Build

Worthy of every song we could ever sing
Worthy of all the praise we could ever bring

Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe

We live for you

Jesus the name above every other name
Jesus the only one who could save
Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe
We live for you
Oh we live for you

Holy there is no one like you
There is none beside you
Open up my eyes in wonder
Show me who you are and fill me
With your heart and lead me
In your love to those around me

Worthy of every song we could ever sing
Worthy of all the praise we could ever bring
Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe
We live for you
Oh, we live for you
Jesus the name above every other name
Jesus the only one who could save
Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe
We live for you
Oh we live for you

Holy there is no one like you
There is none beside you
Open up my eyes in wonder
And show me who you are and fill me
With your heart and lead me
In your love to those around me

Holy there is no one like you
There is none beside you
Open up my eyes in wonder
And show me who you are and fill me
With your heart and lead me
In your love to those around me

And I will build my life upon your love it is a firm foundation
And I will put my trust in you alone
And I will not be shaken

And I will build my life upon your love it is a firm foundation
And I will put my trust in you alone
And I will not be shaken

Holy there is no one like you
There is none beside you
Open up my eyes in wonder
And show me who you are and fill me
With your heart and lead me
In your love to those around me

Holy there is no one like you
There is none beside you
Open up my eyes in wonder
And show me who you are and fill me
With your heart and lead me
In your love to those around me

And I will build my life upon your love it is a firm foundation
And I will put my trust in you alone
And I will not be shaken

And I will build my life upon your love it is a firm foundation
And I will put my trust in you alone
And I will not be shaken

And I will build my life upon your love it is a firm foundation
And I will put my trust in you alone
And I will not be shaken
- Build My Life - Passion.

Woke up to this song in my mind.  I had read my Bible Plan and my devotionals but this is what really stuck with me today.

In my devotionals there were reminders of the benefits of looking back over our lives as well as the perils of that.  It's ok to do so by way of reminders but it's not where we live.  Also another devotional mentions the possibility that the 'thorn in the flesh' Paul was experiencing had to do with an injury sustained from his own time when he was stoned and left for dead.  I hadn't realized it but there's only two times a stoning were mentioned.  Stephen as Saul (Paul) watched, giving his approval and when Paul himself was stoned.

In looking back on our lives it's easy to be caught in the snare of regrets.  Look at Peter after the crucifixion.  He was sunk into a deep depression.  He loathed himself and knew not what to do.  His arrogant behavior ended in him denying the one he aid he would die for.  Not once but 3 times.  To set the foundation stone of the Church, it took Jesus personally working with Peter to establish him.  It took Peter realizing that the beginnings of the Church weren't about him...but about Jesus.  Jesus is the chief cornerstone.

But again as much as those began to go through my mind, I think upon that song.

I am reminded of the song that I heard by Philip's, Craig and Dean. The Revelation Song. 

Oh the songs that must ring out in Heaven!

There's no more tears. There's no more pain.  I have had times when songs like these gripped my soul so well that when I closed my eyes I looked up into Heaven. 
Right there in the middle of whatever I was doing. 

Doesn't sound like a restrictive, oppressive 'religion' does it?   It was peace, it was joy.  It was indeed a feeling of true love expressed no matter where we may be.

People are as skittish about Jesus at times as a small animal is around people.

They don't know what to make of Him.

There's a fear to overcome.  But a fear of what?

The first fear to look beyond is ourselves.

We do it with others and don't realize it.
Do what? You ask.

Consider how you would react to hearing a car pull up outside and you look out and recognize someone whom you looked up to getting out.  They are headed for your house.  The first thing that most do is look themselves over. They don't want to look terrible!  Then the house. Is it presentable?  We stuff things in the couch. Throw it behind the chair.  Close doors that were open.  Shoo the pets away. Impressions.  What we think they will see when they see us.

Truth is all that doesn't matter to Jesus.

He already knows everything about you.  He already saw you trying to hide things before He got to the door of your heart.

So now the choice is yours. You see Him out there.  You hear Him knock. 

Do you open the door or try to be silent in your fear?

Think of this...
Jesus the name above every other name
Jesus the only one who could save

This is Jesus we are talking about.  He doesn't come to you to beat down the door.  He isn't at the door of your heart to pronounce judgment.  He isn't going to bust in the door with a baseball bat ready to knock heads together.  He is simply asking to be let in because He loves you and cares about you.  To let you know He died for you.  Took your place.   That the days of being afraid are over if we but let Him in.

I have seen a video recently of some rescuers with an injured dog.  Her paw was caught in a harsh trap. Her life was miserable but she wouldn't trust her rescuers!  It took hours and hours and some special harnesses to catch her. 
But they never once made the dog regret their attempts.  It took time but the dog got past its fear of people. 

We too live wounded lives.  We have scars.  We don't walk like we used to.  Some, like Paul, have had anger issues, pride issues.  Some have turned in upon themselves and are caught up in a mental loop.  Constantly going over their faults and failures over and over.  Listening to a voice telling them that they aren't wanted, that they aren't loved.  That they have screwed up so bad that even God doesn't want them.  Lies! Lies!  At one point in my life, that was me. I listened and I believed them.  In His mercy and grace, Jesus busted through the walls of doubt and walls of my misery to grab my hand and pull me out of it. 

How can I not be overwhelmed with joy?

He set me free.  He moved me past my fears because of a simple prayer of Jesus help me.

He can do that for you.  He's there at the door of your heart.  What you need to know is that the only knob is on your side. 

He cannot open that door.  Only you.

Let go of your pain.  As familiar as it is to you, let go of it.  We often see people who are more afraid of a cure than they are of living with an ailment.  If they get healed what will it do to their lives?  Oh the changes! 

Let go.  Open the door. 

All you stand to lose is pain and misery.

All you stand to get...is more of a real life than you ever imagined.