Like No Other

Found this song encouraging today...

You are my strength,
Strength like no other,
Strength like no other,
Reaches to me.

You are my hope,
Hope like no other,
Hope like no other,
Reaches to me.

In the fullness of Your grace,
In the power of Your Name,
You lift me up,
You lift me up.

Unfailing love,
Stronger than mountains,
Deeper than oceans,
Reaches to me.

Your love O Lord,
Reaches to the heavens,
Your faithfulness,
Reaches to the skies.

("You Are My Strength" by Hillsong)

The City of God

So much is happening in the Middle East right now....I don't understand it all and haven't been able to keep up with everything, but it's on my heart.

I just wanted to share these verses from Psalm 122 that I was encouraged with this morning. When we don't know what to do, we can always pray!

⁶ Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
    “May those who love you be secure.
⁷ May there be peace within your walls
    and security within your citadels.”
⁸ For the sake of my brothers and friends,
    I will say, “Peace be within you.”
⁹ For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
    I will seek your prosperity.

And a beautiful song I just discovered on YouTube - "Shalom Jerusalem" by Paul Wilbur:

Miracles

Well I've been meaning to write ever since returning from our week at camp...

There is just so much to share, I'm not sure where to start! God definitely proved Himself, as I shared in the last post, to be STRONG and to be LOVING. Lives were completely changed! People were set free from depression and addictions, chose to forgive those who had hurt them in the past, and young men and women who came from difficult home and family backgrounds experienced a God who, as their Heavenly Father, loves them the way they are and is proud of them.

Powerful truths! Life-changing realities! Miracles.

Students were encouraged the whole week, and left affirmed in their gifts and calling and most of all, their identity as sons and daughters of God. They were taught to use the Word of God as a powerful weapon against the lies of our enemy that constantly face us. They experienced deep inner healing resulting in joy and peace, as well as physical healing, as they lifted up their eyes to Christ in worship. We were all reminded of the wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit and his presence and power dwelling within us.

The Love of the Father, the Victory of Christ, the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit. 

What a great God we serve!

I wanted to share these things with you, my readers, as a testimony. Revelation 12:11 says we overcome the devil "by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony." When we testify to what God has done, we advance His kingdom and the enemy is rendered powerless.

God is a miracle-working God! And He displays His power still today. 

Psalm 77:13-14
"Your ways, O God, are holy.
    What god is so great as our God?  
 You are the God who performs miracles;
    you display your power among the peoples."

I also wanted to share one way God provided for me last week...
I had all four of my wisdom teeth removed, and it was literally without any problems! There was no swelling, and the same day I was able to eat and talk normally, and go to our small group that evening. Then the next day Mogi and I were involved in helping lead worship for an event, and I was able to sing. Praise God! I love reminders like this when God says, "Hey, I care about the small things in your life, too."  

I know we all walk through things that are not easy. We have doubts. Questions. Fears. Times where we just don't get it, or wonder where God is and if He really knows what He's doing!

But I want to write this as a reminder...OUR GOD IS ABLE! 

God has been speaking to me through the story in 1 Samuel 1-2 as Hannah wept and poured out her heart before the Lord. God answered her prayer, and she responded in worship through song: "For the Lord is a God who knows!"  

Praying today that you experience the peace, love, and provision of the God who sees you, the God who knows about the circumstances in your life, and the God who is able to move mountains. 

If you need a miracle, let me know and I'd love to pray with and for you! If you've experienced God's love or power, leave a comment and share your testimony!  

Standing on the Promises

I will be gone for the next week at a youth camp, themed "Days of Glory." And I truly believe they will be! We serve a great God and I pray that his glory would be displayed - on earth as it is in heaven! Will you pray with me?

Just wanted to share these verses from Psalm 62:

"¹¹ One thing God has spoken,
    two things have I heard:
that you, O God, are strong,
¹²     and that you, O Lord, are loving."

Aren't those great promises? God is STRONG and God is LOVING. His power is great, but so is His affection toward us. What the perfect combination!

 Praying that in your own life this week you experience God's strength and His love toward you! 


"Our God is greater, our God is stronger; God you are Higher than any Other. Our God is Healer, awesome in power, our God..."

Fall Afresh

So I've been a bit behind on blogging, since in the last couple of weeks my parents were here to visit, and now friends are staying with us for awhile too. But it's all been great! I thought I'd drop by quickly though just to share a song that has been refreshing to me in the last few weeks:

What music are you being inspired by lately? Please feel free to share!

We Are the Reason

Yesterday I got hit for the first time with the stress of everything I want to get done before Christmas. I had all these great aspirations a month ago to be on top of things, but I have no idea where the time went! It seems like suddenly today is the deadline, and I still have parcels to send, a house to clean, food to make, presents to buy, gifts to wrap, and rooms to prepare for guests.

But I know that in the end all of that doesn't matter.

I thought that I usually do a pretty good job of not getting caught up in the stress and consumerism of Christmas time, but yesterday was a test of that! Yesterday evening though I had a refreshing, needed reminder. I was asked to sing for a Christmas Eve service this weekend, and we practiced the song last night - it's called "We Are the Reason."

As little children we would dream of Christmas morn
And all the gifts and toys we knew we’d find
But we never realized a baby born one blessed night
Gave us the greatest gift of our lives

We are the reason that He gave His life

We were the reason that He suffered and died

To a world that was lost He gave all He could give

To show us the reason to live

As the years went by we learned more about our gifts
The giving of ourselves and what that means
On a dark and cloudy day a man hung dying in the rain
Because of love
Because of love

We are the reason that He gave His life

We are the reason that He suffered and died

To a world that was lost He gave all He could give

To show us the reason to live

I've finally found the reason for living
It’s in giving every part of my heart to Him 

And all that I do every word that I say
I will give all my life just for Him, just for Him 

We are the reason that He gave His life

We are the reason that He suffered and died

To a world that was lost He gave all He could give

To show us the reason to live

Jesus, You are my reason to live

You've heard the saying - "Jesus is the reason for the season." Yes, I agree, but Jesus came to earth because of us. Because of me...because of you.

Christmas isn't about checking things off our to-do-list. It's about what's already been done for us.

Have you accepted the gift of Christ?

He does all things well...

{It was a relatively normal, sunny afternoon as a group of friends were out strolling. But suddenly they heard a commotion down by the water. Eager to find out what was going on, they ran toward the crowd, wanting to be part of the action. And what did they see? A celebrity! In their village! Who knew that he would be visiting them?

Giving a knowing glance to one another, they were ready with a plan. One in their group didn't understand what was going on, since he was deaf and could hardly speak. But his friends took him by the hand, and gently led him down the bank to the sea. They pushed their way through the crowd, their hearts burning inside of them as they got closer to the man they had heard so much about. Would today be the day?

As they inched closer, they noticed that the famous man was looking their way. He had noticed them! Suddenly he came walking in their direction, and when he reached them he took their deaf friend by the hand and led him aside, away from the crowd.

Jesus then put his fingers in the man's ears and, looking up to heaven and breathing a deep sigh, said to him, “Ephphatha!” which means, “Be opened!” At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly!

Jesus didn't want this man and his friends to tell everyone. But they couldn't hold it in! They celebrated with excitement, and soon the whole vicinity had heard about the miracle. All those who heard "were overwhelmed with amazement. 'He has done everything well,' they said. 'He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak!' " (Mark 7:37) }

 Chris Tomlin wrote a song, "You Do All Things Well." The chorus goes,

"You made it all
Said, 'let there be'
And there was
All that we see
The sound of Your voice
The works of Your hands
You do all things well"

In my own life this past week I've been reminded that I serve a God who does all things well. I was at a seminar where I witnessed the Holy Spirit do an amazing work in the life of each person who was there. People were healed from physical sickness, they found freedom from their past by choosing to forgive those who had hurt them, they came to know God as a Loving Father, they were delivered from lies that they had been believing that had kept them bound, and they experienced the power of the Holy Spirit living inside of them––being their Counselor and Teacher. In my own life, God spoke very clearly and affirmed the calling he has placed on my life.

The sound of God's voice, the works of His hands...He does all things well! I saw a quote on Facebook yesterday by an evangelist named Reinhard Bonnke. It said, "I don’t play the piano to prove that I have fingers. Yes, of course, I have fingers, but I play the piano because I love music. Jesus doesn’t set the captives free and heal the sick to prove anything. HE DOES IT BECAUSE HE LOVES US."

What has Jesus done well in your life lately? I'm learning that as Christians we need to celebrate more (there will be another post on that coming soon). Let's start now! God is our Creator, our King, our Redeemer, our Father, our Healer, our Counselor, our Shepherd, our Leader, our Bridegroom. How has he demonstrated his love to you?


I've been loving the autumn season here in Germany and thought I'd share some pictures of how I've seen him do all things well in creation lately:

Herr, ich komme zu dir...

Music is my "heart language." It's one way I connect best with God, and I love leading music so that others can connect with God through it as well. 

Being here in Germany has been a bit challenging in the sense that I can't speak my own 'heart language' as often or as easily as I could in Canada. You don't know how relieving and refreshing it is to hear an English song in church! Sometimes it's the only part of a worship service that I understand.

At the same time, I am learning some new songs here. When you don't know a language very well and you're learning something new, you tend to analyze everything. Learning German songs is proving to be a helpful way for me to learn the language better....The words rhyme and flow, and the melodies stick in my mind throughout the day, giving me time to mull over the depth and meaning of the lyrics.

So I want to share with you a song that I have recently learned. The words are powerful!

You can listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pzr2X2Buo1U&feature=related

Herr, ich komme zu dir, und ich steh' vor dir so wie ich bin

 Lord, I come to you, and I stand before you just as I am

Alles was mich bewegt lege ich vor dich hin. 

 Everything that moves me, I lay before you

Herr, ich komme zu dir, und ich schütte mein Herz bei dir aus

Lord I come to you, and I pour out my heart

Was mich hindert ganz bei dir zu sein räume aus!

 What hinders me to be with you has no place

Meine Sorgen sind dir nicht verborgen, du wirst sorgen für mich. 

My worries are not hidden from you, you will take care of me

Voll Vertrauen will ich auf dich schauen. Herr, ich baue auf dich!

 Full of confidence I will look toward you. Lord, I rely on you!

Gib mir ein neues ungeteiltes Herz. Lege ein neues Lied in meinen Mund. 

Give me a new, undivided heart. Put a new song in my mouth.
Fülle mich neu mit deinem Geist, denn du bewirkst dein Lob in mir.

 Fill me fresh with your Spirit, then you create your praise in me.

My favorite line is "Gib mir ein neues ungeteiltes Herz." Give me a new, undivided heart - that's the theme of this blog - Pursuing One Thing. Our hearts are not pure if we're going in different directions. Christ wants our undivided attention, our undivided affection, our undivided obedience. 

Praying that God would give you and me a new, undivided heart today, and a new song in our mouths that we may be filled afresh with his Spirit and live out his praise!

Swing sets and Monkey bars...

A couple weeks before we left for Germany, I babysat two little girls and took them to the park. Little did I know that God had a lesson to teach me by being with them for an hour!

The younger one, two years old, took me by the hand and led me to the swing set. I asked if she wanted to swing but she said no, so I sat down on the swing instead. Giggling, she pushed me from behind and I lifted my feet off the ground so I would move a bit. I dragged my feet in the sand as the swing went backwards so I wouldn't knock her little body over. Meanwhile, the older sister, three years old, had wandered off to the monkey bars. Soon I heard her soft but excited voice, "Kristyn, can you lift me up?" I went over and hoisted her up so she could reach the bars, and held her all the way as she crossed the ones ahead of her.

I had to smile as I thought of the differences in the two girls' personalities––one thinking she was helping me have fun by "pushing" me on the swings, and the other one having fun, but knowing she needed my help. But then I thought...which one of those sisters am I more like? When it comes to my relationship with God (who may not be my babysitter, but he is my Protector and Provider), how do I act with him?

Often I can be like the two-year-old, thinking that I am doing a favor for God, when in fact I am trying to move Someone who is bigger, greater, stronger and more wise than myself. But what I want to be like is the three-year-old, acknowledging that I need my Heavenly Father's help for every step that I take, every challenge that I face. The way the three-year old acted is a good picture of faith. She could have determined that since she couldn't do it by herself, it wouldn't be worth it. Instead, she used every ounce of strength that she had, while at the same time relying completely on me. That is what faith is––not sitting back passively, thinking that God will simply do everything and we can just relax. Nor is it striving on our own strength, refusing to acknowledge that we simply can’t do life alone.

I’ve been reminded every day since being here in Germany that it is not by my strength, nor by my power, but by the Spirit of the Lord that I am able to do what God has called me to (Zechariah 4:6). The days when I fail to acknowledge this are the days that I get the most easily frustrated.

In life, we need to be like the older sister, asking our Heavenly Father to "lift us up." I read Psalm 61 the other day and love verse two, which says, "lead me to the rock that is higher than I." If we are drowning or overwhelmed, we need to find safety, security, and shelter in something that is Higher than ourselves, namely, Jesus Christ––our Solid Rock. To do so isn't a sign of weakness; it's a sign of maturity.

Maybe this song can be an encouragement to you, a reminder of our Father who is "King over the Flood."

{http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHATCAvlqQA&feature=related}

Stir Me

We had a great missions conference this weekend at Prairie with 86-year-old speaker Dr. Helen Roseveare, missionary to the Congo for over 20 years. Her message was powerful because it was backed up with the life she has lived. It is so evident that she knows Christ in a real way (even the way she says the name of Jesus is so loving, so tender). Whether it was in villages in Africa, or grocery stores in her home of Belfast, she has demonstrated the love of God to others. Maybe I'll share more later of what we were challenged with this weekend, but for now I wanted to pass on these lyrics of a hymn Helen taught us this weekend. "Stir me, O Lord." As a pot of paint is stirred so it becomes the right color and consistency for use, so we ask the Holy Spirit to stir our hearts to make us into people he can use for his purposes in the world. 


----
Stir me, oh, stir me, Lord, I care not how,
But stir my heart in passion for the world,
Stir me to give, to go, but most to pray;
Stir till the blood-red banner be unfurled
O'er lands that still in heathen darkness lie,
O'er deserts where no cross is lifted high.

Stir me, oh, stir me, Lord, till all my heart
Is filled with strong compassion for these souls;
Till Thy compelling word drives me to pray;
Till Thy constraining love reach to the poles
Far north and south, in burning deep desire,
Till east and west are caught in love's great fire.

Stir me, oh, stir me, Lord, till prayer is pain,
Till prayer is joy, till prayer turns into praise;
Stir me, till heart and will and mind, yea, all
Is wholly Thine to use through all the days.
Stir, till I learn to pray exceedingly;
Stir, till I learn to wait expectantly.

Stir me, oh, stir me, Lord, Thy heart was stirred
By love's intensest fire, till Thou didst give
Thine only Son, Thy best beloved One,
E'en to the dreadful cross, that I might live.
Stir me to give myself so back to Thee,
That Thou canst give Thyself again through me.

Stir me, oh, stir me, Lord, for I can see
Thy glorious triumph-day begin to break;
The dawn already gilds the eastern sky;
Oh, Church of Christ, arise, awake, awake.
Oh! stir us, Lord, as heralds of that day.
For night is past, our King is on His way.

----

Inviting the Lord to continue stirring in our hearts and yours,
The Moglers