Dear Readers and Friends,

I am having to make a difficult decision.

It involves continuing to write this blog or to put it aside.

When you are a wife and a mother, you must stick to your priorities of your
family first. Granted, our young people are a bit older now, but it is amazing that they need even more time now as they process the next stages of life. Thank God they desire to have us as coaches (my husband and me) as we relinquish our roles as parents.

It is a new season in life, and it requires an undivided mind.
I want to be a good steward of my time and health.

I already write another blog, and I can't do two.
I would love to have you come visit me there.


Please visit me at 'Deep Roots at Home' on Facebook
or
www.deeprootsathome.com/ to access my blog


****The reason I have made this decision is for one reason only. ****

As I look at the statistics of those who visit, I see that the total time spent
(on average) is only about 2 minutes. The videos alone average almost 4 minutes, not to mention the text, so I know most who visit are not getting the MEAT of the post.

The meat is the Scripture and the music.

Jesus is preached in the Word and the music, but I believe it may be a waste of my time and energy to write something that seems to not be read and used.

It is a hard decision (as I said before) because the stats show at least 50 visits a day, some days quite a bit more.

Interestingly, there are more from outside the US than in the US.

***************************************


If you wish to contact me, you may comment on this post.

I would love to hear your comments or thoughts.

Many blessings in the Lord Jesus Christ,
Jacqueline

Blessings, by Laura Story

The real story behind Laura Story (from her website):

There’s no denying some of the blessings in Laura Story’s life. She wrote the No. 1 worship hit “Indescribable”, recorded in 2004 by Chris Tomlin, married a handsome athlete named Martin Elvington the next year, and began working in music and women’s ministry at the 4,000-member Perimeter Church in Atlanta. Her 2008 national debut won a Dove Award and earned Laura two consecutive nominations for Female Vocalist of the Year—all blessings, indeed.

But amidst that success, a brain tumor hospitalized her husband in 2006. The faith Story sang about was put through the unexpected fires of fear and loneliness; most young newlyweds don’t imagine being kept alive at one point by breathing machines or having to find their way through significant post-operative vision and memory loss. Would faith grow or be lost in such a life-altering struggle?

“Life is filled with things you don’t expect, but the Bible tells us to respond by trusting God and continuing to worship him,” Story begins. “Martin hasn’t received complete healing—and that can be hard at times when we view God as all-powerful and all-loving. But here we are now saying, ‘Yes, this is how faith works.’ God has proven to be faithful. We have been truly blessed out of a circumstance that at first didn’t seem like much of a blessing at all.”This is a chance to share the gospel.”

“Don’t get the wrong idea. It hasn’t been easy,” Laura admits. “Everyone wants to be a mature and equipped follower, but would I have signed up had I known what it would take? God has grown us up, deepened our faith, our awareness of our great need for him as a savior, daily. We knew it before, but we didn’t see it. This is a good place to be.”

Story likes a quote by martyred Christian missionary Jim Elliot: He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.

“The world supports an idea of self-centered living because ‘I just have this one life,’ but we need to look at it the other way,” explains Laura. “We only have one life to give to God. I don’t want to have held anything back. I want to give with abandon, to be spent, to truly give my life away for the cause of Christ.”

Yet Story knows firsthand the journey to surrender gets complicated—that it sometimes involves having to redefine what God’s “blessings” could mean, a spiritual wrestling match she perfectly encapsulates on Blessings’ breathtaking title track and first single:

What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life
is a revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy?

“The song shows that we still have more questions than answers,” Laura confesses. “But there’s a decision that I find God is asking us to make: whether we are going to choose to interpret our circumstances based on what we hold to be true about God, or whether we’re going to judge what we hold to be true about God based on our circumstances.”

Laura and Martin’s circumstances have magnified the blessing of marriage. High school sweethearts, they faced the strong chance their long-awaited bond might last just two years.

“Once you’ve rallied through a life-threatening illness together, the rest of it is like a surprise; every day is a new gift that might not have been there. It’s not as big a deal now if he leaves his socks on the floor,” Laura says with a smile.

“People ask how we’re doing, and I like to say: ‘We have a faithful God.’ Every promise he’s kept, every need he’s met.” Without a doubt, blessings abound in Laura Story’s life. Offstage, she and Martin love to be outdoors, riding bikes or trekking their way through the book 50 Hikes in North Georgia.

Lyrics:
We pray for blessings, we pray for peace.
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep.
We pray for healing, prosperity.
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering.

All the while, You hear each spoken need.
Your love is too way too much to give us lesser things.

Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops?
What if your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near?

What if trials of this night, are Your mercies in disguise?

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear.
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near.
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love.
As if every promise from Your word is not enough.

All, the while, You hear each desperate plea.
And long that we'd have faith to believe.

Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops?
What if your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near?

What if trials of this night, are Your mercies in disguise?

When friends betray us, when darkness seems to win;
We know that pain reminds this heart, that this is not, this is not our home.
It's not our home.

Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops?
What if your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near?

What if my greatest disappointments, or the aching of this life;
Is a revealing of a greater thirst that a world can't satisfy?
And what if trials of this life, the rain, the storms, the hardest nights;

Are Your mercies in disguise?

Supporting Scriptures:
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1 :2-4

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." James 1 :12

"As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy." James 5: 11

"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." 1 Peter 1: 6-7

El Shaddai, Eden's Bridge

El Shaddai - means: God Almighty All-Sufficient God

El Shaddai in Hebrew

El - Hebrew meaning: might - strength - power -- El is almost always used to distinguish God from false gods

El-Elyon -- The Most High God
...the title stresses God's strength, sovereignty and supremacy, sometimes referred to in scripture simply as - Elyon

Elyon in Hebrew

Erkamka - means: I have compassion on you

Adonai - means: Lord -- master, owner, father Erkamka na Adonai - means: We will love You, Oh, Lord

Adonai in Hebrew

Lyrics:

El Shaddai, El Shaddai,

El-Elyon na Adonai,

Age to age you're still the same,
By the power of the name.
El Shaddai, El Shaddai,

Erkamka na Adonai,

We will praise and lift you high,
El Shaddai.

Through your love and through the ram,
You saved the son of Abraham;
Through the power of Your hand,
Turned the sea into dry land.
To the outcast on her knees,
You were the God who really sees,
And by Your might,
You set your children free.

Through the years You've made it clear,
That the time of Christ was near,
Though the people couldn't see
What Messiah ought to be.

Though Your word contained the plan,

They just could not understand
Your most awesome work was done

Through the frailty of Your Son.

Supporting Scriptures:

“Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:

“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.

For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears,

and they have closed their eyes." " Matthew 13: 13-15

"Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?" "Yes, my son?" Abraham replied. "The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together." Genesis 22: 7-8

"Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land." Exodus 14: 21

"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." Revelation 22: 13

"Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever." Hebrews 13:8

"My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever." Psalm 145: 21

He Knows My Name, Maranatha Singers

What would you think of a god who doesn't know your name? He doesn't know you, or any thing about you?

I believe He wouldn't be much of a god at all!!!

But the Bible tells us that we do have a God Who does know us. He knows our name, He knows our frame. He knows how many hairs we have on our head! He knew us when He formed us in our mother's womb!

" And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid... Matthew 10: 30

"...For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust. " Psalm 103: 14

"O Lord, you have searched me and you know me." Psalm 139:1

"This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles."
Psalm 34: 6

So we have an awesome God, familiar with all our ways! Besides knowing our name, He created us and loves us. We are the sheep of His pasture, and He calls us all by name. See Psalm chapter 23.

The Maranatha! Singers is a 50-person-strong voice choir comprised mostly of University of Florida and Santa Fe Community College students. Founded in 1970, the group is part of the University Methodist Church and Student Center (U.U.M.C.), Gainesville, FL. The group sings most Sundays at the worship service during the fall and spring semesters, and also tours outside of the church. The Maranatha! Singers have also issued numerous recordings over the years.

Lyrics:
I have a Maker
He formed my heart
Before even time began
My life was in his hands

He knows my name

He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
and He hears me when I call

I have a Father
He calls me His own
He'll never leave me
No matter where I go

He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
and He hears me when I call

Supporting Scriptures:
"O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord." Psalm 139: 1-4

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be." Psalm 139: 13-16

"I sought the Lord, and He answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them." Psalm 34: 4-7

"Thou hast kept count of my wanderings; put Thou my tears in Thy bottle! Are they not in Thy book? Psalm 56:8

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Hebrews 13:5

Let My Lifesong Sing, Casting Crowns

Last week, Pastor David Wilkerson was killed in a head-on car accident; that same day his last blog was published. He had lived a life of power, grace, and joy! What a testimony to his faith in Jesus at age 79! He lived what he spoke - he left a 'lifesong' worthy of note!


In 1986, while walking down 42nd Street at midnight, Pastor David Wilkerson’s heart broke over what he saw. At that time, Times Square was populated mainly by prostitutes and pimps, runaways, drug addicts and hustlers, along with live peep shows and X-rated movie houses. Pastor David cried out for God to do something—anything—to help the physically destitute and spiritually dead people he saw.



He cried out to God to bring a testimony to that hellish place of drug addicts, prostitution, and pimps. God spoke to his heart that 'he knew New York and he should do something about it! ' In 1987, he opened Times Square Church. He loved those in the street gangs and helped many to receive their Lord and Savior. He wrote about the rough years working in the gangs in The Cross and the Switchblade.

Here is an excerpt from his last blog:
WHEN ALL MEANS FAIL by David Wilkerson | April 27, 2011

"To believe when all means fail is exceedingly pleasing to God and is most acceptable. Jesus said to Thomas, “You have believed because you have seen, but blessed are those that do believe and have not seen” (John 20:29).

Blessed are those who believe when there is no evidence of an answer to prayer—who trust beyond hope when all means have failed.

Someone has come to the place of hopelessness—the end of hope—the end of all means. A loved one is facing death and doctors give no hope. Death seems inevitable. Hope is gone. The miracle prayed for is not happening.

That is when Satan’s hordes come to attack your mind with fear, anger, overwhelming questions: “Where is your God now? You prayed until you had no tears left. You fasted. You stood on promises. You trusted.”

Blasphemous thoughts will be injected into your mind: “Prayer failed. Faith failed. Don’t quit on God—just do not trust him anymore. It doesn’t pay!”

Even questioning God’s existence will be injected into your mind. These have been the devices of Satan for centuries. Some of the godliest men and women who ever lived were under such demonic attacks.

To those going through the valley and shadow of death, hear this word: Weeping will last through some dark, awful nights—and in that darkness you will soon hear the Father whisper, “I am with you. I cannot tell you why right now, but one day it will all make sense. You will see it was all part of my plan. It was no accident. It was no failure on your part. Hold fast. Let me embrace you in your hour of pain.”

Beloved, God has never failed to act but in goodness and love. When all means fail—his love prevails. Hold fast to your faith. Stand fast in his Word. There is no other hope in this world."

Mark Hall of Casting Crowns has written this song that makes me cry out to the Savior for the grace to live a sold-out life for Him. I want to be that witness and let my life-song sing, too!

"I love this song.... God is so powerful. I mean I am only 12, but I am so grateful for what he has done for me. I got saved recently, and my whole world became brighter. I have had at least 20 people ask me how I went from being a stuck up brat, to a whole new person, And I just reply saying- 'I once was lost, but now I see'. I now walk with Christ in Faith. Casting Crowns helped save my eternal life. Thank you, Jesus!" ~ anonymous comment

Lyrics:
Empty hands held high
Such small sacrifice
If not joined with my life
I sing in vain tonight

May the words I say
And the things I do
Make my lifesong sing
Bring a smile to You

Let my lifesong sing to You
Let my lifesong sing to You
I want to sign Your name to the end of this day
Knowing that my heart was true
Let my lifesong sing to You

Lord I give my life
A living sacrifice
To reach a world in need
To be Your hands and feet

So may the words I say

And the things I do
Make my lifesong sing

Bring a smile to You

Let my lifesong sing to You
Let my lifesong sing to You

I want to sign Your name to the end of this day

Knowing that my heart was true
Let my lifesong sing to You

Hallelujah Hallelujah

Let my lifesong sing to You

Supporting Scriptures:

"The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him." Exodus 15: 2

"Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation." Isaiah 12 :2

"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my Redeemer." Psalm 19: 14

"Whom have I in heaven, but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my Portion forever." Psalm 73: 25-26

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. 8 The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one." Psalm 28: 7-8

"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing." Philippians 2: 14-16

O Lord, How Majestic Is Thy Name, Keith Green

Keith Green has inspired so many people and been used to bring seeking people to the Lord through the years of his life. It is a fascinating story worth re-telling.

Keith was born near Brooklyn, New York. His mom had been with the Big bands as a singer, and his dad was a schoolteacher. As a small child Keith's mom said he had perfect pitch as he sang his baby songs. At the age of three, his family moved to CA and settled into the newly developed fruit orchards of the San Fernando Valley, a short drive to Hollywood. This proximity, it turned out, would play a significant role in Keith's later years.

As a young boy, around 6, Keith learned how to play guitar and piano. He liked piano best, and when his grandfather taught him to play chords, he began writing his own music and singing his own songs.

He was raised with a Jewish background, but he had read the New Testament. There was confusion because of this and other events in his life that left him feeling like a failure. He ran away at the age of 15, and began a journey of searching for purpose mixed with drugs, eastern mysticism, and free love. He kept a journal from this point on writing about his yearning to know truth through musical adventures and the 'spiritual' life.

At nineteen, Keith married Melody, another musician, also seeking truth and purpose. They searched together and found what they had been looking for - a relationship with the Lord of the universe. He never looked back.

What had once confused him now made sense as Keith proudly told the world, “I'm a Jewish Christian." As Keith opened his heart to Jesus, he and Melody opened their home. Anyone with a need, or who wanted to kick drugs, was welcome. Their house became known as "The Greenhouse."

Not only did Keith's life change, all of his songs changed, too. Now his songs reflected the absolute joy of finding Jesus and seeing his own life totally changed. He went way beyond most people's comfort zone in how he lived his life. In his concerts, he would say, “If you praise and worship Jesus with your mouth, and your life does not praise and worship him, there's something wrong!"

“I repent of ever having recorded one single song and ever having performed one concert if my music, and more importantly -- my life -- has not provoked you into godly jealousy, or to sell out more completely to Jesus!” ~ Keith Green

This was written and released by Keith Green in 1982. He died and went to be with Jesus in July of that year. Last Day Ministries is continuing to serve in a hurting world. You can read more about their history here.

His music written from Psalm 8 to glorify Jesus Christ still moves me today 28 years after his death.

Lyrics:
Oh Lord, our Lord
How majestic is Thy name in all the earth
Oh Lord, our Lord
How majestic is Thy name in all the earth

Thou has displayed Thy splendor above the heavens
Thou has established strength from mouths of infants
To show all Thine enemies

Oh Lord, our Lord
How majestic is Thy name in all the earth
Oh Lord, our Lord
How majestic is Thy name in all the earth

For when I consider the Heavens, the work of Thy fingers
The moon and the sun which Thou hast appointed
For what is man, that Thou dost take thought of him
And the son of man, that Thou dost care for him

Hallelujah Lord, our Lord
Oh, how I love You
Hallelujah Lord, our Lord
Oh, how I love You

You've made man a little lower than all of the angels
And crowned him with glory to rule over Your creation
And under his feet, You've put the beasts of the field
The birds of the heavens and what passes through the seas
The birds of the heavens and what passes through the sea

Hallelujah Lord, our Lord
Oh, how I love You
Hallelujah Lord, our Lord
Oh, how I love You

Hallelujah Lord, our Lord
Oh, how I love You
Hallelujah Lord, our Lord
Oh, how I love You

Supporting Scriptures:
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory above the heavens.

From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?

You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.

You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" Psalm chapter 8