The Spirit encounters those who search for Him...
If you run to Him, you will find Him...
His will is better than gold...
He satisfies more than the richest feast...

"Encounter me
Let all heaven collide with
All that’s inside me.
Encounter me
Just one glimpse of Your glory
Spirit take over me."



Credits: Photo by ineedchemicalx (www.deviantart.com); Lyrics and video "Encounter Me" by Citipointe Live (Lyrics: www.elyrics.net) (Video: YouTube.com)

;)

Thank You Jesus for all the love You show me everyday.
Thank You Jesus because I can look up to Heaven and know that You reign.
Thank You Jesus.

I love You God, I want to know You more and more.
Help me to embrace suffering, and surrender every part of my being to You.
Guide me in this process, remove everything that has been hindering me... But make me understand that all You want is me... You want my heart, You want my soul, and You want my thoughts to reflect You... The Real You. You love me, and You are crazy about me! My name is written on the palm of Your hand.

Spirit of the Living God, Sweet Comforter, You are the One that can lead me to the heart of the Father. You know every mystery hidden in His heart. You know every plan, You know everything about Him... Reveal Him to me, so that I may live again.

Beautiful God, I am Your Favorite! You chose me! You have set me apart for Your purposes. Oh, how I want to run to You... Teach me how to be obedient, and even in the midst of uncertainty, do not let fear rule over me. Thank You for each breath, and thank You for being with me until this very day. I love You... Let my deeds show this love.

Amen.

"I'll Crown You with My Love..."



Credits: Photo "Only happy when it rains" by EliseEnchanted (www.deviantART.com); video "Misty Edwards - Favorite One" by Birdiej89 (www.YouTube.com)

Once upon a time there was a girl named Christie who was walking through a garden with her mother. It was getting late so her mother said: "Christie, let's go home. Your daddy will be back from work soon." As they were walking, about to leave the garden, something caught the little girl's eye. She bent to the ground, removed some withered flowers from on top, and picked the object. "What is it, dear?" Her mother asked. "Mommy, look what I just found!". It was a pearl necklace. Not a real pearl necklace, of course, but they were still pearls... White plastic pearls. Christie was super excited with her new necklace. It was actually her first necklace. Her parents never gave her one for they feared she might lose it. But this pearl necklace was special. She wore it every day. She even went to bed with it. It was her dazzling precious treasure.

One day, Christie's father when to her bedroom to read her a story. He read to her every night. After finishing reading "The Steadfast Tin Soldier" her daddy asked her: "My dear Christie, do you love me?" Christie immediately shouted: "I love you up to the sky, daddy!". "OK, if you love me, give me your pearls.", her father replied. "Oh, dad... I can't give you my necklace... But you know what? You can have my Barbie! She is amazing! She cooks and makes the best pasta. Yum! You are going to love her!". Her father said: "No honey, you can keep your Barbie. Sweet dreams my dear Christie." "Bye bye, daddy!", Christie said.

A week after, Christie's dad read to her again, this time he read "Thumbelina". He finished the story, and looked directly into Christie's eyes, and asked: "My beloved Christie, do you love me?" Christie replied: "Yes, daddy, yes! A thousand million times yes!". Then she hugged him and kissed her father's cheek. "Then give me your pearls." That was her father's reply. "Daddy, no, not the pearls, they're mine! But you can have my purple teddy bear, the one you brought me from Italy! Signore Violetto would be happy to be your friend. He is the best! Go ahead, take him, he can even teach you some Italian." Her father then responded, "No dear, Signore Violetto is happy living here in your room. I'll see you tomorrow sweetheart." "Bye daddy!" Christie replied.

Two weeks later, Christie's father went to her room to read her a bedtime story again, and Christie said: "Daddy... Before you start reading to me, I would like to give you something." She opened up a little pink bag and gave him her necklace. The pearl necklace. With tears in her eyes Christie told her dad how much she loved him and that she wanted to make him happy. Her father was very glad she gave him her cherished necklace. "My love, I am very happy you gave me your necklace." He hugged her and read to her. That night Christie fell asleep very sad, but she was happy to have given up her necklace, for she loved her daddy very much.

The next day, Christie woke up and the sun was shining brightly that morning. As she stood up from her bed, she saw something on her dressing table. It was a Daisy. And that Daisy had a necklace and a note attached to it. The note said: "I love you so much my dear Christie! As you gave me that something that was so significant to you, now I am giving something that is very special and valuable, a real pearl necklace. It is yours my princess. Love, your Daddy." ~ THE END



I hope you enjoyed "The Pearl". This is not just a story with a moral, it's our life story. As human beings, the world offers us cheap, plastic pearls. They look like they are real, but let us face it, they are not. We cherish these things, and we hold them close to our hearts, but in the end we realize they were fake, like Christie's plastic pearl necklace. But there is a Daddy who wants to offer us the Real Deal, the Real Pearl, that Real and Valuable Treasure, and what is that? It is Salvation. That Daddy is God, and He gave His One and Only Son Jesus so we can have the Real, Special Pearl. Not fake pearls, but The Real One. Jesus Christ gave himself up, and He was nailed to the Cross because He loved me, and He loves you, and He said: "You know what, I'll die for you so you can have the Pearl that my Father offers." That Pearl is Salvation my dear friend.

Jesus loves you. God loves you. He created you so you can live an everlasting and fulfilling life. You only have to accept Him in your heart, and you will have the Pearl. Do not settle for less. Receive the Pearl.



Credits: Photo 1 and photo 2 (www.deviantART.com), "The Pearl" story based on "Hidden Treasure and Pearl Necklace Story" (www.teen-beauty-tips.com/hidden-treasure.html) and "Stephanie Smith Interview" by liolmagazine (YouTube), "God is Jealous for You" video (PeaceWithGod.Net) -> CHECK IT OUT!

"he'll calm you with his love
and delight you with his songs." ~ Zephaniah 3:17 (MSG)




Ever wonder what God thinks when He looks at you? I have. I can think of many answers, but I still don't have the "one". To be honest, I don't know if my flaws overshadow the thoughts He had for me when He created me... But I can truly say that listening to Kim's testimony gives me hope that one day I'll live according to the original plan He had for me. In the midst of pain, sin and figuring things out, we can trust today that Our Creator knows us and that His plans for us are beautiful beyond comparison.... FOR HE LOVES US, AND WE ARE HIS!

I invite you to listen to Kim Walker-Smith's testimony and let your heart be glad today because God, the Ultimate Dreamer, thought about you, He planned you before you were even born and He is still madly in love... WITH YOU.

XOXO, <3




Credits: Photo 1 "Musicbox Dancer" by gloglolittledreamer (deviantART.com) and video "Kim Walker - Testimony about God's love" by Silberlicht37 (YouTube.com).

* Kim Walker-Smith is one of the worship leaders in Jesus Culture. To know more about her and her ministry, make sure to check out www.onlyloveremains.com

"I knew what I was getting into when I called you.
I knew what I was getting into when I said your name, but I said it just the same.
I knew what I was getting into and I still want you.
I knew what I was getting into.

I knew what I was getting into and I still chose you.
I knew what I was getting into and I still want you.
I knew what I was getting into when I said your name, but I said it just the same.
I knew what I was getting into.

And I am not shocked by your weakness.
And I am not shocked even by your sin.
And I am not shocked by your brokenness.

I knew what I was getting into and I still want you.
I knew what I was getting into and I still like you.
I knew what I was getting into and I still chose you.

Cuz only I can see the end from the beginning.
And only I can see where this is going.
And only I can see the end from the beginning.
And I see in you the seeds of love.
And I see in you strength when all you see is your failure and all you feel is ashamed.
I can see deeper than that.
I know you better than that.

I knew what I was getting into when I called you.
I knew what I was getting into when I said your name.
I said it just the same.
I knew what getting into and I still want you.
I knew what I was getting into and I still like you.

Your only at the beginning.
You've only just begun and I know where you are going
And all you can see in the moment is that your hurting.
And all you can see in the moment is that your aching.

I knew what I was getting into when I called you.
I knew what I was getting into and I still want you.
I knew what I was getting into and I still like you.
I knew what I was getting into when I called you.

Just don't give up.
And don't give in.
If you don't quit. You win, you win.

Just don't give up.
And don't give in.
If you don't quit. You win, you win.

Everything is in my hands.
It's going to be alright.
Everything is in my hands.
It's going to be alright.
It's going to be okay.
Everything is in my hands.
It's going to be alright.
It's going to be Okay.
And you don't have to pretend to be something or someone your not.
Cuz I know you better than that, even better, even better than that.
Listen my Beloved.

I knew what I was getting into when I called you.
I knew what I was getting into when I said your name.
I said it just the same.
I knew what I was getting into and I still like you.
I knew what I was getting into and I still chose you."



"...He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6 (NIV)

Credits: Picture 1 by andrez (deviantART), Picture 2 by ladytwiglet (deviantART), and lyrics of the Song "I Knew What I Was Getting Into" by Misty Edwards (www.mistyedwards.com)

"Oh, speak now for my soul is listening
Say that You have saved me, whisper in the dark.
‘Cause I know You’re more than my salvation
Without You I am hopeless. Tell me who You are.
You are the keeper of my heart."

~ Audrey Assad "Restless"

This post is written directly to you... I just wanted to let you know that God loves you, regardless of what you have done in the past. I know that you have heard this many times, but this is the reality He wants to write on your heart. He is waiting for you to run back to Him, because He surely misses you. He told me to tell you that you were fearfully and wonderfully made and that you are His delight. God waited patiently for the day of your birth to come, and when you finally arrived, there was a party in Heaven because you were born. Think of it, "the apple of His eye" was born... What a great joy! Your parents were so happy when you came into their lives. You started to grow, little by little you started to walk. He was there on your first day of school, He was there when you were riding the bus and He was there with you when you went to sleep every night at 9. You were so beautiful. Pure and lovely. But as the time went by, you started to believe the opposite. Kids that did not see the beauty given by your Creator started to break your heart. Their comments and their lies began to penetrate into your mind and you thought all of them were true. Their words became part of your personality... Lastly it became your reality. Your identity was defined by the opinion of others. This is why you started to run, this is why you started to hide. You thought everyone was going to make fun of you and you thought you were too ugly to be looked at. But God saw something different. He saw how beautiful you were and sees how beautiful you still are...



While I was talking to Him in the forest, He told me about an experience you went through when you were young. He told me you were heading home after school was over and some rude boys started to shout things at you that were not true. He said they were calling you "ugly", they were calling you "fat". And He told me with tears in His eyes that you started to run, afraid and brokenhearted. You wanted to hide, you wanted to disappear. You did not want anyone to see you ever again. When you finally got home, you started to cry and cry like a little baby crying for his mother to lift him up from his crib. You thought no one cared about your pain and your shame, but, He did. He told me He was there with you all the time. He told me He ran along your side when you were running away. He was there with you. Then you went to the darkest corner of your house and lying there you cried hopelessly. But He met you there. He went to you and said: "Arise my beautiful daughter, I am here with you. Do not be afraid, because I will always love you." And that is the message He wants to tell you today. He loves you. He always has, He always will and He wants you back. He wants to heal your damaged heart. He paid a huge price for you, He gave His One and Only Son Jesus in order to have you. He is not kidding, He wants your heart and He wants it now! But He is waiting for you to make that decision. He is the God who chases after you. He is a relentless God! And He asked me to tell you that He loves you and that He will always take care of you if you let Him.


"In a desert land he found her,
in a barren and howling waste.
He shielded her and cared for her;
he guarded her as the apple of his eye"

Deuteronomy 32:10 NIV (Emphasis Added)

Credits: Photo by pink-promise (deviantART) and video by emimusic (YouTube)

<3

All this pain
I wonder if I'll ever find my way?
I wonder if my life could really change at all?
All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found?
Could a garden come up from this ground at all?

~ Gungor "Beautiful Things"

Many times in my life I have felt that I'm not good enough, that my life would never be what God intended it to be, that I'm never going to make it, so on and so forth, but the truth is, I AM NOT ENOUGH, I'M NEVER GOING TO MAKE IT IF... God is not in the picture.

Your life is like a photo album. You start taking pictures, your heart becomes that album that is full of memories, some pictures are sunny and clear, others are blurry and dark, you want to forget the past, the stories behind those pictures, but on your own, it's impossible. You need God. I need God. WE need God. All of us. God is the Only One that can make all things new in our lives but He wants to be in EVERY single picture of our albums. He wants to be the Owner of your memories, He wants to own your album, He wants your heart, He wants YOU! God even sent His Only Son in order to have your photo album and now, He wants you to take new pictures, pictures of new adventures, pictures of new people, new challenges, new gifts, NEW DREAMS, but in all of these, all He wants is to be in the center, the center of your album, the center in your heart, in other words, HE WANTS YOU, YOU ARE HIS CREATION, YOU ARE HIS BELOVED, YOU ARE HIS LOVE!



Life is also like a book. There are many chapters, some are full of happiness and some are sad and melancholic, but in all of these there's an Author, the Author of Life, the Author who created you and I as characters in His Book. There's a script, but we are the ones who choose whether we read and follow the script or just go our own ways and pretend that the script and the Author never existed... We are the ones who decide.



I want to choose God today, I want Him to have the very first spot in my heart. I know it's not going to be easy, there's many past hurts, sometimes I think I'm never going to be able to change, I'm too imperfect, but that's the beauty of grace. When we receive His grace, He makes all things new, He makes beautiful things. Like the Bible says: "Beauty instead of Ashes". That's Our God!

I don't want God to be part of a memory, I want Him to be in all my memories! Present and future. "God makes beautiful things out of us", don't ever forget that! XOXO.

"He who was seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything new!'" Revelation 21:5 NIV

Ps. Here's the video of the song "Beautiful Things" by Gungor. Arrivederci! ;)



Credits: Photo 1 by lora-tox, photo 2 by Rani333, photo 3 by extrasist0le (deviantART) & video by RELEVANTMagazine (YouTube)