Wilderness goodness and mercy 2014

I wanted to recap the year and get focused for the new year 2015.

It is amazing the challenges you can face in a year. Also the blessings are amazing.

"God sees you through every moment of your life. We have marched another year through the wilderness - yet surely goodness and mercy have followed.
Bless The Lord - He has done all things well - the eyes of The Lord have been upon you all year :)
"The eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon you, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year." Some of you say, "I have had deep troubles this year." "I have lost a friend," says one. "Ah!" says another, "I have been impoverished this year." "I have been slandered," cries another. "I have been exceedingly vexed and grieved," says another. "I have been persecuted," says another. Well, but, beloved, take the year altogether—the blacks and the whites, the troubles and the joys, the hills and the valleys altogether, and what have you to say about it? You may say, "Surely goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever."
(CHS)
Spurgeon Sermon #58

Deuteronomy 11:12, 21

A land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always upon it from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.

That your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth. (AMP)

Deuteronomy 11:12, 21
(NCV)
It is a land the Lord your God cares for. His eyes are on it continually, and he watches it from the beginning of the year to the end.

so that both you and your children will live a long time in the land the Lord promised your ancestors, as long as the skies are above the earth.

I wanted to recap 2014 with some on my favorite photos of 2014 and also some of the songs that helped me see the goodness and mercy of God in the wilderness times of the year.

Frost flowers
"No flowers wear so lovely a blue as those which grow at the foot of the frozen glacier; no stars gleam so brightly as those which glisten in the polar sky; no water tastes so sweet as that which springs amid the desert sand; and no faith is so precious as that which lives and triumphs in adversity."(CHS)

I was reading the morning before skiing in Song of Solomon in Chapter 2:17

"Until the day breathes

and the shadows flee,"

another meaning is

 "When the sun rises the shades of the night vanish,"

 Saw a scene the reflected these words on the road skiing.

So grateful for hope and a beam of light and revelation to encourage in our darkest times.

"..Friends ...come alongside us in our life's journey ... preserve (friendships) the most valuable of all possessions". (William Wilberforce)  

Psalm 121 
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills.
    From where does my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot be moved;
    he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, he who keeps Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is your keeper;
    the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
    nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;
    he will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep
    your going out and your coming in
    from this time forth and forevermore.

“Can God spread a table in the wilderness?

I was looking at a picture of my grand-daughter from a family picnic.

Glimpse - hair braided with care by another's hand,

fine dessert dish,

best ice cream and cookies,

hand reaching with confidence knowing the kindness and love of the one giving the treat,

a table that was used generations before her at the family farm. Generosity, trust and life preserving and giving back to us over and over again through the generations.

We can drift little by little, just as the water in the inlet keeps wearing away the sand and soon overflows.

As the water level rises as life's cares and worries they will choke the life out of me if I do not guard my heart.
Soon the narrow inlet and sandbars become covered and the ocean is indistinguishable from the inlet waterway. We lose our zeal for good and the disciplines of grace.

Though storms or waves break upon us, and they will,
we can stand firm. Our God will stand unshakable as an Anchor to our souls in the middle of the crashing waves of this life

Though we experience many wonderful days in our short life we also experience trials and some dark days.

One thing I AM THANKFUL for is that God wakens me each morning and as a loving Father gives me the desire to pursue Him in the reading of The Bible, and in reliance on the Holy Spirit gives me a word to sustain, and a listening ear to obey Jesus.

How do we prepare for those stark times of trial when we need provision? 
A glimpse of a field with hay bales quickened me to realize we care for the livestock through winter by preparation and hard work to store provisions. Likewise as we go through life we devote ourselves to the Word to build into our lives those views and convictions we need to get us through the wintry times.

Psalm 102:28 
The children of Your servants shall dwell safely and continue, and their descendants shall be established before You.

Rescue is needed many times in our lives. We are without strength even to pray or lift our head and the Spirit gives us life. It is a supernaturally infilling that we cannot do on our own, or our friends cannot do with even the best intentions and words of comfort.
I heard a song one day that reminded me how I have been "rescued".
We call. God answers and meets our needs and RESCUES. 

Mount Shuksan

Best songs I listened to 2014 and was encouraged

King Forever ny Elevation Worship

Only King Forever CCLI # 7011438

Written By: Pastor Steven Furtick, Wade Joye, Chris Brown, Mack Brock

VERSE 1:

Our God, a firm foundation Our rock, the only solid ground As nations rise and fall

Kingdoms once strong now shaken But we trust forever in your name The name of Jesus
We trust the name of Jesus

CHORUS:
You are the only King forever Almighty God we lift you higher You are the only King forever Forevermore, you are victorious

VERSE 2:

Unmatched in all your wisdom In love and justice you will reign Every knee will bow

We bring our expectations
Our hope is anchored in your name The name of Jesus
We trust the name of Jesus

BRIDGE:

We lift our banner high We lift the name of Jesus From age to age you reign Your kingdom has no end



It is Well by Bethel Music

Verse 1
Grander earth has quaked before
Moved by the sound of His voice
Seas that are shaken and stirred
Can be calmed and broken for my regard

Chorus
Through it all, through it all
My eyes are on You
Through it all, through it all
It is well

Through it all, through it all
My eyes are on You
It is well with me

Verse 2
Far be it from me to not believe
Even when my eyes can't see
And this mountain that's in front of me
Will be thrown into the midst of the sea

Bridge
So let go my soul and trust in Him
The waves and wind still know His name

It is well with my soul
It is well with my soul
It is well with my soul

It is well with my soul


Last Word- by Elevation Worship


Last Word
Elevation Worship
CCLI # 7011447

Written By: Wade Joye, Mack Brock, Chris Brown, London Gatch, Pastor Steven Furtick

VERSE:
The storm rises from the deep And rages around me
But I will remember

When doubt wars within my heart The battle almost lost
I will remember

CHORUS:
You have the last word
It is finished
You have the last word
It is finished
My fear is silenced in your love My hope is endless

VERSE:
Your voice that calmed the violent sea Speaks courage over me
So I will remember

The words that wake the sun to rise Are breaking through my night
I will remember

BRIDGE:
Your word stands through the ages Your voice shatters the darkness
In you we are more than conquerors

You speak and strongholds surrender Your name overcomes the enemy
In you we are more than conquerors


Mountains- Hillsong United
See a light in the darkness
A city shining without a veil
This hill becoming a mountain
A solid rock that will never fail

Your name
My hope
Fortress in the raging storm
My heart
Is Your hope
Jesus let Your love take hold

The stone the builders rejected
Laid to ransom a fractured bride
A crushing weight on your shoulders
We stand forever with arms stretched wide

Your name
My hope
Fortress in the raging storm
My heart
Is Your hope
Jesus let Your love take hold
[x2]

For Your name, heart and soul
My life is Yours a living stone
For Your glory, heart and soul
Surrendered all to build our home
[x2]

Your name, my sure foundation
The hope of glory for one and all
Your love endures forever
Our only mountain that will not fall

All the earth, welcome hope
In every heart Your will be done
All Creation, welcome home
This hope is ours Your kingdom come

We cry holy, holy, holy
We cry holy is Your name
[x4]

For Your name, heart and soul
My life is Yours a living stone
For Your glory, heart and soul
Surrendered all to build our home


Came to my Rescue- Hillsong United

Falling on my knees in worship
Giving all I am to seek your face
Lord all I am is yours

My whole life
I place in your hands
God of Mercy
Humbled I bow down
In your presence at your throne

I called you answered
And you came to my rescue and I
I wanna be where you are

My whole life
I place in your hands
God of Mercy
Humbled I bow down
In your presence at your throne

I called you answered
And you came to my rescue and
I wanna be where you are

"Come as You Are"

"Come As You Are [feat. Crowder]" Lyrics

by Passion Worship Band | from the album Take It All

Come out of sadness
From wherever you’ve been
Come broken hearted
Let rescue begin
Come find your mercy
Oh sinner come kneel
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t heal
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t heal

So lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
Oh wanderer come home
You’re not too far
So lay down your hurt
Lay down your heart
Come as you are

There’s hope for the hopeless
And all those who’ve strayed
Come sit at the table
Come taste the grace
There’s rest for the weary
Rest that endures
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t cure

So lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
Oh wanderer come home
You’re not too far
So lay down your hurt
Lay down your heart
Come as you are
Come as you are
Fall in his arms
Come as you are
There’s joy for the morning
Oh sinner be still
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t heal
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t heal

So lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
Oh wanderer come home
You’re not too far
So lay down your hurt
Lay down your heart
Come as you are

Come as you are
Come as you are

ANCHOR

Published on Jul 5, 2013

Hillsong Live Album Glorious Ruins, 2013, Name of Song: Anchor

VERSE

I have this hope

As an anchor for my soul

Through every storm

I will hold to You

With endless love

All my fear is swept away

In everything

I will trust in You

CHORUS

There is hope in the promise of the cross

You gave everything to save the world You love

And this hope is an anchor for my soul

Our God will stand

Unshakeable

VERSE

Unchanging One

You who was and is to come

Your promise sure

You will not let go

BRIDGE

Your Name is higher

Your Name is greater

All my hope is in You

Your word unfailing

Your promise unshaken

All my hope is in You

I Will Look Up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEQnoE7SnZw

CCLI # 7011443

Written By: Matt Redman, Jason Ingram, Wade Joye, Chris Brown, Mack Brock

Verse 1:

All the worries of this world

I will lay them at your feet

Surrender every anxious thought for perfect peace, your perfect peace

Verse 2:

All the loved one's I hold dear

All my hopes and dreams and all my fears

I will choose to trust your name in everything, with everything

Chorus 1:

I will look up for there is none above you

I will bow down to tell you that I need You

Jesus Lord of all

Jesus Lord of all

Verse 3:

I will take you at your word

For Jesus you have taken hold of me

All my life is in your hands

You are my strength, you are my strength

Chorus 2:

I will look up for there is none above you

I will bow down to tell you that I need You

Jesus Lord of all

Jesus Lord of all

I will look back and see that you are faithful

I look ahead believing you are able

Jesus Lord of all

Jesus Lord of all

Bridge:

Prince of Peace

Perfect Healer

All my life, all my cares on you

King of Kings

Mighty Savior

All my life, all my cares on you

By Faith we live and hope for the future and for grace to carry on from one generation to the next.

"One day at a time" (GW)

FAITH WILL SOMEDAY MAKE ALL THINGS CLEAR

"from glory to glory; it is increasing, continuing, persevering faith, faith pressing forward, and getting ground of unbelief" (MHC)