Thank You Jesus For The Blood Devotional

We stand and sing the team's national anthem at the beginning of many sporting events. A momentary reverence is shared—standing to attention, removing hats, respectful adherence to a tradition. A bailiff invites us to rise when judges enter the courtroom. We stand when the bride begins her processional up the wedding aisle. The historical narratives rooted in some of these traditions are messy, and some choose to bend the knee or hold their seat. At best, these moments are perfunctory. Not so with the anthem of praise to the King of Kings. Think for a moment about the anthem of heaven. Can you imagine how quickly we will rise, how loud we will cheer or how our breath will catch at the sight of Jesus? Will it be loud, or will the presence of the King of Kings have us so moved that it will be our collective silence that fills the space? If we take a knee, it will be because our legs cannot bear the weight of our trembling bodies. Come, let us bow down in worship,let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;for he is our Godand we are the people of his pasture,the flock under his care.Psalm 95: 6,7 NIV As I ventured into the quagmire of social media today, I became aware of the dangers lurking in the shadows. I fasted from social media through December and am now more sensitive to what is still present on my feeds. I don't search for the bad news. I stumble upon it because conflict, chaos and confrontation reign online. So, with each click, or swipe, I hold my breath. My heart quickens, and I remain on high alert. Not like the lioness crouched down in the bushes waiting for her prey, she is fearless; my vigilance is more akin to the wee antelope who suddenly hears the grass rustle nearby and looks up frozen with fright. So imagine my delight today when I read a series of posts from a lovely friend, one after another, offering thanks. She gave an anthem of praise. She wrote thank yous to nurses, mental health professionals, teachers, and pastors for all they do to keep us safe, healthy, and informed. Who else would rocks cry out to worshipWhose glory taught the stars to shinePerhaps creation longs to have the words to singBut this joy is mine An anthem of praise. A melody of adoration. Brooke Ligertwood's A Thousand Hallelujahs is an anthem of praise. A song of devotion. Our heart's cry of gratefulness. We have eternity to sing it. A thousand hallelujah's to magnify his name, give honour and praise because He reigns. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts since you were called to peace as members of one body. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, d0 it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.Colossians 3:14-19 NIV If you feel the burden of the here and now, lift your eyes above your circumstances. Join the chorus of A Thousand Hallelujahs. A song of worship we will sing into eternity. An anthem of praise our hearts long to sing. Tracey Dahl, M.A. is a writer and Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) in Langley, BC (Canada). She is married to Ryan Dahl (Founder of PraiseCharts) and the mother of four grown children. A Thousand Hallelujahs was written by Brooke Ligertwood and featured on the A Thousand Hallelujahs album.

Oh gosh, I love fall and pumpkin spiced lattes. I love the colors of our trees in the backyard, but it is a very different experience from the love I feel for my husband, children, and gorgeous granddaughter. Do you end calls with family with a quick "love you !" Or sign the bottom of birthday greetings the same way? Hear the phrases "love that new coat on you" and "loved that show on Netflix!" We have watered down what it means to love. What does it mean to you to love your neighbor? If I can't love my neighbor like I love myselfIf I won't move when my brother cries out for helpIf I'm too proud to forgive before the sun goes downThen this life that I've been living what does it mean now None of my love comes close to the love that God has lavished on us. We will continually fall short of this unrestrained expression of love while we continue to practice loving only those who are easy to love. Try working it out when the road is rocky, the other is difficult, and your strength is weak. See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And this is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 1 John 3:1 Something struck me listening to this song by Pat Barrett and Dante Bowe's "Nothing/ Something. " The back and forth sharing of the phrases reminded me that the invitation to love others is something I need help to do. I am not good at it on my own, and I don't have to look hard to notice some of you are not good at it either. Our love billows over when there is no risk, and it blooms easy. It is a whole other workout loving the people around us who are challenging. Maybe they masquerade as our neighbors, but they are often our siblings, children, partners, or friends. These relationships expose our incapacity to love well. Out of one corner of our mouths, we say as for me and my house, we serve the Lord...and then whisper words of judgment on our brothers and sisters. It is the kind of bait and switch that my non-Christian friends find disorienting with the church, seeing a love that looks sloppy and exclusive. I could say I love my neighbor, but it does not nearly shine as bright alongside the love I hold for my children. My love for my neighbor is dim at best. I hardly know my neighbor. With complete transparency, there are some neighbors I don't wish to know at all. And don't get me started on that one person (or two) who grate on my nerves, leaving me rigid from all the tongue biting I do around them. Show me how to love like YouCause if I don't have love it means nothing My love for people and how much I give depends on a few things. How they treat me and how invested I am in their well-being. If I am irritated, I have been known to withhold love, and I shut down, remaining emotionally disconnected. What is your modus operandi? We tend to have a predictable way of discrediting, minimizing or invalidating another's experience. Do you move away because, you know, they don't know the Lord like you do? Or, they don't have the education, experience, money like you do? What pattern do you choose when dealing with difficult people who don't think like you, dress like you or work as you do, so you do not have to love them? I don't want to sound like a crashing cymbalI don't want to be some empty noiseI'm down on my knees, Lord I surrenderJesus help me to love with a love like Yours My least favorite place to linger is a church foyer. The perfunctory meeting, greeting, and hand-shaking turns my insides like we are gearing up to head onto the main stage for a performance. One part of me wants to feel a part of the group and searches for someone I recognize to talk to; another part wants to make a beeline to my preferred seat in the auditorium to avoid making small talk with anyone. When I show up in a church foyer, my "on again off again" love dial switches on. I show interest, smile, ask you about the details I remember from last week. And we have this interaction that at the moment feels like we love one another, but at best, we are being kind. Kindness is love's cousin, for sure, but it is a part not the fullness of God's love. Foyer's are easy places to pretend we love one another. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.John 3:16 For God so loved. He so loved. He doesn't love the world the way I love the changing colors of Fall, or a long walk along a riverbank. His love created. His love created all I know and hold dear. His love sacrificed comfort, set-aside fame, notoriety and chose a humble beginning with a horrific ending instead. His love did this for me. It was a profoundly personal, intimate act of love. This ending paid the highest price and bought my freedom for eternity-THAT is love. If I can't love my neighbor like I love myselfIf I won't move when my brother cries out for helpIf I'm too proud to forgive before the sun goes downThen this life that I've been living what does it mean now My prayer today as I recognized once again my ineptitude to love well: Jesus, loving the people you created is not a task I can do alone. Help me. Show me what You see. Fill me with Your love so I can do better. Your love is an indescribable gift, and I want to be ready to give it to others - even when it is a challenging task to do so. Tracey Dahl, M.A. is a writer and Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) in Langley, BC (Canada). She is married to Ryan Dahl (Founder of PraiseCharts) and the mother of four grown children. Nothing / Something was written by Pat Barrett and featured on the Nothing / Something album.

What happens inside when your world feels upside down and nothing seems to make sense anymore? Wave after wave of stories from around the globe relaying horrible acts of violence, families devasted by war, freak accidents or environmental disasters. "All our enemies have opened their mouthswide against us.We have suffered terror and pitfalls,ruin and destruction."Streams of tears flow from my eyesbecause my people are destroyedLamentations 3: 46-48 I long for the days when I didn't know so much. The naivety of my youth without the magnetic pull onto the social media highway. When we hung out at the park and came home when the streetlamps turned on. I never thought I would fondly remember the days of the dewy decimal system and hours lost gathering information. Now there is this onslaught of information, competing agendas, friends who we hardly recognize anymore shouting insults and angry retorts at one another. The world can feel upside down, leaving us feeling defeated and hopeless. Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,for his compassions never fail.They are new every morning;great is your faithfulness.I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion;therefore I will wait for him."Lamentations 3: 22-24 The "just ask Google" age is a double-edged sword. We get information quickly without knowing with certainty that it is accurate. Now, we can find and disseminate information across multiple sources with little accountability to prove validity. Gone are the days of trusted experts...we have become the experts. Our message at church this week focused on humility. Can we acknowledge there are things we do not know or understand? Can we lay down our need to be right? Are we able to live on the edge of not having all the answers? The lyrics in Katy Nichole's song, In Jesus Name (God of Possible), offer words for times when our present circumstances feel like too much to bear. Sometimes, we need help to hope in the not yet. When answers don't come soon enough, or when my solutions don't align with my neighbours. In these moments, all we know to do is pray. I pray for your healing, that circumstances would changeI pray that the fear inside would flee in Jesus nameI pray that a breakthrough would happen todayI pray miracles over your life, in Jesus name We are most at risk when our circumstances feel so overwhelming that all we want to do is hide, or when we are so overwhelmed, we get louder and meaner. As a therapist, I manage well with emotional reactivity in the safety of my office space, but facing an angry stranger at the grocery store, or reading the vitriol of an acquaintance's remarks online, can leave me completely gobsmacked. I speak the name of all authorityDeclaring blessings, ev'ry promise He is faithful to keepI speak the name no grave could ever holdHe is greater, He is stronger, He's the God of possible Come believe it, come receive itOh the power of His Spirit is now forever yoursCome believe it, come receive itIn the mighty name of Jesus, all things are possible If you are walking with someone through their darkest days, or you are finding yourself weary and worn out from fighting your own battles- speak the name of Jesus. Sometimes, this is all we can do. Christ Jesus who died- more than that, who was raised to life- is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?Romans 8:34b, 35 Resist the tendency to limit the power and effectiveness of His name. No amount of digging for answers, no amount of time spent in dialogue, no amount of tears melts the hurt in the human heart like the ministry of Christ's love. As it is written: "For your sake, we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." NO, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.Romans: 36-39 So we turn our eyes to heaven and cry out "in Jesus name." Receive His love, His healing touch for your weary, worn-out heart. Tracey Dahl, M.A. is a writer and Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) in Langley, BC (Canada). She is married to Ryan Dahl (Founder of PraiseCharts) and the mother of four grown children. In Jesus Name (God Of Possible) was written by Katy Nichole, David Spencer, Ethan Hulse, Jeff Pardo, and featured on the In Jesus Name (God Of Possible) album.

Ever faced a vast army? Have you walked alone down your driveway to see an angry mob glaring back at you waiting for you to cross the residential boundary line so they could attack? Would you turn around and run back inside? The story in 2 Chronicles describes a vignette like this and is the inspiration behind the song Battle Belongs. The people of God find themselves facing a war they cannot win without help. In 2 Chronicles 20, one of my favorite stories in the Bible, a huge army has amassed to come against the people of God," Wickham explains. "Every time I sing Battle Belongs, it pumps me up because we know that in anything we might face, our God is bigger. I hope this song reminds people that He is with us and for us. If we stand firm and hold our position, we will see the salvation of the Lord on our behalf!" - Phil Wickham We have been facing a pandemic for some time now, and it isn't the virus. The most common presenting issue in my counseling office is anxiety, along with the unbearable feeling of being alone. Unbearable aloneness is the current crisis we face. We may be a part of community groups, bible studies, ministry teams, surrounded by others, and yet, feel lonely. Surrounded by people and still feeling alone seems incongruent. But it is sadly common and very understandable. Aloneness is the vast army many of us face. I will feel alone, not just in the absence of people around me, but when the people around me don't know who I am. Ask yourself: who knows me? Who knows me at my best along with the side of myself when I am compromised? Does my compromised self stay hidden? When you feel anxious, angry, or disappointed, are you alone in those moments? At any given time, we can be our best selves or our worst selves. In my work, I notice that we often feel uncared for when we are showing up less than our best selves. When we are afraid that we won't be heard, accepted, or understood, we don't allow others to see behind the curtain of our one-dimensional "Instagram-worthy" personas. We hide from the potential for criticism or judgment. We present only the parts of ourselves that we decide are worthy of being known. We are often validated to keep offering only the good because we experience the same criticism and judgment we fear when we show up compromised. In 2 Chronicles 20, it says "You will not have to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf". – Phil Wickham Do we hold to the distorted belief that we can only bring our best selves to worship? Isn't the better way to hope that our faith communities would be safe for us to show up no matter what? Sadly, many are not. People who have been hurt by church communities often end up in offices like mine. They have been minimized, victimized, and shamed because they risked showing more vulnerable parts of themselves and faced rejection or invalidation. They heard hollow, spiritually sounding phrases; vain attempts meant to offer hope but left them feeling broken and damaged. Hurting people are told to, "cast all their cares onto Jesus," "trust He has a plan," or that "God is using this season to grow you." There is truth in these words, but if we over-spiritualize distress, we serve to protect only ourselves from our discomfort witnessing someone else's pain. If I offer you some spiritual platitude when you bring me your pain, I only create distance between us, and you are left feeling alone with it. For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you. – 2 Chronicles 20:12 Unbearable aloneness is the crisis we face today. Why are we not brave enough to be with another while they are in pain? Please resist the temptation to rush in to fix, to offer some empty spiritual words; instead, allow each other space to be in it. My Christian clients are often very relieved to hear that they can feel an emotion from beginning to end, and it doesn't mean they are not "trusting" in the Lord. I have witnessed the great misconception or belief that rewards and commends chasing after emotions like joy or peace but criticizes all negative emotional experiences. What if we stopped being afraid of emotions…both the ones that reside in ourselves and the ones we witness in someone else? What if we humanized emotion? By our very design, God gives us the neurobiological mechanisms to have feelings and respond to His creation. We can be in awe. We can feel joy. We know sadness.We feel anger … and we can be disappointed, hurt, and betrayed. All of this is what it means to be human: we feel. Emotions show up in our bodies, wired into our physiology. When we pay attention or notice them, they do come and go like waves come and go. Pathologizing people as "too emotional" or labeling emotions as good or bad feeds loneliness. Emotions exist to help us experience the world God created. But now, this is what the Lord says- he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: "Do not fear for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze; For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. – Isaiah 43: 1-3 Unbearable aloneness is like a vast army standing against us. When faced with profound loneliness, our Father says: I will be with you! It is a battle cry, your war song. Wherever I am, in the middle of the storm, falling from the mountain top or dragging myself across the desert wasteland. My God is with me…undoing my aloneness. In the face of the loneliness experienced globally, knowing that He chooses to be close to me even when I am at my worst, is deeply encouraging. Imagine the healing possibilities for us if we could be with one another in our pain, sorrow, and disappointment and undo the aloneness so prevalent in our world. Tracey Dahl, M.A. is a writer and Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) in Langley, BC (Canada). She is married to Ryan Dahl (Founder of PraiseCharts) and the mother of four grown children. Battle Belongs © 2020 Phil Wickham Music, Simply Global Songs, Sing My Songs (Admin by Essential Music Publishing) Bethel Music Publishing CCLI Song No. 7148126.

We've been on stand-by for the birth of our first grandchild for what feels like forever. As her due date came and went, the waiting game began. She received her eviction notice but seemed particularly content in her womb. Anticipation of her arrival intensified every day that first week in April. Pondering and praying one morning, I heard myself whisper, "I love her already". We do love her already. We have seen more ultrasound photos of her sweet little hands, feet and pouty little lips than all her aunt and uncles' in utero pictures combined! We love her already. Finally, on the evening of April 12, with one text, we learned she arrived! Listening to our firstborn son describe the birth of his first while hearing her precious newborn cries in the background is a moment we won't soon forget. Our son and daughter-in-law planned for a home water birth with the support and expertise of midwives. They had a plan!! The thing we newly-minted grandparents know all too well is that we can't plan for everything. The baby came fast and furious, opting to forego midwifery's arrival and instead make her appearance before any help had arrived. Our granddaughter made her entrance into her Daddy's waiting embrace on the bathroom floor of their home. Two parents already in love with their daughter caught her and welcomed her into their family. So much is happening in our hearts. We are delighted that the baby arrived safely, shocked that they delivered her on their own, and in awe of these waves of love and affection moving through our hearts and minds. We loved her already. That word "already" implies a great deal, before a specified or implied past, present, or future time. "Already" happens before she masters anything; before she shows that unique achievement before she meets any goals or reaches any milestones, we loved her before any past, present, or future accomplishments. Our granddaughter doesn't know how to "do" anything to earn our affection, we love her already. Babies intuitively know how to take in our love. It is hardwired into them to reach for and cry for affection. They respond to our gaze, and they are calmed by our hummed hushes. Responsive, loving caregivers provide comfort to babies when they are in distress, and children learn to trust their parent's safety and love. Holding my granddaughter, watching her eyes move towards her daddy's voice, my heart bursts; she knows her daddy's tone and affection. She is drawn already to his expressions of love for her. As I sit, feeling the depth of this love billowing up inside me, a steadying hush settles me. I have this thought: His love is greater. We gathered, admiring our little one. She showed no discomfort with our adoration. She wriggled, startled when we shifted her from one family member to the other, but she was deeply content held in our affection. Someone whispers: "I love her already." We all smile in agreement. We do. We love her already. We loved her before, but now the love is immeasurably magnified with a "presence" we can see, touch and kiss. Again, this thought: His love is greater. Yes, greater, deeper, more profound, more enduring, His love is greater. Can you take it in? Can you linger and receive this enduring love that God has for you? Our life experiences distort our receptive capacities. Our attachment systems, hardwired in at birth, are disrupted by disappointment, unmet needs, losses, grief; all the hard stuff of relationships. Over time some of us may close off their receptive capacities staying protected and hidden. Closing our hearts from others creates a false sense of safety, but we remain distant and disconnected from others. We might find it challenging to receive human affection or love, dismiss our need for it, or shift to people-pleasing to earn love and affection. These distortions in our receptive capacity to take in love and affection show up in our human connections and will undoubtedly appear in our relationship with God. Consider your own receptive affective capacity to take in human affection: When someone says to you: "You sang beautifully this morning," or "This meal is delicious." Do you bat that compliment back so quickly, you startle the giver? We mumble things like, "It was ok," or "I don't know, it was a bit overcooked." How uncomfortable do you feel? Imagine sitting for a moment in the discomfort of someone's affection for you, when you have heard heartfelt messages of appreciation like these: I admire you.I respect you.You are gifted.You bring such joy into my life.I love spending time with you.You are funny.I love you. Shake off the false humility that wants to pass back these words and allow yourself time to take them in and notice what happens inside. Allow yourself to be touched, moved, and loved. Then, you can take it a step further. His love for you is greater. His love for you is passed, present and future -- it is already. Without you doing a thing. Nothing right, nothing wrong, nothing outstanding. His love is "already" for you. We are invited to experience His love. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3: 19-21, NLT) His love. His love is greater than the billowing up, indescribable warmth spreading through my chest as I hold my granddaughter. His love is greater than the joy escaping through my breath mixed into the tears streaming down my face when I heard her first cries over the phone.His love is greater. Don't miss it. The totality of God's love for us, already matured. It won't grow or deepen. We don't have to be alarmed by this -- His affections won't become more evident, deepen or shift because His love for us is at the greatest depth we could ever hope or imagine. He loves us already. His love isn't dependent on "getting to know us." He isn't the grandparent waiting to hold a newborn grandchild. He knows us. He fully knows us. Our past, present, and future selves are known. And He loves with more depth, breadth, and presence than our minds can comprehend. Be held in the Father's love for you. Close your eyes and drink that in. You are fully known. God knows all the places and parts of you, the ones you share and the ones you hide, and He loves you. Go deeper into Christ's love. "This song has honestly been a reminder for me that God is everything we'll ever need. My prayer is that everyone who listens to this is reminded of the Father's heart toward us and that He loves to take care of us." (Naomi Raine, Maverick City, JFH) Tracey Dahl, M.A. is a writer and Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) in Langley, BC (Canada). She is married to Ryan Dahl (Founder of PraiseCharts) and the mother of four grown children. Promises was written by Dante Bowe, Aaron Moses, Joe L. Barnes, Keila Marin, Lemuel Marin, and Phillip Carrington Gaines, and recorded by Maverick City.

When we sat down to write the song Peace Be Still, our lives were filled with circumstances that had us feeling fearful. We were all standing face to face with some scary situations. We knew that fear was present in our personal lives, but we also knew that we could choose to declare the promises of God in the midst of our fears, and His presence would flood us with peace that silences every wave of fear, and anxiety or worry. Worship is a weapon to defeat the schemes, lies and voices of the enemy. Worship is a way to stand upon the waves and tell the storm to go to sleep. I can't begin to tell you how many times, I have personally had to sing the lyrics of Peace Be Still over my own life, mind and situations. I have battled fear and anxiety a great deal in different seasons. At times, I have failed to anchor myself in the word of God through scripture or song and the waves of anxiety and fear have overtaken me. The aftermath of those storms have sometimes left damage that took more time and energy to restore than God ever intended. However, when I chose to grab on to the lifeline of God's word, declaring His promises over my life, the storm was silenced, either in me or in the natural. As we started this new decade, all over the world, we are facing a health pandemic that hasn't been seen in over 100 years. People feel confused, scared, uncertain and worried about the future. It feels like a storm of fear and anxiety has hit us pretty hard. Right now, we can choose to get swept up in the waves of fear and worry, doubting that God is for us or we can choose to remain anchored in the presence of God and allow His peace to wash over us and calm the storm inside our hearts and minds. We don't know what the future holds. We don't know how this current world situation will play out in the following weeks and months. What we do know is that our God is our shield, our fortress, our deliverer, our provider, our healer and our strong tower. Psalm 91:1-4 (God's Word Translation)Whoever lives under the shelter of the Most High will remain in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “You are my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.” He is the one who will rescue you from the hunter's traps and from deadly plagues. He will cover you with his feathers and under his wings you will find refuge. His truth (word) is your shield and armor. Worship builds a reservoir of God's truth to draw from when we face difficult moments. I know that every time I choose to worship, it builds my faith in God. It reminds me once again, that my God is greater than any storm and He speaks PEACE OVER ME! My prayer is that during these times of fear and uncertainty you will find refuge in the Almighty, declare His promises, sing His praises and know His Peace that passes all understanding! Hope Darst, has been leading worship, growing her family and serving the local church. She wears many titles…wife, mother, worship leader and songwriter. Peace Be Still was written by Hope Darst, Mia Fields, Andrew Holt, and featured on the Peace Be Still album.

My heart busted right open when I heard that first newborn cry. Our first grandchild is a bright, delightful little person. If she's over at our house, all the family comes, too. Her aunties and uncles cannot get enough of her. When Grandbaby and her parent's come to visit, schedules clear, plans adjust - we all want to sit and take her in. Along with this depth of love pounding in my chest, I notice something else. Slipping in amongst the awe and delight is worry. It is a familiar worry connected to a younger version of myself. I haven't perceived this gnawing at my heart for quite some time - not since my kids were little. When I first became a mom, I couldn't believe they let me take that sweet, vulnerable tiny baby home from the hospital. He came with no instruction manual and an immense responsibility to keep him safe. It is a familiar kind of worry attached to the indescribable adoration I feel for this little girl. But now, my confidence is buoyed by what I know. I am my older, wiser self, and I know how to pray. Grandma use to pray out loud by her bed every nightTo me it sounded like mumbling, like she was out of her mindShe said, Boy this kind of praying is what saved my lifeYou outta try it some time; now I know she was right And I know the good work that God is doing in her parents. A work that is not complete. An ongoing purposeful work of grace, love, and growth. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.Philippians 1:4-6 When your heart is gripped with anxiety about your kids being in this upside-down world, talk to Jesus. He has plans for us, and he has plans for our kids. Elevation Worship & Maverick City Music's song, Talking To Jesus tells the story of how we can get through the messy uncertainty of parenting. Mama use to drag me to church, Sunday morning and Wednesday nightsKhaki pants and a polo shirt, boy, I put up a fightShe said, Son, one day you'll thank me for having God in your lifeAnd yeah I know she was right, yeah my mama was right Get them talking to Jesus. That is the antidote to my worry. Knowing that the ones my heart bursts for know Him. They see this friend who will never let them down. He will never leave them out. He will never leave them alone. He will never take offense, and He will always forgive. He is never too busy or distracted. With Him, there is no favoritism. No competition. No fear. What a friend! Thank God they are talking to Jesus. Tracey Dahl, M.A. is a writer and Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) in Langley, BC (Canada). She is married to Ryan Dahl (Founder of PraiseCharts) and the mother of four grown children. Talking To Jesus was written by Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music and featured on the album Talking To Jesus.

Less than a year ago, we were hard-pressed to locate toilet paper. This summer, the hunt is on for air conditioners. With extreme temperatures, unusually high for Western Canada and the USA, conditions increased the risk of forest fires. Smoke blankets the air as wildfires destroy one hectare after another. Evacuation centers are set up in local towns to accommodate the displaced families. The losses are devastating. Perhaps you read on the news that the forest fires consumed an entire community in British Columbia this past month. Lytton, a town only a few hours from my home, recorded the highest-ever temperature in the history of Canada (49.6C / 121.3F) on June 29, 2021. Two days later, fire obliterated the whole town. Within 15 minutes, flames destroyed homes, businesses, livestock, and wildlife. The destruction of fire is shocking. Fire moves with a mind of its own, knocking to ash one property while leaving a neighboring building intact. Single chimneys remain as a reminder of cozy living rooms. A ping pong table was found standing untouched by the flames in the middle of what must have been a games room. Even when circumstances look bleak all around, know this truth -- our God is a master rebuilder. Creation reveals that our God restores all things. In moments of significant loss, unavoidable pain, defeat, and brokenness, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us. Healing comes as we let out sounds of grief and groans of suffering. We can fall to our knees, lift up our hands and let the tears fall, grateful for our God who is well acquainted with suffering. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. (Romans 8:26, ESV) God is a faithful, steady anchor of hope. In Hold On to Me, Lauren Daigle's worship reaches inside broken hearts, connecting us to the immovable one. The words allow tears to flow and hope to rise up above the sorrow. When the best of me is barely breathingWhen I'm not somebody I believe inHold on to meWhen I am sure I have reached the endHold on to me when I forget I need YouWhen I let go, hold me again A fire ripped through my own community back in 2003, destroying buildings, homes, and the surrounding countryside. Today, driving through the area, what is most visible from the highway is the new growth, not the evidence that a fire destroyed the forest. Meandering between the scorched stumps of blackened, broken trees are shades of green — the evidence of God restoring the earth. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.(1 Peter 5:10) God is continually restoring, rebuilding, and creating things new. Up from the ashes, new life grows. What is left is a patchwork across the mountainside — multifaceted shades of green and gold. The dark forest, untouched by the flames of the past, grows tall and rich while the newer growth catches up, fresh and mossy. A forest is reborn. A reminder that our lives burn at times, falling into an ash heap. But not all is ever lost -- because God's design is both for our good and our growth. Read more about the devastation at Lytton here. Read more about the fire from 2003 here. Tracey Dahl, M.A. is a writer and Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) in Langley, BC (Canada). She is married to Ryan Dahl (Founder of PraiseCharts) and the mother of four grown children. Hold On To Me was written and performed by Lauren Daigle.

Did you get your invitation? You are not going to want to miss this. It is just going to be that good! The food is going to be excellent and the company -- spectacular! There will be more than enough of all the good things your heart craves. And this remarkable gathering will last forever. You won't tire of the company or tap out because you have no more emotional bandwidth to keep visiting with people. Come all you sinnersCome find His mercyCome to the tableHe will satisfyTaste of His goodnessFind what you're looking for One small matter. We don't know the date. For this event, we just always need to be ready. Anticipating an event like this is going to be tiring at times. Waiting is hard. Because in the waiting, other circumstances take our focus off what is to come. At first, we have all this excitement. We are ready; love the idea of being on the guest list and are eager to maintain our appearance, so we won't be caught off guard. But we can become distracted, even discouraged, because it just seems to be taking too long. Come all you wearyCome all you thirstyCome to the wellThat never runs dryDrink of the WaterCome and thirst no more Maybe your waiting is for your person, that particular person who is yours for life. Maybe your waiting is for the pain of grief to lighten because your person is no longer with you. Perhaps you are waiting for provision, protection or wholeness; worn down from human suffering. Our earthly conditions make the time of waiting for the grand reunion, the miraculous dance, our first heavenly supper feel dreadfully far away. For some of us, the waiting becomes unbearable. We turned to sources of gratification that feel good at the moment but leave scars on our bodies and wounds in our spirit. Bring all your failuresBring your addictionsCome lay them downAt the foot of the crossJesus is waitingGod so loved the world God so loved the world that he gave the very best for you and me. He so loved. God, as our host, is gracious, compassionate and attentive. He spares no expense, provides all we could hope for or imagine, and He, alone, will meet all our needs. He has extended this invitation for all to come, and He is all that we require while we wait. Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters;and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live.Isaiah 55:1-3 NIV There are some seasons in life where the things we look forward to seem thin and less noteworthy. There are no significant events right around the corner; nothing new on the horizon; one day leads into the next. Life feels flat or lacks clarity and color. Things around just seem hazy and grey. Maybe it is the time of year, here on the West Coast? Possibly it is all the world events that we have shared on repeat these years, but January through March can be dull, grey, flat. The journey can be hard, can be tiresome. For now, we are to "run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus" (Heb 12:1c-2a ESV). The NIV replaces "looking to" with the phrase 'fixing our eyes' -- we are to "fix" or "lock" our eyes on Jesus. We lift our eyes above the muck and mire that weighs us down; we set down the heavy burdens and focus heavenward on the celebration that will happen when we get to the finish line. We The Kingdom's worship song, God So Loved, has been on repeat today. For God So Loved! This time of worship reminded me of that invitation to the heavenly banquet. You won't want to miss this event because you can't be disappointed there and it will exceed your expectations. The guest list, alone, will leave us awed. But it will be the indescribable waves of emotion when we see the One who extended the invitation that will leave us breathless. Tracey Dahl, M.A. is a writer and Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) in Langley, BC (Canada). She is married to Ryan Dahl (Founder of PraiseCharts) and the mother of four grown children. God So Loved was written by We The Kingdom and featured on the Live At The Wheelhouse album.

While walking in beautiful South Carolina along the May River, where majestic oak trees form canopies over the walkways, I drank in the spectacular views. Taking in each breath as I walked, I felt my entire nervous system settle. With each step, each intake of fresh air, I entered further into a place of rest. I whispered a prayer of gratitude for this time of rest. Finding rest is not easy. Biblical rest isn't a call to stop moving but an inclination towards settling on the inside. If you are prone to anxiety, you are well acquainted with the internal energetic waves or a sense of constant churning. Author Bonnie Gray calls rest "emotional honesty." We go to Him as we are...our tired, worn-out selves. We can be ourselves at best or ourselves at worst, but are invited close regardless. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." - Matthew 11:28 Our Difference-Maker We have the confident assurance that Christ in us is how we can enter fully into rest. He is the difference-maker. He is our how and our why: How we find peace amidst the heartache. Why we can rise from the ash heap, and the reason we carry on through our weaknesses — the double-edged sword of the Kingdom. He is my strength when I am weak. His presence brings peace in the middle of my storms. Not in our strength alone, but because of who He is in us — Christ in us, the hope of glory. As chosen by God, we are loved by the Father and fully restored to Him through the cross. He has created us; we are His workmanship. Our identity in Him is one we can rest in without striving to prove ourselves or getting lost in climbing up the ladder of success. We can rest in Him. Go and Dwell "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty." - Psalm 91:1 We are invited to dwell in the shelter of the Most High and go to Him for rest. Go and dwell. Dwell means to live in a specified place, to think, speak or write at length about a particular subject. We take our whole selves somewhere to remain. We don't pop in now and again…we dwell, remain, and linger longer. Tim Challies, a pastor at Grace Fellowship Church in Toronto, Ontario, and co-founder of Cruciform Press, interviewed Richard Thompson and Jonny Robinson of CityAlight about their new music: "Our most recent hymn, Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me, took us 12 weeks to write. We dove deep into the idea of what it meant to have Christ dwell in us. What an incredibly profound, mysterious truth. It needed time. We wrote and rewrote the songs many, many times. We struggled for every word. If there are any songwriters reading this, we would encourage you to slow down. Your songs will be richer for it." Find rest in your writing. Slow down and notice God's presence surrounds you. Speak from that place of emotional honesty. Tracey Dahl, M.A. is a writer and Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) in Langley, BC (Canada). She is married to Ryan Dahl (Founder of PraiseCharts) and the mother of four grown children. "Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me" was written by Jonny Robinson, Michael Farren, and Rich Thompson, and performed by CityAlight.

Ever feel like an imposter? A pretender who is supposed to be full of faith and love but is also full of a bunch of other less desirable stuff? On the one hand, we confess to know Jesus and love our neighbor while our other hand thinks our neighbor is an annoying git? If others knew the thoughts of our hearts, we would be tossed out on your keister. Doubt and shame can hover like a dark shadow. Maybe your thing is a deeply held insecurity you try to keep buried. Your job is secure. You are relatively successful in your work or even wildly successful in your career. On the outside, no one would know the beast of self-doubt that lurks in the dark corners of your heart. Even with all the worldly successes, you wonder if you are enough. All the wrestling on the inside is not hidden from the God who created us and calls us by name. Sit on that and let the shiver snake down your spine. He knows our thoughts and the intentions of our hearts, and his response is to love. Watching the Maverick City's video for I Thank God, I wanted to jump in with equal expressions of gratefulness. God knows all the deep, hidden corners of my inner world, and He isn't repulsed. He invites me closer. The gift in that invitation is that as I move closer and those hidden areas light up with His presence, they are changed. I am changed. The darkness fades, and the light shines more brightly. Because He healed my heartHe changed my nameForever free, I'm not the sameI thank the MasterI thank the SaviorI thank God Maybe you are in recovery - or have been labeled as anxious or depressed. Overidentifying with labels is dangerous. I am not a fan of labels unless they help me learn how to take care of something. Clothing labels help us decide whether to hang it up or throw it in the dryer. A food label helps determine the expiration date. But labels on people are harmful. Labels on people put us in boxes with sides too high to climb. He is in that boat with you. You are not alone. I say I am broken, but God says He makes me whole. "So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority" (Colossians 2:10). A more vulnerable truth might be that we are all in some sort of recovery. Recovering from broken hearts and broken lives. Recovering from what we created and what we have to deal with but never asked for. We face the dangers from within and the chaos all around us. Our slowly drifting, weary souls leave us battered and bruised. Got no choice but to believeMy doubts are burningLike ashes in the windSo, so long to my old friendsBurden and bitter nightYou can't just keep them movingNo, you ain't welcome hereFrom now 'til I walkThe streets of goldI'll sing of how You saved my soul We tend to want people to look and act a certain way, and deviations from the center typically don't fit in well. Variations often find themselves isolated and silenced. I'll sing of how You saved my soulThis wayward sonHas found his way back homeHe picked me upTurned me aroundPlaced my feet on solid ground Let's tell some truth. All fall short of center. On my worst days, you would run and hide if my heart was exposed before you. I have experienced anger so intense my teeth chattered. I have cursed in ways that would curl paint of the walls, but I also create safe spaces for vulnerable people to share their deepest emotional wounds. And if it happens in me, I know some dark things happen inside you, too. Wandering into the nightWanting a place to hideThis weary soul, this bag of bonesAnd I tried with all my mindAnd I just can't win the fightI'm slowly drifting, oh bag of boneAnd just when I ran out of roadI met a man I didn't knowAnd he told meThat I was not aloneHe picked me upHe turned me aroundHe placed my feet on solid ground I do thank God! He invites all to come close, no matter how visible the flaws. Have you dangerously tight roped your way through major depression? Have you felt your heart tear with sorrow holding vigil with a loved one in the ICU? That's my story, so what is yours? And if He did it for me, He can do it for youIf He did it for me, He can do it for youGet up, get up, get upGet up out of that grave God doesn't define you by your mistakes. He gives you a new name! He sees you in a way that the world may not. His vision of you is through the lens of His sacrifice. His blood for our life. God calls you up. He will not push you out because you haven't mastered or cleaned up every area of your life. Get up out of that graveIf He did it for me, He can do it for you Be encouraged. Join in the dance of gratefulness. Worship with Maverick City and thank God for grace - and His unfailing love. Tracey Dahl, M.A. is a writer and Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) in Langley, BC (Canada). She is married to Ryan Dahl (Founder of PraiseCharts) and the mother of four grown children. I Thank God was written by Maverick City Music from the album Move Your Heart.

I was soaking in Maverick City Music / Elevation Worship's song Jireh this weekend and I feel stretched. At the first phrase, my chest tightened, and a lump of emotion rose in my throat catching my breath -- I'll never be more loved than I am right now. Do I believe that when I have Him, I have everything? Do I believe that He is enough? It's more than you ask, think or imagineAccording to His power, it's working in usIt's more than enough Walking the dog with this song speaking to my heart, I realized the words hit me hard because of how sickly contradictory the world can feel right now. I haven't noticed the boldness of others trusting in God's provision, or witnessed courage and confidence in the face of calamity. Maybe it is my job, or my social media platforms? Maybe it is just situational with our current circumstances? But what seems to be more visible is a message like this: don't trust anyone; protect yourself, be on guard! Some hold firm to the belief that those in authority are out to get them, so be cautious and don't believe what they say. Extreme responses and conspiracy theories pop up on every social platform. They are all too familiar. Be vigilant ... be wary — question everything. We tend towards cognitive bias; a confirmation bias based on overvaluing the information confirming our already-established beliefs and expectations. Our preferences can be rigid, leaving us immovable and unwilling to engage our curiosity to consider alternative perspectives. Interactions quickly deteriorate if our primary goal in communication is to hear we are right. The evidence of this is everywhere. Navigating around the cesspool of opinions feels dangerous. When I manage to offer the grace or understanding or lay down my expectations and face someone's disapproval without blowing my top or losing my mind or wits, I look for a reward. I want someone to notice and say, "Good job, I saw you didn't fight back,...good for you for taking the higher road!" or, "Hey, well done for showing so much patience!" Honestly, please give me a gold star or a button to wear because loving difficult people is exhausting. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. (Matthew 7:3-5, NIV) I will tell you something I have learned about myself: my love is shakeable, circumstantial, and dependent on how I feel. I gravitate towards those who are easy to love and find myself avoiding the people who are difficult to love. There, I said it! I avoid difficult people. I am not proud of the way I hide, but I am so aware of my need for Jesus when I make this explicit. No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV) We can't love our critics without Jesus. Look around you. Read those political threads. Witness the virus debate, the vaccine dialogue, and the COVID conversations: our love is fickle. Our love goes up in flames when our opinions or perspectives feel attacked. We justify our cruel, critical commentary, becoming instant experts because we disagree. Allow this thought to reach your soul. God loves that difficult family member, that defensive person online, and that government official you find offensive or out of touch. And if in the moment, you cannot show up with love, step aside and get out of His way. Forever, always and more than enough. He responds with perfect love. Our God sees the issues with perfect clarity, and we do not. His viewpoint, perspective, and wisdom are above all our circumstances. Nothing written, spoken, or even implied comes as a surprise to Him. His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. (2 Peter 1:3, NIV) Yes, sometimes it can be hard to trust people. Friends, family, co-workers will disappoint us, let us down, and fall short. You will bump into difficult people who stretch you, test your patience and hurt your feelings. I hope this doesn't come as a surprise to you, but there will be moments that YOU are the difficult person. When we feel threatened by someone's response or judged unfairly, try lingering longer in His love. Be reflective, not reactive. His love is enough. He has chosen you. No one can stand in the way. No words spoken over you or to you can dismantle the heart of His message about you. He loves you. When we can take this in and allow our hearts to be changed by His love, our responses to others then changes, too. This song has honestly been a reminder for me that God is everything we'll ever need. My prayer and hope is that everyone who listens to this is reminded of the Father's heart toward us and that He loves to take care of us. (Naomi Raine of Maverick City) Thank you Jesus for your love that your love is more than I could fathom or imagine — it doesn't change; it does not depend on how we react or feel. Thank you, Jesus, that I'm already loved. That it is forever and always more than enough. Maybe if I stay close to God's way of loving me, I will get a taste of how I can love others better. After all, I do believe that is part of His plan. Tracey Dahl, M.A. is a writer and Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) in Langley, BC (Canada). She is married to Ryan Dahl (Founder of PraiseCharts) and the mother of four grown children. Jireh was written by Chris Brown, Steven Furtick, Chandler Moore, and Naomi Raine. Jireh was recorded by Maverick City and Elevation Worship.