Laura Story stopped by to hang out with us last week, and opened up about some amazing lessons that The Lord has been teaching her recently in her walk with him. Over the next couple weeks she’ll be sharing those things with you right here in our devotional time, and we’re excited for you to hear it. Check out our first episode below as Laura talks about “counting” and how she’s re-learning what that means according to God.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. – James 1:2-4

Visit LauraStoryMusic.com to download her powerful song “Blessings” and the entire new album now. Also don’t forget about our special $5.00 album sale on her previous record “Great God Who Saves” in the Deals section of our site.

Check back next week for much more from Laura!

“And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” – Romans 5: 3-5

God is love. He tells us so repeatedly in the Bible. Yet sometimes it doesn’t feel like He loves us. What if we pray for our loved ones to make it through, but they pass away before we even say goodbye? What if we pray for our children to grow up healthy but instead we watch them suffer a life-threatening illness? What if we pray for that little extra money to make ends meet, but we end up losing our home?  It’s devastating when we don’t see God’s answers to our prayers. “We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near.”

What if the very thing that is best for us isn’t the same as what we’re praying for? “All the while, You hear each spoken need. You love us way too much to give us lesser things.” God is watching over always, directing every moment we experience. So if He isn’t answering our prayers how we think He should, does that mean He isn’t answering? Or could it be something else? Could it possibly be that He’s really blessing us?

“What if your blessings come through raindrops?” It’s hard to comprehend, but maybe God really is guiding us in our trials. Maybe they’re working towards something bigger. Maybe God is blessing us through the hard parts in our lives. Of course, we always wonder, can’t God find some better way to show us what He needs to? Can’t He take away the pain and give us happiness? Isn’t that what’s best for us? But through it all, “the pain reminds this heart that this is not our home”. We know our lives here on earth are only temporary and our real home is heaven. So, it’s possible that the pain has a purpose. “What if the trials of this life are your mercies in disguise?” Sometimes, we need the suffering so God can shape us into who we need to be. Someday we’ll see the purpose. Until then, remember God promises us His very best. “We doubt your goodness. We doubt your love. As if every promise from your word is not enough.” Trust, for He knows what He’s doing.

We are excited to have Laura Story as a special guest leading our devotional time over the next few weeks. Be sure to come back and watch her walk through scripture. Also, get your copy of the song on iTunes, or visit LauraStoryMusic.com to download her entire album “Blessings” now! Post your comments below and scroll down for the video and lyrics.

Lyrics:
We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
And all the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

CHORUS:
Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel you near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if each promise from Your Word is not enough
And all the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we’d have faith to believe

CHORUS

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win, we know
That pain reminds this hearts,
That this is not, this is not our home…..

CHORUS

What if my greatest disappointments,
Or the aching of this life,
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy.
What if trials of this life,
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise?

But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” – Luke 23:40-43 

We all have regrets in life. Whether it’s not reaching out to the stranger we passed on the street today or missing the chance to tell someone we love them, we all know what it’s like to wish we had a do-over.

Some mistakes we make are small. We forget our keys in the car. We misplace an important paper. And the consequences, though real, are small too. We have to call someone to unlock our car. We spend extra time looking.

Other mistakes we make in our lives are bigger. So big, in fact, that we can’t seem to forgive ourselves. These mistakes are the ones that cause us to lose sleep, to toss and turn, wishing we had a chance to take it all back and relive that part of our life. “I know I’d do it all different if I had the chance.” If we could change it, we wouldn’t have to live with this guilt.

 Mistakes like these are what “Lucy” is about. A young couple finds themselves pregnant with a child they aren’t ready to have. They end up aborting the child but then live with the guilt and pain that comes with the choice. “I’ve gotta live with the choices I made. And I can’t live with myself today.”

Even after all we do wrong, when we become murderers, liars, and thieves, there’s still someone who forgives us when we repent. He says, “I love you, and you are mine.” Who would want to claim us, even in our weakness? Even more, who would claim our mistakes as his own, writing his name in blood over each of our sins?

“But all I got are these roses to give and they can’t help me make amends.” We can’t make up for our wrongs. We can’t give more to cover up the past. It’s only by grace that we are forgiven, only by God that we are made new. We can help the hurt by mending relationships broken by sin and fixing some of the damages, but we can’t undo it. We need a savior. Thankfully, we have one.

He is Jesus. He loves us and died for us, and because of him we are washed clean. He’s there for us always, no matter what mistakes are in our past. And while we still have to deal with the consequences of our choices, we also know that when we repent, we receive forgiveness. If Jesus has forgiven us, then shouldn’t we learn to forgive ourselves? It doesn’t mean that we are okay with the sin, just that we learn to let go and not let it rule our lives. If we’re so stuck beating ourselves up over the past, how productive are we being in the present? It’s time to make a choice and start over again. Every day is a new opportunity. Don’t waste yours today.

Check out the album here. Don’t forget to scroll down for the video and lyrics. Leave your comments below!

Lyrics:

Hey Lucy, I remember your name
I left a dozen roses on your grave today
I’m in the grass on my knees, wipe the leaves away
I just came to talk for a while
I got some things I need to say

Chorus:
Now that it’s over
I just wanna hold her
I’d give up all the world to see that little piece of
heaven looking back at me

Now that it’s over
I just wanna hold her
I’ve gotta live with the choices I made
And I can’t live with myself today

Hey Lucy, I remembered your birthday
They said it’d bring some closure to say your name
I know I’d do it all different if I had the chance
But all I got are these roses to give
And they can’t help me make amends

Chorus

Here we are
Now you’re in my arms
I never wanted anything so bad
Here we are
For a brand new start
Living the life that we could’ve had

Me and Lucy walking hand in hand
Me and Lucy never wanna end
Just another moment in your eyes
I’ll see you in another life
In heaven where we never say goodbye

Here we are, now you’re in my arms
Here we are for a brand new start
Got to live with the choices I’ve made
And I can’t live with myself today

Me and Lucy walking hand in hand
Me and Lucy never wanna end
Got to live with the choices I’ve made
And I can’t live with myself today
Hey Lucy, I remember your name

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

We live like life is a competition. We’ve heard over and over how we have to “keep up with the Joneses”, buying that Mercedes-Benz, 3D TV, Blu-Ray player, and 3000 square foot house. We need the new iPad the day it comes out, the latest video game so we can master it before our friends, and an account on the hottest social networking site. All of these things we think we need but for what?

Life really isn’t a competition. “You said life cannot be measured by the place you live, the car you drive.” It’s not a race to see who can cross the finish line first. What do we have in this world at the end? It’s not a game to determine who can end up with the most expensive goods. After all, besides the temporary pleasure we receive from owning them, what do they really give us? At the end of our lives, are these the things we will prize most?

What really matters, as Jesus tells us, is our heart. It’s about how we love. “The thing that counts the day you die is who you are and what’s inside.” Many times we buy things to make up for our own inadequacies. We aren’t turning to God for fulfillment, so we turn to cheap, material imitations to satisfy us for a few days. We don’t think we’re good enough as we are, so we want that luxury car to give us the status and image we crave. Basically, it all adds up to one thing: when we put our faith in material things, it’s because we have forgotten where our hope is.

Sadly, when we do this we not only hurt ourselves but we also lead others astray. Have you ever had that really devout Christian friend who was obsessed with technology and made you feel like it was not only okay but encouraged for you to focus your attention on the same? Or the self-sacrificing volunteer friend who was always dressed in the latest fashions, convincing you that your fashion sense was more important than your prayer life? It’s easy to be distracted, but Jesus reminds us to live a different way.

“Live with no excuses, love with no regrets…Make this world a better place.” We are supposed to give without restraint. This means our material goods, our love, our personality, and ourselves. This is the way we’re called to live and this is the way that will ultimately lead to the greatest joy. Nothing we have is truly ours, it’s God’s! So let us give abundantly. If we live in this way, then at the end “when it’s finally time to say goodbye, there’s nothin’ to prove, nothin’ to lose, nothin’ to hide.”

Click here for the album. Scroll down for the video, lyrics, and comments!

Lyrics:
You taught me how to ride a bike / Tie my shoes and fly a kite / How to swim and how to fish / To see a star and make a wish / Said it’s ok to make mistakes / Just don’t get stuck in yesterday / Forgive, forget and move ahead / ‘Cause life is what you’re livin’ in / Now you’re gone and all I have / Are memories I hold dear / But if I’m quiet I hear your voice / Still ringin’ in my ears // CHORUS: Sayin’ live with no excuses / Love with no regrets / Laugh a lot and leave this life / With nothing left unsaid / Make this world a better place / Don’t be afraid to cry / When it’s finally time to say goodbye / There’s nothin’ to prove, nothin’ to lose, nothin’ to hide // You said life cannot be measured by / The place you live, the car you drive / The thing that counts the day you die / Is who you are and what’s inside / So tell the truth, don’t ever lie / Integrity at any price / Your word’s your bond, your highest prize / So guard it closely with your life / So many things I learned from you / ‘Bout life and love and play / But I learned more by how you lived / Than what I heard you say // CHORUS // I only want to live my life half as well as you / to leave behind what I’ve received / Is all I want to do / So I live with no excuses / And I love with no regrets / I laugh a lot and I leave this life / With nothing left unsaid / Make this world a better place / Don’t be afraid to cry / When it’s finally time to say goodbye / There’s nothin’ to prove, nothin’ to lose, nothin’ to hide

“O LORD, you have probed me, you know me: you know when I sit and stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. My travels and my rest you mark; with all my ways you are familiar. Even before a word is on my tongue, LORD, you know it all.” Psalm 139:1-4

The universe is incredibly huge. It’s so huge, in fact, that we don’t even know the exact size. Even if we did know, we are incapable of fully comprehending the size of the universe because we have never dealt with anything on that scale. It’s just too big for our minds to wrap around.

Think of the creator of all that. He not only had a vision for what He wanted it to look like, but He created the science behind it. He made star life cycles, galaxy formation, and black holes. He not only saw the big picture, but He took care of all the intimate details of the universe so that everything could happen the way He planned.

Now, think of us, humans on earth. We live on one planet in one solar system in one of the galaxies in one galaxy group in the universe. Again, it’s impossible to comprehend, but that makes us incredibly tiny against the sheer magnitude of the universe. Earth itself is small, and we aren’t even visible from an airplane, let alone space. We’re miniscule.

The Bible tells us that God loves us. Jesus’ death proclaims the drastic measures God was willing to go to for us. He loves us more than we know in a way deeper than we can imagine. In fact, He loves us so much that he knows everything about us. He “probes” us. He goes out of his way to search us and know us inside and out. He wants to know everything about us and He does!

“And the arms that hold the universe are holding you tonight.” If God made sure every detail worked out exactly as planned to create this gigantic, unbelievable universe, don’t you think He cares enough to make sure the details in your life work according to plan too? If God oversees everything, doesn’t it make sense that He is looking out for you?

Whenever we fear, whenever we feel like God has left us behind and isn’t looking out for us anymore, know that it’s not that way. “So be still and know He’s in control.” He doesn’t make mistakes and He’s leading you exactly where you need to be. Take comfort in the fact that you have a God who is all-knowing and all-powerful. “You can hope, you can rise, you can stand. He’s still got the whole world in His hands.”

Find the video and lyrics below and buy the album here. Thanks for reading!

Lyrics:

I know it seems like this could be the darkest day you’ve known
But believe you me, the God of strength will never let you go
He will overcome, I know

Chorus:
And the arms that hold the universe are holding you tonight
You can rest inside, it’s gonna be alright
And the voice that calmed the raging sea is calling you His child
So be still and know He’s in control
He will never let you go

Through many dangers, toils, and snares you have already come
His grace has brought you safe this far, and His grace will lead you home

Chorus

You can hope, you can rise, you can stand
He’s still got the whole world in His hands
You can hope, you can rise, you can stand
He’s still got the whole world, the whole world in His hands

Chorus

He’s still got the whole world in His hands
In his hands, yeah
He’s still got the whole world in His hands

“Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

The cross is an ugly sight. Imagine Jesus, bloody, torn, bruised,  hanging from wood. He’s beaten, He’s struggling just to breathe. Everyone gathers around, watching, as this man is mocked and ridiculed. What does He do? He just takes it. He’s defenseless. It’s a morbid, depressing thing to take in. All you can do is just stand there, watching Him die a horrific, painful death.

Fast forward to today and look at Christians wearing crosses in memory of that day. Even Jonny Diaz’s song talks about the “beauty” of the cross. If it is such a horrible sight, how can we find any beauty there? Isn’t that a bit twisted?

When we look at what happened afterward, we find the answer. While it looked like Jesus died in shame, not as powerful as He claimed, when we listen to the rest of the story we see just how contrary to the truth that notion is. Jesus rose from the dead three days later, conquering the grave and paying the price for our sins.  He overcame the world, giving us the opportunity to live again with Him. When we look at the cross this way, as the tool He used to conquer sin, it suddenly strikes us as something different entirely. Jesus, fully man and fully God, is the only existing being who was capable of overcoming death. Without Him, we would have no hope. “The beauty of the cross is that there’s One who has redeemed my soul. The beauty of the cross is that I’m finally free and letting go. The beauty of the cross is that Your grace has found me just as I am.” Because of the cross, we are able to enter into eternity with God. When we realize what this means for us, we are left with no other image but just how beautiful the cross is.

Scroll down for a video background of the song and the lyrics. If you want to buy the song check it out here. Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to leave your comments!

Lyrics:

At the cross I find the beauty of Your matchless grace
At the cross I see a King who died to take my place
It’s the moment that you made me clean and pardoned my soul
Amazing grace that I would be allowed unto Your throne
Not by my own will but solely by Your will alone
I’m unworthy of this love You ‘re showing to me
I see my desperate need

CHORUS:
The beauty of the cross is that there’s One who has redeemed my soul
The beauty of the cross is that I’m finally free and letting go
The beauty of the cross is that Your grace has found me just as I am

Not by my own works that I may boast or I may come
Simply through your Son the sinless and Exalted One
Only through the cross that I’m made clean to draw near to you
Saved so that You would receive all glory due Your name
Everlasting God from age to age you never change
A true love story remains for all eternity
That all the world would see

CHORUS

My sinful soul could only be
Redeemed by the blood of a sinless King
So you came to the world that You had made
Conquered sin on the cross and You rose from the grave

CHORUS

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8

Sometimes, I feel worthless. I have an argument with a friend, I get a bad grade on my Spanish test, and I’ve left that project unfinished at work. Again. All that I’ve come to like about myself is suddenly falling apart. What am I worth if I don’t fulfill these obligations? Who can love me if I don’t even like myself?

It’s hard to drag ourselves out of this way of thinking. We are taught to live according to these expectations. We think we need approval and accomplishment to validate our lives. But what does God tell us? He says, “You’re beautiful. You are made for so much more than all of this.” He loves us, even in our failings.

Even more than that, God doesn’t just love us like we “love” video games or popcorn. He loves us passionately. “You’re the one He madly loves enough to die.” His love isn’t casual. It’s not something he says when it’s convenient or when we do something great. He loves us so much that He sent His son to die for us. Even at our worst, even when we were mocking Jesus and spitting on Him and murdering Him, He still said, “Forgive them. They know not what they do.” He could have saved Himself at any time, He could have caused any one of the people driving the nails into Him to cease breathing and rid Himself of the pain. But He didn’t. And if Jesus loves us that much, we must be worth something. “Before you ever took a breath, long before the world began, of all the wonders He possessed there was one more precious.” We’re more precious than His life.

To check out the song on iTunes, click here. Also, scroll down for the lyrics. Thanks for reading!

Lyrics:
Days will come when you don’t have the strength
When all you hear is you’re not worth anything
Wondering if you ever could be loved
And if they truly saw your heart, they’d see too much

Chorus:
You’re beautiful
You’re beautiful
You are made for so much more than all of this
You’re beautiful
You’re beautiful
You are treasured, you are sacred
You are His
You’re beautiful

Praying that you have the heart to fight
‘Cause you are more than what is hurting you tonight
For all the lies you’ve held inside so long
They are nothing in the shadow of the cross

Chorus

Before you ever took a breath
Long before the world began
Of all the wonders He possessed
There was one more precious
Of all the earth and skies above
You’re the one He madly loves
Enough to die

You’re beautiful
You’re beautiful
In His eyes

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

What comes to mind when you think of the word “hallelujah”? For me, I think of joy, praise, and wonder. It’s a word we use when great things happen in our lives, when we want to thank God for His abundant blessings. We witness a miracle, we receive forgiveness, we have an epiphany, and then we exclaim, “Hallelujah!” Yet Heather Williams takes a different approach. For her she says, through the pain and suffering, “in spite of it all, hallelujah!” She cries out in praise even through the trials. Doesn’t that seem odd, though? Why should we be happy to be hurting? God tells us that He loves when we praise Him through these times! He wants us to sing hallelujah all the time, especially when we’re hurting the most. At our lowest points, our hallelujah shows that we don’t praise God based on circumstance but because of who He is. When we cry hallelujah, we’re proclaiming that we trust in the Lord and believe his word when he says that in ALL things, he works for the good of those who love him. Even if the good is impossible to see now, we will understand someday and know God’s bigger purpose for it.

“And though it seems hard, I’m still trusting you Lord. Hallelujah.” What if we exclaimed Hallelujah all the time? What if we trusted in God, and really lived our lives like we believe that all things work together for good? Wherever you are in your life right now, take a moment to praise God. “Sing hallelujah, Sing hallelujah. Sing hallelujah. Amen.”

Scroll down to see what Heather says about the song and read the lyrics! Check out the whole album here. What can you sing hallelujah about today? Add your comments below!

Lyrics:

Jesus, please come

please come today

hear me

heal me

be near me I pray

I have fallen so far
flat on my face
I’m in need of your grace today
I stumble and fall
but in spite of it all
your love always stays the same
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Jesus, please come
please come today
break me
mold me
use me I pray

but don’t give up on me now
I’m so close to you now
I’m in need of your grace today
wipe the dirt off my face
hold me in your embrace
your love always saves the day
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

I have fallen so far
flat on my face
I’m in need of your grace today
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Sing hallelujah
Sing hallelujah
Sing hallelujah amen

On my knees here I fall
in spite of it all
Hallelujah
And though it seems hard
I’m still trusting you Lord
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Genesis 1: 1-5