Why we fight with joy and expectancy

Tonight was the annual banquet at Birth Choice Crisis Pregnancy Clinic. A night was anticipated and planned for months, pretty much the entire year: we are a non-profit, so we plan a huge hoopla like this to make our biggest bang-of-the-buck to keep going and to celebrate. 

Celebrate?
With something so serious and so heavy, how can we celebrate? 

Because, as Dr. Tony Evans reminded us tonight, we are a well-lit location in a dark situation. Our clinic sits there with great expectancy at the Lord's work in how He changes lives and takes the mess of us and makes us miracles. 

These girls come in the middle of the apex of their crisis, their mess, their hopeless NO-WAY-OUT... 
and they hear the GOSPEL. 
They find out they are NOT just a statistic. 
They may not be strong enough, but there is ONE who IS and will give them HOPE: joyful expectancy about tomorrow, no matter their situation because now they know Jesus, the lover and life-changer of the WORLD. 

 Is He Worthy? by Andrew Peterson 

There are many tears and many fears: that these girls have, that the fathers of these babies have, that their families have, that WE have! But, how great and wondrous is our GOD!! Crisis in life drives us to a crossroads, and we realize that He has been there the WHOLE time, but suddenly we see the great light in the darkness. 

Dr. Tony Evans spoke to this truth: this is why we do what we do. This is why you partner with us in prayer, in encouragement, in gifts, in time, in finances: because it reaches and changes LIVES eternally. 

So, as the Getty's sing in their song, O Church Arise: this is our call to war!!! To love the captive soul and rage against the captor, our enemy, Satan! And (my own addition) also, his tools: abortion!
This is a spiritual battle more than anything else! 


Because abortion is one of the greatest abominations that there is, not just because of the social ramifications, not even, though horrific and staggering, just because of the murder that it is, but greatest of all because it is a direct attack on God. 

How? 

Because an attack on the unborn is an attack on the most innocent and defenseless of God's image bearers. It's murder of God's image bearers on the throne of inconvenience. This is violence of the most extreme and ugly of proportions. And the statistics of how many lives are lost are staggering. 

So, how can we have hope and how can we have joy in the midst of such horror and such hopelessness, such mess, such struggle? 

Not by our efforts, not by our strength, but the hope that we have: Jesus Christ. He loved and saved us. He is here not just to save the physical life of His image-bearers, these babies, but to save the eternal lives of these mamas, changing their lives and their outlook and therefore, changing the life of these babies, eternally.  

What about instances of rape, incest and abuse? 

I would ask, wouldn't these women need this hope that much more? Jesus Christ is the One who can shine into the darkness of their situations and give them healing, hope and even forgiveness. Protect them and bring the men to justice, but do not advocate for the murder of her child, bringing her even more trauma. I've personally seen the hope that Birth Choice has brought to women in situations of unplanned pregnancy in situations as dire as this. 

So, we fight and look forward to tomorrow with expectancy, knowing that Jesus is a life-changer. And that's for eternity. 

After the Last Tear Falls by Andrew Peterson

How? Is it worth it? 

Even just to save one life, of course it is. 

Little Things with Great Love (cover) 


So, thank you. 
Your prayers, your encouragement, your time, your efforts, they are most certainly not in vain. 
This is life-changing work, folks. 
And, you are a part of it. 
And, I love you for it. 
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. 

Psalm 23 (Surely Goodness, Surely Mercy) by Shane and Shane

     

     

     

       

(These are only a very small few of all the wonderful people that were gathered tonight. It was so encouraging to see so many people who love Jesus, love Birth Choice, the clients and the unborn all together in one room, as our head nurse, Kim Mayer, reminded me before the event began. 

What a privilege to gather and be with you all.)

When the Ordinary Starts to Become Extraordinary

Sometimes it's very easy to see what is missing. To feel that ache inside and frantically look for what can fix it. Sometimes it's right in front of us. 

The Lord says in His Word, "Be still and KNOW that I am God." 

We need to rest. We need to be still. We need to see what is around us. That's when the ordinary becomes extraordinary. The incredible is right in front of us and sometimes we miss it while we are waiting or jumping into the next adventure that catches our eye. 

The little buds on the trees, the tiny wildflowers poking their crowns through the rough grass. Hints of soft green coloring what used to be brown. New life. Resurrection. Rebirth. 

It's all around us. Yes, there is so much heartache and death. I work there. You do, too. But, there is so much life. 

It's when we learn to be still and silent that we begin to see it and hear it. When we stop that we aren't missing out anymore. 

I wasn't going to post this song, but I feel like it might bless you as much as it has blessed me. 

Do what is in front of you. Enjoy what is in front of you. There's beauty there. Don't miss out on what is here while you are out looking for something else. Do it with love. Do it because Christ is in it. Do it because He loved us first and loves us most. 

Little Things with Great Love (cover)

A Prayer for the Broken

Oh Lord, 
What do we do with our one broken heart? 
We can only lay it out before You. 
Do not let it harden,
or go to sleep, 
or wallow. 
But, cause us to present it before You, open and ready for Your use, 
as humble, messed-up and in need of healing as we are. 
Heal us. 
Deliver us from evil. 
Save us from the evil one. 
Seal us with Your Spirit. 

It hurts and it will continue to as long as we live, but it will hurt less than if we close it up and let it shrivel and die. 
Do not let us. 
Do not let us shut it down. 
Uproot up the weeds, prune the bad fruit and cut us open to drain the poison. Do not let us die slowly, but heal fully in our souls in Your powerful Spirit who rose Jesus Christ from the dead. 
We believe in this Resurrection Power, because it has brought our hearts to life, too. 
Thank You. 
We love You. 
We love You because You loved us first. 
Awaken us. 
Make us look up. 
Fill our eyes with light. 
Fill our hearts with peace that passes understanding. 
We love you. 
We worship. 
We praise You. 
Thank You for loving us. 

The Power of a Great Affection  by Andrew Peterson

Philippians 1- our affection for each other and encouragement

Ephesians 3:14-21- prayer for spiritual strength through the power of the Holy Spirit 

Revelation 22:1-5- our future hope

Hope Songs

When It's Coming 

Sounds of spring gently grow, fading from the wild winter woes to the thriving thrones,

whispers: "I'm coming... 

We will no longer sleep...  

We will no longer weep... 

The seeds sown will reap, reap the harvest sown in fall.

The winter's snowy blanket helped us grow. 

The tiny seeds that He did sow have died and are reborn to grow. 

A plentiful harvest is coming. 

A plentiful harvest to grow." 

The frogs from the bogs gently sing their songs of spring's coming dawn. The doe in her throe over her dear, eases and kindly watches over her fawn, sleeping soundly through the wet winter rain: 
"Spring is coming. 

We will frolic again, 
running like the wind, 
leaping through the lawns." 

She sighs and nestles down, waiting somewhat patiently. 
She knows not what tomorrow holds; we will see what unfolds. 

But, hope is rising with the sun. 

Because, even in darkness, love's not done. 

Faith grows with the Son. 

Light's love 

Flickering flame gently falls across my face 

and quietly fills up the space, 

casting darkness from this place 

and the gloomiest thoughts, it will chase. 

We will rise in the morn, 

though pained right now, with tears and scorn, 

though hard-pressed and ever worn, 

We will rise in the morn

Light reveals all around 

No hidden thing won't be found 

Captured up, safe and sound, 

Victory drums will pound 

From Cages, to Marvelous Light, to Rest

I am the Samaritan woman at the well who had 5 husbands. (John 4) When my heart's desire to be filled with anything other than Christ and I run, filling it and I am not satisfied, I despair. 

Then I wonder if I am not saved. 

But, salvation is not the concern, but satisfaction. 

I am saved, but I am not filled with the contentment of the love of the One who made me for Himself, not sparing His Own Beloved Son to make me His. 
Instead, this terrifies me and overwhelms me and pretty soon, everything else does. 
And, it's as though I have become a seductive, but rabid creature- starving and mad, consuming whatever I desire, but it is not enough. It is never enough. Hungry. Always, hungry. Hungering. 

Cages by NeedToBreathe

Because. 
Only Jesus Christ is enough. 

Only He can satisfy. He is the Living Water. (John 4) 
Yes, He saves me from my sins, but He forgives them and fills me with Himself, restoring and redeeming and healing me- making me more than a conqueror. (Romans 8:28-30) Killing my pride. 
It's Him. It's always been Him. 

So, when I seek out my shelters and my comforts and they don't satisfy me anymore... 

It's God's mercy. 
He's uprooting me so that He can root me back in Himself. 

Help My Unbelief by Red Mountain Music


He's prying up the rotting layers of hardwoods and subflooring of my heart to fill up that dank, dark hole filled with grime. 
He's going to dig out the disease, like a surgeon, cutting to drain the infection, cutting and making a wound to heal the body. 

To make me whole. 
To fill me with Him. 
To plant Himself in the story of my heart. 
To water it with His Son and Spirit, revealing His love to me, like sunshine in the darkness, filling me with joy, like the warmth of sunbeams and with peace, like a cool breeze. 

And I will rest. 
I don't need to know anymore or control anymore. 

He's got me. 
And it's enough. 
It's the beginning of something new. 
Restoration. 
Redemption. 

Marvelous Light by Ellie Holcomb 

"Thou hast made us for Thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in Thee." -Augustine of Hippo 

What great mercy this is, O God! 
All I have is Christ is the great and thankful cry of our hearts for otherwise we would settle for mud pies instead of the wedding feast. 
We would succumb to our enemies or fall into temptation, remaining slaves to sin, if not for Your gracious mercy on us. 
Thank You for saving us. 

"We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender, 
Thine is the battle, Thine shall be the praise.
When passing through, the gates of pearly splendor, 
Victors, we rest with Thee, through endless days." 
(4th verse of the hymn We Rest on Thee)

We were made for relationship in Him; to rest in Him and receive the free gift of Jesus Christ. 

He DID IT. 

It had nothing to do with my surrendering or striving. 

It had everything to do with the blood of Jesus. 

Nothing but the Blood of Jesus  

We aren't too late, too gone, too sinful, too stiff-necked, too doubting, too fearful to know that Jesus Christ saves and loves us. 
That doesn't mean we won't still struggle, but His love is greater!!!! (James 1; Romans 8; Hebrews 12)

Brighter Days by Eddie Kirkland

It saves us and transforms us more and more after Jesus Christ, the image of God, the Father, the Most HIGH God! 

That is AWESOME NEWS! 
Praise the Lord! 

May the Lord give you peace and comfort in the love of Jesus Christ. 

Ubi Caritas arr. by Maurice Durufle 

The Song of my Heart!

I am a fragile woman. One who has carried her brokenness just beneath the surface, waiting for it to be filled. I nursed my wounds with self-pity and pride, in secret and in quiet. A woman pharisee. The older brother in the story of the prodigal. And yet... inside, I was the woman at the well from Samaria, the woman who was impure from bleeding for twelve years. 

I was so desperate for attention, but when anyone got close, I held them at a distance unless I thought it was safe, then drowning them in the pain that I had nursed for years, building silently inside of me. 

You can be free. 

You can be SET free. 

He can do it. 

HE can make you WHOLE. 

Not the way you were. 

BETTER. 

HIGHER. 

GREATER. 

No longer fragile. Not bouncing back. 

MORE than a conqueror! (Romans 8:28-39)

This is the song that has been in my heart tonight as He reminds me of Who He is and who I am. This is the song that can be true for you, too because of Who He is! 

Broken pieces; broken hearts

Broken mind, with broken parts

Heart that tears itself apart

Heart that with sin won't part 

Mess it up and fall again 

Can't get out; don't know when, 

When I'll break out of this pen- 

I'm penned up with all the doubt again 

I fear the fear will burn right through 

Burn through this heart, tear it in two 

Into two pieces of stone, dark blue 

Will it ever be made new? 

But...

You saved me. 

You made me. 

You said that You love me and will not let me go. 

You sent Him. 

We killed Him. 

The One Who was the Son of Man

The One Who killed death and sin

The One for Whom we will go! 

Kill the old, feed the new 

For we were dead- now, live with You! 

You gave us hearts made brand new: 

Healed and healing though broken, too

We are Yours, made for Your cause: 

Be still, there's peace: rest and pause 

Glory, honor and applause 

to the One Who saved us from sin's jaws 

He will reign forevermore 

We will glory and adore 

Worship and bow down before 

The One Who rose up from death's door 

I will praise You 

Adore You 

My God and my Master, Creator and Redeemer! 

Jesus Christ IS 

My Forever Bliss 

The One Who atoned and loved, bled and died

Who Was, Who Is, Who Will Be! 

Forever and ever Steadfast Love is HE! 

The Son of Man: 

Our Savior, our God! 

The amazing part of all this 

of all this Forever Bliss 

is before I even knew I'm His

He decided and foreknew, 

before He created 

He knew who He made His 

and wrote it on the page of my heart

from before the beginning, before the start

Our Purpose; our existence: Worship; His Glory

There is so much pain that so many are going through. 2017 was full of destruction: natural disasters, shootings, vicious protests, mass murder/slaughter from terrorist attacks throughout the world, suicides/homicides, people dying of cancer and disease whether from a long drawn out process or suddenly with a shock, miscarriage that leaves single mothers or couples and their families with gaping, broken hearts, families broken from arguments, drugs, infidelity, or any number of painful struggle, division- whether socially, politically, physically, emotionally, spiritually, familial or relational. It is international, national, church-wide, city-wide, in our families and with us each personally. I could not begin to scratch the surface of the things that people are going through.

 We are weary. 2018 came and we were thankful. But, it doesn't erase the pain of yesterday. How do we deal with the heartbreak we have just endured? 

It is so easy to become distracted and discouraged; from the weight of sin, struggle, persecution, pain, hurt, disappointment, loneliness, etc. But, we do not have One who is unable to sympathize with us, but He has endured all things and delights in comforting us- not with an earthly comfort, but comfort, peace and joy that goes beyond all understanding, strengthening our inner being. We cannot do it. But, He can. This will show His power and glory; His great mercy and love for us, causing us to endure till the end. Until He returns. 

Praise and glory be to God! 

"O church, arise, and put your armor on; 
Hear the call of Christ our captain. 
For now the weak can say that they are strong 
In the strength that God has given. 
With shield of faith and belt of truth, 
We'll stand against the devil's lies. 
An army bold, whose battle cry is love, 
Reaching out to those in darkness.

Our call to war, to love the captive soul, 
But to rage against the captor; 
And with the sword that makes the wounded whole. 
We will fight with faith and valor. 
When faced with trials on every side. 
We know the outcome is secure. 
And Christ will have the prize for which He died; 
An inheritance of nations! 

Chorus: 
Arise, shine for your light has come! 
Arise, shine for the Risen Son! 
Lift your eyes, we are His radiant bride! 
Arise, o church arise!

Come, see the cross, where love and mercy meet, 
As the Son of God is stricken; 
Then see His foes lie crushed beneath His feet, 
For the Conqueror has risen! 
And as the stone is rolled away, 
And Christ emerges from the grave, 
This victory march continues till the day 
Ev'ry eye and heart shall see Him. 

So Spirit, come put strength in every stride; 
Give grace for every hurdle.
That we may run with faith to win the prize 
Of a servant good and faithful. 
As saints of old, still line the way, 
Retelling triumphs of His grace, 
We hear their calls, and hunger for the day
When with Christ we stand in Glory!

CHORUS"

— © COPYRIGHT 2016 GETTY MUSIC PUBLISHING (BMI) (ADMIN. BY MUSIC SERVICES, WWW.MUSICSERVICES.ORG)/ THANKYOU MUSIC (PRS)/WORSHIP TOGETHER MUSIC (BMI)/SIXSTEPS SONGS (BMI)/S.D.G. PUBLISHING (BMI) (ADMIN. AT CAPITOICMGPUBLISHING.COM

SONG CAN BE HEARD HERE 

One day, all this pain will be far behind us. And the glory to come is incomprehensible. It is unimaginable. We will look back and think, "Oh, that pain, as great as it was, and it was, is nothing compared with this glory of the Lord that we live in now and forever!" That is HOW powerful this glory will be!!! Paul, who endured most things, said it is not WORTH comparing!!! 2 Cor. 4:7-18. See 2 Cor. 4:7-18 here. This is Paul, who went through and does not minimize pain and suffering! 

Here is a song for encouragement to keep going, inspired by Heb. 12:1-17. 

And here is a message to encourage you in the love of God through your suffering. 

And when we get there, we will see what John was talking about: there are 4 magnificent creatures that exist for the purpose of worshiping God from the beginning of their existence for all of eternity. 

"And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,

“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
    who was and is and is to come!”

And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
    to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
    and by your will they existed and were created.” 

-Revelation 4:6b-11

That's how glorious our God is. How amazing our God is. How magnificent His glory is. 

And His love will not let us go. It's rich and free because of Christ. 

Here's one more song to encourage you!