Praise to the Creator

It's dark outside... woke up at 5:45 am this morning wide awake. I typically get up around 6:30 to be with the Lord in prayer and in the Word, but this morning was different. I felt a strong urging to get out of bed. I opened the Word to Psalms and began reading. I have read Psalms many times over, but this morning every word jumped off the page. I feel the Lord is telling me to write down what I am reading so that He can receive praise and glory for WHO HE IS. I cannot express in my finite mind the glory of God, so I will repeat what those wrote many, many years ago about the One who created all things, who is not created, but IS. I feel led to write these Psalms as my heart's prayer to the Lord.

The following are verses I am pulling from all throughout the Psalms, in no particular order, but as the Lord directs me: (all NIV)

I will declare your name to my brothers;
in the congregation I will praise you.
The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it.
We wait in hope for the Lord;
he is our help and our shield.
In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness.
I seek you with all of my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
I will not neglect your word.
I am a stranger on earth.
Teach me your decrees!
Let me understand the teaching of your precepts.
I will speak of your statutes before kings,
and will not be put to shame.
You are my portion, O Lord;
I have promised to obey your words.
I have sought your face with all my heart;
be gracious to me according to your promise.
I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.
Teach me your decrees!
I keep your precepts with all my heart.
Your word, O Lord, is eternal;
it stands firm... Your faithfulness continues through all generations.
Save me, for I am yours.
Accept, O Lord, the willing praise of my mouth.
My zeal wears me out!
I rise before dawn and cry for help;
I have put my hope in your word.
Salvation is far from the wicked.
Give me understanding according to your word.
Search me, O 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.
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord!

Blogging MORE!

Ok, it's time to start. I have been wanting to journal my experiences lately with the whole journey I've been on with missions and my daily walk with God. Mainly for my own purposes, I will begin blogging more so I can look back at where I have been and where God has led and guided me. At least once a week I want to post something, at the very least giving an overview of where I have been spiritually and where I see God working. The most important thing to me is being in God's will. To know His will is like the key to all understanding. In order to do this, however, we must know the Holy Spirit. To know the Holy Spirit, we must know Jesus. You see the pattern here... God wants us to give all of us to Him. Selfishness is the world's way. Selfishness is doing ANYTHING outside of God's will. This blog will now serve as a way to keep myself in check, to look back and see the patterns in my life and how closely I stay (or not) in His will.

CBN reports on Haiti earthquake with mention of Salem Evangelical Church team currently in Haiti:

Be Holy because I am Holy

My prayer and heart song to the Lord of Lords:

Holiness, holiness is what I long for
Holiness is what I need
Holiness, holiness is what
You want for me, for me

Holiness, holiness is what I long for (that's what I long for)
Holiness is what I need
Holiness, holiness is what
You want for me

Righteousness, righteousness is what I long for
Righteousness is what I need (thats what I need)
Righteousness, Righteousness is what
You want for me, for me
So, take my heart and mold it

So, take my heart and mold it (So, take my heart and mold it)
Take my mind, transform it (Take my mind, transform it)
Take my will, conform it (Take my will, conform it)
To Your, to Your, oh, Lord (Take my will, conform it)

Brokenness, brokenness is what I long for
Brokenness what I need (gotta be broken)
Brokenness, brokenness is what
You want for me, for me
So, take my heart and mold it

So, take my heart and mold it
Take my mind, transform it
Take my will, conform it
To Yours, to Yours, oh, Lord

Take my will, conform it (Take my will, conform it)
Take my mind transform it (Take my will, conform it)
Take my will conform it (Take my will conform it)
To Your, to Your, oh, Lord (To Your, to Your, oh, Lord)

Holiness, holiness is what I long for
Holiness is what I know I need
Holiness, holiness is what
You want for me
I want to be holy

Its what you want for me
I got to be holy

It's what you want for me

(lyrics to Sonic Flood's "Holiness")