BRUISES

Snippet

A bruise is a lesson...and each lesson makes us better. 

- Arya Stary   Game Of Thrones quotes  

Scripture

A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory. Matthew 12:20 NIV

Song

Bruises by Train (feat. Ashley Monroe)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_87021&feature=iv&src_vid=Mil8F3qfLqk&v=LmXaaEvnnOQ

Haven't seen you since high school

Good to see you're still beautiful

Gravity hasn't started to pull

Quite yet I bet you're rich as hell

One that's five and one that's three

Been two years since he left me

Good to know that you got free

That town I know was keeping you down on your knees

These bruises make for better conversation

Loses the vibe that separates

It's good to let you in again

You're not alone in how you've been

Everybody loses, we all got bruises

We all got bruises

Have you seen him? Not in years

How about her? No but I hear

She's in Queens with the man of her dreams

Funny back then she said that about you

Que sera you'll never guess who I saw

Remember Johnny B remember him we were best friends practically

Let's do this soon again, ten years is that what it's been?

Can't believe how time flies by

Leaving you makes me wanna cry

These bruises make for better conversation

Loses the vibe that separates

It's good to let you in again

You're not alone in how you've been

Everybody loses, we all got bruises

We all got bruises

I would love to fix it all for you

I would love to fix you too

Please don't fix a thing whatever you do

These bruises make for better conversation

Loses the vibe that separates

It's good to know you've got a friend

That you remember now and then

Everybody loses

These bruises make for better conversation

Loses the vibe that separates

It's good to let you in again

You're not alone in how you've been

Everybody loses,everybody loses, everybody loses

We all got bruises, We all got bruises, We all got bruises

Sentence Prayer

Jesus

You have promised to not

Break this bruised reed beyond repair.

For every bruise, may it be a lesson to

Be more like you!

May the smoldering wick of my heart

help me to have compassion for others.

Amen

LOVE STORY

Snippet

They follow Jesus, just not with every area of their lives.  In the book UnChristian, Barna research reported that 65 percent of 18-42 year olds in America havE “made a personal commitment to Jesus that is still important.”  On the surface that seems really encouraging.  But how many of those are followers?  Because, their research also showed that only 23 Percent of those people believed that sex outside of marriage is wrong.  Only 13 percent said getting drunk is a sin.  And the list goes on.  In other words, 65 percent say they are committed to Jesus, but most of them aren’t committed Jesus in every area of their life.  Not a Fan Kyle Idelman Zondervan 2011 pg 146

Scripture

Drink water from your own cistern,

    running water from your own well.

16 Should your springs overflow in the streets,

    your streams of water in the public squares?

17 Let them be yours alone,

    never to be shared with strangers.

18 May your fountain be blessed,

    and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.

19 A loving doe, a graceful deer—

    may her breasts satisfy you always,

    may you ever be intoxicated with her love.

20 Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man’s wife?

    Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman?

21 For your ways are in full view of the Lord,

    and he examines all your paths.

22 The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them;

    the cords of their sins hold them fast.

23 For lack of discipline they will die,

    led astray by their own great folly. Proverbs 5:15-23 NIV

Song

Jin –Love Story Lyrics

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6wHIstoAuM

It's from the heart..

It's from the heart right here.. (yeah)

Everybody has a story to tell..

Check this out though

[Verse One]

I knew this chinese dude in Junior High

Part of my crew, everybody knew the kid

He was the talk of the school, intelligent

And well spoken, respected by teachers

All the other students kept their eyes on his sneakers

What can I say? You can tell he's cool if you talk with him

During fire drills girls would wanna walk with him

He could have any chick up in his view

But there was only one girl he wanted to call boo

See its all true, found himself stressed in a dead end

The girl he was feelin was obsessed with his bestfriend

His bestfriends a playa, thats the reason he's pissed

Plus he treat her like she don't even exist

He ain't tryna hate on his man, but there was no help in it

Wrote the girl a letter told her how he felt in it

She was shocked at first of him revealing the truth

Till she realized that she was feelin him too

[Hook: Aja Smith]

Ohhh..

I've been thinking of you

Ohhh..

I've been thinking of you

Ohhh..

I've been thinking of you

Ohhh..

I've been thinking of you

And you've been thinkin of me

Ohhh..

Uh

So you know as time goes by

Things get a little bit serious

Just listen

[Verse Two]

It was strictly hip hop, now they bumpin slow jams all day

Went from holding hands, to makin out in the hallway

Their relationship, seemed like a dream come true

As time went by their friendship grew

Staring at the stars, trading secrets on the phone

When her parents were at work, she would sneak him in her room

He told her he was a virgin the day that they met

So on his birthday he got a gift he'll never forget

Females were jealous, but they still calling him cute

First day of summer school, they rocked the matching nautica suits

Happy in each others arms, can it be

They found true love, living in a fantasy

Then reality attacks, his pops couldn't see past the fact

His son was asian, but his girlfriend was black

Imagine having to choose between the one that you love or your fam

Thats like cutting off your right or left hand, damn

[Hook]

Uh huh, yeah

I know this sounds like a true story

Coulda happened to any one of us

It's crazy though right?

[Verse Three]

Now if this sounds like a true story

That's probably cause it is

And I know for a fact cause I'm that chinese kid

Mm, lookin back now, I know its more than just a crush

I'm sayin the whole expierience taught me so much

Love can overcome anything that gets in its way

Thats reason I still think of shorty 'til this day

We talk now and then, she's doin her thing

We both full grown up, I think she rockin a ring

I know she's proud of me and all the things I've accomplished

She was there when I was nobody, that's being honest

Ain't no shame, I'll admit it she was there when I cried

So in return I wipe the tears from her eyes

As far as my pops, he's a little more open minded

If his son is happy, hes 100% behind it

Now this is a song I know I had to do

Cause all the stuff I went through might have happened to you

[Hook]

Ohhh..

Uh, yeah

Everybody remembers their first love

You only get one

So you gotta remember

Yeah

Uh

I just wanted you to know

Jin's still thinkin about you

I know you've been thinkin' about me too

Sentence Prayer

Father;

Create in me a pure heart

That only loves you and your ways

Expose my hypocrisy, so I have

A clear choice of an obedient love.

Amen

WHAT I CRAVE

Snippet

Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for. Joseph Addison

Scripture

I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace while you trust in him. Then your hope will overflow by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NCV

Song

Crave King & Country

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYq55gv-H2o

Hope sleeps without me

Her sweet dreams surround me,

But I'm left out

I'll need a fix now

To believe, to feel

These rooms are dark now

These halls are hollow,

And so am I

She is hard to find now

To believe

To see

Hope is what we crave, and that will never change

So I stand and wait

I need a drop of grace to carry me today,

A simple song to say

It's written on my soul:

Hope's what we crave

I won't turn to dust now

Let these tears rust now on my face

Give me the spark now

To believe

To see

Hope is what we crave, and that will never change

So I stand and wait

I need a drop of grace to carry me today,

A simple song to say

It's written on my soul:

Hope's what we crave

To live, to die,

To lose, to get,

To rise above

To love again

To live, to die,

To lose, to get,

To rise above

To love again

To love again

Hope is what we crave, and that will never change

So I stand and wait

I need a drop of grace to carry me today,

A simple song to say

Hope is what we crave

I need a drop of grace

It's written on my soul:

Hope's what we crave

It's written on my soul:

Hope's what we crave

Hope's what we crave

Hope's what I crave

Sentence Prayer

Heavenly father, I am your humble servant, I come before you today in need of hope. There are times when I fell helpless, There are times when I feel weak. I pray for hope. I need hope for a better future. I need hope for a better life. I need hope for love and kindness.

Some say that the sky is at it's darkest just before the light. I pray that this is true, for all seems dark. I need your light, Lord, in every way.

I pray to be filled with your light from head to toe. To bask in your glory. To know that all is right in the world, as you have planned, and as you want it to be.

Help me to walk in your light, and live my life in faith and glory.

In your name I pray, Amen. (http://www.prayers-for-special-help.com/prayer-for-hope.html)

REDEMPTION STORY

Snippet

Even an atheists’ life tells a God story Roger Miller

Scripture

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

his love endures forever.

Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—

those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,

those he gathered from the lands,

from east and west, from north and south Psalms 107:1-3 NIV

Song

Everyone's Got A Story MacKenzie Bourg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieL7pQU-FYc

My heart is mine

Your heart is yours.

All that I'm seeing is open doors.

Just close your eyes

And know your mine.

It don't matter where you've from cause,

You've got something better about you.

And Everyone's Got A Story.

It's time to live yours. x3

(Oh-oh-oh-oh)

The time is yours.

Your hand in mine.

Take a look at the world

And see the signs.

Don't move, be still, against your will.

Take a moment and make it last cause,

You've got something better about you.

Everyone's Got A Story.

It's time to live yours. x5

(Oh-oh-oh-oh)

Oh-ooo

But it's time to live yours.

Oh-ooo, yeah.

It's time to live yours!

Sentence Prayer

Father;

Use my mistakes and victories

To point to your Son Jesus.

Holy Spirit,  give me the courage

To live my redemption story boldly.

Amen

FALLING DOWN

Snippet

We have all sinned and grown old  Rich Mullins

Scripture

Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived Ephesians 6:1-3 Message

Song

"Falling Down" Atreyu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHXxaFfclpU

You're always looking back,

Runnin' from the past.

You're always sweating me about the next big heart attack.

You're lookin' over your shoulder starin' down the path.

(I'm fallin' down)

Fallin' down

Fallin' down

[Chorus: x2]

It's in your head all the voices mistaken,

Shake it off shake it off.

We're all dyin' in the end.

I fear I'll find the evidence so horrible,

So horrible

To clear my thoughts I drill a hole into my skull

Clean up my brains and sweep them underneath the rug

I need them more than I needed any other drug

I'm fallin' down

Fallin' down

Fallin' down

[Chorus: x2]

It's in your head all the voices mistaken

Shake it off shake it off

We're all dyin' in the end.

Hey, hey, hey

Come on

I'm fallin' down

Fallin' down

Fallin' down

[Chorus: x2]

It's in your head all the voices mistaken

Shake it off shake it off

We're all dyin' in the end.

Sentence Prayer

Jesus

You are the only one when I

Fall into the manure pile of life

That can reach down and pick me up

Cleaning me completely and giving me a new day.

Because it is appointed for us all to die

And to give an accounting for our filth.

Hide me in your grace that I may 

survive judgement.  Amen!

STEP BY STEP

Snippet

It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings

Scripture

He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.

 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. Romans 4:11-13 NASB

Song

Step by Step Rich Mullins

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-b7TQMoZsM

Sometimes the night was beautiful

Sometimes the sky was so far away

Sometimes it seemed to stoop so close

You could touch it but your heart would break

Sometimes the morning came too soon

Sometimes the day could be so hot

There was so much work left to do

But so much You'd already done

CHORUS:

Oh God, You are my God

And I will ever praise You

Oh God, You are my God

And I will ever praise You

I will seek You in the morning

And I will learn to walk in Your ways

And step by step You'll lead me

And I will follow You all of my days

Sometimes I think of Abraham

How one star he saw had been lit for me

He was a stranger in this land

And I am that, no less than he

And on this road to righteousness

Sometimes the climb can be so steep

I may falter in my steps

But never beyond Your reach

CHORUS

And I will follow You all of my days

And I will follow You all of my days

And step by step You'll lead me

And I will follow You all of my days

And I will follow You all of my days

(Sometimes the night was beautiful)

And I will follow You all of my days

Sentence Prayer

Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ,

For all the benefits and blessings

Which you have given me,

For all the pains and insults

Which you have borne for me.

Merciful Friend, Brother and Redeemer,

Love you more dearly,

And follow you more nearly,

Day by Day Amen

(St. Richard of Chichester)

RIGHTEOUS PRAYER

Snippet

Bold prayers honor God, and God honors bold prayers. Mark Batterson

(Circle Maker Mark Batterson 2011 Zondervan pg 12)

Scripture

The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit. James 5:16,17 NASB

Song

Lizzie and the Rain Man Tanya Tucker

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIlEFK0KZ6s

You came riding in on the sunrise

On a hot west Texas day

With a fancy man in a painted wagon

With some fancy things to say

Looks like you folks need some water

Well water is my game

And for the small price of $100.00

I bet you I could make it rain

Step back non-believers

Or the rain will never come

Someone start that fire burning

Somebody beat the drum

He said some may think I'm crazy

For making all these claims

But I swear before this day is over

You folks are gonna see some rain

They all just stood there staring

Trying to believe

But there was one named Lizzy Cooper

Who said he was a lying cheat

She said you call yourself the Rainman

Well you ought to be ashamed

Starting all these people dreaming

Thinking you can make it rain

Step back non-believers

Or the rain will never come

Someone keep that fire burning

Somebody beat the drum

He said some may think I'm crazy

For making all these claims

But I swear before this day is over

You folks are gonna see some rain

Hey Lizzy

Well a man's gotta have a dream

And if you can't walk on the inside with me

I'll meet you in between

Oh come with me Lizzy

And the stars will write your name

And if you still think I'm lying to you

Look yonder there comes the rain

Step back non-believers

Or the rain will never come

Someone keep that fire burning

Somebody beat the drum...

Sentence Prayer

Lord of the universe, I swear before your great name that I will

Not move from this circle until you have shown mercy upon your children.

Not for such rain have I prayed, but for rain that will fill cisterns, pits and caverns.

Not for such rain have I prayed, but for rain of your favor, blessing, and graciousness.” Amen