Not One Single Thing

"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:38-39

Focus verse: Romans 8:39 - Nothing above us, nothing below us, or anything else in the whole world will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." - John 10:10

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart, I have overcome the world." - John 16:33

Other translation: "I have told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have trouble. But be brave! I have defeated the world!" - John 16:33

Dear God,

Nothing can separate me from Your love. Nothing. Nothing I say. Nothing I think. Nothing I do. Nothing someone else does or says to me. Nothing can separate me from You. I am not perfect. Nor do You ask me to be right now. I will make mistakes. But mistakes cannot separate me from Your love. Help me to sit back and relish what good there is in life. Help me to be brave when things are rough.

Thank You.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

That Where I Am There You May Also Be by Rich Mullins

The Hope of Heaven

Romans 12:12 - Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

I Thessalonians 5:8 - But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.

Hebrews 6:17-20- So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

Dear God, Thank You for giving me the hope to carry on. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Hope to Carry On by and Rich Mullins Caedmon's Call (YouTube)

I can see Jesus hanging on the cross

I can see Jesus hanging on the cross

I can see Jesus hanging on the cross

He came looking for the lost

And love has come

Love has come

Love has come

And it's giving me hope to carry on

I can hear Jesus saying, "Father forgive"

I can hear Jesus saying, "Father forgive"

I can hear Jesus saying, "Father forgive"

What a thing He did

Love has come

Love has come

Love has come

And it's giving me hope to carry on

I can see love, love is all I want to see

Love can make a beggar rich, it can set a prisoner free

I know He can do it for you

And God knows He did it for me

I can see love, love is all I want to show you love

Love's the only way to go, it's love

And love is all a man might need to know

Yes, I know

You know Peter put away his sword

I can see Peter puttin' away his sword

I can see Peter, he put away his sword

He won't fight no more

Love has come

Love has come

Love has come

And it's giving me hope to carry on

I got to carry on

The Right Road

Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

John 14:1-4 - "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I will go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going."

Dear God, The road that I was sent spiraling on with the unresolved conflict with Tom that was caused by something he said and did that hurt me and then continued to hurt me as he exacerbated things is not a good road for me. And God, right now, I feel physically ill, though not because of what he did. What he did makes me sad and maybe even angry because it was hateful and injust. So God, please keep me on the road I need to be on in these coming weeks as the time nears that the presbytery will have to determine the next steps that need to be taken in light of things. I am trusting You that they will do something to help everyone even if it also means that some people end up having things change for them. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Step by Step by Rich Mullins (YouTube)

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

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

And step by step You'll lead me

And I will follow You all of my days

That Where I Am, There You... By. Rich Mullins (YouTube)

In my Father's house there are many, many rooms

In my Father's house there are many, many rooms

And I'm going up there now to prepare a place for you

That where I am, there you may also be

If I go prepare a place for you, I will come back again

If I go prepare a place for you, I will come back again

And you know I am the Way, the Truth, the Life, keep my command

That where I am, there you may also be

That where I am, there you may also be

Up where the truth, the truth will set you free

In the world you will have trouble, but I leave you my peace

That where I am, there you may also be

Remember you did not choose me, no I have chosen you

Remember you did not choose me, no I have chosen you

The world will show you hatred, the Spirit show you truth

That where I am, there you may also be

And I've come down from the Father, it's time for me to go back up

Oh, I've come down from the Father, it's time for me to go back up

One command I leave you: Love as I have loved

That where I am, there you may also be

That where I am, there you may also be

Up where the truth, the truth will set you free

In the world you will have trouble, but I leave you my peace

That where I am, there you may also be

That where I am, there you may also be

Up where the truth, the truth will set you free

In the world you will have trouble, but I leave you my peace

That where I am, there you may also be

Trust Me Anyway

Psalm 112:4, 7 - Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous. He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.

John 16:33 - I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

Dear God, help me to see Your light even in this darkest of times. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

That Where I Am, There You... by Rich Mullins (YouTube)

In my Father's house there are many, many rooms

In my Father's house there are many, many rooms

And I'm going up there to prepare a place for you

That where I am, there you may also be

If I go prepare a place for you, I will come back again

If I go prepare a place for you, I will come back again

And you know I am the Way, the Truth, the Life, keep my command

That where I am, there you may also be

That where I am, there you may also be

Up where the truth, the truth will set you free

In the world you will have trouble, but I leave you my peace

That where I am, there you may also be

Remember you did not choose me, no I have chosen you

Remember you did not choose me, no I have chosen you

The world will show you hatred, the Spirit show you truth

That where I am, there you may also be

And I've come down from the Father, it's time for me to go back up

Oh, I've come down from the Father, it's time for me to go back up

One command I leave you: Love as I have loved

That where I am, there you may also be

That where I am, there you may also be

Up where the truth, the truth will set you free

In the world you will have trouble, but I leave you my peace

That where I am, there you may also be

That where I am, there you may also be

Up where the truth, the truth will set you free

In the world you will have trouble, but I leave you my peace

That where I am, there you may also be

Hidden Blessings

Psalm 52:8 - But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever.

Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Dear God, It is so hard to trust You right now. No answers to anything, not with Tom, not with the court stuff, nothing. I am afraid. I am downcast. I am sad and brokenhearted. Tom should have talked with me, as in actually had a conversation with me before he acted. He should have acted with grace. But he acted with hate. And there was no justice nor mercy nor grace in what he did. And that makes me sad. I sent the letter I wrote that my mom wants to send to a paper if she feels the need and time for it to the presbytery to go on the record. In it, I was very honest and detailed about my experience with the bullying and the abuse I went through because of the leadership at Tom's church. He knew about some of it but failed to stop it. And instead, he became a bully, too, because he knew what they did was wrong, but instead of helping, he let it escalate and he did nothing while I all but got beaten up by them. Even his own actions were wrong and hurt more. Because he swore he was a friend. He lied to others about what happened. And I got hurt by them, too. The Tom that hurt me is not the same Tom at all. God, because of Tom, I am afraid to trust You. How can I when I am afraid that You're going to end up being just like him? Oh, how I long to believe that You are definitely better! Oh, how I want to trust You! Help me, God. And I will ask again in accordance with scripture, please bring about a conversation with Tom. Even if at this point we might not be able to have restoration, we can at least seek peace. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Sometimes By Step by Rich Mullins (YouTube)

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

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

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

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 Younall 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

(Sometimes the night...)

(Sometimes the night was beautiful)

And I will follow You all of my days

(Was beautiful)

(Sometimes the night was beautiful)

And I will follow You all of my days

(So beautiful)

And I will follow You all of my days

And I will follow You all of my days

(Oh God, You are my God)

And I will follow a you all of my days

(Oh God, You are my God)

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

(Sometimes the night...)

And I will follow You all of my days

I Will Catch You!

Deuteronomy 33:27 - The eternal God is dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. And thrust out the enemy before you and said, Destroy. 

Romans 8:38-39 - For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Dear God, I want to believe that nothing can separate me from Your love, but boy, how some people think that they can tear me away from being able to worship You. Tom and his church leaders sure did a lot of wrong and injustice in what they did and the way they did it. God, I am not ready to take the leap of faith yet. But I am willing to take a few baby steps closer to You. Just DON'T LET GO!! Oh, and God, these next three weeks are going to be filled with a lot of anxiety as I am. OT sure what will happen when the presbytery addresses the complaint against Tom for what he did. I sent them the piece I wrote about everything that I have experienced though at the hands of Tom and the other leaders there. And although the piece has neither been sent to its original addressee yet nor published, it gave me a voice I never had before. God, please don't leave me. And please bring the conversation that needs to happen with Tom. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Step By Step by Rich Mullins (YouTube)

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

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

And step by step You'll lead me

And I will follow You all of my days