Psalm 63

 ¹O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

 ²To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.

 ³Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

 ⁴Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

 ⁵My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:

 ⁶When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.

 ⁷Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

 ⁸My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.

 ⁹But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.

 ¹⁰They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes.

 ¹¹But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.

   I enjoy reading a lot of the Psalms of David. To know everything that he went through, and yet he still managed to serve God and sing praises to him. There are many inspirational people in the Bible, but lately, I have been reading a lot of Psalms and so I have been inspired by David. It was in another Psalm (Psalm 61, I believe) that he said, "From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I." It's good to see that there were others who got overwhelmed in life, and still managed to praise and serve God - no matter what they went through. It is also good to know how forgiving God was to David (and many others)...it shows us that God can and will forgive us - all we need to do is ask for His forgiveness and He is more than happy to forgive us!

Peace

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (Isaiah 26:3)
   
   There have been many times, I must admit, that I have turned to this scripture for peace. It let's me know that, no matter what I am going through in life, all I need to do is keep my mind on Him and trust in Him - and He will give me the perfect peace that I need. 

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:6-8)

   God gave me this scripture about a year and a half ago. I was battling some stuff and He gave this to me. You may have heard that the mind is a great battlefield. It's true. The devil will put all these thoughts in our minds, but it is eventually up to us to decide if we are going to listen to those thoughts OR the thoughts that God is trying to put in our minds. I was going through a time when all I would dwell on would be the thoughts that the devil would put in my mind... and learning to think about what Philippians 4:8 tells us was the hardest thing for me to do. But, after making it a habit to think about the good things, etc...God will send the perfect peace that passes all understanding.

Everything will be alright!

   Ever feel like you are all alone in life? Like there is no one who cares - and, if they do seem to care, that they are only wanting something out of you, or they are stab you in the back countless times? I've been there, my friend. Plenty of times. BUT, there is a God who said, "I will never leave you, or forsake you..." I know that sometime it is hard to see that God is really there. That is where faith comes into play. My Pastor has been teaching about faith (Fireproofing your life) the last couple of Thursday nights...it's good stuff. You've got to have faith. You've got to. But, let me tell you something, you don't have to see God to know He is really there. You can feel Him. All of the time. Sometimes, I have found myself praying, "God, I just want to feel You Arms wrap around me..." There have been times when I have literally felt like I was going to die and that I could not go on any longer...and then I would feel God's Arms wrap around me and He would reassure me that everything was going to be alright.

   I am thankful that I serve a God who forgives, a God who cares and loves me, a God who will NEVER leave me or forsake me or stab me in the back.

You are wonderful, my Redeemer!

You are wonderful, my Redeemer

You're marvelous. You're excellent, my King.

You're the Breath I breath.

You are the Song I sing.

It's so good just to know that You love me.

  I have had this song in my head all day long. I don't really have a lot to say right now - so I will just leave it at that!

Heart of Worship

   Sometimes when there is nothing else to do, you just gotta keep on keeping on. When you are exhausted beyond belief - whether physically, emotionally, mentally, socially, or spiritually - you just gotta make yourself keep going on. Keep pushing. Because, one you stop pushing - once you stop fighting - you're pretty much done for. Someone once told me, "Tiffany, as long as you are still fighting, there is still hope."


   I was going through a time in my life when I wanted to give up. When all I wanted to do was curl up in a ball and do nothing. I knew that God loved me. I knew that there were others that loved me. I knew that, as long as I was still fighting, there was still hope. I didn't even want to go to church anymore. I questioned the point of going to church, etc, when I wasn't getting anything out of it. But, and Gold only knows why, I still kept going. I could not NOT go to church. It was like, I had planned to not go...and then I would end up there anyways.


   So, if you are struggling and questioning the worth of attending church, etc....just keep on fighting. Just keep on going. You may not see any "progress" now and you may not even know why you are still alive - but keep on fighting. Because, as long as you are fighting, there is still hope.


When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless Your heart


I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart


I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus


King of endless worth
No one could express
How much You deserve
Though I'm weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Every single breath


I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart


I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
And it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus

Master of the Wind

   Sometimes, in life, we go through trials of which we think we will never see the end. We experience the "storms of life" and, while we are in the midst of those storms, we honestly think we will will live our whole life and die in them. We can't see the end. We have people out there who God has sent to help us - the coastguards, if you will - and we still think we are all alone. We can't see the lifeline(s) that God has sent to us. All we can see are the waves crashing into our boat, the dark skies, the rain, etc... Once we do happen to see that spotlight that the coastguards are shining on us, we sometimes just wave them off and tell them that we will be okay on our own. That we can make it on our own. That we don't need anyone else. When, in reality, we can't make it without them.

   I was thinking about this late last night/early this morning, and this song came to my mind. I am glad that, no matter how alone I may feel in my life, I know the Master of the Wind....

MY BOAT OF LIFE SAILS ON A TROUBLED SEA
EVER THERE'S A WIND IN MY SAIL 
BUT I HAVE A FRIEND WHO WATCHES OVER ME 
WHEN THE BREEZE TURNS INTO THE GALE 

I KNOW THE MASTER OF THE WIND 
I KNOW THE MAKER OF THE RAIN, 
HE CAN CALM THE STORM 
MAKE THE SUN SHINE AGAIN 
I KNOW THE MASTER OF THE WIND 

SOMETIMES I SOAR LIKE  AN EAGLE IN THE SKY, 
AMONG THE PEAKS MY SOUL CAN BE FOUND 
AN UNEXPECTED STORM MAY DRIVE ME FROM THE HEIGHTS 
BRING ME LOW BUT NEVER BRING ME DOWN 

Psalm 51

   I love this Psalm - I always have. The three verses that I pray quite often are verses 10-12. However, this whole Psalm gets me every time I read it. I was reading it yesterday and thought I'd share it...

 ¹Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

 ²Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

 ³For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

 ⁴Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

 ⁵Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

 ⁶Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

 ⁷Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

 ⁸Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

 ⁹Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

 ¹⁰Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

 ¹¹Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

 ¹²Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

 ¹³Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

 ¹⁴Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

 ¹⁵O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

 ¹⁶For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

 ¹⁷The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

 ¹⁸Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

 ¹⁹Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

Draw Me Close...

   No matter what I go through in life, Lord, I want to be close to You.

   Someone once asked me, "Tiffany, what would make you happy?" I have thought about that question for a long time. My answer? To be close to Jesus. To have a relationship with Him like I have never had before. So, I was thinking about it and this song came to my mind...


Draw me close to You. Never let me go. I lay it all down again. To hear You say that I'm Your friend. You are my desire. No one else will do. 'Cause nothing else can take Your place. To feel the warmth of Your embrace. Help me find a way. Bring me back to You. You're all I want. You're all I've ever needed. You're all I want. Help me know You are near.

Romans 5:1-11

 ¹Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

 ²By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

 ³And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

 ⁴And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

 ⁵And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

 ⁶For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

 ⁷For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

 ⁸But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

 ⁹Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

 ¹⁰For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

 ¹¹And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Psalm 46

   Do you ever feel like you are all alone and no one cares for you? Do you ever feel like you are battling all by yourself? Trust me, I've been there....but God is there all the time to fight for you. He is our refuge!


   I was listening to a message the other day and something that was said caught my attention - I don't remember who said it, but the preacher said,"Even if you feel you are all alone in this world, and that no one else is there for you, and that no one else loves you...God is ALWAYS (yes, he did scream "always") there for you." That really stuck with me and made me ponder...do I really believe that? I know there have been times (I'm only human after all....yes, I know....shocker, eh?) that I have doubted God, that I have questioned God, etc. However, there came a point where I had to make up my mind that I was going to "let God be God" in EVERYTHING...not just in the parts of my life that I was "comfortable" letting God have. I had to give God EVERYTHING and let Him be God in EVERY part of my life.


   It is so very nice to know that God is watching out for us no matter what. To know that no matter what I am going through in life, no matter where I am, no matter what I am battling and struggling with....God is my refuge in strength.


   I am really enjoying my reading in the Psalms. It's like every day, God is saying something "new" to me. This Psalm really spoke to me....mostly just to let me know that God -IS- my refuge and my strength. No matter what....He's got my back :-)

 ¹God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

 ²Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

 ³Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

 ⁴There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

 ⁵God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

 ⁶The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

 ⁷The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

 ⁸Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.

 ⁹He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

 ¹⁰Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

 ¹¹The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

He's Been Faithful

In my moments of fear
Through every pain every tear
There's a God whose been faithful to me
When my strength was all gone
When my heart had no song still in love
He's proved faithful to me
Every word he's promised, is true
What I thought was impossible
I see my God do

He's been faithful, faithful to me
Looking back his love and mercy I see
In my heart I have questioned even failed to believe
When my heart looked away
The many times I could not pray
Still my God, He was faithful to me

The days I spent so selfishly reaching out for what pleased me
Even then God was faithful to me
Ev'ry time I come back to him
He is waiting with open arms and I see once again

Just some inspirational Quotes...

 

Psalm 34:1-22

   Ever have a problem speaking positive? Like, do you find yourself speaking negative ALL of the time? Well, instead of speaking negative, how about letting praise and blessings come out of your mouth? Yes - EVEN IF YOU DO NOT FEEL LIKE IT!!!! Here is another thing to try....be thankful! Even if you -think- you have NOTHING to be thankful for...trust me, you do. Here are some things that I have been thankful for: 

- God (Hello, people! That should be a given!). 

- My husband (Hollah!)

- My family

- My amazingly awesome Pastor and Pastor's Wife!

- My awesome church, Truth Tabernacle, family

- My friends

   I have others, but that is just a few things that I can thank God for every day. I know, some people don't have an awesome husband like I do (actually, NO ONE HAS AN AWESOME HUSBAND LIKE I DO....TRUST ME) - but thank God for your friends and family. Your life that He has given you. Pretty much anything and everything, you can thank God for.

   I was reading my Bible this morning and, in my Bible reading, I read, you guessed it, Psalm 34. From the very first verse, it was like God was trying to get a point across or something =) God, help me to be more thankful, and help me to praise You more!

¹I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
 ²My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
 ³O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
 ⁴I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
 ⁵They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
 ⁶This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
 ⁷The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
 ⁸O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
 ⁹O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
 ¹⁰The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
 ¹¹Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
 ¹²What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
 ¹³Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
 ¹⁴Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
 ¹⁵The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
 ¹⁶The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
 ¹⁷The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
 ¹⁸The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
 ¹⁹Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
 ²⁰He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
 ²¹Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
 ²²The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

Been Married Almost Three Years!!!

Here are some wedding pictures and a couple of our engagement pictures.

                                                                                       

Psalm 27:1-14

   Last week was a pretty crazy week for me. I had my niece, Peyton, for the whole week, but that was definitely not the reason it was hard on me. Let's just say that the enemy was attacking me left and right. By Saturday, I'd had enough. I woke up on Saturday morning, knowing that I was taking Peyton home, and was feeling very drained - emotionally, physically, etc. I had a few minutes before having to leave, so I sat down and read my Bible. I asked God to give me what I needed after the week I had. I opened my Bible and I turned to where I had been reading (Psalms). I had read Psalm 26 the night before and so I started to read Psalm 27. Wow. That's all I can say. This is just what I needed. I am so thankful that the Lord knows where I am and exactly what I need and when I need it. 


¹The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
 ²When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
 ³Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
 ⁴One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
 ⁵For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
 ⁶And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
 ⁷Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
 ⁸When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.
 ⁹Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
 ¹⁰When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.
 ¹¹Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
 ¹²Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.
 ¹³I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
 ¹⁴Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.