I Am Your Shield

Life ~
has a lot of valleys and mountains. God never promised it would be easy, BUT He WILL ALWAYS be with us.

He wants me to lay down my whole life, everything on the altar. He wants me to give up my family, my friends, my possessions, even that hidden sin that nobody knows about. How about unforgiveness, bitterness, resentment, anger, pride? He wants me to give up everything I've got, lay it down, take it to the cross and apply the blood of Jesus Christ to my life. When I am fully cleansed from all sin and iniquity, only then can He really use me.

See, if I haven't extended mercy and forgiveness to that brother or sister who wronged me and treated me terribly, then God won't extend His mercy and forgiveness to me. Some of you have been in tremendous physical, emotional, and sexual pain. But you MUST extend mercy to those who have hurt you or Christ can't forgive you.

In the past couple weeks, life has changed dramatically for several of our friends. Some have tasted death, others a hospital stay, and yet others don't know what's going on in their lives.

In all these trials, we are reminded to PRAY WITHOUT CEASING! It's hard for me to get work done when I've got so many friends on my mind. But God gives grace. He has placed each of us in our present circumstance so that He will receive ALL glory and praise.

I am extremely blessed by a couple friends who are facing afflictions and in the midst of extreme suffering are still radiating, simply radiating! They're smiling and I see Jesus shining through their lives. You have no idea how that encourages me.

The past couple days Amber and Allison have been practicing the song "I Am Your Shield" written by Rachel Wissman of the Wissman Family. It is a BEAUTIFUL song that the Lord gave to Rachel. She wrote the words and music in 20 minutes.

I AM YOUR SHIELD

My child, are you discouraged by the sorrows of the day?

Does it seem that life is crumbling? The skies have turned to gray.

Don't forget I gave you promises to guide you every hour

In the moments of you heart break, let me show you My great Pow'r!

And I will be your Shield when the battle rages on.

And I will be your Light when the way ahead is dark.

I will be your Strong Tower and guide you every hour,

just place your life completely in My hands.

I know it won't be easy. I never said it would;

but My grace will always be there; My plans for you are good.

Remember that your weaknesses are perfect in My sight.

Only when you yield them to Me can I turn them into Might!

And I will be your Shield when the battle rages on.

And I will be your Light when the way ahead is dark.

I will be your Strong Tower and guide you every hour,

just place your life completely in My hands.

Bridge:

And someday you will understand why I sent this trial.

And someday you will see the end and know it's all worthwhile.

And I will be your Shield when the battle rages on.

And I will be your Light when the way ahead is dark.

I will be your Strong Tower and guide you every hour,

just place your life completely in My hands.