut you like a knife

But hold on

All the pain will be gone

Don’t cry another night

Don’t put up a fight

Let him rescue you

If you’re hurting

And feeling afraid

Nowhere else to turn

You got to believe

He’ll be there every day

To wash it away

Letting Go

I’m letting go

Of everything I know

To you I’m giving in

Help me learn to live

With you I can stand strong

When all goes wrong

You’re the only way

Start of a new day

You erase

All my mistakes

Take my concerns and cares

Throw them away

Take what is broken

Turn it into something beautiful

I’m breathing in this air

But only with you can I survive

I’m seeing for the first time

You’re the reason I’m alive

So in everything I do

I live for you

You watched me make my mistakes

But still you took me back

All along I built these walls

Help me make them fall

Running through my veins

Killing all my pain

Jesus

You’re my escape

You’re my remedy

Make me feel alive

Hear you in the darkness

Know I’m not alone

Feel you all around me

The silence says it all

I’m breathin in this air

But only with you can I survive

I’m seeing for the first time

You’re the reason I’m alive

So in everything I do

I live for you

Slow down

Breathe you in

Wash away my sin

How glorious it is to be

Set free

 

True Love

Met a boy when I was just seventeen

Meant the world to me

So I gave him everything

Thought he felt the same

He told me everything I wanted to hear

Sweet talked me every time I was near

Turned out to be a lie

But I trusted this guy

Dear God

I’m calling to you now

The only way I know how

I’m on my knees

Let your love wash over me

I need you to fill the empty space

And take me from this place

For you my heart is beating

Help relieve the sting

I hung on every word he said

He was the song that was stuck in my head

But he left me broken

My pride’s been stolen

Made me think we had something to treasure

Believed the lie and fell for the pressure

I wanted to stay

But couldn’t wait another day, had to get away

Dear God

I’m calling to you now

The only way I know how

I’m on my knees

Let your love wash over me

I need you to fill the empty space

and take me from this place

For you my heart is beating

Help relieve the sting

Nothing was real

Don’t like how this feels

He sold me out

And filled me up with doubt

All this time I’ve compromised

Think I’ve met my demise

Disconnected from it all

Answer my call

Dear God

I’m calling to you now

The only way I know how

I’m on my knees

Let your love wash over me

I need you to fill the empty space

and take me from this place

For you my heart is beating

Help relieve the sting

It took me forever to realize all the strife

That cut me like a knife

I was living in denial

Now I need a new revival

I pray that once my tears dry I’ll forgive

And one day I’ll be able to live

Now that I’m broken I see

That only you can complete me

Dear God

I’m calling to you now

The only way I know how

I’m on my knees

Let your love wash over me

I need you to fill the empty space

and take me from this place

For you my heart is beating

Help relieve the sting

Fake and fleeting

His love had no meaning

Now I’m feeling numb and cold

Realize I need your hand to hold

The only true love

Is the one sent from above

 

 

 

What's Happened to America?

                A couple of weeks ago I got a response to my post Bible and Politics. The woman said, “So you expect everyone to follow your religion? What about the people who don’t believe in God? You’re saying they have to be subject to that. Why do you have to be so unloving? Can’t you give up trying to get God back into the country, even if that means your religion loses power?  Firstly, I’d like to say that I do love everyone the way God wants us to. If I didn’t than I wouldn’t be writing this blog to help save lives and to help those who already have Jesus as their savior to grow. Secondly, I’m not harassing or forcing anyone to believe in God. I don’t force anyone to sit here and read this blog. Thirdly, it’s not about a religion, it’s a relationship and I’m not trying to gain power through my faith or for my faith, only God.

                 With the Fourth of July coming up on Wednesday, I want to talk about this country. Not only this country but the history and what the forefathers wanted for America, a country based on Christianity. God is so far out of this country now though; people are saying that what the forefathers put into effect is outdated and needs to be changed. But it’s not! We were doing so well as a country until God started having less and less of a role in the hearts of our leaders and representatives.

                The calling that God had for this continent started with Columbus when he sailed the ocean blue in 1492. It was not by chance that Columbus landed in the Indies when he had intended to go to India. It’s never mentioned in a single history book but Christopher Columbus was inspired and guided by God and the Holy Spirit. He admits he is a sinner but he went to Lord and is now at peace because of His presence.

“For the execution of the voyage to the Indies, I did not make use of intelligence,

mathematics or maps. It is simply the fulfillment of what Isaiah had prophesied….”

-Christopher Columbus

“It was the Lord who put it into my mind, I could feel His hand upon me, the fact

that it would be possible to sail from here to the Indies. All who heard

of my project rejected it with laughter, ridiculing me. There is no question that

the inspiration was from the Holy Spirit, because He comforted me with

rays of marvelous inspiration from the Holy Scriptures.”

-Christopher Columbus

                George Washington, the first president of the United States was a man of prayer. He turned to God at all times. Whenever he and his troops needed help he always went to God for guidance. George Washington intended for our country to be under the control of God.
 

“I now make it my earnest prayer, that God would have you, and the State over

which you preside, in his holy protection, that he would incline the hearts of the Citizens to

cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to Government, to entertain a

brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow Citizens of the United States

at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the Field, and finally, that

he would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all, to do Justice, to love

mercy, and to demean ourselves with the Charity, humility and pacific temper of mind,

which were the Characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed Religion, and without

an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy Nation.”

-GEORGE WASHINGTON, circular to the states, June 8, 1783

When the Declaration of Independence was written it includes multiple mentions of God. In the first paragraph it says, “When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve their political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them,…” Then, in the next paragraph, it says, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights…” In the last paragraph it states, “We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembles, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions…” Firstly, if you don’t know what rectitude means, I’d like to point out that it means 1. rightness of principle or conduct; moral or religious  virtue. 2. correctness of judgment. The wanted to make sure that God approved of their beliefs and what they were doing!  Finally, the last sentence of the document states, “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence,…” They were looking to God for the protection of the United States!

  Why do people say that the Declaration of Independence is outdated? Because it states that the people of the government have the power to alter or abolish the current Government and replace it with a new one if the current one has become destructive to the nation and its people. I’d like to point out a few statements from the second paragraph of the document.

“That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the

Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its

foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most

 likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

“But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object

evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to

throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”

The current government knows that they are taking advantage of the people and the people are blind to their real power! The Obama administration is ruining our country beyond repair and so many American citizens are blind to the fact that we, the people, have the power to overthrow this current government. He’s giving jobs to illegal citizens while we American citizens suffer! Our tax dollars are being spent to fund abortions! He’s bowing down to other nations and making us look weak! So many Americans say they don’t talk “politics and religion” but even I at just 19 years of age knows the importance! We need to open each other’s eyes to the things happening around us. The Obama administration is just like the government of the King of Britain that the peoples in 1776 succeeded from. He was a tyrant. So is Obama. How? I will outline a list of some similar actions that are listing in the Declaration of Independence about the King of Britain.

-          He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

-          He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

-          He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

-          He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

-          He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

-          He has combined with other to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

-          For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world

-          For imposing taxes on us without our Consent

-          For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Government.

-          For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

               

                God is being removed from our country! There’s no more prayer in school. They tried taking the word “God” out of the pledge of allegiance and off our money. That is why we are suffering as a nation!

"...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and

pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will 

hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

-2 Chronicles 7:14

Here's another blog post of mine that's related to this.

 

God's Not Just a Myth

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."

-Genesis 1:1

                Many people in today’s society deny the presence of God and the Holy Spirit. They say he doesn’t exist and one atheist told me that the only reason Christians believe in God is because they are weak and need something to have hope in. We are not completely independent, we need God. That must make us weak. I don’t think so. I think it makes us stronger to come to terms that there is something greater than us. The complexity of the design of man, the Earth, and the solar system point to intelligent design. Creation.  Not evolution. How is it that Earth is the only planet that can sustain life? And if we came from monkeys then how come there are still monkeys swinging in the trees? And if we came from fish then does that mean we are eating out third cousin whenever we eat a tuna sandwich? How come humans have not changed much over thousands of years besides not needing our appendix and spleen and such? How are we the most intelligent creation on this earth!?!? My God, OUR God is not a myth. He is real and lives in each and every one of us if we allow Him to. 

                If God was not real and the Bible was a fiction story then how could hundreds of prophesies come true and continue to come true? An atheist might try to bring up the prophesies that did not come true but how can they ignore the ones that did? We are going through so many of the birth pains of the Rapture and Tribulation that will lead to the end of the earth that we know.

“I have revealed and saved and proclaimed- I, and not

some foreign god among you. You are my

witnesses- declares the Lord- that I am God.”

-Isaiah 43:12

                He says it right in the bible! There will be people who refuse to accept the Lord so He brings up the point that He was the one who prophesied all that happened. How? Because He is the one who plans all things from the beginning to the end! Matthew 24:4-32 describes a few of the signs of the end of age.

-          false prophets

-          wars and rumors of war

-          famines

-          earthquakes

-          “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me…the love of most will grow cold.” – Matthew 24:9-12

-          the image of the antichrist will appear in the most holy place (the Middle East) This hasn’t happened yet but it will soon occur.

               

                We have seen so many false prophets declaring when the end of the world will happen. Right now they are saying the world will end in December. However, they are false because the bible states in various places that no one, I repeat no one, will know when the Son of Man will come (Just a little side note, Jesus is called the Firstborn of the dead in Revelation 1:5 because our spirits were once dead and he was the first to be spiritually born. He was the ultimate sacrifice that we needed to be able to obtain life in Heaven.). There has been an increase of wars in the past few centuries. There are many countries that are what we know as third-world that has thousands of children who have no food for weeks. In the past year or so there has been an increase in earthquakes. Christians are more hated now than ever. Sure, you can say that there have always been earthquakes and Christians have always been hated. But all I can say is EXACTLY! The birth pains don’t all happen at once! They gradually grow closer and closer together and that’s exactly what’s happening. So don’t try to deny the fact that the Bible is right and prophesied many things that are coming true. In Revelation it talks about the earth being consumed by fire before the Rapture. There are so many wildfires around the United States and around the world.

                The bible even describes how the people will act in 2 Timothy Chapter 3.

-          people will love themselves

-          be lovers of money

-          boastful

-          proud

-          abusive

-          disobedient

-          ungrateful

-          unholy

-          unloving

-          unforgiving

-          slanders

-          no self-control

-          treacherous

-          conceited

                Have you been paying attention to people around you? All they want is money, money, and more money. Look at the politicians and Fortune 500 companies. Everyone is always so proud and boastful about what they have and what they’ve done, always competing with friends, family, and neighbors to see who can have the best stuff. Otherwise known as “keeping up with the Joneses”. People are abusive not only to the people around them but all to substances like drugs and alcohol. The children disobey their parents and people who don’t have Christ as their savior disobey the Maker and Creator of heaven and earth. They are ungrateful for what little they have and don’t read the bible or live it out. They show no love to their fellow human being, laughing at the disabled and telling the homeless man to go get a job instead of standing on the corner. They don’t know if he already tried getting a job. They don’t forgive anyone either. In my own life, my grandmother cannot find it in her heart to forgive my father for stating facts. They give in to their earthly desires so easily, living dangerous lives joining gangs and walking the streets selling their bodies. 

                Some will say that the bible states that Jesus will save His people, the Jews, because of His crucifixion. But today many of the Jews still have not converted to believe in Jesus as their savior (Romans 11:26- And so, all Israel shall be saved.)This prophesy is not false though. Not all Jews will be saved. Paul, in his writing to the Romans said, “Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sands of the sea, it is the remnant that will be saved, for the Lord will execute His word upon the earth, thoroughly and quickly.” (Romans 9:27-28). Now mind you, there is no idea of time in Heaven. Everything happens in its right time. There is no blanket of salvation for the Jews although Jesus, on the cross, said, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” The only way they would have been saved is if they accepted Jesus as their final sin sacrifice. John 14:6 says, “No one comes to the Father except through Me.” How can someone believe in God but not Jesus? Jesus was God’s creation as the final sacrifice we needed. Zechariah 9:9 says that upon the coming of the King of Kings, Israel shall never fall again. This is a future prophesy! Not a prophesy that should have already happened. For only 4 of the 7 biblical feasts have been completed.

                What are the 7 biblical feasts you ask?

-          Passover: This feast celebrates the deliverance of the Hebrew slaves from Egypt. The Passover Lamb’s blood is applied to the doorsteps of their houses. Jesus became that Passover Lamb when he was crucified on the cross willingly to become our redemption.

-          Unleavened Bread: This is a seven day period that prohibits the eating of leavened bread as leaven is a symbol of sin. Jesus fulfilled this when he was buried and became our righteousness.

-          Firstfriuts: This feast celebrates the bringing of the firstfruits of the winter harvest to the Temple indicating there would be more to come. This feast was fulfilled when Jesus rose from the dead to be presented to God as the first of the harvest. (1 Corinthians 15:20-23.

-          Feast of Weeks: Known as Pentecost, this feast shows anticipation and desire of serving God. This feast was fulfilled when the Holy Spirit entered the disciples of Jesus in the Temple. It represents the beginning of Christ’s followers on earth, being set apart as holy.

-          Rosh Hashanah

-          Yom Kippur

-          Feast of Tabernacles

                Look at the battle between Isaac and Ishmael. It started in biblical times and the battle between the Arabs and Israelis is still going on! And the "end" as we know could NOT have happened before one of the major prophecies came true. It happened on May 14, 1948 - when the world briefly felt sorry for the Jews and returned Israel to them - The Jews became a nation again in ONE DAY, just as predicted in the Old Testament. Furthermore, the Old Testament prophesied that when the Jews again owned Israel, the Land would arise from a barren desert into a prosperous land. Which it did! Before that (please check history books) it was nothing but a desert, good for absolutely NOTHING. Even the Arabs didn't want it. But, suddenly, when the Jews entered back into the picture, BAM! The Six Day War! And who won? The way-outnumbered Jews! Why? Because God kept His promise! Israel is coming up with many technological advances and is one of the top ten profitable countries. 

                The Bible is not a science book, yet it is scientifically accurate. All the other stuff about the Big Bang is not science. It is someone’s own belief that has spread to others. Ask yourself this concerning the world around us: Why is it that the earth is made up of mostly water and that it is critical for our very survival. Explain why trees remain intact as something we can use for fire, shelter, build houses, and make paper? Why do atoms stay together? Why is there just enough gravity on earth to keep us from being squashed like bugs or floating into space? How can this be just "coincidence"? For more of science and the bible: http://www.clarifyingchristianity.com/science.shtml
 

                Some atheists choose to come up with the fact that Luke and Matthew have 2 genealogies that differ with certain names. The careful Bible student is likely to conclude that Matthew and Luke present two different genealogies. Following through the genealogies, one will notice that there are some names which are common to both, but also, a great number of differences. Matthew begins at the patriarch Abraham, and works his way to Jesus the Messiah. Luke begins at Jesus, and works his way back to Adam. There are two genealogies, with two distinct purposes. Matthew, it appears reveals the genealogy of Joseph, and Luke, presents the genealogy of Mary. Although Mary was a virgin Joseph was still considered Jesus’ father. His lineage proved Jesus’ right to be the Messiah because of the royalty in the genealogy. The genealogy shows Christ’s humanity.

                If God is real then the bible is real. Therefore, Christ is the Messiah and Savior of mankind, not sent to judge but to save mankind from eternal damnation. Nobody can force anybody to believe in God or the Bible. In reality, the existence of God cannot be proven or disproved absolutely. If you cannot come to terms that God is real than the only way to find out that God really exists is to die. But you can’t say that “you didn’t know”. That won’t save you from his wrath and judgment.

Because of Man's Desire

If you don't thank God after every smile why do you blame Him after every tear?

          

              Everyone is so quick to blame God when something goes wrong. Lost a job? That person is cursing God. A loved one dies? “Why would you do that God?” But then when everything is going good for them, they seem to forget who God is and don’t thank Him for what He’s done in them. We should go to Him on all occasions and rejoice at all times.

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your

gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Don not be anxious about anything,

but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

-Philippians 4:4-6

                Some people say that God is evil because He allows evil. But He only allows evil because that is what men who don’t give themselves up to the Lord have in their hearts. They block God and the Holy Spirit from entering their hearts. Therefore, not all bad comes from God, nor Satan; it comes from the hearts of men (although we can blame Satan because they allow Him to control their thoughts and actions.) God allows the bad to happen as the punishment to mankind for not accepting Him.

“He whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but he whose ways

are perverse will suddenly fall.”

-Proverbs 28:18

                If you look at the story of Noah and the ark, God did not cause the great flood for no reason. There was so much sin in the world and earthly desires in the hearts of men that He needed to bring the world back to order. In the story of Jonah and the big fish, Jonah did not end up in the world by God’s own decision. God had ordered Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh and preach against its wickedness. But instead, he tried to run from God and boarded a ship. The sea grew rough and he knew that the only way to help save the other men was to sacrifice himself so he had them throw him into the water. God allowed the fish to swallow him so that he would not drown and perish in the ocean.

                Jerusalem and Judah turned away from God; they became traitors. In return the Lord said that He will bring disaster and oppression to them because of their own wrongdoing (Isaiah 3:4-9). He will take both supply and support from them, the hero and the warrior, the judge and the prophet, the soothsayer and the elder, the captain and men of rank, the counselor, and the skilled craftsman (Isaiah 1-3). It wasn’t the Lord bringing unrighteous punishment. The Jews and the people of Judah brought it upon themselves by not allowing God’s will to be done and by not accepting Him as their god.

                God also allows bad to happen to test us. In the book of Job, God allows Satan to take everything in Job’s possession and give him sores all over his body. He does this to prove that Job was a faithful servant of the Lord. Job’s wife told him to curse God but Job replied, “Shall we accept good from God, and not troubles?”(Job 2:10) Three of Job’s friends kept putting down God but Job did not so in return, Job was made prosperous again and give him twice the blessings.

“God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will

be with you to keep you from sinning.”

-Exodus 20:20

“…to humble you and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you.”

-Deuteronomy 8:16