Word of the Week: Inventory

As 2017 closes:

I look back to evaluate the Connections of this year.

I look forward to what I hear God speaking for 2018.

And I look around to enjoy the present moment.

Eliana's bouncing curls as she laughs.

Raphael’s grunts and sweet new baby smell.

Daily chats with Spencer and Meesha.

Playing with our granddaughter,

snuggling with our newly born grandson,

reconnecting with our son and daughter-in-love.

Priceless precious moments.

Joy filled connections.

Treasures to ponder!

Life was good this past year,

life promises good for next year,

and life is good in this very moment!

This video is from 2015 and yet the three simple questions are timeless.

I pray that you can use them, as I have,

to take inventory on your year in preparation for 2018!

Word of the Week: Exalt

 

Come let us tell of the LORD’s greatness;

let us exalt His name together.

Psalm 34:3 NLT

As we exalt the name of God together, we give honor to Who He is, What He has done, What He can do, and Why He cares for us.

I wrote this song to give honor and glory to the name of God.

As I penned each verse various names came to mind from the Word. When I finished the song I went back and counted the names of God that I had used.

I was astonished to discover 25 names of God in the song.

That means that there are:

25 ways to tell of His greatness.

25 ways ways to tell of Who He is.

25 ways to get to know Him more intimately.

25 ways to exalt Him!

Each time I sing this song, each time I talk about this song, my desire is to exalt Him. My desire is to know Him more deeply and make Him known.

How well do you know Him?

He is:

Yahweh
Creator
Sustainer
Deliverer
Almighty God
Marvelous
Way Maker
Counselor
King
Rock of Salvation
Amazing
Friend
Worthy
Foundation
Way
Truth
Strength
Alpha
Omega
Ancient of Days
Anointed One
Consuming Fire
Immanuel
High Priest
Lord of Lords

Let’s aim to know Him intimately and exalt His name together!

Created, Chosen, and Called for a Purpose

Your thumbprint testifies that you are a one-of-a-kind human being. Have you ever celebrated your uniqueness? Or have you doubted it? Or maybe feared it? Or felt alone because of it?

Psalm 139 is one of my absolute favorite passages. Probably because it reminds me that we are wonderfully complex individuals. I get excited pondering how David was compelled to praise God in verse 14 saying, “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.” God’s workmanship is us! And we should give praise to Him for the incredible, marvelous, complex way we are designed.

Treasuring ourselves is so difficult. If you’re like me you may have been taught to be humble. To let others sing your praises.

But, what happens when you go unnoticed

and feel unloved and invisible for too long?

How do you practice valuing yourself when no one seems to notice who you are? Our brains are wired for connection with others. We care more deeply about what others think than what we think at times. Belonging is one of the core desires of our soul. We long to feel wanted. To feel a part of the club.

Some of us struggle with the idea of standing out

because we so desperately desire to fit in.

@alidasharpmusic

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Even in the dailiness of life we aim for alikeness, doing the exact same thing day after day, work, school, Instagram, Facebook, emails, eat, sleep, repeat. The routine of life seems daunting at times. And it’s stressful to the mind. Facebook makes us envious, Instagram makes us hungry, and email keeps us working long hours. But our Designer handcrafted us for a greater purpose. A more unique purpose. My friend and music producer, Mervin Budram MD, says that “Knowing your identity is very important, however, knowing your life purpose is equally important as it charts out the road you're to take on this journey through life.”

In fact Merv feels so strongly about our purpose in life that he wrote a song about it.

And his song got me to thinking more about my purpose so I decided I needed to spend some time meditating on the word ‘purpose.’ I believe that we will comprehend the real meaning of our role on this planet when we recognize and embrace the purpose for which we were created, chosen, and called to fulfill. We will honor God in all that we do, bring Him glory through embracing all that we are created to be, when we wholeheartedly engage in living out our purpose.

We are Created for a Purpose

When we lived in Russia I crocheted quite a bit. I’m out of practice now but while we were in a colder climate I regularly made hats, scarves, and even sweaters. Each item I created was carefully planned. I made things to go with an outfit in mind, or a special event coming up, or as a gift. Each masterpiece had an intended purpose. In Ephesians 2:10 we read that each individual is a masterpiece of God, created anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things that He has planned for us. We were created with His purpose for us in mind.

We are Chosen for a Purpose

I’ve heard many people quote the passage about us being a chosen people from 1 Peter 2:9. It goes on to say, “You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” Because of who we are in Christ we are chosen to show others the goodness of God! Our lives when lived according to His plan glorifies and praises Him. What an incredible reason to live life to fullest and use each gift He graciously crafted within us.

We are Called for a Purpose

Often a look at Romans 8:28 is about trying to make sense of the painful and chaotic things that happen in life. I first heard this passage when we were grieving the stillbirth of our first child. (And just for the record that is not a good scripture to quote for someone who has just lost a baby.)

As we try to find light in the darkness of our lives we want some good to come out of the trial we are facing. And yet, I believe the last part of the verse is what reveals the priceless treasure in the passage. “Those who love God and are called according to His purpose”...that brings my struggles into perspective. I don’t have to worry or fret, or scheme or plan, He will make sense of it all because it’s a part of my calling. Because my calling is according to His purpose He will never waste a hurt or a trial that I face. He will use it to encourage, strengthen, inspire, or embolden someone else.

Our lives are our testimony of the grace, hope, and mercy of God.

Our lives have meaning and purpose

beyond what we can see.

We are created, chosen, and called for a purpose. @alidasharpmusic 

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Live life to the fullest. Live life with joy. Life your life knowing that you were born on purpose for a purpose!

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10 Reasons I Sing

Why sing? As I was reading through the Psalms I noticed the phrase 'I will sing.' As I compiled a list of verses that stood out for me they provoked me to ponder the words of an old song, “I sing because I’m happy and I sing because I’m free. His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.” I love to sing whether anyone else hears me or not, whether anyone chooses to sing along or not, I sing when I'm sad, I sing when I feel overjoyed.

And though I have many reasons to sing

they all basically fall into three categories;

to respond to God,

to recall what He has done,

and to reflect His glory.

Here are 10 reasons why I will sing His praises until my final breath:

1. Psalm 7:17    To praise Him because He is just
2. Psalm 9:2       To praise Him for filling me with joy
3. Psalm 13:6     To praise Him for His goodness
4. Psalm 40:3     To praise Him with new songs
5. Psalm 57:9     To praise Him for His forgiveness
6. Psalm 59:16   To praise Him for His power
7. Psalm 59:16   To praise Him for His unfailing love
8. Psalm 69:30   To praise His name
9. Psalm 75:9     To praise Him for His actions

 10. Psalm 104:33 To praise Him for life

There are some songs that I sing during quiet times alone with God. Just as I pray in the spirit, I also have times when I sing in the spirit. With candles lit and just the voice I cry out to Him in song.

As I lift my voice in praise I’m not worried about the notes, or what words may come. I simply repeat whatever I hear Him saying to me. Last week, after Tom had gone to bed. I got up because I couldn’t sleep. Whenever that happens I grab my bible, light some candles to avoid the harshness of the overhead lamp, and I pray. During the day I had been studying the name Yahweh. So I started reading through some of the verses I had studied earlier. I read Exodus 33:19 that God told Moses that He would pass in front of him and call out His own name.

This short video is the song that I heard God singing to me as I was seeking His face on that quiet dark night.

I'm in awe of how God chooses to reveal Himself to us. I love to sing and I love it when He writes the words of the songs. So for as long as I am alive, at all times, in every season and stage of life, God is worthy of praise, and I have a reason to sing.

Do you sing? I’d love to hear your reasons!

Radical Consistency

My phrase for today is 'radical consistency'. Being faithful in small things day in and day out will bring about the spectacular results we're hoping or praying for in life. Time spent practicing, training, studying, or working will help you reach your goals. Be radically consistent and see where it takes you!

BLESSED

Blessed is WHO you are...walk in that!

Life Uncommon

Check out the debut episode of our new talk show Life Uncommon!

3 Things You Need to Know About You!

Are you one of those people who has a hard time accepting compliments?

Do you see the good or even the great in others but not in yourself?

God wants you to be all that He designed you to be. If you are one of His children then stand up tall, hold your head up high, and walk in the calling He has for you.





And know that:

1. You are beautiful.

You were handcrafted by the Creator of the Universe. 

2. You are unique.

You were designed on purpose by God for a purpose.

3. You are incredible.

You are capable of more than you realize.

You are beautiful, you are unique, you ARE incredible!
Posted by Alida

Developing an Attitude of Gratitude

Are you carrying around toxic emotions like guilt, shame, anger, self-loathing, envy, resentment, frustration, or regret?

Try cultivating 
an attitude
of gratitude! 

Gratitude can reduce our desire to make social comparisons. Instead of carrying around resentment, try to value and appreciate the accomplishments of others.


Research says that:

Gratitude increases our capacity to have empathy for others.

Gratitude reduces aggression.

Gratitude may even help you sleep better!  Try spending just 15 minutes making a list of a few of life’s gifts before bed, and you may sleep better and longer.

Gratitude reduces stress and may also play a role in overcoming trauma.


My thoughts are:

Cultivating an attitude of gratitude is about expanding one's perspective of God and of the world and of self.

Whether you call it counting blessings or practicing gratitude, taking note of the gifts that God places in your life each day is part of living a lifestyle of worship.

Why not try giving thanks for three things each day? Take note of all the blessings large and small that come your way. Ask God to show you glimpses of His hand at work in the world. Pray daily prayers of thanksgiving.  Make this part of your countdown to celebrate Thanksgiving. Go beyond Thanksgiving and try it for 100 days or for a full year.

The benefits of a grateful spirit are waiting for you!

What Have You Thanked God for Today?
Including today you have 29 days left in November to express your gratitude! So what have you thanked God for today?!

Life Lessons from Women in the Lineage of Christ:

Life Lesson #1 from Tamar: What Are You Willing to Risk?

Life Lesson #2 from Rahab: Who Needs to Hear Your Testimony

Life Lesson #3 from Bathsheba: It's Not How You Start it's How You Finish




Life Lesson #4 From Mary: I Woke Up Like This!