I Have Seen It

I have looked love in the eyes
I have seen its face
I have felt its warmth
I have experienced its embrace
It has filled me with such a joy

What is this love that has stolen my heart?
It came without asking
It came unexpected
What is this love that goes beyond words?
It goes beyond sense, expression, or verse

I am filled to the brim
Indeed, I may burst
Such love no tear to linger
Such love no fear to hinder

I have looked love in the eyes
I have seen its face
I have felt its warmth
I have experienced its embrace

Time To Rise

If you know me you know I'm the contemplative type that thinks about important things deeply before opening my mouth.  That being said, I've heard a lot of different people debating back and forth.  There's a lot of mixed emotion all over our country right now.  Allow me to give you my take on it.

Most of my friends on here live in the PNW.  A place where we feel disconnected from the events in the South, a place where it is widely believed racism doesn't exist, a place where we feel like we have somehow created this utopia, separate from the “hateful racist southerners.”   A place where we say, “At least we're not like them.”  The problem with this “at least” is it gives us room to still say and do hurtful things.  It leaves room from prejudice to take root, stay in the back of our mind, and influence our decisions and actions.

We may not "be like them" but that is because our racism is subtle.  I have experienced it in school where peers have said seemingly innocent things but at the core of their statements there was an underlying message of a division of peoples.  Statements that end in “no offense” do not make them less offensive.  I have experienced it in my work place where something simple was said.  An assumption stating “We're all good here.  Nothing needs fixing here.  We’re fine”  Let me say that we are not fine, everything’s not “ok.”  Though the racism here looks different it is still racism and we need change here.

I'm not on here to point the finger.  I'm not on here to make you feel bad about assumptions you may have made.  I'm not on here to argue.  I'm writing this to share with you my heart and tell you that I am grieving for the recent events across our country.  Mothers and Fathers who have lost their sons and daughters.  Sons and daughters who have lost the very people meant to take care of them.  These are faits no one person deserves.  I’m not a cop hater.  My dad's a cop, most of my family has served in the military. This isn't about that.  This is about change and awareness. 

We need change in this country.  We need change locally in the PNW.  We are not isolated from these events and these issues are not too big for us.  I don't have the "solution" but perhaps some practical things for us moving forward. 

First is our mentality.  Our thoughts about race have to change.  Let's start with what we think when we hear “black lives matter.”  This short phrase has caused so much division.  Stop it.  The issues we face are bigger than this one phrase.  Let's not get distracted from what we all want.  Change and an end to racism as we know it. Below I've attached an article because that's what you do when writing;-) But I feel like it does capture the heart of the problem.  This is bigger than a phrase. 

Another thing, stay connected.  When we stay isolated we get lost in our heads, assumption sets in, and dangerous thoughts form.  We can’t “fix” this alone.  This is a time when communication is vital.  When we have break downs in communication it’s really easy to get angry, make judgments, and divide ourselves into different camps of polarization.  Keep the lines of communication open.  Dialog with your friends and family.  Keep your mind open.  These events affect whole communities and we have to work together.  Keep hate out of your mouth and believe the best about people.

Also, stay informed with good information.  Good information is key.  Don’t listen to the loudest voice, don’t listen to the angry voices, look and listen for the voice of reason.  Our minds are powerful and ought to be used.  Take what you learn, observe, and put it to use.  Use wisdom.  Be slow to speak and quick to listen.

Again, this isn’t a comprehensive list of everything we need to do.  This is more a call to rise up, join together, and get stuff done.  This is a, “Don’t you think we’ve sat around long enough doing nothing?”  I’m saying all of this to myself as well.  

To end is a quote from MLK.  Because what’s a good rant on racism without a good MLK quote?  But it’s one that’s been rolling around my head for some time now.  Sometimes to move forward we have to look back and learn from those who have been there before us.  Read it and the link to the other article.  

Thank you for taking time to read this.  I hope you hear my heart throughout all of it.

- Anthony L. McGarity   

“We must see racism for what it is. It is a myth of the superior and the inferior race. It is the false and tragic notion that one particular group, one particular race is responsible for all of the progress, all of the insights in the total flow of history. And the theory that another group or another race is totally depraved, innately impure, and innately inferior.

In the final analysis, racism is evil because its ultimate logic is genocide. Hitler was a sick and tragic man who carried racism to its logical conclusion. He ended up leading a nation to the point of killing about 6 million Jews. This is the tragedy of racism because its ultimate logic is genocide. If one says that I am not good enough to live next door to him; if one says that I am not good enough to eat at a lunch counter, or to have a good, decent job, or to go to school with him merely because of my race, he is saying consciously or unconsciously that I do not deserve to exist.

To use a philosophical analogy here, racism is not based on some empirical generalization; it is based rather on an ontological affirmation. It is not the assertion that certain people are behind culturally or otherwise because of environmental conditions. It is the affirmation that the very being of a people is inferior. And this is the great tragedy of it.”

- The Other America. Martin Luther King Jr.

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/current/nation/problem-saying-all-lives-matter

Where did you say we were going again?..

“My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.” - Thomas Merton

I love these words of Thomas Merton, “I have no idea where I'm going.” But I trust you. That is the very place I've been this last year. Feeling almost like I was drifting, going in no particular direction, all the while trying to trust that God had a plan and I’m not drifting needlessly. I think, when I look at it, it all really boils down to trust. Do I trust God? Do I trust that He's taking care of me and guiding me in my daily life?  Sadly, I think the honest answer is I don't. I don't trust Him. So I worry and scheme and try to plan my way to my promised future. Much like the Israelites when they escaped Egypt, I have lost sight of God and I try to forge my own way. When all He wants me to do is wait on Him and find joy in His presence. 

Sometimes I don't know where I'm going. I have dreams and desires, but the path to them isn't clear. It's foggy and filled with my own uncertainty. 

Abba, help me to trust in You. A thing that I have trouble doing. Trust is hard for me. Putting my heart out there is hard for me. Help me to dare to dream big with You again. Help me to take joy in You. Help me to rest in You laying my fears and insecurities by the wayside. Let me rest in Your sweet love.

I do have hope. Like Merton, “I believe that the desire to please you(God) does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.”  This is for all of you who feel a little lost on your journey with God.  Sometimes our path is clear as day and sometimes it is shrouded in fog and uncertainty.  But as long as our desire is to serve and please God we can’t really get to off course.  I pray today you are encouraged.  I pray that the lies you’ve been believing would be silenced and that you would clearly see your position in Christ.  You’ve been made right with God and He is a very proud papa.

To conclude this blog post click the link(or just scroll down) and read my last poem.  It ties in perfectly with this. 

http://downloadsfromthefather.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-hope-in-night.html

The Hope in Night

I walk in the fog

So thick that I fear I may fall with each step

So dense you would swear it night

I cry out, "Lord save your servant! 

Don't you see that I am crushed on all sides?

Don't you see the pain I am in?"

Yes, life crushes me and weighs me down

I feel as though I will suffocate in this cloud of uncertainty and doubt

But I know my God is faithful

I know that though the world would kill me He is ever my defender

He surrounds me with His love

He fights on my behalf

He has good things for me and He will never abandon me

My life is not in vain

I do not struggle needlessly 

For the God who created the heavens and the earth is with me

He calls me son and I Him Abba Father

I will not be defeated for the Savior of the world holds me by the hand

Yes, Jesus is Lord of my life and in Him I am victorious

In Him I find strength 

In Him I find hope

God, an Angel, & Three Friends

This is a parable that God gave to me when I was just a young guy. I came across it today as I was going through some old things. I've edited it for a few grammatical things, but it is very much the same parable God gave to me when I was a young kid. I pray God blesses you with this.

God, an Angel & Three Friends

Three boys are walking along when suddenly one of them stops and is looking toward the sky.  One of them asks, “What do you see?”

He answers, “An angel.” The one friend who asked stood silently and let his friend have his moment. 

The other says, “Lord I want to see your angel!” 

The Lord replies, “Why should I let you see my angel?” The boy stands puzzled and doesn’t know what to say. 

So he says, “Lord, I pray that you would forgive me of my sins so that I may see your angel!” He then asks, “Lord now may I see your angel?”

The Lord answers, “Open your eyes and look.” Suddenly the boy sees the angel.

____________________________________

Personal revelation August 28, 2013

The first boy who saw the angel lived a life of faith and was able to see the things of God without hinderance. The second lived a religious, false humility life.  He didn’t have time for miracles and angels. And perhaps he thought his friend was being a little to spiritual.  The third boy has a spirit like Peter. Eager for the things of God but stumbling along the way.  All he needed was to focus on God, allow Him to wash away his blemishes and see the glory of God.

Many of us will fall under one of these categories. Will we live the life of faith and see when God is at work?  Will we speculate at all things too spiritual?  Or are we the last boy who stumbles and falls but takes time to align his life with God? I pray that we’d be the first boy for most of the time and that when we get off track we’d have the sense of the last boy to ask God to forgive us of our sins and move on to the good things He has for us.  May we never have the religious spirit of the second boy. May our hearts not grow cold to the supernatural of God. Our Father has good things for us.  Keep your heart open and live in faith.

He Reigns

The kingdom of God cannot be held behind iron doors
It will not be stifled by lock and key
You can try to lock it up and throw away the key
But God will always find a way
He is greater than any plan you would make
His truth will reign
His love endures forever
His kingdom is ever advancing
He is King
He is Lord of all

They, too, can believe.

     "15 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. 16 But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life." 1 Timothy 1:15-16 (NLT)

     Our lives are an example of what God can do even with the worst of us. Often time we (I) try to act like we have it all together. It's “my holiness” that got me to where I am.  It is because of “me” that I’m so good.  When we do this we rob God of the glory that is rightfully His. Many of us have bought into a lie that says we have to be perfect little christians. Much like Adam and Eve, we try to hide anything that is outside of our, “American christian code of ethics and morals.” When we do this we rob ourselves of the redemptive journey that God has for us. When we hide our past in fear of what others may think we are actually ripping them off from seeing redemptive process that God has brought us on.

     We testify on behalf of Jesus so that other would come to know him.  When we share our testimony we can bring encouragement to each other. Without testimony we loose relatability to the rest of the world. How are we going to relate to Joe Blow if we are always creating a “holier than thou” persona? People need to hear our stories. The good and the bad. When you look at they way Jesus ministered you see a man who was willing to come down to the level where people were at.  He said to the corrupt tax collector, “Come and have dinner with me.” He had dinner with that man and his life was changed!

     We can’t live in fear of our past or in fear of the sins of others. Use your story to bring glory to God. That’s what our lives are for, the glory of God. Paul was killing christians as heretics before he met Jesus. Jesus turned his life around and made him the author of most of the New Testament. When we hand our lives over to God he takes it and uses it to bring glory to His name.  He takes what we have and turns it into so much more. God can take the least of what we have and turn it to His glory. 

     Let your story be heard. Because there are people who need to hear it. By your testimony people will be set free, they will turn to God, and glory will go to His name.

Sometimes...

Sometimes the path is clear as day
Sometimes it's shrouded in fog
Sometimes the path is twisted and tangled
Sometimes it's dim and cold
But I can walk tall and sure
I can stand in faith and peace
For where I walk my God is there
And He is Lord of all.

A word of love, from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith.

"The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith." 1 Timothy 1:5 (NLT)

Paul was a wise and powerful church leader.  His life was a wonderful reflection of Christ.  His message was "that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith."  As a servant of Christ these things should be equally important for all of us.  

Whenever we speak, those we're speaking to should be filled with love.  
Love is something that will last for all eternity and so our message should always contain an element of the love of Christ.  What are the words we're speaking? Are we always tearing each other down or are we building each other up?  Our words should contain love and be absent of all evil motivation.  Jesus said in John 13:35 (NLT), "Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples."  This takes in to account our words.  Let your words be filled with love.

Our message must come from a pure heart.

My pastor Garris Elkins always says, "Speak the truth in love."  The truth spoken without love can be a very damaging and destructive thing.  Most people know it when they aren't living a life that honors God.  They don't need someone to point a finger at them, they need a brother or sister to come alongside them with love in their heart ready to deal with whatever it is that isn't quite right in their life.  Speak with love that comes from a pure heart.

We must have a clear conscience.
Paul was addressing people in the church who had deliberately ignored what was right and wrong. They knew what was right, they knew how they should be living, but they chose what was wrong.  They pretended it was right and that there would be no consequences for their wrong living.  It is important that as followers of Christ we do what is right and keep a clear conscience.

We must have genuine faith.

It wasn't that long ago when my faith wasn't very genuine at all.  I did and said all the right things in church but that was the extent of my faith.  We can do this for a while but there comes a time when we must choose to either live a life devoted to God or live a life devoted to ourselves and our selfish desires.  Our faith must be genuine, it has to be real.  Otherwise, when testing comes, when life gets hard, we will fall and break.  Our faith has to be real to have any impact on the world around us.

If we are going to live like Jesus we must speak with love from a pure heart, have a clear conscience and genuine faith that is rooted in Jesus.  This is my prayer for myself and my prayer for you.  That we would be filled with the love of the Father and that we would give out every blessing that He pours out on us.  Let it be in Jesus name.  Amen.

I Will Rise

I will rise
I will not be silent
I will not stand idiolly by
I will rise
Though words pierce me like a vipor's venom
Though I fall more than I stand
I will rise
My body is weak
My soul is tired
My bones ach
My back breaks
I have nothing
Oh so tired
But I will rise
I will not be beat down
I will not stay defeated
I will not lay down in dismay
I will rise
I will rise with my King
To the highest of heights
I will not be bound by this earth
I will rise
My position is in heaven
My authority rests in Him
I will rise
To my heavenly place
I will rise
I will rise!    

We walk in freedom
We are free from sin and death
Jesus has handed us the authority that Satan took from us. Rise up into who you are! You are sons & daughters of the King! Walk in victory!

In Whose Name?

Listen to my words
For they come from the King

Hear me speak now

For it is He who speaks

Yes it is true 

I come in the name of the King

I am His ambassador 

I am His child

I carry His seal

I speak with His authority

And with His power
Listen to my words
For they come from the King

It Is Love

In effort to keep up my blog I will continue to share these poetic and sometimes prophetic verses that God has given me.  I believe they are not just for me to keep locked up on my computer.  They are for people to read and be encouraged.  I pray that your faith would be strengthened and that God the Father would touch your heart. So I present It Is Love.

____________________________________________________________________________

How do we keep that flame that is passion burning?
How does the author continue his work or a composer his masterful sound?
What is it that makes a man finish his race?
What is it that inspires us?
Why do we chase the wind and try to out last the sun?
Can we stop the moon from shining?
Can we stop the world from turning?
Where does man find his breath to live?
And where does his journey begin?
If he scales the tallest mountain if he swims the widest sea
What has he accomplished?
His name is known by more than his kin
And a metal slung round his neck
The queen may yet knight him
And the world may yet praise him
But where is the glory in all of this?
Who can he share this joy soon to pass?
All his years he trained hard and left many behind
His mother his father and mistress so fine
Yes he is alone no one can now comfort
His friends now turned enemies and lovers up and gone
He will suffer alone with the devil so pleased
This pour soul forgot the lovers decree
Love father and mother and sister and brother
Love wife and love children
And above all love God our Father
This one thing inspires
No thing can yet move without love as our song
It gives writers their script 

The poet his verse
The psalmist declares the love of our Father
And the husband holds tight his lover so dear
Yes it is true no thing can be done without a hint of love
We can govern men but they will hate us
We can build bridges but who will praise us?
We can construct great structures to show our great worth
Gather riches and spices, the moon and the stars
Make cities and nations then burn them all down
But all is for not without the power of love
Above all else love and be loved
Show the love of the Father
Expect nothing back
Our reward is heaven
We've been saved from the pit
So I will love with all I am
Because that is just good sense

A Little Overdue

As with most bloggers out there, it's hard to keep your page up to date.  I have, however, been keeping my Facebook page pretty up to date.  So if you've missed anything here's the site: http://www.facebook.com/McGarityAbroad 
With the proper motivation and some discipline I may yet get this blog up to date and post the things that God is laying on my heart.  Till then check out the Facebook link.


Be blessed.


-Anthony L. McGarity

I made it...

So here's my first official update:

The house I'm staying at is up outside the city. I share the house with Elizabeth, and Lindsey, and two Haven interns from France(Gayton & Cedric). In mid March I'll have a roommate from America who went through YWAM in northern Ireland.

Last night I met Lindsey and Evanne as they were on their way to a prayer meeting with Pádraic and Elizabeth.

Pádraic and Evanne are married and live on the other side of town. They're from Cork and they are, as far as I can tell, in charge of the Haven. Elizabeth and Lindsey are from the states and they are in charge of the interns and the different volunteers of the Haven.

The Haven is about a twenty minute walk from the house. I definitely took a few wrong turns on my way into town. But I finally made it:) Its a nice walk downhill. Beautiful old houses and a great view of the city as you're coming in.

Once I made it to the Haven Elizabeth & Lindsey showed me around. They have a nice café with a good lunch selection. They also have a coffee bar!!! This excites me:) As most of you know I love making coffee so this will be fun for me. Connected to the café is an area for little ones to play during the day. It is also turned into a hang out area where the youth of the city hang out and sometimes it is a meeting place for different things. They also have a Christine bookstore with quite a lot to choose from.

Elizabeth then introduced me to Pádraic. He's a nice Irish fella(married to Evanne). I think I'm going to like him a lot. He told me a little history of Cork and told me the condition of the church. He believes that God is about to shake His church here and pump some life in its veins. I pray that I would get to be a part of that shaking.

The main city part of Cork is surrounded by the river Lee that forks around it. The Irish for Cork is "Corcaigh" which means marsh. And here I thought it was an actual cork that plugs up a bottle of wine. There goes my thinking they have the best wine in Ireland. But maybe they do. That being said, the city was originally built on this marshland.

It sounds like they're gunna be keeping me busy while I'm here. I'll work in the café and with the youth when they come in. I'll be there on the youth nights. And it sounds like I might help a pastor named William outside of Cork with some youth stuff and teaching little kids as well.

All in all, I'm pretty excited to see what God has in mind while I'm here. It's going to be quit the ride! But I'm ready to be stretched...I think:) That's all for now. I'll post more later.

Be blessed,
Anthony L. McGarity

Ireland Anyone?

My dear friends & family,

Happy New Year! I hope your Christmas was wonderful and that you had plenty to eat.

In 2007 I went to Ireland with my mom for vacation.  We had a blast! We hopped in a car and drove around the whole country.  We saw castles, kissed the Blarney Stone, explored caves, and ate at some pretty good pubs.  I fell in love with the people on that trip.  They are such good-natured and loving people.  When I got back home I had a dream that I was driving in Southern Ireland and I saw a church appear in a field.  When I woke up I knew God had called me to go to Ireland and preach His Good News.  

Since 2007 my vision for Ireland has continued to increase.  Now more than ever I am excited to join in with God in the things He is doing in Ireland.  It’s been a long time coming but this February I’m packing my bags and heading over.  I’ve waited patiently and had time to mature a little.  Now is finally the time.  For the past few months I’ve been saving my pennies and I’m almost ready to go.    

Ireland is a country that has heard the Gospel, but many have forgotten the power and authority that we have as God’s children.  Many have forgotten what it means to have intimate relationship with Jesus.  God wants to restore His people to a place of intimacy with Himself.  When I go to Ireland I want to remind people of these things.  God loves us and He wants to be a part of our lives.  He wants His people to walk unafraid.  He wants us to walk in authority over the kingdom of darkness and speak His light and hope into hopeless situations.

While in Ireland I’ll be working with an interdenominational organization called the “Haven.”  They are located in Cork, Ireland which is in the southern tip of the country.  The Haven has many different ways of outreach into the community.  On Wednesday nights they have a youth group where lots of teens come from the neighborhood to hang out and experience the love of Christ.  They also have a daycare center, counseling, bookstore, and a cafe.  At different times during the week they have outreaches into the city.  I’m excited to get a taste of all of these different ministries and build relationship with the people I’ll be meeting.

I’m leaving for Ireland this February and I need the support of my friends and family.  The first way you can help me is, of course, by donating financially.  Checks can be written out to “Living Waters,” which is my home church.  Just attach a note indicating it’s for me.  You can also write them out to me and send them to my mom’s house.  

The second way you can help me is through prayer.  Here are some prayer points that you can use:

• That I wouldn’t hold anything back and that I would pour out all that God is giving me.  
• That I would show the love of God to all those who I will come in contact with.
• That I would move in the power and authority that God has given me.
• That I would walk as one of God’s anointed children.
• That I would have favor with the people that I minister to.
• That I would be unafraid and walk in boldness and courage.
• That the things that I do would be fruitful.
• That I would trust in God all the way.
• That I would be refreshed and refueled by God daily.
• That everything I do would be for the glory of God.
• That I would make connections for when I plan a future trip.
• That I would come home on fire for God and ready to do more for His kingdom.
• That I would walk in intimacy with Jesus.
• That I would carry His word in my heart.
• That I would enjoy my work and be full of joy.

I thank you all very much for your support.  You are a tremendous blessing to me and I will hold all of you in my heart as I go over seas to share the Good News which is this, God loves you and wants to have a deep, meaningful, personal relationship with you.  May God bless every one of you who reads this letter.  I pray that God would shine His love in your life.

Be blessed, 

Anthony L. McGarity

 

Facebook: Anthony L. McGarity
Email: amcgarity60@gmail.com
Blog: downloadsfromthefather.blogspot.com

Living Waters Foursquare Church
2200 Roberts Rd.
Medford, OR 97504

For Roger

Tonight I went to get coffee with my buddy Nathaniel, as is usual for a Wednesday night after church.  We sat and talked about nothing important and left just before the store was closing.  We continued talking outside his car and out of the corner of my eye I saw a homeless man and knew instantly that he was going to come over to us.  So I said to God as the man was walking over, "Ok God, use me."  Simple.  He asked us if we had any money and I did so I gave him a couple bucks.  I asked him what he needed it for because I don't like to just give money away, and sure he could lie to me and say anything, but that's not so important.  We talked to him for a little while and found his name was Roger.  He camps out in Central Point, he's got a bad knee from surgery, and he has a few screws in there he said.

After talking with him for a bit I asked if we could prayer for him.  He said, "Sure.  A tall fella with blond hair just prayed for me."  The "tall fella" was my buddy Tory who was at the Dairy Queen just down the block. So we prayed.  We started declaring the goodness of God over his life.  That he would feel the love of God all around him and he would experience the blessings that God had for him.  We prayed that he would feel the Father's embrace and that his finances would be blessed.  We also prayed for healing over his leg.  Then I asked him if he believed in God and in Jesus, His son? And he said he did.  He even had one of those classic pictures of Jesus in his wallet.  Then we blessed him and me and Nathaniel went our separate ways home.

On my way home I found out that Tory had prayed many of the same things that we had prayed over Roger.  As I continued home I began to worship over Roger's life and did more praying and prophesying and contending for this man.

What's important about this story is not that I gave this man a few bucks and did a "good deed", it's that he heard the kingdom of God spoken over his life.  Giving to the poor is great, and we should do it, but it's not the only thing they need.  What they need is the truth of Jesus and the destiny He has for them.  They need to know the worth they have in God's kingdom.  Roger heard the heart of God tonight, what he chooses to do with it is his business.  But I believe that God was trying to get a hold of him tonight.  The fact that he ran into me and Tory is no coincidence.  Roger could of walked off in any which way but he ran into me and Nathaniel.  It's also no coincidence that our prayers were very much the same.  We're a couple of guys who hear God's heart and and speak it.

In the busyness of life, and sometimes self-centerness, it's easy to pass by the Roger's of the world and pay no attention to them.  But God is looking for people who are willing to lay down their lives and simply say, "Use me God."  What happened tonight was simple, but powerful!  Sometimes we're looking for the big things when all God wants us to do is pause and take a moment to value a life that the world would say doesn't have much value at all.  The glory of God is spread with the simple act of obedience and the willingness to lay down our lives.

So when you have time pray for Roger.  If you've never meet him or seen his face it's ok because God knows him.  Lives are changed because of prayer!  Make yourself available to God in your day to day life.  We don't always have to be the headliner.  Sometimes we're just asked to do the simple thing that has a powerful impact for the kingdom of God.

Be blessed!

Peace With The Father

Though the wind may howl and the waves crash down
There is peace in Your love
When the lightning flashes and the thunder roars
I am at peace in the arms of my Yahweh
Though the hail pours down & the earth does shake
I will rest in the presence of our King
When the crowd yells curses and beat my body down
I will not grow weary because of the strength of Jehovah
My body may break my heart stop ticking
But I will dwell in the house of my Father
This world is against me but it cannot beat me
It is not eternal like my soul
My God He loves me
My God He saves me
He sees me when I'm lost on the street
He hears me when I'm stuck in the muck
Like a lion to her babe He protects me and keeps me close
I will not be afraid
I will fear no evil
I will not be subject to sin and death
I will rise above my fear
I will vanquish the evil
Sin is broken and death is beaten
What can I fear? The battle is won!
He has done it. He has done it!
I will bask forever in the glory of our King

The wind may howl and the waves crash down
The lightning may flash but this storm will pass
The hail may pour and the thunder roar
The earth may shake and the earth may break
But I will rest in the presence of Jehovah
I will rest by the throne of our King
I will rest in the arms of my Father

The Watcher Of The Night

When nighttime comes and sun is gone
There is a man who watches over
Those sleeping hours of sunless slumber
He flies hither and thither
With soundless steps he steps
He comes like lightning and is gone in a flash
He is a shadow of the night
A shining star to the lost
And a beacon of hope to the hopeless
Motherless babes he comforts
That watcher of the night
Let all who are lost all who are broken 

Gather to the watcher of the night
He comes in times of need
He answers our desperate calls
So when you are weak call 

When you cannot stand and all strength has left you
Call for that watcher of the night 

O How I Am Wicked... But There Is Hope For Me

When I wanted to use my hands for evil
My Lord held them tight never letting go
When I wanted to use my tongue to curse and destroy
He bound my tongue saying, "This isn't for you son of the light."
He kept me from my fleshly desires
He kept me from acting in anger and deathly judgment
God truly knows what is good for me
If it weren't for Him I would be a wicked man
I can't even speak of the things I would do
For they are truly atrocious and dishonor our God
I've been bought with the blood of the lamb
How sweet my freedom is
No longer am I bound to death
I will never experience it
Though my body will break down and die my spirit will live forever 
with the Father



I cried out to the Lord in my anger yelling, "Let the wicked fall! Let judgment sweep over them! May they feel my wraith! Let me loose Lord! I want this done now! I cannot wait for your judgment! I am apart from it! Least you act now it will be me! Can you not use me as your right hand? Let me cures the wicked and crush them with anger."
But my Lord denied me.
He would not allow it.
For I was a man acting out of hellish rage
This was not righteousness
It was not holiness
He has called me to greater things
My old self longs to live
He fights constantly to consume my new self
He hates all that I am
He is vigorous in his death
And a shadow upon my face
I will never let him loose again
O how the Lord let's me see my evil ways
I do not wish to see my judgment poured out
For it would be ugly lacking all holiness
I now see that God is the only one who can do so with holiness and righteousness
Lord forgive me for my foolishness
Help me be holy as you are holy
Let all that I am praise the Lord
Praise the Lord!

His Great Joy In Us

In my distress I fell down
And who was it who caught me?
It was the Father
His arms so big and comforting
He sang sweet songs over me when I feared evil would overtake me
He stroked my hair and I felt at peace
He laughed with me and the darkness fled
Oh how little the worries of the world are when the Father holds you 
Close
Do you know how joyful God is when you choose to come to Him?
It is worth more than all the treasurers of the world
The choir of heaven sings rejoicing over us
Oh how He loves us
We will never know
But we can find rest in the Fathers arms



When I was angry and wanted to fight
He calmed me and told me it was in His hands
When I wanted to do evil He came and saved me from my wickedness
Oh how God is always right
He knows how to comfort my soul
And how to quite my storm
So I say again
Come rest in the Fathers arms
Let Him show you His love for you and His love for the world