You Don't Have To Live In The Shadows

Recently, I read this from a book written by Neil T. Anderson. It's a quote that I go to in times of despair and brokenness. I did share with a few people, but often wonder if there are more out there who need to feel God close. The book is called "Breaking The Bondage" and I am sure everyone could use some bondage breaking.I hope this ministers to someone as much as it does me in my times of despair.


Page 17~

Dear God,

Where are you? How can you watch and not help me? I hurt so bad, and you don't care. If you cared you'd make it stop or let me die. I love You, but You seem so far away. I can't hear You, or see You, or feel You, but I am supposed to believe You're here. Lord I feel them. They are here. I know You are real, God, but they are more real to me right now. Please make someone believe me, Lord. Why won't You make it stop. Please Lord, please! If You love me, just let me die.

Love,
A Lost Sheep

Page 28~

My Dear Lost Sheep,

You ask Me where I am child. My child, I am with you, and I always will be. You are weak, but in Me you are strong. I love you so much that I cannot let you die! I am so close to you that I can feel everything you feel.

I know what you are going through, for I am going through it with you. But I have set you free and you must stand firm. You do not need to die physically for my enemies to be gone, but be crucified with Me and I will live in you and you shall live with Me. I will direct you in paths of righteousness. My child, I love you and I will never forsake you, for you are truly Mine.

Love,
God

Dear Jesus

Nothing can make a mother more proud than seeing their children grow up to serve the One And Only God and Savior! My children 5,6,and 2 year old already have a passion for their Jesus. Just the other day Chloe informed me after getting home from her Nana's house that even if we are not in Church, it is ok to still talk about Jesus and sing praise to Him.

We just recently had a HUGE storn that caused a lot of damage in our neighborhood and miami county. Our power was out for over 14 hours. As we layed on the bed around 11 p.m. Noah said "Mommy, the clouds are MAD! We need to pray. Jesus can stop this and give us back our lights." The mad clouds made me giggle!

Then there is Ruthi. Recently my dad got her this praying precious moment baby. It says the prayer "Now I lay me down to sleep" At the very end it says amen. Well, we push it every night before she goes to bed. She always says "amen" after it's done.
Well, shortly after she got this doll she was inspired to pray with the kids at the dinner table. Can I just say it is the most precious thing I have ever witnessed. I am so proud of her. It is a huge wake up call and reminds me NOW is the time to be praying for the salvation of my children. Now is when they learn who exactly God is.

The bible says to teach our children in the ways of God and they will not depart from it. I don't believe this means mearly speaking that there is a God....I mean visably showing them and modeling for them the Passion YOU have for Christ....they will see in You how much you love Him and see in your actions and life how to serve Him. And when you fail and mess up....show them it's ok to fall at the foot of the cross and find forgiveness. They will not always have this innocence that we see now. Life will get ahold of them like it did us. The world will try to warp their minds and sin will steal so much from their life. But thank God for Jesus!

The best gift you can give your babies is to give your heart to Jesus. Love Him, serve Him, Worship Him....your children will see what you give your time to, your heart to....remember actions ALWAYS speak louder than words.

Dear Satan

Dear Satan,
I'm writing to inform you that I decline your invitation

I'm declining your invitation to self pity and shame
Anger, resentment, unforgiveness and blame

No more excuses for believing your lies
My personal feelings and emotions I deny

No longer in surrender to the past you've chained me to
You are not in control
"Jesus I surrender to You"

You knew how to make me feel insecure
And all that guilt you made me endure

You have lost this battle
God has crushed you down
The true owner of my heart has been found

Taking captive every anxious thought you impress
My love for Jesus from now on I confess

As of now, my spiritual armor is on
Covered in Jesus blood
My guilt from sin is gone

I am no longer your victim but the daughter of a King
To Him alone my heart praises and sings

So Satan I have written this to inform you I have declined your invitation
Your well- laid out plans have been exposed....
And that is the END of this conversation!

Lisa Gerken

Praise be to our God and Savior Jesus Christ in ALL things!

To My Husband

I love you for who you are
I love you for what you are good at
I love the way you can make me laugh at any given situation
And for the ridiculous impressions you make
I love you for the way you let me put my cold bare feet on your legs when I crawl into bed
And the way you tuck the covers around me making sure I am snug and warm
I love you for how you always use your fingers to move the hair away from my face
And how we don't even have to talk
But embrace our moment of being close
I love how there has NEVER been a morning you left without waking me up to tell me you love me
I love kissing your dusty, dirty, greasy face the moment you walk thru the door from work
I love how dedicated you are to serving those in need
And listening to God anoint every beat you make on the drums during worship
I have even realized I love the annoying things you do and are not so good at
Like the way you always manage to miss the laundry basket
And cannot seem to tell the difference between a basket of clean clothes to a basket of dirty clothes
Or how you always take that one sock off and stuff it inbetween the couch for me to find months later
I love how EVERYTHING I lack you somehow make up for
I tend to give up so easily and you are always willing to finish what was started
If one of these things were missing I would be incomplete
Nothing would be the same and we wouldn't be "US"
Thankyou for loving me and being who you are!
I am sorry for making a list of goals for you to meet in order for me to be happy
Missing out on all these things you already do that make me happy
I am so sorry for being selfish and at times what I thought was motivated by love
Was really motivated to get what I wanted to make me feel good
I am asking you to forgive me
I love you and want to put you before myself
I want to love you like our Savior loves
Putting your needs before my own
I am sorry for the unrealistic expectations I have made
And for not giving you the permission to be human
And at times finding myself trying to be the Holy Spirit in your life
Some of these things may seem so small and simple
But I realize I lacked to appreciate
I will from now on work on putting you first
Not for any type of outcome I want
But because I love you!

By His Stripes

By Your Stripes I am healed
By Your blood my salvation is sealed
Forgetting the things I left behind
I am no longer lost
I am no longer blind
You are my maker and my healer
My redeemer and my best friend
You alone can satisfy my thirsty soul to no end
You are the treasure of my heart
The next breath I need to live
Without You I am helpless
But Your strength You never cease to give
My despair and my weeping do not come in vain
I lay them down at the foot of the cross
Every thought and tear that cause me pain
When I suffer it takes me deeper
It makes me stronger in my faith
No matter what I face in life
With You I know that I am safe
Your presence overwhelms me
Your praise is like the sweetest of perfumes
The greatness of Your majesty
My little mind just can’t consume
Hallelujah Praise You Father
Holy One and Mighty King
To You alone I give all glory
Your name my heart forever sings

Lisa Gerken
2009

Call Out My Name

I’ve watched you cry yourself to sleep
While laying in your bed

Afraid to call out to me

So you stay silent instead

I’m not like the ones who’ve hurt you

With the angry words they’ve said

Causing you to doubt yourself

And watching while you bled

Call out My Name

I will always answer

Call out My Name

I love to hear your voice

Call out My Name

When your spirit’s crushed and broken

When your battles overwhelm you

Let Me be the first you turn to

Call out My Name

While other’s walk out of your life

I am Faithful and True

When you feel you’re standing all alone

I am standing next to you

When life is raining bullets

And you have no where to hide

Call out my Name I’ll be your shield

Protection I provide

Call out My Name

I will always answer

Call out My Name

I love to hear your voice

Call out My Name

When your spirit’s crushed and broken

When your battles overwhelm you

Let Me be the first you turn to

Call out My Name

Jesus I am calling out your Name

JesusYou alone can heal my pain

JesusYou give me strength to face it all

JesusTo you alone Your name I call

Jesus

Lisa Gerken

2/09