Be Still, My Soul

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"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10 

"This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: 'In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.'" Isaiah 30:15a

Book Review: Primal by Mark Batterson

Summary: We have a tendency to complicate Christianity. Jesus simplified it: Love God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength. If we are to live out the essence of Christianity, we must commit to being great at this Great Commandment.

In Primal, Mark Batterson explores the four elements of Great Commandment Christianity: compassion, wonder, curiosity, and power. Along the way, he calls you to be a part of God’s reformation, starting in your own life.

As Mark writes, “Is there a place in your past where you met God and God met you? A place where your heart broke for the things that break the heart of God? Maybe it was a sermon that became more than a sermon. Maybe it was a mission trip or retreat. Maybe it was a vow you made at an altar. In that moment, God birthed something supernatural in your spirit. You knew you’d never be the same again. My prayer is that this book would take you back to that burning bush—and reignite a primal faith.”

Primal will help you live in light of what matters most and discover what it means to love God. It will help you become great at the Great Commandment.

Author Bio:
The author of Wild Goose Chase and In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, Mark Batterson serves as lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington , D.C. One church with nine services in five locations, NCC is focused on reaching emerging generations and meets in movie theaters at metro stops throughout the D.C. area. Mark has two Masters degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Chicago . He and his wife, Lora, live on Capitol Hill with their three children. www.markbatterson.com

My Review: What does Christianity mean to you?  The message in Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity is simple, yet profound. Want to become part of a reformation movement? The author takes us back to the basic, yet underestimated command from the Lord. After all, it is indeed the first and greatest commandment (Matthew 22:37-38)! Have you ever taken the time to ponder what it really means to love the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength? This book will help you do just that. The book is divided into 4 parts: The Heart of Christianity, The Soul of Christianity, The Mind of Christianity, and The Strength of Christianity. You will learn about the 4 "spiritual love languages": compassion, wonder, curiosity, and energy. They all are important. Our family is missions-minded so I am glad to see that the author is, too. I also appreciate Mr. Batterson’s childlike faith that delights in God alone. The whole Christianity boils down to one primal thing: Amo Dei = Love God! This book is a call for Christians to love God above all else...yes, even more than life. "Everything minus God equals nothing. God plus nothing equals everything. At the end of the day, all that matters is God." (p.165) God is enough. Not God and job. Not God and house. Not God and ministry. Not even God and family. Just God! This book will fuel you to be on fire for Jesus. Refreshing read!

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To download the first two chapters, click here.
To purchase the book, visit here or here.

~ I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

You Raise Me Up

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When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary,
When troubles come and my heart burdened be.
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until You come and sit awhile with me.

CHORUS:
You raise me up so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas
I am strong when I am on Your shoulders
You raise me up.. to more than I can be.

REPEAT CHORUS
There is no life - no life without its hunger
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly
But when You come and I am filled with wonder
Sometimes I think I glimpse eternity

You raise me up so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas
And I am strong when I am on Your shoulders
You raise me up .. to more than I can be
You raise me up .. to more than I can be

"Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, You who have done great things.  Who, O God, is like You?  Though You have made me see troubles, many and bitter, You will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth You will again bring me up.  You will increase my honor and comfort me once again." Psalm 71:19-21

"I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand." Psalm 40:1-2

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (Colossians 3:15-17)  In these three consecutive verses, Paul mentions about being thankful/giving thanks 3 times.  Do you think it's important to have an attitude of gratitude?  How often do you give thanks to God?  Do you have a thankful heart?  Let us all remember to thank God in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18).  Thank Him for Who He is (His character/attributes), not just for what He does for us or gives us.

My Soul Pants for You

Nothing..no one can satisfy our soul except the Lord!  My husband and I love singing the song, "As the Deer" (words & music by Martin Nystrom) while he plays the piano.  "As the deer panteth for the water, so my soul longeth after Thee.  You alone are my heart's desire, and I long to worship Thee."  That's how I feel.  We are created to glorify and worship Him.  May we have an unceasing desire to know Him more, to love Him more, and to be filled with more of Him!

"Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God." Psalm 42:6
"By day the Lord directs His love, at night His song is with me--a prayer to the God of my life." Psalm 42:8

Previous WFW:
- Without Excuse
- Plentiful Harvest

- Brotherly Love

- Fruit Bearer

- More Than Conquerors
- Where Does My Help Come From?
- Jubilant, Joy, and Judge
- Rooted in Love
- Who Daily Bears Our Burdens?
- Reflecting the Lord's Glory
- The Rock Eternal
- His Eye Is On The Sparrow

Have We Committed a Crime?

"What is the greatest crime in the desert? Finding water and keeping silent." Eastern proverb

"Jesus answered her (the Samaritan woman), 'If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water.'....Jesus answered, 'Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'" John 4:10, 13-14

We (Christians) have found the living water, but...have we been keeping silent? Have we committed the greatest crime in the spiritual desert?

      You Forgot My Soul

You lived next door to me for years
We shared our dreams, our joys, and tears.
A friend to me you were indeed...
A friend who helped me when in need.

My faith in you was strong and sure
We had such trust as should endure.
No spats between us ever rose;
Our friends were like...and so our foes.

What sadness then, my friend, to find
That after all you weren't so kind.
The day my life on earth did end
I found you weren't a faithful friend.

For all those years we spent on earth
You never talked of second birth.
You never spoke of my lost soul
And of the Messiah Who'd make me whole.

I plead today from Hell's cruel fire
And tell you now my last desire.
You cannot do a thing for me...
No words today my bonds will free.

But do not err, my friend, again;
Do all you can for souls of men.
Plead with them now quite earnestly,
Lest they be cast in Hell with me.

~Author Unknown

Are we truly loving our neighbors as ourselves? Are we doing all we can to reach the lost...to help quench their thirst by leading them to the Living Water...to show them that only Jesus offers lasting spiritual satisfaction?

"Save some, O Christian! By all means, save some. From yonder flames and outer darkness, and the weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth, seek to save some! Let this, as in the case of the apostles, be your great, ruling object in life, that by all means you might save some." Charles Spurgeon (Note from me: Only God can save! I think Mr. Spurgeon understood that and he just meant that Christians need to reach out to the lost in the hope that they might come to the Lord and be saved.)

There's a must-see video for every Christian produced by http://www.asialink.org.uk/ .  Please scroll up to the bottom of this page to watch the video. 

Please visit here for the links to other Spiritual Sundays posts.  Have a blessed day in the Lord, everyone!

Love That Will Not Let Me Go

Note: Please turn off my music playlist at the bottom of this page before starting the video.  Please be patient; this song starts off with a long music intro :) before the singing begins. 

I chose this song for this week because it is one of the songs that was played in our wedding.  My husband and I will be celebrating our 18th anniversary this coming Monday (Sept. 7th).  We both love this song because it is God's love that brought us together and it is God's love that keeps us together.  We are forever grateful for His amazing love that will not let us go!   I hope this song will touch your heart and remind you how much God loves you.
Love That Will Not Let Me Go (by Steve Camp)


In this weary world, chasing after dreams just led me back where I started. I couldn't see my way or find a hiding place for the broken-hearted. You spoke softly to my soul, with one touch I was made whole!
Now I know that there is a love that will not let me go. I can face tomorrow because You hold me forever. Stronger than the mighty winds that blow; I'm safe within Your arms... Love that will not let me go.

Lord, You always knew the road that I would take, but then You saved me just in time. What I owe to You, I could not repay so I pledge You my whole life. I never trusted love before, but I won't be afraid anymore.
Now I know that there is a love that will not let me go. I can face tomorrow because You hold me forever. Stronger than the mighty winds that blow; I'm safe within Your arms... Love that will not let me go.

There's a love that will not let me go. I can face tomorrow because You hold me forever. Stronger than the mighty winds that blow; I'm safe within Your arms... Love that will not let me go.

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!"
1 John 3:1a
"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 form the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

Previous Songs:
- I Will Offer Up My Life
- When It's All Been Said and Done
- Knowing You, Jesus
- In Christ Alone
- Be Thou My Vision

Filled Up with Powerful Fuel

I feel so pumped up from memorizing Bible verses. I enjoy doing it but often I neglect to do so (I still read/study God's Word daily) because of the busyness in daily life (plus homeschooling 3 kids). Well, I have recently been motivated by the Bible Bee challenge on Facebook (to memorize 1,507 verses). I am too old to participate in the Bible Bee but I've taken on the challenge for fun. I would like to encourage you all to take time to memorize the Scriptures which is powerful fuel for energizing our soul. In the future, we may not always have religious freedom in this country. If the Bible were to be taken away from you, the verses you have memorized would be there to remind you of God's love, mercy, and faithfulness, assure you of God's power and providence, encourage you, comfort you, guide you, and feed/nourish you (spiritually). Fill up with this fuel while you can!

"I seek You with all my heart; do not let me stray from Your commands. I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You." Psalm 119: 10-11

"How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from Your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." Psalm 119:103-105

"Too difficult," you say?
"Not an excuse," I say! If your brain is working, then you can memorize Bible verses. How many movie lines can you quote? How many song lyrics do you know by heart? How many ad slogans are stuck in your head permanently? You get the point. Sadly, some parents/teachers make their students memorize poems, famous political speeches and documents, etc. but never or hardly encourage them to memorize the Scriptures. It gives me great joy to see my kids delight in the Lord and His Word.

"Too busy," you say?
"Not an excuse," I say! Do you still eat your meals even on the days you are busy? If you take care of your body by taking in nutrients through eating your food everyday, why would you not daily feed yourself with God's Word and be willing to starve yourself spiritually? Without taking in God's Word daily, you will get weaker and weaker spiritually. Therefore, reading/studying the Bible each day is very important. Now...think of memorizing Bible verses as eating snacks throughout the day. Snacks give us extra boost of energy and sustain/fulfill us until our next meal. Bible memorization is similar but even better :)...keeping us energized throughout our lifetime (once in a while, we may need to review what we've already memorized because forgetfulness does happen to some of us :)).

Tools that Help
- You can find helpful resources, ideas, and tips at the Scripture Memory Support website.
- Integrity Music's Scripture Memory Songs (There are many CDs and cassette tapes to choose from. Here are some examples.)


- Steve Green's Hide 'Em In Your Heart (Bible Memory CDs or Music Videos) Vol. I, II

- NIV Kids Club Sing Along Scripture Songs (CDs or videos): Psalms, Proverbs, Colossians


If you know of other tools that may help us in memorizing the Scriptures, please share in the comment section. Thanks and have fun hiding God's Word in your heart!