teach my song to rise to You

Lord, I Need You by Chris Tomlin

Lord I come, I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
Without You I fall apart
You're the one that guides my heart

Lord, I need You, oh I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

Where sin runs deep, Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are Lord I am free

Holiness is Christ in me

Yes where You are Lord I am free

Holiness is Christ in me

Lord, I need You, oh I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

So teach my song to rise to You

When temptation comes my way

And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You

Jesus You're my hope and stay

And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You

Jesus You're my hope and stay

surrender

June 20, 2011
Each day is a new day. Praise the Lord that our sin is remembered no more. We aren't just given a clean slate at the start of the day. But as soon as we repent. We sit at the feet of Jesus and realize how desperately we need him. We call on Him, Abba, father. We turn from ourselves. Thank you Lord for grace. Thank you that I can forget yesterday and press on today. You lead us from glory to glory. Praise you Lord for your son. For the Lamb who took my place. Because I am prone to wander. prone to hide my face from you. You're always there. I'm the one who leaves your presence. Praise you Lord that you're always here. So much grace.


June 22, 2011
Today the Lord revealed something. That HE is working in me. I don't have to work on myself. I surrender, I seek Him, and I live in his love. And He does the work. I don't strive to be like Him. I let go and let Him live through me. I'll never be enough. I can never compare to His goodness. So I relax. I breathe. And I allow him to move in my life. To let His joy overflow. His patience be active. His words pour out of my mouth. I allow Him to hold my heart. To invade my thoughts. I just surrender. I step into the rhythm of grace. I don't have to strive. I am still. I know He is God. He's on the throne. He's more than enough. And most of all, my life is in the hands of the Creator.

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it

Prone to leave the God I love

Here's my heart, O take and seal it

Seal it for Thy courts above

steadfast

Where to start? The past month at the ranch has been so full of the Lord. Highs and lows. Lessons learned. Surrendering. I have been journalling every day the past four weeks. Prayers, insight, verses. Anything the Lord lays on my heart. The best way for me to describe my time at the ranch so far is to post excerpts from my journal. Here we go..

May 24, 2011
Lord you have ordained this from the beginning. I have been overwhelmed by your grace. A slight understanding of your grace. It is unchanging, your love. It is finished. And I've experienced such freedom in that! I began this summer open to recieve, I surrended all and now I am feasting. I am learning, I am hearing your voice, I am done with contentment, I have a new mind, a new understanding. The questioning is gone. I live with life and joy because I have been redeemed. I am holy because you say so.


June 4, 2011
I started off my day in the office doing my bible study on David. Today's lesson was on 1 Samuel 22:6-23. It is all about Saul finding out where Davis is by his servant, Doeg. It's a crazy scene after that, with Saul having Doeg kill the priests. Saul had no reverence for God. He acted out of jealousy and hate. We see David's reaction in Psalm 52. David vents to the Lord about his enemy but also trusts that the Lord will handle it. I love David. I want the heart that will say this in times of trouble: "But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever. I will praise you forever for what you have done; In your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints." Pslam 52:8-9. He wrote this psalm in reaction to Doeg telling Saul where he was. Really? In the midst of terror, he hopes in the Lord. He trusts in Him. He praises Him. I want a heart like that. I want the Lord to be the song I sing all day long. "In the face of unimaginable horror, we must cast our imaginations on Christ, our only hope. His word will be our anchor when our faith is tossed like waves." When the world is disappointing me, when tragedy seems too much to bear.. I turn to the Lord. He's the sustainer. His love, His word, His grace is sufficient. I love Lamentations 3:22-33. The Lord knows what is best for us. He knows when to break us and how much we can bear. But he won't overtake us. "His compassion never fails". He is close to the weak and brokenhearted. We won't be tempted beyond what we can bear. Stand on the promises of the Lord. Cling to them. And I will have a steadfast heart, like David's.


June 5, 2011
1 Samuel 23
David is on the run from Saul. He's afraid. So he seeks the Lord. he asks him questions. He trusts him. But along the way, as he runs, his fear grows. So the Lord sends him Jonathan, a friend, to encourage him. How desperately do we need a friend like Jonathan? Someone to step in and redirect your focus from the flesh to the Redeemer. And how much do we need to be a friend like Jonathan? Encouraging a friend in the Lord. Seeking their best. Wanting them to excel higher than you because you see where the Lord has called them. David was reminded of the Lord's faithfulness. The Lord had always been with him. Through trials and suffering, the Lord works in us. He hasn't forsaken you, He's teaching you. He's refining you to go where He has called you. So remember. Remember how faithful he has been. "Remember the height from which you have fallen!" Revelation 2:5. Remember how sufficient his grace is. Where has he brought you and where is he taking you? "For the word of the Lord is right and true, he is faithful in all he does." Psalm 33:4. Follow the example of David: Inquire of the Lord. Because He's the author. He holds the pen. He knows your triumphs and your failures. And he has them perfectly planned out for your good. Just like He knew the best for David in Saul's pursuit. The same God. Yesterday, today, forever.


June 8, 2011
"God has not forgotten. He has seen your battles. He has gathered your tears and blotted your brow. He knows those who have treated you unfairly. He knows when you're almost ready to give up or give in. Keep telling Him. Stay in His word. Keep claiming His promises"
                                       -Beth Moore

Psalm 1
I want to be like a tree planted by a tree. To constantly be filled up. Filled from the roots so I'll grow. Strong, healthy. Bearing fruit. I'll prosper when I walk in the counsel of the Lord. When I meditate on Him and His word. Stay far from evil and close to goodness. When we cling to the Lord, we are made strong. He watches over the righteous. He has made me righteous! Thank you for the blood Lord! That washed me white has snow. That doesn't cover me but cleanses me.


June 9, 2011
Last night Bigtop was so great! Woship amazes me. I sat back and watched for a song. I saw freedom. I saw people lifting their hands in desperation and out of overflow. They'd been set free. They'd experienced God's grace! They'd tasted and seen something good. They'd realized the work on the cross was finished. That they were free, made righteous. They had an Abba, daddy. They were sons and daughters of the king. They feasted at the king's table! And after the talk, you were there at the haybales, Lord. To meet the broken where they were. Your spirit is so sweet. Brokeness is so sweet.


June 15, 2011
In order to hear God or for God to move, I must call on Him. I must pray. Present my requests to God. How will I know it's Him if I don't ask Him to move? Call upon His name. We are saved once we CALL upon him. "The same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him." Romans 10:12




Well, I just reread a lot of my journal. There are highs and lows. There are triumphs and failures. All to the glory of God. For He is perfecting His daughter. All in all, I desire a steadfast heart to the Lord.





"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28.

whatup JH Ranch

I've been at the ranch for 15 days now. I love it here and could probably just stay forever.. granted all my friends and family joined me. I have been beyond blessed by the body and fellowship here. I'm living in "the Bean" with 24 girls. Cold showers are the norm. But that's okay here. I'm also working at the front desk. Typically, it's five hour shifts.. full of answering phones, interacting with guests, and random tasks. I absolutely love it. It's definitely a shift from last summer working the kitchen. The hours are much better and I love that I am able to interact with all the guests... even though kitchen is and always will be the best. Shoutout Chef Bob! We have a weekly rodeo the first morning that guests arrive. From the barnyard breakfast to fun games to the rodeo skit! It's a bunch of fun and a great way to welcome the guests! I tried out for the rodeo skit this year and am lucky to be the youngest daughter! It is so fun! I won't be able to upload any pictures until the end of summer but oh well.

Well, this is a boring blog. I apologize for simply listing information. But this will just be an intro to the fact that I am able to blog at the Ranch. I'll occasionaly update it with tidbits of what is going on and what all the Lord is teaching me!

Call me.. JH Ranch, This is Francie!

summmaatime

After a lot of serving in Tuscaloosa, Matt, Madeline, Parker, and I took a little lake vacation:

I got my wisdom teeth out a week ago. Mama took the liberty of taking several videos of me after I woke up from the surgery. Needless to say they are hilarious and I acted a fool! No, I will not be posting them anywhere. Praise the Lord I hardly swelled at all! And it was a good couple of days to just chill out.

Mama and I took a little trip to Atlanta. We met up with Matt and went to the Braves game! No, I didn't pay much attention to the game. I just like the atmosphere.. And the Braves won so, Go Braves!

Now I'm busy packing for JH Ranch, the best place in the world. Located near the small town of Etna, California. This will be my 4th summer out there and the 2nd summer on staff! I'm so excited for what all the Lord has in store. Of course, being away from my friends and family for 11 weeks isn't completely ideal, but I'm so looking forward to all the new friendships to be made. Not to mention reuniting with all my best friends from last summer!! The Lord taught me so much last summer. It was one of the biggest seasons of growing I've ever been through. Such an amazing transition time from high school to college. Needless to say, I know this summer is going to change my life and I'm fully open to whatever He has to offer. Here's a snapshot of last summer:

Have a blessed summer!!

Times by Tenth Avenue North

I know I need You

I need to love You

I love to see You, but it's been so long

I long to feel You

I feel this need for You

And I need to hear You, is that so wrong?

Now you pull me near You

When we're close, I fear You

Still I'm afraid to tell You, all that I've done

Are You done forgiving?

Oh can You look past my pretending?

Lord, I'm so tired of defending, what I've become

What have I become?

I hear You say,

"My love is over. It's underneath.

It's inside. It's in between.

The times you doubt Me, when you can't feel

The times that you question, 'Is this for real?'

The times that you're broken

The times that you mend

The times you hate Me, and the times you bend

Well, My love is over, it's underneath

It's inside, it's in between

These times you're healing, and when your heart breaks

The times that you feel like you're falling from grace

The times you're hurting

The times that you heal

The times you go hungry and are tempted to steal

The times of confusion, in chaos and pain

I'm there in your sorrow, under the weight of your shame

I'm there through your heartache

I'm there in the storm

My love I will keep you, by My pow'r alone

I don't care where you fall, where you have been

I'll never forsake you, My love never ends

It never ends."

April 28, 2011

April 28, 2011 a tornado devastated Tuscaloosa, Alabama. 

Relief efforts have begun. I have been amazed by the servanthood of Church of the Highlands. We are supplying the city with necessities and sharing the love of Christ. Our very own Tuscaloosa Dream Center is forming within days of the disaster and we, as a campus, could not be more excited about what the Lord has in store for this city. You're the God of this city. For more information on how to help with the tornado relief visit this website: http://www.churchofthehighlands.com/relief

I'm home for the day to rest before returning to Tuscaloosa to continue blessing the city and all the people affected by the tornado. I ventured to the backyard to capture the beauty the Lord blesses us with. I was reminded of a song...

Look at the way the flowers bloom for You

They want to show You there beauty, Lord

Running waters dance, You and I romance

Unto You be all the glory. Unto You be all the glory

The angels dance around You

The earth it sings about You

Open up the heavens, Lord

Let Your Kingdom come to earth

My praises all surround You

My soul can't dance without You

Open up the heavens Lord

Let Your Kingdom come to earth

Jesus Culture- "My Romance"

Yes, we're experiencing lost, devastation, pain. Feeling helpless, useless, confused. Asking why's and what if's. But in the end God is God. He is above what we can see, imagine, or relate to. And His way is unbelievably perfect. It was a precious reminder to see His beauty in the flowers. In nature. So if His plan is perfect why don't we trust it? I caught myself thinking how helpless I felt once the storm hit. The wind controlled me. Pride stepped in and said, "YOU can feed people, YOU can give them clothes, YOU can love them." ha, WRONG. JESUS can do all those things through me. I really am helpless. But I'm always helpless. Jesus is the only good thing in me and the only reason I am able to do anything. And we will praise Him in this storm, because we know His beauty will be revealed as revival breaks out in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. To You be the glory, forever and ever!!

You're the God of this City

You're the King of these people

You're the Lord of this nation, You are

You're the Light in this darkness

You're the Hope to the hopeless

You're the Peace to the restless, You are

There is no one like our God

There is no one like our God

For greater things have yet to come

And greater things are still to be done in this city

Greater things have yet to come

And greater things are still to be done here

Chris Tomlin- "God of this City"

Continue to pray for the city. We are rebuilding the city on the foundation of Christ.