By Your Side

Lyrics by Tenth Avenue North

Why are you striving these days
Why are you trying to earn grace
Why are you crying
Let me lift up your face
Just don't turn away

Why are you looking for love
Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough
To where will you go child
Tell me where will you run
To where will you run

And I'll be by your side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you call
And please don't fight
These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

Look at these hands and my side
They swallowed the grave on that night
When I drank the world's sin
So I could carry you in
And give you life
I want to give you life

Let Go, Let God...

   As humans we tend to hold onto the past whether it's a person, a mistake, or a memory that once was... When your past is filled with pain or heartache it can hold us back from our ability to move forward and adjust to the world that is always changing around us. I read in an article a good analogy that really stuck out to me. "A backpack filled with distressful memories that one tries to swim with, but it always seems to weigh you down, allowing you to merely breathe", its quite fitting. The article continued to say that we try to avoid detachment of the pain because it has been written into our past as if in stone. I thought about it, and i realized that nothing is written in stone. God provides a clean slate no matter how dark your past may be. What we really need to do is let go, and let God take control. Gods grace covers everything. Your past is why God hung on the cross, but if you're so caught up in your past how can you start living again, much less ever fully immerse yourself into the real calls and plans the Lord has for you. Jesus said he'd set the captives free, and many of the things that captivate us are past issues; God says that anyone who is trying to move forward but keeps looking back is not fit for his kingdom. You can either choose to stay bound up and continue looking back and encountering your past or you can allow God to unchain you, and use you for his glory. The choice is yours.

    One thing I've realized personally is that once you're headed in the right direction God brings you back to the memories of the past, and the reason he will do that so you can learn from the mistakes. You can be more aware of the things you need to avoid, or things you need to value. You can see how God has had his hand on your life and where hes brought you from. God is forever working behind the scenes in our lives and we may not realize it, but Gods got a plan for everything... I'm sitting here just being reminded of how great our God is all over again; I've made a lot of mistakes, and to be frank i don't know where i would be if he had not died on the cross for my sins. He loves us. Don't forget how much. Don't let your past dictate who you are, but let it be a part of who you will become. A better person, better Christian, better husband/wife, a better parent.

"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12)

"And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62)

   All of us have certain baggage that constanly pops up and tries to steal our joy and happiness. Some people have managed to break free and live their lives unto Gods calling and will. Others have not managed and still can't recieve victory because they are tortured constantly by the things that have bound them. Which will you be? Remeber that God can help you in any situation.

February 14th; My Valentine

     You've read the title and you've probably made the assumption in your mind that I'm writing about a boy. That would be your first mistake. I'm here to tell you about my true love, my valentine; Jesus Christ. What greater love than he that lays down his life! (John 15:13). I don't think we can fathom how much God really loves us... an example of his love for you; The cross. He died for each of us, so that we still can have the chance to make it into his kingdom. He knows we aren't perfect and that we all sin, but yet we repent and our slates are brand new. It's a priceless gift not to be taken for granted. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved" (John 3:16-17) - His love has been made known. He gave us his son so that we can have eternal life.

    Like Christmas, Easter, New Years, and other celebrations/occasions... the world has perverted them. We no longer celebrate Christmas as the day Christ was born, but selfishly as the day we receive gifts and as that time of year a fat guy in a red suit paired with a giant white beard comes down the chimney (is that even possible) to deliver them. Easter i would say is a really important day that we've also corrupted. Easter is about Jesus rising again!!!! As exciting as that is, still we celebrate it purely as a time where a bunny hops along to delivers chocolate eggs. And what about New Years? What happened to celebrating that God that has given us another year of life. Instead the world has been convinced it's a time in which we go out and drink till we get sick. Valentines day follows the same pattern. Valentines day symbolizes love, it's a day in the year dedicated to those that are in love. What we don't understand is that God is our true valentine. He loves us more than any significant other could! Although God has not given you a box of chocolates, an over sized teddy bear, or your favourite flowers... He's given you the greatest gift of all; life, forgiveness, love, etc. - surely he's the best valentine we can ever have! Express your love for him today!

                                          














God is love. And God is my valentine.