Thursday, September 30, 2010

Two of Me?

I recently read an extremely insightful online book by David Wilkerson titled, "Two of Me: The Struggle with Sin." I found so many nuggets of wisdom and heard God's voice speak to me through so many of the words, I thought I would copy my journal notes here.

1) We are all SINNERS (surprise:)
(Actually, being surrounded with upper middle class suburban Christians in just about every area of my life, sometimes I forget this truth!)
Sin primarily manifests itself in two ways:
a. Appearing insignificant and harmless
b. Seeming intoxicating and pleasurable and cozy creating a counterfeit peace so that
the sinner does not FEEL like he is sinning.
*The satisfaction that sin creates is based on illusion. It is a false freedom founded on error and when the illusions fades, there is nothing left but sorrow and despair.
*Sin leads to depression. Sin causes PRIDE and Pride aborts all desire for the truth and righteouness.
*Sin causes total self-delusion. It causes its victims to become unacquainted with themselves so they don't know what they really think. (confusion and ambivalence)
*Sin is most desperate in a sinner when he is hearing the Call of God!!
*The cause of the deepest internal distress is the maintaining of some SECRET SIN:(

2) Our sins make us SLAVES
*You can never find deliverance from your sin until you accept your responsibiltiy to deal with it.
*You must want FREEDOM!
*I was not born to be a slave!
*I am not a DEFECTIVE CREATURE!
*I will LEARN to BE FREE!

3) A Plan was devised for our FREEDOM!!!

RESULTS
1) Believers are no longer slaves to sin.
*The issue is DEAD!
*This matter is not negotiable!
*I AM FREE!
*I have died to sin; why do I go back and pick cotton for the devil??
*And if I do return to the cotton fields, I AM STILL FREE TO LEAVE ANYTIME I CHOOSE!
*NO ONE can force me to stay in slavery.
*Sin doesn't die for believers but the SLAVERY to it dies!
*SO GET BUSY AND DISCIPLINE YOU WILD AND STUBBORN WILL!

2) Freedom from Sin's Slavery must be accepted by FAITH!
*I have to break free of believing sin provides ANYTHING GOOD!!
*He wants me to trust Him with my MIND!

3) Believers are supernaturally helped in their hour of temptation!
Just as a parent helps a child thru struggles, God is present to guide and help us.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Healing thru Music

Soaking in truth... kind of like a balm of aloe cooling a sun burn...

HOLD MY HEART
by 10th Ave North

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ry6udsW9leA
How long must I pray, must I pray to You

How long must I wait, must I wait for You

How long 'till I see Your face

See You shining through

I'm on my knees

Begging You to notice me

I'm on my knees

Father, will You turn to me, yeah?



One tear in the dropping rain

One voice in a sea of pain

Could the Maker of the stars

Hear the sound of my breaking heart?

One life is all I am

Right now I can barely stand

If You're everything You say You are

Would You come close and hold my heart?



I've been so afraid, afraid to close my eyes

So much can slip away before I say goodbye

But if there's no other way

I'm done asking why'

Cause I'm on my knees

Begging You to turn to me

I'm on my knees

Father, will You run to me, yeah?



One tear in the dropping rain

One voice in a sea of pain

Could the Maker of the stars

Hear the sound of my breaking heart?

One life is all I am

Right now I can barely stand

If You're everything You say You are

Would You come close and hold my heart?



So many questions without answers

Your promises remain

I can't see but I'll take my chances

To hear You call my name

To hear You call my name



One tear in the dropping rain

One voice in a sea of pain

Could the Maker of the stars

Hear the sound of my breaking heart?

One life is all I am

Right now I can barely stand

If You're everything You say You are

Would You come close and hold my heart?

Hold my heart

Could You hold my heart?

Hold my heart

THIS IS WHERE THE HEALING BEGINS
by 10th Ave North
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88xHIwd4CWM

So you thought you had to keep this up

All the work that you do

So we think that you're good

And you can't believe it's not enough

All the walls you built up

Are just glass on the outside

So let 'em fall down

There's freedom waiting in the sound

When you let your walls fall to the ground

We're here now



This is where the healing begins, oh

This is where the healing starts

When you come to where you're broken within

The light meets the dark
The light meets the dark

Afraid to let your secrets out

Everything that you hide

Can come crashing through the door now

But too scared to face all your fear

So you hide but you find

That the shame won't disappear

So let it fall down

There's freedom waiting in the sound

When you let your walls fall to the ground

We're here now
We're here now, oh

This is where the healing begins, oh

This is where the healing starts

When you come to where you're broken within

The light meets the dark

The light meets the dark

Sparks will fly as grace collides

With the dark inside of us

So please don't fight

This coming light

Let this blood come cover us

His blood can cover us

This is where the healing begins, oh

This is where the healing starts

When you come to where you're broken within

The light meets the dark

The light meets the dark

WHAT FAITH CAN DO
by Kutless

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTNBWv33-QI
Everybody falls sometimes
Gotta find the strength to rise
From the ashes and make a new beginning
Anyone can feel the ache
You think it’s more than you can take

But you're stronger, stronger than you know
Don’t you give up now
The sun will soon be shining
You gotta face the clouds
To find the silver lining

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do

It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard
Impossible is not a word
It’s just a reason for someone not to try
Everybody’s scared to death
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water
It’ll be alright
Life is so much more
Than what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way
If you keep believing

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do

Overcome the odds
You don't have a chance
(That’s what faith can do)
When the world says you can’t
It’ll tell you that you can!

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do
That's what faith can do!
Even if you fall sometimes
You will have the strength to rise

There are no words to say...

BY YOUR SIDE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdjRmM0Q0qs

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(Chorus 2x)

Cause I, I love you
I want you to know
That I, I love you
I'll never let you go


GOD GAVE ME YOU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7M7cJ4DydQ&feature=related

I’ve been a walking heartache
I’ve made a mess of me
The person that I’ve been lately
Ain’t who I wanna be

But you stay here right beside me

Watch as the storm goes through

And I need you

God gave me you for the ups and downs
God gave me you for the days of doubt
For when I think I’ve lost my way
There are no words here left to say, it’s true
God gave me you

There’s more here than what we're seeing
A divine conspiracy
That you, an angel lovely
Could somehow fall for me
You’ll always be love’s great martyr
Ill be the flattered fool
and I need you


God gave me you for the ups and downs
God gave me you for the days of doubt
For when I think I’ve lost my way
There are no words here left to say, it’s true
God gave me you

On my own I’m only
Half of what I could be
I can’t do without you
We are stitched together
And what love has tethered
I pray we never undo

God gave me you for the ups and downs
God gave me you for the days of doubt
God gave me you for the ups and downs
God gave me you for the days of doubt

For when I think I’ve lost my way
There are no words here left to say, it’s true
God gave me you, gave me you. Gave me you.