Worship is...
More than a song It is singing His praise through your actions in your thoughts with a pure heart with everything that you are For He made you to worship Him to bring Glory to Him not because he needs us but because He is our source and we need Him To thank Him for Who He is for all He has done and will do in us and through us for choosing us to accomplish His purpose Worship is not just a song we sing, but a lifestyle we live a life of gratitude, love and honor Steadfast determination to fulfill our God-given purpose No matter what it costs A life that cries: not my will, but Thy will be done Heidi Frederick © 2011 I've lived a large part of my life as a spectator. Being introverted by nature, I found it very comfortable to listen to others for hours and speak for only moments. I always enjoyed reading or listening to the amazing things that happened in other people's lives. But, I knew that type of life was not meant to be for me. I was too scared to risk rejection, embarrassment, injury or failure. But then one day, God showed me I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. I didn't have to depend on myself to take risks in life. My fear of failure or possible even the fear of success soon turned into a hunger to live life to the fullest, to stop sitting on the sidelines watching everyone else aspire and reach their lifelong dreams. It's as if God whispered in my ear, "It's your turn now Heidi. You have been watching life pass by for too long now, it's time to live it and I will cause you to do great and mighty things. No longer will they see the sad lost girl you resolved to be, they will see a woman of courage and victory, not depending on self, but depending on me."
It's a new season for me. One where dreams really do come true, IF I depend on the only true Dream Maker. The One who created me and knit me together in my mother's womb. He carefully and purposefully wove dream seedlings within my DNA so I could live an abundant life, with meaning and Heavenly purpose. Today I choose that life, what will you choose today? OK, I am the first to admit it, I am not fond of change.
If I had it my way, I'd open up my door to find one of those cardboard cylinders containing a blueprint and schematic of my life, a special delivery from God. Historically I have had a fear of the unknown. I felt that somehow if I could control my surroundings, people in my life and things that I did, I'd be safe. First of all, we are not in control of people, places or things. Second, a life spent playing it safe is not a life at all. If there is no risk, there is no gain. At this point of my life, I don't want to be complacent or afraid. The life of faith is the polar opposite. Afterall, "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see". Heb 11:1NIV Being in the midst of my second lay-off within three and a half years, I am truly learning to walk by faith and not by sight. Instead of seeing my future as a scary unknown, I choose to see it as a blank canvas and have asked God to use me as the brush to paint the life He has for me. He chooses the specific colors and textures (gifts and talents) to create His Masterpiece which is my life. I am an original priceless work of art and so are you! When you consider a priceless piece of art, sometimes the unexpected and less traditional is the one that makes the greatest impact on us. I believe life is a lot like art. The picture might not always look pretty or perfect, but it is in the imperfections that God's light can shine through. In a nutshell, that is my life...perfectly imperfect. I don't have to have all the answers when considering what is next in my career, my ministry or my relationships. I just have to have faith and trust in the One who has all the answers and is at work paving the way for me. If you are in doubt of what the future holds, call on Jesus. He can offer you peace of mind, peace in your heart and a peace that surpasses all understanding. Be not afraid, for the LORD your God is with you! -Heidi Frederick January 12, 2011 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on our own understanding. Seek His will in all you do and he will show you which path to take. Prov 3:5-6 NLT Who was this Mary
a young girl who believed highly favored and chosen to deliver the King Who was this Joseph just a hard working man trusted by God to be part of His plan And so, who am I just a sinner since birth loved by a Savior given purpose and worth Who is this Jesus I speak of today He's the one who has saved me and showed me His ways And now I must ask you do you know who you are are you broken and lonely watching life from afar? This Jesus I speak of He wants you to know you're a child of God and are never alone Give Him your heart call on His name His love and His Kingdom forever remains. Heidi Frederick 2010 I'm sure you recall the scene in the Christmas story where Joseph, Mary and the soon to be born baby Jesus are told: "There is no room at the Inn".
hang our NO VACANCY sign every day and hide inside our Inn while the Holy Spirit patiently knocks on the door of our hearts. - "Look, I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and we will share a meal together as friends". Revelation 3:20 When God created you, He did so with a specific purpose and a plan. He placed in you desires, gifts and talents so you could carry out His Kingdom plans while you are on this earth. He created your heart to be a home for the Holy Spirit yet sometimes we shut him out. When you consider what an honor it is that the Creator of the Universe would choose us to be his messengers, how foolish we are to turn down his calling on our lives. We all have excuses why we turn a cold shoulder or deaf ear toward God. I find that most of us are either afraid to fail God, feel we are not worthy to do His work or are afraid to take on such an awesome responsibility. The beautiful thing is, all He requires is a wiling vessel. He will do the work. He will direct our steps, He will speak through us and He will prepare the minds and hearts of those He sends our way. - "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit," says the LORD Almighty. Zechariah 4:6 If we could only grasp the plans He has for us, radical plans, beyond our wildest dreams. The type of plans that would have us jump out of bed at the crack of dawn every morning saying, Here I am God, send me!!! So....as the Innkeeper of your heart, won't you consider making a room available for the Holy Spirit this Christmas season? Or better yet, maybe you will surrender ownership of your Inn to Him? After all, hasn't He already paid the mortgage in full? Tidings of comfort and joy to you and your loved ones this Christmas. - Heidi Read and Reflect: John 15:1-17
He is the Vine, We are the Branches. No vine can bear fruit by itself, it must reamin in the vine. The Fruit of the Spirit is: love, peace, kindness, patience, joy, gentleless, self-control, goodness and faithfulness. If we remain in Christ (study His Word/Bible), Pray, Worship, Fellowship with others), He promises to provide all we need to bear good fruit. He tells believers: "You are already clean (made right with God, pure) because of the word I have spoken to you". We did not choose Him, He chose us and appointed us to go and bear fruit. Those He calls, He also equips. He provides us with organic fruit, fruit that has not been tainted by our best efforts. Any fruit that we try to produce will surely rot because without God, we are full of pesticides (sin). Will you allow God to prune you today so you too can bear organic, life giving fruit to the people in this world who are starving for that hole in their heart to be filled with the love of God through you? Based on the question:
Should Christian's love themselves, hate themselves or both? “You cannot love someone else until you first love yourself”. It’s one of those clichés people use all the time. It wasn’t until a few years ago, after one more failed relationship and losing all hope that I’d ever find love that I really stopped to think about the deeper meaning of that phrase or to figure out why I didn’t love myself. After the last breakup, I was crying on the shoulder of a dear friend telling her all the reasons why he had left me. I focused on all the things that were wrong with me and why I didn’t fit the criteria he established when mapping out his life. She looked at me and said, “but Heidi what do you want?” I realized then, I didn’t know what I wanted, because I didn’t know who I was. I had no identity. I was truly a lost soul just desperate to be loved and accepted. A few weeks later, I gave my life to Christ and he has been doing a mighty work in me ever since to show me who I am and how much value I have just because I am me, a child of God. Jesus tells us “…love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). It’s funny; I was always pretty good at loving others. It came quite naturally to me, being the excellent codependent that I was (now six years recovered, PTL)! I remember the day I heard a sermon about love. The pastor focused on the last two words of this second greatest commandment ...as yourself. That sermon shook me out of a forty year deception from the enemy of my soul (you are unwanted, unworthy, you don’t belong anywhere, you don’t have a real family, no one will ever want to marry you, you are damaged goods). When the Holy Spirit illuminated those two words to me it was life changing. He started showing me my true identity. He showed me gifts He had given me that had laid dormant under layers of shame, guilt and sorrow. I learned that the walls of protection I built might have spared me from some pain in life but I had robbed others of the love and gifts that God gave specifically to me to share with a broken world. Now I know the Truth and while I can’t get back the “lost years”, God has given me a deep passion to help the broken find wholeness in Christ. He has given me poetry and songs to share, a ministry in drama and strong gifts of discernment, prophecy and compassion. He has shown me that this calling on my life is just as much for the church as it is for the lost. It saddens me to see so many Christians walking with their heads down and focusing on how unworthy they are. I think they have mistaken self degradation for humility. I’m so thankful that I now have a healthy understanding: I am nothing without God, but “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me “(Philippians 4:13). I believe the answer to the question should I love myself, hate myself or both is clearly stated in the bible when Jesus commands us to “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). In fact, when he tells us the greatest commandment of all, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37) and reveals to us through Paul that “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27) he makes it clear…We ought to love ourselves simply because God lives in us. After all, don’t you know you are the temple of God? The Master’s Plan
You took me to the bottom quite near the pit of Hell the closest I’d ever come to it, but never would I dwell They watched me from a distance afraid to get too close they thought I’d gone astray the ones I trusted most The days of darkness lingered for what seem an eternity I cried to you and pleaded Oh Lord, just set me free I didn’t understand why it took so long if you really loved me, this suffering seemed wrong but now I see the Master’s plan was working all along You were right there with me, guiding ever step my tears collected in a jar the most I’ve ever wept I began to see the light the richness and the peace by fighting the fight as a Child of God the bondage now released I’m ready now to lay aside my ideas and my ways I know your plan for me is good an abundant life with praise I am thankful Lord for the wilderness for you have taught me this your true love, when I trust in you is the most precious gift. The sun rises
Alarm sounds You rise, but you do not shine You over indulge,stuffing your stomachs And your pain Your heart is empty Broken and hardened Mind is full Of random facts Deceptions and lies No knowledge of the Truth Tragedy comes You seek Him And find Him The only way to truth To second life The only way to endure This sinful world The son has risen Your heart resounds Because He rose Now you shine With the illumination That lights your path To the only way To freedom and truth To everlasting life Heidi Frederick 2010 |
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