Eyes Fixed on Him

The Lord led us to change a few things on the agenda last friday. We ended up having only newcomers come last class for orientation. And Lord, do we believe it was according to Your perfect plan and purpose! This allowed us to wait until after completing orientation to start our worship with a little bit of warm ups, PraiseMoves, and prayer time together. And was God moving in that place! Praise Jesus we can turn our eyes on Him and experience His everlasting grace and mercy together!

-Raquel

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
by Hillsong (original author of this hymn, Helen H. Lemmel)

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Follow link to view Hillsong video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yfr5rOfimnU

The Nail

We started our study of the Hebrew letter Vav this week; which means The Nail. Just like a nail that secures things together, we can rest assure by the name of Jesus, our salvation for eternal life with the Father is secured forever!

-Raquel

Hebrew Word Pictures
by Dr. Frank T. Seekins

The letter Vav is used in the Hebrew words for: And, To Rest (as at home), Lust, To Bind Together.

Psalm 119:41-48
Let Your mercies come also to me, O LORD—
Your salvation according to Your word.
So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me,
For I trust in Your word.
And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
For I have hoped in Your ordinances.
So shall I keep Your law continually,
Forever and ever.
And I will walk at liberty,
For I seek Your precepts.
I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings,
And will not be ashamed.
And I will delight myself in Your commandments,
Which I love.
My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments,
Which I love,
And I will meditate on Your statutes.

Each of the verses in the sixth stanza of Psalm 119 starts with the letter Vav. Because the letter Vav is the nail that secures, these eight verses tell us that the security of God's word and lovingkindness will give us an answer to reproach and will allow us to walk in liberty. That is why we should delight and love God's commandments.

Embracers of Your Fire
by Olga Savitsky

We, the embracers of Your Fire
Eternally meld
In Your Molten Majesty
Your Fiery Fragrances
Are filling our hearts
With the fullness of Your Heart
In Your Presence is fullness of Fire
In Your Fire is fullness of Holiness
In Your Holiness is fullness of Passionate
Beauty
In Your Beauty is fullness of Awe
In Your Awe is fullness of Silence
In Your Silence is fullness of Love
In Your Love is fullness of Healing
In Your Healing is fullness of Joy
In Your Joy is fullness of Strength
In Your Strength is fullness of Consuming
Fire
In Your Fire is fullness of Passion
We, the embracers of Your Passionate Fire
Eternally meld in Your Molten Majesty.

Behold! (Part 2)

In the Hey stanza, we see petitions made from a renewed heart to the Lord. Just like the Psalmist, we must petition His Holy Spirit to fill us daily. When we live for Christ, our perspective changes from a me world to a God-centric world. What petition would you like to bring to the Lord today?

-Raquel

The Utterances of the 119 Psalm
by John Stephen

Psalm 119:33-40
33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes,
And I shall keep it to the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law;
Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
35 Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,
For I delight in it.
36 Incline my heart to Your testimonies,
And not to covetousness.
37 Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things,
And revive me in Your way.
38 Establish Your word to Your servant,
Who is devoted to fearing You.
39 Turn away my reproach which I dread,
For Your judgments are good.
40 Behold, I long for Your precepts;
Revive me in Your righteousness.

In this part, nine times does the Psalmist send up his petition to his God, and six of these he accompanies with a reason for being heard... These petitions are the utterances of a renewed heart; the man of God could not but give utterance to them -- such was the new refining process that had taken place upon him... The outline runs thus: -- Petitions are offered for Instruction ( Psalms 119:33 ) and Understanding ( Psalms 119:34 ), and likewise for Spiritual Ability ( Psalms 119:35 ) and Inclination ( Psalms 119:36 ). These are followed by petitions for Exemption from the Spirit of Vanity ( Psalms 119:37 ), and for Divine Quickening ( Psalms 119:37 ). The Lord is besought to make good his Word of Promise to his servant ( Psalms 119:38 ), and to deliver him from Feared Reproach. Last of all, the man of God places his prayer for quickening upon the ground of the Divine Righteousness (Ps 119:40). May the Divine Spirit teach us to compare ourselves with what we find here, as we would see the salvation of our God!

Silence

Silence is a beautiful thing. It's available when we seek it. And its even more beautiful when we seek it for the intent to commune with God. Instead of the regular PraiseMoves class, God laid it on my heart to pray. Give Him the glory He deserves in silence. And that is exactly what we ended up doing. Last night was an opportunity to commune with God in that manner. No music, no PraiseMoves, but prayer with the ladies present and praise to our Heavenly Father. Its funny how God reminds us whose in charge when He changes things up every once in a while. We can rest assure in knowing that He is Abba and knows what's best for His children.

-Raquel


"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." -Jeremiah 29:11

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" -Psalm 46:10