Arise 'N Shine

Image by Pixabay I think I often complicate honest and simple thoughts I would want to write about and that's why this post comes later than it should've had. Anyway, I am now writing and I think we are living interesting times. I'm happy to be alive and to know that this period of time was meant to be mine. I've been feeling very happy during this year, experiencing little dreams of mine coming true, little love nuggets, small, caring gestures from God, who was showing me how much He cares about my heart and my relationship with Him. He has been filling my soul box with such delight that I am overwhelmed with excitement and joy! This is how life should be... but... it isn't... I know, we live on this earth where we have to still go through seasons to cope with the changes that require us to mature and learn love well. I'm in... being on this journey, although I won't and don't, at the present, understand many things that happen in and around me....

[Photo by Gabby Orcutt on Unsplash] I had this as a draft for months, because I haven't taken time for it. Sad, but true. I'll continue with the posts about my trip to the United States of America, although it's a while ago, but I will link it together with an experience I had this summer. I "stepped" into a new year in another country on a different continent and the first day of the year was a Sunday. Going very late to bed the day before didn't hold me back from going to church in the morning. Rosie (read my previous post if you want to find out who she is) came to pick me up and at the entrance of the center, where I slept, I met an Asian girl, who asked me if I'm going to church (FCF). Then and there at that moment I didn't know that she'll become a very precious friend to me. As I told her that we are heading to FCF exactly at that moment, she asked if she can join me and another girl from my room. So, the four of us headed towards c...

Even in times of trouble I have a joyful confidence, knowing that my pressures will develop in me patient endurance. And patient endurance will refine my character, and proven character leads me back to hope. And this hope is not a disappointing fantasy, because I can now experience the endless love of God cascading into my heart through the Holy Spirit who lives in me! [Romans 5:3-5 made personal by me] TPT These past days I've been going through some deep stuff with God. Starting at being hopeless and ending in being full of hope, faith and love for Him. He told me that He chose me to be close to Him and asked me frankly: "Have you grown weary with your journey?" My answer was sad, honest, and I was crying out: "Yes, everything looks so hopeless around me! I want to see all those great things I've been dreaming with You! I want to see the fruits of my investment and faithfulness! It hurts so much to be wandering around again and again seeing the same tu...

I just want to share with you an awesome event that took place and I think it’s important. At the beginning of this year, we've started a worship and prayer meeting on Sunday afternoon, where people who hunger after more of God's Presence and who want to lift God up in unity, come together and seek after that. I know God goes to great lengths to win our heart and to encounter us as a Bridegroom. He is pursuing our hearts, captivating it and we desire to find comfort, strength and rest in this pursuit. He knows exactly how to approach us, how to woo our hearts and awaken a passionate love in us. At these meetings we want to let God have us, let Him do whatever He has to do to awaken us… to make us His completely. We want Him to conquer all of us! We know that pursuing God will be a lifelong journey of ours and that there are going to be ups and downs, but we dedicate ourselves to continually realign ourselves to go after all what He prepares for us. We long to experience ...

I've been having some hard time lately, but it kept bringing me close to God and made my heart tender to everything I receive from Him! I'm so thankful that God so often encourages me and lifts me up through songs and words that I yearn to tell and sing to Him but can't find them. He knows my heart and this song speaks of my journey in this moment. I have so many unanswered questions in my head that when I'm going to bed I can't shut them down even though I'm exhausted. I cling to Him with steadfastness, because I know Him, I know He is good and He shelters me from the cold carrying me and never letting me go (Immanuel). I put my world into His hands and He comforts me and steadies my heart. I feel Him in the stillness...oh, what would I do without Him?

Every day we face problems which are slowly trying to extinguish the joy that God poured into our hearts, but look what the apostle Peter said:  "And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

This is what I feel right now: Take these hands I know they're empty but with You they can Be used for beauty in Your perfect plan All I am is Yours Take these feet I know they stumble but You use the weak You use the humble so PLEASE use me All I am is Yours

I listened to this video and I was amazed about the interpretations of Jewish marriage! Listen to it: How awesome it is to be the bride...and Jesus being the bridegroom...hm...it's so deeeeeep!!!

I started writing this blog post a long time ago, but I was really busy lately so I couldn't finish it! As you noticed the title of the post, I'll be talking about Mandisa! What I heard for the first time was her full name: Mandisa Lynn Hundley! I really didn't have any idea about her full name. She really has a beautiful name ^_^ Thus, as usually, I let the artists speak about themselves and highlight some of their words: " He is able to set us free from absolutely anything" she said "whatever we're turning to, in order to fill that void, it always gonna come up empty, because there ain't no high like the Most High. I like that! "

The next artist from my list is CHRIS TOMLIN! This artist is such a blessing... I really loved him since 2004. We had an old cd player with speakers and I remember that I burned a cd with Chris Tomlin's songs and we played those songs over and over again in our room. I really enjoyed listening to them... What I highly esteem is that he writes and sings praise and worship songs...through which I can feel close to GOD! His voice is also sooo great and he's humble, that is very important!  “ I just love that God uses me ,” he says, “ but my role isn’t to grab as much attention as I possibly can, but to really point people to God. I don’t spend my time thinking how to make myself more popular ”. " I'm trying to help people connect to God. I'm trying that myself, you know...I can't go there and just perform, but I want to lead people to somewhere, I want to lead people to God, not lead people to myself. So that takes, you know, having your heart...

Oh myyyyy... I can't believe she did it...but it's true...I really wanted to do this and write a post about somebody I've met recently face to face, but she took the step before me :) and wrote about me...really interesting. God works in such marvelous ways...but I still don't understand how could it happen this way :)) Really funny! *I want to thank Hannah for the post : thaaaaaank you very much my dear friend, it was a real surprise to me, I'm still overwhelmed (in a good way)! You're so dear to me, too! * So, when I first met Hannah on Shelfari , it was her pic which I liked very much, then what she wrote about herself (but I don't remember the words anymore...eeee :( it's soooo sad) and afterwards her christian books on her shelf which made me stop and request her friendship. After only ONE (comment)-reply we exchanged e-mail addresses and wrote each other. 

The next artist who inspires me very much and who is a blessing in my life through her worship and living, is...KARI JOBE! I don't even know what to say about her, because she's such a blessing...such a loving person...unique and special. I'll let her speak about herself...I'm sure she will find a place in your heart :) Listen to her testimony:

I chose to write about some of my favorite artists. So, you're going to read some posts about them.  I start with Nicole C. Mullen, not because I love her the most, or anything else, but because I've recently listened to her testimony, which is really awesome! God has worked through her and in her amazingly. She chose to live her life with Jesus and since then her life was changed in something really great! Her music lifts me up each time I listen to them. She praises God with her music and doesn't care about what people might say if she sings this or that, or use these words.  What I also like very much are the words she uses in her songs...they all have a good and powerful message to deliver to the listener. Listen to a part of her testimony, you won't regret it: